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0 Subject: 2015 Closer List

Posted by: Khahan
- [130573013] Fri, Jan 30, 2015, 16:04

The 2015 baseball season is fast approaching. This means it’s time again for the prospective closer list to be assembled. All gurupies are welcome to use this in the same way as always – to kick butt in your respective fantasy baseball leagues (except for ones you are in with me. I mean, come on guys really. HAH).I like to do this list each year because the closer slot is a unique position and causes so many headaches. Its nice to have an easy reference source. This is not *my* prospective closer list so much as a compilation of information from multiple sources, all pooled together into 1 convenient location. Those sources include espn, mlb.com, drafthelp.com and rotoauthority.comI dropped Yahoo from my resources as a) their depth chart page was overlapping and not clear and b) the last few years they were just bad at this.The pre-spring training list has seemingly been somewhat steady for a few years though 2014 I think showed a lot of change from 2013. I think 2015 will also be shaken up quite a bit compared to 2014.Here is the 2014 list of projected closers. Its worth taking a look at the list then taking a look at filthy's mid-season post.
Team Name 2014 Projected Closers 2015 Projected Closers
Baltimore Orioles Tommy Hunter Zach Britton
Boston Red Sox: Koji Uehara Koji Uehara Koji Uehara
Chicago White Sox Nate Jones/Matt Lindstrom Dave Robertson
Cleveland Indians John Axford/Cody Allen Cody Allen
Detroit Tigers Joe Nathan Joe Nathan
Houston Astros Chad Qualls Chad Qualls
Kansas City Royals Greg Holland Greg Holland
Los Angeles Angels Ernesto Frieri Huston Street
Minnesota Twins Glen Perkins Glen Perkins
New York Yankees Dave Robertson Dellin Betances
Oakland A's Jim Johnson Sean Doolittle/Tyler Clippard
Seattle Mariners Danny Farquhar Fernando Rodney
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Grant Balfor/Heath Bell/Joey Peralta Jake McGee/Kevin Jepsen
Texas Rangers Neftali Felize/Joakim Soria/Tanner Scheppers Neftali Feliz
Toronto Blue Jays Casey Janssen Brett Cecil
Arizon Diamondbacks Addison Reed Addison Reed
Atlanta Braves) Craig Kimbril Craig Kimbrel
Chicago Cubs Jose Veras/Pedro Stroop Hector Rondon
Cincinnati Reds Aroldis Chapman Aroldis Chapman
Colorado Rockies Latroy Hawkins Latroy Hawkins
Los Angeles Dodgers Kenley Jansen Kenley Jansen
Miami Marlins Steve Cishek Steve Cishek
Milwaukee Brewers Jim Henderson Jonathan Broxton
New York Mets Bobby Parnell Jennry Meija/Bobby Parnell
Philadelphia Phiillies Jonathan Papelbon Jonathan Papelbon
Pittsburgh Pirates Jason Grilli Mark Melancon
San Diego Padres Huston Street Joaquin  Benoit
San Francisco Sergio Romo Santiago Casilla
St Louis Cardinals Trevor Rosenthal Trevor Rosenthal
Washington Nationals Rafael Soriano Drew Storen
1Khahan
      ID: 130573013
      Fri, Jan 30, 2015, 16:09
Well looking things over this is a pretty 'confirmed' list. There are only 3 teams not 100% unanimous among all the sites I looked at. Those :
Oakland - and they actually all agree Sean Doolitle is the closer. Some think clippard will get the shot if Doolittle isn't ready to go for opening day. Which he may not be.

New York Mets: Last year Parnell was the unanimous preseason choice and he started out tha way but had an early injury. 1 site listed him above Meija but again this is more of an issue dealing with an injury than a perceived battle.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: The only source of pure discontent. While all do list Jake McGee 1 site (drafthelp) had Jepsen above him.

I don't think I've ever seen a set of lists with so many sources in agreement on their projections.
2Khahan
      ID: 251639
      Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 10:06
Not sure how this changes things for the Nationals yet, but they signed Casey Janssen.

I would assume Storen keeps the job and Janssen goes to a set up role.
3KrazyKoalaBears
      ID: 27731299
      Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 10:42
"I would assume Storen keeps the job and Janssen goes to a set up role."
That's exactly what I've read. Storen will get the first look at closer, with Janssen assuming Clippard's old role.
4Khahan
      ID: 54152322
      Fri, Mar 06, 2015, 07:11
Milwaukee has resigned Fransisco Rodriguez, presumably to close for them.
5gramazins
      ID: 9211914
      Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 15:11
I think Mejia keeps the job. He tailed off end of last season but was pitching through a hernia. He has a better ability than Parnell to pitch with men on base and get batters to swing and miss. He will have 8-10 opportunities before Parnell comes off the DL and if he does well in those I imagine the job is his.

6KrazyKoalaBears
      ID: 192303016
      Mon, Mar 30, 2015, 17:30
Keep an eye on the Washington Nationals closer situation. Drew Storen left Monday's game with a blister on his right foot and presumptive fill-in Casey Janssen had an MRI that revealed tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Word is that Storen should be okay for Opening Day, but there may be fantasy opportunity down the road.
7Khahan
      ID: 54152322
      Sun, Apr 05, 2015, 20:22
Kimbrel in as padres closer, benoit out.
Assuming Grilli gets the nod in Atlanta.

And the ribc leagues are already getting their first shake up simply by speed to the computer.
8Khahan
      ID: 54152322
      Wed, Apr 08, 2015, 22:11
Andrew Miller gets the save tonight for the NYY. The other day it was announced that Bettances would not be the sole closer for the Yanks.
9blue hen
      ID: 10354414
      Thu, Apr 09, 2015, 09:26
Note that Betances entered the game with the team losing, presumably to get some work in. Then, the Yanks had a comeback (and Betances actually got the win), so Miller was the natural fit. I don't think this was the standard "he chose Miller" save.
10barilko6
      ID: 5334817
      Thu, Apr 09, 2015, 16:15
Betances didn't look good last night though, and overall this year his fastball looks slower and he hasn't been as effective. He just looked a little off, and did so throughout the spring too.

Of course last year was complete dominance, so maybe I'm looking for too much here.
11filthy
      ID: 4157202
      Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 01:49
Cecil kinda bobbled his chance... Look for Castro but look for a committee and juggling out of Toronto if you're speculating early. Castro, Cecil, Osuna, Loup. Youngsters edging out the lefties early.

Figured Soria would move into the Tigers role eventually, but it might have already happened. Speculating behind him might be worth considering though.

Dodgers looks like a committee early. Peralta success, Hatcher 1/2 so far. Howell might have moved ahead of Hatcher due to not blowing up. They are just dreaming of Jensen's return. Injuries can linger with pitchers though, Peralta might have some value.

Might even be worth speculating behind Clippard in Oakland with the potential for Doolittle's injury to linger as well.

Storen seems good in Washington.

Mujica with Uehara out in Boston?

Gregerson won the battle in Houston?

Mets situation is gross like Dodgers... Carlyle? Familia? Or Meija? Parnell maybe comes back? Pick a card, any card!

Boxberger wins the Tampa job?

Axford's gonna give Hawkins' job a run in Colorado?

Cishek got lit up just getting in work and also certainly has a long leash. Lit up again next game in a save situation has Dunn or Ramos licking their chops though?
12Khahan
      ID: 54152322
      Mon, Apr 13, 2015, 23:14
Andrew Miller is now 2/2 in save opps including a 5 out save tonight. Seems like a decision has been made...for now.
13filthy
      ID: 4157202
      Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 04:32
Miller is already one of the more secure guys out there with multiple saves under his belt!

Uehara return. Settles things in Boston.

Axford to DL means someone else has to steal Hawkins job? Betancourt's the guy for now.

Peralta settling in for Dodgers, and Familia settling in for Mets. So much for gross situations.

Braves is a true 2 man committee? Grilli seems to have it, but Johnson rogue save throws me off a bit?

Rays in a 3, maybe 4 man committee? Boxberger leading the way.

Cishek and Allen gotta be seeing the Mariners bullpen and realizing they can't let the struggles linger too long. Marlins and Indians, much like the Mariners backup options are secretly hoping the closer keeps struggling. Medina, Farquhar, Smith all been getting outs better than Rodney so far. (Dunn in Miami and Atchison in Cleveland if it came to it right now? Hot early hand gets the win if I'm managing.)

Clippard still has plenty of time for the A's to get him a save situation apparently. (late May Doolittle? if that)

Astros, Twins roles feel safe despite rogue saves sneaking in among already limited chances.

Pirates situation might be warming up a little? Not much for chances yet.

I still don't think the Toronto battle is over, and can still see a committee forming.

Still no love for Soriano anywhere? Not when fairly cheap options keep emerging!!

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