2012 CLOSERS THREAD (1ST HALF)

[Havok1517]

Rock Solid
Solid
Safe
Shaky
Volatile
Current Closer
Sleeper
Top Closer Prospect
Destined for Rotation
Trade Candidate
Looking over his shoulder
Injured/Disabled

Note: The purpose of this thread is to denote job security and identify an alternate closer when the regular closer cannot close.

AL EAST
BALTIMORE ORIOLES – J. Johnson RHP , K. Gregg RHP, P. Strop RHP, M. Price RHP
BOSTON RED SOX – A. Bailey RHP , A. Aceves RHP , D. Bard RHP , A. Wilson RHP
NEW YORK YANKEES – R. Soriano RHP , D. Robertson RHP , B. Logan LHP, Ma. Montgomery RHP
TAMPA BAY RAYS – F. Rodney RHP , K. Farnsworth RHP, J. Peralta RHP, J. McGee LHP
TORONTO BLUE JAYS – S. Santos RHP , C. Janssen RHP , F. Cordero RHP, M. Stroman RHP

AL CENTRAL
CLEVELAND INDIANS – C. Perez RHP , V. Pastano RHP, T. Sipp LHP, A. Adams RHP
CHICAGO WHITE SOX – A. Reed RHP , M. Thornton LHP , H. Santiago LHP, J. Petricka RHP
DETROIT TIGERS – J. Valverde RHP , J. Benoit RHP, B. Villarreal RHP, D. Schlereth LHP
KANSAS CITY ROYALS – J. Broxton RHP , A. Crow RHP , G. Holland RHP , K. Herrera RHP
MINNESOTA TWINS – M. Capps RHP , G. Perkins LHP, J. Burton RHP, H. Boyd RHP

AL WEST
LOS ANGELES ANGELS – E. Frieri RHP , S. Downs LHP, J. Walden RHP, D. Tillman RHP
OAKLAND ATHLETICS – R. Cook RHP , G. Balfour RHP, J. Noberto LHP, F. De Los Santos RHP
SEATTLE MARINERS – T. Wilhelmsen RHP , B. League RHP , C. Furbush LHP, C. Ruffin RHP
TEXAS RANGERS – J. Nathan RHP , M. Adams RHP, A. Ogando RHP , T. Sheppers RHP

NL EAST
ATLANTA BRAVES – C. Kimbrel RHP , J. Venters LHP , C. Martinez RHP, J. Graham RHP
FLORIDA MARLINS – H. Bell RHP , E. Mujica RHP, S. Cishek RHP, G. Dayton LHP
NEW YORK METS – F. Francisco RHP , B. Parnell RHP , J. Rauch RHP, M. Koch RHP
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES – J. Papelbon RHP , A. Bastardo RHP, K. Kendrick RHP, J. De Fratus RHP
WASHINGTON NATIONALS – D. Storen RHP , T. Clippard RHP , H. Rodriguez RHP, R. Perry RHP

NL CENTRAL
CHICAGO CUBS – C. Marmol RHP , J. Russell LHP, S. Camp RHP, R. Dolis RHP
CINCINNATI REDS – A. Chapman LHP , L. Ondrusek RHP, S. Marshall LHP, J. Sulbaran RHP
HOUSTON ASTROS – B. Myers RHP , B. Lyon RHP, W. Lopez RHP , J. Abreu RHP
MILWAUKEE BREWERS – J. Axford RHP , F. Rodriguez RHP , J. Veras RHP, Z. Braddock LHP
SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS – J. Motte RHP , M. Boggs RHP, F. Salas RHP, E. Sanchez RHP
PITTSBURGH PIRATES – J. Hanrahan RHP , J. Cruz RHP, E. Meek RHP, B. Morris RHP

NL WEST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS – J. Putz RHP , D. Hernandez RHP, T. Saito RHP , B. Shaw RHP
COLORADO ROCKIES – R. Betancourt RHP , R. Brothers LHP , M. Belisle RHP, E. Butler RHP
LOS ANGELES DODGERS – K. Jansen RHP , J. Guerra RHP, J. Lindblom RHP, E. Martin RHP
SAN DIEGO PADRES – H. Street RHP , D. Thayer RHP, L. Gregerson LHP, B. Boxberger RHP
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS – S. Casilla RHP , S. Romo RHP, J. Affeldt LHP, H. Hembree RHP

Reportedly Out for the Year
J. Ceda (Mia - RHP)
J. Chamberlain (NYY - RHP)
J. Devine (Oak - RHP)
R. Madson (Cin - RHP)
M. Rivera (NYY - RHP)
J. Soria (KC - RHP)
A. Vizcaino (Atl - RHP)
B. Wilson (SF - RHP)

Unsigned Relievers of Interest
M. Gonzalez (FA - LHP)
H. Kuo (FA - LHP

Possible Future Foreign Imports
Chiba Lotte Marines - Yasuhiko Yabuta (RHP)
Chunichi Dragons - Hitoki Iwase (LHP), Takuya Asao (RHP)
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks - Takahiro Mahara (RHP)
Hashin Tigers - Kyuji Fujikawa (LHP)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp - Katsuhiro Nagakawa (RHP), Kiyoshi Toyoda (RHP)
Orix Buffaloes - Daisuke Katoh (RHP)
Yakult Swallows - Hirotoshi Ishii (LHP), Chang Yong Lim (RHP)
Yokohama BayStars - Hayato Terahara (RHP)
Yomiuri Giants - Tetsuya Yamaguchi (LHP)

[Havok1517]

Article

[ensanimal]

Yay, it's back!!

[daullaz]

Thanks again for your work -- consistently one of the best closer resources every year.

I'm surprised you put Chris Perez as rock solid. His numbers last year were terrible: 5.88 K/9, 3.92 BB/9. 5.01 xFIP. I expect those kind of stats from the Pirates fifth starter, not a closer. He's one of the last closers I'd be willing to draft, and out of your shaky options, I'd be far more content with Betancourt this year.

I also have a bad feeling about Valverde, though there's no reason not to peg him as safe. The only other surprising designation to me was Hanrahan, whom I feel has done enough to warrant at least a Solid rating at this point.

Unsigned relievers of interest -- how about David Aardsma? Won't be ready to start the year, but he could be signed at any point during the season to help a struggling bullpen.

[Havok1517]

Thanks again for your work -- consistently one of the best closer resources every year.

I'm surprised you put Chris Perez as rock solid. His numbers last year were terrible: 5.88 K/9, 3.92 BB/9. 5.01 xFIP. I expect those kind of stats from the Pirates fifth starter, not a closer. He's one of the last closers I'd be willing to draft, and out of your shaky options, I'd be far more content with Betancourt this year.

I also have a bad feeling about Valverde, though there's no reason not to peg him as safe. The only other surprising designation to me was Hanrahan, whom I feel has done enough to warrant at least a Solid rating at this point.

Unsigned relievers of interest -- how about David Aardsma? Won't be ready to start the year, but he could be signed at any point during the season to help a struggling bullpen.

Keep in mind that these rankings are not really fantasy rankings and the status symbols are based on job security.

With that in mind, Perez, I believe, benefits from the fact the Indians don't really have a ton of talent behind him. Many think that Pastano could overtake him but I'm far less confident in him than Perez. On another team, I could see a lesser rating but on the Indians I don't see many threats behind him. With that in mind, I believe a Solid rating might be more accurate at this point.

I've not been a huge Valverde fan but you can't argue with his results. With Hanrahan, I'm still slightly scarred by his days in Washington and I wanna see him repeat his numbers to a certain degree before I fully endorse him.

Aardsma is a good addition.

[daullaz]

If you're a terrible closer, they find someone else, regardless of perceived talent waiting in the wings. Perez's surface stats weren't that bad last season, but the underlying stats suggest they should have been much worse. The Indians strike me as a team that thinks they can compete, and if Perez starts blowing saves (and again, I'm arguing that he's one of the most likely closers to start blowing saves), he's outta there.

[Element]

Thanks again for your work -- consistently one of the best closer resources every year.

If there is a better one I have yet to find it.

[GiantsFan14]

If you're a terrible closer, they find someone else, regardless of perceived talent waiting in the wings. Perez's surface stats weren't that bad last season, but the underlying stats suggest they should have been much worse. The Indians strike me as a team that thinks they can compete, and if Perez starts blowing saves (and again, I'm arguing that he's one of the most likely closers to start blowing saves), he's outta there.

agreed, i have less faith in him to keep his job than almost any other closer.

[Skin Blues]

I think there are fifty million reasons that Papelbon is as rock solid as anyone. Hanrahan is also solid, if not rock solid. Betancourt is solid. Best relief pitcher in baseball the past 2 years (highest K/BB, lowest SIERA) and no competition now that Street is gone. Chris Perez is realllly shaky, like everyone has said. Pestano is much better and I imagine will take over at some point.

[rotoquest]

This thread is yet another reason why the cafe is your best one stop for comprehensive fantasy info. Thanks for doing this again Havok.