Tip-o-da-week

I like to call this my Armando Benitez strategy. Take what’s perceived to be the 2nd tier closers and save the money and spend it elsewhere. It can’t be just anyone; you have to have some sound logic behind it. As Ricky Ricardo would say, let me splain………..

I first learned my lesson and this strategy in 2004 when I spent 5% extra on Mariano Rivera over what I could have gotten Armando Benitez for. Mariano ended up with a 1.95 ERA and 53 saves and Benitez finished with 1.29 and 47. Not bad either way right? We’ll a look a bit deeper tells a different story.

While I ended up with 6 extra saves, my arch rival was able to spend his savings on the NL MVP, Barry Bonds, which carried him to the title.

This single decision, to take Rivera over Benitez left me without the cash to out bid him for Bonds and ended up being the difference in the standings.

I came in 2nd that year and I vowed never to pay up for the “elite closer” again.

You will find that if you choose a quality closer on a lesser team, often that team will tend to play closer games giving the closer more save opportunities. Looking for a closer with a great WHIP is an effective and more economical way to approach the category. Joakim Soria is an example of what I’m talking about. Check out his great rotisserie stats vs. his team’s poor performance last year. Had you spotted his effectiveness in 2007 (with only 17 saves), last year it would have benefited you to the tune of 42 saves, and ERA of 1.60 and a WHIP of .864. Not too shabby for the peanuts you would have had to pay for him.

Also, look for a manager who has a history of maximizing the closer’s role makes a difference. Mike Socia of the Angels is an example of this. Last year he threw K-Rod out there every day the sun came up. He’s doing the same with Brian Fuentes. Fuentes got off to a rough start, but Socia did not hesitate to keep throwing him out there and he now leads the AL in saves. You’ll do well with Fuentes this year, despite his rough start. Let Socia do the worrying for you. He’ll also get you the saves.

These are the little things you have to do to consistently win titles. Money management and performance vs. what you pay for each player are integral attributes to exhibit when attempting to stay ahead of your competitors.

Jim (no relation to the dead Door’s guy) is a self proclaimed rotisserie expert. Jim has been participating in an serious Ultra-Rotisserie league (you can protect some minor leaguers too) at $2,600 per team instead of $260 (similar to Ultimate Franchise Baseball ™) for the past 17 years and has finished in the money 14 times with 8 First place finishes and over $260,000 in total winnings over the 17 year period. While the world is full of institutions and people that come with disclaimers on how past performance is no guarantee of future results, Jim is brazen enough to claim that it will be in your best interest to follow his advice going forward. He’ll write it, we’ll publish it and we shall see………