BY ROB SHAW
sportsnet.ca
We shift our focus to the closers, where Billy Wagner turned back the clock and Heath Bell and Brian Wilson enjoyed an old western duel for the major league lead in saves this season.
Here's a look at the winners and losers in the fantasy bullpens.
Top 5 Best
Billy Wagner, RP, Braves
After enduring several surgeries and now on his third franchise over the last two seasons, Billy Wagner enjoyed his finest season yet with a career-best seven wins and a 1.43 ERA. Wagner racked up 37 saves for the Braves, while deploying a 5:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. It will be tough for Wagner to retire from the game while pitching so dominantly.
Rafael Soriano, RP, Rays
This former Braves reliever pitched extremely well for the Rays this season. While pitching to contact more than ever (his Ks were nearly cut in half from last season), Soriano led the American League with 45 saves with a sensational 1.73 ERA.
Heath Bell, RP, Padres
We all assumed that he would be traded at the deadline, but instead, Bell racked up a career-best 47 saves for the Padres. Bell's 94 per cent save rate was buoyed by a 1.93 ERA and a career-best strikeout rate with more than 11 Ks per nine innings.
Brian Wilson, RP, Giants
The major league's 2010 saves leader has now accumulated 127 saves over the past three seasons. Wilson was at his best this season with career-highs across the board including 48 saves, 93 Ks and a 1.81 ERA.
Neftali Feliz, RP, Rangers
When the season began, Frank Francisco was the Rangers closer. It took less than a week for Feliz to replace him. While everyone talked about Feliz's blazing fastball entering the season, it was his immaculate control that led to such success. The combination of surrendering a walk per four innings and limiting the opposition to a .176 average explains how Feliz led the Rangers with 40 saves.
Top 5 Surprises
Hong Chih-Kuo, RP, Dodgers
A major league All-Star for good reason, Kuo was perhaps the most dominant hurler in baseball with a 1.20 ERA and a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio. The opposition hit just .139 off the former starting pitcher, which explains why Joe Torre turned to him for saves late in the season.
Matt Capps, RP, Twins
Following an injury-plagued 2009 season, only the Nationals were willing to offer Capps a closing opportunity to start the 2010 season. After nabbing 26 saves for the lowly Nats with a 2.74 ERA, the Twins came calling and acquired him to replace Jon Rauch. Capps responded by picking up another 16 saves with an even 2.00 ERA to finish with a career-best 42 saves, which is 15 more than his previous high.
John Axford, RP, Brewers
When Trevor Hoffman imploded early in the season, the Brewers turned to a long-time minor leaguer who had earlier undergone Tommy John surgery. The 27-year-old right-hander dominated with 24 saves and a 2.48 ERA. Though he lost some save opportunities for the benefit of Hoffman making history late in the season, Axford proved himself capable of holding the closer's role for the Brew Crew entering next season.
Chris Perez, RP, Indians
Kerry Wood was supposed to close for the Indians this season, but once he went down with an injury, Perez stepped up. Though he only racked up 23 saves for the woeful Tribe, Perez's 1.71 ERA better reflects his dominant performance.
Joaquin Benoit, RP, Rays
This little known 33-year-old middle reliever had struggled mightily throughout his major league career, most recently enduring a 5.00 ERA for the Rangers in 2008. Nonetheless, Benoit bounced back this season with a 1.34 ERA through 60.1 innings, while surrendering just 30 hits. Though he boasted just one save, his remarkable 0.68 ERA tells the tale of his fantasy value.
Top 5 Busts
Trevor Hoffman, RP, Brewers
Though Hoffman polished off his 600th save for the Brewers this season, it was certainly not one of the better seasons of his career. In fact, Hoffman spent most of the season in middle relief, as his ERA ballooned to 13.15 on May 18, before improving drastically in the second half of the season. Hoffman will be hard-pressed to find a team willing to commit to him in the closer's role next season.
Francisco Rodriguez, RP, Mets
The Mets closer missed the second half of the season due to stupidity, when he broke his thumb in an altercation. Up to that point, K-Rod was actually enjoying a decent season with 25 saves and a 2.20 ERA. His Mets career, however, is now in question.
Jonathan Papelbon, RP, Red Sox
The long-time Red Sox closer suffered an unforeseen drop in production this season. Papelbon's ERA spiked more than two runs per game, as he endured a career-worst eight blown saves. It was clear to everyone in Boston that Daniel Bard was the dominant reliever in the Red Sox bullpen.
Jonathan Broxton, RP, Dodgers
For the first half of the season, Broxton lived up to his reputation as a dominant closer. He was 3-0 at the All-Star break with 21 saves and a 2.11 ERA thanks to a 55:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He then collapsed, walking 21 hitters in the second half of the season, compared to just 18 strikeouts. At 26-years old, it would be bizarre to see Broxton again in middle relief next season, but as of now, he is not worthy of closing in Los Angeles.
Chad Qualls, RP, Rays
He struggled out of the gate and never was able to find a groove. Qualls picked up a dozen saves early for the Diamondbacks, but with an ERA well over eight, the team had no choice but to replace him. Later in the season, Qualls was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, but even a change of scenery didn't help much, as his ERA in 27 games was 5.57 in the American League.
