Aroldis Chapman — A-rold! — defected yesterday. I defect every morning after I eat my bran cereal. No, random italicized voice, defected. As in, he gave the Cuban national team the old switcheroo. He snuck out of a Rotterdam hotel where the team was staying this week. The coach said he checked on him and saw him sleeping. What he actually saw was a mannequin shifting in bed from a wire attached to the bedroom door that was strung over a closet door with a trophy attached. For his escape, Aroldis wishes to thank Ferris Bueller. So why do you care? He’s the best lefty in the world and he can throw 100 MPH. Keepers, clean your ears, cause there’s a new Strasburg in town. Though no one’s sure what town that is. Deep keepers should keep an eye out for when he’s added. Probably a year away, but it depends on the team that signs him. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Alexei Ramirez – Sticking with the Cuban theme, good news for Alexei as his finger’s X-rays revealed no fracture. He should return soon. Not soon enough in a league where I’m rocking Everth Cabrera. Steal, son. You’re fast.
Kevin Correia – He made me sob yesterday. Big, mucousy running into my ‘stache tears. Wasn’t pretty, kinda like Correia’s start yesterday. Five innings and six earned runs. Belch! Even more disappointing is the Walks — 3 of them. One walk to Wandy. Correia!!! Okay, Correia wasn’t terrific, obviously. But he should’ve got out of the first inning without any damage done. Maybe one run there. The homer to Geoff Blum was unforgivable. But let’s not forget — this was his worst start of the year after 16 of them. Also, it tied for the most walks he had given up all year. Hopefully he remembers he’s a usable 5th starter. I pardon you, Correia.
Joey Votto – 4-for-6, 1 RBI, 15-for-38 since he’s returned. Member last month when I sat behind you at your computer and kept buzzing you with an electrical current every time you wanted to trade him? Yeah, I just got my electric bill.
Jeff Baker – Traded to the Cubs for Al Alburquerque. Al Alburquerque? Was he named during that game where you bounce the ball? Hi, my name is Al. I live in Albuquerque. I like apples. If Baker gets a full-time job, he’ll be worth a spot at MI for his pop. He may get an extended look immediately for the injured Miles. Though I’d take a wait and see approach, except in NL-Only leagues.
Mark Reynolds – Number 22 for Mini-Donkey. Get on the donkey, donkey…Mini-donkey!
Doug Davis – 7 IP, 1 ER. Has a 3.15 ERA and is 3-8. Is there a Diamondback rule that they only score for Brandon Webb? It’s like 2004 redux for Davis when he went 12-12 with a 3.39 ERA.
Aaron Harang – 7 IP, 2 ER, 8 Ks. Last year when you owned Harang, it was like he put a sweaty glass down on your Reggie Jackson rookie card while he made a sex tape with your ex-wife. This year he’s paying for your kids’ private school education. Cha-ching!
Chad Qualls – 1 1/3 IP, 1 ER and the blown save. Might still be dealing with forearm issues. Or he’s dealing with being sucky in the suckhole. Either way, it’s not good.
Rafael Soriano – Save yesterday. I know no one cares about Rafael Soriano, but I’ve had him on one team all year so allow me to talk about him for un momento. Doode is smoking with nitrous. 1.19 ERA, .88 WHIP, 49 Ks in 37 2/3 IP and 7 saves. Are you kidding me?! Grey hearts Soriano. (Somewhere Ryan Franklin says, “What’s a guy got to do to get some love ’round here?)
J.A. Happ – 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 Ks. I have two problems with Happsterdam. 1) His home park and 2) He’s a rookie. It worries me. You do what you do.
Russell Branyan – HR yesterday. Lately, he’s seemed more like the Branyan we’re used to as he goes one-for-four with a homer here and there. Well, you shouldn’t have expected a .300+ average from him anyway.
CC Sabathia – 5 2/3 IP, 6 ER. Bad year for ace pitchers. Peavy, Webb, Hamels, CC, Johan… Maybe Cueto, Wandy, Edwin Jackson, and Greinke are the new breed. (You like how I snuck the 30-year-old Wandy in there, huh?)
Mark Buehrle – 8 1/3 IP, 1 ER. 3.09 ERA on the year. I always end up with this guy on at least one team, but, alas, not this year.
Derrek Lee – 2 HRs, 7 RBIs. Your Buddy Lee was almost the title for today’s roundup. But I decided against it cause Lee bores me. Is he back? I don’t think he ever went anywhere. He just stopped stealing bases. He can hit 4-6 homers/month and bat .300. So you’re looking at a 75/25/85/.300 hitter. Decent, but short of exciting.
Bobby Abreu – 2 HRs as he finally recovered from the 2005 Home Run Derby. Abreu’s good for another 10 homers the rest of the way. Don’t expect more.
Garrett Jones – HR yesterday. He’ll be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell. You can hardly wait! Yes, you can. No? How about yes? Ah, I thought so. Persuasion ain’t just a Jane Austen novel!
Mets – Turns out they were staying at the same hotel in Pittsburgh as a Furries convention. It’s fitting because the Mets have been screwing the pooch.
Fernando Tatis – 3-for-4, 4 Runs, 2 RBIs and a homer. Last night, his Mom must’ve been a praying Tatis.
LOL at Mets comment. That´s a classic.
How would you rank these three titans of the OF – Reimold, S Hairston, The Big Fra Gu?
Also – what do you think of Paulino @ SF?
Your Harang comment is classic. I almost spit out my orange juice laughing so hard. Have a great 4th of July
Another quality roundup. Now i can start my BS work at my house…
By the way grey…. snagged up Blalock, didn’t even have to burn my #9 priority… He was chilling when i just checked here at 8:15am eastern time….
MONEYYYYYY…..
THROW SLOWEY VS. D-TROIT WHAT TONIGHT?
his last start was u-g-l-y…..yyyyyyyyy
Hey I care about Soriano, I grabbed him figuring a stud reliver was more worth a roster slot than a scrub starter and its been one of the best moves I made alll year.
Damn Grey. I just spit Lucky Charm shrapnel all over my keyboard thanks to the Mets comment. Now I’m going to have to leave my mom’s basement to get a new one and you know how I hate personal interaction.
Don’t forget, Manny owners — he’s back today. Put him in your lineup, he’s got to be motivated.
Aroldis Babalu Chapman
How to find him ? – Let me tell you friends, how do you get there! You take the San Diego Freeway to the Ventura Freeway. You drive to the Slauson Cutoff, get out of your car, cut off your Slauson, get back in your car, then you drive six miles till you see the Giant Neon Vice-Squad Cop then you would arrive at “the fork in the road”.
Give Qualls a break, if the Dbacks knew how to turn a double play he would have gotten the save…this is typical boxscore nonsense.
argh,rough night,and now the weekend is here,and so is manny,,maybe he can foul one off furcal`s head and wake him up,votto owners will be rewarded,wish i had him
Scherzer @ Colorado is a no brainer sit right? What about Slowey @ Detroit. I think I’m firing him tonight full blast.
Pictures of J J Putz, Jose Reyes and David Wright hanging out at the Furries convention –
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m4FI1xplsaE/Sk05h6P0HwI/AAAAAAAADUQ/uCFBqYfLohA/s1600-h/Anthrocon.jpg
@Mr Baseball: reyes`s leg looks fine there
@timSTi: Beware of small sample sizes, but last year Scherzer pitched 6 innings in Coors, giving up 7 hits, 1 walk, 3 runs (all earned), and struck out 8. I’m taking my chances with him, Coors isn’t an automatic blow up.
P.S. this was one of the funnier roundups lately. Great work and have a great fourth Grey! Have a Daiquiri on me!
@Mr Baseball: Jose Reyes is hung like a…..jaguar?
@Mr Baseball: reyes`s leg looks fine there – maybe we will find him on Dancing with the Stars next year (not the allstars)
@Mr Baseball: Jose Reyes is hung like a…..jaguar? – yea he been sticking it to fantasy owners all year long
@Mr Baseball: First you bring us the ‘roid list, and now this? Mr. Baseball, I tip my cap to you. Today’s big questions: how many Furries-approved condoms fit in that smiley face murse and what do you think their “safe word” was? Oh yeah, one more….should I start Slowey ag. the Detroit Furries today?
@mgeoffriau: Don’t tempt me with your black magic! Haha i just got Johan in a trade so now I have C-Bills Gollardo and Johan along with a bunch of spot starters. I’m desperately trying to lower my whip & era from a bunch of early on beatings so my plan is to fire those 3 ace’s everytime and spot start the best situations of my other 4 starters. Good idea?
@Mr Baseball: ha,good one
@mc serch: I’m starting Slowey! Dont base my decisions on any logic other than feel haha.
swarm of bees causes 52 – minute delay
they came out of jeff bagwells facial hair – The beekeeper had to spray Jeff Bagwell’s beard
http://homerderby.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/beard-bagwell-150.jpg
@elijah: Did you just call Soriano a “stud” reliever? That *almost* made me spit my coffee out on my screen
Grey–
I feel your pain with Correia… and I think that pain will soon be passed on to Chad Qualls. How long ’til Tony Pena takes over OR the D-Backs trade Qualls to the Yankees (according to MLBTradeRumors).
@bfadds: pena has been sucking worse,
@timSTi: That’s a good plan…..I went the other way, traded off the pieces I didn’t feel good about, so now I basically start everyone on my staff all the time. Vazquez, Zambrano, Slowey, Baker, Scherzer, and Randy Wells. Peavy sitting on my DL. Stupidly dropped Jordan Zimmerman to get Dan Meyer a few days ago…wish I’d dropped Kyle Blanks instead.
Gil Meche just made an appearance on my waivers. I know you like him, but how concerned should I be that he had “dead arm”?
I’d have to drop Meyer, CJ Wilson, or Correia. Should I put in a claim for Meche or is he dunzo?
good stuff….derrek lee for furcal? think furcals value will increase with the return of manny?
I have a potential trade of dlee and haren for howard that i will find out over the weekend….if that doesnt go through would you take the gamble on furcal or look elsewhere…I too have e.cabrera at SS, but dont have the luxury of alexei
Thanks….
@Anon: I’d drop any of those guys for Meche. He threw a bunch of pitches in Minnesota, so I wouldn’t risk starting him against Detroit on Monday, but after he gets some rest over the All-Star Break, he looks like a good candidate for a strong finish.
he has tejada too and scutaro on his bench….thanks
@Mr Baseball:Ha! Perhaps Gil can get the CSI crew to look for DNA samples. I remember that when Kris Benson pitched for the Mets, his hot wife, former Playboy model Anna, threatened to make it with the entire Mets squad if she found out he was cheating on her. Furries can get away with murder…
@AL KOHOLIC: Don’t forget to have a 5th on the 4th!
Grey-Praying Tatis – Ha! why does it always seem to be that a pitcher can have a dozen decent starts, until I pick him up? Such happened with Correia yesterday. Today I have all my chips on Gaudin… we shall see. I saw “Muscle Russell”, Ken Singleton’s moniker, hit a true monster shot – 450 ft, beyond the monuments. I picked up Branyan early on several teams; can’t really complain what he does the rest of the year, as he has already produced far beyond my expectations.
Question – please rate in order: Gaudin, Correia, J. Hamell, Happ
Thanks for the roundup, and enjoy Independance Day.
@Mr Baseball:
I guess Beltran would accompany Reyes and Putz better. Actually, Reyes, Delgado and Beltran would be best trio in disguise.
@Paulie Allnuts: ha,i got a head start last night,thanks again for the reminder of manny
@AL KOHOLIC: So are we looking at a Jon Rauch appearance? At least he’ll be able to grind batters’ bones ot make his bread if he can’t get them out.
…also…
Is it just me, or has the D-Backs’ 9th inning never been a place of security? I’m looking to BK Kim, Brandon Lyon, Qualls… am I missing anyone?
@bfadds: yeah,you think that with thier history of starting pitching that theyd want a closer
@AL KOHOLIC: No problemo. I had him stashed on two teams. Should be a big event at Petco tonight; he will be greated by Harry the Heckler, a Pod legend, and thousands of Dodger supporters; perhaps draped with dreads. Manny’s comment: “I didn’t kill nobody, I didn’t rape nobody, so that’s it, I’m just going to come and play the game,” Ramirez said.
@anoraxx: Thanks!
@Rob: Thanks, you too!
@Steve: Forget Paulino. Saw you were using FraGu and Hairston. I forget if you had Reimold. I’d go with FraGu while he’s hot, but Hairston will probably give you more in the end.
@Tony Y: I’d hold off on Slowey for tonight.
@elijah: Cool.
@Paper Tiger: Hehe
@Mr Baseball: Ha!
@Goose: Don’t give up two hits and record back to back saves and I’ll leave him alone.
@AL KOHOLIC: Ha!
@timSTi: I’d sit both.
@Mr Baseball: That’s hilarious!
@timSTi: Thanks, you too!
@bfadds: The trouble there is Pena hasn’t shown the ability to get the job done, so it’s one headache for another, potentially.
@Anon: I’d lose Meyer if I didn’t need the occasional save from him, or I’d lose Correia. You shouldn’t start Meche first time out, but he can get over the dead arm.
@matthole: If the Howard trade doesn’t go through, I’d take Furcal.
@Paulie Allnuts: Thanks, you too! Gaudin, Correia, Happ J. Hamell, — But they’re all close and matchups pitchers.
@Paulie Allnuts: with or without roids,he is great,but i dont like him,this roid thing is an era,most great players have done them in this era,remember the old colorado teams ?3 or 4 guys hitting 330 40 hr`s
Mclouth of Juan Rivera for the rest of the year? I need steals a more than power but I am skeptical of McLouth
I have this new theory I suppose where in keeper leagues there are players who’s value grows immensely during the offseason. A 2nd half performer like Alexei Ramirez last year went from pick up fodder to obvious keeper/4th round pick. I’m trying to find some of these in a keeper league to acquire now before their value is fully realized when everyone decides their keepers. So far I have thought of:
Shin Shoo Choo- A full season of hr/sb looks a lot sexier than what it is currently
Ben Zobrist- Kind of an obvious one, but 30 hr at 2b would make him an insanely high pick in drafts.
Ubaldo Jiminez- On pace for like 12 wins 180 ks and fine ERA and Whip. Better than guys last season like Wainwright and Cain.
Any other ones you guys could think of?
Glad I stuck with Lee through his crap April & May!
What side of this trade do you want?
Halladay/Arod for Haren/A. Hill/Cueto
@bpasinko: keep an eye on this padre ss cabrera,stole 70 last year in minors,if he can hit,reimold?maybe not in that class but ive got a feeling if colorado trades someone from thier outfield saga that seth smith will take a big leap in the 2nd half
@Grey: I think I know the answer, but should I start AJ against the Jays?
ok, so i have jose lopez and asdrubal cabrera, right now i have lopez at 2nd and cabrera in the utility slot.
i know there are better batters out there so i dont really want to hold on to both.
who should i drop, and do you think i could get anybody with a trade for one of these guys?
both put up above ave power numbers for 2b,you should be able to get a mid level closer
@I’m Keith Hernandez: McLouth
@steamer: It’s fair, but I’d take Halladay side.
@Caw Caw Eagle Claw: Do as AL said with Asdrubal if possible, if not trade Lopez for one.
My Howard ($25)/Theriot ($1) for his Votto ($8)/Alexi ($21) in auction keeper league? +$3 each year kept and I have Prince ($19).
Casey Blake or Garrett Atkins?
Happy 4th, Grey. Thanks for everything you do.
@Greg: I’d take the Votto side.
@Bob: Blake — Thanks, you too!
Hey Grey… who do you like better as closer going forward? Kerry Wood or Chad Qualls???
@Joe B: Wood
@Joe B: you mean,who isnt as bad as the other
pretty much… well i’m working on a trade to get heath bell.
I get heath bell and ryan ludwick
He gets wood and adam dunn
He needs power and all I need really is a solid closer… fair deal or no???
@Joe B: if lud gets it going then i like it,and i think he will,but it is hard to part with an almost guarantee of 40 hr`s
Now that Manny’s back, who sits down among Matt Kemp, Curtis Granderson, Andre Ethier, and Bobby Abreu? I was planning to sit Bobby until those two HR’s last night. Now, I’m not sure, but I know whatever I do will be annoying. Thoughts?
I know it’s early for deciding the better 2010 keeper value… but I’m looking to trade 1 of these 2 SP’s to get offensive help. Which would you guys value more, keeping Wainwright in the 17th round or keeping Slowey in the 19th? I know Razzball nation loves them some Wainey & he looked filthy on Wednesday. But Slowey is moving away from the homer dome to a new outdoor park in Minny next year, just turned 25 yrs old, great k:bb, etc. Appreciate the feedback.
@AL KOHOLIC: I have good power already… Teixeira, Uggla, Reynolds, Alexei Ramirez, A Huff, N Cruz, J Hamilton, C Beltran, Kemp, K Morales
My closers are Valgreen, M Gonzalez, Downs, Wood, Qualls
@Bob: Ethier, but like you said, it’s bound to backfire.
@Roger Dorn’s Nemesis: I love Slowey, too. Tough choice, but I’d go with him.
I have Santana, Billingsley, Halladay, Scherzer, Hanson, Price, Floyd and Liriano as my pitching staff and can only start 5 per week. I have 1 empty roster spot and I’m decided whether to pick up Jordan Zimmerman or Clay Buchholtz… I’m thinking that with the 7 pitchers I already have, I’d never use Zimmerman… but if/when buchholz gets brought up, I could get some great value out of him. What do you think gray?
@joe: I’d take Zimmermann over Price or Hanson right now. He’s outpitched both of them over the past month (though Hanson’s had some lucky wins), and he’s got better peripherals as well — better BB%, better K/BB, better HR/9, better GB%. Young & talented pitchers are obviously hard to project, but I feel that Zimmermann is the safest bet out of those three for the rest of the season.
Do you like Slowey slightly better b/c of being able to keep him in the lower round? Or do you see a higher upside w/ him. For what it’s worth I can keep Slowey in the 19th for 2010, 16th for 2011 & then he goes back into the draft pool.
Also I read during ST that the new Minny ballpark is rumored to be pitching friendly, or at least give up fewer HR’s than the homerdome. Since Slowey’s biggest issue is the long ball the new park might take 1/2 run off his era. Before games are played there I’m assuming that any forecasts on that are about as accurate as the 10-day weather forecast in Boston.
@Roger Dorn’s Nemesis: I think him and Wainwright are a tossup at this point. I like both. The two rounds makes him a hair more attractive.
Halladay for Bartlett and Scott Baker? Is this a landslide victory for the person who gets Halladay?
@Corey: Halladay, yeah.
Nice round up, Grey. We are amused.
I just offered Mark Reynolds and Nate McLouth for Ichiro and Michael Young… Thoughts? It’s probably a gonna be a no, but my would-be trading partner wants steals and dingers.
@Lines: I’d take the Reynolds side.
@grey: Harang has horrible road splits and is prone to giving up the long ball. Next week he pitches @ phils and @ metco next week….would you start him?
Would you drop dexter fowler, hes been sitting on my bench for 2 months
do you drop dave murphy now that hamiltons returning or hold for another week or so?
Thanks again
Thanks for the feedback. I’ll see what kind of bat Wainwright can get me.
@matthole: I’d start Harang. Drop Fowler. Wait a few days on the Murphy drop.
@Roger Dorn’s Nemesis: You’re welcome.
*******There’s a new post for followups.********
@Roger Dorn’s Nemesis:
damn straight it’s gonna be a pitchers’ park , at least in april and may .
tough to run the bases with snowshoes on .
anyone see manny starting off 0-11 with 8 BB’s ?
will pitchers try and challenge him early with fastballs , or will he be fed a diet of junk ?
Which side do you like?
Adrian Gonzo and Johan
or
Carlos Pena, Rivera and Greinke
This is an 8-Man keeper that uses OBP over AVG and TB over HR.
Thanks!
Hey Grey. Chapman is getting a lot of play in the blogosphere. I covered him on my blog too:
Slowey or Liriano now that Slowey is on the DL.