Middle Reliever Fantasy Rankings

by Higz on Jan 31, 2007 11:01 AM PST Comment 8 comments

http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/story/6425098

Above is a link to Mike Harmon's middle reliever fantasy rankings.

I think everyone here will agree that it's about time Scot Shields got some jizz from the East Coast-biased sports press.

For once they're saying what we Angels fans have known all along. I bet I can guess who will be the highest-ranked closer when Harmon gets to those ratings. The era of Mariano Rivera is over - this is the dawning of the age of K-Rod.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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No doubt about it

Shields is a stud. I think what influences these rankings, and rightfully so, is that Shields is good every year. Middle relief can be a crapshoot. I would say that there are guys with more upside than Shields, from a fantasy perspective, but Shields is pretty much a sure thing. Thus, he is the man.

by LosAngel on Jan 31, 2007 12:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

His consistency is what sets him apart. Add to that his durability and you have in my opinion the best set up guy in baseball.

GMJ step number one in a plan for continued dominance, or step number one in a plan for severe weight loss through explosive vomiting?

by hauldog on Jan 31, 2007 1:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You got that right.

And just as some backing here is the actual column solidifying the order, which I completely agree with.

http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/story/6432294

1.) Joe Nathan (a constant reminder that Sabean is much worse GM than Stoneman will ever be)

2.) FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ

3.) Mariano "one or two good seasons left" Rivera

by agermer on Feb 1, 2007 6:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Joe Nathan

you ain't kidding.

Nathan, Bonser, and Liriano for Pierzynski?

BWAHAHAHA!

by Higz on Feb 2, 2007 10:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Middle relievers in fantasy.

From a fantasy perspective (assuming your league doesn't use holds), the value of a middle reliever is primarily how close he is to the closer's job. Wins are nice, but you can't count on getting a lot of them, especially since managers are starting to use the 2nd-best pitcher in their pens like 7th/8th-inning closers. I think Shields might be the exception to this, just because Scioscia is willing to use Shields in almost any late-inning situation. It's why he's also got a fair amount of losses over the past few years. Shields, of course, will fill in as closer anytime Rodriguez goes down, but he's not the most likely closer to go down.

Akinori Otsuka should be on someone's team if the league has any depth to it. Gagne is almost completely unreliable at this point, and I believe the Rangers realize this, as evidenced by their refusal to trade Otsuka.

Adam Wainwright will likely open up as the Cardinals' closer, and Isringhausen is the poster boy for 'injury-prone'.

I don't really think Brad Lidge is going to do as poorly as he did for parts of last year, but if he does, Dan Wheeler is the closer in waiting.

by Nate on Feb 1, 2007 10:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Game Over

I have a sneaking suspicion that Eric Gagne's first save as a Ranger will be against the Angels during the first three game series of the season. I will be at all three of those games. Gagne's done well when I have seen him in the past. What has he done recently? I saw both games Gagne pitched for the Dodgers in 2006. That included the first game that had an all Canadian battery (with Russell Martin) and the one and only save Gagne got in 2006. I went to the first game Gagne pitched in 2005 where Chipper Jones and Andrew Jones kept up with the Joneses by belting home runs as the first two batters Gagne faced all year. Those were the only home runs Gagne surrendered in 2005 in 14 appearances. When Gagne was at his peak in 2004 I saw his 82nd, 83rd, and 84th consecutive saves. If Gagne pitches against the Angels on April 2nd, 3rd, or 4th it will be the third consecutive year I have seen Gagne pitch in his first game of the season. I am not saying that Gagne will get a lot of saves in 2007, but he will get a first one.

by Yetijuice on Feb 4, 2007 12:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs