Brian Fuentes blows first save; Jon Rauch re-establishes himself

Oakland A’s – Brian Fuentes allowed a walkoff 3-run HR last night in what was his first blown save since he was named closer two and a half weeks ago.  But while Fuentes has been decent in his role as the A’s stopper, the A’s set-up men have been better.  Former closer Grant Balfour has held opponents scoreless in 8 of his last 9 appearances.  Ryan Cook, meanwhile, gave up his first runs of the season the other day, but still sports a 0.75 ERA.  If Fuentes falters again, the A’s could start thinking about making a move.  Brian Fuentes to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Fuentes |Cook |Balfour |Cook |5/30/12

 
New York Mets – After getting knocked around a bit in the middle of May, Jon Rauch has settled down, allowing just one run in his last six appearances.  He pitched the 8th inning ahead of Frank Francisco yesterday; Bobby Parnell was used in the 7th.  Hierarchy change: Jon Rauch to Set-up, Bobby Parnell to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Parnell |Francisco |5/30/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched in three straight games.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford has pitched in three straight.
3. Sergio Romo/Clay Hensley, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in three straight.
4. Edward Mujica/Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell has pitched in two straight, and in four of the last five.
5. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri will get the majority of opportunities, but Mike Scioscia is still using a closer-by-committee.
6. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has gotten all three save opportunities since Henry Rodriguez was demoted, but Davey Johnson has said that Sean Burnett could still get opportunities based on match-ups.

Edward Mujica, Bobby Parnell move in to set-up roles

May 17, 2012

Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek was the first man out of the pen on Thursday, and failed to get out of the 7th inning.  Ever since throwing 52 pitches in a 3-inning appearance earlier this month, Cishek has been shaky (3.2 innings, 2 ER, 7 hits).  Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to Set-up, Steve Cishek to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Mujica |Cishek |Bell |5/17/12

 
New York Mets – Three days ago, Jon Rauch was on the verge of being named the Mets new closer.  But after last night’s meltdown (0.1 innings, 3 ERs), Rauch’s ERA has jumped to 9.00 for the month of May.  Terry Collins will likely look to Bobby Parnell if Frank Francisco continues to falter.  Hierarchy change: Bobby Parnell to Set-up, Jon Rauch to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Parnell |Rauch |Francisco |5/17/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched on back to back nights, and in three of the last four.
2. Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez has pitched in four of the last five games, throwing 72 pitches in that span.

Frank Francisco’s job in limbo; Henry Rodriguez struggling

May 14, 2012

New York Mets – Frank Francisco blew another save on Sunday, allowing 3 runs without recording an out.  His ERA ballooned to 8.56, and Terry Collins was noncommittal about the Mets’ closer role going forward, saying he would discuss it before Monday’s game.  Even if Francisco keeps his job, he’ll remain firmly on the Hot Seat, but if Collins looks elsewhere, Jon Rauch should get the first chance.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Parnell |Francisco |5/14/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol was placed on the DL over the weekend, and on Sunday, Kerry Wood pitched the 8th inning in a 3-run game.  Hierarchy change: Carlos Marmol to DL, Kerry Wood to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Wood |Marmol |5/14/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez blew his third save of the season in dramatic fashion on Sunday, allowing a walk-off grand slam to Joey Votto.  His ERA is now 4.70.  Henry Rodriguez to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Clippard |Mattheus |Storen |5/14/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez threw 28 pitches in blowing the save yesterday, the second day in a row that he’s worked.  He could get the night off.

Frank Francisco blows save; Scott Downs back as closer

May 12, 2012

New York Mets – Frank Francisco blew the save last night and took the loss. Jon Rauch has been pitching well and got the save when Francisco was unavailable on Tuesday.  If Francisco continues to struggle Rauch could see more save opportunities. Frank Francisco to Hot Seat.

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

 
Los Angeles Angels – The injury to Scott Downs is not serious and he should avoid a trip to the DL.  He will take over as the closer again now that he is healthy.  Hierarchy change: Scott Downs to closer, Ernesto Frieri to Set-up, Jordan Walden to 2nd in line.

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

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Juan Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates  – Joel Hanrahan is not expected back until Sunday at the earliest so Juan Cruz should get the call if there is a save opportunity.
2. James Russell, Chicago Cubs – Rafael Dolis worked two innings and threw 41 innings last night so he might get the day off on Saturday.  James Russell would likely replace Dolis for the day.

 

 

 

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.