EHSPN Around the League: Relief Pitcher
Bobby Jenks has been tearing up the California Pineapple League, striking out 18 in 8 innings thus far. A solid spring, combined with his performance last year, should be a huge confidence booster for the Green Monsters. However, in order to solidify their bullpen, Winston-Salem will need to find someone to compliment Jenks' abilities (as well as his anger problem).
By Kyle Gaffer, Baseball Tri-Weekly
Note: This article was submitted the afternoon of Thursday, March 8th, immediately before Kyle Gaffer took a plane to Arlington to assist in the Eastern Division Starting Pitchers section of Around the League. The copy that Gaffer turned in was written entirely in Japanese, and he was unable to hand in an English version before he passed away. Therefore, please ignore any errors in this article (gramatical or statistical).
- Guy Roball, Baseball Tri-Weekly
Since the EHCC split into two divisions in 2004, there has been one brutal truth about the league: The East is better than the West.
This "fact" can be explained due to the remaining 4 teams from the inaugural 2001 season (Bridgewater, Las Vegas, Rakeville, Weymouth) finding homes in the East, or that the only two teams to ever win the EHCC championship (LV, WEY) are there as well.
In some sick and twisted way, that makes the West the better division. Quebec City has been a perennial powerhouse, while Golden, Tijuana, and Winston-Salem have all been relatively legitimate playoff contenders. In 2006, Golden even managed to make their way to the championship game. Parity is a great thing, and it has motivated Western Division teams to play better.
As we analyze a position like Relief Pitcher, there is a definitely corollary between talent and division. Only 4 teams in the West have a bullpen to speak of, and one of those (Tokyo) is loaded with setup men who have yet to become full-time closers.
In other words, it’s crap.
Reliever continues to be the neglected step-son of the fantasy world, yet remains the only position that records the magical stat known as Saves. It may seem like a futile effort to chase players who can only provide you with 1 category, but in close games, it can cost you a win. In the 2005 championship game, the final score was 5-5, allowing Weymouth to win the title on an ERA tiebreaker. If Bridgewater had been able to record just 2 more saves, they would have taken the category and, ultimately, the win.
So before you cast aside the importance of these One-Inning Idols, keep in mind that it takes just 1 run, 1 strikeout, or 1 save to win a championship. And since they are arguably the only ones who can earn you saves, Relief Pitcher just may be the most important players on your team...
...just ask 2006 Finals MVP Francisco Rodriguez.
Eastern Division
6. Peoria (Francisco Cordero, Todd Jones)
With the acquisition of Todd Jones earlier in the week, the Cardinals solidified… and second reliever. The addition of the 38 year old just added to an already-crowded roster that has to be cut down from 27 to 20 by March 11th. Cordero finished strong in ’06, and should continue his good fortune this year. If all goes according to plan, Peoria should manage 50 Saves out of their 2-man bullpen.
5. Arlington (Brian Fuentes, Chris Ray)
Brian Fuentes was lost in the crowd of Bye Week players last year, yet still managed to help their team to 4 ties, so expect him to do quite a bit better this year on an actual team. The acquisition of Ray gives Arlington a slight edge over Peoria, with the two dishing out 55 Saves for the expansion ballclub.
4. Bridgewater (Mike Gonzalez, Trevor Hoffman, BJ Ryan)
A flame-throwing lefty, a future hall-of-famer, and an up-and-coming powerhouse would normally be one of the best bullpens in the league. Instead, Bridgewater’s Terrible Trio will be struggling for opportunities. Gonzalez will be competing for his job, while Hoffman is 30 years past retirement. The only bright spot is Ryan, who will continue to dominate in one of the best offensive divisions in the league. 62 Saves is an underachievement for Ryan/Hoffman, but if Gonzalez gets a chance, he should chip in 10 more.
3. Rakeville (Tom Gordon, Jason Isringhausen, Akinori Otsuka, Takashi Saito, Billy Wagner, Bob Wickman)
Sometimes, less is more. In Rakeville’s case, more is more, but unfortunately their 6-man bullpen is expected to be cut down to 4 by 20-man roster day, possibly even 3. Wickman and Otsuka will be 2nd-3rd round draft picks, while Saito will be looking over his shoulder all season. As for the remaining 3, they’ll manage 92 Saves, good enough for a #1 ranking… in the West.
2. Las Vegas (Brad Lidge, Mariano Rivera, Francisco Rodriguez)
The Doggs have built quite the diverse bullpen for the 2007 season, which includes a 24 year old with two 40-save seasons already on his resume, a 37 year old workhorse with 413 saves over the past 10 seasons, and Brad Lidge… in Lidge’s defense, he still managed 34 saves last season, but unless he brings down that 5.28 ERA, he may be out of the job. Still, if Rivera/Rodriguez can get the 89 Saves they are expected to get, and Lidge can manage at least 15, they’ll be beating everyone in that category except...
1. Weymouth (Joe Nathan, JJ Putz, Huston Street)
3 top 5 YOUNG closers, there for a long time, won them the 2005 championship
How on earth does a team manage to get 3 of the top 10 closers in the league? In 2004, Weymouth drafted Nathan in the 4th round when he had just 1 career save (he got 44 that year). In 2005, they picked Street up off waivers just as an injured teammate led him into the closing roll (23 saves, 1.72 ERA). Putz, who went undrafted in 2006, was another free agent pickup, and in 2006 had 36 in 41 chances.
Scouting earned them the best bullpen in the league, and actually won them a championship. In 2005, down 5-4 going into the weekend, Street and Nathan managed to gather three saves and, along with a few wins by the starters, moved them into a 5-5 tie. Shaddupu won the title on a tiebreaker. Needless to say, Weymouth is quite happy with their bullpen, and will be even happier when they get him 115 Saves this season.
Western Division
6. Quebec City (None)
It’s not uncommon to head into the draft with no bullpen to speak of, especially what the Piglets got in return for theirs. Quebec City used Todd Jones in a deal that earned them the #2 pick in this June’s Minor League Draft. With no draft picks until the 4th round, it could be slim pickings at the reliever position. But what they lack in saves, they’ll make up in every one of the other 9 categories.
5. Golden (Armando Benitez)
The 34 year old Dominican did not get the save chances he deserved in 2006, with Golden blowing out teams left and right. Benitez still managed 17 saves in limited action, and if the Gryphons decide to hold onto him, he should give them another 20 Saves this year.
4. Tijuana (Joe Borowski, Ryan Dempster)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen… After finishing last season 2nd in total saves (110), they now find their bullpen undermanned and under skilled. Joe Borowski’s stellar 2006 can only be attributed to a mid-life crisis, and just might start the season in the setup role. Dempster is a solid pitcher, but last season killed his value with countless non-save opportunities. With a bolstered starting rotation, he should get more opportunities, but seeing is believing. Tijuana just might squeeze 40 Saves out of his so-called closers.
3. Winston-Salem (Bobby Jenks, Fernando Rodney)
The Green Monsters have never been shy about their bold 1st round draft picks. Rocco Baldelli (2004) and Brett Tomko (2005) are still around and kicking, but have been anything but stars. Bobby Jenks (2006) ended their streak of poor top picks, posting 41 saves and carrying the bullpen. Though the team missed the playoffs by 1.5 games, it was a morale victory for Winston-Salem. Expect another 40 Save effort out of Jenks, while Rodney inflates the team’s ERA with useless middle-relief appearances.
2. Santo Domingo (Chad Cordero, Eric Gagne, Craig Hansen)
This year’s expansion teams have been some of the most active, and the White Devils have build themselves quite the curious little bullpen. Chad Cordero, acquired from QC, has been a closer for 2 ½ seasons, yet has only managed to peak 30 saves once. Gagne has spent most of the past 2 seasons on the DL, and the move to hitter-friendly Santo Domingo will not help his rebound. Meanwhile, Hansen was supposed to be their “closer of the future” but has instead become another face in the world of middle-relief. Separate, they’re weak, but together they’ll still manage 60 Saves.
1. Tokyo (Jonathan Broxton, Joey Devine, Andrew Sisco, Joel Zumaya)
The theme of the 2007 Tokyo bullpen is “If”. If Joel Zumaya or Jonathan Broxton get a chance to close this year, he’ll have 30-40 saves each. If Joey Devine gets to stay in the majors, he just might become a setup man, or maybe even close 2 or 3 games. If Sisco learns how to throw the ball over the plate, he just might not get cut. This bullpen, like the rest of the Omyoujis roster, is built for the future. However, while the offense and pitching staff is finally starting to come around, the relievers are still waiting in the wings. With Zumaya and Broxton waiting in the wings, expect about 5 Saves this year. That’s perfectly fine with Tokyo, however, considering they’ll be getting 80-90 from those two in 2008.
Players who will be available in 2007 Major League Draft:
Jose Valverde – Finished 2006 strong after stepping back into the closer role, and if he can stay healthy should make some team very happy.
Takashi Saito – Too many players in Rakeville that can make the cut, and even at his age could be a 30 save threat.
Octavio Dotel – Draft at your own risk… you never know who is going to hold the 33 year old hostage this year.
Bobby Howry – Could get plenty of save opportunities when he falls into the closer role midseason.
Joel Piniero – Might be a closer, might not. Regardless, some team is going to gamble on him in the later rounds.
Kyle Gaffer was a columnist for Baseball Tri-Weekly. His only two weaknesses in the world were Japanese food and Japanese pitchers.
By Kyle Gaffer, Baseball Tri-Weekly
Note: This article was submitted the afternoon of Thursday, March 8th, immediately before Kyle Gaffer took a plane to Arlington to assist in the Eastern Division Starting Pitchers section of Around the League. The copy that Gaffer turned in was written entirely in Japanese, and he was unable to hand in an English version before he passed away. Therefore, please ignore any errors in this article (gramatical or statistical).
- Guy Roball, Baseball Tri-Weekly
Since the EHCC split into two divisions in 2004, there has been one brutal truth about the league: The East is better than the West.
This "fact" can be explained due to the remaining 4 teams from the inaugural 2001 season (Bridgewater, Las Vegas, Rakeville, Weymouth) finding homes in the East, or that the only two teams to ever win the EHCC championship (LV, WEY) are there as well.
In some sick and twisted way, that makes the West the better division. Quebec City has been a perennial powerhouse, while Golden, Tijuana, and Winston-Salem have all been relatively legitimate playoff contenders. In 2006, Golden even managed to make their way to the championship game. Parity is a great thing, and it has motivated Western Division teams to play better.
As we analyze a position like Relief Pitcher, there is a definitely corollary between talent and division. Only 4 teams in the West have a bullpen to speak of, and one of those (Tokyo) is loaded with setup men who have yet to become full-time closers.
In other words, it’s crap.
Reliever continues to be the neglected step-son of the fantasy world, yet remains the only position that records the magical stat known as Saves. It may seem like a futile effort to chase players who can only provide you with 1 category, but in close games, it can cost you a win. In the 2005 championship game, the final score was 5-5, allowing Weymouth to win the title on an ERA tiebreaker. If Bridgewater had been able to record just 2 more saves, they would have taken the category and, ultimately, the win.
So before you cast aside the importance of these One-Inning Idols, keep in mind that it takes just 1 run, 1 strikeout, or 1 save to win a championship. And since they are arguably the only ones who can earn you saves, Relief Pitcher just may be the most important players on your team...
...just ask 2006 Finals MVP Francisco Rodriguez.
Eastern Division
6. Peoria (Francisco Cordero, Todd Jones)
With the acquisition of Todd Jones earlier in the week, the Cardinals solidified… and second reliever. The addition of the 38 year old just added to an already-crowded roster that has to be cut down from 27 to 20 by March 11th. Cordero finished strong in ’06, and should continue his good fortune this year. If all goes according to plan, Peoria should manage 50 Saves out of their 2-man bullpen.
5. Arlington (Brian Fuentes, Chris Ray)
Brian Fuentes was lost in the crowd of Bye Week players last year, yet still managed to help their team to 4 ties, so expect him to do quite a bit better this year on an actual team. The acquisition of Ray gives Arlington a slight edge over Peoria, with the two dishing out 55 Saves for the expansion ballclub.
4. Bridgewater (Mike Gonzalez, Trevor Hoffman, BJ Ryan)
A flame-throwing lefty, a future hall-of-famer, and an up-and-coming powerhouse would normally be one of the best bullpens in the league. Instead, Bridgewater’s Terrible Trio will be struggling for opportunities. Gonzalez will be competing for his job, while Hoffman is 30 years past retirement. The only bright spot is Ryan, who will continue to dominate in one of the best offensive divisions in the league. 62 Saves is an underachievement for Ryan/Hoffman, but if Gonzalez gets a chance, he should chip in 10 more.
3. Rakeville (Tom Gordon, Jason Isringhausen, Akinori Otsuka, Takashi Saito, Billy Wagner, Bob Wickman)
Sometimes, less is more. In Rakeville’s case, more is more, but unfortunately their 6-man bullpen is expected to be cut down to 4 by 20-man roster day, possibly even 3. Wickman and Otsuka will be 2nd-3rd round draft picks, while Saito will be looking over his shoulder all season. As for the remaining 3, they’ll manage 92 Saves, good enough for a #1 ranking… in the West.
2. Las Vegas (Brad Lidge, Mariano Rivera, Francisco Rodriguez)
The Doggs have built quite the diverse bullpen for the 2007 season, which includes a 24 year old with two 40-save seasons already on his resume, a 37 year old workhorse with 413 saves over the past 10 seasons, and Brad Lidge… in Lidge’s defense, he still managed 34 saves last season, but unless he brings down that 5.28 ERA, he may be out of the job. Still, if Rivera/Rodriguez can get the 89 Saves they are expected to get, and Lidge can manage at least 15, they’ll be beating everyone in that category except...
1. Weymouth (Joe Nathan, JJ Putz, Huston Street)
3 top 5 YOUNG closers, there for a long time, won them the 2005 championship
How on earth does a team manage to get 3 of the top 10 closers in the league? In 2004, Weymouth drafted Nathan in the 4th round when he had just 1 career save (he got 44 that year). In 2005, they picked Street up off waivers just as an injured teammate led him into the closing roll (23 saves, 1.72 ERA). Putz, who went undrafted in 2006, was another free agent pickup, and in 2006 had 36 in 41 chances.
Scouting earned them the best bullpen in the league, and actually won them a championship. In 2005, down 5-4 going into the weekend, Street and Nathan managed to gather three saves and, along with a few wins by the starters, moved them into a 5-5 tie. Shaddupu won the title on a tiebreaker. Needless to say, Weymouth is quite happy with their bullpen, and will be even happier when they get him 115 Saves this season.
Western Division
6. Quebec City (None)
It’s not uncommon to head into the draft with no bullpen to speak of, especially what the Piglets got in return for theirs. Quebec City used Todd Jones in a deal that earned them the #2 pick in this June’s Minor League Draft. With no draft picks until the 4th round, it could be slim pickings at the reliever position. But what they lack in saves, they’ll make up in every one of the other 9 categories.
5. Golden (Armando Benitez)
The 34 year old Dominican did not get the save chances he deserved in 2006, with Golden blowing out teams left and right. Benitez still managed 17 saves in limited action, and if the Gryphons decide to hold onto him, he should give them another 20 Saves this year.
4. Tijuana (Joe Borowski, Ryan Dempster)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen… After finishing last season 2nd in total saves (110), they now find their bullpen undermanned and under skilled. Joe Borowski’s stellar 2006 can only be attributed to a mid-life crisis, and just might start the season in the setup role. Dempster is a solid pitcher, but last season killed his value with countless non-save opportunities. With a bolstered starting rotation, he should get more opportunities, but seeing is believing. Tijuana just might squeeze 40 Saves out of his so-called closers.
3. Winston-Salem (Bobby Jenks, Fernando Rodney)
The Green Monsters have never been shy about their bold 1st round draft picks. Rocco Baldelli (2004) and Brett Tomko (2005) are still around and kicking, but have been anything but stars. Bobby Jenks (2006) ended their streak of poor top picks, posting 41 saves and carrying the bullpen. Though the team missed the playoffs by 1.5 games, it was a morale victory for Winston-Salem. Expect another 40 Save effort out of Jenks, while Rodney inflates the team’s ERA with useless middle-relief appearances.
2. Santo Domingo (Chad Cordero, Eric Gagne, Craig Hansen)
This year’s expansion teams have been some of the most active, and the White Devils have build themselves quite the curious little bullpen. Chad Cordero, acquired from QC, has been a closer for 2 ½ seasons, yet has only managed to peak 30 saves once. Gagne has spent most of the past 2 seasons on the DL, and the move to hitter-friendly Santo Domingo will not help his rebound. Meanwhile, Hansen was supposed to be their “closer of the future” but has instead become another face in the world of middle-relief. Separate, they’re weak, but together they’ll still manage 60 Saves.
1. Tokyo (Jonathan Broxton, Joey Devine, Andrew Sisco, Joel Zumaya)
The theme of the 2007 Tokyo bullpen is “If”. If Joel Zumaya or Jonathan Broxton get a chance to close this year, he’ll have 30-40 saves each. If Joey Devine gets to stay in the majors, he just might become a setup man, or maybe even close 2 or 3 games. If Sisco learns how to throw the ball over the plate, he just might not get cut. This bullpen, like the rest of the Omyoujis roster, is built for the future. However, while the offense and pitching staff is finally starting to come around, the relievers are still waiting in the wings. With Zumaya and Broxton waiting in the wings, expect about 5 Saves this year. That’s perfectly fine with Tokyo, however, considering they’ll be getting 80-90 from those two in 2008.
Players who will be available in 2007 Major League Draft:
Jose Valverde – Finished 2006 strong after stepping back into the closer role, and if he can stay healthy should make some team very happy.
Takashi Saito – Too many players in Rakeville that can make the cut, and even at his age could be a 30 save threat.
Octavio Dotel – Draft at your own risk… you never know who is going to hold the 33 year old hostage this year.
Bobby Howry – Could get plenty of save opportunities when he falls into the closer role midseason.
Joel Piniero – Might be a closer, might not. Regardless, some team is going to gamble on him in the later rounds.
Kyle Gaffer was a columnist for Baseball Tri-Weekly. His only two weaknesses in the world were Japanese food and Japanese pitchers.
Labels: EHSPN, Gaffer, Tri-Weekly
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