Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

Anyone ever used Justin Duchscherer as their primary closer for an entire season? If so, how did he fair? I've used him for a 1/3 of a season before and he did well, but I'm concerned whether he'd be good for an entire season. More to the point, is he a better/cheaper option than Otuska, my current closer?

Thanks,
Ramon

Duscherer did well enough for me:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2007/team/team_other.html?user_id=1688

As for comparing with otsuka, it depends. Otsuka is more vulnerable to LH pitching than Duscherer, but duscherer has some BPHRs vs RH which could be an issue depending on your stadium. As I said, it depends, but they are both decent closers for the price.

He's got a nice card and if you are going to use him in the right park he should be fine.

I would have another RP with a closer rating because of his C4 though... :wink:

Thanks guys. Here's the team playing in Turner w/ Ostuka as the closer. There are 3 HR parks in the division - US Cell, Great American, and Chase. The season starts tonight so I'm still noodling with things.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2007/team/team_other.html?user_id=17649

I've used him many times and he has done very well in a variety of different parks and divisional environments, only once having difficulty (in Coors). His stats won't look as sharp as the 6m+ closers, and I don't think I'd use him in Coors again or in Fenway, but he normally gets the job done well.

I've used him as my closer on a couple teams. Currently, he is the top reliever in my current league with 44 saves and only 2 blown saves and a sub 2.00 ERA. My home ballpark is Minute Maid..

Thanks everyone. I'm going to give him a shot. Just curious, do most of you set your closer usage to maximium?

I would say it depends on who your starters are, who your set up guys are and who your closer is. If you want him in there a lot then put Max.

When I use him I set strategy to max and then set his individual settings to avoid blowout and don't use before 8th. I also have another cheap C5 or C6 closer on the staff, and usually at least one other with a C rating. Good luck.

[quote:3d3d13f367]If you want him in there a lot then put Max.[/quote:3d3d13f367]

Actually the Max closer setting will limit a closers innings. With the Max setting, generally, HAL will bring him into games only in a save situation. So you are between a rock and a hard place. Dusch. is your best guy in the pen so it would be nice to maximize his innings, which the Regular closer setting would do, but then you have no one else to close if he comes in early. If you set to Max then your scrubs, which is all you have, will have to try and get him the ball in the late innings. I hope you have your starters set to slow hook.