Texas finally caught a glimpse of MLB’s best Japanese starter as Hiroki Kuroda went 9 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 5 Ks vs. the Rangers. Did they play this game in the Old Yankee Stadium? The one that was 700 feet to center and had Red Ruffing’s mausoleum in dead left?
Please, blog, may I have some more?Kelly Shoppach
Yu Darvish is on his way to the States to pitch for the Rangers. Erik wrote a Yu Darvish 2012 fantasy post already. To pull some quotes from that article, “Darvish was once involved in a “major scandal” in Japan, where he was caught smoking,” “He also goes by the Persian name Farid, meaning ‘glorious,’” and “He mixes in a cutter.” He sounds like he’s in the Yakuza. I don’t want to draft Yu; I wanna hang out with him in illegal gambling halls and pick up coquettish girls. I’m gonna be honest with you (for the first time ever!) and tell you I don’t know what to make of Darvish’s Japanese numbers. Dice-K came to the States with some serious bells and whistles. In his first year, he had a 4.40 ERA. The Ks did, for lack of a better word, translate to the States early on for Dice-K and I think they will too for Yu (hey, sounds like there’s a haiku in there). His stuff looks filthy and batters will not be familiar with him at all. Last year, he had 276/36 K/BB in over 232 innings.
Please, blog, may I have some more?I picked up Doug Fister in every league I could. So, that’s out of the way. I won’t start him the next time out though and I’m not sure I’ll start him ever. I may just drop him if I never get a good matchup at home. At home’s key. That’s the only place I’d start him. Last night, his 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 3 Ks performance is his peak. He pitches to contact and doesn’t K anyone. He’s similar to Joel Pineiro. Call him Jo-eh. If you were the firster to get him off waivers, chuck him into a package trade for someone much more reliable or exciting. His appeal is limited. So, yes, I grabbed him to chuck him. My apologies, Mister Fister. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Casey Kotchman – Hit his 2nd homer in as many days. Going mono y mano with Soriole, Bradley Bergesen.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Went over the top 20 and top 10 for 2010 fantasy baseball. Now, friends, it’s time for the top 20 catchers for 2010 fantasy baseball. The top 20 catchers are the glass of warm milk right before you go to sleep. Hey, I just drafted Jorge Posada! Snooze. I love Kurt Suzuki this year! Yawn. I don’t draft top catchers in one catcher leagues. The fifth best catcher and the 15th best catcher are tomato, to-blah-to. Because I ignore the top catchers doesn’t mean I’m starting the top 20 catcher list at number twenty-one (Barajas? What’s Spanish for punt? Punta?); some of you might want to know the top catchers. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them draft Napoli. In two catcher leagues, catchers are a little more valuable, but I’d still prefer to avoid them. You can see other top 20 lists for 2010 fantasy baseball under 2010 Fantasy Baseball Rankings. Listed along with these catchers are my 2010 projections for each player and where the tiers begin and end. Anyway, here’s the top 20 catchers for 2010 fantasy baseball:
1.
Please, blog, may I have some more?David Wright was released from the hospital yesterday after tests showed that he was okay from Saturday’s beaning. When he first went down, the Mets had some serious concerns when Wright couldn’t answer straightforward questions like, “Who’s our starting shortstop?” “Who plays 1st?” “Who’s the shirtless guy hiding in Jerry Manual’s locker?” Wright might be out for the season. Probably be the best thing that could happen to his fantasy owners. The wait for his power to return can finally end. Though I wouldn’t drop him in one year leagues until it’s official he’s not returning, unless room on your DL is spare. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Nick Johnson – Left with a hamstring injury. He seemed to be in good spirits after the game, smiling in locker room pictures.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Travis Hafner pronk’d you like only he can. Here’s you in the 17th round of your draft, “Well, Swisher’s staring at me like he wants my Jolly Ranchers, but his playing time is an issue. Oh, wait, I know! I’ll grab Hafner because he’s going to bounce back to in medias res HGH levels of production.” First off, it’s impressive you used in medias res in a sentence to yourself even if it was used wrong. That kind of Latin isn’t often seen during internal monologues by anyone born after 78 AD. Second, I told you to avoid Hafner! What are you doing? Thinking on your own?
Please, blog, may I have some more?Frenchy’s back, Jordan Schafer’s going to hit 161 home runs (accounting for one rainout, of course) and McCann’s going to win the MVP. Oh, and Lowe’s winning the Cy Young. Unanimous. Spring has sprung and baseball’s back. It’s a good time to be alive. Aren’t you glad you didn’t eat any peanuts in the last three months? They’re poisonous, ya’ll. (It’s a wonder Jimmy Carter’s still going strong. He is a superhero.) Right now, I feel like putting some tilapia on the grill, an Olde English in an oversized cozy and kicking back for the next six months while the sounds of baseball dance in my head. Oh, and win all my fantasy baseball leagues; that would be nice too. The number one thing you don’t want to do in the next few weeks is overrate anything you see. You’re not winning your league in the first few weeks, but you can sure as heckfire lose them. As inviting as Jordan Schafer seems right now, don’t drop Milton Bradley for him. Even if Milton does the devil’s work. Jordan Schafer’s an intriguing name in deep leagues. Just don’t jump out the window until you see how real the fire is. On the other hand, don’t ignore what goes on these first few weeks. This is when The ’08 Nadys (<–great band name) emerge. Anyway, here’s what I saw this weekend for fantasy baseball:
Joey Devine – Aching Joey Devine is out for 60 days. Punt! Not worth holding a “potential” closer who may not be back for a while.
Please, blog, may I have some more?These top 20 catchers for 2009 fantasy baseball will be yawnstipating compared to the top 20 1st basemen or even top 20 shortstops, but you have to start somewhere, right? (That was rhetorical.) You can check out our other top 20 lists for 2009 fantasy baseball under 2009 Fantasy Baseball Rankings. I usually don’t draft a top catcher, instead I hold off until the later rounds and grab one of the late rounders. That doesn’t mean I’m going to start the top 20 catcher list at number twenty-one (Varitek? Oy vey.), cause some of youse like to gamble on a top catcher. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them draft Chris Snyder. Listed along with these catchers are my 2009 projections for each player. Feel free to also look at our 2009 fantasy baseball player rater. Anyway, here’s the top 20 catchers for 2009 fantasy baseball:
1.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
