Besides that Eric Prydz catchy a** song, the bullpen situation/decision in Tampa is drawing nearer and dearer to our closer hearts. The return of the “Box” is coming, and it drums in the deep. Now we automatically assume, myself included, that three weeks ago, Brad Boxberger would just go all cutzies like in the high school cafeteria and get his job back at the time he arrives. Fast forward three weeks, or to now, and that situation doesn’t look like it is a foregone conclusion because look what Alex Colome is doing in the role. He checks all the “I am keeping my job” boxes. He of the 10 saves in 10 chances, 12 K/9, 2 BB/9, BAA under two bills variety. Those are all good things to have, and better than 15 other closers in baseball for stats across the board. Now, I just said that I don’t see Box claiming what’s his right away, but it could happen, because loyalty rules everything around baseball. So if you own Colome and can get Boxberger before he gets noticeable stats on the cheap, I advise to do so. If you own Boxberger and don’t own Colome, well, the price will be higher because the people that own him can read stats just as easily as I can type them out for you. So be proactive as we reach the quarter post in the fantasy year, and for giggles, stay around as I find some goofy things to learn you…
- I know it’s only 40 games into the season, but is Jeanmar Gomez is the waiver wire darling of the year.
- I am the biggest Wade Davis fan around and was touting him before things were cool, but anyone else nervous? 6 ERA and 1 save over last 14 days… If you are cozy with saves, I wouldn’t be opposed to selling high.
- Now that Sam Dyson has usurped Shawn Tolleson, I have to wonder how far down he falls down in the order for holds with the Rangers. Diekman is definitely going to get some decent set-up looks in front of him I gander.
- Is it crazy that Fernando Rodney hasn’t allowed an earned run since September 1st of last year?
- The Yankee trio isn’t letting anyone done for their patience, and if you drafted them, bravo. All three, when the Yankees actually can get to them, have a K-rate over 12. Miller and Betances, since Chapman’s return, are both over 18. Yikes!
- Wrong week, but holds matter to me. Minnesota has 8 holds, 8 all year. They are on pace for less than what the Phillies have currently.
- I added Sean Doolittle to the d’Etat group because he is pitching decent enough for a lower level team to notice. Madson is safe, just an interesting name that we all had hopes for previously.
Closer d’Etat (Top set-up guys next up for saves)
A new feature that I have been looking to add is the top set-up guys who are either pitching well or are right behind the closer. Getting the off day save for a shaky closer or someone who can jump in for a downed king of saves. Never hurts to bag an extra reliever for your bench at best they either don’t play, you bench them or the do well. No one ever does bad for someone we all roster…
- Any Reds reliever
- Fernando Salas
- Tyler Thornburg
- Sean Doolittle
- Kelvin Herrera
$12 Salads
You know that restaurant your girlfriend/wife/what-have-you likes to go to that charges, like, $12 for a salad? Every time you go there, you have a thoroughly solid meal. No complaints, except you just paid $12 for a salad when you could’ve went to McDonald’s and stuffed you and your woman for ten schmools and had $2 in quarters left over to make the hotel bed vibrate. These closers are $12 salads.
1. Kenley Jansen – (Pedro Baez, Chris Hatcher)
2. Aroldis Chapman – (Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances)
3. Jeurys Familia – (Addison Reed, Jim Henderson)
4. Craig Kimbrel – (Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Carson Smith)
5. Trevor Rosenthal – (Kevin Siegrist, Seung-hwan Oh)
6. Wade Davis – (Kelvin Herrera, Joakim Soria)
7. David Robertson – (Nate Jones, Matt Albers)
8. Zach Britton – (Darren O’Day, Brad Brach)
9. Hector Rondon – (Pedro Strop, Justin Grimm)
Donkeycorns
Imagine you’re following a donkey, who’s wearing a wool cap, through a desert for 1700 miles. Why are you following a donkey? Because he promises you something wonderful and you just need to trust him. Does the donkey talk? Yes. Yes, he does talk. So when you and the donkey in the wool cap arrive at his destination, he removes the wool cap to reveal a horn. The donkey is a unicorn and his gift to you for your trust is saves. These closers are Donkeycorns.
10. Jonathan Papelbon – (Shawn Kelley, Blake Treinen, Felipe Riviero)
11. Mark Melancon – (Tony Watson, Neftali Feliz)
12. Francisco Rodriguez – (Justin Wilson, Alex Wilson)
13. Cody Allen – (Bryan Shaw, Zach McAllister)
14. A.J. Ramos – (David Phelps, Kyle Barraclough)
15. Roberto Osuna – (Drew Storen, Joe Biagini)
16. Luke Gregerson – (Ken Giles, Will Harris)
17. Ryan Madson – (Sean Doolittle, John Axford)
18. Santiago Casilla – (Josh Osich, Cody Gearrin)
23. Jeanmar Gomez – (Hector Neris, Andrew Bailey, David Hernandez)
24. Fernando Rodney – (Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter)
Employed
These guys are the men that make the save market go round. They punch in, punch out. Have the job, no real threat to speak of, and are basically just there to collect great benny’s so they can take care of their crippled brother. Who is only really crippled because he is scared of the sun.
19. Steve Cishek – (Joaquin Benoit, Joel Peralta, Nick Vincent)
20. Jeremy Jeffress – (Tyler Thornburg, Mike Blazek)
21. Sam Dyson– (Shawn Tolleson, Jake Diekman, Matt Bush)
22. Brad Ziegler – (Daniel Hudson, Tyler Clippard)
25. Alex Colome – (Xavier Cedeno, Brad Boxberger -DL)
26. Jake McGee – (Chad Qualls, Boone Logan, Carlos Estevez)
Brain Freezes
I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing apples, bananas and Carlos Marmol– Wait, he just gave up 12 earned runs and hit Castro in the head with a pick-off throw. Brain freeze! Make it stop! Use the following closers at your own risk.
27. Joe Smith – (Fernando Salas, Greg Mahle)
28. Arodys Vizcaino – (Jason Grilli, Hunter Cervenka)
29. Kevin Jepsen – (Trevor May, Ryan Pressley)
30. Tony Cingrani – (Ross Ohlendorf, Blake Wood)
