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Closing in on a Motown sleeper
by Geoffrey Stein on March 31 2009
Sponsored by: Fantasy Baseball Sherpa
Where have you gone, Todd Jones?
While Simon and Garfunkel are unlikely to question the whereabouts of the 19-year veteran who retired at the end of last season, fans of the Detroit Tigers may be looking for Jones -- a shock in itself -- with many questions surrounding the backend of the Motown bullpen.
Free agent signee Brandon Lyon, who had a 8.46 ERA and 2.06 WHIP post-All Star Game last season, is off to a less than stellar start with his new team after a shaky exhibition season that`s included four straight homers allowed to the Boston Red Sox on March 23.
The closing understudy, Fernando Rodney, has been just as awful this spring with 11 hits and eight runs allowed in nine innings of work.
Joel Zumaya, the one-time closer of the future, has already been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury that has taken velocity off his once-fierce fastball and limited him to one inning of work this spring. The most optimistic of projections have him ready to go at the start of May.
Enter Ryan Perry, the Tigers` first-round selection in the 2008 amateur draft.
With a 0.93 ERA this spring, the 22-year-old from the University of Arizona looks to have won a spot on Detroit`s Opening Day 25-man roster -- a long shot when pitchers and catchers reported to Lakeland, Fla. in early February.
Perry will likely start the season in middle relief, but with the shakiness of Lyon and Rodney and the uncertainty surrounding Zumaya, it wouldn`t be a surprise to see the rookie with electric stuff finishing games sooner rather than later.
As a result, Perry has become a sleeper in Fantasy Baseball leagues, especially those of the deeper and AL-Only variety.
He hasn`t been drafted enough in mixed leagues to show on Mock Draft Central`s Average Draft Position report, but it hasn`t been rare to see the youngster go in the later rounds of league drafts held at the site over the past week.
Perry probably isn`t worth an add yet in standard 10- and 12-team leagues, but he`s close. Keep an eye on him and the rest of the Tigers` bullpen early in the season and be ready to pounce.
While Simon and Garfunkel are unlikely to question the whereabouts of the 19-year veteran who retired at the end of last season, fans of the Detroit Tigers may be looking for Jones -- a shock in itself -- with many questions surrounding the backend of the Motown bullpen.
Free agent signee Brandon Lyon, who had a 8.46 ERA and 2.06 WHIP post-All Star Game last season, is off to a less than stellar start with his new team after a shaky exhibition season that`s included four straight homers allowed to the Boston Red Sox on March 23.
The closing understudy, Fernando Rodney, has been just as awful this spring with 11 hits and eight runs allowed in nine innings of work.
Joel Zumaya, the one-time closer of the future, has already been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury that has taken velocity off his once-fierce fastball and limited him to one inning of work this spring. The most optimistic of projections have him ready to go at the start of May.
Enter Ryan Perry, the Tigers` first-round selection in the 2008 amateur draft.
With a 0.93 ERA this spring, the 22-year-old from the University of Arizona looks to have won a spot on Detroit`s Opening Day 25-man roster -- a long shot when pitchers and catchers reported to Lakeland, Fla. in early February.
Perry will likely start the season in middle relief, but with the shakiness of Lyon and Rodney and the uncertainty surrounding Zumaya, it wouldn`t be a surprise to see the rookie with electric stuff finishing games sooner rather than later.
As a result, Perry has become a sleeper in Fantasy Baseball leagues, especially those of the deeper and AL-Only variety.
He hasn`t been drafted enough in mixed leagues to show on Mock Draft Central`s Average Draft Position report, but it hasn`t been rare to see the youngster go in the later rounds of league drafts held at the site over the past week.
Perry probably isn`t worth an add yet in standard 10- and 12-team leagues, but he`s close. Keep an eye on him and the rest of the Tigers` bullpen early in the season and be ready to pounce.
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