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Closer Report

HOUSTON,TX-JUNE 02:  Aroldis Chapman #54 of the Cincinnati Reds throws in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros on June 2, 2012 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON,TX-JUNE 02: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the Cincinnati Reds throws in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros on June 2, 2012 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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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.

1. Craig Kimbrel

2. Jonathan Papelbon

3. John Axford

4. Aroldis Chapman

  • 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