Closers are the most overrated players in fantasy baseball. The good ones deliver strong contributions to one category, but generally pitch less than five innings per week.
During drafts, I usually ignore the position until the late rounds. Despite this strategy, my teams are usually very strong in the saves category. In fact, my teams have finished tied-first, second, first and first in saves over the last four seasons in my 10-team roto keeper league.
How is this possible you ask? It’s simple really. Let me run some numbers by you…
If you read this article posted back in March, you know why it’s important to keep an eye on your league’s waiver wire as save opportunities get shuffled around major league bullpens.
• Just last week, Diamondbacks’ closer Chad Qualls (who saved 24 games in 2009) was relieved of his duties after converting just 12 of his 16 save opportunities with an 8.46 ERA in 22 1/3 innings thus far.
Teammate Aaron Heilman earned the four-out save Saturday night against Detroit, but not before allowing two hits and a run to score. The 31-year-old, who has 11 saves in his eight-year career, has allowed a run in three of his last five appearances...
Continuing our 162-game journey, Fantasy Baseball Insiders Tonight got a close look at Nationals’ starter Luis Atilano on Wednesday. Who the heck is Luis Atilano, you ask? Let’s find out…
Game No. 19 – Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs
After winning his major-league debut against the Dodgers last Friday, Luis Atilano toed the rubber against the Cubs Wednesday afternoon...
Game No. 12 in our journey to score 162 games this summer featured an Alfonso Soriano spotting and an unlikely performance from a less than desirable pitcher.
Game No. 12 – Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs
Carlos Silva pitched the game of his life on Friday against the Astros, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and zero walks in seven innings. The 31-year-old also struck out five.
Silva, who has a 4.70 career ERA, sports a 0.69 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through two starts. Some Cubs fans will tell you his early success is a direct result of Greg Maddux’s tutelage. This Insider, however, is chalking it up to pure dumb luck.
Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ 162-game journey is being put on hold for one night. While time didn’t allow the Insiders to score an entire game on Thursday, we did watch parts of multiple games.
HITTERS
Hitter of the day: Ryan Braun (4-for-5, BB, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI)
Ryan Braun went 4-for-5 against the Cubs on Thursday, raising his batting average to .378. Milwaukee’s left fielder now has seven runs, three HRs and 11 RBI through nine games. Top-five fantasy player? I think so...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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