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Thirteen -- count em, 13!!! -- of the 30 big league teams have had their closer roles change hands since the All-Star break, with five of those switches happening since Monday alone. Six of those 13 changed as a result of significant trades, and weve already seen three closers who have saved 20-plus games this season -- Jeremy Jeffress (27), Cody Allen (20) and Brad Ziegler (20) -- traded into situations where they stand little chance at padding those totals.Thats why its not a surprise that nine of the most-added players in ESPN leagues (as of Wednesday morning) are closers, while no other position absorbed as much change in the Going Forward Rankings as the relief pitchers. Simply handing a talented relief arm a potential 16 saves -- that was the average number accrued by the top 10 in the category from Aug. 3 forward last season -- swings a ranking as rapidly as anything, and this past week, a lot of very talented arms fell into that opportunity.To put into perspective what a closers job means -- and Im borrowing this concept here, I admit, though its one that has become more commonplace in the fantasy industry -- lets play a little game of Blind Résumés. ?The following stats have been accrued since (and including) Mothers Day (May 8):Player A: 35 G, 1.59 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 36.2 K%, .154 BAAPlayer B: 33 G, 2.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 43.2 K%, .179 BAAPlayer C: 36 G, 2.41 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 42.3 K%, .193 BAAPlayer D: 33 G, 1.74 ERA, 1.06 ERA, 37.3 K%, .209 BAAMost likely, youd have picked either Player A or B. Player A,?Kenley Jansen, is ranked No.1 among relief pitchers on the Player Rater.?Player B? Hes Andrew Miller, who will probably notch almost all of the Cleveland Indians saves going forward. Chances are, though, that you also took long looks at Players C and D, which is the point of this exercise: Theyre Dellin Betances?(C)?and Ken Giles?(D), the New York Yankees and Houston Astros new respective closers.Now add 16 saves to each of those stat lines. Not only are they remarkably similar players, but cant compelling cases be made that they should comprise four of the top five relief pitcher rankings spots? As is, Jansen (first), Miller (fourth) and Betances (sixth) made the top six, with the only reasons for Giles slotting in at 16th (15th if you remove relief-eligible starter Danny Duffy) being his early-season struggles coupled with more limited overall big league experience than the other three. Still, a compelling case could be made that Giles belongs as high as eighth, between Mark Melancon and Roberto Osuna.If were willing to ignore big league experience, incidentally, a fifth résumé could easily be added to the list:Player E: 25 G, 1.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 46.0 K%, .243 BAAThats the stat line of new Seattle Mariners closer Edwin Diaz, who could easily make a top-10 reliever case right now.And, as an aside, Zach Britton has a 0.00 ERA in his 33 games during that same time span.Here are some quick thoughts about a few starting pitchers...Clayton Kershaw is this weeks toughest to rank. Hes a former No. 1 overall player who is now a pitcher with a range of outcomes as wide as his not throwing another pitch in 2016 to making as many as nine more starts. Granted, the latter is much less likely than the former, but ranking -- nay, valuing for trade purposes -- Kershaw right now comes down to your risk aversity. My ranking below bakes in a seven-start projection, but also one that docks him slightly in the performance department (2.15 ERA and 1.01 WHIP). You might feel he wont pitch that effectively if/when he returns, or you might anticipate a different number of starts, so to give a sense of where hed slot in my rankings based on starts with those ratios:Nine more starts: No. 17 overall, No. 3 starting pitcher. Eight: No. 35 overall, No. 11 starting pitcher. Six: No. 52 overall, No. 15 starting pitcher. Five: No. 87 overall, No. 22 starting pitcher. Four: No. 168 overall, No. 45 starting pitcher. Three: No. 259 overall, No. 69 starting pitcher. With fewer than three starts, Kershaw wouldnt generate a meaningful ranking.From a scheduling standpoint, consider that, as of the games scheduled for Aug. 3, 13 is the most starts any individual could make for the rest of the season, barring a pitcher working on three-day rest at any point. The average team has 51.1 remaining games, which works out to 11.2 average starts per pitcher. Chances are, I might be somewhat optimistic about Kershaws rest-of-2016 prospects, but hes also earned that optimism.Ive been asked about my Noah Syndergaard ranking recently, especially in light of his decent performances in his past two starts. Its picking and choosing samples, but the statistical difference before and after the post-June 22 report that he was pitching through a bone spur in his elbow is stark:Before: 14 GS, 1 GR, 8 W, 12 QS, 2.08 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 30.8 K%After: 6 GS, 1 W, 3 QS, 3.62 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 28.4 K%Rankings arent entirely about projections; theres also a bit of feel involved. Gerrit Cole is such an example -- a far more talented starting pitcher than what he has shown in Player Rater terms over the past year and a half. Hes more capable of missing bats than this, and I wonder whether he might lean more on his breaking pitches (curveball and slider) knowing now that he needs to carry this Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff going forward. Since the beginning of 2014, and among pitchers with at least 50 starts, Coles 39.3 percent miss rate on swings against his breaking pitches ranked 14th out of 114, and only 22 pitchers induced more than Coles 199 whiffs with breaking balls during that time span, despite the fact that 39 pitchers went to the breaking ball more often with two strikes.New ESPN position eligibilityThe following players added new position eligibility within the past two weeks. As a reminder, position players need to appear 10 times at a new position to gain in-season eligibility, while pitchers need to make three starts to earn starting-pitching eligibility or five relief appearances to earn relief-pitching eligibility.Mike Aviles (2B), Joel De La Cruz (SP), Brandon Drury (2B), Carson Fulmer (RP), Matt Holliday (1B), Edwin Jackson (SP), Seth Lugo (RP), Jonathon Niese (RP), Jace Peterson (OF), Miguel Rojas (3B).The following players are within two games of earning new eligibility, with their total games played noted at the listed position.Cristhian Adames (2B, 9 games), Emilio Bonifacio (OF, 8 games), Daniel Castro (3B, 9 games), Ji-Man Choi (OF, 9 games), Christian Colon (3B, 8 games), Chase dArnaud (2B, 9 games), Ivan De Jesus (3B, 8 games), Daniel Descalso (1B, 9 games), Nick Franklin (OF, 8 games), Adam Frazier (2B, 9 games), Paul Janish (3B, 9 games), Raul Mondesi (2B, 8 games), Daniel Murphy (1B, 8 games), Gregorio Petit (3B, 8 games), Tyler Saladino (2B, 8 games), Ronald Torreyes (SS, 8 games), Kennys Vargas (1B, 8 games).Going-forward rankings: Week 17Listed below are my updated, going-forward rankings. These are based upon an ESPN standard league of 10 teams and Rotisserie 5x5 scoring. Click here to see these rankings sorted by position.Discount Nike Air Max Wholesale . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Wholesale Nike Air Max From China .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. https://www.wholesalenikeairmaxshoes.com/cheap-air-max-270/ . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Cheap Nike Air Max Outlet .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Fake Nike Air Max Replica . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set.NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis spent much of the final seven minutes of New Orleans game against Charlotte around the rim, cleaning up missed layups and jumpers from teammates.He was only doing what he was told to do.Davis had 38 points and 16 rebounds, Jrue Holiday added 22 points and nine assists, and the Pelicans beat the Hornets 121-116 in overtime Saturday night for their second straight win.Those guys usually make those shots but you never know, Davis said afterwards. Jrue even told me, `If Im going to the basket, just follow behind me.New Orleans (4-10), which hadnt won back-to-back games all season, overcame a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and found unlikely bench scoring from guard Langston Galloway to keep Charlotte (8-4) from tying its best franchise start through 12 games.Galloway finished with 23 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter. Tim Frazier added 17 points and eight assists for New Orleans.He was really good and hes capable of doing that, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said of Galloway, who has had at least 15 points in three of New Orleans past four games.Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 25 points, while Marco Belinelli added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 10 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte.Davis, though, was the biggest difference down the stretch. He had his ninth 30-point game of the season and scored 11 of the Pelicans final 16 points.He tied the game with 18 seconds to play in regulation with a follow shot, and his tip-in of Holidays miss in overtime gave the Pelicans the lead for good.When AD is in the game and youre attacking the basket, just know that hes around the rim somewhere and getting a hand on it, Holiday said.Not that Charlotte made it easy. Nicolas Batum hit three free throws after Galloway fouled him beyond the arc with 42 seconds to play, cutting New OOrleans lead to 116-115.ddddddddddddOut of a timeout, though, Davis again came through, delicately rolling in a right-handed floater for a 118-115 lead. Holiday and Frazier then both sank free throws to safely keep the Pelicans ahead.They just made the right plays, Walker said. As a team we just made so many mistakes and they capitalized on every mistake we made.TIP-INSHornets: Starting center Cody Zeller sat out Saturday nights game with a sore shoulder. ... Charlotte held New Orleans to 21 first-quarter points, a season low for a Hornets opponent.Pelicans: New Orleans trailed by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter and has led after three quarters only four times this season. ... The Pelicans have won four of their past six games after starting 0-8.GALLOWAYS GREAT NIGHTGalloways previous season high of 21 points came Monday. He also tied his career high with six made 3-pointers. Galloway was one of the last free agents signed by New Orleans this offseason.BIG THIRD FOR CHARLOTTEThe Hornets seemingly took control of the game in the second half, tying a season-best for third quarter points with 39. Charlotte was 12 of 23 in the quarter and hit 7 of 10 3-pointers. Heading into the fourth, the Hornets led 85-74.DIMINISHING MINUTES FOR HIELDBuddy Hield went to New Orleans with the sixth overall pick in Aprils draft. But after averaging just 9.2 points and 20 minutes per game to open the season, he has played only 13 minutes in the past two games combined. He shot 1 for 4 Saturday.UP NEXTHornets: Host Memphis on Monday, the first game in an eight-game, 12-day stretch that includes six games in Charlotte.Pelicans: Visit Atlanta on Tuesday, the first of two games between the franchises this season. ' ' '