It's Easy To Bench Futility, Try It With Greatness

[DOUGHBOYS]

There is a player who is on every one of NFBC rosters. He's a three category player.
Most three category players have a place on our teams and in our drafts.
Some are taken very high like Dee Gordon because we like his average and speed, and possible runs scored .
We'll take Chris Davis if needing power, another three category player, because of his power stats and the runs that follow.
And we play them.
We play them because we want those three categories.
We play them knowing that they'll be a drag on two other categories. But, we play them to bolster their three 'good' categories.

The three category player I have in mind is different though. He's different, really, than any other player in baseball.
He's not taken nearly as high as Gordon or Davis.
In fact, his adp is #216.
That's right, 15th round on average.
He's a different cat bacause he is not a hitter.
He's a pitcher.

Dellin Betances makes his owners think.
Dellin Betances is reliable.
Dellin Betances, also, does not have a job.
Sure, in reality he is the set-up guy for the Yankees. But, in our roto way of life, Betances is neither a Closer or a Starter.
And usually, if you're not a Closer or Starter, you don't find your way into roto lineups.
Betances does.
In six innings of work, batters have made three fair ball outs off Betances. Three.
That's 15 strike outs.
Good for 36th among ALL pitchers in baseball.
Take that, Starters!
In fact, he is tied with Zach Greinke and Justin Verlander in K's.

Betances line is .000/.083/15
Still, no matter how robust that is, his owners are met with a dilemma, if having good pitching on their roster.
The lack of Wins and Saves is frustrating.
It's possible that any reliever can run into a Win, but of course the chances are not as good for them as it is for Starters.
So each week, Betances leaves his owners with a decision.
His owners know they'll get something good if starting him on their lineup. At the same time, they'll peek at the Wins/Saves categories in the Standings, and indecision starts creeping into their minds.

Baseball greatness is usually easily transferred to our starting lineups.
Immediately and without hesitation.
Betances is unique in that his greatness has made it a hard decision for some of his owners.
The good side of this for his owners is that Betances is like an electric bill, paid.
He can be used or not used at will.
Benching his three category goodness is a tough call for his owners.

[Gb2715]

Question is will the Yankees move him this year to now with Chapman there?

[DOUGHBOYS]

Question is will the Yankees move him this year to now with Chapman there?

I can answer that with almost 100% certainty......NO

[Gb2715]

Question is will the Yankees move him this year to now with Chapman there?

I can answer that with almost 100% certainty......NO

Maybe Miller?

[DOUGHBOYS]

Question is will the Yankees move him this year to now with Chapman there?

I can answer that with almost 100% certainty......NO

Maybe Miller?

That's a possibility.
The Yankees organization loves Betances.
They also threw out feelers to other teams in terms of what they could get back for Miller during the off season.
Miller would bring the Yankees a great return.

[Bronx Yankees]

That's a possibility.
The Yankees organization loves Betances.
They also threw out feelers to other teams in terms of what they could get back for Miller during the off season.
Miller would bring the Yankees a great return.

I'd be surprised to see the Yankees move Miller unless and until they extend Chapman (which may but likely will not happen). Remember, Chapman is a free agent after this season. The Yankees' starting pitching is mediocre at best and one awkward pitch by Tanaka from being horrible. While I do expect the Yankees to add a top starter via free agency before next season, I feel they need a stellar bullpen to compete. Chapman, Miller and Betances will be a luxury, but I don't see them trading Miller and then losing Chapman via free agency. We'll see; they have certainly surprised me in the past.

Mike

[DOUGHBOYS]

I agree, Mike.
Especially at first, when Chapman comes back. The Yankees at the least, have to feel how cool it is to get shut down innings over the last half of a ball game.
However, if the Yankees do fall in the standings, they'll have to make decisions on whichone, two, or three relievers they'd like to keep and bring back next year.
Hard to go wrong with those choices.

[Edwards Kings]

I am in only two leagues. I targeted and got Betances in both because he is an anomaly. As you mentioned, he will have a stellar ERA and WHIP. He is one of the few (maybe the only) who will get you enough K's to be neutral compared to what you could get from streaming 7th starters, more K's than most potential "3rd" closers. He will be plus ERA and plus WHIP to what you could get in the 7th starter/3rd closer role.

And part of this is my own ability (or lack thereof) to staff that last pitching position with something that will not actually hurt me.

So that leaves wins. He won six games last year and five the year before, so that would put him probably five or six wins out of what you could reasonably expect from your last starter. That is three or four points. Can you net more from the ERA/WHIP gains? I think so. Can the same benefits (better ERA/WHIP/K) overcome the lost saves of a third closer? Again, maybe.

If I get a solid, healthy last starter candidate or I open the piggy bank for a third closer, I would use them over Betances. But until then, I am very happy to stick Betances in there and have few concerns. It is kind of funny that a guy with an ERA of 0.000 has a loss though!