"Gambles" (the risk of chasing closers with poor skills)

Last week's article focused on skills targets without closer roles.  This week, it is relievers projected for saves but lacking skills. If you grab roles but ignore skills, you are taking a huge risk.  A gamble. 

Where better to start than Colorado. Look at these projections:

COLSVIPxERAWHIPK%K-BB%HR9$
Lawrence, Justin17584.571.4822%9%0.8-8
Kinley, Tyler6584.961.4022%13%1.4-13

Yuk. Do you want Justin Lawrence (RHP, COL) with the projected 4.57 xERA and just a 9% K%-BB%, or Tyler Kinley (RHP, COL) with the projected 4.96 xERA and 13% K%-BB%?  You don't even know whether you will get saves. Pick one and the other might get the save chances. Do you see the projected dollar values? No bueno. Frankly, there is no league where rostering...

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