Brad Ziegler moving up in Arizona; more wackiness in Detroit

April 6, 2013

Detroit Tigers — Jim Leyland is just messing with us now, leaving long man Drew Smyly in for a four-inning save, as the Tigers slowly pulled away from the Yankees. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Coke |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/6/13

 
Arizona Diamondbacks — Arizona has used Brad Ziegler in a few high-leverage spots so far this season, while Heath Bell’s only appearance left him with an 81.00 ERA and more home runs allowed than batters retired. At this point, Bell is strictly a reliever of last resort. Hierarchy change: Brad Ziegler to 2nd in line, replacing Heath Bell.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Ziegler |Putz |4/6/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Charlie Furbush, Seattle Mariners –– Tom Wilhelmsen loaded the bases and needed 34 pitches to get last night’s save. Stephen Pryor could be sidelined too; he threw 28 pitches over two innings himself.
2. Mike Dunn/Jon Rauch, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek threw 30 pitches on Friday and 10 on Thursday.

Stephen Pryor continuing strong season

September 27, 2012

Seattle Mariners – Stephen Pryor pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Mariners on Wednesday, and was saddled with the loss when Torii Hunter drove in the game winning run in the 9th.  But despite the rough outing, Pryor has been stellar as of late, and has been repeatedly trusted in late-inning spots.  Hierarchy change: Stephen Pryor to 2nd in line, replacing Charlie Furbush.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Kinney |Pryor |Wilhelmsen |9/27/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in two straight and four of the last five, and Kevin Jepsen has pitched 4 innings over the past four days.
2. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.

Josh Kinney, Junichi Tazawa ascending

September 23, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Junichi Tazawa pitched the 9th inning in a tie game on Saturday.  He’s been the most reliable Boston reliever over the last few weeks, including Andrew Bailey, and has earned the trust of Bobby Valentine.  Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to Set-up, Vicente Padilla to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Tazawa |Padilla |Bailey |9/23/12

 
New York Mets – Jon Rauch picked up a save on Saturday.  Frank Francisco was reportedly available, but the Mets left Rauch in even after he allowed a HR.  Francisco remains on the Hot Seat, which has basically been a second home for the Mets closer this year, but he hasn’t lost the job yet, as the Mets were probably just giving him an extra day to recover from a nagging injury that kept him out of a few games earlier this week.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Parnell |Francisco |9/23/12

 
Seattle Mariners – Josh Kinney pitched the 8th inning ahead of Tom Wilhelmsen on Saturday.  Charlie Furbush, one of the most consistent relievers in the Seattle bullpen earlier this year, hasn’t seen much action as of late.  Hierarchy change: Josh Kinney to Set-up, Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Kinney |Furbush |Wilhelmsen |9/23/12

 
Kansas City Royals – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kelvin Herrera got the save for the Royals on Saturday.  Greg Holland had pitched in three straight and got the night off.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |9/23/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
2. Josh Kinney, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched in two straight, and has thrown 6 innings over the past five days.
3. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.

Joba rules the 7th once more; League edges ahead in Los Angeles

September 13, 2012

New York Yankees – For the second straight night, Boone Logan entered in the 7th and failed to retire the hitter he was summoned to face — and for the second straight night, it was Joba Chamberlain who relieved him and finished the inning. Hierarchy change: Joba Chamberlain to 2nd in line, replacing Boone Logan.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Robertson |Chamberlain |Robertson |9/13/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched the 8th inning with the Dodgers down a run last night. Although Don Mattingly has yet to commit to Brandon League as the interim closer, League’s experience seems to have given him the edge in the platoon. Hierarchy change: Brandon League to Closer, Ronald Belisario to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |League |Belisario |Guerrier |Jansen |9/13/12 |Jansen(INJ) |

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – With J.J. Putz out with an ailing back, David Hernandez picked up his second straight save. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Ziegler |Putz |9/13/12

 
Oakland A’s – As expected, Grant Balfour got the night off after three straight games of work, and it was Ryan Cook summoned for a one-out save. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Balfour |Cook |Doolittle |Cook |9/13/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Jonathan Broxton had pitched in four of the past five games, so the Reds used young J.J. Hoover in a one-run ninth. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Madson |9/13/12

 
Washington Nationals – Drew Storen nabbed his second save last night, as we predicted, while Tyler Clippard enjoyed a restful evening. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Storen |Burnett |Storen |9/13/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in two straight games and three of the last four, and Philippe Aumont pitched the 8th last night.
2. Charlie Furbush, Seattle Mariners – Two straight outings for Tom Wilhelmsen could give Furbush an opportunity on Thursday.

Giants continue to use committee; Charlie Furbush climbing in Seattle

August 21, 2012

Seattle Mariners – Charlie Furbush, who came off the DL last week, pitched the 7th inning in a tie game on Monday, then stayed on for the 8th after the Mariners took the lead.  Seattle has struggled to find a consistent 8th inning man ahead of Tom Wilhelmsen, but Furbush could become that guy.  When healthy, he’s been very solid, posting a 2.03 ERA and 0.78 WHIP.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to Set-up, Lucas Luetge to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |Luetge |Wilhelmsen |8/21/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez picked up a one-out save on Monday after Sergio Romo got the first two outs in the 9th.  The Giants continue to use a closer-by-committee, with Jeremy Affeldt still the most likely candidate to get a save on any given night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/21/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. 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.