Andrew Miller, Takashi Saito rising; Joaquin Benoit nabs a save

July 23, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Mark Melancon got shelled yesterday, and has looked shaky recently after a great return from the minor leagues.  Hard thrower Andrew Miller has been the much more consistent reliever lately, and now sports a 2.74 ERA.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Miller to 2nd in line, replacing Mark Melancon.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Miller |Bailey |7/23/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde experienced some back tightness before Sunday’s game, so he was held out of action, but manager Jim Leyland said the injury was not serious.  Joaquin Benoit got the save in his place.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |7/23/12

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – After notching a couple of saves early in the season, Bryan Shaw has struggled in recent weeks, and on Sunday, the Diamondbacks sent him to the minors.  Fortunately, for Arizona, Takashi Saito recently came off the disabled list and will pitch in the 7th inning for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Takashi Saito to 2nd in line, replacing Bryan Shaw.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Satio |Putz |7/23/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in three straight.
2. Brandon League, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched in three straight.
3. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in two straight games, and four of the last five.
4. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – The Marlins are employing a closer-by-committee and thus far, Steve Cishek and Mike Dunn have each picked up one save.  Cishek is still the best bet for a save on any given night, but Dunn could get the call if the Marlins are facing a lefty-heavy 9th inning.
5. 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.

Eric O’Flaherty thriving in set-up role; Sergio Romo getting bulk of opportunities with Casilla out

June 7, 2012

Atlanta Braves – Eric O’Flaherty pitched the 8th inning ahead of Craig Kimbrel on Wednesday, the fourth such time he has been used in that role in the past nine days.  Jonny Venters struggled in May, posting a 6.55 ERA for the month.  O’Flaherty’s WHIP (1.50) is still ugly, but he has not given up an earned run since May 7, a span of 11 consecutive appearance.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to Set-up, Jonny Venters to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Venters |Kimbrel |6/7/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo picked up his third save in the past five days, as Santiago Casilla’s injury has been a little more severe than the Giants initially thought.  While he is still on the active roster– Bruce Bochy said before Wednesday’s game that Casilla could play in the event of an emergency– he’s now missed five straight days of action.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |6/7/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has thrown 3 innings and 49 pitches over the last two days.
2. Ronald Belisario, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in three straight, and four of the last five.
3. Sergio Romo/Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants – If the Giants continue to hold out Santiago Casilla, then Sergio Romo or Jeremy Affeldt could nab a save.
4. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, but he’s not being used like a traditional closer yet.  Should the Cubs face a righty-heavy 9th inning, Shawn Camp could pick up a save.

Huston Street returns from DL, picks up a win

June 6, 2012

San Diego Padres – Huston Street returned from the DL on Wednesday, and threw a shaky, but scoreless 9th inning in a tie game, earning the win when the Padres walked-off in the bottom half.  Street is expected to resume closing immediately.  Hierarchy change: Huston Street to Closer, Dale Thayer to Set-up, Andrew Cashner to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Thayer |Cashner |Street |6/6/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves threw 39 pitches over 2 innings in the Red Sox loss last night.  If he’s given the night off, Vicente Padilla will get the save chance.
2. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson threw 32 pitches over 2 innings yesterday.
3. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, but he’s not being used like a traditional closer yet.  Should the Cubs face a righty-heavy 9th inning, Shawn Camp could pick up a save.

Angels begin platoon, Ernesto Frieri on verge of winning job

May 19, 2012

Los Angeles Angels – On Friday, Scott Downs pitched the 8th inning in a 2-run game, and Ernesto Frieri came out for the 9th.  By then, the Angels had tacked on 3 additional runs, so it wasn’t a save opportunity, but Mike Scioscia told the Orange County Registerafter the game that the 9th inning role was in flux. “We’re going to mix and match a little bit,” Scioscia said. “It’s really just a matchup situation. It might change tomorrow.”  Based on their usage and Scioscia’s comments, Frieri appears to be on the verge of winning the permanent job.  Scott Downs to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Downs |Frieri |Walden |Walden |5/19/12 |Hawkins(INJ)|

 
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop picked up a save in the 11th inning on Friday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jim Johnson had pitched three nights in a row and had a day off.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Ayala |Johnson |5/19/12

 
Chicago White Sox – Nate Jones pitched the 8th inning in a one-run game on Friday.  While Robin Ventura still hasn’t declared that he’s moving away from the closer-by-committee he first established a few weeks ago, Addison Reed has been the only one getting save chances.  Meanwhile, Hector Santiago has been relegated to an early innings/mop-up role, while Jones and his 99 mph fastball have been called on in some tight spots.  Hierarchy change: Nate Jones to 2nd in line, replacing Hector Santiago.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Jones |Reed |5/19/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Kerry Wood retired on Friday.  Shawn Camp (2.70 ERA) will take his place as the right-handed set-up man in the Cubs bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Shawn Camp to 2nd in line, replacing Kerry Wood. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/19/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde, day-to-day with a strained back, was expected to return for the weekend series, but Jim Leyland said Friday that he was still ailing, and that Joaquin Benoit would get save chances in his absence.
2. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in four consecutive games.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in two consecutive games, and in four of the last five.
4. David Hernandez, Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz has pitched in back to back games, and in three of the last four.

Brandon League on shaky ground; Jason Frasor ascending

May 18, 2012

Seattle Mariners – Brandon League blew his third save of the season on Thursday.  While his ERA remains at a respectable 3.12, his peripherals (1.44 WHIP, 10 Ks, 10 BBs) are troubling, and the Mariners could look elsewhere if League’s struggles continue.  Brandon League to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Delabar |League |5/18/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Vicente Padilla has three holds this week, and has pitched just ahead of Alfredo Aceves in all three games.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to Set-up, Franklin Morales to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Morales |Bailey |5/18/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Jason Frasor picked up his second hold of the week on Thursday, and has been used regularly in high leverage spots.  Francisco Cordero has been held out of close games as the Jays aim to rebuild his confidence.  Hierarchy change: Jason Frasor to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Frasor |Cordero |Santos |5/18/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams/Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in three consecutive games.
2. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in three consecutive games.