AGRI Biz

Closers are the most overrated players in fantasy baseball. The good ones deliver strong contributions to one category, but generally pitch less than five innings per week. During drafts, I usually ignore the position until the late rounds. Despite this strategy, my teams are usually very strong in the saves category. In fact, my teams have finished first, first, and second in saves over the last three seasons in my 10-team roto keeper league. How ...

2009 was a remarkable year for the most elite pitchers in baseball, as four hurlers posted a sub-2.50 ERA. While this fact is incredible enough, so too is the reality that exactly zero pitchers accomplished this feat in the three years previous to ‘09. From 2000 to 2005, there were 11 instances of a pitcher posting an ERA under 2.50 with a minimum of 150 innings. This irregularity, when compared to the three-year drought from ...

After posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with a 34:11 K:BB ratio in 29 second-half innings last season, Chris Perez became a popular 2010 sleeper pick among fantasy baseball circles. Now the secret is out. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer , Indians’ closer Kerry Wood “will miss six to eight weeks with a strained muscle below his right shoulder.” While Wood insists he’ll be back much sooner , his well-documented injury ...

The Minneapolis Star Tribune  is reporting Twins’ closer Joe Nathan will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. While this season-ending outcome has been speculated for the last few weeks, the official announcement came after Nathan played catch with Twins’ pitching coach Rick Anderson Sunday morning. This news raises the obvious question: Who will replace Nathan as Minnesota’s closer in 2010? While it will be difficult to replace Nathan’s 246 saves and 2.04 ERA ...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: FANTASY BASEBALL INSIDERS One common myth about spring training is that it actually matters. Now don’t get me wrong, the live game action provides valuable experience for young prospects and is useful to players as they battle back from injury. Even the grizzled veterans need time each spring to get back into the groove. However, if you’re using pitcher’s spring training stats to find hints at regular season success, you’re going to get ...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: FANTASYBASEBALLINSIDERS.COM In the coming weeks, I will attempt to create the most accurate 2010 big board available. This draft guide will be released 10 players at a time until my top 50 have been revealed. á á These lists will take into account past, present and future values based on standard 5Î5 H2H settings. As I introduce each player one-by-one, itÆs my goal toáreveal something you didnÆt already know. ...