best current set-up man?

i honestly have no clue, myself.

would prob trust venters the most tbh but yea who actually sees these guys enough 2 say

the best of these ultimately become closers, right? maybe this is just something i made up in my head but it always seemed to me like these guys are necessarily less talented

It's gotta be Venters right now doesnt it?
I agree with Mordy. The idea of the "best reliever" who isn't a closer is silly because if they were really good they'd just be starters or closer.
Hence why most of these names are pretty unfamiliar

No Romo?

is he your pick - or did you just want to say that?

Both.

but ya, shoulda had him up there. 51 holds over the last 3 years. also: excellent beard.

polyphonic can speak to the top dudes because theyre both padres right? those late inning padres relievers all have like 1.## eras.

Adams went to Texas!

i think i have it down to either him (Adams) or Venters.

i think it was probably mike adams when he was on the padres but also a lot of that was probably park aided

right now i'd go w/ david robertson, third in the majors in holds... 74 ks in 49 innings, tho he could stand to bring his walks down

after that i'd go venters

Romo's BB/K ratio is otherwordly. Admittedly he's playing in a very beneficial ballpark too.

Robertson has been great this year, but so-so every year before this. guys like Clippard and Adams have been pretty consistent over the years, which as far as set-up guys go is pretty rare. am 99% expecting Robertson's #s to revert to '10/'09 levels next year.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

I don't know the AL much at all these days but I'd say Venters and Sergio Romo are about two of the nastiest middle relievers I have seen this year. At least the times I have seen Romo pitch, that guy is a machine and the inning is usually done in 3 minutes. He doesn't play around.

I don't follow closely enough anymore to cast even a semi-informed vote. I just wanted to say that, as a Jays fan, I saw two of the best ever: Eichhorn in '86 and Ward in '92. (Even set-up men didn't have such strict roles then--Eichhorn had 10 saves, Ward 12. I thought all the saves went to Henke then, but I guess not.)

Kind of amusing: if you did a single-season historical poll, maybe Mariano Rivera wins that one too. (I'm sure some research would turn up better guys, though.)

Robertson, Marshall, Clippard, Venters are near the top this year.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

otm

somehow... consensus!

no romo

venters is awesome, but i figured someone else would join me in voting for mike adams.

i mean, his LOB% is 89.6%. that's wicked. and last year it was 83.6%. (venters is 75% for 2011 and 68% for 2010 fwiw)

also, adams' K/9 are about the same as Venters, and he's consistently performed at that level for the last 4 years. and adams' BB/9 usually hover around 2, whereas Venters' is up around 4.

just sayin'

i think it was probably mike adams when he was on the padres but also a lot of that was probably park aided

didn't see this from J0rdan, and it's a good point, but the park wouldn't affect the BB and K rates.

I'd have voted Adams if I hadn't been a homer.

didn't see this from J0rdan, and it's a good point, but the park wouldn't affect the BB and K rates.

― IT IS EXECUTION (Z S), Thursday, August 25, 2011 8:36 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

yeah this is true, but in general i just think that any pitcher's stats need to be taken w/ a grain of salt if they're on the padres/mariners (unless they're felix or lincecum). he's come back down to earth slightly in texas, but he's still prob top 5 relief pitcher in the game

meant to add /giants on the end of that list

Romo shits all over all these guys from on high, duder.

his k/bb numbers are pretty sick but i'd still prob take robertson over him

romo still has only thrown 45 innings this year

yeah

TBF

romo: 162
robertson: 263
venters: 343

what are those numbers

TBF = total batters faced

(not "to be fair")

haha yeah i was trying to figure out what you were being honest about

or fair

i have already flagellated myself over the Romo omission.

no romo

WE HAVE A NEW CHALLENGER

Kenley Geronimo Jansen - 49.1 IP, 87K, 24BB, K/9 is a Marmolian 15.9 without all the walks. Oh and 202 TBF.

The dude is a converted catcher who only started pitching 2 years ago.

Not saying he's the best, just that I love him.

/no homo