Comments on: Pitcher Profile: James McDonald Has The Reds Scared

By: Jonathan Gilpin

Jonathan Gilpin — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:58:17 +0000

@John, I don’t think it was a question of command more than he was pitching more to contact with runners on trying to get out of jams with grounders… I might be wrong, but it seemed his fastball was more of the pitch to get outs from grounders and popups with the breaking stuff more for strikeouts and give hitters something else to think about. I didn’t notice any command issues, but then again, they could be there. It’s very, very close between Smyly and Bass, but I’ll take Smyly… I think Bass will give you more innings and more Ks overall with Smyly getting you more wins and a better K/9 in fewer innings. Both have regressed since hot starts but I think the Tigers offense will give Smyly more confidence to pitch behind.

By: Jonathan Gilpin

Jonathan Gilpin — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:55:16 +0000

@stumanji, I’d actually hold onto Smyly… Oswalt was very average last year and now has to pitch in the AL in a very tough ball park with summer heating up…

By: John

John — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:12:15 +0000

Love to read these great insight. Did you notice any struggles with command of his curve/slider out of the stretch? It seems he went exclusively to fastballs with men on?

Also who would you rather have ROS smyly or bass seeing as you did a profile on both before?

By: stumanji

stumanji — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:01:47 +0000

Thoughts on Oswalt now that he’s reportedly signed with Texas? I want to snag him off waivers. I would be dropping Smyly.

By: Prezii

Prezii — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:30:27 +0000

@Jonathan Gilpin, im still a smyly believer myself! And mcdonald has been past streamer only since about his 3rd start. Thats when i swooped em. Hes only gotten better by the outing!! Im only joking (well halfway) about blaming you man dont stop makin these articles they are helpful..

P.s. id rather break down “how you can melt a piece of shit on a hot day” then read about all yankee pitchers. Even tho i drafted two and ones out for the yeR! Silly me!

By: Jonathan Gilpin

Jonathan Gilpin — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:03:24 +0000

@Prezii, Thanks for reading man! Yea Smyly has had some tough outings… At least he got a win last time out! I actually watched the game and he had some tough luck. Early in the first he induced a tailor made DP play ball that Peralta inexplicably took himself and effed up on… But of course it wasn’t an error because he did get the runner at first. I’m still a Smyly believer and hanging tough! That said, McDonald is way ahead of Smyly with his repertoire right now… McDonald is way above streamer level right now to me, and if he does start regressing I guess I’ll have to write about only Yankees pitchers from now on!

By: Jonathan Gilpin

Jonathan Gilpin — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:00:48 +0000

@Po, Hmmm, I’m not as experienced with H2H as most fantasy writers, I’m a real roto enthusiast… That said, I think you should hold onto those guys… Sure you may win or lose HRs, but I think they will normalize their output and help win you HRs more often than not… However you may be able to swindle a great deal from an owner who consistently loses HRs. I’d approach him if you wanted a trade and make him give you a ton back. Since he’s losing in that category week-to-week, you may get a nice deal out of it.

By: Jonathan Gilpin

Jonathan Gilpin — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:54:51 +0000

@Longbeachyo, Thanks for reading man! I think the slider coupled with much improved mound presence and command. The slider was never used until last year at 5% of the time and now it’s at 20% this year. Conversely, the change-up usage has gone yearly 20%, 10.9%, 13.4%, 6.5% to 4.1% this season. The slider has proved to be that third pitch with his curveball and fastball that’s made the difference. And even though he still gets behind in counts, he’s just not walking batter the way he used to. I actually do see him dominating like this all year. He’s finally got it all figured out with a new pitch that’s complimenting his other stuff much better than the change up did. Let’s hope I’m right, I have him in a few leagues!

By: Prezii

Prezii — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:40:08 +0000

Love these articles man, but…… Pretty sure you jinxed smyly with the last one! Hope ur not jinxin mcdonald cuz ive been one of the “believers”.. even last year i had him as an end of the rotation guy!!! And he sucked!! Kinda… But love the articles none the less. Unless mcdonald dips, then i might have to blame you lol

By: Po

Po — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:33:10 +0000

What emphasis do you put on avoiding streaky players in H2H leagues? I have a tendency this year to lose hrs by 5 or win by 5-8. Guys like Nelly Cruz and Giancarlo seem better as roto players than H2H guys. Should I try to trade one for a more steady source of stats?

By: Longbeachyo

Longbeachyo — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:31:22 +0000

Wow, finally looking at his numbers. 10.1 swstr%! I just ignored him thinking it was another hot start, soon to fizzle. So what is it that changed for him? Is the slider new? Do you see him dominating like this all year??
Thanks again for the insight. Keep up the good work!

By: Jonathan Gilpin

Jonathan Gilpin — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:46:04 +0000

I like Beachy more, but I would probably take McDonald over Sale for this year… Yea, I know Sale is coming off a 15 K game, but his young age and elbow soreness earlier in the month has me convinced he doesn’t get the innings McDonald will. Plus McDonald has a better park.

By: Bobby J

Bobby J — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:36:16 +0000

Dang. But McDonald isn’t at the Beachy or Sale level yet, right?