Angels begin platoon, Ernesto Frieri on verge of winning job

May 19, 2012

Los Angeles Angels – On Friday, Scott Downs pitched the 8th inning in a 2-run game, and Ernesto Frieri came out for the 9th.  By then, the Angels had tacked on 3 additional runs, so it wasn’t a save opportunity, but Mike Scioscia told the Orange County Registerafter the game that the 9th inning role was in flux. “We’re going to mix and match a little bit,” Scioscia said. “It’s really just a matchup situation. It might change tomorrow.”  Based on their usage and Scioscia’s comments, Frieri appears to be on the verge of winning the permanent job.  Scott Downs to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Downs |Frieri |Walden |Walden |5/19/12 |Hawkins(INJ)|

 
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop picked up a save in the 11th inning on Friday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jim Johnson had pitched three nights in a row and had a day off.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Ayala |Johnson |5/19/12

 
Chicago White Sox – Nate Jones pitched the 8th inning in a one-run game on Friday.  While Robin Ventura still hasn’t declared that he’s moving away from the closer-by-committee he first established a few weeks ago, Addison Reed has been the only one getting save chances.  Meanwhile, Hector Santiago has been relegated to an early innings/mop-up role, while Jones and his 99 mph fastball have been called on in some tight spots.  Hierarchy change: Nate Jones to 2nd in line, replacing Hector Santiago.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Jones |Reed |5/19/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Kerry Wood retired on Friday.  Shawn Camp (2.70 ERA) will take his place as the right-handed set-up man in the Cubs bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Shawn Camp to 2nd in line, replacing Kerry Wood. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/19/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde, day-to-day with a strained back, was expected to return for the weekend series, but Jim Leyland said Friday that he was still ailing, and that Joaquin Benoit would get save chances in his absence.
2. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in four consecutive games.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in two consecutive games, and in four of the last five.
4. David Hernandez, Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz has pitched in back to back games, and in three of the last four.

Brandon League on shaky ground; Jason Frasor ascending

May 18, 2012

Seattle Mariners – Brandon League blew his third save of the season on Thursday.  While his ERA remains at a respectable 3.12, his peripherals (1.44 WHIP, 10 Ks, 10 BBs) are troubling, and the Mariners could look elsewhere if League’s struggles continue.  Brandon League to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Delabar |League |5/18/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Vicente Padilla has three holds this week, and has pitched just ahead of Alfredo Aceves in all three games.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to Set-up, Franklin Morales to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Morales |Bailey |5/18/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Jason Frasor picked up his second hold of the week on Thursday, and has been used regularly in high leverage spots.  Francisco Cordero has been held out of close games as the Jays aim to rebuild his confidence.  Hierarchy change: Jason Frasor to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Frasor |Cordero |Santos |5/18/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams/Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in three consecutive games.
2. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in three consecutive games.

Edward Mujica, Bobby Parnell move in to set-up roles

May 17, 2012

Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek was the first man out of the pen on Thursday, and failed to get out of the 7th inning.  Ever since throwing 52 pitches in a 3-inning appearance earlier this month, Cishek has been shaky (3.2 innings, 2 ER, 7 hits).  Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to Set-up, Steve Cishek to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Mujica |Cishek |Bell |5/17/12

 
New York Mets – Three days ago, Jon Rauch was on the verge of being named the Mets new closer.  But after last night’s meltdown (0.1 innings, 3 ERs), Rauch’s ERA has jumped to 9.00 for the month of May.  Terry Collins will likely look to Bobby Parnell if Frank Francisco continues to falter.  Hierarchy change: Bobby Parnell to Set-up, Jon Rauch to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Parnell |Rauch |Francisco |5/17/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched on back to back nights, and in three of the last four.
2. Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez has pitched in four of the last five games, throwing 72 pitches in that span.

Rafael Soriano closing in New York; Jose Valverde day-to-day

May 16, 2012

Chicago White Sox – Hector Santiago pitched in the 9th inning on Tuesday when the White Sox were down 4 runs.  Though he’s supposedly part of a closer-by-committee in Chicago, Addison Reed and Matt Thornton both seem positioned to get more opportunities than the young lefty.  Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Hector Santiago to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Santiago |Reed |5/16/12

 
Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde pitched to five hitters in the 9th inning on Tuesday before exiting with a sore back.  Octavio Dotel got a one-out save in his place, and Valverde said after the game that he was day-to-day.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |5/16/12

 
New York Yankees – David Robertson was placed on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain.  Rafael Soriano will close until he returns.  Hierarchy change: David Robertson to DL, Rafael Soriano to Closer, Cory Wade to Setup, Boone Logan to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Wade |Logan |Robertson |5/16/12 |Robertson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde tweaked his back in Tuesday’s game and is day-to-day.
2. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back-to-back games- throwing 41 pitches total- and in three of the last four.  The Giants could play match-ups in the 9th inning tonight.

David Robertson to DL, Rafael Soriano to closer

May 15, 2012

New York Yankees – David Robertson was placed on the 15 day DL with a left oblique strain.  Rafael Soriano will take over as closer with Robertson on the DL.  Hierarchy change: David Robertson to DL, Rafael Soriano to Closer, Cory Wade to Setup, Boone Logan to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Wade |Logan |Robertson |5/15/12 |Robertson(DL) |