Chasing Saves

Chasing Saves

To pay or not to pay, that is the question. Should you pay for saves on draft day? It may be the biggest argument in the fantasy baseball world.

On the one hand, those who oppose paying argue that every year almost 30% of the closers who finish the season don’t hold that position on opening day. You can always pick one of those new closers during the season so there’s no need to pay for closers during the draft. 

On the other hand, those who advocate paying argue that the closers who get replaced during the season are (excluding injury) most of the time marginal ones. If you want security you better get at least one elite closer, or preferably two, who you can count on to get you not just saves, but good era, whip and in some cases even k’s.

As for getting new closers during the season that’s a risky business. First of all, you are not the only one who’s going to jump on a new closer and there is no guarantee you will beat the other league members to get him. Then there is the risk that the new closer doesn’t hold that position for long. Look what happened with the Red Sox or the Brewers closers this season. Finally, the new closer may get you saves but hurt your era and whip.

One strategy to avoid paying for closers is to draft middle relievers who have a good chance of taking over the position during the season. However as the 411 teaches us: The Road to Fifth Place is Littered With Closers of the Future.

The previous week

I have done very little streaming last week as my pace exceeded my innings limit. I got Miguel Gonzalez who pitched against the Yankees on Friday. He allowed just one run in six ip and got four k’s, but no decision as the Orioles closer blew the save.

I have two middle relievers on my roster. I picked Steve Delbar on July 2^nd but he hasn’t pitched since. Drew Smyly had a nice week with 5 k’s in three ip with 0 era and 0.33 whip.

J.J. Putz came back from the dl last weekend, but didn’t have any saves yet. He actually blew his first save chance and didn’t get another one. I’m still counting on Heath Bell to pitch bad and lose the closer role.

Another closer back from the dl, Rafael Betancourt, faired a little better. He pitched 2 innings. A perfect one where he got the win, and another one where he gave a solo hr.

One of my offense week points is sb so I picked up Rajai Davis on July 1^st and of course he didn’t have a sb since while batting below 0.200. Another player whom I picked for sb is Ben Revere. He didn’t have any last week, but at least he’s keeping a high batting average.

 On another week point, Catchers, I had a little more success after picking Wilson Ramos who had a nice game on Friday with three rbi’s and a run while going 2 for 4.