Monthly Archives: September 2010

Grey

Borderline Fantasy Starters, Final Weekend

| fantasy baseball strategy | 71 Comments

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This is it, fellas and three girl readers.  The last train is leaving the station.  The giddy has just about got up and went.  It’s your last chance and I’d throw every single pitcher, not just the ones I have listed here if it meant the difference in my league.  You need to do what you do.  The line for last week was 3.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 108 Ks and 6 Wins in 153 2/3 IP.  To recap, these aren’t guys I’d drop anyone worthwhile to get, these starters are meant for streaming purposes and all of their ownership in ESPN is under 50%.  These streamers are in no particular order.  Also, in the final days of the season, managers juggle their lineups more, so there’s no guarantee all of these guys are listed on the right day.  Anyway, here’s some borderline starters for this week in fantasy baseball:

Friday, October 1st

Fausto Carmona – I’ve been recommending for a few weeks in a row now.  Like Carmona, huh, Grey?  Answer, man!  What, too italicized for you?

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

The Lost Smoak Monster Looks Found

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 37 Comments

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I told you two days ago to own Justin Smoak in his series in Texas.  Three straight games, three homers.  To paraphrase Young MC from We’re All In The Same Gang, “I try my best to set an example, talkin’ up hyped players over hip-hop samples.”  (BTW, the M’s lost yesterday when the catcher went to complete a strikeout by throwing the ball to first for the final out in the ninth but the ball sailed into right field and allowed the runner on first to score.  Ha-HA!)  Now the question is should you own Smoak the rest of the year… Sure, but that’s not the question.  Tricked you!  The question is about next year.  He hasn’t reached his potential yet, but he is only 23-years-old.  Some have compared him to Te(i)x.  He definitely slumped for half a season like him.  I think those ‘some’ were using that as a compliment though.  Next year, Smoak should have the starting job out of spring training and could provide 25 homers with a decent average.  In AL-Only keeper leagues and dynasty leagues, I’d make sure Smoak’s owned.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Chone Figgins – 4-for-4 as Chode tries to make his season numbers seem a whole lot better than they were.  Never trust a guy that spells Sean ‘Chone.’

David Murphy – Out with a strained groin.  Sounds like an injury that would sideline a porn actress.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Oh, Poi! It’s The Good Eyein’ Hawaiian

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 112 Comments

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Kila Ka’aihue went 3-for-3, 4 Runs, 4 RBIs and 2 homers.  Also, he just missed a third homer that ended up a triple.  Mauna Kila!  He hasn’t hit for much average so far in the major leagues.  Or is it ma’ajor leagues?  His plate discipline is in impeccable and the peasant Royals would be wise to give him a starting job next spring, which could make him a sleeper for 2011 fantasy baseball.  But you put the wise moves the Royals make in one hand and the stupid moves in the other hand and you’ll need the empty hand that was supposed to hold the wise moves to help hold up the stupid moves hand.  Then have someone else move everything off the counter so there’s room to balance the weight of both hands that have become stupid move hands.  Then get some Lysol because it smells like rancid onions.  Oh, and Kila has another homer in the last week and is worth playing in the final week if you’ve lost some other players.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Josh Fields – Now 4 for his last 8 with 2 homers.  It must be ‘games don’t matter’ time, because the Royals look terrific.  Fields is worth a flier if you’re looking for a hot bat.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Miggy Falls Is The Illest

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 95 Comments

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Miguel Cabrera rolled his ankle the hard way, didn’t make his point and was immediately lifted from the game to have x-rays taken.  I have some back-of-a-comic-book x-ray glasses, but I wasn’t wearing them when it happened.  I’m only one man!  It looked pretty serious.  My mom was right, I could’ve been a doctor.  There’s a whole lot more zeroes in blogging.  Though that’s not zeroes as in money.  X-rays said it was a sprained ankle, should be more news about how many games he’ll miss.  I’m guessing quite a few.  In other words, it ain’t good.  In other other words, make other plans.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Martin Prado – Left the game with an injury to his left hip pointer.  That’s gonna make it hard for his sales presentation on Friday.   I’m guessing he’s done for the year.  If you wanna guess he’s not, then we’ll put my guess and your guess in the squared circle and let them duke it out.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

One Game Playoff for Fantasy Baseball

| fantasy baseball strategy | 71 Comments

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Yahoo’s fantasy baseball doesn’t count a one game playoff, no matter the format.  It would be the Keyser Söze of regular season games, I suppose.  ESPN, on the other hand, does count it.  So that means only one thing.  You need to pick up everyone from potential one game playoff teams before your leaguemates, if it could mean a championship for you.  If the season would’ve ended yesterday, the Giants and Braves would’ve had to play one more game.  If that’s the case next week, that would put Derek Lowe and Bumgarner on the mound.  If the Padres have to play one more game, Chris Young’s ticket would get punched.  Chacin, if the Rockies can put the Rock in Rocktober.  This, of course, wouldn’t mean these guys would all go nine innings.  If any of these clubs make the “One day is all you got” portion of our program, then all hands would be on deck.  First sign of trouble, the starter gets pulled and another starter (usually the guy with the most rest) goes in.  So then you would have a starter on three days rest pitching or a long man out of the bullpen.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

High On Cainabliss

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 29 Comments

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Matt Cain had a no-hitter through eight innings until an infield single by Jay Payton (who I believe runs with a cane, ironically enough) broke it up.  Final line for Cain was 9 IP, 2 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks to bring his season ERA to 2.95.  (Fancy metric alert!)  Last year, Cain’s xFIP was almost a run and a half greater than his ERA.  Or if Joe Morgan’s reading, gibberish gobbledygook > meaningful stat.  This year, more of the same.  So my question to you is, does Matt Cain want the Fangraphs Database to commit seppuku?  Leave FD alone, it’s still trying to figure out Austin Jackson’s BABIP!  Personally, I’m done fighting Matt Cain and his lucky ways.  I’ve overthought enough.  (Overthinked?  Overthunked?  Am I overthinking this?)  He’s in a pitchers’ park and he doesn’t give up homers.  Are they associated?  Probably.  He strikes out a fair amount and his walks have been in check this year.  Looks like a number #2 starter.  Wrap it up, I’ll take it.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Freddy Sanchez – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs.  Now hitting over .400 in the last week with homers in back-to-back games.  If it wasn’t the last week, I wouldn’t even mention him.  But right now, it’s not a bad time to ride Dirty Sanchez.

Please, blog, may I have some more?