Saves plus Holds

[Art Vandelay]

My league is making the switch this year. It's a 10 team AL only.

If an average of 72 saves gets me a 3rd place finish in years past, how many holds should I plan on having to add to stay around third in the category?

As stated earlier, this should bring the price on closers down. In this league SP costs have been rising over the last 3-4 years, can I expect to see a drop in price for the lower tier starters? More teams going for RP so lower tier SP are more plentiful type scenario?

In this league I typically have 5 SP maybe a guy who will become a SP by years end, two closer and 1 closer in waiting type. How could the change effect how I set my pitching staff? Should I plan for 5 SP 2 Hold types and 2 closers (assuming I can get high K RP)?

With more RP on rosters I'm guessing Whip and Era totals drop but how much should I plan for?

Good question especially with the rule change (a pitcher must face at least 3 batters)

[Moonlight J]

use saves + holds in my local NL league

[Big Tymer]

use saves + holds in my local NL league

In light of the fact that many bullpens are committee (and/or a mess altogether) I'm becoming a bigger advocate for this setup. Right now 1 of my 3 leagues use it but hoping to make it 2 with upcoming rule change votes. I've also done Saves + Holds/2 many years ago but that's unnecessary complexity.

[madducks]

IMO, using saves + holds as a category for pitchers would be like using home runs + singles as a category for hitters.

[Art Vandelay]

does the rule change to facing minimum 3 batters alter strategies regarding holds?

[joncarlos]

does the rule change to facing minimum 3 batters alter strategies regarding holds?

I don't think it changes that much? You probably weren't drafting LOOGYs, were you? A guy who gets 20 holds, 70 games, 45 innings, 37 Ks probably wasn't high on your target list. Or maybe he was? Those guys are gone (ish) now. Maybe that means slightly more holds for the "whole 8th inning" guys?

[onejayhawk]

I'm annoyed that PitcherList redid its format and they have zero articles on RP up. Granted it's early, but still. I pulled the 2019 actual using separate saves and holds, saves only and combined stats. Here is the top 15 each way, ignoring wins.

Separate - K, ERA, WHIP, SV, Hold

Josh Hader MIL RP
Kirby Yates SD RP
Liam Hendriks OAK SP/RP
Brandon Workman BOS RP
Taylor Rogers MIN RP
Yusmeiro Petit OAK RP
Emilio Pagan TB RP
Seth Lugo NYM SP/RP
Roberto Osuna HOU RP
Will Harris HOU RP
Ryan Pressly HOU RP
Giovanny Gallegos STL RP
Felipe Vazquez PIT RP
Will Smith SF RP
Aroldis Chapman NYY RP

Saves only - K, ERA, WHIP, SV

Kirby Yates SD RP
Josh Hader MIL RP
Liam Hendriks OAK SP/RP
Roberto Osuna HOU RP
Felipe Vazquez PIT RP
Will Smith SF RP
Aroldis Chapman NYY
Emilio Pagan TB RP
Taylor Rogers MIN RP
Brandon Workman BOS RP
Hector Neris PHI RP
Ken Giles TOR RP
Sonny Gray CIN SP/RP
Hansel Robles LAA RP
Shane Greene ATL RP
Brad Hand CLE RP

Combined - K, ERA, WHIP, SV+Hold

Josh Hader MIL RP
Kirby Yates SD RP
Liam Hendriks OAK SP/RP
Brandon Workman BOS RP
Emilio Pagan TB RP
Taylor Rogers MIN RP
Seth Lugo NYM SP/RP
Yusmeiro Petit OAK RP
Roberto Osuna HOU RP
Felipe Vazquez PIT RP
Giovanny Gallegos STL RP
Will Harris HOU RP
Ryan Pressly HOU RP
Will Smith SF RP
Aroldis Chapman NYY RP
Shane Greene ATL RP

[frae]

So last year was our first year doing SV+HLD and we are allowed to make daily lineup changes (not daily pickups) so people can use their bench spots on pitchers and rotate more guys in when their starters aren't playing. Still, just a data point for people to see. I am sure a weekly lineup league will have lower totals.

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