Dodgers Repay LaRoche For Trading Him To Pirates
September 29, 2009
Category: Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes
Yesterday, Andy LaRoche made a last ditch effort for some of his parents’ love. He went 5-for-5, with 2 homers, 4 Runs and 6 RBIs. He had his best month of the season in September and he’ll still be 26 next year. I might actually own Pirate players next year. Weird! BTW, the Pirates were playing in their final home game of the year in what has been a miserable decade season. With this last opportunity for the Pirates to give their fans something to cheer about, the 3rd base coach put the brakes on LaRoche as he rounded 2nd heading to third on a long double. Who cares right? LaRoche needed a triple for the cycle! Wait, it gets better. Zach Duke is cruising for the entire game. Runs into slight trouble in the 9th inning, but the Pirates have an 11-1 lead. So what does the manager do with two outs, the never fear-inducing Blake DeWitt at-bat and Duke dealing with a very reasonable 103 pitch count? He lifts Duke rather than let him get the complete game. The Pirates deserve contraction. /rant Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Hiroki Kuroda – 4 IP, 10 baserunners, 3 ER and 7 runs total. As he provided a Ticker Shock.
Garrett Jones – HR and steal yesterday as he went 2-for-5. On the season, he’s sitting at 21 homers and 10 steals with a .305 average. That’s in 292 at-bats. I think Robot Jones might officially be overrated next year, unless everyone thinks he’ll be overrated which could make him underrated or just rated. Hard to say. If I had to guess, I think people will assume he’s a fluke and he’ll go later than he should.
Josh Beckett – Scratched from his start vs. the Jays. I wouldn’t wait around to see if he starts again this season if you need starters. Chances are the Sawx throw him for only a few innings as a tuneup for the playoffs, if they throw him at all.
Brett Gardner – Gardner, Melky, Hinske, Shelley “I Will High Five You So Hard Your Momma Feels It” Duncan, Miranda-Something-Or-Other, Ramiro Pena and Cervelli. What is the Yankees lineup a day after clinching? Yes, that’s right. We would’ve also accepted, what the Yankees lineup would’ve l0oked like all year if they had the same injuries as the Mets? For fantasy baseball purposes, this isn’t great that your Yanks are sitting, but I don’t think Girardi is going to want them rusty so the regulars should see at least 4 games this week.
Jair Jurrjens – 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 Ks. With only one start left on the year, his ERA is 2.61. Zoinks! Of course, I’d love for him to strikeout more guys, but it’s hard to argue with his year. Of course, he’s no Wandwagon. But who is?
Anibal Sanchez – 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 walks and that’s why I wouldn’t ever start him.
John Danks – 9 IP, 1 ER, 7 Ks. Every time I think I’m done with Danks (last game 6 IP, 7 ER), he pulls me back in with a start like this. I’m warning you now, I’m going to like him again next year.
Cole Hamels – 6 2/3 IP, 6 ER. Damn you, Verducci Effect.
Miguel Tejada – 4-for-5 as he had his second 4 hit game in three days while batting over .500 in the last week. At 13 homers, 5 steals and a .313 average, he’s been one of the biggest surprises this year for me. Since those numbers aren’t that overwhelming, you can imagine how much I expected of him this year.
Gabe Kapler – HR yesterday. Now that’s how you break a fast.
Grant Balfour – Got the save yesterday because when the bottle stopped spinning it was pointing at him.
Ervin Santana – 9 IP, 0 ER, 2 Ks as the Angels win the West. Count on most of the Angels lineup sitting or phoning it in tomorrow. That’s a slight endorsement for the Rangers starter tomorrow, Feldman.
Edwin Encarnacion – 2-for-3, 3 Runs and a RBI when he was replaced by Millar. No word if he left because of a serious injury or just to emphasis how scary it is that I care what happened to him.
Colby Rasmus – This video was shot exactly 500 yards from Colby Rasmus. If you think that is bad, you should see the one for Chris Davis. It’s just a guy singing honkytonk at a Dallas bar and striking out with every woman he tries to serenade.
Tags: Andy LaRoche, Anibal Sanchez, Brett Gardner, Colby Rasmus, Cole Hamels, Edwin Encarnacion, Ervin Santana, Gabe Kapler, Garrett Jones, Grant Balfour, Hiroki Kuroda, Jair Jurrjens, John Danks, Josh Beckett, Miguel Tejada, Tommy Hunter
September 29th, 2009 at 1:30 am
“Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in. ” John Danks started in God Father? Guess, I have to go thru the credit one more time…
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:46 am
Colby Rasmus Girl STINKS!
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:12 am
I wanted to pick Kuroda up last week, saw his matchups, looked for him, he was already on the team that i’m playing in the finals…. first game went good, he got 14 runs of support, but since then, sooooooo glad i wasn’t able to pick him up…. BOMB BOMB BOMB!
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:13 am
jurjjens was a great 25th round pick, MONEY
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Behold a generous Josh Johnson gesture to his owners as he starts today, potentially becoming a two start pitcher this week (albeit the 2nd one @ Phili, hopefully versus the Allentown IronPigs). If you own both him & Hudson for tonight, you start’em both, right?
It is also noteworthy that if you get the scruffy beard going Grey, you may share a slight resemblance to Kaplan in addition to your common comedic prowess. Great wrap up! Not looking forward to the offseason.
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September 29th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Predictions for Robot Jones next year? I’m considering keeping him for next year on a 20 man league as I get to keep 20 players, and the alternatives for my last spots would be schmohawks like Jed Lowrie or Kaz Matsui
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:07 am
@ichirosan: how is that even a question? you gotta keep Robot Jones as one of 20 players!
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:30 am
@zombie: great question. I also happen to own Johnson and Huddy! Hopefully the Braves are playing meaningful baseball in 10/4 (so Hudson will start) … and of course thereafter.
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Think Buchholz is a good throw tonight vs Toronto?
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Also, do you like Garland @ SD tomorrow?
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I’m not even going to ask about Sudan Billingsley
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@Quintero: Guy behind the bar in the cannoli scene.
@Schlitzy: Yes, it does.
@Tony: Nice!
@zombie: I’d start them both.
@ichirosan: I’d keep Jones over those guys. His predictions will be less average and speed, around the same homers.
@stumanji: I would.
@stumanji: Eh, it’s all right. Depends if you really need a potential Win.
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September 29th, 2009 at 9:03 am
What do you think about Cahill’s start at the end of the week vs ANA? ANA might have scrubs playing now that they clinced the division title.
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@GTS: I like him tonight better, but it’s a decent start if you need to take risk.
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September 29th, 2009 at 9:28 am
@Grey: Do you like him better or Wade Davis vs NYY? I might drop one of these guys for serial killer – Rowland-Smith.
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@GTS: I like him for tonight, Davis for Sunday.
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September 29th, 2009 at 10:02 am
12 teams, H2H, 5×5
I’m playing in the Championship match-up… In which order would you rank those starters for tomorrow (I need Wins, then Ks) :
Wakefield vs Tor
Holland @ LAA
Morrow vs Oak
Richard vs LAD
Penny vs Ari
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@Vince: Richard, Penny, Morrow…
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September 29th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Thanks Grey!
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September 29th, 2009 at 10:39 am
@Grey: Of the starters that I am not going to start, I have 2 starts open for the week. But I have 4 potential starters. Which 2 would you recommend keeping?
W. Davis vs. BAL
J. Lackey vs. TEX
S. Feldman @ SEA (next start)
W. Davis vs. NYY (next start)
Thanks
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@TheGreatVeto: Keep Davis vs. Bal and Feldman.
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September 29th, 2009 at 11:46 am
No matter how the game turns out, Minnesota knows how to play the game. With 1st and 3rd and no outs in the bottom of the 3rd, a grounder to Punto who GOES HOME to cut off the run (instead of the DP). No runs scored that inning. I love baseball.
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@Simply Fred: Wow, could Nathan blow it?
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
@Grey: Not a chance!
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@Simply Fred: Nice to have at least one pennant race.
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
@Grey: Game on. Loving it. Atlanta still in it. Great time of year!
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@Simply Fred: My bad, you’re totally right. Forgot the Braves are making the run. Be great to have one race come down to the final day.
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
@Grey: Flirting with “Fucking Your Stepsister” with Verlander going tonight. Want to take the sacrifice just to even up that race, but ….
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@Simply Fred: Verlander’s a decent start every time out. Gotta run with him. I didn’t realize you’re a Twins fan. Are you in Minnesota?
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Cahill will be shut down after today’s start.
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@GTS: Thanks for the heads up!
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
In 2010, Granderson or CarGo? If he has a good year, imagine CarGo doing what Granderson usually does (20/20). But CarGo’s ceiling being higher than that in the future.
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
@Grey: Nah, am in Eugene, OR. That’s why I haunt you late at night.
Just a fan of what Gardenhire is able to get done with limited budget year after year. Appreciate the brand of ball.
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@peter: Grandy does what Grandy does and CarGo can do what Grandy does. So he comes with more risk. I like CarGo a lot for 2010, but I’d draft/keep CarGo after Grandy.
@Simply Fred: Ah… Oregon. Gotcha. An ex-girlfriend went to Oregon and returned with a Oregon Ducks hat for me. I swear 75% of the time I wore it people would ask me if I smoked weed. No matter where I was. “Don’t the bride and groom make a lovely… Wait a second, is that a Ducks hat? You must smoke weed!” Oregon obviously equals weed. Never understood that, but I guess because I’ve never been there.
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
@Grey: Eugene is “Hippy Town.” A throwback to the 60s. Still Tie-Dyed T’s abound. Had my share of funny brownies in the early years, but alas, am an alcoholic and had to give up all that stuff 25+ years ago.
BTW: I used to remind everyone that we are the “fighting” ducks. Am finding myself leaving that out of the discussion this season.
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@Simply Fred: I’m an alcoholic three days a year. I drink (about once every four months) then wake up the next day vowing never to drink again.
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
@Grey: I think the U. of Oregon/weed connection may mostly be based on the fact that the Ducks call Eugene home. My AWESOME punk band played a show there in 1995, and within 30 seconds of exiting the van upon our arrival, a dude mumbled “killer bud” while walking by me. I was like, “speak up! and quit slouching!”
Just to make sure that wearing a Ducks hat isn’t actually some code for “I smoke weed!” I googled “oregon ducks marijuana” and the third hit was: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lots+of+weed. Scroll down for the Ducks reference.
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
@Grey: Not sure that lives up to the definition. Just think if you did that every day! Back to ball.
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@royce!: Quit slouching – ha! If only the Urbandictionary existed when I used to smoke weed. I would’ve spent a lot of time on that site. And at Doritos.com.
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
@royce!: Yup.
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
@Grey: Wow, I think you might have been kidding, but doritos.com seems like it might be pretty cool to explore for a bit… I wasn’t ready to “take snacking to a higher level,” though, so I had to depart. I like snacking just how it is!
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@royce!: Snack strong!
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
@Grey: If you guys don’t here from me for a while, it’s because we’ve been swamped by a tsunami.
Big quake off American Samoa, but wave only supposed to be a metre high by the time it gets here.
Film at 11.
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@Steve: I heard about that. Didn’t know NZ was effected. Hope you’re okay.
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
@Grey: Yeah – fine.
People in a couple of low-lying areas near to the coast are being told to get to higher ground, but it’s all going to be fairly minimal I’d say.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Trying to blow as far as possible past my innings limit tomorrow. I’ve got Vazquez going, and I can run four more starters out there. Every category is pretty tight.
So which four do you like best:
Nolasco @Atl
Joba vs. KC
Pavano @Det
Shields vs. Bal
Arroyo vs. StL
Smoltz @Cin
or I guess even Penny, Morrow, Richard, Garland?
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@Steve: Let us know how it goes down there. I’m assuming at worst you’ll have some flooding, right?
@Gubbins: Shields, Arroyo, Richard and Penny.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Where do you see Votto going in next season’s rankings?
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
@Grey: Looks like there’s going to be little, if any, impact. Some reports that people have seen water receding ahead of a wave arriving, but that’s likely to be a metre high at the worst.
Probably won’t even cause any flooding. Things sound pretty terrible in Samoa and American Samoa, though.
Elsewhere, even though I only have one start left, I get stats for all starters I throw on a given day, right?
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@vinko: Top 10 in the 1st basemen, top 80 overall.
@Steve: That’s good news for you. Yeah, throw as many starters as you can on the day you go over your limit.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
@Grey: Ah. Bit of roto rookie ignorance on my part, there. That being so, please pick 5 from:
Weaver v Texas
Holland @ Angels
Shields v Baltimore
Carmona v Sox
Penny v Dbacks
Pavano @ Tigers
Lannan v Mets
Richard v Dodgers
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@Steve: Penny, Richard, Shields, Pavano and Weaver, not in that order.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
@Grey: It’s a motley collection, whichever order you put ‘em in.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
@Grey: Thanks!
It’s a motley collection, whichever order you put ‘em in.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
@Grey: Second comment with added manners.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Who’s going to do the least damage to my ERA/WHIP? Don’t care about Ks, just hoping for a win.
Shields v. BAL
Smoltz @ CIN
Garland @ SD
Shields has been looking really shaky lately. Kinda surprised to see you touting him. Over 5ER in last several starts against weak teams like Texas, Toronto, Detroit. Or are you focusing more on his last couple starts vs. BAL? But I will do whatever Master Grey suggests, as I am the ever-so-grateful pupil. Thanks in advance.
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@Steve: Hehe, it is.
@Razzin: I’m not touting him. I’m suggesting him over John Lannan. He also has a .71 ERA vs. the Orioles this year. I’d go with him in your case example too.
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
@Grey: Would Lannan be your 6th there?
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@Steve: Yeah
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
@Simply Fred: @Grey: Thanks, Grey. And, Simply Fred, I’m about to move to Oregon, myself. I’m going to Portland – home of the Beavers. Maybe I’ll send Grey a Beavers hat. You’ll get way more attention with a Beavers hat than a Ducks hat. Because the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind when they see the big old hairy Beavers logo is, obviously, “The Padres have a AAA team???”
Yes, they do. It’s where all of Grey’s 2nd half pitchers play for the 1st half of the season.
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
@peter: Well, don’t know if we will cede Portland to the beavers, since they home in Corvallis. Glad to have you in Oregon, regardless. Interesting note, Eugene is home to the Padres AA team, Eugene Emeralds.@Steve: Glad to hear you are going to be safe (and dry).
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
@peter: Oh, my bad. There is such a Beaver/Duck rivalry it escaped me that of course you were referencing the baseball Beavers. My daily dumb.
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
@Simply Fred: No matter, I heard the Beavers are about to leave Portland for… Beaverton. (<– invitation for everyone outside of Oregon to laugh.) Which saddens me because 1) it means I won't have baseball team in my new city and 2) it's one of the oldest teams in the country – founded in 1901, and a founding member of the Pacific Coast League in 1903 – and I hate to see them leave Portland for the 'burbs.
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I’m getting roofied by Wade Davis.
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September 29th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
@Grey: Have been trying to find justification for not jumping on your support for Hill and Lind for 2010. Something like lack of SBs. Or, yesterday’s post about how many of Hill’s HRs just barely clear the fences. BUT, they just keep jackin’ ‘em.
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September 29th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
@Simply Fred: No matter, I hear the Beavers are moving to Beaverton. (<– invitation for non-Oregonians to laugh) Which saddens me because 1) it means there won't be a baseball team in my new city and 2) one of the oldest teams in the country – founded in 1901 and a charter member of the Pacific Coast League in 1903 – is moving to the 'burbs.
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September 29th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
@Simply Fred: Quentin was the same way this year (last year they said he had a bunch of “barely enough” home runs)… but he is also injury prone.
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@peter: Ha!
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September 29th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Bleccch. Thought Duensing and Buchholz were decent options today in the ol’ keeper.
At least we count GS as a stat I suppose.
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@Steve: I thought so too.
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September 29th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Guess I should’ve picked up Bruce!
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September 29th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
@struggler: His matchups looked good this week to me. Have him in!
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September 29th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Yeah they do look good. Just picked him up and dropped
Stubbs. Only 3 moves left!
I assume Nolasco and Smoltz make their last starts on Wednesday?
Going to lose them for Bailey and Correia.
Leaving me with 1 move…This is scary.
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@struggler: That would be their last starts, yup.
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Peavy pushed from Wednesday’s start against Twins to Friday against Tigers. Collusion?
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I have Arroyo vs STL, Pavano @ DET, Nolasco @ ATL, and Pedro vs. HOU starting tomorrow. Should I start Padilla instead of one of them and what do u think of each start?
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
or do you like clayton richard vs. SD more then some of those spot starts
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@Simply Fred: Hmmm… Suspicious.
@Martin: Padilla was bumped, he’s not starting. I wouldn’t mess with Nolasco tomorrow, unless you really need Ks and can afford a blow up. I’d consider benching Pavano too, depending on the situation.
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@Martin: I like Richard.
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
12 teams, H2H, 5×5
I asked for tomorrow starters above, now in which order would you rank those starters for Friday (I need Wins, then Ks and I will probably pick up 4 of them) :
Liriano vs KC
Maine vs Hou
Correia vs SF
McCarthy @ Sea
McCutchen @ Cin
Maloney vs Pit
West @ Phi
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@Vince: Correia, McCutchen, McCarthy and Maine…
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September 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
@grey- i am confortably behind in ERA, WHIP, K/BB for my finals week. If I can win Wins, Losses, K’s add a bunch of hitting, I will be able to win the week. With that in mind who would u start?
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
http://espn.go.com/mlb/features/cyyoung
CY YOUNG PREDICTOR
the only quirk is how it doesnt know how to rank relievers. These rankings are subject to chance.
P.s. GO GRIENKE
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
@struggler: @Grey: Shout out to Grey. He constantly preaches “ride the hot hand.” Hadn’t been a central part of my strategy.
RE: Bruce. Guess what? He hit two dingers this weekend. Looked to be heating up. Caused me to look ahead at matchups (something I have done for some time). He looked good. Maybe he got lucky tonight and doesn’t stay hot. But, thankful tonight that it worked out. Point is, with Bruce’s track record (or lack thereof) this season, I would previously have overlooked him. Thanks, Grey!
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Jason Kendall?
WTF?
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
EverCab just pulled a hell of a double play. What a tool.
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Roofied by Cahill.
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@Martin: How many guys can you start?
@Simply Fred: No problem.
@Steve: Hehe
@Tom: Ha!
@GTS: Ugh.
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September 29th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Is 2nd place in the Cy Young voting that important to Seattle that they needed to let Felix walk the bases loaded in the 8th? He threw 120 pitches! He’s going to be useless next year.
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September 29th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
@Grey:
need nolasco to have a quality start vs vazquez tomorrow ,
with a whip under 1.30
considering how important this game is for the braves , and javier’s strong last month ,
do i have any chance in hell ,
or is nolasco more likely to put up a stinker ??
thanking you , in advance , for your thoughts on this matter .
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@struggler: Yeah, was probably unnecessary.
@big o: I don’t trust Nolasco tomorrow.
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