Bullpen Report: Draft Day Holds and Cuffs

What if I told you that the top-four teams last year in Holds didn’t make the playoffs?  I know the obvious answer would be: it’s a made-up stat that does nothing but clog a fantasy roster with fodder and otherwise un-rosterable relievers.  Well, if you said that out loud, then I am mad at you and you can not come to the Razzball Winter Dance Carnival.  No, but seriously, I get offended when people make such determinations.  Listen, you are either in a league that uses Holds or you aren’t.  Not all of these guys is basically like having a second doorstop (when one doorstop will do).  Many of these guys are usable in most formats as ratio gaps in K/9, looking for cheap wins or for a slow day of waiver wire madness.  My theory on any league is to roster any two relievers that are non-closers at all times.  At worst, they decimate your rates for one day.  At best they give you an inning or two and give you great rates and a few K’s.  Now, for Holds leagues, I am a hoarder.  I live by this simple motto. Two pairs and a wild, just like five-card poker. It stands for two closers, two stud holds guys, and a streamer.  In moves leagues, it’s a little more difficult to do, but in non-move limited league, it’s a fun way to just basically win your Holds category by August, save yourself the innings/starts and then stream the holy hell out of the last seven weeks.  So since you have searched around the web and found zero other info on the topic (yeah, I looked, so take that), here are the holds tiers and sleepers for the 2016 year.

“A Hold is credited any time a relief pitcher enters a game in a Save Situation, records at least one out, and leaves the game never having relinquished the lead. Note: a pitcher cannot finish the game and receive credit for a Hold, nor can he earn a hold and a save.” ~ The edited out part of the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln.

Big Spoons

This is the optiomal spot.  Whether to be in control of the bullpen goodness for Holds or in the prime cat-bird seast as a cuff.  Big spoons are the man in the Hold/Save cuddle, there is no room for shenanigans as spooning leads to forking.

Cuddle Buddies

Not quite the wifey material type but a Netflix, wine, and chill kinda reliever.  They aren’t elite, but are the second fiddle in grouping for save possibilities.   Still ownable as a second as a solid goomad for holds.

Committee Conundrums

Fellas that could see the main stage or are already in a committee already.

Little Spoons

The title says it all until Dellin Betances had to go be all elite and ruin everything. These are guys on the same teams as guys already listed but have great bullpen spot and have shown promise to be that guy.  They are the smaller part of the cuddle, but can still keep your rates warm.

Sleepy Footed Pajamas

I mean, who doesn’t love jammies with zipper from knee level to the chin?  Comfy sleepers to fill out the back-end of your deeper roster or a hunch gamble for all Holds leagues…