Comments on: Closer Look

By: Dr. Fandangstico

Dr. Fandangstico — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:49:11 +0000

Closers are like FG kickers. And set-up men are like the guys who hold the ball for the kickers to kick. Except they have fangs, and unclean thoughts about the FG kickers’ girls.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:03:43 +0000

@Steve: Sounds like it. He's a solid #1 and good value in the 7th.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:00:49 +0000

@sean @Grey: it’s not been unusual to (mock) find Beckett in the (mock) 7th. Is he possibly a little under-appreciated this year?

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:35:54 +0000

@sean: Yup, Brain Freezes move up to Donkey-Corns and Donkey-Corns move up to $12 Salads or down to Brain Freezes. Alas, it's the nature of the closer.

By: sean

sean — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:59:34 +0000

So many of the donkey-corns were once at the bottom of the list too. The key, I think, is to draft enough of them to catch lightning in a bottle. A few years back, I grabbed Reyes off the waiver wire in the first couple of weeks and flipped him in late April/early May for a human version of Mariano Rivera.

As with all things draft, flexibility is important. If it’s round 7 and you’re thinking about Zimmerman, Encarnacion, Dye, or Nathan — I don’t think it’s unreasonable to go Nathan. I just think you can’t pass on an ace or a real producer for a closer. If Beckett fell to the seventh, it’d be a no brainer for me. If Nathan fell to the seventh, it’s probably only a 30-40% chance I take him…

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:41:16 +0000

@James: Nah, I answer a lot of questions. Sorry, had no idea. Punting isn't as awful a move in H2H. You have much more flexibility.

By: James

James — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:38:08 +0000

@Grey – my bad, last week you mentioned H2H when replying to me, and I just assumed you knew that is how I roll.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:29:13 +0000

@James: This is the first time you're mentioning it's a H2H league.

By: James

James — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:24:44 +0000

Oh ok – we’ll see what happenes.

By: James

James — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:20:46 +0000

I don’t agree with that because I wouldn’t take a weaker deal because of my situation. I will specifically suggest in a post that I am fine with loading up on the SP categories if people try send me low ball offers., and let’s remember pitchers are more sought after because they help a team more (I am already starting from a stronger position). In a H2H league the managers will know that my team will be strong enough to win if my team is SP deep. Thus, they wouldn’t have the upper hand as you suggest.

Perez? He doesn’t even have the job yet. Motte? Plus, if Carpenter falters he could assume the role. Weaver and Cueto have their position locked.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:09:42 +0000

@Grey: BTW, I was just picking Perez out of your list. I could've said that about four or five of the Brain Freezes.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:04:54 +0000

@James: Your starters may not be as valuable as you hope and then you're left holding no closers and no starters to trade. You're gambling on starters instead of closers, it's really six of one, half dozen of another. Chris Perez could easily have 30 saves and great peripheral numbers. Some would say he's less risky than Weaver or Cueto.

By: James

James — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:57:54 +0000

@Grey
Franciso – Wilson could hinder him
Lindstrom – I like him
Lyon – Will probably fall apart like last year
Perez – It seems there are other options that the manager likes
Walker – Hurt already and has a history of injury problem
Sherrill – Ray could hinder him
Hoffman – Done
Percival – Health?
Street – Corpas could hinder him, but this is a good situation

I have concerns with every brain freeze except Lindstrom and Colorado. Am I missing something? I could get Weaver and Cueto instead of these clowns. If these two pan out, I could trade my better pitchers for a $12 salad, and rotate these guys into their position. Plus, if one or both don’t work, I go to the wire, which we know always has saves due to closers predisposition to injury.

I don’t like the idea of punting closers either; however, there are some legit pitching talents that are more reliable than the brain freezes. What do you think? I am still on the fence about this strategy.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:36:13 +0000

@IowaCubs: Depends if the backup is worthwhile at all and the situation. Corpas lost the job in April last year. If he would've went into to May looking good, Fuentes would've been a waste. So yeah if you have room for Motte, Ziegler or Gregg, absolutely do it. But Pops asked about Madson. Madson is fine for Holds and I'd get him for that, but I wouldn't handcuff Lidge. It's unnecessary right now.

By: IowaCubs

IowaCubs — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:29:43 +0000

@Grey: @Pops: Can't you envision drafting a handcuff situation like Devine/Ziegler, Perez/Motte and Marmol/Gregg? Seems like it wouldn't be much of a wasted pick to do this. Last year, for example, I drafted Corpas in the middle rounds and as insurance, picked up Fuentes in like the 23rd. It really saved my ass.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:22:42 +0000

@Pops: If you're in a league with Holds, I'd just grab the top MRs and let the chips fall where they may with your own closers handcuffs.

By: Pops

Pops — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:17:54 +0000

Do you recommend handcuffing closers to their setup man? I’m in a deep keeper league that counts holds. With Brad Lidge in tow, is it a good move to pursue Ryan Madson as an end game security pick?

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:15:54 +0000

@Frankrizzo: rotoauthority has a few lists of the favorite to close for each team.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:07:22 +0000

@IowaCubs: That's a good suggestion. I'll incorporate that in next month's. Soria moved up. Then there was lots of change in the bottom of the donkey-corns. @papasmurf: No worries.

By: papasmurf

papasmurf — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:05:26 +0000

Oh jeez never mind. I just see it in this very same article. Sneakily reading at work and the snow in the morning must have blinded me. Sorry. (Can’t delete comment)

By: papasmurf

papasmurf — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:03:34 +0000

I think there was a post about the bullpen depth of each team (closer and setup men/potential replacements). I can’t find it now. Can someone please point me in the right direction? Like the date or what term to search for.

By: IowaCubs

IowaCubs — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:01:47 +0000

Thanks for the update Grey, but one quick suggestion. Could you do like a +/- for each player as they move up and down the rankings? For example, Cordero begins to suck and you move him down the rankings to 13 or something. In parinthases, you’d put (-5) juz so we know.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:47:43 +0000

@James: I'm not a huge fan of punting. I always think there's got to be a few Brain Freezes you can get, but if you know what works for you.

By: James

James — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:30:41 +0000

I don’t like any brain freezes this year and donkey corns are always over priced. In real life I am forced to purchase $12 salads because it’s apparently in the geneva convention, but I won’t do it in fantasy. Thus, I will completely punt saves for the start of the season. My plan is to draft pitchers since they are always highly sought after. Hopefully, I can score and trade someone I drafted late for a $12 salad.

If my late pitchers don’t pan out I will just drop them for the brain freezers I probably would have drafted anyway. This might not work in all league; however, if you find that something, like pitching, is constantly needed, and you can take advantage, do it!

PS – Last year I drafted Lidge and Ryan as my closers. I wouldn’t do this if there was some decent options late.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:29:00 +0000

I’ve gotta say nathan in the 10th is crazy late? was that an 8 team league? and soria round 8 on I think is good value? yeah its just saves, but its SOLID saves with good overall stats that come along with those saves. If Soria comes in the 8th on i’ll take him this year, after that I’m waiting until the 10th on for wood, qualls, broxton, fuentes, capps, jenks, etc.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:16:08 +0000

@ABell: I'd take Nathan in the 10th. Usually I'd take 3 to 4 closers anywhere from Broxton to the end of the list. Some time after the 10th round.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:11:35 +0000

@Kevin: That's works. Or just waiting until the end of the draft and selecting three closers then.

By: ABell

ABell — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:10:54 +0000

I agree with Rizzo, I got Nathan in the 10th, and I’m very pleased. Grey, if a snake draft went exactly the way you wanted it, what would be the 2 or 3 RPs you would draft and in what rounds?

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:10:24 +0000

@Frank Rizzo: The fact that you're defending Soria makes me think he's already overpriced. He's still just saves. @101 M.P.H.: That's exactly what it means.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:05:59 +0000

The best method for selecting a closer is to bring a dart board to the draft table.