Possible Keepers for Sleeper (Fantasy Style): Pitchers
By Kip Arney ,
The following players were on the Sleeper roster at season's end and all have a chance to make the squad in 2009. Starting pitching is more valuable for this quad and has an array of up and coming hurlers to choose from.
However a couple pitchers did not make the list because they're not worthy of being kept. Unless you can convince me that Russ Springer or Odalis Perez deserves consideration.
18-5
2.62 ERA
265 K's
84 BB's
227.0 IP
A true ace, and a young one at that. But will his heavy workload cause a set back?
20-11
2.78 ERA
206 K's
39 BB's
246 IP
Last seasons numbers were arguably Halladay's best. However back in 2003 was the only other time the Toronto pitcher threw over 245 innings and won 20 games. Significance?
The following season in 2004, Halladay pitched in only 21 games and had an ERA in the low fours.
11-9
3.70 ERA
128 K's
59 BB's
184.2 IP
The Rays pitcher really made a name for himself in the 2008 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox but will that be enough to shoot him off into baseball greatness?
3-4
3.34 ERA
75 K's
34 BB's
64.2 IP
Flashes of greatness make it hard to dismiss Morrow as a possible keeper.
9-9
3.71 ERA
139 K's
63 BB's
206.1 IP
Talk about vanilla. Only Colorado's Aaron Cook threw more innings with fewer strikeouts. If Maholm were on a better team, his wins would be higher.
6-4
2.88 ERA
52 K's
36 BB's
84.1 IP
In 14 starts last season, the rookie gave up more than three earned runs only once. But struck out more than four batters more than once. High upside.
5-4
3.26 ERA
34 Saves
84 K's
18 BB's
66.1 IP
The new closer for the Cleveland Indians is coming off his best season as a reliever. The question with him is and always will be his durability.
0-3
4.28 ERA
14 Saves
44 K's
14 BB's
33.2 IP
Gonzalez didn't begin pitching until the middle of June last season and his September ERA was 5.84. Still, his K/9 rating was 11.75. Only Brad Lidge had more saves and a higher K/9 rating.
10-2
1.62 ERA
16 Holds
55 K's
22 BB's
61.0 IP
The new closer for the Angels will have tough shoes to fill from the vacancy of Francisco Rodriguez's record setting year and a September ERA of 3.38 suggests that hitters might start to figure him out.
6-2
1.54 ERA
4 Saves
14 Holds
82 K's
24 BB's
58.1 IP
Balfour's season was ridiculously good and was completely unexpected as coming into last season he'd never had an ERA below 4.15. The drastic change in stats is too wide to think he'll repeat in 2009.
