I’m not from Los Angeles, I sware.

It just seems as though the most intriguing headlines are from the “Left Coast” this week. Until the Cubbies, White Sox, or Brewers do something worth mentioning this month, we might as well stick with the top headlines in postseason baseball. Monday night revolved around the Angels as they were eliminated by the Red Sox after a 3-2 defeat in Game 4. Read more »

By this point of the season, most fans, GMs, and members of these organizations are willing to “forgive and forget” with their closers. All they have to do is finish games and help the team inch towards the postseason.

If you’re a fantasy owner, then you’ve already had to live and die with whoever your relievers are, as most fantasy league trade deadlines have come and gone. It is still always a good idea to check the news and fish around the waiver wire, as bullpen situations are changing and new closers are emerging.

Ryan Franklin is a newcomer to the list, re-claiming ninth-inning duties after the Cardinals had seen enough of rookie Chris Perez. Other closers have ascended the ranks after their veteran counterparts either struggled or lacked opportunities to close in the past week. Chad Qualls is a great example, as he has seen his fantasy stock jump since being named the D-Backs new closer. He has not disappointed his owners, either. Read more »

What have you done for me lately? — the theme of the year forclosers of all kinds. Brief slumps by even the best relievers in baseball result in implosions that can torch a fantasy team’s ERA and WHIP numbers. And with only half the closers in baseball possessing any true sense of job security, a constant revolving door is making for tricky lineup decisions for the stretch run.

The 2008 crop of closers has been anchored at the top by a dominant group that has managed to stay healthy and effective. Joakim Soria has emerged as an elite option, while Philadelphia’s Brad Lidge has bounced back from a troublesome ‘07 season to put up dominant numbers for the pennant-chasing Phillies. Surprises Kerry Wood, Kevin Gregg and Salomon Torres have held steady in rounding out the top 10. Read more »

Middle relievers are cause for philosophical differences in fantasy baseball. How valuable are their innings? Must they have some kind of possibility for saves to be worthy of a roster spot? Answers to those questions really vary, but now is a time, with owners starting to max out starts limits, when middle relievers have more utility.

Ideally, a middle reliever would have oustanding ratios, a high strikeout rate, and at least a chance to pick up a save or two. Each of the five guys on this list have one or more of those three attributes, but the perfect reliever is indeed hard to find. Saves are instantly sprung upon a pitcher, so lengthy planning to find saves can be a futile enterprise. Read more »

For the most volatile position in fantasy baseball,  lack of change is what makes the most headlines in the wake of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline. As the 4 p.m. deadline came and went, Brian Fuentes and, to a lesser extent, Huston Street owners breathed a big sigh of relief as both closers stayed put and retained their jobs.

As usual, there has been a shakeup in the bottom of our list, as a result of trades, demotions and injuries. Kyle Farnsworth may provide a big-time boost in saves, if he can unseat the struggling Fernando Rodney as the Tigers’ closer. The deal that sent Ivan Rodriguez to the Yankees in exchange for Farnsworth may have created a rarity in fantasy - a new closer on a playoff contender. Farnsworth could be a difference maker the rest of the way. Read more »

Obsessing over fantasy baseball can be just a tad too easy for comfort. Between a vast player universe, the minor leagues, trade rumors, and an always changing group of closers, there’s always enough news to make your head spin. For those of us who compete hard at it, taking a midseason breather is always important.

A vacation, which will explain why ImaginaryDiamond.com’s production slowed down in the past few days, will put a couple of things into perspective. Read more »

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin won’t say it, but closer Brandon Lyon’s leash just got a little shorter. The D-backs acquired All-Star closer Jon Rauch from the Washington Nationals for second baseman Emilio Bonifacio to bolster their worn out bullpen. Rauch will be in a setup role upon his arrival, but all that could change if Lyon, who has given up 7 runs in his last 2 appearances, continues to struggle.

It’s important to understand that Lyon’s recent hiccups and Rauch’s arrival in Arizona are two completely independent events. Lyon is still Melvin’s guy, and Rauch is a welcome addition to a bullpen mix that also includes setup men Tony Pena and Chad Qualls. Rauch becomes option No. 2 to work the ninth inning and could be in line for some saves when Lyon is unavailable. Read more »

A couple of National League contenders may be without their bullpen anchors, with Chicago’s Kerry Wood (blister) expected to land on the disabled list, according to the Chicago Tribune, and New York’s Billy Wagner scheduled to undergo an MRI on his throwing shoulder, according to the Mets’ official site.

The Tribune reported that Wood, who last pitched on July 11, will be placed on the DL retroactive to July 12. If his blister fully heals, Wood can be back on the mound for Chicago’s Sunday home finale against the Marlins. In the meantime, the Cubs have announced that Carlos Marmol will fill in as the team’s closer. Read more »

With Colorado Rockies closer Brian Fuentes, it’s becoming less and less a matter of if he gets dealt to a contender and more who makes the trade and when it happens. The Denver Post reported on Sunday that the Tampa Bay Rays have jumped into the driver’s seat for his services and are reportedly pushing to make a deal happen.

The three favorites to land Fuentes all reside in the American League East, with the Red Sox and Yankees also known to have a great interest in the three-time National League All-Star. The division-leading Rays have the best stocked farm system of the three and feature a pair of pitching prospects - Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis - that have intrigued the Rockies in the past, the Post reported. Read more »

Once again, most of the changes taking place in major league bullpens has little to do with the top relievers in the game. Rather, murky situations have emerged in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, and trade talks are compromising the jobs of lefties Brian Fuentes and George Sherrill.

There are more questions than answers in Cleveland after manager Eric Wedge removed struggling Joe Borowski from the closer role. Trusted set-up man Rafael Betancourt has already faltered once in ninth-inning duties, which makes Masa Kobayashi the most likely to pick up saves. One or the other will emerge as a more effective option than Borowski. Read more »