BB51 Rankings: RP

[BronXBombers51]

**These rankings have since been updated. Please see lower page 1 for these current rankings. Thank you.**

[cordscords]

Here is the final post to my set of rankings. Closers and relief pitchers this time.

Relief Pitchers:
Tier 1:
-Mariano Rivera

Tier 2:
-Brad Lidge
-Eric Gagne, too high right now
-Billy Wagner

Tier 3:
-Chad Cordero, tier 2
-Francisco Rodriguez, tier 2
-Joe Nathan, tier 2
-BJ Ryan
-Huston Street

Tier 4:
-Jason Isringhausen
-Trevor Hoffman
-Derek Turnbow
-Eddie Guardado
-Bobby Jenks
-Francisco Cordero
-Bob Wickman

Tier 5:
-Armando Benitez
-Brian Fuentes
-Danys Baez
-Todd Jones
-Tom Gordon
-Kieth Foulke

Tier 6:
-Ryan Dempster
-Chris Ray
-Dave Weathers
-Jose Valverde
-Mike MacDougal
-Mike Gonzalez, below guys like macdougal and weathers?

Tier 7:
-Dustin Hermanson
-Ugueth Urbina
-Mike Timlin
-Troy Percival
-Chris Reitsma

Tier 8:
-Justin Duchscherer
-Kyle Farnsworth
-Dan Wheeler
-Bobby Howry
-Guillermo Mota
-Octavio Dotel
-Salmon Torres
-Scot Shields
-Roberto Hernandez
-Miguel Batista
-Aaron Heilman

Comments/opinions?

Made a couple of comments, still looks pretty solid.

[chris8]

Nice starting point

My thoughts:

K-Rod & Nathan up to tier 2
Izzy up to tier 3 (with Chad Cordero, Ryan & Street)
Gonzalez & Valverde up to tier 5
I wouldn't even have Urbina on the list, given his current situation
Be prepared to move Dotel up once we know where he's going
Shields should be tier 7 (or maybe even tier 6 - best set-up guy IMO)
Linebrink & Politte should be in there (either Tier 7 or 8)

[raiders_umpire]

Your list looks fairly good to me, but 2 guys I noticed that you left out that should be mentioned especially if you are in deeper leagues. Joey Devine and Chad Orvella

[PlayingWithFire]

Here is the final post to my set of rankings. Closers and relief pitchers this time.

Relief Pitchers:
Tier 1:
-Mariano Rivera

Tier 2:
-Brad Lidge
-Eric Gagne(too many ???)
-Billy Wagner

Tier 3:
-Chad Cordero
-Francisco Rodriguez(tier 2)
-Joe Nathan(tier 2, he's dominating)
-BJ Ryan
-Huston Street(tier 2)

Tier 4:
-Jason Isringhausen
-Trevor Hoffman
-Derek Turnbow
-Eddie Guardado
-Bobby Jenks(tier 5, we don't even know who the closer is)
-Francisco Cordero
-Bob Wickman

Tier 5:
-Armando Benitez(tier 4)
-Brian Fuentes(wait, Mesa? or him?) if it's him, then tier 4
-Danys Baez
-Todd Jones
-Tom Gordon
-Kieth Foulke

Tier 6:
-Ryan Dempster
-Chris Ray
-Dave Weathers
-Jose Valverde
-Mike MacDougal
-Mike Gonzalez

Tier 7:
-Dustin Hermanson
-Ugueth Urbina
-Mike Timlin
-Troy Percival
-Chris Reitsma

Tier 8:
-Justin Duchscherer
-Kyle Farnsworth
-Dan Wheeler
-Bobby Howry
-Guillermo Mota
-Octavio Dotel
-Salmon Torres
-Scot Shields
-Roberto Hernandez
-Miguel Batista
-Aaron Heilman

Comments/opinions?

[acapulco]

Definitely move Nathan up to tier 2: 40+ saves last 2 yrs, great K/BB ratio, etc. Actually did better last year than year before.

Gagne iffy: move him down from tier 2.

Benitez, if he's healthy and closing for the Giants, ought to be at least tier 4, if not higher.

Hoffman and Isringhausen up to tier 3. They don't belong with guys like Turnbow, Jenks, Guardado, and Wickman (had the yr of his life).

[The_Met_Threat]

All i ask is you move K-Rod and Nathan up to tier 2, and Gagne to tier 3.

[cordscords]

I think Jesse Crain should also be added somewhere near the bottom of the list.

[davidmarver]

Jose Valverde is far, far too low. Here's his second half from last season:
32 games, 2-1, 14 saves, 36.1 innings, 42 K, 1.24 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, .161 BAA.

Wickman is too high...I have him below Todd Jones.

Scott Linebrink could be added at the bottom.

[Another Blown Save]

I would add Travis Bowyer to that list, since he probably will be closing for the Marlins.