And that’s why over reaching for a top tier closer is silly. They only really give you one category. Doesn’t really matter how good their ERA and WHIP totals are either - a RP only gives you like 3 or 4 innings, they don’t really factor that much into your total ERA and WHIP at the end of the week anyway.
Why not use the pick to secure a good hitter (AVG, HR, R, RBI, SB) or a good starter (W, K, ERA, WHIP)?
Coming in last place in saves…is not really that big of a deal. Especially in head-to-head.
The only place where top notch closers are more overrated than in fantasy baseball…is real baseball. $12 million a year for 70 innings…and not even necessarily all in high leverage situations either (ie. bring in your closer in the 9th inning with 3 run lead versus bringing in random bullpen scrub in the 6th inning with a 1 run lead and bases loaded).
BJ Ryan, Wagner, Lidge, Nathan…a lot of risk in drafting top tier closers early.
It’s wrong to reach for anyone. The question is when is taking someone considered a reach. I’d rather have a top-tier closer (2 preferably) over a pretty good hitter or starting pitcher. People say closers are volatile but so is starting pitching. The reward is greater if it pans out (sometimes) but so is the risk.
That’s what I somewhat disagree with. If a SP risk works out, the reward is that you get help in four categories (W, K, ERA, WHIP). If a closer (who is inherently more risky) works out, the reward is…saves, one category.
That’s not entirely true. While an elite closer’s counting stats don’t count for much the low ERA and WHIP does have an impact. Looking at the Baseball Monster player rankings the best closer can do some good things for the WHIP and ERA. Not as much as starters mind you but they’re more than just 1 category guys.
Also like I said before more importantly than the stats is the the piece of mind that you (hopefully) get from knowing that you’re good in the saves area and the closer position. If you’re punting saves obviously you’re not worried about that but if you’re competing in that cat it’s draining to play the closer game on the waiver wire. I’m not saying it’s the only way to win but I don’t think saying to heck with the closer position is always the best idea either.
Define “over-reaching”. I don’t think that picking up a guy in the sixth round that’s going to give you 70 innings of 2.50 ERA ball with 35 saves is over-reaching. And for all the complaining about “oh, the closer could get hurt”…that’s such bullshit. The “elite” closers are no more high-risk than anybody else is. That would be like Chase Utley getting hurt and me rushing on to say “yeah, take THAT you ‘positional scarcity’ dildoes.”
That said, if you don’t think that coming in last in a cat is a big deal, you’ve just plain never played fantasy baseball with anybody who knows what they’re doing.
Adam Jones, George Sherill, Chris tillman, Tony Butler, Kam Mickolio
Sherill turned into Josh Bell and Steve Johnson from LA.
Adam Jones - CF now, Josh Bell - 3B of the future, Tillman - SP now, potential #1, likely #2, Mickolio - useful RP, Tony Butler - injured forever most likely, Johnson - potential useful arm.
Also, congratulations on having a shit-tier team in the shit-tier NFC West. Hopefully the Seachickens can bad their way into the Super Bowl again only to get raped.
Maple Bacon Donuts > the talent level of the Mariners and Seachickens combined. Search your heart, you know this to be true.
I am on the Oden bandwagon for another year and if he fails I will wait for him to star in porn.
