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0Clayton Kershaw has more Ks than innings. Call me a K whore all you want, but that alone is enough for me to get excited about Kershaw in 2010. Do I need to say more? Probably not, but I will. He’ll be 22 in March of 2010. A 21-year-old who threw a season of a sub-3 ERA season in 170 innings. How’s dem apples? Delicious, right? Yeah, they are. For a long time I’ve been wavering between Kershaw and Max Scherzer. Well, I’m ready to choose one now. They’re both young. (Though Kershaw’s almost four years younger.) They both strike out hitters more than a batter per inning. (Though Kershaw’s a bit better this year.) One sounds like a Brit, one sounds like a Nazi. In the morning, they both go to the local mall and walk with the seniors. Wait, I’m misreading my notes. They walk a lot of batters, not bitties. Kershaw’s walk rate was actually worse than Scherzer. So why am I choosing Kershaw? The Dodgers limited his innings towards the end of the year and the Diamondbacks abused poor Scherzer. In 2008, Scherzer threw 109 innings between the majors and minors. In 2009, he threw 164. That’s a pretty significant jump. Now I’m not saying I’d keep Kershaw over a known hitter commodity, but I would consider keeping him for the 2010 fantasy baseball season. Definitely over Scherzer. Anyway, here’s some more fantasy baseball keepers for 2010:
Psyche! Before we get into that, I wanted to point out a scheduling adjustment. Fridays used to be our weekly Buy/Sell. Well, that’s gone for the offseason and keepers will now be on Friday. As they say in Jamaica — carry on (your head)!
Matt Wieters – .362/.425/.511 in September. Just wanted to get the hype going early. Carry on.
Rajai Davis – Sure, steals don’t have a face. But, if they did, they’d look a lot like Rajai Davis. Chances are if you own him, you have him on the very cheap. A cheap guy that could get you 50 steals in 2010? Where do I sign up? (I can’t wait until someone finds us who Googles: Where do I sign up? + cheap Nazi bitties)
@ Grey :
you are a K whore
kershaw’s teammate will be coming out with his own “eau de clown-ogne” .
it’ll make you smell like a damp musty rug , but ,
the good news is ,
it’s made from hemp extract .
@big o: Ha!
@big o: We hippies here in Oregon can appreciate the extract.
Hi Grey — Last questions for a while, I guess.
First, would you start Price at home tonight? He’s good at home but the Yanks want to get CC 20 wins and I read they’ll be starting their regulars.
Also — and maybe I’m the only one who has thought of such a long shot idea — but do you have any hunches on under-the-radar middle relievers to pick up for the final days? With the WWs picked over, so many starters on pitch counts, and roster space aplenty on fantasy rosters, there must be a couple of middle guys worth rolling the dice on, no?
@Grey: Was about to ask you what’s been troubling J-up slugging .438 for September, but then see that he has slugged .574 for the last two weeks.
@Eric:
i know that you axe’d Grey the question , but ,
at the risk of stinkin’ up the joint ,
i like bruney and tony pena for possible vulture wins .
cust my opium-ion .
Thanks Big O
@Eric: I wouldn’t start Price. Donnelly, Thornton, Balfour, Springer…
@Simply Fred: Yeah, he’s young and probably tired out a bit. I’m not worried about him.
@Eric:
it’s just a crapshoot at this point ,
but , maybe even aceves and thornton .
ziegler ?? …. came into the game in the 6th inning the other night .
@Grey:
funny …. zavada …. down the 1st base line
can’t hide behind his stache in wrigley .
@big o: Yeah, that was classic. Loved how he dropped the ball afterwards.
@Grey: Am really appreciating the Keeperanos. Some guys that I was doubtful about had big Septembers. Which then makes go back and re-evaluate every one of ‘em. There’s a lot of gold in them thar Hills.
@Grey: Fighting Duck coach came out today saying Blount could be re-instated early November. We are so proud.
@Simply Fred: re: Keeper posts — Cool, glad they’re working for you. re: Ducks — I know nothing about the NFL, I know less about college football. If you’re even talking about college football.
Billingsley or Kershaw for next year? Gotta be Kershaw, right? I mean, I think he’ll be the best pitcher in baseball in 3-4 years (hometown bias alert!). He’s almost 4 years younger than Lincecum and is leading the league in hits allowed/9 this year.
@Scott: It’s real close, and I could see it going either way, but after Bills year this year, I have to take Kershaw in keepers.
@Grey: Sorry, I just had to vent. Blount is the guy that was plastered all over the web for blind-siding the Boise St player after the game. He was suspended from ever playing at Oregon again. One month later he is now likely reinstated.
I was just venting. Please, nobody follow this thread on our baseball site.
im drunk now
and i’m gonna be really ticked if a dude i’ve beat down for a week and more than a half comes back on me streaming like a mad man, he’s throwing 6 guys tonight H2H, probably that many tomorrow, F me…. he has a verrrryyyyy outside chance of pulling it off….
my offense does anything these next 3 days i’m fine, they tank, uh oh….
@Grey: Share your belief in Kershaw. Central to his performance in the 2nd half is that he “enjoyed” 4.27 runs support. For comparison, Wolf received 7.23. It’s tough to get wins with that little support. Ask Lincecum. He got 4.52 RS and a modest 5 wins in 14 starts.
60 innings more and they’ve worn him out? What a delicate flower he must be.
I wonder your thoughts then on the “new” Texas rangers, some article i read said they arent having pitch counts in the majors, etc, etc.
I agree with Kershaw being the better for the future, but 60 more IP than last year isnt outrageous for scherzer.
@tony: Ha! Good to see you’re finally letting loose.
@Simply Fred: Yeah, good point.
@phil: Tons of research say more than 30 innings and the pitcher will be in serious danger the next year.
Jeremy Bonderman suspended for 3 games – for throwing at Delmon Young – he is lucky he didn’t get a bat thrown at him
@phil: Scherzer’s problems go beyond the additional 60 IP.
PASB:
ERA/WHIP
scherzer 4.74/1.34
kershaw 2.48/1.18
TED WILLIAMS HEAD UPDATE
workers at the arozonia cryonics fracility mulitated the frozen head using it for batting practice this puts an end of the speculation that the yankees were going to sign the head as a free agent
http://www.drfrankensteinlabs.com/large-cryo.html
the head approves this post
@Mr Baseball: Ha!
David Price and Ubaldo Jiménez are starting for me tonight – it might not be the match ups in the world but in a league that has no pickups in the playoffs and I am holding a 1 win lead and am down by 3 K’s what else can I do
@phil: He’s got a history of injury problems:
“Last year, in his first full professional season, Scherzer threw 53 innings at Triple-A Tucson and 56 in the big leagues. He was on the Minor League disabled list from June 20 to July 19 with right shoulder inflammation.”
Kendry Morales – Hit his 34th homer yesterday. I am not impressed
Carlos Quentin hit 36 homeruns last year
I am now ready to drop José Reyes
You crack me up, Mr. Baseball.
Me too Mr. Baseball.
KEEPER LEAGUE – I have to pick 5 players to keep – yes I can pick the 5 players next spring but just in case you retire – I am interested who you would keep and if you don’t retire I will ask you next spring again
Ryan Howard
Robinson Canó
Kevin Youkilis
Troy Tulowitzki
Josh Hamilton
José Reyes
David Price
Ubaldo Jiménez
Javier Vázquez
Matt Cain
Feldman @ SEA on Sunday? going up against King Felix, but I’m just looking for low ERA/WHIP. No need for Ks.
@Mr Baseball: Howard, Tulo, Reyes, Youk and Cano. I debated a pitcher over Reyes, but I think you can afford the gamble.
@Razzin: I wouldn’t.
Then I shant. I’ll just hope that Danks & Homer give me the goodies.
How sad.
if I decided to drop Cano or Reyes – which pitcher grey
@Mr Baseball: Vazquez
I guess Sabathia is going to tank on the sabbath,4 runs in the 1st
@Grey: I knooowwwww you’re watching. So, what do you make of Peavy?
In a league where first and second place are separated by 1/2 point and tied in WHIP, I’ve got a choice of Jered Weaver and Randy Wolf today or Jurrgens and Petitte tomorrow. Who would you go with.
Or I could hold Weaver out tonight, and maybe have a few innings left tomorrow to go with Jurrgens and Pettitte (it’s Yahoo). Any thoughts. I’m totally conflicted.
Rajai Davis! I can’t even hate on the dude for cooling off during my championship week. He was definitely one of my better and underrated pickups late in the season. I’d say he was the x factor and helped me get to the championship round. And who do I have to thank for the pickup? Obviously you, Grey. Thanks man!
On another note, Mini Donkey with the ticker tease! Ugh isn’t he due for a HR? Come on.
@cake_eater: Posted Sep 27:
“R. Davis went up against SEA and LAA this month and posted .219 AVG and .281 SLG with 1 SB in seven games. Drop Davis…?”
@Simply Fred: The advice was just for the last week based on matchups.
Kyle mcclennan is an asshole. I mean I’m not in the running for anything, but come on.
@Simply Fred: You know how I feel, I love Peavy.
@Bob: Sorry, just got home from dinner. Hope you chose right.
@cake_eater: Yeah, Mini Donkey’sbeen ice cold this last month.
@Steve: Ugh, I really needed that win. I hate Kyle McClennan. Wasn’t he in Twin Peaks or something?
@Grey: Yeah. He’s not a pitcher – he just plays one on TV.
Do you have $33 worth of love for Peavy?
@Grey: Yeah, I know. I was gonzo when I thought he was going to the Cubs last off season. Will be interested in what February Grey has to project. Some concern about moving out of PETCO and into the AL.
@Grey: Please help me understand what I missed on Adam Jones. The top 4 players (of the 3000+) in my points game all had him rostered to start the season. His 08 line was .270/.311/.400 with 10 SB. Was it the SB? The move from SAFECO to CAMDEN? ???
@Grey:
well genius ,
now i need you to help me root for snell to hold on for the win .
that’s the only way i’m gonna reach 4 wins out of my 9 starters .
i DO have a temporary hold on 1st place ,
but that will disappear tomorrow .
still , not a bad season , despite a FEW managerial gaffes .
thanks for your support .
you K whore .
^
2 times … hehe
just in case someone wanted to come-on line , late ,
thinking they could tie me for the category .
@Steve: No, not that much love.
@Simply Fred: He has a solid power/speed combo.
@big o: Go Snell!
yeah , well …. you see how that worked out .
but i am coming around to your way of thinking .
scully ain’t so bad .
(did he just say lung-hu ?)
and now , HU ‘s on his way to 3rd !!
classic stuff .
never in a million years .
HEY ABBOTT
@Grey: His best slugging in the majors was his 08 .400. Guess I need to give that level more respect when it is coupled with SBs. I will take a look at this year’s array at those levels.
i hope this goes into extra innings .
so manny can strike out 5 times , tonight .
@big o: Hehe
[ lpbr ;smfff
Dempster = underrated
All those stupid Dodgers had to do was win ONE of those no-decisions for the Wolfman and they wouldn’t be in this situation.
Not that I’m bitter or anything…
I can’t believe BJ Upton is going to cost me my league. I dropped him two weeks ago and the guy tied with my picked him up. What, like 5 for 6 last night and 6 RBIs?
@Grey:
im in a SUPER close championship match (up 8-7 for the first time going into today).
Whip is SUPER close…i cant win “wins” and i could lose “losses”
that being said, do i still play greinke??? in hopes of a WHIP reduction?
what about blackburn (same question)…
Thanks!!!
@PJtres: I’d start Greinke.
@Grey:
so , marlon byrd had the type of year that we’ve been expecting from delmon young .
still , he’s young .
pun point !
@big o:
are you any closer to doing a pod-cast , this winter ?
@ razzballers :
get your nap-time in early , today .
huge game tonight .
de la rosa @ kershaw .
scully’s got the call .
could be marble time .
@big o: Hmm… No, we need to look at doing a podcast. Have to figure how and all that jazz.
I play in a very competitive 12-team mixed league. We do an auction and we start with $260. I am keeping BJ Upton for $1 and need to keep two from the following: ARod ($37), Butler ($1), Either ($12), Hanson ($1), Wieters ($1).
I am thinking Arod as he commands close to $60 in the auction. The last pick is tougher. Butler’s or Wieter’s immense upside or Hanson’s ace ways?
THoughts?
@Jackie: I wouldn’t keep A-Rod. He shouldn’t command anywhere near $60 and if does, you should let someone else get him for that. I’d take Butler and Ethier, but that’s not an easy choice and could see going other ways.
Need wins, keep era/whip down. You buying any of these tmw?
Feldman@ sea
Saunders @ oak
Hudson v was
homer b v pit
danks @ det
Could you also rank em? Thx! Your advice blows es-pee-n out of the water.
@Jackie: With you having already locked into Arod it must be tough giving him up. Go with Grey’s advice on this one. You will be glad next year.
I tend to agree, but there just is no one sans Pujols that matches ARod. In a full year at Yankee stadium, he will easily go 40 – 25. I think I can buy Butler for $18 and Either for $27 so the savings are comparable to what I save by getting ARod (he will go for $55-60).
Hey Grey, who do you like better for next year Kershaw or Hanson? Potatoe / Potato?
Bartlett or Callaspo today, I need a HR.
@Grey –
Incredibly long story short, last night I asked you a question about which starters I should use in an incredibly close league, which is a three-way virtual tie coming down to WHIP, and now wins, and maybe strike-outs.
Things changed since yesterday, and if Jurrgens goes less than 7.1 innings or less today, I will have the opportunity to go for it tomorrow using up to nine starters, assuming the WHIP situation Jarr leaves me cause me to take a re-look in the morning. Anyway, or tomorrow, I picked up the following starters.
Obviously, wins are not predictable, but who would you put in the following categories with respect to WHIP –
1. Go for it and start this guy –
2. WTF, no risk, no reward –
3. Are you out of your freaking mind, don’t let this Schmohawk near your roster –
I would really appreciate it. If I can pull this off, it would be my equivalent to the Twins overtaking the Tigers, and the Rockies doing the Dodgers.
Thanks in advance.
Chad Billingsley
Jonathan Sánchez
J.A. Happ
Homer Bailey
Ryan Dempster
Jeremy Guthrie
Wade Davis
Brian Duensing
Nelson Figueroa
Luke Hochevar
@Frogurt: Homer and Danks (if Tigers clinch today)…
@Jackie: Kershaw
@chisox: Bartlett
@Bob: If you need nine starters, only one of those guys can be benched, Bench Hochevar. If you can bench two, lose Figueroa too.
@Grey: Since I’ve posted, things have changed. Since Jarr went 8, so I can’t use anybody tomorrow because I reached my innings maximum.
So, as things stand, the standings are me 95.5, then 95.0, and 94.0. 2nd and 3rd place guys are among the three who are tied with me at 1.24 WHIP. I will have no opportunity to gain any points anywhere else.
So the question is, should I throw Andy Pettitte (who I can slot in for the next 30 minutes) and hope he can bring my ratio down to 1.23, or do I just stand pat and hope nobody goes down, and I squeak out a 1/2 point victory. What do you think?
@Bob: I wouldn’t have thrown him. Hope you chose right.
@Grey: I didn’t. Thanks.
Live update: I’m now trailing by a half point.
Former 2nd place guy went ahead in runs over third place guy 1110 to 1108, which caused the change. It’s amazing how close categories have remained among the top three, especially after 162 games. Maybe he’ll give the point back in WHIP tomorrow. Here’s hoping.
@Grey: I meant, I chose right. I didn’t start him.
@Grey:
screw fantasy , for a moment .
who’s winning tonight …. dodgers or rockies ??
i’m hoping rockies .
@big : Zero to zero in third
time to re-read grey’s opening line to this post
here’s to carlos quentin sucking all year, being hurt, but helping a brotha out when it counts!
4 HR’s in the past 5 days, 10 ribbys…. clutch, insert hot player, yes please….
as sure as the sun comes up , tomorrow ,
prince fielder will be in the starting line-up .
@grey- as it is the last day of the season, in my H2H league i was down 12-1 this morning only to lead 8-6 now due to stud performances in hitting and by de la rosa, roland smith and leblanc.
I am up in wins by 2, up in L’s by 2 and K’s by 5. We both can start 5 pitchers tommorow.
I have Bailey vs. PIT, Davis vs. NYY, Hudson vs. WAS, Ramos vs. SF, and Pavano vs. KC. Therefore, I have to bench one of my pitchers. Who should i be. I NEED K’s to win this week.
Sorry I forgot i also have padilla vs. COL. So I have 6 and i can start 5. Who should i bench?
@big o: Dodgers. Oh, wait. That’s not fair I know the outcome.
@Martin: Bench Padilla. Pavano’s not great either.
Got kind of a crazy question. I need saves somehow. Any odd Relief Pitchers I could pick up for tomorrow that might vulture one. Like for example Sherill is a good one since Broxton pitched last 2 nights. But he’s owned. Will Nathan be available? Who closes in Baltimore if Jim Johnson can’t go again tomorrow? Any odd relievers I could add in hope for a save? Thanks
@Grey:
yahoo’s stat-tracker decides to go on the fritz and not give any team or league info , on the last night of play ?!!
just swell .
no props for fielder , who is ONLY mlb player to start all 162 games this year ?
maybe there is something to that diet .
What’s the opposite term for sonavabench? I almost had a heart attack when I saw Franklin Morales’ line tonight, but it turned out that he was on my bench (what is he still doing on my team anyway?). PFEWWW!
CC Sabathia – 19 wins
Mike Mussina – 19 wins
it explains itself
carlos quentin – 21 long balls – might rebound next year
@Ham: Balfour, Springer, Donnelly…
@big o: No props from who?
@DrEasy: Ha! Not sure, form of ticker shock perhaps.
@Mr Baseball: Yes, it does.
@Grey:
mlb / mlb tv
i got it from a blurb on the yahoo player notes .
1st i’ve heard of it .
blow up burnett and hudson….
quickly since choo isnt playing, would u start laporta or eithier?
@Martin: LaPorta
Marquis today v Dodgers? Safe qs?
@Frogurt: Maybe, but the Rox may pull him early no matter what the score is.
@Frogurt: Actually, I’d say almost definitely will pull him early.
ESPN site not working for anyone else? I have a bunch of benched players in my lineup and I think I’m about to have an aneyurism
@penpen: Working for me.
Should i start eithier over car go since he’s not playing today?
Im winning in homers by 1
RBI by 4
TB by 2
AVG is tied
OPS by .16
these stats are subject to change but i need to win ALL of them to have a chance of winning my league. (I can tie one). So should i start eithier. I have cliff pennington, chris davis and adrian gonzalez going at the same time.
@penpen- yes its not working for my fantasy football league. I cant sign in. thank god my baseball league is in yahoo. I guess espn just realized 70 percent of their leagues are abandoned.
@Martin: Sorry, just got back. I’d start anyone that’s playing over anyone that’s not.
I might need Ks to win my league. Any ideas who’d start on Tuesday for Twins or Tigers?
@penpen: @Grey: i cant sign in to espn for the last 3 or 4 hours,i sign in click the button and nothing happens
@Shmorgie S. Board: Baker and Porcello
@AL KOHOLIC: Not sure, I’m not having any problems.
I won!! Finally!! http://img170.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=96830_mlbscore2_122_1101lo.jpg#
So glad to have the monkey off my back in that keeper league.
I’m keeping..
1. Fielder
2. Kinsler
3. Braun
4.
5.
Out of Wieters, Reynolds, & Andrus who is the odd man out? Please say Reynolds…. I can’t stand him even though he went for 45/25 this year.
@Ashley: Congrats! Reynolds and Wieters.
Monday, April 5, 2010
@Grey:
but SS is really shallow.. you don’t think andrus could score 100 runs with 40 sb?
i’ve been MIA for a while, so maybe you’ve made a post with rough projections for 2010.. but what do you expect from those 3 players next year? thanks.
Time to put all my attention towards fantasy football and figure out how I want to spend my baseball winnings. Thanks for the help Grey.
Hey Grey should I start Stephen Strasburg for the Washington Nationals against the Phillies on April 5th 2010
@Ashley: SS is real shallow, but you don’t throw back a guy who went 40+/20+. You ca get Andrus back in the draft if you like.
@chisox: Congrats!
@Mr Baseball: Ha! Yes, you should.
Hey Grey should I start Jeremy Hellickson for the Rays against the Orioles on April 6th 2010?
@Ashley: andrus isnt that valuable,considering guys like young jr,evercab,possibly patterson are up and coming and 30 steals for m.i was at a peak this year,andrus,rollins,kinslerbartlett,jetter,roberts and 5 more in the 20`s
@Simply Fred: Hehe
@AL KOHOLIC: Don’t spend that 3rd place money all at once.
@Grey: Had a real bad case of kissing-my-step-sister today. I want Minnesota to overtake Detroit. But, I have Verlander. Start out rooting for Twins. Then realize my opponent not only has Verlander, but 4 Twins/Tigers players (that I don’t have) that he can option in Tuesday. Still rooting for Tigers then hoping Twins lose and no playoff. Then the Twins mount the big lead. So, am rooting for Sox comeback over Tigers. That didn’t happen so then rooting for …. Well, it didn’t happen. I have a slight lead. Good news Jackson won’t be starting. Maybe Cabrera and Inge go hitless and his Nathan doesn’t get the opportunity. Likely speaking for many who share my circumstances.
What a funnnnn daaayyyyyyy!
@Steve: Al, you climbed out of that mudhole and were nipping at Paulie’s heals at the end. Different story next year!
(Steve, kicking our brethren? Nahhhh.)
ESPN is counting the Minn/Det game on Tuesday as part of the regular season stats for purposes of their fantasy game.
Does anybody know what Yahoo is planning to do?
@Bob: Doesn’t look like Yahoo is setup for it, but they should count them. Not sure.
@Simply Fred: Oh – was referring to our auction keeper. Al won actual money in that one.
I, however, did not.
@Steve: Yea, got it after I posted. Definitely should have known better. Appears Al nailed down more than one third.
Sorry for your fate. Mine likely similar. Have been working hard on next year already. Have a good winter, I mean summer. See you at the conference if it comes off.
I play in a points game with 25-team leagues, over 3000+ players. The top two are:
1. 16441.33
2. 16440.66
Tuesday’s game counts. First gets $5000. Second $1000. A couple sleepless nights?
@Simply Fred: Wow, that’s insane. Did one of them pick up every player available? Even middle men?
@Grey: Not sure what you mean by “picking every player available”. Teams have a total roster $limit, players come with varying costs, etc. Those points are the sum total of 1 pt for R, RBI, BB, TB; 2 for SB, etc. for pitchers. Less than one point on the last day!
@Grey: Am not too good at this, but try this attempt at a link:
http://budgetbaseball.fanball.com/repts/getReport.php?szUser=Q(@163)M&szPrefix=bb&szReport=overall&szLabel=year&szAid=bb1-510
@Simply Fred: Didn’t realize there was a budget.
*****THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.*********
@Mr Baseball: Top four hitters plus Reyes