Sergio Romo picks up another save

July 7, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo picked up his 5th save of the season last night as Santiago Casilla was unavailable due to a blister.  Manager Bruce Bochy said before Friday’s game that he was not considering a change at closer, and Romo came out after the game and also said that the closer job was still Casilla’s.  However, Casilla has struggled lately, giving up 6 runs and 11 hits over his last 4.1 innings.  Romo could see more save opportunities going forward, but it is unlikely that he would ever become the full time closer this season, as the Giants are limiting his workload to keep him from reinjuring his knee or elbow. He’s only pitched on three consecutive nights once this season.   Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Set-up, Jeremy Affeldt to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF  |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |7/7/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell has pitched in four straight games and six of the last seven.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – With the Twins employing a true platoon, Jared Burton could get the save opp if there’s a righty-heavy ninth inning due up.
3. Matt Thornton, Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed has pitched in three straight games.

 
 
 
 
Henry Rodriguez is back for the Nationals
 
 
July 6, 2012
Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez was recently activated from the DL and pitched the 8th in a close game last night.  He has 9 saves from earlier in the season and it looks like the Nationals would prefer to use Craig Stammen in situations that call for multiple innings. Hierarchy change: Henry Rodriguez to 2nd in line, replacing Craig Stammen.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Burnett |Rodriguez |Storen |6/18/12 |Storen(DL) |
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell has pitched in three straight games and five of the last six games.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – With the Twins employing a true platoon, Jared Burton could get the save opp if there’s a righty-heavy ninth inning due up.
3. Jason Grilli, Pittsburgh Pirates – Joel Hanrahan has pitched in three straight games.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jesse Crain to DL, Jason Frasor ascending
 
 
July 5, 2012
Toronto Blue Jays – Jason Frasor pitched the 7th inning of a close game for the second night in a row.  He now has 11 holds on the season and seems to have established himself as the guy that the Blue Jays will use ahead of Oliver and Janssen.  Hierarchy change: Jason Frasor to 2nd in line replacing Francisco Cordero.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Oliver |Frasor |Santos |7/5/12 |Santos (DL) |
 
Chicago White Sox – Jesse Crain was placed on the 15 day DL with a shoulder injury.  Matt Thornton piched the 8th and 9th innings of a tie game last night and will move back to the set-up role.  Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Nate Jones to 2nd in line, Jesse Crain to DL
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Jones |Reed |7/5/12 |Crain (DL) |
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jose Veras, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford and Francisco Rodriguez have both pitched in four straight games.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins has gotten the majority of save opportunities recently but Burton could get the call on any night if the match-ups are right.
 
 
 
 
 
Tyler Robertson moves up for Twins
 
 
July 4, 2012
Minnesota Twins –  Tyler Robertson pitched a perfect 8th with the Twins up 1 as he picked up his 2nd hold in three games.  Robertson was called up from Triple-A Rochester when Matt Capps was put on the DL and has been used in a bunch of late inning situations.  He also has some closer experience in the minors as he has 18 saves over the past two seasons.   Hierarchy change: Tyler Robertson to 2nd in line replacing Alex Burnett.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Robertson |Capps |7/4/12 |Capps(DL) |
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins has pitched 4 games in a row and Burton got the night off last night so he will likely get the call if their is a save opportunity.
2. Jose Veras, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford and Francisco Rodriguez have both pitched in three straight games.
3. Joel Peralta/Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays – Fernando Rodney has pitched in 3 straight and 4 of the past 5 games.  Peralta could get a save but he has pitched in 2 straight and 3 of 4 so Kyle Farnsworth could see his first save opportunity since coming off the DL.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Random saves for James Russell, Scott Downs, Joe Thatcher
 
 
July 3, 2012
Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol was unavailable on Monday, but it was James Russell who got the call in the 9th inning, not Shawn Camp.  This came as a bit of a surprise, since Camp had pitched as a set-up man in the 8th inning in the previous two games.  But it worked out for the Cubs, as Camp again pitched the 8th and allowed only one hit in his inning of work, leaving a lefty-heavy 9th inning for Russell, who earned the save.  Camp, who now has 9 straight scoreless outings, is still the most likely candidate for a save on nights when Marmol is unavailable.  No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Camp |Russell |Marmol |7/3/12
 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs cleaned up Jered Weaver’s mess in the 8th inning of a 3-0 game on Monday, and then stayed on for the lefty-heavy ninth to earn his 7th save.  Downs remains arguably the best set-up man in baseball, but will only see occasional save opportunities if Ernesto Frieri’s dominance continues.  No hierarchy change. 
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Hawkins |Walden |7/3/12
 
Miami Marlins – The Marlins placed Edward Mujica on the DL over the weekend.  Mike Dunn has pitched in the 8th inning in each of the last three games, and slides up to take his place.  Hierarchy change: Mike Dunn to 2nd in line, Edward Mujica to DL.  
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Cishek |Dunn |Bell |7/3/12 |Mujica(DL) |
 
San Diego Padres – Clayton Richard couldn’t quite close out a complete game on Monday, as Joe Thatcher was summoned to record the final out in a 6-2 game.  There were a couple men on base, so Thatcher earned his first save of the season.  The lefty is unlikely to get many save chances going forward, even if Huston Street is dealt.  No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Gregerson |Thayer |Street |7/3/12
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brandon League, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched 4 innings over the last three games.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – With with the Twins employing a true platoon, Jared Burton could get the save opp on any night, but that’s especially true tonight, as Glen Perkins has pitched three games in a row.