Grant Balfour struggling

May 2, 2012

Oakland A’s – Grant Balfour was summoned in a four-run game, but couldn’t close the door on the Red Sox, allowing two runs before being yanked; Jordan Norberto got the save in his absence.  Given set-up man Ryan Cook’s astonishing season thus far (12 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit), the A’s might be growing impatient with Balfour, who had already blown two of this last three save opps before Tuesday.  Grant Balfour to Hot Seat. 

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

 
New York Mets – Terry Collins indicated at the start of the season that Miguel Batista would be his man on any night that both Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch were unavailable.  But Batista has consistently been the first man out of the bullpen for the Mets, and Bobby Parnell (3.38 ERA, 15/2 K/BB ratio) has been quietly solid.  Hierarchy change: Bobby Parnell to 2nd in line, replacing Miguel Batista.

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

 
Houston Astros – Wilton Lopez, who pitched parts of the 7th and 8th innings last night, has surpassed veteran Brandon Lyon on the Astros depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to 2nd in line, replacing Brandon Lyon.

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

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays – Fernando Rodney has pitched on three straight nights. Peralta could get the save opp on Wednesday.
2. Chad Qualls, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathon Papelbon has pitched on back to back nights, and in three of the last four.  The Phillies could look to Qualls in the 9th today.

Heath Bell on the hot seat; Frank Francisco day-to-day

May 1, 2012

Los Angeles Angels – The ageless LaTroy Hawkins is sporting a 1.17 ERA and bridged the gap to new closer Scott Downs on Monday.  Hierarchy change: LaTroy Hawkins to 2nd in line, replacing Jason Isringhausen.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Downs |Walden |Hawkins |Walden |5/1/12

 
Colorado Rockies – Edgmer Escalona has been used as the late-innings righty out of the Rockies bullpen over the past week, helping to bridge the gap to Rafael Betancourt twice in the last two days.  Hierarchy change: Edgmer Escalona to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Belisle.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Brothers |Escalona |Betancourt |5/1/12

 
Miami Marlins – Heath Bell pitched in a non-save situation and was, again, terrible, allowing the Diamondbacks to score two late insurance runs.  Scouts say his velocity is down, and a big contract can’t protect his job forever.  Heath Bell to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Mujica |Cishek |Bell |5/1/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jon Rauch, New York Mets – Frank Francisco has a tight hamstring and was unavailable Monday.  He’s day to day and could be out today as well.
2. Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays – Fernando Rodney has pitched in back to back games, throwing a total of 44 pitches.
3. Edward Mujica, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell pitched yesterday in a non-save situation and was, again, terrible.  Ozzie Guillen might give him a night off tonight.

Casey Janssen solidifies Toronto set-up role; Santiago and Guerra get the day off

April 30, 2012

Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton’s save last night against the heart of the Red Sox order was explained by Robin Ventura as a matchup-based decision. “Nothing against Hector, he still will be in there in the ninth.” Savvy fantasy owners know, though, that Santiago’s leash is growing shorter and shorter. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/30/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – As predicted in Sunday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kenley Jansen collected the save for the Dodgers, striking out the side with two walks. Don Mattingly stressed after the game that he intends to keep Javy Guerra in the closer role, however. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Lindblom |Guerra |4/30/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Before Sunday’s game, manager John Farrell explicitly identified Casey Janssen as the team’s set-up man, and proved it by using him in a high-leverage eighth. Luis Perez didn’t make the choice difficult, with a four-run tenth on Friday. Hierarchy change: Casey Janssen to Set-Up, Luis Perez to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Cordero |Janssen |Perez |Santos |4/30/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs – Another astonishingly bad outing by Carlos Marmol on Sunday, who responded to a four-run lead by loading the bases and walking in a run before inducing a game-ending groundout. After the game, Dale Sveum reiterated his support for his closer, but also noted, “You’ve got to be patient, but there’s only so much you be patient with.” Indeed. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Dolis |Russell |Marmol |4/30/12 |Wood (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Rafael Dolis, Chicago Cubs — As noted, Carlos Marmol had a bad 34-pitch outing and is in line for some rest on Monday. Dolis went on Sunday, but only threw 10 pitches.
2. Jeff Gray, Minnesota Twins –– Matt Capps threw 30 pitches in his Sunday save, and because Burton and Perkins each set him up, Jeff Gray has the potential to come out for the Twins’ ninth on Monday.
3. Miguel Batista/Ramon Ramirez, New York Mets ––  The Mets managed to overcome lousy performances by Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco on Sunday, and they badly need a comfortable win. If the bullpen is called upon again, however, it may be Batista or Ramirez, two who threw relatively few (and effective) pitches yesterday.

Matt Thornton gets save over Hector Santiago in Chicago

April 29, 2012

Chicago White Sox- Matt Thornton got the save today, working a perfect 1.1 innings with 2 Ks.  Hector Santiago was warming up in the bullpen in the 9th but Thornton made quick work of the Red Sox to finish the game.  Manager Robin Ventura backed Santiago after his last blown save on Wednesday, so it’s hard to say that Thornton is the new closer at this point.  Thornton is having a great season and still may be worth having on your roster but it’s not clear if he will be getting all the saves in the future.  Closer Monkey will continue to monitor the situation to see what manager Robin Ventura has to say.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/29/12

Javy Guerra has another poor outing, Vincente Padilla moving up in Boston pen

April 29, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Josh Lindblom pitched the 8th last night and has been used recently in close game situations in the later innings.  Scott Elbert started the 9th because there were two lefties up and it looks like he will be used more as a situational lefty.  Ultimately Javy Guerra came on and gave up the go ahead runs.  No closer change yet but it will be interesting to see who gets called on for the next save opportunity.  Hierarchy change: Josh Lindblom to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Elbert. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Lindblom |Guerra |4/29/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Vincente Padilla came on to record the last out in the 8th with a 1 run lead last night.  He has had a couple good appearances since his 5 run meltdown and has re-established himself as a late innings option for the Red Sox.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to 2nd in line, replacing Junichi Tazawa.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Morales |Padilla |Bailey |4/29/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers  – Javy Guerra threw 22 pitches giving up the go ahead runs last night and Mattingly may want to give his a closer a mental break on Sunday.  Mattingly also may be finally ready to make the move from Guerra to Jansen.  Either way there is a pretty good chance that Jansen is brought on for the save if there is an opportunity.