All the fantasy world was hoping that Jonathan Papelbon would be traded to a team without a reliable closer. Instead, he goes to a team and kicks in the door swinging with the “I make more money than you” swagger that only comes with wearing Jordache jeans. And then he takes Drew Storen‘s job. From a relief pitcher standpoint, Papelbon jumps from the worst save-driven team to top 10 overall. The Phillies generated only 26 save opportunities to the date of his trade. The Nationals were a far better team, and their record says so with 43 save opportunities. The Nationals have also had a lead 32 more times than the Phillies, so Storen isn’t a completely wasted roster spot. If you got skunked by this, you need to keep him rostered. He will still get the off-day save chances, and should pitch in a ton of high-leverage situations based on the bullpen shape of the Nationals, which isn’t a blue ribbon. Papelbon immediately jumps to elite status for me because of his history, and the whole contending team thing. He will easily double his saves total (in less games) to date, which stands at 17. On the flip side of this trade, it opens up the gates to wunderkid Ken Giles to close in the land of steaks covered in cheese. Giles immediate value is that of a closer, but with the Phil’s, he’s going to basically have a worse representation of what Papelbon had, but he still has moderate save appeal. I can see him getting 10 saves the rest of the way. This is posting a day before the deadline, so things could be in flux. And make sure to check out Ralph and myself over on Razzball Soccer, as the FPL is in full go.
- The trade of Clippard to the Mets opens up a complete committee for the A’s. Mujica, Pomeranz, Scribner, and Fernando Rodriguez all look viable candidates. Oakland is in the bottom three for save opps on the year with only 33. Their offense is blah and the chances look worse than the Phillies for total saves the rest of season. If you are stuck looking for saves from the Clippard trade, then trade you should. You know, instead of rostering 2-3 guys from this team.
- Brad Ziegler has converted 15 straight saves since becoming the full time door-shutter in the dessert. Addison Reed says hi to everyone, btw.
- I am nervous with Glen Perkins recent work load and success. 6 ER in last 4 appearances, previous 38 appearances… 5 earned. He isn’t in danger yet, and the Twins are still in a race. So I don’t see a change coming
- Comparisons are fun, especially with bullpens. The Royals bullpen for the last 30 days has been more valuable using WAR than every MLB player except four (Trout, Lo-Cain, Votto, Kershaw).
- What was everyone doing on May 11th? That’s the last day that Mark Melancon allowed an earned run. Been crazy good and deserved the bump as the Pirates are playing well.
- The Cubs bullpen is different now then it was yesterday and its different yet again from a week and a half ago. Maddon is a nut job, all 4 guys could garner save chances until one pulls ahead and gives him a gift basket.
- The Arodys Vizcaino 2 month spree as the closer seems like it’s evident. Jim Johnson is a key cog for holds and should maintain his ownability with the Dodgers
$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. Aroldis Chapman – (J.J. Hoover, Manny Parra)
2. Kenley Jansen — (Jim Johnson. Joel Peralta)
3. Greg Holland– (Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera)
4. Andrew Miller– (Dellin Betances, Justin Wilson)
5. Trevor Rosenthal – (Kevin Siegrist, Seth Maness)
6. Craig Kimbrel – (Joaquin Benoit, Brandon Maurer)
7. Mark Melancon — (Tony Watson, Jared Hughes)
8. Jonathan Papelbon – (Drew Storen, Casey Janssen)
9. Huston Street – (Joe Smith, Trevor Gott)
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. Glen Perkins – (Blaine Boyer, Casey Fien, J.R Graham)
11. David Robertson – (Jake Petricka, Zach Duke)
12. Zach Britton – (Darren O’Day, Chaz Roe)
13. Cody Allen – (Bryan Shaw, Zach McAllister)
14. Jeurys Familia – (Tyler Clippard, Bobby Parnell)
15. Koji Uehara – (Junichi Tazawa, Alexi Ogando)
16. Francisco Rodriguez, (Will Smith, Jeremy Jeffress)
17. Joakim Soria – (Bruce Rondon, Al Alburquerque)
18. Santiago Casilla – (Sergio Romo, Hunter Strickland)
19. A.J. Ramos – (Carter Capps, Mike Dunn)
20. Brad Ziegler – ( Daniel Hudson, Andrew Chafin)
21. Shawn Tolleson – (Keone Kela, Tanner Scheppers)
Employed
These guys are the men that make the save market go round. They punch in, punch out. Have the job, no real threat to speak of, and are basically just there to collect great benny’s so they can take care of their crippled brother. Who is only really crippled because he is scared of the sun.
22. Luke Gregerson – (Pat Neshek, Josh Fields)
23. Brad Boxberger – (Jake McGee, Kevin Jepsen)
24. Ken Giles– (Luis Garcia, Justin de Fratus)
25. John Axford – (Rafael Betancourt, Tommy Kahnle)
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.
26. Roberto Osuna (LaTroy Hawkins, Aaron Sanchez, Brett Cecil)
27. Carson Smith – (Fernando Rodney, Mark Lowe)
28. Arodys Vizcaino – (Luis Avilan, David Aardsma, Jason Frasor)
29. Hector Rondon / Jason Motte / Pedro Strop / Rafael Soriano
30. Edward Mujica / Evan Scribner / Drew Pomeranz / Eric O’Flaherty
