Ernesto Frieri to close for Angels; Andrew Cashner struggles

May 7, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra blew another save on Sunday, and for the first time, manager Don Mattingly expressed wavering confidence in the righty, saying that he’d have to keep looking at the closer role.  Guerra will likely get one more shot to close before being benched, though he remains firmly on the Hot Seat and is a good bet to lose his job with one more blown save.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Lindblom |Guerra |5/7/12

 
San Diego Padres – Despite throwing 100+ mph gas all night, Andrew Cashner was knocked around on Sunday, giving up 4 earned runs in a tie game in the 8th inning.  He’s still likely the Padres go-to guy while Huston Street recovers, but could quickly lose that distinction if he falters again.  Andrew Cashner to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Cashner |Gregerson |Thayer |Street |5/7/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Miami Marlins – As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Steve Cishek threw 52 pitches over 3 innings on Friday and was again unavailable on Sunday, so the Marlins went to Edward Mujica for the save in the 9th.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Mujica |Bell |Bell |5/7/12

 
Atlanta Braves – For the second day in a row, the Braves had a comfortable late-inning lead, and a long reliever notched a save; this time, it was Cristhian Martinez, who pitched 2.2 clean innings in the blowout.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Venters |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |5/7/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs was helped off the field after sustaining an apparent knee injury in the 9th inning on Sunday.  He will undergo evaluation, but he was spotted on crutches after the game, so he’s likely to miss at least a few days.  LaTroy Hawkins also was injured in the game, and while the Angels did not name a new closer, Mike Scioscia appears to be reluctant to give the closer job back to Jordan Walden, instead mentioning Ernesto Frieri as a possible candidate.  Hierarchy change: Scott Downs injured, Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Jason Isringhausen to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Walden |Isringhausen|Walden |5/7/12 |Downs(INJ) | |Hawkins(INJ)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith/Tony Sipp, Cleveland Indians – Both closer Chris Perez and set-up man Vinnie Pestano have pitched in 4 of the last 5 games, and the Indians have a doubleheader today, meaning 7th-inning men Joe Smith and Tony Sipp could get save opportunities.
2. James Russell/Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs – Rafael Dolis pitched 2 innings yesterday, and has pitched in 4 out of the last 5 games.
3. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched on three consecutive days.
4. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Andrew Cashner threw 39 pitches in a rough outing yesterday and could have the night off.
5. Franklin Morales, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched 4.2 innings over the past three days, throwing 69 pitches in the process.

Juan Cruz as temporary closer; another save for Henry Rodriguez

April 19, 2012

Pittsburgh Pirates – As noted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Joel Hanrahan is still sidelined with a mild hamstring injury, allowing Juan Cruz to pick up his second save in as many days.  While Hanrahan could return as soon as Friday, the Pirates have shown that Cruz will get any save opportunities when Hanrahan is unavailable, while Jason Grilli remains the 8th inning guy regardless.  Hierarchy change: Juan Cruz to Set-up, Jason Grilli to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Cruz |Grilli |Hanrahan |4/19/12

 
Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez got the save on Wednesday after Brad Lidge logged the Tuesday save.  It’s Lidge’s turn again in the Nats’ strict back-and-forth platoon.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/19/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit/Phil Coke, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched on back to back days, and in three of the last four.  Joaquin Benoit has also been used heavily the past four days, but he or Phil Coke could get a save opp if the Tigers give Valverde the night off.

Drew Storen out until All Star break; Scott Downs injured

April 13, 2012

Los Angeles Angels- Set-up man Scott Downs suffered a gruesome ankle injury on Thursday, and was seen on crutches after the game.  The Angels have yet to determine whether to place him on the DL, but he’ll likely miss some action.  In the mean time, the Angels could look to Jason Isringhausen, who is spotless in three outings so far this year and has surpassed LaTroy Hawkins on the depth chart, to close games on nights that Jordan Walden is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Jason Isringhausen to Set-up, replacing Scott Downs.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Walden |Isringhausen|Hawkins |Walden |4/13/12 |Downs(INJ) |

 
Detroit Tigers- Phil Coke was the last of several relievers used by the Tigers to bridge the gap to 8th inning man Joaquin Benoit yesterday, and he’s been used 3 times in the 8th inning in pressure spots, pitching to both righties and lefties.  Hierarchy change: Phil Coke to 2nd in line, replacing Octavio Dotel.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |4/13/12

 
Washington Nationals- Drew Storen underwent surgery earlier this week and will be out until the All Star break, with Davey Johnson indicating that he would continue to alternate between Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez.  Lidge, however, blew the save Thursday; another bad outing for him could mean Rodriguez wins the full-time job.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/13/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Arizona Diamondbacks- Bryan Shaw pitched the 8th inning in front of JJ Putz yesterday, and, in Takashi Saito’s absence, has established himself as the go-to set-up man when David Hernandez is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Brian Shaw to 2nd in line, replacing Takashi Saito.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Shaw |Putz |4/13/12

 
Texas Rangers- Mike Adams, yesterday’s #1 candidate for a vulture save, filled in yesterday for Joe Nathan, who had the night off.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Ogando |Nathan |4/13/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals- It’s Rodriguez’s turn for a save opp in Davey Johnson’s back-and-forth rotation between he and Brad Lidge.  Rodriguez should be owned in all leagues at this point.
2. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers- Jose Valverde has pitched on three consecutive nights and will almost certainly get the day off on Friday.
3. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers- Javy Guerra has also pitched three consecutive nights, so the Dodgers will look to Jansen for any save chances.
4. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins- Matt Capps has pitched on two consecutive nights, and in three of the last four.
5. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants- Brian Wilson has pitched on two consecutive nights, throwing a total of 56 pitches.

Joe Smith establishing himself in Indians’ bullpen

April 12, 2012

Cleveland Indians- The middle-inning portion of the Indians bullpen continues to be shaky, as lefty specialist Rafael Perez had a bad outing on Wednesday.  Joe Smith, who in past years has been used exclusively against righties, has been one of the few steady arms thus far, and this year is being used against both lefties and righties.  Hierarchy change: Joe Smith to 2nd in line, replacing Rafael Perez. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |Smith |C.Perez |4/12/12

 
Colorado Rockies- Long reliever Tyler Chatwood recorded a three-inning save in a Rockies blowout on Wednesday.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Brothers |Belisle |Betancourt |4/12/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers- Joe Nathan has pitched on each of the last two days, including a 26-pitch blown save yesterday, and may get the night off.
2. Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres- Given Huston Street’s history of fragility, the Padres may give him the night off after two outings in a row.
3. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers- Jose Valverde has pitched two days in a row, including a 23-pitch outing yesterday.
4. Kenley Jansen/Matt Guerrier, Los Angeles Dodgers- Javy Guerra has pitched two days in a row, and could conceivably get a night off.  Kenley Jansen could as well, as he’s thrown more pitches than Guerra in the last two days.

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