Sleeper of the Week

Bad news for Mariners fans and fantasy owners alike: reliable closer Eddie Guardado, who had posted a 2.78 ERA and a WHIP of 0.99 in compiling 18 saves this year before being stopped by shoulder trouble, will require surgery, sidelining him for at least eight months, and perhaps the entire 2005 season.

With Everyday Eddie on the shelf and Rafael Soriano scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery, Seattle manager Bob Melvin had indicated he would use a committee approach in late-inning situations. However, in the team’s last two wins, JJ Putz has received the call. On August 7, he shut down Tampa Bay to earn his first career save. Three days later, he gave up a solo homer to Minnesota’s Torii Hunter, but held on to nail down the Mariners’ 4-3 win over the Twins. So far, so good…

Putz’s numbers - 5.44 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, .283 BAA, 36/23 K/BB ratio in 49.2 IP - may not seem like typical closer material. His minor league performance, too, can be described as solid but unspectacular, although his stats showed a marked improvement after he became a reliever in 2003 (2.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 7.22 H/9 at AAA Tacoma). In any case, it seems as if he has the inside track on the closer’s job, and that’s what counts.

If you’re looking for saves for your stretch drive, pick up JJ Putz to bolster your bullpen. Be sure to keep an eye on Shigetoshi Hasegawa as well, however, in case Putz stumbles.