Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez splitting chances in San Francisco

August 31, 2012

Kansas City Royals – With Greg Holland getting the night off after two high-leverage saves in a row, the Royals went to flamethrower Kelvin Herrera for the save.  Herrera allowed two runners to reach, but got the job done and lowered his ERA to 2.49 on the year.  He’ll likely be the man the Royals turn to if Holland needs any time off in the future.  Hierarchy change: Kelvin Herrera to Set-up, Aaron Crow to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |8/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – After Santiago Casilla was demoted, Jeremy Affeldt received the first two save opportunities.  With the ability to pitch to both lefties and righties (as opposed to Javier Lopez) and with the ability to pitch in multiple games in a row without injury concerns (as opposed to Sergio Romo), Affeldt looked like the best bet to seize the majority of the San Francisco committee’s saves.  But since blowing his second save chance, he hasn’t gotten another look.  Meanwhile, Lopez has nabbed four saves and Sergio Romo has picked up three, including one last night.  While Lopez is leading the committee in saves since Casilla’s demotion, most of them have been a bit fluky, as he’s induced several double plays to end games while other relievers were warming.  Romo will likely get the most chances from here on out.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Javier Lopez to Set-up, Jeremy Affeldt to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Lopez |Affeldt |Wilson |8/31/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren Oliver, Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen has pitched in two straight, and three of the last four.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – It appears that the Padres will be splitting opportunities between Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson until Huston Street returns.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
4. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Greg Holland to close in KC; deadline moves affect hierarchies for Reds, Cardinals

August 1, 2012

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds acquired Royals closer Jonathan Broxton on Tuesday.  Aroldis Chapman will remain the closer, while Broxton will share the 8th inning role with Sean Marshall.  Hierarchy change: Jonathan Broxton to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Broxton |Madson |8/1/12

 
St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals acquired Edward Mujica from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.  Mujica will likely pitch the 7th inning for the Cardinals, which is a role they’ve been trying to fill all season.  Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to 2nd in line, replacing Victor Marte.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Marte |Motte |8/1/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs was placed on the DL prior to Tuesday’s game.  With a 4-run lead, Kevin Jepsen got out of a jam in the 7th inning before giving way to Jason Isringhausen for the 8th.  Ernesto Frieri pitched the 9th in a non-save situation.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Jepsen to Set-up, Jason Isringhausen to 2nd in line, Scott Downs to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Jepsen |Isringhausen|Walden |8/1/12 |Downs(DL) |

 
Boston Red Sox – Franklin Morales got a 1-out save in the 6th inning on Tuesday, retiring a hitter before the tarp came out.  The game was never resumed, and Morales was awarded one of the more bogus saves of the season.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Miller |Bailey |8/1/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – After pitching three of the last four games, including a blown save on Monday, Santiago Casilla was given the night off.  In a 3-run game, Jeremy Affeldt pitched the last two innings for his second save of the year.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |8/1/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Kansas City Royals – The Royals have traded closer Jonathan Broxton to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will serve as a set-up man.  Greg Holland will inherit the closer job in Kansas City, said Royals manager Ned Yost, though Aaron Crow will be nipping at Holland’s heels if he struggles.  Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Closer, Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Crow |Herrera |Holland |7/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.

Jonathan Broxton traded; Greg Holland to close in Kansas City

July 31, 2012

Kansas City Royals – The Royals have traded closer Jonathan Broxton to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will serve as a set-up man.  Greg Holland will inherit the closer job in Kansas City, with Aaron Crow nipping at his heels if he struggles.  Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Closer, Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Crow |Herrera |Holland |7/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

Carlos Marmol wins closer job back; Koji Uehara injured

June 16, 2012

Texas Rangers – The Rangers placed Koji Uehara on the disabled list yesterday.  Young lefty Robbie Ross is having an outstanding season and is the most likely candidate to inherit the 7th inning role.  Hierarchy change: Robbie Ross to 2nd in line, Koji Uehara to DL.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Ross |Nathan |6/16/12 |Uehara(DL) |

 
Oakland A’s – Evan Scribner earned a 3-inning save on Friday.  He does not factor in to the A’s normal late inning plans.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Fuentes |Cook |6/16/12

 
Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow pitched the 8th inning on Friday, three days after being summoned in a close game in the 7th.  After Jonathon Broxton and Greg Holland, the Royals bullpen is pretty fluid, with Crow, Kelvin Herrera, and Tim Collins all being used in the 6th and 7th innings.  But recently, it’s been Crow who has seen the majority of the late-innings work.  Hierarchy change: Aaron Crow to 2nd in line, replacing Kelvin Herrera. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |6/16/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol on Friday got his first save since returning from the minors, and Dale Sveum said after the game that Marmol was his closer again. Marmol is immediately on the Hot Seat, as it’s easy to picture Sveum yanking him out of the role again if he blows his next couple opportunities (and his save on Friday was far from smooth).  But he’ll see the majority of save chances going forward. Hierarchy change: Carlos Marmol to Closer, James Russell to Set-up, Shawn Camp to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Russell |Camp |Marmol |6/15/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched in three games in a row.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford has pitched in three straight.
3. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 6 of the last 9 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.