The price that was paid, and the results that led him up to the trade had everyone believing that Andrew Miller would trump the incumbent Cody Allen in Cleveland. Through two-pitched games, he has seen one save opportunity in the 6-7th inning, and the other was in a losing effort. Now, I am not reading the tea leaves here, but after just two appearances and five games overall, I think Cody is not a droppable player in any format, saves holds or NSVH. I mentioned it out loud to myself after the trade was completed, and also to Prospector Ralph. With 55 games to play and save chances in 52 percent of games won… so that would leave 14 or so chances for the Indians and Miller to retain value. And don’t get it twisted, he still has a ton of value with a ridiculous K-rate over 16, and the Indians are still a first place squad. Just everyone that seems to matter has struggled with the Twins. It’s crazy that they are 20-plus games under .500. So for the Allen owners, hold firm, like Gi-Joe style grip type stuff. Miller owners, you have most likely owned him all year, so your peripherals aren’t going to be flawed because of him. As far as saves go, I think it could go 70/30 the rest of the way and be a situational thing on occasion. Let’s look at the plethora of changes that are basically pillaging the relief ranks around baseball…
- Edwin Diaz is in as the save skipper. He is a good guy to cuff, because he does get a few extra days off here and there. “The Bartender” Wilhelmsen and the artist formerly known as Drew Storen would be the save stealers on an off-day.
- No fear in Texas as Dyson is still the guy. The hierarchy behind him changed a bit with Jeffress jumping Diekman, Bush and Kela.
- The wait for Ken Giles to be a closer only took four months. That early save speculation is really paying off. I am not so confident that if Luke Gregerson didn’t get hurt, at the same time Will Harris sucked, he wouldn’t have got the nod.
- Is there a crazier sentence than this, Mike Scioscia says he will use a committee. Hey Mike, Cam has one and blew one. He is the answer, ya clown.
- Don’t worry about Jeurys Familia, he has been pitching out of Jams since his mom worked at the Smuckers factory.
- I am skeptical that Wade Davis makes it back this year, Herrera is climbing the ranks quickly.
Closer d’Etat (Top set-up guys next up for saves)
A new feature that I have been looking to add is the top set-up guys who are either pitching well or are right behind the closer. Getting the off day save for a shaky closer or someone who can jump in for a downed king of saves. Never hurts to bag an extra reliever for your bench at best they either don’t play, you bench them or the do well. No one ever does bad for someone we all roster…
- John Axford
- Tom Wilhelmsen
- Nate Jones
- Neftali Feliz
- Enrique Burgos
$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. Zach Britton – (Darren O’Day, Mychal Givens, Brad Brach)
2. Kenley Jansen – (Adam Liberatore, Joe Blanton)
3. Dellin Betances – (Tyler Clippard, Adam Warren)
4. Aroldis Chapman – (Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop)
5. David Robertson – (Nate Jones, Matt Albers)
6. Craig Kimbrel – (Brad Ziegler, Junichi Tazawa)
7. Jeurys Familia – (Addison Reed, Hansel Robles)
8. Mark Melancon – (Jonathan Papelbon, Shawn Kelley)
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.
9. Cody Allen – (Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw)
10. A.J. Ramos – (Fernando Rodney, David Phelps, Kyle Barraclough)
11. Francisco Rodriguez – (Justin Wilson, Shane Greene)
12. Ryan Madson – (John Axford, Ryan Dull)
13. Roberto Osuna – (Jason Grilli, Joaquin Benoit)
14. Seung-hwan Oh – (Kevin Siegrist, Jonathan Broxton)
15. Kelvin Herrera – (Joakim Soria, Pete Moylan)
16. Sam Dyson– (Jeremy Jeffress, Jake Diekman, Matt Bush)
17. Jeanmar Gomez – (Hector Neris, Cesar Ramos)
18. Santiago Casilla – (Sergio Romo, Will Smith)
19. Edwin Diaz – (Tom Wilhelmsen, Drew Storen)
20. Tony Watson – (Neftali Feliz, Felipe Rivero)
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.
21. Ken Giles – (Will Harris, Pat Neshek)
22. Alex Colome – (Brad Boxberger, Xavier Cedeno)
23. Brandon Maurer – (Ryan Buchter, Brad Hand)
24. Carlos Estevez – (Adam Ottavino, Boone Logan)
25. Tyler Thornburg – (Corey Knebel, Carlos Torres)
26. Brandon Kintzler – (Ryan Pressley, Trevor May)
27. Tony Cingrani – (Raisel Igelsias, Ross Ohlendorf)
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.
28. Jake Barrett – (Enrique Burgos, Daniel Hudson)
29. Jim Johnson – (Mauricio Cabrera, Chris Withrow)
30. Cam Bedrosian -(Fernando Salas, JC Ramirez)
