Another meltdown for Marmol

May 5, 2013

Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol was summoned for the 8th inning with the Cubs up 2.  He proceeded to walk 2 batters and hit another before being pulled without recording an out.  All three runners ended up scoring and Marmol was charged with the loss.  Dale Sveum may have finally lost all confidence in Marmol.   It’s hard to imagine the Cubs using Marmol in any meaningful situations moving forward.  Hierarchy change: James Russell to Set-up, Shawn Camp to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Gregg |Russell |Camp |Fujikawa |5/5/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joel Hanrahan, Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey is day-to-day with biceps soreness.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back to back games, including a 32 pitch outing on Friday.

 

Kevin Gregg closing, Joba Chamberlain with a save

April 28, 2013

New York Yankees – Mariano Rivera and David Robertson both got the night off after pitching in three of the previous four games.  Joba Chamberlain gave up a couple hits in the 9th but ultimately got the save.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Rivera |Robertson |Chamberlain |Robertson |4/28/13

 
Cincinnati Reds – Sean Marshall returned from the DL and pitched a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts last night.  Look for Marshall to slide back into that late inning role for the Reds and could be an option to close when Chapman needs a day off depending on the matchups.   Hierarchy change: Sean Marshall to 2nd in line, replacing Sam LeCure.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Broxton |4/28/13

 
(UPDATED April 27, 2013 10:18 PM EDT) Chicago Cubs – Another 9th inning opportunity for Kevin Gregg, and a perfect inning for his third save of the season.  As we’ve said, Kyuji Fujikawa should take back over when he returns, so much of this is elementary; however, hard as it is to believe, Kevin Gregg appears to be the reliever to own now in Chicago.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Gregg to Closer, Carlos Marmol to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Gregg |Marmol |Russell |Fujikawa |4/27/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in two straight and five of the last six.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.

 

Kevin Gregg now the closer in Chicago. Yes, really.

April 27, 2013

Chicago Cubs – Another 9th inning opportunity for Kevin Gregg, and a perfect inning for his third save of the season.  As we’ve said, Kyuji Fujikawa should take back over when he returns, so much of this is elementary; however, hard as it is to believe, Kevin Gregg appears to be the reliever to own now in Chicago.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Gregg to Closer, Carlos Marmol to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Gregg |Marmol |Russell |Fujikawa |4/27/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

Valverde and Marmol, no strangers to the hot seat

April 24, 2013

Detroit Tigers – After a short stint in the minors, Jose Valverde has been called up to the big leagues and will close starting today.  Joaquin Benoit will return to his familiar 8th inning role. Three innings of class-A ball might have been enough to wow Jim Leyland, but in our book, Valverde starts out on the Hot Seat. Hierarchy change: Jose Valverde to Closer, Joaquin Benoit to Set-up, Phil Coke to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Rondon |4/24/13

 
Los Angeles Angels — With Kevin Jepsen on the disabled list with a strained triceps, Scott Downs has been pitching the eighth inning in front of Ernesto Frieri. Downs blew a save last night, the result of an error, but Dane De La Rosa earned the win with two perfect innings of work.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Jepsen to DL, Scott Downs to Set-Up, Dane De La Rosa to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |De La Rosa |Frieri |4/24/13 |Madson(INJ) |Jepsen (DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs — With a runner on second and lefty slugger Joey Votto at the plate with one out in a tight ninth inning, Dale Sveum inexplicably passed over James Russell and put his faith in Votto’s 15 at bats against . . . Carlos Marmol. “Those numbers don’t lie,” Sveum later explained, incorrectly. Marmol gave up a single, the Reds tied the game, and (as predicted, somehow) Kevin Gregg picked up the vulture save. When will the sample size of Sveum’s bullpen mismanagement grow too large to ignore? Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Russell |Camp |Fujikawa |4/24/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
New York Mets – In both of Bobby Parnell’s saves this year, Scott Rice proved a competent 8th inning bridge. After Brandon Lyon’s debacle in the 7th inning of last night’s loss, we believe Rice will hold on to that position.  Hierarchy change: Scott Rice to Set-up, Brandon Lyon to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rice |Lyon |Parnell |4/24/13 |Francis(INJ)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Shawn Camp/James Russell, Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol has had two straight long outings and Kevin Gregg remains Kevin Gregg.
2. Sean Burnett, Los Angeles Angels — The top three Angel relievers have each pitched in three straight games, leaving the lefty as the most trustworthy option.

Marmol likely to close again until Fujikawa’s return

April 23, 2013

Chicago Cubs — James Russell came on in the 7th and gave up a tying triple. He stayed on for a scoreless 8th, then was relieved by Carlos Marmol, who pitched a passable 9th and 10th, finishing with a strikeout of Joey Votto. The seas are turning blood red, frogs are falling from the sky, and Carlos Marmol is probably the Cubs’ closer again — for now. Beware. Hierarchy change: Carlos Marmol to Closer, James Russell to Set-Up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Russell |Camp |Fujikawa |4/23/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox — John Farrell is running Andrew Bailey into the ground, sending him out for a third straight game to capture a low-leverage three-run save. Bailey hasn’t had two days of rest in two weeks, but surely must be off tomorrow.
2. Shawn Camp/Kevin Gregg, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has pitched in two straight games and is often saved for lefty matchups, while Carlos Marmol had a lengthy outing yesterday. If the Cubs need a save tomorrow, the options will be even less promising than normal.
3. Joe Smith, Cleveland Indians — Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano have each pitched in the last two games.