.288/.378/.535 in A and AA. Pedro Almodovar! Wait, rechecking my notes. Pedro Alvarez! Last year, Robot Jones and The Dread Pirate Triple Lindy’d into the Pirates mucky-muck with a certain panache (Pretentious Word of the Day!). Next up, is The Smashbuckler, the Pirates future 3rd baseman. Argh, into the bilgewater you go, LaRoche! You landlubber! Finally, Robot Jones and The Dread Pirate have a decent teammatey. Okay, I’m shutting off my English to Pirate translator. Alvarez took some time in 2009 to get going again after a broken hamate bone slowed him in 2008. By the 2nd half of the year, Alvarez was hitting for average and power in Double-A. (A September Scouting the Unknown further broke down Pedro Alvarez minor league stats.) He’s done more of the same in Triple-A this year. See no reason why he can’t continue the same trajectory in the majors, assuming he hasn’t had any lengthy conversations with Alex Gordon. Moderate power, less than moderate speed and decent average. After his call-up, let’s say a line of Runs/15/RBIs/.270/3 in 350 ABs. In keepers, pursue aggressively. In redraft leagues, depends on your current corner infidel situation. Though I will say that if he hits out of the gate, his value will go sky high and then you can trade him for a piece more valuable than him. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Brandon Phillips – Walt Jocketty said Phillips’s hammy won’t require a DL stint. Phillips said, “I’d kinda like to hear what a doctor has to say.”
Alfredo Simon – Was activated from the DL. Juan Schmoil said he’ll ease Simon back into the closer role so if you have room, I would wait until Simon earns a save before cutting Hernandez. Though ‘fredo can handle things! He’s smart!
Rich Harden – Landed on the DL. Ah, finally vintage Harden returns.
Matt Holliday – 2-for-4 as he had his coming out party from the two hole, which appropriately has POO-Holes protecting him. Hey, whatever gets Holliday back from his extended vacay.
Colby Rasmus – 1-for-3 as he hit his 12th homer. Rasmus appears in this afternoon’s post, but not in the most favorable light. So Rasmus owners better wear their miner’s helmets.
Jair Jurrjens – Threw in his first rehab start. Was hit around a bit with poor control. But he’s on the road to recovery, as they say in rehab. Should be activated in the next few weeks barring any setbacks.
Erick Aybar – Left the game after being taken out on a slide by Casey McGehee. Ooh, that heated Angels/Brewers rivalry. Interleague fail. Injury looked pretty bad, Aybar will probably head off to the DL. Izturis should fill in. Maicer, what goes on, Maicer? Not a whole lot, actually.
Ryan Braun – Hit his 2nd homer in four games, a grand slam. And you were worried. Oh, you! Braun has 45 RBIs on the year, McGehee has 47 and Hart has 44. No wonder Fielder has only 24. There’s only so many to go around. And for Fielder it’s a long way around. Fat joke!
Shaun Marcum – 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 2 Ks in Petco. In related news, every pitcher with a no-trade clause has the Padres as an exception.
John Buck – Hit his 10th and 11th homers last night. So he’s been more valuable than McCann. Whatever. I’m bitter. BUCK!
Aaron Hill – 3-for-5 with 3 doubles. Not to rain on the first positive for Hill in a while, but last year those doubles would’ve been homers.
Jonathan Sanchez – 7 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 9 baserunners, 5 Ks. He’s dropped his BB/9 by nearly a full walk from last year. His K/BB is the highest it’s been in his career. He’s dropped his 2009 WHIP of 1.37 to 1.15 so far this year. His BAA is .202. He’s just under a 9 K/9. Yes, it’s true. I love me some Filthy Sanchez.
Pat Burrell – Now has 2 homers in the last 4 games as he hits .407 on the Giants. If you need a power outfielder, Pat’s got the hot bat injection.
Matt Wieters – 1-for-4 with his 5th homer. Let’s hope 2011 is kinder to current rookie catcher phenoms, Posey and Santana, than 2010 has been to Wieters. But because we ask so little of catchers, if Wieters gets to 15 homers this year, which he easily can, this year won’t look bad in retrospect. It’s no John Buck year, but really nothing is. BUCK!
Elvis Andrus – Ron Washington indicated he may limit Andrus and Borbon if they can’t up their stealing percentages. This sounds like Washington playing mind games to get his youngsters to pick their spots better. I’d take this with a grain of salt. Whoa, Washington, I said that’s salt!
Haha, love the Almodóvar reference! And Penélope in his latest flick. Sigh.
Torii Hunter – had McGehee’s fly ball in his glove…. and it popped out and went over the wall.
Grey, I own both Matt Wieters & Carlos Santana in a Keeper League, but I really don’t want to be carrying 2 catchers. Any advice on what to do? In your opinion, who’s the better bet to hang on to, moving forward?
Grey, I’ve held on to Quentin for almost as long as I can. I’m thinking of dumping him for one of these guys. Huff, Gomes, Delmon Young, and Jason Kubel are who I am looking at. Would you pull the trigger for either of those guys, and if so, which?
@ Daniel:
Don’t feel too bad. I’m in the same boat with carrying 2 catchers, even though I don’t want to be wasting a roster spot on both of them (McCann & Santana). I’m not sure what I want to do either. Believe it or not, even Buck is on our WW. That’s why I’ve been contemplating about dropping McCann, but as per Grey’s advice, I’m holding onto him (for now).
Dear Grey,
Any updated advice on this situation you care to share?
Would you play Grandy against Halladay, use the space for Torii against Dave Bush of the Brew Crew or Heyward against David Price? Hunter looks pretty glaring against a spotty Brewers pitching staff and Halladay/Price…
I don’t trust Yahoo’s matchup ratings most of the time since they tend to be wrong more often than not. But it loves Grandy at five out of five stars, only giving three to Torii. Heyward might break out of his slump back at home. Who would you play?
@SotoMojo: I’m a Quentin owner who’d love to have those options available on waivers. Among the choices you have, I think I’d drop him for Kubel.
‘morning Grey. A lineup question here: which stone-cold hitter do you think is likely to perform well against the unimpressive SP they’ll face tonight: Jose Lopez against Suppan or Carlos Quentin against Lincoln?
I dropped Buck on Sunday to pick up Tillman for his start last night.
Question: should I give up this $#%& game now, or continue to bang my head on the wall until I pass out?
Thanks
After his call-up, let’s say a line of Runs/15/RBIs/.270/3 in 350 ABs.
While I like the idea of him getting both Runs (plural) and RBIs (plural), I think someone forgot to update their placeholders.
Start Ian Kennedy @ Boston today?
I am not going anywhere near near Kennedy today. Not to say he can’t pitch well, but I don’t care to roll the dice.
I am sitting with Aramis on the DL, so I am stuck carrying 2 catchers with VMart at my 1B/3B & Napoli at C. Would you grab Alvarez? I also have Stewart at MI, but he obviously has 3B eligibility too. I’d be dropping a SP like Medlen. I hate carrying bench bats in H2H, but it seems my guys are always out of the line up for rest. Why do you need rest? It’s baseball!
Saving the best for last-the salt comment had coffee coming ‘out’ of my nose….
@Daniel: flip a coin. i’d see which one would is more enticing to whoever you are discussing a deal with and trade that one. at this point wieters hasn’t done anything to make me buy into the hype anymore than supernatural has.
Bruce for lackey? Who wins
@dirtdog: bruce. lackey sucks.
Is Aaron Hill a buy low candidate? His owner has soured on him, so I think I could get a deal done in exchange for one of my lesser SP’s, like Morrow. Thoughts?
@SotoMojo: Either Huff or Kubel. I can’t make up my mind.
@ThePoonTycoon: I second Poon’s thoughts
Not that I wish anyone to get hurt but Aybar heading to the DL makes my decisions easier. I own hit him stinks and gets moved down to batting ninth. I drop him he starts hitting and running. DL trip makes it easier.
paulino or niese?
@mets fan: Paulino. He’s dialed in right now.
Grey, are you suggesting Simon has to give his kid brother a day’s notice when he’s planning on visiting their mother?
Drop Quentin for Alvarez?
Goodfellas reference yesterday, and The Godfather II today. Nice. Now if you can work in A Bronx Tale and Donnie Brasco, I’ll be impressed.
Grey, Poon, fellow fantasy baseballers — This is a complicated question, but I’d really appreciate any thoughtful advice anyone has.
SS is a very thin position in my 20-team league and the guy who just lost Aybar is near the top and he just sent out a league-wide message looking for a sub (the waivers are very thin). I’ve been starting M Izturis but have Rollins about to come off the DL and was thinking of packaging Izturis with someone else for an upgrade at OF or SP, my weakest position.
So … question 1: Is the upside of making a deal involving Izturis worth limping through the next week or so until Rollins returns by streaming the position with nobodies facing decent matchups? Or should I hold onto him as a backup in case Rollins doesn’t come back soon or last long?
My OF is Quentin, Rasmus, Gardner, and Carlos Lee, and my SPs are JaWeaver, Latos, Cole Hamels, Ely, Paulino, and Beckett (DL). The Aybar-less team’s best are Matt Holliday, Krispie, and Josh Hamilton at OF and Shields, Kennedy, Kuroda, Carpenter, and Cliff Lee at SP. (my weakest categories are AVE, ERA, WHIP).
Question 2: Assuming making a deal is a good idea, what are a couple of combinations (Izturis + Player A for Player B) I could propose?
Many, many thanks.
Drop Soto for Buck?
Please rank who you like best going forward:
FraGu
Delmon Young
Johnny Gomes
Cody Ross
Aubrey Huff
Andres Torres
H2H-POINTS
Pick THREE for this week:
Cecil @SD (Latos)
Pavano vsCOL (Cook), @PHI (Halladay)
Leake vsLA (Kershaw)
Masterson vsNYM (Santana), @PIT (Lincoln)
Matsuz @SD (LeBlanc)
Myers @KC (Hochevar)
AybARRGH!
@Enrique: i can’t imagine losing izturis is gonna have much effect on your team whether rollins comes back soon or ends up being out a few more weeks.
i would maybe see about izturis + any of your OFs for hamilton? or quentin/lee for krispie?
for SP, you could go with izturis + weaver for carp/lee? or + ely for kennedy? not sure about latos and hamels, i feel like carp/lee would be too much of a reach, but shields and kennedy are selling them too short. if you could sell latos or hamels for carp/lee do it.
Grey
I have Cecil and Latos going against each other tonight
who should I start?
@cashmoney: both. might get 2 7IP 2ER 8K games.
you aren’t gonna get a W every time out anyway, so you might as well not chase Ws and let them fall where they may. if you like both latos and cecil for their matchups against the blue jays and the padres lineups, then start them.
@Enrique: I like the idea of the trade and I say get what you can for Izturis. As long as your league allows it, I don’t see a problem starting an injured Rollins for a short while. Aim high and go from there.
I like Poon’s idea about going after Hamilton (for Quentin & Izturis). But it looks to me you could use an arm more than a bat. Off the top of my head:
Ely & Izturis FOR Shields
Paulino & Izturis FOR Kennedy or Kuroda
@cashmoney: why not start both? unless you’re in a league that heavily rewards wins over other stats, they both should do well for you.
@Grey; @Poon: heard possible rumors about Smoak getting the drop on him. Thinking of a preemptive strike, who would you pick up, or would you hold:
Sean Rod, Alvarez, Headley, Gaby Sanchez, Pat the Bat, Carlos Guillen?
Also, rumor is that Ely might get the drop, as well. Who would you pick up, or would you hold:
Masterson, Piniero, Tommy Hunter, Bard, You-Lease?
@Wilsonian: side note – this is in a 16 Team H2H Keeper (keep 5, irrespective of position or draft status)
@Enrique: Looks like Aybar mightn’t be out for more than a few days … the team is “cautiously optimistic.” Take a look:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels-brewers-20100615,0,1640662.story?track=rss
But if the other manager thinks he’s out for longer, maybe you could try Ely + Iz for Kennedy? Krispie’s tempting but he might hurt your AVE.
Grey – Great Daily Notes as always. What do you think of Edwin Jackson for the rest of the season? Good buy low?
Thanks
@Commish Cauda: @Eric: @ThePoonTycoon: Thanks everyone!
I’m really struggling in AVG (.262!) and RBIs while I’m strong in runs, HR and steals. I have the following possibilities at 3B/MI/Utility:
3B
Freese/Callaspo/Polanco
MI
Freddy Sanchez/Callaspo/Polanco
Utility
All of the above plus Gaby Sanchez
I was thinking of using Polanco at 3B and Freddy Sanchez at MI, leaving Callaspo/Freese/Gaby Sanchez as the options for utility.
Does anyone have any thoughts? Should I just use the guy that has the best matchups for the week?
Thanks!
@TJ: Depends on what you need but I like FraGu and Ross the best
Did you guys see McGehee’s slide? I thought it was a dick move. Aybar was leaning the other way due to a bad throw at second and wasn’t going to make the throw to first in time.
Oh well. I’m playing against Aybar this week in a weekly league. Nice!
@Neil: The OF would be my 5th/backup anyhow (already starting Kemp, Carlos Lee, Abreu and Jay Bruce).
My team is kind of hurting for batting average, as I also have guys like Mark Reynolds and Russell Martin bringing it down.
Need quick help… 12 Team, H2H, Keep 6 each year:
Holliday/Anibal Sanchez/ CC Sabbathia
for
Alex Rios / Johan Santana
Which side?
@Wah: Holliday side…
@Wilsonian: prior to smoak’s 5K game, he was batting well over .300 for the month of june. even still his slash in june looks like .317/.429/.537. that looks about like what people could reasonably expect from him in a best case scenario.
the rangers have given chris davis multiple chances, i don’t think they are short-sighted enough to send smoak off to the minors when outside of 1 game, he appears to be rounding into shape. so i wouldn’t drop him, especially for those crap-tastic and unproven guys. alvarez is gonna have the same kinda learning curve as smoak when he hits the majors.
i don’t think ely is nearing getting demoted either. outside of masterson if you need Ks, i wouldn’t consider dropping ely for those guys unless he has more bad outings in a row.
Grey/anyone,
For rest of season in H2H, please rank Olivo, Santana, Posey (C1).
My Ian Stewart for his Ricky Nolasco. Should MMD net me a better sp than nolasco?
@ThePoonTycoon: I really don’t want to drop Smoak. I liked the way he had been hitting lately, not much power, but he was consistently driving in a few runs. I had read somewhere yesterday, I think it was in the comments here, that there was a possibility of sending him down, which I’m hoping doesn’t happen. I was actually a little surprised to read that.
Ely, however, has something in his Yahoo! notes about him getting sent down instead of going to the ‘pen when Padilla comes back this weekend. Masterson is the most likely candidate out of those guys, in my opinion, but I’ll just wait and see if he actually does get demoted.
Thanks man.
Chacin or Kuroda from here on out?
ugh my opponent had 4 players going yesterday, all 4 in the roundup (Buck, Hill, Holliday, Rasmus)…I had Adam Jones
@ASAOK: sometimes you’re the louisville slugger…sometimes you’re the ball
16 Team H2H Keeper – I don’t like carrying two catchers, but currently have Soto and Supernatural. Thinking of packaging one with Lind for an OF upgrade. What kind of player should I shoot for with either:
A) Soto/Lind for….
or
B) Supernatural/Lind for….
Hell of a round-up today, Grey. Top-shelf shizz. And I had the exact same thought on the Angels-Brewers match-up. How is anyone supposed to care about a game like that?
Next up for games with a glaring lack of historical/regional/any-other-type-of significance: The Diamondbacks vs. The Red Sox. This match-up must have been handpicked to end the Fenway “sellout” streak.
@ASAOK: that’s how I felt last night. My opponent had Wieters, Braun, Holliday, Hill, Marcum and Gregg. I had Rasmus (thank God) and Huff…the score ain’t pretty right now.
hate to question Ian Stewart here, but Sean Rodriguez over Stewart? Stewart has quietly been stinking. anyone?
@Quimmy: I’d take Nolasco for Stewart.
@anon: I’d bench Kennedy today if I were you.
@Grey: Drop Beckham for Alverez (spare IF spot/bench for now)?
@Miguel the Mango: Hehe
@and1mcgee: Nice…
@Daniel: Trade one, I’d trade whichever one gives you more.
@SotoMojo: Grab Gomes.
@ViagraFalls: Play Hunter…
@Enrique: Morning… Lopez…
@bruce: Ouch…
@ChrisV82: I didn’t forget to remove placeholders.
@anon: I wouldn’t.
@steamer: Sure…
@Jangles: Thanks!
@Ron Washington’s Stache: If you can get him for Morrow, sure.
@PepeSilvia: Yup
@Matty D: Sure
@Commish Cauda: Ha
@fredaycouples: Sure
@TJ: FraGu
@Commish Cauda: Masterson, Myers, Cecil…
@Wilsonian: Sean-Rod, Masterson…
@Doug: Thanks! Depends what you’re buying him for. Do I trust him every time out? Nope… Would I start him in most matchups, sure.
@Neil: Polanco, Freddy, Gaby…
@hoju: Yup
@TastelessGarbage: You ranked them.
@Quimmy: I’d take Nolasco.
@NF: Kuroda…
@Commish Cauda: Ha
@Wilsonian: A) Maybe a third OF or SP. B) 2nd OF or 2nd SP…
@Lines: Thanks! Yeah, games make no sense.
@Back to Minors: Stewart over Sean-Rod…
@bobbo: Yup
Luke French had no shot of handling the Cardinals last night.
I google searched “French Mariners Victory” and google came back with:
“Did you mean French Military Victory?”
@Terrence Mann: Ha!
At 3B, Alvarez, Chipper, or Callapso?
In another league, Alvarez or Jose Lopez? I waited too long at 3B in a lot of leagues.
@Bob: Alvarez… Lopez…
@Grey: I know there’s a great prize for first place overall in the Razzball leagues. Anything for first overall in the RCL’s?
@Bob: http://razzball.com/2010-razzball-commenter-leagues/
@Thanks for updated the info. How could I have forgotten those amazing prizes!!
start ervin vs mil?
@bravo: Yup
@Grey:
thanks, grey! that was quick!
Washington smack jokes just never get old.
Grey, do you like Paulino or Scherzer the rest of the way?
Conor Jackson is traded to the A’s for prospect (RHP) Sam Demel (Rotoworld). Demel wasn’t ranked by Baseball America but looks to be pitching far better this year at Triple-A (Baseball Reference Player Page). Not sure if this means Jackson will play the outfield, but I would imagine that playing first is out of the question with Barton playing decent and Chris Carter in the minors waiting for a chance.
Stick with Soto or go with Buck for the Rest of the year…OPS is a category, so Soto hasn’t been horrible so far…
@Grey: What happened to the hot tub?
@Tom Emanski: Paulino… But really about matchups.
@Stephen: Thanks for the heads up!
@XnadyMen: Soto…
@Stephen: That’s for Fantasy Razzball.
@Grey: Resop called up to ATL. Will he kick Kawakami to the bench or fill a LR role for the present?
@simply fred: Looks like a middle reliever for now.
hai grey,
What are your thoughts on Brett Anderson for the rest of the year? His 2nd stint on the DL doesn’t seem to be encouraging and “tendonitis” in the pitching elbow is even worse.
Also, you think it’s time to leave the Ely train now?
@Eric: I wouldn’t own Anderson. If you have him, I’d just stash him on the DL and hope for the best. I’d move on from Ely.
@simply fred: He’ll probably be a reliever. All the reports are saying reliever.
@Grey: Ah, thanks for the clarification.
Nava leading off for the Sawx tonight.
Sean Rod AAA 2009: 435AB 81/29/93/9 .400OBP
yum.
Need a 2B to provide OBP and RBI–Callaspo, Freddy or Hudson? Freddy’s looking like the best option right now, but not sure he can keep knocking ‘em in.
@Turd Ferguson: Sure, go with Freddy.
Rotoworld says Alvarez could be up tomorrow. I’m taking a chance on him and dropping Quentin.
What do you guys think of trading Ubaldo to get F-Her? Asking too little?
14-team keeper league (no OPS).
Rios/Santos for Furcal/Glaus/Olivo/Richard
A bit of a pu pu platter, but benches are long and waiver wires empty in this league. I currently have Pennington/Chipper/Ruiz manning the relevant positions.
Guess this is more of a question about Rios’ value long term. Is he finally living up to his potential or is he living on borrowed time?
@Professor Chaos: why?
12 team, 16 player keeper league
Which side do you have?
Rivera and Cecil for Beckett
Thanks Sir.
@Grey: Just when I finally get fed up with Hill and do a major overhaul, he shows a pulse.Oh well,he’s still on my roster.Actually, if his average wasn’t so pathetic,he wouldn’t be such a flop, he could still hit 30 hr’s
10 team H2H Redraft
Would you cut Gomes or Swisher for Alvarez? I’d try to deal Alvarez if he got off to a good start.
@Professor Chaos: Yea, you should be able to get a good bat and Felix for Ubaldo.
I know no one cares, but Dustin McGowan heard another pop in his shoulder while rehabbing. He’s pretty much done for good now. So sad. He could’ve been really special.
@Tom Emanski: Thanks for the heads up!
@Professor Chaos: What others said.
@Ceasar: Rios is the best player in the deal, but it seems like it works for you well. I’d do it.
@Ozzie: Rivera who?
@Doug Ault: I think 30 homers would probably be a stretch.
@BushLeague: Gomes…
@Tom Emanski: Thanks for the heads up!
who do you like better for the remainder of 2010 in a 4×4 AL only league: masterson or j.vasquez? strikeouts don’t count in this league.
Mariano Rivera
andres torres over action jackson? steals and average.
Drop David Freese for Pedro Alvarez in a keeper league?
@GTG: Vazquez…
@Ozzie: I’d want the Mo side.
@brad: Yup…
@Miguel the Mango: Yup…
***THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.******
Alvarez! Alvarez! Alvarez! I just saw someone drop Zito for him in a very deep 12 team league. [I sigh and slowly shake my head]
@Professor Chaos: I traded Ubaldo and Bonderman for Cliff Lee and Soria.