Drafting closers

[virgonomic]

I'm in my third year of a 14-team H2H 5x5. I dumped last year and traded for EE and a bunch of pick upgrades.

In terms of closers, Davis, Chapmen, Kimbrel, Jansen and Betances were kept.

I had the first pick (56 keepers gone) and took Kluber. When it got back to me Familia, Melancon, AMiller, Robertson and Rosenthal were gone. I drafted two "stud" closers in Giles and Allen. When it got back to me, Desmond was the best bat left. I almost immediately regretted drafting 2 closers so early and vowed to learn from it.

Papelbon, Tolleson, Storen, Casilla, Ziegler, McGee went in the next 3 rounds. Is that the time to draft closers?

One team who always finds himself playing for the title didn't draft any. I was eyeing Jeffress but he went before I could take him (14th ). I drafted Gregerson (17th) as a handcuff to Giles. I picked up Jeanmar during week 1.

So, as always, I could have waited until the middle rounds and still ended up with 3 closers.

I know every draft will be different. In my case, would it have been wiser to grab 2 bats instead of 2 closers and go from there? Beltre and Lucroy were the next 2 hitters drafted.

[overkill94]

I don't do many snake drafts anymore, but when the price becomes that high, I prefer to wait for the safe yet unexciting closers - guys like Papelbon, McGee, and Jeffress fell into that category this year. Sure you'll take a bit of a hit since you're not getting the elite K's but you still end up with guys who have pretty good job security, probably won't wreck your ratios, and allow you to draft more hitting early on.

[virgonomic]

I don't do many snake drafts anymore, but when the price becomes that high, I prefer to wait for the safe yet unexciting closers - guys like Papelbon, McGee, and Jeffress fell into that category this year. Sure you'll take a bit of a hit since you're not getting the elite K's but you still end up with guys who have pretty good job security, probably won't wreck your ratios, and allow you to draft more hitting early on.

Sounds like a solid plan. Closers are always available from the bottom teams (top 6 make playoffs) for the playoff run.

[Ken]

I don't do many snake drafts anymore, but when the price becomes that high, I prefer to wait for the safe yet unexciting closers - guys like Papelbon, McGee, and Jeffress fell into that category this year. Sure you'll take a bit of a hit since you're not getting the elite K's but you still end up with guys who have pretty good job security, probably won't wreck your ratios, and allow you to draft more hitting early on.

Agree, I don't like to pay for saves. I like to get a few cheap ones and see what pans out at the end. I usually pick up 2 of the last closers who actually have a job near the end of a draft and then get 1 or 2 setup guys in the reserve draft or free agency.

I think you actually should go in one of two directions - either get one of the ace closers (Kenley, Davis) or wait until the end game. The closer "aces" will get you Ks and help in your ratios. Getting the guys in the middle means you are paying a premium but getting basically the same value as those at the end (no help in ratios, very risky plays because they lose their jobs often).