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by **SIERK** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:01 pm

I'm hoping to gather a consensus closer cheatsheet. Obviously, there are differing opinions, but I'm hoping for a close consensus for everyone's reference.

As a starting point, I used swarmee's player rankings. I only included guys completing for closer positions, or next in line if an injury risk closer goes down. Any comments are appreciated.

1. Eric Gagne
2. Billy Wagner
3. John Smoltz
4. Keith Foulke
5. Mariano Rivera
6. Octavio Dotel
7. Jason Isringhausen
8. Joe Borowski
9. Troy Percival
10. Matt Mantei
11. Fransico Cordero
12. Trevor Hoffman
13. Eddie Guardado
14. Arthur Rhodes
15. Armando Benitez
16. Jorge Julio
17. Branden Looper
18. Ugueth Urbina
19. Danny Kolb
20. Shawn Chacon
21. Danys Baez
22. Mike MacDougal
23. Joe Nathan
24. Rocky Biddle
25. Justin Speier
26. Brad Lidge
27. Francisco Rodriguez
28. Rod Beck
29. Luis Ayala
30. Billy Koch
31. Danny Graves
32. Aquilino Lopez
33. Ryan Wagner
34. Jose Jimenez
35. David Riske
36. Jose Mesa
37. Matt Herges
38. Danny Graves
39. Rob Nen

------
Edit: Changed several positions based on comments
For reference, below is the original list.

1. Eric Gagne
2. John Smoltz
3. Keith Foulke
4. Billy Wagner
5. Mariano Rivera
6. Octavio Dotel
7. Troy Percival
8. Jason Isringhausen
9. Joe Borowski
10. Trevor Hoffman
11. Matt Mantei
12. Jorge Julio
13. Fransico Cordero
14. Eddie Guardado
15. Arthur Rhodes
16. Armando Benitez
17. Branden Looper
18. Ugueth Urbina
19. Danny Kolb
20. Shawn Chacon
21. Danys Baez
22. Mike MacDougal
23. Joe Nathan
24. Rocky Biddle
25. Aquilino Lopez
26. Brad Lidge
27. Francisco Rodriguez
28. Rod Beck
29. Luis Ayala
30. Billy Koch
31. Danny Graves
32. Ryan Wagner
33. Jose Jimenez
24. David Riske
35. Jose Mesa
36. Matt Herges
37. Danny Graves
38. Rob Nen

by **Guest** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:14 pm

Just a few notes.....as compared to my list:

1. I would move Smoltz down a few notches, just because of injury potential. My 2-3-4 were Wagner, Smoltz, Foulke, with serious thought of Foulke before Smoltz

2. For similar reasons, I would move Percival down 2-3 spots, and Hoffman down 3-4 spots.

3. I like Rhodes and Benitez better than Jorge Julio. Yes, they both have some concerns, but I believe are still lesser sins (and have better WOW STUFF that J.J.) And for that matter, I like F-Cord better than Julio too.

Good distribution of closers-in-waiting versus actual talent, and putting Nen near undraftable (at this point anywho) is wise.

When ranking closers, its tough to balance guys w/ jobs, versus better quality pitchers (the biddle versus ayala, or Koch versus Marte, or Wagner vs. Graves controversy). But I always try to get the better pitcher, even if he might not be the closer. I'd rather have a setup guy who MAY get the job, than Rocky Freaking Biddle, who (possibly) might keep the job, but mess w/ an otherwise solid ERA and WHIP.

My .02

by **stumpak** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:26 pm

Yeah, I would drop Julio down about 20 spots--poor WHIP and ERA, not alot or Ks for a closer and a crappy team. I am still not convinced he will successfully hold on to his job the whole season. He has really good WHIP and ERA numbers in 2002, but if you look at last year and his crappy minor league numbers, this is pretty clearly an abberration. Buyer beware with him.

I would also bump up Benitez. Marlins will win at least 90 games, and Pro Player is a great pitchers park. He always does quite nicely in Ks and good enough in WHIP and ERA. In real life he is completely unreliable and a head case, but Florida has no other option and he pretty damn good as far as fantasy is concerned.

by **SIERK** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 8:42 pm

Bumped because of the edits

by **BitterDodgerFan** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 9:07 pm

isnt it Speire for Toronto not Lopez?

by **SIERK** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 9:57 pm

Thanks, I put Speier in there and dropped Lopez some slots.

by **Big Blue** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 11:54 pm

I would bump up every day Eddie a couple of spots good team, great park

by **Vikes24** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:13 am

Big Blue wrote:I would bump up every day Eddie a couple of spots good team, great park

I agree- top ten for sure. Especially ahead of Borowski, Julio and Mantei. I also think that Nathan and Baez should be ahead of Chacon, Looper and Urbina.

by **MashinSpuds** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:01 am

How the heck is Nen dead last while Rod "ain't no closer no mo" Beck and Luis Ayala rank ahead of him? Regardless of risk, Nen's definitely above them somewhere. Same with Mesa... a closer is a closer until proven uncloser.

Anyways, good top of the order.

by **Pedantic** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:03 am

Koch over Graves? S***, I know Graves was bad starting, but before that he was a good closer. Koch should be at the bottom of that list, IMO.

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