"Hey Brothers" - Closer Help

Usually around this point of the Fantasy Baseball season teams are being to settle in and owners are becoming more aware of their strengths and weaknesses.  Sometimes those very weaknesses induce us to trade away ample valuable assets in order to correct them leaving us weaker in other areas.  The 1 position I don’t believe in EVER trading for closers.  The volatility of the bullpen these days makes predicting saves a crapshoot in about 40-50% of MLB bullpens.  However saves is still a category and must be addressed via waiver wire if you see yourself in need of a closer (3 is usually the magic number in standard leagues).  Here is a guy in the  current set up men role poised to have a shot at closing for his respective team this year:

Rex Brothers:

Now that’s a prototypical closer name right there.  Rex has been downright dominant this year and is showing no signs of slowing down.  Controlling the 8^th inning for the early surprise of the year Colorado Rockies, Brothers has been knocking on Rafael Betancourt’s door for about a year now but to no avail.  One may look at Betancourt’s low ERA and high save count and see steady waters ahead but there is one number that should have owners and Rockies fans alike nervous.  4.15 BB/9.  That number is simply unsustainable and once the ball starts to fly out of Coors Field against Raffey (he has yet to give up a HR this year) his ERA will balloon and Colorado will have no choice but to turn to their stud set up man Rex Brothers.  Take a shot on him now and you could be paid big dividends in the not so distant future, "Hey Brother".

Quick Reaction : Pacers over Knicks

Top 5 reasons for Knicks series loss at the hands of the Pacers

Tyson Chandler’s absolute inability to match up with Roy Hibbert.  Hibbert dominated from start to finish in this series, whether it was on the boards or reeling Tyson Chandler into stupid fouls.  It looked almost as if Chandler completely forgot how to box out at times, using strictly his upper body in an attempt to shield Hibbert from the ball, this was to no avail.

Melo’s poor 4^th quarter performances.  His 30-point outbursts will be long forgotten due to his ineptitude in the late game.  His critics will point to his lack of success in the playoffs when he hangs them up, can you blame them?

J.R. Smith.  Do I have to say anymore?  Ice cold.  His days with the Knicks are over.  Will Knick fans miss him?  Only time will tell. 

Mike Woodson’s lack of adjustment.  I didn’t like the way the Knicks attacked Hibbert/West at all.  The double teams freed up the likes of Lance Stephenson and D.J Augustin to get hot.  Those two played a huge role in the game 1 and 6 wins.  I think Woodson loses his job before months end.  I won’t be able to make an opinion on that decision until a replacement is announced.

The better team won.  Simple and plain the Pacers were the better team.  Knicks were outcoached and outplayed from start to finish.  I have to admit I didn’t know much about Frank Vogel before this series; I left game 6 VERY impressed.  He has a bright future.  

Early MLB MVP Talk

It’s just over a month into the MLB season, so let’s have some good ole’ MVP talk.  I know it’s early but I just saw a 2014 NFL Mock Draft, so at least I am a little more time relevant.

 Justin Upton - .276/.386/.629,  27 runs, 12 Hrs., 21 RBIs, 2.0 WAR

So this is what the Justin Upton you drafted in the first round last year looks like.  You know his power is there and his numbers will only get better with the anticipated return of the “Say Heyward Kid” and inevitable turn around from his big brother B.J.    His 25% K rate (29^th highest) is alarming but he is neutralizing it with 15% walk rate (12^th highest).  His BABIP sits at a league average .286, so nothing out of the ordinary there.  Expect this kid to carry the Braves to the playoffs with his “Sky is the Limit” ability.

Miguel Cabrera - .381/.459/.603,  26 runs, 6 Hrs., 37 RBIs, 1.8 WAR

Is anyone surprised?  Actually let me rephrase that.  Would anyone be surprised if he won the Triple Crown Again?  The only thing de-railing this guy is an injury.  You would think there is some regression in order with his .400 BABIP but his career .347 BABIP assures us that he is immune to regression.  His fielding will always be a problem (-4.1 FLD) but he MORE than makes up for it with his bat.  I focus on competitive teams when I look for MVP candidates and the Tigers look primed for another AL Pennant race with Cabrera running the show. 

Paul Goldschmidt - .320/.413/.592, 22 Runs, 9 Hrs., 30 RBIs, 1.5 WAR

I love when young players with high expectations come to the Majors and meet them.  Goldschmidt fits the bill.  He leads his team (19-15) in BA, Homeruns, Rbis, OBP and Hits as well as in the clubhouse since the departure of Justin Upton.   His 30 ribbies lead the NL and his Diamondbacks are one of the early surprises in 2013.  I worry this team might eventually fall off (especially with Putz now facing elbow surgery) but if they can stay competitive until the end I think “Goldy Knocks” gets some votes.  

Quick Hit

Spurs have allowed the Warriors to shoot (50, 45, 36.7 and 47.8%) from 3 point range the last 4 times the teams have faced.

Why does it matter? – Spurs are old.  That might be the most obvious thing you’ve heard all day, but it’s true.  The Warriors like to push, push, push, push and push the ball some more, which means the Spurs are being forced to run with them.  This correlates with the high 3-point percentages as the Spurs become less efficient in their ability to close out on the 3’s due to fatigue.  Mark Jackson has a game plan that just came up short Game 1, but it worked last night.  You can expect Pop to adjust.

5 For Thought : Playoff X Factors

In the Knicks 2 playoff losses to the Celtics, Raymond Felton averaged 24 points and 3.5 assists

            In the Knicks 4 playoff wins against the Celtics, Felton averaged 13.75 points and 6.25 assists

 In the Warriors 2 playoff losses to the Nuggets, Draymond Green averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds

            In the Warriors 4 playoff wins against the Nuggets, Green averaged 9.75 points and 6 rebounds

 In the Bulls 3 playoff losses to the Nets, Jimmy Butler averaged 16 points

            In the Bulls 4 playoff wins against the Nets, Butler averaged 8.5 points

 In the Grizzlies 2 playoff losses to the Clippers, Tayshaun Prince averaged 4 points, 0 blocks and 0 steals.

            In the Grizzlies 4 playoff wins against the Clippers, Prince averaged 10.75 points, 1.25 steals and 1 block.

 Joe Johnson was 2 of 14 from the field last night with 6 points in the Net’s game 7 loss to the Bulls

            The last time Johnson failed to record 6 or more points in a NBA game was on 4/13/11 VS Charlotte (1-6, 2 pts.)