While some fantasy stalwarts have been disappointing this first quarter, there have been plenty of nice surprises among MLB closers in 2007 season so far.

Top 10 2007 MLB Fantasy Season Relief Pitchers

1. Francisco Cordero, Milwaukee Brewers

Cordero may have had the best first quarter season of any closer in baseball history. There is really no other conclusion to draw from his remarkable statistics: 17 Saves, 0.47 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 5 hits and only 1 earned run surrendered in 19 innings. Simply stunning. He also has a .063 WHIP and hitters are batting a ridiculously low .083 against him. That's why he ranks tops in the 10 Best Fantasy Relievers of 2007.

2. Jose Valverde, Arizona Diamondbacks

After Valverde logged an ERA close to 6.00 in 2006, no one could have foreseen what he would accomplish during the first quarter of the 2007 MLB season: 17 Saves, a 2.66 ERA, and 20 Ks in just 20 innings. That's good enough for second on the Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Closers list.

3. Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels

K-Rod has been true to his nickname this season, striking out 29 batters in 20 innings. He is also ranked second in saves in the American League with 14, and has an ERA of 2.18 and a WHIP of 1.16. The guy is lights out. By the end of the 2007 MLB season, he could end up as the Best Fantasy Closer.

4. Al Reyes, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

This guy is the only good thing on the Devil Rays' entire staff, and he has been a real boon for any fantasy owners who were lucky enough to draft him. After the first quarter of the 2007 MLB season, he is 1-0 with 12 Saves, an ERA of 1.31 and 24 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. A fantasy steal for those who got him.

5. Takashi Saito, Los Angeles Dodgers

Following up his brilliant 2006 season, Saito has been among the top fantasy baseball closers in 2007 with a 1-0 record, 14 saves, a 1.71 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20 innings. Given the Dodgers' penchant for playing (and winning) close games, Saito will likely approach 50 saves and 100 strikeouts by the end of the 2007 MLB season.

6. Billy Wagner, New York Mets

The only member of the 300 Save Club in this report, Wagner continues to be one of the best fantasy baseball closers for about the 10th straight season. He has only 11 saves, but his ERA is an almost invisible 0.90, and he has picked up 22 Ks in 20 innings. Wagner also has a WHIP of 0.90 and a BAA of .192. That is what a 100 MPH fastball will get you.

7. Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox

Back from a down year in 2006, Jenks is 1-1 with 14 Saves, a 2.84 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 18 innings.

8. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox

The irony here is that if Papelbon were on a worse team, he might be a better fantasy reliever. Because the Sox have been beating the living crap out of their opponents this season, Papelbon has had less save opportunities than anyone else on this list. Nonetheless, the rest of his stats (inlcuding 11 saves, a 1.65 ERA and 24 Ks in 16 innings) make him one of the best fantasy baseball relievers in the game.

9. J.J. Putz, Seattle Mariners

Bad surname, great relief pitcher. He has 11 saves, a 1.67 ERA, 17 strikeouts in 19 innings, and a WHIP of 0.66. Even if the Mariners continue their incredibly medicore season, Putz is due for 40-45 saves. Not too bad for a putz.

10. Todd Jones, Detroit Tigers

At the beginning of the 2007 MLB season, many fantasy experts thought that Jones would be replaced by Joel Zumaya at some point in the season. Well, Zumaya is out for the year and Jones is still the closer. Although he has a less than spectacular ERA of 3.66 and only 7 strikeouts, the 39 year old Jones ranks first in the American League with 15 saves. That is what a closer is supposed to do, and he is doing it.

Biggest Disappointments

1. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees

The great closer has been way, way off this season. He is just 1-3 with a 6.32 ERA (almost four times higher than his four-year running average ERA) and has blown three saves. Mo has collected just 3 saves, the lowest total of his career through the first quarter of an MLB season. Perhaps Mariano Rivera will retire. Howver, given his track record and his recent success on the mound (7 Ks and just one earned run in his last five outings), owners who may have splurged on Rivera can expect him to return to form.

2. B.J. Ryan, Toronto Blue Jays

Things went from bad to worse for Ryan this 2007 MLB season. He went 0-2 with just 3 saves (and 2 blown opportunities) and an ERA of 12.47 during the first three weeks. Then he blew out his elbow and was shelved for the 2007 MLB season.

3. Joe Borowski, Cleveland Indians

It is hard to decide whether to rank Borowski as a Top Fantasy Closer or a Major Disappointment. He has 14 saves and 19 strikeouts in 17 innings, which puts him near the top of the list. On the other hand, the guy's ERA is 7.94, which is the worst among relievers with at least 10 outings. He's also got a WHIP (1.53) and a BAA (.299) that also rank among the worst of all regular closers.

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