Coffee Is For Closers Only – “Always Be Closing! _(Profanity Laced Tirade Here)
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The Closers job in the MLB is a rough negotiation. Saving games does not necessarily quantify an awesome reliever or not, but the stat category still remains both played up for fantasy, and something to reference.
For the tops in most of the leagues in 2014, you must have look towards the top clubs 1st.
In Oakland, I think Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson will take turns saving contests. The same thing may happen in Los Angeles – where Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen may also both see time as the clubs Closer.
Mariano Rivera led the league in saves 3 different times, has finished 5 times in the top five for the AL CY Young. He is the ALL-Time Saves Leader, the ALL-Time Games Finished Leader, Has and 0.70 ERA in postseason to go along with another 42 Saves. Rivera is also the active Leader in WHIP (1.00), ERA (2.21) and was a 13 time ALL-Star. It was a privilege to watch his last brilliant season during 2013. Having Said that, it will be a new season in MLB 2014 without him.
The New York Yankees will be starting the season having David Robertson replace the ALL – Time Saves leader in Mariano Rivera.
The Cardinals may use multiple players for the position, and I am not of the thought process that the Orioles and Bucs will have enough opportunities to nail games down.
The Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox could end up using several different Relievers to take down the 9th inning.
A glaring omission from this list will 3 time reigning NL Saves Leader Craig Kimbrel. I think the will end up with low 40′s in Saves this year.
So who is left?
5. Grant Balfour, TB – 45
The Aussie just signed a 2 Year Deal – to return to the Rays for $12 MIL – where the Tampa Bay franchise has the 2nd most amount of wins in the last 6 years. Many of their Closers have been sniffing the leaderboard in the American League. The club plays a lot of tight – knit games, and should provide Balfour with many chances to set a career in Saves. Last year, the 36 Year Old set his lifetime mark of 38 gamed nailed down.
4. Sergio Romo, SF – 46
Romo will be 31 when the MLB season starts. Last campaign, the 6 year Veteran registered 38 Saves for San Francisco. If the Giants can also improve on their 76 win year, this should help. Romo took the Closers role in 2012, when former Giant Brian Wilson went down to injury. He was the Closer on the team’s 2nd World Championship in 3 years.
3. Rafael Soriano, WSH – 48
Rafael Soriano has registered 40+ Saves in this last 3 years of Closing (he did spend 1 year in New York setting up Rivera in 2011). He had 43 Saves out of the clubs 86 wins in 2013. Washington should have more wins in 2014 to create more opportunities.
2. Joe Nathan, DET – 49
Joe Nathan is still one of the best closers the game of baseball has ever seen. The 39 year old came off one of his best seasons, registering a WHIP of .90 and an ERA of 1.33 amidst his 43 Saves and 74 SO. Nathan will also bring plenty of playoff experience to Detroit. Lets just hope if the Tigers make it back to the playoffs, that he can improve in his career postseason ERA of 9.00 in 9 IP. Nathan was inked to a 2 YR Deal this winter, worth $20 MIL, with a Team Option of $10 MIL for 2016. This doesn’t end all of the teams Relief woes, but it gives them the best Closer that was on the Free Agent Market. Nathan should have plenty of chances to ply his craft in 2014 with the Starting Rotation he will follow in 2014.
1. Greg Holland, KC – 52
Greg Holland had an unbelievable year in 2013, with a 1.21 ERA and 47 Saves (2nd in the American League) in his 67 IP worth of work. Holland mowed down 103 batters during that time frame. Kansas City will give him ample attempts in 2014 – with close games contested, and the franchise should win around 90 games. He is the MLB Reports pick to lead the MLB in Saves for 2014.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com ***
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A big thank-you goes out to Our ‘Chief Writer‘ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured article. Hunter is a Baseball Writer for MLB reports.
Hunter grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia and played baseball with Sheldon Bream (Sid Bream‘s son) at Liberty University in the NCAA.
His favorite player is Brian Wilson (how could you guess?), and he hates when people can’t think outside the box!
His favorite expression – is ‘ this At Bat is about ten seconds away from a Toe – Tag!
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Tagged: brian wilson, criag kimbrel, fantasy baseball, fantasy draft, fantasy MLB, greg holland, joe nathan, kenley jansen, luke gregerson, mariano rivera, rafael soriano, Save Leaders in mlb 2014, sergio romo
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