2) You can get saves off the free agent list, but they'll probably take a toll on your ERA and WHIP
My team has 103 saves this year, good for second in the league. I drafted K-Rod in the 9th round and Cordero in the 10th, but didn't go any further with relievers ... having drafted only 3 hitters in the first 8 rounds (Jimmy Rollins, Manny Ramirez and Torii Hunter), I found myself in desperate pursuit of some hitting when I should've been taking a 3rd and 4th closer.
Despite my poor draft, I managed to fill in the gaps with a series of closer pickups throughout the year. First Jose Contreras as a fill-in for Brad Lidge, then Carlos Villanueva and John Axford during Trevor Hoffman's meltdown. After Mike Gonzalez broke down, I was able to plug in David Hernandez and then Alfredo Simon ... and now have Koji Uehara. Aaron Heilman, Michael Wuertz, and Hong-Chih Kuo have also supplied saves. Fernando Rodney just joined my squad yesterday after the Angels' trade of Brian Fuentes. By my count, I've had a closer stake in 9 different teams (Mets, Reds, Phillies, Brewers, Orioles, Diamondbacks, A's, Dodgers, Angels) this year.
The problem is that many of these substitute closers were setup men for a reason. While they supplied 44 saves (K-Rod and Cordero have accounted for 59), they took a hell of a toll on my ERA and WHIP. Looking at all of the pitchers I mentioned in the last paragraph (plus Will Ohman, who was briefly the Orioles closer and blew up in the role), here's the toll:
60 earned runs (4.67 ERA) in 115 2/3 innings
166 hits/walks (1.44 WHIP)
Without Axford (who could be a steady closer next season), those #s would be even worse.
My team has 103 saves this year, good for second in the league. I drafted K-Rod in the 9th round and Cordero in the 10th, but didn't go any further with relievers ... having drafted only 3 hitters in the first 8 rounds (Jimmy Rollins, Manny Ramirez and Torii Hunter), I found myself in desperate pursuit of some hitting when I should've been taking a 3rd and 4th closer.
Despite my poor draft, I managed to fill in the gaps with a series of closer pickups throughout the year. First Jose Contreras as a fill-in for Brad Lidge, then Carlos Villanueva and John Axford during Trevor Hoffman's meltdown. After Mike Gonzalez broke down, I was able to plug in David Hernandez and then Alfredo Simon ... and now have Koji Uehara. Aaron Heilman, Michael Wuertz, and Hong-Chih Kuo have also supplied saves. Fernando Rodney just joined my squad yesterday after the Angels' trade of Brian Fuentes. By my count, I've had a closer stake in 9 different teams (Mets, Reds, Phillies, Brewers, Orioles, Diamondbacks, A's, Dodgers, Angels) this year.
The problem is that many of these substitute closers were setup men for a reason. While they supplied 44 saves (K-Rod and Cordero have accounted for 59), they took a hell of a toll on my ERA and WHIP. Looking at all of the pitchers I mentioned in the last paragraph (plus Will Ohman, who was briefly the Orioles closer and blew up in the role), here's the toll:
60 earned runs (4.67 ERA) in 115 2/3 innings
166 hits/walks (1.44 WHIP)
Without Axford (who could be a steady closer next season), those #s would be even worse.
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