As David Brent’s friend would say, “Only one for the Bum, no harm done.” Madison Bumgarner got SF another SHO as he threw a game that made it easy to get behind the Bum and not just for those in The Castro — 9 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hit, 2 walks and 8 Ks. This year he’s been overshadowed by either Lincecum’s mediocreness or Cain’s sheer brilliance. Like Monie and Malcolm, Bum’s been in the middle. There’s no ifs, ands or Bums about it, he’s still been excellent. 2.85 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10 wins with 92 Ks in 110 2/3 IP is hard to argue with, I mean, you can argue with it but you’re arguing with numbers and that used to get people shock treatment in the 50′s. Why don’t you lust after Pete Campbell next? People were pshawing his Ks early on in the season, but his K-rate has been over 9 for the last month. So he’s pshaw that! Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Yasiel Puig - The latest Cuban raftee to make it stateside was the fastest player playing in Cuba. Fidel once remarked, “He’s faster than that servant I threw plantain flambé at.” But for someone so fast, he did get caught trying to escape Cuba numerous times. In all seriousness, Fidel’s slipping as a dictator if he’s going to let someone try to escape numerous times and still let them play baseball. The Eternal General Secretary and All-Around Serious Worker Bee, Kim Jong-il, would’ve kiboshed that like underseasoned kimchi or a less-than-ostentatious fur hat. Never the hoo! Puig was also caught a bunch of times on the base paths. His numbers read five tooly – .330 with 17 home runs, 47 RBIs and 78 runs scored in 327 at-bats — without the defense tool. Guess that’s four tooly like a pair of Siamese twins. Clay Davenport uses one part elbow grease and two parts gumption to come up with a formula to translate Cuban stats to the majors. In the preseason, he had Yoenis down for 22 homers and a .245 average with 8 steals. Sounds about right. He has Puig down for 10/4 with a .254 average. Well, Magic still has his theaters. Puig obviously has time to develop in the minors and could be a lot more at some point, but for our purposes I’d only go near him in deep dynasty leagues.
Erik Kratz – 1-for-3 and a homer yesterday as he filled in for Carlos Ruiz. If Ruiz is nicknamed Chooch, then him and Kratz are what? Chooch & Chang? Chooch & Jewch? Not-A-Head-Turner & Chooch?
Hunter Pence – 2-for-5 with his 14th homer. Looks to be the same player he was his whole career with Citizens Flank not doing a whole lot to bolster him. Not a crack, just a Cust kayin’.
Jim Thome – Phils made him available to AL teams. So if anyone has any trees to chop down, or a good guy to drink a beer with, Thome’s all yours!
Victor Martinez – Tigers announced he will get back mid-to-late September. I’m going to put his projections down as 3/1/5/.450. There’s room for upside. He could double those homers and maybe even hit .600. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t get at least two runs and maybe six or even seven RBIs!
J.J. Hardy – 2-for-4 with a homer. Well, that was quite the slump he went through for the last three weeks. But that’s yesterday’s news, Whiskeytown. Hardy usually gets scorching hot, so if he’s out there and you’re struggling up the middle, I’d grab him.
Wilson Betemit – 2-for-3 and 9 for his last 14 and batting .571 over the last week. Castaway Wilson has been volleyed to a bunch of clubs in his career. Betemit has never received any modicum of respect in his major league career, if I’m using the word modicum correctly. For the longest time, the Royals would drop the boom with prospect after prospect and Betemit would be MOS — ‘Mit Out Starting job — but now Betemit has been playing 3rd base regularly. Every bone in your body tells you you shouldn’t own Betemit, but why are you listening to bones? Is that some voodoo shizz? If you’re struggling with your corner infidel in deep mixed leagues, Betemit could provide some pop and average. Of course, don’t drop anyone too worthwhile for him. Still no respect! I’d also say he’s going to be in this afternoon’s Buy column, but he won’t; I just went over him. No R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Alejandro De Aza – 4-for-5 with a homer and a caught stealing. What’s that, a slam and legs beater?
Dan Haren – 6 IP, 6 ER to raise his ERA to 4.53. Rudy’s 2012 Risky Pitcher post this year is looking pretty prescient (SAT Word of the Day!).
Mike Trout – 2-for-5 with his 8th homer. Have the Angels started manufacturing Rally Fish yet? I demand you!
Albert Pujols – 4-for-5, 3 runs. ”I just woke up from a three month coma to find Pujols is only hitting .270?” If you only knew, Comatose Angels Fan.
Mark Trumbo – 2-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 19th homer. With the All-Star Game in Kansas City, you know George Brett is gonna throw out the first pitch. Maybe the AL can also get him to be the Honorary 3rd Baseman so we don’t have to witness Miggy being replaced by Trumbo.
Andy Pettitte – Put on the 60-day DL, so he’ll be out two months. Look at the big brain on Grey!
Ivan Nova – 7 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners, 5 Ks. If you would’ve told me three months ago that I’d be touting Nova and Hughes at the end of June, I would’ve said you’re crazy, future boy!
Ryan Dempster – Cubs said to trade Dempster they are willing to eat part of his contract. Way to flip the whole ‘fiber turns to crap’ on its head.
Nolan Arenado – Rockies said they’re unlikely to promote him this year. Hopefully, they don’t do him like Eric Young Jr., who’s like the woman who wasted all her good years in the Mary J. Blige song, Not Gon’ Cry.
Jorge de la Rosa – After having Tommy John surgery last year, he’s out for the reminder of this year too. It’s what happens when you cut corners and have Tommy John perform his surgery.
Chris Nelson – 3-for-6, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, hitting over .350 in the last week. He’ll be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell. It’s filled with so much brevity it’s the longest Buy/Sell ever! (Or at least in the last week.)
Tyler Colvin – 4-for-6, 5 RBIs and a double short of a cycle. Colvin hasn’t looked this good since someone shaved her legs when she was passed out after a long Lillith Fair set. *checking notes* Totally wrong Colvin, mea culpa. Tyler Colvin has to continue to play every day with the way he’s hitting, and, with the way he’s hitting, you should be owning him. BTW, Does a kick in the nuts hurt more or less when you’re a mile high?
Edwin Jackson – 3 IP, 8 ER. Sonavayoushouldn’thavestartedhiminCoors!
Mike Morse – 2-for-5 with his 2nd homer. It’s so hard to tell if players are actually heating up or it’s Coors and the Rockies terrible pitchers. Rudy and I were talking the other day — we talk, y’all! — and he was saying how he’s going to start streaming opposing batters in Coors. For a while, there was all this talk of a humidor, but that was the Easter Bunny running a scoop about the Bermuda Triangle heard from Sasquatch. The Rockies pitchers were just good for a few years. Now, they’re going with four men because five is just violating Geneva sanctions.
Zach McAllister – 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA is 3.82. Here’s what Rudy said the other day about him, “I wouldn’t be friends forever with him but his numbers this year in AAA and in 25 IP in MLB (7+ K/9, < 3 BB/9) make me more excited than scared to pick him up in deep leagues.” And that’s me copying and pasting Rudy!
Austin Jackson – 4-for-5, with one run. Now hitting .325 with a bonkers BABIP, but he always has a bonkers BABIP, so that shouldn’t be that alarming. Only 7 steals is. According to their Speed Scores, Jackson is faster than Stubbs, but the latter has more than twice as many steals. Let’s see some Action, Jackson.
Pedro Alvarez – 1-for-3 with his 14th homer. He has two homers this week while batting over .300. In iPhone Scramble terms, that’s Excellent! Excellent! Good!
Casey McGehee – 1-for-3 with his 2nd homer in as many games. Hit one it’s a Googlewhack, hit two and it’s the beginning of a streak. He could become fantasy relevant to a certain extent. Though that “to a certain extent” is sitting on the fence between okay and meh.
A.J. Burnett – 6 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 7 Ks and now has a 2.03 ERA on the year if you removed his one blowout vs. the Cards. I know, and if you were an alien, you’d have a summer home on Pluto, but that’s still pretty impressive.
Ian Kinsler – 4-for-5, 3 runs with 2 steals. If you put Kinsler’s line through the Sean Connery translator, you get, “Ee-yan, you’re the man now, dog.”
Andrew Cashner – 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 baserunners, 9 Ks. Why does ESPN have to turn the box score blue when one of my pitchers has a no-hitter? You’re jinxing shizz here! Let me formulate my opinion on Cashner real quick–Okay, got it! I like him a lot. Good Ks, terrific home park. Cashner rules everything around me, ‘drew get the Ks — FAAB dollar dollar bill, y’all!
Dallas Keuchel – 6 IP, 1 ER, 8 baserunners, 3 Ks. He has more walks than Ks. Sorry, Dallas, that’ll thwart worth.
Felix Hernandez – 9 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 13 Ks. He dusted the Red Sox like Mrs. Garrett did the Drummond household. BTW, “Mrs.” my ass. Unless she was hitched in Hawaii to Paula Poundstone.
Franklin Morales – 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 7 Ks. Me likey. More later in the Buy. Greatest Buy ever! Chill, Grey, don’t over sell it. But, Random Italicized Voice, it also means the end of the week. Friday? Me likey too!
Dylan Axelrod – 7 IP, 2 ER, 9 baserunners, 4 Ks. The guy whose name sounds like a nom de plume for someone who writes for Popular Mechanics had a near 9 K-rate and a just over 2 walk rate in Triple-A through 68 innings. As long as Dylan keeps his walks in check and his sideburns groomed, he could be a decent deeper mixed league flyer.
Dayan Viciedo – 1-for-3 with his 2nd homer of the week. Some weeks the ball looks like a beach ball and other weeks it looks like a pill that’s hard to swallow.
Krispie Young - 1-for-4 and his 2nd homer in as many games. What’s the opposite of The Cooler? That’s me.
Trevor Bauer - 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 10 baserunners, 5 Ks… Wait, that’s the line for Lincecum’s first start. Through Kershaw’s first 9 starts of his career, he had a 5.18 ERA. Randy Johnson was sent down after his first four starts. Roger Clemens took about three months of starts (5+ ERA through June) before his wife showed him how to work his pecs. So, yesterday’s line for Bauer of 4 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 3 Ks was downright Cy Young-ian. None of these starters are the same, though Bauer looks like Lincecum without the k.d. lang mullet, but this is the deal with rookie pitchers. Put promise in one hand and reality in the other hand and you have what? Two empty hands, you can’t weigh promise or reality. They weigh on you! Damn, that’s like a fortune cookie at a nihilist’s Chinese restaurant.
@Grey: Please rank these SPs: Cashner, Parker, Bauer.
@ThE sHiT, Parker, Bauer, Cashner.
Parker’s the most underrated pitcher on the planet right now. He’s had just one bad start!
@ThE sHiT, I own all three… I’d go Parker, Cashner and then Bauer. Parker and Cashner have favorable ballparks to work with, while Bauer has an unfavorable walk rate to work through.
@ThE sHiT, Can we Add Edwin Jackson to that list?
@chunk, Edwin, Parker, Cashner…
@Grey, what are you smoking? I still love you man but i’ve asked myself tje same question about the rookie pitcher rankings. Parker has been great but 58/36 K:BB, .255 Babip, 4.35 xFip, 3.56 Fip and plenty of matchups vs Tex, LAA and AL East coming playoff time. He’s bound to get some “liquid paper dropped on his stats” and that’s me quoting me, no you.
I think I’d still rather have Cashner or Bauer. I have Bauer and other two are available but I haven’t heard any compelling argyments why I should switch. Heard Bauer lost control in the 3rd because of a sore groin or blue balls and was relieved to get yanked.
I think Cash is going against Bauer on Tues so that should be exciting, but I thibk rather take my chance this year on a guy pitching in a weak NL west or extended AAA.
Ha! Yeah, Bauer could be iffy/roofie this year, but his upside is sweet, sweet…
good question^
@beardcrabs, Hey
Way to end it.. i actually shed one single tear.. greystradamus??
@Prezii, I know wasn’t it beautiful (emoticon)
@Prezii, Sorry, took it down a notch… Keepin’ it real!
Been rocking Belt in the Util spot in the ol’ H2H. He’s cooled off a bit in the last few days, though his numbers are still great over the last couple of weeks.
However, LaRoche is available – who would you go with for the foreseeable (and maybe a bit beyond)?
@Steve, I’d hold for the weekend…
Deep league…..f/a’s today……please rank these available p’s—-Hochevar, Cecil, Cashner or Joe Kelly????
@Curt, Cashner, Hochevar
Drop Pedro from Pittsburgh for Betimit?
@chunk, HA! Yeah, I would…
Grey,
Is it officially time to start worrying about Desmond Jennings?
@Racehorse, Nothing to fear but fear itself.
I was giddy for the Bauer start last night, I was going to watch it regardless, added bonus it was against the Braves who I watch nightly anyway.
Bauer was interesting to say the least. The Braves announcers were talking like he was a Martian for showing up 1.25 hours before game time to start getting ready. Color me surprised that most pitchers don’t get there that early to prepare for a game. Who knew? Anyway, he does some pretty cool stuff to prepare for his start, a lot of band work and plyometric type dynamic stretching. Then of course is his long toss session, foul pole to foul pole. Baseball folks are so set in their ways that anything unique is viewed as crazy. I really hope this kid stays healthy, because I really think he knows a thing or two and could change how people think about pitcher’s workloads, preparation and arm strength.
At one point in the game Bauer had thrown 30 pitches, 21 for strikes and was cruising. The Braves made him work alter though eventually driving that ratio to around 31 strikes and 30 balls. He wasn’t helped out by his defense whatsoever though either. J-Up took a horrible line on a ball, arrived late and had it bounce off the top of his glove in what looked like a pretty lax attempt to catch it. Should’ve been an out, instead Prado scored from first. Andrelton had a nice double in the bottom of the 4th, was sacrificed over to third by Jar-Jar, then Bourn hit a sac-fly to center that wasn’t really that deep, but Krispie looked like Johnny Damon out there and had limp noodle throw home, up the line and late. That shoulder must be hurting when he throws or something, it looked off.
So, Bauer finished up with 74 pitches (can you say kid gloves!) 42 for strikes and probably shouldn’t have given up any runs. He’s definitely raw, buzzed a few guys high and tight, beaned Dan Uggla, but never really looked like he lost composure. He threw both a 2-seamer and a 4-seamer, getting up to 95 on the gun. He got squeezed on a couple curveballs that should’ve been strikes and had a nice change-up that broke away from lefties with late movement that looked nasty. Also, Hernandez and he both had footing issues with the mound last night. The kid was fun to watch, I’ll try to catch his next start too and can’t help but root for him (and the 4 fantasy teams I have him on).
@MattTruss223, sweet analysis!
@MattTruss223, You lost me at “I was giddy”……..Is this your college thesis????????……dude, keep it simple!!!!!!
@Curt, For you:
Bauer is unique and was OK in his first start.
You follow that alright?
@MattTruss223, Nice breakdown… I watched the game too… He did have a nice string of strikes at one point, but he also looked like he overthrew a bunch… It was a solid effort, more for real baseball than fantasy… I think the best was when the announcers said look at him, “He’s looking Nagy right in the eye when he talks.” Not sure why that was the best, but I enjoyed it… Like eye contact makes the pitcher.
@Grey, Ya know, they said that about Strasburg before too. I think the Braves announcers just really like eye contact.
They were fascinated by that “wiggle stick” he had too. That amused me.
Been rolling with Seager as a Longoria sub since he went down. He has got to be the most yawnstipating stat compiler in recent memory. Kind of like the Steve Guttenberg of MLB, getting steady work, decent production, but no discernible tallent. You’ve highlighted some more intruguing 3Bs here. Who might you replace him with from Nelson, Alvarez, Betemit, and McGehee? If all of them, is that the correct pecking order?
Thanks! Great stuff this AM. k.d. lang mullett is outstanding. Bound to make Bauer an immediate pick up for one of the four female readers that go that way.
@zombie, I just went with Betemit for the time being… Thanks! I’m guessing 2 of 4…
What is up with Kelly Johnson! I have been waiting on this dude for months, I am getting fed up waiting.
@Mennonite Sports guy, He hears your pleas.
@Grey: Betemit MOS – HA! nice one. So Betemit’s hot now. Maybe too late to ride that wave though. Seems like he has a good week then goes and has three mediocre ones. Not buying this time, maybe revisit him in August.
@3FingersBrown, Figured at least one film person would get that…
@Grey, Had a shoot recently where the sound guy fell asleep (reality shows will do that). MOS became Missing Our Sound Guy.
Drop Michael Saunders for David Murphy, Aoki or Berry? Counting OBP and AVG. I hate owning Mariners.
Ha… Very nice… Berry
I have been offered Pence for my Rasmus/Rodney, which I am inclined to reject. My other OFs are Braun, Bruce, Kubel and my other closers are Valverde, Motte, Clippard, Parnell (Frank2 on the DL) and Burton.
I don’t see Pence as a big upgrade over Rasmus ROS but I have developed a slight man-crush on Rasmus. At most, I might offer Rasmus and a lesser closer – what do you think? Counter or hold?
@Mr. Rickey, Hold
I keep wanting to buy Alvarez but my avg is too fragile!
Nice few days for my razz ball staff. Wins for madbum, Gio, Latos and Anibal! Thanks again for swaying me away from A 2nd rd of Cliff Lee, Halladay or lincecum
@Jamiehov, No problem…
Drop any one of these for Morales? Thanks
Parker, Oswalt, Niese, Scherzer, Worley, Kuroda
@Deadwoods, Kuroda
Damn you Cashner!!!! I expected a good start but not a great one…
I picked up Cashner in my streaming spot, and now it looks like I can’t drop him.
Is he a must roster kind of guy…or just another hodgepadre?
@Rick Grimes, He ain’t just a little streamboat…he’s the whole damn Love Boat, with Charo shakin’ it on the aft-deck.
@Chillmodious, HA!
@Rick Grimes, I’m holding him in a 12 team league… Figure the worst is home starts, best is yesterday type start on the road…
@Grey, Cash rules everything around me over Beckett?
Wouldn’t go over him…
@Grey,
yeah .
too bad he can’t pitch against the houston astro-NOTs every time out .
Going forward as my MI… Cozart or Stephen Drew’
@ichirosan, Cozart
Please rank top three ROS keeper league.
Andrew Cashner, Mike Minor, Garrett Richards, Michael Fiers, Ross Detwiller, Ervin Santana, Jose Quintana.
thanks Grey!
@ToDoBar, Detwiler, Cashner, Jose
@ToDoBar,
I’d say Cashner, Richards, Quintana, in that order.
In a vacuum… Which side wins?
Youk + Sale for Wright
@Drewcifer, Wright
Cliff Lee. Forgetting about the wins for a moment, look at his ERA and WHIP the last few games. Very un-Lee-like.
Is he hurting? Just bad luck? Should I ignore or try to buy low?
Thanks dude.
@L-Boogie, Right now, he’s a 3-something ERA guy which isn’t a number one, so I’d hold unless it’s a great deal…
@Grey, So what if I offered Peavy and Middlebrooks to get Lee (to someone who is starting Inge at 3B)?
I’d take Lee, pretty close… Closer than one would’ve thought in March… Trade could go either way…
Good morning, Grey! Nice roundup of yesterday’s goings-on…Bauer made me flaccid, but Cashner left me placid–so all in all a decent evening!
1. For today, who is the better play?: Norris @ ChC or Detwiler @ Atlanta
2. For ROS, can you rank these four?: Norris, Detwiler, Gee, Niese
Thank you.
@Chillmodious, Thanks, Chill! Norris… Norris, Niese, Detwiler/Gee depending on matchups…
@Grey, Thank you. Not to second-guess, but you’d still go Norris today knowing that it’s gonna be a scorcher at Wrigley with the wind blowing out?
@Chillmodious, According to this, the wind is blowing in: http://www.parkfactors.com/CHC
@royce!, Though I don’t know how long that will hold
@royce!, Thanks! Yup, I saw the same thing. There were thunderstorms this AM, so the heat will still be up despite the wind conditions changing. When I saw that it’s supposed to be around 105 in Atlanta today, I decided to stream Norris instead of Detwiler.
i have asked a few q’s this week, which is more than my norm
grey, i must say how much i appreciate your advice and work on this site
it is so cool to be able to ask a question and get a personalized response, sometimes within a minute; you cant get that anywhere else without forking over a credit card and paying $5.99 a minute
its like having my own personal fantasy guru on speed dial
anyway, one more q:
regardless of league type, who to keep – i have 2 spots for these three guys:
matt moore, bauer and cashner
thanks for the help
@later tater, No problem… Moore, Bauer for upside, but Cashner will probably be better…
@Grey:
Pick the best two, no matter how bad they are:
Quintana @ NYY (Warren)
Volquez @ Col (Friedrich)
Smyly @ TB (Cobb)
Maholm v Hou (Norris)
Francis v Col (Marquis)
Thanks!
@joe from pt pleasant, Maholm, Smyly
10 team roto keeper league
Trade Jay Bruce and either (Masterson, Hanson, Marmol, Reed or Casilla)
for
Lincecum and Alex Gordon
I need another SP (my current options are McDonald, Moore, Masterson, Hason (Morrow and Marcum on the DL))
Is Lincecum a potential keeper next season? My other options would be Heyward, Jennings or Uggla.
@harkrider, I don’t like the trade…
do i drop alexei ramirez for chris nelson for my MI in 12 mixed roto?
@a1rfann1ng, Yup
My series is so close, so I’m probably over-analyzing every matchup, but which one of these would you sit today…
Bruce (@ Matt Cain)
Rizzo (vs. Bud Norris)
Belt (vs. Mike Leake)
Krispie (@ Randy Wolf)
Usually I wouldn’t sit Bruce but it is vs. Matt Cain.
@ASAOK, Belt
Drop Cahill for Morales?? 10 team mix h2h
@Atwood22rc, Yup
I need big help at 3B/CI.
Here’s what I’m looking at:
C. Nelson
Alvarez
Plouffey
Betemit
Please pick one ROS. Thanks.
@LobBall, Plouffe
Drop Samardzija for the Zack Attack or Blackley?
@AA, McAllister
@Grey, Would you still say McAllister over Axelrod?
I’d lean towards Axelrod
Youkilis or Viciedo in a 6×6 (obp) league the rest of the way?
@Coco Krispie, Youk
Cashner for the Win!… err the No Decision! still, awesome…
After coming into the season with an aging suspect keeper team, and a razzball in my pocket, I’ve got Goldy, Altuve, Parker, Rizzo, Cashner, Seager and Hultzen on the squad. Time for a trip to Costco, I need a gross of Pampers!
P.S. My girl’s ready ’50 Shades of Grey’… apparently you’re a dirty boy.
@supra, HA!
I was offered the following trade:
Give – Buster Posey, Asdrubal Cabrera and Justin Morneau
Receive – Carlos Santana, Starlin Castro, Ike Davis and Francisco Liriano
I could care less about the pitcher. Thoughts? Is Santana too big of a risk.
Non-keeper points league. -2 for Ks.
@SpiralArchitect, I like it… Bit risky, but I think worth doing…
I am in a 20 team h2h dynasty league. I could use some OF depth. Anyway I am thinking of tradin longor darvish and goldschmidt for kemp jay bruce and anibal sanchez. Do I consider this deal?
c jp arencibia
1b prince fielder
2b neil walker
ss yunel escobar
3b miguel cabrera
inf chris johnson
lf peter bourjos
cf tony campana
rf justin upton
of carlos lee
util paul goldschmidt
bn andrelton simmons
bn travis snider
bn ryan lavernway
Bn miguel Sano
dl carl crawford
dl evan longoria
sp clayton kershaw
sp yu darvish
sp cliff lee
sp jon lester
rp sean doolittle
rp matt thorton
rp matt capps
p scott downs
p aaron harang
bn brad peacock
bn barry zito
bn brian matusz
@Ryan, Go for it…
@Ryan, I’d want Kemp. And Bruce.
I dropped Colvin and kept Presley and now Presley is sitting the bench while Colvin gets time. Mayberry is MIA now too. Intent is to pick up Colvin again and ride it out cause he seems to have a better bat.
Do I drop any of these assclowns to pick up Colvin and Cashner or stand pat?
Nieuwenhuis, Presley, Campana, Mayberry
Current OFs – Stanton, Bruce, Upton, Blanco, Ethier
Pitchers – Cain, Gio, Vogelsong, Lincecum, Casilla, C. Richard, Hernandez
NL-Only 12-Team Roto
@bean, Nieuwenhuis and Presley…
@Grey, If you said Campana I was going to ignore you.
Thanks!
Choose wisely:
Morse vs Delgado @ATL or Gordon vs Duensing @Min
@Sir Richard, Morse
16 team h2h league, 16 keepers
I give: R. Zimmerman, Rizzo, Cashner
I get: Beltre, J. Zimmerman
Im looking to upgrade 3b as Zimmerman is killing me there and i have a very good chance to win this year. Giving up some nice young talent but J. Zimmerman is no slouch himself. Rizzo is not essential to my lineup as he is buried on my bench. what do you think?
@Justin, Take Beltre
Start Ervin Santana today @Tor.?
@Derrick, I wouldn’t
Rest of Season:
Joe Kelley or Nate Eovaldi?
@The Talented Mr. Dope Man, Eovaldi
Need to improve my MI in a 10-team H2H w/ OBP & SLG, no AVG.
Traded away Pedroia, so I’m left with Furcal, Espinosa, C.Nelson, Drew.
My OF is Hamilton, Soriano, Bruce, De Aza, Belt is eligible, so is Prado, and Ellsbury. Ortiz is in my UTIL spot.
Trade away Soriano for say Phillips? Looking for advice on a better player to trade or target given my overflow of OF positions and lack of MI.
@Dudley, I’d take Phillips… Probably was best to lose Pedroia…
where do you get your minor league info on players from grey?
In what way? I look at their stats at Baseball Cube, usually…
Who is the better starting catcher (one catcher league, standard format) for the rest of the season, Wilin Rosario or Alex Avila?
Thanks!
@BryanK, Wilin
Believe it or not Jason Kubel is still on waivers in my league. I think everyone is expecting this hit streak to end.
Would you pick him up for either BJ Upton, Craig, Willingham?
Over Upton if you don’t need the steals, otherwise Willingham…
Also I give
Zimmerman, Stubbs
I get
Morse, Phillips
My current team is:
C- Montero
1B- Votto
2B- Kendricks
3B- Alvarez
OF- Bruce, Bourn, Reveres
UT- Rizzo, Craig
BENCH- Zimmerman, Upton
DL- Stubbs…never took him of DL
Should I do it?
@The Real McCoy, 14 team H2H Yahoo
I would
deep H2H….Garza or Latos ROS?
Garza
Best streaming option?
Happ at Cubs
Fiers home vs Dbacks
Eovaldi home vs mets
Nolasco home vs phillies
Cobb home vs tigers
Wood home vs astros
Arroyo at SF
Or pass on all of them in a 12 team roto league?
Arroyo
16-TEAM, H2H-POINTS KEEPER LEAGUE
I lost Luebke, Lilly, Beachy and now CC. Matsuz and Martin Perez are on my bench. Not much left out there, Give me your top three ROS:
Axelrod
McAllister
Cobb
Delgado
Griffin
Joe Kelly
Grimm
Blanton
Axelrod, McAllister, Cobb
Hahahaha……Monie in the middle. Where she at? In the middle……..Awesome. Way to keep me one my toes. I never know what type of obscure reference will show up in your column.
I have a logjam of players for my utility spot and I am thinking of trading one or two for a starting pitcher because, well you know, hitters and bench spots don’t mix. Who do you like best of these three Goldschmidt, Allen Craig, or Cespedes?
Ha, thanks! Craig
Would you rather have laroche, rizzo or saunders for your 1 bench bat? Worth it to have Rizzo because of the upside?
Rizzo… Yeah…
14-team 5×5 (OBP and QS) – 3rd in hitting and 13th in pitching (thanks to a Lester/Gallardo tag team).
I have an offer to trade McCutchen for Michael Bourn and Josh Beckett. I love McCutchen… But trotting out Alex Cobb or Erik Bedard indefinitely isn’t going to get me out of the pitching basement.
On a scale of 1-10, how good do you feel about trading away McCutchen for these two?
You need a better SP for Dread Pirate or you should trade a lesser piece for a lesser SP…
Trade advice needed… Would you send out Fister, Sale & Middlebrooks for Kershaw? This is a dynasty keeper league (keep all).
@Just Say No to Waves, Currently sale and middlebrooks are sitting on my minors roster so I wouldn’t be needing to fill in from the waiver wire
Yup
Grey, sorry for the re-post, but further to #20 above where you suggested Norris over Detwiler today…
“Thank you. Not to second-guess, but you’d still go Norris today knowing that it’s gonna be a scorcher at Wrigley with the wind blowing out?”
I wouldn’t with that info… Detwiler…
@Grey, wind blowing IN at wrigley.
http://dailybaseballdata.com/cgi-bin/weather.pl
@Chillmodious, Here’s another source indicating that the wind is not blowing out: http://dailybaseballdata.com/cgi-bin/weather.pl
@Chillmodious, But also, they’re having thunderstorms, so the start could get delayed, and the wind will shift in the late afternoon.
@royce!, Thank you, dude. I posted this above before scrolling down:
“Yup, I saw the same thing. There were thunderstorms this AM, so the heat will still be up despite the wind conditions changing. When I saw that it’s supposed to be around 105 in Atlanta today, I decided to stream Norris instead of Detwiler.”
Can put Belt or Rizzo at 1B. Trade Pujols for Greike/Sale or Greike/Santana? Solid bats, Shitty Pitching
I’d do a lesser bat for a lesser SP…
Drop Buchholz for Morales?
I would, friend.
Grey – pls rank. Morales, Ubaldo, Morrow, Beckett
Thanks for the help brotha..
Morales, Beckett…
I cut Wilson Betemit in order to pick up Tyler Colvin a period and a half ago. Bettemit goes crazy while Colvin gets to play 2 days on 2 days off. I cut Colvin effective next period (so i get that Stat line yesterday and thru sunday) to pick up Tyler Moore, then Grey says I have to pick up Colvin the way he’s swinging the bat as long as he’s playing every day, which he’s not and it’s time to pick up Bettimit……. wait for it…. FOR AVERAGE HELP!?!?!!?? I cut him cause he was killing my average.
So I missed Ike Davis to get Colvin, Gabby Sanchez has now been cut. Oh Grey of large brain was Moore the right pick up, or is it Colvin, Sanchez, or Betimitt….. or possibly Sanchez sucks and the other 3 are a crap shoot based on variables not of their or my control??
I’d go Betemit over Moore, but I’d hold for the weekend to see what Moore does…
You really are the best baseball writer on the planet.
@Mario Mendoza of commenters, Rumor has it that Grey Albright is on Ken Burn’s short list for narrator of The Eleventh Inning.
@Carnac, Cool. I always thought that could use some maniacal laughter at the end.
@royce!, We should make a Burns style slideshow to go along with each podcast.
…Rudy mentions Heath Bell …while Grey is cackling, the camera pans, slowly, from the bottom, of Heath Bell’s profile pic:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7418
@Carnac, Ha! Damn, I miss Heath Bell’s shenanigans in SD. Not so much his pitching, though…
Sure some would disagree, but thanks!
Just last night I was commenting to my buddy that I should stream hitters at Coors since the E$PN league I play in does not count games played. Wow we must have been channeling our inner Grey and Rudy. I was actually going to comment today about the idea. What a Delorean momment.
What should we call a stream hitter at Coors?
Rocky Mountain Masher? Mile High Streamer? Thin Air Bat? ROCKable?
Wait, are you Rudy? There is a glossary term there, but not sure you hit on it…
@Grey, A “Pike’s Pick”, for the obvious play on the ubiquitous marker of the continental divide.
Ha… Not bad… Think there’s gotta be better…
@Grey, Or maybe slightly modified to: “Pike’s Peak-up”…. a pick-up for use in Colorado only.
@Grey, Am I rudy? that would explain waking up in Texas without my pants and not sure how I got there.
Colorocker? Mtn.Mash? coorsmash? elevation enhanced?
thats a tough one
Need to start two from Jennings, Rizzo, and Reddick.
Thoughts on my team? I’ve been struggling the past several weeks.
Yahoo 12 Team Standard 6X6 H2H
C: Yadier Molina
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Dan Uggla
SS: Hanley Ramirez
3B: Kevin Youkilis
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Mike Trout, Adam Jones
UTL: Josh Reddick, Desmond Jennings
Bench: Anthony Rizzo
2SP: Jon Lester, Yovani Gallardo
2RP: Addison Reed, Jim Johnson
4P: Max Scherzer, Matt Moore, Roy Oswalt, Danny Hultzen, Ubaldo Jimenez, Tom Wilhelmsen, Bobby Parnell, Andrew Cashner
DL: Evan Longoria, Derek Holland
@Jack,
I’d like to grab Axelrod, but I don’t think I have anybody to drop.
@Jack,
Also available is Tommy Milone and Clayton Richard.
@Jack,
lol…and estrada
Rizzo, Reddick… Your hitting is struggling right now, but they look fine, need patience with them… I’d be worried about pitching… Lester’s barely been a number two, I like him but I’d be concerned… Then you don’t really have much after the front two… Can you trade Rizzo for someone like McDonald or Burnett?
@Grey,
I’ll offer it and see what happens. I had Romero, but dropped him for Cashner. I’d love for Longo to get healthy and then trade him or Youkilis for SP, but apparently he doesn’t want to play this year.
Is it worth snagging Krispie if someone dropped him? Just in case…
My OF is: Giancarlo, A. Jones, Trout, Cespedes, Pagan
Rizzo is rockin the UTIL spot
Krispie would be a bench bat. Not sure he’s worth it, but 2 days, 2 homers has me wondering. Thanks for the input.
@MattTruss223, hmmm, forgot you just dropped him, didn’t mean to rub salt in any wounds
Sure, if he’s on the bench… Still don’t have that much faith… But I’ve been wrong before…
@ Grey :
lincecum could use some shear brilliance .
Nice….
@Grey
4 days from now, Bauer versus Cashner. That should be a lot of fun to watch.
1. In my 10 team h2h league, I’d really like to pick up a streamer to pad my wins and k’s, but I don’t think I have anyone droppable. My most “droppable” players are Cashner, Bauer, Parnell, Reddick, Jennings and Middlebook. So I should just stick with what I’ve got even if that means losing two categories, right? (I’m up in strike outs and tied in wins with my opponent having more remaining starts)
2) Reddick. v. Harrison (hot hitter against tough on lefties) or Middlebook v. Noesi (tough at home and against rhh in pitchers park)?
1. They’re not droppable… 2. Reddick
@Grey: due to strong sp matchups, may need to bench one of these closers for next week in weekly roto league? which one do you sit?
hanrahan (4 vs hou, 3 vs sf)
jansen (3 vs cin, 4 @ ari)
chapman (3 @ lad, 4 @ sd)
thanks.
Hanrahan…
*****THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.****
Is mediocreness even more mediocre than general mediocrity?
I believe so…
Dynasty league I could pick up either Johnny Cueto or Chris Sale – do you think either one is a solid pickup man also Chis Sale has that crazy windup and has minor arm problems early in the year – does that scare you Grey – what scares you grey ?