Like the top 25 SB board, I’ll periodically rank the top 25 middle relievers in an attempt to help out those looking for a cheap contributor for some holds, strikeouts, or to lower ERA. Most standard leagues do not count holds as a stat which all but eliminates any value for any non-upper-echelon middle relievers, which seems somewhat hypocritical considering any closer, regardless of quality, will have value. Holds isn’t a perfect science, but either is saves, and holds is a good way to gauge value in pressure situations. For my Top 25 board, holds will factor into the rankings, as will ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts, the potential for saves or to take over at closer at some point, and to a lesser degree, wins, appearances, HRs allowed, and innings pitched. Since I found so many good middle relievers bunched near the middle of the pack, I extended the initial rankings to the top 32 for this one. That said, here are my inaugural middle reliever rankings for 2007:
Note: For 2007, the first number represents (on a scale from 1-10) the likelihood that the closer and/or other relievers blocking the player from taking over as closer get injured, are ineffective, or traded. It also includes the likelihood of that player getting traded to become another team’s closer or assuming the role of closer due to exceptional performance – basically it is a scaled number to indicate the possibility of receiving save opportunities on a regular basis. The second number (also on a 1-10 scale) indicates how effective I believe the player would be if they inherited the role of closer.
Top 32 Middle Relievers
1. Joel Zumaya, Detroit Tigers
2006: 83.1 IP, 6 W, 1 SV, 30 HLD, 97 K, 1.94 ERA, 1.18 WHIP
2007: 7.0; 9.0
2. Scot Shields, Los Angeles Angels
2006: 87.2 IP, 7 W, 2 SV, 31 HLD, 84 K, 2.87 ERA, 1.07 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 8.0
3. Akinori Otsuka, Texas Rangers
2006: 59.2 IP, 2 W, 32 SV, 7 HLD, 47 K, 2.11 ERA, 1.07 WHIP
2007: 8.0; 8.0
4. Dan Wheeler, Houston Astros
2006: 71.1 IP, 3 W, 9 SV, 24 HLD, 68 K, 2.52 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
2007: 7.5; 7.5
5. Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers
2006: 76.1 IP, 4 W, 3 SV, 12 HLD, 97 K, 2.59 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
2007: 4.5; 8.0
6. Scott Linebrink, San Diego Padres
2006: 75.2 IP, 7 W, 2 SV, 36 HLD, 68 K, 3.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
2007: 5.5; 8.5
7. Mike Gonzalez, Atlanta Braves
2006: 54.0 IP, 3 W, 24 SV, 3 HLD, 64 K, 2.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
2007: 5.0; 7.5
8. Rafael Soriano, Atlanta Braves
2006: 60.0 IP, 1 W, 2 SV, 18 HLD, 65 K, 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP
2007: 4.5; 8.0
9. Juan Rincon, Minnesota Twins
2006: 74.1 IP, 3 W, 1 SV, 26 HLD, 65 K, 2.91 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
2007: 2.5; 6.0
10. Aaron Heilman, New York Mets
2006: 87.0 IP, 4 W, 0 SV, 27 HLD, 73 K, 3.62 ERA, 1.16 WHIP
2007: 3.5; 5.5
11. Bobby Howry, Chicago Cubs
2006: 76.2 IP, 4 W, 5 SV, 21 HLD, 71 K, 3.17 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
2007: 4.5; 6.5
12. Justin Speier, Los Angeles Angels
2006: 51.1 IP, 2 W, 0 SV, 25 HLD, 55 K, 2.98 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
2007: 2.5; 6.0
13. Mike MacDougal, Chicago White Sox
2006: 29.0 IP, 1 W, 1 SV, 11 HLD, 21 K, 1.55 ERA, 0.93 WHIP
2007: 4.5; 6.5
14. Justin Duchscherer, Oakland A’s
2006: 55.2 IP, 2 W, 9 SV, 17 HLD, 51 K, 2.91 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
2007: 4.0; 7.0
15. Jorge Julio, Arizona Diamondbacks
2006: 66.0 IP, 2 W, 16 SV, 1 HLD, 88 K, 4.23 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
2007: 7.0; 5.5
16. Luis Vizcaino, New York Yankees
2006: 65.1 IP, 4 W, 0 SV, 25 HLD, 72 K, 3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
2007: 2.5; 5.0
17. Fernando Rodney, Detroit Tigers
2006: 71.2 IP, 7 W, 7 SV, 18 HLD, 65 K, 3.52 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
2007: 4.5; 6.0
18. Kiko Calero, Oakland A’s
2006: 58.0 IP, 3 W, 2 SV, 23 HLD, 67 K, 3.41 ERA, 1.28 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 5.0
19. Pat Neshek, Minnesota Twins
2006: 37.0 IP, 4 W, 0 SV, 10 HLD, 53 K, 2.19 ERA, 0.78 WHIP
2007: 2.5; 6.0
20. Chad Qualls, Houston Astros
2006: 88.0 IP, 7 W, 0 SV, 23 HLD, 56 K, 3.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 5.5
21. Scott Eyre, Chicago Cubs
2006: 61.1 IP, 1 W, 0 SV, 18 HLD, 73 K, 3.38 ERA, 1.48 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 5.5
22. Scott Proctor, New York Yankees
2006: 102.1 IP, 6 W, 1 SV, 26 HLD, 89 K, 3.52 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 4.5
23. Jon Rauch, Washington Nationals
2006: 91.1 IP, 4 W, 2 SV, 18 HLD, 86 K, 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
2007: 5.0; 5.0
24. Matt Thornton, Chicago White Sox
2006: 54.0 IP, 5 W, 2 SV, 18 HLD, 49 K, 3.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 4.5
25. Kyle Farnsworth, New York Yankees
2006: 66.0 IP, 3 W, 6 SV, 19 HLD, 75 K, 4.36 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
2007: 5.0; 5.5
26. Jason Frasor, Toronto Blue Jays
2006: 50.0 IP, 3 W, 0 SV, 12 HLD, 51 K, 4.32 ERA, 1.28 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 6.0
27. Duaner Sanchez, New York Mets
2006: 55.1 IP, 5 W, 0 SV, 14 HLD, 44 K, 2.60 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
2007: 3.5; 5.5
28. Cla Meredith, San Diego Padres
2006: 50.2 IP, 5 W, 0 SV, 16 HLD, 37 K, 1.07 ERA, 0.71 WHIP
2007: 3.0; 4.0
29. Matt Capps, Pittsburgh Pirates
2006: 80.2 IP, 9 W, 1 SV, 13 HLD, 56 K, 3.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
2007: 6.5; 5.5
30. Danys Baez, Baltimore Orioles
2006: 59.2 IP, 5 W, 9 SV, 12 HLD, 39 K, 4.53 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
2007: 4.5; 5.5
31. Dennys Reyes, Minnesota Twins
2006: 50.2 IP, 5 W, 0 SV, 16 HLD, 49 K, 0.89 ERA, 0.99 WHIP
2007: 2.5; 4.0
32. Roberto Hernandez, Cleveland Indians
2006: 63.2 IP, 0 W, 2 SV, 12 HLD, 48 K, 3.11 ERA, 1.46 WHIP
2007: 5.5; 5.5
Notes on results: Rankings were created prior to Jorge Julio getting traded to the Marlins and before it was announced that Duaner Sanchez would miss an additional four months due to hairline fracture in shoulder. Obviously, had these been taken into account, Jorge Julio would not appear on the list because he wouldn’t be considered a middle reliever, and Duaner Sanchez would fall significantly and well out of the top 32. The most likely replacements off the top of my head would be Taylor Tankersley (Marlins) and Rafael Betancourt (Indians).
Posted by James 
Posted by James 