Brian Fuentes demoted, Ryan Cook to lead closer by committee in Oakland

June 10, 2012

Washington Nationals – After Brad Lidge struggled Friday in his first outing since returning from the DL, Washington went to Sean Burnett in the 8th inning on Saturday.  Burnett (0.95 ERA) pitched another clean inning and continues to have a stellar season.  Hierarchy change: Sean Burnett to Set-up, Brad Lidge to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Burnett |Lidge |Storen |6/10/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin told the San Francisco Chronicle before Saturday’s game that he would employ a closer-by-committee going forward, with Ryan Cook, Brian Fuentes, and Grant Balfour involved.  Melvin also said that Ryan Cook was his best option in any tough situation, making him the best bet to win the job.  Hierarchy change: Ryan Cook to Closer, Brian Fuentes to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Fuentes |Balfour |Cook |6/10/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Juan Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates – Joel Hanrahan has pitched in three straight, and in four of the last five.
2. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in back to back games, and in four of the last five.
3. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 6 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.
4. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten 2 of the Cubs 3 save opportunities since the demotion of Rafael Dolis; Camp has gotten the other.  Matchups will determine who is used in the 9th today.

Ryan Cook most likely to emerge in Oakland’s closer by committee

June 9, 2012

Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin told the San Francisco Chronicle before Saturday’s game that he would employ a closer-by-committee going forward, with Ryan Cook, Brian Fuentes, and Grant Balfour involved.  Melvin also said that Ryan Cook was his best option in any tough situation, making him the best bet to win the job going forward.  Cook could get a save chance as soon as tonight.  Hierarchy change: Ryan Cook to Closer, Brian Fuentes to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Fuentes |Balfour |Cook |6/9/12

Brian Fuentes blows another save, Shawn Camp gets his first save opportunitiy

June 9, 2012

Oakland A’s – Brian Fuentes blew another save last night and is now only 5 for 8 in save opportunities.  Ryan Cook pitched the 8th last night and struck out the side while lowering his ERA to 0.69.  When asked about the closer situation after the game Manager Bob Melvin simply said, “I don’t make a decision like that two minutes after a game.”  It appears Melvin is certainly considering a change and Cook has pitched well enough to deserve a shot at closing.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Fuentes |Cook |Balfour |Cook |6/9/12

 
Chicago Cubs – While Dale Sveum declared that his 9th inning role a platoon, Friday was the first time since Rafael Dolis’s demotion that anyone other than James Russell was given a save opportunity for the Cubs.  Shawn Camp came in to try and close the door on the Twins, but gave up the tying run in the 9th, and then the game-winning run in the 10th.  While Camp struggled in his first effort in the role, Russell’s usage has been all over the place, as he’s been summoned before the 9th inning numerous times, including last night.  James Russell to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Camp |Coleman |Marmol |6/9/12

 
San Diego Padres – Andrew Cashner is being moved to the rotation. He will start today’s game, and if he pitches well, he’ll be sent to the minors to be stretched out.  Hierarchy change: Luke Gregerson to 2nd in line, replacing Andrew Cashner. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Thayer |Gregerson |Street |6/9/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Juan Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates – Joel Hanrahan has pitched in back to back night and 3 out of the last 4.  Juan Cruz would get the chance for the save if Hanrahan gets a night off.
2. Shawn Camp/Casey Coleman/Manny Corpas, Chicago Cubs – James Russell’s usage suggests that if he is needed earlier in the game manager Sveum will not be afraid to bring him in before the 9th and let someone else close out the game.
3. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 6 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.

 

 

 

Manny Corpas potentially in the mix for saves in Chicago; Brad Lidge returns from DL

June 8, 2012

Texas Rangers – With Derek Holland injured, Alexi Ogando is moving to the rotation.  Koji Uehara (1.33 ERA, 0.54 WHIP), will assume Ogando’s role as the high-leverage 7th inning righty in the Rangers bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Koji Uehara to 2nd in line, replacing Alexi Ogando.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Uehara |Nathan |6/8/12

 
Washington Nationals – Brad Lidge returned from the disabled list yesterday.  While he won’t return to the shared closer role he held earlier this year, he’ll likely be one of the first guys that Davey Johnson looks to if Tyler Clippard falters.  Hierarchy change: Brad Lidge to Set-up, Sean Burnett to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Lidge |Burnett |Storen |6/8/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Chris Resop picked up a 10th inning save last night.  Joel Hanrahan had already pitched, blowing the save an inning earlier, but his job is not in jeopardy.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Cruz |Grilli |Hanrahan |6/8/12

 
Miami Marlins – Edward Mujica got knocked around on Thursday and saw his ERA rise to 4.74 as a result.  Steve Cishek also surrendered a few runs in the game, but has been solid all season, with a 1.82 ERA.  During Heath Bell’s well-documented struggles earlier this season, Mujica picked up 2 saves to Cishek’s 1, but Cishek has since passed him on the depth chart, and has set up for Bell three times over the past two weeks.  Hierarchy change: Steve Cishek to Set-up, Edward Mujica to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Cishek |Mujica |Bell |6/8/12

 
Chicago Cubs – With the Cubs leading yesterday, they used Shawn Camp in the 7th, and then used James Russell for just one batter in the 8th.  Manny Corpas followed, blowing the save but registering two scoreless innings, and Casey Coleman was called on in the 10th.  While Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, it’s silly season for the Cubs bullpen, and any one of these four could potentially nab a save on any night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Camp |Coleman |Marmol |6/8/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 6 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.
2. Shawn Camp/Casey Coleman/Manny Corpas, Chicago Cubs – See above.

Eric O’Flaherty thriving in set-up role; Sergio Romo getting bulk of opportunities with Casilla out

June 7, 2012

Atlanta Braves – Eric O’Flaherty pitched the 8th inning ahead of Craig Kimbrel on Wednesday, the fourth such time he has been used in that role in the past nine days.  Jonny Venters struggled in May, posting a 6.55 ERA for the month.  O’Flaherty’s WHIP (1.50) is still ugly, but he has not given up an earned run since May 7, a span of 11 consecutive appearance.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to Set-up, Jonny Venters to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Venters |Kimbrel |6/7/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo picked up his third save in the past five days, as Santiago Casilla’s injury has been a little more severe than the Giants initially thought.  While he is still on the active roster– Bruce Bochy said before Wednesday’s game that Casilla could play in the event of an emergency– he’s now missed five straight days of action.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |6/7/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has thrown 3 innings and 49 pitches over the last two days.
2. Ronald Belisario, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in three straight, and four of the last five.
3. Sergio Romo/Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants – If the Giants continue to hold out Santiago Casilla, then Sergio Romo or Jeremy Affeldt could nab a save.
4. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, but he’s not being used like a traditional closer yet.  Should the Cubs face a righty-heavy 9th inning, Shawn Camp could pick up a save.