MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown 2011: Relievers 200+ points

            Relievers serve many different roles and come in all different shapes and sizes. Almost any team is going to require a shut down guy in their bullpen. This is the guy who can go get a 0 when you know cards are going to be played and when the big bats are coming down the pipe. Don't be cheap if you need that kind of player. There are times you can finagle a 0 out of a situation. There are other times when you just need to send your stud out there and have him grab it. These are those players. The Relievers who cost 200 points of more. These guys are all bigger and badder then any starting pitcher you may have. These are the closers for the team often times. Let us go hunting for goose eggs.

            Starts with the big boys, the 6's. The king of the hill this year is Al Alberquerque. The 6, 1-16 out, no 2B, 1-10 none advancing out reliever is a tank. I just don't see how people are going to score runs against him without cards or cheating. 220 points the kid should be one of the first none short reliever off the board. Kimbrel is a better option then Valverde for a 200 point 6. Bigger none advancing out, 1-11 instead of 1-7. He also gets a GB up to 12 instead of just 10. Valverde is not a closer. He will give up too many runs against cards and desperation small ball.

            Joel Hanrahan is a nice player. 220 for a 5, 1-17 out, 19-20 1B, 18 BB, 1-8 none advancing out is somewhat awkward. For the price he needs to close. I don't like him as much as Alberquerque for the points. Tyler Clippard is in that same category at 10 points he has only singles for none outs on his chart. He is a 1-9 none advancing out which I like. His GB is just 10, 11-17 are FB. I wouldn't blame anyone who had his he is just awkward to my eye. Heath Bell isn't even draftable. A guy who ends up on a team every year is Mariano Rivera. He should be a 4, 1-18 out because he looks right that way but he is not this year. 5 control, 1-17 out, 18-20 1B. Similar outs to Hanrahan for 20 points less. I like him as a closer for the price. He will lose all the same game Hanrahan will but for 20 points less.

            The coveted closers by many. The 4, 1-18 outs. Good news and bad news. The good news is all of them this year are 19 BB, 20 1B. The bad news all of them is more like both of them. The odd thing too is that neither one was actually a closer ether but they will likely be used as one. David Robertson is the best closer in a class that does not have a Wagner 00 or Marmol 10 option. He has a 1-11 none advancing out. His 12-14 GB is not bad at all (double-plays up to 14... deal Howie). For 10 points less O'Flaherty will give you a 1-8 none advancing out with a 9-15 GB. (Should have gone in with the briefcase). Truly both are great options. O'Flaherty requires the big infield to really maximize while Robertson maximizes himself.

            This is a pretty limited traditional closer class. It is also a very limited offensive class. The biggest factor on how successful your closer will be may be how your strategy cards play out. In settings with less cards and less stacking some cheaper options may be plenty successful to make a +200 point closer more of a luxury. I leave that for you to decide.