Bobby Parnell likely to earn a few more save chances; Alexi Ogando rising

August 5, 2012

Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook on Saturday blew his second save in a row and his fourth in his last six chances.  He’s now got 7 blown saves on the year, which leads the league, and could be in danger of losing his job to former closer Grant Balfour.  On the other end of the bullpen, Pat Neshek, called up two days ago, has not allowed a hit in 3 innings while striking out 4, and earned his first hold of the season last night.  Hierarchy change: Pat Neshek to 2nd in line, replacing Sean Doolittle.  Ryan Cook to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Neshek |Cook |8/5/12

 
Texas Rangers – A little over a week ago, reports emerged that the Rangers were trying to stretch Alexi Ogando out, and they seemed validated when Ogando was used for 2.2 innings nine days ago.  But since then, he’s gone back to pitching 1 inning at a time, including last night, when he picked up his second save in a row (Joe Nathan needed a second day off after two marathon outings on Thursday and Friday).  While Mike Adams will stick as the 8th inning guy regardless, Ogando appears to be the man the Rangers will use when Nathan is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Alexi Ogando to Set-up, Mike Adams to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ogando |Adams |Nathan |8/5/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Darren Oliver picked up an 11th inning save on Saturday.  Casey Janssen had already pitched earlier in the night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Oliver |Lyon |Santos |8/5/12

 
Houston Astros – The Astros placed Francisco Cordero on the DL earlier this weekend, and last night, Fernando Rodriguez pitched the 7th inning ahead of Wesley Wright and Wilton Lopez.  Lopez earned his first save.  Hierarchy change: Fernando Rodriguez to 2nd in line, Francisco Cordero to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Rodriguez |Lopez |8/5/12

 
Minnesota Twins – Jared Burton picked up his second save in as many days on Saturday.  Glen Perkins had pitched the 8th inning in a game that had been tied at the time.  The Twins are continuing to use Perkins and Burton in a platoon– Perkins now has 6 saves and Burton has 5– though Perkins still has a slight edge due to his durability and strikeout rate.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Perkins |8/5/12 |Capps(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bobby Parnell, New York Mets – Frank Francisco earned his first save Saturday since coming off the DL.  But his ability to pitch on back-to-back days is in question, and the Mets said that Bobby Parnell will get any save opps when Francisco can’t go.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two consecutive games.  He’s only pitched three in a row once all season, so Broxton will likely get the save chance today.
3. Grant Balfour, Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook has pitched in three straight.
4. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight.
5. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.

Frank Francisco returns from injury, should close right away

August 3, 2012

New York Mets – Frank Francisco is expected to be activated from the DL today.  Bobby Parnell has been OK, but not great, in his place, so Francisco should resume closing immediately.  Hierarchy change: Frank Francisco to Closer, Bobby Parnell to Set-up, Jon Rauch to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Parnell |Rauch |Francisco |8/3/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has had two laborious outings over the last two days, allowing 4 ERs in 2 innings and throwing 62 pitches in the process.  His job is not in jeopardy, but he’ll likely get a night off tonight.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity tonight, as Perkins pitched 2 innings on Thursday.

Mike Dunn earns first save in Miami’s closer-by-committee; Wilton Lopez returns

July 17, 2012

Houston Astros – Wilton Lopez has returned from the disabled list and resumed his 8th inning duties on Monday, throwing a clean inning on Monday ahead of Brett Myers.  Lopez could get save chances if and when the Astros deal Brett Myers.  Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to Set-up, Brandon Lyon to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Myers |Lopez |Lyon |Myers |7/17/12

 
New York Mets – Frank Francisco had a setback in his rehab and will take a few days off before attempting to throw again.  Bobby Parnell remains the team’s closer for the foreseeable future.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Beato |Francisco |7/17/12 |Francisc(DL)|

 
Miami Marlins – Mike Dunn pitched the 9th inning on Monday to pick up his first save of the season.  Heath Bell pitched a clean 8th inning, and is still potentially in the mix for saves, but Cishek and Dunn have gotten the first two opportunities since Ozzie Guillen installed a closer by committee.  Hierarchy change: Mike Dunn to Set-up, Heath Bell to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Dunn |Bell |Bell |7/17/12 |Oviedo(SUSP)|Mujica(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched in four straight games.
2. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – The Marlins are employing a closer-by-committee and thus far, Steve Cishek and Mike Dunn have each picked up one save.  Cishek is still the best bet for a save on any given night, but Dunn could get the call if the Marlins are facing a lefty-heavy 9th inning.

Glen Perkins and Jared Burton to share closer role in Minnesota; Bobby Parnell inherits job in New York

June 25, 2012

Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman surrendered a walkoff HR on Sunday, and has now given 8 runs in his last 6.1 innings.  Chapman still has spectacular season-long numbers, but if he blows another save, Dusty Baker could go back to Sean Marshall, who has a 0.79 ERA in June and has given up just 1 run in his last 17 appearances.  Aroldis Chapman to Hot Seat.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |6/25/12

 
San Francisco Giants – For the second night in a row, Santiago Casilla couldn’t get out of the 9th inning.  On Sunday, he allowed a 3-run walkoff HR, and he’s now given up 5 runs in his last 1.2 innings.  Casilla has been solid all season, but the Giants have a spectacular set-up man in Sergio Romo, who could easily be plugged into the role if Casilla continues to struggle.  Santiago Casilla to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |6/25/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
New York Mets – Frank Francisco was placed on the DL on Sunday with a left oblique strain, and Terry Collins said that Bobby Parnell will get save chances until Francisco returns. Jon Rauch could see save opps if Parnell struggles. Hierarchy change: Bobby Parnell to Closer, Jon Rauch to Set-up, Tim Byrdak to 2nd in line, Frank Francisco to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Byrdak |Francisco |6/25/12 |Francisc(DL)|

 
Minnesota Twins – Matt Capps appears headed for the DL after returning early to Minnesota for an MRI.  Ron Gardenhire said that until Capps’s return, Glen Perkins and Jared Burton would share opportunities based on match ups.  Burton got the call on Sunday, picking up his first save of the season, but Perkins is more likely to see the majority of chances over the next few weeks.  Hierarchy change: Glen Perkins to Closer, Jared Burton to Set-up, Alex Burnett to 2nd in line, Matt Capps to DL. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Capps |6/25/12 |Capps(INJ) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde’s injury isn’t particularly serious, but he will be out through the weekend.  Joaquin Benoit will get save chances until he returns.
2. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in three consecutive games.
3. Jesse Crain/Matt Thornton, Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed has pitched in three consecutive, and the White Sox could play matchups tonight to determine who gets the save chance.
4. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins is most likely to nab a save in Matt Capps’s absence, but Jared Burton could also get an occasional chance.

Bobby Parnell new closer as Mets place Frank Francisco on DL

June 24, 2012
New York Mets – Frank Francisco was placed on the DL with a left oblique strain.  Manager Terry Collins has said that Bobby Parnell will close while Francisco is out.  Hierarchy change: Bobby Parnell to Closer, Jon Rauch to Set-up, Tim Byrdak to 2nd in line, Frank Francisco to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Byrdak |Francisco |6/24/12 |Francisco(INJ) |