Comments on: 2nd Basemen to Target, 2011 Fantasy Baseball

By: Luke T

Luke T — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:45:01 +0000

Hi Grey,
I know you get a ton of these types of questions, I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. I use your top 100 in my mock drafts. I am drafting 11th in my league so that is where I mock draft from. I consistently wind up with the same guys, Wright and Howard 1-2. At pick 4 I have a toss up usually between B. Phillips and J. Hey. Should I take Phillips, or draft J. Hey and wait for Hill. Also, I consistently draft Liriano first for pitching, then Gallardo usually falls to me (not in this draft). Is that a godd one two for you. The rest usually works out as you see. Thanks for the head up.

1. David Wright (NYM – 3B)
2. Ryan Howard (Phi – 1B)
3. Justin Upton (Ari – OF)
4. Jason Heyward (Atl – OF)
5. Francisco Liriano (Min – SP)
6. Elvis Andrus (Tex – SS)
7. Chris Young (Ari – OF)
8. Roy Oswalt (Phi – SP)
9. Mark Reynolds (Bal – 3B)
10. Aaron Hill (Tor – 2B)
11. Brett Anderson (Oak – SP)
12. Brett Gardner (NYY – OF)
13. Gio González (Oak – SP)
14. Edinson Vólquez (Cin – SP)
15. Craig Kimbrel (Atl – RP)
16. Joel Hanrahan (Pit – RP)
17. Jose Tabata (Pit – OF)
18. Ian Kennedy (Ari – SP)
19. Johnny Cueto (Cin – SP)
20. Frank Francisco (Tor – RP)
21. Matt Capps (Min – RP)
22. Chris Sale (CWS – RP)
23. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Bos – C)

By: GTWMA

GTWMA — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:39:19 +0000

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cainsu01.shtml

Just in case you need it.

By: herschel

herschel — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:33:02 +0000

@Grey: which 1b/3b pairing do you prefer? votto and youk or fielder/howard and zim?

thanks.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:26:48 +0000

Hey Grey

Who should i keep this year – Jay Bruce or Francisco Liriano – Liriano right?

By: Arod Loves Frost

Arod Loves Frost — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:23:31 +0000

Grey:

How would you adjust your draft approach for a 7×6 format with 3 of the offensive categories being semi redundant (hits, average, OPS) the other 4 are standard Runs, HR, RBIS and Steals.

It seems to seriously inflate the value of the normally crappolanco type players while deflating guys like Krispie Young. Would you alter your draft strategy at all? ie instead of punting catcher make sure and grab mauer/posey?

By: MAC DADDY

MAC DADDY — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:14:27 +0000

@Jim:
I took Bedard late last year because I had fond memories of a few years ago. He would have to go VERY cheap in my auction to go there again.

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:06:02 +0000

@Buge Hoobs: Ranked higher for someone else to take. You shouldn't be taking a starter at pick 40 unless it's Halladay.

By: Buge Hoobs

Buge Hoobs — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:03:47 +0000

@Grey:

In a previous post, you said that in a 10 man league starting 7 P (any mix of SP, MRP, RP) that you would have to be more aggressive drafting your hurlers.

Looking at your rankings, the only one I’ve looked at this year, I see CC at 45 and Lester from your “I’m going to have one of these” tier at 49. I know that you are wary of CC, but you still have him ranked higher than Lester, no??? I don’t see how this isn’t using your rankings.

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:01:26 +0000

@Jim: Sure, as a last round pick if he's healthy. Wouldn't draft him before that.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:00:12 +0000

Grey,

What about Erik Bedard as a late sleeper. reports out of Spring Training is he’s looking good. Take him as a last pick in draft, gets hurt u cut him. No loss. When he pitches hes good and has some upside.

By: Emporersmonkey

Emporersmonkey — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:46:47 +0000

If any of you are doing the Salary Cap Fantasy Baseball on facebook I started a league with the name “Razzball”.

Join up if you wanna, it would be great to go against some of you guys.

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:34:41 +0000

@Buge Hoobs: I wouldn't draft CC so those aren't my rankings and I wouldn't take two top tier SPs either. @Mr2Bits: Tex @Giant JJ: Works fine, make sure you have you have starting players at every hitting spot. Don't take flyers on guys like Eric Young or Desmond Jennings because there's not enough on waivers to fix your potential problems.

By: Giant JJ

Giant JJ — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:29:59 +0000

Grey,
I’m going to follow the advice you give in your tiers rankings but I’m in a 20 team league and your tiers rankings are based on a 12 team. I would think the advice works the same in a deep league. Is there something I’m missing or something I should keep in mind? Thanks.

By: Mr2Bits

Mr2Bits — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:51:36 +0000

@Mr2Bits: Also keep in mind its a QS league and not wins.

By: Mr2Bits

Mr2Bits — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:41:47 +0000

Grey : 10 team keeper. Who would you go after first as its slim pickings? Tex or Halladay?

By: Buge Hoobs

Buge Hoobs — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:35:30 +0000

@Grey: (two ?s similar to Steve’s not so stoopid one)

For s’s and g’s I’m conducting a mock solitaire draft using your rankings and current ADPs for a 10 team standard 5X5 league.

Pick 1: Pujols
Pick 20: Zimmerman (getting the corners done with)
Pick 21: Kemp
Pick 40: CC
Pick 41: ???

You say that you could see yourself owning Kinsler this year, well here it is. Right here right now, push comes to shove, are you:

picking up your 28th ranked Kinsler,
OR
Punting for A. Hill and picking up
a 2nd OF like #22-24 J-Up, Heyward, McCutch
or possibly Lester and fortify pitching?
None of them are making it back for the 61.

AND

When would you target Raburn for your MI spot? last pick? or a little earlier to make sure you get your lurve because you’re not sure if you’re competing with any fellow Razzers.

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:25:51 +0000

@Big Nate: $41 is a bit steep. @A Hill O' Beans: Nothing bad to say about the team, looks very solid. @Steve: Usually I take steals at MI, so some of these guys are fine at MI. @Clodbuster: He can hit for some slight power. @Francis: No problem. @dsimon: You should email the last organizer in the sign up post. @Curt: It's fine for you. @Eddy: 15 teams @Beau Bracksih: I'd get an actual closer with Beckett. @Cain Fan: It's easy for Rudy and I to quickly talk about a topic over IM rather than email, text or calls.

By: Curt

Curt — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:18:27 +0000

@Cain Fan: Thanx

By: Cain Fan

Cain Fan — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:53:18 +0000

@Curt: I like your end better, as long as Hamilton doesn't do his every other down year thing.

By: Cain Fan

Cain Fan — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:52:16 +0000

Grey, being that you IM I am (stutterer) guessing that you must be between 28-30. I have begun to notice that the only people left IMing are those in that age bracket. Either you text or make phone calls. Weird how fast that died out (well not really).

By: Lava

Lava — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:47:03 +0000

Uh oh, Raburn is featured on Yahoo today. Get him while the getting’s good!

By: Eddy

Eddy — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:28:15 +0000

@Eddy: Apologies, I meant Moreland, not Morse.

By: Beau Bracksih

Beau Bracksih — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:27:03 +0000

I’m in a deep keeper league that counts holds. I have very solid SP depth but could use a potentially dominant closer. I’ve been offered Jacob McGee for Josh Beckett. I like Beckett to bounce back this year, but I like McGee as a possible closer this year, or a very solid SP down the road. Is McGee enough for Beckett?

By: Eddy

Eddy — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:23:56 +0000

Grey, how deep does a league have to be to roster Morse at CI?

By: Curt

Curt — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:01:33 +0000

Your trade evaluation….CC Sabathia, Josh Hamilton, Brett Gardner and Mike Minor for Hunter Pence, Krispie Young, Madison Baumgartner and Jhoulys Chacin…….I have power, but my ace before this trade was Oswalt…..I would be the team getting CC……Fair trade???

By: Big Nate

Big Nate — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:58:14 +0000

@Francis: My current thinking is Uggla, Hill, Weaver and Crawford. I paid $45 for Hanley last year (the most expensive pick of the draft) so I'm certain that I could get him back for less than $45. I'm just struggling with Hill's "value" at $9. I've seen rankings where he's at $22 and others where he is at $6. I'm also questioning the "value" of Crawford at $38....He complements Uggla at 2B and Hill at MI so well though.

By: dsimon

dsimon — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:49:30 +0000

Does anyone have an opening in an RCL they’re running? My email is simon daniel j at gmail with of course no spaces. Hit me up and I’ll sign up. I finished, I think 5th last year in my RCL so I was no slouch just letting it slide after May.

Thanks,

Dan

By: Francis

Francis — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:44:12 +0000

@Grey: Interesting. Mine would be Uggla, Crawford, Weaver, and Hanley. Maybe Hill over Crawford. I guess in auction keepers I go for value. I think BigNate can get Tex for close to $41 again if he really wants him. I am always intrigued by your strategy in auction keeper leagues. Thanks for always responding and doing an amazing job!

By: Clodbuster

Clodbuster — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:39:52 +0000

@Grey: Hey Grey, will you explain why you like Gardner(81) this year but not Pierre? Thanks!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:04:45 +0000

@Grey: Stupid question time - if you do get one of the better 2Bs earlier in the draft, are these guys good MI options? Or are you rummaging around in a different bag for those?