In the last of our Sleeper and Deeper Sleepers to consider, we tackle Starting Pitchers and Relievers. There are some gems, if you wait for the last few rounds of your draft, to snatch up and possibly end up gaining an edge in your league. You don’t have to go with the more well-known named pitchers out there like Ervin Santana or R.A. Dickey who are overrated and apt to disappoint.
SLEEPER: SP-Danny Salazar-Indians- A late season post All-Star call-up, this 23 year old had a Seaver-like debut in the majors striking out 17 batters in 13 2/3 innings his first two starts; both wins. In the 52 innings he pitched last season the rookie struck out 65 (a strikeout rate of 30.8%). His ERA was an impressive 3.12. Salazar’s WHIP was 1.13 and his BA was a miniscule .226. If the Indians give him some decent run support, we are predicting that Salazar could end up in the top 15 of all MLB pitchers.
#31 SP Danny Salazar could be a top pitcher in the M.L.’s if he picks up where he left off last season. Photo:
Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports
DEEPER SLEEPER: SP-Ian Kennedy-Padres- This former first-round pick and hot prospect of the N.Y. Yankees in 2006, had an unimpressive year with the Diamondbacks in 2013 finishing with a 7-10 record and and a high 4.91 ERA. However he will now pitch in a much more ‘spacious’ Petco Park as a member of the Padres so if you want a low risk/high reward late rounder, you could do worse than Kennedy, just 29 years old, who brings his 163 strikeouts from last season with him to San Diego.
HOT PROSPECT: SP-Noah Syndergaard-Mets- If you are in deeper leagues or you have bench room, do not let this phenom-to-be pass you by on draft day. His stuff is wicked! He can throw 97 MPH and has the nastiest curve ball you will ever see. And, as an additional bonus, he will play in one of the more pitcher-friendly parks in the major leagues; Citifield. There is a possibility that Sndergaard will not be called up until around June but we think it will be earlier, and he will be well worth the wait!
SLEEPER: RP-Cody Allen-Indians- Assuming that Allen will secure the closing duties in Cleveland now that RP Chris Perez is no longer with the club, the youngster has all the makings of a quality closer for years to come. In 77 relief appearances last season, Allen struck out 88 batters while walking just 26 and his ERA/WHIP slash line of 2.43/1.25 certainly qualifies him to close. His only weak point is the long ball, which last season was about the league average. Hard to believe this future closer was the 698th pick in the 2011 draft!
#37 Cody Allen has impressed with his stats from last season and is set to become a viable replacement to ex-Indians closer Chris Perez Photo: Chuck Crow-Plain Dealer
DEEPER SLEEPER: A.J. Ramos-RP-Marlins- Strictly for much deeper leagues and formats, Ramos will only be viable to fantasy owners in the event that closer Steve Cishek finds himself traded by July should the Marlins have another poor showing to start the season. Ramos was serviceable enough in the second half of last season, posting a 2.51 ERA to go along with 38 strikeouts in 32 innings.
FANTASY FURNACE 
What do you think of the Yankees’ decision to pursue Johan Santana ? There’s said to be as many as seven teams interested in his services ? I do not believe that he is the pitcher , he was , at least five or six years ago !
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Ludicrous! That ship has long sailed.
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A sign of desperation on the part of Yankees’ front office !
If at all interested let me know what you think as to the merits of the following ? Merely click unto the links shown to view .
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/it-aint-easy-being-cheesy/
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/what-actually-makes-a-successful-nfl-owner-much-less-a-successful-professional-sports-franchise-owner-today-in-the-world-of-sports/
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/stick-to-what-you-know-and-not-what-youre-told-is-the-truth/
tophatal ………
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hank
Common sense prevailed within the Yankees’ front office ! Unfortunately , the same can’t be said about the Orioles and their owner , the less than able Peter Angelos ! They have signed Johan Santana to a Minor League contract , and apparently John Russell believe he’s capable of making the O’s starting roster for Opening Day .
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Actaully Al, Santana is expected to be used more in a reliever role than a starting one unless of course injuries push him to a starting post.
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Orioles’ bench coach John Russell believes Johan Santana has been showing good enough “stuff” to be a possible starter . Personally , I believe your suggestion has more credence with regard being a ” reliever ” , but not necessarily in the role as a pitcher ! Might I suggest ” The Waterboy ” ?
:)
;)
How’s your medulla oblongata ?
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Not sure how effective Santana can be when this Spring his fast ball topped off at 81MPH but hey, that’s a decision I don’t have to make.
Nice Waterboy vids…Great ‘fro on Henry (“The Fonz”) Winkler.
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I think that the O’s will some issues but the biggest may well surround Chris Davis and whether or not last season was an aberration in terms . of v his productivity . If he hits less than forty home runs this season . He’s likely to be labelled a “roider” .
All signs pointing to Kareem becoming a minority stakeholder in the Bucks . The franchise needs a real boost , given how mediocre their season has been .
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The possibility of Kareem and Phil Jackson returning to the NBA (McHale is already back in it) is almost like a deja vu experience..
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McHale is doing great with the Rockets this season and they look a very dangerous team out West in spite of the love for both the Clippers and Warriors !
Jackson was meant to have joined the front office of the Pistons as a special consultant . But consider the damage already done by Joe Dumars as the general manager , having fired Mo Cheeks , when it was Dumars who has caused the bulk of the problems there in recent years with the idiotic trades and of the draft choices . Pistons’ owner .. Tom Gores is worth over $3 billion , but shows all of the intellect of diseased ridden mutt .
The talk is that Phil Jackson will be lured to join the Knicks’ front office and work alongside GM Steve Mills . Phil should stay at home and the “lay the wood” to Jeanie Buss (his fiancee and the daughter of late Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss) . It’d be far more rewarding than being in that lunatic asylum , currently known as the New York Knicks .
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