Earlier this offseason, the White Sox’s pitching coach said, “We’ll give this kid (that’s Chris Sale, in case that’s not clear; coaches like to call people “kid”) just enough experience and let him go (be a starter). We’re going to do everything in our power to not put [his health] in danger. It’s gonna be a fun year to be a White Sox fan…. Oops, I was looking at the Tigers lineup.” So the White Sox will be craptastic this year, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a positive or two. Like one positive is the stands will be so empty you won’t have a guy behind you wearing a Frank Thomas jersey screaming with his mouth full of Italian beef. Wait, that is Frank Thomas! Another positive… The ex-manager twit is tweeting elsewhere? Sure, Random Italicized Voice, but also Chris Sale. Never would’ve guessed that. It’s in the title. Yeah, I didn’t read that. I prefer my end of the rotation starters in the NL, but I’m so excited about Sale he’s got me wanting to pay retail. Turn of a phrase point! Anyway, why do I like Chris Sale in 2012 fantasy baseball and what makes him a sleeper?
Last year, Sale’s number looked like this: 2.79/1.11/79 in 71 innings. To put those stats in a different context: nice/very nice/excellent. The excellent K numbers aren’t out of nowhere either. He’s got a track record that says that’s closer to the norm. Speaking of which, he won’t be the closer. He’ll be a starter, so that leaves us with our biggest question that harkens back to the intro quote by the pitching coach. Just how many innings will Chris Sale get this year? Thanks, clunky expository question! I think he sees around 125 innings. Can we pretend airplanes are shooting stars and Chris Sale will throw 200 innings? Sure, but it ain’t happening. If you’re in a league with a low maximum inning limit, then this should push Sale up your draft sheets. He could give you fantasy number two starter type numbers in his abbreviated season. Some look at his walks as a concern, but whenever he’s started his walks have come down. Sure, it was back in college (229 IP and only 51 BBs), but it’s what we have to go on. I’m not too concerned; he has the Ks to make up for it. In the top 80 starters for 2012 fantasy baseball post, I have Sale’s projections down at 8-8/3.50/1.24/130. I have this guy down for 10-3/2.75/1.05/100. Oh, that guy is Josh Johnson. I’ll take the discounted Sale 150 picks later for the bargain and leave my competitors Chris’d off. Sorry, I over-punned that end; I’ll need to shake that one off.
@Grey:
Hey Grey, what’s up? Hope the stash is doin well.
So I need to make a decision on my first round pick in my 12 team H2H points keeper league.
I decided to go with a SP, and here are the choices i’m between:
Brandon Beachy
Max Scherzer
Yu Darvish
I’m having a really tough time with this decision, so i figured who better to ask than my mom. She picked Beachy because she likes the beach. Seemed like a decent enough reason, but ultimately, i decided to ask the MANNN.
But unfortunately John Stamos didn’t pick up.. Now I am asking you, the sultan of stash. Who would you take out of those three SP in a keeper league?
Thanks!
@joe from point pleasant, Yeah, Beachy…
Grey,
I like Sale too but who do you like this year for even deeper SP fliers in AL-Only?
@rafi, Peacock, Duffy, Alvarez, Parker, Cool, Bard, one of the Asian pitchers in Seattle, Milone…
@Grey,
tremendous! you just put me on to a bunch of folks. i guess i hadn’t been paying attention to the al-west too much since last year.
who’s cool?
@rafi, You and me?
@Grey,
Alley-oop!
Grey. 10 team league where my third round pick could be anywhere from the 27th to 43rd player in my rankings depending on who the other guys keep and what slot I choose. Would you rather Fielder in the 3rd, Wieters in the 14th or Jordan Zimmerman in the 16th. In future years I’d have to give up an earlier pick for Wieters and Zimmerman (a couple rounds each year) but Fielder would be locked in at the 3rd. Thanks my man!
@Beau, Fielder
Just in from the No Way! desk – Grady Sizemore to miss Opening Day with strained back.
@Steve, Glad to hear… Just drafted Brantley…
@Grey, Rudy’s turn to take a leak?
@Steve, Poor Rudy… Nah, he’s taking a work call, I’m taking over now…
@Steve, Just got Iannetta and Cespedes… Spending money now!
@Grey,
Rudy: Have you seen my Point Shares spreadsheet?
Grey: Oh, you’re talking to me? Nah.
Rudy: Is that smoke I can smell?
@Steve, Ha! I just spent $40 on 4 players in 5 minutes that Rudy was gone.
@Grey,
couldn’t have been many bidding you up for those 2 guys .
@chata, AL only so those guys have at least some value.
@Grey: Must try AL or NL only some time. You like ‘em? I know Rudy does.
@Steve, It’s a slightly different game, cause ABs are crucial when there’s no one on waivers. We’re excited about the prospects of Brendan Ryan.
@Grey, As you should be. How many teams?
In a way useful production from no names is more satisfying than the guys you expect it from.
@Steve, 12 teams… It’s nice when you take a guy like Peacock (!) and he plans out. Don’t think anyone relishes a Brendan Ryan but you need to fill spots too.
@Steve, I mean, people are drafting guys like Leonys Martin and LaPorta right now to start… So they’re gonna get a lot of nothing probably…
@Grey, What did Phat Albert go for?
@Steve, $39… Was actually a deal. We got Longoria for $33… Our highest priced guy by $12.
@Grey, Wow, a couple of sweet prices there. Are these ‘perts or friends? (not suggesting anything, just curious).
@Steve, It’s CBS’s expert draft… Hardball Times, Yahoo, usual suspects….
@Steve,
left you a message under Albert’s Cozart thread .
@chata, Very nice.
@chata, It’s AL-Only, people bid everyone up…
@Grey,
see if they’ll let you bid 50 cents on figgins .
fwiw … clowny , who’s wearing uniform #1 (saying it’s a
new start) , hit 7 jacks in batting practice today .
and , he’s admitting to having made some bad decisions in
the past .
@chata, Be easier for him to list his good decisions.
@Grey,
i would fly out to oakland , risk getting stabbed on my way into the park , and probably walk into one of those pot
store-fronts , IF , they made clowny cut his hair .
@chata, A team that rosters Eric Byrnes is not one that concerns itself with aesthetics.
@Steve,
continuing with the hair theme ,
no reason to get snippy .
you’re invited , too !
@Grey, I think it’s safe to remove Grady from the Top 300 rankings altogether at this point, yeah?
@Awesomus Maximus, Eh, he’s pretty much the same. No one figured he was playing 160 games anyway.
@Grey, True, I suppose it doesn’t matter when he misses the games, if you know he’s gonna’ miss them at some point anyway.
@Awesomus Maximus, BTW, Survivor’s 2nd episode was back to business as usual with bleh, who cares, old person gone… I did like that Colton did as I suggested and embraced the misfits of his tribe.
@Grey,
AND , the cameraman is focusing in on a lot of nice ass shots .
@chata, Well, that’s good.
@Grey, Damn, should’ve stopped reading when I saw “Survivor.” Haven’t watched the episode yet. Only read up to “old person gone.” No biggie.
@Awesomus Maximus, Dah! I’m sorry, didn’t think you had Tivo so I thought you always watched live. My bad…
@Grey, Almost always, but occasionally my schedule interferes so I rely on the interwebs to get caught up. I don’t really sweat the spoilers this early on; I’m just getting to know people right now. I’d rather avoid them, of course, but whatever…
@Awesomus Maximus, Yeah, but spoilers are lame and I hate them so I apologize. Figured two days later and I’m always the one late to the game seeing something so I figured you had already. My bad…
In a h2h league with 10 teams, when would you start to target pitching in the draft? Its 17 innings minimum. It also may be 12 teams but im pretty sure 10( league hasn’t been created yet). Also, who would you target foe pitching? Im thinking an ace and middle relievers/closets and just pitch 17 innings per week but wins and ks are obviously counted. Thanks for your advice
@joe, An ace, some closers and middle relievers could work… If it’s only ten teams, there’s gonna be a ton a guys on waivers.
12-team standard 5×5 roto, 4 keepers (you lose the round you drafted them in)
I have the 12th draft pick, which 4 would you keep?
Miguel Cabrera (Round 1)
Grandy (Round 8)
Bourjos (Round 25)
Alex Gordon (Round 27)
Lawrie (Round 27)
Hellickson (Round 16)
Sheilds (Round 19)
@Project_Badass, Grandy (Round 8 )*
@Project_Badass, Bourjos (Round 25)
Alex Gordon (Round 27)
Lawrie (Round 27)
Miggy
My man Grey, in a 10-team Yahoo standard league, which team would you like more? Basically I’m debating taking Braun/Stanton vs Votto/Stanton.
1B: Votto
2B: Phillips/Kendrick
SS: SAGNOF
3B: Wright/Beltre
OF: Stanton
OF: Cruz
OF: Bruce
or
1B: Sandoval/Konerko
2B: Phillips/Kendrick
SS: SAGNOF
3B: Wright/Beltre
OF: Braun
OF: Stanton
OF: Bruce
@weas, Braun, Stanton…
@Grey, Thanks homie, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t crazy taking 2 OFs as my first 2 picks. I am so in love with Stanton, I can’t wait to hear the groans at my draft when I pick him.
since when is a record of
8-8 makes you a sleeper – It makes you a 5th starter
I have Sale’s projections down at 8-8
@Mr Baseball, Ha
Just done a free league (mock) draft, to test out my auction strategies, my 1st one of the year (10 teamer):
C Buster Posey 13
1B Paul Konerko 21
2B Ian Kinsler 26
3B David Freese 5
SS Zack Cozart 1
2B/SS Jason Kipnis 7
1B/3B Pablo Sandoval 21
OF Ryan Braun 36
OF Jay Bruce 18
OF Drew Stubbs 11
OF Cameron Maybin 8
OF Brennan Boesch 1
UTIL Kevin Youkilis 12
P Jordan Walden 7
P Craig Kimbrel 13
P Matt Cain 14
P David Price 15
P Yovani Gallardo 13
P Madison Bumgarner 9
P Mike Minor 1
P Derek Holland 1
P Joe Nathan 2
BE Frank Francisco 1
BE Kenley Jansen 3
BE Grant Balfour 1
Thoughts? Not all that happy with it, think I overspent on some bats (Sandy, Stubbs, Kipnis) therefore forcing me to settle with weak options like Cozart, Boesch and Maybin. Think I overspent on pitching too, at least early on, though it does come to the magic $80 mark…Likin the Mad-Bum, Holland and Minor picks though, plus I managed what you said and stole some likely closers late.
@TheNewGuy, I know I did you against your rules and got caught up drafting high prices catchers and closers…regretting it now. Luckily it was just a mock!
@TheNewGuy, Four 8 dollars at the end of the draft you probably got most of the saves you need so you wasted $20 on Walden and Kimbrel. Money you could’ve used to boost your infield.
@Grey, Yeah didnt expect those guys to go so cheap…shows don’t pay for saves! Not too sure why I went to Posey or whether it was a good pick…still and auction rookie. So different from my usual snakes, where I can prepare in advance who I expect to get…more strategic involved in these though I think, one team had 5 1/2 round guys! Lots of flexibility…
Was offered his King Felix (round 5 pick) for my Hosmer (round 22 pick). I already own Hamels (and Matt Moore), but I think I’m gonna accept the trade b/c I’m already deep at 1B with Miggy and Prince.
What you think?
Thanks!
@Random Collmenter, Not crazy about it… Can’t you trade Hosmer or another 1B for someone else?
@Grey, maybe i’ll make a counter offer to try to get some outfield depth… thanks!
Has anyone ever used the Fantasy Baseball Monster iPhone/iPad app? Let’s you manage your Yahoo and ESPN teams in the same app.
Or does anyone have a recommendation for an iPad app to do this?
@Steve, Nah, I haven’t tried it…
A record 39th RCL is open for business.
@VinWins, Very nice… Wait until next week’s big announcement and there may be ten more (or five… okay, three).
@Grey, I’m guessing, “Win a date with Grey!”
@VinWins, Win a date with Josh Hamilton!
@Grey, Ha!
Y’all are probably sick of this already but some interesting shizz here:
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/page/OTL-Ryan-Braun/ryan-braun-defense-raises-more-questions-doping-experts
Fainaru-Wada is one of the guys that broke the BALCO story.
@Steve, Selig is once again botching this whole thing… You don’t continue to denigrate one of your star players. Also, I like what I think Will Carroll said, in reality, no one should’ve ever even known he tested positive to begin with.
@Grey, Possibly so, but I think the star player would be well advised to put a sock in it.
Making claims you haven’t raise during the hearing process strikes me as pretty unwise.
@Steve, I’m not saying he’s guilty of anything, but what’s interesting is he tested positive during the playoffs. Not that far of a stretch to think after a long season, he’s in the playoffs, might not know there’s testing then, and decided to help his playoff performance. I really don’t believe he’s put up gaudy numbers for his whole career while doing something illegal. It’s way too brazen. Not to mention, he could’ve done something they don’t test for if he really thought he was about to get tested.
@Grey, Not to be over-dramatic (ok, maybe a little), but sport has been one of the things I have cared most about throughout my life and it just totally depresses me that when an athlete pulls off something out of the ordinary, the first thought is whether they were on drugs or not. Which is kinda what you’re saying above I guess.
The Tour de France – perhaps the greatest sports event in the world – has been ruined by PEDs, HGH and EPO – bit of a tragedy really.
I don’t know if Braun is guilty or not, but it makes me angry at the guys who have been caught before him who are now causing suspicion to be cast over everyone else.
What I do know is that Mark Fainaru-Wada knows his way round the PEDs business and has a pretty good record of uncovering what’s going on…
@Steve, That’s guys who have been caught in every sport, BTW – not just baseball.
@Steve, Yeah, I agreed, it’s a shame things are brought into question. I think the whole Bonds/McGwire/Sosa era was disgusting. I also think MLB must be doing something right or drugs aren’t what they were, because offense is down pretty dramatically and the Bonds era was just stupid with offense.
@Grey, Yeah, I forgot to say that MLB shouldn’t be too quick to jump on the high horse either. It seems they’ve got their act together a bit more now but their inability (or unwillingness) to do anything about steroids back in the day was staggering.
@Steve, Completely…
Grey:I’m gonna go out on a limb here, and say that those buttholes on xm fantasy drive aren’t cool enough to get your sense of humor. I thought you were great.
@Joel, Why did they say something about me after I got off the phone?
@Grey, Yeah. They were comparing you to spicolli from fast times, and not in a good way. They were totally thrown by you saying the thing abt not expecting Ray’s voice to be so high…no sense of humor whatsoever… pathetic really.
I was driving home late from work in a monsoon in Connecticut, and was totally psyched to hear you were coming on. been a loyal reader of you and Doc for a few years.
@Joel, Thanks for the kind words!
Q: I have 5th pick in a 12 team h2h 6×6. If Braun, kemp or Bautista are there at 5, I’m pulling the trigger. However, I’m nervous about 1st base. By the time I pick at 20, prob only Tex’ll be left…then, 29 is too early for Konerko…if Konerko’s there in rd 4, I grab him, but, my Q is: if Konerko is taken by the time my 4th rd pick at 44 comes up, who should I take for my 1st baseman, and when can I get them?? After Konerko, things seem to fall off a cliff. Follow up: 29 is too early for konerko, right? THANKS!
@Joel, Hosmer a bit later… 29′s too early…
Grey, your thoughts?
Mock Draft
Yahoo 12 Teams (7th Pick)
C: J. Montero (15)
1B: Votto (1)
2B: Phillips (5)
SS: Aybar (14)
3B: Zimmerman (3)
OF: Stanton (2)
OF: Jennings (4)
OF: Kendrick (6)
Util: Markakis (12)
Util: Bourjos (13)
SP: Bumgarner (7)
SP: D. Hudson (8)
RP: Luebke (11)
RP: Feliz (16)
P: Garza (9)
P: Latos (10)
P: Thornton (17)
P: Capps (18)
Bench: Chapman (19)
Bench: Crow (20)
Bench: Adams (21)
Bench: Bastardo (22)
Bench: Peacock (23)
@Heraldo, Team looks solid, a bit light on power and high on speed. Bourjos and Jennings are a bit too much and Markakis doesn’t bring a lot of power to the table. I’d look at Markakis more when you need average help, which you didn’t here. Pitching looks fine.
@Grey, Noted. Thanks.
Bad timing on this, was trying to get him in an auction for $1, then the guy with all the money left goes to $2, hope my $3 will hold.
@tourinct, Huh?
@tourinct, Oh! Chris Sale, gotcha.
Grey read in your other thread about Hosmer and 2 concerns this year. 1 seems as though ‘the K’ is tough on leftie hitters and he only actually managed a measy 3 taters- a staggering split. 2nd point is that he had a very low walk rate which wasnt expected based on his minor-league stats I know, but if he’s chasing pitches it could leave him vulnerable to some sort of sophmore slump? Not saying anything drastic, but is it worth easing off on our Hosmer love-fest a little now that we know this? 3-16HR split is craaazzy.
Late to the party. Are there any spots open in the RCLs??
need help him
Jax TheCreamOfTheCrap
Mike Trout
[ View Trade ] Matt Moore
dyansty league trade – I have Moore