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When you guys draft a guy like Linebrink or Shields, are you speculating on the chance they could close at some point, or are you just getting them with the idea of activating them to lower your WHIP and ERA? Or is it a little of both?



[ February 21, 2007, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: AmericanDreams ]

Originally posted by AmericanDreams:

When you guys draft a guy like Linebrink or Shields, are you speculating on the chance they could close at some point, or are you just getting them with the idea of activating them to lower your WHIP and ERA? Or is it a little of both? This is actually a very good question and there are quite a few different strategies w/ good setup guys. My preference is not to waste a spot on them unless I think they have a shot to close. The win and save categories are just too important.



Having said that, it doesn't hurt to carry one such player to use in your starting lineup when you have some bad "1 start" matchups and need to put someone in.



Now, if you had a system that told you when setup P's got their wins, then you could load up on them. I had Shields and Duchscherer last year and it seemed that they got all their wins when they were on my bench. Very frustrating.



I'm sure someone else will have other ideas, but that is my 2 cents.

True, wins and saves are important categories but so are WHIP and ERA. Unless you can get an avg SP who doesnt hurt you too bad, I think its much better to have a solid MR than a teams 4th or 5th starter who will have an era over 4.50 and a whip of 1.40. Those guys will neutralize your Oswalts/Zambranos of the world.

Not only do some of the best middle men help with era and whip , but some can get you plenty of K's and wins, and saves.Here is a few.

1 Duchscherer 9 saves 2 wins 51 K's in 55 inn

2 Shields 2 saves 7 wins 84 K's in 87 inn

3Rodney 7 saves 7 wins 65 K's 71 inn

4 Zumaya 1 save 6 wins 97 K's 83 inn

5 Wheeler 9 saves 3 wins 68K's 71 inn

6 Linebrink 2 saves 7 wins 68 K's 75 inn

7Stanton 8 saves 7 wins great value

This is just a few but middle have great value, they give everything , even K's .

I agree totally with Coops. I came in in 2004 thinking the best mix was six SP, two CL, and one MR. Problem with middle relievers is (playing them regularily I mean rather than parking them in hopes of moving into the CL role) is that they can put a positive DENT (not necessarily impact) on two categories, WHIP and ERA, over the course of a whole season. They will generally (always one or two exceptions every year out of all the MR on the 30 MLB rosters) get fewer W or K than even a fourth or fifth starter. So, comparing MR to 4th or 5th starters, you lose too much in the counting stats net of what you gain in the ERA/WHIP category. Against closers, obviously, the WHIP/K is about equal and the MR MAY pick up a few more vulture wins, but loose too much ground in saves.



I like the Linebrinks of the world. Great "investments". Their value is greater to MLB than Fantasy, however, until such time as they are given the ball in the ninth.