5
9
0Adam Lind looks headed to the DL with back spasms. Wait until the Iron Shiek gets his hand on Lance Berkman. You know how he hates ex-members of the Killer B’s. I break your back! Make you humble! And… Well, you can watch the video yourself. It’s not safe for work, community outreach centers or, really, anywhere there’s anyone else within earshot. From that point, browse some more Iron Sheik videos. He has a surprisingly large amount of hatred for a wide array of people and expresses his hatred in the most eloquent of ways. Okay, that was a long sidebar. As for Lind, hope he gets DL’d quickly so you can grab someone else. Yeah, I kinda just wanted to talk about the Iron Sheik. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Vicente Padilla – Mattingly said Padilla could keep closing even after Broxton returns. I say, it’s early May and things will change. To misquote my new favorite song
Zack Greinke – 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 baserunners, 9 Ks. Facing the Padres is the ultimate slumpbuster.
Josh Beckett – 7 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 5Ks in a no decision. Beckett suddenly has gone from a 5.78/1.54 to a sub-2.00/sub-1.00 ERA/WHIP. His dad better re-think his rookie card valuation.
Justin Morneau – 2-for-5. Two hits in one game?! There hasn’t been a game where he’s done more, no? The preceding wordplay was brought to you by Highlights Magazine.
Luke Scott – Has a partial tear in his labrum. I hear that’s common among aspiring female gymnasts.
Javier Vazquez – 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 10 baserunners, 0 Ks. I’d like to Iron Shiek this guy and make him humble. Can’t someone make the proper call on the Marlins and send him to the Disgraceful List? He’s useless. Really bad year to give up avoiding V**quez pitchers.
Gaby Sanchez – Now has homers in back-to-back games while going 7 for his last 8. Yo Gaby Gaby!
Roy Oswalt – Will not be ready to return on Friday. He said, “Stupid tractor’s got its peddles all flippety-flappety. I don’t know when I can return.”
Domonic Brown – Hitting well in Triple-A. Time to start stashing him on your bench.
Aneury Rodriguez – 5 IP, 5 ER, 9 baserunners, 3 Ks as he got pitchslapped by Travis Wood and gave me an aneurysm in my NL-Only league.
Chris Iannetta – 2-for-3 with his 5th homer. I’d say he’s better than Napoli but I’m afraid that I might wake up with El Caballo’s head in my bed.
Pedro Alvarez – 0-for-3. I liked the 0-for-0′s better.
Ryan Doumit – I saw that he hit a homer last week, but then he was benched. Then he hit a homer in his next start on Sunday. Then yesterday he played in his 2nd game in a row and went 3-for-4. If you play in two catcher leagues, you can grab Doumit, but keep in mind his last name is German for without glove.
Joel Hanrahan – Recorded his 11th save while rocking a 1.42 ERA. What’s the world coming to?! Somebody shoot Spider.
Travis Wood – 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks. On Thursday, there’s going to be a post about pitchers that have been unlucky. Guess who was going to headline it? You better knock… On Wood! Yeah, that’s the drawback to writing about a sport that changes every day. I’d still see if you could get Wood without it costing too much. And that sounded like a person bargain shopping for brothels.
Mat Latos – 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 baserunners, 4 Ks. I get no pleasure from seeing someone I avoided doing poorly. Actually, that’s a lie. Schadenfreude!
Carlos Quentin – A HR and 5 RBIs to up his totals to 8 HR and 23 RBIs. Party like it’s 2008!
Edwin Jackson – 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks. You’re glad you held tight to Jackson now, huh? What? You didn’t hold tight? Oh, your bad.
Vernon Wells – Strained groin. I used to strain my groin all the time in high school.
Trevor Cahill – 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 7 Ks as he FIP’ed off his non-owners.
Josh Willingham – 2-for-4, 5 RBIs and his 6th homer while he appeals a suspension for bumping an umpire on Saturday. This is after BJ Upton had a HR and 7 RBIs during the weekend while appealing a suspension. If only Milton Bradley had just been himself in Seattle…
Milton Bradley – The Mariners designated Bradley for assignment as he wasn’t meeting their offensive standards (double meaning intended). How bad is it when the Mariners think your hitting isn’t up to snuff? It’s like the late 70′s Pirates or 80′s Mets dropping you because you do too much coke. Milton Bradley is upset but at least he wasn’t replaced by one of the Parker brothers.
First!
Oh God, that felt lame.
i have:
morales, utley, hamilton, mauer, pagan, bougeois, bailey, and now lind all on the DL in a 12 team mixed.
do i just drop morales and utley or what? i have no bench space less and im losing starts.
Pick up Travis Wood and drop who out of Bumgarner, Liriano, Norris, Beachy and Wandy….or just hold?
Ciao Grey — I’ve got David Murphy as my fifth OF in a 20-team roto league but am wondering if I can do better. Would you pick up Bourgeois or Bernadina?
The plus on Bourgeois is that he could start helping at 2B (currently I have only Raburn and M. Izturis there). But the plus on Bernadina is that I’d get to play him without waiting two weeks.
Is there anything from Bourgeois minor league career that makes us think he was more than a flash in the SNAGOF pan, a la Sam Fuld?
E.jax or wood?
@Derrick. IMHO, I would hold. Your starts are coming up, and those pitchers should be better over the long run.
@grey I had Latos early on (autodraft) and I dropped him early on like u suggested!! Wooooooo! ( I’d really like to see a sonovabench shirt *for women please* since I say that under my breath at work whilst checking my roster on my phone at work)
Wow, what a morning shock to the senses I got watching the video of the Iron Sheik. Dude is certainly not the poster child for political correctness.
When I looked at my Yahoo stats this morning, I got that sickening feeling as I saw that Kuo had an “INF” in both ERA and WHIP. Had to go to the boxscore
to find out how bad it was. These blowups by Kuo won’t make it any easier to grab the closer job back from the captain of the flotilla.
looking for 3B. had Freese, but he’s on a timeout on the DL. that leaves me with Ryan Roberts and Chase Headley.
trade- Mark Teixeira and Elvis Andrus for Evan Longoria and Alexei Ramirez? I also have Adrian Gonzalez.
should I be concerned over Longoria? I don’t think the lineup is as good around Longoria as it is around Teixeira and that he won’t get the same R/RBI as well as I think Teixeira has more power.
@matt. Please tell me you are in a keeper league if you have utley, Hamilton, and mauer. If not, nobody to blame bit yourself for your infirmary ward of a team.
hahaha Iron Sheik. His twitter is pretty funny, too.
@Grey: As the time gets closer to Domonic Brown’s promotion, I am strongly considering dropping Torii Hunter and his under .200 BA with RISP.
My other OFs are Bruce, Kemp, Zobrist, and Bourn.
Should I consider it?
Doumit = without glove
lmao
Grey-in a 10 team 8×8 h2h keeper league,which TWO SP would you p/u right now?
E Jackson,Lilly,Cueto,J. McDonald,Baker,Arroyo,Drabek,McClellan?
or are there not actually two worth grabbing at this point?
Judging by your last blurb on both, is it a no-brainer to drop Narveson for Wood?
16-Team, Yahoo! H2H Mixed Keeper League:
I was offered Elvis Andrus/Grady Sizemore/Matt Cain for Pedro Alvarez/Jason Heyward/Brandon Morrow
What do you think? It would hurt to lose Heyward in a Keeper League, but I wouldn’t lose much sleep over the other two. Morrow’s Ks are nice, but I already have Weaver and Lincecum doing that with a little more control.
Drop Volquez for Wood?
What a shame about Luke Scott, he is about as cool as a fart in church.
I am going to the Marlins game tonight. Halladay vs. Josh Johnson, and it should be one for the ages. If you tune into the game you will be able to hear me cheering Gaby and thanking him for carrying my shitty offense.
Stopped in highschool… Yeah right. Cmon grey, you’re a professional fantasy baseball writer! Who you kiddin?? Haha jus jokin. Great post this morning!
Looking to trade for Pujols. Offering Teixeira plus one. He wants either Haren or Uggla. If I go Uggla, I have Raburn at 2B. Worth the upgrade here? If I say Haren, my staff is as follows:Gallardo, Scherzer,Masterson,Dempster,Bumgarner, Sanchez, Wolf. Is there ever a time to NOT trade for Pujols? I could obviously try to pawn off some of the excess ok starters for another 2B. Thanks!
12 team, Yahoo! H2H 5×5 League.
Offered Dunn and Josh Tomlin for Nolasco. I have Votto at 1B but need HR/RBI since I have Rios, Choo, Zimmerman. What do you think?
I’d likely drop one of Pierre, Freeman, Scott or Fowler. I have Kershaw, Haren, Wandy and Cueto as starters.
Need to drop one to activate Peavy. Holland, Drabek, Homer Bailey
@Derrick: bumgarner or hold
Grey brings the pain with the Iron Sheik and an Airborne Toxic Event drop-in.
I’m considering cutting bait on Volquez. Not much on the wire other than hodgepadres and hodgepadA’s. Hold him or no?
Grey, I have a potential problem with my roster. I only have 2 guys sitting on my bench currently (Tabata and Alvarez) and I have my 1 DL spot filled by Zimmerman. With Lind potentially hitting the DL do I stick with 1 less hitter, use Tabata or Alvarez, or drop someone and pick up someone like Joyce, Melky Cabrera, Venable, Bourjos, Beckham, or someone similar?
@Shannon: i find it very very hard to believe grey suggested you DROP latos. just because he wouldn’t draft him, i’m pretty positive grey would advocate keeping him over SP4 and SP5 and SP depth type guys.
Love the SHEIK
Pick up wood for any of Dice-k, Guthrie, Wolf, Cueto?
well i dropped edwin two weeks ago now for my next trick do i drop bret myers or colby lewis for cueto
Grey start Liriano tonight?
Wieters or Iannetta?
thx
12 team roto. I’m in the top third on offense and bottom third on pitching. I got offered Hamels and Hart for my Soriano and Ethier. You like?
Izturis or O. Cabrera for 2B while I wait for either KJ or Hill to starting hitting in a 12 team H2H?
I like to see Luke Scott produce proof that his labrum is really torn. By that I mean the doctor or the team’s word is no good. I also don’t wanna see a copy of the medical report or x-rays. I wanna see the real damn labrum with the tear in it. Otherwise I believe that he’s faking it. And I think he’s a French double agent too.
To a more serious note, my Latos intolerance is making stuff come out of both ends…
Razzballers … we’re all sitting Liriano at home against the Tigers, right?
There’s no indication he’s got his control issues under, well, control. But the three things that make me think it could be worth starting him are (1) his extra rest (I read his stats are much better after six or more days’ rest), (2) Detroit almost always seems like a deer caught in the headlights when they play in Minnesota, and (3) Phil Coke takes the mound for Detroit.
Thoughts anyone?
We used to call him Justin Morneau for 4
First Time Long Time
12 team h2h need a 2b for the long haul. Hill coming off DL, Rayburn, Kelly Johnson, or BRoberts.
Also, worth using a waiver pick on Brett Gardner if speed/avg could use a boost? Looks like he may be turning it around?
@Ian: love that deal for you. hamels looks great. ethier tends to get banged up and even with his hit streak, his counting stats aren’t great. hart and soriano are a wash imo. soriano won’t maintain his HR pace.
I could also look at picking up Dominic Brown and just waiting it out
Humber or McCarthy for this week?
(they face each other in OAK)
Start Brett Anderson @ Texas tonight?
Hart, Lowrie, Pena, Rajai Davis or Morrison at my Util?
“I thought you says ‘you’s ok Spider’.” Love the reference.
Anyone else notice how much this season Napoli resembles Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds?
@ Enrique
Porcello goes for DET tonight
It is at home but Liriano doesn’t have a very good track record against current Tigers and went 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA against them last year
@Grey – Is Shumway back or is Ervin that bad?
@Grey: Suzuki, Ianetta or Soto?
I held tight on ejax!
quick question – could you rank the following: narveson, travis wood, bedard, james mcdonald, tyson ross.
thank you!
Hey Grey,
Someone in my league dropped Asdrubal Cabrera. Should I pick him up for Huff, Gardner, Abreu, or Hart? I have Andrus as my SS right now, so Asdrubal Cabrera would be a utility / fill in guy.
Hmmm. Yes. Just added Ianetta last night, dropping Posada. I’ll go with the hot hand in Coors.
Is the fact that there was no mention of Beckham in today’s post reason to believe that the HR last night and the .300+ BA over the last week is nothing to get excited about?
Grey : Lose Hart for Willingham? Not sure hoe much longer I can sit on his .100 average with 1 run scored
@Grey: @ThePoonTycoon: @Al Kaholic: @Wilsonian:
Wood or Cueto?
Hey Grey, would you drop Arrencibia for Iannetta and who would you rather have for the rest of the year?
Thanks,
BK
Which one gets dropped (6×6 with K:BB and QS instead of W)? I can be somewhat selective in the matchups
Blanton, Stauffer, Volquez
@papasmurf: Hilarious. The topical, satirical joke immediately followed by a joke about bodily fluids is really what internet commenting is all about. Well done, sir.
*still drunk from last night*
Grey, give up my #1 waiver wire spot and Bourjos for Gardner?
@MattW: i’m not a big cueto fan, but wood is iffy on staying in the rotation. tough call, i’d probably hold what you got until we have more info.
So I didn’t click Grey’s link and I read mention a mention of the Airborn Toxic Event in the comments so I spent 120 seconds of my life re-reading Grey to find the White Noise/Don Delillo reference, which I found not. See it turns out that it’s a band, is how it turns out. It also turns out that I am old and not with “it”.
EEEERAN NUMBER ONE, EEERAN NUMBER ONE…USA *PTOOEY PTOOEY*…is my textual imitation of The Iron Sheik. He and Nicolai Volkov from a simpler time when knowing who to hate was so much easier.
Is it weird to have noticed that Mike MacDougal has 70 lifetime saves and pitches for the Dodgers and to be imagining that this might somehow mean something?
Got an offer of my Cole Hamels and Derek Jeter for their Mariano Rivera, Trevor Cahill and Pedro Alvarez. Thoughts?
@Grey: Is Gaby and CC for Miggy fair? And is Gaby and Ogando fair for Hamels?
Add D.Brown?
12 Team 7×6 H2H
Current OF = Kemp,Heyward,J.Upton,BJ Upton
Lineups require 3 OF, and there’s 1 utility position. Rosters are small and I’m pitching heavy, only 2 reserve bats (G.Soto & R.Roberts)
Pitchers are Liriano,Billingsley,Masteron,Volquez,Danks,Latos,Zimmerman,Cueto,Putz,Street,Broxton/Padilla.
Do I drop Cueto for Dominic Brown?
for Hamels OR Cahill I meant?
@Mr2Bits Keep Hart!
Montero or Ianetta?
That Oswalt line was comedy gold! Seriously I LOL’ed. You still got it, kid.
@Fletch: Gaby and CC for Miggy is a steal (Miggy side) unless you mean Miggy Tejada.
@Adam H: re: Anderson…my personal rule of thumb is “don’t chase.” It’s true in gambling, it’s true int the stock market and it’s true in fantasy most of the time. What I mean is, don’t try to figure out the universe. You have to rely on the laws of average. That is, Anderson is good and at the end of the season he’s going to be good if you just let him do his work. If you chase you might get slightly better Anderson, but you might get slightly worse. So go with the guy you drafted and let him pitch to his talent over the whole season. You need no better proof of this than Scherzer pitching a gem against the Yankees a start ago. If you sat him (a logical move) you missed it.
Also, if you still want to be a chaser…the Rangers are struggling a bit right now. No Cruz and no Hamiltion in the line up. Plus if Chris Davis plays you can pencil in a minimum of 3 ks. Kinsler scuffling (showing signs of waking up though) and Beltre scuffling. So who you worry about? Moreland? Murphy? Yeah the wind is blowing a little…
What order do you prefer these SP:
Navarson, harang, Richard, pineiro, dempster, Lilly
Also, in a 12-team keeper league with no CI, MI and just 3 OF and 1250 inning maximum would you trade Dunn for Beckett? Thanks
Sorry to whine but Sandoval, Zimmerman, Hill, Oswalt, Lidge, Contreras and now Lind. Shoot me now. Would you hold Uehara or Rauch if/when Lind hits the DL? I need to add a CI and lose one of beloved closer prospects (FF inconsistent and always injured, Gregg a joke). Or if Colby Lewis sucks tonight drop him? I don’t really want to drop any of them, but have no hitters left.
Hey Grey, I’ve offered C Rasmus and M Scherzer for C Crawford. Am I in the ballpark? I don’t do trades very often, I’m more of a waiver wire guy>
@parsec
I think you’re offering too much
I may trade one of my healthy closers for Reynolds, if the owner’ll bite. You worried about him? If you think he’ll hit .220 and 30 with relative certainty I’ll propose it. I hated him pre-draft but I’m now desperate but don’t want a .190, 25 guy. Or just ride MMD and/or Rivera ’til the walking wounded return? Thanks again, Grey, you a top man.
Oh mang…I waited one month before I am tossing out a catcher keep question. What Massive Restraint!
Posada or Ianetta?
I would ideally like to drop one of my starters and hold both C’s for a bit (one catcher league) but I am way under in innings…and Peavy is about to go back on the DL after Wed’s start (we all know he will)
booo,angels call up willits,boreing
Can someone tell Morrow to stop sucking?
Hey Grey, stroke that mustache for a second and let me know who you would have on your roster Doumit, Iannetta, or Posada.
im throwing Liriano tonight. The guy im facing had two great starts last nite, im going to need to throw every guy i gots now and see what happens… i swear if Liriano blows up im not going to be happy, i throw him every single start crushing my pitching stats all year, then bench him for his no hitter, naturally and now i’ll reinsert him only to eff me in the A again….
@matt: Bourgeois is droppable.
@Derrick: Hold
@Enrique: Bernadina
@jay: Jackson
@Shannon: Yes, ma’am.
@RichC: No they won’t.
@SpecialFNK: Sound fair.
@William: Is Hunter a bench player?
@theevilempire: Thanks!
@IgnatiusJReilly: Jackson, Lilly…
@Carl: Yup
@Kevin: Not great.
@schlitzy: Sure
@Malacoda: Ha!
@Dat dude: Shh…
@The Shiz: Don’t see the point.
@Funky Cold Mussina: I’d take Dunn.
@Carl Spackler: Holland
@Ol’ Wes: Can move on if you like.
@Will: Let’s see him hit the DL first.
@TravestyJones: Lose Dice-K and Guthrie.
@lost: Myers
@mets fan: Yup
@Deeeeeeez Nuts: Wieters
@Ian: Sounds good for you.
@EK: Cabrera
@papasmurf: Hehe
@Cole: Hehe
@Dmonkey25: Johnson…I like Gardner.
@EK: McCarthy
@AdamH: What Oaktown said.
@kg: Pena
@STRAWberry: Ha
@AnotherFalstaff: Maybe both.
@Fletch: Iannetta
@charlie batch: Wood, McDonald, Bedard…
@K!cks: Hold
@frank rizzo: He seems to be seeing the ball better, yeah.
@Mr2Bits: Eh
@BK: Sure
@Critter Nagurski: Blanton
@BBC: Eh
@OaktownSteve: Nice phonetic Sheik breakdown.
@Nate: Sounds fair if you need saves.
@Fletch: Yeah
@JayBellz: Sure
@LordMetz: Iannetta
@Big Jgke: Thanks!
@Rick: Sure
@Eng: I’d lose Rauch.
@parsec: It’s a bit much, depends how badly you need Crawford.
@Eng: Eh
@Shea Sera Sera: Iannetta
@Dominic: Iannetta
Thanks for first answer sir. As for the second, basically would offer Contreras to get Reynolds or does MD do more harm than good? Thanks as per.
woa,thats an update
Thank you for your help! Would a counter offer of Alvarez/Quentin/Morrow for Andrus/G. Sizemore/M. Cain make sense or would you just ignore this offer all together? I’m in need of R and SB that’s why Sizemore and Andrus could be appealing.
Should I drop Ryan Roberts to pick up Huff?
Thanks! – lou
Napoli, Ianetta, Ramos, or Doumit? Can’t believe I’m spending this much time on a catcher…
@Kevin: No one in their right mind would accept Alv/Q/Morrow in place of Andrus/Size/Cain. So lopsided it’s unreal.
4th OF, rest of season–Matt Joyce or Carlos Beltran?
@Eng: if you can trade an injured 40 year temproary closer for a guy that 2 years ago hit 44 HRs and stole 24 bases, then you do it.
Grey, please pick 2: Scott Baker, Volquez, McDonald
Or Padilla for Reynolds? Again, this is in light of the buzz Padilla is the full time closer and still no guarantee it won’t be immediately rejected. Just trying to see if you see a light at the end of the tunnel for Reynolds. Last post of the day this one, I promise!
K Johnson or B Roberts?
Hey Grey,
Just wanted to stop by and let you know that the fact that you answer all questions is amazing. Razzball has exploded this year, and it’s good to see you’re keeping pace every single day. This site rocks and so do you!
@ThePoonTycoon: haha, thanks for the feedback. I can’t see Reynolds ever repeating his absurd 2009 season again but the chances his owner accepts my offer are certainly slim-to-none. Though he is desperate for saves so we’ll see.
Speaking of the Iron Sheik, if you haven’t seen “Bigger, Stronger, Faster,” you’re missing out.
I laughed harder at the first 10 seconds than I have in a while.
See it here: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/bigger-stronger-faster/
Where are the Sonavabench shirts? Last week:
Active: Dan Haren 7 IP 5.142 ERA
Active: Jered Weaver 7 IP 6.000 ERA
Active: Josh Johnson 7.3 IP 6.136 ERA
Active: Jonathan Sanchez 5 IP 9.000 ERA
Benched: Yovani Gallardo 8 IP 0.000 ERA
SONAVABENCH!!!
Does that mean that Luke Scott is still technically a virgin? I fear quite a few Kenyan trees would disagree.
@Clyde Prompto: I messed up the Luke Scott reference. I should have said he was born in Scotland, a double agent put here to destroy America from within. What kind of last name is Scott. Slapping on the extra ‘t’ (for “treachery”?) at the end doesn’t fool me!
@Eng – I don’t know. The guy I’m offering it to is probably the worst team in the league and desperate for HR anywhere he can get it. He has been starting Hanahan as his 3B, so Alvarez could actually be a long-term improvement there. Sizemore is anything but a guarantee to play the rest of the season and Andrus is only a 2-Trick Pony. If he doesn’t accept that I might sub Alvarez for A. Ramirez as I have a slew of 3B on my team.
But, I’ll take it from your response that if he did accept it, it would be good for me.
Who would u drop for Dominic Brown? Kuo or Luke Scott? I only have Walden closing so I was hoping Kuo would eventually get the gig. Any hope left there?
Homer Beetle Bailey Simpson causes a meltdown of the Springfield nuclear reactor today because he’s distracted by Grey’s swinging strikeout on his chance to call Ryan Without Glove, Doh!Mit instead. Unless, of course, you used that last year when I wasn’t paying any attention. In which case this comment will self-destruct in 5 seconds… Oh frap! The self-destruct spray is acting all qureque again, Albur can you give me a hand? Clap, clap. Lights out.
@Grey:
My kids give you a shout out for the Yo Gabba Gabba Reference. Actually a really funny show to watch (Jack Black episode is gnarly) whilst lifted.
Anyways…If you could roster only one of these three who woulld it be:
D. Brown, L. Morrison, or D.Murphy.
Thanks!!
Please rank these SP’s for the remainder of the year:
Kuroda
Morrow
Hudson
Zimmerman
Chacin
Gracias!
@Eng: What Poon said.
@Kevin: Sounds good.
@lou rodney: Sure
@JoshC: Iannetta
@Dim: Beltran
@theevilempire: Baker, McDonald
@Eng: Reynolds
@rvde: Johnson
@Eddy: Thanks for the kind words!
@rvde: I’ve seen it.
@t-rex: Ouch
@Wake Up: Ha…Yup.
@UthrowNoNofromMyBench: Kuo
@Scott Z: Wow
@Dr. Stats: Morrison
@MattW: I agree with Poon. That’s a tough call. I prefer Cueto, but only slightly. I’d probably wait it out to see what Wood does in his next start. While it was only against the ‘Stros, he still looked a lot better (and as Grey and others have said, he’s been mighty unlucky). And Cueto’s solid start was only against the Cubs, so it’s not like he no-hit the Jays or something.
@Stinky Cheese Man: Hudson, Chacin, Kuroda, Morrow…
@Kevin: Yup, I sure do. See if he takes it, if he does you’re in great shape.
Mr. Berkman isn’t hurt yet, and is still playing like babe Ruth
@anyone
Corner infield spot, please rank:
Huff
Wallace
Laroche
Carlos Lee
G. Jones
Ryan Roberts
Thanks! -lou
@Stinky Cheese Man: Stinky Cheese Man, how’d you come up with the name? That was one of my high school nicknames. Long story short, I used to work at high end grocery store (like Whole Foods before they existed), and my primary job was to cut the large wheels of cheese into smaller pieces for the customers to purchase. In case anyone is wondering, Morbier is the stinkiest of em all.
Desmond > Aybar, correct?
It was the name of a book my brother used to have when he was young… instead of the gingerbread man.. it was “run, run, run as fast as you can.. you can’t catch me I’m the stinky cheese man.” It’s available for sale on Amazon… $10.58 brand new
)
@anyone
Need a Utility to fill in for Lind. Who do I take from the choices below?
D. Lee
Bernadina
Seth Smith
Bourjous
Extra roster spot 10 man 5×5 30active roster spots…who should be owned: Cueto, Bailey, Bedard, McDonald.
@jackie:
I like Bourjous
@xxxthe toadxxx:
Call me crazy I still take Cueto long term, with McDonald next.
Morrison (once he’s back) or Reynolds?
I need a hitter… should i drop volquez or rauch for pena?
I picked up wood and padilla so I have replacements in both areas. I could also drop both and pick up kuo for the handcuff?
Also willing to wait on Volquez for another few weeks. I’m in no rush. The rest of my staff is looking good right now.
Any help is appreciated!
I got Cruz,LoMo,Pagan,and now maybe LInd on the DL. (NICE) We only have 3 DL slots. I’m playing Raburn (ouch),Gardner,Krispie,just picked up Joyce,and Lind. That leaves me with 4 effin OFers. Choose 1 please. Bernadina, Borbon, McLouth, David Murphy, Parra, Rowand, Venable, or Garret Jones. Thanks
PS: 3rd place,need runs,SB’s, and avg.
@Grey: 5 x 5 roto, bailey, wood or mcdonald? gracias.
@rob
in that league i missed the draft and it autodrafted. if morales wasnt supposed to be out that long, i hate mauer and tried to trade him before.
im not in last, and im actually moving up in the rankings, if 4 of those guys get healthy, i have a real good shot of making a run in that league
Oops, need to drop a pitcher.Who? Lohse, Stauffer, Arrieta, or J Zimmerman.
Drop Buehrle or Tyson Ross for Wood?
@Grey: also, el caballo’s head notwithstanding, worth dropping napoli for ianetta? numbers are similar and barring an injury, ianetta should get more pt…
@Grey: very funny today.
@Grey: My top notch pitching staff from a year ago is sitting at the bottom of the pack in ERA, WHIP and QS. I have King Felix, Cliff Lee and then nothing. Please rank this list of guys to get me back on track with the stats I I just mentioned.
Latos, Lilly, Kuroda, Beachy, Anibal, Floyd, Volquez, Zimmerman(n), Wood, Bumgarner,
Who is going to make a better CI play this year: Anthony Rizzo or Mike Moustakas? If Rizzo, does Moustakas ultimately carry more value as a potential trade piece thanks to being a third sacker?
5 OF league, drop luke scott? to give u an idea of depth, best OF available are: damon, boesch, robot, willingham, veneble, brantley, fowler, mags, gomes, patterson.
Would you please rank Freeman, Scott or Rivera for next few weeks? My low-end closer for Reynolds offer was rejected out of hand, for which I bear no grudge.
Should I trade Cargo for Cliff Lee in a 12 team H2H?
My other OF are: Kemp, Pence, Rasmus
My SPs are: Haren, Scherzer, Hudson, Gio, Morrow, DLR, Liriano, Arrieta
Thanks
@John Drunks: Willingham looks pretty good if you’re not in need of speed. Will hit in the middle of the order for one thing, which none of them other guys can guarantee. I’d say you’ll get 25 and 80.
@LanceBerkmanFanClub: You guys are funny.
@lou rodney: Huff, LaRoche, Jones, Lee…
@RonWashington’sStache: Yup
@Stinky Cheese Man: Ha!
@jackie: Bourjos
@xxxthetoadxxx: Cueto
@GTS: Morrison
@mrobs: Rauch for Pena.
@Doc Pounder: Bernadina
@herschel: Wood
@Doc Pounder: Lohse
@GTS: Ross
@herschel: Go for it
@Wake Up: Thanks!
@SwaggerJackers: Bum, Kuroda, Wood, Beachy…
@Mark: Moustakas
@John Drunks: Can try Willingham for a bit.
@Grey- yeah, Hunter is a bench player. He plays behind Bruce, Kemp, and Zobrist. My UTIL spots are flipped between Carlos Pena and Michael Bourn for their specific skills.
I thought Torii Hunter would turn it around but he’s really looking bad at the plate and wondering if going with upside with Domonic Brown would be good here.
@Eng: Scott, Rivera…
@EK: Eh…You don’t need Lee.
@William: Sure, try Brown.
@lou rodney
I’d go Huff, Jones, Wallace, LaRoche, Roberts, Lee, though if you prefer to go risk averse I would probably go Jones, LaRoche, Wallace, Huff, Lee, Roberts. Huff could turn it on at any moment, or he could just be having one of his typical Huff down years. Jones looks like a safe bet to be blahtastik. LaRoche is LaRoche, and he will be by year’s end. and I’m buying Wallace as having improved out of the realm of suckitude to the realm of mediocrity. He’ll be the worst of the big name first base 2008 draftees, but he’ll make decent wire fodder for matchups or when he’s hot. His upside makes him slightly more attractive overall than LaRoche, but I doubt he’ll be better than Jones over the course of a season.
Grey, Soo u wouldn’t drop Napoli for Ianetta?
@Grey: Thanks Grey! Also start volquez tomorrow @HOU? Or wait until he puts together a couple QS?
@Grey: I figured lohse but I need to get rid of more sp out of:
dempster, peavy, lilly, cueto, ogando
if it helps your decision, i have sabathia, hamels, oswalt as my top 3, and we score the usual 5 cats plus L and GIDP.
@Mark and Lou Rodney: Keep in mind that LaRoche is Mister Second Half. Guy is about one month away from catching fire. Career second half average 15 HR, 50 RBI, .294 avg. The shoulder is bothering him in the field, but not at the plate. Just his typical spring suckage.
Also, why is everybody so anti-Carlos Lee? Just don’t get it. Since he became a full time player, he’s never hit fewer than 20 home runs or driven in fewer that 80, even in 2008 when he played only 115 games. Yeah…slow start, but baseball season is long. He hits clean up (as does LaRoche). He’s got track record. Is he at a peak in his career…of course not. But still!
It’s a beautiful day here in Schenectady. But which two of these three would you keep going forward: Britton, Baker, Peavy? Thanks!
@tggq21: Yup
@mrobs: Yup
@paulzone: Ogando
@Mhfella: Baker, Peavy
Lee looks done to me. He hit 24 HR and had 89 RBI last year, but he also hit just .246. His HR/FB had gone from 16.5%, to 10.5%, to 9.5% 2008-2010 and is down to 6.1% this year, and he’s around the PA threshhold where HR/FB becomes predictive this year. His BABIP last year was a career worst .238, but his LD% was also a career worst 15.6%, and this year those marks are .234 and 15.8%. Those are the only two categories where he carries significant upside in a barren Astro’s lineup, and the signs are not good at all. Looks to me like a player who is bottoming out. Pass.
If I squint, maybe, just maybe I’ll buy the LaRoche argument, but last year he had a .787 OPS before the break and .788 OPS after the break. I’m sure he’ll get better, but I’d still take Jones and Huff over him, especially as a short term patch. RoS, maybe LaRoche, but over that span an .800ish OPS is about his ceiling, which is pretty uninspiring for a first baseman. I’d rather patch with Jones, Huff, or Wallace and then grab Belt, Rizzo, or Moustakas when they come up. I don’t think Wallace is all that different a value package at this point from LaRoche, but he’ll give you something a bit different category wise and has a touch of upside with a pretty boring overall expectation.
Also, Desmond Jennings will get called up within the next ten days, possibly as soon as Friday. Book it.
^@Oaktown Steve
@Grey: Do you start Brett Anderson tonight v. Texas when he got rocked by them last outing?
@anyone
Just got an itneresting trade proposal. Think I’ll have to say no but its worth a thought. 5×5 League with OBP and QS instead of AVG and W. He offered me Josh Johnson and Billy Butler for my Joey Votto and Ricky Nolasco. I’d probably say no outright under normal circumstances, but I rank either first or second in R, HR, SB, and OBP while I’m 10th in ERA, in a four way tie for sixth in QS, 7th in WHIP, and 7th in K’s despite being on pace to go over the innings limit by around 30. Only problem I have with it is I really would prefer something other than a first baseman like Butler back, since I also own Smoak and Hosmer and there’s no CI slot (Two Util, but Mike Stanton is pretty much locked into one of them since I also have Jason Heyward at RF), though I suppose I can always shop one of them back. I also hate to give up Nolasco here the way he’s pitching, seems like I lose on total value, but it really suits my needs well. Maybe I’ll counter with a different pitcher. Thoughts?
grey how many innings will d hudson be able to throw this year
can we get steroids back in baseball? the offenses in everyone of my leagues is awful. in one 12 team league, there are 3 teams with team averages in the .230s and 2 more under .245. only 1 league of mine has more than 1 team batting above .270. it’s just getting ridiculous. i finally landed a #1 draft pick and even pooholes is sucking for me (he’s barely even brining up my team’s .236 avg).
/end rant
@Stinky Cheese Man:
Morrow, Chacin, Hudson, Kuroda, Zimm
grey-if desmond jennings gets the call,would you rather have him or jason bay?
If big Al Gonzalez is on my bench as a spot starter, do you drop him for Jennings in a 16 Team H2H Keeper? The only other droppables would be Damon, Hill, Hosmer, so Gonzalez looks to be the odd man out. What do you think?
@Wilsonian: too late, answered my own question and decided to just do it.
McDonald, Morton, or Bedard in that same 16 Team H2H?
@Nick: It’s risky, but you should start Anderson every time out.
@AL KOHOLIC: He’s on no innings restriction.
@ThePoonTycoon: Agreed
@AL KOHOLIC: Jennings
@Wilsonian: Sure
My bad, miscalculated, no earlier than Saturday for Jennings, but at that point they could/should/will bring him up any day. Looks like a service time issue at this point. They hold him down till then, they get an extra year out of him, which even if they lock him at some point up still constitutes bargaining leverage.
@Wilsonian: McDonald
@Grey: snagged that Jennings character…hopefully the Ballad of Sam Fuld (no actual offense to the guy) will come to an abrupt halt to help out my team.
I proposed the following trade and it was accepted in a 14 team league 5×5 plus OPS and QS.
I give: BJ Upton and Justin Masterson (ranked 38th and 58th respectively)
I get: Hanley and Ian Kennedy (ranked 268th and 181st)
I played off their rankings to get the better of the deal. Commissioner is fishing for objections to the trade, sending out an email to saying he thinks it is too lopsided and wants to know if others agree before approving.
Is this too lopsided? Should it be vetoed? Or should they simply be quiet and post “http://razzball.com/i-dont-veto-trades-i-protest-them/”? Thoughts?
Guy wants to trade me Jeter/CJ Wilson for Ian Kennedy/Andrus?
What do you think?
I’m in a 6×6 mixed 10 team roto. Have plenty of speed, but am hurting on the pitching side.
@Grey: thanks boss,im about tired of bay anywho,i think the updated standings jinxed me,i was 2nd overall but took a 4 point drop overnight,but as Arnold your great governor would say,ILL BE BAUCH,
Hey Grey,
Would you want Dom Brown or Aaron Hill in a keeper league? I could keep either guy for three or four years at moderate prices.
Thanks!
@Grey: thanks dood.
One more question (and it’s one of those that I probably shouldn’t even ask, but I’m going to anyway on the off chance that you don’t say “Wright”)…
Wright/Wieters/Krispie for Uggla/V-Mart/Quentin (or Heyward)?
I’m seriously leaning Wright, but it’s at least got me thinking so I figured I should (begrudgingly) ask and bother you yet again.
8 Team H2H Keeper…
Man, Lind was just traded in my league for Price.
Can’t wait for Lind to drop through the floor. 36% percent of his swings are on pitches outside of the zone – that’s even worse than it was last season.
@Starlin Castroated: you won by a landslide, but I still don’t think it’s veto-worthy.
@Jeff: You may be waiting a while. Lind is a good player, Jeff.
@Grey: Considering you mentioned Dominic Brown as a guy to start targeting today… do you definitely take him over Desmond Jennings, who should be called up in a few weeks?
@Starlin Castroated: I don’t think it should be vetoed, but the other guy should be lampooned the rest of his fantasy career, which I’m guessing either just started or is about to end.
@Wilsonian: Yup
@Starlin Castroated: Agree with others.
@Wilsonian: Why do you want to get rid of Wright so bad?
@Joe B: Yup
OG,
Which trade offer would get me better value?
Krispie / McGehee / Pineda
for
Bruce / Cain
Preciate it.
Actually, just which side do you prefer ^?
I give Agon (1B) and Jeter (Util)
I receive Man Boobs (Util), Dunn (1B), and (Uggla MI)
I would then have to drop espinosa. Those are there current spots and possible future spots.
12 team, keeper, espn standard.
Do it or Stay?
@Joe B
Brown is a bit trickier to predict than Jennings. The Phillies have more options on their roster already who have been somewhat productive, they’re in first place by themselves, and Brown would need to be left down for a couple more months to delay his service time enough to change anything. But they’re also a big market team and they haven’t been the dominant offensive force that they’re used to being. In a vacuum, if they’re both called up tomorrow, I’d probably take Brown, but its close enough, and being that I also think Jennings is a bit less risky both in terms of how soon he’ll be called up and his likely value floor that I’d probably go in that direction. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how it breaks), Brown is already owned in my main league so the decision was made for me. I grabbed Jennings today.
I realize it’s most likely just force of habit at this point, but you forgot to mention the most important part of Greinke’s line… 1 Win! It’s so nice to own him now that he’s on a team that might score a few runs. No more getting Greinke’d every time out.
@Grey: I don’t really, I’m just down with getting value for him since half my league seems to want him to fill a Grand Canyon sized hole at 3rd. No one really wants to pay fair market value for him, however. If someone can offer me something that I think makes me better, I’ll definitely do it. Everything people offer is low-ball city, so I always counter (if we were kinda close) but no one bites. There are three teams that have made offers, but everything is crizzap, so I’m always asking if there’s a counter in there that would work out.
@Wilsonian: and, as you probably know, I’ve got Longoria too, so Wright is somewhat expendable, and I have more man love for Longo than Wright.
@Grey: Ogando or Beachy?
@Whiskey Diet: Bruce
@Johnny Drama: Answered in the forums.
@Awesomus Maximus: True, true.
@Wilsonian: Get a one for one…Or as close to it as possible.
In recent weeks St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa has just not been able to shit or get off the pot in regards to settling the closer role on the team. Although Yahoo is reporting it as an eye condition, news just breaking from rotoinfo.com reveals that LaRussa will not be in the starting lineup tonight due to viral shingles he has suffered for the last four weeks. So he really hasn’t been able to shit or get off the pot. No manager has been named yet for tonights game vs. the Chicago Cubs, it could be batting coach Mark McGuire or…..pitching coach Dave Duncan or….first base coach Dave McKay or….third base coach Jose Oquendo or….bench coach Joe Pettini or…..bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist or……..
@Grey: the other part of that question…Hamels or Cahill?
@Grey: who would you put in the 1-for-1 category with him? I’ve already got Prince, Longo, CarGo, Kemp, so I won’t be trading any of them for Wright. Emoticon.
@nyydj2: To paraphrase Rudy, some raise the roof, with shingles, La Russa resembles one.
@Fletch: Hamels
@Wilsonian: Braun, Holliday, Cano, any top tier guy.
@Mark: Solid arguments. Countering Jones, as a platoon guy he’s going to be limited in runs and RBIs even though he’s hitting home runs at pretty good per ab clip. He also gets pulled late inning in defense so that’s a few more turns taken away. Hard to see him getting much more than 400 abs. Even with his slow start, El Caballo has 20 rbi’s to his 13 and 15 runs to his 10. Doesn’t look like much, but over the course of the season, it’s not statistically insignificant.
As for Wallace, he’s at .398 BABIP for the season so far and he still strikes out in 20% of the time. Everybody always talks about upside, but downside is the darkside of upside. When do you know he’s turned the corner and hasn’t just hit a lucky streak? Because when he’s bad, he’s horrid.
Huff I can buy, though his home park and divisional away pitching and parks are no bargain and his line up is no more productive than the ‘stros.
As for Lee, his LD% is up a little from last year and his HR/FB percentage is down but no lower than it was from a season ago at this same time…a season in which he finished with 24 home runs. He’s also “only” 35. I tend to be more concerned in the 38 year old range. In other words, I look at him and see a guy more likely to have a smooth curve fall off from last year than an off the cliff guy. And given a good track.
I’d actually prefer Lee to LaRoche. LaRoche is making me a little nervous with the new park and also playing divisionally at Citi and ATL, not good hitters parks, and seeing the Phillies staff regularly. Also the Nats yet another lousy offense 1-8. But I tend to fall on the side of proven producers falling slowly as opposed to hit or miss upside trying to catch a rising star.
could you rank these catchers: napoli, iannetta, avila
Ogando or Beachy?
@Grey: much appreciated, as usual. A daiquiri says I’ll be asking for your input again as the shituation unfolds.
Grey: in my 6×6 h2h league, my starting pitchers are hamels, marcum, Brett Anderson, CJ Wilson, Pineda, Bumgartner, Anibal Sanchez and Harang. I can trade Pineda and Russell Martin for Jimmy Rollins. Castro is my SS, but we also have an IF and UT slots for Rollins. iannetta is on waivers, so I’d pick him up to replace Martin. What do U think? That would leave me with enough pitching, wouldn’t it?
Once called up – Jennings or Tabata?
Smoak finally hitting 3rd now that Bradley is gone… about time!
@Oaktown Steve
I just don’t buy it with Lee. the difference between a 15.8 LD% in 140 PA’s and a 15.6 LD% is less than negligible. LD% and BABIP actually take quite a while to stabilize, but my point was he’s right where he was last year in those categories. Yes, he was worse last April, but a bad month with peripheral rate deficiencies still isn’t a good argument for improvement or bounceback just because its better than a complete disaster month. He’s showing all the signs of a guy in steep decline. I wouldn’t own him outside of leagues with at least 16 teams and deep rosters or NL-Only leagues. His best case scenario is about what I’d expect from a guy like LaRoche, .270 with 15-18 HR the rest of the way, and with Jones you can do better just by giving him a partner to play on days he sits against lefties.
There was actually a pretty decent article on Wallace the other day an fangraphs. I don’t and still wouldn’t own him in any of my leagues (they’re all 12 teamers), but he’s made some legit improvements and does profile as something of a high BABIP guy. He’s never had a BABIP below .336 in the minors and often much higher (though in the minors BABIPs tend to be higher thanks to weaker defenses), but he’s a line drive machine who also hits a lot of balls on the ground. That’s how you maintain a high BABIP. I actually do think as the year goes on he’ll sacrifice a bit of average for power, but I wouldn’t be terribly shocked if he hits .290 with double digit homers from here on out. Part of what makes him more ownable is that I believe he has 3B eligibility in some leagues, so he becomes a trade piece with at ouch of value if that’s the case for you, and there’s a non-zero chance he’ll pick it up again if he’s lost it in your league (say Chris Johnson gets hurt or demoted).
The Giants lineup isn’t doing a whole lot right now, but they’re leaps and bounds better than the Astro’s, and they’ll get better when Brandon Belt is recalled. They won’t likely be an offensive force, but they’ll be around league average at least. I’m honestly not crazy about Huff either, but I feel he’s more likely to turn it on again and potentially hit 20+ HR with a respectable average from here on out than any of the other guys aside from Jones.
I’d take Belt over all of them though once he comes up and keep a close eye on Moustakas and Rizzo. Honestly I’d probably grab two of them and see what happens. There’s a good chance one of them gives you far more than you get from a veteran option. I’m all about upside when the cost is low/free. Guys like Ryan Braun (2007), Kendry Morales (2009) and Buster Posey (2010) have won me leagues at virtually no cost to acquire. Sure, when I picked up Braun I had to suffer through Alex Gordon a bit for a while as well, but taking a flier on both was well worth winding up with Braun for the whole year.
@charlie batch: Iannetta, Avila…
@Fletch: Beachy
@Wilsonian: No problem.
@Joel: I’d take Rollins there.
@GTS: Tabata
@GTS: Agreed
as someone who has gone years without making a trade ,
this one (12-team , 9 player keeper) has achieved strategic objectives ,
(i hope) , :
gave ….. scherzer , chacin , & , lohse .
got ….. guthrie , wade davis , & , matt kemp .
my opponent will use these arms in an attempt to win this year .
my team (20 roto points scored , last year) will continue to build for ’11/’12
have already jettisoned 3 of the keepers bequeathed to me (soto , d. lee , &
ian stewart) and replaced them with ramos , freeman , and bruce .
still a long way to go , but am now building around wright , uggla , & , KEMP .
@chata:
* edit *
check that ….. ’12/’13 .
@Mark: Again..appreciate the knowledge. I see what you’re saying, but check it out…you’re giving Wallace .290 and double digit home runs as your best case and Lee/LaRoche and you’re giving the same home runs less twenty points of average and no comment on the fact that both guys continue to hit clean up and play every day which should give them 10-20% more runs and rbis than either Jones or Wallace. Not too mention that Wallace’s sample size for success is extremely small where as Lee/LaRoche have long track records. And I still don’t see the argument for Caballo is over the cliff rather than a natural slowing is any more compelling than Wallace has hit a good streak. I mean I see the narrative you’re weaving there, but it’s still only one of several outcomes.
As to the youngsters, no doubt about it, a hot rookie can make a season. However, there’s also a bias to beware. While it’s very easy to quantify the contribution of a rookie that did work out, it’s tougher to quatify where you lost by thin margins because you gave up on proven production in your search for lightning in a bottle. There’s confirmation bias where you tend to remember the Brauns but forget the busts. That’s one of the things that makes this game fun is that trying to figure out when to make moves is not as easy as it might appear.
Grey Wood, Cueto or Volquez? I have Volquez right meow but both wood and cueto are sitting on waivers.
@chata: Trade looks fine for next year, obviously better to build around hitters.
@DSimm: Wood
@Grey – LoMo’s activation Friday will cause me to drop either Hosmer or him from my bench (Berkman’s my UTIL). My other option is to package one with Ogando for another SP such as Latos or Norris. Which to drop or trade? Thanks!
@Grey,
What side do you prefer? Team A gets Chase Utley Team B gets Joe Mauer.
Good news for League owners. Looks like David “The Privateer” Aaaarghrdsma won’t be back anytime soon.
Also, since I’m a big fan of kicking someone while they are down since it requires the least amount of effort on my part, I would like to ask the Iron Sheik, since I assume he is a Razzer, to please further humble Vernon Wells.
@Eng:
O-Swing%:
2009: 24.7
2010: 34.6
2011: 36.5
O-Contact%:
2009: 70.5
2010: 66.0
2011: 74.8
If he keeps hacking at pitches outside the zone, expect Lind to start missing more often (bringing up his swinging strike%), hitting fewer line drives, or both.
With the news that Aardsma has a UCL sprain and is visiting Dr Yocum, who do you like most for some SAGNOF from here out: League, Farnsworth or Santos?
Who else is annoyed by the White Sox going to a six man rotation?
@AnotherFalstaff: Hosmer and Ogando for Latos or Norris…
@B.J.: A
@Wake Up: Nice, thanks for the heads up!
@Steve Stevenson: Farnsworth
@Travis: Good ol Ozzie.
Well I got b. Anderson vs. Colby lewis who do I throw anyines help will be appreciated
@bench mathis: id throw them both,i dont have that option and picked up lewis for a spot start in 2 leagues
Cant say I’m excited about it but I think I have to drop one of mky solid pitchers. I’m in a 12 teamer and I’m quite pleased with my guys. Please tier these guys:
-Hamels
-Greinke
-Beachy
-De LaRosa
-Jhoulys
-McLellan
-Kennedy
-Hammels
-Billingsley
Have no bench to cover for Lind. Would also like Jennings for my bench.
Hey Razzballers, need help. I had the last pick in a deep 16 team H2H weekly points league, and I feel I did well, but injuries and inconsistency have hurt my pitching. About a week into the season, I was able to capitalize on the gloomy cloud that then hovered over Chase Utley and snagged him for a guy I was going to cut anyway, and of course now he is nearing a return. My pitching could use a little help, as I drafted Phil Hughes, and am dealing with Oswalt’s back right now. My question is: What kind of pitcher could/should I expect in return in a trade for Utley? I was looking at a guy like Ubaldo? I realize Utley still is a couple weeks away, but I would throw in another decent pitcher to compensate…..Thoughts?
Hey Grey, guess what…got another Wright trade question for ya, believe it or not. Was just offered the following:
Stanton/Bruce/DLR for Wright/Cargo
Obviously I’m not doing that. However, he threw in the following caveat: would swap in Haren or Hommy Tanson if I tossed in a pitcher of lesser quality.
Would you do a Stanton/Bruce/Haren or Hanson for Wright/Cargo/and one of the following SPs: Gio, Bills, Norris, Beachy, D.Hudson, Pineda? If so, which of Haren or Hanson, and which of my SPs? Thanks man, I really appreciate it.
@ COC – Utley & Tabata were traded for Lee in my league a couple of weeks ago. I would make a similar offer to someone in Lee’s tier, then hold on to Utley if you do not get fair value. You can always let Utley play a couple of games well, then get out before runner’s knee surfaces again
@C.O.C.: yeah,shoot high,ubaldo is a nice one,find a guy that really wants him and he,ll give you anything
@Grey: Should I hang on to Kuo? He looks like garbage! Frank Frank, Padilla, Salas, Melancon and Capps are all available. What you suggest? My other closers are Kimbrel and Hanrahanrahanran. Also, T Wood and E Jax are available; would you drop Edi(n)son Volquez for either?
Hosmer or Jones?
Thanks!
@bench mathis: What AL said.
@knighttown: McClellan
@C.O.C.: Ubaldo would be a good target.
@Wilsonian: Don’t love it for you. You’re giving away the top two guys in the trade.
@Bob: Go with Frank. Go with Wood…
Sorry to keep bringing this up, but its been back and forth all day – My counter was countered with him offering Andrus/G. Sizemore/Wandy for Quentin/Alvarez/Morrow. What do you think?
@bogbert: I can think of three different Joneses that could be.
@Kevin: I’d take Andrus.
@Grey – Thanks! I put the Hosmer deal out there, we’ll see what happens. Guy just offered King Felix for my Holliday. My “aces” are Greinke, Gallardo and Oswalt. My OF’s would be Kemp, Bruce, LoMo and Berkman (Rios on the wire). Hold?
@Oaktown Steve
Where they hit in the lineup doesn’t mean all that much to me in terms of projecting their ability. If Lee and Wallace have the same rates two months from now, they won’t be in the same spots in the lineup.
I’ll take LaRoche over Lee, but the semantic difference between “over a cliff” and “natural slowing” is marginal (re: Lee). He’s steadily declined for three years prior to this and he’s showing little indication that improvement is coming, if anything he’s the small sample indication is that he’s still getting worse. Maybe if he walked a bit or had a dash of speed there would be some fallback value, but its just not there. This isn’t the steriod era anymore, 35 is pretty damn old for a baseball player. A two category guy midway through his 30′s just isn’t viable in normal and shallow leagues unless he’s Adam Dunn or Ichiro good in his two categories.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m no big fan of Wallace. I just think the people screaming about how he’s been all BABIP are landing him in so overrated he’s underrated territory. His GB% is unsustainably high right now, which combined with a high LD% is contributing to his high BABIP. As those numbers normalize, he’s going to start hitting a few more balls in the air, so what he loses in AVG will be made up for in HR. 20% K% is roughly average (on fangraphs, where I disagree with how they measure K%, average this year is 20.9%. I much prefer to use PA which would give him an 18.1 K%, just feel the denominator for K% and BB% should be the same or they can be misleading).
I do think Lee will hit a few more HR than Wallace, in fairness, and we’re talking a pretty small difference between this whole group, but I won’t touch Lee until he shows some signs of a pulse first. BTW, since when is Wallace not playing every day?
As for your point about young players, I think its a bit overstated when we’re talking about wire pickups. I’ve grabbed Hosmer in almost every league where I got to him first, but he’s only starting so far in the deeper ones. There’s no one with a respectably proven track record available on the wire in those leagues. In the shallower leagues, he’ll sit on my bench until I know what I have, and even in those cases, the certainty with any waiver pickup is pretty limited. The sure bets get drafted. The only cases where I can imagine finding a truly valuable sure bet on the wire are speed only guys and medium power-low average guys, who are really specialists that, at least by how I tend to draft, are rarely necessary to my rosters except as short-term patches or end of week pickups in H2H leagues. Otherwise, the best your doing is finding guys who won’t hurt you. The only situations where I target guys like that are situations where I have a quality player have a short term injury and I just need someone to hold me over until he gets back, when I know I can drop the replacement.
A good analogy might be a poker tournament. Relying on middling but “proven” veterans is like getting to the last three tables and trying to fold your way to getting to the final table on a short stack for a likely 5th-9th place finish and guaranteed money. Gambling on and risking a smaller payday also gives you a much better chance at the biggest payday, which unless you play in massive leagues that payout a bunch of the top spots, is what you’re really looking for.
@Grey: ok, I gotcha there. Would it change your mind if I got him to throw in Kershaw?
OR what if it was Bruce (or Stanton)/Haren (Hommy) for Wright/and one of the following SPs: Gio, Bills, Norris, Beachy, D.Hudson, Pineda? Would that change anything, or avoid at all costs?
Thanks a lot! Always nice to get a 2nd opinion.
@AnotherFalstaff: Sounds fair for you.
@Wilsonian: Bruce or Stanton/Haren or Hommy is fine for Wright, but you’re giving the best player. You don’t need to give anyone else.
@bogbert: @Grey: Right, sorry about that. Adam Jones or Hosmer.
BTW, good dialogue, always appreciate such spirited debates. I appreciate your position and your commitment to it alone makes me question my own position, but this is how I’ve always had my success. Selection bias be damned, its easy to throw away a low cost bust, you just have to be willing to adjust on the fly and the damage is marginal enough so that the big hits more than wipe it away. Selection bias may be relevant in hindsight evaluation, but when projecting the future its always a question of playing the odds and working the potential outcomes and their likelihoods to your favor. In the end, risk averse and risk heavy tactics will typically yield similar results as long as they’re executed wisely and creatively. I’ve never had the right kind of patience for going risk averse once I’m done with the first 10 rounds of a draft, so perhaps its just the style that works best for me.
@Grey: I would then have to drop someone, though. So would you do it and have to drop one of these guys: Norris, Beachy, Pineda?
@bogbert: Jones
@Wilsonian: Then you can throw in any of them. Trade’s not great though. I’d trade Wright for Braun, Holliday, Cano, etc. straight up.
@Grey: yeah, not sure I like it too much, either. I liked it at first, but the more I look at it, the more I think I’m losing out. I’ve actually got an outstanding offer of Tulo for Wright, straight up. But I doubt he does that one.
I looked into a deal for Braun, but the guy has no OF right now. He’s playing Braun, Stubbs and Prado in the OF. He has Cruz on the DL. The guy that wants Wright also has Cano, but I think it would take a combo of Wright and Zorilla for Cano (and that’s assuming at best). And the guy who has Holliday is an STL uberfan. I think he uses a Matt Holliday FatHead as a comforter on his bed.
@Grey: So I think I resorted to offering Wright/Zobrist for Cano/Bruce. How does that look? I’m sure he’ll decline, but it’s all I can come up with.
@Wilsonian: Fathead — ha! Trade looks good for you, doubt he accepts it though.
@Grey: yeah, I doubt it, too. Good thing he’s a friend from law school so he knows I’m not just f-ing with him.
And that’s how I got me some Hamels/Lind action pre-season. I dealt Rasmus/E.Jax for them from the guy who loves STL. I totally played his love and it’s worked out so far, minus the whole back issue that Lind has recently come down with.
@AL KOHOLIC: BTW, nice showing on the RCL standings after a month.
@Wilsonian: Yeah, that’s a solid trade. Why do you have Longoria and Wright? Is this a keeper league?
If you had to start one:
Volquez @ HOU or McCarthy v. CWS
@EK: Volquez
Stauffer or Arrieta going fwd?
@EK: Stauffer
MLB.com reports that Braves SP Brandon Beachy will have his next start pushed back from Wednesday against the Nationals to Friday’s series opener against the Phillies. Atlanta had been waiting to see if Derek Lowe would be able to make his scheduled start after he dealt with a blister on his foot. Beachy is 1-1 with a 2.98 ERA in seven starts this season.
Sucks for those of us in weekly leagues…
@Grey: thanks,got a long way to go,and of course a real tough league but its a blast
@Grey: yeah, I robbed Wright from someone last year when he was struggling, so I had to keep him because it wasn’t like I had better options. We play two Utility bats, so I can always play both of them.
@herschel: Damn
@AL KOHOLIC: Things must be breaking right for you too.
@Wilsonian: Gotcha
@Mark: agreed…good conversation. Regarding line up position and ability definitely agree that they do not correlate, but line up position and production do. As you know, where they hit in the line up is largely based on qualitative (i.e. what the manager and GM believe). Lee and LaRoche will remain at clean up well past the time they should because baseball is by and large so conservative that way. Brett Wallace will NOT hit clean up this year barring him crushing his 90% projection. You have to factor that in.
I see more than a semantic difference in slow decline versus going off a cliff. If you basically see a continuation of the decline of the past few years, you can project production and in so doing evaluate when to make a move. If a guy reaches a period of radical decline you have to be ready to move him for sure right away. Again, I am not looking for upside of Lee. I’m looking for some reasonable percentage of last year’s production. But yep, it’s tough to always tell the difference between aging and aged. Again, I rely on some qualitative there. I watch the games, I listen to what people are saying about them. I look at the same numbers you do too and I try to roll it all up and make the best decision I can.
Re Wallace playing every day, I meant as opposed to Jones, who platoons. So might end up using a roster spot for a platoon partner. Could work depending on the league.
Your poker analogy makes me think we’re probably reading some of the same websites! Yes you are right about convexity of payout in most leagues. However, in most leagues you are also only competing against 11 other teams. If you want to win a massive fantasy league, with a huge payout, you have to adopt aggressive strategies. In a 12 team scenario you have less likelihood of a team that hits many jackpots (ie upside risks, rookies, breakouts, waiver, studs, injury risks that avoid injuries), whereas with 400+ teams like the big Razzball, you will have teams that do just that with aggressive strategies because there are so many iterations.
Finally, I would probably add that I am not risk averse. I do think even in a 12 team league you’ve got to know when to take some chances. I feel like it’s pretty early though to throw out proven performers. But then again, if I wait too long, it might be too late.
@Grey: they were,morrow alone dropped me a couple of points last night,no room for error
Really Correia? 4 ER given up with 2 outs in the 6th….just couldn’t get the QS could you, fucking asshole
@AL KOHOLIC: Gotcha…
@Mr2Bits: Cause Lucroy just hit into a two run double play.
Hey Grey.
Farnsworth or Frank Francisco?
Thanks
@fyodor: Farnsworth
@Grey: how you doing in your main leagues,im 2nd in the other rcl originals and me and im hurting in my keeper league
@Mr2Bits: lilly’s old ass just responded by giving up 2 runs…
Drop McLellan for Latos?
I’m trying to decide which MI to keep. I want to drop one of Hill, Alcides, Darwin and S. Sizemore.
I feel like the correct answer is Sizemore, but I also feel like Alcides hasn’t done much. 12 team obp and slg league.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Grey would you drop Liriano (or Latos) to pick up Travis Wood? It’s a 12 team, H2H, 5×5 league… FWIW my SPs are Lester, Verlander, Scherzer, Liriano, Latos, Lilly, Beachy, Norris
Chef Liriano is back at it…Gordon Ramsey would be proud.
@AL KOHOLIC: First in our CBS-sponsored league, terrible elsewhere. Surprisingly, CBS is the only league without Pedro Alvarez.
@knighttown: Sure
@Matt S.: Alcides
@Vince: Eh
@paulzone: Yup
Why is Heyward out of the game? Hurt, or just sucking?
@Steve: Must be hurt, they wouldn’t pull him otherwise.
hey grey, is there a link to find out how you guys are doing in the LABR league?
Hell of a game between the Marlins and the Phils. The game definitely lived up to the hype.
Which crappy 2B has more value from this point forward: Aaron Hill or Kelly Johnson?
@Grey:
Thinking of selling Berkman in a 16-team league.
Which side do you prefer?
Berkman/Magglio
for
Ike Davis/Nelson Cruz
if that is declined, is Ike Davis and Alexei Ramirez still the winning side?
@Cole: Don’t know if you can view it:
http://allstar.rotoworld.com/scb/lm/reports/leaguehome.asp?Sport=BB&Leaguenum=9592
If not, we’re waivering between 6th and 8th (out of 13).
@Eddy: Were you there?
@Wilson’s Beard: Johnson
@Eddy: Cruz… That other trade is fair.
Glad I didn’t play Liriano tonight. He managed his usual high walk totals and lack of K’s then left in the game. LAME.
Soto has a groin injury.
Yunel left the game after getting blasted in the leg by Lester.
Stupid players I drafted…
@Grey: Can’t view it :/
@Grey:
Unfortunately not; I was cheering from my couch.
Though I wasn’t too disappointed that I didn’t go. I did manage to attend the perfect game last year. It’s going to be hard to top that baseball moment in my life.
I remember coming on here detailing how many innings Halladay had gone with the perfect game, in hopes of ruining it! Razzball jinxes only work when you own the player, apparently.
Btw, do you still prefer the Ike Davis/ Alexei side?
yeah can’t see it
@Eddy:
Hmm, not so sure now. Ike Davis just suffered an ankle injury.
@Grey: Sheik is the king. I wonder who Obama would support if he battled the former ECW wrestler, The Shah. If he doesn’t get his act together, I’m going to make Supernatural humble by showing him to the waiver wire. Of course he cares whether or not he’s on my fantasy team.
Gaby Gaby Hey (like The Ramones). Good title for a rundown.
Praying for continued rain in Minny. Frankie, you’re killing me. I knew I should have traded him after the no-no. Also would love to see rain in Texas since I managed to leave Colby on the bench in RCL. I don’t even want to get into that joke of a team. I feel like Emmet Smith in the Just For Men commercial… “It’s baaaaaaad.”
Who wins this trade?
Carl Crawford and Justin Smoak for Krispie Young and Ryan Howard?
@SwaggerJackers: Ah…Oh, well.
@Eddy: Gotcha…Yeah, I’d wait to hear on the injury.
@3FingersBrown: Nice title suggestion. I’d make some of my entire fantasy teams humble. Wasn’t raining in Minny, it was hailing giant snowballs. Too bad they didn’t hit Morneau or Liriano. re: Smith — Ha! Did you watch the Mets game when Mex was looking at Wright’s swing and said he’s pulling out his palonka?
@Derrick: Howard
Stupid Fran Frank. Could have done with the Rauch vulture win there.
who would you pick up, peralta or espinosa?
walden and A. Escobar for Andrus. Too much?
@Cole: Espinosa
@Donnie Baseball: Not too much.
@Grey: Missed that Mex line. Dude never ceases to amaze me with his linguistic gymnastics. Love when he mispronounces Latin names (he called Chacin – Chakin last night) then scolds himself for his lousy Spanish.
Peep the groundskeeper that got trapped under the tarp in Denver!
Sonovabench! – Brantley with the slam and legs. Didn’t have Bernadina in the lineup either. One of those nights…
grey, 2 questions:
since jun1 is approaching, who do you think the best prospects worth stashing are? ive got a couple bench spots…
lawrie? or jacob turner? jarrod parker? jordan lyles? etc etc
also, does al alberquerue start getting some later inning work @ some point? dude gets NO holds or anything
@Grey: Kuroda or Beachy the rest of the way (4×4 Roto, no K’s)?
Thanks.
News/Analysis Headlines Preseason Outlook
Heyward being bothered by shoulder: Braves OF Jason Heyward was forced to leave Tuesday’s game agianst the Nationals in the eighth inning due to a sore right shoulder, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He said that the injury has been bothering him since spring training and caused him to feel numbness in his forearm. Heyward, who went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts before being replaced by Eric Hinske, is expected to undergo an MRI.
(Updated
@3FingersBrown: Mex is like a modern day Rizzuto. Makes up words and can’t wait to leave the booth to go home. He’s brilliant.
@the grate one: Al Albur..etc is good for Ks, that’s about it right now. Brown, Jennings, Lawrie, Duffy…
@Howie: Kuroda
@AL KOHOLIC: Thanks for the heads up!
I should have let one of my league mates “win” that race to pick up Fail Fail. You’d think owning him the entire 2010 season would have taught me a lesson, mais non.
Thanks Grey.
A nice 0 for 11 and counting for my combo of Reynolds and Hill.
Just re-read my posts and it kind of sounds like I was being sarcastic, and thanking you for me having Reynolds and Hill.
Was thanking you for answering a prior question and then whining about my team.
Just re-read my posts and it kind of sounds like I was being sarcastic, and thanking you for me having Reynolds and Hill.
Was thanking you for answering a prior question and then whining about my team.
@Grey: Yar! What’s wrong with Tabata and Alvarez? It’s a long season, but it’s not thaaaat long.
@Grey: is Phil Hughes worth the speculative add if I have Tue do spots to boot? I figure can’t lose, unless be comes back and does good one start and bad the next so on, so forth. let him be a headache for someone else? prob still six weeks away anyway…
wtf,ill take the great game from colby,but i expected a few k,s vs the A,s
@Donnie Baseball: I had Reynolds too – and a nice 0-5 from Youk to boot.
and League took the news well by promptly blowing the save
@Awesomus Maximus: Yeah, no kidding.
@Donnie Baseball: No worries.
@gmen: Hopefully they come around, btu I have my doubts with Alvarez.
@sal: Leave him alone.
@Wake Up: Yup
@Grey: Crankier than Scooter though. He doesn’t bother saying hello to any viewers or complementing anyone’s cannoli. I met him in a restaurant once, cool as hell.
Makes me want to reread “The Bad Guys Won.”
Last night they were discussing Orwell’s 1984. Tonight, Mad Magazine Spy vs Spy.
Drop Bay for Michael Brantley in a H2H-Points league?
@AL KOHOLIC: that’s what I was thinking. He’s looked good lately, hell, he had 11 Ks last time out in a loss. I can handle him getting 3 or 4, but 0 is friggin’ pathetic. If it wasn’t for the terrible outings from Marcum and Lester (at least no losses and one win) my K-rate would be awful.
Need an RF replacement in the ol’ H2H with Heyward hurt. Swish, Vlad and Torres the best available. Who ya like?
We count OBP as well as AVE…
@Steve: I’d go with Swish if I needed some pop, Torres for speed. Vlad doesn’t walk.
He’s been solid with the stick but what’s up with Bourjos not stealing? With him and Gardner, I should be consistently winning SB in my H2H league. Only guy getting steals on that team is the mighty Asdrubal!
Grey, I’m last in ERA and WHIP with a staff of Gallardo, Marcum, Latos, Gio, Morrow, Bills, Jurrjens.
Drop any for Kuroda, Hammel, Stauffer, Cueto? I’m guessing no, but thought I’d ask for the wisdom of the mustache. Thanks.
@3FingersBrown: Yeah, that is true.
@Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Eh
@Steve: Swish
@bogbert: I’d hold.
I’ve sure enjoyed having Trumbo in my AL-Only CI spot but I really need pitching and now with the Morales news maybe people will finally take the guy seriously as a trade piece. What AL SP’s would you target with Trumbo? The team with Morales has Morrow and I thought with his ugly era the owner might go for that… I’ve just asked anyway. What do you think of that or who would you target?
bah… he countered drabek or nova… boo. i’ll see what other teams have.