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So down goes a top ten guy in an off week where I talk about set-up guys.  Jason Grilli is beset with a forearm strain and up steps the league leader in Holds, Mark Melancon.  Melancon has been spooktacular this year, and if wasn’t owned prior to the injury then your league is hot garbage.  Sorry, but truth is truth.  So the pecking order in the ‘Burgh now reads like this, which really isn’t devoid of good RP this year.  I see Tony Watson and Justin Wilson splitting the left-handed set-up duties and Bryan Morris and Vin Mazzaro to continue their RH dominance. If given the opportunity, Victor Black could be brilliant, so keep an eye on him. Not one guy is going to run away and garner the hold chances that Melancon has gotten to date this year so it is going to be a mish-mosh of hold chances.  Also factor in that the Pirates are in some trade rumors for some end game help and the rosterability of all these guys is tough to call until we know how long Grilli is under the weather.  Enjoy the week to come.

 

Casey Fien –  Now heaven say Casey, you’re a Fien relief guy.  Whata lot of holds you can bring.  He kicked “Levar” Burton off the rainbow and has now planted him self in the first Holds chair in Minny.  His stellar last 30 days includes 5 holds, an ERA under a buck and alleged pocket full of Kryptonite.  That is alleged and my source is busy in Otisville, so confirmation is upcoming.

John Axford – I know he burned you like a jalapeno sun tan lotion but hear me out for a second or don’t and skip.  With the trade of K-Rod to Charm City and the promotion of Hendo the wunderkind to the closer role, he again is thrust into a prominent role at the back end of the Brewers bullpen.  Just for stat sake let’s take a look.  Since May 14, so 3 months and 25 appearances, he has surrendered one earned run.  Top that off with a shiny BAA of .165, 9 Holds and 4 wins in relief.  I mean I know we hate the guy but he is still an effective BP option.

Tyler Clippard – The reliever that saved many teams last year, literally.  Has been showing more of what he did last year in the past 30 days.  He leads all of MLB in holds, with 7, 15/4 K/BB in 13 innings and a BAA of .043.  Yea that’s a zero in front as in he gave up 2 hits while facing 47 batters. I mean you could be dong worse, like watching Police Academy 5 on continuous loop.  Yea that’s the one on Miami.

Fernando Rodney – Gotta throw at least one closer in here or I get bored.  Nando crooked hat and all was awful or at least was bad enough to speculate about being replaced.  First 40 games of season 5 BS, since his last there ain’t been none, a perfect 15/15.  I said that with a piece of straw in my mouth for effect, unfortunately for you the internet machine saps all that away.

 

PLAYER HOLDS Appearances
With Lead
Inherited
Runners
Inherited
Runners Scored
Joel Peralta 26 37 20 1
Mark Melancon 26 33 0 0
David Robertson 23 30 7 2
Trevor Rosenthal 23 32 12 3
Tanner Scheppers 19 27 11 2
Jesse Crain 19 21 20 7
Matt Thornton 19 23 31 7
Jake McGee 18 31 21 9
Junichi Tazawa 18 27 20 6
Scott Downs 18 25 30 8
Tyler Clippard 17 26 8 2
James Russell 16 34 33 9
Dale Thayer 16 25 21 1
Luis Avilan 15 21 20 3
John Axford 15 20 13 3
Aaron Crow 15 19 37 13
Sean Doolittle 15 27 19 2
Darren O’Day 15 29 20 5
Antonio Bastardo 14 23 13 2
Matt Belisle 14 24 10 1