Week 13 Relief Rankings

I still have no idea what's going on in Seattle.  The lead horse may be Oliver Perez, or at least should be based on how he's pitched this year, but it's still completely up in the air.  Koji Uehara and Joaquin Benoit have acquired the closing role on their teams for now, but by no means are they cemented in that role.

Without looking, you'd never guess who the top relief pitcher is on the player rater for the last thirty days.  That's right, it's Greg Holland.  I've always been a little higher on Holland than most rankings, but this just goes to show that any closer with enough opportunities can be the best closer for a short period and it doesn't mean we have to crown him as one of the best closers in the league.

Beware of pitchers who have really good ratios but aren't being used in high-leverage situations, because more than likely their ratios wouldn't be as good if they were being used more for holds.

Red and Green represents a significant change in ranking.  The 29 closers are in bold.

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

On the bubble:  David Aardsma (NYM), Cody Allen (Cle), Craig Breslow (Bos), Joba Chamberlain (NYY), Steve Delabar (Tor), Mike Dunn (Mia), Sam LeCure (Cin), Matt Lindstron (CWS), Aaron Loup (Tor), Brandon Lyon (NYM), Brian Matusz (Bal), Andrew Miller (Bos), Chad Qualls (Mia), Alfredo Simon (Cin), Tony Watson (Pit), Justin Wilson (Pit)

 

Top 10 Inactive Pitchers (expected return in parenthesis)

1. J.J. Putz, Ari (late June)
2. Rafael Betancourt (late June)
3. Chris Perez, Cle (late June)
4. Santiago Casilla, SF (early July)
5. Stephen Pryor, Sea (July)
6. Sean Marshall, Cin (July)
7. Joakim Soria, Tex (early July)
8. Mike Adams, Phi (unknown)
9. Ryan Madson, LAA (July)
10. Sergio Santos, Tor (late July)