5/30/2008

Top Five Closers of the Year... So Far

Who's Saved The Day Most Often This Year?

As the one third mark on the season passes this weekend, we hand out the prizes for baseball's Top Five Closers of the season so far. Which ninth inning artists have racked up the most saves to date? Unless you've been paying close attention, the answer might surprise you.

Lefty George Sherrill was an afterthought in many fantasy drafts, but now that a full third of the season is in the books, Baltimore's stopper is a top five MLB closer... and a hot commodity at the trading talk table.

1. Francisco Rodriguez, Angels (21 saves)
The way the stars aligned, most of the smart money was on Francisco Rodriguez to dominate in 2008, and he hasn't disappointed. The Major League leader in saves through the two month mark with 21/22 in the books, K-Rod is putting together a career season just when he needs it most. Despite a strikeout rate lower than his career norm, Franky has shut down opposing teams more reliably than ever before while holding all hitters to a puny .198 average. With free agency looming, there's always the chance the Angels will try to move him before the deadline, but cost-cutting isn't sort of move isn't something the spendy Anaheim franchise is known for, especially when they're in the thick of a playoff chase. If anything, a post-season bidding war will drive K-Rod's rates to record levels, after which the Angels will gut-check, swallow, and sign.

2. George Sherrill, Orioles (17 saves)
While many had Rodriguez pegged for a bounce-back season after an off-year last time out, the runner up as best-closer-so-far of 2008 is a bit more of a surprise to all but the most astute trendwatchers. Lefthander George Sherrill (17 saves so far) was not the biggest or even second-biggest name to move in the Erik Bedard / Adam Jones deal last winter, but he's probably made the biggest impact of anyone involved so far. Already the best lefty reliever in the AL last season, Sherrill has shown that he has the grit and resolve to close, and the surprising Orioles have handed him a higher than expected number of opportunities. Even more than K-Rod, Sherrill is a near-perfect storm of midseason trade potential: he's baseball's best left-handed reliever today, he's an older cog on a young, rebuilding Baltmore lineup, and many, many contenders could use a left-handed setup man or closer come September. If Baltimore can get the right price (say, a package of three young prospects, one of whom can start for the club in 2009), they'll probably cash in their hottest trade chip.

3. Brian Wilson, Giants (16 saves)
Speaking of young prospects ready to contribute, the number three closer in baseball so far this year is a rookie, and what a rookie. San Francisco closer Brian Wilson is only 22, but he's already #3 on the saves list and showing no sign of backing off. He's got a better K/9 rate than either of the names ahead of him (10.1) and he might even have a better fastball: he's broken triple digits on the scoreboard gun four times already this season, one of only two pitchers in baseball (the other is fellow Giant Tim Lincecum) to do that. While he's suffered two nasty breakdowns in his eighteen chances, he's been money on the other 16, and for a rookie in his first major league season, that's as consistent as any coach could ask. Wilson's young age and low cost mean he may be sought after at the deadline, but it's extremely unlikely the Giants will move the player who should be their closer for the next decade.

4. Jose Valverde, Astros (15 saves)
Number four on our list of best closers (so far) is last year's Big Potato, new Astro Jose Valverde. While his 4+ ERA and three blown opportunities are enough to make us reserve judgement a bit, he's undoubtedly been getting the job done for a surprising Houston ballclub that's playing well above expectations. Valverde will be in Houston for awhile, we think, and he's certainly fitting in, from the fans' warm embrace (they love their potatoes in Houston, especially the BBQ kind) to the whipped cream parties he's enjoyed as post-game entertainment.

5. Joe Nathan, Twins (14 saves)
The fifth best closer in the game right now is the man whose job was taken, eventually, by the abovementioned phenom Wilson. Minnesota's Joe Nathan got off to a start a bit rocker than that which we've come to expect from the old hand, but he's settled down and taken care of business in recent weeks to the tune of a 1.67 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Recently signed to a three year extension at a nice discount, Nathan's name is still coming up in trade talks. We don't expect the Twins to move the value-priced closer, though, at least not until they're confident that Pat Neshek can return strong from his surgery. That means Nathan's most likely shipping date is midseason 2009, not next month's.

Apologies to the closers who haven't yet produced the numbers to make our top five: Bobby Jenks and his 1.60 ERA, Jonathan Papelbon and his 14.5 K/BB ratio, and the ace of aces himself, future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, who as of this writing still hasn't blown a save for the hapless Yankees, who have pretty much wasted Mariano's insane 21.0 K/BB ratio and 0.52 WHIP. These three should be in the top 10 all year, and probably have a chance to unseat some of the current top five.

Remember, you can track every team's closer situation, and get updates on every one of the closers and almost-closers, in our Closer Watch Page, updated daily.