Wednesday, July 18, 2012

2012 Relievers - How Bad is Bad? (A.L.)

All year, I've heard nothing but how bad closers are as a Rotisserie investment this year. OK, so how bad have they been exactly?

Ten Most Expensive A.L. Relievers 2012
#
Player
$
Sal
+/-
CBS
LABR
TOUT
1
$6
$22
-16
$21
$21
$23
2
$14
$18
-4
$19
$16
$19
3
-$1
$18
-19
$19
$17
$18
4
$5
$17
-13
$19
$16
$17
5
$22
$17
5
$17
$17
$16
6
$7
$16
-9
$16
$15
$17
7

$16
-16
$17
$15
$16
8
-$1
$15
-15
$15
$13
$16
9

$12
-12
$18
$17

10
$10
$11
-1
$13
$10
$11

Average
$6
$16
-10
$17
$16
$15

Good God, man! Look at the bones! That rabbit's dynamite! Another shubbery! I'm getting better!

OK, OK, enough with the Monty Python references. How lousy have these guys been in historical context?

Ten Most Expensive A.L. Relievers 2009-2001

Year
$
Cost
+/-

CBS
LABR
TOUT
2011
$14
$19
-$5

$21
$21
$23
2010
$16
$19
-$3

$19
$16
$19
2009
$15
$22
-$7

$19
$17
$18

Closers have always been a losing value proposition. But the losses this year have been unprecedented. Only Joe Nathan has rewarded his owners with a profit; the other nine pitchers here all lost a little money or a lot of money. Bailey hasn't pitched yet, Soria won't pitch, and Santos and Rivera both suffered season ending injuries. Eight out of the 10 most expensive A.L. relievers have lost their jobs. Feel free to lololol your ass off at Jose Valverde on Twitter all the live long day, but he's been one of the more reliable ones in 2012.

The reality, though, is that while closers burned their fantasy owners this year, the 2009-2011 chart tells us that we shouldn't be too cautious when it comes to closers. The $6 per pitcher that this year's 10 most expensive relievers are on pace to earn is not the rule but the exception...and it's a crazy exception at that. The usual ground rules when it comes to closers apply. Don't overpay for saves...but don't let your opponent get someone on the cheap side either.

1 comment:

Eugene Freedman said...

As you well know I believe in a non-closer strategy while spending the same on pitching- moving toward two aces if possible. This year I'm second in saves with Janssen (first week FAAB to replace injured Brett Anderson), Frieri (FAAB), and Aceves $5 drafted as a swing starter. It's the best case scenario when everyone else dumped $17+ on closers who are worthless.