0
0
0It was the best of teams – it was the worst of teams. Yes, I’m breaking out some Dickensian prose to paint my NL-only and AL-only teams as May comes to a close.
Let’s start with the worst team as that’s always more interesting – my AL-only team in a FantasyPros911-sponsored league. While my pre-season stats had me projected in 2nd place, I was never confident in this team. After a week of box scores where my whole lineup besides my two catchers (Mauer, K. Suzuki) were hitting 7th/8th/9th in their respective lineups, I realized my R/RBI weren’t going to be good as projected.
If it was just that, I should’ve at least managed to be middle of the pack. But this team had a secret suckiness weapon and that was the power of injury. Here are the guys I’ve drafted who’ve gone on the DL post-draft:
Curtis Granderson ($26), Cliff Lee ($22), Kurt Suzuki ($14), Kerry Wood ($13), Travis Snider ($12), Nick Johnson ($12), JJ Hardy ($11), Jack Wilson ($3), Matt Harrison (FA)
That’s a total of $113 out of $260 budget that spent at least 2 weeks on the DL in the first two months of the year. If you count Joe Mauer’s week off for a bruised heel ($33), over half my budget has gone to fragility. There are obviously a few injury-prone guys but it’s still a kick to the nuts when 3 of your top 5 guys (Granderson, Lee, Kurt Suzuki) miss significant time.
In addition, I managed to draft two DFA’s (Pat Burrell and Eric Byrnes) and miss every single fluke – e.g., Ty Wigginton, Andruw Jones, Jose Guillen, Paul Konerko.
Suffice to say, this team has been awful. I’m in last place with 33 points and the best case appears to be a rung or two above last place. It’s fitting I drafted David Murphy on this team since his law is treating my team like a male Doberman treats a female poodle.
Now to the positive team – my NL-only team as part of a KFFL-sponsored league. I’m currently in a 4-way battle at the top of the standings. I cobbled together a top offense despite using 2 of my top 5 draft picks on pitching (it was a snake draft vs. auction). I punted catcher until the 20th round and fell into Rod Barajas. Dan Uggla has been on fire. Jose Reyes has at least been healthy. Jonny Gomes has more than made up for my drafting of Elijah Dukes. And guys like Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth, Placido Polanco, and Garrett Jones have all provided solid contributions. Even better, no injuries except Eric Young Jr.
My Lincecum/Hamels-led staff had an awful April as my 2nd-tier starters of Kyle Lohse, Homer Bailey, Charlie Morton, and Clayton Richard couldn’t buy a win and – the first three especially – put up some awful starts. My Wins, ERA, and WHIP have all bounced back in May as I dropped Lohse, shelved Morton, and got some solid starts out of Bailey (before he got injured), Richard, and a FA bargain in John Ely.
Assuming I don’t get barraged with injuries, I’m feeling really good about this NL-only team.
That’s it for now…will provide another update at the All-Star Break…
12 team 5×5 roto league. We only get a FA pickup every 3 weeks so I need to maximize them. With Cruz hitting the DL again, I need to pick up one of the following OF’s. Who do you like best?
Pagan, Gomes, Torres
Rudy if you had to guess when do you think Stanton is gonna get called up?
Hmm… the more leagues I enter, the less my chances of winning. That doesn’t make any sense.
Is it time to drop Soto for Barajas? It would probably just be until M. Montero comes back.
My Verlander for his Haren + Lilly? Yes or no?
@Jeff: Pagan if you need Speed/AVG, Gomes if you need HR/RBI
@Mets fan: I think Stanton will be up by June 15th. If he’s available in your league, stash him now.
@uncdrew: Ha. I feel that way sometimes too. Divided attention?
@Bring Back Pluto: I’d rather have Barajas at this point.
@floridamach1: I wouldn’t do it. Haren usually slumps post-ASB while Verlander keeps chugging. Lilly isn’t enough of a sweetener to make that swap. I’d rather take my chances adding a SP off the waiver wire with a bias towards NL West….
I’ve been away for a few days, so I don’t know too much about Bartlett’s injury. Grey says he says he’s coming back soon. Should the hammy be a concern worth backing up for the future ?
With Contreras about to lose his closer role, I can make room for Uribe, Guzman, Castro or the hot Hairston Jr. What d’ya say? (10 man 5×5)
start haren today @ Dodgers?
@Rudy
In a 10 team, Roto league, I have a chocie at SS.
M. Tejada
Alcides Escobar
or Fresh-to-the-Wire Jason Bartlett.
I’m leaning towards Bartlett for the Runs. What do you think?
Thanks in advance.
Pretty amazing that one could have dropped everyone the end of the draft and picked up an entire team off of waivers in the first week. Imagine what that team would look like:
C – Miguel Olivo
1B – Eric Hinske
2B – Ty Wigginton
3B – Scott Rolen
SS – Alex Gonzalez
MI – Chase Headley
CI – Jose Bautista
U – Andruw Jones
OF – Brett Gardner
OF – Jonny Gomes
OF – Josh Willingham
OF – Angel Pagan
Bench – Austin Jackson
Bench – Juan Uribe
SP – Shaun Marcum
SP – Jaime Garcia
SP – Carlos Silva
SP – Ian Kennedy
SP – Randy Wells
SP – Mat Latos
SP – Mike Leake
SP – John Ely
RP – Sean Marshall
RP – Jon Rauch
RP – Kevin Gregg
Hey Rudy… This would be a great idea for a post… Putting together the best team possible based on the waiver wire this season.
@pat: Definitely start Haren. Can’t overthink it when you’ve got a top 20 starter.
@Buge Hoobs: i’d hold tight for a couple days to see how bartlett turns out. could be that contreras remains closer for a while…
@El Famous Burrito: Bartlett is the best if he’s healthy. If not, I’d gamble on Escobar.
@IowaCubs: Will look to do something this at the end of the year. I remember doing one once to argue against the ‘don’t draft closers because saves always come into the league’ mentality. my feeling in most mixed leagues is that i’d rather punt 2B, SS, or 3B as you’ll have little competition in grabbing hot free agents than at OF or RP where everyone has an open spot.
@IowaCubs:
Wow, that was an eye-opener!
Have you given up on McLouth, yet, in a 14 team, 3 year keeper league?
Hi Rudy, I’d like to make room for Stanton but would have to drop one of: Quentin, Lee or Krispie? My other OF are Lind, Manny, Ethier and Rajai (steals).
@IowaCubs That’s quite a team. I’ve always wanted to make a team from the waiver wire or an all rookie team.
Got offered Josh Johnson and Jayson Werth for my Ubaldo Jimenez in a 12 team H2H league. I’m currently in 1st and while my pitching is very strong, my OF is weak so I could use a strong bat. I wasn’t looking to shop Jimenez, but it was something that came along and I’m definitely considering.
Let me know what you think. Thanks in advance!
Hey Grey
Who should I target in a trade McCutchen or Span? I need SB and Runs but we also count OPS and TB. I would have to give up Dunn in the trade.
Thanks
@Rudy Gamble:
Should I drop any of the following for Randy Wells?
Wandy Rodriguez?
Ian Kennedy?
Jaime Garcia?
Heads up, Kevin Gregg looks so bad that tonight might cost him his job, at least for a little while. (just my speculation)
Nolasco was let go in my league. Should I drop Leake or Cueto for Nolasco?
@Utica Dave: Yeah, I’ve given up on McLouth in a 14-team keeper league format. There’s got to be a better OF on the waiver wire, right?
@Howard: I’d drop Quentin for him – there’s a chance CQ finds the magic again but he’s unplayable right now.
@xlunited1: Yeah, I’d trade Jiminez for Josh Johnson and Jayson Werth. Jiminez is all-world so far but he’s going to come down to earth at some point.
@Griffey24: I think Dunn is more valuable then McCutchen and Span. I’d go with the Dread Pirate over Span but not by much.
@Eddy: I’d drop Wandy. He’s been a mess so far. No reason to think he’s primed to bounce back.
@Robert: I’d drop either for Nolasco. I’d drop Leake just b/c he’ll likely be shelved at some point to protect him from being Dustied.
Drop Cueto for Rasmus? I’ve got really good pitching with Felix, Verlander, and Lester at the top. So Cueto is expendable…but is Rasmus better than Willingham?
Ian Kennedy or Randy Wells from here out…
@Kent Bottenfield: I think Rasmus is a better bet than Willingham. Assuming you’re in a 8 or 10-team league, I’d drop Cueto or Willingham for Rasmus.
@Dough boy: Kind of a coin flip but I’d go Wells b/c Kennedy never seems to make it through a whole season…