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It hasn't been hard writing this column on a weekly basis, that's for sure. Whether it's been a veteran closer struggling and losing his role, a stopper felled by injury, or a guy who was handed the role in spring training who has since proven he doesn't have what it takes, 2008 has seen a plethora of moves within the closer ranks. From a writer's standpoint, I can't complain. I'm like the stand-up comic who catches someone trying to sneak into their seat 10 minutes after the show's begun. At that point, material begins to flow from the heavens. It's almost the end of May and there are no less than a half-dozen major league teams whose situation at closer is less than stable. And if you play in a deep league where all but a few "closers" are available via waivers or free agency, you're most likely feeling the same effects. In some respects, the job of a fantasy owner is much tougher than that of a real-life manager, if only because your decisions are sometimes based on their whims. Sure, on-the-field performance should dictate their decisions/strategies, but unfortunately, for the fantasy leaguer, real-life managers have to wrestle with more than just statistical categories. Salaries, loyalty, injuries, and owners (in no specific order) often carry a currency much greater than what you see in a box score. Sure, the bottom line is winning games, but there are behind-the-scenes issues that often determine who gets what role, how long they stay in that role, and who's next in line should that player fail. That's where I come in. I'll watch the games, I'll do the math, I'll read the hometown papers, and I'll talk to the insiders I know around the league (okay, so he's really an "outsider" who sells hot dogs in the parking lot but hey, he keeps his ears to the streets), in an effort to provide you with the best advice I can possibly give. If you happen to disagree with my analysis or if you know more than I do about a particular team and their closer situation, send me an email or two and set me straight. Unlike other fantasy sites where it might seem like a miracle to get your email posted in a mailbag, you can be sure, I'll give credit where credit is due. 
Photo Cedit: ISU_79
Without further ado, I now present to you the May 23rd (submitted May 21st) edition of "Closers: The Pecking Order".
"On Board" JJ Putz, SEA
Congratulations if you were able to acquire him for anything less than his true value. Seven straight scoreless innings for JJ.
5-for-7, 12 IP, 15 K's, 3.75 ERA, 1.83
Next in line: Mark Lowe
3rd in line: Ryan Rowland-Smith Mariano Rivera, NYY
Mo's still producing while his team is struggling.
11-for-11, 18 IP, 14 K's, 0.50 ERA, 0.56 WHIP.
Next in line: Joba Chamberlain
3rd in line: Kyle Farnsworth/LaTroy Hawkins Jonathan Papelbon, BOS
Pap's looking a tad more human this year, but he's still elite.
13-for-15, 22 IP, 27 K's, 2.45 ERA, .86WHIP
Next in line: Hideki Okajima
3rd in line: Craig Hansen/Mike Timlin Joe Nathan, MIN
Business as usual for Mr. Nathan.
13-for-13, 18 IP, 18 K's, 1.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
Next in line: Juan Rincon
3rd in line: Bobby Korecky Billy Wagner, NYM
Not sure if those of you outside the NYC area heard about it (especially since the two announcers covering the nationally televised game pretty much ignored it), but there was quite a firestorm surrounding Wagner this past week. Once again, I don't blame him.
9-for-10, 17 IP, 19 K's, 0.00 ERA, .71 WHIP
Next in line: Duaner Sanchez
3rd in line: Joe Smith Brad Lidge, PHI
Unbelievable start this season.
11-for-11, 20 IP, 23 K's, 0.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
Next in line: Tom Gordon
3rd in line: JC Romero Francisco Rodriguez, LAA
K-rod walked the bases loaded in his last appearance but struck out Alex Rios to garner the save.
18-for-19, 19.1 IP, 16 K's, 2.79 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
Next in line: Scot Shields
3rd in line: Justin Speier Matt Capps, PIT
As far as closers are concerned, Matt Capps is the shining star of the NL Central. He's 28-for-30 since becoming the Buc's full-time closer last June.
10-for-10, 19.2 IP, 12 K's, 2.75 ERA, 1.07 WHIP
Next in line: John Grabow
3rd in line: Damaso Marte George Sherrill, BAL
Sherrill and the Orioles are surprising everybody.
17-for-19, 21 IP, 16 K's, 3.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
Next in line: Greg Aquino
3rd in line: Chad Bradford Bobby Jenks, CHI (AL)
Jenks is really starting to come on now. Chicago's recent hot streak has allowed him to pick up four saves in the past week.
11-for-13, 19.1 IP, 12 K's, 1.86 ERA, 1.03 WHIP
Next in line: Octavio Dotel
3rd in line: Scott Linebrink Todd Jones, DET
His ERA and WHIP aren't ever going to be pretty, so if he's not saving games, he's pretty much worthless (not as a person, as a fantasy closer). Why he's here, you ask? Mark your calendars; the Tigers win this past Tuesday night is the start of something special.
7-for-7, 16.2 IP, 6 K's, 4.32 ERA, 1.38 WHIP
Next in line: Francisco Cruceta
3rd in line: Zach Miner Francisco Cordero, CIN
Frankie's first blown save last week must've made him angry. He returned this week to save two games, striking out five in just two innings.
9-for-10, 19.1 IP, 23 K's, 2.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
Next in line: Jeremy Affeldt
3rd in line: Kent Mercker Jose Valverde, HOU
Valverde's gone 16.2 innings without allowing a run. He's been awfully busy as well, on pace for almost 85 IP this season. Keep in mind, he's never pitched more than 66.1 innings in any season at the minor league or major league level. Just something to put in your back pocket.
13-for-16, 24 IP, 29 K's, 3.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Next in line: Doug Brocail
3rd in line: Oscar Villarreal Joakim Soria, KC
There's no way his ERA was going to remain perfect all year. We know that, and Kansas City knows that.
11-for-11, 17.1 IP, 20 K's, 1.04 ERA. 0.40 WHIP
Next in line: Jimmy Gobble
3rd in line: Leo Nunez Takashi Saito, LAD
Picked up a cheap one on Tuesday night, getting one out for his 7th save. He should be over the flu by now. Plug and play.
7-for-9, 18.2 IP, 20 K's, 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP
Next in line: Jonathan Broxton
3rd in line: Joe Beimel Troy Percival, TB
Percival has allowed two earned runs in his last two appearances but still converted saves in both. Currently on pace for 46 saves, he's certainly been a pleasant surprise this season.
13-for-15, 19 IP, 18 K's, 2.84 ERA, 0.68 WHIP
Next in line: Dan Wheeler
3rd in line: Al Reyes Huston Street, OAK
Combine Street's inactivity (still hasn't had a save opportunity since May 5th) with a Jairo Garc..um, I mean Santiago Casilla's injury (mild strained elbow ligament), and you've got a closer who's job is still safe. He did pitch two innings, striking out five, this past Monday.
9-for-11, 20.1 IP, 24 K's, 4.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP
Next in line: Keith Foulke
3rd in line: Joey Devine Kerry Wood, CHI (NL)
Kerry's stock is rising. Buy with confidence.
10-for-13, 22.2 IP, 22 K's, 3.57 ERA, .79 WHIP
Next in line: Carlos Marmol
3rd in line: Bob Howry Trevor Hoffman, SD
Five straight saves and six straight scoreless innings. Forget an old Hoffman, he's looking like the Hoffman of old.
9-for-11, 13.2 IP, 15 K's, 4.61 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
Next in line: Heath Bell
3rd in line: Cla Meredith Kevin Gregg, FLA
Gregg picked up the save after pitching 1.2 innings against the D'backs on Tuesday night. Now that my friends, is a save.
8-for-9, 22.1 IP, 15 K's, 2.42 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
Next in line: Matt Lindstrom
3rd in line: Taylor Tankersley Brandon Lyon, ARI
This week will be interesting. Max Scherzer either gets a trip back to the minors or remains in the bullpen. Regardless, I still don't think Bob Melvin makes a move with Lyon. With 17 straight scoreless frames, he's been far too dominant to lose his job (never thought I'd use "dominant" and "Lyon" in the same sentence).
12-for-14, 20 IP, 15 K's, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Next in line: Chad Qualls
3rd in line: Tony Pena Brian Fuentes, COL
Since taking over for Manny Corpas, Fuentes has gone 9.2 IP, with 10 K's, 1.96 ERA, 1.19 WHIP. In other words, he's remained consistently solid.
6-for-8, 19.2 IP, 17 K's, 2.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Next in line: Taylor Bucholtz
3rd in line: Matt Herges Jon Rauch, WAS
Like many a closer before him, Rauch entered a non-save situation and lost Tuesday night. No worries here.
7-for-9, 22.1 IP, 19 K's, 2.78 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
Next in line: Luis Ayala
3rd in line: Saul Rivera BJ Ryan, TOR
BJ hit his first bump in the road this past Sunday. No reason to panic, I'm still on board.
9-for-9, 14 IP, 17 K's, 0.64 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
Next in line: Scott Downs
3rd in line: Jesse Carlson
"On the Fence"
Brian Wilson, SF
The "Beach Boy" has given up six earned runs in his last two appearances, yet still managed to walk away with a save. Shaky outings like this made me doubt him in the first place.
13-for-15, 18.2 IP, 20 K's, 5.79 ERA, 1.66 WHIP
Next in line: Tyler Walker
3rd in line: Brad Hennessey
"On the Ledge"
Ryan Franklin, STL
2-for-4, 22 IP, 11 K's, 1.64 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
Franklin's done a fine job since Izzy went down, but there's a new kid on the block emerging in St. Louis and his name is Chris Perez. Here are his minor league numbers: 56 saves, 101.2 IP, 131 K's, 2.58 ERA, 1.23 WHIP He's excelled at Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, and he's already impressed the few major leaguers he's faced in the past few days. Perez is the closer of the future in St. Louis; perhaps that future starts now. Manny Acosta, ATL
The saves haven't been there, but Manny's actually settled into a nice groove of late. The fact that Rafael Soriano and John Smoltz are still iffy, helps Acosta retain some value.
3-for-3, 23 IP, 13 K's, 3.13 ERA, 1.43 WHIP
Next in line: Jeff Bennett
3rd in line: Blaine Boyer
John Smoltz update: Smoltz put the kibosh on media updates earlier this week saying, "I will report to you when I'm ready," after his private 15-minute session in the cages beneath Turner Field. "I'm not going to be subject to being put on the death cart or any reading between the lines. So today ends the reports on my shoulder, and when I get back in the game is the next time we talk about it." Any chance he read last week's column? Eric Gagne, MIL
It's funny, there are people who believed that Gagne's job was actually safer after he declared himself fit to close games last week. Why's that funny? Because he's progressively gotten worse each time out. To have a WHIP over two this late in the season is incredulous. Gagne complained of shoulder stiffness after giving up two earned runs in two-thirds of an inning on Tuesday night, so he may not be on this list much longer.
10-for-15, 19.1 IP, 18 K's, 6.98 ERA, 2.02 WHIP
Next in line: Solomon Torres
3rd in line: Guillermo Mota/Brian Shouse Every Body, CLE
After Masa Kobayashi blew his chance, Eric Wedge has all but stated it's a committee, at least until Joe Borowski comes back. Here are your candidates: Jensen Lewis
Rafael Perez
Masa Kobayashi
Rafael Betancourt In other words, no need to run to the waiver wire.
CJ Wilson, TEX
8-for-10, 19.2 IP, 10 K's, 5.03 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
I'll let Ron Washington fill you in on the pecking order (although if it were me, I'd lose the "if" at the beginning of his second sentence).
"The situation is going to dictate. If C.J. can't go, Eddie is going to get the ball. If he's unavailable, then [Benoit] will get it."
"On the Shelf"
Rafael Soriano, ATL
As of this writing, Soriano is reporting to Double-A Mississippi to begin a rehab assignment. He's an interesting (albeit speculative) pickup at this point, especially considering the big fat question mark surrounding Smoltz's return. I'd like to see him back in the bigs before I can vouch for him.
1 for 1, 4 IP, 5 K's, 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP Joe Borowski, CLE
It's hard to get excited about Borowski's return, but I'll say what I've said since the beginning of the season - if he's healthy and closing, you can count on saves in volume. He threw a scoreless frame in the minors on Monday, and was scheduled to throw one more on Wednesday (which of course, will have been two days before you read this).
2-for-4, 4 IP, 3 K's, 18.00 ERA, 2.75 WHIP (I giggled just now typing that.) Jason Isringhausen, STL
At the moment, Izzy's out with a lacerated right hand (supposedly, the result of punching a television in the clubhouse). But there's a larger issue at work here - Jason simply doesn't feel like he can get the job done anymore. When that happens to a veteran closer, there's no telling if they'll ever make it back.
11-for-17, 18 IP, 12 K's, 8.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP
Paul Bourdett's been eating, breathing, and sleeping closers for the past two months. Give him a break by elevating the level of discourse, at least for a few moments, via email @
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