To answer your first question, no, I am not dead. Secondly, sorry to disappoint you. As we count down the days to draft and when pitchers/catchers report, it’s a virtual ‘pins and needles’ fest for some of the closer battles that could be looming. Some of these battles are going to be very interesting, ’cause battles are awesome and make fools of everyone. Let’s dive into some of those battles, shall we? The Cubs and their smoke-show of a bullpen is first and foremost. Jose Veras looks to be the guy, until Pedro Strop‘s me-mah gets all the free paella for every manager named Sveum. The Orioles still really don’t have a closer, and until free agency is kaput, Tommy Hunter is the guy. And the other one to keep an eye on is Colorado… I mean my name is Smokey… so I am firmly entrenched in the bumper crop going on there. LaTroy Hawkins has been called the “closer” for now. I have a feeling that the Rockies, at some point, get all nepotistic and gives the job to Rex Brothers. The last situation I would monitor is the effectiveness and trust level that Pittsburgh has with Grilli, who is getting back into the saddle. Mark Melancon is arguably the first non-definite closer for me that is draft worthy over some guys who are low on this list that have the job. So stay tuned conclusionary fans, it’s early and things are always a changin’. Like last year, I will be doing an off-week Holds post to keep all things relievers up to date.
$12 Salads
You know that restaurant your girlfriend/wife/what-have-you likes to go to that charges, like, $12 for a salad? Every time you go there, you have a thoroughly solid meal. No complaints, except you just paid $12 for a salad when you could’ve went to McDonald’s and stuffed you and your woman for ten schmools and had $2 in quarters left over to make the hotel bed vibrate. These closers are $12 salads.
1. Craig Kimbrel – (Jordan Walden, David Carpenter, Luis Avilan)
2. Aroldis Chapman – (J.J. Hoover, Sean Marshall, Sam LeCure)
3. Kenley Jansen – (Brian Wilson, Chris Perez, Paco Rodriguez)
4. Greg Holland – (Luke Hochevar, Aaron Crow, Tim Collins)
5. Trevor Rosenthal – (Seth Maness, Kevin Seigrist, Jason Motte)
6. Koji Uehara – (Edward Mujica, Junichi Tazawa)
7. Joe Nathan – (Bruce Rondon, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Krol)
8. Glen Perkins – (Jared Burton, Caleb Theibar, Michael Tonkin)
9. Sergio Romo – (Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt, George Kontos)
DonkeyCorns
Imagine you’re following a donkey, who’s wearing a wool cap, through a desert for 1700 miles. Why are you following a donkey? Because he promises you something wonderful and you just need to trust him. Does the donkey talk? Yes. Yes, he does talk. So when you and the donkey in the wool cap arrive at his destination, he removes the wool cap to reveal a horn. The donkey is a unicorn and his gift to you for your trust is saves. These closers are Donkeycorns.
10. Grant Balfour – (Heath Bell, Joel Peralta, Jake McGee)
11. Casey Janssen – (Sergio Santos, Steve Delabar, Brett Cecil)
12. David Robertson – (Shawn Kelley, Matt Thornton)
13.Ernesto Frieri – (Joe Smith, Dane de la Rosa)
14. Jim Johnson – (Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle, Luke Gregerson)
15. Rafael Soriano – (Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen)
16. Jonathon Papelbon – (Antonio Bastardo, Brad Lincoln)
17. Jason Grilli – (Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Vin Mazzaro)
18. Steve Cishek – (A.J. Ramos, Mike Dunn, Carter Capps)
19. Addison Reed – (J.J. Putz, Brad Zielger, David Hernandez)
20. Jim Henderson – (Brandon Kintzler, Rob Wooten)
21. Huston Street – (Joaquin Benoit, Dale Thayer)
Brain Freezes
I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing apples, bananas and Carlos Marmol– Wait, he just gave up 12 earned runs and hit Castro in the head with a pick-off throw. Brain freeze! Make it stop! Use the following closers at your own risk.
22. John Axford – (Cody Allen, Vinnie Pestano)
23. Neftali Feliz – (Tanner Scheppers, Joakim Soria)
24. Tommy Hunter – (Darren O’Day, Ryan Webb, Brad Brach)
25.Bobby Parnell – (Gonzalez Germen, Victor Black, Scott Rice)
26. Nate Jones – (Matt Lindstrom, Daniel Webb, Ronald Belisario)
27. Danny Farquhar – (Tom Wilhelmsen, Yoervis Medina)
28.LaTroy Hawkins – (Rex Brothers, Adam Ottavino, Matt Belisle)
29. Jose Veras – (Pedro Strop, James Russell, Blake Parker)
30. Jesse Crain – (Josh Fields, Chad Qualls)
