Joel Peralta nudges his way to the front in Los Angeles

March 26, 2015

Los Angeles Dodgers — Chris Hatcher and his Wilsonesque beard have endured some rough outings lately, pushing his spring ERA over 10. Although Hatcher is a virtual lock to make the team because he’s out of minor league options, Joel Peralta may have edged in front of him in the race to lead what appears to be a confirmed committee situation that could also include Sergio Santos, Juan Nicasio, and lefties J.P. Howell and Paco Rodriguez. As expected, Brandon League will join Kenley Jansen on the DL to start the season, and some in LA are looking Rafael Soriano’s way.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta* | Hatcher | Santos.
*closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — A struggling Ryan Cook was sent to the minors on Tuesday to fix his mechanics. Eric O’Flaherty and Dan Otero will back up Tyler Clippard during Sean Doolittle’s absence, and young R.J. Alvarez is another intriguing option. Doolittle, meanwhile, is staying busy teaching his coaches about social media.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | O’Flaherty | Otero.

Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara, who turns 40 next week, might miss Opening Day with a hamstring strain. Edward Mujica would likely take the closer’s role until Uehara can get healthy, with Alexi Ogando moving ahead of Junichi Tazawa as a backup option.

Updated hierarchy: Uehara | Mujica | Ogando.

Tampa Bay Rays — Grant Balfour made his first appearance of the spring on Monday and expects to be ready for Opening Day. All three of Tampa’s current top relievers allowed a run in the game. Jake McGee is throwing curveballs again and should be back to closing in late April or early May.

Hierarchy remains: Balfour | Boxberger | Jepsen.

Toronto Blue Jays — As expected, Brett Cecil was officially named Toronto’s closer; Aaron Loup will set him up, with Steve Delabar and Miguel Castro behind them.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Loup | Delabar.

Colorado Rockies — Walt Weiss told reporters that Adam Ottavino will be the club’s top vulture save option when 42-year-old closer LaTroy Hawkins is fatigued, or watching Matlock reruns.

Updated hierarchy: Hawkins | Ottavino | Axford.

Cincinnati Reds — The eighth inning is wide open for the Reds, according to manager Bryan Price, who named no fewer than five possibilities for set-up work. We’ll leave things the way they are until the situation clears up, but one intriguing option Price didn’t mention is lefty Tony Cingrani, who may find a welcoming home in the bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Diaz | LeCure.

2015 AL East preview

March 6, 2015

Baltimore Orioles — It’s a bullpen bonanza in Baltimore, as the Orioles return seven pitchers from last year, a group that combined to throw 80% of the innings out of the ‘pen last year. Zach Britton saved 37 games last season after winning the job and will be back as the closer again in 2015. Darren O’Day should get the bulk of the eighth-inning chances with Andrew Miller in New York, with Tommy Hunter and lefty Brian Matusz competing for the seventh inning.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Hunter.
Holds candidates: O’Day, Matusz.

Boston Red Sox — Despite heading towards 40, Koji Uehara got a two-year, $18 million deal from the Sox to remain their closer. Behind the seemingly ageless Uehara are Junichi Tazawa and Edward Mujica, who will compete for the eighth inning. Mujica got most of the save opportunities at the end of the season when the Sox shut Uehara down, and has more closing experience than Tazawa. 2011 draftee Matt Barnes might be relevant this year if Boston chooses to move him to the bullpen, and Alexi Ogando is also around.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Uehara | Mujica | Tazawa.
Holds candidates: Tazawa, Craig Breslow.

New York Yankees — With David Robertson departed to the AL Central, the Yankees went out and got Andrew Miller. However, despite a $36 million deal, Miller isn’t the team’s closer . . . at least not yet. He’s in a battle for the job with Dellin Betances, who impressed last year with a 1.40 ERA, setting the Yankee record for strikeouts by a reliever with 135. Betances has terrific stuff and is probably the better pitcher, but it’s possible that Joe Girardi uses him more strategically, in the highest-leverage spots. Girardi could even platoon the two based on matchups. Former Brave David Carpenter projects to be the seventh-inning guy.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Betances | Miller | Carpenter.
Holds candidates: Carpenter, Adam Warren.

Tampa Bay Rays — Joe Maddon is gone, which perhaps means a more stable bullpen in 2015. Jake McGee will lead that group when he returns from elbow surgery, as he impressed as the closer last year when he finally got the role for good. Grant Balfour struggled mightily last season but still wants the closer job. He’ll have to compete with newly-acquired Kelvin Jepsen and Ernesto Frieri, as well as Brad Boxberger, who had a strong 2014. In addition, Jeff Beliveau had 28 strikeouts in 24 innings last season, and might be the only lefty on the team’s Opening Day roster.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Balfour | Boxberger | Jepsen.
Holds candidates: Boxberger, Beliveau.

Toronto Blue Jays — With Casey Janssen no longer the Jays’ closer, Brett Cecil and Aaron Sanchez are the top candidates for the job, but John Gibbons isn’t committing to either man yet. For now, we think Cecil has the edge because Sanchez could still snag a spot in the rotation, but it’s worth noting that Cecil was scratched from Friday’s spring training game with soreness in his shoulder. Aaron Loup and Todd Redmond are likely to pitch middle relief in front of the eventual closer, with Steve Delabar also in play.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Cecil | Sanchez | Loup.
Holds candidates: Loup, Redmond.

Andrew Miller, Jason Frasor move up to 8th inning roles

May 9, 2014

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox were idle on Thursday, but with set-up man Junichi Tazawa struggling, they’re talking about an increased role for hard-throwing lefty Andrew Miller. Miller, once a megaprospect with the Tigers, had a great 2013 in relief for Boston and has been even better this year, posting a 1.84 ERA thus far with 20 strikeouts in just 14.2 innings. Until Tazawa figures stuff out, it sounds as if John Farrell will start using Miller as his 8th inning guy, and possibly as a fill-in closer when Koji Uehara needs a night off.

Hierarchy change: Uehara | Miller | Tazawa.

Baltimore Orioles – Tommy Hunter got the night off on Thursday after two rather challenging saves on each of the previous two days, and Zach Britton was also unavailable, having thrown 3.1 innings over the previous four games. That left Darren O’Day to pick up a vulture save; the submariner will continue sharing set-up duties with Britton going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Hunter | Britton | O’Day.

Texas Rangers – Alexi Ogando’s ugly 2014 continued earlier this week, as he was given a low-leverage 6th inning to sort himself out and responded by giving up 4 ERs. Last night, it was Jason Frasor who got the 8th inning ahead of Joakim Soria, and Frasor pitched a perfect inning to lower his ERA to 1.50. On nights when Soria is unavailable, it seems much more likely that Frasor would get a save opp than Ogando at this point. Ogando, who currently has an ERA over 8, needs to improve quickly or he could fall off the Texas hierarchy entirely.

Hierarchy change: Soria | Frasor | Ogando.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Danny Farquhar, Seattle Mariners – Fernando Rodney has pitched in back to back games and three of four.
2. AJ Ramos/Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has pitched on back to back days and three of four (and five of seven).
3. Steve Delabar/Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays – We expect Brett Cecil to get the majority of save opps until Casey Janssen’s return, but Steve Delabar and Aaron Loup could get chances, too.
4. Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – Chad Qualls and Anthony Bass are sharing the late innings in Houston.

Frieri reinstated as closer, Cecil picks up save for Jays

May 6, 2014

Los Angeles Angels – As predicted in our Vulture Save Watch, Mike Scioscia gave the ball to Ernesto Frieri in the ninth inning and the right-hander delivered, preserving a three-run lead for his first save since April 21. Scioscia intended to move Frieri back to the ninth all along, and Frieri has earned his job back thanks to now 4.2 innings without giving up a hit since a blown save on April 23.

Hierarchy change: Frieri | Smith | Kohn.

Houston Astros – Raul Valdes was designated for assignment, with LHP Darin Downs called up to replace him. The Astros also signed Tony Sipp, who will be their best left-handed option behind Qualls and Bass in the bullpen.

Hierarchy change: Qualls | Bass | Sipp.

Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil got the first crack at the closer’s role in manager John Gibbons’ committee, and he came through with a strong ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season. Both Aaron Loup and Steve Delabar pitched in front of Cecil, but it was Delabar who got the eighth ahead of Loup. All three have a chance at a save opportunity at this point, but it appears as if Delabar has the inside track to the ninth inning if Cecil isn’t given the nod.

Hierarchy change: Cecil | Delabar | Loup.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Steve Delabar/Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil has pitched in back-to-back games, meaning Delabar or Loup could get a chance in the Jays’ committee. As stated above, we think Delabar is the more likely selection.
2. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland blew the save last night and has appeared in two straight games.
3. Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians – John Axford has thrown in three straight games, taking the loss last night after entering a tie game in the 10th inning.

Chris Perez blows save, Blue Jays go with committee

May 4, 2014

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers gave Kenley Jansen the night off last night and went with Chris Perez in the 9th inning.  Perez blew the save by walking in the game tying run.  Jansen is tied for the league lead in appearances this season, and he hasn’t been his usual dominant self, giving up 25 base runners in 15.1 innings.  The Dodgers will probably try to monitor Jansen’s usage moving forward so Chris Perez could continue to see save opportunities when Jansen is rested.

Hierarchy change remains: Jansen | Perez | Wilson.

Toronto Blue Jays – Manager John Gibbons has officially removed Sergio Santos from the closer’s role and has announced that they will go with a committee until Janssen is back.  Gibbons mentioned Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup as the main guys in the committee.  We like Cecil better because of his strikeout potential.  On another note, Casey Janssen could begin a rehab assignment on Monday.

Hierarchy change: Cecil | Loup | Delabar. 

Chicago White Sox – Nate Jones is going to have surgery on his lower back.  The White Sox have said this will not end his season, but this is not good news for those holding out hope that Jones would come back and take over as closer.  Hierarchy remains: Lindstrom | Belisario | Webb.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks – Addison Reed has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
2. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon has recorded save in the past two days and pitched in three of the last four.
3. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has appeared in three straight games
4. Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo has thrown 37 pitches over the past two games and pitched in three of the past four games.
5. Jim Johnson, Oakland A’s – We think Jim Johnson gets the next save chance in Oakland, and the job should be his again if he converts it.
6. Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays are going with a committee and Brett Cecil is unavailable tonight so Loup will get the call if there is a save opportunity
7. Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – It looks like Qualls and Bass will be the main guys for a little while.