Fantasy Baseball Closer Report
Fantasy Baseball Closer
Rankings
23. Todd
Jones - Tigers - 2008 Preview:
The man every fantasy owner waited to lose his job in 2007 is
back as the closer in 2008. The Tigers have an excellent team
and Jones will be in line for a ton of save opportunities. The
word on 2006 phenom Joel Zumaya is he does not have the mentality
or desire to be a closer. In addition, he was beset by injury
in 2007. That leaves Fernando Rodney who has always done well
in the role when given the opportunity, but don't plan on it.
Jones is likely to keep the job unless he is injure or he implodes.
2007 Statistics:
38 SV's - 1-4 - 4.26 ERA - 33 K's - 61 IP.
2008 Projection: 33
SV's - 1-3 - 4.09 ERA - 30 K's - 60 IP.
Back-up: Fernando Rodney (DL) - Jason Grilli
24. Kevin
Gregg - Marlins - 2008 Preview:
He took over the closer's role and benefited by the Marlins winning
ways in the second half. The Marlins have lost some big players
in the of season and will not win as much as they did in '07 and
it is thus likely that Gregg will get less save chances. Gregg looked
very good as a closer in '07, but he has no past record that shows
he will continue to be a good closer in '08.
2007 Statistics:
32 SV's - 0-5 - 3.54 ERA - 87 K's - 75 IP.
2008 Projection: 37
SV's - 2-4 - 3.20 ERA - 78 K's - 70 IP.
Back-up: Matt Lindstrom
25. Matt
Capps - Pirates - 2008 Preview:
Nobody seems to want to own any Pittsburgh Pirate, especially their
closer, but Capps just may surprise you with a solid 2008. He is
not a classic closer, but he has an adequate k-ratio. At 24, he
is very young and has room to grow and possibly become a very good
closer.
2007 Statistics:
18 SV's - 4-7 - 2.28 ERA - 64 K's - 79 IP.
2008 Projection: 33
SV's - 3-4 - 2.77 ERA - 61 K's - 73 IP.
Back-up: Dámaso Marte (L) - John
Grabow
26. Ryan
Franklin- Cardinals - 2008 Preview:
Another veteran who is guaranteed to keep his job and give you a
good closer in your fantasy bullpen. He is also guaranteed to go
down with an injury at some point in the season. He has nailed 30
saves in 7 of the last 8 seasons even with his injury bugs.
2007 Statistics:
32 SV's - 4-0 - 2.48 ERA - 54 K's - 65.1 IP.
2008 Projection: 34
SV's - 3-2 - 2.52 ERA - 55 K's - 66 IP.
Back-up: Chris Perez - Russ Springer
He will go to the 15-day DL with elbow tendonitis. There is now
word on a closer yet. Peter Moylan or Manny Acosta are likley
candidates. Moylan has the edge. Acosta is now closing due to
Moylan's injury. The word is that Smaoltz will close upon his
return, but his injury is bad so don't hold your breath.
2007 Statistics:
9 SV's - 3-3 - 3.00 ERA - 70 K's - 72 IP.
2008 Projection: 37
SV's - 2-2 - 2.89 ERA - 71 K's - 73 IP.
Back-up: Manny Acosta
now closing
He has taken over the closer's role with Borowski's injury. If he
does well don'r expect Borowski to regain the spot. Former Japanese
star closer Masa Kobayashi could also grab the spot if Betancourt
fails.
2007 Statistics:
45 SV's - 4-5 - 5.07 ERA - 58 K's - 66 IP.
2008 Projection: 41
SV's - 3-5 - 4.67 ERA - 57 K's - 67 IP.
Back-up: Masa Kobayashi - Joe Borowski (DL)
He will only be 26 when the season starts and Cordero has of averaged
just over 38 saves in his first 3 seasons as a closer. If he were
on a better team he would easily be a top ten closer. Even so, Cordero
can break the top ten if he can get his ERA below the 3.00 mark.
2007 Statistics:
37 SV's - 3-3 - 3.36 ERA - 62 K's - 75 IP.
2008 Projection: 38
SV's - 4-3 - 3.07 ERA - 63 K's - 73 IP.
Back-up: Jon Rauch - Saul Rivera
30. Eric
Gagne - Brewers - 2008 Preview:
Which Gagne will you get? The Cy Young award winner? The very good
closer in Texas? Or the bum he showed up in Boston? Well, unless
he breaks out the steroids, there will never be a return to the
Cy Young Gagne and it is hard to imagine he can be as bad as he
was in Boston. Expect a return close to the Texas numbers, but also
expect Gagne to visit the DL or miss some save chances with injuries.
2007 Statistics:
16 SV's - 0-4 - 3.68 ERA - 51 K's - 52 IP.
2008 Projection: 34
SV's - 1-4 - 2.71 ERA - 60 K's - 60 IP.
Back-up: Salmon Torres - David Riske (DL)
Set-up Pitchers
1. Hideki Okajima
2. Joba Chamberlain
3. Jonathan Broxton
4. Scot Shields
5. Scott Downs
6. Carlos Mármol
6 . Heath Bell
7. Dan Wheeler
8. Tony Pena
9 . Rafael Betancourt
10. Dan Wheeler
11. Tony Pena
12. Brandon Morrow
13. Scott Linebrink
14. Chad Bradford
15. Santiago Casilla -DL
16. Fernando Rodney -DL
17. Chad Qualls
18. Scott Linebrink
19. Hong-Chih Kuo
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