Down the Stretch: The Top Relief Pitchers of 2010

The best relievers in the game are not always the biggest names. Koji Uehara is the new closer for the Orioles although they did not bother to make a big announcement of the fact. Joe Thatcher is a great reliever that does not get saves. Heath Bell was one of the best sleeper picks I ever made. You can always count on the Mets to give up on good talent.

Name	Team	K/9	BB/9	K/BB	HR/9	WHIP	BABIP	LOB%	ERA	FIP	xFIP
Joe Thatcher	Padres	12.39	1.27	9.75	0.32	0.64	0.241	85.20%	1.27	1.34	1.99
Koji Uehara	Orioles	10.33	1.67	6.2	0	1.15	0.365	77.40%	2	1.37	3.19
Bobby Parnell	Mets	9.33	2	4.67	0	1.22	0.359	72.70%	3	1.7	2.31
Heath Bell	Padres	11.57	3.52	3.29	0.17	1.23	0.348	82.00%	1.84	1.95	2.93
Hong-Chih Kuo	Dodgers	10.76	2.93	3.67	0.2	0.85	0.235	85.50%	1.37	2.04	3.3
Mike Adams	Padres	9.97	2.72	3.67	0.18	0.93	0.261	78.50%	1.81	2.06	3.09
Carlos Marmol	Cubs	16.2	6.3	2.57	0.15	1.32	0.37	73.90%	3.3	2.07	2.9
Joaquin Benoit	Rays	12.24	1.75	7	0.78	0.65	0.201	90.20%	1.36	2.09	2.3
Matt Belisle	Rockies	9.27	1.53	6.08	0.35	1.04	0.318	76.80%	2.11	2.1	2.84
Brian Wilson	Giants	12.13	3.56	3.41	0.32	1.29	0.369	85.50%	1.94	2.12	2.88
Grant Balfour	Rays	9.14	2.7	3.38	0.21	1.08	0.297	76.80%	2.08	2.28	3.58
Matt Thornton	White Sox	12.17	2.85	4.27	0.57	1.1	0.329	80.30%	2.66	2.3	2.58
Jonathan Broxton	Dodgers	11.25	3.29	3.42	0.35	1.29	0.36	71.00%	3.46	2.32	2.92
Mariano Rivera	Yankees	7.49	1.38	5.43	0.2	0.72	0.216	80.90%	1.18	2.39	3.33
John Axford	Brewers	10.96	4.06	2.7	0.2	1.24	0.324	76.90%	2.64	2.39	2.99
Sean Marshall	Cubs	10.55	3.38	3.13	0.28	1.19	0.322	75.80%	2.81	2.39	2.88
Takashi Saito	Braves	11.87	2.49	4.77	0.77	1.11	0.332	73.30%	2.87	2.41	2.66
Ryan Madson	Phillies	11.76	1.6	7.33	0.8	1.13	0.363	76.10%	3.48	2.45	2.39
Billy Wagner	Braves	12.91	2.52	5.13	0.84	0.88	0.266	88.40%	1.68	2.46	2.54
Hisanori Takahashi	Mets	9.98	3.86	2.59	0.23	1.16	0.292	74.00%	2.5	2.5	3.55
Luke Gregerson	Padres	10.57	1.91	5.54	0.73	0.78	0.229	71.40%	2.64	2.5	2.56
Kris Medlen	Braves	7.99	1.9	4.2	0.38	1.14	0.315	66.40%	3.04	2.52	3.35
Darren Oliver	Rangers	9.99	2.28	4.38	0.53	1.07	0.308	75.80%	2.45	2.52	2.75
Joel Zumaya	Tigers	7.98	2.58	3.09	0.23	1.12	0.295	72.10%	2.58	2.53	4.01
Leo Nunez	Marlins	9.79	2.7	3.63	0.51	1.29	0.351	72.50%	3.38	2.56	2.91
Bobby Jenks	White Sox	11.11	3.26	3.41	0.57	1.38	0.376	66.30%	4.4	2.62	2.49
Rafael Betancourt	Rockies	12.83	1.34	9.57	1.34	1.13	0.373	71.80%	4.21	2.64	2.42
J.J. Putz	White Sox	10.53	2.11	5	0.77	0.96	0.279	76.70%	2.68	2.64	2.81
Wilton Lopez	Astros	6.39	0.8	8	0.48	1.07	0.304	73.50%	2.88	2.65	3.17
Francisco Rodriguez	Mets	10.52	3.3	3.19	0.47	1.15	0.307	84.60%	2.2	2.65	3.33
Jonny Venters	Braves	9.63	4.07	2.37	0.14	1.09	0.261	76.40%	1.76	2.7	3.16
Zach Braddock	Brewers	11.08	4.85	2.29	0.35	1.46	0.358	79.20%	3.12	2.76	4.15
Rafael Soriano	Rays	7.87	1.79	4.4	0.54	0.81	0.222	79.40%	1.79	2.79	3.99
Drew Storen	Nationals	7.34	3.67	2	0	1.2	0.283	67.30%	3.24	2.84	4.29
Joakim Soria	Royals	9.5	2.33	4.07	0.67	1.13	0.311	90.60%	1.83	2.85	3.23
Joel Hanrahan	Pirates	12.29	2.75	4.47	0.97	1.11	0.325	72.40%	3.88	2.86	2.85
Esmil Rogers	Rockies	9	3	3	0.43	1.33	0.344	58.00%	3.43	2.87	3.42
Phil Coke	Tigers	7.52	3.25	2.32	0.17	1.27	0.31	78.40%	2.39	2.88	4.34
Clay Hensley	Marlins	9.78	3.26	3	0.47	1.16	0.3	76.40%	2.79	2.9	3.41
Darren O'Day	Rangers	5.86	1.78	3.3	0.18	0.89	0.236	84.40%	1.42	2.95	4.26
Tim Stauffer	Padres	7.65	2.48	3.09	0.45	1.08	0.276	87.40%	1.58	2.96	3.67
Ryan Webb	Padres	6.22	2.72	2.29	0.19	1.34	0.323	74.70%	3.3	2.98	3.38
Kevin Jepsen	Angels	9.89	4.12	2.4	0.41	1.4	0.342	68.10%	4.53	3.02	3.36
Jose Contreras	Phillies	9.4	2.6	3.62	0.6	1.22	0.328	78.50%	3.2	3.02	3.4
Trevor Bell	Angels	6.66	2.22	3	0.37	1.6	0.387	67.40%	4.81	3.03	4.01
Sergio Romo	Giants	9.75	1.92	5.09	0.87	1.03	0.292	86.00%	2.26	3.07	3.66
Nelson Figueroa	- - -	6.68	1.95	3.43	0.56	1.02	0.263	69.50%	3.34	3.08	3.79
Sean Burnett	Nationals	8.87	3.21	2.76	0.57	1.2	0.297	76.20%	2.83	3.09	3.24
Frank Francisco	Rangers	10.32	2.92	3.53	0.86	1.26	0.334	73.30%	3.78	3.09	3.26
Joba Chamberlain	Yankees	9.11	3.25	2.8	0.65	1.37	0.342	65.30%	4.72	3.11	3.6
Jesse Crain	Twins	7.9	2.96	2.67	0.49	1.1	0.269	72.20%	2.63	3.11	4.07
Arthur Rhodes	Reds	7.9	2.76	2.87	0.55	0.92	0.221	86.10%	1.84	3.13	3.86
Jon Rauch	Twins	7.14	2.12	3.36	0.58	1.37	0.346	79.00%	3.28	3.13	4.22
Scott Downs	Blue Jays	6.97	1.97	3.55	0.54	0.99	0.259	79.90%	2.32	3.17	3.45
Eric O'Flaherty	Braves	7.46	3.86	1.93	0.26	1.23	0.279	79.80%	2.06	3.19	3.68
Travis Schlichting	Dodgers	5.56	3.97	1.4	0	1.32	0.286	70.00%	3.57	3.2	4.88
Jason Frasor	Blue Jays	9.25	4.44	2.08	0.37	1.52	0.355	67.40%	4.25	3.25	4.04
Kyle Farnsworth	- - -	8.19	2.96	2.76	0.52	1.28	0.318	76.00%	3.31	3.26	3.83
David Herndon	Phillies	4.87	2.64	1.85	0.2	1.58	0.357	67.50%	4.47	3.27	4.23
Rafael Perez	Indians	5.66	3.47	1.63	0.18	1.46	0.325	76.50%	3.1	3.27	4.06
Alexi Ogando	Rangers	9.2	3.86	2.38	0.59	1.09	0.248	93.00%	1.48	3.31	3.62
Dan Runzler	Giants	9.6	5.7	1.68	0.3	1.53	0.331	76.20%	3.3	3.31	3.78
Neftali Feliz	Rangers	9.49	2.62	3.63	0.82	0.98	0.254	73.10%	3.44	3.33	3.76
Doug Slaten	Nationals	8.05	4.15	1.94	0.26	1.3	0.295	70.80%	2.86	3.34	4.42
Andrew Bailey	Athletics	6.75	2.4	2.82	0.65	0.97	0.233	92.20%	1.52	3.35	4.06
Tyler Clippard	Nationals	10.48	4.32	2.43	0.74	1.26	0.297	75.90%	3.33	3.37	4.17
Daniel Bard	Red Sox	9.1	3.34	2.73	0.76	0.91	0.201	87.80%	1.82	3.39	3.56
Pedro Feliciano	Mets	8.4	5	1.68	0.2	1.84	0.402	80.40%	3.4	3.4	3.9
Brandon Lyon	Astros	6.39	4.06	1.57	0.15	1.35	0.296	74.80%	3.34	3.4	4.88
Randy Choate	Rays	8.39	3.41	2.46	0.52	1.34	0.324	64.90%	4.72	3.4	3.32

To Trade David Wright or Not is the Question

I recently received the following e-mail from a loyal reader:

Jon,

I'm in a 14 team, highly competitive keeper league in the midst of our 5th year. I have owned and been extremely happy with David Wright since the leagues inception. I have finished 3rd and 4th the past two years and I'm extremely motivated to win this season. I have been offered a very enticing trade and would appreciate your unbiased fantasy mind opinion of this proposed deal.

I would be trading:
David Wright, David Price, Ubaldo Jimenez, Zach Duke and Asdrubal Carbera

to obtain...

Miguel Cabrera, Brian Roberts, Heath Bell, Erik Bedard and Matt Cain

I'm very tied and invested in David Wright and find it difficult to part with him, however, I feel this deal could drastically improve my team in needed areas of HR, RBI, SV, and K please dispense upon me your knowledge and opinion of this deal.

Thanks,

Mark

I love this trade for you Mark. I do not believe you will lose anything in any category if you make this deal. Miguel Cabrera compares very well to David Wright. Wright steals a few more bases and is on a better team, but the rest of the deal makes it more than worth it.

Brian Roberts is a better fantasy option than Asdrubal Cabrera and should steal just as many bases with the added bonus of power. I like Asdrubal long term but I think he still has some developing to do despite his hot start. Roberts is a better hitter at this stage in their careers and I like the Baltimore lineup better if everyone stays healthy. Asdrubal's batting average is going to drop in the second half (as pitchers make adjustments) and Roberts will stay pretty consistent.

Heath Bell is a closer right now and one of the better ones, if not the best. The Padres offense is bad enough that Bell will be positioned for a save in just about any game the Padres lead in the ninth. Even a team as bad as the Padres will provide 40-plus save opportunities. David Price is an awsome prospect but he isn't in the majors right now. He also isn't pitching particularly well in triple-A, which is just fine with the Tampa Bay Rays who do not have a natural opening for him right now.

I like Ubaldo Jimenez as a future pitching star. Jimenez has been pitching better lately but his control is not yet at the point where he is trustworthy with a potential championship on the line. Despite his recent hamstring injury, I still prefer Erik Bedard. He is pitching very well (discounting his last start) and should help you in every pitching category but saves. If he does a short stint on the disabled list, do not fret just grab the best available middle reliever until he returns.

Zach Duke is pitching very well. The only weakness in Duke is a mediocre strikeout rate. I do think he will continue to pitch very well. Matt Cain is also pitching fairly well, if not as good as Zach Duke. He will always have a better strikeout rate. Cain's control is a little off right now but not so much that he'll harm your team (it's better than Jimenez's) and he should come around.

Mark, I think you win this trade in a huge way. It should be more than worth tearing yourself away from David Wright. Good luck, and let me know how it turns out.