1. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Friday night’s game against the Orioles has been postponed and would be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday.

2. If Toronto was in the NL, they would’ve been a playoff team every year since 2006 including last year. – Bitter Jays fan

3. Portmanteau, I love it.

4. I still like Wade Davis as a 5th or 6th starter…plenty of run support for sure.

5. Aramis Ramirez as a buy?

   I’m Baron Von Vulturewins and I approve this message.

   In fact, I put my Slowey where my mouth is (eww) and traded Screw-Wrist for Aramis, who I’ve owned in at least four (4) previous seasons. Not to my fellow lo-ballas: Aramis’ owner couldn’t wait to unload him. Now get out there and start lo-ballin’!

   Jokes, as rated by Marv Albert catchphrases:

   “Pitchy” — Yes!

   “I’ll buy that for a FAAB dollar” — Grey for three — and it counts!

   “even if he stayed at a Renaissance Hotel last night.” — And Pat Riley wants to — talk it over!

6. @Kazmere: Bring back the dome!

   @Tom Emanski: True

   @Elijah: Hehe

7. @Tom Emanski:

   Yeah, unlike the Orioles, I feel bad for the Jays lately, they deserve better. The Snorioles however, would suck in any league.

8. @Baron Von Vulturewins: Ha!

9. Weekend question. I know I should play all these guys, but need to slow down on my innings. Grey, which 1 or 2 are the LEAST attractive options?
   Lester NYY
   Hamels ATL
   Oswalt SD
   Peavy TOR

10. ok guys, big help needed! 6×6 (ops, holds)
    my roster:

    c – soto
    1b – pujols
    2b – kelly johnson
    3b – freese/beckham/j. lopez
    ss – alex gonzalez
    of – crawford
    of – lind
    of – quentin
    util – votto
    util – bruce
    bn – cruz (dl)
    dl – granderson
    dl – rollins

    liriano
    dempster
    nolasco
    hudson
    wandy
    ervin santana
    romero
    buchholz
    anderson (dl)
    rp’s: Rodney, Franklin, Lidge

    the offer I just got is J Upside/Dotel/Pennington (drop after trade) for Kelly Johnson/Alex Gonzalez/Franklin

    I think I could get Andrus after, or Aviles for my SS… or Castro if he doesn’t play like the SanFran district.

    thanks so much, guys!

11. Understatement of the year for the Dbacks in the newspaper: “Arizona Diamondbacks’ bullpen stirs questions”. Questions, its more like a freakin disaster site, the only question left is what to do about it. A 6.61 bullpen ERA is, well, scarzy.

12. Minnesota/Baltimore game PPD today! get your guys out of there!

13. hey grey starling castro or alcides escobar? thanks!!

14. What order would these guys rank in for the rest of the year:

    Grady Sizemore, Am-Ram, Bruce, Rasmus, Quentin, Stewart

15. @and1mcgee: Did you not read my response in the other thread!?!?!??!!!

    Get Upside!

    Take a trip Upto(w)n!

    Jump Up(ton) for My Love!

    Justin Upton is better than all the other players in that trade combined and I am not even kidding.

16. @and1mcgee: I think I can do Crawford for Zimmerman after the trade. Then I’d do Aviles or Castro or trade for Andrus (losing speed with Crawford’s departure.)

17. @Baron Von Vulturewins: sorry, i moved over here :]

18. @and1mcgee:

    This would be a good day to have bench hitters..oh well.

19. @Grey – Will I win a game? I’m fourth in pts (out of 10) but I am 0-4 for the season. Everyone tees off on my arse. My team:

    C – McCann
    1 – Votto
    2 – Phillips
    3 – Wright
    SS – Tejada
    OF – J. Upton, C. Crawford, McCutchen, Cargo
    U – Vlad

    SP – Felix, Verlander, Lester, Nolasco, Baker, Slowey, C. Lewis, W. Davis
    RP – Valverde and Feliz

    Anyone you would move?

    “charge it to the Underhills”

20. Grey, is Morales done? Street is due back and Corpas is breathing down his neck.

21. @grey- could u rank those pitchers you mentioned in your buy category? How would they compare with cueto?

22. @Grey:

    Sit or Start Pelfrey tonite? Im thinking sit, the “Touchy Feely” session is leaving me leery.

23. @and1mcgee: thanks for everyone’s help.

24. also, is zambrano worth a WW pickup. I can drop either cecil or sheets for the zambino. thanks!

25. Hi Grey — I’m glad you brought up Takahashi … I have two MR for hep with rations, Ks, vulture wins, etc.: Gregerson and Clay Hensley. Would you pick up Takahashi at the expense of one of those two? Or are we talking about such small differences that it’s not worth making a change?

26. @Grey please rank:

    Degree
    Old Spice
    Right Guard
    Baby powder
    al natural

27. ratios … no rations.

28. Grey and others, what are your thoughts on Snider’s recent play. I was surprised he didn’t make this week’s “BUY”.

    Also, drop Jose Guillen for Snider or JD Drew in a 10 TM, H2H?

29. @johnson21: no.

30. I’ve got a weird question about fantasy baseball managing.

    I’m going on a 2 week vacation that will offer only sporadic-at-best internet access. Assuming I leave all my RP/closers in (Marmol, Nunez, Soriano + Joba), that leave 4 pitchers spots for 6 starters:

    Nolasco, Kershaw, Slowey, Baker, Price, and Hughes

    Now, I could go day by day ahead of time and try to get all the starts for everyone. Or, I could just pick 4 and bench 2. I was thinking about benching the Twins twins, but Kershaw’s got me worried…if he gets destroyed in his next start, I’d definitely want him benched until I see him right the ship. And of course, if he’s decent or better in his next start, I’d hate to lose those starts to my bench.

    I know there’s no perfect solution to being unable to access your team for 2 weeks, but I’m curious how others approach a situation like this.

    Thoughts?

31. @Mark Geoffriau: mo’ money, mo’ problems.

    You’re going to have to lose starts, or have a trusted friend manage your team for two weeks.

32. Hey Grey

    im in a 12 team mixed h2h league

    who should i start

    DH – vlad or butler
    C – Olivio or Napoli

33. @Kazmere: Peavy and Hamels, in that order.

    @and1mcgee: I agree with the Baron. (Is “the” capitalized there?)

    @Elijah: Ha

    @johnson21: Castro

    @Dr. Orlando Schadenfreude: Grady Bruce, Rasmus, Stewart, Aramis, Quentin…

    @Fletch: Underhills – Ha! Your pitching looks more than solid, which could be the issue. You don’t need F-Her and Verlander. Trade either one for Tulo.

    @Bostonbeerman: Just about done. Don’t drop him yet unless you have a very shallow league and there’s someone you have to pick up.

    @Martin: Kennedy, Olsen, LeBlanc (at home) Cecil, Medlen, Cueto…

    @Elijah: I’d sit him, not worth the ulcer.

    @johnson21: Eh

    @Enrique: Eh, you’re fine.

    @and1mcgee: I’m a Suave man. And don’t try to convince me it’s for girls. When have you ever heard a girl described as suave? Case closed.

    @Shane: Can’t mention everyone… Grab Snider.

    @Mark Geoffriau: I’d go day by day.

    @Tom: Vlad and Napoli

34. @Tom: Vlad and Nap.

35. Drop Alcides Escobar for Starlin Castro? I need speed and Escobar has 0 SB

36. @Combo: Yup

37. so if i hypothetically did give up my dead grandmother’s broach to get aramis, how would you recommend proceeding?

38. Oops, see you already answered someone else’s same q, go Castro

39. @Critter Nagurski: Get it appraised first, may not be as bad as it looks.

40. Thanks Grey, I’m going out to buy a daiquiri! Would you start Beckett tonight against the Yankees at Fenway?

41. @Grey: so, Aviles for average, Castro for SBs. got it :]

42. @Grey – just about everyone in your buy list is available to me. I picked up Andruw Jones earlier this week to plug my OF spot due to Grandy’s injury.

    I was hoping Quentin would turn it around by now so I could find a utility player in place of Andruw Jones, but that hasn’t happened. Anyway, do you like Mike Aviles, J.D. Drew, Fred Lewis, and Kila Ka’aihue more than Andruw?

43. @Howard: I would.

    @William: I don’t like them more. I’d trade Jones for a different piece. Say a starter then grab Drew.

44. @and1mcgee: They really need a domed stadium in Minnesota.

45. As a faithful aramis owner for the past 4 yrs I am officially spooked. His K rate is ABSURD right now. He’s known as a low K-batter and yet he has almost as many Ks in April as he does most SEASONS! I am a little worried of either an injury or old age screwing up his timing and swing. Not to mention hes worth pennies on the dollar now so hes not even worth dealing. And to think I kept Aramis over Ubaldo, blah.

46. Gallardo or Shields the rest of the year?

47. @Fletch: Yovani

48. Starlin or EverCab for the rest of the season?

49. Would you trade beckham for Carlos Quentin, im thin at OF? or should I package Beckham & Buchholz for Jay Bruce + Nick Johnson?

50. Freese/Leake/Rasmus

    for

    Kershaw/D. Lee

    I don’t really like giving up two of my more solid hitters here in a deep NL-Only league. Rasmus is my 4th outfielder but is playing like my 2nd, with better production than Carlos Lee. Do you think D. Lee and Kershaw will come around?

51. Alright Grey I took your advice and I’m about to offer King Felix and Tejada for Yovani and Tulo…good trade for me?

52. @Telemachus: Starlin

    @Motley Lou: Grab Bruce if you can. I would take Quentin over Beckham though too.

    @Phightins#1: Kershaw and Lee both came around last year.

53. @Fletch: Yup

54. Anyone starting Latos @ HOU? I know the rule is to start him only at home, but the Astros aren’t that fearful are they?

55. D. Lowe for Corpas?

56. Wow Castro over Alcides. You finally gave up on him.

57. @Grey: “And welcome all the gardeners who Googled, Bushwhackers + hedging.” Ha!

    I hope your right on Starlin’s 60/3/40/.290/27 line. But, 27 steals from a guy that’s stolen 4 this year and been caught 5 times in AA (and a sub-70% career steals rate in the minors) might be a bit steep. I hope I’m wrong.

    On that note, anyone know of research that determines at what point steals % is productive/unproductive?

58. @Grey: Off the top of your head, who would you say is the top 2 MR’s that are SP/RP qualified? I need help with my ratios bad and not sure where to look for SP/RP qualified guys. We have 5 SPs and 3 RPs and the grandmaster plan is to throw a good MR in there to help the ratios and vulturewins. Noone else in my league is doing this as I can tell. Just lookin for some names to scope out. Thanks as always.

59. Pavano, Zito, Penny, Garcia for Wins only rest of the way?

60. I have Yunel and Erick Aybar at SS on a team. Any chance Castro outperforms them the rest of the year?

61. @Grey: Castro’s upside vs my need for Avile’s AVG in a keeper league? Which wins?

62. @Enrique: Astros are about the only team I’d start him against away, but I still wouldn’t risk it at this juncture outside of dire need to in H2H leagues.

    @Mr. Rickey: Sure

    @Donnie Baseball: They’re probably tomato-tomahto, but go for the promise of the unknown.

    @Dad: Not sure I follow the question.

    @timSTi: No idea, need some names available. Castro over Aviles.

    @Jake: No one can predict wins, flip a coin in the air.

    @NukeLaDouche: Sure

63. @Dad:
    Do you mean at what % of caught stealing does it become counter-productive to even try.

64. @Dad:

    Oh, and I agree with you, I don’t think he gets to 27 steals.

65. The Fister Conundrum is a toughie. The guy leads the AL in ERA and WHiP, and by a pretty nice margin. He leads MLB in WHiP.

    So I don’t drop him. My league-mates won’t give me a fun-sized Butterfinger for him. And I don’t really want to start him against the Angels.

    But I will. I know it, you know it, the guy next door knows it.

    I will not be pretty.

66. @Dad: @Donnie Baseball: If I recall, the break-even point is around 80%. Less than 80% success is actually taking runs off the board, more than 80% adds run expectation. Could be wrong on that.

67. Freese or Beltre the rest of the year at 3rd? Also, trade Harden for Robot Jones? Harden is on my bench and my OF is Manny, V Wells, Abreu and Bruce. Thanks!

68. @Mark Geoffriau:

    thanks, sounds about right.

69. As for me, I’m holding Alcides over Castro for a few reasons.

    (1) Alcides at least has a minor league history of SB success, not just leg speed.
    (2) I just wasted a waiver pickup on Alcides and my pride prevents me from dropping him a day later.
    (3) Castro isn’t in the Yahoo database yet and probably won’t be off waivers before I leave the country on Sunday.

70. Question for Grey and the congregation:

    Stick with the pedestrian Gaby Sanchez or take a flier on Kila Monster?

    16 team H2H points league.

    Sanchez is just bench depth for me right now. I already have Votto at first and Rolen/Freese at my two UT spots. I also have Fowler and Rajai on my bench who could be dropped.

71. That was a weird typo. It’s true, though… I’ll never be pretty.

72. how about dropping EY jr. for Castro, I think he’s going back down soon. When Hawpe returns.

73. @Grey: It wasn’t really directed at you per-se and it looks like Mark might’ve chimed in.

    Obviously if you steal bases with a 40% success rate, you should not attempt steals. If you steal at a 92% rate, you should probably run when you find a good opportunity. I just wasn’t sure if there was any sabermetric study on where the breaking point is in terms of adding runs via the steal vs. hurting run production.

74. for a MI slot, EYoung Jr., or Castro??

75. @Grey: On point as always. Since I’ve been out lately, I didn’t realize Medlen was starting.

    I love Medlin’s peripherals and picked him up when he got the call last year. A bit early there, but now our love affair continues… Just dropped Sunglasses At Night for the kid. Not going to feed him to The Phils though. After Garland’s start tomorrow, I’ll dump Garland for any number of decent OF options available, probably Schierholtz.

    Takahashi and Clippard have been K machines. I’ve got Tak in 15 team. Takahashi’s stuff is ridonkulous, considering he rarely hits 90 on the gun. Filthy Split. He’s a converted starter who’s capable of throwing a lot of relief innings regularly. Kinda reminds of a good Darren Oliver.

    The TTO potential of Kila gets me all tingly feeling. His MiLB BB/K rates are a thing of beauty. I’ve never seen him play, but he must be an absolute butcher in the field if the Royals haven’t been able to find a place for his bat.

76. Not sure why nobody believes in Ervin Santana, only owned in 20% of espn leagues, im happy to own him in my pitching obsessed league, However if I can get Ellsbury for him id be a fool not to accept right?

77. @Jake: I’d look for the best offense among the options (probably St. Louis) and then the best option you have on that team (probably Garcia). But even then you are far from sure … all things being equal each of the 4 guys has a 25% chance of ending up with the most wins. I’d guess that Garcia may have a 35% chance of ending up with the most wins.

78. @timSTi Guys that I’ve had some success with: Clippard is the nuts!, Thornton, Villaneuva, Rodney, Joba.

79. @Donnie Baseball: Bah… put this in the last post, but I wanted you to read it, Donnie.

    —–

    HoF balloting rules state, “Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.”

    I’ve read seemingly compelling arguments against Mattingly’s inclusion from people who only factor in “contributions” (he was a major contributor for 4 seasons, not so much outside of that), but never one that factored in the other five areas. More to the point… if Don Mattingly doesn’t pass muster based on all six areas of evaluation, I don’t know of many players that do.

80. @Dad: Sheehan references 75% as the flat break-even point. I thought it was 80%. But ultimately, as Sheehan points out, simplifying the run expectancy down to just the flat success rate doesn’t really tell the whole story. The run expectancy depends too heavily on the details of the situation (game score, the batter, how many outs, and which base is being stolen) to really be reliably expressed just in terms of the success rate.

    http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2607

81. @Grey: A few SP/RP names out there for ratio help: Joba, Stauffer, Duensing, Nieve. As I said, the only MR that is owned in my league is Bard due to us all being Bostonians. I’m doing TERRIBLE in WHIP and ERA. As in a 4.67 and a 1.49 *eek*. Could use the help and have the bench room.

82. @Donnie Baseball: Yep, exactly. @Mark Geoffriau: Thanks Mark.

    @Dad: My point is that a guy who steals just under 70% in the minors (Castro) is not likely to get to even 20 steals after missing over a month of the season with a success ratio like that.

    Again, i’m a Cub fan and i hope i’m wrong. Hopefully he’s learning the craft since stolen bases isn’t just about pure speed. Werth is a decent example.

83. @Howard: Thanks but besides Joba they’re all only RP qualified in my league. We have 5 SP spots and 3 RP spots. Kinda makes throwing in an MR tricky. But does boost a guy like Simon who is closing and has SP eligibity. I keep a big eye out for guys like this as my league isn’t too keen on it.

84. Interesting Comparison: Ty Wigginton, Rod Barajas and Kelly Johnson have as many homers combined as AROD (2), Reyes (0), the Vegan Prince (3), Tex-Message (2), Tulo (1), Mauer (1), Kinsler (0), G.Sizemore (0), Ichiro (0), Ellsbury (0), Rollo (1), V-Mart (2), McCann (2), Zobrist (0), B Roberts (0), Aaron Hill (2), A-RAM (2),Bay (1),Markakis (2)Figgins (0), Carlos Lee (1), Span (1), Michael Young (2)and Grandy (2) put together. All of these batters are rated in the top 60 position players in Yahoo. K-Jo had an initial Y! rating of 892, Wiggy is 729, and Barajas is 827.

    Cust Kayin’

85. @Awesomus Maximus:

    great post. only the greats get names like Teddy “ballgame”, Donnie “baseball”. sometimes you have to look past the numbers.

    Anybody that saw him play regularly can tell you he deserves to be in.

86. @Grey: /all: pick one tonight..

    Pence vs. Latos, Showtime Dex vs. Kuroda or The hammer vs. Volstad?

    I was thinking of going with Dex since Pence cant get a hit bc his pants are up so high he cant pivot without pinching his texas aggies and the hammer is a .167 hitter against Volstad…

87. @timSTi: Joba, Simon, Contreras fit your criteria. I have no idea how deep your league is, though. All three of those guys could be long-since owned.

88. @joecoz: Beltre… Doesn’t look like you need Robot.

    @ProBeez: Sanchez for now.

    @uncdrew: Hehe

    @Donnie Baseball: Sure

    @Bring Back Pluto: Castro

    @3FingersBrown: Yup and yup.

    @Motley Lou: Accept

    @timSTi: In the order you have them.

    @Paulie Allnuts: That is interesting. And upsetting.

89. @Paulie Allnuts: wow, great summary to put it in perspective. You forgot Bonds (0).

90. @Sal: Ha on Pence. Sure, Dexter.

91. @Awesomus Maximus: I grew up watching Donny Baseball and loved him even though he played for the other NY team. I don’t however believe his career is HOF worthy. Donny’s bad back prevented him from putting up the numbers that would make him a shoe in for the Hall.

    I’d be quicker to vote Keith Hernandez into the HOF.

    Aside from his proclivity towards Colombian marching powder (and since when did drug use preclude HOF entry? I bet half the hall popped Greenies), he embodied everything you could ever want from a ballplayer and more. Maybe his numbers weren’t as gaudy and he wasn’t a slugger, but he might have been the best fielding firstbagger ever, not to mention a solid hitter, the leader of two championship teams and possibly one of the smartest baseball minds of his day.

    FWIW, Shame on The Mets for not retiring 16, 17 and 18

92. @Grey: Yup as in Kila has hands like Roberto Duran?

93. @3FingersBrown:

    Boo!

    K. Hernandez???

94. @Grey:

    No opinion on Sit/Start Pelfrey? Im guessing the ha meant you agreed on the sit or?

95. @3FingersBrown: Ha… Yeah

    @Elijah: I answered, 2nd @Elijah

96. 14 team league where I am currently in first. Been offered pence for my aaaardsma. Pence would replace mcclouth in my lineup.this would leave capps as my only full time closer (mike gonz on the DL) and joba and corpas (holds count). Not sure this is a great deal for me.

97. @schlitz: did you pick up Simon for SAGNOF?

98. Guys – Matt Cain for Kelly Johnson? I need pitching and I have Kinsler and Phillips at my 2B/MI. This is a no brainer right? I read something on Cain about FIP or something recently?

99. hey great stuff, Grey! I really love the site.

    You mentioned A-Ram’s BABIP. I’d like to research other players around the league. Where can I find this statistic?

100. @Grey:

     Ah double @, missed it thanks again. Oh and while Im at it thanks for Headley and Denard Dawg and Filthy Sanchez and Bell and Aardsma, CJ Wilson, Smoak, and any other sleepers you hooked me up with that I’m forgetting to mention! I still have ADD sometimes (yes I spent hours researching Headley on Fangraphs but Im sure it was your idea I just forgot somewhere along the way), but I’m soaking most of your cornucopia of fantasy baseball goodness.

101. @schlitz: Eh

     @GTS: I’d take Cain.

     @Jah: Thanks! Fangraphs… It’s in the right sidebar.

102. @Elijah: Emoticon. No problem.

103. @and1mcgee: Ha! Maybe LaRussa will activate Big Mac..

     @3FingersBrown: @Donnie Baseball: @Awesomus Maximus:

     Keith Hernandez was a very good player and terrific fielder; maybe second to Hal Chase in baseball history in that regard. But he can’t compare with Donny Baseball:

     During his career, Mattingly had 9 Gold Gloves, led the league in Hits twice (’84, ’86), Doubles three times (’84, ’85, ’86), RBI once (’85), Slugging once (’86), OPS once (’86), and Total Bases twice (’85, ’86). He also had seven All-Star appearances. During 1984-87, he won one MVP and finished 2nd, 5th, and 7th in the voting. In 1987 Mattingly tied Dale Long’s major league record consecutive-games-with-a-home run with eight and also set the standard for most grand slams in a single season with six. His lifetime stats are comparable to Kirby Puckett; actually a bit better. Kirby’s career was also shortened by injury, but this didn’t prevent him getting into the Hall. Actually, there are quite a few Famers who had shortened careers, or short periods of brilliance. These included Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, George Sisler, Dizzy Dean, and Ralph Kiner. Mattingly was arguably the best player in baseball for a five year period. I don’t know of any ballplayer who was the greatest offensive player in the game for that length of time who is not in the Hall. Bill James has Mattingly rated as the 12th greatest 1st baseman of all time; there are at least 5 Famers rated under him.

104. Grey, to get Aramis, is giving two of Freese, Headley Lamarr, Adam Laroche, or Smoak too much? Should I try to go 1 for 1?

     Or should I stick with what I got?

105. Chris Perez or Fernando Rodney?

     I’ve got two closers in Wagner and Feliz, just wondering who I should roll with for speculative saves, and ratios?

     Also BECKHAM is killing me, I have such high hopes for him as well.

106. Do you guys think this looks like a chump dump or is it a halfway decent offer?

     Bay, Andruw Jones, Weeks, Hughes, and K-Rod

     for

     N. Cruz, Greinke, and Wagner?

107. Hey Grey,
     I’ve been offered A-Roid and Jenks, for Zimmer and Papelbon. I’m ready to pull the trigger. Should I go for it or should I get more/give less?

108. @agarthered:

     I have Beckham on one of the public teams I drafted to warm up for the real thing, I’m gonna go right now and drop him in fact. I would too if I were you, its not working.

109. @Donnie Baseball:
     I love both of those guys. In fact I feel blessed to have gotten a chance to watch them both play on a daily basis in NY. I think both would make great, potentially HOF managers too. If you could get into the hall based on sheer awesomeness, both would be in.

     I’d like to take a look at the Sabermetrics behind Keith’s numbers, but he was one of the “clutchest” hitters around from what I remember. A lifetime .296/.384/.436 line over 17 years isn’t anything to sneeze at either, even with a few injury marred years.

     We don’t have UZR from back then, but I’d love to know how many runs he prevented. He had terrific range due to his great reads and improved his entire infield’s defense. Digest this. The guy made 115 Errors in his career, with 17,909 Put outs and 1682 Assists.

     Hitting aside though, so much of what he brought to his teams could not be found in the box scores. He was a second manager on the field, always communicating with his pitchers, as well as infield to have everyone in the right position.

     Gotta remember too. That ’86 team weren’t just another WS championship team. They were fucking rock stars. Those Yanks teams starring The Don were good as well, but The Mets were the hottest ticket in town during the mid-late 80′s.

     If The Wizard of Oz gets the call, how can Keith not? Because he couldn’t pull a sommersault?

110. Hughes (Bos) and Gio (Tam) starting tonight. Start Hughes and bench Gio?

111. Start Medlan against PHI tomorrow? (12 team/ROTO)

112. Ervin Santana was just exiled to the WW in a 16 team, H2H Keeper. I have much more faith in him than his ex-owner, but I’m pretty far down the waiver list, so I’m not even sure I would land him. That being said, who would you drop for him: Kubel, Prado, Ike Davis, Chacin, LeBlanc, Joba?

113. @Ryan Beariot: No, not too much.

     @agarthered: Rodney

     @Mojo the Helper Monkey: Bit of a dump, but try it.

     @Jay: It’s fair. I’d just take A-Rod.

     @Tom Emanski: Wouldn’t start either.

     @Doot Doot: Nope

     @Wilsonian: Prado

114. @Grey: It’s a done deal! Hooray!

115. Would you own any of these pitchers over WAndy; Ian Kennedy,Javier Vasquez,Blanton, Harden,Leblanc or Cecil?

116. @Grey:

     You wouldn’t start Hughes? Im gonna. Im already sitting Pelf. Screw the Sox, he’s gonna own em!

117. @Elijah: I’m starting Hughes too. We can commiserate tomorrow. Wait, I mean, tomorrow we can shove it in the doubters’ faces!

118. Smoak just hit the WW. Drop Cecil/J. Vazquez/Simon to try to grab him?

119. @Elijah: I’m starting Pelf @ home against The Giants. Why not? It’s not like The Giants have much pop. He may not win, but he should do alright I think.

     I’d start Hughes too. He’s looked too good lately not too. I’m looking forward to watching The Yanks splatter Becketts grapefruits all over Fenway tonight, since my opponent (and best bud/arch rival) has Red State Jeter going and I’ve got The Captain, Tex, Cano and Swish on my two teams.

120. @Grey: Yea I would start Hughes but since there’s a 1250 IP limit I need to slow it down.

121. @Infamy707: Nope.

122. @Grey: take your pick, E.Santana or Snider for Prado?

123. Wood of the DL. Gotta hold Perez for a bit though, right?

124. @Grey:
     Time to drop Meek?

125. Wood off the DL. Gotta hold Perez for a bit though, right?

126. @GTS: Cool

     @Infamy707: Nope

     @Elijah: It’s not a terrible start and maybe I’m giving this Sawx team credit for past ones, but it’s not worth the one good start in my eyes.

     @Art Vandelay: That’s tough… Probably Cecil.

     @Wilsonian: Ervin

     @Steve: Hold him until Sunday.

     @Eddy: Sure

127. @Grey/anyone:

     Drop Adam Jones/Headley/Freese for Travis Snider?

128. @Grey:
     Thanks for the quick response. Who would you prefer, Cecil or Ian Kennedy?

129. I’ve got a 1250 IP limit and am on pace to go over that. Should I still start CJ Wilson and Jered weaver tonight?

130. So is portmanteau pronounced like port-man-two or port-man toe?

131. Follow-up on Wood. Here is my pitching staff: Doc, Ubaldo, JJ, Jered, Shields, AJ, Lewis, Verlander, Buchholz, Aardsma, K-Rod, Capps. I have Wood…on the DL that is. Do I drop him, or anyone else in that list? I’m definitely about 95-5 on dropping Wood, but I would like to hear some thoughts.

132. Grey
     If you had Pablo to play 3b, in a league that counts K’s against hitters
     would you trade David Wright for Victorino, Burnett and Feliz?

133. @Grey: Thanks, Grey. Would you drop McLouth over the other guys (Cecil/Vazquez/Simon)? Holding onto McLouth has been a war of attrition since he was selected in the first 10 rounds.

134. @Grey

     Thoughts on (1) jose lopez (2) jose reyes?

     Is Sterling worth adding if I have jose reyes and no MI slots? Cannot believe you are having a buy Aramis.

135. @Grey: A couple weeks back you said Masterson would have a better season than Oswalt. Not interested in picking up Mast, but wondering if I should be shopping Os at this point to fill an offensive weak spot(s)– namely, runs/SB– if doom is on the horizon for Os.

     Have Lester, Nolasco, Hamels, Peavy, Slowey, Os.
     Good idea? Who might I aim for?

136. @Dad: The Book has the answer, but I cannot remember the answer as I don’t have it with me currently. I believe the 75 to 80 percent mark was fairly accurate.

     My line on Castro:http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8401 with 15 steals at most.

137. @Sal: calling a violation on myself for wanting an opinion on who to plug in for a game… total violation

138. @Grey – Please add ROTIOAOWAYSETWOASPAYOWTWH to the Razzball Glossary

139. 14-team, H2H, my outfield looks like this:

     LF – Lind
     CF Rowand (Grandy on DL)
     RF – Ethier
     Util – Snider
     BN – Quentin

     Would be good to grab Drew as we count OBP, but he’s only eligible at RF (and Util, obviously). I don’t really have room, do I? I’d hate to drop Snider and miss a breakout.

     Or is Ethier a sell-high…

140. Who should I drop for Medlen, if anyone (12 team mixed)?

     Niemann, Romero, Alfredo Simon, Manny Corpas, Joba Chamberlain, Michael Gonzalez (DL), Miguel Montero (DL)

     Also is it time to cut Borbon for someone like Fred Lewis or Travis Snider? (14 team mixed)

141. Wow… because of this post I found out that A-Ram was dropped and cleared waivers in one league where I’m dragging around Beckham’s corpse. I’m going to throw out some 2-for-1 offers to free up a roster spot first, but if that doesn’t work, you think A-Ram is worth a straight drop of Beckham?

142. Has this Wiffleball ’79 video been posted here? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWNVT1D3q9Q

     “Come over and catch you M R!”

143. @Grey:

     I hear ya on Hughes. Now that you mention it his xFIP is -2.80 and his BABIP is an unsustainable .162 and he’s walking too many guys. Sounds likes hes due for a bad outing, but I’ll take 6 IP 4 ER if I can pick up 5-6k’s and maybe a win, I just don’t want to sit more than one guy and Pelf is it.

144. @TastelessGarbage: Eh

     @Eddy: Kennedy

     @Howard: I’d start them both.

     @Aaron: Two

     @Wilsonian: That’s tough… I’d lose Lewis, begrudgingly.

     @cashmoney: Nope

     @Art Vandelay: McLouth was an almost on the Buy section, so I’d give him another week.

     @PaddyTwoTimes: Lopez is eh and 20 homers, I don’t think he’s ever been more than that. Reyes will come around, I believe. Hopefully. Eh on Starlin there.

     @Kazmere: Steals are like trading for saves. You don’t really want to. Get a Nyjer or someone for real cheap. Oswalt is too much there.

     @LincolnT: Maybe… I’m still swishing it around in my mouth, seeing how it feels.

     @Steve: No room, sorry.

     @FrodoBoBo: Borbon for Snider if you need power. I’d lose Corpas for Medlen, unless you’re dying for saves.

     @Awesomus Maximus: I would.

     @Tom Emanski: Ha!

145. “Martinez may get a night off Friday against the Yankees, with the two teams scheduled for a day game the following day.”

     There you go Francona, wait until VMart gets hot then pull him. Don’t give me the catch at night then following day crap…..f’ing asshole going to lose me AB’s

146. Hey Grey-
     Which two of these guys: Kendry, Zimmerman, Sandoval

147. No bench spots in my 2 catcher league. I need to take Salty off my DL either by dropping him or Chris Snyder. When Montero comes back, will Snyder be headed back to the bench?

     Basically, Salty or Snyder for rest of season production?

148. @Mr2Bits: Seriously, Francona knows he’s allowed to use V-Mart at DH, right? Is he seriously that wedded to Ortiz?

149. Sizemore/Kershaw or Uballs/Freese?

150. @quimmy: Grady Sizemore that is

151. @Steve:

     I see the Plucky Kiwis are making a move up the RCL charts btw!

152. Crazy to start old man Moyer today?

153. Upton is not in the lineup for Friday’s game against the Brewers, the Diamondbacks’ official site reports.

154. I’m trying to put together a trade to a team that needs a closer. How does Fister and Gregg for Wandy and Andrus sound? I don’t need a SS (got Hanley, and there is no MI spot), but think I might be able to deal him elsewhere.

155. @ Grey:
     I did a quick search on the App Store and only found a Razzball football app. Is there a fantasy baseball Razzball app?

156. @Mitch: Zimmerman, Sandoval

     @Cheese: Why are you doing this right now? You can’t wait until Salty is back? If not, I’d go with Salty for the whole season over Snyder.

     @quimmy: Grady’s side.

     @Steve: Yup

     @Elijah: Thanks for the heads up!

     @royce!: Sounds good.

157. @tHe ShiT: No, the app company screwed us, I was thinking about asking in a post if anyone knew how to do it. But yeah for now, no baseball app.

158. @Elijah: Much like a kiwi in the wild, they’ll be back to earth soon enough.

     @Grey: Too late. Pray for me.

159. @Steve:

     Hah!

160. Whither Larry Jones? Is he finally toast?

161. @ Grey:
     Aww that sucks man. I got all fired when I saw the logo come up in the search. Well if I knew how to create an app I would love to do it…

     So, to all Razzball followers, anyone know how to create I-Phone apps? Maybe you could work with Grey & co. and get a baseball app started. It would be awesome to those of us who can’t be near a cpu and have succumbed to Apple’s technology…

162. Sanchez’s inability to hold runners costs him again

163. Sizemore won’t be o-fer May in the HR department.

164. @Steve: Ha

     @Eddie: Looks that way. I dropped him weeks ago in a shallow league.

     @tHe ShiT: Ha… Thanks.

     @Tom Emanski: Yup

165. Hey, Grady hit a HR!

166. Did people see this?

     http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=7866287&c_id=pit

167. @Grey:

     I just picked him up in a shallow league last week, he sat on the bench, then Span got rained out and I put him in: instant HR!

168. @Grey:
     I saw that live on WGN. Would have been funnier if the Cubs weren’t getting their face kicked in by the f*cking Pirates.

169. @Elijah: You just picked up Grady? What’s this, a one person league?

     @Eddie: Pretty hilarious, not sure how I missed it.

170. OK. So a dude that I have benched hits a homer off a pitcher that I have starting. Is there a term for that?

     If not, I propose “bench-slapped.”

171. @Grey: That’s AWESOME!

172. Sanchez is baking me a Poop Cake right now

173. @Grey:

     10 person HtH..We have this newbie player that got invited…He’s actually out to an early lead by playing all the hot hands and dropping anyone who’s not hitting. We tried to tell him otherwise, but hes not listening, and the fact that he’s in first has gone to his head, lotta talk about how easy this all is etc. Whatever, he’ll learn the hard way. There was a waiver fight for Grady and I picked him up with the winning one.

     PS The fact that he has Kelly Johnson is really annoying.

174. @ Grey – Recently snatched Beckham off the WW as injury protection for my 2B (Utley) and 3B (Wright). 12 team H2H dynasty points league, but chances are unless I lose Utley or Wright, Beckham won’t be kept for next year. Is he even worth the roster stash at this point? Other available 2B/3B eligible players include yawnstipating players like Sean-Rod, Barmes, S. Sizemore, E. Young, DeRosa, Beltre, Headley, and Rolen.

     Is Beckham even worth the roster spot at this point or did I blow my WW priority prematurely?

     Thanks!

175. @Grey: Saw it on Sportscenter last night. Loved the Dread Pirate laughing at him in the dugout.

176. @Tom Emanski:

     Yep grrr. I shoulda benched him and started Pelf!

177. HR STARLIN CASTRO!!!!!

178. Starlin hype wagon goes into overdrive in 3, 2, 1…

179. @JR.: Ha… Not bad.

     @Stephen: Yeah, I know. Crazy.

     @Tom Emanski: You and me both.

     @Elijah: In a shallow league there’s something to just playing hot hands.

180. @Eddie: Wow!

181. @Bill Lumbergh: I have Beckham benched in a 20 team league. That’s a deep league with no one out there.

182. Starlin will see the Tomahawk Jesus’s career debut and raise him one.

183. @ Grey:
     Should Starlin b owned in a 16 team h2h league? If so, should I drop Robot, Fowler, or Snider 4 him? I would move Zorilla 2 the OF if i get Starlin…

184. cubs fans just jizzed all over themselves

185. @Eddie: actually reminds me of Andrus; didn’t he homer in his debut against all odds?

186. @tHe ShiT: I’d own him, but not over those guys unless you don’t need power then over Snider.

187. @tHe ShiT: not if those are the back end of your roster.

188. @ThePoonTycoon:
     It’s true. It’s a Cubkakke.

189. @Eddie: Ha

190. @Grey: I don’t have the DL room. Should I drop Rollins for Castro???

     ……..*cricket cricket*………..

191. @Grey:

     Sure but come July he’s gonna wonder why he has Andrew Jones and Fukodome instead of Grady. His rotation is bigtime nasty tho with Halladay, Jimenez, F-Her Garza, Zito, Matuz, so he may have some staying power.

192. @ Grey/ThePoonTycoon:
     Yeah those are my back of the roster guys. I do need the power since Prince hasn’t really gotten it goin yet. So I guess Ill have to pass on Starlin…

193. @Grey: Just dropped Beckham for Medlen. Thanks Grey!

194. Looks like Pelfrey is healthy.

195. Marlon Byrd is looking good in the cleanup spot for the Cubs.

196. @timSTi: Hehe

     @Elijah: Yeah, that’s a nice staff.

197. I woulda asked if I should start CJ Wilson, but the Royals seem like an auto-start for any rostered pitcher.

198. When Sanchez doesnt K guys hes amazingly useless.

199. Just got a trade offer in my ESPN league….

     I send:
     Chipper and Jenks

     I Receive:
     A-Ram

     By definition, I am trading a shmohawk and a brain freeze. Do the damn thang?

200. @Pops:

     Id think so.

201. Thanks Elijah. I made a questionable trade earlier this year. Sometimes I need to step out of my bubble and get some feedback. Anyone else?

202. Does anyone know what the procedure is for Yahoo adding guys like Castro? Will he hit waivers first or just randomly get added at some point?

203. Greinke looked like he was gonna shoot Betancourt after that error. Poor Greinke, always Greinke’d.

204. @ Mojo the Helper:
     He will get added whenever Yahoo feels like working and he will hit waivers…He should get added by the end of the weekend.

205. @Pops: I don’t think Chipper and Aramis are that far off that you need to throw in a closer. Honestly if it wasn’t for the health concerns I would like Chipper more but I guess the health concerns is the issue. I guess if you are ok in saves its not that bad.

206. Grey, would you drop any of Bartlett or Alcides for Castro? No, right?

207. @Grey: Cano or Wright? I hope I am “Wright” because I just accepted a Cano for Wright trade…Please reassure me…or bash me for not keeping Cano!!

208. @Elijah: Not Gavin Floyd. !@#!#@!#@!!#

209. 6 RBI’s for Castro!!! woop woop!

210. @GopherDay: wright

211. CUBKAKKE!!!

212. Ok – officially in love.

213. HR Headley! May there be some more!

214. What to do with Chris Perez now that Wood is back? Hold him hoping Wood will be Wood and get injured? Or, drop him for one of: Zumaya, Rhodes, Takahashi, Masset, Uehara, Downs or Hensley. League counts holds, so they’ve all got value. Current RPs are Simon, Rivera, Soria, K-Rod and Bard.

215. There’s a very hilarious and clever Razzball term for when your pitcher is getting shelled by one your hitters (like Ike Davis and Sanchez with me tonight) – cognitive dissonance.

216. someone talk me out of putting in a waiver on starlin and dropping sexei…or tell me i’m not a fool. i doubt starlin would make it to me anyway, so probably a moot point.

217. @timSTi: @ThePoonTycoon: @Eddie: Something tells me I won’t be getting Castro with my 10th waiver priority…Well, plan Bs for if EY2 gets sent down again…Crap, crap, and crap. I suppose I’ll have to pick Mr. JJ Hardy back up…

218. @Grey: In Milledge’s defense, they set off the “Home Run Fireworks” at the stadium… that’s like a chick screaming her head off and then 5 minutes later telling you she faked it… not that I would know.

     @Grey: I was just talking with a friend today about the “playing the hot hand” strategy in a 10-team mixed. I’ve always played 12-team mixed until this year and didn’t think there’d be a huge difference in strategy, but I’ve found that I’m probably hanging onto guys longer than I need to. The penalty for dropping a “could be good later” for an “is good right now” is pretty minimal.

219. Cano just got hit in the knee by a pitch, removed from the game. Doesn’t seem serious but dont be surprised if he misses a few days.

220. @GopherDay: i have one league where claims go through immediately. i grabbed him this morning when the news was posted here before any of the news sites.

     another league we have a couple of minor league spots and i’m holding stanton and wallace in mine. someone else already had castro.

     my keeper league i have the 11th waiver position out of 12. so no chance i get him.

221. @GopherDay: You’ve got great timing, my friend. Cano just left the game after taking a pitch square off his knee.

222. @ThePoonTycoon:

     If he’s gonna hit 8th in the NL im skeptical he’s gonna put up #’s

223. One further note about the “playing the hot hand” strategy in a shallow league… I don’t think I’ll ever play in something shallower than a 12-team mixed again after this year, but if I do, my draft plan will be to spend my auction money on 23 roster spots rather than 25, then just rotate a hot bat and hot pitcher for the season. There’s pretty much zero penalty for doing this with the talent that’s available in the 10-team mixed leagues I’m in.

224. In regards to my previous question about Chris Perez, the other option is to add Kris Medlen, although I’m not thrilled about him starting in Philly tomorrow…

225. Mike Stanton is not in the lineup tonight for Jacksonville. Discuss.

226. @Elijah: yeah, i mean, i wouldn’t go crazy on him, but when you are just trying to slot in random SSs to tide you over for rollins to get back, he’s worth a flier.

227. @JR.: Maybe he’s just enjoying retirement?

228. A trade in my league – what do you all think ?

     Josh Willingham (Was – OF) and Tim Lincecum (SF – SP)
     FOR

     Manny RamírezDL (LAD – OF) AND Colby Lewis (Tex – SP,RP) AND
     Wade Davis (TB – SP)

229. “Brian McCann is out of Atlanta’s lineup for a second-straight day on Friday, as he’s started to experience problems with his sight that he experienced last year as well. He’ll be back in the Braves’ lineup tomorrow and will be wearing glasses.”

     Hopefully this explains why he’s been sucking… and hopefully the glasses do the trick.

230. I’ve never seen a pitcher go from being absolutely dominant (5k’s in first 2 innings) to losing all control like Beckett in this game.

231. @Tom Emanski: There goes my deep, deep option for vulture saves.

232. @JR. Says:
     Mike Stanton is not in the lineup tonight for Jacksonville. Discuss.

     Yea they gave him the night off to hang with Milton Bradley

233. @mrbaseball: I’ll take the Lincy side of that trade! Manny just isn’t what he used to be…
     @Awesomus Maximus: I hope this doesn’t turn into the same ordeal as last year…That REALLY sucked!

234. jesus beckett. i am dead last in era and whip in a 12 team league where i own haren, beckett, kershaw, slowey, cj wilson, colby lewis, e santana, and garcia. the last 4 guys i’ve been rotating based on matchups and letting the 1st 4 ride in all matchups. maybe it’s time to flip the script.

     not like i could really trade beckett or kershaw for anything right now. might as well ride them out and sink or swim with them.

235. @Will Says:
     May 7th, 2010 at 9:10 am
     Thoughts on starting Beckett tonight vs. the Yankees? He’s coming off a good start and it’s no longer April, but I’m pretty worried about this one.

     I would not start him tonight

236. @mrbaseball:

     Could be going to AAA, doesnt mean hes getting called to the bigs (yet)

237. @mrbaseball: Lincy side every day and twice on Sundays.

238. anybody watching the yanks/sox game?

     I looked at the play by play, and it seems like Beckett pitched alot better than the score says.

239. @Donnie Baseball: He was dealing for the first 4 innings but imploded in the last two.

240. Sooo, too soon to drop A-Cab for Castro?

     Moyer just completed a two-hit, no walk CGSHO.

241. @TheBravesWearPrado:

     Thanks, I’m still confident in him moving foward.

     So how much FAAB money should I bid on Castro $ 100.

     This is incredible.

242. Starlin up with two men on, no outs.

243. Napoli has finally started heating up at the plate so on cue Scioscia has him on the bench.

244. Bah. Still a Cubkakke.

245. @TheBravesWearPrado:

     You know why he does that?

     He makes Napoli, Saunders personal catcher. And whoever the other guy he makes Weavers’.

     Then he can say “hey look, Napoli pitcher’s ERAs are over a run higher than when the other catcher is in”

     Yeah idiot Scoscia, how about that’s because Saunders sucks.

246. @Grey: How much FAAB would you bid for Starlin Castro?

247. Gahhh, sonavabenched Hughes

248. @Tom Emanski:

     Im feeling good having played him when Grey said no (a mild no granted)

249. @GopherDay: I ended up with McCann and Wieters in one league (don’t ask) and figured I’d have no trouble dealing one of them. Now that Wieters is finally hitting, I might be able to trade him, but I’m scared to be relying on McCann. Last time I spend more than $2 on a catcher… ever.

     @GrandSlamSingle: Moyer with a CG shutout… this just in, the Braves offense is horrendous.

250. Grey, 5×5 10man team. I’ve got Bartlett SS, Wiggy MI, Robot CI with Bencham … well … on the bench. Last place in HRs, low in AVG and RBIs, but 2nd in SBs. Would you drop Beckham, or any of the others for that matter, to make room for Castro with the top waiver pick, or sit tight and wait it out?

251. Please pull Hughes now…7 innings, 101 pitches, no need to put another inning of wear on his arm.

252. ww pick up of the year thus far: cj wilson. single handedly doing his damnedest to minimize beckett

     also, for the people who’ve still not grabbed snider where he is available…2 more hits tonight. that should put him batting around .400 the past week. if you haven’t gotten him yet and he’s available act now.

253. Justin Duchsherer was finally put on the DL.

254. Woot, Hughes is out of the game, now just finish this and get the W.

255. @Grey: What I meant to say was: “Crazy NOT to start old man Moyer today?”

256. looks like you will need a high waiver pick to obtain Castro – the way he is hitting tonight

257. @Buge Hoobs: hold beckham. you’ll probably want beckham in that MI spot over wiggy by june.

258. Did the Red Sox really just pinch hit for their #3 hitter?

259. Top 2nd: Chi Cubs

     - S. Castro homered to right, A. Soriano and G. Soto scored

     Top 5th: Chi Cubs

     - S. Castro tripled to left center, D. Lee, A. Ramirez and G. Soto scored

260. @ThePoonTycoon: Chances are good that Snider’s available… owned in 4.4% of ESPN leagues (dunno’ what it’s looks like over at Yahoo.

261. @Mark Geoffriau: Francona’s throwing in the towel.

262. @Awesomus Maximus: yeah, though i think you avg razzball’er is in far more savvy leagues than 90% of the espn/yahoo leagues. and that’s not even counting the virtually abandoned leagues.

263. Drop Willingham for Coghlan?

264. or Snider?

265. @Steve: Old man he’s only 74!

266. @Paulie Allnuts: For shear hitting ability, yes Donnie Baseball was better than Hernandez by a long shot. I remember watching him break the HR streak vividly, but I’m still not buying it. Don had 3 great years and 3 good years. The bad back sapped his power and effected his abilities as a fielder as well unfortunately. Do in no part to his efforts, he also never won a ring, nor was he a particularly compelling media figure – which often has almost as much to do with getting into the HOF as a guy’s numbers.

     For what it’s worth, I think the Hall’s often a little too loose with it’s standards. It begs for these kinds of arguments over marginally great players. For instance, how can Jim Rice be in the Hall and Dewey Evans not? Where’s Tim Raines in this conversation. I think he might be a better candidate than all of these guys mentioned when you look at his accomplishments as an all-around player for the length of time he played.

     Sisler’s numbers were ridiculous. He’s a career .340 hitter over 15 years, who once hit .430! Drysdale was a fantastic pitcher for 12 years and well Sandy was on an other-worldly level of dominance. Dean… I think you can make a case that he shouldn’t be in there, Kiner too.

     So ok, I’m in the neither of these guys should be there camp. As I said before, if Ozzie gets in, how can Keith not? They were both quite possibly the best to ever field their positions. We’ve got to look a little deeper at defense as it’s all too easy to just look at one side of the game.

     Oh and what about a Gil Hodges? His resume as an all-around player and manager need to be given another look. I think I’d put Gil in before either Donnie or Keith.

267. @BKK: He’s had himself quite a week. Remember – he drew the walk off Santana that started that Phils onslaught on Sunday night.

268. @ThePoonTycoon: This is true. I wonder if the 4.4% of leagues where he’s owned are all Razzball readers. I own him in two leagues… so that’s gotta’ account for around .1%.

     BTW, did The HR Basher Formerly Known As Prince get hurt tonight or something? I sent out a feeler offer of Panda/Aardsma for Prince Fielder… and it just got accepted. All I was hoping for was a decent counter-offer.

269. Hard for me to consider the HOF eligibility of anybody when Blyleven isn’t in.

270. Strasburg allows 1 hit in Triple-A debut

271. @Mark Geoffriau: True dat!

272. John Buck. Rhymes with WTF.

273. CG win for CJ Wilson, Hurrah!

274. @Elijah:
     I’m hoping he tires out in couple of months, cause I didn’t get him.

275. @Mark Geoffriau
     Hard for me to consider the HOF eligibility of anybody when Blyleven isn’t in.

     I felt the something about the wwe until the inducted Ted DiBiase the “Million Dollar Man”

276. Great pitching day for me in the RCL: 17 1/3 IP, 1.56 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 12 K’s and a whopping 3 W’s.

277. @Steve: Dyslexia strikes again. He is only 47 and yes, he has had quite a week.

278. AJP, first pitch by Gregg, HR, for the blown save.

279. @Tom Emanski: Alcides

     @GopherDay: Yeah, that’s fine.

     @ThePoonTycoon: Ha

     @Anonymous: Drop him for Uehara on Sunday.

     @Awesomus Maximus: Agreed… Nice analogy.

     @Tom Emanski: Ha

     @GrandSlamSingle: Hold Ass-Cab.

     @ron mexico’s papi: $7 of $100 if you really need what he provides.

     @Buge Hoobs: Can lose Beckham.

     @Steve: Ha

     @BKK: Snider

280. @Elijah: Nice when that happens, I messed up this week, meant to start Hudson yesterday and bench Beckett ended up getting htat backwards in one of my H2H leagues. Doh!! Working for a living really sucks the fun out of fantasy sometimes.

281. @Grey: Seems even a homeschooling Hodgepadre can be a Road Scholar against the Astros.

282. Anyone watching the Det/Cle game? Any chance it’s getting restarted? I need those jacks from Grady and Miggy!

283. @Steve: Ha… Yup.

284. @mrbaseball: Holy crapola! I just noticed that. Never going to get him on waivers in my keeper league.

     I think I may blow $25 of my FAAB to bid on him in another league.

285. @Grey: That was my thought too, actually had it all queued up waiting for 2nd opinion. What about Maybin? Drop him for Snider or hold (different team)?

286. @Grey: If I’m adding Uehara, does that mean that I can drop Alfredo too? Someone in the league (10 team keeper) just dropped Adam Jones and I’ve got 1st waiver priority. Easy add, right? My OF is Lind, Bourn, Morgan, Bruce and Granderson (DL)

287. @mrbaseball: Weird coincidence. I went to grade school with Ted Dibiase’s son. His name was Teddy.

288. @Grey: Did just that. Dropped Alcides Escobar this afternoon for Starlin Castro and cashed a check for 6 RBI and a HR. Again, thanks Grey…keep up the sound advice. I am going to go buy you a daiquiri right now…great stuff. Thanks

289. Can’t believe I had Lind benched for the only hits (incl a donk) that he has had this week.

     He has been brutal lately.

290. King Felix is doing awful and he gets no run support. Should i try to trade him before he loses all value, ive seen his games on tv and he is walking guys and he looks as if he doesnt care.

     what should i do

291. Joey votto for Felix Hernandez? which side do you like or even steven…..?

292. @JPH:

     I think you have to hold Felix.

293. @BKK: snaking my snider BKK! i grabbed him in my RCL but couldnt do it in our yahoo league…..

     what do you think of votto for felix?

294. @Tony:

     Right now…Pretty even I think.

295. Olsen and Kennedy are both available in my league…….. 12 Team, 5 x 5, keeper (max. 8)…… With Santana, Beckett, Price, Sanchez, Slowey & Cueto (bench) and Bell, Rauch, Soriano, Simon & Thornton…….. should I drop any of them to get one of these two pitchers? Also, is it worth dropping Wood to get Lewis?

296. Grey- How much FAAB to use on Stalin- 14 team with deep roster, $100 budget? Thanks

297. M. Saunders starting and batting 9th.

     For some reason I think he can take the lF spot and run with it.

     And can get to 15/15.

298. EY jr. on the bench again.

     I don’t know what Tracy is doing. He’s batting .280 with a 4/2 BB/K and 4 steals in 25 ABs. But he feels he needs Barmes glove.

     Don’t get it.

299. Do I outright drop Morales for Corpas now or do I wait? I could also drop C Perez for Corpas. Thoughts?

300. @Euroalien:

     I think I’d drop Thornton (whats he doing for ya?) or Cueto, and grab Kennedy. Kennedy seems to me like hes gonna be one of those pitchers that might have an era around 3.80, but sports a low WHIP with high K’s. And on the Dbacks he could win 15 games the way they have been hitting.

301. @I am the Liquor: Starlin that is. Not Joseph Stalin, or Fidel Castro that matter.

302. Anyone notice that Clint Barmes is starting to have a pulse?

303. @ThePoonTycoon: Yeah, the league I would get him in is a keeper…No way there!!! Hopefully Clint Barmes goes and kicks a chair so EY2 will get playing time!

     @Awesomus Maximus: Wow!! Thats awesome!! Especially because this is the only league I own him in!! Hopefully Johnson can keep this up to some extent, he’s taking over a second for me!

304. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike):

     Yeah, but imagine if EY jr. could get 500 ABs with his 4 sbs in 25 ABs.

     80 SBs possible!?

305. @I am the Liquor: How much was spent on Ike Davis and Justin Smoak when they were called up, (assuming they weren’t already rostered)?

     I think that is the best way to gauge a hot call-up’s value in your particular league. It’s better than us guessing….we don’t know your league dynamics. I’d bid 10% more than what Smoak went for.

     If you’re in Chicago, though, you may have to blow the whole $100. After today’s debut, they’ll probably give him the key to the city.

306. @Donnie Baseball: I agree EY should just be given the job, but it seems that they want to give Barmes every chance possible. And he looks like he has responded this week…finally. Might be a good Beckham replacement in a deep league.

307. Grey- I have Alcides Escobar at SS. Would you drop him for Starlin?

308. @Bosleto: Yeah, Morales has pretty much lost it, and with Street coming back soon he’s not at all worth hanging onto.

309. Wow F-Her indeed

310. @Robert: That exact question was asked and answered by Grey above. I’ll save you the time…grab Starlin

311. Thanks!

312. @Tony: Swish tried to trade him to me for Braun and some other crap in the deal. Reject. What am I going to do with Felix and giving up Braun no less?

     For you its okay. You need pitching. Its fair. You do have Smoak on the bench most nights. I like Votto, good Canadian dude. Couldn’t sell him on SmoaK, GUY IS PROSPECT NUTS. You do have your share of Canucks, with Bay too.

     Sent Mase: Slowey/Marmol for Utley, think he bites?

     6 STRAIGHT FOR THE JAYS! LOOK OUT YANKS! HAHA!

313. Hmm, wondering about dropping Pennington for Castro. Pennington seems like a more seasoned, but less upside version of Castro at this point.

     Castro’s power is supposed to be minimal, right? I need RBI’s above all, though. I guess I should watch lineup positions for them both.

314. @Tony: You also have Bay and Pence on your bench.

     I knew you’d be hot after Snider. Most have just squeaked it in time. Swish almost buggered it up with his trade offer which involved Willingham who I dropped for Snider. Told him he could grab him in a waiver claim.

315. @Bosleto: I dropped Morales for Corpas a couple days ago also dropped EYJ for him too in another league. SAGNOF. So I say yes.

316. @Lava:

     I’m in same position. I’m sticking with Pennington. Done real well for me as a Rollins fill-in.

317. @BKK: Sure

     @Anonymous: Add Jones. Hold Simon over Uehara.

     @bostonbeerman: Thanks!

     @Tony: It’s even.

     @Euroalien: Hold Wood, lose Cueto for Kennedy.

     @Donnie Baseball: Yeah, annoying.

     @I am the Liquor: $7

     @Bosleto: Lose Perez for Corpas.

     @Lava: I’d want Castro.

318. Who would y’all rather have right now? Smoak or Ike?

319. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Thanks for the good input. Davis went for $5 and Smoak for $2(picked up a few days before promotion). I guess its hard to gauge this kind of thing even for someone in the league, all it takes is one person to chug the koolaid and bid $20. I’m goin with $5 and hoping for the best.

320. Cleveland-Detroit was postponed, meaning Sizemore is still officially sitting on 0 HR. Unbelievable.

321. @I am the Liquor: @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): @Grey: Or $7 like Gray advised. Thanks guys

322. @I am the Liquor: @Grey: My bad Grey*, been boozin’

323. @GopherDay: Probably Smoak, Davis has looked better so far, but their respective lineups and ballparks has to give the edge to Smoak, IMO.

324. BOLD PREDICTION! Phil Hughes IS without a doubt the absolute steal of this year’s draft. This kid is quickly asserting himself as a legit fantasy #1 starter and will end the season as a top 10 SP worthy of a pick in the first 3 rounds next year. The only SPs I’d take over Hughes are Halladay, Lincecum, Jiminez, F-Her, Sabathia, Verlander, Haren, and Garza. Thoughts or contrary opinions are welcome!

     Disclaimer – I cannot stand the Evil Empire, but I love me some Hughes!!!

325. @Bill Lumbergh:

     Double check his peripherals before you get too thrilled. Then add in the fact that they may shut him down in August. The biggest plus of Hughes is he’s on the Yankees imo.

326. @Bill Lumbergh: Ha! I doubt he’ll go that early next year, but he could very well be on his way to fantasy superstardome!!!

327. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): So true. Ike went for $21. I believe I bid $8. Smoak was available on Yahoo from the beginning of the season and never had to be bid upon.

     I think Grey’s $6 estimate is a fair price – what he should be worth.

     I’m sure his price will reach $20 in this 15 team mixed league I play in. Seems like the rooks are really drawing high prices. I guess there are just so few potential impact players around. I’m going to bid hard on him, since I still have $97 of my FAAB left and I don’t expect too many other guys becoming available that are really worth bidding much on.

328. @Bill Lumbergh:

     You’re probally right. And I didn’t it see it coming.

     He looked the same during spring training. Mitre out-pitched him.

329. @Eddie: Blargh… had Miggy and Grady (and their HRs) in my main league. Postponed… more like postboned!

330. @Elijah: Good point – only time will tell. However, I must say that I’m loving his results right now and his RP eligibility is an added plus!

331. Hey Grey and anybody else, I know I asked this before, but I want to make sure. Ad. Jones for Granderson.

     It’s killing me to trade for a guy on the DL for a month.

332. @Bill Lumbergh:

     And I own Hughes myself and felt he was gonna be a steal, targeting him in every draft. But lets not crown him a top 10 pitcher after 1 month.

333. @Awesomus Maximus: Hey-oooooooo!!!!!!

334. @GopherDay: @Donnie Baseball: The first 3 rounds may be a stretch, but with age, stuff, and run support on his side – he is going to be a good one for a long time. I was lucky to land him in my dynasty league that started this year. Punted SP and it worked out just fine thanks to upside picks and trades. PHIMA (Phil Hughes Is My Ace)

335. @GopherDay: Smoak

     @Awesomus Maximus: Ha!

     @Donnie Baseball: Assuming you have a DL spot for him and someone to play in his spot even if it’s just off waivers, I’d take Grandy.

336. @Bill Lumbergh: Hmm… so you’re kicking Wainwright out of bed for Hughes? That’s crazy talk.

337. @Donnie Baseball: I’d make that trade. Adding the rest of Granderson’s season to whatever free agent you can claim in the meantime should still be better than Jones.

338. @Elijah: I think we may be seeing a changing of the guard this year. It seems like there are so many good arms emerging on the scene right now. A true youth movement that seems to be unprecedented.

339. WHO THE HELL IS RYAN BUDDE. Man I hate Mike Scioscia.

340. @Awesomus Maximus: OK – I’d add Wainwright to that list, as well as Greinke is he had some friggin’ run support.

341. @Bill Lumbergh: Greinke getting run support? THAT is crazy talk!

342. Blecham is killing me right now… in a 10 team roto, should I drop Slowey for Castro or Desmond to cover for him until he gets his OPS over .600?

343. Triple for EY2…when are the Rox going to come to their senses and give that young man a JOB??

344. @Tom Emanski: Maybe we can get Napoli a shirt like this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2441370668_d1edfb72f8_o.jpg

345. @Bill Lumbergh:

     I think Hughes is a great dynasty pick tho, no question about it. You should be excited.

346. Weaver’s no-hit bid broken up by Griff in the 7th. So sorry… so sad.

347. Sizemore still has 0 HR’s, the game was scratched, heh.

348. @Elijah: So whats the deal with that? Will I get any of Miggy’s stats???

349. @GopherDay: Nope…and neither will I.

350. @GopherDay:

     No.

351. @BKK: So they won’t reschedule the game? I remember last year when the Nats played the Astros in a game that was continued nearly a month later…the managers had to keep a sheet of paper reminding them who they took out a month earlier…Not the case here I guess…Shoot.

352. Yeah, same here… and I just realized that Grady and Miggy got 3 of my 4 hits on the day. My no-name squad of Pujols, Phillips, Hanley, Kemp, Bourn and Kinsler are a combined 1 for 25.

353. @GopherDay:

     I would imagine there will be a doubleheader tomorrow. It’s kindof a mixed bag for me, I lost the Sizemore HR in one league, but got a do-over for Austin Jackson’s 0-3 in another. (This guy is catching every damn break this year).

354. @grey- My pitching has started slow with beckett, baker, wandy all having bad starts. My hitting meanwhile is doing great with Ethier, Youk, Werth, and others doing well. To get more pitching help would u give youk away for greinke, and have either headley or freese playing 3rd?

355. @Awesomus Maximus: Yeah, whats with Pujols? Is he in one of his stud slumps? You know, where the stud of your team is mired in a slump, but you can’t bench him because…Hey, its Albert Pujols! Is there a razzball term for that? If there isn’t I should come up with one…Stump maybe?? A mix between Stud and Slump??

     @Elijah: Yeah, Austin Jackson is annoying me this year…Pre-season I dropped Vernon Wells for him…Wells goes on to hit like a bajillion homers while Austin Jackson is riding my bench. I drop Jackson for some random reliever, then he goes on to have an insane month…What the heck!?

356. @Awesomus Maximus: Don’t feel bad. I’m 3 for 40 tonight after going 2 for 29 last night.

     This is a team with Pujols, Jete and Sandoval mind you. I need to duck. I’m about to hit the Mendoza line for the week to go along with a .250 OBP!

     Thankfully my boys are throwing well and I’m only down 4 – 7 at the moment, with a decent shot at taking a couple more categories.

     No panic here though. I still like my team. I just call a closed door meeting, throw a few chairs and punch out Ed Whitson in a drunken rage to fire my boys up.

357. Someone dropped Figgy, 12 team roto. I’ve been playing McGehee, with O-Dog on the bench. Now that the last couple week’s stats are in the books, O-Dog would have been the better play to help to my R/SB problems. Oh well.

     I have no problems in the power dept (Pujols, Zimm, Morneau, Bruce). My brain says keep McGehee, but my lack of Runs/SB says keep O-Dog and wait for Figgy.

     Who do I drop for Figgy? or stand pat and leave him there for someone else?

358. @Kazmere: O-Dog…plain and simple.

359. @Kazmere:

     O-Dog seems ownable when he gets hot but in general hes a schmo. Figgy will get you a lot more SB’s.

360. @3FingersBrown: I lost a matchup last week because my hitters went 5 for 45 on Sunday with 1 XBH and 3 RBI. Bad beats, I tell ya.

361. @royce!: Perfect. Angels fans need to get on this.

362. @GopherDay:

     Hah, I had the opposite experience…picked up Jackson as a random SAGNOF flyer and watched him have a top 20 month.

363. @GopherDay: Well, before tonight he’d hit in 11 straight games, with a line of 6/1/9/1. Tough to call that a slump of any kind… even by stud standards.

     @3FingersBrown: Oofah! Nah, I don’t feel bad. Those names are gonna’ hit most days, so I’ll gladly take the occasional compost heap.

364. David Price with another pretty outing. Kid looks for real… anyone daring to sell high on him? What about trading him for F-Her if you can get an owner to bite?

365. @GopherDay: From Rototimes:

     Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers Friday 5/7, 10:15 PM CT
     With Detroit leading 7-6 in the fourth inning on Friday night, it’s game with Cleveland was postponed due to rain.

     Our View: Yes, that means the two-run homer Miguel Cabrera hit will not count in fantasy leagues. A very tough break for all of his owners.

366. @Awesomus Maximus: I don’t know, maybe its Pujols and out of him I like to see 3-4 with 2 homers….For him a slump is only getting a hit a game…Pujols is the Chuck Norris of baseball…Behind only the amazing Matt Wieters!!!

367. @Awesomus Maximus: If you can sell him for F-Her, I’d do it…Otherwise, hold on to him, he’s primed to break out and be a STUD!

368. @GopherDay: How did you know I have Wieters on that team, too? Stalker!

     Seriously, the expectations when you have Pujols and Hanley on the same roster tend to fluctuate from ridiculous to unrealistic. The only days I feel “satisfied” are when they combine for 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 HRs, 5 RBI and 3 SBs. Anything less and I feel like I’m not getting my money’s worth. It’s sick.

369. @GopherDay: I’m holding him. Plus, the F-Her owner in my league is one of those guys who thinks a Sportscenter nickname adds value to a player, so “King Felix” could have a 9.45 ERA and he’d still expect me to give him Halladay in return. Honestly, this guy offered me his Ichiro/Penny for my Pujols with a note reading, “Cardinal for Cardinal, All-Star for All-Star”. Every league needs comic relief like that.

370. @GopherDay: @Awesomus Maximus: On one team I have, Hughes, Price as my backend with Lincecum, Johnson, Oswalt, Burnett and Slowey on the front. Yeah, it tends to win pitching every week. Currently sitting in first after 4 weeks. Gotta love when those late round pickups turn in to diamonds.

371. Grady trying to get his first HR of the season is Sisyphus trying to push that damn boulder up the mountain.

372. @ThePensive: Yup. Sometimes you play your hand right and the cards just don’t fall your way.

     @Awesomus Maximus: I’ve got Wieters on that team too. Him and Swish are the only guys jacking this week.

373. @Terrence Mann: I’m sure glad I traded Grady before the season even started. Was a bit worried about missing out on his rebound when I pulled the trigger, but now I’m sure glad he is someone else’s headache!

374. @Bill Lumbergh: I debated Grey in one of the preseason blogs that Grady wasn’t worth a second rounder when Cruz and Grandy were going two or three rounds later. Of course, Cruz and Grandy are now injured but I think that’s an upgrade over what Grady’s been doing so far.

     All that being said, I’d expect to see Grady as a buy in the near future and won’t disagree with that, at all. He won’t suck all season.

375. @GopherDay: “Stump” is hilarious! You got my vote.

376. Frasor has his velocity back. Cust kayin’.

377. @Bill Lumbergh: I love that a guy in my keeper league took him with his 1st pick – the lunatic is now trying to pawn him off to me. 5 keepers so most of the studs are kept.

     I wanted CC, but he went 3rd. Ended up with Jete, which was my 2nd choice with OBP.

378. Anybody has an opinion on Funston’s latest Big Board on Yahoo? He has Youk ahead of Adrian Gonzalez, and I just accepted trading Youk for him.

379. @DrEasy: I’d want Gonzo, easy, DrEasy.

380. Starlin Castro looks interesting, but I wonder will he put up better numbers rest of the way then Ian Desmond of nationals… I would say Castro may get more steals but in other departments hmmm

381. I can’t believe that Yahoo is so slow on the Castro uptake. Then he’ll be on waivers for 3 days for all the shmowners to pick over. I’ve added him on ESPN since yesterday!

382. Greinke’d again! I think he’s going to win the *sigh* Young!

383. @Howard: lol

384. I’d like to add my voice to the chorus of despondent Grady (and extra-mopey Grady/Miggy) owners. Also, with this latest twist, the Sizemore slump saga has officially entered the realm of the preposterous/absurd. I mean this is some straight-up 1984-type shizz: that game goes down the memory hole, never happened, Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia, Sizemore has always had 0 homers in 2010, carry on.

385. I know I have asked a question similar to this one, but I am having a hard time making a decision on it. I have Andy Pettitte on my pitching roster in large part because of needed K’s/low WHIP, ERA and the nice start he has been having. But now he is injured with that elbow and will miss his next start, even though he says he wants to play and is pissed they are passing him over a start.

     So, considering his age and the elbow (even if he says he is fine, a 37 year old guy with a history of injury and a new one to show for it scares me a little…regardless of the great start, should I look to replace him now?

     My other question again is with Kershaw, who I also have. He has the talent but is hurting stats right now, leaving owners to hope he comes out of it without posting a 47 ERA again. Should he be the one to go? His talent makes me shy away from the itch to drop him so I probably won’t. Still..

     Colby Lewis is still available in my league and has been looking great after his Japanese safari. I am really thinking about perhaps dropping one of those guys for him. Is it worth taking the drop in production for one game missed in Pettitte’s case because of his start and how good he feels to keep him, or should I just go with Lewis over him regardless.

     I have questions about Kershaw, but I think holding onto him a while longer to see if he comes out of this might be the way to go.

     Otherwise, my pitching staff is this: (And although Halladay is lights out along with Price, no one is really ramping up the K’s in comparison to my matchup competition.)
     Halladay
     Price
     J. Sanchez
     Pettitte
     Kershaw
     Marmol
     Valverde
     J. De La Rosa (DL)

     Is Colby Lewis worth dropping anyone there for? As I said, Pettitte, or wait him out? If Lewis is the real deal I don’t want to miss out on him once other guys pick up on it. But Pettitte has looked 27 so far. Thanks.

386. Been enjoying Alex Gonzalez’s renaissance so far but am thinking it’s time to sell high. Anyone else thinking this and if you’re making trades, what’re you getting for him?

387. @Grey: dilemma on some trades, can you check my post int he forums.

     Basically it boils down to would you rather:

     My VOTTO for his FELIX Hernandez

     OR

     My BAY for another owners SLOWEY allowing me to obviously keep votto.

     The votto/felix deal is on the table. The other deal has been talked about, not on the table tho. Thoughts? My team is listed inthe forums, posted under “Help me Help my Team” as the original post. I guess this comes down to which offensive piece would you rather deal? How much do you believe in slowey? How big is the diff between him and felix?

388. And is ANYONE throwing medlan today? Snagged him up but H2H vs. PHI? phewww…. i’m getting my door blown off in Pitching, BUT could take K’s, etc with a good outting…. bad thing is my opp has like 4 SP options for today and tomm to counter with, all i have left right now is MEDLAN.

389. And these are matchups i could pick up for sunday to counter back, which ones do you like best?

     Leake vs Cubs
     Scherzer vs CLE (as bad as he’s been he’ll probly throw well vs. my indians)
     vargas vs. LAA (bleh)
     anibal sanchez vs WAS

390. @Awesomus Maximus: “: I ended up with McCann and Wieters in one league (don’t ask) ” From your above post…

     @Awesomus Maximus: That’s hilarious! An All-Star for an All star…Priceless!!

     *sigh* My Saturdays are never happy when I go to Razzball to see the morning post, and realize that its Saturday….

391. Anyone throwing Bucholze against the Yanks? I’m quite a bit over my IP count, so I’m sitting him…

392. There’s a good sell article on fangraphs on Aramis. Conclusion: missing tons of fastballs and K’ing a lot more. Could be April rust, but it’s not one of those fall out of chair to get a simply unlucky guy. I offered Headley and his .400 BABIP for him, but I’m not fist pumping happy. I view Headley as a .285-14-15 guy right now (check his .104 ISO, so little power. Tell me I’m crazy and I should want Aramis over Headley.

393. @GopherDay: yeah we all dread the weekends without new post,but even grey deserves a little time to chase the ladies

394. @AL KOHOLIC: Yes, I do agree with you there!!!

395. @GopherDay: yeah we want the next generation of razzballers to have grey jr. sites

396. @AL KOHOLIC: Hahaha!!! That’s awesome!! We do indeed!!

     Grey Jr. will be telling us how Heyward and Starlin Castro are both old and overrated and how we should pass on them in the draft….Haha!!

397. @GopherDay: i wander if they will sport the famous mustache

398. @Martin: I’d give Youk for Greinke.

     @penpen: Ha

     @ViagraFalls: You can drop Pettitte for Lewis if you like. Don’t drop Kershaw.

     @hideousmutants: Maybe a slow starting pitcher. Maybe Kershaw or Beckett.

     @Tony: I’d take either trade, either side. Depends on need.

     @Tony: I’m throwing him in an H2H. Not in a roto.

     @Tony: Leake or Anibal, in that order.

     @GopherDay: I wouldn’t.

     @Rico: I wouldn’t move from Headley to Aramis. I’d trade Dotel and Fred Lewis for him as I mentioned in the post. Or any junky closer and a waiver wire pickup for him. I wouldn’t trade a decent 3rd baseman for him.

399. Just swung a deal for CarGo. Gave up Bartlett and Buchholz. Just wondering if I gave up too much? I have Andrus at SS and this allowed me to not have to drop anyone and get Woody in there. Decent trade?

400. I have Figgins at 2B and Beckham on my bench. Should I pick up Ricky Weeks from my waiver wire and drop one of the others?

401. @Wilsonian: It’s fine.

     @Bob: Drop Beckham for him.

402. Would you waive Francisco or Rodney in order to pick up one of your “buy” starters including LeBlanc and/or Kennedy?

403. @Bob: Francisco who? I’d lose Rodney for Kennedy.

404. I’m sorry. It’s Frank Francisco. My paradigm is getting rid of possible closers for marginal SP. And how do you rank Medlin, Kennedy, LeBlanc, and Olson, since they are all available in this particular league?

405. I picked up Asdrubal because I have Rollins on the DL. Worth dropping Asdrubal for Starlin to stash in a keeper?

406. 14 team league. JJ Hardy just dropped. I’m rolling with Alcides at SS. Is hardy an upgrade? OPS counts.

407. Drop M Scutaro or Y Escobar for S Castro???

408. @ Grey & Others – Beckett & Kershaw seem like great buy low candidates right now – thoughts?

409. @Grey: Callaspo or Castro? My team is pretty fairly balanced among the batting categories. 12 team H2H 6×6 (OBP and Slug instead of AVG)

410. @grey- when do you think mike stanton will get the call? Is he worth picking up early in mixed leagues?

411. @Grey: Cecil or Jaime today?

412. @Martin: I scooped him in a 10 team mixed league H2H. I think he’ll be called up at the end of the month or after the “Super 2″ deadline (early June I think). The owner of the Marlins said he will be called up, it’s just a matter of when. Some think that he will strike out too much and hit for some power right away, but I’m thinking of a Longoria/Braun impact. Wishful thinking on my part, but I’m stashing him until he shows what he can do.

413. H2H-POINTS League, (W=10, L=-5, QS=1, INN=1, K=1, BB=-0.3, HA=-0.1, ER=-1)

     Sell high on Colby Lewis or Zito…two guys playing a little over their heads…to a fed-up owner of Grienke? Or just don’t go there?

414. Assuming Eric Young Jr. doesn’t get sent down when Hawpe is activated: Alcides Escobar or Eric Young Jr.?

415. I have a need for speed, I’ve been offered Andrus and Hill for Tulowitzki and Jose Lopez. What side would you give the edge to in this?

416. @Grey:

     Good thing I drafted a top 5 C like you told me to, so much production and reliability there. (Honestly I still took Montero in one league just to satisfy the urge)

417. @Martin:

     He’s already been picked up by the guy in my league who complained after missing Smoak to me by 30 mins. (Hurray Mountain Standard Time and 12 O Clock Waivers) So if you really want him and his Ooodlicious power potential, probably, assuming you have a bum spot on the roster. I wouldnt drop anyone thats producing for you tho, the month of wait probably will cost too much in counting stats (Im still thinking hes a month away, Marlins are cheap)

418. @Bill Lumbergh:

     I dunno, Kershaw for right now, is a guy who’s on my bench until I see some marked improvement with his crazy 7 BB/9 IP. The ERA hits I can handle but a 1.70 WHIP is enough to singlehandedly destroy my team WHIP. Beckett does seem like he’s gotta pitch better but its still the AL East, and better might be a pedestrian 4.00 ish ERA for the rest of the year. I can find an NL guy like that (without the K’s) on waivers and not feel like I have to sit him vs Tampa and the NYY.

419. @Grey: Would you rather have Roberts or Grandy sitting on your DL, accounting for their respective injuries, but otherwise in a vacuum?

420. Verlander is filthy. Last year from April 27 on he had a 2.92 ERA.

421. @Gubbins:

     Im guessing Grey says Grandy. Roberts won’t be worth anything without his steals, so if he can try to play but can’t steal double digit SB’s he’s more or less uselss (compared to whatever replacement guy you’d have). Groin is of course a concern too if it nags, but I expect to see Grady at 100% before Roberts even comes off the DL.

422. What does everyone think of Justin Masterson? Is he just horribly unlucky? His K/9 is VERY solid.

423. @floridamach1: Both? If I had to pick, I’d say Jaime, if only because I don’t expect Karstens to dominate STL. CWS have a sub-.700 OPS v. lefties, and PIT has a sub-.700 OPS v. righties.

424. @Howie Met Your Mother: He can’t get lefties out- lefties hit 1.140 OPS against him, righties .590. But he’s still better than his current ERA reflects. His BABIP against both righties (.374) and lefties (.449) are too high to sustain. All of that said, I’d only use him as a spot starter against teams without many lefty bats.

425. @Howie Met Your Mother: Oh, and I’d also prefer to use him only at home. He’s walked .66 per 9 at home, 7.62 per 9 away.

426. Should I drop Jose Guillen for Robot Jones, JD Drew, or Travis Snider?

427. @royce!:

     A Home spot starter vs righty biased lineups only. My calculator tells me this is a waste of a valuable lineup spot.

428. @Elijah: Yeah, my sentiments exactly. I’ll wait for him to figure out lefties.

     Relevant to Masterson, as well as a lot of younger dudes, I think that detailed stats really show how emotional immaturity or what have you can make a player seem “unlucky.” For example, although I don’t have extensive data to back this up, it seems that HR/FB #s for younger pitchers can be much higher than average. One could attribute this to luck (I assume that’s what many stats peeps do), but it seems that it reflects the younger pitchers’ inability to accept the fact that you should not rely on the fastball down the pipe that worked so well in the minors. I’m mostly thinking about Latos, though.

429. molina comes out of game with tight hammy,posey?

430. @royce!:

     Key element of my (admittedly raw) Roto strategy is every guy on the roster should have a clear role and doing something productive. I basically go over the whole team and describe what I am expecting each player to do. (*Not necessarily his current performance, ) Now Productive could be a role like … 3B Evan Longoria “5-Tool Franchise Player” C Russell Martin: “Need some schmohawky speed” or just OF Brad Hawpe “Platooning Power Lefty” Now Hawpe is pretty unexciting but he has a clearly defined role and hes producing in it, or was. He’s staying unless someone unexpected is available on waivers/called up.

     What’s the point? #1 you quickly see who should be dropped right away:” Scott Sizemore was quickly dubbed a “Better than Nothing placeholder”. Likewise, a Home-only ‘play and pray’ SP” is clearly a guy who shouldnt even be on the team.

     #2 If you are lacking in a category its easy to puzzle out what Role(s) are missing. For me at least its helping as I really don’t know what Im doing beyond mimicking Grey’s philosophies and my general gaming/math skills/baseball wisdom.

431. @everybody: Brett Cecil @ CWS and Peavy vs. TOR… think these are decent starts today?

432. @Grey: Your man Nate The Great looks good. Nice at-bat, singling off Johan as a PHer. Interesting that he was sent up to face the lefty – he’s hitting lefties very well! Dropped Garland for him. Going to have a tough drop to make when Nelson comes back…

433. Anyone watch the Nationals? (*crickets*) I just tuned in to catch the Zimm at-bat, and I had no idea their announcers were so awesomely, comically homer-riffic. When Zimm got the intentional BB to load the bases they started shit-talking about how Adam Dunn would teach the Marlins a lesson, and then when Dunn got pegged to bring a run in they actually started clapping and cheering! I guess part of the job description when you’re a Nationals announcer though is pep talks/emotional support.

434. @grey (maybe this will make it more of a decision)
     @anyone who feels like helping

     would you rather have your team with
     SLOWEY/VOTTO or BAY/FELIX HERNANDEZ?

435. Good Lord, Pablo and Cano need to find a hitting coach as they are KILLING me this week.

436. Slowey and WaDavis or Garza?

437. @penpen: Yeah they have to give the fans something to smile about I suppose. For sheer homerism, nobody beats Kenny “The Hawk” Harrelson for the White Sox. Guy is hysterical with his “Begone,” K calls and his “stretch, stretch,” HR calls.

     It’s very disconcerting when you’re used to watching the mostly objective Mets crew, who often praise visiting players for nice plays and criticize the home team for blunders. They even go so far as to take viewer calls when the Mets are getting blown out, knowing that fans are going to be down on the team. I appreciate that candor. It’s ironic in relation to the front offices perpetual state of Minayal!

438. @Mr2Bits: Panda’s looked Clueless. I’m surprised Cano’s playing today. He looked pretty messed up after getting hit last night.

439. @Tony: Depends on how your team’s composed I suppose, but I’d take the Felix side. I currently own Slowey and his increased BB rate is starting to freak me out.

440. @3FingersBrown: my team is composed of underacheivers.

     my staff has haren, hughes, nolasco, dirty and some closers…. i could use an ace.

     I’d be flipping my votto for his felix.

     I’d rather move a guy like pence, bay, mags, etc but i can’t get anyone to give me much, obviously they’re all slumping ridiculously.

     I could flip bay for slowey, and keep my votto which is why i posted it the way i did…..

     i almost feel i can’t deal votto because i cant afford to lose the O.

441. CC’s falling apart like Beckett last night!

442. @Buge Hoobs: GOOD! Go boston…. i hate rooting for either of these teams but i need boston to have another one of those 17 run nights!

443. The mets REALLY need to figure something out with that line up.

     Wright batting 5th?

     reyes 3rd?

     bay cleanup!?

     wow. How they’re winning any games amazes me….. glad i own all 3 of those guys and the best one they bat FLIPPIN 5th!!!!!

444. @wakeNbake: I wouldn’t start Peavy. His last start was great, but it was against the Royals, and TOR pounded him last time.

     Cecil, I would start. CWS batting under .700 OPS v lefties.

445. @Elijah: An interesting theory. I think I should employ it instead of what I seem to do which is pick up people because I think they merit ownership.

     Any thoughts on how your theory would apply to dropping Guillen for Snider, Robot Jones, or JD Drew?

446. @Tony:

     Can I have another week before I answer that?

447. @Elijah: ?

448. @Tony: I think it depends on how much you believe Felix will turn things around, or if there’s a larger mechanical issue that he’s going to really struggle with. I think in a vacuum I’d take the Felix side, but I think I have a lower opinion of Votto than Gray does, and I’m a Reds fan. For your team though, it seems like your pitching should come around–Hughes might fall off a bit, but Haren and Nolasco will more than pick up the slack. Felix is another underachieving pitcher at the moment anyway. For you, I like the Votto side.

449. @royce!:

     Well thats the point I guess. Asking Grey to give us a stream of hot bats is great and all, but your car, not his. You need to know how to drive, what parts on the car that need upgrading, what parts are solid, and which are core parts. Grey has the best quality and selection of spare parts and used schmohawk’s in town, but its your race to run.

     If you like. post your roster and I’ll show you what Im doing and you can see if we are close or not?

450. @Tony:

     Sorry, I want to see Felix another start cuz Im not that savvy to give insta ratings like some people we know. Votto’s the only part there right now that has a firm pricetag methinks.

451. @Elijah: ya i’m starting to think for NOW, i can’t be dealing votto for felix, especially after an 8 run debacle.

     I need to push to deal bay, pence, bruce, mags, or someone….. its just hard pushing guys that are batting .230 ya know….

452. @Tony:

     I don’t even know what to think about Slowey right now. I guess I could label him “Control-addled borderline starter”. To me Slowey, in 10 team leagues, is approaching drop level. 1.51 WHIP = Failure, must improve. Hopefully tho hes just a Slowey starter.

453. medlan outta the game, only throws 80 pitches and goes 4 innings? are they going to baby him?

454. @Elijah: ya but he WAS a whip master…. so i dont know if he’ll correct that, he should….

455. @Tony:

     I know Grey liked him, but I’m starting to cool on his tendency to embrace 5-6 inning wild K specialists. (aka Sanchez, You can’t predice wins but you sure as hell can do probability calcs, and to me 5-6 IP guys are costing wins. Winning K’s is great, but I’m a bit to the Rudi viewpoint that seems to value, let’s say, Roy Halladay or Dan Haren more than Grey would/did.

456. @Tony:

     Grey thinks Slowey’s wrist may not be 100%. I could certainly see that might compromise his control.

457. @Elijah: I appreciate the offer, but I think Snider, Drew, Guillen, and Robot Jones are similar enough that I should be able to compare them in a vacuum. I mean, I guess the answer boils down to whether one thinks that Guillen will heat up again and hit HRs at the pace at which he started the season. I doubt anyone can answer without just relying on blind faith, so… I guess I’ll just go with my gut and wait it out a bit.

     Thanks for the offer tho.

458. @Tony:

     I’m holding tight on Slowey, but he just got handed a yellow card for unlawful WHIP carnage, Grade B. (Love yah Kershaw, but first pitch strikes don’t give ya cooties, try it once)

459. @Elijah: @royce!: I like to follow a similar plan when building a team. I try to go for guys who compliment one another as I believe in trying to win all of my 6×6 categories every week.

     So for instance, I’m not getting excited about Mike Stanton, since i have a lot of pop and a couple of TTO OF’s already in Swish and Willingham. Brandon Morrow might K a ton of guys, but I’ve collected a posse of low BB% pitchers who should hold down my ratios and still give me a chance to win K’s due to sheer numbers.

     @Tony: I take Felix. So he’s had a couple of lousy starts. Shit happens. He’s still an ace.

     @Tony: They have to stretch him out. He’s been coming out of the ‘pen all year. Fine young arm like that you don’t want to mess with. I’m sure his pitch count will increase steadily over his next starts.

460. @Elijah: I’m not giving up on Slowey. His problems seem to stem from one bad inning – usually the 5th or 6th. Perhaps it’s a matter of him rebuilding arm strength since he is coming off of major surgery. I expect him to improve.

461. @royce!:

     OK, I agree about the similiar players. To go back to the car metaphor, if all your car needs is a sunroof, then leave it be. Guillen to me is like A Jackson on my tean, leave him be til the streak is over. I personally expect Guillen to injure himself here in the next month or two but he could get you 10 HR’s before then.

462. @3FingersBrown:

     Oh I’m not either. But in a 10 team mixed league Im learning it pays to have a shorter leash.

463. @Elijah: As a Jackson owner, I concur. So far so good. Of course he’s bound to slow down but he hasn’t yet, so why go nuts trying to unload him? I need BA and SB and he’s producing.

     With all of the writers drilling regression into my opponents heads, no one in my league has any interest in him anyway aside from a few weak, lowball offers. This is a keeper league, so that surprises me. Jackson is a very smart guy with a solid makeup – much like the man who he replaced in Detroit. He’s shown to be a great study under McClendon, who altered his stance and approach. Why shouldn’t he continue improve and succeed? Simply because, “he’s a rookie and this is what he did in the minors?” That doesn’t always fly.

     Players change and develop, particularly when exposed to new teams. Look at all these Cardinals pitchers for instance. Brad Penny and Jaime Garcia this year, Piniero last. All it takes is the right situation for a player to change dramatically in a positive or negative way.

     That’s my .02 in the bucket. On What I’m not sure.

464. @3FingersBrown:

     Yeah, why plan for a problem that has yet to prove it even exists (Jackson slumping into a .260 hitter ROS). Jacksons 23 too, he’s no stripling, maybe his breakout year happens to be his rookie year. Many speed/AVG guys have their best seasons of their career at similar ages. For example, I’d lay money that Reyes already has had his career year at age 22.

465. Derek Holland to be called up next week…

466. Derek Holland is slated to make his 2010 major league debut either Wednesday or Thursday against the A’s.

467. @Kyuss Says – you beat me – I am not picking him up – my pitching is solid in all league – its the hittting that is killing me -

468. @Kyuss:

     That WHIP is scarzy. I sense another 5-6 IP high K LHP with bonus roofie innings.

469. @mrbaseball:

     I’m excited for this start. With the way he looked in the minors, if he has a good start he is here to stay.

     I think he worked all the kinks out last year.

     I’ve been holding on to him in a deep league (20 teams)

     Can’t think of a better matchup for him to start on either.

470. I need a Beckham replacement in a H2H-POINTS league. Which yawnstipating 2B eligible bat should I pick up?

     Blake DeWitt
     Julio Lugo
     Matt Downs
     Clint Barmes

     All have actually been semi-hot recently, with Downs now starting everyday with Renteria hurt, and Lugo getting a shot at leadoff for BAL

471. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): I’m slightly embarrassed to still be holding Beckham in leagues where I have way better replacement options than that, but for some reason I keep thinking he’s about to turn the corner.

472. @Donnie Baseball:

     Isn’t that a lot of faith based on a small group of good minor league starts? Somehow the phrase Luke Hochevar circa 2009 springs instantly to memory.

473. With Nick Johnson likely going to the DL will Gardner bat second?

474. @Elijah:

     But he has the stuff to back it, unlike Hochevar.

475. @Donnie Baseball:

     I just wonder if you might not be better off sitting him 1st start. And I’m always for: when in doubt, start em. Here I see reasons for doubt. That and a distinct memory of the A’s tendency to score a bunch runs JUST when you thought they couldn’t hit batting practice.

476. @GREY: are you still really down on scott baker? If so, would you say it would be paying too much to get aramis ramirez in return. I’d probably give up chipper jones with baker for yunel escobar and aramis. My other CI are garrett jones and michael young.

477. @Rick Dempsey:

     Think Grey’s getting some relaxation in after the wedding and a week of our machine-gun flurry of roster questions, so might be a bit.

478. B.J. Upton vs. Nick Markakis

     Same guy… one for speed, one for power, right? Though, I’m giving Upton a slight edge given the offense around him (and the lack of offense around Markakis).

     Opinions, please.

479. i think JOEY VOTTO is trying to tell me something, right now he’s saying “DONT TRADE ME YOU FOOL, THE WEATHER IS TURNING AND I’M ABOUT READY TO GO OFF”

     1-1 with a 2 run donger….

480. @Awesomus Maximus: I’ve been on the Beckham bandwagon from the get-go. In a 12-team league or deeper, I’m holding onto to him. Bench him, but don’t drop him. He’s too good a hitter to be down for long.

     BTW, so much for Beckham being benched for the weekend or that threat of sending him down to AAA…he’s starting at 2B again tonight and batting in the 2-hole.

481. Cecil’s change-up fooling few tonight. I fear the scouting reports are getting around on these hodgepodjays after their early successes.

482. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Yeah, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. He’s got a run and an RBI today without any ABs. An 0 for 0 with some numbers is a huge step up from his 0 for 4′s with no numbers. Here’s to hoping the “head clearing” day yesterday did the trick.

483. Wagner for Guerrero? which side would you want?

484. Are we dropping Franklin Morales?

485. nice catch by the big fragu

486. @Awesomus Maximus:

     I wouldn’t exactly say power for Markakis. The big difference in his favor over Upton would be Avg.

     I probally like Upton a little more.

     What do you think of a Adam Jones and O. Dotel for Ellsbury trade?

487. I heard from a local newspaper that Mike Stanton was not in the line-up the past two days for AA Jacksonville because he was away on “personal business”. Is that code for “meeting with the Marlins people discussing when he will be promoted”? Let the speculation begin folks…

488. Holy Crapalicious!!! Tex just won me my H2H matchup this week!!!

489. He will however, be in the line-up for AA Jacksonville on Monday… so not just yet.

490. hope you guys enjoyed my 0-8 today!

491. Sorry, guys, was out all day. If you still have preguntas, can hit me up again.

492. 14 team league. JJ hardy just got dropped. I got alcides. is Hardy an upgrade? OPS counts

493. @Schlitzy: Different needs. If you want power, Hardy. Steals (though not sure where they are), Alcides.

494. 16-team, H2H-POINTS League

     Keep starting Beckham or bench him and pick up and start one of these schmohawks?

     Barmes (showing a pulse recently)
     Lugo (responding in the 2-hole the last few games)
     Downs (full time job with Renteria out)
     DeWitt (empty average but steady)

495. @Grey: i’ve been OK in SB even with alcides not running. I’m really just looking to squeeze ANY type of production out of the spot.

496. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Bench him, grab Barmes while hitting.

     @Schlitzy: I’d stick with Alcides then.

497. 16-team, H2H-POINTS League

     Scott Hairston and Fred Lewis are flourishing batting at the top of their respective line-ups.

     Fowler is my DH and Maybin and Blanks are my bench bats. Ugly.

     Drop one or more for Hairston and/or Lewis?

498. first Latos burns me and now Chacin…SONOVABENCH X 2!!!

499. Grey – Holland worth a look as compared to LeBlanc/Latos? Thanks!

500. @Grey: gracias Gris.

501. @AnotherFalstaff: I was actually going ask about Holland as well. Holland, Chacin, Cecil, Floyd if you could have only two?

502. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Drop Maybin for Hairston.

     @AnotherFalstaff: Eh

     @Schlitzy: No problem.

     @mauledbypandas: Floyd, Cecil…

503. Thanks Grey x 2

     Here’s another…same league

     16-Team, H2H-POINTS League, (W=10, L=-5, QS=1, INN=1, K=1, BB=-0.3, HA=-0.1, ER=-1)

     Sell high on Colby Lewis or Zito…two guys playing a little over their heads…to a fed-up owner of Grienke? Or just don’t go there?

504. Another question for anyone out there. I know that the Super Two date is around June 1 but it seems like it could start earlier. Any estimates for Stanton/Chapman? Marlins and Reds could use some help (me too!!).

505. Grey and others:

     Thoughts on a weird waivers situation. Ellsbury dropped today in my H2H points league. We have no DL spots. My OF and bench consist of Grady, Markakis, Krispie, Adam Jones, Granderson, Bruce, Kelly Johnson, Jonathan Sanchez, Matusz, and Strasburg. I cannot get anyone in my league to accept a trade for an OF. Would you drop anyone for Ellsbury?

506. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Give him either for Greinke. Zito first.

     @AnotherFalstaff: Can’t see why they’d jump the gun on Super Two. But if either do, it would be Stanton.

507. @Chris: I’d lose Matsuz for him in a non-keeper.

508. @Grey: thanks. you feel the clock is going to strike midnight on Zito soon, or it’s just that Greinke is too good to pass up?

509. @Grey: cut bait on franklin morales? asked earlier….. i’d like to spot start corriea?

510. @Tony: If you’re that much more desperate for wins as opposed to saves, cut’em. Even if he keeps the job, he won’t have it much longer anyway unless Street’s arm explodes.

511. Andre Ethier: looks like the pizza boy, hits like Duke Snider.

512. @Grey: Callaspo or Castro?

     C: Napoli
     1B: Morneau
     2B: Hill
     SS: Reyes
     3B:Wright
     CI: Robot
     MI: Callaspo
     OF: Braun
     OF: Lind
     OF: Hamilton
     OF: Rios
     Util: Span

513. Oh and a belated HR Mini-Donkey!

514. Robot/Posdnous for Pena?

515. @penpen: @penpen:

     Why not?

516. I have asked this a few times now, almost to the point of annoyance and I apologize, but should I drop Pettitte for the red-hot Colby Lewis? I know Pettitte is only going to miss one start, but I am getting shelled in the pitching department (even with a good roster) and don’t know if passing on Lewis and waiting on Pettitte is the right thing to do. It’s been tormenting me for a couple days now.

     Is Colby Lewis a flash in the pan, or is he the real deal? His K’s are up there and I would love to have his production. Losing Pettitte, even for this one start, is a hole in my rotation. And I know that someone is going to snatch Lewis up in my 8 man league soon enough when they look at his numbers. He may not have the run support the Yankees give Pettitte, but he is holding his own so far.

     My pitching staff is:
     Halladay
     Price
     J. Sanchez
     Pettitte
     Kershaw (who is DESTROYING my numbers, thus far)
     De La Rosa (DL)
     Marmol
     Valverde

     And I am still getting killed in these H2H matchups by guys who sacrificed offense for more pitching or guys that managed to work miracles in the auction draft for superb pitchers that are on fire. Pettitte is pitching like he is 27 and would like to have him if he is healthy and keeps on like this, but what does anyone think the chances of that are and is Lewis the better option right now?

     Thanks a million, all.

517. @ViagraFalls:

     How many bench bats do you have? (Not a big fan of carrying more than 1, especially in HtH 5x where you can use Grey’s streaming/flooding starters strat.

518. @ViagraFalls:

     The idea being, you can beat quality with quantity, while retaining superior bats.

519. 2 Q’s, Señor Albright:

     1.) Vacuum pack, Markakis or B.J.

     2.) Pence has been sucking again. Stick it out or replace him with Snider?

     Please wish your mamma a Happy Mother’s Day from all us “fantasy baseballers”, and thank her for creating the most helpful man in the entire FBB blogosphere.

520. I need a rank ‘em, guys. Here are the contenders: G. Floyd, W. Davis, Latos, E. Jackson, Chacin, Cecil, Blanton and Gio. Thoughts anyone?

521. Happy mothers day to all of you with active wombs. How does the community feel about Dempster and Ervin Santana today?

522. @Howard:
     I’m digging Ervin @ Seattle. You can’t say no to that.

523. @ViagraFalls should I drop Pettitte for the red-hot Colby Jerry Lewis

     Slowly I Turned…Step by Step…Inch by Inch…”

     Pettitte been pitching good – I am sure you got him cheap enough

524. @Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Greinke’s too good.

     @Tony: Sure

     @Elijah: Ha

     @MattW: Callaspo’s fine there.

     @penpen: It’s fair.

     @Awesomus Maximus: Upton, I wouldn’t drop Pence.

     @G-RAM: Cecil, G. Floyd, Latos (at home), Gio, W. Davis, Chacin…

     @Howard: I’d start them.

525. I picked up Asdrubal because I have Rollins on the DL. Worth dropping Asdrubal for Starlin to stash in a keeper?

526. @Mike: In a keeper? How is he not owned? I’d prefer Asdrubal over Starlin, but he should be owned.

527. If you wanted to trade a couple of donkeycorns for a 2B, who would you target from this group who are all on one team. In no particular order.

     McGehee, Figgins, Phillips, Asdrubal

528. @BKK:

     Doesnt that seem excessive trade bait? Phillips is maybe worth it depending on who they are?

529. @BKK:

     I’m making the assumption the other guy really needs closers? If so, I would think you have the upper hand and he has too many MI anyways.

530. In a H2H league, is it smart to sell Rasmus right now? We have no bench spots, so he must remain in my line up all the time. Is he going to sit vs lefties all year?

531. @Elijah: I have a plethora of closers.
     Wood, Lidge, Simon, Corpas, Lindstrom, Jenks, Marmol. I have Andrus at SS and Lopez at 2B. Was actually thinking Figgins might be a good target since he is scuffling.

532. Eh, I only see 3 donkeycorns there, that would leave you with just 1 and a bunch of big question mark guys. Maybe 1 donkey and freezer for Figgy. Seattle aint really much of an offense tho of course.

533. @Cheese: If he doesn’t sit against lefties all year he will definitely suck against lefties all year.

534. @TheBravesWearPrado:

     You may have a point there. 0/0 is better than an 0/4

535. Make sure to bench M Holliday btw everyone, his groin is overworked.

536. @Grey:

     Just to verify… Sit/Start Kershaw?

537. Alcides or Alexei?

538. @Ceasar:

     Boring and Boringer.

539. Drop either Cecil, LeBlanc, Masterson, or Matusz for Sheets in a 12 team league or stay put?

540. @Grey: Would you say that Aramis is a better option than my current 3B/CI’s M.Young, G.Jones, or Chipper?

541. @Elijah: No doubt, but I don’t have the waiver priority to land Starlin.

     I’ll add a third “A”: Alcides, Alexei or Aviles?

542. @Bill Lumbergh: I owned Sheets for the first few weeks and all he gave me were headaches. He was walking too many guys and not striking out enough. His last start was promising especially the k’s but I would wait another start or two before adding him.

543. @Ceasar:

     Id take Alexei as hes more proven.

544. ugh, when Hamels walks the pitcher i want to do very bad things

545. Not going to buy a Gavin Floyd jersey anytime soon.

546. @mauledbypandas:

     I had some choice words. I give him some credit for battling tho, he’s still got the lead.

547. @Elijah: yeah, he has been destroying my whip all year, hoping he will turn it around eventually

548. Worth starting Kennedy and Lester today? Both their opps are mashing the ball right now.

549. @mauledbypandas:

     Try having both him and Kershaw. The rest of my staff on that club is really performing great, but those two are the S&M Brothers with my damn WHIP.

550. @Elijah: got Kershaw, Hamels, E. Santana, Slowey, CJ Wilson, Lewis, and Marcum so my pitching isn’t terrible, but my whip is around 1.35 ugh

551. so where are you guys on werth? keep riding him all season or sell high for someone like grady or better? i personally love werth, but i have a hard time believing he’s THIS good…

552. @mauledbypandas:

     Never mind then

     I got Hughes and Burnett, Wilson, Hudson, Kennedy. All drafted lower (or a FA) and all better this year.

553. Mine’s 1.31, not horrible. Takes a long time to lower tho and then they just do it again.

554. @Elijah: Yeah, it’s been a frustrating start to the year for me thus far. I am kicking myself for going with Kershaw over Jimenez though.. I remember my draft thinking both these guys wont come back around to me, so I have to pick one. Like they said in that Indiana Jones movie, I choose poorly.
     @dj: I love Werth. There are only a handful of OF’s I would trade him for right now. Make someone knock your socks off, otherwise I would ride him out. Great lineup, great park. As a guy said in my league this week, he is playing some great fantasy baseball right now!

555. @dj:

     Now that I bench him hes looking solid of course. Ah well, Im glad hes righting the ship, he’ll be back in confidence for me next time. As for Ubaldo, every season theres a number of guys you could say that about. And who knows, can he stay healthy with them working him like it was 1955?

556. Here is your chance to get a 5 tool player – Corey Patterson –

     MLB.com’s report suggests outfielder Corey Patterson could be in line for an imminent promotion

557. @Ceasar: Alexei

     @Bill Lumbergh: Hold

     @mrbaseball: Ha

558. so in light of this braden perfection.. would you guys rather have braden or latos at this point?

     or chacin?

559. @dj: Latos

560. @Grey: Do you think Figgins is a buy?

561. @BKK: If you need steals…

562. Grey, thoughts on the following?

     Alexei or Starlin?

     Weekly h2h points league, start 3 pitchers and 2 hitters:

     Price v. Ana, Hamels @ Mil, Garcia @ Cin, Slowey v. CWS, Sanchez v. SD

     Kelly Johnson, Aaron Hill, Grady Sizemore

563. In a H2H league, is it smart to sell Rasmus right now? We have no bench spots, so he must remain in my line up all the time. Is he going to sit vs lefties all year?

564. @mrbaseball:
     Here’s a random fact:

     Did you know Patterson’s agent is actually Scott Boras?

     I bet he likes to hide that little detail.

565. @Eddy:
     Boras likes to hide it that is **

566. should i blow the #2 overall waiver on starlin castro? It’s 14 team mixed. Wonderin gif there are gonna be better guys coming up to waiver this year

567. @cubbies299: Santana, Posey, and Stanton will all probably be called up within a month unless they are already taken.

568. @Chris: Alexei… Sanchez, Price, Hamels… Johnson and Sizemore…

     @Cheese: Sell him for what? If it’s a good deal, sure.

     @cubbies299: I’d grab Castro if you need him.

569. Too many good arms in FA pool in my league and I am trying to figure out who to drop…would you rank the following in this order Pavano, Harden, Chacin (I know Harden’s arm will fall off sometime soon)?

     I streamed Chacin in his first start (thanks Grey) but skipped him this last time around. At some point my dumbass league mates have to realize he is good and they will pick him up…or not.

     I also have Kennedy and Leake on my staff. Of the five, who would you leave on the waiver wire.

     Thanks,
     Jim

570. I hope this Braden perfect game doesn’t turn into a “OMFGBBQWTF” ordeal where everyone asks if they should drop Roy Halladay for him.

     Anyways, you do have to give credit where credit is due. He did it against the Rays. Maybe 3 years ago that would have meant nothing, but in 2010, with the start they have had, that’s pretty special.

     I hope A-Rod has something smug to say about it.

571. @Grey: Snider or Castro in a keeper?

     Already have Reyes/KJ/Desmond/Cano up the middle and Snider/BJ/Car-Go/Pence/Bay/Stanton/Grandy in the OF.

572. @Steve: Snider is probably the only guy I’d consider dropping for him, BTW.

573. SAGNOF ALERT

     @CloserNews: Scot Gregor of Daily Herald: Thornton, Santos, Putz could all be options if Jenks is removed from closer role http://bit.ly/c9ISGV

     Thornton has to be 1st in line right? His #’s are filthy this year.

574. @Eddy Says:

     @mrbaseball:
     Here’s a random fact:

     Did you know Patterson’s agent is actually Scott Boras?
     I bet he likes to hide that little detail.

     I bet he uses Patterson as a write off on his taxes since he loses money on him

575. @timSTi:

     Already owned of couirse, grr.

576. @Grey: MY BAY/DOTEL for HIS HAMELS.

     It was accepted. I needed some SP’ing that i can count on. I still have Soria, BELL, wagner, and any other schmohawks that become closers as options. Plus i was sitting an OF’er out of Bay, pence, mags, or other offensive UTL options of Smoak, pierre, aiviles and o-dog….. thoughts? I’m loving it for me and my team needs.

577. @Tony: You’re welcome!

578. @BKK:

     Its hard to say whos gonna win that one, bunch of struggling guys that could bounce back huge or not.

579. @Elijah: I needed Dotel like a hole in the head but, Tony threw him in, now to try and move a couple closers for a good 2B.

580. LOS ANGELES — Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was quick to point out it’s the other quadriceps muscle.

     Tulowitzki left Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Dodgers in the fifth inning with a strain in the right quad and is listed as day-to-day. Rockies head athletic trainer Keith Dugger said it’s possible the Rockies will order an MRI.

     Tulowitzki has a history of quad problems. He missed 46 games in 2008 with a tear of the quadriceps ligament and missed a month in the Minors with a quad strain shortly after being selected seventh overall in 2005. But those issues were with the left quad.

     “So if someone doesn’t ask me if it’s the same thing as last time; it’s the same spot, but a different leg,” Tulowtizki said.

     Tulowitzki said he does not believe the injury is at the level it was with the 2008 injury, “but you never know.”

581. @Elijah:
     Good news for me. My H2H opponent for tomorrow has him.

     My condolences if you own him.

582. Just read this tidbit on FanGraphs. I chuckled since I know Braden is pretty crappy.

     “According to a basic binomial distribution, the odds of Braden allowing no runners in 27 batters, as he did on Sunday, are .00001517, or 0.001517%. Braden’s perfect game wasn’t quite one-in-a-million. It was more like 15.2 in a million.”

583. @Eddy:

     I do. It doesn’t sound too serious at least, but iyeah it would be a big blow if he has to DL.

584. @Grey:

     Which side is more valuable for the rest of this year only:

     Matt Capps and Kelly Johnson
     OR
     Felix Hernandez

     Thanks

585. @Grey: Pence went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in the Astros’ victory over the Padres on Sunday.

     And this is why I shouldn’t drop Pence… got it. I also needed a W and low WHIP in an H2H, so I took the recommendation you gave someone else on Leake. Sometimes your foresight borders on creepy.

586. Orlando Hudson or Mike Aviles as a MI going forward?

587. I’m currently going through fangraphs, and I’m curious what kind of trends/stats to look into most (for hitters and pitchers)? Basically, how do you find the players that will sustain their production, and others who will regress/improve?

588. @Cheese: BABIP is probably the most “basic” of the advanced stats for that sort of thing. Low BABIP for a batter can indicate he’s getting “unlucky” (opposite for high BABIP, obviously). Put that up to a mirror for pitchers (low BABIP is lucky, high is unlucky).

589. who do you like better olsen or medlen?

590. @Awesomus Maximus: Ya I do look at BABIP, but I’m curious how to read GB%, FB%, LD%, ISO, O-swing%, etc. For pitchers I generally look at xFIP, but I want to look at more than just those 2 categories.

591. what’s the majority opinion on lind? would you give up lind for grady? would you give up markakis for grady? i don’t know how i feel about grady anymore… i kind of don’t trust him.

     would you package lind and quentin for someone? wait them out? i don’t know what to do with these guys.

592. @Everyone: Which side of Zimmerman or King Felix would you take? I’ve just traded for Wright who could occupy my 3B slot (Zimm is playing CI). What do y’all think?

593. Zimmerman for sure.

594. thank you A.J. Burnett for allowing to win whip tonight – also an assist to the manager who decided to start him tonight

595. @chisox: I just chose Aviles hoping he’s a hot hand. Are you a fellow Tulo owner?

596. Zimm looks like he is going to have a monster year

597. A-Rod just hit a cop with a foul ball. The man has absolutely no moral compass, I swear.

598. @grey- besides from the obvious guys like lincecum, greinke, doc, and CC, what pitchers should i target for Kevin Youkilis?

599. @Mojo the Helper Monkey: I wish, I have Cano in both leagues though, Bartlett is my SS.

600. Bartlett was just dropping in my main league… can’t decide if I want to deal with his struggles or stick with Beckham’s. Oh happy day…

601. Err… *dropped*

602. Take B.J. Upton for Manny?

603. @bostonbeerman: Chacin

     @Steve: Different things, but Snider.

     @timSTi: Thanks for the heads up!

     @Tony: Seems fine.

     @Elijah: Thanks for the heads up!

     @Mike D: F-Her

     @chisox: Aviles

     @black love: Olsen

     @dj: I’d give up Markakis for Grady.

     @GopherDay: It’s fair, depends on needs.

     @mrbaseball: Hehe

     @Lines: Ha!

     @Martin: You know the top pitchers in the game. Start there, work backwards.

     @NukeLaDouche: Upton

604. @Awesomus Maximus:

     I’d go with Bartlett, he’s hitting leadoff on an explosive AL offense and will get lots of opportunities for counting stats. Beckham who knows?

605. @Grey:
     George of the Rose was just dropped in my league. Worth a gamble by dropping Pelfrey for him or not so much?

     Lester, Kershaw, Hamels, Jaime, Pelfrey, Wandy, Ian Kennedy, and Filthy Sanchez.

606. @Grey:
     George of the Rose was just dropped in my league. Worth a gamble by dropping Pelfrey for him or not so much?

     Lester, Kershaw, Hamels, Jaime, Pelfrey, Wandy, Ian Kennedy, and Filthy Sanchez are on my staff.

     Well, not like that, but you know what I’m saying.

607. @Eddy: Eh… I wouldn’t drop Pelfrey for him.

608. @Grey: Ty-Wig or V-Well? A vacuum therein.

609. @Grey: Hey Nate the great’s run at Metco today won me R’s and my week. Props!

     I saw the opposite of perfection at Metco today. Bad Craziness as HST would say. Never been to a colder, windier game – at least not since Game 3 88 NLCS the slip n slide/Jay Howell emoryboard game… Like I imagine Candlestick must have been. Rowand’s shot looked like a pop fly and Bay’s looked like a homer.

     Best feature at Metco is being able to hang by the pen… oh and the obscene choices of beer. Watching the pitchers warm up, Oli almost hit Werthen. Great to see Tim in the pen pre-game on some Neo Matrix shit.

     Meija needs to be starting in AAA and Manual/Manaya need to go.

610. Troy Tulowitzki (right quad strain) is day-to-day, although the injury isn’t considered serious, according to Rockies trainer Keith Dugger.

     “Tomorrow will tell a lot,” said Tulowitzki. “We’ll see how sore I am.”

611. can you rank these guys:

     Holland, Cecil, Chacin, Sheets.

     I don’t trust Sheets, but neither do I young pitchers. There are simply no more options.

     Right now I’m tending to Cecil or Sheets….

     What do you think?

612. @Eddy:

     Funny, my staff is quite similar: Haren, J Johnson Hamels, Wandy, Kennedy, Sanchez and Slowey,

613. Beckham or Weeks?

614. @Grey: Need some speed this week and Lewis is available and facing Boston. Think I should take him off of waivers and dump Schierholtz or Brignac? I have flexibility, so position doesn’t matter.

     One of those guys will go when Nelson comes off of the DL.

615. @Bob from Germany: Chacin has looked very good so far. I’d put him at the top of that list – particularly when you factor in his NL West opponents.

Comments are closed.