Comments on: Razzball’s 2012 Yahoo! Friends & Family Draft

By: Nonstoptalk

Nonstoptalk — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:56:50 +0000

Grey… Opinion on my team?

10 Team Standard Mixed

C: Russell Martin
1B: Mark Reynolds
2B: Dan Uggla
3B: Evan Longoria
OF: Jose Bautista
OF Jay Bruce
OF: Michael Bourn
UTIL: Jayson Werth

SP: Cliff Lee
SP: Zack Greinke
SP: Mat Latos
SP: Rickey Romero
SP: Adam Wainwright
SP: Wandy Rodriquez
SP: Francisco Liriano
SP: Edison Volquez
RP: Huston Street
RP: Brandon League
RP: Carlos Marmal
RP: Rafael Betancourt

Obvious average is gonna be terrible but do I have enough HR, Steals, RBIs and Runs to compete on offense to complement what I think is a good staff?

Thanks in advance Grey.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:17:48 +0000

@Charles, No prob. I don’t think you remove much in volatility from HRs. It’s all due to batting order.

Runs go in descending order from leadoff position to 8th with a slight bump at 9th – http://razzball.com/lineup-position-impact-on-runs-rbi/.

RBIs should correlate pretty well since 3rd/4th/5th hitters have the highest RBIs and typically have a lot of power.

I find that middle of the lineup hitters with moderate power get underrated in drafts – examples are Neil Walker and JD Martinez.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:35 +0000

@Rudy Gamble, Sorry, I wasn’t really commenting on this team in particular. I guess I was trying to ask whether volatility in runs and RBIs decreases as you increase HRs. Intuitively it makes sense since the player would be less dependent on his teammates. In this sense, not only are the extra HRs valuable, but there would be more accurate predictions of runs and RBIs.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:50:24 +0000

@BostonEagle5, I’d roll the dice with your pitching staff. It’s got some potential. Use waiver wire/free agency to pick up another SP with potentially friendly home matchups (i like Mariner, A’s and Padre pitchers). I’d usually suggest using MRs but the 3 RP limit squashes that.

By: BostonEagle5

BostonEagle5 — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:39:28 +0000

Question for strategy in a 12 team weekly league. We start 4 OF and 4 UTIL, 6 SP and 3 RP.

My team is as follows:

C: Ramos
1B: Berkman
2B: Kinsler
3B: Longoria
SS: Castro
OF: Bruce, Heyward, Bourjos, Duda
UTIL: Lawrie, Lind, Morales, Span

SP: Darvish, Hanson, Zimmermann, Beachy, Buchholz
RP: Motte, Street, Myers

Obviously this team is lacking on pitching, my question is should I deal for an ace (since it’s a weekly league) using one of my big bats, or should I do a smaller deal to get more depth.

Two offers I have on table:

Bruce for Greinke
Duda for Minor

Thanks!

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:41:53 +0000

@nightpandas, I think you have a solid mix. With that IP cap, I definitely want a couple of SPs to throw when their matchup is good. I’d think 1-2 MR/low-end closers and 1-2 bats. I like Trout but it does hurt some flexibility in the short-run if there’s an injury. JD is a solid bench bat given he’s a middle of the lineup hitter (albeit an awful lineup). Would be ideal if you had a little more position flexibility but hopefully you’ve got someone on your team with 1B/OF or something like that since it’s Yahoo’s liberal position rule. Good job!

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:35:44 +0000

@Jef, i’d trade Votto-Werth for Braun-McCutchen in a heartbeat.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:34:22 +0000

@chata, Every league is different. The 1250 IP cap has a big impact because it nullifies the strategy of winning Wins and K’s through a quantity vs. quality approach. With very good starters and solid MR/Relief, you could dominate four categories. The only strategy play I see is Pianowski’s ‘beef up on MRs’ but MRs are valued high enough in this league that I don’t think he’ll get enough advantage out of it.

Our RCL draft is a better gauge for our strategies – http://razzball.com/grey-rudys-drafts-in-the-2012-razzball-expert-league/. Grey went lower on SP investment (Bumgarner in the 5th, Latos in the 9th) than me (Greinke in 3rd, Lester in 5th, Beachy in 9th). I think that’s more indicative of our styles…

By: nightpandas

nightpandas — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:43:00 +0000

Yahoo strategy question. Only have 6 bench spots, how do I best utilize them? (15 team roto, 2000 innings max, 36 acquisitions max (33 left) Right now my bench is JD Martinez/M Trout/Niese/Danks/Cahill/FFransciso.

Holding onto Trout because I need to keep 7. (Possible keepers would be 7 of Pujols/Kemp/Bruce/Choo/VMart/Rollins/ARamTrout/DHudson/Latos). Maybe I should let Trout go?

By: Jef

Jef — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:16:13 +0000

Wow. I was able to draft 9 guys who went in the 1st 5 rounds: Votto, Upton, Hamels, Price, Bumgarner, Lawrie, Andrus, Cruz, and Cuddyer (i’m guessing his 2B pushed him up ridiculously).

So I’m feeling pretty good about my team now.

That being said, trade Votto-Werth for Braun-McCutchen-Swisher in H2H points 12-team CBS? Or am I just getting greedy trying to collect early rounders?

Thanks for the great draft write-up.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:13:30 +0000

@chata, If you told me Bedard will pitch 180 IP and be completely healthy, he’s not worthless. But in 12 team with the Pirates….eh, I wouldn’t fall in love with him. Sounds like you’re an Oriole fan so you might have some bias….Ha on Anibal…that’s Grey’s love. I’m so-so on him this year….

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:08:56 +0000

@Jarred, I’d make that trade.

By: chata

chata — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:08:38 +0000

@Rudy Gamble,

i certainly don’t want to cause a rift between you and Grey ,
but if experts are drafting pitchers earlier , shouldn’t i ?

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:07:34 +0000

@Charles, Based on this, HR are more reliable than most other stats (inc. R/RBI) – http://www.insiderbaseball.com/blog/2012/03/roto_advanced_scoring_weights.html#more.

In some drafts/leagues, we go heavy in power. This league’s draft board just didn’t line up as nicely. There are 10 categories….you don’t get any prizes for winning HRs…

By: Jarred

Jarred — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:55:59 +0000

@chata,

Would you do the strasburg/hamilton side of the deal? or hold on to strasburg?

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:13:28 +0000

Do HR hitters have less volatility in runs and RBIs? That would make them inherently more valuable, right?

By: chata

chata — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:09:30 +0000

@Jarred,

act quickly .

but , maybe offer him ubaldo or marcum , instead of hudson , 1st .

By: chata

chata — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:00:41 +0000

@exactly,

i’ve got you at 90 SB’s .

maybe lose a pitcher for a back-up bat that qualifies at dual eligibility .

By: chata

chata — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:47:36 +0000

@ Rudy :

i’m willing to make a small wager that bedard will make owners ,
who overlooked him and vested in gio gonzalez , instead ,
feel like a bunch of patzers , by season’s end .

By: chata

chata — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:41:25 +0000

@Rudy Gamble,

some of us …. (ok , maybe just me) … believe that bedard is in better health , today , than at any time since leaving baltimore .

age has probably cost him a few mph on his fastball , but “back in the day” he was a crafty pitcher who worked the outside edges of the plate
and then come inside and bust you , down low , and at an angle to the right-hand batter that was near impossible to hit without bailing out of the batter’s box .
for lefties . it was away , away , away .
the guy could certainly hit his spots , and i don’t think that has changed any … except for the fastball velocity , perhaps .

injury should not prevent him from making his starts , but maybe age will .
i’m expecting 24 starts , and hoping for more .
as such , i’m anticipating 165-175 K’s … but for ‘old time sake” , i’m
hoping for 185 .

he may not have the best team behind him , but he has a doggedness
about him that will make him battle into 7th and sometimes beyond .
he never wanted to come out of the game … maybe because he had a shitty oriole pen behind him .. (i like a pitcher who prefers his OWN chances) .

given the ‘double’ appearances against that division , he seems to be on a par with , if not better than , your esteemed anibal sanchez .

i like his chances .
and i like his draft position/value .

worthless ??
hell , no .

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:36:19 +0000

@beardcrabs, I don’t like uggla in the 4th round. i think neil walker matches him across the board except 15 less HR. i Think i got uggla in the 7th round of an NL-only league a couple years ago! but peeps are less afraid of AVG now. i think grey was campaigning for uggla though…

By: beardcrabs

beardcrabs — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:08:53 +0000

@Rudy Gamble, HR’s supplement R and RBI as well… this year i targeted my first SP in the 5th round, but in the RCL i wanted a somewhat strong rotation so i took grienke in the fourth… i see your point though, really depends on what hitters are there… I remember last season you liked Uggla, not so much this year? The only reason I commented is because I was picturing you and Grey during this draft, probably a funny scene…

By: Denys

Denys — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:52:44 +0000

@Denys,

i stand corrected, 12 team league!

By: Jarred

Jarred — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:45:41 +0000

Hey guys, I really need some help on evaluating a trade. I’m in a 12 team H2H keeper league. Cats are runs, hr, rbi, avg, slg, BB and NS, pitching cats are QS, BB’s, K’s, ERA, Whip, holds and NS. My current roster is:

C: J. Montero (5)
1b Votto (6)
2b Uggla (3)
3b Wright (2)
ss Aybar
of Granderson (3)
of Bruce (2)
of Stubbs (1)
util Morneau/cain

P Lee (2)
P Strasburg (3)
P D. Hudson (3)
P Romero (2)
P Ubaldo (2)
P Marcum (1)

In parenthesis are the amount of years i can keep them.

Trade proposed would be my votto, bruce, granderson, lee, and d hudson for his fielder (3), braun (4), victorino (1), kershaw (3) and weaver (3).

I love bruce, but is this worth it? I could also probably put in my stras and get back josh hamilton. Is this a smart move for me?

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:38:06 +0000

@Ralph, i don’t think belt will deliver much this year. drop him and pick up reimold.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:36:47 +0000

@@hHuskyRump, no way. ackley has 10 more HR, 5 more SB, and better AVG.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:35:35 +0000

@Rob, yup

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:35:09 +0000

@Richie, melancon is the favorite. i think he’ll be below average.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:34:22 +0000

@Steve Stevenson, yeah on swisher for ichiro. no on gardner (not good on avg)

By: Denys

Denys — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:34:19 +0000

Here’s my 10-team league. I think I lucked out a lot early on.

1. (6) Ryan Braun LF
2. (19) Evan Longoria 3B
3. (30) Tim Lincecum SP
4. (43) Jered Weaver SP
5. (54) Jay Bruce RF
6. (67) Eric Hosmer 1B
7. (78) Madison Bumgarner SP
8. (91) Brian McCann C
9. (102) Drew Storen RP
10. (115) Derek Jeter SS
11. (126) Jordan Zimmermann SP
12. (139) Anibal Sanchez SP
13. (150) Sergio Santos RP
14. (163) Yoenis Cespedes CF
15. (174) Kenley Jansen RP
16. (187) Jemile Weeks 2B
17. (198) Neftali Feliz RP
18. (211) Jhoulys Chacin SP
19. (222) Francisco Cordero RP
20. (235) Danny Espinosa 2B
21. (246) Torii Hunter RF
22. (259) Chase Utley 2B
23. (270) Mark Melancon RP
24. (283) Jonathan Sanchez SP
25. (294) Roy Oswalt SP