Bullpen Report, Week 4: Bear Riders And Stecken Cloughs

The Miami Jeters are currently cruising on a sub-60 win pace.  Nice if you look at the investment value in terms of dollars and the amount of talent on the field.  Now the once or semi-reliable closer, Brad Ziegler, has puked up another save chance and seen his ERA climb a blood alcohol level of 8.44.  That is a Cherynoblian level that usually results in a quick change, minus Bill Murray dressed as a clown. In the wings are two decent enough options that in most leagues should be owned for their K prowess.  They being Drew Steckenrider and Kyle Barraclough.  A change is coming, as the soft-tossing Ziegler can’t rely on sorcery and garbage to will him through save chances, no matter how few and far between they are.  The Marlins, from a standpoint of we are only winning X amount of games, and can’t afford to lose Y because of a closer who can’t shut the door is just bad for business. I am grabbing Steckenrider before Barraclough just based on games and position of appearances of date.  It is really tough to say though because they have 7 wins, and neither guy has featured more than 4 appearances when the team has been leading.  But Steck has seen more 8th innings, and I like him better because he has a closer makeup. So add accordingly if save speculating is your bag, but with success in closing comes success in the setup game.  And don’t ignore Barraclough either, because he will be in elevated positions as well and since this is the Holds portion of the week, go get him if free.

• Juan is his name, holds are his game.  Green is his color, white is the other.  That is Juan of the Seattle Nicasio’s pacing the MLB in holds.  ERA is getting there, as he was burned by the taters early on.
• Double the K’s per inning is almost too much fun from a stat.  Currently four pitchers are on the path to K enlightenment; Ottavino, Hader, Edwin Diaz and Carl Edwards Jr.  The guy that sounds like a burger joint has 20 K’s in 10 innings pitched, the least amount of innings amongst the lot.
• Go grab yourself a Red Sox reliever not named Joe Kelly, who starts his six game suspension this week.  Matt Barnes and Heath Hembree are the adds in my little notebook.
• Middling teams breed good results… sometimes.  Ryan Pressly is unscored upon, with a K-rate north of 12.  Fernando just blew up against the Yanks and a shift from crooked hat disease could shift power spots in Twins bullpen.  Only one hold for Pressly but the pen is getting shook up soon.
• Another bottom of division feeder has the lead singer from Coldplay garnering most of the Holds in Chris Martin.  Not sure if Adam Levine, Gavin Rossdale or even James Hetfield will get into the picture.  All I know is Matt Bush got sent down and that is all that needs to be said about the state of the Rangers.
• Andrew Miller is a little gauky, and more than his normal tall gawkiness.  Grab Nick Goody or Tyler Olson just in case on a streamer.
• Tony Cingrani is easily the best option in the Dodgers bullpen… for holds.  Baez, Fields and anyone else fielding the Dodger Blue is second.
• Sleepy Reliever of the week: Richard Rodriguez of the Pirates.  Not to be confused with Richard Ramirez the “Night Stalker”.