Heath Bell hits the Hot Seat; Tom Wilhelmsen needed in Seattle

June 18, 2013

Seattle Mariners — Carter Capps was summoned in the sixth inning with the Mariners trailing by two. By the time he and Charlie Furbush were done spinning their craft, Seattle was down by nine. Eric Wedge has consistently said that Tom Wilhelmsen’s “mental break” from closing will be short-lived; add that to Monday’s debacle and Wedge’s use of Yoervis Medina in the ninth on Saturday, and you have a recipe for wholesale changes in the Seattle pen. Hierarchy change: Tom Wilhelmsen to Set-up, Yoervis Medina to 2nd in line.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
SEA.Oliver Perez.Tom Wilhelmsen.Yoervis Medina.Tom Wilhelmsen.6/18/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

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Arizona Diamondbacks — Heath Bell was the losing pitcher on Monday night; the game marked the third straight appearance in which Bell allowed at least one run. Heath Bell to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ARIHeath BellDavid HernandezBrad ZieglerJJ Putz6/18/13
JJ Putz (DL)

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Detroit Tigers — Drew Smyly retired all nine men he faced last night, earning an impressive three-inning save that both inserts him into the Tigers’ closer debate and illustrates why he’s unlikely to be seriously considered. After the game, Jim Leyland reiterated that he will use a “mix and match” approach to future save opportunities, which could involve everyone but starter Rick Porcello. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
DETJose ValverdeJoaquin BenoitDrew SmylyBruce Rondon6/18/13

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Cincinnati Reds — After Johnny Cueto’s successful return from the disabled list on Sunday, Dusty Baker and the Reds had to decide what to do with their sixth starter, talented young lefty Tony Cingrani. On Monday, Baker announced they would move Cingrani to the bullpen — a move the Reds may look into patenting — and he promptly got two high-leverage outs in a tight eighth inning. Cingrani is too valuable a starter to use in relief over the long term, but given the injuries to Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall, his presence in the bullpen will be a welcome one as long as it lasts. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CINAroldis ChapmanSam LeCureJ.J. HooverJonathan Broxton6/18/13
Jonathan Broxton (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres — Huston Street has pitched in three straight games since his return from the disabled list.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers — Ron Roenicke has promised to give K-Rod the chance to reach 300 career saves, and he’s still stuck at 298.
3. Joaquin Benoit/Phil Coke, Detroit Tigers — Joaquin Benoit or Phil Coke could get a save anytime that Jim Leyland prefer them to Jose Valverde in a matchup. Drew Smyly is out of the picture after a three-inning outing.
4. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland has thrown 40 pitches over the last two games.

Brandon League with yet another blown save; Kenley Jansen awaits

June 11, 2013

Los Angeles Dodgers — After an effective eighth from Kenley Jansen, Brandon League was a comprehensive disaster, allowing four runs to earn the Dodgers their league-leading 13th blown save of the year. League has a 6.00 ERA and four blown saves; Jansen has 44 strikeouts in 32 innings and a WHIP of 1.00. Don Mattingly suggested that he was playing matchups by using League to close, but the best type of matchup for the Dodgers right now is the one that leaves him in the bullpen. Brandon League to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LADBrandon LeagueKenley JansenPaco RodriguezKenley Jansen6/11/13

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San Diego Padres — After Tim Stauffer gave up a three-run homer to let the Braves back into the game in the ninth inning, it was Dale Thayer (as predicted in yesterday’s VSW) who nailed down the ensuing (chancy) save. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SDLuke GregersonDale ThayerJoe ThatcherHuston Street6/11/13
Huston Street (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ramon Troncoso, Chicago White Sox — If Robin Ventura sends Addison Reed out for a fourth consecutive game, less than a week after keeping him in for three innings and 55 pitches, someone ought to put him in another headlock. Most other Sox relievers have also pitched a lot lately, so it could be Troncoso time on Tuesday.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers — Although Jim Henderson is Milwaukee’s closer, Ron Roenicke has promised, in a surfeit of benevolence, to help K-Rod get to 300 saves. He needs two more.
3. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland pitched in his second straight game on Monday; notably, it was his fifth appearance in six days, over which he has thrown a whopping 86 pitches. Holland has been very effective, but some rest should be in order.
4. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox — Andrew Bailey needed 32 pitches to blow a save in the tenth last night, just one day after he threw 24. Tazawa went for 20 pitches on Monday, but he had Sunday off.
5. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers — Don Mattingly claims (however disingenuously) that he would have used Jansen in the ninth depending on matchups, so he might get another shot at a save going forward.
6. Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays — Fernando Rodney threw 33 pitches last night in a 1.2-inning appearance.

Joe Nathan, forever waiting, for a save that will never come

June 7, 2013

Texas Rangers — Ron Washington used Tanner Scheppers in a tied eighth inning, but since (as everyone knows) “you can’t use your closer on the road in the ninth inning of a tie ballgame,” out came Michael Kirkman and his 2.18 ERA WHIP for the ninth. Double, intentional walk, three-run homer, ballgame. Maybe Ron and Joe Nathan had dinner reservations. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TEXJoe NathanTanner ScheppersRobbie RossJoe Nathan6/7/13

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San Diego Padres — After Luke Gregerson pitched the 10th and 11th innings of a tied game (on the road!), the save opportunity fell to Brad Boxberger in the 12th. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
 SDLuke GregersonDale ThayerJoe ThatcherHuston Street6/7/13
Huston Street (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jesse Crain/Ramon Troncoso, Chicago White Sox — Addison Reed threw three innings on Wednesday night and might not be ready to go until Saturday. Jesse Crain has pitched in two straight games, so if he’s out too, the Sox will likely turn to recent callup Troncoso, who earned eight saves in ten opportunities for AAA Charlotte.
2. Joe Thatcher, San Diego Padres — Luke Gregerson pitched two innings on Thursday night in his second straight day of work. Dale Thayer has also pitched in two straight, and gave up two runs last night.
3. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland needed 20 pitches in a non-save ninth, one night after he threw 26.

A new closer every day in Boston

May 7, 2013

Boston Red Sox — Joel Hanrahan’s ignoble return to the Boston bullpen lasted for precisely four batters, one of whom tapped him for a game-tying home run. To add injury to insult (and injury), Hanrahan left shortly thereafter with “right forearm tightness.” We believe Junichi Tazawa has a slight edge over Koji Uehara, but either or both could be used in the closer role. Although Craig Breslow (fresh from his own DL stint) is now the third-best healthy reliever in the Red Sox pen, Daniel Bard or Alfredo Aceves could also conceivably join what has become a disturbingly threadbare crew. Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to Closer, Koji Uehara to Set-up, Craig Breslow to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Tazawa |Uehara |Breslow |Bailey |5/7/13 |Bailey(DL) |Hanrahan(DL)|

 
Cleveland Indians — Vinnie Pestano was placed on the 15-day DL with a sore right elbow. Hierarchy change: Joe Smith to Set-up, Bryan Shaw to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Smith |Shaw |C.Perez |5/7/13 |Pestano (DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jamey Wright, Tampa Bay Rays — Fernando Rodney threw 37 pitches in last night’s game and Joel Peralta threw for two innings.
2. Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland blew a save yesterday and has pitched in two straight games; Kelvin Herrera pitched two innings after Holland left the game.

Another save for Kelvin Herrera; Jake McGee ascending

April 11, 2013

Kansas City Royals – Kelvin Herrera picked up his second save of the season on Wednesday, striking out three Twins in the process.  Greg Holland had the night off after a heavy workload on Tuesday, and remains on the Hot Seat, especially given how impressive Herrera has been in the early going.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |4/11/13

 
Tampa Bay Rays – Jake McGee pitched the 7th inning last night, a role he has settled into nicely.  Kyle Farnsworth, meanwhile, hasn’t pitched in many high-leverage situations in the early going.  Hierarchy change: Jake McGee to 2nd in line, replacing Kyle Farnsworth.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTB |Rodney |Peralta |McGee |Rodney |4/11/13