Pedro Strop looking to get back on track; Mitchell Boggs continues to implode

April 22, 2013

Baltimore Orioles – Nearly all season, Darren O’Day has served as the 8th inning man for the Orioles.  Pedro Strop was the go-to set-up man for Baltimore last year, but has struggled out of the box this year, having posted a 9.45 ERA through the season’s first three weeks.  He pitched yesterday in the 7th inning of a game the Orioles were losing, and will need to get back on track before he’s used in high-leverage situations again.  Hierarchy change: Darren O’Day to Set-up, Pedro Strop to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |O'Day |Strop |Johnson |4/22/13

 
Miami Marlins – Jon Rauch faced six batters on Sunday and five of them reached base, and when the dust cleared, the Reds had plated eight runs in the inning and Rauch’s ERA had ballooned to 9.45.  Until he figures it out, the Marlins are unlikely to go to Rauch in high-leverage spots.  That duty will likely fall to AJ Ramos or Chad Qualls, the former of which has 16 Ks in 11.2 innings pitched thus far.  Hierarchy change: AJ Ramos to 2nd in line, replacing Jon Rauch.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Dunn |Ramos |Cishek |4/22/13

 
Texas Rangers – Michael Kirkman picked up a 3-inning save in a blowout on Sunday.  He does not figure in to the normal late-inning hierarchy in Texas.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ross |Scheppers |Nathan |4/22/13

 
St. Louis Cardinals – Mitchell Boggs’s nightmare season continued on Sunday, as he was summoned in a tie game in the 8th inning, and allowed four runs while only recording one out.  With an ERA that now stands at 12.46, he’s got a long way to go before he returns to any kind of substantial role in the Cardinals bullpen.  Trevor Rosenthal will be the guy to set up Edward Mujica for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Trevor Rosenthal to Set-up, Mitchell Boggs to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Mujica |Rosenthal |Boggs |Motte |4/22/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey has pitched on two straight days and on four of the last five.
2. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – James Russell pitched in the 7th inning of a game the Cubs were losing Sunday. As we’ve stated before, he is the best reliever in the Cubs bullpen, and it isn’t even close; however, it might be Carlos Marmol who is summoned in an upcoming save situation.

Carlos Marmol surprising everyone by pitching well; Edward Mujica gets first save

April 19, 2013

Chicago Cubs – James Russell is, overwhelmingly, the best reliever in the Cubs bullpen, but the young lefty, who hasn’t given up a run all season, still hasn’t appealed to Dale Sveum as a 9th inning reliever.  Last night, with the Cubs up four runs, it was Carlos Marmol who pitched the 9th, after Russell had mowed down three lefties in the 8th.  This all might be elementary at this point, since Kyuji Fujikawa will probably return to the role when he comes off the DL.  But for the next week or so, Marmol could be the preferred closer for the time being.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Marmol |Camp |Fujikawa |4/19/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
Atlanta Braves – Jordan Walden’s usage has been sporadic thus far this season, which perhaps stems from the coaching staff’s reluctance to overwork him after he missed time during the spring.  With his electric stuff, we expect him to take over the 8th inning role at some point, but so far this season, Eric O’Flaherty has been the man bridging the gap to Craig Kimbrel.  O’Flaherty pitched again last night, and despite underwhelming peripherals (4/3 K/BB ratio), he picked up his 5th hold of the season.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to Set-up, Jordan Walden to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Walden |Kimbrel |4/19/13

 
Seattle Mariners – Stephen Pryor hit the disabled list earlier this week, so last night, it was Carter Capps who bridged the gap to Tom Wilhelmsen.  Capps threw 2 scoreless innings and picked up the win, and could share 8th inning duties with Charlie Furbush until Pryor’s return.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to Set-up, Carter Capps to 2nd in line, Stephen Pryor to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |Capps |Wilhelmsen |4/19/13 |Pryor(DL) |

 
St. Louis Cardinals — As predicted, Edward Mujica got his chance to close tonight, and although he made things interesting with a couple singles to lead off the ninth, he managed to escape with the save. He should be the man in St. Louis going forward. Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to Closer, Mitchell Boggs to Set-Up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Mujica |Boggs |Rosenthal |Motte |4/18/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Charlie Furbush, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched 3 innings over the past two days.
2. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – With the Cubs bullpen completely unsettled, Marmol could return to the role.

Shawn Camp melts down again; James Russell and Carlos Marmol now leading Chicago save chase

April 16, 2013

Chicago Cubs – Another Shawn Camp meltdown tonight — this time in the 8th inning of a one-run game the Cubs were losing — means the weathered righthander is almost certainly finished as the Chicago closer.  James Russell still has a 0.00 ERA on the season, and is the fan favorite to inherit the role, but somewhat surprisingly, Carlos Marmol is also in the mix once again.  Two days after saying that Marmol wouldn’t be part of any 9th-inning platoon, Dale Sveum said Tuesday morning that Marmol was “working his way back into” the closer role.  Russell and Marmol are now the two men to watch for Chicago saves until Kyuji Fujikawa returns.  Hierarchy change: James Russell to Closer, Carlos Marmol to Set-up, Shawn Camp to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Marmol |Camp |Fujikawa |4/16/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

Marmol out on Chicago’s North Side; Crain ascending in the South

April 7, 2013

Chicago Cubs — It seems that Carlos Marmol is finally done as the Cubs closer after giving up two home runs in the ninth to lose to Atlanta. Although Dale Sveum pointed out that Kyuji Fujikawa also pitched poorly on Saturday night, and offered Shawn Camp and James Russell as potential alternatives, we believe the Cub most likely to land in the closer role is the longtime Japanese relief ace.  Hierarchy change: Kyuji Fujikawa to Closer, Shawn Camp to Set-Up, James Russell to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Fujikawa |Camp |Russell |Fujikawa |4/7/13

 
Chicago White Sox — The Sox turned to Jesse Crain in a very important spot in the eighth inning on Saturday, and it seems that he has moved ahead of Matt Lindstrom in Chicago’s bullpen. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Lindstrom.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Crain |Reed |4/7/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ronald Belisario, Los Angeles Dodgers –– Brandon League and Kenley Jansen have each pitched in two straight games.
2. Matt Belisle, Colorado Rockies — Rafael Betancourt has thrown twice in a row.

Carlos Marmol finally out as Cubs closer

April 7, 2013

Chicago Cubs — It seems that Carlos Marmol is finally done as the Cubs closer after giving up two home runs in the ninth to lose to Atlanta. Although Dale Sveum pointed out that Kyuji Fujikawa also pitched poorly on Saturday night, and offered Shawn Camp and James Russell as potential alternatives, we believe the Cub most likely to land in the closer role is the longtime Japanese relief ace.  Hierarchy change: Kyuji Fujikawa to Closer, Shawn Camp to Set-Up, James Russell to 2nd in line.