The Inconsistent Consistency of Closers In Fantasy

[DOUGHBOYS]

As fantasy owners, we dislike being blind sided.
And we really hate it when it involves Closers.
Lists are started of injuries during the season. There are comments about how many injuries and how they're killing teams. In reality, there were just as many injuries during Spring Training.
Hunter Pence will be out for at least April. Same with Kenley Jansen. Matt Wieters could be playing sooner or later and the house has made a large bet on later.
Zack Wheeler is out for the year. Cliff Lee could be too.
We don't care.

Those players weren't on our big teams. Or if they were, we knew what we were getting into.
In-season injuries are inflated by owners because we're blind sided.
Some Wonder Boy from San Diego can render a Closer meaningless with one trade.
Wonder Boy gets a forefinger number one salute from Padres fans. A middle finger from Benoit owners.


We seem to care more about Closers. A few reasons why are...
The Closer pool is shallow.
They're the only players who control a whole category.
They seem to cost drafters more on FAAB than any other position.
So when we lose a Closer, the loss hurts more.
Rafael Soriano who doesn't have a team was still taken in Main Events.
By the way, why isn't Scott Boras crucified by the press when his 'Wait till the last minute' approach does not work?
Soriano should, at the least, change agents.

Yesterday, Joe Nathan went on the disabled List.
Anybody who drafted him, did so with a little bit of a hanged head.
Drafting Nathan is like buying a clunker for $100.
This year, that clunker got us to work for a week (one save), then died.
This Sunday, it'll be up to owners as to whether to park it in the garage or send it to the junkyard.

Same with Jenry Mejia. Another Closer that came at the end of an end of an end of a Closer run.
I saw a fella describe his roster and put 35 Saves next to Mejia.
Sometimes, we look at things and just know it's not right. 35 Saves for Mejia is one of them.

We KNOW that there is going to be a Closer carousel. We know it.
Yet, some are still surprised.
Benoit, Nathan, and Mejia are hardly world beaters.
Neither are Brett Cecil or LaTroy Hawkins or Addison Reed. And if they go down, we'll hear the same groaning.
Even though their drafters know that they too, pretty much suck.
We're not complaining because of their talent. We're complaining because of their job.
We need the job.

The carousel continues.
The Benoit fallout created an opening for Jason Grilli.
$300 and $400 bids.
For a guy that most thought was washed up.
But, he has the job.

Nathan gives way to Soria.
Soria was drafted by most teams, knowing Nathan would probably suck.
Soria has an injury history too though. These owners will be "shocked" when he gets hurt, just the same.

And suddenly, Familia is a hot commodity. He'll also go for three figures on FAAB this week.
And his owners will be "shocked" when he under performs and is replaced by Parnell.

We are consistent. Hardly any of us really like Closers at all.
They are like kickers in football drafts. Each time we take one, we cringe.
Freakin' one category players!
And when they screw us by losing their job, we take it personally.
Afterall, we wasted a pick on the sombitch!
At the same, we know the game.
And we know that 10 other Closers will probably get hurt or lose their jobs this year.
And we'll be hear to groan after each one goes down!