So team success helps everything, from team building exercises to a secret program that siphons money into a bank account at fractions of a penny at a time. Whatever works, works, but at the end of the day the stats are what matters. Take for example the Texas Rangers’ bullpen. The trio of Neal Cotts, Tanner Scheppers and Jason Frasor are getting it done minus the flair. They have combined for 17 Holds in the last 30 days and are tied for the AL lead in Holds with 50. Earlier in the year, I was asked the best strategy for NSVH, and I said the best way is to grab a top 10 closer and 2 middle relievers from the same team. This is why this theory makes all the sense. Take a resurgent Cotts, who has dominated batters to a BAA of .187. “It’s Murda.” Thanks Ja Rule, for having nothing else to do.  Throw in Scheppers and as of late a rejuvenated Frasor and you have a nice drunk punch of goodness for a Holds factory. Holds are a streaky stat, take a look at Mark Melancon, he is still leading MLB in holds only because he had 14 thru the first 30 days. The leader since then? Hmmm, I betcha I just mentioned him above… Tanner Scheppers with 8. Enjoy the week to come.
Aaron Crow – The Crow, more like the vulture. Over the past 30 days, or basically the last time I wrote about MR ( I know, I am a slacker), he has won 4 games, garnered 4 holds and K’d 13 in 10 innings. Sad trombone just came by and kicked me in the shins for not mentioning he also had 2 losses. Nuttin’ says companionship like getting shinned by an emotional brass instrument.
Craig Breslow – I know, FFS, but in all seriousness. Ignore the ERA and stats that suck. Andrew Miller and this guy were the lefties in the Sawx pen. Miller fell down and broke his crown, and Breslow is the lone lefty reliever. Barring a trade which is most likely coming, Craig is it. So if I could quote Friday, “Come on Craig.”
J.J. Hoover – It is just amazing to me that the Reds band-aid bullpen is keeping the team in games. No Marshall, no Broxton, no problem. The group of Hoover, Manny Parra, Alfredo Simon, Sam LeCure and Logan Ondrusek are unscored upon in there last combined 29 innings. Stat wise they suck all the yellow off a Lemonhead, with only 1 hold in the group during that time.
| PLAYER | HOLDS | Appearances With Lead |
Inherited Runners |
Inherited Runners Scored |
| Mark Melancon | 24 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Joel Peralta | 22 | 33 | 15 | 1 |
| David Robertson | 21 | 27 | 7 | 2 |
| Trevor Rosenthal | 19 | 28 | 12 | 3 |
| Jesse Crain | 19 | 21 | 20 | 7 |
| Tanner Scheppers | 18 | 26 | 11 | 2 |
| Jake McGee | 17 | 28 | 21 | 9 |
| Scott Downs | 17 | 23 | 26 | 6 |
| Matt Thornton | 17 | 28 | 21 | 5 |
| Junichi Tazawa | 16 | 24 | 15 | 3 |
| Tyler Clippard | 15 | 24 | 8 | 2 |
| Jared Burton | 15 | 27 | 3 | 2 |
| Ryan Cook | 14 | 24 | 11 | 3 |
| Dale Thayer | 14 | 22 | 18 | 1 |
| John Axford | 14 | 18 | 10 | 1 |
| James Russell | 13 | 31 | 26 | 7 |
| Darren O’Day | 13 | 26 | 17 | 5 |
| Antonio Bastardo | 13 | 22 | 12 | 2 |
| Luis Avilan | 13 | 19 | 19 | 3 |
| Aaron Crow | 13 | 17 | 35 | 11 |
ITS MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURDA
@Tehol Beddict: Precisely.
In a league that counts holds, I’m currently using P. Rodriguez and J. Walden. Other solid options include: McGee, Downs, Cook, Crow, Tazawa, Avilan, Doolittle, Cotts and Frasor. Any of these guys an upgrade over my current group? Thanks.
@tank1: Downs, McGee, Crow all over Walden
I have a trade offer.
20 team league (32 total players per team) with only 1 SP and 3 RP slots daily.
Trade Hyun-Jin Ryu for Edward Mujica?
@sfsf2109345: well ill take the saves compared to every 5th day, depending on who else you got in the RP slots
What’s your feeling on Peralta vs. McGee vs. someone else next year? Who wins that cage match?
I need some perspective brah!
@jaywrong: Looking at it right now I would say Peralta, but Maddon has a tricky little way of making rehash projects look fantasy awesome. So it may come down to who the acquire at deadline or offseason.
@Smokey: Gotcha. Thanks brotha!
Who’d you start tonight? K. Janson vs. Rockies or Rafael Soriano @ philly? I Badly need a save and start Matt Moore and Erasmo so have only one RP spot. Janson pitched two innings last night I don’t know if that will have an impact on tonights possible playing time. Thanks.
@TobiasFunkeAnalRapist: Def Soriano
@Smokey: Thanks.
Hey all,
Trade question. In a keeper league I am in second and trying to win (obviously). I have been offered my McCutchen for his Liriano, Carlos Gomez and Cuddyer. I wanted to keep McCutch but I have options. We keep 5. My team is:
C- Rosario
1B- Crush Davis
2B- Profar
3B- Miggy
SS- Peralta
IF- Rendon or Gyorko or Lind
LF- JUpton
CF- McCutch
RF- Heyward
OF- Puig
Util- Eaton or Rajai
DL- Kemp
SP- Gio, Greinke, Scherzer, Jose Fernandez, Cashner
Thanks!
@Tom Thumb: Pass for me, i think you can stream SP and get the results from Liriano. And Cutch is a def Keeper for ya.
@Smokey: thanks! That’s exactly what I was thinking.. Good to hear it from a pro
I have to drop one holds guy, brothers or Thornton. It seems like brothers but Thornton has been shaky, is on a bad team and could get traded.
@Sniff Test: brothers for me. Thornton being traded to a contender helps his value to me
Streaming a SP…. Would you rather start gaudin @petco or Hefner against the bucs tomorrow?
Danks, Pettibone, Joe kelly also options but I think Gaudin/Hefner would be my best bet. Thanks for the help brother.
@Doc Ellis D’s: Hefner. The Giants can’t hit for shit right now
@Smokey: Hefner plays against the pirates. Your answer seems to be recommending a SD pitcher not mentioned in the question. I agree that anybody playing SF or SD in SD is a decent stream option though.
Looks like Soria will be a big late inning guy for Texas in second half. Already has 2 holds. Will he take over Scheppers role?
@Ferga: I don’t think he’ll replace Scheppers but will play a big role.
So I was offered Justin Verlander for Fernando Rodney. Normally I would do that in a second, but something is telling I shouldn’t. Rodney’s been awesome. What should I do?
@magpipes: Depends on need. Do you need starting pitchers or saves?
@Smokey: I could use both. but really I just want the better player. do you see a turnaround for Verlander?
who will i end up regretting dropping more in a holds league? Axford or Tazawa, or better yet whom do I keep and let go for fat adams?
thanks
@MB: when F-Rod gets flipped, Ax goes right back to set up, but on shitty team. Tazawa plays on better team but Bailey could either get closer or set up job at some point, either way it would move Tazawa out.
Any thoughts on Sonny Gray? Any Holds potential there, or just a mop-up guy until he’s ready for the rotation?
@SteveNZ: And this time to subscribe to the post…
@SteveNZ: He’s destined for starting rotation.
6×6 holds/ops league – 12 team weekly HTH with categories
I have Gregerson now.
Who are your top 3 of this bunch and do you prefer them over Gregerson for Holds/ERA/Whip help? I also have Street and Wilhelmsen and may cut 1 or both of them and punt saves each week to improve the ratios that those 2 are killing.
I’m in the final playoff spot as of now…need to improve in those 3 cat in 2nd half.
McGee
O’Day
Crow
Storen
Axford
Bastardo
Scheppers
Cotts
@Titan: I like Scheppers, Bastardo and McGae over Gregerson.
What’s with Delabar? In a sv+hld league and I’ve been wanting to pick him up for the longest time but he has 5 in 41 innings!
@The Thumb: Toronto is in the bottom five for holds as a team. That should explain it. His ratios play better in a league that doesn’t count holds.
Wanted to know if you think Oliver Perez will take over the closer spot in Seattle?
@Compy: I think it’s his turn now yes
Alright Smokey — crystal ball time.
My closers are: Reed — Holland — Chief — Benoit — Parnell — Soriano. I’m up pretty comfortably in saves at the break but I picked up Ziegler in case one of my guys gets traded to a non-closer roll. Am I paranoid? Who should I worry about?
I know the NSA is reading this blog ….
@Allen: def paranoid ur stellar at saves my friend
Wilhelmsen blew up again last night… grab Perez as a hand cuff or will he be moved? Thoughts?
@Nate: yes and deeper speculation Cartr Capps
I have Betancourt and and extra bench spot. Is it still worth handcuffing myself with Brothers or should I pick up a solid set-up guy like Crain or Delabar?
Delabar