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2011 Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Mike Adams Leads The July Reliever Rankings

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Mike Adams

This week we're digging a big deeper and looking at the best nonclosers in fantasy baseball. I placed a few qualifiers on these pitchers to ensure I get the best of the nonclosers. 

First of all, none of these pitchers has made a start this year and has not been the closer for any major amount of time. Eduardo Sanchez has the most saves of any of the following pitchers with 5. Secondly, each of these pitchers has less than a 3.00 ERA. Third, each had to have pitched at least 25 innings to qualify. I graded each of these pitchers in three major categories relevant to fantasy baseball: ERA, WHIP, K/IP (rather than K/9), with a little look at BABIP and VORP. 

All numbers are from Baseball Prospectus and can be viewed here

1) Mike Adams
2) Jonny Venters
3) Tyler Clippard

All three of thse guys are ultimate contributors in all three categories. Each have a 1.75 ERA or better, a 1.01 WHIP or better, and 1.00 K/IP or better. 
In addition to those, they are great for holds leagues as well as roto leagues with start limits or innings pitched limits. Finally they all have the chance to pick up an occasional save. Venters is the only one who has thus far with 3, but each will likely have a handful of chances when their closer is unavailable. Adams in particular is interesting because of the constant rumor that Heath Bell may be traded. If Bell were to be traded, Adams would likely become their closer in San Diego.

4) Sergio Romo
5) Koji Uehara
6) Daniel Bard
7) David Robertson

David Robertson was an All-Star this year thanks to his ability to strike out anybody that steps up to the plate, but for the purposes of fantasy he’s got one glaring weakness. His 1.36 ERA is bad and he has problems giving up both hits and walks when he’s not striking out batters. The good news is he’s been “unlucky” according to his .333 BABIP, and if that improves his WHIP will have to go down. If he gets his WHIP down around 1.10 he would be right up there with those top 3 studs.

8) Louis Coleman
9) Greg Holland
10) Al Alburquerque
11) Vinnie Pestano
12) Glen Perkins
13) Sean Marshall

Some of the best relievers on struggling teams are often overlooked and Sean Marshall and Glen Perkins are two southpaws that fit the bill. Perkins has quietly turned in a 1.87 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP for a Minnesota team whose bullpen has faltered at times this season. Marshall’s ERA is a bit high at 2.79 but has 16 holds already this year and has a 1.19 WHIP that won’t hurt you. Both guys will continue getting hold chances in the 7th and 8th inning and should only get better as the year goes on.

14) Eric O’Flaherty
15) Scott Downs
16) Eduardo Sanchez
17) Grant Balfour
18) Bill Bray
19) Jesse Crain

Jesse Crain has been lights out for the White Sox this year and has been the rock in their inconsistent bullpen. He’s been even better than his full year numbers the last 30 days with a 0.75 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and 0 walks in 12 innings pitched. His total of 11 holds will continue to go up with White Sox win. If he continues to be good, the ERA will keep going down and he will continue to benefit his owners.

20) Aaron Crow
21) David Pauley
22) Logan Ondrusek
23) Javier Lopez
24) Jose Veras
25) Blake Wood
26) Darren Oliver
27) Brad Ziegler

When you get down near the bottom the pitchers are still very good, but there’s usually one number that keeps them from being an elite pitcher. For Brad Ziegler its just his slightly high 1.27 WHIP that’s keeping his 1.95 ERA from being on more fantasy teams. He has a problem giving up hits at nearly a whole hit per inning pitched. His walk rate is keeping his WHIP in respectable range and he’s gotten a little “unlucky” looking at his .306 BABIP. When Ziegler brings his WHIP down, he’ll be put on more deep league rosters, especially at the end of the year when roto teams are running up against their start limits.

28) Ramon Ramirez
29) Jim Johnson
30) Mitchell Boggs

Written by Jim Dingeman (@gentleman_jim) exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com

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Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Tips, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Closers, Relief Pitchers, Pitcher Rankings, Closer Report, Jim Dingeman


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