I usually like to wait a couple of months into the season to look at some of the catchers that couldn’t throw out your grandma even if she loses the tennis balls off her walker. (What is the deal with those tennis balls? I feel like that’s the kinda nonsense thing that would have a Facebook Fan Page. Everyone who likes tennis balls on walkers! Yay! BTW, what did people do before Facebook? Oh, yeah, Myspace. BTW II, The Return of BTW, is there anything sadder than getting an email from Friendster. Hey, come check out the new Friendster! Sure, as soon as I get on the internet with this dial-up modem.) Or some of the catchers that are quite agile — hey, it’s Italian! I wait a few months because new catchers come into the league and I like to see a decent sample size — that’s what she said! Anyway, here’s some of the best and worst catchers for fantasy baseball:
The Bad
Jonathan Lucroy – Has only thrown out 6 baserunners out of 33. And he doesn’t even get to try and throw out Prince Fielder. “Pretend 2nd base is a vegan muffin…Now run!”
John Jaso – 7 caught out of 35. And John Jaso Jingleheimer Schmidt doesn’t have to try and throw out Upton.
Rod Barajas – He’s pretty tizzerrible, but Dioner, his backup, is less so. And less Jaso, for that matter.
A.J. Pierzynski – The most runners have tried to go on A.J. outside of McCann. From my two years in Kenya, I can tell you runners are total gossipers and they probably talk about how you can run on A.J.
Josh Thole – This post is an asset for short schedule days when you pick up a guy for one day to try and score a steal. Thole, like Barajas, makes that hard because his backup is good at throwing out runners.
Jason Varitek/Jarrod Saltymochachino – The above comment for Thole doesn’t hold weight with this dynamic duo. You, eating the Cheetos and scratching your underarm? You could steal on these two.
Eli Whiteside – Eli doesn’t like to catch people stealing. He likes to guilt them into not doing it.
The Good
Lou Marson – 13 caught, 14 allowed. While Carlos Santana isn’t smooth at throwing out runners, you do not run on Lou Marson. His last name anagrams to No Arms, but that shizz is a misnomer.
Ivan Rodriguez – 9 caught, 10 allowed. Hey, maybe Boras can get him another $5 million now.
Wilson Ramos – Though Boras will have to try with another team, because Ramos is just as nasty — 12 caught, only 16 allowed.
Matt Wieters – 18-for-46. Too bad that’s never his batting line over a week.
@Grey-
I punted catcher this season and have been letting Arencibia ride. Is it time to give up on him now, or should I hold him hoping he gets hot again? Are the likes of Ruiz, Lucroy, Pierzynski or Buck (all available) any better over the long term? I think I might throw up now.
I am confused by your color choices. Red = bad, but here red = good. Am I supposed to sell Barajas? I need to call my therapist.
@Grey: I just dropped Lilly and picked up Scott Baker. The league counts QS and K/BB. Did I screw up?
Grey — I think you are reading the stats wrong, for example I think Ramos has caught 12 runners and given up 16 SBs….still great at 43% caught.
Drew/Bedard or Hardy/Scherzer?
Thanks…
@Zeke: Hold
@ChrisV82: Green means go, but it says a negative. Messing with your right and left brain.
@SwaggerJackers: Nope
@Beau: Oops! Thanks for the heads up!
@EG: Scherzer
Grey,
I’ve been offered Choo and Zobrist for Josh Hamilton and Carp in my 6×6 h2h league. Carp is like my 8th starter. I’m for some reason very reluctant. Would you do it?
I have wieters…. posada is on wire. Should I use him instead? Napoli was dropped too. Should I use him when instead of either of those two when he is healthy?
@Joel: Nope
@joe: Napoli when healthy. I’d stay with Wieters for now.
Can someone (I’m looking at you Mr. Albright) tell me what in the hell is wrong with Evan Longoria? Besides one game a few days ago he’s been pretty craptastic.
Thanks dude.
Hey Grey, what area of outfielders would you rank Jennings in when he comes up?
Great stuff as usual. My favorite site to come to when I’m taking a dump.
Need some start/sit advice for tommorrow
1) Volquez @ BAL
2) Morrow @ STL
3) Hold on Lilly or is he droppable??
12 Team ROTO (W, ERA, WHIP, K)
@Donnie Baseball: That’s the highest of compliments in my book.
@Grey: Desmond Jennings just got dropped and I want to grab and stash him. Who should I dump among Dempster, Lilly, or D. Lowe?
E. Aybar or Bartlett the rest of the way for MI?
Iannetta or Soto the rest of the way?
@L-Boogie: Tony Parker break up is in his head.
@Donnie Baseball: Thanks! Now spray some air freshener…. #3 OF to 4…Around Gardner.
@Brew Crew: Start, start, depends on options.
@stumanji: Lowe
@coco krispie: Bartlett….Iannetta
Wow.
Jim Riggleman resigned, apparently upset that his option had not been picked up. I’m not even a Nationals fan and I’m stunned.
Vargas or Volstad for Sat night? Vargas also gets SD @ SEA in his next and I’m in a limited transaction league (unless either one screws me then I’m Steinbrenner).
Who ya like better for tomm, Carrasco @ SF, or Lowe @ SD?? Thanks
@Eddy: Wow, that’s weird.
@Probable Party Starter: Volstad
@Probable Party Starter: Actually, can go Vargas with that other info.
@MrHappyTime: Carrasco
@Eddy: I’m like you, I’m pretty stunned. He had them playing really solid baseball. I’m almost a little upset.
Seriously…what’s the deal wit JJ Hardy? He’s making an awfully good case for himself. Just got offered JJ and Feliz for Ortiz, tempting bc I drafted furcal, ortiz isn’t this good, and Feliz should be better than he is (maybe not?) …Fair or am I starry-eyed?
@Sweet D: i dont like it,yeah it could work out but im worried about feliz and even if paooi regresses his rbi and hr are hard to replace
Hey Grey,
I was wondering if you had any thoughts on two prospects that got called up today: Carter and Presley. Either worth owning in a 14 teamer? 12 teamer?
Regarding my earlier post about “bitch” referring to men, I found a 2005 article from the NY Times discussing how it was occurring on television, citing Oz and The OC. I think referring to a reputable newspaper might be better than trying to rap before the court. Such as this Sage Francis song:
God’s not a woman,
He’s a big white guy in the sky,
And the deserts are reflections of his eyes,
He doesn’t cry for us,
But when he does,
It’s cause he’s drunk,
(Say What?),
God’s not a woman,
He’s a big white guy in the sky,
And the deserts are reflections of his eyes,
He doesn’t cry for us,
But when he does,
It’s cause he’s drunk,
And he’s always fucked up,
Bottoms up,
God’s not a woman,
He’s a bitch.
Not sure about the justices’ religions, but I doubt that would go over well.
@royce!: I did a little research for you, but came up empty I’m afraid.
Though I did stumble across this:
http://www.lilwaynehq.com/lyrics/thats-what-they-call-me/
It’s official. We have reached the end of civilisation.
@Sweet D: Starry-eyed.
@royce!: Ha! Nice… I’ll go over those prospects in tomorrow’s roundup.
On cue, Jemile Weeks steals two more bags today off Thole. Starting to look like Weeks has some pretty nice SB upside, here’s to hoping that Mark Ellis doesn’t cost him too much PT.
@theguarantee: yeah really,im riding him in 2 leagues and lovin it
@Steve: “Good morning and May it Please the Court. In the immortal words of Lil’ Wayne…” Gonna be the best oral argument ever.
@theguarantee: @AL KOHOLIC: I’m really hoping he doesn’t lose any PT either. I’m trying to trade Kendrick to ride the Weeks train, but that might be ill-advised if Ellis is going to bogart his time.
@Grey: in a pack of Bubblicious, who do you like: McGehee or Freese for the remainder of the season?
@Wilsonian – 0-6 with 3 K’s last night and then watching his awful whiff on a Capuano changeup to lead the game off had me looking through the 2B players page on my league. Also interesting to note that his second steal came after an 8th inning leadoff walk despite the A’s facing a 4-0 deficit. That’s the kind of dumb basepath wrecklessness that will earn the adoration of fantasy owners such as ourselves, but might not have the same affect on the manager/front office.
I’m very concerned that the Weeks train is going to end up being the express and not the local, but either way I’m riding it until I’m forced off.
Wright has been cleared to resume baseball activities.
Those words were so great to read.
@Wilsonian: ellis has had 4 or 5 years to due something with the only good year being 4 or 5 years ago,weeks will play unless he flops
^Teams do stupid things an awful lot. Nonetheless, looks like Weeks should keep getting pt. Ellis could slide around the infield a bit for sure.
@Grey: Please rank for ROS … BUMgarner, Gee, Karstens, Stauffer & Lilly.
@Grey: which two of the following do you like next week for K’s only?
rubby dlr @ min
leake @ tb
lyles vs tex
paulino @ sd
volstad @ oak
zito @ chc
thanks.
grey are you starting
morrow@st louis
abaldo@yanks or
haren @dodgers ? im plus 13 on innings,i like morrow the best,thanks as always
Come on Roy. Get your effing shizz together.
@Steve: You too, Hudson. Jesus.
Mothereffer.
Joey Bats going back to 3rd. This doesn’t bode well for Lawrie this season.
Who’s going to the OF to take his spot? Isn’t Snider hurt?
That day of fantasy baseball went south pretty quickly.
Looks like Oswalt is done. Seemed to be struggling on every pitch.
Yep. Cliff Lee pinch hitting for Oswalt.
dear Roy Oswalt,thanks for trashing my ERA.Now get on your stupid tractor and head back to Mississippi.
@Steve: thames?
Oswalt , time for the disgraceful list…my ERA is so high…feliz, bumgarner, Oswalt!!!
@AL KOHOLIC: Don’t follow…
Interesting note in the Cards’ game – St Louis has already used 16 different middle infield combinations.
Tough to value Albert. Thoughts on trading Beltre for a partial Pujols?
@Steve: @Steve: @Steve: Sorry, I should have warned all commenters that I was starting Oswalt tonight so that he could have been benched by everyone.
Oswalt has been the perfect compliment to my other aces this season (Gallardo… Liriano).
@Steve: I believe Al was asking if you ever rowed on the Thames. Or he might have meant to suggest to Wilsonian that Thames could take over in the Jays’ outfield.
@Tggq21: What, no Scherzer?
@VinWins: You are the VinScully of St. Louis. Thank you.
@Steve: meant for wilsonian,,outfielder for the jays
@VinWins: I’ve punted on the Thames. Both in England and fantasy.
Would you ever trade Pujols in a keeper league? Even if the possibility of getting Bruce or CarGo and Verlander were out there?
@AL KOHOLIC: ah yeah, I forgot about him. Kinda sucks if this hinders Lawrie’s intro to the Bigs.
Oswalt left with back tightness, apparently.
@peter: Ha!
@Wilsonian: lawrie apparently cant grip a bat. i think that will be a bigger hindrance.
@Wilsonian: @herschel: I just read that Lawrie isn’t expected back until at least August, so, yeah, Thames’ contribution to his delay is minimal.
News/Analysis Headlines Preseason Outlook
Lawrie taking long to heal: Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said Thursday that prospect Brett Lawrie, who is on the DL in the minors for a fractured left hand, has been slow to heal and doesn’t project Lawrie to get back into game action until August. Lawrie was batting .354 with 15 homers and 49 RBI in 52 games at Triple-A Las Vegas before hurting his hand in late May.
(Updated 06/23/2011)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 6/23/11).
Fantasy Analysis
Lawrie was on the verge of being called up at the time of his injury. The Blue Jays and Fantasy owners were hoping it was a short-term delay, but it looks as though we might not see Lawrie in the majors until very late in the season. He is probably going to need to get his timing back in the minors before Toronto recalls him. It’s still worth stashing Lawrie in deeper seasonal Fantasy formats, but this is obviously discouraging news.
(U
@Wilsonian: Freese
@Eddy: Thanks for the heads up!
@Fletch: Bum, Stauffer, Lilly…
@herschel: Paulino, Rubby…
@AL KOHOLIC: All of them.
@Steve: I saw you’re doing well in the master standings, nice job.
@VinWins: That is interesting.
@Wheelhouse: Eh
@AdamH: Sure
@AL KOHOLIC: Thanks for the heads up!
@Grey: @Everyone: I dealt Kendrick for Kuroda earlier today, and I’m currently playing J. Weeks at 2nd. I’m looking to try to deal for either Espinosa, Kelly Jo, or Uggla for some help there. Can you give me an idea of what would be a fair offer for one of them out of this roster:
Olivo, Gaby, J. Weeks, McGehee, Andrus, Hamilton, McCutchen, Tabata, Quentin, Heyward, Hardy, Napoli – DL; Lester, Marcum, Kennedy, Gio, Kuroda, Lewis, Cueto, Kimbrel, Hanrahan, Walden
We count: H, R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG., OBPS, W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP, Ks/9
I’d take any advice from the commenters, as well.
@Wilsonian: Gio for Johnson… Hardy for Johnson… Walden for Johnson… In that order.
@Grey: Thanks. Some decent pitching (not you Oswalt!) and a bit of a power surge.
Just to kill the buzz for a moment, if you look at the waiver wire in ESPN (in our RCL at least), and sort on hits for the last 7, 15 AND 30 days, what is the name that is at the top for all three periods?
Jeff Keppinger.
WTF is going on with the world?
@Grey: thanks! I’ll give it a shot. One guy has Johnson and Espinosa in a 16 Team H2H league, so I figured I’d see if he would spread the wealth.
@Steve: Ha! Yikes…
@Wilsonian: Cool
Looking to stream a Pitcher (12Team ROTO)
(Need W’s & K’s w/ little risk of implosion in ERA or WHIP)
E-Jax vs WAS or Worley vs OAK??
Or avoid both?? Thanks Grey…
Not many things sweeter than the short-schedule-day-fill-in HR.
Especially in a blowout.
Carlos Ruiz – come on down!
16 team league, standard plus K/BB, a little behind in innings and throwing Shields, Volqkuez and Haren tomorrow. Go ahead and throw Rubby against Haren for shits and giggles?
@Grey: just a quick question, why would you offer Gio up for Kelly Jo first?
@Grey: He hasn’t won in like six months, but Lowe’s gotta be worth a shot at Petco, right?
@Grey: ok, so he countered me with his Espinosa/Venters for my Tabata/Hanrahan.
This would be my team: Olivo, Gaby, Espinosa, J. Weeks, McGehee, Andrus, Hamilton, McCutchen, Quentin, Heyward, Hardy, Napoli – DL; Lester, Marcum, Kennedy, Gio, Kuroda, Lewis, Cueto, Kimbrel, Walden, Venters
Again, we count: H, R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG., OBPS, W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP, Ks/9
Fair deal? Good deal for me?
Got a a DL spot burning a hole in my pocket. In a vacuum who would you stash (only concerned with this year): B. Anderson, Furcal, Alvarez, or Broxton?
Also, rest of the way, Tabata or D. Jennings?
@royce!: “In modern (1990s, originally black English) slang, its use with reference to a man is sexually contemptuous, from the “woman” insult.” http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=bitch
I’d also grab a copy of the Oxford English Dictionary and see what’s listed in there. Good luck.
Which side do you guys like for rest of the year? Konerko/D.Hudson or Pujols/Felix?
@Grey: Hey Grey, I currently have 5 closers (Storen, Feliz, Street, Farnsworth, Francisco) and am in first with saves. I have 78, behind me 75 then it drops to 43 saves. So I’m thinking of dropping the worst of them and maybe trying out A Casilla for a plug at 2B instead of Zobrist some days…RIos is available but I’m kinda stacked at OF/Util. Pitchers available include Tim Hudson, Bedard & Wandy…Only droppable starter is Gee but my team name is “I’m a Gee”, haha
Need a CI for now as a fill-in for the Pujols absence. Have been streaming but would like a short term option for a little while.
Giambi(for the AL parks), Loney, D Kelly, Rolen, Huff, Scott, Trumbo, D Lee…