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Closer Report

Not quite number one 'Nando, but I have  a feeling we will see you again tomorrow.
Not quite number one 'Nando, but I have a feeling we will see you again tomorrow.

Every week I take a look at the going's on in the life of relief pitching in fake baseball. This week, we have come to the all-star break. These rankings are a pretty good indicator of who has been getting it done and who has wasted your roster space. So have a gander at how I would rank the best conclusionary pitchers and the guys that set them up.

  • Juan Carlos Oviedo, or the artist formerly know as Leo Nunez, will begin a rehab assignment this week after coming back from suspension. Ozzie, being that bat-crap crazy guy he is, has already suggested a closer share with struggling Heath Bell. In deeper leagues, its worth adding Oviedo on speculation, but I wanna see some counting stats first.
  • Matt Capps is coming back from the DL. He was sidelined with some shoulder issues. In his stead Glen Perkins has 4 saves, and Jared Burton has 2. I wouldn't drop either save spec guy just yet as Capps as been rumored to be on the block, with the new kids and Jenny.
  • Well I am glad that me talking submissive awoke the sleeping stats of Kenley Jansen. In the past 7 games he has 3 saves and 11 K's in 6 plus innings. You, my friend, get a sticker.
  • I know that Ernesto Frieri is the sexier to own guy in the bullpen for the Angels, but has anyone taken a gander at Scott Downs numbers. Go look. I will wait. Yea, he has been crazy good with 15 holds and 8 saves, he is easily in the top 5 of most valuable RP in baseball.
  • At the mid way point of the season...well sort of, did you know that they are only 2 closers who have been perfect in save opportunities and garnering saves from them. Huston Street and Ernesto Frieri come on down. You are the next yadda yadda yadda spay and neuter.
  • In set-up catch-up, Jason Grilli has the highest K/9 rate of any non-closer. He also has 2 less holds, 21, than the league leader Vinnie Pestano.

Stick around for the mid-seson closer rankings and Holds tiers after the jump.


2. Rafael Soriano



5. Jim Johnson

6. Chris Perez

7. Jonathon Papelbon

8. Jason Motte

9. Jonathan Broxton

10. Aroldis Chapman

11. Joe Nathan

12. Tyler Clippard

13. Kenley Jansen

14.Santiago Casilla

15. John Axford

16. Ernesto Frieri

17. Huston Street

18. J.J. Putz

19. Ryan Cook

20. Heath Bell

21. Addison Reed

22. Alfredo Aceves

23. Jose Valverde

24. Rafael Betancourt

25. Casey Janssen

26.Brett Myers

27. Carlos Marmol

28. Tom Wilhelmsen

29. Bobby Parnell

30. Jared Burton / Glen Perkins / Matt Capps

Tier 1.

Mike Adams TEX

Sergio Romo SF

Vinnie Pestano CLE

Joaquin Benoit DET

Sean Burnett WAS

Sean Marshall CIN

David Hernandez ARI

Jason Grilli PIT

Antonio Bastardo PHI

Scott Downs ANA

David Robertson NYY

Vincente Padilla BOS

Tier 2:

Steve Cishek MIA

Tim Byrdak NYM

Francisco Rodriguez MIL

Pedro Strop BAL

Eric O'Flaherty ATL

Charlie Furbush SEA

Aaron Crow KC

Joel Peralta TB

Josh Lindblom LAD

Matt Belisle COL

James Russell CHC

Jake McGee TB

Grant Balfour OAK

Mitchell Boggs STL

Shawn Camp CHC

Tier 3:

Chad Durbin ATL

Greg Holland KC

Juan Cruz PIT

Bryan Shaw ARI

Miek Dunn MIA

Luke Gregerson SD

Juan Cruz PIT

Joe Smith CLE

Kelvin Herrera KC

Matt Thornton CHW

Jose Arredondo CIN

Brad Ziegler ARI

Boone Logan NYY

Jesse Crain CHW

Andrew Miller BOS