Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat - NL

June 23, 2010 @ 12:05:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: AL | NL

Fantasy baseball closer depth charts: AL | NL

In fantasy baseball, the closer position remains volatile. Rarely does every closer hang on to the job for an entire season - injuries, poor performance and managerial decisions can cloud a team's bullpen picture.

Should you be concerned about a struggling stopper? Which relievers are climbing the depth chart? Are any injuries popping up? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat keeps you informed when you're looking for saves.

Key

Job security (JS) score	1 (unstable) to 5 (untouchable)
Health (H) score	1 (injury-prone) to 5 (durable)

 

Milwaukee Brewers

Closer: John Axford

Understudy: Trevor Hoffman

Manager Ken Macha hasn't shut the door on Hoffman's eventual return to the closer's role. The Hoff has five straight scoreless appearances, including a perfect inning Sunday in a tie game. Macha is aware Hoffman is close to 600 career saves and thought of using him in the ninth yesterday.

Instead, Axford worked two innings for his fifth save. He hasn't blown one yet. Macha wouldn't commit to keeping the Canadian as his stopper, though, saying it'll "work itself out." He might receive a day off today, anyway, after his double yesterday. That would give Macha a chance to test Hoffman in a save situation, if one arises.

Stash the Hoff, if you're desperate for saves. His stuff might not be great, but the opportunity could be there. Not much you can do with Axford, at this point, aside from hang on.

Job security score: 2

Health score: 5

Mound meetings

• In search of 600: Hoffman

  The Colorado Rockies' Matt Belisle earned his first save since July 2005 yesterday. The Rox turned to him in the ninth; he gave up two hits and one run but was able to lock down the game after a nice defensive play from shortstop Clint Barmes.
  Manuel Corpas was given the day off. Huston Street, who was activated yesterday, will be eased back into closing. Belisle is not worth a saves investment, even for the short term. Corpas should fulfill the closer duties 'til Street is ready.
• Brad Lidge pitched out of a J.C. Romero-created jam to earn his fifth save of the year for the Philadelphia Phillies. With runners on first and second, Lidge struck out both batters he faced. Hopefully that quiets those suggesting this is the '09 version of Lidge after his blown save on the weekend.
• The Washington Nationals' Matt Capps locked down his 22nd save yesterday. It came despite the righty's allowance of four hits and two runs. He was one pitch away from securing it without a run crossing the plate. It's more par for Capps' June course than anything. Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen, in that order, are no more speculative options today than they were yesterday.
• Five runs were scored with Chad Qualls on the mound in the eighth for the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday. Now, he was only responsible for one of them, but it was still a missed opportunity for the D-backs' former closer.
• Francisco Cordero bounced back with his 18th save last night. It took him 21 pitches, though, and he threw 33 the night before. We might see someone else in the ninth today, if needed.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: AL | NL

Fantasy baseball closer depth charts: AL | NL

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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