Bullpen Report: May 1, 2014
–Francisco Rodriguez’s grasp on the ninth-inning role in Milwaukee may have grown little tighter this evening, without even throwing a pitch. The Brewers’ former closer, Jim Henderson, who had been lurking in Rodriguez’s shadows waiting for another shot to close games, imploded in the eighth-inning of a tie-game and took his first loss on the year. Henderson yielded five earned runs on four hits and an intentional walk, while striking out one in his two-thirds of an inning, 18 pitch effort. Prior to tonight’s implosion, Henderson was 2-0 with two holds and a 3.38 ERA (1.22 WHIP). He’s been striking out more (37.2% K%) and walking less (7.0% BB%) batters than he has in the past despite the velocity on his two primary offerings being down a tick. Henderson sat 91-94 on the 4-seam fastball tonight, while his sliders came in at 84-85. Rodriguez is a perfect 13-for-13 in save chances this season with a 0.00 ERA. All green here for the time being.
-Two save chances in a day? Two save chances in day! And both were successfully converted by Rays’ closer Grant Balfour in Boston. In all, Balfour dished two innings, allowing two hits and one walk and fanned three Red Sox on 38 pitches. Balfour is now 6-of-7 in save chances on the year with a 5.11 ERA (5.54 xFIP). Considering both Balfour and Jake McGee skipped to the bump twice today, (gulp) Heath Bell could get an ninth-inning look tomorrow should the Rays be in a save situation.
–Koji Uehara took his first loss of the season this evening as the Rays clipped the Red Sox 6-5 in the second half of a double-header. Immediately following the game Eno Sarris sends me a message to take a look at Koji’s velocity (among other things) from tonight suggesting that something could be wrong with the 38-year-old closer. We found that Uehara’s splitter sat in the 78-83 mph range while his four-seamer came in at 85-88 mph. The right-hander owns a career average 88.2 mph on the fastball, but he only touched 88 on two of his 13 pitches. Seems to be a touch low compared to that of his career averages, so I kept looking. And as I’m researching this data, I see Alex Speier write “Koji Uehara Says He’s Not Injured.” in my timeline. Weird. Tonight Koji surrendered his second homer in his last three outings and failed to fan a batter for the first time all season. Apparently Eno wasn’t the only one who noticed. Speier indicated that Uehara and John Farrell mentioned that there isn’t anything physically wrong with the reliever. And I’m not sure there is either, but it’s worth keeping a (close) eye on. Testing his trade value in your league may not be a bad idea. In the meantime, I’m going to keep digging on this…
–Quick Hits: Steve Cishek converted the famous four-out save (sixth on the season) in the Marlins’ victory over the Braves. Fernando Rodney fanned one en route to his sixth save of the year. Chris Perez fanned two in a five-out save effort in the first half of the Dodgers and Twins doubleheader in Minnesota. Kenley Jansen surrendered an earned run on two walks and a hit, but escaped a jam in the bottom of the 12th in the second half of the doubleheader to secure his 11th save. Tommy Hunter locked down his seventh successful save in just one-third of an inning.
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.
Who’s the guy that got the save in Toronto?
Knew I forgot something, my bad. Aaron Loup. It was a seven out save. Like him if you’re into rostering middle relievers and/or in a holds/solds league.
Rotoworld reported that Kenley Jansen’s velocity was low today.
He’s been giving up lots of hits lately.
Time to add Chris Perez? Brian Wilson looks like a mess too.
And Withrow walks too many.
Yea. looks like he was working 89-93. Pretty wild considering DC wrote this in April discussing an increase in velo in the early going. If you have room to add Perez, that’s fine. I don’t mind adding middles, especially if they’re next in line.
I’ve read that velocity increases can precede injury as things begin to get too loose in the arm. I don’t know how true that is, but I find it interesting.
1. He was pitching on back-to-back nights (which includes getting ready in the pen throwing many pitches)
2. Radar guns at different stadiums are, believe it or not, different. I’ve seen this happen all the time where a pitcher at one stadium adds 3-4 mph faster than at his home stadium. Perhaps, it’s a combination of both.
Either way, adding Perez makes sense if you have the room.
And…….left something out……maybe he has better control by lowering the speed too. I watched him closely early in the season when he was throwing serious heat, but he didn’t have great command that way. Maybe he toned it down some to have better control with that cutter.
or i meant w fastball too.
Verlander can still probably throw some serious heat too, but he purposely throws a little slower (at different times in the game), I think, for two reasons:
1. Will stay in the game longer
2. Better command
While #1 doesn’t apply to Jansen…….
Didn’t you notice how he was blowing saves early on giving up many runs with that high velocity? Sometimes, throwing that hard isn’t always effective. This could be a case of slowing it down, better control, and using that cutter.
Ok thanks. I’m in a very competitive holds league and he wasn’t on my radar at all, but I’malways monitoring. I love your bullpen report thanks for the info.
Right now I roster Soria, Sergio Santos, Carpenter, Smith, O’Day, and Perez. A little light on saves, but good ratios and potential for the ninth.
I keep a lot of them and it helps with pitching numbers, but when I need a spot start or want to pick up a bat I need to know other relievers I can eventually replace them with on case they are picked up after I drop them temporarily.
cody allen, sergio casilla, j. benoit, j. peralta are a few
Hunter pitches an inning and gets a save and a W. Yay doubleheaders
If the worst thing about Koji is that he allowed two homeruns and actually lost a game, then I’d take that over closers who are getting lit up on their good day, like Rosenthal, Kimbrel, and Jansen.
Kimbrel has a .62 FIP. 47.8 K %. The next time he gets lit up will be the first.
….I guess you missed the whole Kimbrel blowing saves in the middle of April because of shoulder soreness deal…..Don’t worry, I understand, it’s tough job scoreboard watching!
This is a fantasy site, who cares if they got a loss?
Brian Wilson has had a couple good outings and today he pitched the 8th in a tie game and K’d two. Has he righted the ship and may be moving back into a more prominent setup role?
Just wanted to point out that Uehara’s zone, swing, and contact rates are absolutely amazing. It is stunning to see a pitcher induce so many swings, as well as misses, while also throwing so many pitches in the strike zone.
Uehara misses a few days with a sore shoulder and hasn’t looked this same since. Love this site and all the insight it provides but sometimes the data isn’t necessary. His shoulder isn’t 100% and he won’t be as effective until it gets resolved. Move him now if you can because a DL stint is coming soon.
Then Tazawa takes over? He wasn’t good as a fill in closer last season.
Would you try a trade of Uehara for Grilli? Or is melancon staying where he is when grilli returns?
I am going to sign with Detroit – where do I slot into the mix with Albuquerque and Joba?
this is essentially horrible news for my fantasy value correct…?
5×5, pen of Kenley Jansen, Latroy Hawkins, Cody Allen, Danny Farquhar. Ottavino is available. Am I better off dropping Allen or Farquhar for Ottavino to handcuff Hawkins, or should I minimize my exposure to Coors?
With Henderson on the DL, what does that mean for Tyler Thornburg? He’s got ridiculous peripherals and his FB velocity seems to have improved?!
Yay! Glad I dropped Santos a few days ago.
The board says Delabar next in line. But is Cecil a possibilty?