And while everybody knows to grab guys like Mariano Rivera and Eric Gagne early in drafts, it's waiver steals such as Graves who can make the difference for your club.

Look at what the Reds' closer has done so far, saving 26 of 31 chances while putting together a respectable 3.27 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Another guy whose bandwagon wasn't exactly overflowing with backers in early April was Florida's Armando Benitez. Most projected him to get about 25 saves in 2004, assuming he could even keep the closer's job. Coming into this week, he already had 23 saves to go with a 0.55 ERA and 0.84 WHIP.

How about Texas' Francisco Cordero, who has gone from obscurity to being one of the most reliable closers right now? So far in 2004 he's 18-for-18 in save opportunities and has a 1.90 ERA to go with his 1.27 WHIP.

While Cordero, Graves and Benitez are surely long gone in your league, the good news is there are still potential waiver-wire wonders available when it comes to closers.

Tampa's Danys Baez has benefited from the Devil Rays' improved play in recent weeks, quietly putting up 11 saves with a 2.52 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 23 appearances. He has yet to blow a save and could be a decent option assuming Tampa Bay can continue to play decently the rest of the way.

Toronto finally has found its closer in Jason Frasor, who has gone 20 innings without allowing a run while going 4-for-4 in save chances. Frasor finally got his chance to close in late May, and it looks as if he won't be giving up the job any time soon.

Nobody outside of Oakland probably knows who Justin Duchscherer is right now, but that could change soon. His numbers (29.1 innings pitched, 1.23 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) already make him a good middle-relief option, and there's talk that he has earned a chance to get at least a part-time look as the Athletics' closer. If you have room, it makes sense to stash him in your bullpen and see what comes of it.

There's very little chance Anaheim's Francisco Rodriguez is still available in your league, but if he is, stop reading right now. Set down your newspaper and go pick up F-Rod! With Troy Percival's elbow seeming worse by the minute, the wait for the gifted Rodriguez to become a superstar might be over.

Lastly, if you like to go with the chaos theory of closers, you can take a flyer on Cleveland's Jose Jimenez. He's the latest candidate to emerge from the implosion that is the Indians' bullpen, and so far he has been shaky at best.

HOT BOX

Pick him up: Scott Hatteberg, 1B, Athletics. He has been on fire since Eric Chavez got hurt, raising his average to .311 with three more hits against the Reds on Tuesday. It makes sense to ride him while he's hot.

Sit him down: Jacque Jones, OF, Twins. He came into this week mired in a 2-for-38 slump that dropped his average to .255. If you have other outfield options, it's best to sit Jones until he gets going again. Word out of Minnesota is that he's pressing big-time at the plate right now.

Keep an eye on: Rick Helling, SP, Rangers. Helling was supposed to be a member of Minnesota's starting rotation in 2004, but a broken bone in his leg during spring training kept him out, and he lost the job to Seth Greisinger. Texas signed Helling as a free agent this week and he'll report to Triple-A Oklahoma this weekend. Helling isn't a fantasy superstar, but he is a former 20-game winner who could win some games with Texas' outstanding offense behind him.

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John Nemo can be reached at nemofreelance@yahoo.com

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