Ray Flowers breaks down each position as the 2015 baseball season has reached its conclusion. Here are links to all of the individual breakdowns.

  • Rankings from March.

CATCHER

FIRST BASE

SECOND BASE

THIRD BASE

SHORTSTOP

OUTFIELD

STARTING PITCHER

RELIEF PITCHER

RankTierPlayerTeam (W-L)10 Team ($)12 Team ($)15 Team ($)
11Craig KimbrelPadres222324
21Aroldis ChapmanReds212223
31Greg HollandRoyals212223
42David RobertsonWhite Sox171921
52Mark MelanconPirates141618
62Drew StorenNationals131617
72Trevor RosenthalCardinals131517
82Jonathan PapelbonNationals121516
92Steve CishekCardinals121415
102Huston StreetAngels121415
112Glen PerkinsTwins111415
122Fernando RodneyCubs111314
132Cody AllenIndians101314
142Dellin BetancesYankees101314
152Kenley JansenDodgers101313
162Addison ReedMets91313
172Francisco RodriguezBrewers91313
183Neftali FelizTigers91213
193Koji UeharaRed Sox81213
203Hector RondonCubs81112
213Santiago CasillaGiants71111
223Andrew MillerYankees599
233Ken GilesPhillies599
243Zach BrittonOrioles599
253Tyler ClippardMets599

 

BUSTS

Holland, turns out, was pitching through a torn UCL all year (read that again). Considering that fact at least you were given 32 saves and 49 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. The 3.83 ERA and 1.46 WHIP though were awful given the cost to acquire his services.

Storen was rolling right along until the Nationals dealt for Papelbon and demoted him to setup duties. All told he had 29 saves and a 1.11 WHIP. Can’t really complain about that. Wasn’t his fault he was demoted for no reason, though his second half (5.82 ERA, 1.29 WHP) was awful compared to his hot start.

Cishek was not just a dumpster fire but an out of control dumpster fire burning at like 2,000 degrees because of some artificial accelerant laid out by an arsonist. After 34 and 39 saves the last two seasons Steve saved four games in 2015. He also blew five saves, was demoted to the minors and had a 1.78 K/BB ratio with a 1.48 WHIP. Miserable.

Rodney had 48, 37 and 48 saves from 2012-14. He saved 16 games in 2015 (seven blown chances). The wheels finally came off the Rodney train as his ERA exploded to 4.74 while his strikeout rate, 10.69 the previous two seasons, fell two fill batters (8.33).

Reed saved at least 29 games in each of the last three seasons. He saved four games in ’15. His 1.38 WHIP was also a three year high, his 3.05 BB/9 rate a four year high and his 8.20 K/9 a five year low.

Uehara finally broke down at 40 years old. He still saved 25 games with a 2.23 ERA and 0.92 WHIP, so it’s not like he really failed, though after averaging 69 innings in 2013-14 he last just 40.1 frames in 2015 limiting his overall value.

SURPRISES

Britton backed up 37 saves in 2014 with 36 in 2015. I’m a believer now. Ratios were stupendous: 1.92 ERA, 0.99 WHIP. The K-rate went from 7.31 to 10.83. That just doesn’t happen, but there it is. He dropped his walk rate. Check out the progression the last four seasons per nine: 4.77, 3.83, 2.71 and 1.92. And the 79 percent ground ball rate. Just bonkers good.

Boxberger (ranked 28th) pumped out 41 saves in his first year as closer. He really didn’t pitch great though with a 0.85 GB/FB, 4.57 BB/9, 1.37 WHIP and 3.71 WHIP.

Jeurys Familia (71st) came out of nowhere to tie the Mets franchise record with 43 saves. His ratios, across the board were all elite level stuff: 1.85 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 9.92 K/9, 58.3 GB-rate.

A.J. Ramos (N/R) stepped up when Cishek imploded. Ramos converted 32-of-28 chances with a 2.30 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. He cut the walks down to a palatable level (3.33 per nine) given all the strikeouts (11.13 per nine).

Shawn Tolleson (N/R) wasn’t drafted in any mixed league. Just wasn’t. In the end though he had a tremendous season with 35 saves in just 37 chances. He posted 76 strikeouts in 72.1 innings with a 1.15 WHIP and 2.99 ERA.

Brad Ziegler (N/R), like Tolleson, wasn’t drafted in any mixed league unless it counted holds. The sidewinder had 33 saves in seven seasons enter 2015. He exited the year with 63 saves (he blew only two chances). His strikeout rate was pathetic - 4.76 per nine – but his ratios were top shelf (1.85 ERA, 0.96 WHIP) while his groundball rate was stellar, like impossibly good at (72.8 percent.

Robert Osuna (N/R) was a nobody seven months ago. Now he’s a rookie coming off a 20-save season.

Carson Smith (N/R) took over for a while after Rodney faltered. In the end he had 13 saves, 22 holds and 92 strikeouts over 70 innings. Nothing wrong with a 4.18 K/BB ratio and allow just two homers all season. 

 

 
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