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Bleacher Features - The closer issue
Jim Gillen is a Fantasy baseball player from Norwalk, Connecticut. He is still hoping Antonio Osuna will get him some saves -- a closer's number-one job.
My philosophy for picking closers is not to use a top-10 pick on one. Closers are basically one-category pitchers -- saves. They do not give you enough innings to make a material impact on WHIP, ERA, K's and W's.
I try to draft a closer that does not have a big name but plays for a team that sees a lot of close games. This year, I got Jose Mesa and Antonio Osuna in the 13th and 19th rounds respectively, in a 15-team league. Although, these have not worked out so far, I did pick up Tom Gordon as a free agent. This proves my point that you can get someone without using a high pick. If an injury occurs to your closer, whom you replace him with depends on who is available -- before you pick up his understudy. For example, with Ricky Bottalico out, Mark Leiter is now the closer. I would pick up a free agent like Felix Rodriquez before picking up Leiter. In conclusion, use a low-round pick on a closer and remember -- there are many of them out there, which you can get via free agency. Be patient with slow starters. I am hoping my patience pays off with Osuna! Take me to the Fantasy Baseball Forum Take me back to the Bleacher Feature page. |
