{"id":69,"date":"2010-03-29T05:30:52","date_gmt":"2010-03-29T10:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/?p=69"},"modified":"2010-05-09T04:39:44","modified_gmt":"2010-05-09T09:39:44","slug":"finding-value-in-relief-pitchers-by-mike-rosenbaum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/69","title":{"rendered":"Finding Value in Relief Pitchers"},"content":{"rendered":"
March 29 , 2010<\/div>\n

\"mrhappy\"<\/p>\n

Regardless of which fantasy references you frequent, I’m sure that you have been beaten upside the head with theories as to how to draft relief pitching.\u00a0 I have both read and experimented with advice that has ranged from the conservative, waiting until the 3rd round to draft the best available closer, to the experimental, “I won’t pay for relief pitching\/saves.”\u00a0 While I must admit that I don’t subscribe to either of these strategies in full, I have found the latter to be the most efficient, exciting and rewarding.\u00a0 Daniel “Dee” Clark, a fellow blogger on the site, is about as strong of an advocate of this philosophy as any fantasy enthusiast I have read.\u00a0 For three consecutive years he has excelled in our league due to his knowledge of the game, it’s players and their statistical relevance.\u00a0 Each year he has compiled a lethal offense under the belief that there will always be an array of relief pitchers that, at the end of the year, will have been more valuable than the game’s top closers; in layman\u2019s terms, relief pitching is far too unpredictable.\u00a0 Every season, Major League Baseball is riddled with controversy surrounding the security of closers(see Brad Lidge circa 2008 & 2009).\u00a0 The excessive scrutiny on “closers” really only yields one positive result, the emergence of fresh, young arms that have been anxiously awaiting their opportunity to shove it down hitters\u2019 throats(see Andrew Bailey, Leo Nunez circa 2009).\u00a0 With the 2010 season a mere week away, it’s important to note several talented, young guns who appear to be in line to produce huge years for their organizations and fantasy owners alike.<\/p>\n

Mike Adams<\/a>, Padres –
\n2009 Statistics: 37 IP, 0-0, .73 ERA, .59 WHIP, 5.63 K\/B
\nWhy haven’t you heard about Mike Adams? Well, it’s most likely because he has literally been under the knife since 2006.\u00a0 However, he reappeared towards the end of last year and was nothing short of nasty.\u00a0 Barring another injury, he should accumulate a respectable amount of wins as it seems he will be trusted to keep games close before giving way to Heath Bell.\u00a0 Should Bell(or Pocket Broxton as I like to call him) get traded this season, I would expect Adams to get the promotion over teammate Luke Gregerson.<\/p>\n

Neftali Feliz<\/a>, Rangers –
\n2009 Statistics:\u00a0 31 IP, 1-0, 1.74 ERA, .68 WHIP, 4.88 K\/BB
\nI don’t want to spoil it for you, but if you haven’t seen Mr. Happy pitch yet, you must, because he is dominant.\u00a0 Whether the Rangers eventually use him as a starter or reliever, he will put up similar numbers to last year.\u00a0 A coveted prospect of the organization, he responded nicely to being thrust into pressure situations at only 21 years of age.\u00a0 If Frank Francisco either gets hurt or charged with another felony assault, look for Feliz to step in as closer.<\/p>\n

Matt Thornton<\/a>, White Sox –
\n2009 Statistics: 72.1 IP, 6-3, 4 SV, 2.74 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 4.35 K\/BB
\nMatt Thornton throws the most effortless 96-98MPH fastball I have ever seen.\u00a0 The 6’5″ left hander has been one of the best set-up men in baseball over the past two seasons as indicated by his .198 BAVG in 2008 and .217 BAVG in 2009.\u00a0 While it is important to note that he hasn’t exactly excelled in the closer role when given the opportunity(1 SV\/6 SVO in 2008 and 4 SV\/9 SVO in 2009), it definitely does not mean that he won’t be the front runner if Bobby Jenks gets hurt.<\/p>\n

Daniel Bard<\/a>, Red Sox –
\n2009 Statistics: 49.1 IP, 1-1, 1 SV, 3.65 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2.86 K\/BB
\nIf anything were to happen to Jonathon Papelbon, I don’t think the Red Sox would miss a beat.\u00a0 Young, flame thrower Daniel Bard is their closer of the future.\u00a0 With a high 90’s heater and a devastating slide piece, Bard has as bright of a future as any young pitcher in baseball.\u00a0 Any control problems that worried fantasy owners last season are sure to wane with more experience and confidence.<\/p>\n

Sergio Romo<\/a>, Giants –
\n2009 Statistics: 34 IP, 6-3, 5 SV, 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.73 K\/BB
\nWith so much focus on the Giants starting rotation, the excellent arms in their bullpen seem to be perennially overlooked.\u00a0 After the All-Star break in 2009, Romo showed that he is the real deal and a fixture in the Giants bullpen.\u00a0 He accumulated 6 wins and 5 saves in only 34 IP last season, which seems weak compared to his sheer dominance across the minor leagues.\u00a0 Complimented by left hander Jeremy Affeldt, the Giants should have a great bridge to closer Brian Wilson this season.<\/p>\n

Brandon League<\/a>, Mariners –
\n2009 Statistics: 74.2 IP, 3-6, 4.58 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.62 K\/BB
\nYou might as well just ignore his stats from last year because League is not the same pitcher.\u00a0 With a new pitch added to his already potent arsenal, this is going to be League’s breakout season.\u00a0 Although I repeatedly predicted his breakout seasons to happen while on the Blue Jays, it’s never too late for a guy with such great stuff(see Mike Adams above).\u00a0 26 year olds League and teammate Mark Lowe are sure to be a deadly duo within the Mariner’s bullpen and worthy of consideration in deep fantasy leagues.\u00a0 If incumbent closer David Aardsma were to hit the DL or revert to his wild tendencies, League should have no problem filling in.<\/p>\n

Joba Chamberlain<\/a>, Yankees –
\n2009 Statistics: DOES NOT MATTER
\nWe have all seen what this guy can do as a reliever.\u00a0 He is as dynamic and dominant as any closer in baseball and should get a chance if Mo’s fountain of youth runs dry.\u00a0 While, I’m sure that a Mo injury would only ignite another season long debate on Joba’s importance as a starter or reliever, the guy will do whatever is asked of him day in, day out.\u00a0 Look for Joba to have a monster season out of the Yankee bullpen.<\/p>\n

Joey Devine<\/a>, Athletics –
\n2009 Statistics: DNP(Tommy John surgery)
\nBefore the emergence of Andrew Bailey, Devine was the closer on paper headed into the 2009 season.\u00a0 However, his ongoing elbow troubles forced him to have Tommy John surgery and surrender his whole season.\u00a0 One year later, Devine is said to be healthy and ready for the season where he will be setting up games for AL Rookie of the Year Andrew Bailey.\u00a0 Devine’s closer like repertoire makes him the leading candidate to close for the A’s should anything happen Andrew Bailey.\u00a0 Although, from what I have seen, Bailey looks like a pretty durable young hoss
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March 29 , 2010 Regardless of which fantasy references you frequent, I’m sure that you have been beaten upside the head with theories as to how to draft relief pitching.\u00a0 I have both read and experimented with advice that has ranged from the conservative, waiting until the 3rd round to draft the best available closer, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6,16,11,13,14],"tags":[90,87,83,3457,86,68,89,88,81,36,64,71,79,80,84,77,85,78,82],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":200,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69\/revisions\/200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}