Phil Coke: Your sort-of Tigers closer

April 3, 2013

Detroit Tigers – We’re two games into the season, and Phil Coke has gotten both save opportunities for the Tigers, entering the game today with 1 out in the 9th inning.  He blew the save, retiring the first man before allowing two hits.  Additionally, the batters he faced were two lefties and a switch hitter, so Jim Leyland could still very easily be playing matchups, and it could just have fallen on Coke on the first two games of the season.  But if you’re only going to own one Tigers reliever, he’s the guy; Joaquin Benoit and Al Alburquerque are also worth stashing, if you have the room.  Hierarchy change: Phil Coke to Closer, Joaquin Benoit to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Coke |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/3/13

Josh Fields is one to watch in the Astros bullpen

April 3, 2013

Houston Astros – The Astros got their first look at their (non-Bedard) bullpen in a loss to the Rangers last night, and it wasn’t pretty, as five relievers combined to give up six runs in three innings.  The only reliever to perform well was Josh Fields, who struck out the only batter he faced.  Fields, a former first round pick, is coming off a solid spring, where he posted a 2.53 ERA over 10.2 innings.  Lefthander Wesley Wright, meanwhile, is one of the team’s more experienced relievers, but will likely be used as a matchup guy regardless.  Hierarchy change: Josh Fields to 2nd in line, replacing Wesley Wright.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Ambriz |Fields |Veras |4/3/13

Carlos Marmol already on the verge of losing his job

April 2, 2013

Chicago Cubs – It took all of one game for reporters to start questioning Carlos Marmol’s role as the Cubs’ stopper.  After taking over in the 9th inning, Marmol allowed three baserunners while only retiring one hitter before he was yanked for James Russell.  Kyuji Fujikawa eventually got the one-out save.  After the game, Dale Sveum said that Marmol was still his closer, though the quick hook shows just how little confidence the Cubs’ skipper has in the erratic righty.  Fujikawa, a closer in Japan, is the best option to replace Marmol if the struggles continue.  Hierarchy change: Kyuji Fujikawa to Set-up, Shawn Camp to 2nd in line.  Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Fujikawa |Camp |Marmol |4/2/13

 
Detroit Tigers – The first save of the Detroit season went to Phil Coke, who retired the final two batters of the game.  Joaquin Benoit had started the 8th and 9th innings, both of which were led off by righties, and Coke came on to face a lefty in the 9th.  Al Alburquerque pitched the 7th.  After the game, Jim Leyland said: “Today, it was Alburquerque, Benoit and Coke, and the next game, it might be Darin Downs, Villarreal and Dotel. That’s just the way it’s going to be. It’s nothing different from what we’ve been talking about all along.”  Though Leyland’s comment suggests there is still no single reliever who will be getting the bulk of the saves in Detroit, the three relievers who pitched on Opening Day are still the three we like best.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Benoit |Coke |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/2/13

 
Atlanta Braves – Jonny Venters was placed on the disabled list to start the season, and reports emerged over the weekend that he was heading to visit Dr. James Andrews, which is never a good sign.  Eric O’Flaherty pitched the 7th inning in the Braves’ opening day win.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to 2nd in line, replacing Jonny Venters.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Walden |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |4/2/13

Jose Veras starts season on Hot Seat

April 1, 2013

Texas Rangers – Late last week, Ron Washington signaled that Robbie Ross and Michael Kirkman would be the team’s primary set-up men, moves that were reinforced over the weekend.  Josh Lindblom, who many thought would serve as a late-inning man, was sent to the minors to be stretched out as a starter, while Jason Frasor was used in the 7th inning last night with the Rangers down four runs.  Hierarchy change: Robbie Ross to Set-up, Michael Kirkman to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ross |Kirkman |Nathan |4/1/13

 
Houston Astros – Erik Bedard, the team’s fifth starter, picked up a 3.1-inning save last night.  Bedard isn’t expected to start for several days and may not appear out of the bullpen for the rest of the year.  However, this doesn’t mean Jose Veras’s job is safe by any means.  He struggled in Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic, and the team has said that he will have to earn his closer spot.  A few bad outings, and the Astros may look elsewhere.  Jose Veras to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Ambriz |Wright |Veras |4/1/13

 
Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit, our listed “closer” is not actually the team’s stopper, as Jim Leyland has indicated that any member of the bullpen could be the man to get the final outs.  Based on the volatility of the bullpen, however, it is safe to say that a few bad outings from Benoit (or any of the team’s other relievers) will remove him from the discussion.  Joaquin Benoit to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Benoit |Coke |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/1/13

Bruce Rondon sent down, Tigers to go closer-by-committee

March 28, 2013

Detroit Tigers – The Tigers have sent would-be closer Bruce Rondon to the minors after a disastrous outing on Wednesday.  The Detroit Free Press believes the Tigers will go with a closer-by-committee that includes Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke, Al Alburquerque and Octavio Dotel.  Of these four, Dotel has the most experience, Alburquerque the most potential, Benoit was the most reliable man last year, and Coke got the most opportunities down the stretch.  Best guess is that Coke and Benoit will split opportunities for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Joaquin Benoit to Closer, Phil Coke to Set-up, Al Alburquerque to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Benoit |Coke |Alburquerque|Rondon |3/20/13