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0Sing it with me everyone: Tis the season for broke closers. Tommy, Tommy John, John, John, John, John! That sounded great. Except for you in the back. Thought I heard an old mule getting strangled. The regular season hasn’t even started and we’ve lost Joakim Soria and Ryan Madson to the knife. Last time I checked – which was like five seconds ago so don’t even attempt discrediting it – those two didn’t have a long injury history. Throw in Drew Storen and his enflamed joint – hopefully he got his medical marijuana card for that – and you have a year already in flux at closer. In this year of twelve after twenty – sorry, Grey has mandated calling 2012 that for Razzball now – we have only had one closer from the ‘my arm will fall off eventually’ club go down to injury in Andrew Bailey. So what better year for Andrew Cashner to step up and give the San Diego Padres yet another reason to trade Huston Street to a contender by the All-Star Break if he doesn’t break before then (sorry, Pads fans, we know it’s true).
First off, there isn’t much to cull from his major league numbers at this point. He has been on and off the injury list more than Hugh Hefner has been with his Playboy models. This kid has struggled to stay healthy. Alright, I know I’m being a hypocrite talking about an oft-hurt pitcher in a post about taking over for hurt pitchers but indulge with me for a bit. Cashner is a former 1st round pick of the Cubs. If baseball were 4-H and it’s draft the fair, Cashner would be a prize winning swine (If you’re reading this Andrew, I’m sorry I called you swine). He has thrown gas for his career, averaging a 96.2 mph fastball; If you’re confused about mph and how it works, here’s a tutorial. He was originally tabbed as a starter in the minors but last year flourished in the bullpen with a 1.69 ERA. Now that last stat was a bit of a mirage due to his underlying xFIP, but he’s leaving a hitter’s palace for a pitcher’s haven. Personally, I have him down for a 3.50 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP and an 8 K/9 ratio with room for more. Couple that skill set with this being the Chinese year of the broken closer and you could have yourself some very cheap saves on the horizon. Currently under 5% owned in both yahoo and ESPN leagues, go cash in on Andrew.
Delete post. Ban user. At least until the current fill-in closer stuff shakes out and a clear off room to roster him in my leagues.
@JREwing, Hey JR, it’s a deep league idea where owning a player that could garner saves is worth a look. Huston usually has at least one DL stint. Gotta let the season play out for sure in a regular league.
Bring back steroids, 3 different games on into the 3rd inning, ZERO RUNS…. boringgggggggggg…… haha
its good to have baseball back, but gimme some runs!
@Tony, Haha, I’m with you Tony!
@Tony, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!
@Tony, Ha! Looks like we had the same idea.
Could we at least get a stolen base?
@RK, That would require someone to get on base so…nope!
Does Cashner have SP eligibility in any leagues? It would be a lot cooler if he did.
@Pops, I haven’t seen him with it, no. Would be nice, though, I agree.
20 innings and no score! Bring back the ‘roids!
@Long Bawls, Grey and I are protesting by shooting each other up right now. It is a little awkward to stick a needle in another man’s buttcheek but it’s for a good cause.
@Oregon Nut Cups, Wait a sec: Grey is a man? I just assumed (s)he was a lusciously mustachioed lady, probably Madeline Albright (I just couldn’t figure out how he changed his accent on the podcast). Hmmm…gonna have to rejigger my fantasy (not my fantasy baseball, just my regular fantasy) pretty significantly.
@Long Bawls, To be fair, he/she only showed me their right cheek and it WAS pretty smooth…hrm…
What makes you think Luke Gregerson won’t get first bids on the closing gigs? I think Cashner isn’t necessarily a lock if Houston were to go down…
@Malarkey, The fact they picked up Street and Cashner in the first place. I don’t think Luke gets his shot, even if he should.
@Oregon Nut Cups, I guess, but that was the same line of thought we had with Melancon and that didn’t work out as planned…
@Malarkey, I still don’t think the ‘Aceves is the closer’ talk holds water. That starting rotation isn’t exactly rock solid and they’re going to need clean up innings. Aceves is probably their best long middle reliever.
Blowout in Detroit!
@RK, haha
After being a well publicized perfect in save opps last year, Valverde blows his first save opportunity of the year.
What’s changed?
I own him in three leagues this year after not owning him at all last year.
Sorry bout that, other Valverde owners.
@Hawk, Nothing changed, it’s just the start of the season. Ackley is on pace for 81/81
@Oregon Nut Cups,
Disagree – One major thing has changed: I now own Valverde in several leagues.
@Hawk, Well there IS that. Just stay away from Marmol, Santos, Perez, and Marshall for me, wouldja?
I’m 2-8 in one league, 2-11 in another, 2-16 in another, and getting beat 48.5-13 only because bautista just went YARD…. rocky start. I hate that pitching is dominating so much. It is day 1 tho, BRING BACK ROIDS!!!
@Tony, Yep, rocky start but early. I’ll be shipping drugs to my cousin A-Rod shortly.
So Melancon takes the loss, but Aceves blows it — giving up a HBP and the game-losing single. Did anyone watch the actual game? Is he looking hittable?
@Baron Von Vulturewins, I didn’t get a chance to see him pitch
@Oregon Nut Cups,
Both looked very hittable.
So I went to the same high school as Cashner and the same college (at the same time) as Street. Now they’re both playing for San Diego, where I now live. I think they’re stalking me.
@Enrico Palazzo, Creepy Haha!
They both looked and were hittable. I don’t think either one will be a solid closer this year. I’m also a depressed Red Sox fan so what do I know.
@fitz, You know how delicious beer and chicken in the clubhouse is?
Watching the Reds / Marlins game today. The announcers were talking about Ryan Hannigan / Devin Mesoraco. One of them said they were talking to Dusty Baker and Dusty had told him one of his great regrets in his career is that he’s never managed a Rookie of the Year.
Seriously, Dusty?
Let me give him a clue as to why that is:
In order to WIN the rookie of the year, the rookie HAS TO PLAY.
Unbelievable.
@Hawk, *facepalm*
I love the Perez/Valverde double @#$you in my league that counts net saves.
Everyone grab Vinny if you haven’t yet.
@Blood Visions, good flier as well if you have the roster space.
Word is that Cashner has had his fastball clocked in the 101-103 range this spring. While I’ve been waiting years to snag this guy as a starter somewhere I’ll gladly grab him later in the year if it appears Street may be traded.
@Wudaben, Yeah, keep your eye on him. That’s straight GAS.
Had a closer run start in the third inning of my 12-team NL league. I went with Jansen/Romo/Cashner/Lidge instead.
At least my ratios will be OK.
@Blue, As long as you get saves, it’ll be worth it.
I have Marshall as primary closer. I have Marmol on toppers for Saves but not sure I want him back regardless of how cheap he goes. I am leaning toward spending a little less by going for Brothers/Cashner instead of Marmol. Thoughts?
@NLFantasyBB, Are you talking about drafting? Sorry, I’m not sure what your question means.
@Oregon Nut Cups, Sorry for not being clear. Yes for the auction. I have my draft on Sunday. I think Cashner and Brothers will go cheaper than Marmol. I have final say (restricted free agent) on Marmol but he’s not high on my list. However, he’ll be cheap.
@NLFantasyBB, Gotcha: They surely will go cheaper. I don’t see a problem with that strategy, but I’m not risk averse. At worst, you get a good amount of K’s and quality innings and maybe someone trades with you to get their prospective handcuffs.
yea Valverde blew the save.Verlander pitches lights out getting 7 k’s and giving up two hits for 8 innings and leaving with a 2-0 lead.Valverde comes in ,gives up two runs,blows the save then gets the win when the Tigers score in the bottom of the inning.Why do you take out the cy young,mvp winner who’d only threw a little over a 100 pitches.When Jack Morris was in his prime he wouldnt let you take him out.He told the pitching coach once to get his ass back in the dugout and if I need to come out I’ll let you know
@steve b, Jack Bauer was loosely written around Jack Morris badassery.
16 team keeper, 5×5, yahoo, roto.
trying to get a closer, not easy.
this was proposed to me..
give- Paul Konerko and Adam Jones.
get- Sergio Santos and Sin Soo Choo.
should I go with that?
or counter that and replace Santos with JJ Putz?
MY TEAM..
CA- Wilson Ramos
1B- Paul Konerko
2B- Dan Uggla
3B- Ryan Zimmerman
SS- Alex Gonzalez
IN- Billy Butler
OF- Adam Jones
OF- Michael Brantley
OF- Alex Presley
OF- David Murphy
UT- Chris Davis
BN- Ben Revere, Chris Parmelee, Jesus Guzman, Alcides Escobar.
DL- Frankin Gutierrez
SP- David Price
SP- Brandon Beachy
RP- Tyler Clippard
RP- Matt Thornton
P- Mark Melancon
P- Kerry Wood
P- David Hernandez
BN- Rex Brothers, Hector Santiago, Cory Luebke, Ubaldo Jimenez, Derek Holland,
DL- Ted Lilly, Scott Baker, Brett Anderson
@SpecialFNK, That’s a great trade…if you’re trying to lose your league.
@SpecialFNK, That trade is going to hurt your offense too much regardless of what closer you get. I wouldn’t do it.