The Swat Box

We're about 40 percent through this season, which means we've got some decent sample sizes to work with in crunching this year's numbers. It seems like as good a time as any to check on this year's crop of MRI relievers to see if there are any surprises, and to take stock of the contributors, from the closers to the long relievers. If you need a refresher as to what the theory of Maximized Relief Innings is all about, you can check it out right here.

To qualify, a reliever must have an ERA under 4.00, a WHIP under 1.30 and strike out at least seven hitters per nine innings.

The Closers

No wonder J.J. Putz took the job from Eddie Guardado, he's been the essence of the great MRI reliever. He got his WHIP down and his K/9 up for the third consecutive season, and will be a top-shelf closer for the next few years. ... Jorge Julio's numbers with the Mets wouldn't have qualified him, but he's been lights-out with Arizona and deserves to keep the job until proven otherwise. ... Tom Gordon shows you why an elite MRI reliever can quickly become an elite closer. ... Put Brian Fuentes in a major market, and he'd be a major star. ... No Eric Gagne? Enter Takashi Saito, who has been dominating, but beware the wall that Japanese players seem to hit around August. ... Joe Nathan's saves total isn't elite, but his other numbers certainly are. ... B.J. Ryan has been exactly as advertised, but for the Jays and his fantasy owners. ... ibid, Billy Wagner

In heat I trust, and on Bobby Jenks' heater the White Sox do. ... They don't call him K-Rod for nothing, as Francisco Rodriguez does what he does best. ... Jonathan Papelbon is the prototype power-starter-turned-overpowering-reliever. The save chances just make him more notable than those being used in middle relief. ... I've heard chatter of Chris Ray losing the job somewhere along the way, but there's certainly nothing here that says he can't keep it. ... Trevor Hoffman's Ks are slipping as he ages, but he's still better than a lot of pitchers who were still in diapers when he came up. ... Ryan Dempster has never had a WHIP under 1.40, so don't be surprised if his house of cards come tumbling down. ... Chad Cordero, however, we can trust implicitly. ... Huston Street is as Huston Street does. No surprise to see him here. ... Akinori Otsuka is another MRI darling turned closer, I'd just assumed he'd be doing the job for San Diego, until they re-signed Hoffman last offseason.

The Elite

Jonathan Broxton is the future closer for the Dodgers, and the present stud you want on your MRI squad. ... Joel Zumaya was developed as a starter, and his future is either at closer, a la Papelbon, or at the top of the rotation, which may well also turn out to be a la Papelbon. ... Kiko Calero is only a secret to some shallow mixed leaguers and might not be for much longer. ... Rafael Soriano still has Putz in his way, but is pitching like he wants to be noticed. ... Luis Vizcaino is having an on-again, off-again career as an MRI Stud. This year, he's on, and has an outside chance at the closer's job if Julio disintegrates. ... Ramon Ramirez is another converted starter channeling all his efforts into short-inning bursts with great success.

The reason you keep hearing Jeremy Accardo's name bandied as the Giants' closer is that he's on this list, while Armando Benitez is not. ... It's not an MRI list without Scott Linebrink on it. ... Fernando Rodney will be a Linebrink-esque staple on this list for years to come. ... Juan Rincon is a constant on this list as well, albeit one that gets more than his fair share of wins. ... Rafael Betancourt's lack of innings is due to an injury he's clearly over. He's elite the rest of the way, and still a closer-in-waiting. ... Big, tall, Jon Raunch has done a good job filling the vacuum left by Luis Ayala's injury, and is first in line for save opportunities. ... Scot Shields' K-rate is down a bit from his last two seasons, but he's still a standard-bearer for MRI. ... If Dempster falters, Bobby Howry will be there to pick up the scraps...

Borderline Studs

I'll need to see Logan Kensing do it for another 15 innings or so before promoting him to Elite, but so far, so good, as the numbers are in line with the converted starter's minor league indicators, and the closer's job isn't out of the realm of possibility. ... Alan Embree's limited in his left-handed specialist role, but he's putting up numbers akin to those he posted in his first three years in Boston, just with more Ks. ... Randy Messenger has only one recent minor league season which leads me to believe he can be this good, but he was almost on the Smoke & Mirrors list.