Welcome to the bi-monthly look at nose picking. Nah, I am obviously talking about bullpens, because they usually come in second to the nose goblins anyways. Lots of people always ask me: How do you shuffle between holds guys and get an effective return? First off, if you wanna surf the waiver trend and stream the hell out of relievers for holds purposes, you gotta be aware that you can’t be afraid to let your ratios go to pot. Not like move to Colorado and play Bohemian drums and stuff, just the trends that I have encountered and noticed is that with the quantity in holds there comes a slight tick to ERA and WHIP. Not an awful turn of events, if you you have sufficient starters that hold down the metrics. I don’t even know if metrics was the right word there, but I just saw a commercial for a tutoring service for kids… ummm, its summer. So back to the picking a winner lede discussion… When in doubt, pick a winner, four of the top-five hold accumulating teams are in first place. Six out of the top-10. I wish I can make the cliche statement that bullpens win games and have it be unique and quirky and new, but quality bullpens don’t not hurt your teams chance at winning. So if you are looking at streaming or even in the business for flip-flopping relievers in this high holy season of the All Star break, ask yourself two questions; how has he done over the last two weeks, and is his team scoring enough runs for the quantity? Because any good reliever needs to be worth the squeeze. And it doesn’t hurt to be a front-running team. So choose wisely, and for all intents and purposes hit me up. Never hurts to ask the guy who sleeps in bullpen pajamas. More bits of tid after the jump, cheers!
- The Diamondbacks duo of relievers, Bradley and Hirano, have more holds on the year (41) than eight current teams. That includes the bullpen lost first place Indians. Even better, over their last 30 games they have 15 combined, good enough combined to be more than 14 teams in baseball.
- Speaking of said Native Clevelanders, Oliver Perez has been on the Indians for just over one month since being released by the Yankees. He has 7 holds second most on the team. Neil Ramirez, who has been there just a tad longer and wasn’t on roster out of spring training, leads with 9. Yeah, the Indians are in the market for relievers without Miller being Miller.
- Be sorta nervous if you are a Bud Norris owner, finger injuries are a lingering thing.
- I am starting to think that Diego Castillo of the Rays is the future closer you may wanna stash. He has wipe out stuff on occasions and a 10+ K/9 over last 12 appearances.
- How is it possible that after Kenley, the most ownable bullpener on the Dodgers could be Caleb Ferguson? P.S. I am only half kidding.
- I couldn’t love Lou Trivino more as a reliever. 3 wins, 2 holds and 1 save in last 7 appearances. He is like the Italian army knife.
- Continue to hold all tickets for Winkler and Minter.
- Sleeper reliever of the week: Tyler Galsnow, not so sleepy prospect name, but getting some okay innings finally.
| Player | Holds/BS | App with Lead | IR Runners/IR Scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archie Bradley | 22/2 | 32 | 7/2 |
| Tony Watson | 20/1 | 26 | 11/2 |
| Yoshihisa Hirano | 19/2 | 29 | 16/1 |
| Chaz Roe | 19/0 | 26 | 20/4 |
| Jose Alvarado | 17/2 | 27 | 29/7 |
| Matt Barnes | 17/2 | 28 | 11/0 |
| Amir Garrett | 17/2 | 24 | 32/6 |
| Joe Kelly | 17/2 | 29 | 19/6 |
| Juan Nicasio | 17/4 | 27 | 8/2 |
| Chris Devenski | 16/2 | 27 | 19/5 |
| Tommy Hunter | 16/1 | 18 | 14/4 |
| Adam Ottavino | 16/2 | 24 | 15/2 |
| Kirby Yates | 16/0 | 21 | 7/1 |
| Craig Stammen | 15/3 | 22 | 23/9 |
| Dan Winkler | 15/2 | 23 | 21/5 |
| Sam Dyson | 14/4 | 27 | 17/5 |
| Josh Hader | 14/2 | 23 | 13/4 |
| Brandon Kintzler | 14/2 | 19 | 3/1 |
| James Pazos | 14/2 | 22 | 21/7 |
| David Robertson | 13/4 | 25 | 14/5 |
Knebe or Wade Davis worth Kyle Hendricks?
@DodgerWindowClosed: definitely.
When you say closer of the future for TB are you talking about as early as this year? Thanks
Just picked up Castillo on a whim on Wednesday night. I have seen him pitch. He is absolutely filthy and definitely has wipe out stuff. He’s like Seranthony in Philly. Funky delivery that works to his advantage, too. My guess is he’s the closer by the beginning of August because Romo loses his job or gets traded.
I can’t believe its taken people this long to recognize Castillo. I picked him up three weeks ago and even though he hasn’t notched a save yet you know very well its coming soon. And the closer position will be his although probably not until next season.
@Doc Samson: Seranthony is a good comp.
@Scott: easily could be by the end of this year, but Tb likes to stunt arbitration especially with relievers and slow the payroll scale. So expect maybe 5 safes by end of year and lots of hype going into next year
Speaking of Closers and picking noses we have a Big Booger trade controversy in roto redraft 5×5 12 team league. Please help! Commissioner of league gets Sale and Tanaka for Edwin Diaz, Hader, and Vince Velasquez. Is this a lopsided veto worthy trade?
@Frank: Sale is a top 3 pitcher and I think more than a top closer a set up guy with flair and a guy on DL but mixed league valuable. And add in Tanaka and it’s a little lopsided for me to say ok. But not veto worthy it looks like a trade that helps both teams for different reasons.
@Smokey: Rally your leaguemates to veto, and if they don’t, drop this league next year, something is up.
Do you drop Kelvin Herrera for Perez, Ramirez or Trivino for holds? Thanks.
@Prog_Nation: Trivino. Love how he used all over.
I just dropped Rodney for SirAnt. Kapler driving me crazy. Would you add Rodney back? My league doesnt award holds and saves are really the only reason for relief pitchers.
How do you see the Phillies closer situation working out? Committee?
Thanks!
@lubey: I don’t like the Rodney to a contender rumors. Seranthony is a better ROS add
@Smokey: Rally your leaguemates to veto, and if they don’t, drop this league next year, something is up.
Holds and saves league, H2H, where I do not do well in either category. Best to focus on one side and punt the other ? My RPs are Parker, BearClaw and Viz…and I have been sniping holds guys off the wire if my opponent that week is soft in that category.
Through the wire and trades I think I could convert these three RPs into Trivino, Herrera and Hirano at least. Or I could keep these closers and add Wade Davis for Hendricks to a team that lacks SPs.
Thoughts?
@DodgerWindowClosed: I would concentrate on holds instead of saves l. People fall in love with saves guys easier to win holds with good streaming.