Brett Cecil on the verge of losing his job

June 22, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil owners have had it rough. After going more than a month without so much as a save opportunity, Cecil has gotten a few more high-leverage chances in the past two weeks, and has responded by melting down. He began June with a 2.81 ERA, but after allowing 10 runs in his last six appearances (including a brutal outing yesterday), his ERA has shot to 5.96, and beat writers are speculating about whether he’s already lost his job. Cecil, for his part, thinks the issue might be that he’s tipping pitches, and his middle infielders fell on the sword for yesterday’s disaster, saying they should’ve turned a double play. But regardless of the reason, Roberto Osuna seems like a great add for speculators, while the Jays are also reportedly looking at Francisco Rodriguez.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Osuna | Delabar. 

Atlanta Braves – Jason Grilli had pitched in back to back games, so the Braves tapped Jim Johnson for the save chance on Sunday. Johnson converted his fourth save of the season, allowing Closer Monkey to brag about the Vulture Save Watch, as is our wont. Behind him, Nick Masset has supplanted Brandon Cunniff for the 2nd in line spot.

Updated hierarchy: Grilli | Johnson | Masset.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Andrew Chafin picked up a three-inning save on Sunday. He does not factor in to Arizona’s usual late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Ziegler | Hudson | Reed.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jake Petricka, Chicago White Sox – David Robertson has pitched in three straight, and Zach Duke has pitched in two straight and five of six.
2. Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays – Even if he hasn’t lost the job, Brett Cecil threw 33 pitches last night, two days after throwing 32 pitches on Friday. He’ll likely need a night off.

Brett Cecil collects first save; Edward Mujica struggles

April 29, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays –After being named the Blue Jays’ closer early Tuesday, Brett Cecil picked up his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Osuna | Loup.

Boston Red Sox –Not only was Edward Mujica awful on Tuesday, but he was awful in the fourth inning. He balked twice and allowed three runs. Even though Junichi Tazawa has now allowed a home run in each of his last two appearances, he’s been the only decent option out of the Sox ‘pen in front of Uehara this season. Mujica may be designated for assignment thanks to zero saves, zero holds and a 6.30 ERA.

Updated hierarchy: Uehara | Tazawa | Ogando.

New York Yankees –Don’t Panic, Yankees fans. In a game that seemed to move at the Speed of Sound under A Sky Full of Stars, Chris Martin made sure there was no ninth-inning Trouble and recorded his first career save. Both Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances had pitched in back-to-back games.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

Miami Marlins — After a horrible outing on Monday and a sleepless night, Steve Cishek bounced back Tuesday to pick up just his second save of the season. He says his velocity is down “a tick” but that he “starts slowly during the first month of the season”. As April turns into May, Cishek owners hope he can pick up speed and avoid the Hot Seat.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Ramos | Dunn.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek has pitched in three straight and four out of five.
2. Danny Farquhar, Seattle Mariners — Fernando Rodney has thrown in three consecutive games.
3. Pedro Baez/Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers –It could be anybody on any given night in LA.

John Axford gets the first post-Ottavino save chance for Colorado

April 28, 2015

Colorado Rockies — As we told you last night, John Axford was first in line to get a save opportunity with Adam Ottavino headed to the disabled list. Rafael Betancourt could also get some chances, but if you must ride with a Rockies closer, the Ax Man is the choice. And we’re sorry.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek coughed up three runs in the ninth inning on Monday, ruining Jarrod Cosart’s spectacular start. After the game, Cosart had his teammate’s back, reminding the media how effective Cishek has been in his relatively short career as a closer. With A.J. Ramos pitching lights-out in a setup role, however, Miami won’t stick with Cishek forever, especially given his atrocious trend line. Expect to see him discussed on the Hot Seat this week.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Ramos | Dunn.

Toronto Blue Jays – The Jays’ bullpen fell apart late against the Red Sox last night; Roberto Osuna gave up the tying run in the eighth, and Miguel Castro surrendered a walk-off single in the ninth. After the game, John Gibbons said that Brett Cecil would have gotten the save opportunity, had one arisen, although he still has full confidence in Castro. It’s anybody’s guess who will have the edge going forward, but we’ll edge Cecil to the front of what clearly remains a committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Cecil | Castro | Osuna.
*closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Even with Greg Holland’s injury, the Royals have had the best bullpen in the majors this season — and a substantial part of that has been the work of Ryan Madson, out of baseball since 2011 with a series of arm injuries and not even expected to make the Opening Day roster. Madson now has 11 strikeouts in eight appearances, and will continue to get important innings for Kansas City.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Herrera | Madson.

New York Yankees — Another great outing for Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. In 19.2 innings, the two have now allowed no earned runs and eight hits, while striking out 32.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers— Joakim Soria has gone in three straight.
2. Edward Mujica, Boston Red Sox — 40-year-old Koji Uehara has pitched on three of the last four days.
3. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek has pitched in three out of four.
4. Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays — As noted above, Cecil would have gotten the save chance last night.
5. Pedro Baez/Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers — Yimi Garcia was called on in the eighth on Monday. Things are still in flux in the late innings in LA.

Dodgers’ closer committee changes, Seth Maness records save

April 26, 2015

Los Angeles Dodgers — Joel Peralta is experiencing “dead arm” and could be headed to the DL.  Peralta was the head of the Dodgers’ closer committee; it looks like Yimi Garcia could take his place while the Dodgers wait for Kenley Jansen to get back.  Chris Hatcher pitched the 9th protecting a four run lead on Saturday, and both he and Pedro Baez could still get looks as well.

Updated hierarchy: *Garcia | Baez | Hatcher.
*closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals — Seth Maness recorded his first save of the season last night, as Trevor Rosenthal and Jordan Walden were given the night off.  Maness had three saves last season, and could continue to see save chances when the Cardinals’ closer and set-up man are unavailable.  Mitch Harris also made his major league debut yesterday for the Cardinals’ bullpen.  Harris spent five years in the Navy, where he would throw with the cook who was from the Dominican Republic.  Harris won’t factor into the Cardinals’ late inning bullpen plans, but that doesn’t mean the Monkey won’t be rooting for him.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Walden | Maness.

Toronto Blue Jays – All three members of the Blue Jays’ hierarchy contributed to a blown save on Saturday.  Roberto Osuna struck out the first two batters of the 8th inning protecting a one-run lead, but was pulled after he gave up a single to Evan Longoria.  Brett Cecil came on and gave up a single to the only batter he faced.  Finally, the Blue Jays brought in Miguel Castro.  Castro gave up back-to-back doubles, allowing both inherited runners to score, along with one of his own.  Cecil took the loss while Castro got the blown save, his second of the season.  Manager John Gibbons continues to say he will use his relievers situationally, instead of a traditional closer.

Hierarchy remains: *Castro | Osuna | Cecil.
*closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Tom Gorzelanny picked up his first hold of the season yesterday, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings before closer Joakim Soria came on to pitch the 9th.  With Al Alburquerque struggling, Gorzelanny could see more action in the later innings.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Chamberlain | Gorzelanny.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Huston Street has appeared in three straight games.
2. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has pitched three days in a row.
3. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla blew the save yesterday and has pitched in four out of the last five days.
4. Edward Mujica, Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara has pitched in two straight and hasn’t pitched in three straight games so far this season.
5. Pedro Baez/Chris Hatcher – Los Angeles Dodgers – With Joel Peralta injured, the Dodgers’ committee becomes a little more unsettled.