This season has been a bizzaro world for the elite closers of the game. Matt Capps has as many saves as Mariano Rivera and Francisco Rodriguez combined. Joe Nathan is out for the season while the previously untested Jon Rauch is 10/12 in save opportunities with a 4:1 K:BB ratio. Kevin Gregg is amongst the league leaders in saves. You know you’re seriously in trouble when Tyler Clippard is second amongst all pitchers in wins (7)!
Hopefully like myself, you didn’t take the bait on big name closers at your draft or you’re likely sorely disappointed. It’s my strategy to shy away from spending early round picks on closers in most leagues. While they can carry your team when they’re hot, they won’t outscore a top notch hitter or ace pitcher over the long haul of a fantasy season. This season, the strategy has worked better than ever.
Now don’t pout because your friend’s Billy Wagner pick is making Mariano Rivera look like Steve Howe. Here are a few players that might be available either on the waiver wire or at a cheap price via trade:
Octavio Dotel- 2-0/ 9/11 Save Opps/ 25:11 K/BB Ratio/ 5.89 ERA/ 1.53 WHIP (Handcuff with Evan Meek) While Dotel’s ERA and WHIP look awful, they were inflated by a terrible April which nearly cost the journeyman reliever his job. He is back on track and has locked up the closer role… for now. Evan Meek is waiting in the wings to take over this job at the next sign of trouble, so be sure to grab him as insurance if you can snag Dotel.
Carlos Marmol- 1-0/ 9/11 Save Opps/ 44:14 K/BB Ratio/ 1.59 ERA/ 1.19 WHIP (Handcuff with Sean Marshall) Marmol has taken the job and run with it in ’10 making Cubs fan forget all about Kerry Wood. Always lighting up the radar gun and amongst the leaders in strikeouts, it is Marmol’s 14 BB’s in 22+ innings that has owners delightful with the return on their likely late-round draft pick. Don’t be afraid to entrust a RP spot to Marmol as he has a firm grasp on the closer role playing for a solid Cubs team.
Matt Capps- 0-1/ 16/17 Save Opps/ 21:6 K/BB Ratio/ 2.70 ERA/ 1.56 WHIP (Handcuff with Drew Storen) Undoubtedly the biggest surprise of all closers in 2010 thus far, Capps is simply having a career season. Unfortunately, his best in show performance is coinciding with closer-of-the-future Drew Storen‘s coming out party. This isn’t to say the Nationals won’t groom Storen for the job in the setup role while Capps holds down the fort. Think 1996 Yankees with Mariano Rivera pitching the 7th and 8th innings while John Wetteland closed it out. Capps is worth the risk if you can afford to stash away Storen on your bench.
Matt Lindstrom- 1-0/ 10/10 Save Opps/ 15:4 K/BB ratio/ 1.40 ERA/ 1.19 WHIP (Handcuff with Brandon Lyon) Many owners abide by the rule of not taking closers on bad teams. The Astros are most certainly as bad a team as you will find this season. However, I don’t mind taking a shot on players fitting this bill, as those bad teams are going to win at least 65-70 games. A team with an anemic offense like the Astros is not going to blow many teams out either. What does that translate to? Let’s say conservatively 35 save opportunites in which the team is entering the latter portion of the game ahead by 3 runs or less. If Lindstrom only converts 25-35, you still can’t complain. Let someone else pay big money for big name closers, take a chance on Lindstrom.
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