Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat

September 30, 2009 @ 12:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Also see: Fantasy baseball closer depth charts

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

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

Key

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

Colorado Rockies

Closer: Huston Street

Next in line: Franklin Morales, Rafael Betancourt

Last night against the Milwaukee Brewers, Street blew a chance at a save for the first time in his last 27 tries. With one out, he issued a walk and a single right before serving up a tasty tater to catcher Jason Kendall, who now has two round-trippers in 2009.

Drop Street. Especially in keeper leagues. Just kidding.

Given his phenomenal turn as the Rox's main man, though, it's a good idea for fantasy owners to shop Street this offseason. We've discussed his mild injury history before and that his flyball tendencies aren't ideal for Coors Field. We all know how moody closers are.

Street enters his final arbitration year, and the Rockies have reportedly told him they'd like to discuss something long term. His rough final season and a half with the Oakland Athletics could have been merely a pothole in his avenue to greatness. Regardless, if you can sell him as close to such, you're probably making out.

Job security score: 5

Health score: 4

Mound meetings

Fuentes' saves have come at a cost

One of the leading candidates to be an overvalued closer yet again in 2010: Brian Fuentes, who saved his 46th game for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last night against the Texas Rangers. The southpaw sports a sweet 4.05 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Save your bid or draft pick and be aggressive on the waiver wire so you can nab a saves artist or two who will hurt you less.
The Philadelphia Phillies let Ryan Madson pump his smoke for two scoreless innings in last night's win against the Houston Astros. That's three straight shutout appearances in save situations, much more than Brad Lidge can say. The Phils believe Madson has the stuff, but they've mentioned J.A. Happ as a backend option for the postseason, too. Pedro Martinez (neck) is a speculative candidate as well. Lidge is running out of chances. How will Philly deal with him for the rest of his three-year, $37.5 million deal (with an option for 2012)?
This just in: The Washington Nationals' Mike MacDougal recorded a scoreless save. It came against the New York Mets on Tuesday, a day after the righty had already performed a similar miracle. Mac's uplifting encounter with interim skipper Jim Riggleman and pitching coach Steve McCatty a couple of days ago apparently did the trick. The closer appears to have been more aggressive. Good idea given his horrible lifetime control rate (4.77).
Note to desperate fantasy owners: The Tampa Bay Rays appear to favor Grant Balfour as their ROOGY for the final week. He retired righty-hitting Baltimore Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez to save one Monday; on Tuesday he finished off the O's for a second straight night by retiring Montanez and a switch hitter. He relieved Randy Choate in the latter outing.
Last night against the Boston Red Sox the Toronto Blue Jays called upon Jason Frasor with two down in the eighth. He let up a couple of baserunners in the ninth but escaped with the 8-7 lead intact to notch his 11th save. He's still the lead commodity in Canada, now and perhaps entering 2010. Don't be married to him, though.
David Aardsma (neck) still needs work, so on Tuesday he received his first since this past Thursday when the Seattle Mariners carried a four-run lead into the final inning. He gave up two runs (one earned) on a hit and a free pass, with one K. What could you get for him this offseason?
Joakim Soria wasn't available to the Kansas City Royals last night because of his 46-pitch outing Sunday. Thus, the Monarchs turned to Kyle Farnsworth at Yankee Stadium with a one-run lead in the final frame. New York Yankees fans have long memories and were no doubt thrilled to see the move. Farnsworth's tough time with a couple of balls hit right back to him did him in. He gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of a stanza.
The Florida Marlins' Leo Nunez rebounded from his rocky blown save and loss Friday with a scoreless save against the Atlanta Braves last night.
Dangerous duel: Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan gave the Detroit Tigers a glimmer of hope by giving up a run (solo homer) before he shut the door to pull the Twins with in a game of Detroit in the Central. Fernando Rodney teased Minnesota in similar fashion (one run allowed) before pushing the Tigs' lead back to two games.
The Chicago Cubs have shut down Kevin Gregg (ribcage) for the final few days. They're unlikely to re-sign him, so Cubbies fans will happily bid him adieu. He could compete for a closer's job in 2010, depending on where he ends up.
Last night ultimate LOOGY Pedro Feliciano tied himself (2008 version) for the New York Mets' record for appearances by a pitcher with his 86th.