The start of the 2009 season tomorrow will finally put an end to speculations about the most unpredictable position in fantasy baseball, the closer.
This year, like every year I focused on drafting closers, yet I have to wonder to this very moment whether some of them will be closers for their respective teams.
One of my problems was Huston Street of the Colorado Rockies. I drafted him as my number 3 on one team and as my number 4 in a very deep league on another team. On both occasions it was for the lack of better options even though he was the second to last name on my cheat sheet, Trevor Hoffman (MIL) being the last.
Street was in the midst of a closer battle with Manny Corpas and quite frankly, I think Corpas is the better player.
In one league I was able to get Francisco Cordero (CIN) from waiver wire and dropped Huston Street.
In the other league I wasn’t able to pull of a trade or pick up another closer from waiver wire, so the news of Street becoming the closer came as a relief.
The situation has to be monitored closely though as Street could lose his job just like he did in Oakland last season.
My other major problem is B.J. Ryan (TOR). I had him on most teams last season and didn’t see a reason why I should not consider drafting him again. I have him on one team as my fourth closer, K-Rod, Brad Lidge and Bobby Jenks being the others.
Ryan had a shaky spring which means that Manager Cito Gaston is considering giving RP Scott Downs save chances. A definite decision has not been made yet. I can only keep my fingers crossed as I projected Ryan for more than 30 saves.
A few other teams weren’t quite predictable also. The cubs come to mind. Carlos Marmol seemed to be a lock but Lou Piniella decided to give the job to the new acquisition from the Florida Marlins Kevin Gregg instead.
Brandon Lyon of the Detroit Tigers seemed to be the closer but Jim Leyland has decided to give the ball to Fernando Rodney if there is a save situation.
Brad Ziegler of the Oakland A’s is the current closer as Joey Devine will start the season on the DL but I would not be surprised if Ziegler could hang on to the closer role.
Before the season I would have said that Dan Wheeler is going to be the Rays’ closer but it appears to be Troy Percival instead. The closer position is not the strength of the Tampa Bay Rays and Troy Percival has a bit of a history regarding DL stints, so don’t count Wheeler out just yet.
Ryan Franklin was the designated closer for the St. Louis Cardinals but Jason Motte may turn out be the closer. You never know with Tony La Russa usually being creative in this department.
Also, bear in mind that teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets have proven closers in the bullpen such as Takashi Saito, J.J. Putz and Billy Wagner who may get opportunities at some point.
Another situation I am still confronted with is Brandon Morrow of the Seattle Mariners. I accidentally drafted him as my fifth starter when I actually wanted Erik Bedard. I liked Morrow very much last season, as a starter as well as closer but I considered him to be a risk to draft this year unless his role is certain. He has now been demoted (promoted?) to the bullpen and will most likely be the Mariners’ closer. I tried to shop him in my league but all offers were rejected.
I thought hard about what to do as I have one too many closers and not enough starters but he is too valuable to be dropped in favour of a starter if he actually gets the closer role in Seattle. I’ve decided to keep him and do Pitch & Ditch from the start but I am open to offers.
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