Jason Isringhausen $23. Other bids $11, $3, $3.
With Troy Percival's injury, Isringhausen instantly jumped from a marginally interesting pitcher to someone who has anywhere from a fair to excellent chance at picking up saves depending on who you're listening to. I fall closer to the excellent side of the argument after watching Joe Madden's usage patterns this weekend. Izzy pitched the 9th inning of a seven run blowout on Saturday...but it would have been a one-run game before the Rays blew it open in the top of the frame. Yesterday, Madden used just about the entire bullpen with the exception of Izzy in a loss to the Marlins. This doesn't mean that Isringhausen is definitely the closer, and it doesn't mean that Madden won't be afraid to use the guy he feels is best in the ninth, but I have a suspicion that Isringhausen is more than just another guy in the committee. Izzy's a better guy to grab if you already have one closer and want to supplement than he is if you're trying to climb back into the saves game at this late date, but he is definitely worth grabbing and bidding at least double digits on if he's available.
Jason Vargas $12. Other bid $1.
Vargas initially looked like a fill-in starter while the Mariners decided what to do with Carlos Silva, but he pitched admirably against Texas and Boston's tough line-ups and then did very well against a weak San Francisco line-up this weekend. All of his interior indicators say that he's more likely to put up a 4.50 - 5.00 ERA (he's not going to have a .240 BABIP and leave 100% of his runners on base, folks), but he could continue to be serviceable and - at the very least- be OK as a weaker match-ups play. He's at the Angels this week, which makes him a borderline call.
Anthony Swarzak $10. Other bids $7, $6, $1.
Swarzak will get at least two or three turns through the Twins rotation while Glen Perkins is on the DL. He dazzled the Brewers in his first start, but gets a much tougher assignment against the Red Sox this week. He was solid to date this year at AAA Rochester, but had a miserable 2008 (mostly at AA) that knocked him pretty far down most of the prospect charts. His K/IP is a warning sign to me that Swarzak could see some success but is also someone who doesn't have a large margin for error.
Michel Hernandez $5.
For more on Hernandez, please read my piece from earlier this week on the Tampa Bay Rays catching situation.
Dale Thayer $4.
Thayer got a fair amount of attention in fantasy circles because he picked up a three inning save on Friday, but it's unlikely he's going to be a serious candidate to get into the saves mix for Tampa. A career minor leaguer, Thayer's been a successful minor league closer for years, but has been viewed more as an organizational foot soldier than as a prospect. He's in one of the right organizations in baseball to get a real opportunity, but I still foresee him pitching in lower leverage situations in middle relief, at least for now.
Darren O'Day $1.
O'Day was picked up by the Mets this off-season as a Rule V pick from the Angels, waived, and then found his way back to the Junior Circuit with the Rangers. He's put up fantastic numbers so far for Texas, which Mike Maddux credits to pitching from both sides of the rubber. With Frank Francisco back off the DL and C.J. Wilson pitching capably, O'Day probably won't see any save opportunities any time soon, and doesn't really throw with enough oomph to inspire that kind of confidence in any event.
Jesse Carlson $1.
Not much has changed since I wrote about Carlson a month ago. He could vulture a few wins but shouldn't see any save ops unless it's of the one-out variety.
Jeff Bailey. Claimed by 10th place team.
Bailey has put up some solid numbers for the Sox, but with Kevin Youkilis back off the DL, Bailey's value is limited right now.
Omar Vizquel. Claimed by 9th place team.
If you own Vizquel, it's been nice to see him playing at 2B, SS, or 3B whenever one of the Rangers' regular infielders needs a day off. However, he won't supplant Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus or Michael Young barring injury and his value is limited even in deep A.L.-only leagues.
Rafael Betancourt. Claimed by 5th place team.
His overall numbers are fairly pedestrian, but Betancourt's been stellar the last three weeks and even picked up a save when Kerry Wood was unable to go. He's probably moved back into Eric Wedge's good graces and would be next in line over Jensen Lewis if something did happen to Wood. Worth a claim or $1-2 bid if he's available due to Wood's prior health issues.
Jose Mijares. Claimed by 2nd place team.
Mijares has been getting hit a little bit lately, though small sample sizes have a way of making things seem worse than they are. He's still not the primary set-up to Joe Nathan and probably won't be in 2009 barring an injury or two.
3 comments:
Looking over the Free Agents available in my league, I could go after a guy like O'Day.
To do so, though, I'd have to cut bait on Jose Arredondo. As much as I hate cutting guys who I protected, I've already gone down that road once (Chris Ray). Is it too early to give up on Arredondo? Any reason to think he's something more then the second-coming of Rafael Betancourt.
I think Arredondo's problems this year are associated with location...he's getting pounded when he's hitting the strikezone with his fastball, but that is the only pitch he can throw for a strike right now.
Fuentes is signed through 2010 with an option for 2011, and Shields is signed through 2010. I doubt there will be saves in Arradondo's future.
Rays news stories say that Thayer is going back to AAA when Burrell is activated. Brignac was vulnerable too, but was apparently saved by the Iwamura injury.
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