So the inevitable return of Wade Davis came, and just like we expected in typical awful luck scenario, he came into the game for the save. Which any Kelvin owner was dreading, clutching their fists, and shaking it widely. “Curses” they screamed. I have to admit, I didn’t think that the first day off the disabled list he’s be thrown right into the fray. He experienced two set-backs and wasn’t really his normal dominant self in the minor rehab appearances that I noticed. I get that a guy who has the previous experience and job should get the job, but the Royals were cruising along with Herrera in the big boy chair. In fact, he was darn near flawless minus one hiccup, garnering 7 straight saves and 9 appearances in 15 with a clean no-hit inning. I mean, I am no manager, hell I am an admitted couch potato… But I do know closers and that my friends is getting it done. The Royals are still in the thick of the playoff hunt and I think the worst thing to do for them is to change the end game. Davis is going to be dominant in the closer role or set-up role, and he has the goods to be great at either. Now, it may take one more ineffective appearance from him to show it, but I think Herrera is still very much in the foray for save chances in KC.
- Another week, another closer change in L.A., Salas was shipped to the Mets and now it looks like JC Ramirez and/or Deolis Guerra will get the look. Just sucks that Cam is injured this was his clear opportunity.
- Guy I used to sweat has been promoted with the roster expansion, and that man is Shea Simmons. Deeper leagues should take notice, as he is straight dirty.
- Avoid the Red Sox setup men at all costs. Does the term Clay Buchholz setup man curl your toes?
- Only two full-time closers haven’t allowed an earned run over the last 30 days: Ryan Madson and Tyler Thornburg.
- The end of the year, I tend to look for guys that will be vulture win candidates rather then save or hold guys. Though they tend to be hold guys by default sometimes. Guy to look for are guys on teams where teams starters go questionable amount of innings on certain days through their rotation. Guys I like for the upcoming week; Jesse Chavez, Scott Feldman, Matt Strahm and Jose Ramirez from the Braves
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…
$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 – (C.J. Edwards, Joe Smith)
2. Zach Britton – (Mychal Givens, Brad Brach)
3. Kenley Jansen – (Adam Liberatore, Joe Blanton)
4. Dellin Betances – (Tyler Clippard, Adam Warren)
5. Craig Kimbrel – (Brad Ziegler, Matt Barnes)
6. Jeurys Familia – (Addison Reed, Fernando Salas)
7. Mark Melancon – (Shawn Kelley, Blake Treinen)
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.
8. Edwin Diaz – (Tom Wilhelmsen, Nick Vincent)
9. Cody Allen – (Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw)
10. Roberto Osuna – (Jason Grilli, Joaquin Benoit)
11. David Robertson – (Nate Jones, Dan Jennings)
12. Francisco Rodriguez – (Justin Wilson, Shane Greene)
13. Seung-hwan Oh – (Kevin Siegrist, Jonathan Broxton)
14. Ken Giles – (Will Harris, Pat Neshek)
15. Tony Watson – (Neftali Feliz, Felipe Rivero)
16. Ryan Madson – (John Axford, Ryan Dull)
17. Jeanmar Gomez – (Hector Neris, Cesar Ramos)
18. Santiago Casilla – (Sergio Romo, Hunter Strickland)
19. Sam Dyson– (Jake Diekman, Matt Bush)
20. Kelvin Herrera/Wade Davis – (Joakim Soria, Pete Moylan)
21. Alex Colome – (Brad Boxberger, Xavier Cedeno)
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. Jim Johnson – (Mauricio Cabrera, Shea Simmons)
23. Fernando Rodney – (Kyle Barraclough, A.J. Ramos)
24. Adam Ottavino – (Carlos Estevez, Boone Logan)
25. Tyler Thornburg – (Corey Knebel, Carlos Torres)
26. Brandon Kintzler – (Ryan Pressley, Taylor Rogers)
27. Brandon Maurer – (Ryan Buchter, Brad Hand)
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. Tony Cingrani / Raisel Igelsias – (Michael Lorenzen)
29. Daniel Hudson – (Jake Barrett, Randall Delgado)
30. JC Ramirez / Deolis Guerra – (Mike Morin)
