Rounding Third: Who Do You Trust?

Inspired by Aroldis Chapman blowing a second save situation in a row, I decided to do my own list of closers that I trust (I still use our closer's grid, but I'm also a believer in doing my own lists as part of my process). But the list of closers that I truly trust right now has dwindled. Here's my list:

Mariano Rivera
Craig Kimbrel
Joe Nathan
Jonathan Papelbon
Sergio Romo
Edward Mujica
Addison Reed
Rafael Soriano
Tom Wilhelmsen

These are the guys that I would trade for right now if I were trying to find a closer. There's a few others whose performance is close to making them trustworthy, but for one reason or another there's a heightened risk, be it themselves getting traded, or injury, or organizational history - those include Grant Balfour, Huston Street, Glen Perkins, Rafael BetancourtJason Grilli and Bobby Parnell. Chapman doesn't make my list right now, not without a discount. That doesn't mean I'd sell him necessarily, but when I'm trying to land a closer as a trade piece, I crave security. And right now, I don't feel it. Jim Johnson has been blown up in his last two outings, so out of caution that he's hurt, he's just off my list right now.

NFBC Main Event

Aside from the war going after Brandon League after he was dropped last week, it was pretty quiet. I had bids in on League (modest price), Feldman, Williams and Danks, though I had Nicasio ranked ahead of Danks. With Ross Detwiler going down with an injury, I needed another starting pitcher. I picked up Joel Peralta last week as a spec play, and might keep him active to avoid using Ian Kennedy in Coors Field, even though Rodney successfully completed the save Sunday.

RFBOC

Grandal is a little bit of insurance in case Alex Avila doesn't turn things around soon, and once again Nicasio gets to face the same Giants team he shut out over six innings yesterday.

AL Tout Wars

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Lawr Michaels pur ATorres TB 0
Matthew Berry pur DAdams NYY 1
Joe Sheehan pur DKeuchel Hou 0
Matthew Berry pur DValencia Bal 1
Andy Behrens pur EBedard Hou 1
Steve Moyer pur GSoto Tex 0
Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton pur JLindblom Tex 1
Jeff Erickson pur JOdorizzi TB 18
Jeff Erickson pur JShuck LAA 5
Joe Sheehan pur LGarcia Tex 1
Mike Siano pur MTuiasosopo Det 1
Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton pur RBrignac NYY 0
Ron Shandler pur RSantiago Det 0
Ron Shandler pur SGray Oak 1
Ron Shandler pur SPearce Bal 0
Mike Siano pur VNuno NYY 2
Matthew Berry pur YNavarro Bal 1

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This was the most interesting bid of the week, at least for me. Because we use the Vickery system, my winning bid of $25 on Jake Odorizzi was discounted to $18, one dollar more than the second-place bid of Joe Sheehan. There were a number of bidders for Odorizzi, who gets two starts this week with David Price on the DL, but noted Rays hound Jason Collette was not one of them, which is something of a concern. Jason believes that Odorizzi is three-and-done, back down once Price returns. My motivation for being more aggressive on Odorizzi is two-fold - one, Price could have a setback and be out longer; and two, it's a hedge against Roberto Hernandez (the former Fausto Carmona).

RotoWire Staff League

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Browns: Pick up David Adams ($4), drop Cody Allen
(Browns: $4)
(Frozen Ropes: $3)
Casale Industries: Pick up Clint Barmes ($1), drop Michael McKenry
Wheeler in the Sky: Pick up Erik Bedard ($3), drop Jeurys Familia
The Bros McKeown: Pick up Duane Below ($2), drop Bruce Rondon
Next Stop Pottersville: Pick up Tyler Chatwood ($2), drop Carter Capps
(Next Stop Pottersville: $2)
(Liss and Shoe's Dynasty: $1)
East Coast Bias: Pick up Eric Chavez ($3), drop Lonnie Chisenhall
(Frozen Ropes: $3)
(Liss and Shoe's Dynasty: $3)
(Casale Industries: $1)
Schin Kickers: Pick up Mike Dunn ($4), drop Ruben Tejada
(Browns: $2)
(Browns: $2)
(Browns: $2)
East Coast Bias: Pick up Pedro Florimon ($3), drop Ty Wigginton
Next Stop Pottersville: Pick up John Gast ($3), drop Martin Perez
(Erickson: $5)
(Next Stop Pottersville: $3)
The Bros McKeown: Pick up Jeanmar Gomez ($2), drop J.A. Happ
(The Bros McKeown: $2)
High-A West Madison: Pick up Raul Ibanez ($1), drop Mike Fiers
(Liss and Shoe's Dynasty: $1)
Tokyo Jaegers: Pick up Shawn Kelley ($1), drop Gavin Floyd
Wheeler in the Sky: Pick up Corey Kluber ($4), drop Vinnie Pestano
Frozen Ropes: Pick up David Lough ($4), drop Hector Santiago
(Liss and Shoe's Dynasty: $1)
Browns: Pick up Yamaico Navarro ($6), drop Darin Mastroianni
(High-A West Madison: $3)
Erickson: Pick up Juan Nicasio ($5), drop Cory Luebke
(Next Stop Pottersville: $3)
(The Bros McKeown: $2)
Liss and Shoe's Dynasty: Pick up Vidal Nuno ($1), drop Matt Harrison
East Coast Bias: Pick up Xavier Paul ($1), drop Jeremy Hefner
Wheeler in the Sky: Pick up Cesar Ramos ($1), drop Carlos Marmol
Liss and Shoe's Dynasty: Pick up Jose Tabata ($3), drop Ricky Romero
(East Coast Bias: $1)

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Pretty quiet week here - the highest winning bid was only $6. But there were a ton of players added, for an 18-team mixed league. Again, I was looking for starting pitcher help, having just lost Tony Cingrani and Ross Detwiler. I'm holding onto Roberto Hernandez still, but given his last start, I'd rather not use him against the Yankees this week. Enter Nicasio again. My second choice was John Gast - my $5 bid would have gotten him. Gast could get an extended run with the Cards, even after Jake Westbrook returns, thanks to Jaime Garcia going on the DL. Michael Wacha still looms, obviously, but there could be room in the inn for both theoretically.

Streaming Marlins

Everybody's obvious and favorite stream target has six games this week:

Mon-Wed, home vs. Phillies: Cole Hamels, Tyler Cloyd, Cliff Lee.
Fri-Sun, at the White Sox: John Danks, Jake Peavy, and probably Hector Santiago, though it could be Dylan Axelrod.

Cloyd is available in a ton of leagues, though he hasn't officially been recalled and thus isn't eligible in many formats. Danks is a pretty big gamble in his first start off the DL, but he's also probably there in many places. The decision between Santiago and Axelrod might not be made until after Danks' start, just to allow the White Sox to review one more start from each and make sure Danks actually is able to go.

Interleague Adventures

The following interleague series are on tap:

Minnesota at Atlanta (Mon-Wed) - We might see Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau sit a game apiece without the DH available to the Twins - don't be surprised if one of them sits Wednesday vs. lefty Paul Maholm.

Marlins at White Sox (Fri-Sun) - If getting Greg Dobbs to play mulitiple positions helps you, congratulations.