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So team success helps everything, from team building exercises to a secret program that siphons money into a bank account at fractions of a penny at a time.  Whatever works, works, but at the end of the day the stats are what matters.  Take for example the Texas Rangers’ bullpen. The trio of Neal Cotts, Tanner Scheppers and Jason Frasor are getting it done minus the flair.  They have combined for 17 Holds in the last 30 days and are tied for the AL lead in Holds with 50.  Earlier in the year, I was asked the best strategy for NSVH, and I said the best way is to grab a top 10 closer and 2 middle relievers from the same team. This is why this theory makes all the sense.  Take a resurgent Cotts, who has dominated batters to a BAA of .187. “It’s Murda.” Thanks Ja Rule, for having nothing else to do.   Throw in Scheppers and as of late a rejuvenated Frasor and you have a nice drunk punch of goodness for a Holds factory.  Holds are a streaky stat, take a look at Mark Melancon, he is still leading MLB in holds only because he had 14 thru the first 30 days.  The leader since then? Hmmm, I betcha I just mentioned him above… Tanner Scheppers with 8.  Enjoy the week to come.

 

Aaron Crow – The Crow, more like the vulture.  Over the past 30 days, or basically the last time I wrote about MR ( I know, I am a slacker), he has won 4 games, garnered 4 holds and K’d 13 in 10 innings.  Sad trombone just came by and kicked me in the shins for not mentioning he also had 2 losses.  Nuttin’ says companionship like getting shinned by an emotional brass instrument.

Craig Breslow – I know, FFS, but in all seriousness.  Ignore the ERA and stats that suck.  Andrew Miller and this guy were the lefties in the Sawx pen.  Miller fell down and broke his crown, and Breslow is the lone lefty reliever.  Barring a trade which is most likely coming, Craig is it.  So if I could quote Friday, “Come on Craig.”

J.J. Hoover – It is just amazing to me that the Reds band-aid bullpen is keeping the team in games.  No Marshall, no Broxton, no problem.  The group of Hoover, Manny Parra, Alfredo Simon, Sam LeCure and Logan Ondrusek are unscored upon in there last combined 29 innings.  Stat wise they suck all the yellow off a Lemonhead, with only 1 hold in the group during that time.

 

PLAYER HOLDS Appearances
With Lead
Inherited
Runners
Inherited
Runners Scored
Mark Melancon 24 30 0 0
Joel Peralta 22 33 15 1
David Robertson 21 27 7 2
Trevor Rosenthal 19 28 12 3
Jesse Crain 19 21 20 7
Tanner Scheppers 18 26 11 2
Jake McGee 17 28 21 9
Scott Downs 17 23 26 6
Matt Thornton 17 28 21 5
Junichi Tazawa 16 24 15 3
Tyler Clippard 15 24 8 2
Jared Burton 15 27 3 2
Ryan Cook 14 24 11 3
Dale Thayer 14 22 18 1
John Axford 14 18 10 1
James Russell 13 31 26 7
Darren O’Day 13 26 17 5
Antonio Bastardo 13 22 12 2
Luis Avilan 13 19 19 3
Aaron Crow 13 17 35 11