Cashner to close in San Diego; Ernesto Frieri acquired by Angels

Atlanta Braves – Livan Hernandez came in when the Braves were up by 3 runs in the 8th inning, then stayed after they scored again in the 9th for the 2-inning save.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Venters |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |5/6/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri, recently acquired from the Padres, was handed a 4-run lead in the 9th inning and was dominant, striking out the side against the Blue Jays.  Frieri has a 2.13 ERA and 21 Ks in just 12.2 innings and should quickly establish himself as a key part of the Angels bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Ernesto Frieri to 2nd in line, replacing LaTroy Hawkins.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Downs |Walden |Frieri |Walden |5/6/12

 
Chicago White Sox – Chris Sale doesn’t embark on his new role as closer until Monday, so the White Sox, up by one run in the 9th, called on Hector Santiago.  But Santiago struggled, allowing two baserunners, and Addison Reed came in to bail him out for the one-out save.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Sale |Santiago |Thornton |Sale |5/6/12

 
San Diego Padres – The Padres will place Huston Street on the disabled list after he suffered a right posterior shoulder strain on Friday.  After being hurt last night, Street said he didn’t think the injury was too serious, but perhaps that was wishful thinking; Andrew Cashner will close in his stead, and Bud Black said that Luke Gregerson and Dale Thayer could also see occasional opportunities.  Hierarchy change: Huston Street to DL, Andrew Cashner to Closer, Luke Gregerson to Set-up, Dale Thayer to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Cashner |Gregerson |Thayer |Street |5/6/12 |Street(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Santiago/Matt Thornton/Addison Reed, Chicago White Sox – Chris Sale doesn’t start closing until tomorrow, and over the past two days, Robin Ventura has played matchups to determine his 9th inning man, with Santiago, Thornton, and Reed all getting opportunities.
2. Edward Mujica, Miami Marlins – After the demotion of Heath Bell, the permanent closer job likely belongs Steve Cishek, but Cishek threw 52 pitches over 3 innings on Friday, and could be given a second day off to rest up.

Huston Street to DL; Andrew Cashner to close

May 5, 2012

San Diego Padres – The Padres will place Huston Street on the disabled list after he suffered a right posterior shoulder strain on Friday.  After being hurt last night, Street said he didn’t think the injury was too serious, but perhaps that was wishful thinking; Andrew Cashner will close in his stead.  Hierarchy change: Huston Street to DL, Andrew Cashner to Closer, Luke Gregerson to Set-up, Joe Thatcher to 2nd in line.

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

New closers in Chicago, KC; Marmol and Peralta struggling

April 8, 2012

San Diego Padres- Luke Gregerson was the set-up man for the Padres late last season, but yesterday, they went to Gregerson in the 7th inning of a tie game, saving Andrew Cashner for the 8th.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Cashner to Set-up, Luke Gregerson to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Cashner |Gregerson |Street |4/8/12

 
Washington Nationals- Davey Johnson has said that he would alternate between Henry Rodriguez and Brad Lidge for save opportunities, and he stayed true to his word, calling on Rodriguez to pitch the 9th yesterday.  He closed the game out successfully, and the next opportunity should go back to Lidge.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/8/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs- Carlos Marmol had another ugly performance on Saturday, two days after taking the loss in the Cubs’ opener.  Marmol, who blew 10 saves in 2011, would be in more danger if set-up man Kerry Wood had been anything less than awful as well.  But should Marmol continue to struggle, the Cubs may be forced to look to Wood, or perhaps to young Rafael Dolis, for the 9th inning role.  Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Wood |Dolis |Marmol |4/8/12

 
Tampa Bay Rays- Joel Peralta was brought in to stop the Yankees rally yesterday, but only faced two hitters, the second of whom hit a HR off him.  Jake McGee was then brought in for one batter before Fernando Rodney came in to close it out.  Based on Peralta’s success filling in as closer last year, he figures to get another shot, but could be in danger of losing the job should he falter again.  Joel Peralta to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTB |Peralta |Rodney |McGee |Farnsworth |4/8/12 |Farnswor(DL)|

 
Cleveland Indians- Tony Sipp was shelled on Saturday, two days after he looked shaky in the season’s opener.  For the time being, the Indians will likely call on Rafael Perez when they need a lefty, at least while Sipp works himself out.  Hierarchy change: Rafael Perez to 2nd in line, replacing Tony Sipp.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |R.Perez |C.Perez |4/8/12

 
Chicago White Sox- Hector Santiago closed out the White Sox victory on Saturday.  The White Sox mystery closer has been revealed, though the young lefty was not the trendy choice until he was seen warming up in the bullpen for a possible save opportunity that never materialized on Friday.  Jesse Crain seems to have fallen into a middle inning role, leaving Matt Thornton and Addison Reed to pitch the 7th and 8th.  Hierarchy change: Hector Santiago to Closer, Matt Thornton to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/7/12

 
Kansas City Royals- The Royals, up 4 runs in the 8th inning, went to Greg Holland first.  Jonathon Broxton pitched the 9th in a non-save situation and will close for the foreseeable future.  Hierarchy change: Jonathon Broxton to Closer, Greg Holland to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |4/7/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH:
None.

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