Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat

April 5, 2011 @ 15:25:50

By Tim Heaney
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

 

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat | AL depth charts | NL depth charts

What are the odds that you still own the same relief pitchers you rostered in your fantasy baseball draft? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat series gives you a no-nonsense perspective on performances, injuries and managerial decisions from MLB bullpens. Get your arm loose: Let's find fantasy baseball players who'll get saves in your rotisserie or head-to-head baseball league.

Key

 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Closer: Jordan Walden

Understudy: Kevin Jepsen

Lurkers: Fernando Rodney, Hisanori Takahashi

Disabled List: Scott Downs

Finally gets his wings

Mike Scioscia said he's giving Walden the stopper job until Rodney figures out his mechanics. Now that Rodney has lost the gig, however, it'll be hard for him get it back if Walden is lights out.

Walden has the makeup to run with the gig. Bid strongly. Downs remains a solid stash if you miss out on the current stopper, but expecting saves from him will require patience and might not come to fruition. At least this early-season turmoil keeps the reliable vet in the discussion for the long term.

Mixed league Rodney owners should probably hang tight to see how this shakes out, but if he doesn't have chances to close the door, Rodney is worthless in a lineup.

• Previously, in Anaheim...

Job security score: 1

Health score: 5

Mound meetings

• One scout said Drew Storen's stuff is there; the Washington Nationals youngster just needs to be more confident in it, especially his four-seam fastball that has averaged about 93 mph so far. If he shows an aggressive approach that hastens his improvement, the Nats might do the same for shifting him back into save chances. It's going to happen at some point anyway. If you can buy low, store Storen.
• Now he knows what his second-half owners felt like last season. The Detroit Tigers' Jose Valverde was hit with a stomach bug, reportedly due to airplane food he ate Sunday. The Tigs have Tuesday off for him to rest up, though, so he should be able to go on Wednesday.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat | AL depth charts | NL depth charts

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Don Miller, at 02:17 on 04/05/11, says: I just found the KFFL site this year and I love the baseball content! Keep up the good work!

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Tim Heaney

Since the Boston University alum joined KFFL in 2006, his work has been featured by USA Today/Sports Weekly and Yahoo! Sports, among numerous publications.

Tim competes in Tout Wars and LABR and appears every Wednesday on 1570 AM WNST in Baltimore, as well as frequently on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

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