Bullpen Report: Applying The Sleeper Hold

Welcome to the fantasy wrestling league.  (If that is why you are not in the right place.) If you came for some fantasy baseball holds league info, then please, by all means, get comfy for a spell.  We as a people who play in holds leagues all know the big name guys.  The proven commodities.  The reason we know about them is because I have talked about them in my Holds Ranking Post.  Go check it out, there’s fun for the whole family in there, with coloring sections and a pop-up section for the Misses.  So bigger leagues that rely on deep knowledge into hold-dom require some names that in special situations would garner interest.  This is why we are here… I am going to break down some names in each league (for your league-specific needs) so you can win the deep end of the draft.  None or almost all of these guys aren’t going to be in the handy dandy chart I provide below, because they are off the beaten path a a bit.  So enjoy some depth to the bullpen discussion…

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American League

Danny Barnes – Big time K-potential here, and moves to a team with bullpen stalwarts like “Fragile” Joe Smith, Joe Biagini and J.P. Howell.  No clue if Mrs. Howell made the excursion north though.  What I am saying is, there is a ton of high leverage spots open. Oh, and don’t forget Mat Latos is there too.

Tommy Layne – Most Yankee games wil go Clippard, Betances then Chapman.  Unless there is a second lefty required.  Enter Tommy.  Joe Girardi tried to be Buck Showalter with his bullpen, but usually bumbles it up some how.  Could get into the teens in holds just because of the 1-2 out appearances.  Could be a decent win vulture as well.

Chase Whitley – TB loves the overall mass of bullpen stuff.  I think Maddon left it there carved into a desk.  Cedeno is the only real intriguing name after Box and Colome, but TB is the place for reliever dreams come true.

J.T. Chargois – The Twins ma have one of the worst bullpens in the majors.  Lots of hopes and wishes on Glen Perkins being healthy. A 10-plus K-rate in the minors may not fully relate to pros, but he was a pedigree pitcher coming out of the draft and has always been a reliever.  Love me guys who always no who to relieve themselves.

James Hoyt – Older reliever makes good, story at 11.  In his age 31 season this year, and saves 29 games last year in the minors with a 15 plus K/9 rate.  Houston will win some games, and Gregerson isn’t a spring bullpen chicken anymore.  If Feliz is more you liking look that way instead.

Chris Beck – Every deep list needs a SP/RP guy, enter this guy.  Way off the list of normal dual eligible guys and the Sox pen may get a shake-up via trade.

National League

Adam Liberatore – Gets shoved down the Dodgers list a bit because of the Romo signing and the emergence of Grant Dayton.  His best asset is he will be the most utilized LH for the Dodgers.  He is not quite a LOOGY, but isn’t that great against RH.  For a 90-ish win team there will be tons to go around.

Jacob Barnes – One of my more favorite sleepers this year.  Teams that are in desperate need to find effective relievers usually turn up the best options for future closers or saves.  Big K , low walk kinda guy and will usually, but not always hold the door for people.

Edubray Ramos – If there is a name that I lave and have no chance to pronounce right, it’s him.  A K-per kinda-reliever that is lost in the malaise of the Neshek, Neris, Gomez shuffle.  Big up-an-comer me thinks.

Ian Krol – Lots of power arms are in front of the guy who sounds like a landholder in Game of Thrones.  Managed a 9-plus K-rate last year and 10 holds for an awful team.  Depending in the pecking order he should be sandwiched between Cabrera and Vizcaino.

Koji Uehara – Has anyone watched Rondon pitch in the WBC?  Yea spectacular.  In a pen filled with RH, what Koji actually is as well, he gets LH out more effectively then everyone else there.  Maddon is a tinkering manager at the back-end.

American League

National League

Remember these chats only reflect the HOLD situations and the closer is not included.

*Denotes team in a closer by committee.