Bullpen Report: April 12, 2014
-The Boston Red Sox have shut down their 39-year-old closer, Koji Uehara, for the time being after experiencing tightness in his shoulder after completing a session of long-toss. The right-hander will attempt to throw again tomorrow (Sunday) before Boston’s brass determines if a trip to the disabled list will be necessary for their ninth-inning man. For the Red Sox and fantasy owners, the concern here lies in the comparison Uehara made between the stiffness he felt in the shoulder this Friday and the injury he suffered as a member of the Rangers two years ago. Then, the should stiffness continued to resurface, resulting in a two-and-a-half month stint on the shelf.
Through five trips to the hill this season, Uehara is a perfect 2-for-2 in save chances with a 0.00 ERA (2.71 xFIP) and a 36.8% K% (0% BB%). That’s the good news. If there’s anything to be concerned about over the current sample of appearances, aside from the shoulder stiffness, could be the dip in velocity on each of his primary offerings. He’s down more than a mile-per-hour on both his fastball and splitter from last season’s readings, but the dip isn’t as severe when comparing to his career average velocities on those pitches.
In the meantime, veteran right-hander Edward Mujica will get the nod in save situations. Mujica notched his first save last evening in the Bronx with a clean inning of work, facing the minimum and striking out one. For his career, the 30-year-old now has 42 saves under his belt — 37 of which were recorded last season as a member of the Cardinals — with a 3.80 ERA and a 19.7% K%. Mujica should be immediately added in all leagues until additional details regarding Uehara’s injury are released. Mujica is currently available in 57% of Yahoo! leagues.
–Jose Veras suffered his second blown save of the season Friday evening in stellar fashion. He plunked two batters, walked another and surrendered a single to blow a 3-1 lead for Jeff Samardzija and the Cubbies sending the game to extras. Following the game, Cubs skipper Rick Renteria initially stated Veras would still be their ninth-inning guy, but just hours later, the manager announced his decision to pull Veras from the closer’s role for the time being. Veras is 0-for-2 in save opportunities with a 12.27 ERA and a 2.45 WHIP in five trips to the bump so far this season.
While Veras attempts to fix himself, Hector Rondon, Justin Grimm and Pedro Strop could get the call in save situations for the Cubs. Rondon picked up the save Friday evening against the Cardinals — the first of his career — and has a 0.00 ERA with a 33.3% K% in six appearances this season. Right-hander Justin Grimm hasn’t yet saved a game in the bigs, but is also the owner of a 0.00 ERA and a 30% K% in seven trips to the bump early on. Strop has just five career saves, but accumulated 39 successful save conversions during his Minor League years with the Rockies and Rangers organizations. If I’m looking for saves in the Cubs bullpen, I’m adding Strop, Rendon, then Grimm — in that order.
Quick Hits:
–LaTroy Hawkins (2), Shawn Kelley (2), Francisco Rodriguez (4) and Grant Balfour (4) each logged saves on Saturday.
–Rex Brothers picked up a hold despite walking two and facing six batters.
–Cody Allen looked sharp, striking out three while picking up a hold this afternoon.
–Jordan Walden earned a hold in a one-inning two strikeout effort against the Nationals.
With respect to the grid, the Cubs moved to the “red” and Kyle Farnsworth was added as the eighth-inning man for the Metropolitans. Gonzalez German was left off the chart but should not be forgotten.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
In addition to contributing to the RotoGraphs blog, you can find Alan at his own site, TheFantasyFix.com and follow his nonsense on Twitter @TheFantasyFix.
Kinzler on the DL, Wooten called up from Nashville.
Better addition Soria, Gregerson, or Mujica?
Soria is the obvious answer since he clearly has the job and has done nothing to change that so far.
probably Mujica, Soria and Gregerson in that order.
life achieve regular
Would you drop Broxton for Mujica or Hawkins? Both of the latter are available in my league still.
Probably, since Broxton’s hold on the job is temporary. If I knew Uehara was a) going to the disabled list b) for a long time, then I’d say Mujica. As things stand as of Sunday morning, Hawkins is the better add.
Do you guys like Broxton or Strop going forward in terms of saves, era, and whip? Does Strop have better long-term value compare to Broxton because Aroldis is coming back soon?
I just dropped Broxton for Strop in my league, hoping Strop locks up the role long-term which would obviously make him more valuable than Broxton’s temporary role.
None of the cubs options look good. You might get some saves from strop but he’s gonna kill your era and whip. His minor league #s are ugly.
you would drop frieri for robertson right?
also is francisco rodriguez’s role in that much jeopardy? He’s been pretty lights out
I don’t think Robertson’s job is very safe. His health or lack of performance will bring Betances in.
Krod ain’t going nowhere until he starts blowing.
Agree. That Milwaukee closer situation should be moved to green, because KRod is as secure in that job as any closer in the league right now. At the very least it should be yellow, because he won’t lose the job until he starts sucking. But that’s true for any closer.
Not true. Roenicke said he just moved Henderson out of the 9th until he gets his velocity back and his breaking stuff on track, and that he’ll get the job back. Henderson is the younger, better pitcher, and he’s their guy.
What made afford a green light, in your, iyo.
^This is the worst sentence I’ve read all morning. And I’ve read dozens.
Anthony Bass actually leads Houston in saves, what point does he show up on the radar? He’s not even listed as 2nd in line. I get he doesn’t have special skills and his saves may have been due to kind of “last man left” situations. Bass seems to be a lot closer than Albers, who doesn’t have a save in his 9 year career.
When you compare their career K%, BB%, and HR/9 they are pretty similar as well as career SIERA, FIP and xFIP.
I don’t watch a lot of (any) Astros games and maybe the people that cover them are saying Albers would get the shot at the closer roll first, but the usage early this season and the relatively similar skills indicates Bass is closer to the closer roll.
Take a look at the games in which Bass got the saves and you’ll see it was pretty much flukes both times. I would not bet on Bass. The chart above is quite insightful not to be tricks by two saves.
Thoughts on the Mets bullpen? Will they stick with Valverde or is there a chance they go with Germen or Torres?
Drop Broxton for Gregorson?
I’d be leery for the time being when it comes to the Oakland bullpen. No pattern has been established yet. Broxton should be safe until Chapman returns, and the A’s have ten million reasons to work Johnson into the 9th as soon as his ‘stuff’ is back.
Both strop and random are available on waivers which one do I add right now?
KRod looking beastly in early going. May just run away with the job.
Here’s a deep deep sleeper dark-horse for you for the mess that is the White Sox bull-pen: Maikel Cleto.
Should I give up on the KC Bullpen now?