Sergio Romo to close in SF; George Sherrill injured

April 15, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Brian Wilson’s season is likely over.  After complaining of elbow soreness on Friday night, the Giants sent him for tests, where an MRI showed structural damage to his right elbow.  Bruce Bochy said that the Giants will go closer-by-committee at first; on Friday, Santiago Casilla came on and pitched a clean 8th inning in a tie game, then pitched part of the 9th before Javier Lopez finished the inning.  The Giants walked off in the bottom half, so there was no save opportunity, but based on their usage both tonight and earlier this season, Sergio Romo is the best bet to seize the permanent job.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Santiago Casilla to Set-up, Javier Lopez to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Casilla |Lopez |Wilson |4/15/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Seattle Mariners – George Sherrill was placed on the disabled list yesterday with elbow soreness.  Lefthander Lucas Luetge, reliable in three outings so far, moves up on the depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Lucas Luetge to 2nd in line, replacing George Sherrill. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Luetge |League |4/15/12

 
Minnesota Twins – Jeff Gray has established himself as the go-to lefty in the Twins bullpen, and has surpassed Alex Burnett on the depth chart, who thus far is mostly being used in long relief.  Hierarchy change: Jeff Gray to 2nd in line, replacing Alex Burnett.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Capps |Perkins |Gray |Capps |4/15/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals – Rodriguez, who is the co-closer for the Nats, may get the next save opp.  As noted before, he should be owned in all leagues in case he wins the permanent job.
2. Jonny Venters, Atlanta Braves – Craig Kimbrel has pitched on back-to-back nights, and in four of the last five days.  Venters’s usage has been similar, but he hasn’t thrown as many pitches and could get a save opp if the Braves rest Kimbrel.
3. Edward Mujica/Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell blew the save last night and has pitched on two consecutive days, throwing 46 pitches.  The Marlins will probably go to Bell again tonight, but only because the rest of the Marlins’ top relievers are equally taxed; Edward Mujica and Steve Cishek have both pitched on three consecutive nights, though they’ve both thrown fewer pitches than Bell.

Brian Wilson’s season in jeopardy; Sergio Romo likely to close

April 14, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Brian Wilson’s season is likely over.  After complaining of elbow soreness on Friday night, the Giants sent him for tests, where an MRI showed structural damage to his right elbow.  Bruce Bochy said that the Giants will go closer-by-committee at first, though Sergio Romo is the best bet to seize the permanent job.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Santiago Casilla to Set-up, Javier Lopez to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Casilla |Lopez |Wilson |4/14/12 |Wilson (DL) |

 
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Drew Storen out until All Star break; Scott Downs injured

April 13, 2012

Los Angeles Angels- Set-up man Scott Downs suffered a gruesome ankle injury on Thursday, and was seen on crutches after the game.  The Angels have yet to determine whether to place him on the DL, but he’ll likely miss some action.  In the mean time, the Angels could look to Jason Isringhausen, who is spotless in three outings so far this year and has surpassed LaTroy Hawkins on the depth chart, to close games on nights that Jordan Walden is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Jason Isringhausen to Set-up, replacing Scott Downs.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Walden |Isringhausen|Hawkins |Walden |4/13/12 |Downs(INJ) |

 
Detroit Tigers- Phil Coke was the last of several relievers used by the Tigers to bridge the gap to 8th inning man Joaquin Benoit yesterday, and he’s been used 3 times in the 8th inning in pressure spots, pitching to both righties and lefties.  Hierarchy change: Phil Coke to 2nd in line, replacing Octavio Dotel.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |4/13/12

 
Washington Nationals- Drew Storen underwent surgery earlier this week and will be out until the All Star break, with Davey Johnson indicating that he would continue to alternate between Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez.  Lidge, however, blew the save Thursday; another bad outing for him could mean Rodriguez wins the full-time job.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/13/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Arizona Diamondbacks- Bryan Shaw pitched the 8th inning in front of JJ Putz yesterday, and, in Takashi Saito’s absence, has established himself as the go-to set-up man when David Hernandez is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Brian Shaw to 2nd in line, replacing Takashi Saito.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Shaw |Putz |4/13/12

 
Texas Rangers- Mike Adams, yesterday’s #1 candidate for a vulture save, filled in yesterday for Joe Nathan, who had the night off.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Ogando |Nathan |4/13/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals- It’s Rodriguez’s turn for a save opp in Davey Johnson’s back-and-forth rotation between he and Brad Lidge.  Rodriguez should be owned in all leagues at this point.
2. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers- Jose Valverde has pitched on three consecutive nights and will almost certainly get the day off on Friday.
3. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers- Javy Guerra has also pitched three consecutive nights, so the Dodgers will look to Jansen for any save chances.
4. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins- Matt Capps has pitched on two consecutive nights, and in three of the last four.
5. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants- Brian Wilson has pitched on two consecutive nights, throwing a total of 56 pitches.

San Francisco Giants, Brian Wilson returns, Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo

San Francisco Giants- Up 7 runs in the 8th, the Giants turned to Brian Wilson, who had just returned from the DL.  Wilson pitched a scoreless inning, and will be eased back in to the closer’s role.  With only 10 days left in the season, Santiago Casilla probably gets one or two more save opps before Wilson returns to the 9th inning role.  Hierarchy change: Brian Wilson to Set-up, Sergio Romo to 2nd in line. 

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