Comments on: Fire & Ice, Week 5

By: paulzone

paulzone — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:28:11 +0000

@The Fantasy Baseball King: Sorry for the confusion, I do not have an open spot. I was looking to swap Espinosa for either a batter or pitcher that would improve my team.

Update: Liriano got picked up (and not by me, aargh), so here are my new decisions:

best avail batters: rios, adam jones, markakis, lee, raburn
best avail sp: dempster, chris young, peavy (dl)

My two questions:

1. Would you swap lohse for any of the above pitchers?

2. Which batter above would you swap Espinosa for?

Thanks!!

By: IgnatiusJReilly

IgnatiusJReilly — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:31:15 +0000

@The Fantasy Baseball King: yeah,I would appreciate as much feedback as possible….

C-Soto
1B-Fielder
2B-Cano
3B-A. Ramirez
SS-Rollins
OF-Braun
OF-Crawford
OF-Lind
BN-Justin Smoak,BJ Upton,Elvis Andrus,Mike Aviles,Nick Swisher,Pablo Sandoval(DL)

SP-Felix Hernandez,David Price,Ricky Nolasco,Carloz Zambrano,Daniel Hudson,Michael Pineda,Alexi Ogando,Derrick Holland and Ubaldo

RP-Soria,Hanrahan,Valverde

thnks.

By: djstaple

djstaple — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:06:23 +0000

@The Shizz: Well said

By: Rollie Lingers

Rollie Lingers — Wed, 04 May 2011 06:21:33 +0000

(And by that I mean offer the trade Liriano for Gallardo)

By: Rollie Lingers

Rollie Lingers — Wed, 04 May 2011 06:20:59 +0000

After his no-no, thinking about trying to sell Liriano high and buy Gallardo low.

Thoughts?

I’m in a 10-team H2H points keeper league btw.

By: AM2

AM2 — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:10:03 +0000

4.05 ERA for Wolf? He’ll need to post a 4.5+ ERA for the next 170 innings or so. I just don’t see Wolf consistently putting up 8 IP, 4 ER, 6 IP, 3 ER types of lines for the rest of the way — I think he’s better than that.

If Wolf manages a 3.8 – 3.9 ERA the rest of the way, he’ll finish the season at 3.60.

By: AM2

AM2 — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:02:37 +0000

Even though I could really use a guy like Brett Wallace…. is it wrong for me to avoid him because I think he’s the ugliest player in the MLB?

By: Travis

Travis — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:57:10 +0000

Good thing I kept Liriano in my lineup lol. I’ve left him in all year, I figured what’s the point of taking him out now?

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:55:02 +0000

@papafrog: Yes, they are revised projections for Liriano...although after tonight, they may need to be revised yet again! Baseball is a 162 game season...very, very long! Signed, The Fantasy Baseball King

By: papafrog

papafrog — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:52:49 +0000

@The Fantasy Baseball King: I just want to make sure I understand your projections here. Are these your revised projections as of May 3? I know, I know, I'm stoooopid but I just want to make sure I understand. Thanks in advance!

By: Virinder

Virinder — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:40:26 +0000

Anyone think Liriano’s K-Rate will come back with Gardenhire telling him to pitch to contact?? I feel like I’m rostering Trevor Cahill… :/

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:57:43 +0000

@paulzone: So you have 1 open spot and then would have to do 1 drop/add?

I’d get Liriano…as I mentioned in both “Fire & Ice” columns, the one thing I wouldn’t do is drop him. See some monthly numbers on him here: http://thefantasybaseballking.blogspot.com/2011/05/francisco-liriano-no-hitter-entering.html

As for Rios, I’m not feeling him at all right now, and if transactions are limited, I would save them for something more useful to you. Espinosa, as a potential 15/15 or even 20/20 middle infielder has more value right now than Rios. For more of my thoughts on Alex, read here:
http://thefantasybaseballking.blogspot.com/2011/04/advice-from-fantasy-baseball-king-april_27.html

Hope that helps; good luck!

Signed,

The Fantasy Baseball King

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:52:25 +0000

WOW, guys I’m with ya, trust me! So shocked right now…happy for Francisco but…WOW.

Note: it DID take him over 120 pitches to finish the game, and he only struck out 2 while walking 6. But trying to get so many K’s very well may be what has made him finicky (see: Oliver Perez).

More info on this here: http://thefantasybaseballking.blogspot.com/2011/05/francisco-liriano-no-hitter-entering.html

By: IowaCubs

IowaCubs — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:32:27 +0000

SSSSSSSOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: PureBwa

PureBwa — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:30:16 +0000

A no-hitter sonofabench? Has that EVER happened? Ugh.

By: DP

DP — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:29:33 +0000

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. SONOFABENCH is right!

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:27:22 +0000

Liriano owners the world over just let out a collective SONOFABENCH!!!! woulda been nice if he could have at least helped out his k/bb.

By: JohnnyBoy

JohnnyBoy — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:26:25 +0000

REALLY???? Freakin Liriano. Trust him the whole goddamn season up to this point, and the first time I bench him, he throws a no-hitter.

By: Big Nate

Big Nate — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:21:20 +0000

Liriano 6 walk no-hitter…..

Giggity.

By: dsimon

dsimon — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:20:14 +0000

SON OF A FUCKING BENCH. Fuck you Liriano, right in the ass.

By: Tony tone

Tony tone — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:18:08 +0000

Uh oh, Rauch and Haren just brutally sexually assaulted my ERA tag team style. Let’s hope Tommy Hanson tosses a gem and helps bring down the swelling.

By: paulzone

paulzone — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:41:39 +0000

liriano, dempster and rios (on waivers for 2 days) are available in my league. i can dump espinosa and pick up of them. trying to decide who.

12 team roto with a very limited bench, only 40 transactions.
usual hitting cats plus obp, gidp & errors. usual pitching cats plus hlds, losses and gidp.

current team:
c-avila
1b-fielder
2b-weeks
ss-reyes
3b-longoria
rf-j upton
cf-chris young
lf-gordon
util-chipper
bench-espinosa

sp-sabathia, hamels, oswalt, lilly, ogando, lohse, padilla (hlds)
rp-kimbrel, lyon, chapman (hlds)

i just traded for weeks/lyon. gave up guerrero, lind, axford.

what do you recommend? maybe rios for espinosa and liriano or dempster for lohse…thanks!

By: The Shizz

The Shizz — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:35:01 +0000

Dear Mike Scioscia,

You are an idiot.

Sincerely,

Dan Haren owner

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:01:37 +0000

@EK: Reynolds obviously has the greatest potential on the list, but Uribe is currently the hottest. I don't trust Hannahan to keep his production up at all. I'd say start Uribe, but stash Reynolds if you could. If your team needs HR's, though consider Reynolds. I know that's not a straight answer, but it does depend on need. Good luck! Signed, The Fantasy Baseball King

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:56:53 +0000

@IgantiusJReilly: I'm not Grey, but to answer this question, one would really need to see your roster first. If you provide it, I'd be thrilled to help. Let me know! Signed, The Fantasy Baseball King

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:55:25 +0000

@djstaple: Thanks for the compliments! We don’t try to make you cry, but the other actions are certainly welcomed ; )

As for Carlos Pena, it really all comes down to who else is available. If you were to tell me a young, breaking out guy like Justin Smoak is on the FA List, then yea, I’d go grab him. But I wouldn’t just dump him for a Mitch Moreland or some below average hitter. I find it hard to believe that Pena simply lost the 30-40 homer power he had, but he is what he is….a HR or K guy who will never hit for a high batting average. It IS mysterious that he hasn’t hit a HR in 85 plate appearances, but he’s a streaky hitter. I’d bet he still ends up with 25 or so round trippers, but don’t expect him to hit above .250. Heck, he may even hit .220.

Who else is out there?

Stay in touch, and good luck!

Signed,

The Fantasy Baseball King

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:48:01 +0000

@Jay: As a Phillips owner in a dynasty league, I've been pondering the same question myself. Backed by an unsustainable .366 BABIP (career .289), his batting average will certainly fall back to the .280-.290 range. He's getting older, so while he'll still manage 20 or so HR's, you're right- his days of stealing 25-30 bases are probably over. Still, a .285, 22/15 guy at 2B is a Top 5 2B. Sell high if you can find value elsewhere to help your team win, but don't sell high "just because." Good luck! Signed, The Fantasy Baseball King

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:29:52 +0000

@SwaggerJackers: Being that you’ve sent Dempster packing, I fear my thoughts are probably too late ; )

That being said, I think Dempster is going to turn it around. His opposing BABIP is a completely unsustainable .344, while his K-rate (8.42) is actually one of the best of his career. His BB-rate, though (4.65) is slightly higher than his career averages. Makes sense– K’s take time and more pitches, and with more pitches come a higher probability for walks. Anyway, while he’s not at the peak of his career, Lady Luck will eventually do him some favors and, backed by a Cubs team that should a decent number of games, he’ll end 2011 on positive note.

Good luck, and hope that helped!

Signed,

The Fantasy Baseball King

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:22:45 +0000

@Exactly: Are you determined to drop Raburn? He strikes out a ton, but has a lot of pop for his position. If your absolutely inclined to drop him, I'd go for Murphy or Aviles (in that order), but would prefer seeing you keep Raburn honestly. What is your reason to drop him? Stay in touch! Signed, The Fantasy Baseball King

By: The Fantasy Baseball King

The Fantasy Baseball King — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:19:10 +0000

@Yep, I said it.: Crawford is really picking it up, so "buying low" may not be possible for much longer. Despite his .181 batting average, his OPS is up to .801. Over his past 12 games, he is 15 for 48 (.313). Don't think his owners aren't aware of this, so wait any longer is only going to make his price go higher. Good luck! Signed, The Fantasy Baseball King