Lots of haps going on in the end-game of fake baseball this week. Matt Lindstrom fell down and sprained his crown. Surgery has already happened, so if you’re stuck in traffic, or your league has weekly adds instead of daily, Ronald Belisario looks like the dude. In case your looking for alterior adds, Daniel Webb looks like he will get some looks, as Belisario isn’t a spring chicken, nor proven commodity. So add willingly if space allows. Also in Oakland, where nothing ever survives, or lives there permanently, according to Jay(Wrong) [Ed. Note– I was wrong. Bail Bondsman flourish there…], they finally got smart, used their shoe phone, and called in the option that may have been the right choice all along. Sean Doolittle is the shiny new toy, until the new shiny toy comes around or he breaks. I love me some Doolittle. If there was a wagon that hosted bands on it, I would be a groupie I guess. He has the K rate, the arsenal, but gets the whole “he is a lefty” shenanigans. So look past his Loogyness and just dig on the beard and 12-plus K rate, or if that doesn’t do it for ya, the 30/1 K/BB ratio. Or if that doesn’t get ya… well, err… that was my last detail, sorry. Enjoy the tidbits of straight sizzurp laced knowledge that Stephen Hawking would even Ctl+Alt+Esc.
- Los Tigres have been a nice source of Holds income lately. As a team, they have 14 Holds in the last two weeks, and the whole theory of good team/great bullpen counting stats comes into play here. Where have I heard this before? …Oh that’s right I said it.
- If you own Brad Ziegler, and in a weekly league, you prolly already know this, but over the last two weeks, he has 6 Holds. Ignore the ERA for a minute, even though it’s hard, like when your mom said don’t stare at the sun too long. For a team that only has 18 wins and is 6-4 in their last 10, this number is impressive, even if numbers are for nerds.
- You know what BS gets you. Lot’s of relief wins. The Pirates have 14 wins in relief this year, and they only have 19 wins all year. That my friends, is not good. To put that in perspective, last year,s leader in relief wins was Texas, with 35. So 1/4 of the way, carry the four, divide by blueberry. They are on pace for a potato. Sorry was doing Highlights… the number would be 54.
| Player | Holds/BS | Appearances with Lead | In. Runners/IR Scored |
| Kevin Siegrist | 12/0 | 14 | 7/2 |
| Will Smith | 11/1 | 16 | 12/1 |
| Tyler Clippard | 11/2 | 13 | 3/0 |
| Brad Ziegler | 11/1 | 12 | 9/1 |
| Carlos Martinez | 11/3 | 16 | 14/1 |
| Brett Cecil | 10/1 | 14 | 12/1 |
| Steve Delabar | 10/0 | 12 | 14/2 |
| Adam Ottavino | 9/1 | 14 | 4/2 |
| Tony Watson | 9/2 | 11 | 6/2 |
| J.P. Howell | 9/0 | 13 | 13/2 |
| Ian Krol | 8/1 | 14 | 13/5 |
| David Carpenter | 8/1 | 11 | 7/2 |
| Joba Chamberlain | 8/1 | 15 | 5/0 |
| Wade Davis | 8/2 | 11 | 3/2 |
| Rex Brothers | 8/4 | 14 | 4/2 |
| Casey Fien | 8/0 | 10 | 8/1 |
| Charlie Furbush | 8/0 | 10 | 15/4 |
| Adam Warren | 7/2 | 12 | 15/5 |
| Aaron Loup | 7/2 | 14 | 22/5 |
Do I want Joba, Nick Vincent or Ziegler? My belisario experience is over.
Thanks
ottavino/joba/fien/frasor/n.ramirez pick one in holds/k to bb/net saves/RW/RL as cats.
@goodfold2: 2. different league, with holds/net saves/k to bb, but not RW/RL nor K’s as counting stat. pick one
o’day/d.webb/betances/fien/ramos/delabar/cecil/joba/frasor. already have kelley on DL and robertson. currently have o’day/carmart/carpenter/j.smith. attempting to drop o’day for mejia.
3. any of those listed guys over any of my other 4? (so really just rank top 4 after mejia). only closers right now are k-rob/rosenthal (so carmart/kelley were handcuffs)
@goodfold2: Mejia for O’day
Bettances, Delabar, Joba would be next 3
@Smokey: in #2. waiver went through for dropping oday for mejia. added a closer. in #3 you are saying to drop all of carmart/carpenter/j.smith for bettances/delabar/joba? guessing so. damn 41 moves left in that one. (i thought it was infinite since in that league it was last year, didn’t find out till i had made 41 that it’s only to 100, so 2.15 per week left total)
@goodfold2: i forgot, in #3 i get 8 pickups per week. whew!, so i’ll grab all three of those guys if you think they are better than
-carmart (ineffective for a while now, and motte may start stealing time)
-carpenter (he’s ok, but i guess not as good as stats this year, plus splitting holds with walden (i also have in this league)/probably later venters)
-j.smith (he’s harder to gauge since still like a 1/3 closer, but K rate isn’t high)
@goodfold2: Joba or Ottavino would be ok with either
Saves only weekly league so I need them sooner than later……I have j.johnson, frieri, bryan shaw, mejia.. available are cody allen, axford, joe smith, melancon, gregrson, britton, o’day… im liking mejia. Do I grab Smith to pair with frieri or allen to pair with shaw or grab both and drop johnson?. Just wanted another brain to look at this mess. Thanks.
@fausto: Melancon needs to be added
Saves + Holds league
Drop Benoit for Delabar, Joe Smith, or Mejia?
@Scarecrow Greinke: Mejia
@Smokey: Thanks man. Great articles!
Will Smith vs Siegrist NL only roto 5×5. Pick one.
@Jiggy Nits: I like Smith a touch more only cause he has a better chance to get the occasional save
@Smokey: Cool. Thanks. I agree.
Thanks for providing us with info for holds leagues. It’s otherwise really hard to find and I’ve been able to pretty much dominate holds over the past year largely due to your research!
@gordon shumway: My pleasure glad someone is profiting from this. Leave the cats alone
Think Rondon holds the Cubs closer job? That last BS was a couple bloop singles and an error by Barney….
@Mandy: Holds it for now
In a holds league, Drop either carpenter or siegrist for Delabar? Thanks
@tank1: Carpenter and Delabar are on same level for me
So, you’re saying dropping Ballfour for Doolittle is an acceptable move? I’m in a 10 team H2H that can start 3 closers. I have Soria and Nathan, too, but not only is Ballfour not getting saves, he’s killing my ratios, too.
There’s not much else available for saves….maybe I just bench him until he gets his head out of his ass and take what Soria and Nathan give me?
@Redlegs: I would never drop him all together but stat wise the trade off works is what I meant and benching him isn’t the worse idea.
For my 3rd RP where you start any 7 P for the week, ROS grilli or Hawkins?
@Buge hoobs: Can I have some Hawk now nad Grilli for later? I’d say Hawk. Grilli has Melancon in front of him Hawk has meh and Ottavino.
in a frustrated fury, i dropped balfour for doolittle and carlos martinez for clippard. h2h points with saves. how bad did i fuck up?
@Spyre: w/ holds
@Spyre: Think you will be ok, the trade between Balfour not getting any saves and Doolittle getting some is off setting and Clippard is rolling along after scaring everyone away 13 staright scoreless appearances
As a Balfour owner, I already have Peralta. Would you drop O’Day to get Oviedo or does he still have a shot to close for the O’s?
Thanks Smoke Monster, great column.
@J Boy: Hold, I can see O’Day getting a few looks.
Is Ottavino next in line before Brothers?
@fitz: Tough to say. Weiss gave the kiss of death today endorsing Hawkins. I think it would be a situation thing first LH/RH. Then a coin flip on success if it came down to it.
Hey Smokey
Which 2 of these SP do you like for S+H? N Ramierez, Mejillia, W Davis, Britton or is there someone else Im missing? Thanks!
@Wacha Wacha:
Wade Davis 4 sure. It seems every time Shields and Ventura start, he’s there in the 8th shutting hitters down. He has a high K/9 and is pretty prime for holds. Britton could also be considered, but you never know if the O’s will go with O’day, and Mejia is like a wild-card guy if you need saves. Mejia is a guy who could potentially get a lot of saves for you. He was fantastic as a starter during his first time through the order, and I expect him to thrive as the Mets closer with a high K/9 and deceptive delivery.
@Wacha Wacha: Davis and Britton
Fien, Schlitter, Loup, Watson, Ziegler, Ottavino, Warren, Chamberlain… Who you like best for holds?
@Crazy old guy babbling in the corner:
Chamberlain
@Crazy old guy babbling in the corner: In a perfect world I would shuttle guys in and out and rotate, Ottavino Watson and Joba.
@Smokey: or Siegrist, too.
Can’t shuttle too much, we have a transaction limit. :(
@Crazy old guy babbling in the corner: siegrist over all
@Smokey: even over Joba? And with Motte back in the mix (who is also out there)?
@Crazy old guy babbling in the corner: Siegrists role isn’t affected he is the last lefty for the Cards. Joba is good, but I like Siegrist by a few slots.
Drop Qualls for Belisario? The Astros actually have 50% more save opportunities (vs the White Sox) so far this year.
@jack:
It could go either way. I think in the future, the WS will have more save opportunities, and if you drop Qualls, it’s not like your dropping Romo or Rodriguez.
@jack: Id stay with Qualls, Belisario is no given to be there for more than a minute
Should I drop axford for belisario? 12-man roto league.
Thanks
@Wetlands: yes
@Wetlands:
For sure bro. Cody Allen and Shaw have the end of the Tribe bullpen covered.
@Wetlands: absolutely
sorry 1 more question…another league saves and holds
are any of these guys an upgrade over oday or cody allen?
motte / delabar / loup / carpentar / howell / fien / alburquerque / warren / thorton / krol / furbush / brothers / schlitter / ogando / peralta
thanks
@Justin:
Carpenter’s pretty good and has made a lot of appearances this season.
@Justin: I like Delabar out of that group, but will be interesting to see how much Buck uses O’Day now that Hunter hit the DL. So I would hold for now until we see that come to a head.
I snatched Motte last week just as he was about to come off the DL. With C-Mart and T-Rose supposedly starting to falter, do you see him as a set up man or someone Matheny may throw into the closer role if he looks good in his return? Considering the pressure on the Cards these days, I can’t imagine Rosey getting a very long leash if a proven stud like Motte’s behind him, can he?
@Clint: I like Motte if and when Rosey stumbles, he may get the off save here and there to test his meddle. Then injury or a few no show performances by Trevor could lead him to the closer role. He is a great stash if you have the room
Another great update, Smokey!
In a 12-team 7×7 H2H w/saves and holds as cats, I’ve got:
Belisario, Britton, Brothers, W. Davis, Meijja, O’Day, Qualls
Neil Ramirez has been pretty solid but doesn’t have much of a track record – do you see him moving into the 8th or even closing role w/the mess in the Cubbies ‘pen?
Also, Javy Guerra has a decent track record and was recently brought up for the ChiSox – where do you see him ultimately fitting in with Belisario best-suited for the 8th and Webb/Petricka contending for the 9th?
Either of those guys worth a pickup for any of the ones I’m currently holding?
Thanks!
@JFK: Cubs pen is a mess, with no sound options regardless of stats I would stay away.
Guerra is a set-up guy for 6-7th for now would need a lot to happen in his favor to get more significant burn. I think Webb is the future closer there just needs to refine his walks.
Hold on guys you have.
@Smokey: Thanks!
As a follow-up, w/Balfour blowing yet another save, would you drop Crain (in a DL slot, but I have the unfortunate option of moving a number of guys in there) to stash Peralta, or is McGee next-in-line?
I know the party line is for Crain to take over the closer role within a week or two of his return, but that seems like a huge question mark at this point…
@JFK: Crain is droppable. Peralta would be next up, but Maddon is a stick to his closer guy.
@Smokey: Got it – thanks!
good afternoon :) saves and holds league
took over a team that the previous manager was doing for shits and gigs..now im here to fuck shit up! haha
currently have chamberlain / mcgee / shaw / belisario
available.. flen / loup / krol / brothers / furbush
anything jumping out at you? thanks for everything you do
@Justin:
What makes Chamberlain so valuable is that the Tigers will get a bucketload of wins this season, which will make many opportunities for Chamberlain to come in and shutdown the 8th, and so far Chamberlain has been that guy. Belisario is like a wild card and could potentially be a sneaky good pickup. Shaw has a high K/9, and the Tribe has been winning some games, giving him opportunities. I like your setup, but you could always switch McGee for Loup/Krol if you feel like it.
@Justin: Fien or Loup over McGee
I anxiously await each bulletin report!…no other position’s player rankings are so volatile.
Can you pick 4 out of this group going forward in S+H league?
W Smith, Siegrist, Motte, C Martinez, D Carpenter, Clippard, Joba, O’Day, Shaw, C Allen, Bentances, Mejilla, N Ramierez, T Watson, or anyone on the Rockies…
@No Soup for Yu:
Smith, Siegrist, Joba, Carpenter. Man I can’t believe those guys are available in your league.
@No Soup for Yu: Smith Siegrist Clippard and Allen, but be aware of the Rockies guys Weiss gave the kiss of death to Hawkins today saying he is his closer
Hi there, Smokey — I dropped Martinez for Delebar in a competitive 14-team holds league because I was getting concerned about the way the Cards handled their bullpen and because I feared Motte might start siphoning away Martinez’ hold chances. I already have Benoit and WSmith on the roster.
From your list Ziegler, Howell, Kroll, Joba, Furbish, and Loup are available, as are Alburquerque , Schlitter (you can have some headline fun with him!), Neshek, and Affeldt. Would you take any of them over Delebar? Or do you think I made a decent choice?
Thanks!
@Enrique:
I like Delabar, but I like Joba just a little better. Both of their teams will be on the winning-side of games a lot this season, maybe the Tigers more so.
@Enrique: I am concerned about Motte taking C-Marts chances. Delabar over all of them.
Morning, Smokey. In a 14 team h2h that counts holds and saves, I have Robertson, Street, Mejia, Belasario, Axford and Wade Davis. Should I drop Axford? It’d be for either an OF to fill in for Springer or another holds guy, probably Machi.
@royce!:
Not Smokey, but I also have Mejia, Davis, and Belasario and dropped Axford so I though I’d share why I dropped him. I’m in a 12 team league that also counts holds and saves, but I also have Soria and Romo for saves. As you know, Axford struggled and lost the closer role. Both Cleveland’s Shaw and Cody Allen have higher K/9 rates than Axford, with better control and will probably serve as the closers for the foreseeable future. I would drop Axford, and pick up another player. Best guy available for holds should be picked up if that fits your needs. Chamberlain, Carpenter, etc.
@Jason: I’ll second that – play for today and drop Ax for someone who can help you now.
@Jason: Thanks for the input.
@royce!: I would, even if he gets the job back how well would he do in it and he would be a third option anyways for you for saves