Yahoo’s fantasy baseball doesn’t count a one game playoff, no matter the format. It would be the Keyser Söze of regular season games, I suppose. ESPN, on the other hand, does count it. So that means only one thing. You need to pick up everyone from potential one game playoff teams before your leaguemates, if it could mean a championship for you. If the season would’ve ended yesterday, the Giants and Braves would’ve had to play one more game. If that’s the case next week, that would put Derek Lowe and Bumgarner on the mound. If the Padres have to play one more game, Chris Young’s ticket would get punched. Chacin, if the Rockies can put the Rock in Rocktober. This, of course, wouldn’t mean these guys would all go nine innings. If any of these clubs make the “One day is all you got” portion of our program, then all hands would be on deck. First sign of trouble, the starter gets pulled and another starter (usually the guy with the most rest) goes in. So then you would have a starter on three days rest pitching or a long man out of the bullpen.
As for hitting, the sooner you can grab the McLouths, Melkys, Cody Rosses, Fowlers, etc. etc. etc., the sooner your leaguemates can’t. In redraft leagues, I’d start looking at these guys no later than Friday. Grab all possible unlikely heroes, if you need any hitting stats. That’s right, this may be the only time you see me fully endorse picking up Eli Whiteside, Todd Helton and David Ross. Even David Eckstein. Well… No, even him. Most importantly, if your opponent needs any stats at all, block them from getting them. So if this means owning Peter Moylan for no reason other than you’re afraid your opponent might get a vulture win and beat you, then own Moylan, in the non-biblical sense, of course.
Dumb question over here: What exactly is a redraft league?
I know the last day well from a very exciting last year I ended up tying for first place in two leagues on the last day – the last day of the regular season in Yahoo, and the one day play-off in ESPN (the RCL commenter original league). Is that the ultimate kissing your sister scenario, or was that awesome? I can’t decide.
hence dropping hanley for ybetencourt. Imagine that in April.
@Eddy: It’s a league where there are no keepers. The managers start from scratch at the beginning of every season. (Therefore, you don’t need to worry about hanging onto players for next year.)
Hola Grey! Thanks again for an entire season worth of awesomely unrivaled unbelievably wide-ranging guru greatness. Sappy, I know, but I’m just trying not to cry, dammit. Pull yourself together Mango!
So, I’ve already asked you this question, but wanted your end-of-season expertise.
I can keep 5 players for $5 each, with a total auction budget of $300.
I have 7 in mind, so which two should I cut?
Logan Morrison
Jose Tabata
Angel Pagan
Corey Hart
Pedro Alvarez
Starlin Castro
Daniel Hudson
Gracias!!
@Bob: I think it’s awesome.
@bsa: Yeah, I’d do that.
@Miguel the Mango: Thanks for the kind words! Castro and Hudson…
@Grey: did it last week in the rcl. Is he off waivers now Bob?
Hola Grey – one move left in my H2H finals. I’m winning handily right now, but a few cats are close in both pitching and hitting. I have a hole at 3B–should I pick up Valencia, Chris Johnson or Alvarez now (I like Johnson’s schedule, though Valencia at home is nice; Alvarez is hot, but also on the road all week), or wait a couple days to see if I can maintain my hitting margins, just in case it becomes more advantageous to pick up an extra SP?
@bsa: Gotcha
@Steve Stevenson: Hold the move until Wednesday, just in case.
An update on My H2H Pitching Rotation That Thinks It’s Playing For a Razzball Championship (But It’s Not):
Dempster (1.2 IP, 9 ER)
Cueto (1.1 IP, 8 ER)
Carpenter (10 IP, 6 ER, 18 baserunners)
*NEW* Pavano (4 IP, 7 ER, 11 hits)
Billingsley’s off the list because yesterday’s start erased his previous (5 IP, 5 ER, 9 baserunners).
How’s this for a plan?
5×5 roto, and I’m first in WHIP and Ks. I only have 8 GS left to burn and I’m chasing wins with those. I’m in 4th in saves, but only trail the leader by 6. I’ve assembled a collection of 6 donkeycorns and brain freezes in an effort to bridge the gap. Here’s the plan: I’m thinking of dropping Wandy for Chris Perez (Wandy has struggled against the Reds anyways). Then after Brett Anderson pitches today, I’d drop him for Volquez (Wandy’s opponent tomorrow).
So, the question is. . . would you rather have Wandy @ CIN plus 6 days of Perez or Volquez vs Hou plus 5 days of Perez?
Basically, it boils down to Wandy vs Volquez. What do you think (other than that was a lot of typing devoted to this convoluted plan)?
@peter: Damn, that hurts.
@Earl Battey: You’re not making up 6 saves unless he’s punted all his closers, but go with Wandy and 6 days of Perez for the chance.
@bsa: I don’t know. I was asking the question about another league. I would never violate our RCL policy.
@Grey: Need wins only… any Rhymes or reason re: picking from this group of closers for a vulture win or three in the last week of season? Can only pick one:
-Papelbon: 7 games – @CWS (4), NYY (3)
-Valverde: 7 games – @Cle (3), @Bal (4)
-C. Perez: 6 games – Det (3), @CWS (3)
-Uehara: 7 games – @TB (3), Det (4)
BTW As a BoSox fan, I am afraid to pick Paps – he looks cooked to me.
Thanks
Mike D.
Grey, gaining 3 saves would get me to second, so I’d pick up 2 points. The guy that’s up 6 had a huge lead and shed 2 closers for starters at the deadline. He now has Aardsma, Gregg, Papelbon, and Lyon. I would have Marmol, Capps, Perez, Axford, Gutierrez, Takahashi, and Hensley. Maybe not likely, but probably my best chance to pick up a point or 2.
I’d be using Volquez instead of Wandy if I want Perez for an extra day. Go for it, or is it not worth the multiple mouse clicks required to make it happen?
Thanks.
@anyone: Shields or Carrasco in a dynasty? Out of my Greinke, Hanson, CJ Wilson, Norris, Marcum, Chacin and Shields, Shields is the worst performing and one of the least sexy names above and Carrasco is doing well and worth rostering in a dynasty. Is Shields now in the same category as Baker and Slowey, etc.?
@Bob: Yeah I know you’re good. That is why I jumped in to tell Grey I had already done it.
@Mike D.: Can try Perez, but it’s a total crapshoot.
@Earl Battey: Go for it.
@Anonymous: Carrasco… Baker and Slowey over Shields.
@Grey: Ouch… Harsh but true…
Slowey at KC tonight? good, bleh, bad?
@Anonymous: Yup
@Back to Minors: Meh
“Yahoo’s fantasy baseball doesn’t count a one game playoff, no matter the format.” Those stats don’t go to anyone? They just disappear like all other playoff stats?
@Grey:
1/2 point out of first in 12 team weekly roto. i am in 4th in wins (84), one win behind a tie for second/third (85). i am in 3rd in saves (84), one save behind 2nd (85). current pitching lineup consists of:
ubaldo (vs la, @ stl)
lester (@ cws)
wandy (@ cin, vs chc)
sanchez (vs ari, vs sd)
soria (3 vs min, 4 vs tb)
wagner (3 vs fla, 3 vs phi)
for my final pitcher spot, do i start:
volquez (vs hou, vs mil – although there is talk, he may not get last start depending on how dusty sets up for playoffs)
or
lyon (3 @ cin, 3 vs chc)
thanks for a seasons worth of advice.
would you rather have Bumgarner vs ARI Weds? (over Slowey tonight)
@Big Mike: Not sure I understand your whole question, but Yahoo didn’t count last year’s one game playoff so I’m assuming they won’t again.
@herschel: No problem. I’d go with Lyon.
@Back to Minors: Yup
@peter:
Ah ok I figured as much. I just go by the term “yearly” instead.
Thanks!
@Big Mike: The difference is that MLB does not consider the stats “playoff stats.” They are included in the regular season statistics.
@Grey: Safe to drop Zimmerman now?
re: Zimmerman, i already did!
With Wolf’s start possibly being tonight, who do you like for tomorrow:
Blackburn @KC, Braden @LAA, Francis v.LAD? No need to rank ‘em, just if there are any starts you like at all out of that bunch, otherwise Wolfy is going to the FA heap for a bat.
@VinWins: Ah, is that what he was saying? Yeah, a playoff game is game number 163, not game one of the playoffs, Big Mike.
@ThE sHiT: Yup
@Wilsonian: Wolf, Blackburn…
@Wilsonian: Eff why hoo, Mets game is postponed.
You can add Wainwright to the list of pitchers who may be done. He’s had elbow stiffness in his last 2 starts.
@VinWins: Yeah, wouldn’t be shocking.
@Grey: thanks! But damn! Lost out on Fielder, Hart and Wright. Not what I need in this final week!!!
@Wilsonian: Damn…
@Grey: I’m really hoping they make this game up…I could use those ABs.
@Wilsonian: They will, but might be B lineups in one of the games since it’s late in the year and neither club is in it.
@Grey: “if your opponent needs any stats, block them ….”
This from ESPN rules:
“C: Impeding other owners
Certain transactions made solely to impede other owners is not allowed. Tanking games for the sole purpose of denying another player’s chance to make the playoffs is against the rules. In particular, cycling through players in free agency to put them on waivers and make them unavailable to other teams in your league is strictly prohibited and is grounds for expulsion from the game.”
??
@simply fred: I’m not saying to tank or cycle through players. I’m saying grab guys that could play an extra game if you need the stats, or if your opponent does, block them. Same as grabbing a steals guy if the guy behind you needs steals and you don’t.
@Grey: Thanks for clarification. The lines seemed a little ‘grey’ to me. So, I plan to run nine SP on Friday (one game from the 180 limit, all pitching stats count for that day, and no pitching stats count after that last GS). Had thought about dropping them all after their starts to grab starters for Sat. and Sun. that others might be intending to load up on (thus, blocking them). Seems to me that since no stats would count for me, it would be ‘unethical’ (kind of similar to cycling) for me to do so. What do you think?
@simply fred: I don’t grab pitchers after I’ve reached the max. It’s a fine line and have seen people do it.
@Grey: Yeah, I had already decided against. Thanks!
@Grey:
so , charlie weaver to block ?
@simply fred: No problem.
@big o: I don’t follow.
@Grey:
(hollywood squares)
rose marie , you would have gotten .
@simply fred: I’ve never seen that rule and am surprised that it exists. But I checked the rules, and “E” from the same section reads, “Owners should always be polite and gracious when dealing with one another,” so I’m going to take these rules as more aspirational than anything.
@big o: Ah… I thought that was where you went with it, but didn’t recognize the name.
@big o: Ha!
@royce!: Ha!
So i’ve got 11 starts this week and only 10 moves left. I had one clean save today.
My opponent has 16 starts and 102 moves left. 3 starts were today. He got 3 QS 20Ks a .083 WHIP and ERA.
So I’m winning WHIP and ERA. What do you think about mailing it in and taking the 2 cats while giving up 3?
Oh I also have the higher seed so a 5-5 tie goes my way.
anyone know how CBS handles a one game playoff?
I’m in a weekly CBS roto league.
@struggler: If you can carry the offense cats you need.
@dean: Games counted last year in CBS.
@Grey: How are you holding up with the record heat?
@ThE sHiT: Ugh, it’s so miserable. I keep looking at the weather, hoping it’ll tell me it’s suddenly not hot anymore.
@Grey: BTW, my opponent lost his Prado, most likely for the season. So, I used my open spot which belonged to Zimmerman to pick up Alvarez and block my opponent from rostering him. I already have Valencia, so I don’t need The Smashbuckler. But, the hitting categories in our H2H matchup are too close for me to feel comfortable with my lead. I only have 5 moves left, but I felt I had to play a little defense.
@ThE sHiT: I like that move. You might even want to play Alvarez, he’s been very hot, like this freakin’ weather.
@Grey: Ha! I wish that was possible. I saw on the news that West Hollywood was one of the hotter spots hit with this nasty heat wave. I went to college in Riverside, so I have experienced this type of heat many times. But it still feels like a punch in the face when I step outside. It looks like it will get worse with some good ol’ humidity the next couple of days. On a lighter note, I picked up a 20 pack of ice cold brews to help me weather this shizz. Happy drinking!
@ThE sHiT: Nice, enjoy!
@Grey: You read my mind. That was going to be the next question I was going to ask you. Valencia seems to have cooled off a bit. I have a feeling my opponent has semi given up He has Mauer and hasn’t picked up a C to replace him for the time being. Yet, he has streamed a couple SP’s. He posted a message on our league board last week saying he had wanted to discuss a split of the 1st and 2nd place prize money. $450 goes to the Champion while $200 goes to the runner-up. Had he posted it before our matchup started, I would have considered. But, eff that! I’m playing to win!
@ThE sHiT: That’s pretty weird he played the whole year to get in this position then he quits with money on the line. Yeah, play to win.
@Grey: Yeah, I thought the same thing. It’s really tough to get a read on my opponent. He finally cuts Reynolds, yet he picked up Garcia when I dropped him 2 weeks ago. He benched Hanson for his past 2 starts, which have been good. He streams Drabek and Norris (yes I know you endorsed him) and picks up Wigginton with both Alvarez and Valencia available. Weird moves by a guy who has been a tough competitor in fantasy.
@Grey: How about Aviles and his stealing a bag in 3 straight games. He singlehandedly has helped me make up ground in a category I had decided to punt last week.
@ThE sHiT: That is weird. Yeah, Aviles and Alvarez have been good. You should play both. The latter over Valencia.
@Grey: Will do for sure. Which OF should I pick up to have on the bench as insurance in case either Murphy or Cruz sit any time this week? Frenchy, Snider, Venable, Rajai, Kalish, Morse, and Hall are all available.
I’m probably thinking about this too much, but here it is. My Roto league may be decided by wins. I trail the first place guy by one win, but he has a 10-7 lead in starts remaining. In other words, to claim that point I really need to maximize my remaining starts.
Today I have Felix AND the Adverb facing each other. I’m thinking of dropping Cliffy (he’s been a little shaky of late anyway) in favor of Volquez (vs Wandy). That could get me two wins. Then again, it’s hard to skip Cliff vs the Mariners because I could miss on the one win from the three SPs after the Rangers win 1-0.
Should I use Cliff and Felix and hope to secure one win or run Volquez and hope for 2? By the way, Felix is undroppable, so that’s not an option.
Thanks, as always.
Adverb was pushed back, he’s starting against Weaver later in the week. I’d still pick up Volquez somehow, who is also slated to start the last game of the season. He’s pitching for a spot in the postseason rotation, so he actually might make that second start.
@ThE sHiT: Venable sat out tonight with a sore back (awesome! I had sacked Byrd for him since I wanted some steals and upside with the bat), buyer beware on that one. Snider’s hot, roll with him, especially since he’ll get AB and R batting leadoff.
Which SP do you like the most for today: Latos(CHC), Wolf(@NYM), Pelfrey(MIL), Blackburn(@KC), Braden(@LAA)