Carter Capps injured; Santiago Casilla roughed up

August 4, 2015

Miami Marlins – Carter Capps has recently become a target of baseball writing’s OG, due to the success he’s having with his probably-should-be-illegal delivery. But Bill James won’t have to fret about Capps for at least the next few weeks — the otherworldly set-up man has been placed on the DL.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Dunn | Morris.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Up by six runs against the Nationals, the Diamondbacks sent set-up man Daniel Hudson out for the 9th inning, whereupon the righthander had his worst outing of the season, allowing four runs to score while only recording one out. Brad Ziegler had to come in to put out the fire. If you’re in a holds league, a name to watch in the Arizona bullpen is former closer Addison Reed, who has pitched 5 solid innings (6 Ks, 0 BBs, 1 ER) since returning to the bigs.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Reed.

San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla blew the save last night, allowing a 2-run home run to AJ Pierzynski with 2 out in the 9th inning. The Giants went on to lose in the 12th inning, and Casilla received the usual wave of Twitter hate in the aftermath of his outing. An interesting dynamic is developing in San Francisco, where the top two relievers in the hierarchy (Casilla and Sergio Romo) are being handily outpitched by the second-tier guys (Hunter Strickland, George Kontos, Javier Lopez). We will cover this situation more when the Hot Seat column makes its return on Thursday.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Strickland.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew McKirahan/David Aardsma, Atlanta Braves – Arodys Vizcaino has pitched in three straight. Normally, this would mean a chance for Andrew McKirahan, but he’s also gotten a lot of work lately (55 pitches in the last four games), meaning David Aardsma could get a shot.
2. Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners – Carson Smith has pitched in three straight.

Santiago Casilla out a few days; Bruce Rondon gets doors blown off

July 3, 2015

San Francisco Giants — Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that he’s going to “back off” from using closer Santiago Casilla for a few days after the pitcher reported a “tired arm.” Casilla didn’t record an out Wednesday night, giving up a three-run shot to Justin Bour to blow the game. As you might expect, Sergio Romo will get the first shot at closing, but Bochy could also play the matchups, which means lefty Javier Lopez or righty Hunter Strickland might get a shot.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Strickland.

Texas Rangers — Former Rangers closer Neftali Feliz was activated from the disabled list Thursday and could factor into the team’s late-inning plans, despite a rough time of it during his rehab outings (7.36 ERA over 11 innings). We’ll see how manager Jeff Bannister chooses to use Feliz in the early going, but have no fear — Shawn Tolleson is still the closer moving forward. If Feliz continues to struggle, Texas might have a difficult decision to make, because (as a veteran with five years of service time) Feliz can decline any minor league option.

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Scheppers | Kela.

Detroit Tigers – What’s going on out in the Tigers bullpen on a nightly basis? Other than Joakim Soria, this team can’t seem to find any stability from its relief corps. The latest example of inconsistency was Bruce Rondon, who allowed four runs on four hits while recording just one out before getting yanked. Rondon’s outing was especially crushing, as Detroit had just scored three runs to get within one. One bad performance won’t shake our confidence in Rondon yet, but that 12.00 ERA sure doesn’t look pretty in the box score.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Chamberlain | Rondon.

Toronto Blue Jays — Setup man Steve Delabar has been dynamite for the Jays all season, but he came unglued Thursday night against the Red Sox, uncorking three wild pitches in just two-thirds of an inning (he only had two all year entering the game). Delabar also allowed three runs on three hits and a walk. Perhaps this disastrous outing was an aberration, but his command was all over the place, so his performance moving forward bears watching. In other news, the Jays had to use every member of the bullpen in Thursday’s 12-6 loss after starter Matt Boyd failed to record an out, allowing seven runs in the first inning.

Hierarchy remains: *Osuna | Delabar | Schultz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants — With Casilla out the next few days, Romo is the most likely to get the call. If Bochy decides to play matchups, he could end up using lefty Javier Lopez.
2. Jeremy Jeffress/Jonathan Broxton, Milwaukee Brewers — Closer Francisco Rodriguez has pitched in four of the last five days and may need a break Friday. It’s also Independence Day weekend, so Will Smith — who has also pitched in four of five — may be a bit busy with other… matters. Look for Jeffress or maybe even Broxton, who has that invaluable “closing experience” managers love, to close if needed.
3. Hector Rondon/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Nothing is ever easy with Joe Maddon as the closer committee drags on in Chicago. Jason Motte had the most recent save, but Rondon or Strop get the next chance?
4. Carson Smith, Seattle Mariners — Smith was warming for the ninth inning on Wednesday, and could get the call in Seattle’s continued closer-by-committee.
5. Tommy Kahnle, Colorado Rockies — If John Axford remains out on Friday, the Rockies will turn to LaTroy Hawkins or Kahnle.

Sergio Romo could start seeing save chances again

August 29, 2014

San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla picked up the save on Thursday afternoon, but he did so with Jeremy Affeldt warming up in the bullpen. After the game, Bruce Bochy said he intends to use both Casilla and Sergio Romo — as well as Affeldt and Javier Lopez — in the game’s final innings. This isn’t a huge shock, as Casilla had been struggling and was already on our Hot Seat, but Romo appears to be a decent bet for at least a small handful of saves down the stretch.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Affeldt.

New York Mets – Vic Black was placed on the DL retroactive to Aug. 24 with a herniated disk in his neck. Daisuke Matsuzaka would’ve been our choice to replace him, but he had a rough return to the bigs on Thursday, giving up 3 runs in 0.2 innings. Until Matsuzaka sorts it out, we’ll go with swingman Carlos Torres for the 2nd in line spot for now. Torres has pitched 9.2 consecutive scoreless innings.

Updated hierarchy: Mejia | Familia | Torres.

Houston Astros – Chad Qualls, who earlier this month was nursing a few minor injuries, got Thursday off after pitching in back to back games. Tony Sipp picked up his second save of the season in his place.

Updated hierarchy: Qualls | Sipp | Fields.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants – We’ll hold off on sticking Santiago Casilla with an asterisk until someone else actually gets a save. Instead, expect a regular dose of Sergio Romo on the Vulture Save Watch.

2014 NL West bullpen preview

March 7, 2014

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks picked up Addison Reed in the offseason, but in a somewhat surprising move, have not handed him the closer gig.  GM Kevin Towers said in February that the closer role will be a competition between Reed and J.J. Putz, a statement backed up by Kirk Gibson yesterday.  As the D-Backs prep for their season opener in Australia, we’ll keep a close eye on this situation — so far, the pitchers have nearly identical spring stats, both having given up 1 run in three innings.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Addison Reed, Set-up – J.J. Putz, 2nd in line – Brad Ziegler.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
ARIAddison ReedJ.J. PutzBrad ZieglerAddison Reed3/7/14

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Colorado Rockies – Rex Brothers’s quest to become the full-time Rockies closer will have to wait for at least a little while, as the Rockies signed the 41-year-old LaTroy Hawkins in the offseason.  Walt Weiss has already named Hawkins the closer, though the aging righty will probably need to be rested from time to time, making Brothers an appealing option for vulture saves.  Returning to the Colorado bullpen behind them are Matt Belisle and Wilton Lopez, though former Yankee Boone Logan has the early edge for the 2nd in line job after a solid 2013 campaign.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – LaTroy Hawkins, Set-up – Rex Brothers, 2nd in line – Boone Logan.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
COLLaTroy HawkinsRex BrothersBoone LoganRex Brothers3/7/14

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Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers have unlimited money, which allows them to do silly things like pay Brian Wilson $10 million.  Though The Beard won’t close — Kenley Jansen finally has a firm grasp on that job — his contract means he’s almost assuredly the set-up man.  Behind Jansen and Wilson is another former closer looking to return to form, as Chris Perez is in town on a 1-year deal.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Kenley Jansen, Set-up – Brian Wilson, 2nd in line – Chris Perez. 

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LADKenley JansenBrian WilsonChris PerezKenley Jansen3/7/14

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San Diego Padres – The Padres brought in veteran Joaquin Benoit to bolster their bullpen after losing Luke Gregerson to the A’s, but Huston Street is still the closer for the foreseeable future.  Benoit will set-up, while Dale Thayer is a good bet for 7th inning work.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Huston Street, Set-up – Joaquin Benoit, 2nd in line – Dale Thayer.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
SDHuston StreetJoaquin BenoitDale ThayerHuston Street3/7/14

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San Francisco Giants – The Giants bullpen looks very similar to last year’s edition, with Sergio Romo closing and Santiago Casilla right behind him.  Javier Lopez and Jean Machi will handle the 7th inning, though future closer Heath Hembree is worth watching.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Sergio Romo, Set-up – Santiago Casilla, 2nd in line – Javier Lopez. 

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
SFSergio RomoSantiago CasillaJavier LopezSergio Romo3/7/14

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Rex Brothers to close while Betancourt is on DL

July 21, 2013

Colorado Rockies – Rafael Betancourt has been placed on the DL with appendicitis.  The move is retroactive to July 15.  Rex Brothers will close in his absence.  Hierarchy change: Rex Brothers to Closer, Matt Belisle to Set-up, Wilton Lopez to 2nd in line, Rafael Betancourt to DL.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
COLRex BrothersMatt BelisleWilton LopezRafael Betancourt7/20/13
Rafael Betancourt (DL)

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Minnesota Twins – For the second night in a row, Casey Fien pitched the 8th ahead of Glen Perkins while Jared Burton pitched in the 7th inning.  Fien has made 11 straight scoreless appearances, lowering his ERA to 2.88 on the season.  Hierarchy change:  Casey Fien to Set-up, Jared Burton to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MINGlen PerkinsCasey FienJared BurtonGlen Perkins7/21/13

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San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez got the last two outs of the 8th inning last night with the Giants up 2.  Lopez has a 1.54 ERA on the season. Hierarchy change: Javier Lopez to 2nd in line, replacing Jeremy Affeldt.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SFSergio RomoSantiago CasillaJavier LopezSergio Romo7/21/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals – Rafael Soriano and Tyler Clippard have both pitched two days in a row and Davey Johnson could go to Storen if there is a save opportunity today.
2. Sam LeCure, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight.