Bullpen Report: May 27, 2014
Just a few quick notes from tonight…
-After picking up a save in his first appearance back from the disabled list, Jason Grilli got the call in the bottom of the eighth-inning tonight with the Bucs down two runs to the Mets. Grilli surrendered a leadoff single to start the inning, then fanned the next three consecutive batters to keep the Pirates within striking distance heading into the final frame. Despite the fact that the Pirates were unable to stage the late-inning comeback, reports indicate that Grilli’s outing could be one of the final hurdles the right-hander needed to clear before reclaiming the closer tag. Stadium guns clocked the veteran’s fastball in the 92-94 range, which seems to be right in line with career norms. For his career, Grilli is 43-for-54 in save situations, 33 of which came in 2013.
-For the Metropolitans, Jenrry Mejia locked down his fourth save of the season in a two-inning effort. Without three of his middle relievers available and Mejia being used in both halves of Monday’s doubleheader (assuming he wouldn’t be available tomorrow), manager Terry Collins left his young right-hander on the hill for the final six outs. The last hurdle Mejia will need to clear before “officially” claiming the Mets’ closing position, will be to work on three consecutive days. Have to think that’s more of a formality at this point than anything.
–Koji Uehara notched his 11th save of the season in an 11-pitch effort against the Braves in Atlanta tonight. The Red Sox closer has now saved 27 consecutive regular season games dating back to July 6th of last season. That’s pretty good, especially for a 39-year-old. Despite the poor attempt at knocking his age, the right-hander’s velocity seems to be pretty in line with his career numbers and he continues to post ridiculous strikeout (38.7% K%) and walk (4% BB%) rates.
Quick Hitters: Joakim Soria is perfect no longer. The Rangers’ closer allowed two runs — one of which was unearned, based on said closer’s throwing error — on two hits and a walk. Soria is now 8-of-9 in save opportunities on the season and his streak of 12 consecutive outings without surrendering a run has come to a close. And Huston Street remains perfect on the year by dishing a clean frame on 11 pitches to notch his 15th save for the Friars. Casey Janssen yielded a hit, but fanned one en route to his eighth save of the season for the Blue Jays. Zach Britton blew his first career save tonight in a 7-6 Orioles loss to the Brewers. There wasn’t a lot of bloodshed in the blown save — in fact, a lot of credit should be given to the Brewers for manufacturing the run – but, a blown save is just what it is. Britton is now 3-of-4 in save chances on the year with a 0.94 ERA (3.30 FIP).
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.
Allen should probably be ahead of Shaw. He’s pitched in all the high-leverage situations over the past week.
Appreciate the feedback as always, Jakerrr. You’re right, he has been used more than Shaw in the 8th & 9th as of late. But Allen did get knocked around a bit earlier last week in said situations, which is where my hesitation stems. He’s allowed 4 ER with a 4/3 KK/BB in his last five outings. Meh…
Most importantly with this and similar situations, when a team is in the “red,” we almost have to pull the closer, first and second tags because the pen is either a mess, it’s a CBC or whatever else funky could be going on.
Cleveland’s pen definitely fits the definition of a mess.
Yeah, it’s a mess. I have Allen and am just waiting for the next save opportunity… Seems like it will never come.
Blurb went over the wall last night to rob konerko of a two run shot off Allen. That close to yet another terrible Allen outing. Axford is better right now to be honest.
Blurb equals Bourn
Michael Blurb
Considering Papa Grande was relaesed yesterday, he probably shouldn’t be first in line for the Mets
And this is true as well. Will fix shortly…Much appreciated.
Love the column BTW. A must read for fantasy fiends
Feels like Balfour should be red and Doolittle green. In addition, seems like Doolittle is a legit top five closer already.
Oh come on
Oops… I play an AM league… Top five in American League.
Move over, Kimbrell, Chapman, Holland, Jansen, and Uehara, Doolittle is a top five closer based on a couple weeks of getting saves!
Obviously Holland has last year’s performance, but for me it would probably be a pick’em situation between he and Doolittle ROS, assuming both keep a closer gig. Holland deeper track record, Doolittle better team, rest of stat lines are similar.
You also have Robertson, Rosenthal, Romo, Perkins, etc. hanging out in this tier of could be top 5 closers too. Let’s just call Doolittle likely top 10, and everyone can be happy. His stats place him in this conversation, however his job security is not as strong.
Pretty sure he means based on skills.
Balfour red? Joe Maddon has done nothing but express confidence in Balfour and McGee/Peralta haven’t sniffed saves. If anything, maybe yellow, but Maddon has said that Balfour is his closer despite the struggles. Seems like Balfour has been given a pretty long leash.
I agree, great fantasy column.
Doolittle or KRod ROS?
Doo
I know he has the better team and better stuff, but I’m worried about job security with Doolittle (i.e. Jim Johnson). But I guess if KRod has a few more stinkers he may have to worry about Henderson if/when his shoulder is ok.
Any preference on who to own between Melancon, Britton and Mejiaa? Guy in my league was forced to drop Melancon and Mejiaa due to injuries and I have been using Britton the last couple weeks, but always looking to upgrade if possible.
Melancon has Grilli to deal with.
Britton has Showalter to deal with.
Mejia looks more secure.
100% Mejia here. He has the skills and job security. Britton is more of a ground ball guy and Melancon may lose the gig any day now.
I am loving owning Mejia, since I can use him in a SP slot (I already have 4 other closers in my other RP/P slots). Thanks a lot for this column – it is a great resource.
I grabbed Mejia for this same reason. The way our 11-team roto league works, you can start a max of 3 RPs (2 RP and 1 P), so everyone else is starting either 2 or 3 closers. But with Mejia, I can now start 4 closers if I ever need a turbo boost of saves for a week or two.
I’m in a points league with a maximum innings pitched limit. Having Mejia and Britton (both SP on Yahoo) gives me 6 closers while my opponents are limited to 4 and gives me a huge leg up on maximizing my innings quality.
The A’s lost a game last night that they might have won if Doolittle was being used properly…He sat there and watched as Gregerson was called on in a 5-5 tie with first-and-third 1 out in the top of the 8th…Ryan Cook needs to come back,get conned into thinking he’s got no chance to be the closer because he’s behind, Doolittle and Johnson, and sign for 23 cents on the dollar…Then Billy Beane will have both Doolittle and Cook under contract for 8 years and he can bring in Doolittle when he should….
Qualls came in and got the last two outs in a 3-0 game. Anyone know why he didn’t get a save?
With a 3 run rule you have to pitch at least 1 inning.
Saves:
Rule 10.20 in the Official Rule Book states:
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
– (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
– (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces; or
– (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.
As a Grilli owner, I’m happy to see you have him in the first seat, colored green. Is that color not a little premature, though, since the last 2 saves have gone to someone else and Grilli pitched in the 8th inning last night? I get this is likely just a planned method of working him back into the role, but I still think maybe yellow would be more appropriate until Grilli is actually closing games again…
As always, thanks for all of your great work!!
Vic Black should now be added to the NYM mix
If the dope could throw strikes the Mets wouldn’t have been looking for a closer the past 2 months!
What’s going on with Daniel Webb? He seemed close to taking over and now hasn’t pitched in over 4 days, not even as a setup guy?
BB
So Janssen over Soria? Blue Jays are looking so so good.
Pirate’s closer update:
http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/6175943-74/hurdle-pirates-bullpen#axzz331kAZxam
In summary: He won’t be closing games immediately, but will be at some undetermined time in the future that “makes sense”
RIght. This is the same source I noted above.
Sorry, I read the whole article too. I guess my short term memory is going already. Sorry
As a Met fan I don’t want the Mets to use Mejia 3 consecutive days. I’ll go further. I don’t want to see them use him 2 consecutive days. With his injury concerns and that he was stretched out to be a starter, just give him a day off EVERYTIME he pitches and stick to it. Protect that arm. Let a committee close when Mejia is unavailable. Consecutive games can begin next year.