Bullpen Report: June 25, 2013
• The Carlos Marmol saga in Chicago comes to an end as he was designated for assignment today. The Cubs now have 10 days to trade Marmol, but considering they’ve been trying that for parts of two or more seasons, I don’t think that’s a possibility. Carlos Marmol has been the Adam Dunn of pitching with a fantastic 29.8% career K% but with all those swings and misses were the bases on balls of course (15.5% BB%). For a brief stretch Marmol was one of the better fantasy closers in the game. Although his ERA and WHIP were never elite, he struck out 138 batters in 2010 with a 2.55 ERA. Marmol slipped since then and has never reached that peak, bottoming out in 2013 with a 5.86 ERA and 6.16 FIP. If someone else picks him up, it should at least be intriguing watching him the feast or famine from Marmol.
It’s strange to say, but Kevin Gregg’s cemented as the Cubs closer (until he gets traded) and behind him to see the late innings is James Russell, as well as Blake Parker . James Russell has been solid all season although he’s struggled against right-handed hitting with .346 wOBA against them thus far. Blake Parker’s only thrown 9.2 innings this year but he’s been effective with a 3.16 xFIP and a 10.24 K/9. There is trade interest in Kevin Gregg as we mentioned and if he’s gone, Parker is someone to keep an eye on for potential saves.
• On to some rehab news, Rafael Betancourt is returning Friday to the Rockies and .J. Putz threw his third straight scoreless inning on his minor league rehab stint. With Heath Bell struggling at closer and David Hernandez having a little bit of a let down year compared to 2012, J.J. Putz should have little trouble reclaiming his familiar ninth inning role in Arizona once he returns. Rafael Betancourt will receive the save opportunities right when he’s back in Colorado, but with Rex Brothers converting saves in his absence, his leash might be a little shorter if he were to struggle at first.
• Steve Cishek threw his ninth consecutive scoreless inning tonight for his 13th save of the season tonight. At one point Cishek was apparently in a closer-by-committee in Arizona Miami but he’s pitched well enough (3.56 xFIP) to have a firm grasp on the role now. It’s unlikely someone in Miami takes over for Cishek due to performance, Cishek could be involved in a trade
• Elsewhere in closer news, Mariano Rivera picked up his first win on the season, Jim Johnson notched his league leading 27th save, Rafael Soriano untucked his shirt for the 20th time, Kimbrel struck out two for save 22 and Addison Reed took his owners on a roller coaster, blowing his third save only to pick up his third win.
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
Addison Reed “blew” the save by inducing a game ending pop-up behind the mound — Beckham and Gillaspee did the may-pole dance, pooped in their pants, and then ended with an Alphonse-and-Gaston routine…
that was 100% beckham’s fault. just an awful play
Wasn’t able to see that last night, thanks for pointing it out.
I guess it’s another reason why saves/blown saves are pretty arbitrary?
Even if he blew the save in spectacular fashion, Reed’s job would remain secure. He’s turned into a great option for the Sox and fantasy owners. I’d say the Sox are happy they took Sale out of the bullpen, wouldn’t you?
Rank my closers ROS please? Kimbrel, Jensen, Mujica, Janssen, Uehara, Parnell. Thoughts on which to drop or trade?
12 team standard roto.
kimbrel, parnell, jensen, janssen, mujica, uehara.
the time was last week to sell on mujica. he’s had some bumpy outings recently and i don’t know if you could get as much for him with rosenthal breathing down his neck.
I disagree.
Parnell and Jensen play on crappy teams. They’re not going to get many save opportunities. For example, Mujica has been the Cards’ closer for just over two months, but racked up 21 saves. Parnell has been the uncontested Mets’ closer since Opening Day, but has only gotten 12 saves. Saves are pretty much the only thing that matters for fantasy RPs. If you disagree, then why bother with any of these guys (except Kimbrel), when better pitchers like Rosenthal, Crain or Holland are definitely still available.
I’d go with Kimbrel, Mujica, Janssen, Jensen, Parnell, Uehara.
But I’d look to trade Mujica while his value is at its highest, since you have tons of other closers.
Kimbrel, Jansen, Mujica, Janssen, Parnell and Uehara.
The top two are easy. Mujica might be slipping but he plays for a great team and is cemented in the role. Janssen and Parnell could be a wash and I’d like to see how the Sox use Uehara before I can more accurately rate him.
disagree with both of you guys. while parnell will get less save opportunities overall, it’s not significantly less going forward, and his rate stats will be much better than mujica. i really don’t believe he’s cemented in the role especially with rosenthal having a much more prototypical closer profile.
Brandon League got a save opportunity today (with Jansen having pitched the last 3 days). He came into the 9th with a 3-run lead and left with a 1-run lead and a runner on 1st. Paco Rodriguez then allowed a single before getting a flyout, a strikeout, and another flyout to nail down the save.
Which should hopefully all but assure that League never pitches in a high leverage situation again.
Cishek was part of a closer-by-committee in Arizona?
Yes, things are getting VERY weird in the bullpens of teams with hot climates!
In semi-related news, 2 teams lost yesterday while refusing to use their closers in tie games in the 9th on the road. Making sure their anointed closer is the one to get the magical save stat seems more important to managers than winning games.
Thanks for this, as that’s a point that we should never fail to make. Unless there is additional language in their contract that managers should try to help their closers accrue saves, they aren’t always doing their job efficiently in that arena.
The Rangers doing it was understandable, as Nathan has pitched a lot in the past week and they were trying to coax a 2nd inning out of the excellent Scheppers. But the Mets used LaTroy Hawkins in a situation with no margin for error and lost the game while a fully-rested Parnell rotted out in the bullpen.
Ryan Madson moved to the 60 day DL. I’ve been stashing him in a 14 team mixed (no separate DL spots). Time to let go?
I’d move on. Too many things need to happen for Madson to have any value this season in 5×5 leagues. He needs to get healthy, pitch in the MLB, pitch well in the MLB and then hope Frieri fails to the point where Madson is the better option. With only three months left and no timetable for a return, I’d go another direction.
I can’t decide if I would like him more or less if he went by “.J. Putz.”
His full name is Joseph Jason Putz. What about a formal name like “J. Jason Putz”?
Nice inning by The Bartender last night…is he finally sobering up and regaining control?
Blake Parker as Cubs closer? I still have to believe Villanueva would be an option if Gregg and Russel are dealt, no?