0
6
0Location, location, location. Location determines balls and strikes, the weather, housing value, and it can even turn Carlos Gonzalez (.262/.316/.427 on the road) into Ken Griffey Jr. (.329/.384/.609 at home). Personally, I dig California. You’re never far from a beach, a mountain range, or a desert. Pretty much every culture on earth is represented somewhere. The heat in the scorching portions of the state comes without humidity. You can even run into D-List celebs like Riki Rachtman at your local Trader Joe’s! Sure, it’s expensive, but you get what you pay for. Or, what your parents pay for, basement-dwelling fantasy baseballers (<–Momma Albright’s term).
Also found in California is Week 8′s Creeper, Will Venable. He’s available in nearly every league, with ownership rates of 1 and 2 percent on ESPN and Yahoo. The Padres are scheduled for 7 games this week, with 5 of those coming against RHP. Also of importance is that all 7 of SD’s games are away from Petco. Why is this important? If the effects of Petco Park weren’t obvious enough, let’s take a look at Venable’s career home/road splits, starting with 634 home AB and ending with 651 road AB:
.221/.298/.371 AVG/OBP/SLG, 18 HR, 75 R, 64 RBI, 27 SB
.280/.344/.447 AVG/OBP/SLG, 20 HR, 102 R, 85 RBI, 40 SB
Methinks Will should really get into contact with CarGo’s agent. Getting Shane Victorino’s production for a week for a bag of beans is a pretty sweet deal. Etc, so on and so forth. Venable is currently enjoying the highest contact rates of his career since his rookie season, and nothing in his plate discipline or batted ball profiles suggests any negative regression is on the horizon. He is a platoon player at this point in his career, with a .769 OPS versus righties and a .551 OPS against lefties, which means you won’t get the full benefit of a 7 game week. However, he’ll still get an opportunity to pinch hit or pinch run in the two games he likely will not start, and a guy with his speed is liable to swipe a base in such a situation. Did I mention that he won’t be in Petco?
As for the pitchers he’ll be facing this week, Adam Wainwright and R.A. Dickey both allow more free passes and homeruns to LHB than RHB, and offset those deficiencies with increased K rates (Wainwright especially), leaving them with mild L/R splits. Dillon Gee has an apparent inability to get lefties out, walking nearly as many LHB as he strikes out and coughing up 1.38 HR/9 in 104.2 career IP against them, and Lance Lynn sees his walk and HR rates double in 38.1 IP versus opposite-handed batters. Jeremy “I Wish I Were Hugh” Hefner’s only pitched 8 innings in The Show, and his upper minors stats show marginal strikeout and walk rates. As my girlfriend says, we’re dealing with small sample sizes here, but Venable’s best opportunity to do some damage will come against Gee, Hefner, and Lynn.
With Cameron Maybin, Chase Headley, and Yonder Alonso also receiving boosts from hitting outside Whale’s Vagina, Will Venable is a fine add for owners looking for an OF injury replacement or those seeking to play an upside bat this week. Those in daily leagues get a bonus opportunity to play him through Wednesday of next week, as the Padres play a three game set in Wrigley to kick off week 9.
Fellatio or Krispie…which you like better for the rest o the way (on-base league).
@TheNewGuy, I like BJ, more speed and he’s batting second. Krispie’s plate discipline seems to be mostly legit, but I worry about the shoulder and his BABIP.
@Feeding the Abscess, Thanks man was kinda siding with BJ too.
So would you only do this trade for Fellatio not Krispie:
Moobs + Melk-man FOR BJ/Krispie
@TheNewGuy, I’d go for BJ there, too much risk with Krispie’s shoulder to pull the trigger for him.
I picked up Chris Davis, I picked up Ryan Roberts, I might as well go with Will Venable now too.
Fingers crossed!
@El Famous Burrito, Hope it goes well, for both our teams!
Watching the Pads game yesterday, Venable was limping slightly. I forget if the announcers said it was a hammy or a quad, but I think maybe expecting steals from him this week might be asking a bit much.
He did get the game-winning hit yesterday though (in Petco).
@JoeC, Gah. Well, Garcia’s throwing for the Cards, so Venable’s getting the day off anyway. Hopefully that’ll heal up whatever was bothering him.
Wasnt expecting venable to be the creeper! The numbers make sense tho for sure.. i think you forgot to mention hes not playing in petco.. lol
@Prezii, Expect the unexpected!
Ha, good catch on the Petco bit.
Unfortunately the Venable boat sailed some time ago in my league. Who would you guys prefer ROS, Xavery or Tabata? Thanks!
@shibboleth, Tabata just hasn’t delivered on the promise he showed as a prospect, and he’s in a pretty bad offense. I’d go Avery
Trying to trade Hamilton high as I need a great starter…
Not sure what is too much
Do I need more than verlander?
Hitters are more valuable?
Strasburg too risky?
Help
@Ryan, Strasburg won’t be throwing much more than 170 innings, Verlander will probably get you at least 50 more than that. Verlander’s fair for Hamilton. Hitters are more valuable than pitchers, but Hamilton’s an injury risk and that will always affect his value.
Speaking of OF, I was offered in my dynasty league, with 7 years remaining, Mike Trout straight up for Ian Kennedy! Should I buy low on Kennedey? I have CC, Hanson, Beckett, Hudson, Hellickson, Capuano, Milone, Holland, Doubrant, while my OF is decimated by injuries with Jennings, Cespedes, Crawford and Ellsbury on the DL.
Sounds like a good deal for a great young pitcher, but Trout is hot right now.
@Brian, Na, Trout’s much more valuable than Kennedy in a dynasty league.
@Feeding the Abscess,
I was kinda thinking the same thing, but what if I could get a guy like Cain for Trout straight up, would it still not enough for a young stud like Trout? Or what if I could get him to give me Matt Holliday and Kennedy?
@Brian, I’d keep Trout over Cain, as well as pretty much any pitcher unless you’re looking to win this year and are offered Verlander. If you’re looking to win this year the Holliday/Kennedy trade would also work.
My surname’s Venables, so this guys my favourite player. Always kept an eye out on him, better try and pick him up now!
@TheNewGuy, Ha, that’s pretty neat
Grey,
I need hitting and a 3baseman in a 12 team mixed league. Would you trade A chapman and Arencibia for Buster Posey and Daniel Murphy?
Oh yea and its a keeper league
@sfgiants25, Grey’s a couple of posts down if you’re looking for him: http://razzball.com/cards-call-up-m-adams-hopin-to-get-lucky/
Cheers!
14 team standard mixed h2h league.
got offered Michael Young and Furcal for my Nick Markakis and Howie Kendrick.
Im semi-deep at outfield and but would be left one short for the time being with Willingham, Maybin and DL’d Morse and Cespedes. My only short stop is Jhonny Peralta. Mark Reynolds is my only 3b.
Should I pull the trigger?
@AP, oops, messed that one up:
@AP, Furcal’s batted ball profile isn’t drastically different than it was last season, when he carried a .240 BABIP. It won’t dip that low again, but he’s going to hit more like .280 than .350 the rest of the way out. And he’s a massive injury risk.
I’d hold.
@AP, Furcal’s batted ball profile isn’t drastically different than it was last season, when he carried a .240 BABIP. It won’t dip that low again, but he’s going to hit more like .280 than .350 the rest of the way out. And he’s a massive injury risk.
I’d hold.
WV picked up!!! Thank you!
Youkilis or Allen Craig rest of the year?
@PastaMan, Welcome! Thank you for reading!
Youkilis by a hair, his position gives him the nod. Though I wouldn’t give up Craig to get him.
Similar to above, you a believer in Allen Craig? Trying to decide whether to make this deal or whether I can rely on Craig to come back soon and be productive.
@TheNewGuy, I’m a believer. I think he’s closer to a .280 hitter than a .300 hitter, but the 25 HR in a full season power is legit. And really, a small bit of luck makes him a .300/30 HR full season pace hitter.
If you had to pick one of these threw for the rest of the year and for a keeper league who would you take? Reddick, A. Gordon, or Stubbs? Also, wright for Moore and lawrie in a keeper league. Would you do it?
@Jr, Stubbs (unless it’s an OBP league, then it’s Gordon), and I’d do that trade.
@Feeding the Abscess, and by do that trade I meant I’d do it if I’m the one trading Wright
Hamilton capuano and beachy for jupton bruuce and Myers which?
@Broadstreetbrawler, J-Up
Gee, good think I chose not to start Paulino in Yankee Stadium.. Makes all those Burnett & Humber starts worth it.
@artie, Ouch. Hope the rest of your week makes up for it
H-Rod had ANOTHER poor outing tonight. He was pulled prematurely, and Sean Burnett came-in for the save, save. I immediately dropped Delgado for Burnett because 1) I like him… 2) he might be the new, interim closer… and 3) Delgado has to pitch in Cinci this week… probably won’t be too attractive to the streamers this week, and I can probably pick-him back-up in a week if Burnett doesn’t see the ninth.
@Rodger-Dodger, Can’t find fault with anything you said
can you please post the creepers articles on Sunday night? Thank you!
@Jason, Sorry man, it’s going to be a Monday article for the foreseeable future.
Still appreciate the read and comment, though! If nothing else, you now know to take a look at him whenever he’s on the road and facing mostly RHP that week.
Picked this guy up to replace Austin Jackson this week in my 20 team league. Thanks for the tip, he’s been great!
@weas, Glad I could help!