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With the the top 20 closers for 2010 fantasy baseball, we’ve finished our recap of the 2010 fantasy baseball rankings.  Some will feel like it came too soon, others will think let’s get 2011 under way already!  Whichever camp you fall in, don’t eat cherimoya seeds, they are poisonous.  This is our final look back.  This is still a look back.  It is not how I’d rank them for 2011 aka next year.  As with the other rankings, the final rankings come from ESPN’s Player Rater.  I did this so I could objectively critique MY preseason rankings to THEIRS.  Their rankings for closers weigh wins when I’d just want saves, but whatevs.  At least it’s unbiased.  Anyway, here’s the top 20 closers for 2010 fantasy baseball and how they compare to where I originally ranked them:

1. Billy Wagner – There’s a theme in the top 20 closers we need to address.  Where I ranked them (or didn’t rank them at all) compared to where they ended up is all over the place.  Now you can either think I’m a jerkoff or you can realize how unpredictable closers are.  This is why you never pay for closers.  The ones that you think will do good end up disappointing (Broxton) or flat-out suck (Frank Francisco).  Then there’s the ones that just come out of nowhere.  It all comes back to SAGNOF!  Preseason Rank #15, 2010 Projections:  4-3/3.00/1.15/60, 30 saves, Final Numbers: 7-2/1.43/0.87/104, 34 saves

2. Rafael Soriano – Never doubted Soriano’s ability… Well, I doubted his ability to stay healthy.  This year is Soriano staying healthy.  Maybe it was Soriano pitching more to contact this year that helped.  He definitely didn’t put up his best K season, but it was easily his best save season.  Preseason Rank #14, 2010 Projections:  2-4/2.95/1.05/70, 25 saves, Final Numbers:  3-2/1.73/0.80/57, 45 saves

3. Heath Bell – Wavy lines appear and we’re back in the 2010 preseason.  You, “I’m not touching Bell, he’s getting traded.”  Me, “Don’t worry about trade rumors in March.  Lots of hoops to jump though before a trade happens and maybe he’s the closer on the new team if he is traded.”  You, “Hoopz is spelled with a Z, I saw it on Flavor of Love.  Now shut your mustache!”  Preseason Rank #5, 2010 Projections:  2-3/2.85/1.10/75, 40 saves, Final Numbers:  6-1/1.93/1.20/86, 47 saves

4. Brian Wilson – This year he was The Machine.  Preseason Rank #11, 2010 Projections:  4-4/3.35/1.20/75, 37 saves, Final Numbers:  3-3/1.81/1.18/93, 48 saves

5. Neftali Feliz – He was ranked last January… For starters.  Since this is really just about me, Feliz hurt me more than any other closer because I A) Owned Frank2 in many leagues. B) Didn’t own Feliz.  C) Aren’t the first two enough hurt for one man?  Preseason Unranked for Closers, Final Numbers: 4-3/2.73/0.88/71, 40 saves

6. Joakim Soria – Here’s one of those places where ESPN is giving too much weight to wins.  Soria is being docked for only one win, but you don’t own closers for wins.  Are the vulture wins nice?  Sure, and so is an extra scoop in your Fribble™, but you don’t need it, you glutton.  Preseason Rank #8, 2010 Projections:  4-3/2.75/1.12/75, 32 saves, Final Numbers: 1-2/1.78/1.05/71, 41 saves

7. Carlos Marmol – In the comments on the preseason rankings for closers, there were variations of the same comment.  “You’re being silly with your Marmol projections and where you’re ranking him.  He’s too wild.”  Looking at my preseason projections compared to his final stats, I wasn’t being silly enough.  Preseason Rank #6, 2010 Projections:  4-3/3.15/1.30/100, 38 saves, Final Numbers:  2-3/2.55/1.18/138, 38 saves

8. Matt Capps – Capps really should’ve won the Razzballie for top SAGNOF closer.  He wasn’t the best closer (obviously).  He wasn’t as cheap as Feliz, but, I’d contend that once Feliz got the job people respected what he could do.  No one really wanted the Nats closer in the preseason and assumed during the season that Storen would take over at any moment.  Then Capps ran with the job and the Twins job too.  Preseason Rank #21, Final Numbers:  5-3/2.47/1.26/59, 42 saves

9. Mariano Rivera – The ratios look fine, but this is the beginning of the end for Rivera.  He had the most blown saves in 7 years, he had by his worst K-rate in four years and he’s turning 41 in November.  Preseason Rank #3, 2010 Projections:  4-1/2.15/1.00/70, 42 saves, Final Numbers:  3-3/1.80/0.83/45, 33 saves

10. John Axford – After Feliz, Axford was the best pickup for relievers.  The crazy thing is he was probably available to everyone for longer than most because no one expected him to replace Hoffman for as long as he did and, even as his reign seemed to be going well, people were still concerned Hoffman would return to the role.  Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers:  8-2/2.48/1.19/76, 24 saves

11. Jonathan Papelbon – For the first time in his career, his dancing wasn’t the ugliest part of his game.  He gave up more than twice the amount of runs from 2008 to 2009.  The most homers and walks allowed of his career.  And his 2nd lowest save total.  It couldn’t happen to a douchier seeming guy.  Preseason Rank #2, 2010 Projections:  2-1/2.05/1.00/75, 45 saves, Final Numbers:  5-7/3.90/1.27/76, 37 saves

12. Hong-Chih Kuo – Kinda unfair ranking him this high because, outside of deep leagues, you probably didn’t own him for most of these stats even if you did own him.  Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers:  3-2/1.20/0.78/73, 12 saves

13. Francisco Cordero – He seems like one of the few relievers who blows saves and doesn’t look pretty even when he converts but there’s never any talk about him losing his job.  That’s Dusty ball!  Preseason Rank #12, 2010 Projections:  3-5/3.45/1.32/60, 35 saves, Final Numbers:  6-5/3.84/1.43/59, 40 saves

14. Ryan Franklin – Another one of those ESPN glitches.  Franklin was fine last year, but his six wins are artificially boosting his value.  For instance, Aardsma was just as good with more saves, but had an 0-6 record.  Preseason Rank #18, 2010 Projections:  4-2/3.75/1.25/40, 30 saves, Final Numbers:  6-2/3.46/1.03/42, 27 saves

15. Chris Perez – Again, there’s probably a good chance you didn’t own him for this whole season’s stats.  If you did, well played.  If you didn’t and are saying you did, why lie?  Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 2-2/1.71/1.08/61, 23 saves

16. Francisco Rodriguez – In 2009, the Mets had an incident when a shirtless VP, Tony Bernazard, challenged players to a fight.  In 2010, K-Rod made every Thanksgiving very awkward for as long as he’s married to his wife.  My prediction for 2011 is Mr. Met gets a DUI.  He just looks like a rummy.  Preseason Rank #7, 2010 Projections:  5-2/3.10/1.30/70, 40 saves, Final Numbers:  4-2/2.20/1.15/67, 25 saves

17. Andrew Bailey – In the preseason, I said, “Yes, I have Bailey ranked lower than most other ‘perts.”  I also ranked him 17th and that’s where he ended up.  Natch that!  Preseason Rank #17, 2010 Projections:  2-3/3.20/1.14/70, 25 saves, Final Numbers:  1-3/1.47/0.96/42, 25 saves

18. Leo Nunez – Ranked here and he barely got into September with the closing job.  Remember, into the month of August, he had an ERA of 2.64.  He’ll be one of my favorite closer sleepers next year, assuming he’s the closer next year, which I think he will be, and, yes, this sentence ran away from me and I just started throwing in commas, but whatevs.  Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers:  4-3/3.46/1.28/71, 30 saves

19. Kevin Gregg – Anyone think Gregg will get any kind of respect next year in drafts?  Yeah, me neither.  Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers:  2-6/3.51/1.39/58, 37 saves

20. Jose Valverde – Had a perfectly respectable season that was only hurt because the Tigers either won by more than 4 runs or lost.  Don’t hate the player, hate the unpredictability of the save stat.  Preseason Rank #10, 2010 Projections:  4-4/3.15/1.10/70, 35 saves, Final Numbers: 2-4/3.00/1.16/63, 26 saves