The hardest part of writing a fantasy baseball player profile for a magazine is when you get to a left-handed reliever.  There are only so many different things one can say when talking about them.  Rarely are lefty relievers turned into closers.  They are relievers usually because they failed as a starter.  John Sickles invented the name LOOGY (Lefty One Out Guy) to describe them and from a Roto perspective, that is all you need to know.

Baseball on the other hand appreciates these players.  There is a reason why a good lefty pitches well into their forties like a Dan Plesac or Jesse Orosco. 

Strat-O-Matic, as a simulation of baseball, appreciates the LOOGY.  Every manager has one.  As an owner of Jimmy Thome in two leagues, I’ve seen them all.

This week, I look at the left-handed relievers.

John Bale
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Possible Starter
Career: Nearly Done
Classification: Veteran

He’s not going to have a great card.  It isn’t even a LOOGY card.  He’s going to be 34 next year.  He hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2003.  Why am I writing about him?  The Royals are looking at moving him to rotation next year.  For some reason, I have him listed as signing a $4 million two-year deal in December of 2006.  Wait, he played in Japan.  Okay.  Maybe that makes sense.

Jon Coutlangus
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: Yes
2008 Role: LOOGY
Career: LOOGY
Classification: Prospect

The problem with his card will be the number of walks.  Not a big deal on the left side, but the right side is a concern.  He’ll be able to face a batter or two on the right side.

Justin Hampson
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: Yes
2008 Role: Middle Relief
Career: Middle Relief / Possible Setup
Classification: Prospect

The Padres were considering returning him to the rotation, but their free agent signings indicate that they have given up on that idea.  He is a hard thrower and pitches in San Diego, so he is solid option.  It is possible that he might become a setup man.

Sean Henn
2007 Role: Triple-A
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Possible Middle Reliever
Career: Middle Reliever
Classification: Prospect

You can’t use him this year.  He walks too many.  He gives up too many hits.  He’s failed as a starter.  But, he’s young for a left-hander.

Boone Logan
2007 Role: LOOGY
LOOGY: Yes
2008 Role: LOOGY
Career: LOOGY
Classification: Prospect

Logan was a surprise when he made the White Sox roster out of spring training in 2006 as a 21 year-old LOOGY.  He stopped throwing strikes and was demoted.  He had a bit more success in 2007, but he’s still only a LOOGY.

Jay Marshall
2007 Role: Triple-A
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Triple-A
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Prospects

The A’s picked him up in the Rule 5 draft and kept him on the roster all season.  The Red Sox claimed him off waivers in October.  They waived him to get him off the 40 man roster and the A’s took him back.  He then successfully cleared waivers.  Obviously, there is something about him if the Red Sox and A’s have had transaction wars over him.  You’ll have to wait and see.

Mark McLemore
2007 Role: Reverse Lefty
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Middle Relief
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Prospect

Not to be confused with the Mark McLemore utility player, this Mark McLemore is a reverse lefty, and a pretty good one if you are in a pitcher’s park.

Patrick Misch
2007 Role: LOOGY
LOOGY: Yes
2008 Role: Middle Relief / Spot Starter
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Prospect

The Giants tried Pat Misch in both the rotation and as a starter.  He has more success out of the bullpen, so I think that is how they will use him.  I do see him getting an occasional start.  For you, he’s a LOOGY.

Eric O’Flaherty
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: Yes
2008 Role: Middle Relief
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Prospect

Eric O’Flaherty has a low 90’s fastball and an excellent slider.  He’s the best lefty reliever we have seen so far.  From a card perspective, there will be few hits or walks on the left side.  The right side will be passable for a hitter or two.  This is what you are looking for in a lefty.

Rafael Perez
2007 Role: Setup
LOOGY: Yes
2008 Role: Setup
Career: Setup
Classification: Blue-Chip

Perez was a dominating reliever who teamed up with Rafael Betancourt.  While you could use him as a LOOGY, he is solid against both lefties and righties and will have one of the best reliever cards in the set.

Glen Perkins
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Middle Relief / Possible Starter
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Prospect

Glen Perkins was a starter in the minors but pitched out of the bullpen in the Majors.  The Twins haven’t given up on him as a starter, so we’ll have to see how they use him.  He has a reverse lefty card, making him a solid contributor out of a bullpen despite limited innings.

Ryan Rowland-Smith
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Middle Relief / Possible Starter
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Prospect

Like Glen Perkins, Ryan Rowland-Smith is a converted starter who might be converted back.   He has a slightly reversed card.  It is not a dominating card, but useful for an inning or two.

Bobby Seay
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: Yes
2008 Role: Middle Relief
Career: Iffy at Best
Classification: Veteran

Bobby Seay has pitched in the Major Leagues every year since 2003 and this is the first time that he has earned a card.  That should tell you something.  Yes, he will have a good left-handed reliever card with 46 innings, but he’s never been successful enough to stay before, so I’m not sure if he will in the future.

Doug Slaten
2007 Role: Middle Relief
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Middle Relief
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Prospect

Doug Slaten had a solid LOOGY card until he gave up a home run to Ryan Church.  That is the rub for relievers, one bad outing ruins a perfectly good card.  Still, he pitched well enough that he is worth a late round pick on speculation.

Jack Taschner
2007 Role: Reverse Lefty
LOOGY: No
2008 Role: Middle Relief
Career: Middle Relief
Classification: Veteran

Although he has an ERA of 5.40, he had fewer hits than innings pitched and struck out slightly more than an inning.  His reverse lefty card will be appreciated.  I’m not sure if he’ll repeat, but he does pitch in pitcher friendly San Francisco.

Lefty Reliever Analysis

There are some choices here!  Perez is certainly a dominating setup man.  You have some other choices that may increase or decrease in value depending on what you think of lefty starters.

Lefty Reliever Grades
Grade A
1.) Rafael Perez
Grade B
2.) Eric O’Flaherty
3.) Glen Perkins
4.) Ryan Rowland-Smith
5.) Justin Hampson
6.) Bobby Seay
7.) Jack Taschner
8.) Mark McLemore
Grade C
9.) Doug Slaten
10.) Jay Marshall
11.) Patrick Misch
12.) Sean Henn

Simple LOOGY’ies
1.) Jon Coutlangus
2.) Boone Logan

I’ve completed the look at all the positions.  At this point, I usually wait until Strat releases the numbers and I calculate my cheat sheets.  Strat hasn’t announced when that will happen, so we’ll have to play it by ear.

I’m going to assume that next week I’ll be talking about something other than prospects.  I have a great strategy article I’ve been working on until the numbers come out.   

JP Kastner is the winner of the 2007 Strat-O-Matic Baseball Online Expert League World Series.  In five seasons of SOMBOE, JP Kastner has five winning seasons, four playoff appearances, three World Series appearances and now one World Championship.  He is in his second season in the Tout Wars mixed league.