This is going to be the season that finally drives thousands of seasoned fantasy baseball players over the edge. At some point in mid-season, roto geeks all over the country are going to re-create the famous scene from the movie Network and start screaming, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it any more!"
What will set them off? Hard to say, but my guess is it will involve closers.
Chasing saves is one of the most irritating aspects of fantasy baseball these days. There was a time when every team had a designated closer, and drafting for saves was a fairly simple matter of grabbing a guy from a team that would win a fair amount of games. No more. Going into the 2007 season, several of baseball's top teams have shockingly unsettled bullpen situations.
Philadelphia
According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies are toying with the idea of making Brett Myers their closer. This in spite of the fact that a) the Phillies already have an established closer in Tom Gordon, and b) Myers is currently their number two starter. So why would they do such a thing? To free up a rotation spot for Jon Lieber.
We're guessing -- like everyone else -- that Lieber will be traded at some point during spring training, and that this madness will be a distant memory by mid-May.
Boston
The Red Sox struck gold last year with rookie Jonathan Papelbon, who blew away American League hitters while amassing 35 saves and a 0.92 ERA. So the Sox are set at closer for the next ten years or so right?
Eh, not so much.
Going against conventional wisdom, the Sox are moving Papelbon to the rotation this year in the hopes that throwing more innings every five days will be easier on his golden arm than throwing one inning four or five times per week. The leading contender for the closer spot is reportedly journeyman Joel Piniero, but the ex-Mariner hasn't impressed thus far. Other possible candidates include bullpen stalwart Mike Timlin and second-year man Craig Hansen.
Didn't the Sox learn their lesson about this whole "bullpen by committee" thing a couple of years ago?
St. Louis
Like the Red Sox, the Cardinals had a rookie step up and close out games last season in dominating fashion. When incumbent Jason Isringhausen got hurt, first-year man Adam Wainwright took over the ninth inning. He was especially impressive in the NLCS, ending the Mets' season with knee-buckling curve balls to Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran.
Like the Red Sox, the Cardinals aren't keeping Wainwright in the bullpen. Wainwright -- and '06 bullpen mate Braden Looper -- are being converted to starters for the '07 season.
For the Cards, this is something of a necessity. They lost Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan to free agency over the winter, and needed arms to fill their rotation. It remains to be seen if this experiment will continue if St. Louis acquires one of the starters rumored to be on the market -- Philly's Lieber or the Yankees' Carl Pavano, for example.
Atlanta
So while the Bosox and Cards are apparently strengthening their rotations at the bullpen's expense, the Braves are going the opposite route. Atlanta weakened its lineup and rotation by trading Adam LaRoche (and his 30+ homers) and Horacio Ramirez for Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, respectively. With those two and incumbent veteran Bob Wickman, the Braves should have one of the league's deepest bullpens.
Closer Fantasy Rankings
Before YOU start chasing saves, check out our very own Fantasy Baseball Rankings for closers.
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