Alex Colome leading the Rays closer committee

March 29, 2016

Tampa Bay Rays – A lengthy profile published recently in the Tampa Bay Times includes the suggestion that Alex Colome “appears the first choice to fill in for Brad Boxberger” when the season starts. Danny Farquhar has had an excellent spring, but we’ve learned to trust the local beat writers when there hasn’t been an overt declaration from a manager. So we’ll bump Colome to the top of the committee until we hear more.

Updated hierarchy: *Colome | Farquhar | Cedeno.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – John Gibbons said that he’d officially name a closer after today’s game. We still expect it to be Drew Storen, in which case we won’t send an update later tonight. But if it’s Roberto Osuna, expect to hear from us.

Hierarchy remains: Storen | Osuna | Cecil.

Andrew Bailey turning heads in Phillies camp

March 18, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies – Andrew Bailey has now pitched four scoreless spring innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five. With David Hernandez battling a sore triceps, Bailey may have emerged as the early favorite to close for Philadelphia. Among other possible candidates, Edward Mujica is also having a good spring and may make the team, but hasn’t generated much discussion for the closer spot. Ernesto Frieri, meanwhile, isn’t pitching well.

Updated hierarchy: *Hernandez | Bailey | Mujica.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Will Smith and Jeremy Jeffress may share the closer role to open the season, but right now, Smith has the better chance of taking the job and running with it. He’s been great so far this spring, and Jeffress, recovering from an injury, hasn’t pitched much.

Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Jeffress | Knebel.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – Jason Grilli made his spring debut yesterday, but the Braves still haven’t committed to him — or anyone else — as closer just yet. Grilli, Arodys Vizcaino, and Jim Johnson are still being considered.

Hierarchy remains: *Grilli | Vizcaino | Johnson.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – Drew Storen and Roberto Osuna are both looking pretty good so far this spring, which hasn’t helped the Blue Jays make any decisions about their closer role. Storen remains the early favorite, though.

Hierarchy remains: Storen | Osuna | Cecil.

2016 AL East preview

February 29, 2016

Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton and Darren O’Day will be back in the roles they’ve dominated since Tommy Hunter’s demotion last May. The seventh inning should be left in the capable hands of Mychal Givens and Brad Brach.

Starting 2016 hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Givens.
Holds candidates: O’Day, Givens, Brach.

Boston Red Sox — What a difference this offseason made for the dog’s breakfast of a Fenway bullpen. A November trade installed Craig Kimbrel in the closer role; although he led the league in saves each year between 2011 and 2014, he’s still only 27. Setting up Kimbrel will be the ageless Koji Uehara, back from his broken wrist and giving Sox opponents two very different looks in the late innings. The seventh inning should belong to Carson Smith and his crazy release point, with Junichi Tazawa and Robbie Ross, Jr. providing further depth. And don’t look now, but Carlos Marmol got a minor league deal from Boston, and there’s already talk that he might be back to his effective self again.

Starting 2016 hierarchy: Kimbrel | Uehara | Smith.
Holds candidates: Uehara, Smith, Tazawa.

New York Yankees — You may have heard a little about these guys — the only three relievers to strike out over 100 batters in 2015, combining to compensate for a Yankee offense so old it got invited to a Democratic debate. The major complicating factor is a possible domestic violence suspension for Aroldis Chapman, which could sideline him as many as 45 days. In that event, New York would turn to last year’s dynamic duo of Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.

Starting 2016 hierarchy: Chapman | Miller | Betances.
Holds candidates: Miller, Betances, Chasen Shreve.

Tampa Bay Rays — Brad Boxberger will hold onto the closer role he inherited last season, but with Jake McGee out of the picture, it’s the newly acquired Danny Farquhar who will be his chief assistant. Behind them are familiar names like Xavier Cedeno, Alex Colome, and Steve Geltz, although Enny Romero is a longshot worth watching.

Starting 2016 hierarchy: Boxberger | Farquhar | Cedeno.
Holds candidates: Farquhar, Cedeno, Geltz.

Toronto Blue Jays — It’ll be a spring training battle for the closer role between incumbent Roberto Osuna and newcomer Drew Storen. Storen, who was displaced from the ninth a few times in Washington, is expressing a team-first attitude about his role, and we think he has the edge over Osuna, whose usage will be somewhat limited. Brett Cecil should be in line for the seventh, but if you want a deep sleeper with Storen-edging experience, Rafael Soriano just joined the team as well.

Starting 2016 hierarchy: Storen | Osuna | Cecil.
Holds candidates: Osuna, Cecil, Aaron Sanchez.

Neftali Feliz converts his second chance

September 24, 2015

Detroit Tigers — One day after blowing both a save and a combined no-hitter, Brad Ausmus sent Neftali Feliz out to protect a three-run lead. This one went a bit better for the experienced closer, as he earned his second save with Detroit. While Alex Wilson will certainly get some of the opportunities going forward, this back-to-back work is enough to move Feliz to the head of the Detroit committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Feliz | Wilson | Hardy.

Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton may begin playing catch today, but will probably be out until at least the weekend. He has been told he cannot injure himself further by pitching through the injury, but he will be less effective. While healthy, Britton is one of the best closers in the game, but Darren O’Day is worth a pickup if you are scraping for fantasy playoff saves, as he may have the 9th inning for at least the weekend, maybe even the rest of the year.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Brach.

Toronto Blue Jays — With the AL East race getting tighter, and Aaron Sanchez struggling in the past week, John Gibbons has said he will use other arms in the 8th inning ahead of Roberto Osuna. This could be Brett Cecil, who has assumed the job the past two times out, Mark Lowe or even the ageless LaTroy Hawkins. Cecil has been outstanding and will probably get the first look, but as a prominent lefty, he may be held out for situational matchups more than a traditional closer. It’s important to note that Sanchez hasn’t been removed, only placed in a competition at this point; but with a deep bullpen, and very little margin for error, the race for the roles leading up to the 9th is wide open.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Sanchez | Cecil.

Minnesota Twins — Last night, Glen Perkins gave up a pair of runs with the Twins up by four, but was able to hold on for the win. Immediately after the last pitch, he was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing about the strike zone. While this probably won’t lead to a suspension, Bellino is lucky he got away with only some yelling. Perkins is the team’s creepiest dancer, and may have unleashed his moves if he was provoked any further.

Hierarchy remains: Jepsen | Perkins | May.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jairo Diaz, Colorado Rockies – John Axford got rocked for four runs on 20 pitches yesterday and could get the day off Thursday.
2. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton is unavailable until at least the weekend.
3. Luis Garcia, Philadelphia Phillies – Ken Giles has pitched in back-to-back games.

Drew Storen likely out for the season

September 13, 2015

Washington Nationals – The Washington Nationals have likely lost Drew Storen for the season after injuring his right thumb.  Matt Williams mentioned several options to replace Drew Storen, including Casey Janssen, Matt Thornton, Blake Treinen and Felipe Rivero.  Janssen has given up nine runs in his last six appearances and taken three loses during that time.  Blake Treinen has also struggled recently, giving up five runs in his last five appearances.  Matt Thornton has made eleven straight scoreless appearances so we will slot him into Storen’s spot for now.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Thornton | Rivero.

Oakland A’s – Ryan Dull pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning last night.  He now has eight scoreless innings, with ten strikeouts, to begin his career and should continue to see time in the later innings for the A’s.

Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Pomeranz | Dull.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays swept a doubleheader with the Yankees yesterday.  The first game went into extra innings and Ryan Tepera got the last three outs in the eleventh inning to protect a four run lead and pick up his first save of the season.  Brett Cecil, Aaron Sanchez,and Roberto Osuna pitched earlier in the game.  In the second game, Mark Lowe pitched a perfect ninth to record the save.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Sanchez | Cecil.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Huston Street has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – AJ Ramos has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
3. Addison Reed, New York Mets – Jeurys Familia and Tyler Clippard have both pitched in two straight and four of the last five.