Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
OK, I get it. Closers are important, there I said it.
It's always hard for me to admit that closers should be valued more than I value a penny, but perhaps closers are more like a nickel or a dime?
There's not way they're like a quarter, however. That investment is strictly for front-line position players and starters.
But the closer class, as a whole this season, has been nothing short of exceptional.
Where else would you find the 5th ranked player in standard Yahoo! 5 x 5 leagues.
Who is this guy you ask?
If you guessed Jonathan Broxton from the Dodgers, you're right. He's been as good as gold with six wins, 13 saves and 47 strikeouts in 29 inning. He also sports a 1.24 ERA and 0.66 WHIP.
Yes, he's even better than players like Evan Longoria or Mark Teixeira, at least he's ranked higher.
Would I draft Broxton, who can really pump that fastball at 96-plus, over Longoria or Teixeira. No way. Even today with all their stats up for the taking? No way.
But it does go to show you that closers can be a valuable commodity.
Some owners "punt" saves every year and I think it's the wrong approach to take. You'll be last in that category all year in roto leagues and you just might be able to tie a few times during the season in head-to-head with zero saves versus your opponent on that given week. It's hard to win titles without being competitive in every fantasy category.
HE'S NOT WASHED UP YET
Boy, the Padres sure know how to get rid of talent. But Trevor Hoffman is probably glad to be out of San Diego after the way he was treated anyway. And Hoffman, every time he notches a save, is probably laughing at the San Diego organization for not keeping him. Hoffman has laughed 15 times already this season since that's how many saves he has with the Brewers. Yes, he's still getting it done -- as a closer mind you -- with that marshmallow fastball and devastating changeup.
LIGHTS OUT
Francisco Rodriguez of the Mets is so money he might not even know it. Yes, he does know it and so do the New York Mets fans, who have watched K-Rod nail down 15 saves with a 0.70 ERA. K-Rod has only given up two earned runs all season and that was in the same game on April 24 against the Nationals, and he still got the win. He hasn't blown a save yet, either, but now I jinxed him ... sorry Mets fans and K-Rod owners.
HAPPY SO FAR
This goes out to the guys you didn't expect to close this year, but have been more than just serviceable in the 9th-inning role: Houston's LaTroy Hawkins (7 saves), Chicago Cubs' Kevin Gregg (10 saves), Seattle's David Aardsma (9 saves) and Toronto's Scott Downs (7 saves).
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