Even King Mo, Thy Saver of the Throne, Sire of Sutter, Haver of Fingers, Tester of the Quiz, Nowhere Near the Stench of the Wickman is not immune to the closepocalypse that is upon us. The plague of ninth inning locusts strikes all that cross thee path! What? I was pouring out some Olde English for the brothers who aren’t here. Mariano Rivera was hurt shagging fly balls. Last person hurt like that was Jenna Jameson. It didn’t look good, as he was carted off in pain, and it turned out even worse, as he was diagnosed with a torn ACL. David Robertson should’ve been owned already, but here’s a real reason to, you save vulture. This is frustrating not because I owned Rivera. I don’t; I don’t believe in $12 Salads, but someone is lucking into Robertson, who could end up one of the best closers in baseball this year. If you’re really hurting for saves, it’s worth a speculative grab to pick up Rafael Soriano. The Yankees would have to be five cookies short of a potential Biggest Loser contestant’s breakfast to skip K-Rob for Soriano, but he does have closer experience. Whatever that means nowadays. After the closepocalypse, half the league’s pitchers have closer experience. Juan Cruz has it now! Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Pablo Sandoval – Wanna hear something freaky? You have a third nipple!? No, Random Italicized Voice. Almost exactly one year ago, Pablo Sandoval broke the hamate bone on his other hand. (And less freaky is Ryan Zimmerman was also injured that week.) I suggest next year, for the week of Cinco de Mayo, Pablo Sandoval go out of town. Maybe Cozumel. Have some margaritas, win some wet t-shirt contests, have unprotected sex — Really get the full Mexico experience! Then return a week later healthy. The fact that Sandoval broke his hamate bone two years in a row makes me think he should have them removed (then BBQ them and sell them at a county fair). The surgery is not unheard of, Tabata had the hamate bone removal surgery done in the minor leagues (then used it like a wishbone and hoped his wife would stop thinking she’s remaking Raising Arizona. BTW, his wife is 46 years old? And Tabata is 23? A Latin 23 may not do this guy justice, which is the key word.). If Sandoval keeps the hamate bone, then I’d be concerned this could keep happening. Either way, he’s out for 6 weeks.
Conor Gillaspie – Should replace Sandoval for the majority of the playing time. Conor Gillaspie plays 3rd sack. Me myself, I like to max. Red-Bone booties, I’m out to wax! Seriously, what did we do without Google for song lyrics? Did everyone sound like my uncle who sings three words of every song then mumbles the rest? Mumble, mumble, mumble, I can’t go for that. No can do. Gillaspie has a little bit of nothing going for himself outside of average. He was hitting .356 in Triple-A. That was inflated by his BABIP, but he should be able to hit around .280. He has next to no power, and his speed isn’t that impressive. You can do better, Marvin’s Room. (Maybe the best song of the last year.)
Heath Bell – Ozzie says Bell is still his closer. He also praised Castro and disparaged gays, so, ya know, grain of salt.
Edward Mujica – Recorded the save yesterday but Cishek (who I think will get saves) and Bell were unavailable.
Brandon Morrow – 9 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 8 Ks. Not only did he throw a shutout, but he didn’t throw any walks. Can he pitching coach Scherzer?
Albert Pujols – 0-for-3, dropping his average to .202. Can’t they pinch-hit Maicer Izturis for him?
Ernesto Frieri – Yesterday, Albert (not Pujols, the writer for our site) called Frieri the “closer of the future” for the Padres. Then Frieri was traded to the Angels. I don’t think he’s the closer of the future for the Angels, but “setup man of the future” doesn’t have much of a ring to it.
Adam LaRoche – Sat out yesterday with oblique soreness. That dreaded, extremely vague soreness again! I wouldn’t be surprised to see him miss a few games.
Ross Detwiler – 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 2 Ks. He was in last week’s Buy. Don’t make me go back there!
Joe Blanton – 9 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 6 Ks. In related news, Halladay left the Phillies for a few days for a personal reason. He didn’t say why except, “Yo, Joe Blanton got this.”
Laynce Nix – 2-for-3 with a homer. Superfluous Y’s rejoice! In chorus, “Because!”
Coco Crisp – Headed to the DL with an inner ear issue. Coco Crisp says he keeps hearing a snap, crackle, pop. In his place, Michael Taylor is joining the A’s, but no one seems thrilled about ever playing Taylor in the majors. Pretty ironic that he was once traded for Brett Wallace, though no one outside of the British really knows what irony is.
Randall Delgado – 8 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks. He’s looked like anything but the top prospect he is until this game. I’m not buying quite yet in most mixed leagues, but I’m watching very carefully.
Ryan Vogelsong – 7 IP, 1 ER, 12 baserunners, 5 Ks. He looks like a safe, non-threatening number five starter without too much upside or downside. Kinda like the pitching equivalent to doctor’s office music. “Hey, while I have this molar extracted, what’s that playing?” “It’s Vogelsong.”
Jason Kipnis – 2-for-3, 2 runs, 4 RBIs and his 4th homer. His bumper sticker reads, “Why can’t a nosh be posh? Kipnis!” His Jason Kipnis fantasy reads like that.
Pedro Alvarez – 2-for-4 with another homer. He’ll be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell. Hint: He’s not a sell.
Andrew McCutchen – Left yesterday’s game with a stomach bug. Hopefully it’s not a tapeworm. Those things are nasty. This girl I know decided to cure her own salmon and left it on the counter encased in salt. Well, flies dropped some larvae in the lox and she had worm squirts for days. Okay, when I started that story it seemed appropriate.
Erik Bedard – 5 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 11 Ks. Eleven Ks over 5 innings is nice. His 37 Ks over 34 innings is very nice. His health, well, it’s good for now. I’m not a big fan because every time I seem to get invested he breaks down, but his Ks have me intrigued, and whenever I say intrigued in my head I hear the Comic Book Guy.
Jose Tabata – 3-for-5 with a steal. He raised his average over 100 points in the last ten games. He’s not going to be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell. Wanna know why? Cause I’m telling you now (actually I told you two days ago). He’s hot. Pick him up. Go now. This post will be here when you return.
Chone Figgins – 0-for-4 with his average falling to .189. They really need to DFA this no-longer-young brother. And lose Smoak while you’re at it too, M’s. In fact, start over with Carp, Ackley, Montero, Seager and Ken Griffey Jr. Jr.
Allen Craig – 4 for his last 9 with 3 RBIs. Potatoes to chips, this doode came back from the DL like a flaming ball of yarn. See, if yarn’s on fire, it would roll out and the hotness would spread, which in hitting terms is good. Makes total sense.
Bryan LaHair – 2-for-4 with his 7th homer. The Cubs shouldn’t be thinking about how to make room for Rizzo. They should be thinking about how to erect a giant statue of LaHair, then accidentally tip it over on Alfonso Soriano. Two birds, one stone (or granite).
Ryan Dempster – 8 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 6 Ks. First game back from the DL + In a tough park for pitchers + Against a tough offensive team = Chumlee. Hmm, math is wrong there. Meant to add up to SONAVABENCH!
Carlos Marmol – Zero outs recorded, 3 unearned runs (1 earned) and 4 baserunners. There’s no saying exactly what’s wrong with Marmol, but he’s not himself (dur!). Sveum says he could replace Marmol from the closer role (dur-dur!). I want to say bench Marmol in most leagues, but he looks like he’s headed for a trip to the Disgraceful List. Rafael Dolis would be the pickup, but he’s been far from spectacular. He hasn’t been craptacular though either. Kerry Wood isn’t a bad specloselation. James Russell is a deeper SAGNOF specloselation pick. He’s been great so far, but he’s a lefty. It’s basically a total mess of a closerousel shituation. Now I will await Guinness Book of World Records to crown this blurb for the most portmanteaus ever used in a single blurb. *finger tap* Waiting…
Gillapsie, that was a lot of words to waste on a guy who will do absolutely nothing relevant unless we are in a 15 team NL-only league. Damn, I’m feely a little surly at 12:30
Is pedro finally making it up to all of us that drafted him so high last year? Could Longoria getting hurt be a blessing in disguise for those of us that have replaced him with Pedro?? Is it finally time to buy Grey that daiquiri that he has worked SO hard to get??? If you-know-who hits another jimmy-jack tomorrow, I might be so inclined to do so…
@Longbeachyo, C’mon, Pedro!
12 team trade question
i give billy butler and bryce harper for josh johnson and choo
i need a starter currently my staff consists of bumgarner marcum drabek gallardo dl luebke
my other 1b are votto kendrick and ike davis
@barker, Eh
@barker, Why don’t you leave Choo out of it and get a better SP
I had been eying Robertson earlier in the day. Picked him up part of the way through the first sentence of the first article I saw about Mo’s injury.
Real baseball fan in me is sad to see a career like Mariano Rivera’s potentially come to a close on such a sour note. He’s been so great for so long, I’d just be sorry to see it end on an injury. And that’s coming from an an avowed, Boston-bred Sox fan.
Competitive, heartless, take-no-prisoners fantasy baseball warrior that I am, I’m fucking stoked because I was sitting on Balfour, Nathan and Broxton before, and now I HAVE DAVID ROBERTSON AND HE’S (probably) GONNA BE CLOSING FOR THE (stupid) YANKEES!
Also thrilled about Morrow’s start. He’s come a long way from the rookie I once watched hit the backstop twice in one inning at Safeco. Almost justifies me drafting him every year since 2009.
And did I mention I picked up David Robertson?
@Lines, he’s now going to get shelled out of his mind, lol, you ruined it….
@Tony, all I said was that I was happy because “He’s (probably) gonna be closing for the (stupid) Yankees.” I never said he’d be any good at it. So if he crashes and burns, that’s on him, not me. QED.
@Lines, Nice
Looking for streamers in my H2H, and have Bard and Norris who could be due for the axe.
Current available streamers for today: Corriea vs CIN, Alvarez @ LAA, Gee vs AZ.
Drop either of those schmohawks for a streamer today?
@TheNewGuy, I could see losing Bard for Alvarez….
I love Rivera, i have owned him throughout the years but a gut feeling told me not to do so this year, so i drafted Robertson in the last round. Now it seems to pay off.
However Grey, i droped Mike Adams as the same gut feeling is telling me he is regressing. His K/9 is not what it used to be, he has a hard time missing bats and the ballpark doesnt help either. I dont feel like he is gonna come back. If Nathan goes down, i would hand it to Ogando at this point.
I need holds though. Would you take David Hernandez, Ryan Shaw or Ryan Cook? I love Hernandez K potential and tend to pick him ahead of the other two. Agree?
@Moscowitz,
Who in their right mind drops Mike Adams in a holds league?
@Chris F, well i dont think that deserves an answer but i still try it: Its a 10 team league and alot of good holder are on the wire, i watched adams closely and i think he is not gonna duplicate his Padres numbers in Texas. I am leading my league in almost all pitching categories (8) including holds and believe it or not, Adams was my third best setup man and expendable as i needed a bat. I love K/9 and Adams while still getting the holds, is not striking out people. He actually constantly brought down my numbers with his lack of K. He will stay on the wire, there are loads of great holders still there and he is not gonna be picked up right away.
@Moscowitz, Cook
@Grey, thanks
I never need Google to look up Greg Nice lyrics. And your Uncle might have been stuck in traffic behind this bread truck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpDkWO3n9WQ
@Colton, HA!
Hi Grey —
I’m first in saves with my poor-man’s closer committee (I have FrankFrank, Jim Johnson, and Henry Rodriguez), but they’re such a premium in my 16-team league that I picked up Mujica on speculation that he could become the closer and then I’d have a valuable trade chip. But last night the guy who beat me to the punch on Chisheck just dropped him to grab Dolis. My question: Is Chisheck enough of a slam dunk over Mujica that I should use my mid-pack waiver priority to try to grab him? Or is it kind of a crap shoot between the two of them and Bell?
Second question: who do you like more as a kind of all-around backup between Aviles and Bonifacio in a 14-team roto league? If it’s close, which makes a better trade chip? I don’t really need SBs but could use Rs and BA help. I’ve had Aviles for a while and just received Bonifacio as an extra piece in a trade, and so I’d like to trade one to upgrade somewhere else.
And the last one: is Pedro Alvarez a hot bat to hold onto as I wait for Zimmerman to come off the DL? Or is he someone to hold into?
Many thanks!
@Enrique, at the end there the last two words are a cross between “buy into” or “hold onto long term” …
@Enrique, Depends who you need to drop for Zimmerman’s return… I’d grab Cishek… Bonifacio… Aviles is a better trade chip…
@Grey, I’d probably have to drop Cishek/Mujica if I end up backing the wrong one, or if Bell manages to secure the job. Or maybe I’ll be able to trade away Aviles or Bonifacio as part of a 2-for-1 deal by then, which’d free up a spot.
So you think Cishek has a significantly better chance than Mujica to end up the Marlins’ closer?
I guess my question about Pedro Alvarez is whether he’s someone I should sell high on now — maybe I could package him with Aviles or Bonifacio to the team that lost Longoria or Sandoval. But if you think something’s clicked for him and that he’ll play as advertised at the start, then maybe I should keep him as a UTIL/backup 3B. What do you think? Given the recent streak, is he a sell high or a sleeper for ROS?
@Enrique, Sell Alvarez while he’s hot. His avg is going to suck and not a lot of RBI opps in that Bucco lineup.
Cishek over Mujica.
Everyone (not Grey) — I place the over/under on the number of times “SAGNOF!” will appear in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell at 4.5. What’dd’ya bet?
@Enrique, Going over……this season is depressing.
@bean, I’m actually guessing under … not because the number of SAGNOF! possibilities couldn’t be well above 5 but because I think Grey’s writing style is too creative to just write SAGNOF! straight down the line. Let’s see.
@Enrique, At this point I would take 1,000 words of FMFBBLSAGNOF!!!!!!
It is starting to feel like waking up Christmas morning and finding your dad passed out under the tree with a bottle of whiskey, dressed in a Santa Suit.
Ruining all the fun…….FMFBBLSAGNOF!!!!
wow- my closers can’t get thru a game with out giving up 1-4 runs. This is getting old.
@Tony, Seriously
I’m no great fan of the Yankees, but you cannot help but be in awe of Mo’s playoff record. And back when the Sox came back from the dead in that series with the Yanks (when he coughed up that vital save, of course), and went on to win it all, I remember the Sox celebrated that win the following season on a day they were playing the Yankees.
The Boston crowd went nuts when Mo was introduced. The pain of what had happened the previous season must have been acute, but he took it with such grace and good humor that it made me admire him that little bit more.
@Steve, Yeah, agreed…
Mo tearing his ACL and Marmol melting down yet again is chump change compared to Ernesto Frieri’s banishment to LAA. Another live arm for the Sciosciapath to yank around? That’s like giving Torquemada a razor bladed lined yo-yo to swing around…. oh, the humanity!
@Racehorse, Ha!
@Racehorse,
“Hey Torguemada, whadda ya say? /
I said I just got back from the auto-da-fé /
Auto-da-fé? What’s an auto-da-fé? /
It’s what you ought not to do but you do anyway”
@Chillmodious,
Like Sciosciapath demoting Jordan Walden after only 2 save chances.
Oh, the hu … oops, said that already.
16 team league…
Would you trade Bautista and CJohnson for LaHair and CSantana?
My starting roster would look like this offensively:
Ramos
LaHair
Kipnis
ARod
Aviles
Aybar
CSantana
CarGo
McCutchen
AJones
Trout
Boesch
Butler
*LaHair replaces Bautista, CSantana replaces YAlonso
@PublicEnemy#1, Nope
10 tm 27 man rosters..
Rank these 3: Rios, Cain, Presley
Need 1 of: Luebke, Arrieta, Detweiller, Floyd, Samardjza, Blanton, or Capuano.
Thanks!
@timSTi, Rios, Presley… Luebke
@Grey, Who do you rank next behind Luebke? Thanks brother.. Happy Cuatro de Mayo
Dolis does not inspire me, he’s like a mini-marmol.
I’m not sure who will be closing by the end of the year, it could be Bowden or Maine.
@elwood blues, Could be…
How would you rank this group in terms of who I should own in a league that uses saves + holds as a category:
Cashner
Reed
HSantiago
Frieri
@PublicEnemy#1, You need a saves guy compared to a holds guy?
Santiago
Reed
Cashner
Frieri
I read somewhere that Marmol’s swinging strike% is down, suggesting his stuff is no longer the same. Which when you already have no control, is not a good thing.
I made the switch to Dolis from Marmol right as Dolis replaced him. Dolis and his 4 Ks on the year… joy.
Russell is a lefty specialist… I can’t see him but picking up the rare save where he gets the tough lefty or two out to end it.
Kerry Wood’s gotta be above Russell when/if he comes back, I gotta think.
@papasmurf, I went with Dolis where I could too… Wood’s back…
Hi Grey,
Tabata or De Aza as my 5th OF?
Thanks!
@Lil’ Saucy, Tabata
Drabek or Capuano? Also, note to greg nice – Dizzy Gillespie did not play the sax, but I guess lyrical genius Greg N – I – C – E couldn’t rhyme trumpet with wax, max or tax.
@schlitzy, Drabek… Ha, nope…
Also, I’m officially spearheading the SORIANO FOR CLOSER campaign in NYC since i missed out on Robertson and had to grab Soriano..
SORIANO FOR CLOSER – NYC 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!
@timSTi, I second that!
@Howard, He will get his shot. Just can’t see this working on in the short term for Robertson. Long term he may have the stuff but coming in to replace Rivera like this is a bit much. Say Girardi goes with experience after a short test at closer.
-1 BS
-Vote of Confidence
-Soriano named closer
Grey, just wanted your thoughts: is it more likely that Brian Fuentes is secretly eliminating every closer in baseball so that he can finally win the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, or is more likely that Fernando Rodney is the best closer this year signifying the true end of the Mayan calendar thrusting the earth into chaos and killing all human life?
B/c if it’s the latter, I have to catch up on every episode of Doomsday Preppers ever.
@John, Wow, good conspiracy…
I’m looking for a Pujols fill in (did I just say that?) until he gets going. Is AJAX and Niese for Luebke and Lahair a decent offer? The Luebke owner has 3 DL guys with 2 spots so this helps him out a bit to (Berkman and Panda being the others)
@nightpandas, It’s solid…
12 Team 5X5 Roto – Drop any of these for Tabata (bearing in mind that I am in last place in HRs and RBIs):
Vernon Wells
Drew Stubbs
Heyward
Parra
Jay
Reddick
@Mr. Rickey,
I’d drop Reddick…Tabata is getting hot
@Mr. Rickey, Wells for Tabata…
Great Mustachio,
What combo of these would you consider fair for Miggy(the owner also lost Rivera)
Pedroia/D. Robertson/CDavis/LaHair
@Yer Yang, LOL…. im not grey, but those 4 aren’t getting miggy. You have to remember that owner has to now drop 3 players, and there’s no way 2-3 of them are enough, IMO
@Yer Yang, Can try the first three or 1 and 2 plus four, but I agree with Tony.
drop rasmus or scott for tabata?
@Grey’s da man!, Rasmus
Please pick two:
Rasmus, JD, Kirk, Span, Reimold, C Johnson, Reddick, Wigginton
(currently in 1st, but bottom 2 in runs and average)
@Grey’s da man!, JD, Kirk…
@Grey: Which would you drop out of Cordero or Hector Santiago to speculate on Soriano? Even if Soriano doesn’t get the job, my ratios will thank me and I could use the open spot since my DL is full and Youk’s sitting in my UTIL spot.
@Marty Funkhouser, Hector
Miley a good streaming option today at NYM? Also Bass at home vs Miami, Vargas at home vs twins and Smyly at home vs White Sox
@Grey’s da man, Vargas
Hi Grey, Alvarez or Davis at the hot corner?
@Howard, Davis
So I can’t remember what day it was this week but all I remember reading about Robertson the other day was he is better than atleast 2 of your pitchers. Decided to pick him up because my ratios were bad because I have Marmol and Aceves. Glad I listened to your tip!
@Stephen T, Yeah, I think I said it Monday. Nice!
I had a surplus of pitching in my 12 team H2H league with Halladay, Garza, Latos, Hanson, Sale, Minor, Peavy, Milone, Scherzer.
Just dealt Dessy Jennings, Uggla, Hanson, & Minor for Bruce & Kinsler…like the move?
@Booya, Nice
20 team dynasty, we keep 5. My keepers r Votto 1b, Reyes SS, mccutchen, Stanton and hosmer at utility. Was offered Brett lawrie for hosmer. Do I do it? Who has a better career? I like hosmer but 3b just seems so shallow? Need your help.
@jwalkerus, I’d take Lawrie…
Grey, another great column. Per your advice I’m keeping Dee Gordon by the way — funny that I don’t know your real name, but trust you more than any other rotopundit.
@Dude, Thanks! Ha!
Would you trade Gallardo straight up for Pence, A Jones, M Young, M Holliday or Uggla (In a league that counts hits and TB as well) and which guys should I target (maybe throw in S Casilla with Gallardo)
@Grey’s da man!, Jones
Ooh ah ah ah ah, Get up, come on get down with the Kipnis!
@Thomas, Ha!
I need another SP: Milone, Capuano, Duffy, Hammel, Estrada, McDonald, Leake?
…or Porcello…
@Jon, Milone
Grey, I own Krispie, Longo, and Panda.
Has anybody ever punted on all offensive categories?
@Graveyard Duck, Not sure it could work…
Glad you didn’t portmanteau ‘finger tap’ into ‘fap’.
@fallex, Ha!
I’m going for the reverse jinx on Pujols by benching him in favor of Paul Goldschmidt at 1B and Wil Middlebrooks at CI…FMFBBL
@Griff, Nice!
@Griff, I’m starting E5 and Middlebrooks as well. Pujols and Youk are jerkfaces.
deep 16-team H2H-Points League (w/points for holds)
Pastornicky and Seager are my SS options.
Was thinking of dropping Pastornicky and running with Seager full time. But I was just offered Bard (SP/RP eligible), Brett Myers or Drabek for Seager.
I could use a SP or RP for depth (lost Luebke).
(1) Trade Seager and roll with Pastornicky? If so, rank options: Bard, Myers and Drabek.
(2) Or keep Seager and drop Pastornicky for Addison Reed or Thornton?
Thanks.
MJC
@Commish Cauda, I’d take Drabek or Myers…
Which side in a 12 team mixed, points, keeper league?
Hosmer, Kendrick, trout. OR Tex, Stanton, Daniel Murphy?
Thanks for all the feedback this week!
@MetalManic, Stanton
Can I call into work and tell them that I can’t work because of soreness? As long as I’m vague about it?
@RK, Yes
I’m in a league with 2 DL slots. I have Morse and now Sandoval both stashed, and some kid in my league just dropped Ryan Howard. Do I make a move?
@Comatose Kid, Nope
Would you trade Verlander and Michael Young in order to get Pujols?
@poet, It’s a bit much.
Chris Davis or Bryan Lahair- Pick one
@KarlJ., laHAIR
Some pitching match ups today…
Peavy @ DET
Sabathia @ KC
Johnson @ SD
Hudson @ COL
Current plan is to play all but Hudson @ COL. Recommend benching anyone else here?
@J-Birdis, Solid plan
Deal Pulols or Prince for J-Upside?
1) Am I giving up too much? Would you ask for another piece w J-Up?
2) Which would you prefer to part with, Prince or Pujols?
@HotRod, I think you’re going to have a hard time convincing your trade partner to give up anything more than J-Up for either of those guys. Fielder was commonly ranked below Upton before the season started, and Pujols’ slump makes it hard to sell him as a guaranteed top-5 player. If you have needs in your OF, I can see making this trade — not sure which one I’d rather part with, to be honest.
Good morning grey… Safe to drop Marmol for Walden? I have Downs. So i’d like to handcuff.
Thanks!
@mrobs, Also in another league… Drop Cishek for Walden?
@mrobs, Make both moves…
@Grey, Thanks! Just did.
rank these 3b as pedro replacements
mark reynolds, chris johnson, wiggington, seager
@jaw, pablo replacements i mean, had to grab pedro in another league for longo. cant keep track of all these crap 3b
@jaw, Wiggy
Just lost Sandoval and only junk available on the waiver wire are gems like Chris Johnson, Middlebrooks, Ransom, Liddi, Polanco, and Morel.
I was offered his Reynolds and Perdoia for my Kinsler. Make the deal or gamble on the wire?
12-team, 5×5. I’m riding comfortably in first place… for now.
Thanks dude.
@L-Boogie, I’d take Middlebrooks… Ride it…
Would you deal pujols in either of these deals
Pujols and Alexei Ramirez for Jose Reyes and Nelson Cruz
Pujols and Kelly Johmson for Hosmer and Cano
@crock, id maybe think about the hosmer/cano deal
@crock, Tough calls… I’d take Reyes if I had a decent Pujols fill in…
So Longoria goes down and my team decides to start hitting. Dingers from Soto, Castro, 2 (count ‘em 2!) from Giancarlo AND Kendrick. I think Longo was messing with my guys confidence because he’s still sore about his missing AK.
http://deadspin.com/5786497/someone-stole-evan-longorias-ak+47
What do you think about these dudes as possible streamers next week?
Jerome Williams v TOR
Joe Blanton v METS
Brian Matusz v TEX
Not good, I know. Though Matusz looked pretty good against the Yanks this week.
Drop Allen Craig (don’t ask) for Tabata?
@Turk Wendell, Ha… Yup… Pedro’s been better than Longoria in 3 days… I’d go with Blanton, they’re not good… I’d take Tabata…
h2h-points league
Trade Scherzer & Duffy FOR Gallardo?
@Commish Cauda, Yup
Tabata or Wigginton as a back-up OF? (Wigginton does have the 1B and 3B eligibility too, of course)
@Mike, Tabata…Kinda depends on needs…
As a doctor, I can tell you that the Hamate bone does not exist. Another name for it is the Unicorn bone. That’s because even if it did exist, you couldn’t use it anyway, until, of course, you mated it with a donkey. My theory is that he is some sort of Horse Whisperer, the likes of Buck/Redford, and his skills are needed this time every year at the Kentucky Derby. Little known fact, the horsewhip is made out of bamboo and this is how he originally got his nickname, Panda. After the race, there is usually a big feast, in which, it is traditional to serve ham. And, oh, can this Panda eat ham!
@Wake Up, I have heard about the unicorn bone. Good Panda story, much better than the reason I heard about some cartoon shizz.
Would you trade Fielder for Pujols?
@JustMatt, No
I just accepted this trade offer after losing Kung Fu Panda:
I delt Gio Gonzalez and Matt Thornton for Pedro Alvarez and Matt Moore.
How’d I do? This guy probably got Alvarez for nothing but I think Moore is a good buy low guy right now and Gio can’t pitch much better than he has already right?
@Shin Soo Been Gone, i like that deal, if pedro pans out then its a great deal, if not you swapped gio and moore….
@Shin Soo Been Gone, It looks fair, agree with Tony.
Interesting scenario: Guy in my league who owns David Robertson had already decided to punt saves. (Sidebar: TERRIBLE STRATEGY.)
So he sent out a league-wide email welcoming trade-offer/bids in an auction for Robertson. Claims he’ll take the best offer he gets by the end of the weekend.
I don’t need to get involved, since I’m first in saves already with my bullpen of League, Guerra, Marshall, Casillia, Band-Aid, Cast-Off, and Retread.
But I’m interested to see this play out.
What’s the best player you’d offer for Robertson at this point? Or best level of player?
e.g. Should I offer him Brandon Phillips? I’m thinking 6-7 rounder sounds right.
@Baron Von Vulturewins, i think brandon phillips for a guy who hasn’t closed, is wayyyy too much? I mean saves are saves right? SAGNOF? not everyone believes in that, but brandon phillips seems way too high. Who’s to say robertson doesn’t step in and melt down under the pressure of the 9th, many elite middle relievers have went into the 9th and its not the same…. I dont think he can get a proven player like phillips.
@Baron Von Vulturewins, Wow, still holding Retread? Phillips is too much. I’d offer someone you could see being drafted around 100 overall… Or Bryce Harper.
couple o questions.
h2h points league
1 which side do you like better. hosmer/weaver or cain/votto
2 totally different offer: give up weaver and stanton to get kemp
@moses, Votto… I wouldn’t give up so much for Kemp.
Replacing Panda…go with Lowrie or take a shot with Middlebrooks?
@Colton, Lowrie
I’m not just the president of LaHair Club For Men…I’m a customer!
Yesterday was such a sweet opposite field bomb. Ball was crushed. Such a balanced swing, hands stayed back and quiet, head super still.
@OaktownSteve, im sad i dropped him early in my one league and my nemesis picked him up, i still own him in my RCL, but letting him go to a schmuck really hurts….
@Tony, yep that’s the kind of thing that will drive you crazy.
@OaktownSteve, Ha!
Grey, how much do you think Robertson is worth out of my free agent budget?
14 team, current closers are Perez, Marshall, and Cordero/Santos. Team budgets are $500 and I have $447 remaining.
@Chris, $61 if he’s named…
I’m seeing other sites predicting that Frieri may end up as the Angels closer. I recently dropped H Santiago for Walden, but now I’m wondering how difficult it’s going to be for Walden to overcome both Downs and Frieri. Has anybody heard any clues from the Angels clubhouse?
@dingbat, Yes… the Sciosciapath was last seen in the Observatory with Colonel Mustard and Frieri’s pitching elbow. I suspect Crazy Mike will try to conceal said pitching elbow in the 7th or 8th inning, until Jordan Walden reveals himself to be Rick Ankiel’s twin brother and gets sent to the Disgraceful List or AAA–at which time Scott Downs lifeless corpse will likely be found in the Lounge without the Rope he currently posesses, leaving just Mrs. Peacock and Kevin Jepsen as the only obstacles between Frieri and the 9th inning. So, of course, the dastardly closer will finally be revealed as…. Jason Isringhausen! (The Sciosciapath moves in mysterious ways)
H2H, 1 move left this week, and need to use it on a SP. I need help in all pitching cats (standard 5 + QS): Capuano @ CHC (Sat.), Milone @ TB (Sun.), or Nolasco @ SD (Sun.)?
@Steve Stevenson, Nolasco
I am trying to sell high on Jeter… Who do you think I could get? Would it be worth buying low on HanRam or Reyes or even Asdrubal or Rollins? Or should I just hold tight on Jeter?
@Dominic,
If you can get Hanley or Reyes for Jeets, pull the trigger immediately!!
I read somewhere that Jordan Zimmermann was on a pitch count this year. Can anyone else confirm this?
@frank rizzo, Not sure I heard that…
With all the David Robertson speculation, would you rate him above the Jim Johnson, Casilla, or Rodney?
@MrHappyTime, If he got the job? Yes.
Marlmol just removed as closer. Sveum will use Dolis and Russell on a matchups basis
@Turk Wendell, https://twitter.com/#!/thekapman/status/198432895872942080
@Turk Wendell, Nobody seems to have any faith in Dolis but I am curious what people think of Russell. Last couple weeks he is at a K/Inning with 0 ER. Have a feeling he will not get a shot because he is a lefty.
Sean Marshall and Fuentes the only LH closers?
@Turk Wendell, Nice!
Would u trade AROD ,Cuddyer,and billingsley, for Hanley??
Trying to get Hanley low
Standard league
Thanks!
@Ryan, Yes
Cubs mgr Sveum called Marmol in and told him he is no longer the closer
@elwood blues, Bout time
@elwood blues, Sveum also told him his girlfriend is ugly and that he was adopted. His test for Herpes came back positive as well……tough day for Marmot.
closer issues. i have hanrahananan, frank frank, santos and downs. 12 team mixed roto.
robertson is on waivers. dolis and russel are FAs.
what would you do here? i have a claim in on robertson (for downs). thoughts?
@JD, Lose Downs for Robertson
Allen Craig or Dustin Ackley going forward? 5×5 + OPB and OPS (don’t ask).
@dsimon, Craig
I was offered Scherzer for Billingsley in my 12-team H2H.. thoughts?
Buy low/sell high?
@EK, I’d take Scherzer
@Grey and fellow Razzballers,
Looking to add one of the newly-annointed-or-soon-to-be-annointed “temporary” or “maybe more than temporary” closers that have materialized over the past few days. I also really want to grab Brandon Belt (refuse to give up on Lind, but I need another 1B) or Tabata, but it’s hard to find someone to drop and I’m leery about rostering three Pirates. My roster is:
C – Carlos Ruiz
1B – Adam Lind
2B – Jemile Weeks
3B – Jose Bautista
SS – Jimmy Rollins
MI – Jason Kipnis
CI – Pedro Alvarez
OF – McCutchen
OF – Jay Bruce
OF – Desmond Jennings
OF – Howie Kendrick (playing here due to 2B depth)
OF – Jordan Schafer
Util – Moustakas
Util – Jed Lowrie
Bench – Coco Crisp
DL – Youkilis
SP – Greinke
SP – Tommy Hanson
SP – Anibal Sanchez
SP – Jaime garcia
SP – Lance Lynn
RP – Chris Perez
RP – Santiago Casilla
RP – Scott Downs
RP – Hector Santiago
RP – Francisco Cordero
DL – Sergio Santos
——————————
Available free agents:
Brandon Belt
Jose Tabata
Rafael Soriano
Steve Cishek
rafael Dolis
James Russell
Brian Fuentes
Matt Thornton
Jordan Walden
(league is 12tm / H2H / 5×5 / non-keeper / ESPN)
Thank you, and godspeed to all in weathering the closepocalypse.
@Chillmodious, Lose Crisp for Walden… I’d be more concerned with adding an SP.
@Grey, Interesting. Maybe I’m just really skeptical about Walden (I was watching his delivery up close last night and it was very shaky–plus he got a bit lucky in getting out of the inning due to Joey Bats and Lind flailing at dirt balls), but you would really opt for him over Dolis after Sveum’s announcement?? Yes, Crisp will be the drop, but right now I’m vacillating between Dolis and Brandon Belt. You’re right about the SP, but Jarrod Parker and Mike Minor are the best FA options right now, so I’m torn.
1. In a vacuum: Crisp should be dropped for whom out of: Dolis, Walden, Belt, Parker, or Minor?
2. From a RoS perspective, is dropping Hector Santiago for Dolis an upgrade, downgrade, or lateral move?
3. Thank you x 100, and enjoy the daiquiri you will be receiving as soon as I get home (weird encryption at my office won’t let me buy you one here)!
@Chillmodious, Grab Minor… You need an SP. Dolis over Hector… Thanks!
I was offered Choo for Bryce the Prodigal…buy low/sell high or should I hold out for more?
Thanks
@Ron Swanson’s ‘Stache, I’d take Choo… But I think you can get more.
Deal Pulols or Prince for J-Upside?
1) Am I giving up too much? Would you ask for another piece w J-Up?
2) Which would you prefer to part with, Prince or Pujols?
@HotRod, Pujols for Upton works…
Trying to get Dempster because my pitching staff isn’t doing so well. The guy had Sandoval so he needs 3rd base. Headley plus McCarthy a fair trade? Headley plus Derek Holland?
The guy asked for my Headley plus Papelbon, which ain’t happening, so he might be unrealistic, but I want to counter with a fair offer before I give up.
@Hunter, McCarthy/Headley is fine…
Sire of Sutter? Maybe you meant scion.
@Bill, Maybe
Don’t I recall you and Rudy talking about how you own K-Rob on a ton of your teams this year? Could be looking at a decent boost then after losing Longoria on all of them huh?
@MattTruss223, Yeah, we have him in a few deep leagues which helps… But I wanted him in the RCL! (I’m greedy.)
Start Milone @ TB on Sunday?
@Turk Wendell, Maybe
@Grey, Why no Dunn love? He’s pretty much been in Donkey form so far this season… 14/7/19/.247/15
Where would you put his season ending stat line today?
@J-Birdis, Self – Dunn has not stolen 15 bases. Are you Copy/Paste challenged? Grey – still interested in your stat line. Thx!
@J-Birdis, Could get 30 homers with a bad average…
Dude, you weren’t joking. Carson Cistulli’s Wiki page has 74(!) “References”
@Turk Wendell, Yeah, it’s pretty silly. I thought people from New Hampshire were modest.
@Grey, Ahh, but he’s a poet from New Hampshire. They’re different.
@Turk Wendell, And here I thought he was one of 25 writers at Fangraphs. Who knew?
Should I offer LaHair for Belt and Rizzo?
@soto voce, Nope
@soto voce, Nope
As mentioned yesterday I pissed off the fantasy injury gods this week and they wreaked havoc on my team. Im trying to pick up pieces. Im in dire need of CI. I picked up Alvarez for 3b(someone I swore would never be on my team) . My 1b is Helton cause Morse has been on DL all year.
Heres FA list (dont laugh)
Betemit
Loney
Rodriguez,S
Rivera
Liddi
Smoak
Ka’aihue
Alonso
Rolen
Roberts,R
McGehee
Any of these guys look like they are starting to come around? Any other names?
@Pochucker, I’d hold for now.
In a weekly league where one of the categories is SV+HD and you just lost Rivera…would you sign Soriano, Cishek, Venters, Downs, or gulp…Myers? I strike out more hitters than Downs, both Venters and Soriano have ugly WHIP, Myers beats his wife, and the Marlins suck.
We start 4 SP, 2 RP, and 1 P and I already have Casilla, Ogando, and Hanrahan (with Storen recovering from his “strep throat” on my bench), but I like having the flexibility of starting Ogando at SP if a real starter has a bad matchup and still rolling out 3 other RP…call me a masochist.
@Tbone, Myers
Just traded yadier Molina for Brett lawrie. Good sell high? I have Jesus montero ready to take over c spot.
@wowfactor, Wow… Nice!
Anyone hear any updates on the likelihood that Braun returns to the lineup tonight?
@Drexel Hill Dragons, Haven’t heard…
Any thoughts on the apparent resurgence of Paul Goldschmidt? Obviously the power hasn’t returned, but his 5% HR/FB ratio is sure to increase. Think he might be breaking out of his funk?
As always, thanks for your response
@Tchaikovsky08, Yeah, I said to grab him the other day… He looks like he’s coming around…
Grey,
16 team dynasty mixer…
Please rank the following: Joe Weiland, Anthony Bass, Danny Duffy, Ubaldo, Homer Bailey, Jonathan Sanchez.
Thanks!
@Racehorse, Ubaldo, Bass, Duffy…
Goldy or Morales for an obp pts league?
@wowfactor, Goldy
Yo Grey, are you dropping Rasmus or Lind to get Tabata? Do you like Tabata more than Mitch Moreland for outfield help?
@Alcesto, Lind… Yup…
Dolis worth an add? I’ve seen him a few times and he has been pretty awful.
In most leagues, yeah… SAGNOF!
RIP MCA
@Smokey, Damn… That sucks.
@Grey, No way… DAMN
Grey
Cozart or Desmond?
@cashmoney, Desmond
one more
Headley or Kyle Seagar as a replacement for Panda?
@cashmoney, Headley
Drop Hector Santiago for Dolis in 16-teamer?
@nick m., I’d hold there…
FTW is wrong with Hosmer?
@Mel, Wish I knew…
Well Grey I can’t “hold for now”. Have to fill position or its an illegal lineup.
Got two days to decide –leaning either Alonso Loney or Betemit
@Pochucker, Alonso
Nieuwenheis or Rasmus today?
(not hitting lefties vs. not hitting)
@WhineSpritzer, Rasmus
Now that Farnsy is on the 60 day DL, time to cut bait?
@Alcesto, Depends who for…
@Grey, Nicasio, Nix, Middlebrooks, “Seattle” Saunders, bugosevic, seager, moreland, capuano, everth cabrera, detweiler…..
@Alcesto, And Lind, some clown just dropped Lind for Tabata, so he’s available too.
@Alcesto, Capuano
More Sandoval replacement questions (12-team, 5×5).
1) My Duda for his Prado (3B eligible)
2) My Brett Myers for his Mark Reynolds
3) My Lind (or Duda, or Fowler) for his Chipper
4) get Middlebrooks
Thanks dude
@L-Boogie, 1
Pick 2
Scherzer, Norris, Ubaldo.
Thanks
@Booya, First two
Is my Beltran and Gio too much to give up for Tulo?
@Alcesto, It’s fair…
Rather own Cook or Rauch?
@Grey’s da man!, Cook
I’m from NY and of a certain age so there are certain things in life you could always count on….Mo would always be locking shit down and the Beasties would always be rockin the house….it’s the end of the world as we know it and I’m not feeling fine
@mc serch, I feel ill, and not in the good way.
****THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS*****
Grey,
Please help with a potential trade. Other team wants to trade 2 for 1 due to Fister coming off his DL (hackles up on 2 for 1). Basically he wants some value rather than dropping a pitcher to ww. My pitching isn’t really deep after Luebke went down (Cahill/Parker range is next with Aceves as RP#2). No players were specified but he’s looking at pitchers. Would you trade any one of the following:
Gallardo
Latos
A. Sanchez
Minor (he’s less excited about)
for 2 of the following:
Jeremy Hellickson
Hiroki Kuroda
Chris Sale (probably off limits)
Scott Downs
Marcum, Mil S
Sean Marshall, Cin RP
Neftali Feliz, Tex (worried about “extra days” between starts in weekly league)
Tim Hudson, Atl SP PP
Jake Peavy, CWS SP PP
Joe Saunders
Doug Fister*, Det SP
Or just hold and see if he drops someone good?
Hey Grey, who will be more valuable the rest of the way Worley or Lynn?
@ grey, with Reimold going on the DL, is Tabata or Yunel a good add. I have no available DL spots. I like Yunel since they moved him to the two hole he has been killing it, like last year. ButTabata has more upside.
Tabata
Grey Goose,
I’m thinking of making a run at Pujols in a trade. I can’t imagine he’s still noodle salad come september. I drafted LaHair, I think he is legit. But I’m guessing I could land a LaHair Pujols deal (I also think chicks dig me, I also think people are interested in my fantasy team, so you know… there’s that).
Where do you come down on long term Albert value? I can’t think of another rapid drop like this except for the fat kids.
Picking him up on the cheap could make or break a season.
Grey,
Can I get your advise about this trades that I’ve been proposed:
1st Trade: 1B Mark Texeira for 3B/RF Jose Bautista
2nd Trade: 1B Albert Pujols & 2B/RF Ben Zobrist for 3B/RF Jose Bautista & SP Madison Bumgarner
My roster is:
C – Wilson Ramos
1B – Howie Kendrick
2B – Eduardo Nunez
3B – Pedro Alvarez
SS – Zack Cozart
LF – Tony Campana
CF – Adam Jones
RF – Jay Bruce
Util – Jose Bautista
Util – Josh Hamilton
Bench – Adam Lind, Nelson Cruz, Kirk Nieuwenhuis
DL – Jason Bay
SP – Trevor Cahill
SP – Gio Gonzalez
SP – Anibal Sanchez
SP – Madison Bumgarner
SP – J.A. Happ
RP – Henry Rodriguez
RP – Santiago Casilla
RP – Kenley Jansen
Bench: RP Hector Santiago, SP Jarrod Parker
DL – Kyle Farnsworth
Also, can you recomend me which players should I drop or change.
I’m playing in a 14 team league with this categories:
R H 1B 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB K GIDP E AVG OPS IP W L CG SHO SV BB K HLD ERA WHIP NH PG QS
I will appreciate your response.
Regards