Closers!

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:57 am

I just cannot imagine a single category that we deal with that requires more pure dumb luck that trying to get saves. Forget insight. Forget planning. You just have to get lucky.

My personal grouse (or, "Sir, would like a bit a cheese with your whine?") comes from comparing my two leagues this year. In MAG II, I used a sixth round and a tenth round pick to lock up two of the closers whom I thought had locked in the one thing I could plan for...job stability. One I had rated as having "premier" stuff and one with enough to keep the job so I could finish with around 75-80 saves this year from the two. You cannot predict injuries, especially with HIPPA today, but still these two appeared as healthy as any other closer. I got the Cordero brothers.

In the main, I ended up with one "premier", but no second tier closer. I did pick up a part-timer in the FA pool (the much documented Mr. Acosta of the Atlanta Acosta's) and have used him for the last two weeks.

With two full-time closers in MAG II, I should, when comparing my two teams, be doing much better with saves in that league than in the Main, right? Acosta has two saves for me in the Main which is EQUAL to the sum of the saves I have gotten in these last nearly four weeks in MAG II from the Cordero Brothers!

Yes, its early, but sometimes this game can drive you to drink (at least more, except in the case of my friend Lance, who needs no excuse)!

[ April 25, 2008, 09:58 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]

Asumijet · Post by **Asumijet** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:42 am

Speaking of pure dumb luck and closers, we put in a #3 conditional FAAB pick last week for Fuentes, failed to get our #1 and #2 choices and landed Fuentes by outbidding the 2nd bid by $8. And one of those lost picks was by $1. Better to be lucky than good sometimes.

Jackstraw · Post by **Jackstraw** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:54 am

I hate saves, but what could ever replace it as a stat? In a way, I think holds is a better category than saves.

I tried to go the one closer route to at least get me some points. I drafted Soriano thinking that I could have one closer that would carry me until something showed up on the waiver wire. I didn't expect Soriano to last the season... Who'd a thunk less than two weeks?

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:03 am

Originally posted by Jackstraw:

I hate saves, but what could ever replace it as a stat? In a way, I think holds is a better category than saves.

I tried to go the one closer route to at least get me some points. I drafted Soriano thinking that I could have one closer that would carry me until something showed up on the waiver wire. I didn't expect Soriano to last the season... Who'd a thunk less than two weeks? For everyone thinking I'll draft one closer and pick up a guy, there are many with two that have the same plans to pick up a guy and get 14-15 points. IMO, it's real bad Main strategy to start with only one closer. Too much happens to these guys to do that.

Jackstraw · Post by **Jackstraw** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:05 am

Originally posted by UFS:

quote:Originally posted by Jackstraw:

I hate saves, but what could ever replace it as a stat? In a way, I think holds is a better category than saves.

I tried to go the one closer route to at least get me some points. I drafted Soriano thinking that I could have one closer that would carry me until something showed up on the waiver wire. I didn't expect Soriano to last the season... Who'd a thunk less than two weeks? For everyone thinking I'll draft one closer and pick up a guy, there are many with two that have the same plans to pick up a guy and get 14-15 points. IMO, it's real bad Main strategy to start with only one closer. Too much happens to these guys to do that. [/QUOTE]Yeah, it was my first time trying it... It hasn't worked out well at all. I doubt very seriously I'll take that approach again.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:15 am

Originally posted by UFS:

quote:Originally posted by Jackstraw:

I hate saves, but what could ever replace it as a stat? In a way, I think holds is a better category than saves.

I tried to go the one closer route to at least get me some points. I drafted Soriano thinking that I could have one closer that would carry me until something showed up on the waiver wire. I didn't expect Soriano to last the season... Who'd a thunk less than two weeks? For everyone thinking I'll draft one closer and pick up a guy, there are many with two that have the same plans to pick up a guy and get 14-15 points. IMO, it's real bad Main strategy to start with only one closer. Too much happens to these guys to do that. [/QUOTE]Actually, my thought was to pick up a second on the waivers since about 30% to 40% of the closers in September were not the closers in April. Closers are still drafted too him, IMHO. They primarily impact one category, and are too risky because of performance issues, crazy managers or injury (i.e. Corpas, Soriano, Borowski, C. Cordero, Putz, Marmol).

Just a roll of the dice!