2007 Relievers

As many of you know, in standard 5x5 Roto leagues, I'm a huge proponent of stacking dominant relievers. Just a look at my team last year and you'll notice a populat cast of characters appearing throughout the year; Joel Zumaya, Scot Shields Pat Neshek, Justin Duchscherer, Aaron Heilman, et al. Not one of these guys is a closer. Many may profile to become a closer, or have closer "stuff," not one of them led their teams in saves last year. But a dominant reliever is a dominant reliever; they help in all other categories, as well. While there's a select few that can do what some have done in the past; B.J. Ryan the year before he became a closer had 83ip, 122k. Much the same for Brad Lidge and Francisco Rodriguez. All of these players helped their teams with their incredible numbers, but can be ignored throughout the year simply because, at a point in time, they didn't get saves.

NL
1) Billy Wagner, NYM
2) Trevor Hoffman, SD - Looking over the NL list of relievers, it's really not all that special. You have a huge age drop off (although I don't see much of an issue with Hoffman) and injury problems.
3) Tom Gordon, Phi
4) Mike Gonzalez, Pit
5) Chad Cordero, Was
6) Takashi Saito, LAD - Could be moved up a bit, but if Gagne stays with the Dodgers and can maintain his ability and more importantly his health, he could take back the closer role by mid-season.
7) Brian Fuentes, Col
8) Jason Isringhausen, StL
9) Francisco Cordero, Mil - I don't think Turnbow has a shot.
10) Jose Valverde, Ari
11) Jonathan Broxton, LAD - Another reason I don't see Saito being as much of a fantasy player as he was last year. Broxton has shown he can pitch in the majors, which gives the Dodgers potential trade bait in Saito.
12) Eric Gage, LAD - His numbers are seriously just too good - historically too good - to be ignored, healthy or not. Don't target him as the anchor of a team, and his value will be much higher.
13) Joe Borowski, ?
14) Ryan Dempster, ChC
15) Bob Wickman, Atl

AL

1) Joe Nathan, Min - The best and probably only closer I'd consider a keeper.
2) Mariano Rivera, NYY
3) Francisco Rodriguez, Ana
4) B.J. Ryan, Tor - I'd have him higher if there wasn't that 20k drop off in his strike outs. Still pretty automatic, though.
5) Bobby Jenks, Chw
6) Huston Street, Oak
7) Joel Zumaya, Det - Not only is the NL boring, all the dominant relief talent is in the AL. The first seven players on this list could probably be the #1 relief choice for any team.
8) Akinori Otsuka, Tex
9) Chris Ray, Bal
10) J.J. Putz, Sea
11) Todd Jones, Det
12) Fernando Cabrera, Cle
13) Scot Shields, Ana
14) Seth McClung, TB
15) Craig Hansen, Bos - I have no fucking idea who is going to come out of the Boston bullpen as the closer. I wouldn't put my money on Foulke, but that's about all I can say.

MLB
1) Joe Nathan, Min
2) Billy Wagner, NYM
3) Mariano Rivera, NYY
4) Francisco Rodriguez, Ana
5) B.J. Ryan, Tor
6) Bobby Jenks, ChW
7) Huston Street, Oak
8) Trevor Hoffman, SD
9) Joel Zumaya, Det - The guy will probably get 100 strikeouts in a relief role. I don't care if he's not getting saves; 100 strikeouts from a reliever is incredible.
10) Tom Gordon, Phi
11) Mike Gonzalez, Pit
12) Chad Cordero, Was - He's topped 73 innings the past three years and is still only 25. An injury might be coming.
13) Akinori Otsuka, Tex
14) Chris Ray, Bal
15) Takashi Saito, LAD
16) Brian Fuentes, Col
17) Francisco Cordero, Mil
18) J.J. Putz, Sea
19) Jonathan Broxton, LAD
20) Jose Valverde, Ari