A new closer every day in Boston

May 7, 2013

Boston Red Sox — Joel Hanrahan’s ignoble return to the Boston bullpen lasted for precisely four batters, one of whom tapped him for a game-tying home run. To add injury to insult (and injury), Hanrahan left shortly thereafter with “right forearm tightness.” We believe Junichi Tazawa has a slight edge over Koji Uehara, but either or both could be used in the closer role. Although Craig Breslow (fresh from his own DL stint) is now the third-best healthy reliever in the Red Sox pen, Daniel Bard or Alfredo Aceves could also conceivably join what has become a disturbingly threadbare crew. Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to Closer, Koji Uehara to Set-up, Craig Breslow to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Tazawa |Uehara |Breslow |Bailey |5/7/13 |Bailey(DL) |Hanrahan(DL)|

 
Cleveland Indians — Vinnie Pestano was placed on the 15-day DL with a sore right elbow. Hierarchy change: Joe Smith to Set-up, Bryan Shaw to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Smith |Shaw |C.Perez |5/7/13 |Pestano (DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jamey Wright, Tampa Bay Rays — Fernando Rodney threw 37 pitches in last night’s game and Joel Peralta threw for two innings.
2. Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland blew a save yesterday and has pitched in two straight games; Kelvin Herrera pitched two innings after Holland left the game.

Another save for Kelvin Herrera; Jake McGee ascending

April 11, 2013

Kansas City Royals – Kelvin Herrera picked up his second save of the season on Wednesday, striking out three Twins in the process.  Greg Holland had the night off after a heavy workload on Tuesday, and remains on the Hot Seat, especially given how impressive Herrera has been in the early going.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |4/11/13

 
Tampa Bay Rays – Jake McGee pitched the 7th inning last night, a role he has settled into nicely.  Kyle Farnsworth, meanwhile, hasn’t pitched in many high-leverage situations in the early going.  Hierarchy change: Jake McGee to 2nd in line, replacing Kyle Farnsworth.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTB |Rodney |Peralta |McGee |Rodney |4/11/13

Greg Holland, Steve Cishek struggling

April 8, 2013

Miami Marlins – After getting knocked around in a non-save situation on Friday, Steve Cishek blew a save on Sunday, allowing 2 runs and taking the loss against the Mets.  Cishek doesn’t have a ton of competition in the Miami bullpen.  Mike Dunn got a couple saves last year, but is mostly a match-up guy, while Jon Rauch and Chad Qualls have been around the block a few times and aren’t particularly imposing at this point.  If Cishek continues to struggle, though, the Marlins may have to give someone else a try.  Steve Cishek to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Dunn |Rauch |Cishek |4/8/13

 
Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland had another rough outing on Sunday, one day after blowing the save and taking the loss against the Phillies.  After putting several runners on, Holland had to be pulled for Kelvin Herrera, who cleaned up the mess and earned his first save of the year.  The job still belongs to Holland for now, but Herrera, a fireballer who already has 7 Ks in 3.1 innings this season, could challenge for it if Holland continues to struggle.  Greg Holland to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |4/8/13

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – Heath Bell picked up his first save of the season on Sunday.  The save came two innings after JJ Putz had blown it in the 9th, and David Hernandez and Brad Ziegler had already pitched.  The blown save was the first of the season for Putz, who is not in danger of losing his job.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Ziegler |Putz |4/8/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.

Jonny Venters back on track; Craig Stammen and Kelvin Herrera pick up saves

September 30, 2012

Kansas City Royals – Kelvin Herrera picked up a save in the 14th inning on Saturday.  Greg Holland blew the save in the 9th, but his job is not in jeopardy.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |9/30/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
Atlanta Braves – Jonny Venters is finishing his up-and-down season on the up side.  After picking up the hold in the 8th inning yesterday, he’s got six straight scoreless appearances, and has lowered his ERA from a high of 4.40 in July to 3.28.  Hierarchy change: Jonny Venters to 2nd in line, replacing Chad Durbin.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Durbin |Kimbrel |9/30/12

 
Washington Nationals – Craig Stammen picked up an extra-inning save on Saturday.  Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard, and Sean Burnett had already appeared in the game.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Storen |Clippard |Burnett |Storen |9/30/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.

Josh Kinney, Junichi Tazawa ascending

September 23, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Junichi Tazawa pitched the 9th inning in a tie game on Saturday.  He’s been the most reliable Boston reliever over the last few weeks, including Andrew Bailey, and has earned the trust of Bobby Valentine.  Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to Set-up, Vicente Padilla to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Tazawa |Padilla |Bailey |9/23/12

 
New York Mets – Jon Rauch picked up a save on Saturday.  Frank Francisco was reportedly available, but the Mets left Rauch in even after he allowed a HR.  Francisco remains on the Hot Seat, which has basically been a second home for the Mets closer this year, but he hasn’t lost the job yet, as the Mets were probably just giving him an extra day to recover from a nagging injury that kept him out of a few games earlier this week.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Parnell |Francisco |9/23/12

 
Seattle Mariners – Josh Kinney pitched the 8th inning ahead of Tom Wilhelmsen on Saturday.  Charlie Furbush, one of the most consistent relievers in the Seattle bullpen earlier this year, hasn’t seen much action as of late.  Hierarchy change: Josh Kinney to Set-up, Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Kinney |Furbush |Wilhelmsen |9/23/12

 
Kansas City Royals – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kelvin Herrera got the save for the Royals on Saturday.  Greg Holland had pitched in three straight and got the night off.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |9/23/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
2. Josh Kinney, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched in two straight, and has thrown 6 innings over the past five days.
3. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.