FLB: Closer Report  Updated: March 2, 2006, 1:12 PM ET By
Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN Fantasy Games Spring training
statistics can be rather misleading, and saves are a perfect
example of that. Look back at the 2005 exhibition season saves
leaderboard, and six of the 11 pitchers to register three or
more never spent a day as a closer once Opening Day passed. In
fact, the only pitcher to save four spring games was Aquilino
Lopez, who saved 14 games for the 2003 Blue Jays but hasn't
notched a regular-season save since.  Why are the preseason
numbers so unreliable? In early exhibition contests, teams
generally pull their starting hitters well before the ninth
inning, meaning the pitchers asked to finish the game would be
facing reserves, prospects or minor-league journeymen. As a
result, teams with established, veteran closers often use those
pitchers in the middle innings, facing starting hitters, and
only enough to get them enough work to prepare for the regular
season. Teams with closer battles will often rot