James Russell, Shawn Camp to share closer role in Chicago

May 28, 2012

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels continue to employ a true platoon, with Scott Downs picking up the save last night against a lefty-heavy top of the lineup for the Mariners.  ”Right now, we’re going to just slot them in when they have a chance to get outs,” Mike Scioscia said to the Los Angeles Times.  As a righty, Ernesto Frieri still has the best shot to earn a save on any given night, but Downs has been just as reliable.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |5/28/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs – Dale Sveum said before Sunday’s game that Rafael Dolis would be moved back to a middle relief role, and then followed through, using Dolis in the 6th inning.  Sveum said the Cubs would play match-ups in the 9th inning for the time being.  ”(James Russell) and (Shawn) Camp are our two viable options right now,” he said. Hierarchy change: James Russell to Closer, Shawn Camp to Set-up, Rafael Dolis to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Camp |Dolis |Marmol |5/28/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays – Fernando Rodney has pitched in three straight games, and in five of the last six.
2. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched in three straight games.
3. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has gotten all three save opportunities since Henry Rodriguez was demoted, but Davey Johnson continues to say that Sean Burnett could get opportunities based on match-ups.
4. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri will get the majority of opportunities, but Mike Scioscia is still using a closer-by-committee.

Aroldis Chapman is Reds new closer; Jose Valverde expected back Tuesday

Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde is still day-to-day with a sore back and Joaquin Benoit recorded a shaky save in his place on Sunday.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |5/21/12

 
Seattle Mariners – The Mariners summoned Charlie Furbush in the 7th inning on Sunday, whereupon he pitched a clean inning with 2 Ks.  The lefty, a former starting pitcher, has shown the ability to pitch out of the bullpen to both lefties and righties.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line, replacing Steve Delabar.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |League |5/21/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Dusty Baker said before Sunday’s game that Aroldis Chapman was his new closer, then sent him out for the 9th inning against the Yankees where the hard-throwing lefty recorded his first save.  Logan Ondrusek and Sean Marshall will share eighth-inning duties.  Hierarchy change: Aroldis Chapman to Closer, Sean Marshall to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |5/21/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Logan Ondrusek/Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight games and four of the last five, throwing 76 pitches over that span.  Dusty Baker said he will play matchups in the event that Chapman is unavailable, with Logan Ondrusek facing righties and Sean Marshall facing lefties.
2. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched in two straight and three of the last four, throwing 54 pitches over that span.

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.

Dale Thayer closing in San Diego; Chris Sale, Francisco Cordero on Hot Seat

May 9, 2012

Chicago White Sox – Closer Chris Sale was summoned in the 8th inning on Tuesday, and was lifted in the 9th after surrendering the lead; Addison Reed eventually got the save in the 10th.  Robin Ventura said after the game that he’d intended to use Sale for a 2-inning save and that the lefty was still the closer, but after the game, pitching coach Don Cooper had some cryptic remarks about Sale’s future.  Cooper, speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, likened Sale to Neftali Feliz, who the Rangers had given a few extra days between starts, and suggested that Sale could quickly and easily be moved back to the rotation.  Sale also told the Sun-Times that he wants to start again, and if he does, Reed could be poised to seize the job.  Even if Sale isn’t yo-yo-ed back, another bad outing or two could see Reed (0.00 ERA, 14 Ks in 10 IPs) surpass him.  Hierarchy change: Addison Reed to Set-up, Hector Santiago to 2nd in line.  Chris Sale to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Sale |Reed |Santiago |Reed |5/9/12

 
New York Mets – As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Frank Francisco had pitched on three consecutive nights, and Jon Rauch got the save in his absence.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Parnell |Francisco |5/9/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Francisco Cordero blew a save in ugly fashion last night, allowing 5 earned runs including a walk-off grand slam.  Injured closer Sergio Santos has begun a rehab program, but is likely still two weeks away from returning.  Another bad outing or two by Cordero, and he may not hold the job until Santos’s return.  Francisco Cordero to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Cordero |Janssen |Perez |Santos |5/9/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
San Diego Padres – Dale Thayer collected his 2nd save in as many days for the Padres on Tuesday, who opted to use Andrew Cashner in the 8th inning and Luke Gregerson in the 7th.  Cashner’s meltdown on Sunday appears to have cost him, as Thayer, who has 173 career minor league saves, has inherited the closer role in Huston Street’s absence.  Hierarchy change: Dale Thayer to Closer, Andrew Cashner to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Cashner |Gregerson |Street |5/9/12 |Street(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres – Dale Thayer threw 25 pitches yesterday, his second consecutive day of work and fourth outing in the last five days.
2. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde threw 31 pitches yesterday, and has pitched in four of the last five games.
3. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Downs is making a quick recovery from his injury, and Mike Scioscia said that Downs will return to the mound– and presumably, the closer’s role– whenever he feels up to it.