Carlos Marmol

[rjforlife]

After last nights 3 K in his 1 inning of work, Carlos Marmol has a stat line that looks like this:


44 K in 30 IP, 1.50 ERA, .67 Whip, 2 Saves and 1 Win.


I guess my question is about how valuable is this guy in a standard 5x5 league starting...say 9 pitchers? Ranked as the 8th best pitcher and 37th overall by Yahoo, its hard to gauge how much he brings to the table in a standard roto league. He is clearly not the 8th best pitcher, even if he were to continue his dominance, which all signs point to happening. But is it more practical to start him over a mediocre closer in order to reduce Whip/Era and add nice K's, but sacrificing a relievers most helpful stat, saves? Also just wanted some general talk on the guy because he has absolutely filthy stuff and doesnt get much mention on these boards.

[A Fleshner Fantasy]

I actually just parted ways with him as part of a huge deal that brought me Utley. I was really sad to see him go, but as you can imagine, his stat line makes him a great trading piece.

[Eagle Baseball]

I have him in a H2H league with 4 SP and 3 RP with 0 P. I think he is much more valuable in this setting than a 2 SP, 2 RP and 3 P setup. I have had some offers for him but in a 12 team league I don't think there are 36 RP's to go around so guys like Marmol, Shield etc are roster worthy.

I may look to move him when Smoltz becomes a RP.

[rowe33]

I just subbed him into my 9P 5x5 roto league lineup. I'd rather have him in there than one of my underperforming starters (Derek Lowe, I'm looking at you...)

[Ursa]

Kinda obvious but he's pure gold in a holds league.

[The Artful Dodger]

Even in a non-holds league, I'd start Marmol everyday over a closer that has a relatively low K rate and/or does damage to your other ratios (i.e. Borowski). I'd say it's more helpful to have Marmol in H2H than it is in roto, but if you're building your pitching with a tilt towards your bullpen, Marmol can be every bit as valuable especially if you want to concentrate more on the ERA/WHIP games.

[activechamp2006]

Marmol is pure gold in just about any format. He may not keep up this pace the entire season, but I view Marmol like Scott Shiels of 2005. One of the best non closer relievers you can have on a team. He's going to pick up wins, saves and help your era and whip. He is the kind of guy that keeps your team ratios low.

[BigZ38]

And Soriano just blew a save for him

[chipper]

I have him in a H2H league with 4 SP and 3 RP with 0 P. I think he is much more valuable in this setting than a 2 SP, 2 RP and 3 P setup.

Not sure I understand that? Can you elaborate. I would think the opposite.
With the 3P spots, you can still start every closer you have and start Marmol, whereas in a 3RP no P league, you would be sacrificing a reliever who can get you saves by starting Marmol.

I may look to move him when Smoltz becomes a RP.

Also don't get this.
I would use a SP spot for Smoltz, and use guys that are only RP eligible in my RP spots

[kingmike74]

Here is how I see it.

An average closer helps you in 4 cats

Marmol in 3 cats but Marmol is so much better in ERA, WHIP and K's than most closers, I think unless you are dead last in saves, riding him and 2 good closers is a great idea in a 9 P 5x5 format.

I own Capps, Krod and Marmol and thank God Francisco is racking up the saves. It allows me to keep Marmol. But say I owned Capps and F Cordero, I could never afford to keep Marmol.

I just wonder if I am not making a mistake by not picking up Torres and dropping Marmol.