The other drafternoon I took part in my Fantasy Razzball draft where the object is to field the worst team possible. This team isn’t just bad. Nah, I outdid even myself this time. On a scale of one to ten, they’re a negative seven. I did the math! Somehow I managed to get a team where not one hitter projects for more than twelve home runs. If someone in the Royals brass gets wind of my drafting skills, I may get a job! If you think I’m being facetious (which was recently outlawed in Madagascar), shame on you. And shame on this team! My co-conspirators in this were:
Chet G., Fantasy Football
Andy B., Yahoo! Roto Arcade
Tim W., Buccofans.com
T Man, Middle Aged Sports Guys
Jonathan H., The Hardball Times
Paul R., My Sports Rumors
Collin, FantasyPros911
Ryan D., Oh What, Another Baseball Blog
Andrew C., Yanks Go Yard
Come with me as I take out the trash:
Round 1 – I had my eye on Ronnie Belliard like only Mrs. Belliard could ever know. He’s eligible at 1st! Need I continue? His K rate has been going up. You want more? He’s also eligible at 3rd. Could Joyce DeWitt’s son steal time? I suppose, but Belliard’s projected for 400 ABs and 11 home runs. Bleh, and thank you.
Round 2 – It was between Lousy Castillo and Drew Stubbs, who may not even break camp with the Reds he’s so godawful. Stubbs’s projected 267 strikeouts this year had me throw caution into the wind and go with the upside pick. Yes, in this league, your 2nd pick may not break camp with the club. It’s not easy being bad at your chosen vocation. Ask any non-Greinke Royals pitcher.
Round 3 – Tommy Manzella, while renown for his lasagna, is not, how do I put this, good at baseball. If there were a category on Jeopardy! titled, “Players You’d Confuse With Adam Everett,” Manzella would be the question for every answer. Manzella’s projections: 450+ ABs, .240 average and 5 homers. Now that’s Italian!
Round 4 – Actually, I really like Scott Podsednik this year in fantasy… Sorry, I meant to say, I really like Scott Podsednik’s wife. Crucial detail.
Round 5 – One thing I really notice about drafting craptacular players, everyone has a different draft sheet. It’s like you got ten owners together that have all been in solitary confinement for the last six months. Everyone knows who’s crappy, but nobody knows which order anyone else is going to take them, so guys last longer than you think they will. Without further ado, Brian Bannister.
Round 6 – Went with the Marquis de Shat here because we have a max innings limit and I really wanted to get a few pitchers that could actually stay in the rotation all year. Figuring quality non-quality over quantity non-quality, if that makes sense.
Round 7 – A two home run hitter calling Petco home? Was surprised to see Sparky Anklebiter make it all the way to the 7th round. Middle infield is a deep position in this, but I couldn’t turn down this kind of value.
Round 8 – Brett Gardner is the first pick that I could see definitely owning in regular leagues. One of the few picks on this team with downside. If he can avoid the top of the order, he should be fine.
Round 9 – Considering Michael Bourn went in the first round, Nyjer Morgan‘s a steal here. Speaking of which, steals aren’t counted in this league, if anyone was not familiar with the points structure. BTW, the nicest thing anyone can ever say about a guy on your Fantasy Razzball team, “He’s a great fielder!”
Round 10 – Tommy Hunter. Okay, I’m a sucker for sucky Texas pitchers.
Round 11 – Martin Prado isn’t a great pick at 2nd base… But he’s not playing there for me. He is a solid guy for the Not Corner.
Round 12 – I expect Porcello’s ERA to mushroom. (<–almost pun!)
Round 13 – Scott Olsen — You know those Army commercials you see that promise college and all that? I imagine in the next 15 years there will be commercials for kids who throw lefty. Can’t afford college and you throw lefty? Play in the Majors!
Round 14 – Daniel Murphy locked up my corner infidel spot. Not bad value for a guy who received fielding tips from Keith Hernandez and hitting tips from Ron Darling.
Round 15 – Someone took Yorvit Torrealba in Round 14 and that reminded me I better grab his blahtoon mate, Nick Hundley.
Round 16 – In regular leagues, I wouldn’t want to fill my utility spot so early, but I knew I wanted a top tier catcher, so I grabbed Gregg Zaun, then immediately began thinking about how he really shouldn’t be playing in the major leagues anymore. Someone hire him to coach, please.
Rounds 17/18 – Dave Bush and Brett Myers because Home Runs Allowed is a category. Hopefully, Myers won’t disrupt my harmonious clubhouse.
Round 19 – Ladies and gentlemen, super futility man – Eugenio Velez.
Rounds 20/21/22 – Ronny Cedeno, Chris Getz and Jeff Keppinger. Not sure how this crapfecta lasted this long, but I just had to back up some of my other guys that are sure to lose playing time. Actually, if I played my cards right, some of them might have lost playing time already.
Round 23 – Billy Buckner? *shrugs* I don’t know, but he’s supposed to be terrifically awful.
Round 24 – Garrett Mock – Mock indeed.
Round 25 – Grabbed Russell Martin to stash on my DL, though I’m sure at least one of my pitchers will end up on the Disgraceful List by May.
Round 26 – Every time you hear Willie Harris‘s name don’t you think of Michael Dukakis? Yeah, maybe it’s me.
Round 27 – Jake Westbrook is actually the Indians number one pitcher. Chief Wahoo should change his name to Chief WTF?
[carried over from other thread] @Grey: Now that I-Stew is inching up draft boards, what’s your take on him v. Uggla? Projections-wise, they seem pretty close, and with Stewart going in the 8th round now, Uggla seems like the Unsexy Alternative ™
@Baron Von Vulturewins: Sure, but Stewart has 3rd base eligibility. In today’s 3rd base field, that gives him some points. Uggla’s still above Stewart though. By about a round.
Wow that does suck and blow. Who stole Linebrink from you? That woulda maybe pushed it to a negative 8.
Would you believe me if I told you that my last 3 picks of my Razzball team were Ronnie Belliard, Gregg Zaun and Scott Olsen?
It’s amazing how different are people’s rankings when it comes to suckitude.
Nyjer Morgan in teh 9th round? Daniel Murphy in the 14th? Good god, man!
@cws05nuts: Hehe
@ichirosan: Yeah, wouldn’t surprise me at all. I was able to get guys in my top 20 as late as the 10th round, I think.
@Tarasco’sSecretStash: Ha!
Every time I read Rick Porcello’s name, I habitually say Rick Portobello. Also, why was Tommy Manzella the first overall pick? He’s a lock for a starting job all year and has slashed .268/.321/.374 in 2201 plate appearances in the minors. Plus, he is turning 27 this year and just made the majors, his prospect shine was never brighter than aged bronze.
(Just saw that Baron’s question was carried over)
I agree with the Baron (who I feel like I haven’t seen on here in a while, btw, so greetings!) because someone in my commenters league took Stewart in the 7th round. At that point, I realized that the lack of 3B combined with Grey’s obsession had made him highly coveted, and maybe overvalued. He could outperform that draft position, but seriously, that’s not a huge bargain. Jose Lopez went 33 picks later, and I grabbed him. They have same eligibility, and I liked my pic much more. Agree or no?
Also, Uggla went a round after Stewart.
All this “upside over boring dependability” talk becomes very subjective mid-draft, and we forget that.
Grey, I see your drafts and sometimes get surprised when you pick people that you bash on this site. I’m trying to remember that even those dudes become valuable sometimes. I enjoyed picking Carlos Lee and Jose Lopez at good value this past week.
On a similar note, is Sanchez still huge value at 160? Before Floyd and Cueto?
@Grey: So you wouldn’t turn up your nose at Uggla at 113?
NELSON CRUZ
how many ABs this season? 550+ or do the rangers sit him just enough to keep him under 500 again?
@Real Tom: i took jose lopez, had uggla que’d up he goes, easy choice in the 11th or 12th? maybe it was the 10th, i was drinking…… but i’ll take what lopez is bringin…
@Stephen: Ha!
@Real Tom: None of those guys are huge value at 160. They’re 200ish picks.
@Steve: Nope
@ThePoonTycoon: He reaches 500 barring injury. Anything more is gravy.
@Real Tom: Thanks! I’ve been hibernating. Or in a Chinese prison. I’m not at liberty to discuss the details.
This happened last year with Crash Davis, where his ADP crept up so much that people were picking him as if he’d actually put up his projected numbers the year before.
If you want .250/30/100 from second-sack, Uggla’s money.
@Grey: True about 3B-eligible, but I thought a lot of Stew’s value came from 2B-eligible. 3B is a stinkhole this year, though, it’s true.
I’m just trying to figure how high I can reach for a) I-Stew and b) Andrus. Both seem to be hovering around 6th, 7th round right now, like loosed helium balloons bumping the ceiling.
@Grey: perfect timing as I was just tightening up my draft list for our razzballian draft on Sunday.
@Real Tom: Razzballers have been a fan of the horse for as long as I can remember. Sure, he’s bound to slow down a little bit (probably in runs and average), but any guy who’s good for 25+/80+/.280+ is a friend of mine, especially when I see him getting drafted around the 100th pick.
@Tarasco’sSecretStash: My thoughts exactly. Can’t believe Murphy lasted until the 14th. Clearly these people aren’t considering reverse position scarcity!
Any time you can lock up your 1B spot with a guy in a anemic lineup who should hit about .260 with 10-15 HR, mid-60s R and RBI, you have to do it!
Grey/Love Guru,
I got pick 10 on a ten team H2H points league (notable 5 pts for HR -1 for K). I know Kemp will be there when it swings my way so I am mulling over going Kemp and Migs or Kemp and Longoria due to the shortage at 3b. Or should I go Migs and Long and grab an OF (say Grady – I believe he will be there) with the third?
Throw a wrench into it and tell me who you would pick if Utley fell to the ten slot. Pitchers are going to go like wild fire in the first round.
what looks better? Migs/Kemp/Zim or Youk vs. Kemp/Longoria/Votto or Morneau. A perfect world would be Migs/Longoria/Grady?
My office excel would be proud of me for compiling such a complex if/then statement….
Oh my god, that’s the crappiest team I’ve ever seen. I’m in awe…
I was watching 30 in 30 on MLB last night (Indians) and saw that Baseball Prospectus slotted the Royals for 77 wins.
Let’s see. A #2 starter that is incapable of making it through a season. #3 and #4 starters that wouldn’t make most major league opening day squads…..and a merry-go-round at #5 that may very well end up with a double-digit ERA.
Throw in the fact this team is horrible OBP wise (attempting the anti-Bill James theory, I guess), has no power, and despite little speed is going to attempt to play National League hit and run ball.
Forgive me, but I was interested to see how these guys came up with 77 wins on the season. So, I go to the website and click on the Royals link.
Ah, they want me to pay to see the projections. I didn’t pay to see the Chyna porno and this is a worst investment than that. No thanks!
I’m interested to see how the Royals will stand up against the Razzball teams this year.
@ Matt M: Yeah, he went early in the second round in my draft. Dude rocked a .266/.313/.427 last year! At first base! We can BUILD on this! 14th round is a crazy steal for that kinda (anti-)production.
@Grey: Could you give me your advice on this mock? 1st Pick 12 Team Yahoo! H2H Snake Draft Daily League. Pos: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, OF, OF, OF, Util, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, 5BN
1. Albert Pujols (StL – 1B)
2. Grady Sizemore (Cle – OF)
3. Ryan Zimmerman (Was – 3B)
4. Justin Morneau (Min – 1B)
5. Jon Lester (Bos – SP)
6. Andre Ethier (LAD – OF)
7. Clayton Kershaw (LAD – SP)
8. Ricky Nolasco (Fla – SP)
9. Hunter Pence (Hou – OF)
10. Francisco Rodríguez (NYM – RP)
11. José Valverde (Det – RP)
12. José López (Sea – 1B,2B)
13. Mike Napoli (LAA – C)
14. Brian Fuentes (LAA – RP)
15. Roy Oswalt (Hou – SP)
16. Colby Rasmus (StL – OF)
17. David Price (TB – SP)
18. Mike González (Bal – RP)
19. Ervin Santana (LAA – SP)
20. Ted Lilly (ChC – SP)
21. Alcides Escobar (Mil – SS)
22. Dexter Fowler (Col – OF)
23. Daisuke Matsuzaka (Bos – SP)
@sean: It’s a trip if it’s your first one.
@Sal: Miggy and Longoria is nice, then Grady in the 3rd.
@Chicago Mike: You posted this in the last post and I responded.
I actually like Porcello, can’t go wrong on a kid that almost took home ROY. Now he’s just gotta get the K/9 rate up and I’m money
@Grey: In regard to the previous thread, what offensive parts of my team do you think I need to improve the most? Should I look to trade Zimmerman, plus a pitcher for A-Rod/Longoria or something like that?
C: Mike Napoli
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Robinson Cano
SS: Jimmy Rollins
3B: Ryan Zimmerman
MI: Ian Desmond
CI: Ian Stewart
IF: Nick Swisher
LF: Carlos Quentin
CF: Curtis Granderson
RF: Josh Hamilton
OF: Austin Jackson
Util: Vladimir Guerrero
SP: Johan Santana
SP: Cole Hamels
RP: Brian Fuentes
RP: Chris Perez
P: Mike Adams
P: Clayton Kershaw
P: Chad Billingsley
P: Roy Oswalt
BN: Franklin Morales
BN: Kevin Slowey
BN: Clay Bucholze
BN: Nick Masset
@GopherDay: Upgrading from Zimmerman to A-Rod isn’t going to change much.
@Grey: Well you said to trade pitching to upgrade my offense….I guess a better question to ask is what offensive position do I need to upgrade.
@GopherDay: What’s the number of teams again?
@Grey: 12 team, 6X6 ROTO (Ks and HLDS added)
@Terrence Mann: Uh yeah, Chyna… I heard she has a clit the size of a… penis.
As for Daniel Murphy starting at first base for the Mets, I propose that GM Omar Minaya take a day trip down to Arlington and chloroform DAVID Murphy (outfielder, Texas Rangers), stuff him in an over-sized suitcase, pay Northwest Airlines their ridonkulous overweight bag fees (bastardos!) and enjoy a nice, alcoholic beverage on the flight back to New York.
Once back at Citco, order Jerry Manuel to wear a cowboy hat so Murphy, David will think he’s still in Tex-ass and then sit back and count your money as David gives you an extra 5 homers and 5 steals that Daniel never would have (must be the clouds in his eyes).
Can you say pennant?
@GopherDay: I wonder what Johan can get you. You have a hole at any infielder or any outfielder. So you can really try for anything.
Regular 5×5…10 team…H2H…4 DL spots (why I snagged Beltran and Wood for the hell of it)
Looking for feedback
kthxbai
Big Cuntry
C – 2. (12) Joe Mauer
1B – 1. (9) Prince Fielder
2B – 9. (89) Aaron Hill
3B – 4. (32) Mark Reynolds
SS – 3. (29) Jimmy Rollins
OF – 7. (69) B.J. Upton
OF – 5. (49) Curtis Granderson
OF – 8. (72) Adam Dunn
Util -11. (109) Raúl Ibañez
Bench -16. (152) Carlos Beltrán
Bench – 18. (172) Shane Victorino
Bench – 20. (192) Julio Borbón
Bench – 21. (209) Ian Stewart
SP – 6. (52) Yovani Gallardo
SP -12. (112) Scott Baker
SP -13. (129) A.J. Burnett
RP – 10. (92) Carlos Mármol
RP – 24. (232)Matt Lindstrom
RP – 23. (229) Francisco Liriano
P – 14. (132) Kevin Slowey
P – 15. (149) Jonathan Sánchez
P – 17. (169) David Price
P – 19. (189) Johnny Cueto
Bench – 22. (212) Kerry Wood
I’ll get Wood and Beltran on the DL so I can pick up two guys. I need vultured saves so I’m thinking Thornton (CWS) and Ziegler (OAK)
Any feedback would be much appreciated…
@JoeC: I think that’s a job for Tony Bernazard.
@the fake tom: That’s a pretty small league, but the team looks good. You’ll probably finish close to last in average though, that’s not great. Your pitching is a bit low on WHIP and saves. I’m surprised there aren’t some actual closers on your waivers.
@Grey: Had no idea who that was. Had to Wikipedia his ass. No idea how I missed this dramedy. I guess I see the Mets as a toxic waste pit that hasn’t yet gotten the EPA’s SuperFund treatment, so I stay away.
Apparently, Bernazard would’ve made a great Razzballer:
“In 1984 with the Indians, he went through an 0 for 44 stretch at the plate, tying a major league hitless streak for non-pitchers in the last 50 years. He hit only .221 that year.”
@JoeC: You missed this?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4347145
@Grey: think it would be worth punting avg. and packaging Mauer and an OF for a pricey SP and closer? Or just stand pat and see how it plays out.
I haven’t done a h2h league in ages, so I’ve never had to worry about being balanced before. I always go for value and make the necessary trades in Mayish…
@the fake tom: Stand pat for now.
@Grey: Could you explain this a bit further? It would seem like upgrading from Zimmerman to ARod would be fairly significant. Would imagine he’d have to give up a lot to do it, but, still, if he gets the right package that seems like a nice upgrade.
@Maitland: I’m thinking Swisher to, say, Werth is a lot more advantageous than Zimmerman to A-Rod.
Put this in the last post by accident. Grey, can you rank these OFs for an OBP instead of AVG league: SeanRod, JustMax, WillAble, GerryParr, RySween
Yes, I’m in a really deep league.
Grey – I’m about to draft my second team of the year. This is my first season in this league and they have some “creative” scoring. It’s a 12 team H2H points league. The pitching scoring is as follows:
(W) 6
(L) -3
(CG) 8
(SHO) 10
(SV) 4
(BB) -1
(K) 1
The total lack of regard for ERA and WHIP intrigue me. Obviously guys taht finish games like Halladay become way more valuable, but what about late rounders. It seems a guy like Gio in Oakland would be a good flyer late, since we can ignore his ERA and soak up his tremendous K rate. What other guys do you think might fly under the radar in this format?
@Grey: I did miss that entirely, but being a 49ers fan (don’t hate, relate!), I’m kind of used to the whole pants on the ground/tirade motivational technique:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27460989/
My first 4 picks will probably be Pujols, Ellsbury, A. Gonzalez, Cano. At 41 I think I will be able to get Reyes. Is this too high? My draft is this weekend and I won’t see him in any game action before then. Is it too risky taking him this high, particularly when I have steals already with Ellsbury. My other strategy is to take Haren instead of Reyes and go for Andrus in the 10 round. Your thoughts?
@buschfan: Any particular reason you want Cano in the 4th? In my keeper, I’ve got him in the 7th round, but in a redraft I probably wouldn’t take him earlier than the 6th anyway.
I am dropping Aroldis for MI help. Should I go Ian Desmond? Callaspo? Kelly Johnson? or is he worth hanging on to over those options?
@Asdrubal Bastardo: See if you can trade him first….some people may just bite.
IF Chapman gets the #5 spot for Dusty, how would you rank him, Latos & Price? Thanks!
@Grey: So who do you think I should go for in a trade? Johan for a Werth type player? Just looking at trade options around.
Trading for an OF might be a tad harder in this league set up because the other manager has to replace the player with an exact position.
@Grey: Well, sure, but either one depends on what else you’re giving up in any trade offer. You’d have to give up a lot more to move from Swisher to someone like Werth than you would to move from Zimmerman to ARod.
@Tom Emanski: That order, but flip Will with Justin.
@MarkM: It would move up workhorses like Halladay. I could see late round guys who K people moving up, but they’re not going to get Wins, or that many of them. Burnett would be a nice name to look at.
@JoeC: See, I hadn’t heard about that.
@buschfan: Haren and Andrus is fine. Reyes at 41 isn’t bad though.
@Asdrubal Bastardo: Hang on for a few more days. Those MIs aren’t going anywhere.
@zombie: Price, Aroldis…
@GopherDay: Werth would be good. Someone in the 3rd to 5th rounds would be solid.
That team is truly a masterpiece of suck. No room for Aaron Miles, though?
Hunter Pence is killing it in spring training would you take him or Carlos Quentin? Also are there any guys that are catching your eye posting big numbers in preseason ball like Pence has caught mine?
@mapwheel: Ha!
@billybutler: http://razzball.com/2010-fantasy-baseball-spring-training-numbers/
Sorry, I’ve been out. Anyone wanting a copy of the War Room for last night’s RCL draft of “Ones are GOOD right” just email me. I limited the analysis to 13 hitters and 9 pitchers (ignoring the bench) so that we would have an even playing field. (Otherwise, some fill the bench with hitters, others with pitchers.) I made some guesses so feel free to tweak it to better reflect your team. It should give you a pretty clear idea of the strengths and weaknesses of your team.
fred_barker@comcast.net
Lose Feliz for Correia, Bard, Wuertz, Kennedy, Gregerson, Tillman, League, Masterson, Steve Trachsel, Andy Benes or Brad Radke? Don’t really have any pressing needs, aside from nostalgia, but it looks like Feliz is ticketed for AAA…
Or if none of them are worth grabbing, the usual schmohawk smorgasbord on offense is available (Kouz, Nick J., Drew, Krispie, Swisher, Snider, etc…)
Also, do you like any of Desmond, Kelly Johnson, Callaspo, McGehee or SeanRod more than Theriot for MI?
lol thanks for that but nontheless Pence or Quentin?
@Grey: I auto-drafted him at the 1st pick of the 5th round….Werth went 5 picks later….I might be able to get him.
Would Werth plus some dude I find off waivers for Johan and Swisher be even? Keep in mind it counts Ks for hitters and Werth strikes out a good amount….
Available IF:
Chase Headley
JJ Hardy
Orlando Cabrera
Felipe Lopez
Scott Rolen
Jake Fox
Justin Smoak (Could pop into the Ranger’s lineup sometime this season, plus its a keeper league where we keep them 2 rounds ahead of where they were drafted)
Pretty slim pickings….
@billybutler: Look at his OF rankings…..its all right there.
@Adam: Triple A or middle relief? Have I missed something on Feliz? I’d own Snider, Desmond, KJ and Drew though. Depends on need.
@billybutler: Sorry, that’s like my fantasy baseball Rick Roll. Quentin has slightly more upside and more risk. Pence is safer and will be good this year, maybe not great though.
@GopherDay: Johan and Werth is equal, straight up, but if you need to add someone, sure. Don’t think any of those guys are going to put the trade over the top though.
@Grey: I’ve been hearing they’d rather send him down to start in the minors than use him out of the pen, but I’ve been wrong many times before. Also, I should’ve noted that’s JD, not Stephen Drew (who is already my starting SS). Would you drop Theriot for Desmond or KJ at MI?
Now that Beckham is going to get 2B eligibility – who do you like more as a 2B? Beckham or Stewart?
@Adam: Nope
@anon: Beckham
@Grey: Just bouncing ideas off you, but what would you think of Johan and Ian Stewart for Wright?
Well, apparently my Razzball team will start to score early: somehow, Vicente Padilla was named the Opening Day starter
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=5027696&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
What surprises you the most? This or Torre’s vendetta against Kemp last season?
@GopherDay: I like it.
@ichirosan: Well, it is at Pittsburgh.
# 61 mrbaseball Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 8:36 am
my 20 team dynasty team – I am one away from picking in draft – These are the three best left for me to pick here – or I can play my hand
Octavio Dotel -saves
Peter Moylan -holds
Kevin Correia -sp
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
(Tex – C)
Joey Votto
(Cin – 1B)
Casey McGehee
(Mil – 2B,3B)
Adrián Béltre
(Bos – 3B)
Jhonny Peralta
(Cle – 3B,SS)
Matt Kemp
(LAD – OF)
Carlos Quentin
(CWS – OF)
Shane Victorino
(Phi – OF)
Cameron Maybin
(Fla – OF) ultilty
Ian Desmond
(Was – 2B,SS)
bench
Chase Headley
(SD – 3B,OF)
bench
—————————————-
Chad Billingsley
(LAD – SP)
Ubaldo Jiménez
(Col – SP)
Wandy Rodríguez
(Hou – SP)
David Aardsma
(Sea – RP)
Heath Bell
(SD – RP)
Brandon Morrow
(Tor – SP,RP)
James Shields
(TB – SP)
Clay Buchholz
(Bos – SP)
Madison Bumgarner
(SF – P)
Jonathan Sánchez
(SF – SP)
# 62 Grey Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 8:39 am
@Beau: Yeah, since I just ignored Fielder the first time.
@mrbaseball: Dotel, Correia…
one problem I would have to drop a player and if so who would that player be – I can just stand pat with what I have also grey
“Drew Stubbs, who may not even break camp with the Reds he’s so godawful.”
Hmm…hate to burst your bubble, Grey, but that line might have been accurate a couple weeks ago when he was off to a slow start. Currently, Stubbs is hitting .297/.350/.757. Yes, he has 12 Ks in 37 at-bats, but he has 4 homers and 8 RBIs. I think as a No. 2 pick in this draft he will be a bust.
Really, Tommy Manzella should have been a slam-dunk top pick in the razzball draft.
Hughes picked as Yankees’ fifth starter
@PaulyOH: Damn, I did write this about two weeks ago. My bad.
@mrbaseball: Dotel over Bumgarner.
@mrbaseball: I’d probably lose Morrow for Dotel, but I’ve never played in a dynasty league so I might be underrating his potential…Dotel is the man in Pitt though, and even bad teams can provide plenty of save opps
@Grey: Is it still possible to join one of these inverted Razzball leagues?
@Adam: Check this out:
http://razzball.com/2010-fantasy-razzball-leagues-bathing-in-the-schadenfreude/
if only only 1 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS with no MI or CI spot, would you take braun over a-rod with the 3rd pick?
@charlie batch: Yeah, I could see it there.
ha some of my regular drafts can win an inverted Razzball league
I currently own Matt Thornton in a H2H league with ERA/QS/K/Kper9/Saves/Whip as categories for pitching. Octavio Dotel was just released by another owner. Is he worth dropping Thornton for? I know he has the closer job, but Save opps., and Whip scare me.
Participated in my first RCL last night, was tough. Wanted to see your thoughts Grey, where do I need help?
C Mike Napoli
1B Adam Dunn
2B Dustin Pedroia
3B Evan Longoria
SS Troy Tulowitzki
2B/SS Robinson Cano
1B/3B Carlos Pena
OF Julio Borbon
OF Alex Rios
OF Nate McLouth
OF Jason Kubel
OF Chris Young
UTIL Martin Prado
P Ubaldo Jimenez
P Javier Vazquez
P Roy Oswalt
P James Shields
P Ryan Franklin
P Bobby Jenks
P Scott Kazmir
P Ricky Romero
P Matt Guerrier
Bench Fernando Rodney
Bench Daisuke Matsuzaka
Bench Jaime Garcia
Howdy, Grey. Just wondering your thoughts on Carmona this season. He absolutely demolished my AL Only team’s ERA/WHIP last season, so I’m more than a little gunshy about drafting him. I know spring training stats are almost always meaningless, but in his case I think his K/BB could be a sign of good things to come.
Derek Lee hurts his back……..
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Freak-injury-time-Derrek-Lee-hurts-back-in-chai?urn=mlb,230255
Grey,
Say you took Hanley 3rd overall in the first round of a 16 team, H2H-POINTS league, (some Yankee homer took A-Rod 2nd and he fell into your lap).
Now it’s the late 2nd round. Votto and Zimmerman are available, and whoever you don’t take won’t make it back to you in the early 3rd.
They’re so close in your rankings, so gun to your head, who are you taking?
@Bopper: I’d go for Dotel.
@quimmy: You look pretty light on power, probably your outfield what I’m seeing. That’s not a pretty outfield, as you probably know. Prado at UTIL? I didn’t want him in a 14 team league in my last draft. And not a huge fan of your pitching. Javier could surprise me. Kazmir and Dice-K won’t.
@Clyde Prompto: He’s a terrible pitcher.
@GopherDay: Thanks for the heads up!
@Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): Votto
in a 14 team league is Hanley worth more than Pujols??
@Grey: Any time a player falls out of his chair and injures his back at a team meal….well, it deserves a Razzball update.
@quimmy: Sorry, dude. You ranked dead last in era and whip (according to War Room, which is based on Grey’s projections); 9th overall.
@grey: thx for the eval.
what if i move pena to 1st, dunn to the OF, krispie to util, and find a 20hr bat to stick at ci in place of prado?
also, i unfortunately grabbed 2 – 2B back to back (cano and pedroia) based on value. if i could move one what level player should i expect at OF?
would someone like pence be enough or should i get more? thx.
@Denys: Nope
@GopherDay: True, I liked the Carlos Silva joke too.
@quimmy: Yes, sounds better on the Prado move. I’d want a #1 OF. Think Grandy or Werth, etc. Unfortunately, it probably isn’t going to happen.
@quimmy: @Grey: Not absolutely sure you guys are headed down the right path. Just checking and not wanting Quimmy to get into something he doesn’t need to. War Room projects him for 309 HR which ranks him second to the top 316, with third at 284.
Dunn, Longo, Tulo, Pena doing some pretty good damage. Cust Kayin’.
@Grey: Got our auction draft this weekend and I’ve done no research……….
For the 1st time in any draft, I’ll probably be ridiculed for being the guy who drafts a hurt/retired player and mocked the entire draft. And that’s just by Steve online! Imagine having to face the Al Koholic in person……….
Anywho, to recap, here’s my keepers……
Butler
Cruz
Jones
Bourn
Hamels
Wandy
These guys didn’t cost me too much. I have Prolly the most to spend but there’s not much out there. The top ones that I see that aren’t kept are…………..
Albert
Crawford
Tex
Jeter
Rollins
REyes
Grady
Johan
Morneau
The question is…..who do I target to build a contender. I can prolly buy about 5 of these guys, is that too many?
@Grey: It was a very comical article.
@fred: thx for the heads up. this is the 2nd team grey told me i was light on power on that the numbers said i wasnt. i think he just hates me!
@grey: thx for the info as always! and please stop hating me! lol
@JoeC:
True. Not a big one…..but bigger than mine.
Anyway, I didn’t pay to see it. I swear.
@Simply Fred: Guess it’s that MI power that’s pushing him up. I guess I was blinded by his outfield.
@BigFatHippo: And Roob! You’re fine with top tier pitching as it is. If you can fill up your infield, that would be best, since you already have a strong outfield, but with Bourn, you don’t really need Reyes. Tex or Albert wouldn’t be terrible.
@Grey: blind happens
@Simply Fred: it is such a rare occurrence when a wizard experiences it once in a millenium
@Grey: Yeah I was thinking Tex or Albert, mostly Tex cause our league spends way too much on Albert as it is. (Mostly St Louis boys, usually goes for 65-70). But if I can get him for 65 I might have to do that, I’ve never had him.
You really think my pitching is good enough I don’t need to spend on Johan? I don’t know……
You’re right on Bourn, the only reason I kept him was to shore up SB so I wouldn’t spend money on that. Leaves Crawford, Reyes, Rollins out. That leaves Morneau and Grady and I forgot Utley, I always buy him. Unless you think A Hill would be a cheaper version of him. (yeah, I read the overrated post but he still might hit 25)
Grey… pick one of these closers as if your life depended on their success and copious amount of saves:
BJenks, ODotel, MGonzalez, CPerez, MCapps, or KGregg.
You will be helping your friendly neighborhood fantasy team. Oh and also… I hate Huston Street (my guess is he doesn’t pitch more than 10 innings this year). He is a dingle-berry on the asshairs of life.
About Roob, yeah, both of his teams will be ridiculing me!
@Grey: In a Util slot, do you like David Wright or Joey Votto better? Meaning no position scarcity shizz.
Does Japanese play count in Razzball? I’m looking your way Kevin Menche.
@BigFatHippo: I think you’re fine without Johan, obviously don’t punt your entire staff. Maybe grab a Slowey or two later. I’d want Utley, Tex, Morneau and Grady, in that order.
@Joe B: Gonzalez
@GopherDay: Wright
@Cole: Ha!
Grey what’s a good way to determine if “x”pitcher is a good enough value (or not good enough/too much) for “x” position player?
My assumption is to compare their rankings on your top 300 initially. Not a good way?
Derrek Lee is expected to be OK after tweaking his back when a clubhouse chair he was sitting in collapsed, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Derrek Lee has become the fat kid.
@Eddy: You could compare the Point Shares value for each player.
@Eddy: That should work for now.
@The Dude: Hehe
What do you all think about this team? I’m worried about SB, WHIP, ERA, SV, R — in that order. Hopefully I can sell some of my bench power once the season is under way.
10 team Y! H2H
C: M Napoli (17)
1B: J Votto (3)
2B: I Stewart (12)
SS: H Ramirez (1)
3B: M Reynolds (5)
OF: J Upton (2)
OF: N Cruz (6)
OF: J Hamilton (8)
UTIL: J Morneau (4)
UTIL: C Pena (9)
UTIL: C Quentin (16)
BN: G Beckham (14)
BN: V Guerrero (18)
BN: C Davis (21)
SP: J Lester (7)
SP: R Nolasco (10)
RP: H Bell (13)
RP: O Dotel (23)
P: C Billingsley (11)
P: B Anderson (15)
P: A Harang (182)
P (BN): J Sanchez (20)
P (BN): M Scherzer (22)
P (BN): F Liriano (24)
This league is so shallow it’s disgusting. Do you think it’s worth dropping someone for any of the following?
C Perez, Kazmir, E Santana, Hughes, M Gonzalez, Joba, Aroldis, Latos, Rauch, Rzepcynzki, Ri Romero, B Morrow, Jenks, Lowe, Lidge, Arroyo, Capps, Matusz, K Wood, K Gregg, W Davis, H Bailey, Heyward, Matsui, A Escobar, Drew Stubbs, Nick Johnson, T Snider, EverCab
Thanks a lot
@The Dude: Not fat enough, I collapse couches!
@Grey: Thanks!
@BigFatHippo: You MIGHT give Carlos Silva a run for the money….
@BigFatHippo: yeah, but you’re a “Fantasy Baseballer” (Grey’s mom’s term!), D Lee is a real life baseballer!
@Eddy: Or their ADP:
http://www.mockdraftcentral.com/report_adp.jsp
@Grey: This may have been discussed already, but with the Yanks going with Hughes as their #5, does that boost him up the rankings much (if at all)?
@chet steadman: Crap–I forgot to mention that the above league is 5×5 + OBP, SLAM, CG (ridiculous, I know).
@chet steadman: I count about 120 SBs, so yeah. WHIP looks okay. ERA looks on the high side of 3, so yeah. Saves are low right now, but that can be fixed in-season. Runs look low. I’d lose Liriano for now for Perez. Then play the wire in-season, since it’s such a small league.
@The Dude: Post coming tomorrow morning.
@Grey:
Thanks for the input. I really don’t want to lose Liriano, but you’re right.
Chet “The Rocket” Steadman
Love the zaun pick. As a Jays fan, I’ve seen way to much of him and I know how bad he really is.
Jason Motte – does he have the stuff to be a closer in this league – if its not sometime this year maybe next year – or you thing he might be a bust
you told me earlier – @mrbaseball: Dotel over Bumgarner – but Dotel might only be in it for this year – I thing Motte is young and might hang around as a beast for years to come – we do count holds and I left him out ealier for you to look at – and I still have 6 good starters for my 20 team dynasty league
Madison Bumgarner’s missing velocity
03/17/2009 Scottsdale 93.4 mph
09/09/2009 San Francisco 88.7
09/19/2009 Los Angeles 91.8
09/22/2009 Phoenix 90.6
10/03/2009 San Diego 91.6
03/03/2010 Peoria, AZ 89.3
@ichirosan: I can’t believe there’s not more news about this. The Dodgers, who fancy themselves a legit contender, should be killed for naming Padilla their opening day starter, especially coming off of last year’s disappointing finish. With all the young arms on this team, why not just let them loose and backfill the rest of the rotation?
@sean: Their playing the pirates….. ‘Cust Kayin….
@mrs lippy: Thanks!
@mrbaseball: I’m worried about Bumgarner too, but he’ll be more valuable than Dotel or Motte in a year, but it’s about winning now, right? It’s tough, I kinda think you should hold tight for now, because it’s not a do or die move.
OK Grey, this is my second team. It’s an 18 team H2H 5×5 plus OPS and HLDs.
HITTING
C Buster Posey – Late flier. Taking a chance on him starting at 1B
1B Ryan Howard – 7th pick. 5-10 tier is a wash. But it’s a OPS league so I immediately offered a trade for Prince straight up
2B Gordon Beckham – Sort of worried he won’t pan out
3B Ryan Zimmerman – 2nd pick.
SS Jason Bartlett – Felt like I had to reach for a SS. Could be a mistake. That’s what happens when you take 1B and 3B early
OF Jayson Werth
OF Carlos González
OF Carlos Quentin – 10th round steal!!(?)
Util Kyle Blanks – 14th round super steal !?
BN Alcides Escobar – Got him so late. People are dumb.
PITCHING
SP Justin Verlander – 66th pick. Good value.
SP Roy Oswalt – 138th. Don’t trust him but best pitcher available
SP Jonathan Sánchez – May have reached here
RP Francisco Rodríguez – Don’t trust him
RP Leo Núñez
P Max Scherzer – Great value. 2 rounds later than Sanchez
P Francisco Liriano – Slight reach. Passed on Blanton, Davis, Latos
P Octavio Dotel – Dropped. People are dumb.
BN Wade Davis – Great value. 295th.
BN Luke Gregerson
BN Matt Capps – People are dumb
BN Juan Gutiérrez
Thoughts? I think I did very well. Lots of power and .900ish OPS guys. I hoarded saves, and holds will be easy to pick up. Ws and WHIP could let me down but in H2H it’s OK.
@Tom Emanski, get as many starters through trade or waivers as you can. they will give you more points than using more than 2 relief pitchers.
Crap, Howard for Fielder trade got rejected. Hopefully you’re right about Howard’s AVG rising because that’s a big OPS difference.
Mr Grey I am on hold
@Tom Emanski: Not surprised…
Hey, how much do you like Jarrod Washurn on the Mariners in a 14 team mixed? I mean that defense is rediculous, even if he is a marginal pitcher (at best). His lack of K’s makes me think it might not be worth it, but he has a better skillset than a lot of the other nameless M’s. Would you take him or Jason Hammel?
Can someone explain to me why CBS doesn’t list WHIP in their pitching stats? I just don’t get it – they give us fun stats like “GO/AO” and “SLG against” and even “MB9″ (whatever that means), but no WHIP!!
@Tom Emanski: I’ll tell ya what, I’ve seen some 12 team league teams hitting not look as good as yours. Really well done there. And somehow your pitching looks solid too. Not crazy about the 2nd half of your staff that much, but in an 18 team league, it’s great. Really nice team.
@cubbies299: I don’t like him.
@The Dude: CBS is very bad.
Johnny Gomes: ever or never?
Thanks Grey!
I’m wondering (rationalizing) if Howard might actually be better than Fielder for H2H. His 2nd half numbers are off the charts and will be handy for the playoffs. I had him last year and he single-handedly kept my weak hitting alive.
12 team h2h points league with 4th pick:
c – Iannetta (22nd – 261)
1b – Miggy (2nd – 21)
2b – Ian Desmond (21st – 244)
3b – Youky (4th – 45)
ss – Andrus (11th – 124)
of – Braun (1st – 4)
of – Sizemore (3rd – 28)
of – Ellsbury (5th – 52) (are you kidding me)
util – Quentin (9th – 100)
util – Berkman (12th – 141
bn – Beckham (8th – 93)
bn – Rios (18th – 213)
sp – Lester (6th – 69)
sp – Nolasco (7th – 76th)
rp – Marmol (13th – 148)
rp – Franklin (17th – 196)
rp – Gonzalez (19th – 220)
p – Baker (10th – 117)
p – Oswalt (14th – 165)
bn – Price (16th – 189)
bn – Sanchez (15th – 172)
bn – Mateusz (20th – 237)
I know its a great team, but tell me what you feel about my blunders:
a) Took braun over a-rod in 1st round, hoping zimmerman would fall to me in 3rd. He didnt.
b) Because no zimm, took Youk over Reyes in round 4, hoping Reyes would fall to me in 5 but knowing Youk wouldnt. Reyes didnt fall.
c) took sanchez over scherzer, berkman over soriano.
d) took beckham as a 2b, instead of bartlett as ss. Waiting for 10 games to go by as fast as possible, using Desmond as fill-in for now.