Halladay Value in the Late Rounds

By Joseph Werner, contributor

As many experienced fantasy players know the key to winning
is value, value, value. 

Many players – even the most seasoned – ignore the value
that middle relievers can present to championship caliber drafts.  Fantasy GM’s
would rather grab a low-end 5^th outfielder and stash him on the bench
than then use a quality middle reliever every day. 

 Middle relievers offer the potential for cheap pitching
stats that when combined with mid-to-late round starters can often equal or even
surpass the production of some of the first pitchers taken.  Compare the
following pitching stats: 

Comparison #1	IP	ER	SO	W	ERA	WHIP
Set A	239	74	208	17	2.79	1.13
Set B	242	74	189	17	2.75	1.17

The top stats represent new Phillies ace Roy Halladay.  But
what about the second set of numbers?  If you guess (which I know you haven’t)
the bottom numbers belong to the combination of Halladay’s teammate, J.A. Happ
and Cincinnati reliever Nick Masset.  GM’s could have found the same production
Halladay represented as a 3^rd-5^th rounder last year
through waiver-wire pickups. Value, value, value.

Think that was just a fluke?  Let’s look at two more
comparisons. 

Comparison #2	IP	ER	SO	W	ERA	WHIP
Set A	217.2	70	171	14	2.90	1.18
Set B	224.0	68	160	14	2.73	1.21

Set A is San Francisco hurler Matt Cain while Set B is the
combination of Randy Wells and former New York Mets castoff (another one of
Omar’s astute moves) turned relief specialist Darren O’Day. 

Name	IP	ER	SO	W	ERA	WHIP
Set A	230.0	86	197	19	3.37	1.15
Set B	236.3	81	210	18	3.08	1.08

Finally, the first pitcher is New York Yankees ace C.C.
Sabathia.  Sabathia posted near Cy Young numbers but those stats are surpassed
by the vastly underrated Ted Lilly and lefty reliever Pedro Feliciano.  Breakout
seasons by no-name middle relievers happen every year and fantasy owners seem to
turn a cold shoulder toward their underrated production.  For instance, say your
fantasy team combines for a 3.75 ERA in 1300 IP.  Good production but it could
have been improved by playing someone such as Jeremy Affeldt which would have
lowered your team ERA to 3.66 – which could be the difference between 1^st
and 2^nd place.

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