It’s always fun when a player is traded from one team to another and doesn’t gain or lose any value whatsoever. Can’t wait for Moneyball: The Movie. After the last image of Billy Beane patting Scott Hatteberg on the butt, the screen fades. Over black, we read: After three straight sub-.500 years, Billy Beane, still finding value where no one else is, traded for Conor Jackson, who failed to impress anyone ever but had a career .358 On Base Percentage. (I imagine Hollywood would spell out OBP.) Not one dry eye in the entire theater. Of course, the only ones in the theater are A’s fans, nevertheless! Pursue Jackson timidly in AL-Only leagues. Meanwhile, Gerardo Parra will take over for CoJo. This Parra doesn’t walk people, he runs. Unfortunately, he hasn’t run enough to make him that interesting in mixed leagues. Parra’s upside is 7 homers, 15 steals. He shouldn’t be a liability on average. Obviously, picking him up depends on your league, but he can be grabbed in NL-Only leagues. In most mixed leagues, I think there’s gotta be someone more suave than Gerardo. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Aaron Heilman – Will officially take over for Qualls. Every since Qualls had kneecap n’ crunch last year, he hasn’t seemed right. Hinch says he’ll let Qualls work in non-pressure situations so he can regain the closer role down the road. So in leagues where you were hoping to lose him, Qualls once again provides no relief. Pun point!
Chris Resop – Braves called up Resop because they had no choice due to an out-clause in his contract. Resop dominated Triple-A to the tune of 1.84 ERA and 81 Ks in 73 1/3 innings. Right now, he’s nothing more than a middle reliever that gave up 5 earned runs in 2 innings yesterday.
Chipper Jones – 2-for-5 with his 4th homer. Word is that he’s retiring after this year. Hopefully he’s not put in charge of the kids’ carpool. Young lady, don’t for a second think I’m going to believe you were late to school because your father pulled a hammy pouring orange juice.
Melky Cabrera – 2-for-5 and batting near .400 in the last week. He provides light power and speed, so even a warm Melky will put you to sleep outside of deep leagues.
Chad Billingsley – Placed on the DL with a strained groin. I blame Alyssa Milano.
Manny Ramirez – Now 6 for his last 8 with 2 homers in his last five games. This reminds me of what Carlos Lee did recently. I don’t think Manny’s completely done. He will get to 25 homers, so now’s as good a time as any.
Matt Lindstrom – Dealing again with back issues from men’s fitness. Lyon’s the pickup in the mean’s while. BTW, I wrote the last sentence in a British accent. Ta!
Justin Masterson - 7 IP, 6 ER, 12 baserunners, 2 Ks. It’s of little consolation, but Jason Donald should’ve been charged with 4 of his runs. If you can’t hit, at least try and field. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many infield hits in one game. Wright had an infield single that scored two runners. I watched it and I’m not even sure how it’s possible.
Travis Hafner – Usually the only reason to own Hafner is to use his head to crack open walnuts, but he has 4 homers in his last 6 games.
Ryan Raburn – 2-for-4, 4 RBIs and his first homer. Leyland is so gooftarded that he hit Raburn leadoff. A guy with a .242 OBP and a .165 average. Why did he do this? Because Raburn was playing centerfield for Austin Jackson, who usually hits leadoff. Somebody please give Leyland some Liquid Paper so he can change around his lineup card.
Max Scherzer – 6 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners, 9 Ks. The line looks okay, but I watched the game and he was pretty touch and go like your Uncle who has to register when he moves.
Mark Teixeira – He hit a pop-up that went out for a homer. The Sphinx sitting in front of Yankee Stadium asks, how is Teixeira hitting .229 with only 10 homers in that park?
Milton Bradley – Hit his 3rd homer in his last 5 games. I’d grab him in leagues where you need a hot outfielder. BTW, Milton’s name was the 666th word of this post. Red rum!
Ervin Santana – 5 IP, 6 ER, 12 baserunners, 6 Ks. After giving up 6 runs in the first two innings, he battled back to make the line look less hideous. Though the aim of “less hideous” probably wasn’t your goal when owning Ervin. Or to be time appropriate, goooooooal.
Jeff Suppan – 4 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 4 Ks. Suppan would’ve pitched the 5th but Dave Duncan, using all his powers for a respectable 4 innings, self-combusted.
Colby Rasmus – 2-for-4 with his 13th homer as Colby tells me where I can shove my HR/FB%.
C.J. Wilson – 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners (6 BBs), 6 Ks. You may be wondering how someone can walk that many in a 6 inning game and only give up 2 earned. Easy. It was an interleague game in an NL park.
Ian Kennedy – 6 IP, 6 ER, 10 baserunners, 6 Ks offah Yawkey. You shouldn’t have started him here anyway.
Pedro Alvarez – Latest news that I’ve heard is he’s starting today. If you know better, get smug.
Andrew McCutchen – 3-for-4 with 3 steals. I love winning steals in H2H on the first full day of games. That is all.
Matt Tolbert – Hit a home run. And that’s The Tolbert Report.
Delmon Young – 3-for-4, 2 Runs and a RBI. Just pick him up and see where it takes you.
Tyler Colvin – 2-for-4 and a home run. Steve Stone demanded Colvin get more time, Piniella pretended like it was his idea and Colvin’s responding.
David Hernandez – Got the save yesterday even with Simon back. After watching Hernandez hit 96 MPH, I kinda think the O’s should just stay with him. He has more closery stuff, but he is wild as any turkey ever was. I’d continue to hold both Hernandez and Simon until someone emerges.
Brian Roberts – Out for another 6 weeks. Maybe he’s trying to save up his energy for his run at 2011′s Comeback Player honors. Even after 6 weeks, he still has to go to the minors to rehab, which is a chance to reinjure himself. Then if he does play for the O’s, he’s not going to be stealing like he would. If you got a mediocre 30 games from him this year, I’d be impressed.
Adam Jones – 2-for-4 with a homer and hitting .342 over his last ten games. It’s not Player of the Month-type gas, but at least he’s cooking with something.
Joe Martinez – 6 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 baserunners, 2 Ks. Can’t believe the Giants chose Joe Martinez instead of Bumgarner. Shouldn’t he be Jose Martinez? Or Joe Martin?
Felipe Paulino – 4 2/3 IP, 8 ER, 14 baserunners, 2 Ks and 6 fantasy owner’s teeth that he kicked in.
Todd Helton – I saw the box score and it read Helton (2, 6th inning blah blah blah) and I was like, “Wow, Helton hit two homers,” then I realized I read it wrong and he only has 2 homers on the year. Maybe Helton and Chipper can alternate carpool days. BTW, I have a new feature that I want implemented into all box scores. In-game box scores should have a little symbol that indicates who is in line for the Win. Can be an asterisk, I don’t care. But when it’s a 5-4 game in the 8th and both starters are out, I want to know who’s in line for the Win. I don’t know how we get this implemented. But I want it now!
Clay Buchholz – 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 8 Ks. Whoa, I’m having a vision of the future. I’m seeing Buchholz win 18 games to lead the AL, finish in the top 3 in the Cy Young voting and become overrated for next season. Oh, and in the future Ashton Kutcher does a movie with a talking rooster that is voiced by Brad Garrett. It’s called Dumb Cock.
Josh Johnson – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 7 Ks and has a 1.86 ERA on the year. As his brother Gosh says, “Golly.”
12 team, 6×6 (OBP, K/BB), 23.5 games out of first, 17 games out of playoffs.
C – R. Doumit
1b – J. Morneau
2b – B. Zobrist
3b – J. Bautista
SS – R. Furcal
OF – T. Hunter
OF – J. Bay
OF – C. Coghlan
Util – B. Boesch
BN – Rajai Davis
SP – T. Lincecum
SP – R. Halladay
RP – B. Jenks
RP – B. Lidge
P – M. Corpas
P – A. Heilman
P – M. Thornton
BN – S. Baker
BN – R. Nolasco
BN – T. Lilly
BN – M. Scherzer
DL – J. Beckett
Anyone have any thoughts on this team clawing its way back into contention? (~20 moves left for the season)
Original strategy was to win pitching, go for cheap OBP guys late in the draft. This lead to me taking Chipper, Helton, Berkman, who I dropped. Other moves include dropping Gavin Floyd, and trading Jeter/Lind for Morneau/Bay.
Colby Lewis for Jason Kubel? Thanks
@Carlos Z has slurpees: You have too much pitching and not enough power. Trade Halladay or Lincecum for a big time hitter. You can ask for Ryan Braun, A-Rod, someone like that.
About that pesky box score – I just look at IP, and then look at the line score and see who had the lead then. I then look at the rest of the line score and see if that lead has since been lost. Not rocket science and chances are, if you put someone from MLB or Yahoo! in charge of it, it will constantly be wrong and be useless.
@Carlos Z has slurpees: It does look like you are way too weak on the offensive side for a league that small, especially now that Bautista has come back to earth. Looks more like an 18- or 20-team lineup on the hitting side, and Brian is right in that it looks like you can spare pitching. How are you stacked in specific categories? You should definitely focus on categories where you can make up ground with limited progress and ignore areas where there’s a huge gulf between you and the teams in front of you.
Grey (or anyone else), In a H2H league with batting catagories being R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, SB, BB, K, and Avg, who do you think looks better the rest of the way, Manny or Delmon Young?
No love for Mat Latos today?
So if my OF consists of Rios, Bruce, CarGo, Ibanez, Rajai, and Quentin and we start 4 OF and a Util in a 12 team mixed, is it safe to drop Carlos Q for Delmon?
I am neck and neck at the top in all offensive categories, except average and OPS. I just picked up Alvarez and may move Robot out of the corner and to the OF instead.
Grey, friends, fellow commenters — Do you think RA Dickey is worth a spot start tomorrow against Cleveland?
Also, what do you think about the strategy of streaming a position player who might hit a HR or an SB or two on a short schedule day? I got a free HR from Pat Burrell on Monday that way, but it’s more common that I pick up a guy who does nothing but pul down my team BA.
Do you think it’s a worthwhile strategy over the course of a season? And what do you look for in the batter you pick up? A guy with a strong history against that pitcher? A hot hitter? Someone facing a really bad pitcher?
I’ve already got Beltran and Webb in my DL spots and so Roberts has been taking up an active bench spot for me all season. Should I just go ahead and drop him?
gret, honest thoughts on johan?
i was about to pull the trigger on glaus or konerko and edwin junkson for johan and freese. but i am very worried a) his declining mph on all pitches, b) his subsequent inability to K anyone recently, c) his resulting 5/11 K/BB over his last three starts, d) his ability to get moderately torn up considering he was facing the indians and padres.
seriously, really strange rough patch? or sign of worse things to come for bone chip santana?
Anyones input appreciated.
I have an open roster spot and Ty Wigginton manning my 3B in a 12 team roto 7×7 (OPS/K and HLD/BB) Should I use my #2 waiver on Pedro Alvarez or just add David Freese?
Re: Who’s in line for the win? You could always look at the “scoring” report on the box score (on MLB’s website, for example) and just piece it together based on when a given pitcher came out/when his team took the lead. I realize that’s more work than looking at an asterisk (and you already know this), but it’s just a thought.
Also, while checking scores last night, I let out a, “Josh Johnson, how do you do it?”
My girlfriend (from across the room) calls out, “Steroids! Your team is cheating.”
@Giant JJ: i’d wanna keep lewis
Garcia for Byrd?
@JRT: why drop quentin when you can drop ibanez? at least quentin has age on his side.
@Ceasar: i know everyone wants to sell garcia, but byrd is too low. i would rather just sit on garcia and hope that his correction isn’t a complete disaster.
and given his % of GBs i think he might keep things relatively reasonable as he comes back to the norm instead of getting lit up for 4 HRs and 10 ERs in a 2 IP start or something disastrous.
Rank the following pitchers going forward: Ervin Santana, Cueto, Wandy
That’s a damn good write up today Grey. Useful for me since I’m scraping bottom of the barrel closers.
I’m afraid you’re spot on about Leyland and I’m a Tiger fan. They win in spite of him. I don’t get Rayburn leading off at all. The Tigers won last night because Lannan is terrible…..throws a completely flat fastball….Detroit should have scored about 5 more runs actually.
I’m so happy I held onto Manny. It makes too much sense to me to keep him around b/c he bats cleanup in the LA lineup and he’s a professional hitter. If he’s healthy he should be good.
Bucholz was facing the swing happy D-Backs who suck hard when not in their own park. His 8 K’s and 3 ER was nothing special at all. Meanwhile anyone starting Kennedy last night deserved what they got. You could see that coming from a mile away.
Grey, why were you watching NYM vs. Cleveland last night? Seems there should have been more interesting games to watch. The Tribe needs Charlie Sheen to come out of the bullpen for them again in ML part 3 or 4 or whatever number they’re up to. As a Tiger fan, I love having Cleveland in the division.
Catcher question….I’ve been juggling guys on the wire. Currently own C Santana who I nabbed mainly just because Suzuki was taking bereavement leave. Now with Suzuki back I’m tempted to go back to him and his decent average, HR and SB abilities, and b/c he bats cleanup. The rookie nookie is exciting but I wonder if Suzuki will hurt me less. I wish I could get into a league that doesn’t use C at all.
@ThePoonTycoon: Good points, thanks. You think Manny would be enough? I’m a little heavy on pitching right now.
lind just dropped – quentin or lind for the rest of the year?
I’ve got Alvarez, so should I pull the trigger on Zimmerman/E Santana for Holliday/T. Hanson?
better pick-up for saves with the least amount of damage to rate stats: Heilman or David Hernandez?
@Giant JJ: not enough for Lewis, IMO. If you own Kubel, then accept quickly.
@DavidSouter: in a vacuum yes. i wouldn’t do it and place all your 3B eggs in alvarez’s basket though.
@Ceasar: yeah i think manny is better. i feel much more comfotable in manny ending up around .300-25-110 than i do byrd maintaining his current pace.
@Frank Rizzo: find the rookie whore and trade him santana for a closer upgrade or something, then use your old closer as trade bait later.
Which side would you take — Longoria/Bruce, or Wright/Choo?
RE: Bradley blurb
Grey, you just know one of us in here is going to count the words now. Probably me…my OCD will not allow me to resist.
@PepeSilvia: Same situation here. I dropped Hernandez for Heilman yesterday (assuming with Simon’s return, Heilman would keep the job longer)….now wishing I’d kept Hernandez and dropped someone else for Heilman. Neither has great underlying rates. I’d give Hernandez the edge in K’s going forward, Heilman the edge in ERA and WHIP.
@DavidSouter: That’s a leap of faith there to put your trust in Alvarez the rest of the year at 3b. Hanson makes that offer hard to turn down but Zimm at 3b helps you sleep at night. Tough, tough call.
@ThePoonTycoon: I’d love to do that but most of the league is wise to the Catcher position. It’s a 10 teamer so there are enough crappy C’s to go around. Suzuki, Wieters, and Soto currently on the wire. No one’s giving me a closer for C Santana right now. The Saves race is too close.
@Crafty35a: Gimme Longo/Bruce.
@nick m.: Ugh….Quentin and Lind. I had both dumb and dumber on my team this year. Outright dropped Quentin, who’s still sitting on the FA wire, and threw in Lind on a trade. Honestly, I’d take my chances with juggling the hot OF’s over carrying these 2 losers. Delmon Young, Gomes, etc.
@alex: I wouldn’t trade for him. He’s not who he used to be. Make that offer for a different arm. Maybe you can steal Cole Hamels from an owner who doesn’t realize he’s pitching well.
@Frank Rizzo: fair enough, i’d probably go suzuki then
@Enrique: Streaming hitters is a lot more difficult than streaming pitchers. I don’t really recommend it. The law of averages is what makes fantasy baseball a fairly simple game to grasp (rather than fantasy football), and hitters tend to play to their level year after year. Just have to be patient.
That said, if you’re going to do it, I’d go for a guy that has at least 2 out of 3 of strong history/hot hitter/bad pitcher. Otherwise you’ll just end up seeing a lot of 0/4s, and nobody wants that.
@Frank Rizzo: i was kind of thinking the same thing, especially since i just traded for j. upton. at some point i have to stop grabbing the struggling mega-upside guys and go with the hot hand otherwise i’ll have a whole lot of potential and miss the playoffs at the end of the year…
Grey, Great Stuff. I picked up Livan Hernandez awhile back hoping to spot start him/ride this random hot streak but it has yet to end. The problem is I never feel confident starting him, Ever. Once again dont know what to do tonight considering he wont help in Ks but will probably out pitch my projection for him and get a W. Would you start Livan against the Tigers tonight?
Which side?
Lincecum & Wiggy FOR Youkilis & Brett Myers
NL-only 4×4 league. I lead SB by about 15 and have Bourn.
I would get either Casey Blake or Ike Davis for Ryan Theriot.
Who should I ask for?
@Commish Cauda: It’s hard to pick a side without knowing the rosters. Lincecum is probably the most desired player of them all but Youk is a 3b and we all know how important that position is. Tough to choose CC.
@Grey: Buchholz for Floyd rest of season? or Buchholz for Peavy?
Anyone else completely feed up with Pinella and the Soto-Hill Platoon?
Holding Soto because I thought he was starting to get it together (and in an OPS league he wasn’t terrible, but Buck is out there and there are other catchers (yadir, bengie, pudge) who would probably do just as well as Soto if someone else grabs him.
Thoughts?
@Wiley: I think the order you wrote them is probably right. Wandy is definitely last.
Also before I forget what do you think about starting Scott Baker vs the Rockies @ Target field? Im really 50/50 on this one could use outside advice because I think ive already over thought it. Thanks
@Crafty: Longo/Bruce but it is closer than I first thought. Depends on need for speed.
@Commish Cauda: You gotta get more than Myers in return for Lincecum. I’d take Youk/Wagner or Youk/Billingsley
@hoju: Yeah, I’ve done it around six or seven times this year and I did well the first couple of times, then a fruitless streak, before finally doing well with Burrell on Monday. I need to see who’s available for tomorrow (unless I streak Dickey) but I might start erring on the side of not making a move unless there’s a really strong candidate.
@ZK: I like Ike.
@Doug: I am starting him, but I have been waiting for him to catch fire all season…he always struck me as the opposite of Haren, getting hot in the second half, so it is still a bit early.
Target Field pitchers seem like a safe start almost every night though.
@Xnadymen: I dropped Soto for Posey at first chance. I would take Santana or Posey over Soto now. You can probably pick Soto back up if Pin-head ever gets a clue. Posey has less power than Santana but has a higher AVG and is starting at 1B so you get extras ABs. Posey also plays for the better team offensively and that is hard to say about a bay team.
what do you guys like better? for this year and next two years?
kemp / slowey / low pick OR halladay / Bruce
Russell Martin or AJ Pierzynski in my C slot? OPS league with SB and XBH as counting categories.
@alex: How low is the pick?
I think the Halladay/Bruce side is better, but it depends on the pick and who you might be able to draft with it.
@ScottyM: Thanks Scotty, but both Posey and Santana are long gone….I am thinking Buck is probably the best pick up…so you can see why i am still hoping for Soto to get playing time…
@TJ- the pick is 12th round post keeper (so 17th overall). we have a deep 26 round draft so there are still gems to be had that late.
my thought is that this year halladay / bruce is slightly better but moving fowrard kemp is better keeper than doc.
Grey/All : Do I start Bautista vs SD or Krispy Young vs. Lester?
Drop Rowand for a flier on Aaron Cunningham? Wasn’t he the older brother on Happy Days?
@ Grey – Please rank these outfielders for the rest of the year: Byrd, Ordonez, Pence, Ludwick & Chris Young?
I’m at the point where I’m actually thinking about dumping J. Upton for one of these guys. I think Upton will turn it around some, but not to the point where he will consistently deliver like some of the guys I mentioned above.
@alex: generally, i like hitter over pitchers. that said i think bruce could easily be as good as kemp over the next 2 years (maybe even this year). and i think under any circumstance, halladay >>>>>>>>>> slowey.
@poontycoon – we play in a Keep Your 5 Best type league, so bruce will NOT be a keeper with any team this year. he will be draftable next year.
Yep Melky’s hitting the ball… I, of course, picked him up for one spot start. The Braves got like 16 hits in that game. As for Melky, 0 for 5. The power of the smurf strikes again.
I am still carrying Roberts on my DL… My keepers coming into this year were: Roberts, Mclouth, Pain-yaaa, Javy Vazquez, Kendry, and Hamels. And I thought last year was bad. Yep, no three-peat this year.
@Mr2Bits: I would start Young, he seems to be in a better mind state, and running whenever he can.
Bautista hasn’t been able to hit a house this past week, and his all or nothing swing in Petco is a Nogo.
Great stufff Grey. NL vs. AL makes it tough to gauge a spot starter’s potential success, but tomorrow has some tempting options. Can you please rank the starts of LeBlanc vs Bal, Morrow vs SF, and Carmona @ Pit? & might another decent start out of Morrow warrant a roster spot in 12 Team Leagues? Thanks.
grey, can you rank these SP? thank you.
leblanc, myers, wells, pavano, garland
@papasmurf: who else are you keeping? if bruce ends up with a line like .280-30-100-15 as a 23 year old you wouldn’t keep him? he’s got the talent, just like grey said yesterday, his HR/FB rate is low, but it’s not a power issue, cause when he hits them he hits them a long way. i could see ~20 more HRs from him this year.
Hey Grey,
Could you put these in order of long term non-keeper value:
Niese, Kennedy, Santana, Ely, Wilson
that’s a high end estimate for bruce. means he’s going 290-21-70 with another 10 steals from here on out. more realisitic i think is something like 275-280, 15 bombs, 55-60 rbi and 5 steals. which means he’s not a keeper, no.
i have fielder, Arod, Holliday, VMart, (Kemp). Halladay and Felix also. bruce prob falls behind all of them on depth chart i think.
Scott Baker or Anibal Sanchez… who do you like better the rest of the season?
Which side do you like…
Corey Hart and Mariano Rivera for Josh Hamilton?
@alex: i’d keep bruce over vmart if vmart doesn’t kick it into high gear.
and true, it is an optimistic prediction for bruce, but i kinda get this feeling that kemp is more into banging famous chicks than continuing to develop into a stud. plus with only a 50% success rate, how many more bases does he steal? he’s a .290ish hitter, and not much better, so he isn’t gonna boost your avg significantly.
i don’t know, i ended up with kemp in a league, and i’ve been kinda wanting to see what i could get for him in a deal.
i guess what i’m saying is that the gap between halladay and slowey is a lot larger than the gap between kemp and bruce imo.
Pick 2: Manny, Delmon, Robot, Bruce
PS: when is J-Upside going to bust out some of that upside?
@ThePoonTycoon -
makes sense. vmart is doin his thing – 295-22-90 pace. for a catcher he’s the best out there, and from a position scarcity pov i think it makes him a keeper.
good points on kemp. essentially it came down to kemp being a better keeper than halladay over all. maybe you’re right about kemp, tough to tell, we shall see. i loved bruce all off-season, but he’s still only 23. we could wait until 2012 for him to REALLY put it together. a lot to bank on. thanks!
I normally eschew the whole “I’m posting my whole roster and asking for advice on my next move” kind of question, but I’m facing a big roster crunch in the next few days and I’m stumped on what to do. Here’s what I’ve got (12 team mixed league roto):
C – Victor Martinez
1B – Adrian Gonzalez
2B – Robinson Cano
3B – Adrian Beltre
SS – Alcides Escobar
MI – Brandon Phillips
CI – Adam LaRoche
OF – Shane Victorino
OF – Curtis Granderson
OF – Andre Ethier
UT – Justin Smoak
Bench: Drew Stubbs, Jose Tabata, Chase Headley
DL: Jimmy Rollins
SP: Clayton Kershaw, Phil Hughes, David Price, Dan Haren, Ricky Nolasco, Scott Baker, Javier Vazquez
RP: Carlos Marmol, Rafael Soriano, Leo Nunez, Aaron Heilman
Rollins is due to come of the DL sometime this weekend or early next week, depending on how his rehab assignment goes. And there’s no one I feel comfortable dropping. I’d love to package Chase Headley + a SP for someone, but no bites on that so far.
If it gets down to it, do I just straight drop Alcides? I don’t really need Alcides if Rollins is playing, but Rollins has been so gimpy that I’d hate to lose a decent SS replacement.
@Mark Geoffriau: i really wouldn’t sweat losing alcides
@Mr2Bits: Bautista seems to be cooling down, and Krispie seems to be heating up.
@Mark Geoffriau: Could you package Alcides together with someone else for an upgrade to the person who just lost JJ Hardy or who must be nervous about Erick Aybar?
@MarkM: My way’s easier.
@Jordan73: Probably Manny, but what’s the fun in that?
@E K: He pitched great, he’s been pitching great, not sure what’s to say.
@JRT: Go with Young.
@Enrique: I always pick up short schedule hitters. No re: Dickey.
@PepeSilvia: Sure
@alex: Johan’s still the best player in that trade. Even without the Ks.
@Dan Z: Alvarez
@Lines: Ha!
@Wiley: Ervin, Cueto…
@Frank Rizzo: Thanks! I wanted to watch Masterson. Lose Santana…
@nick m.: Lind
@Commish Cauda: Ha
@Doug: Thanks! If you own him, you may as well start him until the wheels come off.
@TJ: Martin
@Mr2Bits: Krispie
@Mr. Rickey: Ha! Sure, try him.
@Fletch: Krispie, Ludwick, Pence…
@papasmurf: Ha… Ouch.
@zombie: Thanks! Ranked in that order, all three are good.
@pjtres: LeBlanc, Myers, Wells…
@Todd: Kennedy, Ervin, Niese…
@alex: If you click the arrow next to the timestamp next to the name you are responding to then it adds the ampersand.
@Wah: Anibal…Trade’s fair. Depends if you need saves.
@Kazmere: Bruce, Robot….Upton’s very streaky… He’ll be okay eventually.
@Mark Geoffriau: Agree with Poon, I’d lose Alcides.
Hi Grey: who is a better DL stash in a redraft league between Chris Young (SD), Volquez, and Brian Roberts?
@Grey – Who do you like from here on out in order: Cahill, Volquez, Gio, Medlen, Floyd?
@Grey: Mornin’ Grey. After Martinez’ stinker, you think Bumgarner gets the next turn?
Damon was waived (again? huh?) another league. Got $53 left of my FAAB. What would you bid for him? No AVG, just OBP. People bid very aggressively in this league. The highest bid by one insaniac was $33 for Kazmir. I got Starlin for $21.
@Fletch: Before Grey ranks, I want to see how close I get
Medlen, Floyd, Gio, Volquez, Cahill.
@Grey: Simon or Heilman for now?
@Grey- H2H (R, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, SB, AVG) league, please rank for the rest of year:
Delmon Young, Byrd, Kubel, Ludwick, Torres, Bautista
start baker vs COL?
thanks in advance, grey!
Ethier for Holliday and Jeter
Etheir for Willingham and Jeter
16 team 5×5 roto keeper league. Ethier has 2nd round value, Holliday has 4th round value, Willingham has 20th round value, and Jeter has 2nd round value. Short stop on Ethier’s team is OCab.
Is one trade more desirable than the other and which side would you take?
lol…nice – just read this on roto:
Giants trainer Dave Groeschner said the team would like Pablo Sandoval to be more disciplined about his eating habits.
“I think he’d like to weigh a little less,” said Groeschner. “We’d like him to weigh a little less, but it’s an ongoing challenge. We’re going to keep staying positive. As long as he keeps working, we’ll stay on him.”
I’m going out on a limb and saying Sam Demel – the guy the D-Backs got for CoJack – could soon be a SAGNOF save option. Demel’s put up some purty MiLB numbers: http://firstinning.com/players/Samuel-Demel-a/
As a Met fan whose nights are haunted by Heilman’s epic fails, I can’t see him holding down a closer job any more than I held down the late night burrito I had after a night of hard drinking.
@Eric: Volquez
@Fletch: What MarkM said.
@Professor Chaos: Heilman…
@Shane: Ludwick, Byrd, Young…
@bravo: I wouldn’t.
@Jeff: Ethier side of both.
@Fletch: Ha!
@3FingersBrown: Morning! Depends how much you need Damon. I wouldn’t bid on him at all if I didn’t need him.
Still looking for that 1B…
Lincecum & Wiggy FOR Youk & Brett Myers
@Grey: I could use another R guy. This is my OF now: FraGu, Kearns, Pat T. Bat, Huff, Mr. Bernadina with Jax & Headley on the bench.
My OF’s so thin on this team, because I dealt Caballo and Nelly.
I’m thinking of throwing a mid-teens bid on him and dumping Get Of My Mound – perhaps Bradon should be referred to as GOMM? He’s meh and my pitching’s pretty good.
@Commish Cauda: I’d want a top 1B for Lincecum, Youk’s slightly off the top.
@3FingersBrown: That makes sense. I’m not a fan of Braden anyway.
@Grey:
Good afternoon Grey!
Who would you rather have in a standard 5×5 12 team roto: Drew Stubbs or Rajai Davis
&
Ted Lilly or Jake Peavy (I’m pretty sure it’s Lilly)
dump J. Upton for Krispie or Ludwick?
Grey, who do you like most for holds. Storen, Feliciano, or Casilla.
@Fletch: hey what’s your email?
i wanna send you a league invite for next season.
i know j-up hasn’t been everything you hoped for but he could be the best player in baseball from now until the end of the regular season. you don’t cut guys like that unless they are grady sizemore.
I just got offered Utley and Markakis for D-Lee and Heyward. My other outfielders are Ethier, Pence, Soriano, and Cruz when he gets back. This is a no brainer right? J. Lopez is my 2B.
@Howie Met Your Mother: Davis and Lilly…
@Fletch: Nope
@Tom Emanski: Storen…
@NukeLaDouche: I’d want Utley….
@Grey:
Instead of Youk & Myers, do you like Dunn & Grienke more?
(for Lincecum & Wiggy)
@Grey: I have both Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson in my lineup. Thoughts on where they may wind up?
@Commish Cauda: That’s better.
@ron mexico’s papi: I don’t deal in rumors. Sounds like they might be traded, no idea where.
@Grey: Would you rather have Grienke or Beckett moving forward?
Thanks Grey! Glad you agree, I’d already hit accept. Hoping it doesn’t get vetoed for some reason.
@Commish Cauda: Greinke…
@NukeLaDouche: Cool…
@Grey: Yeah. He’s extra stinky with an innings limit, since he doesn’t get many K.
Did you get a chance to read the draft of Steven Zaillian’s Money Ball script when it was going around last year? I read some excerpts and from what little I read, it seemed god awful. Supposedly the script has changed a lot since Soderburgh left. I’m interested in seeing it regardless, just out of curiosity.
@3FingersBrown: Hadn’t read it, but I would see it in a second, I was being facetious when I said only A’s fans would be in the theater.
@3FingersBrown: i can’t imagine a movie being entertaining. i mean, i assume they at least have some kinda half decently entertaining script given the $$ being spent on the actors involved. i would think the whole thing would work better as a documentary than a movie starring brad pitt.
@3FingersBrown: @Grey: @ThePoonTycoon: Anytime you get to see Scott Hatteberg on the big screen, you have to jump at that opportunity.
If I’m still waiting for Rollins for next week (5×5 roto league), should I go with Furcal, Alexei, Scutaro or Yunel?
I would be happy with either speed or power from my SS, at least for one week.
Thanks.
@Grey: I figured you were being facetious. How can a baseball junkie not want to see it?
@ThePoonTycoon: You’re probably right. I love docs. Who better to tell the story than the people themselves? Interestingly enough, Zallian’s original script, was a lot more “hollywood-ized.” Soderburgh hated it and wanted to make the film a psuedo-doc with a mix of live footage, interviews and re-enactments. Sony killed that script and now Zallian’s back at it with production starting next month supposedly.
If you’re into baseball docs, I recently watched Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey and Lost Son of Havana, the Tiant doc. Both were highly entertaining, even for a non-Sawx fan.
@ThePoonTycoon:
I dunno who I will keep this year. Those guys were my keepers from last year that I carried into this year. I had Wright last yr but I traded him for Kendry and Roberts for the stretch run. It helped me win my league but it left me with marginal keepers.
I still have a decent team despite everything but not enough to win the title so I am going into rebuild mode.
@Mark Geoffriau: Yes! The original had a line about him sitting on the bench “It’s Hatteberg who looks like a prisoner at Auchwitz.” WTF? Funny stuff.
Here’s the link I found:
http://deadspin.com/5302144/billy-beane-is-a-golden-god-excerpts-from-the-scrapped-moneyball-script/gallery/
@Brad Havens: Furcal
@Mark Geoffriau: Ha
@3FingersBrown: Ha!
@Grey: We need to talk about Mini-Mini-Donkey.
I know it’s a sensitive topic.
I’ve got him at 3B right now, with Sean-Rod/Kinsler holding down 2B/Util.
I am looking at Pedro Alvarez lustily. Also curious about kicking Delmon’s tires.
Suddenly, MMD is next in line in my Most Droppable Queue.
That’s right, I said “queue.”
What are you thinking of what you’ve seen of MMD so far? Seems like avg is about where you’d expect (.260), power (7 HRs) is a little disappointing. At 2B, I could happily take this production. At 3B, I’m tempted to give Pedro Alvarez a whirl while I wait for A-Ram to resurrect himself.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: P.S. Or I could drop Evan Meek, even though I’m sure eventually the Meek Shall Inherit The Closer’s Role.
Volquez or De La Rosa for my open DL spot?
Hey Grey. I would like to grab Delmon Young or Pedro Alvarez, but I currently have 7 Outfielders. I start 5 (4 Outfield Spots and I use one for Util). Should I drop Matsui or possibly Cueto, Scherzer or Slowey?
Tex is killing me BTW.
Thanks.
P.S. Your Colby news saddened me since I am currently riding him.
One more Grey – O. Cabrera or Furcal?
Thanks.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: I was about to drop Stewart for Alvarez in one league, but then I realized I still owned Headley. I’d go for the upside at 3rd base. At 2nd, I’d hold Stewart. Though I would just drop Meek first and give Stewart one more home stand.
@Goose: dlR
@Yankees2010: Sorry… Alvarez over Matsui.
@Yankees2010: Furcal…
@Grey: Dunn and done.
I’ve now got Carlos Santana, Mike Stanton, and Alvarez. No, it’s not a keeper league. I’m rebuilding for this year!
Of the three, though, I like Alvarez best for some immediate useful contribution. The Longo-from-two-years-ago sounds about right.
While we’re on the subject of baseball movies, if anyone hasn’t yet seen “Sugar”, go put it on your netflix queue right now.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: Maybe you petition for your league to become a keeper.
@Mark Geoffriau: Never even heard of it. But one movie I saw recently that I thought was so much better than I ever expected… Notorious. It reminded me of a cheesy, highly enjoyable 90s movie. Like New Jack City or something.
In an 8 Team H2H Keeper, Ervin, Floyd, Lilly, Lackey or Shields for the remainder of the year?
Also, in a 16 Team H2H Keeper, drop Masterson for any of the following: Ike, Pat the Bat, Mike Morse (yeah, who?), Arrieta, Volstad, Monasterios? I know, pretty slim pickings, just wondering who would be the better fit, if any (not too stoked with that performance last night). I’m not impartial to it being a pitcher or a position player, I could use either/or…
@Mark Geoffriau: Seconded. Great movie. From the people who brought you “Half Nelson.”
If you haven’t seen “Half Nelson” (no, it’s not about wrestling. Or a guy named Nelson) please also add to queue immediately.
I like to think my use of queue spurred this particular digression.
I can’t imagine there’s another FBB ‘pert in the ‘verse that’s sliding vague references to 17th century British poets into their roundups. Thank you for not dumbing things down for mass consumption. If I weren’t an unemployed stay-at-home dad (meaning my wife currently holds the wallet), I would fly to Cali and purchase you an actual, real-life daiquiri. With that said, how about some free advice?!
I’m dealing with Markakis until Ellsbury comes back. Given that shituation, is any of Bay/Zobrist/Werth worth trading any of the following for?
Ricky Nolasco
David Price
Clay Buchholz
Jaime Garcia
Stephen Strasburg
@Wilsonian: Lilly… Burrell…
@Baron Von Vulturewins: Two for Sugar — sweet!
@Awesomus Maximus: Thanks! I’d trade Noleasco, Garcia or Strasburg for Werth. Not sure the first two get it done.
@Mark Geoffriau: I gotta see that, I hear it’s great. I live in “Little Santo Domingo” (Washington Heights, biggest Dominican pop outside of DR, where Manny, A-Rod and Alvarez are from) so baseball runs deep. They actually had a big premiere for it here at the local, Spanish language theatre.
Liked Half Nelson a lot too.
@Grey: Haven’t seen Notorious yet either. Love me some BIG. Looked cheesy, but it’s still on my list, since I’m a sucker for NY nostalgia… and high-top fades.
Is either Sean-Rod or Kendrick an upgrade over Stewart @ 2B? or should i sit tight?
Does anybody know how many games Vlad has started at OF this year so far?
Thoughts on Aaron Hill for the rest of the season? I have a hole at 2b and thought I may try to buy him cheap…
@3FingersBrown: It’s quality cheese, the best kind.
@Back to Minors: Sit tight.
@Bob: 9
@cruisinkc: I think he finishes the year around 20 homers and a .240 average, assuming he stays healthy.
@Grey: Thanks.
I was thinking of trading Adam Jones and Greg for Cargo, but ZiPS has A. Jones outperforming Cargo for the rest of the year.
My gut says Cargo but Adam Jones has been teasing us as of late
@Grey – Jose Reyes for Dan Haren
5×5 roto keeper yahoo league.
thanks as always.
@Bob: No problem.
@Killing Machine: I’d prefer CarGo…
@FD: It’s fair, depends on needs. I’d probably lean towards to Reyes because of Haren’s splits.
So with that said about Hill…which side of the deal would you want?
A: Adrian Gonzalez, Aaron Hill, Clayton Kershaw
or
B: Matt Holliday, Stephen Strasburg, Luke Horcheaver
Will there a Desmond Jennings sighting soon in Tampa Bay?
“The International League Player of the Week, Jennings hit .548 with 11 RBI, four doubles, three triples and a pair of stolen bases for Class AAA Durham.”
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/fantasywindup/post/2010/06/jennings-bumgarner-could-be-next-top-prospects-promoted/1
@cruisinkc: A
@Big Nate: Don’t see where he’d play.
@Grey: I’m thinking of trading Rasmus for filthy Sanchez. aim higher?
@Sucklingduck: That’s fair.
@Grey: I was thinking Nolasco or Garcia, as well (and you’re probably right about neither getting it done). I think I can get more for Stras, especially if he puts up another good outing. The other guy is offering Abreu for Nolasco, and while that’s probably fair right now, I think I’m better off with a Markakis/Nolasco combo than an Abreu/FA combo.
Nolasco’s put up nearly a K/IP the last two years… am I crazy to think he might just need an adjustment or two to get back on track (more Ks, lower ERA, in line for more Ws)? I know ESPN’s ‘perts are poised to label him a bust (not just for 2010, but for his career, “It’s starting to look more and more like 2008 was just a fluke, and not a new baseline for Nolasco.”), so maybe I am crazy for holding him.
Does anyone think Alvarez could repeat Braun’s rookie year? Both came up at the same age and had about the same PA in the minors with very similar stats except for AVGs.
Start Hanson against the Rays tonight? I’m thinking no.
@Awesomus Maximus: I’m not writing Nolasco off yet.
@Tom Emanski: Braun’s rookie year was one of the top 5 of all-time. Don’t think it happens with Alvarez.
@Nuke LaDouche: In 10 teams, no. In 12 teams, depends on your situation. It’s obviously risky.
This weekend who’s the better start:
Matusz @ Petco
OR
Floyd @ the Nats
@T-BZA: Matusz…
@Grey: much obliged
****Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOZxT9MHAJU
Doesn’t get cooking until 1 minute in. NSFW…
Favorite part is when he reappears asking for nail clippers.
Grey, What is fair value to offer for Shields at this point. Is Fragu too much?
@Grey: awesome
Grey, hey.
One more Ian Stewart question: at this point would your rather hold Stewart or Mark Reynolds?
@Dough boy: It’s fair, I wouldn’t go after Shields though.
@T-BZA: “Let’s go get a beer.”
@fyodor: Reynolds
@T-BZA: Reminds me of Nick Nolte in Blue Chips
Grey.
Thanks for your help; thanks for the way you handle this oustanding site.
Grey,
Nolasco?
@T-BZA: Yeah, totally.
@fyodor: Cool, no problem.
@Dough boy: It’s fair, I’d prefer him to Shields, but he’s not exactly tearing it up either.
Fragu is not exactly commanding the world in return though either?
I have too many outfielders and need a pitcher, any other thoughts in that out of whack tier trying to come back?
@Grey: The best part in my opinion is when he’s talking to the assistant coach about where to put “Stevie.” He tells him to put him at three different positions. Is he Stevie Wigginton?
And while we’re on the Ian Stewart topic, should I drop him for Alvarez since he’s just riding pine for me anyway?
@Awesomus Maximus: I definitely missed that reference, but I love that I learn more about pop culture and random history via this blog than anything else.
@Dough boy: That’s true. I’d take Nolasco if that was the best deal I could get.
@Professor Chaos: Sure…
If you want to add Jeff Suppan to your fantasy team – Then, you must cut down the mightiest tree in the forrest… with… a herring!”
@Grey: The Erv-San snippet just confirms for me that you were indeed glued to New Zealand v Slovakia yesterday.
@Grey: Great stuff! Loved Wally the original scrappy mcscrap (for me anyway) calling the ump a pipsqueak. I’m psyched to see Wally’s managing for the Brooklyn Cyclones. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see a good meltdown next time I make it to Coney Island.
This was an excerpt from a series broadcast on Comcast apparently. Has anyone here seen it?
Here’s some more NSFW managerial fun, courtesy of the great Earl Weaver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKxf3OkpJc&feature=related
@mr baseball: Ha!
@Steve: Of course!
@3FingersBrown: Nice!
I was curious about the use of the phrase “the mean’s while” so I googled it. Other than uses by yourself, there were only two other results.
The first was from a 1922 issue of Cosmopolitan:
All this time Malachi don’t crack a thing regardin’ the secret business he was goin’ into in Manhattan or the mysterious girl without no name which he had galloped all the way from Yaggy, Kansas, to wed. Nearly every night my ravishin’ helpmeet brings over a different one of her delicious girl friends in a praiseworthy effort to get Malachi to quit clownin’, act like a human bein’ and make one of them knockouts his own. No can do! In the mean’s while, I’m workin’ like a Chinese coolie tryin’ to get Malachi to invest a piece of his twenty-five grand in my stable of box-fightin’ fools. No chance there, either.
The second was from Harry Charles Witwer’s The leather pushers (1921):
Well, after a conference with his manager, press agents, and photoplay magnates, the champ presented the press with a statement in which he claimed he’d be willin’ to listen to us on the subject of fisticuffs the minute he laid off elevatin’ the screen, or, in the other words, three months. In the mean’s while, we wouldst have to dispose of the Hon. Tiger Capato, the only heavy in captivity which Kid Roberts had been unable to make kiss the canvas and recline thereon till the referee had pronounced him dead.
My guess is that both were written by the same person, but the Cosmopolitan article was not attributed to the same person.
My conclusion: You wrote these. And thus Grey is aptly named, because he is apparently over 100.
sorry, rushed to post that- last line should be and thus you are..because you
@royce!: I was cryogenically frozen for 70 years. The 1910′s through the 1980′s were so overrated.
@Grey: That was insane! I actually had some questions about my tomato plants. Now I should opt to ask someone other than Weaver.
@royce!: Don’t ask him about adding speed to your team either!
@Grey: Yep, caught ya:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-oldwest/mean%20cowboy.jpg
Guthrie has only struck out one guy?
I need more than that!
Why can’t I just keep my mouth shut?
Breaking news out of Chicago…..
Rotoworld: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday that Jake Peavy “has some things with his arm.”
uh huh…
Options for 2nd. Stewart, Walker, S-Rod, Eckstein, Desmond, Figgins
Options for 3rd. Stewart, Walker, Alverez, Kouzmanoff, Chipper, Figgins
I’ve got Stewart, Walker and Alverez. Starting Walker at 2nd, and Alverez at 3rd now that hes up and Stewart moves to the bench. It’s a points league so HR hitters and guys that hit doubles and triples are the most valuable, with Ks and GIDP being negatives. Having 2 Buccos scares me, but Walkers been pretty decent thus far. Hold tight? or grab one of the guys mentioned above.
@Professor Chaos: Milton being the 666th word of the post… John Milton wrote the epic poem Paradise Lost which deals with Adam and Eve being expelled from Eden after succumbing to the temptations of Satan.
@royce!: Yup, that’s me.
@Steve: You did it to yourself.
@Kazmere: Uh-huh, indeed.
@ZZ: Stewart and Alvarez, unless you need steals. Then Figgy and Alvarez.
@Grey: Mum? Is that you?
Thanks Grey. Ya I’ve stuck with stewart the past month during his terrible stretch so I’ve dealt with the bad, hopefully he turns it on again soon
@Steve: Oddly enough, my mum calls me bum.
@ZZ: No problem.
@Grey: You’re leaving a door wide open for me there, but I will rise above the temptation to walk through it.
Grey: As a long-suffering fan of the Pale Hose (excepting 2005) I’ve got to think they will shut Peavy down considering that contract. Is Hudson worth a look? Thanks!
@Steve: I appreciate your restraint.
@AnotherFalstaff: You should ask Stephen on the newest post.
Because I love Rasmus apologetics, note that he’s begun to annihilate his R/L splits:
.951 OPS vs. L
1.008 OPS vs. R
his clear-eyed June OPS is now up to 1.388
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/8951D23E76D22474862577370008C070?OpenDocument
I’m thinking about picking up Lyon.
The bottom of my bench (hitters) is Ian Stewart or Ian Desmond, or I can put Andres Torres at CF and Cuddyer at RF and drop Cody Ross and plug one of the aforementioned into the Util spot.
Or I drop Gavin Floyd or Scott Baker. Baker’s K/9 sucks.
H2H 5×5 + OPS, QS; K/9 instead of K.
Probably a bad idea to start Leake against the Dodgers, right?
@penpen: Interesting…
@dsimon: Lose Desmond if he’s on the bench. Or Baker if you have extra SPs.
@JackInTheBox: If you own him, start him.
@Grey: Even in a H2H?
@Grey: Simon not exactly seizing the opportunity and running off with it…
In the ol’ H2H, I’ve stuck with Soto since the day I drafted him, but Barajas is on the wire. We count OBP as well as AVE, does that make Soto the better option?
@Grey: Yeah, his BB:K ratio went from 17:22 in 65 April AB’s to 11:33 in 84 May AB’s.
But since the June 1 (how convenient!) contact lens-switch, he’s back to a solid 4:7 ratio through 39 June AB’s.
@JackInTheBox: Guess it depends on your situation, but in H2H I tend to start more SPs than I would in roto. So H2H actually makes it more so.
@Steve: Soto’s better in OBP. Great, now they’re Kazaaming Simon.
@penpen: Yeah, I don’t really buy the contact lenses thing. Sounds a lot like when players show up at camp in the best shape of their life.
Also, man, that Chase Headley for Ryan Ludwick trade has worked out awesome earlier this year. Thanks G.
@dsimon: Nice, no problem.
I know you guys are all baseball junkies, much like myself, and so I feel obligated to share the rankings of the top players in my custom points league. It paints a pretty accurate picture of how players are doing so far and might help some you guys evaluate certain players.
1. Cano- 220.10
2. Cabrera- 212.60
3. Youk- 204.90
4. Vlad- 202.90
5. Longoria- 198.90
6. Pujols- 197.85
7. Rios- 196.25
8. Crawford- 194.50
9. Morneau- 189.10
10. Hamilton- 187.70
11. Braun- 186.60
12. Wells- 179.90
13. A.Gon- 172.85
14. Byrd- 172.00
15. Rolen- 171.45
16. Victorino- 171.25
17. Konerko- 170.45
18. Prado- 167.95
19. Phillips- 166.60
20. Jeter- 166.00
21. Pedroia- 164.10
22. Votto- 163.95
23. Hanley- 163.85
24. Ordonez- 163.15
25. Bautista- 163.15
1. Halladay- 194.05
2. Ubaldo- 177.85
3. Wainwright- 155.40
4. Johnson- 126.15
5. Romero- 125.60
6. Gallardo- 121.45
7. Cain- 115.40
8. Lester- 115.40
9. Carpenter- 113.60
10. Lincecum- 112.70
11. Price- 105.8
12. Liriano-102.55
13. Weaver- 100.70
14. Felix- 99.30
15. Broxton- 98.90
16. Braden- 98.25
17. Buchholz- 98.15
18. Haren- 97.70
19. Niemann- 97.65
20. Pelfrey- 96.40
21. Pettitte- 95.45
22. Kershaw- 95.25
23. Latos- 94.65
24. Lewis- 94.60
25. Sanchez- 94.55
Sorry its really long, just figured it might help some If anyone wants to know a specific player, or how exactly the points are determined just let me know
@Grey: Hmm..ok. I just saw his last line against the Dodgers, plus the Dodgers’ love of Great American and figured it might not be a great idea.
@Flyin: Thanks, that was cool of you!
@JackInTheBox: It depends on your matchup first and foremost. It’s not a slam dunk start by any means.
@Grey: would you start Hanson tonight?
@Grey: Yea, my ERA was blasted a bit by Ervin and Dotel yesterday so I’m looking for damage control.
@Seequinn: Not in 10 team leagues, depends on the situation in 12 team leagues. Yes, deeper.
@JackInTheBox: Then bench him.
*correction, ERA and WHIP were blasted
@Grey: Someone already asked. Sorry. I’m in a 12 team league and 4th in ERA but I’m not going to. He’s been too lucky recently and I’m still not over what Halladay/Cecil did to me last night. Need to lick my wounds.
@Grey: Yea, I am mainly because I will still win IPs and Ks against this weeks opponent.
BTW, Leake will no doubt turn in a masterful complete game shutout with 8 Ks now. So if you have him on some teams, I’d suggest starting him, haha.
I just heard that Pedro Alvarez cleaned up the BP oil spill on his way to the ballpark.
Should make rescuing my RCL team a snap, then.
Stupid me. Don’t I know not to start pitchers against the Nationals? I’ve been burned so many times.
JJ for Kemp?
12 team H2H with OBP/QS rather than AVG/Wins.
Kemp would spell my rotation of CQ/Posey/Alvarez. I could use the steals but my staff would be left without an Ace:
Kershaw, Dempster, Sanchez, E-Jax, Medlen, Kennedy, Morrow, Arrieta. Bills and DLR on DL
You think an Ace is necessary in H2H? Also, how many of the trades proposed here do you think actually get done? My guess is 3%.
@Tom Emanski: The guy is driving me mad.
For the rest of the season: Pedro Alvarez or Freese?
@Seequinn: There ya go.
@JackInTheBox: Yup, of course.
@Steve: Ha
@Tom Emanski: Stupid Verlander.
@struggler: I’d take Kemp.
@Mike: Alvarez
@Grey: If I’m not planning on trading Hanson, is it bad Fantasy Karma to root against him tonight? I feel like the Fantasy Gods wouldn’t like that but he’s cruising through three innings and my heartbeat is starting to feel irregular.
Start Nolasco vs TEX tomorrow? How about Ely @ CIN (Arroyo)?
McGehee and Posada for Weaver? I have SeanRod and Figgins. 12 tm roto. Think Figgy will come around in the second half?
Ervin or Hammel?
@Seequinn: I’d prefer a pitcher look good on my bench. Otherwise, then you’re worried next time out and start 2nd guessing everything. Not a 9 IP, 15 Ks game, but look good.
@GTS: I’d start them both if I owned them.
@Kazmere: Not crazy about that trade, but I do think Figgy will be better.
@Kent Bottenfield: Flip a coin… Depends on matchups. Ervin…
@Grey: Start Gallardo @ COL v Jimenez?
@Grey: Not crazy about it bc it’s too much for Weaver? I could try for Carp but I don’t know if he’d go for it.
He might. Needs a catcher and lives dem Yankees.
Hanson is dealing vs the rays and I love it
@tHe ShiT: Gotta start him every time out.
@Kazmere: Yeah, a bit much. Maybe Weaver and they throw in a junky closer. I just realized you have two catchers though don’t you? If so, then try for Carp, but take Weaver.
@Grey: I thought so…
I’ve always been a set-it-and-forget-it guy, but I truly believe that Lou’s gone bat-sh!t crazy. In a 14-team, 1-catcher league, do I drop Soto for Buck?
Thanks!
@Grey: Phew, Leake was really looking decent for awhile there.
And thanks for the Backman link. “Let’s go get a beer, Doc.” Now THAT’S a “player’s manager.”
@JR!: Eh, it’s probably pretty lateral. Soto has better upside.
@JackInTheBox: Yup…
I really enjoy Napoli in the two hole. I hope this becomes a regular thing. Also Uribe is making me hope that Rollins has another setback in his rehab.
looks like Leake sprung a Leake
@Grey: Not to change the subject…………but I’m changing the subject.
As usual.
The Book of Eli was awesome and Youth In Revolt was hilarious………long live Hollywood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and Go Himey!
When are they sending Ian Stewart down to triple A ?
looks like they are resting Rajai Davis 8 game hitting streak
The ultimate sonofabench! Yesterday, I sat Adam Jones for Tabata…not to make that mistake again, today I sat Tabata for Jones…really?!?!
@TheBravesWearPrado: Nice…
@mr baseball: Hehe
@BigFatHippo: Can’t speak to either. An Education was great, though not sure Dash would like it.
@danimal35: Ouch
@Grey: Agreed, good movie.
and you’re right, Dash wouldn’t like it………..no Power Rangers!
Scott Baker’s cranking out a start that is the epitome of Grey’s “If you own him, start him” rule.
@Grey: An Education was fantastic, and Carey Mulligan deserved the Oscar. The movie hinged on her ability to play three totally different personas, spanning a wonderfully written character arc… and she nailed every one of them.
Is it just me or does it seem like Kemp k’s up every at bat?
I have H Street coming back soon… who to drop?
S Baker
R Dempster
I Kennedy
@Joe B: Not sure, but Baker is making his case to stick around tonight.
@BigFatHippo: Aren’t the Power Rangers passe by now?
@Mark Geoffriau: Sure is. But I don’t own him, so there’s that.
@Awesomus Maximus: Agreed, when I watched an “interview” with her through my “binoculars,” I couldn’t believe it was her.
@thepizzaman: It’s you. Guessing here though.
@Joe B: Can’t really drop Baker after tonight. Give it until Street actually comes back and ask again.
Scott Baker can f*** off.
I benched him in one league, dropped him in another and am facing him in a third.
My 6/44 RCL team can stick it as well.
@Steve: Baker’s the master of killing you if you try to pick and choose his starts. I’m happy to say I stuck him in my lineup this morning and kept my fingers crossed.
@Grey: That’s dirrty!
Time to lose MMD in a 10-Team, H2H? Not many beauties at 3B in the FA pool (Kouz, Figgy, Jose Lopez), but in this format, it’s tough to carry an unproductive bat let alone one that’s sitting every 4th start.
@Grey:
Grey, does this trade seem reasonable? Jaime Garcia and Kouzmanoff for Mark Reynolds?
@Awesomus Maximus: Figgy….
@Chris: Sure…
would you own 3 catchers in a 2 C league?? 12 team
Montero doumit napoli
@barker: Last two…
Sit Nolasco tmw? Sit until further notice? His numbers are horrible @home.
@Kazmere: Rangers aren’t very good in away games. I’d start him. Obviously doesn’t come without risk.
@Grey: After Simon’s scuffling today, gotta keep D Hernandez around for a little longer, no?
@Grey: Will do.
@Steve: Yup
Well, I’ll be sitting Noooolasco. Enjoy his outing as I’m sure he’ll prove me wrong, as he systematically has this season.
Had Kershaw and Baker going tonight, plus Marmol tossed an inning in for good measure. This is helping my rate stats immensely.
@Grey: Anything to read into Kuo getting the save today? Just a situational thing?
@Steve: Wouldn’t have been a save situation other if Belisario hadn’t put someone on right before Kuo came in.
random question, but what type hitter can I target for Liriano?
Holliday? Too much? Anybody else.
@DrEasy: Ha
@Mark Geoffriau: Yeah, there was a lot of good pitching tonight.
@Donnie Baseball: Holliday’s fair.
@Grey: Wins from Verlander, Owsalt and Lester across various leagues today.
I’m almost giddy with excitement.
@Grey: 12 tm roto. I have Napoli and Figgy, trying to trade Posada for SP. Last place in WHIP, 3rd to
last in ERA. After some trades, current staff of Lester, Oswalt, Nolasco, Baker, Lilly.
Give McGehee and Posada, and get either Weaver or J. Sanchez?
@grey- would you start Ely @ Cin tom in a 12 team mixed league?
@Grey: That is a classic meltdown. Better than Bobby Knight’s chair throwing incident. I want to know who cleaned that mess up. APPARENTLY NOT THE PLAYERS!
Tabata and Bernadina made me look smart today. Yay!
Hey Demel had a clean inning in his first appearance for the D-Backs. Big news in ‘Zona! I’m going to grab him in my 15 teamer since I have absolutely no confidence in Heilman keeping the closer gig.
I know I should be starting Haren versus the Sawx tomorrow but he is so up and down its hard to throw him against a team that is hitting pretty decently of late. Anyone got a way to make me feel good about throwing him?
@NukeLaDouche: You drafted him to be an ace on your staff. You have to pitch your aces through thick and thin. You spot start HodgePadres not aces. IMHO.
@Steve: Shake em up, shake em up, shake em up, shake em…
@Kazmere: Sanchez…
@Martin: Nope
@BKK: Ha!
@3FingersBrown: Yeah, might be.
@NukeLaDouche: If you own Haren, you have to start him.
@NukeLaDouche: Nope, but I’d throw him anyway if I had him. He’s been good lately.
Thanks guys. Now if he gets lit up tomorrow I can at least say everyone told me to do it.