Mariano Rivera, Yankees

What’s this?  The final Pen Names of June already?  Wow, time really flies when you’re having fun.  And this is fun, in case anyone was wondering.  Think about it…  This is the same stuff you talk to your friends about while drinking, or between innings of your company softball game, except I get paid enormous sums of money to write about it from week to week.  Plus, there’s all the fame that necessarily accompanies the vast fortune.  I normally try to downplay the impact of this job on my life and upon the lives of others, but it is what it is and it’s a good job—a really good job.  I can’t tell you how many times I have someone pull me aside at some big society event and ask me, “Hey, aren’t you that guy that writes Pen Names?”  I can’t tell you because, well, it has yet to happen, even once.  I’m convinced that it will, eventually, and when it does it will be perhaps the defining moment of my life—a life that apparently has yet to be adequately defined.  Does this make me a failure?  A late bloomer?  Both?

On to defining the closer position…

New York, NY: Mariano Rivera earned a save on June 28, the 500^th of his illustrious career—dare I say it, a Hall of Fame career?  Boy, that’s going out on a limb.  Well, it’s really not, when you get right down to it.  After all, the Hall of Fame voters haven’t been kind to relief pitchers in the past.  At present count, baseball’s Hall of Fame really only has six (count ‘em, six) players enshrined at Cooperstown that would chiefly qualify as relief pitchers: Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Dennis Eckersley, and Rich “Goose” Gossage.  And, of those, Eckersley spent some 13 seasons as a starter.  This tells us that relievers are somewhat overlooked in the context of baseball history, and the save in particular is not highly valued.  The top two on the all-time saves leaderboard (Trevor Hoffman and Rivera) aren’t yet Hall of Fame eligible, but others such as Lee Smith, John Franco, Jeff Reardon, and Randy Myers will likely never receive more than a passing courtesy vote—if that.  In fact, outside of Hoffman and Rivera, I have a tough time seeing anyone in on today’s top TWENTY list making the cut (present inductees notwithstanding).  Take a look at the list yourself and tell me what you think: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SV_career.shtml

Miami, FL: Matt Lindstrom, the pitcher with the 6.52 ERA and 1.90 WHIP, went on the DL with a bad arm.  Did it really take a trip to the DL to make fantasy owners realize Lindstrom has a bad arm?  I think not.  Really, aside from his 14 saves, Lindstrom really shouldn’t have been owned in any format.  Every other pitcher in the Marlins bullpen has pitched more effectively this year and now a few of the will get the chance to showcase their stuff at the back-end of the team’s bullpen. 

Leo Nunez (3SV, 13HLD) earned the most recent save for the Marlins, but Dan Meyer (1.99ERA, 0.85WHIP) and Kiko Calero (currently on the DL himself) could also see time in the role.  I suppose Nunez is the frontrunner as of right now, but the rumor mill has the Marlins shopping for a potential replacement, so keep abreast of the news as it impacts this situation.

Washington D.C.: One name that probably won’t be entering into the trade mix in Florida is Joel Hanrahan (0-3, 7.71ERA), now formerly of the Washington Nationals.  Hanrahan, the early-season closer for the Nats was shipped to Pittsburgh in a four-player deal that all but ends his relevance as even a potential closer.  He’ll be stuck behind Matt Capps with the Pirates, where he’ll even have difficulty finding a foothold as a reliable set-up man.  This further cements Mike MacDougal as the closer in Washigton—at least until a better option emerges, which we all hope happens sooner rather than later.  On the year, three other players have earned saves for Washington, and none of them (Joe Beimel, Julian Tavarez, Kip Wells) has really stirred the collective interest of we, the wanting public.  One dark-horse candidate to keep an eye on is 2009 first round draftee, Drew Storen who some speculate could be pushed into Major League action this year.

Pen Name rankings…

First Tier (the best of the best):

1. Mariano Rivera, Yankees: He just saved his 500^th career game, so he gets the bump.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers: Looks like consecutive rocky outings were outliers.
3. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: He’s good, even if occasionally scary to watch.
4. Joe Nathan, Twins: 1.50ERA, 0.80WHIP compliment his 19 saves rather well.
5. Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox: Tied the Red Sox all-time SV record with no. 132.
6. Heath Bell, Padres: NL leader in saves, sub-1.00WHIP.  He’s just, well, awesome.

Second Tier:

7. Ryan Franklin, Cardinals: Check whatever rankings your league uses and state why not.
8. Bobby Jenks, White Sox: His K/IP ratio is back up and so is his value.
9. Francisco Cordero, Reds: 1.97ERA, 1.16WHIP very un-Cordero like, and that’s good.
10. Huston Street, Rockies: Back to being a dominant closer after a long dry spell
11. Trevor Hoffman, Brewers: 5.40 June ERA pause for concern?

Third Tier:

12. Aaron Bailey, Athletics: Still not racking up saves, but his strikeouts are helpful anyway.
13. Joakim Soria, Royals: He finally notched a post-DL save.  Things are looking up.
14. Jose Valverde, Astros: He did lead the NL in saves 2 straight years.
15. Brian Fuentes, Angels: ML SVs leader and having a scoreless June—both good.
16. Brian Wilson, Giants: Getting better by the month, but he’s still not elite.
17. Frank Francisco, Rangers: Having some trouble gaining a foothold after coming back.

Fourth Tier:

18. Mike Gonzalez/ Rafael Soriano, Braves: Either one a good option; Bobby Cox agrees.
19. George Sherrill, Orioles: Trade rumors swirl, but he keeps on saving games regardless.
20. Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: Good closer on a bad team.  It happens.
21. Matt Capps, Pirates: He’s straightened out his season, much to the delight of his owners.
22. David Aardsma, Mariners: He’s probably pitched better than his ranking indicates.

Fifth Tier:

23. Brad Lidge, Phillies: Madson can go back to the role he’s more suited for (middle relief).
24. Kerry Wood, Indians: This is just going to be “one of those years”, I’m afraid.
25. Fernando Rodney, Tigers: He’ll never be an asset in anything other than saves.
26. Kevin Gregg, Cubs: What can I say?  I’m not a Kevin Gregg guy.  Is anyone?

Some “other” names:

27. J.P. Howell, Rays: He’s been good in any role he’s pitched in.  Why not closer?
28. Mike MacDougal, Nationals: He’s been pretty good, but for how long can that last?
29. Committee?, Blue Jays: Downs may be out longer than first expected. Whose job is it?
30. Leo Nunez?, Marlins: No one pitcher will close out of the gate, but Nunez did it last.

“Holding On” is the part of Pen Names where we turn our collective attention to those “other” members of the relief corps around baseball, the middle relievers, set-up men, and, in many cases, the Holds candidates.  We like to think of the Holding On nominees as the “best of the rest” of the Major League relief world.  This week’s best of the rest…

Joel Peralta, Rockies: 6HLDs and 9K/9 over the last 30 days are encouraging numbers.

Mitch Stetter, Brewers: 19 Ks in 15 June innings, to go with 5 holds and a save.

Brandon Lyon, Tigers: 0.56ERA and 0.63WHIP in June make him fantasy relevant again.

Joe Nelson, Rays: Ratios (0.79ERA, 0.26WHIP) over last month look damn good.

Justin Speier, Angels: 13 Ks in his last 9 IP with 3 HLDs tell us he’s the new set-up man.

If you want to email, you can reach me at: damianschaab@sportsgrumblings.com

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