We’re just under three weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about your fantasy baseball draft. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll rank the best nine (nine, of course being a magical baseball number) players at each position and get you ready for your draft.
Today we start with a position that didn’t become regularly utilized until the 1970’s – the relief pitcher. A lot of fantasy importance is based on a reliever’s ability to close out a game – thusly, you’ll see a lot of closers on this list.
9) JJ Putz (Arizona Diamondbacks) – After seldom being used as a closer from 2008-2010 for numerous teams, Putz came back in a big way in the role during his first season with the D-backs.
250 pounds of pure save
He set a career-high with 45 saves, while striking out 61 and only walking 12 batters. Batters hit .195 against the portly right-hander.
However, at 34, his innings probably won’t go up – and at 58 in 2011, they weren’t high to begin with. But at the least, Putz proved once again that he could be a dependable guy at the back of the bullpen for an up-and-coming Arizona team that surprised a lot of people in 2011 with 94 wins.
8 ) Tyler Clippard (Washington Nationals) – Clippard put up the best fantasy numbers for a non-closer last year. If your league rewards holds, then Clippard should be on your radar. He led the majors with 38 of them last year. His 88.1 innings ranked second for non-starters in the majors in 2011, and only gave up 48 hits. His 0.84 WHIP was outstanding. The guy is a horse and is dependable as they come for a reliever.
But that comes with a cost.
He’s thrown nearly 180 innings over 150 relief appearances since the start of the 2010 season. It’s possible that all that work might come back to haunt him this year.
7) Brian Wilson (San Francisco Giants) – You couldn’t turn on a television last year and not see Brian Wilson and, yes, the beard — he appeared in ads for ESPN, 2K Sports, MLB and Taco Bell (I’m probably missing a few dozen though).
A beardless Brian Wilson -- did you know there was such a thing?
However, injury problems derailed his performance on the field, as he took a few trips to the disabled list. He only threw 57 innings and struck out a paltry 54 batters. Compared to his 2009-2010 season average of 69 innings and 88 strikeouts, it’s clear he took a step back. But because those two previous campaigns were so good, you have to give Wilson the benefit of the doubt. Wilson is still only 29 – essentially the prime of his career. If he can stay healthy in 2012, we should see another big year.
But please, Brian – less advertisements this year?
6) Jonathan Papelbon (Philadelphia Phillies) – Papelbon is leaving the Boston faithful for an equally passionate fanbase in Philly where he takes on the role vacated by Ryan Madson.
Even though the saves number took a step back (averaging almost 38 saves a year from 2006-2010 while managing 31 in 2011), he struck out the most batters (87) and walked the second lowest amount (10) in his seven-year career. Maybe a change of scenery can push out a little bit more from the 31-year-old.
5) John Axford (Milwaukee Brewers) – The man with the best mustache in the land put together a great 2011 season to cement his place as one of the game’s best closers. When the Canadian was promoted from AAA-Nashville in May 2010 and supplanted Trevor Hoffman was the team’s closer, he never looked back.
Mustachioed Axford
Axford tied for second in the majors in saves last year with 46, and only blew two save opportunities. In fact, Axford brings a streak of 43 straight converted saves into 2012 – the fifth longest streak in MLB history. His 86 strikeouts were fifth among closers last year, and only gave up a respectable 59 hits in his 73.2 innings of work in 2011.
However, with Craig Counsell deciding to retire Prince Fielder signing a deal with Detroit, the Brewers lose some offense this year — it could mean less late game leads for Axford.
4) Drew Storen (Washington Nationals) – The young closer made a nice jump from his solid 2010 season to become one of the best in the league last year. Storen pitched a healthy 75.1 innings and carried a nice 1.02 WHIP on his way to 43 saves.
The back-end of Washington’s bullpen is getting a little bit crowded (with the talented Tyler Clippard and newly-acquired Brad Lidge in tow), but expect Storen to get all the opportunities once again this year.
3) Jose Valverde (Detroit Tigers) – Valverde led the majors with 49 saves in 2011. He got all Brad Lidge on us and refused to blow a single save opportunity. But with 34 walks given out last season, he probably should have. Still though, it’s a testament to his clutch play that he didn’t.
Valverde delivering a pitch
I don’t expect another season without a blown save, but I do think he has a great shot at matching or exceeding his saves total from 2011 simply because the addition of Prince Fielder. With the former Brewer teaming up with Miguel Cabrera to create the best 3-4 hitters in baseball, I simply see that offense serving up more late game leads for Valverde to take advantage of.
2) Mariano Rivera (New York Yankees) – I may take some grief for putting 42-year-old Rivera so high atop this list, but until he unequivocally proves that his body just can’t take the 162-game grind, I don’t care.
He’s pitched at least 60 innings every year since 2003. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has wisely reduced his average yearly load a bit, but Mo is still very effective. His microscopic 0.90 WHIP and 1.91 ERA led all closers last season. He only gave out eight free passes, too.
But without the carrot on the string (the all-time saves record) in front of him, does he have the motivation to have comparable stats to 2011?
1) Craig Kimbrel (Atlanta Braves) – What more can you say about this guy? As a 23-year-old, he tied for first in saves for the National League with 46. And that number was good enough to break the Major League record for saves in a season by a rookie (breaking Neftali Feliz’s 2010 campaign of 40 saves). He was a runaway NL Rookie of the Year and leader in reliever strikeouts with 127 (with a 15.4 K/9). The next closest guy? Washington’s Tyler Clippard, who notched 104 – barely within shouting distance of Kimbrel’s 2011 total.
Kimbrel
There’s a lot of good here. But there are also some causes for concern.
He led the majors in innings pitched for a closer last year with 77. Yes, he’s a young arm. But that much work for a pitcher in his formative years usually doesn’t work out very well. He also led the majors in blown saves with eight. You could either chalk this up as something he’ll reduce in 2012 (because he’s more experienced) or something that will stay the same or rise (as hitters become more comfortable facing him).
The Best of the Rest
- Neftali Feliz (Texas Rangers)
- Ryan Madson (Cincinnati Reds)
- Andrew Bailey (Boston Red Sox)
- Heath Bell (Miami Marlins)
- Joel Hanrahan (Pittsburgh Pirates)
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