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.

Dale Thayer struggling; Jesse Crain, Francisco Cordero now setting up

May 31, 2012

San Diego Padres – Pitching in a tie game on Wednesday, Dale Thayer gave up a walk off home run to Darwin Barney.  In his last two outings, Thayer has given up 7 earned runs in just 1.2 innings.  Dale Thayer to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Cashner |Gregerson |Street |5/31/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Chicago White Sox – Jesse Crain continues to dominate hitters, with a 1.26 ERA and 0.91 WHIP, and he picked up his second consecutive 8th inning hold last night.  Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to Set-up, Matt Thornton to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Crain |Thornton |Reed |5/31/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – His ERA is still ugly due to some awful outings earlier in the year, but Francisco Cordero has been solid since being demoted from the closer role, holding the opposition scoreless in 10 out of 11 outings.  He pitched the 8th inning last night- setting up for Casey Janssen- his second such appearance in a row.  Hierarchy change: Francisco Cordero to Set-up, Jason Frasor to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Cordero |Frasor |Santos |5/31/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz arrived at the ballpark with a sore back yesterday and wasn’t able to pitch.  David Hernandez got the save in his place.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Shaw |Putz |5/31/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched in four straight games.
2. Jose Veras, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford has pitched in four straight, and ace set-up man Francisco Rodriguez has pitched in three straight. If the Brewers have a late lead, they’ll probably play match-ups, with Jose Veras having the best shot at nabbing the save.

Brian Fuentes blows first save; Jon Rauch re-establishes himself

Oakland A’s – Brian Fuentes allowed a walkoff 3-run HR last night in what was his first blown save since he was named closer two and a half weeks ago.  But while Fuentes has been decent in his role as the A’s stopper, the A’s set-up men have been better.  Former closer Grant Balfour has held opponents scoreless in 8 of his last 9 appearances.  Ryan Cook, meanwhile, gave up his first runs of the season the other day, but still sports a 0.75 ERA.  If Fuentes falters again, the A’s could start thinking about making a move.  Brian Fuentes to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Fuentes |Cook |Balfour |Cook |5/30/12

 
New York Mets – After getting knocked around a bit in the middle of May, Jon Rauch has settled down, allowing just one run in his last six appearances.  He pitched the 8th inning ahead of Frank Francisco yesterday; Bobby Parnell was used in the 7th.  Hierarchy change: Jon Rauch to Set-up, Bobby Parnell to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Parnell |Francisco |5/30/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched in three straight games.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford has pitched in three straight.
3. Sergio Romo/Clay Hensley, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in three straight.
4. Edward Mujica/Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell has pitched in two straight, and in four of the last five.
5. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri will get the majority of opportunities, but Mike Scioscia is still using a closer-by-committee.
6. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has gotten all three save opportunities since Henry Rodriguez was demoted, but Davey Johnson has said that Sean Burnett could still get opportunities based on match-ups.

Aroldis Chapman is Reds new closer; Jose Valverde expected back Tuesday

Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde is still day-to-day with a sore back and Joaquin Benoit recorded a shaky save in his place on Sunday.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |5/21/12

 
Seattle Mariners – The Mariners summoned Charlie Furbush in the 7th inning on Sunday, whereupon he pitched a clean inning with 2 Ks.  The lefty, a former starting pitcher, has shown the ability to pitch out of the bullpen to both lefties and righties.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line, replacing Steve Delabar.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |League |5/21/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Dusty Baker said before Sunday’s game that Aroldis Chapman was his new closer, then sent him out for the 9th inning against the Yankees where the hard-throwing lefty recorded his first save.  Logan Ondrusek and Sean Marshall will share eighth-inning duties.  Hierarchy change: Aroldis Chapman to Closer, Sean Marshall to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |5/21/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Logan Ondrusek/Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight games and four of the last five, throwing 76 pitches over that span.  Dusty Baker said he will play matchups in the event that Chapman is unavailable, with Logan Ondrusek facing righties and Sean Marshall facing lefties.
2. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched in two straight and three of the last four, throwing 54 pitches over that span.

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.