J.P. Howell - Fantasy News & Updates
J.P. Howell - Fantasy News & Updates
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A more realistic scenario will likely see the Rays spend some money to pick up veteran bullpen help, which they have had some success doing in the past. J.P. Howell, Grant Balfour and Dan Wheeler will again be the most likely candidates to get the late-inning work, while hard-throwing lefty Jacob McGee could be added to the mix.
With Percival's future in question and few alternatives to replace him as closer, the Rays ultimately settled on Howell as the best option, and rightly so. The left-hander was Tampa Bay's top reliever of 2009, notching a 7-5 record, a 2.84 ERA and a 79/33 K/BB ratio over 66 2/3 innings. He faltered down the stretch, however, leading the Rays to revert to a committee system.
That's two saves in the last two days for Balfour, who seems to be emerging as manager Joe Maddon's closer of choice in place of J.P. Howell for the final few games. Of course, given that the inconsistent Balfour has posted an 8.22 ERA this month, he's no sure thing to help owners pad their save totals in the coming days.
The issue isn't an existing injury so much as it is the possibility of obtaining one after a grueling season. Even though his 66 2/3 innings are far short of the 89 1/3 he tossed last season, manager Joe Maddon stated it was "the right thing to do" in shutting down the closer. Maddon cited Howell's extensive work during the '08 regular season plus the 12 innings he logged during the '08 postseason, his work in the World Baseball Classic and a more intensive and taxing role as the team's closer for most of this season. The lefty ends the season with a 7-5 record, 17 saves in 25 chances, a 2.84 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and 79 strikeouts.
Howell, who tied for the Major League league in relief innings last season (89 1/3), has thrown 63 2/3 innings already this year as Tampa Bay's primary closer. At six feet and 180 pounds, the left-hander doesn't have the build of a typical power reliever, though, and he has struggled immensely down the stretch. Maddon said he will consider scaling back Howell's appearances considerably if the Rays fall completely out of the playoff race this month. "I'll keep an eye on how these things continue to go with us," Maddon said. "As we get deeper into this month, if it feels like we have no chance at all, I would definitely scale him back." In Howell's past 12 appearances, he is 1-3 with a 7.84 ERA.
Wheeler earned the call to finish off the ninth with regular closer J.P. Howell forced to come in early to protect an eighth-inning lead. Wheeler has now gone 16 1/3 innings without issuing a single walk, a stretch that's helped to lower his ERA to 3.51.
The save comes after Howell blew two saves in his prior two appearances, giving him seven blown saves on the year. Manager Joe Maddon hasn't given an indication that any other reliever will start receiving save chances, and Saturday's outing makes it appear as though Maddon wants Howell to gain back his confidence.
Howell looks firmly planted into the closer role now that he's locked up three saves in as many games. The Rays closer situation has been quite unpredictable at times but Howell looks to be the No. 1 option heading toward season's end.
Howell's had a rough go of it in August (5.14 ERA), with opposing teams undoubtedly placing a greater emphasis on getting to him in the late innings. A 69/22 K/BB ratio still shows promise, but the Rays closer will have to improve his lackluster command of late.
Howell was coming off a pair of shaky appearances in non-save situations, but he had little trouble in this one, retiring three in a row after issuing a leadoff walk. Since being awarded full-time closer duties by manager Joe Maddon, Howell has cashed in all six of his save opportunities. On the year, he’s compiled a nasty 63/20 K/BB ratio over 53 1/3 innings.
Howell struggled earlier in the season, earning two saves but blowing five more opportunities, with the majority of them coming when he entered before the ninth inning. But when closer Troy Percival went on the DL May 22 with right shoulder tendinitis, Howell was the one who emerged as the most reliable ninth-inning option. Over his last 15 appearances, spanning 15 1/3 innings, the left-hander has posted a 1.76 ERA, eight saves and a 19/3 K/BB ratio. With his role now official, Howell's fantasy stock -- particularly his trade value -- increases, as he could potentially become a significant bargaining chip.
Howell has cashed in his last four save opportunities, hurling a combined four scoreless frames in that stretch. On the year, the lanky lefty sports a nasty 56/16 K/BB ratio in 46 2/3 innings of work.
That's three saves in three straight games for the Ray's ninth-inning man of choice. If you throw out his three-run implosion against the A's on July 12, Howell has run off an astounding 22 1/3 scoreless innings. During that stretch he's also helped out owners with a terrific 30/8 K/BB ratio and 8 saves.
It's still technically a closer-by-committee, but it seems safe to say that Howell has earned his spot as chairman of the committee in Tampa Bay's bullpen. While the saves are nice, Howell offers help all over the place, and is worth a spot in fantasy lineups even when he's not closing thanks to his knack for vulturing wins (he has five already) and piling up strikeouts, of which he has 53 in 44 2/3 innings of work.
A nice bounce-back effort from Howell, who got torched for three earned runs in 1 1/3 innings by Oakland in his last appearance. The lanky lefty has converted five straight save opportunities since blowing five of his first seven.
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