It is that time of year; closer in waiting time.  As fantasy owners realize that their closer situation isn’t perhaps as good as expected, or acknowledge that it wasn’t really any good after the draft, closers in waiting gain incredible value.

 

Prior to Trevor Hoffman’s blowup, Heath Bell was a solid middle reliever who might get a shot at closing.  Now, he is on everybody’s radar.  Brandon Lyon was on thin ground even during Spring Training, yet he went an average of ten rounds before Tony Pena in most drafts.  If the drafts were today, Pena would be almost neck and neck with Lyon.

 

J.J. Putz has a rib cage injury.  Enter the little known Mark Lowe.  Who is Lowe, anyway?  Lowe is a 24 year old right handed relief pitcher who happens to be in line to take over for Putz while J.J. rehabs.  How long is Putz out?  That is anyone’s guess.  Lowe pitched in 4 games last season for Seattle, with an ERA of 6.75 in just 2 2/3 innings.  In 2006, Lowe threw 18 2/3 innings, striking out 20, and posting a 1.93 ERA for the Mariners.  He is, however, pretty much unproven.  Yet, I imagine that owners in need will spend as much as 35% of the free agent acquisition budget to acquire this unproven talent.  It bears noting that the first time a closer was necessary, Seattle went with Miguel Batista. 

 

Closers in waiting will come, and others will go.  Just like last season, for every Jeremy Accardo there are at least five Mike Gonzalez or John Rauch type players.  It’s not always talent, but opportunity and execution.  As of this writing, Lowe hasn’t saved a single game, and hasn’t even been called on to try to save a game.  I suppose that, theoretically, he could save as many as about twenty (if Putz is out for an extended period of time), although honestly, even ten saves would seem to be quite a reach.  If Lowe gets even five saves, then that will be a lot.  Considering the cost, Lowe just doesn’t seem to be worth the investment.

 

Johnny Cueto looked amazing on Thursday.  If Cueto is available in your deep or moderately deep league, well, let’s be honest, he isn’t available.  If you are in a very shallow league, think twice, as Cueto is just 22 years old, he pitches in a hitters’ park, and the Reds aren’t very good.  Virtually every fantasy source is suggesting that Cueto is the second coming, but I’d like to see a bigger sample size before we start fitting his cap for Cooperstown.

 

Xavier Nady is on fire, but by the time that you pick him up, he will have cooled off.  Don’t bother.  In closing this rather short column this week, consider this.  As of Friday, Rich Harden was third in the majors in innings pitched (just 2/3 innings back of the co-leaders).  Never thought you’d read that, huh?  Harden is also tied for the major league lead in strikeouts with 15, and has an ERA of 0.82.  He could (and likely will) break down sometime, but in the meantime, enjoy the ride.

 

Best of luck. 

 

Buster