MR Strategy revisited after one month.

[bleach168]

Here are 10 highly touted MRs going into this year,

Otsuka - dud
Gonzalez - dud
Rincon - stud (but with roid suspension may quickly turn into dud)
Shields - stud
Linebrink - dud
Donnelly - dud (but has been good lately, may be a stud soon)
Ayala - dud
Calero - stud
Urbina - dud
Gordon - dud

7 out of 10 of the best MRs are duds. Sure, if you take the top 3 MRs at the end of this year and compare them to the Cy Young, the overall stats will look very similar. However, finding those studs in a field of duds is extremely challenging.

While I do use MRs myself, I would recommend against relying on the strategy. Make sure you draft quality SPs and only use super late picks on MRs. In leagues where roster space is at a premium, I would avoid the MR strategy altogether.

[slomo007]

Yup. This is something that both myself (and LBJ, I think it was) argued repeatedly before the drafts. You really shouldn't draft MRs at all IMO, unless you have an injury prone closer (ie Rivera) and want his backup (ie Gordon). There are guys who come out of the woodwork every year to post studlike numbers, so don't waste the draft pick. I prefer to draft a bunch of sleepers, and as the sleepers either develop or don't, start dropping them for MRs.

[stevethumb]

can we re-visit the list on july 1 ? i have great faith in a coupla those so-called duds..mgonzo for one and a few of the top MRs were conveniently left of your list..rwagner creitsma rking

[slomo007]

can we re-visit the list on july 1 ?

That's pretty much beside the point though. These guys may all rebound (and most of them will), but the truth is that you could also get guys like Kiko Calero, Justin Duchwhatever, or Brendan Donnelly off the FA list and not pay a single thing for them. Why use the draft picks? (this is, of course, assuming it's a non-holds league).

[stevethumb]

can we re-visit the list on july 1 ?

That's pretty much beside the point though. These guys may all rebound (and most of them will), but the truth is that you could also get guys like Kiko Calero, Justin Duchwhatever, or Brendan Donnelly off the FA list and not pay a single thing for them. Why use the draft picks? (this is, of course, assuming it's a non-holds league).

good point

[bleach168]

can we re-visit the list on july 1 ? i have great faith in a coupla those so-called duds..mgonzo for one and a few of the top MRs were conveniently left of your list..rwagner creitsma rking

Wagner, Reitsma, and King were left off the list because no one (that I noticed) touted them preseason.

[Shock6822]

can we re-visit the list on july 1 ?

That's pretty much beside the point though. These guys may all rebound (and most of them will), but the truth is that you could also get guys like Kiko Calero, Justin Duchwhatever, or Brendan Donnelly off the FA list and not pay a single thing for them. Why use the draft picks? (this is, of course, assuming it's a non-holds league).

Exactly what I think. MR strat is fine, but don't use many draft picks on them.

[Box]

I used a late round pick on Flash. Partially as backup for Rivera, partially because he was THE setup guy last year. Little did I know he'd completely roll over and die.

General consensus here is right, don't waste draft picks on MR.

[Darkie Satchels]

can we re-visit the list on july 1 ?

That's pretty much beside the point though. These guys may all rebound (and most of them will), but the truth is that you could also get guys like Kiko Calero, Justin Duchwhatever, or Brendan Donnelly off the FA list and not pay a single thing for them. Why use the draft picks? (this is, of course, assuming it's a non-holds league).

I swear: if Otsuka doesn't get his act together I will personally tear his green card and show him off the pitching mound. He's killin' me but I refuse to drop him b/c he was part of a trade. (admittance of fault in my league is instant flame)

[NY Yankees Fan 2004]

I didnt draft a single MR pitcher. Someone dropped Rincon so I picked him up. I also picked up Gonzo. He went undrafted.