Week 7 Relief Rankings

One thing I've been noticing lately is that value is skewed so much by relief wins and relief wins are entirely unpredictable.  Just because players like Bobby Parnell, Alfredo Simon, and Tommy Hunter have been able to get some nice wins recently does not all of a sudden make them elite options (although Parnell will move up if he continues to pitch this well).  And also just because Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour haven't seen very many hold/save opportunities for the A's this year, does not mean that they no longer belong in the elite conversation.  They're solid pitchers on a solid team and shouldn't be forgotten.  Selling high or buying low on players who have gotten lucky or unlucky with their appearances is a great way to create some space between you and the competition.

I did a lot more shuffling up this week than I normally do.  Roles are constantly changing.  Here are a couple of my major moves explained:

Casey Janssen, Tor (+10)

  First of all, there is nobody else in that bullpen that is going to fight Janssen for saves so I see his job as very secure right now.  Secondly, he has been lights out this season despite struggling with some minor injuries.  In thirteen appearances this year, he has pitched exactly one inning every time and has only given up four hits.

David Hernandez, Ari (-13)

  It's not the minor struggles and 3.57 ERA that bother me as much as the lack of confidence that Gibson has in his reliever.  Coming into the season, Hernandez was supposed to be the clear closer of the future when Putz departed and that appears to no longer be so clear.  He's still a quality set-up man, but he's at risk of leaving the elite category soon.

Junichi Tazawa, Bos (+27)

  I was not buying Tazawa's hot start to the season until he was named closer over who I thought was a clearly better choice.  The Red Sox haven't been playing as well recently, but he should still have plenty of save opportunities until Andrew Bailey returns.

Edward Mujica, Stl (+8)

  Forget that he lost out on the Miami closing gig to the mediocre Steve Cishek, he's been a quality set-up man in recent years and is a perfect 9-9 in save opportunities this year with not a single walk since being named closer.  Some fans believe Rosenthal deserves the opportunity to close but I don't see it happening this year.

Tanner Scheppers, Tex (+14)

  Scheppers has just been too good not to move up.  I didn't see it coming and I don't know what happens when Joakim Soria gets back but ride him while he's there because there will be lots of opportunities.

Brandon League, LAD (-12)

  Despite having Jansen in my top five to start the season, I was fairly confident that League would be able to hold onto the closing job and both pitchers would be successful.  I'm not panicking yet but this is something to keep a very close eye on.  Thankfully, if League does lose the closer role, he should still be a valuable set-up man.

New Closers: Kevin Gregg (+12) and Heath Bell (UR)

  Ride them while they're hot but don't get too attached.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

1. Craig Kimbrel, Atl 
2. Aroldis Chapman, Cin 
3. Mariano Rivera, NYY
4. Jonathan Papelbon, Phi
5. Joe Nathan, Tex
6. Kenley Jansen, LAD
7. David Robertson, NYY
8. Jim Johnson, Bal
9. Rafael Soriano, Was
10. Sergio Romo, SF
11. Addison Reed, CWS 
12. Tom Wilhelmsen, Sea
13. Eric O'Flaherty, Atl
14. Glen Perkins, Min
15. Fernando Rodney, TB
16. Ernesto Frieri, LAA  
17. Casey Janssen, Tor
18. Ryan Cook, Oak
19. Luke Gregerson, SD
20. Jason Grilli, Pit 
21. Grant Balfour, Oak
22. Rafael Betancourt, Col
23. Mike Adams, Phi
24. Greg Holland, KC 
25. Huston Street, SD
26. Drew Storen, Was
27. Santiago Casilla, SF
28. Jared Burton, Min 
29. Mark Melancon, Pit
30. Jim Henderson, Mil
31. Junichi Tazawa, Bos
32. David Hernandez, Ari
33. Chris Perez, Cle
34. Koji Uehara, Bos
35. Edward Mujica, Stl
36. Sean Marshall, Cin
37. Joaquin Benoit, Det
38. Tyler Clippard, Was 
39. Bobby Parnell, NYM
40. Kelvim Herrera, KC
41. Tanner Scheppers, Tex
42. Brandon League, LAD
43. Jose Valverde, Det 
44. Jonathan Broxton, Cin 
45. Kevin Gregg, ChC 
46. Jose Veras, Hou
47. Trevor Rosenthal, Stl 
48. Rex Brothers, Col
49. Sean Doolittle, Oak 
50. Matt Thornton, CWS
51. Darren O'Day, Bal
52. Joel Peralta, TB
53. Steve Cishek, Mia
54. Kyuji Fujikawa, ChC
55. Aaron Crow, KC
56. Heath Bell, Ari
57. James Russell, ChC 
58. Matt Belisle, Col
59. Jesse Crain, CWS
60. Carter Capps, Sea
61. Antonio Bastardo, Phi
62. John Axford, Mil
63. Dale Thayer, SD
64. Tim Collins, KC
65. Mike Dunn, Mia
66. Carlos Marmol, ChC 
67. Matt Reynolds, Ari
68. Joe Smith, Cle 
69. Ronald Belisario, LAD
70. Jeremy Affeldt, SF
71. Tommy Hunter, Bal
72. Robbie Ross, Tex
73. Jake McGee, TB
74. Brad Ziegler, Ari
75. Al Alburquerque, Det

On the bubble: Brett Cecil (Tor), Phil Coke (Det), Steve Delabar (Tor), Darin Downs (Det), Edgmer Escalona (Col), Casey Fien (Min), J.J. Hoover (Cin), Brandon Kintzler (Mil), Matt Lindstron (CWS), Aaron Loup (Tor), Brandon Lyon (NYM), Brian Matusz (Bal), Carlos Martinez (Stl), Paco Rodriguez (LAD), Joe Thatcher (SD), Jordan Walden (Atl), Justin Wilson (Pit)

Top 10 Inactive Pitchers

1. Ryan Madson, LAA (mid-May)
2. Andrew Bailey, Bos (unknown)
3. Jonny Venters, Atl (late May)
4. Vinnie Pestano, Cle (late May)
5. Stephen Pryor, Sea (June)
6. J.J. Putz, Ari (unknown)
7. Joakim Soria, KC (early July)
8. Sergio Santos, Tor (late May)
9. Frank Francisco, NYM (unknown)
10. Bruce Rondon, Det