Angels begin platoon, Ernesto Frieri on verge of winning job

May 19, 2012

Los Angeles Angels – On Friday, Scott Downs pitched the 8th inning in a 2-run game, and Ernesto Frieri came out for the 9th.  By then, the Angels had tacked on 3 additional runs, so it wasn’t a save opportunity, but Mike Scioscia told the Orange County Registerafter the game that the 9th inning role was in flux. “We’re going to mix and match a little bit,” Scioscia said. “It’s really just a matchup situation. It might change tomorrow.”  Based on their usage and Scioscia’s comments, Frieri appears to be on the verge of winning the permanent job.  Scott Downs to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Downs |Frieri |Walden |Walden |5/19/12 |Hawkins(INJ)|

 
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop picked up a save in the 11th inning on Friday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jim Johnson had pitched three nights in a row and had a day off.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Ayala |Johnson |5/19/12

 
Chicago White Sox – Nate Jones pitched the 8th inning in a one-run game on Friday.  While Robin Ventura still hasn’t declared that he’s moving away from the closer-by-committee he first established a few weeks ago, Addison Reed has been the only one getting save chances.  Meanwhile, Hector Santiago has been relegated to an early innings/mop-up role, while Jones and his 99 mph fastball have been called on in some tight spots.  Hierarchy change: Nate Jones to 2nd in line, replacing Hector Santiago.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Jones |Reed |5/19/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Kerry Wood retired on Friday.  Shawn Camp (2.70 ERA) will take his place as the right-handed set-up man in the Cubs bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Shawn Camp to 2nd in line, replacing Kerry Wood. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/19/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde, day-to-day with a strained back, was expected to return for the weekend series, but Jim Leyland said Friday that he was still ailing, and that Joaquin Benoit would get save chances in his absence.
2. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in four consecutive games.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in two consecutive games, and in four of the last five.
4. David Hernandez, Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz has pitched in back to back games, and in three of the last four.

Rafael Soriano closing in New York; Jose Valverde day-to-day

May 16, 2012

Chicago White Sox – Hector Santiago pitched in the 9th inning on Tuesday when the White Sox were down 4 runs.  Though he’s supposedly part of a closer-by-committee in Chicago, Addison Reed and Matt Thornton both seem positioned to get more opportunities than the young lefty.  Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Hector Santiago to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Santiago |Reed |5/16/12

 
Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde pitched to five hitters in the 9th inning on Tuesday before exiting with a sore back.  Octavio Dotel got a one-out save in his place, and Valverde said after the game that he was day-to-day.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |5/16/12

 
New York Yankees – David Robertson was placed on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain.  Rafael Soriano will close until he returns.  Hierarchy change: David Robertson to DL, Rafael Soriano to Closer, Cory Wade to Setup, Boone Logan to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Wade |Logan |Robertson |5/16/12 |Robertson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde tweaked his back in Tuesday’s game and is day-to-day.
2. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back-to-back games- throwing 41 pitches total- and in three of the last four.  The Giants could play match-ups in the 9th inning tonight.

Henry Rodriguez inching ahead of Lidge for saves

April 21, 2012

Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez got another save on Friday, and now has four this season to Brad Lidge’s two.  Lidge has also been suffering from vertigo which has limited his availability in recent days, and while Davey Johnson continues to maintain that he’ll use both pitchers in the 9th inning, Rodriguez is now the preferable guy to own, if you only have room for one.  Hierarchy change: Henry Rodriguez to Closer, Brad Lidge to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Lidge |Clippard |Storen |4/21/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla only pitched to one batter in the 9th on Friday, giving up a single before giving way to Javier Lopez, who faced the next two batters (both lefties).  The duo combined to blow the save, which was eventually recorded by Clay Hensley in the bottom of the 10th.  Bruce Bochy has said that he would use a committee to close games, and he proved his statement true on Friday.  Casilla will be a short leash in the future.  Santiago Casilla to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |4/21/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Philadelphia Phillies – Jose Contreras returned from the disabled list yesterday, pitching the 7th inning ahead of Chad Qualls and Jonathan Papelbon.  Contreras should continue to be used in this role, as Antonio Bastardo has settled into a LOOGY role as of late.  Hierarchy change: Jose Contreras to 2nd in line, replacing Antonio Bastardo.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPHI |Papelbon |Qualls |Contreras |Papelbon |4/21/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brad Lidge, Washington Nationals – With Henry Rodriguez now the listed closer, it’s Brad Lidge’s turn to headline the Vulture Save Watch regularly. Rodriguez got the save yesterday, so if Lidge has kicked his vertigo, it’ll be his turn.
2. Vinnie Pestano, Cleveland Indians – Chris Perez has pitched on two consecutive days, and in three of the last four.
3. Mike Adams/Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers – The Rangers and Tigers play a doubleheader today, and while Jose Valverde should close both games for the Tigers if necessary, Joe Nathan may not be able to, giving Adams or Ogando a possible opportunity if the Rangers sweep in two close games.
4. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Jordan Walden pitched yesterday, throwing 27 pitches, two days after throwing 31 pitches on Wednesday.  He could get the night off.

Sergio Romo to close in SF; George Sherrill injured

April 15, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Brian Wilson’s season is likely over.  After complaining of elbow soreness on Friday night, the Giants sent him for tests, where an MRI showed structural damage to his right elbow.  Bruce Bochy said that the Giants will go closer-by-committee at first; on Friday, Santiago Casilla came on and pitched a clean 8th inning in a tie game, then pitched part of the 9th before Javier Lopez finished the inning.  The Giants walked off in the bottom half, so there was no save opportunity, but based on their usage both tonight and earlier this season, Sergio Romo is the best bet to seize the permanent job.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Santiago Casilla to Set-up, Javier Lopez to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Casilla |Lopez |Wilson |4/15/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Seattle Mariners – George Sherrill was placed on the disabled list yesterday with elbow soreness.  Lefthander Lucas Luetge, reliable in three outings so far, moves up on the depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Lucas Luetge to 2nd in line, replacing George Sherrill. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Luetge |League |4/15/12

 
Minnesota Twins – Jeff Gray has established himself as the go-to lefty in the Twins bullpen, and has surpassed Alex Burnett on the depth chart, who thus far is mostly being used in long relief.  Hierarchy change: Jeff Gray to 2nd in line, replacing Alex Burnett.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Capps |Perkins |Gray |Capps |4/15/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals – Rodriguez, who is the co-closer for the Nats, may get the next save opp.  As noted before, he should be owned in all leagues in case he wins the permanent job.
2. Jonny Venters, Atlanta Braves – Craig Kimbrel has pitched on back-to-back nights, and in four of the last five days.  Venters’s usage has been similar, but he hasn’t thrown as many pitches and could get a save opp if the Braves rest Kimbrel.
3. Edward Mujica/Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell blew the save last night and has pitched on two consecutive days, throwing 46 pitches.  The Marlins will probably go to Bell again tonight, but only because the rest of the Marlins’ top relievers are equally taxed; Edward Mujica and Steve Cishek have both pitched on three consecutive nights, though they’ve both thrown fewer pitches than Bell.

Brian Wilson’s season in jeopardy; Sergio Romo likely to close

April 14, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Brian Wilson’s season is likely over.  After complaining of elbow soreness on Friday night, the Giants sent him for tests, where an MRI showed structural damage to his right elbow.  Bruce Bochy said that the Giants will go closer-by-committee at first, though Sergio Romo is the best bet to seize the permanent job.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Santiago Casilla to Set-up, Javier Lopez to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Casilla |Lopez |Wilson |4/14/12 |Wilson (DL) |

 
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