Carlos Marmol finally out as Cubs closer

April 7, 2013

Chicago Cubs — It seems that Carlos Marmol is finally done as the Cubs closer after giving up two home runs in the ninth to lose to Atlanta. Although Dale Sveum pointed out that Kyuji Fujikawa also pitched poorly on Saturday night, and offered Shawn Camp and James Russell as potential alternatives, we believe the Cub most likely to land in the closer role is the longtime Japanese relief ace.  Hierarchy change: Kyuji Fujikawa to Closer, Shawn Camp to Set-Up, James Russell to 2nd in line.

Carlos Marmol already on the verge of losing his job

April 2, 2013

Chicago Cubs – It took all of one game for reporters to start questioning Carlos Marmol’s role as the Cubs’ stopper.  After taking over in the 9th inning, Marmol allowed three baserunners while only retiring one hitter before he was yanked for James Russell.  Kyuji Fujikawa eventually got the one-out save.  After the game, Dale Sveum said that Marmol was still his closer, though the quick hook shows just how little confidence the Cubs’ skipper has in the erratic righty.  Fujikawa, a closer in Japan, is the best option to replace Marmol if the struggles continue.  Hierarchy change: Kyuji Fujikawa to Set-up, Shawn Camp to 2nd in line.  Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Fujikawa |Camp |Marmol |4/2/13

 
Detroit Tigers – The first save of the Detroit season went to Phil Coke, who retired the final two batters of the game.  Joaquin Benoit had started the 8th and 9th innings, both of which were led off by righties, and Coke came on to face a lefty in the 9th.  Al Alburquerque pitched the 7th.  After the game, Jim Leyland said: “Today, it was Alburquerque, Benoit and Coke, and the next game, it might be Darin Downs, Villarreal and Dotel. That’s just the way it’s going to be. It’s nothing different from what we’ve been talking about all along.”  Though Leyland’s comment suggests there is still no single reliever who will be getting the bulk of the saves in Detroit, the three relievers who pitched on Opening Day are still the three we like best.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Benoit |Coke |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/2/13

 
Atlanta Braves – Jonny Venters was placed on the disabled list to start the season, and reports emerged over the weekend that he was heading to visit Dr. James Andrews, which is never a good sign.  Eric O’Flaherty pitched the 7th inning in the Braves’ opening day win.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to 2nd in line, replacing Jonny Venters.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Walden |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |4/2/13

Antonio Bastardo picks up first save of the year

September 11, 2012

Philadelphia Phillies – Antonio Bastardo picked up his first save of the season on Monday.  As mentioned in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jonathan Papelbon had pitched in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPHI |Papelbon |Bastardo |Lindblom |Papelbon |9/11/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.
2. Brandon League, Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League is sharing save chances with Ronald Belisario.
3. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.

Luke Gregerson, Josh Lindblom, Mark Melancon, Shawn Camp all pick up random saves

August 27, 2012

San Diego Padres – With Dale Thayer still on paternity leave, Luke Gregerson picked up a save in his absence.  Thayer returns today and will resume closing until Huston Street is healthy.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Gregerson |Layne |Street |8/27/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Philadelphia Phillies – Josh Lindblom picked up a 1.2 inning save on Sunday, as Jonathan Papelbon had the day off after pitching three in a row.  Antonio Bastardo has been the 8th inning man lately, so this may have been a match-up play– four of the five hitters Lindblom faced were righties.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPHI |Papelbon |Bastardo |Lindblom |Papelbon |8/27/12

 
Boston Red Sox – With both Andrew Bailey and Vicente Padilla unavailable, the Red Sox went to Mark Melancon in the 9th inning on Sunday.  Craig Breslow has been pitching better than anyone else in the Boston bullpen lately, but the Red Sox appear to prefer Melancon’s experience in the closer role.  While there won’t be many nights where both Bailey and Padilla (and the suspended Alfredo Aceves) are unavailable, Melancon could see more late-inning work going forward.  Hierarchy change: Mark Melancon to 2nd in line, replacing Craig Breslow.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Padilla |Melancon |Bailey |8/27/12 |Aceves(SUSP)|

 
Chicago Cubs – Shawn Camp pitched the 8th inning with the Cubs up by 2 runs, and ended up earning the save when the game was rained out in the bottom of the 8th.  Camp will continue to be the 8th inning man moving forward, as he was tonight.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Camp |Russell |Marmol |8/27/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. 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.

Random saves for James Russell, Scott Downs, Joe Thatcher

July 3, 2012

Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol was unavailable on Monday, but it was James Russell who got the call in the 9th inning, not Shawn Camp.  This came as a bit of a surprise, since Camp had pitched as a set-up man in the 8th inning in the previous two games.  But it worked out for the Cubs, as Camp again pitched the 8th and allowed only one hit in his inning of work, leaving a lefty-heavy 9th inning for Russell, who earned the save.  Camp, who now has 9 straight scoreless outings, is still the most likely candidate for a save on nights when Marmol is unavailable.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Camp |Russell |Marmol |7/3/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs cleaned up Jered Weaver’s mess in the 8th inning of a 3-0 game on Monday, and then stayed on for the lefty-heavy ninth to earn his 7th save.  Downs remains arguably the best set-up man in baseball, but will only see occasional save opportunities if Ernesto Frieri’s dominance continues.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Hawkins |Walden |7/3/12

 
Miami Marlins – The Marlins placed Edward Mujica on the DL over the weekend.  Mike Dunn has pitched in the 8th inning in each of the last three games, and slides up to take his place.  Hierarchy change: Mike Dunn to 2nd in line, Edward Mujica to DL.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Cishek |Dunn |Bell |7/3/12 |Mujica(DL) |

 
San Diego Padres – Clayton Richard couldn’t quite close out a complete game on Monday, as Joe Thatcher was summoned to record the final out in a 6-2 game.  There were a couple men on base, so Thatcher earned his first save of the season.  The lefty is unlikely to get many save chances going forward, even if Huston Street is dealt.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Gregerson |Thayer |Street |7/3/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brandon League, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched 4 innings over the last three games.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – With with the Twins employing a true platoon, Jared Burton could get the save opp on any night, but that’s especially true tonight, as Glen Perkins has pitched three games in a row.