Hot Coffey
By Todd Gold
ProFantasyBaseball.com
With MLB's All-Time Saves Leader Trevor Hoffman on the 15-day DL with a strained oblique the Brewers came into 2009 with plans for Carlos Villanueva to serve as the interim closer. Two weeks into the season Villanueva has allowed 6 runs through 6 innings and has taken two losses and blown a save. While it is early to panic, now does seem like a good time for the Brew Crew to start thinking about a Plan B. Enter veteran right hander Todd Coffey.
Coffey isn't exactly your prototypical closer, as the 28 year-old righty works primarily off a sinker-slider combo and tops out at around 94 MPH. Coffey is not exactly a strikeout king, with a career 6.09 K/9, but his improved control has caused a steady increase in his groundball%, which currently sits at an astounding 78.9% so far this season (up from his solid, steadily climbing 53.9% career average).
Coffey isn't the long-term solution to close out games in Milwaukee, but today Brewers Manager Ken Macha went with the hot hand, and none has been hotter than Coffey. By picking up the 6 out save today against a stacked Mets lineup, Coffey has now thrown 9 shutout innings to start the season, and still is yet to allow a run in 16 1/3 scoreless innings since coming over to the Brewers at the trade deadline last season.
If your looking for a temporary fix of saves and can spare the roster spot Coffey may be a guy worth owning, especially if you have Trevor Hoffman on your DL. Hoffman is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week, and if all goes well, could potentially be back as soon as next Sunday, meaning that Coffey would only be a one week pickup for now. Pay close attention to Hoffman when he does return, if he can't stay healthy and effective, Coffey will be a name to keep in the back of your mind. Coffey has added value for leagues that use the Holds category.
Todd Gold is a first-year professional baseball scout and sports junkie who enjoys taking his friends' hard-earned money in fantasy leagues and helping his readers do the same. You can contact him here.
With MLB's All-Time Saves Leader Trevor Hoffman on the 15-day DL with a strained oblique the Brewers came into 2009 with plans for Carlos Villanueva to serve as the interim closer. Two weeks into the season Villanueva has allowed 6 runs through 6 innings and has taken two losses and blown a save. While it is early to panic, now does seem like a good time for the Brew Crew to start thinking about a Plan B. Enter veteran right hander Todd Coffey.
Coffey isn't exactly your prototypical closer, as the 28 year-old righty works primarily off a sinker-slider combo and tops out at around 94 MPH. Coffey is not exactly a strikeout king, with a career 6.09 K/9, but his improved control has caused a steady increase in his groundball%, which currently sits at an astounding 78.9% so far this season (up from his solid, steadily climbing 53.9% career average).
Coffey isn't the long-term solution to close out games in Milwaukee, but today Brewers Manager Ken Macha went with the hot hand, and none has been hotter than Coffey. By picking up the 6 out save today against a stacked Mets lineup, Coffey has now thrown 9 shutout innings to start the season, and still is yet to allow a run in 16 1/3 scoreless innings since coming over to the Brewers at the trade deadline last season.
If your looking for a temporary fix of saves and can spare the roster spot Coffey may be a guy worth owning, especially if you have Trevor Hoffman on your DL. Hoffman is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week, and if all goes well, could potentially be back as soon as next Sunday, meaning that Coffey would only be a one week pickup for now. Pay close attention to Hoffman when he does return, if he can't stay healthy and effective, Coffey will be a name to keep in the back of your mind. Coffey has added value for leagues that use the Holds category.
Todd Gold is a first-year professional baseball scout and sports junkie who enjoys taking his friends' hard-earned money in fantasy leagues and helping his readers do the same. You can contact him here.Labels: Closer Report, KC Scouts, Todd Coffey
