Tyler Clippard takes over as closer for Nationals

May 25, 2012

Washington Nationals – Sean Burnett pitched in the 8th and Tyler Clippard came on for the save.  As we mentioned before Clippard really wants the chance to close games and it looks like Johnson is listening as Clippard has gotten the last two saves.  Even if this continues to be a committee Clippard looks like he will get the most save opportunities.   Hierarchy change: Tyler Clippard to Closer, Sean Burnett to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Burnett |Stammen |Storen |5/25/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

Antonio Bastardo returns to set-up role for Phillies

May 25, 2012

Philadelphia Phillies – Antonio Bastardo pitched the 8th inning on Thursday, and has reclaimed his role as the Phillies set-up man after some struggles early in the season.  Hierarchy change: Antonio Bastardo to Set-up, Chad Qualls to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPHI |Papelbon |Bastardo |Qualls |Papelbon |5/25/12

 
Chicago White Sox – Jesse Crain (1.59 ERA, 16 Ks in 11.1 IPs) logged his 5th consecutive scoreless outing since returning from the DL, pitching ahead of Matt Thornton and Addison Reed in the White Sox victory on Thursday.  Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to 2nd in line, replacing Nate Jones.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Crain |Reed |5/25/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – With Aroldis Chapman and Jose Arredondo unavailable, the Reds played match-ups in the late-innings on Thursday.  Sean Marshall pitched the 8th, and Logan Ondrusek pitched the 9th for his second save of the year.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Arredondo |Madson |5/25/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard/Craig Stammen, Washington Nationals – A true favorite has yet to emerge in the Nationals’ closer-by-committee.  Sean Burnett is having the best season (0.71 ERA) but Tyler Clippard or Craig Stammen could snag a save on any night.
2. Nick Hagadone, Cleveland Indians – Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano have both pitched in three consecutive games.

Ernesto Frieri closing for Angels; Rafael Dolis struggling

May 24, 2012

St. Louis Cardinals – Mark Rzepczynski pitched the 8th inning ahead of Jason Motte on Wednesday night, and the lefty has proven the ability to pitch to both righties and lefties.  Hierarchy change: Mark Rzepczynski to 2nd in line, replacing Fernando Salas.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Rzepczynski |Motte |5/24/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Jose Arredondo pitched 1.1 innings on Wednesday, bridging the gap to closer Aroldis Chapman.  Logan Ondrusek has struggled as of late (7.04 ERA in May) and Dusty Baker has been looking to Arredondo more as his late-innings righty.  Hierarchy change: Jose Arredondo to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Arredondo |Madson |5/24/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Rafael Dolis gave up three runs in a non-save situation on Wednesday.  Dolis, whose stats look uglier every day (24.2 IPs, 4.74 ERA, 10 Ks/13 BBs), could be removed from the role if he continues to struggle, particularly if the Cubs want to give Carlos Marmol another crack at the job when he returns.  Rafael Dolis to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/24/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
Colorado Rockies – Adam Ottavino pitched the 7th inning in a close game on Wednesday, and now has 6 scoreless innings with 9 Ks since being called up.  Hierarchy change: Adam Ottavino to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Reynolds. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Ottavino |Betancourt |5/24/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri struck three men out in the 11th inning, nailing down his first career save.  Frieri has been nothing short of dazzling (8.2 IPs, 0 ERs, 0 hits, 19 Ks) since being acquired from the Padres.  While Mike Scioscia said he would still like to use Scott Downs in the 9th on occasion, Frieri’s dominance means he’ll get the majority of the opportunities going forward.  Hierarchy change: Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Scott Downs to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |5/24/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Marshall/Jose Arredondo, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.  The Reds could give him a night off and play match-ups in the ninth.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in two straight and four of the last six, while Scott Downs has only pitched twice in that span.  Downs could get the save opportunity tonight, particularly if facing a lefty-heavy lineup.

Ernesto Frieri is the Angels’ new closer

Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri struck three men out in the 11th inning, nailing down his first career save.  Frieri has been nothing short of dazzling (8.2 IPs, 0 ERs, 0 hits, 19 Ks) since being acquired from the Padres.  While Mike Scioscia has said the Angels would “mix and match” in the 9th inning, Frieri’s dominance means he’ll get the bulk– if not all– of the opportunities going forward.  Hierarchy change: Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Scott Downs to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |5/23/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard share closer role in Washington; JJ Putz to Hot Seat

May 23, 2012

Washington Nationals – Davey Johnson said before Tuesday’s game that he was moving Henry Rodriguez to a “less demanding” role, and that he’d use a closer-by-committee for the 9th inning.  Johnson said he was going to keep Tyler Clippard as his high-leverage set-up guy, but Johnson ended up giving the first save opportunity to the righty, who expressed a strong desire to close before the game.  ”I want it bad,” he said.  With two saves in the past week and a little experience in the role last year, Sean Burnett (0.71 ERA) still has the inside track to get the most opportunities, and Craig Stammen could also in the mix.  But the next save opportunity will be key; if Clippard is the 9th-inning man again, then it’s probable that Johnson has taken his words to heart, and the long-time set-up man could be the new closer going forward.  Hierarchy change: Sean Burnett to Closer, Tyler Clippard to Set-up, Craig Stammen to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Burnett |Clippard |Stammen |Storen |5/23/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
Colorado Rockies – Rex Brothers, who closed for a short time last year but has struggled throughout 2012, was sent to the minors on Tuesday.  Matt Belisle (2.86 ERA, 17 Ks/2 BBs) is the most likely candidate for 8th inning work.  Hierarchy change: Matt Belisle to Set-up, Matt Reynolds to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Reynolds |Betancourt |5/23/12

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz blew his third save of the season on Tuesday, raising his ERA to an ugly 7.20.  David Hernandez (2.25 ERA, 29 Ks in 20 IPs) proved to be a solid fill-in closer last year and would get the first chance to close if the D’Backs look elsewhere.  JJ Putz to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Shaw |Putz |5/23/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard/Craig Stammen, Washington Nationals – As noted above, Sean Burnett is the favorite to get the most opportunities in Washington’s closer by committee, but Tyler Clippard or Craig Stammen could snag a save on any night.
2. Edward Mujica/Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell has pitched three days in a row, and in four of the last five.
3. David Hernandez, Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz blew a save in a 26-pitch outing on Tuesday.  While he won’t lose the job yet, he could get the day off today.
4. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Over the past two days, Santiago Casilla has thrown 3 innings and 43 pitches and could get the night off.