The days are getting shorter and so is the calendar for your fantasy baseball team. There was a little bit of movement at the end of a couple of bullpens since we last spoke in this space.
As we have been speculating since the trade deadline Joaquin Benoit has entered a job share with C.J. Wilson as the Rangers' closer. He may be even more than that at this point, collecting two saves last week, the last two save opps the Royals have conjured up.
We have been over this for a few weeks now, so I will spare you the numbers again, but Benoit is the better pitcher of the two and he is right handed. He will probably handle all but lefty-situational save opps at some point and he is a candidate for the job in 2008.
C.J. Wilson had pitched well but he has given up runs in 5 of his last 6 outings. We have been pointing out that very favorable BHIP% (.259, .237 three weeks ago) and strand percentage (77.5%, 79.0% three weeks ago) ratios have been the underpinnings of his performance and there was a correction coming. It has not been as dramatic as it could be, but this is what we are seeing now.
Further West in
Hennessey has blown 3- of his last -5 save opps and has given up runs in 3- of his last -5 outings including the 3 runs he coughed up to the D-Backs on Monday to open my World Series efforts.
As I have noted before Brad’s 5.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 are not a recipe for success at the end of the bullpen, even if you throw a 1.31 GB rate. His .282 BHIP% and 77.6% strand percentage are the hamburger helper in his already less-than-confidence-inspiring 3.54 ERA, and .255 OBA. Those are the difference between his 3.54 ERA and the 3.75 ERA his WHIP tells us he should have.
Brian Wilson’s will get the next look as the Giants evaluate the level of their need at closer as they enter the 2007 offseason. He is considered the closer of the future type but his numbers have cracks as well.
Brian has only posted a 6.0/9 K rate in the majors this year (61 IP) while walking a very uncomfortable 3.3/9. His 1.10 ERA and .175 OBA are impressive but they are supported by a ridiculous .222 BHIP% and an equally ridiculous 88.2% strand%. Neither of those rates are sustainable. That being said, he is still in line for the save opps and will as a result vulture some saves here.
Brian certainly could bloom at some point and he is worth having headed into 2008 if he latches onto the job, but there is considerable risk here and I do not think the Giants will leave the closer situation unaddressed in the offseason, so I would not mortgage him too heavily. Tyler Walker could also get a look here.
Elsewhere … As we get to the end of the schedule this year some of you are looking for every edge you can get as a late push. I have received a couple of e-mails this week looking for relievers who could eat up some IP while providing good WHIP and/or ERA numbers in rotisserie leagues. The rock of those calculated numbers is very hard to push at this point in the season, but some of you don’t have to push it far.
I looked at relievers over the last 28 days and I have pulled out the WHIP leaders with an eye towards relievers who are pitching frequently enough of late to pile up some innings. I have removed the pitchers that are obviously owned at this point (i.e. Jonathan Papelbon). I have also cut off this list at 7 appearances over the last 28 days just to keep it manageable, and added K/9 if that matters in your league. Perhaps there some guys here that can shave your WHIP or ERA just enough to bump you a position or two.
Remember these are their numbers over the last 4 weeks …
Player IP ERA WHIP K/9
Brocail, Doug RP SD 12.0 0.75 0.50 7.5
Seay, Bobby RP DET 7.2 0.00 0.52 8.2
Wolfe, Brian RP TOR 15.0 1.80 0.53 3.6
Eyre, Scott RP CHC 9.0 0.00 0.56 8.0
Springer, Russ RP STL 12.1 0.00 0.65 7.3
Herges, Matt RP
Frasor, Jason RP TOR 10.0 0.90 0.70 9.9
Walker, Tyler RP SF 7.0 0.00 0.71 6.4
Tyler Walker could see some save opps in
