Fantasy Baseball Closers – Buy Low Sell High Relief Pitchers
The current market for closers in fantasy baseball 2012 … At the beginning of the year you would have seen guy’s like Drew Storen, Mariano Rivera, Brian Wilson and J.J Putz somewhere around the top of the closer rankings leading up to your draft. Currently, you can find each of those pitchers—whichever one or more you may have, or have had—filling up your DL spot(s) or off of your roster entirely.
Finding a replacement is easy, as most teams have named and renamed their closer as often as our prima donna athletes change their names. Some have stood firm with a guy that could later find himself with a new roll. Chances are you need a closer or are looking to improve in that area.
Relief pitching is something often overlooked come draft day. And in most leagues it makes sense to overlook closers. They are inconsistent. Closers can have a job one week and be out of one the next. Or like many of the pitchers I named, find themselves on the shelf. Here are a few guys you should buy and a few guys you should sell.
Buy
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers – The Javy Guerra train is no more and the Kenley Jansen train is leaving the station. He was recently named the closer as Guerra failed to earn a save after starting off the year so well. If he can stay healthy Jansen may be the guy the Dodgers go with until the end of the year. If he’s available in your league pick him up and drop the guy you’ve been thinking about dropping.
Addison Reed, Chicago White Sox – Manager Robin Ventura announced that his team would be returning to a closer-by-committee situation Friday, but don’t let that fool you. Addison Reed earned two saves in his last two appearances. If he continues to put batters in their seats he’ll find himself closing games consistently for his ball club.
Ryan Cook, Oakland Athletics – With Grant Balfour struggling to closeout games, the Athletics currently yield a relief pitcher who has allowed just 3 hits and no earned runs in 15.2 innings this season. If you can afford to hold onto a prospect, Cook might be the guy you grab. If not, keep an eye on him and Balfour. Cook may finish the year closing in Oakland.
Sell
Rafael Dolis, Chicago White Sox – Dolis is a popular guy among waiver wire discount shoppers. But he isn’t the guy you want. If you’re in dyer straights when it comes to saves, pick him up and hope that he puts a few decent outings together. Once he does that pair him together with a player and make a deal for something else. Dolis is not a guy to put much stock in the rest of the season. Marmol will find his way back into the closing roll before the end of the summer.
David Robertson, New York Yankees – Before the Mariana Rivera’s knee injury, the Yankees had relied on him to close games for 16-straight seasons. The shoes Robertson just jumped into are waist-high. Expect Rafael Soriano and Robertson to switch off until they find the guy who messes up the least. Stay away from the Yankees closer situation until told to do otherwise.
Grant Balfour, Oakland Athletics – Balfour has been on thin ice in Oakland for the last few days and it was reported Saturday night that Fuentes will be the Athletics’ new closer. Do yourself a favor and rid yourself of the guy. There are much better options available.
Fantasy Baseball – David Robertson for the Injured Mariano Rivera
David Robertson – No Savior
When Mariano Rivera went down with a freak batting practice injury, baseball took a hit losing a 42-year old legend with 608 career saves, for the season. With five full months left to play, the Yankees will likely turn to young David Robertson to fill the void created when Mo Rivera tore the ACL in his right knee. Robertson is 27-years-old and has recorded only 3 career saves over 216 career appearances out of the bullpen.
Robertson has electric stuff, his pitches move all over the strike zone and he had a breakout season last year, striking out 100 batters in just 66.2 innings. It is worth noting that the Yankees are turning to Robertson over Rafael Soriano who once saved 45 games in a season for Tampa Bay. The Yankee brass must have confidence in Robertson if they jumped him from a 7th inning guy to their closer.
Fantasy owners have taken note of the situation in New York and have reacted accordingly. In ESPN leagues, Robertson has jumped from being owned in 12.5% of leagues to 74.5% in just the last 7 days and 38% in Yahoo leagues. Robertson is worth keeping an eye but do not be overzealous in picking him up.
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Fantasy Baseball Video – Bryce Harper – Mike Trout
In this short yet potent video, we discuss two rookie sensations that can be found on the waiver wire: Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. We also reveal when Albert Pujols will be back to his own self.
2012 Fantasy Baseball Buy Low Sell High – TRADES
While the season is a long one, the first few weeks provide the best indications of which players are set to breakout and which players will do the opposite. Let’s take a look at some of these early buy-low and sell-high candidates.
There are always players that start the season off in a way that they have never played before; some may last the length of the season, while others come back to reality. These players fall under the ladder:
2012 Fantasy Baseball – Sell High
Carlos Pena, 1B Tampa Bay Rays
He’s on pace for a 198 RBI season if he continues playing at the rate he’s going. You and I both know he won’t reach half that. He’s also on pace for 180 strikeouts this year; a number much more likely to be reached.
Josh Willingham, OF Minnesota Twins
Willingham is one of five players who are tied with four home runs this year. Yet Willingham is the only one with four homers and a plus-.400 average. Don’t expect this to continue. Take advantage of this early trade bait and see who’s interested. Go ahead and use that first sentence in your offer. No attribution is needed.
Omar Infante, Chris Young and Corey Hart are all players that fall under this category. If you own them do yourself a favor and get a feel for your leagues trade market. Take advantage of the desperate owners in your league and send out a few emails.
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Offline 2012 Fantasy Baseball Draft – Live Offline Fantasy Baseball Draft Video
Video footage and analysis of an in-person, live, offline 2012 fantasy baseball draft filmed by Fantasy Couch.
It was an awesome experience filming these guys with their offline fantasy baseball draft in California. Even though it was only an 8-man fantasy baseball league it made for a perfect example of how an in-person draft should be run amongst friends and family. So many leagues and commissioners have trouble with people paying and losing interest mid-season, but with a small group of people you can trust, the experience is unmatched and does not compare to that of an online draft with complete strangers. You don’t have to worry about all the other things, just concentrate on MLB fantasy baseball and of course trash-talking!
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Hitters
Need some last minute help with your 2012 MLB fantasy baseball draft? Well, here are some last minute fantasy baseball sleepers (hitters) that you should look out for in your fantasy baseball draft. Make sure you visit my previous article of our 2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Pitchers.
Jemile Weeks, 2B, Oakland Athletics
This switch-hitting second baseman should be targeted with a late-round selection to see a very good return on the investment. He won’t have as much power as his brother Rickie, who will be taken with a mid-round pick, but Jemile will deliver a better batting average and could steal 30+ bags this season.
In 406 at-bats in his rookie season last year, Weeks hit .303 and had only two home runs. In 31 at-bats this Spring Training, he hit three home runs including a game with one from each side of the plate. Owners might see him hit around 10 long balls this season as the club’s everyday second baseman.
Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants
It’s not clear where Belt will play in the Giants lineup and how often, but the talent suggests that he should get the chance. He had a tough time making the transition the Big League last year but is much further along heading into this season. There’s a good change Belt will play a good number of games in the outfield which gives more versatility to your fantasy roster.
The former Texas Longhorn will make it hard for the Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy not to give him playing time down the stretch and has a great value as late-round sleeper.
Martin Prado, 3B/LF, Atlanta Braves
With Chipper Jones set to have knee surgery, Prado moves from left field to the hot corner and is assured plenty of at-bats in the No. 2 hole. The Venezuelan should get plenty of chances to score runs and he’s a good hitter, although the .260 batting average last season was a disappointment. He’s capable of hitting over .300 like he did in 10’ and 11’.
He will be on the board in the later part of most drafts and is a good utility player to have because of the OF eligibility.
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Pitchers
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012 Pitchers
The names of these pitchers on my 2012 fantasy baseball sleepers list created a wild fire in my brain and I just had to put them out with this spontaneous article. Let me know what you think of my list and if you have any baseball draft questions feel free to ask us on Twitter @fantasycouch. These pitchers are undervalued so be ready when the time comes to draft one of these sleepers in the mid-to-late rounds.
Johan Santana, NYM, SP – The concern with Santana is that he won’t make it through a full season without seeing the 60-day disabled list. He missed all of 2011 recovering from surgery to repair his throwing shoulder and is pitching well right now. In four Spring Training starts, just over 13 innings pitched, the lefty has a modest 3.38 era with one bad outing against the Tigers. His last start was six innings in which he allowed one run on six hits.
You’ll likely be able to get him towards the later part of your draft even though he’s starting to get hyped up a bit. Santana will have to be a ‘crafty’ pitcher going forward like Greg Maddux did in his older years; learning how to keep hitters off-balance and induce weakly hit balls. And the 33-year-old Venezuelan is capable of doing just that as long as he stays healthy.
A.J. Burnett, PIT, SP – Being back to the National League will be the best thing for Burnett who played his last six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees (three years apiece). He has proven to have “electric” stuff when at his best and is trying to revive his career as a grizzled vet. At least he won’t have to regularly face the AL East opponents or have the pressure of pitching in the Big Apple.
Burnett is carrying a 2.77 ERA through 13 innings pitched 11 punch-outs against nine hits allowed which is a good sign. When he can locate his fastball, the hard-throwing righty can be very effective with his offspeed stuff including a wicked, sweeping curveball. Look to pick him up off waivers in the end of April as he recovers from a broken orbital bone he suffered in early March trying to bunt at Pirates’ Spring Training facility.
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes
OF Yoenis Cespedes – Fantasy Baseball Player Profile
Here is the first of many 2012 fantasy baseball sleepers I will be profiling. If you are not a baseball junky like me, you may have never heard of a Cuban outfielder named Yoenis Cespedes until earlier this week. February 13th is when the Oakland Athletics surprised the baseball world and signed one of the most hyped Cuban baseball players ever. The small-market club with a highly questionable quartet of outfielders found a centerpiece to a potential future in San Jose and fantasy baseball domination. Let’s take a look at Cespedes and his potential on the field and on fantasy scoreboards.
For a player who has never suited up in the Majors, Cespedes garnered a healthy contract of 4 years and $36 million. Even the New York Times said Cespedes looked like Bo Jackson. The amount of money alone is enough to raise eyebrows on this man’s potential in the big leagues. While many international players have come in with hype, the only high-profile player who met and exceeded those high expectations, in my opinion, was Ichiro Suzuki, who embarrassed his critics along the way. That could be a cause for concern to some but not me. Cespedes is a special type of athlete who will not be fazed by the bright lights of The Show.
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