Bobby Parnell likely to earn a few more save chances; Alexi Ogando rising

August 5, 2012

Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook on Saturday blew his second save in a row and his fourth in his last six chances.  He’s now got 7 blown saves on the year, which leads the league, and could be in danger of losing his job to former closer Grant Balfour.  On the other end of the bullpen, Pat Neshek, called up two days ago, has not allowed a hit in 3 innings while striking out 4, and earned his first hold of the season last night.  Hierarchy change: Pat Neshek to 2nd in line, replacing Sean Doolittle.  Ryan Cook to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Neshek |Cook |8/5/12

 
Texas Rangers – A little over a week ago, reports emerged that the Rangers were trying to stretch Alexi Ogando out, and they seemed validated when Ogando was used for 2.2 innings nine days ago.  But since then, he’s gone back to pitching 1 inning at a time, including last night, when he picked up his second save in a row (Joe Nathan needed a second day off after two marathon outings on Thursday and Friday).  While Mike Adams will stick as the 8th inning guy regardless, Ogando appears to be the man the Rangers will use when Nathan is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Alexi Ogando to Set-up, Mike Adams to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ogando |Adams |Nathan |8/5/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Darren Oliver picked up an 11th inning save on Saturday.  Casey Janssen had already pitched earlier in the night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Oliver |Lyon |Santos |8/5/12

 
Houston Astros – The Astros placed Francisco Cordero on the DL earlier this weekend, and last night, Fernando Rodriguez pitched the 7th inning ahead of Wesley Wright and Wilton Lopez.  Lopez earned his first save.  Hierarchy change: Fernando Rodriguez to 2nd in line, Francisco Cordero to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Rodriguez |Lopez |8/5/12

 
Minnesota Twins – Jared Burton picked up his second save in as many days on Saturday.  Glen Perkins had pitched the 8th inning in a game that had been tied at the time.  The Twins are continuing to use Perkins and Burton in a platoon– Perkins now has 6 saves and Burton has 5– though Perkins still has a slight edge due to his durability and strikeout rate.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Perkins |8/5/12 |Capps(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bobby Parnell, New York Mets – Frank Francisco earned his first save Saturday since coming off the DL.  But his ability to pitch on back-to-back days is in question, and the Mets said that Bobby Parnell will get any save opps when Francisco can’t go.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two consecutive games.  He’s only pitched three in a row once all season, so Broxton will likely get the save chance today.
3. Grant Balfour, Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook has pitched in three straight.
4. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight.
5. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.

Jared Burton, Alexi Ogando pick up saves

August 4, 2012

Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan was given a day off on Friday, but it was Alexi Ogando, not Mike Adams, who picked up the save in his stead– Adams pitched in his usual 8th inning role.  However, the Rangers are reportedly looking to stretch Ogando out and return him to the rotation in the not-too-distant future, so Adams is still the guy most likely to see save chances on nights that Nathan is unavailable.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Ogando |Nathan |8/4/12

 
Minnesota Twins – Jared Burton picked up the save on Friday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Glen Perkins had pitched 2 innings the previous night.  While this is still a platoon, Perkins is still the most likely candidate for a save on any given night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Perkins |8/4/12 |Capps(DL) |

 
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity tonight, as Perkins pitched 2 innings on Thursday.

Frank Francisco returns from injury, should close right away

August 3, 2012

New York Mets – Frank Francisco is expected to be activated from the DL today.  Bobby Parnell has been OK, but not great, in his place, so Francisco should resume closing immediately.  Hierarchy change: Frank Francisco to Closer, Bobby Parnell to Set-up, Jon Rauch to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Parnell |Rauch |Francisco |8/3/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has had two laborious outings over the last two days, allowing 4 ERs in 2 innings and throwing 62 pitches in the process.  His job is not in jeopardy, but he’ll likely get a night off tonight.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity tonight, as Perkins pitched 2 innings on Thursday.

Jonathan Broxton and Josh Lindblom establishing themselves in their new bullpens

August 2, 2012

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies picked up Josh Lindblom in the Shane Victorino trade, and proved they would use him in tight spots immediately.  He was one of three relievers to record an out in the 8th to bridge the gap to Jonathan Papelbon.  Hierarchy change: Josh Lindblom to 2nd in line, replacing Jake Diekman.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPHI |Papelbon |Bastardo |Lindblom |Papelbon |8/2/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – In Wednesday’s game, the Reds used newly-acquired Jonathan Broxton for the 8th inning after Sean Marshall pitched the 7th.  It appears Broxton is now the man to get saves on days when Aroldis Chapman is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Jonathan Broxton to Set-up, Sean Marshall to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Madson |8/2/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two games in a row.  The Reds have been reluctant to pitch him three consecutive nights (they’ve done so only once all season), meaning Broxton could get his first save chance as a Red.
2. Kevin Jepsen, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri got knocked around last night, allowing 4 runs and throwing 26 pitches in the 9th and 10th innings.  It was his second consecutive night of work, and he could get the day off.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.

Greg Holland to close in KC; deadline moves affect hierarchies for Reds, Cardinals

August 1, 2012

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds acquired Royals closer Jonathan Broxton on Tuesday.  Aroldis Chapman will remain the closer, while Broxton will share the 8th inning role with Sean Marshall.  Hierarchy change: Jonathan Broxton to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Broxton |Madson |8/1/12

 
St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals acquired Edward Mujica from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.  Mujica will likely pitch the 7th inning for the Cardinals, which is a role they’ve been trying to fill all season.  Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to 2nd in line, replacing Victor Marte.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Marte |Motte |8/1/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs was placed on the DL prior to Tuesday’s game.  With a 4-run lead, Kevin Jepsen got out of a jam in the 7th inning before giving way to Jason Isringhausen for the 8th.  Ernesto Frieri pitched the 9th in a non-save situation.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Jepsen to Set-up, Jason Isringhausen to 2nd in line, Scott Downs to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Jepsen |Isringhausen|Walden |8/1/12 |Downs(DL) |

 
Boston Red Sox – Franklin Morales got a 1-out save in the 6th inning on Tuesday, retiring a hitter before the tarp came out.  The game was never resumed, and Morales was awarded one of the more bogus saves of the season.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Miller |Bailey |8/1/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – After pitching three of the last four games, including a blown save on Monday, Santiago Casilla was given the night off.  In a 3-run game, Jeremy Affeldt pitched the last two innings for his second save of the year.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |8/1/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Kansas City Royals – The Royals have traded closer Jonathan Broxton to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will serve as a set-up man.  Greg Holland will inherit the closer job in Kansas City, said Royals manager Ned Yost, though Aaron Crow will be nipping at Holland’s heels if he struggles.  Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Closer, Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Crow |Herrera |Holland |7/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.