Oh, hello random blog reader. I didn’t see you there. Don’t mind me, I’m just doing early offseason fantasy baseball research while listening to Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade” on a loop. It gets me in the proper mindset to tackle bullpens. I generally find few fantasy positions that elicit more angst than relievers. Nevertheless, I’ve hit the double-digit mark on BoP and am feeling all kinds of weird. It’s the perfect place to dip a toe into choppy reliever waters. I’ve broken down the roles while unveiling my new “Razzers” rating system (base 1-5). Is this a ploy to trick search engine’s into redirecting users searching for Brazzers? Yes. Yes, it is.
Ok, now that you’ve returned to this tab from your incognito browsing session, the Pens!
Baltimore Orioles | ||
Closer | Mychal Givens – My advice is to not roster Mychal Givens. He’s what Twitter calls #NotGood. | 1 Razzer
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Setup | Hunter Harvey – The young fireballer would seem like the natural solution to the O’s closer problems. He should be transitioned to the ninth if all goes according to plan. | 2 Razzers
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Useful Arm | Pass | 0 Razzers |
Saves Dart | Miguel Castro – If you’re playing in draft and hold or other deep format part of the end game is speculating on saves, however gross. | 1 Razzer
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Boston Red Sox | ||
Closer | Brandon Workman – I’d have more interest if the job were undoubtedly his. It helps that the sign-stealing scandal is likely sending the team into low profile mode. Workman had a ridic 13 K/9 last season but also walked 5.6 BB/9. | 3 Razzers
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Setup | Matt Barnes – The epitome of a fireman. He was great in every role that didn’t involve earning a save. That’s where he unraveled. The Ks and ratios are likely to be solid supplements for your pitching staff, though. | 3 Razzers
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Useful Arm | Darwinzon Hernandez – An older prospect who will likely find himself squeezed out of the rotation, at least to break camp. He’s got nasty stuff and will only get better as he learns to pitch at this level. | 2 Razzers
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Saves Dart | Heath Hembree- Built like a keg, Hembree was destined to be a reliever. He won’t do much for you without save opps but this is a pen that could easily find itself in upheaval. | 1 Razzer
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New York Yankees | ||
Closer | Aroldis Chapman – People keep trying to bet on the cliff that’s coming for one of the hardest throwers in baseball. He’s only turning 32, despite being around forever. The late season hiccup is getting to be a norm but he’s still racking up saves and Ks. | 4 Razzers
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Setup | Zach Britton – The seeming closer in waiting for the Bronx Bombers. It’s a coveted role and Britton has experience closing. | 3 Razzers
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Useful Arm | Adam Ottavino – If you don’t mind the damage he’ll do to your WHIP he’s a great source of strikeouts. | 3 Razzers
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Saves Dart | Tommy Kahnle – Kahnle quietly rebounded from a less than stellar season due to injury yet again. When he’s right he’s brutally tough to hit. If anything goes wrong for the prior to gents in Kahnle’s a dark horse. | 2 Razzers
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Tampa Bay Rays | ||
Closer | Emilio Pagan – Pagan is a fine bullpen arm. I just don’t trust this team to keep the status quo with reliever roles for an entire season. | 3 Razzers
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Setup | Nick Anderson – I like Anderson. You like Anderson. Even the guy in your league who’s only research is reading player blurbs on your league’s platform likes Anderson (Hi Sean). And that’s the problem. His price has deflated any profit without significant saves going his way. | 3 Razzers
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Useful Arm | Colin Poche/Diego Castillo – Either of these guys can add some nice Ks to your staff. They could also mix into the saves equation if things broke right. | 3 Razzers
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Saves Dart | Jose Alvarado – I looooove (with 5 o’s) Alvarado as a saves dart. He’s been in the closer committee as the lefty complement for two years now. Has everyone forgotten that? | 3 Razzers
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Toronto Blue Jays | ||
Closer | Ken Giles – You know who blew less saves than Ken Giles? Pretty much every other closer because he only blew one. Maybe it was getting fewer opportunities on a bad team. Either way, Giles was way better than I gave him credit for. Some funky arm soreness still gives me pause for the 2020 season. That likely drives his price down, however. | 3 Razzers
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Setup | Sam Gaviglio – Unless he falls into some rouge saves you don’t want to own Gaviglio. | 1 Razzers
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Useful Arm | Trent Thornton – With all the adds to the rotation Thornton could find himself the odd man out. He’s got some strikeout upside as a long reliever. | 1 Razzers
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Saves Dart | Anthony Bass – Ace of Bass earned five saves in Seattle in 2019. If anything goes wrong with Giles creaky arm Bass is one of the few internal options. | 2 Razzers
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