Straight from Rudy’s risky pitcher post, “Sliders are the most effective pitch one can throw but are worse on the arm than fastballs/changeups. Pitchers who rely on sliders (15+% of pitchers) take this risk if they feel it’s the only way to reach their expected level of success. Young pitchers relying heavily on sliders for success are more akin to a kid on his tippy-toes trying to make it on a ride – they can only keep it up so much before they fall below that line or get hurt trying.” Following that line of thought, Brandon Morrow was thrown from the big boy ride and will start the season on the DL because he threw sliders with reckless a-Brandon. The Jays are going to backdate Morrow’s DL stint so he’ll only miss one start. Yeah, and I’d like to backdate my fantasy draft where I took Morrow, but that ain’t happening either. If Morrow only misses one start all year, call me Mr.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Brandon Webb
Zack Greinke fractured his rib while playing basketball. Word is he jumped from the free throw line and tried to dunk over the Brewers’ 2011 expectations. Prince Fielder would’ve missed the shot before looking bad. Since we just drafted Gallardo, I’m glad he doesn’t play hoops with Yovani. Greinke will miss 3 starts, so take him from 220 IP to 200 IP or the equivalent of 3 rounds, or $20 to $16 in 12 team mixed leagues. (BTW, Point Shares for AL-Only and NL-Only have been added.) In my top 20 starters for 2011 fantasy baseball post, I was already pretty realistic (read: not crazy optimistic) with Greinke so I’m not changing my projections or ranking. I.e., I do what I do, you do what you do and together we do what we do. Anyway, here’s some more news for fantasy baseball:
Corey Hart – Was already avoiding him in all leagues this year and now he has a sharp pain by his strained oblique. I wouldn’t touch him with your team. Hart’s hoping his trip to the doctor can figure out what ails him. Never surrender, Corey Hart!
Please, blog, may I have some more?Chris Carpenter left yesterday’s spring training game with a strained hammy. That sounds delicious! Unless, of course, you’ve drafted him already. Then you’re like, “Jesus, Carpenter!” But you shouldn’t have drafted him already. You really shouldn’t draft until the last possible second in March. You don’t want to lose your league before the season even starts, that’s not fun/fair. Not to mention, I wouldn’t draft Carpenter. I don’t trust him to stay healthy, even if recent history tells us I should. I also don’t walk on the sidewalk cracks and sometimes check to make sure my door is locked seven times before leaving. Hey, no one’s perfect. The Cardinals say Carpenter will be fine in ten days or so. I still say stay away. Older pitcher coming off a 235 IP season who is already hurting? I’m okay without that. BTW, if you found this site by searching Google for “Jesus + Carpenter + what do Cardinals say?” you’re in the wrong place. Sorry. Anyway, here’s some more news for fantasy baseball:
Grady Sizemore – Won’t be ready until the middle of April. Hopefully he’s taking this extra time to pose for some more nudie pictures of himself. “Oh, darn, I got something on my pants. Maybe I should remove them.” That’s Grady playing coy, the only playing he’s been doing lately.
Please, blog, may I have some more?This is almost the end of the 2011 fantasy baseball rankings. With these top 80 starters for 2011 fantasy baseball, there’s a few names that I’m really gunning for on my teams… My deeper teams. On last year’s top 80, there was one guy who truly emerged (Mat Latos) and a few who kinda did (Filthy Sanchez, Trevor Cahill and Brandon Morrow), so I imagine a lot of you won’t need most of the names on this list. But humor me. There’s tiers and projections mentioned for everyone. Anyway, here’s the top 80 starters for 2011 fantasy baseball:
61.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Adrian Beltre signed with the Rangers for five years plus one contract year. Hopefully, El Senator can turn the local economy around in 2016, until then don’t expect roads to be paved or new schools to open. “We just don’t have the funding right now for more than 17 home runs.” That’s Beltre next October talking to his constituents. The problem Beltre threw at us with this signing is he’s going to be hitting in a park he historically does well in. So on one hand, a guy that coasts for five years. On the other hand, a comfortable hitting environment. On a third hand that some of you might call a foot with finger toes, he’s really just a 25 homer, .275 hitter with some speed. The steals give him a nice added boost, but are also pretty fickle. He shouldn’t be counted on for anything over 7 steals. Might get 12, might get 2. The rankings that start on Monday will have my projections for everyone, but conservatively I’ll give Beltre 80/24/95/.285/7. Definitely gives him more value than I expected from him about a month ago when I thought he would go to The Los Angeles Suburb of Los Angeles Angels and hit 18 homers and be a bust. Of course, him even playing for the Rangers is contingent on no one rubbing his head. Anyway, here’s some more moves around the league and what they mean for fantasy baseball:
Michael Young – Should play the majority of his time at DH, which will cause a domino effect. Everyone will be going up to bat while Getto Jam plays. Wait, checking Wikipedia. No, that’s the Domino effect. The Young to DH domino effect will mean Vladdy isn’t long for the pah-tee, as told through Mayor Quimby.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Miguel Cabrera rolled his ankle the hard way, didn’t make his point and was immediately lifted from the game to have x-rays taken. I have some back-of-a-comic-book x-ray glasses, but I wasn’t wearing them when it happened. I’m only one man! It looked pretty serious. My mom was right, I could’ve been a doctor. There’s a whole lot more zeroes in blogging. Though that’s not zeroes as in money. X-rays said it was a sprained ankle, should be more news about how many games he’ll miss. I’m guessing quite a few. In other words, it ain’t good. In other other words, make other plans. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Martin Prado – Left the game with an injury to his left hip pointer. That’s gonna make it hard for his sales presentation on Friday. I’m guessing he’s done for the year. If you wanna guess he’s not, then we’ll put my guess and your guess in the squared circle and let them duke it out.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Tommy Hanson‘s line yesterday was one and two-thirds innings and eight earned runs. Yes, you’ve been Pwnson’d. Hanson said he felt dizzy during the game, I’m sure his owners can sympathize. Hanson has an ERA of 4.18 on the year and back to back bad starts. Try and put a pine tree air freshener on that and it still stinks. Going into this year, I steered clear of Hanson. I was legitimately worried about his innings pitched jump from ’08 to ’09. So sell fast right now? Not so fast, Paulo. I’m going under the assumption that you don’t own him because you listened to me in the preseason. Hanson has a tremendous K-rate and his walks have been fine. Even yesterday it was an ill-timed homer to Votto that did him in. Do I think Hanson could still be a risk because of his innings last year? Yup, you betcha. But I’d buy him for 50 cents on the dollar. It depends how cheap you can swindle his dramatized owner. It takes alligator blood to check raise to the bed wetter. Anyway, here’s what else saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Brooks Conrad – If you didn’t see the end of the Braves game, you should try to catch the Brooks Conrad homer. Unlike Nix.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Jimmy Rollins looks like he’s headed to the DL with a Grade 2 calf strain. For those non-doctors out there, that’s a calf strain that starts to learn its times tables. It hurts to lose your 2nd or 3rd round pick, but you don’t have many options here. You can’t sell him low. Assuming you need a little pick me up after getting *pinkie to mouth* decalfeinated, some MIs that are out there are McGehee, Furcal, Desmond, EverCab and O-Cab. They provide different things, but I like them to varying degrees, in that order. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Adeiny Hechavarria – Say that name fast one time! The Jays signed the 21-year-old Cuban defector. Defect had more going it against than any other word, yet the Cubans turned it into a positive. Sorta the same journey the word “special” took, but in the reverse. Hechavarria probably won’t be called up until the end of this year at the earliest. Not simply because no one can pronounce his name. (For those perfectionists out there, it’s Ah-THEY-nee Eh-CHA-bah-ree-ah.) (BTW, I always use the spellchecker when typing perfectionist. Discuss that amongst yourselves.) He’s still very raw, but in time they are likening Ah-THEY-nee to a young Alfonso Soriano. Not sure if “they” are saying a young Soriano means a Latin 21 or a Latin 25. I’d look at him in keepers, but league depth has a lot to do with your sitch.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Lefty pitchers facing the Rangers this year just lost three Ks a game as righty, Ryan Garko, was added to the roster to spell Chris Davis. Then again, maybe not. If Seattle passed on him for a Kotchman/Sweeney blahtoon, what makes you think he’s going to light it up in Texas?
Please, blog, may I have some more?AJ Hinch said, “Conor Jackson screams two-hole to me right now.” That’s what Mexican food does to me. Speaking of Mexican food, Conor Jackson is in a good position for runs, hitting in front of J-Upside, LaCucaracha, and Mini Donkey. That’s also a good spot for LaRoche, assuming the D-Backs aren’t facing a lefty and it’s after the All-Star Break. I tease. Who knows, maybe LaRoche will get his act together, hit well the whole year and be a decent sleeper in the end rounds at your corner infidel spot. Both Jackson and LaRoche are being drafted right now like they don’t even exist and, well, that feels wrong. Anyway, here’s some more fantasy baseball news:
Andrew Bailey – Out for a week with tennis elbow. No word exactly what caused it, but we’re guessing it’s from all the pressure on his serving when playing with his doubles’ partner, Brad Ziegler. Stop with your underhand serve! Wuertz hasn’t pitched yet in the spring, Waking Joey Devine is Walking Wounded Joey Devine until he sees game action, so that leaves Ziegler. Here’s my IM exchange with Rudy about picking up Ziegler. Me, “I’m grabbing Ziegler.” Rudy, “Forget it, Grey, it’s Oaktown.” He was right; I forgot it. Bailey could still be ready to start the season, so this isn’t an immediate add, but, as I’ve been saying in the offseason, Bailey’s not that safe. This could be a bullpen by committee by May 1st and Ziegler’s probably the third man on the totem pole. Hard to say right now with so many injuries. If this were in the middle of the season, I would’ve grabbed Ziegler.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
