Bullpen Report: July 2, 2014
• Quick Recap from last night: Grant Balfour picked up the save last night with Jake McGee pitching the eighth. This is still a committee and McGee is the best reliever so he’d still be my favored option in the Rays pen for fantasy. Joe Smith picked up two saves, his eighth and ninth of the season and it doesn’t seem like Grilli is taking over the ninth in the near future. Koji Uehara got the loss entering the ninth in a tie game and although he said he’s “fatigued” he was also available to pitch tonight so no injury worries, yet. If Uehera can’t close it’s unclear who is next in line. Junichi Tazawa and Andrew Miller have been better than Mujica, but Mujica received an opportunity this year. Of course Mujica pitched poorly in an inning tonight and I’d wager the Sox would go to a committee type if Uehara’s fatigue caused him to miss any time. Addison Reed did what the Diamondbacks have done all year, blown. Hector Rondon also recorded a save, his 11th of the season and after a few hiccups last week that situation is going from Red –> Yellow.
• After Balfour notched the save yesterday, Brad Boxberger converted the save today, the second of his career and his first this season. Jake McGee and Grant Balfour had pitched in the previous games so they were likely unavailable. So, although Boxberger is a solid bullpen option for the Rays, I don’t see him being a main fixture for saves. Joel Peralta who blew the lead earlier this week threw a scoreless eighth for his 10th hold of the season. Given Balfour and McGee’s recent performances, Peralta might just continue to set up.
• Cody Allen nailed his eighth save of the season getting four outs against the Dodgers. Allen’s been solid all year and I’m confidently changing him to green on the grid below. Brian Wilson struggled for the Dodgers, getting the loss after allowing three runs while only recording one out. The Dodgers pen behind Kenley Jansen is a bit of a mess, Chris Perez, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell and even Brandon League are the main setup options and I would be surprised if the Dodgers don’t come away with some bullpen help before the trading deadline.
• Quick hits: Craig Kimbrel had the night off and Jordan Walden filled in for his third save of the year. Shae Simmons has been impressive but Walden is still behind Kimbrel in the pecking order. Fernando Rodney launched his 24th arrow today for the Mariners who are now winners of four straight. Casey Janssen picked up the W today on a scoreless inning, lowering his ERA to a sparkling 0.95. Rafael Soriano closed his 20th door with Tyler Clippard getting his 20th hold of the season.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
When he's not focusing on every team's bullpen situation, Ben can be found blogging at Ben's Baseball Bias and on Twitter @BensBias
Quick jot: Putnam got the high-leverage out in the 8th and stayed in for the 9th to get the rewarding win. Petricka did pitch the 9th in a 4-0 win the other day, but it seems like Putnam’s got the tough assignments. Still remains to be seen if that’s the 9th with a 3-run lead or the 8th like tonight.
The fact that Petricka & Guerra pitched in games they were losing, while a well-rested Putnam stayed on the bench, speaks volumes to me. In a tie game at home, you use your closer in the 9th, or with 2 outs in the 8th.
I agree with your logic, but Ventura is hard to figure out. Just look at his past decisions when it came to the closer’s role. Hector Santiago last season and Matt Lindstrom. That being said, I think Putnam is first up for saves…for now.
Melancon can probably be green as well, with Grilli gone I don’t see anyone taking the job from him.
I’m a Jake McGee owner, but getting frustrated. This has been something like 3 save opportunities in a row that he has not gotten the call for. I know you say he’s still the one to own, but doesn’t it seem like this might just be a true committee and none of them are worth owning?
McGee is well worth owning for his ratios even if he’s not getting regular save opportunities. Steamer has only Chapman, Kimbrel, Uehara, Jansen, Doolittle, and Holland with better rest-of-season projections in ERA and WHIP. I’m using him for help in those categories, and taking any saves as gravy.
That may be true but that’s very dependent on your league’s settings. In my league I don’t think any reliever is worthwhile owning for ratios only.
It looks like the Rays are leery of letting McGee accumulate too many saves while he is still eligible for arbitration.
With the way the Yankees are hitting (not), a 3-run lead in the 9th is only a save in the rule book.
OK, I’ll say it again, as a Rays fan: McGee is emotionally fragile (this is my take from watching a number of his interviews) and therefore is a dubious closer candidate. I know sabermetricians can’t measure this, but it IS a factor. McGee certainly has closer stuff, however. So Joe will use McGee as a closer only if it is his only realistic option.
This IS a horrible opinion.
Ya Joe said it was a committee, listed 5 relievers going to get opps, and they are all getting opps. I wouldn’t be surprised if Oviedo gets the next one. I think your expectations were/are off. This is a 100% committee.
Does Jesse Crain have a shot if/when he’s back? Does Qualls need to be traded or blow up for Crain to slide in? (I’m in a super deep league where all closers in waiting are rostered so I’ve had Crain using one of my 4 DL spots all season)
I don’t see Qualls losing the job unless he is traded. Crain still needs to prove he can even sniff a MLB mound this year. Plus, who knows what stuff he will even have on his pitches when he does come back.
I think you are underestimating Boxberger’s role in the bullpen. McGee this season has pitched four days in a row, three days in a row twice and both games of a doubleheader. Balfour has pitched three games in a row and both ends of a doubleheader. Either could have pitched today.
Maddon has been impressed with Boxberger. After Brad pitched an inning and the Rays went ahead in extra innings Monday, Maddon had him pitch a second inning to complete the game, saying afterwards, “Really dominant kind of stuff. He was in total command of the moment.”
I think Boxberger is clearing in the committee of closers, is a better pitcher than either Peralta and Balfour, and while McGee has been stellar, many managers are reluctant to commit to a left-handed closer.
Good point and that’s probably the case. However, with Balfour Peralta and McGee, if you need saves you might be better off with someone else on wire as well.
Lately when the Cubs are ahead they give Ramirez the 7th and Strop the 8th. With Strop pitching well lately how confident are you that the next chance would go to Ramirez over Strop?
I think Reeds performance plus economics of the game are working powerfully for him to lose the role as closer for a while.
1. Making Ziegler the closer enhances his value as trade bait
2. Taking save opportunities from Reed could save a few million at arbitration time this winter.
3. Reed has been very hittable lately, so along with the walks, he could use a little time off.
4. Performance bonuses (if any) aside, Ziegler costs them less per save. In fact, his value goes up for every save, while Reeds goes DOWN for every save (since he could win so much in arbitration that his contract will exceed his actual value). Like Jim Johnson, for example.
After the doubleheader pair of saves I think Smith has made it to a point where he is going to have to sputter to lose any significant number of save opportunities. That is more of a “yellow” situation than a “red” one.
Wow are things really that bad in Houston that they have a ‘white’ light??
If Benoit went to DET, what are the chances he takes over for Nathan?
Drop Nathan for Allen, Qualls or Melancon? Or hold?
Couple questions if I may:
1. I know Brothers is listed ahead of Ottavino but Rex is a lefty and I strongly believe in the righty bias for closers – which would you guys rather have? (both for potential future SV’s and also as an arm for ratios should neither get SV opportunities down the road)
2. I too am wondering if Strop is ahead of Ramirez for SV’s in CHC. Would the Cubbies want to keep Ramirez out of the closer role for arbitration reasons, etc.?
3. Same question (re: future arbitration/contract stuff) for Boxberger who has looked really good these last couple weeks and really seems to have the right “stuff”
Thanks!
just a few thoughts-
I think Fien and burton should be switched
Is Santos really the setup man in Toronto?