Advice for Fantasy BB draft -

SidePocket · March 25, 2009 3:41PM

I suck every year in FBB when it comes to relievers. I never draft more than one solid guy, and I'm always last in saves.

Tell me the top five for this year, and a couple dark horses. From what I can tell there are probably ten teams out there that I couldn't even tell you who their closer will be.

Please advise -

IchiroDeported · March 25, 2009 10:35PM

i dont waste a pick on a reliever until every starting hitting slot is full and i have a 2 top line starters. each year about a dozen "closers" lose their jobs and there is always someone new to pickup.

EAsports · March 25, 2009 10:40PM

You can also do well with strong setup guys. Jonathon Broxton was pretty good for me for a couple of years.

lsutigers1973 · March 25, 2009 10:41PM

Remember Jason Motte. I got him last night in our CU draft with about the 250th pick. If he isn't an opening day closer, he will be a strong setup man and will be the closer within a month.

jeffcbay · March 25, 2009 10:45PM

One thing NOT to do is let it auto-draft.

mtcards · March 26, 2009 12:43AM

I play in a 10 team NL Only auction style draft. I drafted one closer cheap (Kevin Gregg) and then used free agents and strong middle relievers and came in 2nd in Saves last year.

I can only tell you NL, but guys on bad teams like Hanrahan for the Nats and Lindstrom will be drafted late, but are decent for saves and K's. Dont waste top picks on top relievers. Good teams sometimes do not use their reliever as much due to blow out games, so dont waste higher picks or extra money for good teams relievers. Other decent prospects might be Kevin Gregg again if Marmol blows up, any Arizona setup man, Colorado (Street/Corpas).

Depends on your league rules, if you have non-active subs or not, but if you can pick up some of the "next to close" guys, you can use your higher picks on better hitting/starting pitching.

Beardown · March 26, 2009 3:09AM

Here is a list I used over the weekend for my drafts that I found on the web and liked:
Red Sox - Jonathan Papelbon (4). No problems here, Manny comments notwithstanding.
Mets - Francisco Rodriguez (5).
Twins - Joe Nathan (6). He pulled out of the WBC with a shoulder issue, but seems fine now.
Yankees - Mariano Rivera (6). He should make his first spring appearance tomorrow. He had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in October.
Phillies - Brad Lidge (6). Seems to have gotten past his forearm tightness.
Royals - Joakim Soria (8).
White Sox - Bobby Jenks (9).
Dodgers - Jonathan Broxton (10).
Cubs - Carlos Marmol (10), Kevin Gregg (17). Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald believes Gregg is the frontrunner. Marmol blew a save in the WBC. Personally I am going to stay away from this situation in drafts.
Astros - Jose Valverde (10).
Blue Jays - B.J. Ryan (10).
Indians - Kerry Wood (11). He's looking good following an early spring back ailment.
Angels - Brian Fuentes (11).
Reds - Francisco Cordero (11). Had September ankle surgery and hasn't looked good this spring.
Pirates - Matt Capps (13).
Giants - Brian Wilson (13).
Rockies - Huston Street (14), Manny Corpas (undrafted). Clint Hurdle said Saturday nobody has an edge. Drafting Corpas for a bench spot couldn't hurt.
Braves - Mike Gonzalez (14). The undrafted Rafael Soriano seems healthy for now, so tie him to Gonzalez if possible.
Brewers - Trevor Hoffman (14).
Padres - Heath Bell (15).
Diamondbacks - Chad Qualls (15).
Nationals - Joel Hanrahan (16). I like to dive in around the Bell/Qualls/Hanrahan range.
Marlins - Matt Lindstrom (16). Lindstrom is having an MRI on his tight shoulder after being pulled from a WBC game. Possible setup man Scott Proctor is trying to overcome elbow woes. I'm thinking Leo Nunez is third in line. UPDATE: Lindstrom has a rotator cuff strain and will not throw for 7-10 days.
Rangers - Frank Francisco (16). Nice sleeper pick.
Rays - Troy Percival (16). The Rays' bullpen is not a good fantasy situation, with Jason Isringhausen, Grant Balfour, and Dan Wheeler lingering if Percival has issues.
Athletics - Joey Devine (17), Brad Ziegler (17). Devine is recovering from elbow pain, while Ziegler is pitching in the WBC.
Orioles - George Sherrill (17). Sherrill is to be the primary closer, but Chris Ray might get some opps.
Cardinals - Chris Perez (17), Jason Motte (undrafted), Ryan Franklin (undrafted). There are signs Tony La Russa might prefer Franklin's experience over the youngsters' skills.
Tigers - Brandon Lyon (18). Fernando Rodney (17) is getting more love in Yahoo leagues, but Lyon owns the job.
Mariners - Mark Lowe (undrafted), David Aardsma (undrafted), Miguel Batista (undrafted), Tyler Walker (undrafted), Chad Cordero (undrafted). If Cordero is healthy and effective in May or June he will probably have a good shot at closing. In a recent MLB Network spot, GM Jack Zduriencik mentioned Lowe and Aardsma by name. Aardsma has the best Spring Training numbers so we'll call him the favorite

lanemyer85 · March 26, 2009 3:29AM

Unless an "elite" guy like Papelbon, Nathan or K-Rod slip a round wait until like the 8th round and take Soria, then follow him up in the 10th-11th with a Valverde or Broxton type but if closers go quick/early wait until the 15th-ish for Frank Francisco or Joey Devine. Then stash Chris Ray as your 3rd closer in the late rounds as when he shows he can pitch in back2back games he'll take over for the mediocre George Sherrill. You know at least 10 closers will lose their jobs due to poor perfomance or injury so no sense in overpaying if you don't have to. Stay active on the wire.

Darin · March 26, 2009 3:45AM

The Mexicutioner, Joakim Soria.

I think he had about 40 saves last year, and the Royals should win more games this year, so he would be a good pick.

lanemyer85 · March 26, 2009 5:23AM

yep 42 saves last year but just as importantly a 1.60 ERA, .86 WHIP and nearly a K per IP...meaning he contributes highly in 4 out of the 5 main P categories.

IchiroDeported · March 26, 2009 8:30AM

in head 2 head leagues with 5X5 or more stats. having a reliever rack up saves loses significant value. its better to get middle relievers who rack up good numbers and high K's.

gumbyfan · March 26, 2009 8:33AM

<< <i>The Mexicutioner, Joakim Soria.

I think he had about 40 saves last year, and the Royals should win more games this year, so he would be a good pick. >>

I hope he gets 70 saves this year.

My $20 action on the Royals to win the World Series (pays 30/1) has nothing to do with that hope.

bengineno9 · March 26, 2009 10:22AM

Remember Jason Motte. I got him last night in our CU draft with about the 250th pick. If he isn't an opening day closer, he will be a strong setup man and will be the closer within a month.

I was big on this guy last September.

Darin · March 26, 2009 12:43PM

<< <i>

<< <i>The Mexicutioner, Joakim Soria.

I think he had about 40 saves last year, and the Royals should win more games this year, so he would be a good pick. >>

I hope he gets 70 saves this year.

My $20 action on the Royals to win the World Series (pays 30/1) has nothing to do with that hope.

>>

Gumby, you're brave. I'm a Royals fan and I only would have bet on them to win the division, not the Series.

But it seems like you should have gotten better odds. I know an online site that currently has them 80/1 to win the world series, down from100/1 a few weeks ago.

SidePocket · March 26, 2009 1:05PM

You guys are good. Thanks for the info!

Jeff85fan · March 26, 2009 2:51PM

It all depends on how your league is scored, and, to be honest, paying for saves is usually a bad idea. The closer is the most fluid position in all of baseball, and there are always saves available for free on the waiver wire. Even a top flight guy like Papelbon isn't worth the pick you'll have to spend to get him.

Instead, spend those picks on more depth that will give your team more flexibility and also more trade bait when the injuries start happening (and they will). You'll be sitting pretty picking up closers off the scrap pile while you turn your excess players into better ones.

Advice for Fantasy BB draft -

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