Closer Injury and Status Report – WHAT TO DO!
May 10, 2009
I know everyone and their mother does a fantasy baseball closer report, but I’ve noticed a few things over the past week that bear blogging on. In no particular order:
KC Royals – Joakim Soria, the Royals all-star nigh-unhittable closer, has shoulder soreness that hasn’t gotten any better over the past 4 weeks or so. Any time a hard-throwing pitcher has severe shoulder soreness in April and May, its a serious cause for concern. WHAT TO DO – if he isn’t already gone, go grab Juan Cruz right this second. He was excellent in the D’Backs’ pen last year, and has been very good this year too. And considering the other possibility in that bullpen is Kyle “I can’t believe people still pay me to pitch in the major leagues” Farnsworth, Cruz is well worth owning. Go get him in any format you can.
Philadelphia Phillies – Yes, Brad Lidge didn’t blow a save all last year and has only blown one this year, but he hasn’t been pitching very well lately. He’s had some knee issues (the same knee that was surgically repaired 2 years ago), and over his last 4 appearances, he has walked 5 guys, given up 4 earned runs and 2 home runs. Only one of them was a save opportunity, so it could just be a function of the dreaded “getting work” but still…WHAT TO DO – if Ryan Madson is available in your NL-only league, you need to be in a more competitive league; if he’s available in your mixed league, go get him – not only he is a lights-out middle reliever (16 K’s in 13 innings, whip of 1.13), but he could be next in line for saves.
Baltimore Orioles - Last week, O’s skipper Dave Trembley came out and said George Sherrill was no longer the closer, and instead he’d be running a bullpen-by-committee. So, in search of the almighty save, people immediately grabbed Danys Baez, Jim Johnson, Chris Ray, and Armando Benitez, just for good measure. Well, the first save chance the O’s had after that announcement went to…George Sherrill, who closed the game without incident. WHAT TO DO – Nothing. If you’ve got one of those guys in an AL-only league, maybe its worth holding on to them. In a mixed league, cut one of them for someone worth owning, like Madson or Andrew Bailey of the A’s.
Oakland Athletics - What a turn of events this is. Last year, Huston Street has the job locked down, then sucks, and Joey Devine is next in line (what a rhyme), but he’s hurt, so its given to Brad Ziegler. Ziegler does not throw hard at all, but he didn’t give up an earned run for what felt like the first 40 months of his career, so he kind of backs into the job, and does a good job. Coming into spring training, all eyes are on Devine, but then his elbow acts up again, he makes the dreaded visit to Dr. James Andrews, and he’s back on the DL, and Ziegler keeps the job (much to the chagrin of those who kept him, or picked him high). Then Ziegler gets the flu, followed by a massive asthma attack, loses 8 pounds and Michael Wuertz grabs a couple of saves in his absence. But the A’s best reliever is actually Andrew Bailey, and manager Bob Geren rewarded him with a 2 inning save on Friday night. On the season, Bailey has thrown 21 innings, 24 K’s, an ERA of 1.27 and a whip of 0.61 to go along with 3 vulture wins and the aforementioned save. WHAT TO DO – If you’re in an AL-only league, Bailey is almost certainly gone, but he’s still out there in alot of mixed leagues; Grab Him! Not only does he have typical closer stuff (four-seam fastball, hard slider), but even without the saves, he’ll help your team in the other categories too. Wuertz is worth an AL-only pickup, but isn’t good enough overall to warrant a mixed leagued spot. Just don’t cut Ziegler – his leash might be awfully long.
Washington Nationals - Oy. Joe Beimel? Kip Wells? Julian Tavarez? Please, make it stop. After Joel Hanrahan (who was a Matt Capps clone after being virtually unhittable down the stretch last year) couldn’t get a save to, well, save his life, manager Manny Acta turned to his committee. Tavarez gets a save, then heartily blows one the next night. Saul Rivera blows one, Hanrahan blows another one, and so on. Finally, Acta brings in former Bucco Kip Wells on Friday night, and he promptly closes the door cleanly. So the next night, clinging to a 2-0 lead, Acta uses Beimel in the 8th, and brings Wells back in to close the door. He gives up a run, gets himself into one hell of a jam, and Acta brings in….Hanrahan to close the door, which he does. WHAT TO DO – Really, who knows. As unsettled as this situation is, my suggestion is to grab Wells and keep Hanrahan on your Watch List. It seems as though Acta likes Wells’ stuff (he was throwing 95-97 this weekend), but Hanrahan is their closer of the future so if you’ve got an extra bench spot, grab him; otherwise, he’s a little too volatile to own at this point (my mixed league is insane for saves, and no one owns him).
Seattle Mariners - Today’s difficult save notwithstanding, Brendan Morrow is back. David Aardsma will pick up an occasional save so is probably worth owning if you’ve got the spot, but don’t expect too many.
St. Louis Cardinals - Ryan Franklin blew it today (on a home run to pitcher Micah Owings, no less) but the job is 100% his – it was the first run he gave up all year. WHAT TO DO – nothing; just keep Franklin active.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Matt Capps is a little bit hurt, but there’s no structural damage, so it doesn’t look serious. WHAT TO DO – Again nothing, except wait for Capps. John Grabow is presumably next in line (if the Pirates ever win again) but not really good enough to own right now. In an NL-only league, though, keep your eye on him, especially if you’ve got Capps.
Detroit Tigers - if you really believe Fernando Rodney is going to last as the closer all season, I’d like to see that to believe it. And if you really believe Joel Zumaya is going to remain healthy all season, I’d like to see that to believe it, too. WHAT TO DO – Both should be owned at this point in all formats. Rodney’s had a couple rough outings (including a particularly ugly one today against the Injins), so Zumaya should definitely be on the radar. He’s back throwing 100 mph and is yet to give up a run in 6 innings pitched. He’s only got 2 K’s, but those will come. Go get ‘im.
Atlanta Braves - Seems like Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano are sharing the duties depending on who is hitting in the 9th. Maybe Bobby Cox thinks that if you work both of them half as much, they’ll finally get through a season healthy.
Houston Astros - As long as Jose Valverde is getting fluid drained from his calf, LaTroy Hawkins must owned. If by some insane chance he’s still out there, go!
Anyone have thoughts, or teams, that I missed? Comment!
h2h Corner ~ Back to the Future, Week VI h2h Preview
May 10, 2009
This column will predict how awesome/bad your team can be during next week’s contest. It will prove invaluable for those of you about to set your lineups in weekly leagues. Read more
Did You Know…?
Did you know that Joey Votto finished fourth in the majors in OPS last season with a .981 OPS?
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