2K17: Closer and Bullpen

[joncarlos]

Joe Blanton signs with the Nats, giving them one more option for their closer mess, and I guess reducing the odds they trade for David Robertson?

[joncarlos]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2017/02/28/new-reds-bullpen-reboot-old-idea/98540110/

Reds manager Bryan Price has talked about it since the middle of last season. He doesn’t want to get “cliché” with his bullpen, he said. And with a pair of young former starters ready to take over the late innings in Raisel Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen, the Reds are poised to have a set of alternating, multi-inning closers.

[SlideRule]

Sam Dyson (TEX) is often near the bottom of these closer lists. Who is the handcuff there? Matt Bush? Keone Kela? FanGraphs seems to be pretty bullish on Bush (and less so on Kela).

[Moonlight J]

Sam Dyson (TEX) is often near the bottom of these closer lists. Who is the handcuff there? Matt Bush? Keone Kela? FanGraphs seems to be pretty bullish on Bush (and less so on Kela).

Matt Bush has the chops to get it done

[chancellor]

Matt Bush has the chops to get it done

He does, though I think they'll turn first to the guy with "real closing experience" in Jeffress.

[Ken]

He does, though I think they'll turn first to the guy with "real closing experience" in Jeffress.

I don't see that from the Texas honestly.

2016 closer Sam Dyson had 0 saves before coming to TX.
2015 closer Shawn Tolleson had 0 saves before coming to TX.
2014 closer Joakim Soria had not closed since 2011

The Rangers seem to try to put their best reliever in the closer role, regardless of past history.

It's starting to look like that may be Bush and if Dyson starts to falter I could see Bush in the role quickly.

[virgonomic]

Rankings courtesy of closermonkey:

Tier 1
1. Kenley Jansen
2. Aroldis Chapman
3. Zach Britton

Analysis: Not much to say about these guys. For the sake of semantics, we have Jansen above Chapman mainly because the Dodgers could win 100 games. Britton slots in behind them because his strikeout totals won’t be as high.

Tier 2
4. Wade Davis
5. Seung-Hwan Oh
6. Craig Kimbrel
7. Edwin Diaz
8. Mark Melancon
9. Kelvin Herrera
10. Ken Giles
11. Roberto Osuna
12. Cody Allen

Analysis: With one exception, these guys all fit the blueprint for a model closer in 2017: Strikeout artists who are largely successful at keeping the ball in the ballpark. Mark Melancon is the only guy who doesn’t fit that mold, strikeout-wise, but his cutter has so much movement that hitters can’t make good contact, allowing him to defy his metrics for years. The most interesting name on this list is Edwin Diaz, whose numbers from last year projected over a full season are pretty staggering. He’ll have to prove he can handle the rigors of a full season, but his upside is tremendous.

Tier 3
13. David Robertson
14. AJ Ramos
15. Jeurys Familia
16. Sam Dyson
17. Alex Colome

Analysis: Everyone here is likely to be reliable, though they’ve all got a question mark or two that keeps them from cracking the second tier. Respectively, those question marks are: trade rumors, a great supporting cast that will result in a quick hook if he struggles, a likely suspension, meh strikeout totals, and a revitalized Brad Boxberger.

Tier 4
18. Tony Watson
19. Jim Johnson
20. Francisco Rodriguez

Analysis: Eh they’ll be fine. You know, probably.

Tier 5
21. Neftali Feliz
22. Raisel Iglesias
23. Ryan Madson
24. Adam Ottavino
25. Shawn Kelley
26. Huston Street
27. Brandon Maurer
28. Fernando Rodney

Analysis: Now we’re getting down to the moneymakers. Every year, a couple closers in everyone’s bottom 10 wind up having perfectly decent, or even good, seasons, and the people who took them get great value for their late draft picks. The players on this list to watch most closely are Adam Ottavino and Shawn Kelley, who would move up a tier or two if they win the closer role out of Spring Training.

Tier 6
29. Brandon Kintzler
30. Jeanmar Gomez

[madducks]

Huston Street getting an MRI after experiencing right triceps irritation. Time to bump up Bedrosian.

[revo]

Huston Street getting an MRI after experiencing right triceps irritation. Time to bump up Bedrosian.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Saturday that Huston Street was diagnosed with a Grade one lat strain.
He won't throw for the next 3-4 weeks before being re-evaluated. This certainly puts Opening day in jeopardy for him and opens the door for Cam Bedrosian or Andrew Bailey to begin the season in the closer's role.
Source: Pedro Moura on TwitterMar 4 - 12:25 PM

[mjl]

The Nationals haven't announced a closer yet, and though he's a bit of a dark horse because he's young and basically played at every level of the majors last year, Koda Glover has pitched three innings in ST so far with one hit, no walks, and seven Ks.

[joncarlos]

Who do you have as the Cubs' backup closer? I think it's Rondon, but they've also got Koji and Strop and, oh by the way, the guy who closed out game 7 of the World Series.

[Sour Masher]

I'd be shocked if it wasn't Rondon. On most teams, he'd be the clear closer.

[Gregg]

Who do you have as the Cubs' backup closer? I think it's Rondon, but they've also got Koji and Strop and, oh by the way, the guy who closed out game 7 of the World Series.

Everything I hear (and read) is Rondon is the backup closer.

[chancellor]

I'd be shocked if it wasn't Rondon. On most teams, he'd be the clear closer.

Same here, though there is the Maddon factor to consider

[Hornsby]

Who do you have as the Cubs' backup closer? I think it's Rondon, but they've also got Koji and Strop and, oh by the way, the guy who closed out game 7 of the World Series.

I think that it's going to be Either Uehara or CJ Edwards...for some reason Maddon just doesn't seem to trust Rondon.