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August 8, 2007, 4:58 PM

Relief Efforts: Digging deep on middle relief

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By Eric Karabell
ESPN.com
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Things change every day in major league bullpens. One day your fantasy closer is dominating, the next he's nursing a sore arm or third in line for saves. Eric Karabell breaks down all the happenings in major league bullpens in the latest Relief Efforts.

The addition of Joba Chamberlain to the Yankees' bullpen won't send major ripples through the fantasy baseball community, but I picked him up on a team that needs middle relief help. Well, do I really need middle relief help, or do I need a pitcher who doesn't start, doesn't get lit and in lieu of acquiring saves, am I merely looking at the next best thing?

I think we all know the answer to that one. Whether your fantasy teams are over the pace for allowed starts, or whether too many months of that Doug Davis WHIP or the Jose Contreras ERA have destroyed your team numbers, this is the time of year for middle relievers. I was asked early in the week if I thought Chamberlain, based on his terrific minor league statistics, could crack my top 10 of noncloser relief pitchers. He absolutely could, though one outing doesn't get him there.

Two weeks ago in Relief Efforts the topic was "Top Middle Men To Watch," and we discussed the top middle relief pitchers on the ESPN Player Rater, why my list isn't the same, who gets wins, and more. Now let's check out middle relievers who aren't anywhere near the radar screen in fantasy, but could have nice value the rest of the way. You won't find Pat Neshek or Jonathan Broxton on this list, nor anyone I discussed two weeks ago.

Justin Speier, Angels: This guy should be owned in most AL-only leagues, and more mixed ones, but his long DL stint from a viral infection apparently made him a forgotten man. Speier has a season ERA of 1.91 and a 0.88 WHIP, plus a strikeout per inning. He doesn't figure to get too many wins, since Scot Shields is the main setup man, and there won't be saves in his future, but he's a quality reliever on par with some of the noted setup men.

Brian Shouse, Brewers: You won't find too many situational left-handers owned in fantasy, and Shouse is no exception. He is unowned in all of my leagues, including an NL-only format. Shouse has allowed one run since the All-Star break, only six baserunners in 12 1/3 innings, and for those who count holds, his six in a month are two off the league lead (Heath Bell). Shouse will not pile on the innings by any means -- only 33 2/3 in 51 games -- and he doesn't strike hitters out, but he hasn't allowed a home run all season and his WHIP is 0.95.

Jorge Julio, Rockies: I know some of you would prefer to eat fried worms than sign this guy, who destroyed fantasy seasons just from his April work, nor do you want any Rockies relief pitcher who won't accrue saves. However, Julio has allowed only two hits and no runs in his last seven outings, and he's fanned eight hitters. I'm sure he wouldn't be too tough to find on the waiver wire. We're in August, so looking at season numbers in many cases isn't applicable. I'm wondering if Julio can still get his season WHIP below the 1.50 threshold. Keep trying, Jorge, keep trying.

Taylor Tankersley, Marlins: Speaking of pitchers who didn't help you out in April, Tankersley is pitching well now, and while I don't think he'll be supplanting Kevin Gregg for saves anytime soon, it's possible this guy is back in the team's closing picture for the future. Tankersley hasn't allowed a run since the All-Star break, the only pitcher with three or more holds in that time (among 47 pitchers!) who can say this. Tankersley has 11 strikeouts in those 7 1/3 innings, and deserves a look in NL-only leagues, at least.

Rafael Perez, Indians: Chances are you don't know this guy, but the numbers are totally legit. The other Rafael in the Cleveland bullpen is also having a terrific season (Rafael Betancourt), and his fantasy owners wonder why Joe Borowski is still closing. Forget all that. Perez is a 25-year-old lefty with electric stuff, and he's allowed 24 hits in 36 innings this season. He is not a situational lefty at all; in fact, Perez was originally used as a long-man for the Tribe, and now he's generally going one inning at a time. Twice in the last few weeks he's struck out the side. The best part: He's owned in 0.5 percent of leagues.

Danys Baez, Orioles: Obviously there is plenty of news to get to as well, so here we go. For no apparent reason that I can see, Orioles manager Dave Trembley decided last week that Baez and his 5.70 ERA and terrible walk rate deserved to close over the platoon of Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford, which was thriving. Managers make decisions sometimes that fantasy owners just don't get, but opportunity trumps all. Bradford's worth nothing now. The lefty Walker has some value, because I think Baez won't be perfect, but some nights Walker enters the game in the sixth inning, the next it's the ninth. Baez has closer experience, which is why he's in the role with Chris Ray out. That's all. He was the No. 1 guy on ESPN's most-added list the other day, which is telling, and frankly a bit sad. Fantasy owners really need saves. Ray, by the way, isn't likely to return this month from his elbow issue.

Francisco Cordero, Brewers: As a Phillies fan, I wasn't disappointed to see the major league save leader lit up Sunday. Cordero is piling on the saves, of course, but this is not one of the best relief pitchers in the game. Cordero was also a nice source of saves in Texas, but walks normally contributed to an inflated WHIP. Cordero didn't lose Sunday, but he has blown three saves in his last six outings. I'd call this slump normal for Cordero, really, and he'll probably overcome it. No matter, he remains a safe closer. Derrick Turnbow is officially still next in line, despite the Scott Linebrink acquisition, but that might not last long.

Eddie Guardado, Reds: Everyday Eddie was activated off the DL on Tuesday, and while there hasn't been word about him figuring into the closer role, I think it's imminent. No, I'm not saying I would make him the closer. David Weathers has done a fine job. I just think for the Reds to have invested so much in Guardado, soon to turn 37, they want to see the payoff, and Guardado has that "closer experience." I have doubts about his effectiveness, based on the fact he's coming back from reconstructive elbow surgery, and he was a risk even before the injury. Those desperate for every last save, consider yourself warned.

Huston Street, Athletics: The main thing Street is giving fantasy owners these days are holds. Street has three of them in his last four outings. I watched one of them, and Street is throwing hard and does have command of his pitches, and he has pitched well. So why is Alan Embree still closing? Tough to tell. Street did pitch back-to-back games over the weekend, and didn't report any elbow problems, but at this point I'm starting to think Embree will remain in the role a while longer. Don't drop him yet.

Brian Fuentes, Rockies: Like the A's, it's starting to look like -- well, it's been looking this way for weeks -- that the Rockies are in no particular hurry to get Fuentes back, because Manny Corpas continues to do a nice job closing. The team announced there will be another rehab assignment, but didn't say when it will start. Hold on to Corpas; his July numbers were tremendous, with only one run and one walk allowed all month, and seven saves. Don't be shocked if he keeps this job the rest of the season.

C.J. Wilson, Rangers: Can a timeshare really be viewed that way if only one of the people in it is getting the love? Wilson is the lefty half of the Texas closer situation, with Eric Gagne gone and Akinori Otsuka out at least the rest of the month, and so far he's the only one getting saves, having accrued all three since the Gagne trade. Joaquin Benoit was warming up in the ninth inning Tuesday, and would have been brought in to close the game had anyone reached base. What happened? Wilson, who retired Nick Swisher to end the eighth, took care of Jack Cust, Mike Piazza and Mark Ellis without issue in the ninth. Yes, the latter two hitters bat from the right side, which makes me wonder why the right-handed Benoit was not brought in. I think Benoit will eventually get a few saves, but Wilson appears the one to own in fantasy.

Jonathan (Kansas): "Do I still want to own Al Reyes? When's the last time this guy got a save? I really need saves, and there are a few guys with saves on waivers, but none of them look like they are their team's closers today. What should I do with Reyes?"

Eric: If you really need the saves, then you have to wait on Reyes. The problem hasn't been Reyes, but the Devil Rays. Monday will be a month since the team last had a save! Reyes is clearly the team's closer. He pitched the ninth inning on Aug. 1, but the Devil Rays made a 5-2 lead into a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth, costing Reyes the save chance. He pitched anyway, and had a 1-2-3 inning, throwing seven pitches, all strikes. The Devil Rays have baseball's worst record, easily, so don't expect Reyes to pile on the saves, but at this point we should expect a token save or two soon. Teams don't often go a month without saves. This is a bit of bad luck.

Eric Karabell is a senior writer who covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. E-mail him by clicking here and check out his daily fantasy blog at this link.