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Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat

July 30, 2009 @ 01:00:01

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Bryce McRae

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)

Pittsburgh Pirates

Closer: Matt Capps

Next in line: Joel Hanrahan

Other possibilities: Jesse Chavez

In a battle that was scoreless through nine stages, Capps entered the bottom of the 10th against the San Francisco Giants and allowed a leadoff single to left fielder Eugenio Velez. The speedster advanced on a sac bunt and later scored on a base hit to right. Loser, Capps. He fell to 2-6, with 20 saves in 22 chances; he has a 6.15 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP in 33 2/3 innings.

Such an outing underscores the frustration fantasy owners have felt while owning Capps this year. It has been suggested that this is just normalization for an average fella who had exceeded the standards of a Bucs closer in the past two seasons.

That's an unfair assessment. Although he missed much of the second half of 2008 with a shoulder injury, there was plenty of reason to believe he was past it. And Capps is, at his core, a very good pitcher. He has just forgotten what made him one.

This year the right-hander, 25, hit Spring Training a few pounds lighter and, apparently, stronger, which he believed resulted in increased velocity on his fastball. Although observers supposed the difference was minimal this spring, depending on the metrics you cite, the gun reading on his average heater is the highest it has ever been.

Capps believed he was throwing harder then, and he's rearing back now. Unfortunately, it appears that whatever marginal boost he has gained on his hummer has been offset by (1) exponential growth on the rate of his changeup and (2) a monumental sacrifice of command.

The Steel City's steely-eyed closer isn't in any danger of losing his job, at least this year. He might do himself and his organization a favor and dial it back a bit, though.

There is no immediately obvious choice for "Next in line" with John Grabow packing his bags for Chicago. It'd be logical for the Pirates to allow Hanrahan to set up; he has been fairly effective (three earned runs allowed in 10 innings) since he joined the organization.

Job Security score: 5

Health score: 3

Baltimore Orioles

Closer: Jim Johnson

Next in line: Danys Baez

Other possibilities: Cla Meredith

Disabled list: Chris Ray

Last night, Johnson pitched two shutout frames (one hit, four K's) to notch his second save in starting pitcher Chris Tillman's mildly disappointing debut. George Sherrill didn't lose the job nor had he been traded - yet.

Johnson came on in the eighth with a two-run lead; the O's tacked on two more in the bottom of the frame. B-more had no need for their then-southpaw save artist, who had warmed up twice in the contest.

Of course, today Sherrill is a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Speculators who hadn't already stashed Johnson become scramblers for his services today. He's easily the most worthy target by the Inner Harbor.

Ray (biceps) is scheduled to pitch Friday and may come off the disabled list relatively soon. Manager Dave Trembley reported that Ray hasn't experienced any pain in his arm, and his velocity has been satisfactory. Fantasy owners shouldn't expect Ray to matter until next spring, at least, though.

Mound meetings

In the evening prior's overtime parrying duel between ninth-inning noblemen, Brian Wilson pitched a perfect top of the 10th to claim the San Francisco Giants' victory in the bout with Capps. The conqueror fanned a pair - two cuts if you will - en route. Touche.
The Boston Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon told the press that he has gone to the gas less and less in the course of the past four years, and he believes hitters have begun to adjust. We'll have to take his word for it. He has issued a ridiculous 4.19 walks per nine frames this year. Papelbon also feels he hasn't made the proper adjustments to opponents on his somewhat faulty delivery. What's the holdup? Daniel Bard isn't having such issues.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus came up with a broken-bat, opposite-field RBI base hit against Jonathan Broxton to spoil eight innings of Clayton Kershaw mastery last night. The Los Angeles Dodgers' closer blew his first save in 12 chances, although he has been shaky this month (5.40 ERA, six walks in 10 innings). A two-out single and a wild pitch put the tying run in position. The stretch and a sore toe are going to test J-Brox's mettle, to be sure.
As mentioned, George Sherrill will sport Dodger Blue for the rest of the year and is expected to serve as Broxton's setup man, backup closer, accountant and masseuse. OK, the last two roles remain unconfirmed, but Sherrill's real-life value isn't to be underestimated given the final line of the previous entry. Sherrill will probably receive the occasional save opp with his new club. NL owners desperate for saves can throw a chunk his way, but Broxton owners should be ready to trump all comers.
If the Florida Marlins acquire San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell, the move would eliminate the fantasy value of Matt Lindstrom (elbow) and Leo Nunez. The Fish don't seem inclined to meet SD's arguably low price tag (Andrew Miller? Really?), but Bell is drawing interest from many other teams. Mike M. Adams has performed admirably as the Friars' setup man (10.00 strikeouts per nine, 1.50 BB/9) and would be (is?) the hurler to scoop up. Consider yourself warned.
If the Cincinnati Reds peddle Francisco Cordero, the logical heirs are David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes and Nick Masset. Don't forget the name Josh Roenicke, though. He has mid-90s gas and solid command and has spent some quality time nailing down games in the minors. Oh, and did we mention that other clubs are nibbling on Weathers and Rhodes, too?
Chalk up another shaky save for Andrew Bailey of the Oakland Athletics. The righty struck out two but allowed three hits and an earned run to the Boston Red Sox in the ninth. The inexperienced Bailey has a ways to go before he's deemed reliable.
Incidentally, Dodgers righty Guillermo Mota's scoreless innings streak is up to 20 1/3 innings, likely in part thanks to James Loney's alert appeal. The first baseman noticed that Cardinals infielder Joe Thurston missed first base on his way to a double. It won't be long before Torre is overusing Mota, anyway.
In a rehab outing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Tuesday, New York Yankees reliever Damaso Marte (shoulder) topped out in the high 80s. He had been sitting in the low 90s prior to that. Marte was scheduled to pitch two innings but gave up two homers and lasted a mere 1 2/3 innings.
After feeling a recurrence of soreness in his shoulder, Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya (shoulder) was scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews Thursday. Yikes.