Closing Time

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer

We interrupt celebrating the Warriors’ 3-1 lead for a quick look around the league’s closing situations:

Anaheim Angels – Francisco Rodriguez – Rock Solid

He hasn’t been quite as dominant so far, but obviously nothing to worry about here. K-Rod has struck out a ridiculous 12 batters per nine innings throughout his career.

Atlanta Braves – Bob Wickman – Solid

Wickman figures to be given a fairly long leash this year, and he’s proven capable now pitching in the NL. He’s walking way too many batters and still remains a slight injury concern. Plus, the Braves will only wait so long, as Wickman has given up five runs over the last 1.1 innings. Rafael Soriano is probably the second option to own. His 4.38 ERA is out of line with his otherwise dominant peripherals. Soriano is a top-5 set-up man in fantasy leagues and should finish the year with a handful of saves.

Arizona Diamondback – Jose Valverde – Solid

There’s always the chance Valverde implodes at any given moment, and his 1.55 WHIP is ugly, but he’s mostly getting the job done. Brandon Lyon is the alternative in Arizona’s pen, but Valverde is securing himself into the role. He’s on pace for 65 saves this season.

Baltimore Orioles – Chris Ray – Rock Solid

Ray currently sports a 5.11 ERA, but that is accompanied by a 0.81 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB ratio. He’s been unscored upon in 11 of his 13 appearances this season.

Boston Red Sox – Jonathan Papelbon – Rock Solid

So far, so good. Papelbon has remained healthy, while also refusing to allow a run, having tossed 9.1 scoreless frames so far. Fantasy owners are likely to experience a Papelboner for the rest of the year.

Chicago White Sox – Bobby Jenks – Solid

Spring struggles have not carried over into the regular season. Despite a decrease in velocity with his fastball, Jenks has struck out 11 batters over 12.2 innings this year, and is locked in as Chicago’s ninth-inning guy.

Chicago Cubs – Ryan Dempster – Solid

Dempster has easily exceeded my expectations this year, drastically reducing his walk rate. With Kerry Wood out of the picture, Dempster’s role is even more secured. Bob Howry is the alternative if Dempster were to suffer an injury.

Cincinnati Reds – David Weathers – Solid

He’s never been a closer for a full season, but Cincy has zero alternatives right now. Weathers is also continuing his solid ways. He’s not exciting, but looks like a cheap source for 30 saves.

Cleveland Indians – Joe Borowski – Shaky

Finally, some instability. Borowski already has nine saves and is flashing his best strikeout rate of his career by far, fanning 15 batters over 11 innings. Still, he also sports a 9.00 ERA and 1.73 WHIP. Rafael Betancourt appears to be the likely replacement, but Fernando Cabrera looks like one of the best relievers in baseball. Since Borowski is probably Cleveland’s third or fourth best reliever, he figures to lose the job one way or the other. Cabrera is the guy to own long-term.

Colorado Rockies – Brian Fuentes – Rock Solid

The pride of Merced, California, Fuentes just keeps on getting the job done.

Detroit Tigers – Todd Jones – Shaky

There isn’t a luckier pitcher in baseball. Some how, some way, Jones has managed a 3.00 ERA despite a 2:5 K:BB ratio. Over the last 76 innings, Jones has struck out a paltry 30 batters. There’s simply no way he can keep this up. With eight saves already, and Joel Zumaya allowing runs in four consecutive appearances before Sunday’s outing, I recommend selling Jones now. Expect Zumaya to occupy the ninth-inning role over the final few months of the season.

Florida Marlins – Henry Owens – Questionable

Jorge Julio is about as likely to reemerge in the closing role as Alec Baldwin’s daughter is growing up normal – not very. Kevin Gregg is doing solid seventh and eighth inning work, but Owens is the current favorite for saves in the Marlins’ pen. But Taylor Tankersley, despite being a southpaw, might prove to ultimately be the best arm of all. Both need to be owned in all leagues.

Houston Astros – Dan Wheeler – Solid

Wheeler has thrown eight straight scoreless innings and is getting more job security with each outing. There’s no doubt he’s an effective reliever, but Brad Lidge does still loom. Lidge has struck out eight over the last four innings, all scoreless, so there’s still a chance he turns it around. His stuff is still there.

Kansas City Royals – Joakim Soria – Questionable

He’s yet to blow a save and is flashing a great strikeout rate. One of the better Rule 5 picks in recent memory, Soria could take the job and run with it, but Kansas City did sign Octavio Dotel to close. Still, Dotel is suffering set back after set back in his rehab, and there’s no guarantee he stays healthy when he does finally return.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Takashi Saito – Solid

Saito has picked up right were he left off last year, actually improving on last season’s terrific numbers with a 1.42 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 15:1 K:BB ratio over 12.2 innings this season. If possible, Jonathan Broxton, the no doubt closer of the future for L.A., has been even better; posting a 0.66 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB ratio over 13.2 innings. A closer look at Saito’s number’s from last year revealed that the NL West hit him much harder than the rest of the league, suggesting that the more times teams see him, the easier he becomes to hit. Still, that hasn’t translated this year, and it’s hard to argue with the results.

Milwaukee Brewers – Francisco Cordero – Rock Solid

There hasn’t been a more dominant reliever in baseball this year than Cordero, who has yet to give up a run and has struck out an unbelievable 19 batters over 11.1 innings. Since coming over to the NL, he’s been a top-3 fantasy closer. The Brewers also employ maybe the game’s best set-up man this season as well, as Derrick Turnbow has a 2.19 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. Milwaukee was smart not to sell-low after last year’s disastrous campaign from Turnbow.

Minnesota Twins – Joe Nathan – Rock Solid

Must. Resist. Killing. Brian Sabean.

New York Yankees – Mariano Rivera – Rock Solid (if healthy)

Rivera seems to always stumble early in the season, the NY media overreacts, and then the Yankee closer finishes with an ERA around 1.50. However, this year there seems to be at least a slight cause for concern, as his nasty cutter currently doesn’t have quite the same bite as normal. He’s in a contract year, so motivation shouldn’t be a problem. I just worry he’s concealing some sort of injury – if not, then he’ll be just fine and even makes a good buy low candidate.

New York Mets – Billy Wagner – Rock Solid

Looks like a top-3 closer.

Oakland A’s – Huston Street – Rock Solid

Already walked more than half the batters from all of last year’s total in just 13 innings of work but has been solid nevertheless.

Philadelphia Phillies – Tom Gordon – Very Shaky

Gordon has an ugly 5.40 ERA and 1.92 WHIP, but even more worrisome is Brett Myers’ move to the pen. Even if Gordon turns it around, which he likely will, the Phillies seem all but certain to move Myers into the ninth-inning role. A switch back to the rotation obviously makes the most sense, with Adam Eaton’s terrible performance making it even easier, but Charlie Manuel apparently isn’t quite playing with a full deck. Myers is making too much money for a set-up role, and the move is inevitable. If you can get anything halfway decent for Gordon right now, I’d do it.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Salomon Torres – Shaky

For a guy who has been able to throw more than 93 innings in each of the past two seasons, Torres makes more sense in a set-up role anyway. He’s allowed at least one run in seven of his last 10 appearances and sports an unsightly 7.36 ERA and 6:4 K:BB ratio over 11 innings. The fact the Pirates have already produced 10 save opportunities is quite surprising, but Matt Capps figures to be receiving those soon enough. He’s the guy in Pittsburgh’s pen I’d want to own the most from here on out.

San Diego Padres – Trevor Hoffman – Rock Solid

Despite blowing back-to-back save chances last week, Hoffman’s job remains safe. The one that blew Jake Peavy’s 16-K gem was especially hard to swallow for this fantasy owner.

Seattle Mariners – J.J. Putz – Rock Solid

Putz has shaken off spring injury concerns to resemble last year’s dominant self. More save opportunities are sure to follow.

San Francisco Giants – Armando Benitez – Solid

Smoke and mirrors. Benitez has lost 25 pounds recently, cutting out alcohol and improving his diet. He’s also 7-for-7 in save chances, with a 2.16 ERA. Still, there’s plenty to be concerned about here. He has a 8:5 K:BB ratio and allowed multiple baserunners in seven of his first eight appearances. His splitter is no longer an effective pitch, and he lost his best fastball years ago. There’s a chance he remains mildly effective all year long and accumulates 35 saves, but he’s a sell-high candidate in my eyes. However, other than maybe Tim Lincecum, the Giants have no alternatives to close, so his job is safe despite the Bay Area’s general distaste for him.

St. Louis Cardinals – Jason Isringhausen – Rock Solid

Looks like hip surgery worked. Go ahead and go back to considering Izzy a middle to top tier option.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays – Al Reyes – Solid

Maybe Reyes’ season so far shouldn’t have come as such a surprise; after all, he is just two years removed from a 2.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP season pitching for the Cardinals. Since he’s 37 years old, these seasons have somewhat come out of nowhere, but it’s clear he’s developed into an effective pitcher. His current stats are in no way sustainable while pitching in the AL East, but he’s building quite a bit of confidence with Joe Maddon. He looks like a top 10-15 closer.

Texas Rangers – Akinori Otsuka – Solid

While I’m not quite ready to suggest Gagne’s career is taking the Mark Prior/Kerry Wood path, it’s awful close. There’s a lot to be discouraged about, that’s for sure. He’s probably one of the bigger past steroid abuser candidates out there. Otsuka, meanwhile, just keeps on getting the job done.

Toronto Blue Jays – Jason Frasor – Shaky

I wouldn’t count on much from BJ Ryan this year, but Frasor won’t have a ton of security after allowing three runs in a blown save Saturday. Still, he’s been effective for the most part and is the guy to own in Toronto’s pen.

Washington Nationals – Chad Cordero – Rock Solid

The Chief has been incredibly shaky so far, due largely to a lack of control. He’ll turn it around, but another 47-save season isn’t happening anytime soon.