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Every week I take a look at the going's on in the life of relief pitching in fake baseball. This week, like the ever growing trend of this year to date the relief pitching corps are in constant in flux. So have a gander at how I would rank the best conclusionary pitchers and the guys that set them up.
- Santiago Casilla pulled up semi-lame on Friday, no DL looks to be in his future as of me writing this. Sergio Romo picked up the slack and garnered 2 save chances converting them successfully.
- Huston Street's return looks like it's coming and coming this week. He returns from a 3 week lay off from a Lat injury. Dale Thayer can be be reserved for the time being until we make sure that Street comes back and doesn't re-injure himself.
- Since completely tanking and looking left for dead two weeks ago, Heath Bell has converted a league high 8 saves. Just for giggles throw in 2 holds to boot. He may start creeping up the list a little just because you kind of have to with a hot streak.
- The situation with the Angels is making fantasy owners mad. Mike Scioscia don't care he is like the honey badger of fantasy counting stats. Frieri has been lights out but Downs still looms in certain situations. Both should be rostered until Ernesto takes the reigns full-time.
- The Mariners demotion of Brandon League has opened up the door for someone anyone to walk through and take over. So far it has been Hisashi Iwakuma, the Japanese pitcher signed to be a starter and since thrown in the bullpen. He has picked up 2 quick saves and should be rostered for the immediate future until another candidate actually gets a chance.
- Dominance is a plus when doing a promotion, Chapman is now behind the elite guys because of ridiculous K numbers 50 thru 28 innings is just stupid good.
5. Joel Hanrahan
6. Chris Perez
7. Jason Motte
8. Jim Johnson
9. Kenley Jansen
10. J.J. Putz
11. Joe Nathan
12. Fernando Rodney
- Joe Nathan had a nice string of hittless appearances broken, he plays for arguably the best team in baseball so the chances should be there for him to accumulate so great counting stats.
13. Santiago Casilla
14. Rafael Betancourt
15. Jose Valverde
16. Alfredo Aceves
17. Rafael Soriano
18. Jonathan Broxton
19. Addison Reed
20. Tyler Clippard
21. Frank Francisco
22. Heath Bell
23. Scott Downs / Ernesto Frieri
- Casilla drops a little with the uncertainty of injury. Still great but maybe with a limp.
- Frieri/ Downs move up a few also as combined they are awesome. But steal too much value to be higher. If Frieri was the closer he would be right outside my top 10. Downs is in the first Tier of elite holds guys if i wrote him twice.
24. Brett Myers
25. Matt Capps
26. Casey Janssen
27. Dale Thayer / Huston Street
28. Brian Fuentes
29. Hisashi Iwakuma /Tom Wilhelmsen / Shawn Kelley
30. James Russell / Shawn Camp
HOLDS:
Tier 1.
Jonny Venters ATL
Mike Adams TEX
Sergio Romo SF
Vinnie Pestano CLE
Joaquin Benoit DET
Sean Burnett WAS
Ryan Cook OAK
Sean Marshall CIN
David Hernandez ARI
Jason Grilli PIT
Antonio Bastardo PHI
Tier 2:
Steve Cishek MIA
Tim Byrdak NYM
Edward Mujica MIA
Francisco Rodriguez MIL
Pedro Strop BAL
Eric O'Flaherty ATL
Aaron Crow KC
Alexi Ogando TEX
Vincente Padilla BOS
Joel Peralta TB
Josh Lindblom LAD
Bobby Parnell NYM
Matt Belisle COL
Tier 3:
Glen Perkins MIN
Greg Holland KC
Juan Cruz PIT
Bryan Shaw ARI
Randy Choate MIA
Andrew Cashner SD
Marc Rzeczypnski STL
Joe Smith CLE
Cory Wade NYY
Kelvin Herrera KC
Matt Thornton CHW
Jose Arredondo CIN
Brad Ziegler ARI
Jesse Crain CHW
Andrew Miller BOS