Exactly.

I for one will never draft a closer in the first 10 rounds ever again. The last 2 years Ive done it it has bitten me in the ass. This year I said I wasn't going to do it but then everyone was loading up on other positions so I grabbed Storen, Madson, and Farnsworth. Guess what not only did I lose out on a SP and some power bats but I opened the season with no closer.

Last season I think it was Marmol and Soria. Bottom line the top 10 always seem to shift from season to season and nothing is guaranteed. I'd rather build a stronger offense, take some long shots or bottom third relievers, and wait for the inevitable fallout to occur and then pick up the pieces.

IMHO

It's odd because the 20th ranked closer is nearer in value to the 5th ranked closer than any other position, but no other position has such fluidity, especially this season. It's not like if you draft Tulo he's going to become a first baseman or a back-up shortstop.

How about some success stories on here about how going cheap on saves this year has paid off? Surely someone on here was lucky enough to draw some aces for nothing.

i didnt draft a single closer and i'm in first.

I meant success stories that involved getting cheap saves. How are you doing in that area?

I'm sure there are many success stories without paying for saves. In a 12 team mixed league, I waited until the late rounds of the draft for saves (drafted Jim Johnson, Frank Francisco and Brett Myers very late) and then I picked up Broxton off the waiver wire. I'm doing quite well in the saves category there and was able to use more high picks on offense. Last year, in an NL only league, I did not draft a single closer, but drafted Motte, picked up Salas on the wire, and traded for Kimbrel early (when there was uncertainty surrounding his ability to hold off Venters for the job). I did quite well in saves in that league as well and finished 2nd overall.

Yeah, I said this earlier in this now very long string, but I drafted only joe nathan for 5 bucks, but picked up kenley jensen, casilla, and andrew bailey (for my dl spot) all off waivers. Now closer is a strength for my team.

In the last couple of years Heath Bell was one of the safest options out there and this year he's sucking hard. Last year Valverde didn't blow a save all year and this year he's been struggling. Brian Wilson has been a saves leader for several years and quite "safe". You list Papelbon as a "safe" option this year when last year he struggled quite a bit. Typically I've had no luck with any strategy regarding closers. I've been burned by top 3 guys (Putz 09), cheaper guys (Lidge, Fuentes, Franklin, Broxton '11), and everywhere inbetween. This year I took Valverde and Nathan and some guys I thought would get some saves and even with the closer turnover we've had this year, have been beaten to the punch on pretty much everyone that's gotten the job. Those of you not drafting closers and still ending up amongst the leaders in saves need to get into a league where people comb the wire for saves like mine. Only potential closers I've gotten my hands on like Cishek and Frieri have yet to get me a save. I've grabbed the wrong guy or been too slow in every case.

Closers are like predicting top kickers in fantasy football. They are necessary and can help you win a title but predicting them is damn near impossible.

Just because you're not picking the guys up in leagues doesn't mean everyone else's league is filled with retards. In 2 of my leagues guys like Soriano, Broxton, Robertson (he should be drafted in all formats), Venters, Pestano, and this list goes on were drafted. So speculating on saves is part of draft strategies.