Afternoon, Razzballers, if I may call you that. If not, tough noogs. We have another very special podcast for all of youse. This podcast is brought to you by nothing in particular. Smell that? That faint odor? That’s nothing in particular! As always (or at least for the last two weeks), the contest for a $50 Amazon gift certificate is still in play. I think we’re gonna wrap it next week, so if you want a piece of the action, you do what you do, I’ll do what I do and, as always, we’ll meet somewhere in the middle. Here’s the rules and regulations: Record yourself singing our Razzball theme song. Use an online voice recorder like I did here: Me singing off-pitch. Then post your link in the comments of this post. (If you posted in the last post, you’re in the running. No need to repost.) Anyway, here’s episode three of the Razzball Podcast (now in SAP):
Download from iTunes
Download directly the Razzball Podcast.
@grey, wouldn’t this be episode 3 or tres if we are listening in SAP?
Ha… True…
Since everyone’s doing it…
Team, posted below. Comments welcome. 12-team shallow Roto 6×6 (OBP/QS). A few preliminary notes:
Highlight: Grabbing McCutchen at #23 and Stanton at #26. Run into my arms, my beautiful, beautiful children.
Lowlight: I can’t tell you how much I hate Alex Rios. THAT SAID, of all the broken-toy-reclamation projects of 2012 (V Wells, Morneau, Utley, Dunn) he seems most promising. EVEN THOUGH I HATE HIM.
Secondary Lowlight: It is true that drafting Adam Jones in Round 8 did not set my nethers a-tingle. But, as a 3rd OF, he looks good. This is me being a responsible fantasy adult, rather than drafting Bryce Harper’s infant son in this spot.
Soul-Defining Moment: Lawrie v. A-Rod, 5th round. Like choosing between a beautiful newborn baby, full of promise, and a magic evil lump of coal that holds your soul imprisoned.
Jim Thome Memorial Award for Random Weird Old Dude I Never Thought I’d Draft: David Ortiz. Best bat left on the board at the time. Looking forward to an interminable slump while he clogs up my Util spot, then breaks out as soon as I drop him.
Chase Utley Memorial Award for Hey, Didn’t You Used to Be Good At This?: (Tie) Ortiz, Rios, Brad Lidge, the Baron
The Baron’s Bold, Counterfactual Contrarian Prediction: Dee Gordon is the Julio Borbon of 2012. Remember him? Piled up 19 SBs in 157 ABs in 2009 — then 15 SBs in largely useless 438 ABs in 2010? Signed, Senor Still Bitter
The Hope and a Prayer Last-Round-Pick Award, Except Apparently Minus Both Hopes and Prayers: Pedro Alvarez. His little exploding Yahoo! paper-thingy today says “his immediate prospects are grim.”
Without further ado:
C – M Montero?
1B – Albert Pujols?
2B – Brandon Phillips?
SS – Erick Aybar?
3B – Brett Lawrie?
OF – Andrew McCutchen?
OF – Giancarlo “Esposito” Stanton?
OF – Adam Jones?
Util – David Ortiz?
Bench – Alex Rios
Bench – Zack Cozart
Bench – Pedro Alvarez
SP – Yovani Gallardo?
SP – Madison “Don’t call me Bumgarner” Bumgarner?
SP –?Gio Gonzalez
SP – Anibal Sanchez ?
SP – Edinson Volquez?
SP – C-Bills?
RP – Brandon League?
RP – Javy Guerra?
RP – Sean Marshall?
RP – Greg Holland
RP – Brad Lidge
@Baron Von Vulturewins, I hate Rios too, but, yeah, he seems like he could have some value where he’s going… Makes me feel dirty saying it… Ortiz’s question mark makes sense… I kinda hope you’re right about Gordon b/c I don’t have him anywhere. Hate to see him get 60 steals… Unlike Borbon he’s a shortstop and the team has no reason to bench him ever… Pedro Alvarez, ha! Your team looks solid overall… It is a shallow league, so you’re gonna have work to do on waivers. The hitting is well balanced though, if everyone does what they’re supposed to do…
@Grey, I wish Dee Gordon all the good luck in the world — but here’s a sleeper post on Julio Borbon from 2010:
“Say I put him down for 600 ABs, not atypical for a leadoff man. In that case Borbon would have a projected fantasy line of .293-5-53-95-40. It’d be a very Juan Pierre-like line.”
The sample-size projections, the Pierre comparisons: This all sounds eerily familiar.
Yeah, I hear ya… And Borbon got ABs that year too… And did nothing. I kinda hope you’re right.
Hmmm. Not sure why all my players have ? marks after their names. I did, in fact, draft them. I mean, Lawrie’s a question mark, sure. DAMN YOU UNIVERSE
@Baron Von Vulturewins, You need some exclamation marks.
Murray Chass called. He said that just that one start shows the inability of Felix and McCarthy to win games for their team.
Will listen when I get to work…
@Steve, Ha… Nice…
@Grey, He also doesn’t care for these new fangled podcast things. He prefers his baseball audio via the wireless.
@Steve, He prefers the victorola…
Grey,
In a 12 team league with R/HR/RBI/XBH/OBP/NSB and QS/(K/BB)/K/SvHd/WHIP/ERA I just traded my Sergio Romo and Madison Bumgarner for his Andrew McCutchen. Cutch will replace Rasmus in my lineup and I have Haren, Dan Hudson, Morrow, Beachy, Minor, Liriano and Holland as my other starters (only 3 SP spots). I will miss Romo’s K/BB and SvHd as well as MadBum’s Mad Bum but this is a good trade right? Also, my leaguemates want to veto it on the basis that I am getting pick 23 for a 66 and 200+. But Bum also has great keeper value at 66. Shouldn’t be vetoed right?
@Tom Thumb, No trade should ever be vetoed absent collusion. Tell them to go to hell. That trade is fair. You got the better end, but it doesn’t scream cheating. That’s why I play in leagues where the commish has the ultimate say…meaning no vetoes unless it’s glaringly obvious.
Grey, the link to iTunes appears to lead to last week’s episode.
@Former Skeptic, It takes iTunes a few to update…
@Grey, Thanks!
@Grey, give us the lyrics and you might get a late 90′s slow-core acoustic version.
I can’t understand the lyrics to the theme song enough to sing it back!
@theevilempire, You need to try harder!
@Grey, Last time I did that I sprouted a hemorrhoid that still won’t go down. I’ll just have to wing it.
I’m in a fairly deep mixed league. Let’s say 75 starting pitchers started each week and another 20 on benches.
Carpenter is not owned. Is he worth owning over Jonathon Niese, Vinnie Pestano or Anthony Rizzo (three guys currently on my bench)?
@JustMatt, Over Rizzo…
Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio and (maybe your favorite Grey) Hank Greenberg all lost time in the MLB to go fight the Japs in WW2 after Pearl Harbor…… Now we celebrate the biggest day of our National Pastime on their soil and don’t even televise the game here?? Any plans to run for Commissioner when Bud finally kicks it Grey?
@Po, I should.
Im not seein much on trumbo anymore. Did the hype die down? What do you guys expect from him this year?
@prezii, He’s platooning…
@Grey, well thats wack….
why is bud selig playing “just the tip” with us and the start of the regular season??
yeah it felt good, now give me more!!!
@begs, HA!
Hey Grey am looking for the 2012 rookies fantasy impact post mentioned a while back. A link would be much appreciated, thanks.
@TheNewGuy, Just to clarify not the one posted a few days ago, the one which lists them from 1-10 in terms of impact this year.
@TheNewGuy, Any advice guys, on finding older articles like these? I searched for 2012 rookie fantasy impacts and only got the post you guys made a day or two ago…
@TheNewGuy, http://razzball.com/top-25-fantasy-baseball-prospects-for-2012/
@Grey, Awesome, thanks man.
Quick strategy question. Snake draft coming up in an 11-team mixed 5×5 roto league (5 OF, CI, MI). I have the dreaded 11th pick, which I hate. Anyway, my plan is to hopefully go Fielder/Longoria at 11/12 (over, say, CarGo and Haley). Assuming that goes according to plan, my 3rd and 4th picks (33, 34) become tricky. Obviously, I’ll need an OF and hope that Giancarlo or Dread Pirate slip. If not, I’ll go Bruce for one of them. The other pick is a question mark. I could play it safe and draft Uggla, or I could go SP for Lee/CC/Greinke (if available).
Thoughts on my approach? I assume you’d like the first two picks, and then would draft Uggla in the 4th and wait to get someone like Bum/Lester/Gallardo at pick 55?
Bruce and Uggla work for me if others don’t fall…
Just heard Storen to start the season on the DL…Lidge the hot pickup then over H-Rod? Can’t beat chasing saves, always gets the juices flowing…
I’d go Lidge first…
Ok Grey et al.,
11 team mixed league, 5×5. 1250 innings cap, so k rate is very important. Each team carries over 6 keepers (otherwise no way I get Swiggy, Longo, Dread Pirate and Lincecum). I’ve marked ky 6 keepers with *K*
C Alex Avila
1B Swiggy *K*
2B Kendrick
SS Rollins
3B Longoria *K*
OF McCutheon *K*
OF Nelson Cruz *K*
OF Desmond Jennings *K*
UTIL Jason Heyward
no offensive bench (I panicked when I saw the state of my pitching and grabbed all pitching after landing Avila)
Here’s where it gets interesting. I’m very concerned I’ll be chasing saves all year:
SP Lincecum *K*
SP A. Sanchez
SP Gio Gonzalez
SP Ubaldo (it hurts just typing that)
SP Mike Minor
RP Hanrahan
RP Thorton
RP Crain (hedge – someone else drafted Reed)
RP Tyler Clippard (damn you Lidge!)
RP Glen Perkins
RP Andrew Cashner
RP Fautino De Los Santos
Your hitting is very solid, your keepers don’t hurt… The pitching is excellent too… Team’s really good… Well played…
12 team, 6×6 (typical 5×5 plus hits and K/9), 22 man roster. Here’s what I got.
C Lucroy
1B Cabrera
2B D. Espinosa
SS Peralta
3B Zimmerman
OF McCutchen
OF Bruce
OF Hart
UT Reynolds
BN Cain…Sugar!
BN Morrison
Got offered Holliday for Bruce. Normally, instant rejection. But with Reynolds and Espinosa dragging down my average and Hits as a category, I’m thinking twice about it. Would love to get someone else’s take.
@CT Old School, Id do it…
@TheNewGuy, I’d hold for now…
Tomato/tomahto, but Reimold or Carp?
Carp
Today is my day off so I am catching up. Still on the first one. Grey sounds like Tom Green.
My bum is on your lips…My bum is on your lips…
Please rate my team, weird ass league. 2 OF, 3 UTIL, 5 SP, 4 RP, only 3 bench spots, 14 team league. STATS: R, HR, RBI, SB, K, Total base, avg, obp, slg,extra base hits. For pitchers: W, SV, K, HOLDS, ERA, WHIP, K/BB, K/9, relief wins (WTF), Quality starts.
Heres my team: The Jewcing Hebrews
C- Chris Ianetta
1B- Votto
2B- Uggla
3B- Bonifacio
SS – Asdrubal Cabrera
OF- Giancarlo Stanton
OF- Jason Heyward
UTIL – Paul Goldschmidt
UTIL- Brett Gardner
UTIL- Kendrys Morales
BN – Pennington (only using for oepning day games, then possible stream pitchers with that becnh spot)
BN- Brandon Belt
BN- Lorenzo Cain
SP- Lincecum (got autodrafted here)
SP- Anibal Sanchez
SP- Max Scherzer
SP- Justin Masterson
SP- Vance Worley
RP- JJ Putz
RP- Chris Perez
RP- Francisco Rodriguez
RP- Greg Holland
Because of lack of bench spots over half the teams dont have a SP on their bench, I plan on using that one spot. Opinions?
@kyle, using that one spot to stream pitchers
Nice team name… Your team looks heavy on speed and light on power which could hurt you more than usual b/c of all your categories… Your pitching looks fine…
Grey, what do you think?
12 teamer redraft league. Feels pretty solid to me, maybe WHIP issues.
(posted before but wanted to get Grey’s opinion)
Wilson Ramos, Wsh C
Eric Hosmer, KC 1B
Elvis Andrus, Tex SS
Evan Longoria, TB 3B
Ian Kinsler, Tex 2B
Michael Young, Tex CI
Howard Kendrick, LAA MI
Shin-Soo Choo, Cle OF
Jason Heyward, Atl OF
Logan Morrison, Mia OF
Desmond Jennings, TB OF
Jay Bruce, Cin OF
Billy Butler, KC UTIL
Jhoulys Chacin, Col SP
Shaun Marcum, Mil SP
Derek Holland, Tex SP
Vance Worley, Phi SP
Tommy Milone, Oak SP
Stephen Strasburg, Wsh SP
Greg Holland, KC RP
Brett Myers, Hou SP
Jim Johnson, Bal RP
Carlos Marmol, ChC RP
Joe Nathan, Tex RP
Frank Francisco, NYM RP
Thanks a bunch, liked the last podcast. Keep that razor away from the stache!
Ha! Thanks! I like the team, I think your pitching could be the big problem… I like Strasburg and… Well, Marcum’s got some injury concerns now and the rest are upsidey with a chance for downside.
Looking more and more like Felatio Upton will start the year on the DL, and Lind won’t swing a bat until Friday at the earliest, which doesn’t make doomsday people like me happy.
@Wilsonian, Not great…
@Grey, not at all. Especially since I swung a deal for BJ in the preseason and drafted Lind thinking maybe he might not be a whale’s vagina. Add Storen to that mix and my injuries are piling up before Day 1(b), er whatever you want to call next Thursday.
@Wilsonian, Day 1(b)…nice
Grey, BnY!!
Who’s a better fit at 2nd baseball for this team? 12 team 5×5 Yahoo
Espinosa or Kipnis?
C: Wieters
1B: Pujols
2B:??
3B: P. Sandoval
SS: Hanley
OF: Bruce, Jennings, B.J. Upton
Util: A. Lind
thanks man. luv u
@tggq21, BnY! Espinosa
14 Team League.
Categories are: R; HR, RBI; SB; AVG; OBP; XBH; W; SV; K; ERA; WHIP; QS
Team is:
C: Jonathan Lucroy
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Dustin Pedroia
3B: Pablo Sandoval
SS: J.J. Hardy
OF: Hunter Pence
OF: Michael Morse:
OF: Jayson Heyward
Util: Dexter Fowler
Util: Brennan Boesch
SP: Adam Wainwright
SP: Jordan Zimmerman
RP: Rafael Betancourt
RP: Matt Thornton
P: Cory Luebke
P: Jamie Garcia
P: Brett Myers
BN: Danny Espinosa
BN: Mike Trout
BN: Josh Reddick
BN: Drew Pomeranz
I think I need to upgrade my pitching staff and have Matt Moore in 2 other leagues right now. The team who has Moore needs OF and RP help and has a 2nd Catcher. Considering offering Heyward and Thornton for Moore and Yadier Molina.
Thoughts?
Thanks a lot for the help!
@Jeff, That trade is fair…
Deep league, pretty much every closer and their mothers are taken. Pestano or Lidge for some SAGNOF?
@stumanji, Lidge
@grey and whoever else – had my draft last night. Don’t feel great about it. What do you think?
10 team h2h keeper 7×7
hitting: r,hr,rbi,sb,avg,k,bb
pitching: era,w,l,sv,k/9,h/9,bb/9
lineup predicated on montero gaining c and m. cabrera gaining 3b eligibility.
c – j. montero
1 – p. fielder
2- b. phillips
3 – m. cabrera
ss – e. andrus
ci – m. morse
mi – d. espinosa
of – c. gonzalez
of – j. heyward
of – d. stubbs
of – p. bourjos
utl – moustakas
bench – y. cespedes, i. desmond, z. cozart, d. mesoraco, m. trout
sp – y. gallardo, u. jimenez, m. garza, m. scherzer, j. chacin, t. cahill, c. lewis, j. sanchez
rp – s. santos, d. robertson, a. chapman
thanks!
@amscalone, I like the team, think it can be competitive…. You need Morse to do it again and Heyward to bounce back more than Miggy… League is shallow enough where waiver wire grabs will play a big role…
@Grey,
thanks for the input. desmond or cozart going to be good enough for me to shop andrus around a little bit?
@amscalone, Probably not…
@amscalone, Shopping never hurt anyone (besides those poor old men who think it’s smart to shop at 5AM day after Thnxgiving.) I like Andrus, though, mostly because I like not having to think about shortstop. You’ll be fine to move him as long as you get full value for him. Team looks solid so don’t do anything desperate.
@Chunk,
Thanks guys.
Hey, I just finished the podcast. Very entertaining, and excellent fantasy advice. Following up on something you said, I’m confirming that you’d be comfortable dumping Utley in a standard mixed league, and that was not said in jest. In my case, I picked up Valencia at 2B, and Dee Gordon is my MI. I’ve got Crawford soon to be occupying my DL spot and I want to use the roster spot to chase after SAGNOF RP’s. Given that state of affairs, would you be comfortable to let Utley go?
@Schmohawks Bob, Maybe try to trade him for a SAGNOF RP first, Maybe get someone along the lines of K. Jansen. I’d hate to let a name like Utley hit the wire in a standard mixer. At least try to trade him to minimize your losses.
@Schmohawks Bob, Thanks! I told Rudy not to draft Utley and he pushed for it… So he’s fine with him in mixed leagues, me not so much… With that said, I wouldn’t drop him, gotta be able to trade him for a Brain Freeze, no?
@Grey, Chuck, I’d love to trade him for a Brain Freeze, but I’ve got a brain dead league. But you’re both right, I shouldn’t let him hit the waiver wire.
@Schmohawks Bob,
i definitely don’t want your broken toys .
@chata, Hah.
@Grey
I christmas treed my spanish placement exam and placed out, never took a second of spanish in college. Reminds me of Unbreakable where for every story of great failure there is something at the other end of the spectrum.
Por favor, necessito una persona para mi…. bencho. I’m looking for playing time first, upside second (a fill-in for kendrys/Cruz/lind when they see time off.)
Chris Davis, Venable, Torres, Bernadina, Guzman, Reddick, Schafer, Hannahan….
It’s a points league where OPS is a good indicator of relative value.
Thanks as always. Love the podcast. Makes doing dishes fun, also makes doing dishes last 40 minutes.
@Chunk, Ha… Nice analogy… Thanks! Bernandina for now…
this is my RCL team ( first ever ) i’ve since dropped viciedo for cozart
i thought that young had 2b/MI eligibility
i have votto on nearly every team heres hoping to a great year in cincy
imma stop so u can tell me whats up with my team
6 Joey Votto, Cin 1B
19 Jose Reyes, Mia SS
30 Ryan Zimmerman, Wsh 3B
43 Josh Hamilton, Tex OF
54 Brandon Phillips, Cin 2B
67 Matt Moore, TB SP
78 Mat Latos, Cin SP
91 Michael Young, Tex 1B
102 Jason Heyward, Atl OF
115 Carlos Beltran, StL OF
126 Shaun Marcum, Mil SP
139 Cameron Maybin, SD OF
150 Heath Bell, Mia RP
163 Jordan Walden, LAA RP
174 Ryan Howard, Phi 1B
187 Carlos Marmol, ChC RP
198 Jhoulys Chacin, Col SP
211 Peter Bourjos, LAA OF
222 Kendrys Morales, LAA 1B
235 Greg Holland, KC RP
246 J.P. Arencibia, Tor C
259 Dayan Viciedo, CWS OF
270 Trevor Cahill, Ari SP
283 Stephen Drew, Ari SS
294 Edinson Volquez, SD SP
@barker, Young is 2nd base in Yahoo… Team looks real solid, pitching will probably be your biggest issue if Moore doesn’t come up as he should… Howard should be a nice boost if he comes back bombing homers, cause you look a tad light on power…
@Grey, thank you — yea moore was a big question that early for me i think stras was on the board and a couple others i really liked but couldn’t pass up mr. upside even as my first pitcher taken — luckily i was able to get latos right after which should make a formidable top of the rotation
yea i knew young was eligible at 2b in yahoo just slipped by me for espn its actually the only place i got him too — heres hopin he gets that MI designation some time soon
No problem…
Grey, I think your a little to down on Maybin. He just 25, was a big time prospect and he finally broke out. PLays on a team who LOVES to steal. Has power unlike other top steals guys. Did score 82 runs, and stl 40 in 137 games. 28 stls in 63 games 2nd Half.
I know, I know it the Padres. I think he good for 45 stls and 10 homers, 90 runs. He actually not goin that late in drafts either, not seeing much of a difference between him and Garner. Garner bats 9th, plays on yanks, but Maybin gonna get lot more at bats batting 1st.
Maybe I’m just thinking goofy today.
@Jim, You could be right, so hard for me to get excited about Padres hitters… You’re right though that steals in Petco aren’t the hard thing to come by…
ah, one other question. oswalt’s available…worth stashing?
@amscalone, Nope
Kinda makes you wonder if you stood in against a major league pitcher, how many you’d even get a bat on:
http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=20288459
Not many, is my expert opinion.
@Steve, I don’t think I can hit in the 70 MPH batting cage where I know the ball is going down the middle…
@Grey, Steve,
I remember goin in the cage thinkin 70? no problem…
By the end of the at-bat I was starting my swing while the light was still on yellow just to catch up with the ball somewhere at the plate.
Camera gets super steady as the pitch gets delivered. Great video, thanks!
@Steve, Awesome video, he was bringing it for sure.
My comment about “Opening Day in Japan”‘s attendance being proof that they love the game more than us was meant tongue-in-cheek. There’s no quantitative measurement that couldn’t be refuted with some other measurement, or a healthy dose of logic.
What I was referring to mostly is how much of a backseat baseball has taken to football in the US, and even the NBA and NCAA football, to some extent. But I was also thinking of the level of reverence that the Japanese have for the game. You don’t read stories like this about the US and baseball:
http://bit.ly/HoQ2fu
@Awesomus Maximus, That’s a great story. Sport for sport’s sake.
@Steve, Reminded me of when I was in Little League and it was all about having fun.
Yeah, it’s depressing to me that people like other sports more than baseball, I guess that’s why I hate Selig. Easy scapegoat… I also don’t like a sport I love on at a time that is ludicrous for me to watch. But I guess unlike Mike Seaver, TV watching doesn’t revolve around my schedule.
@Grey, It’s gross what a cash grab this whole Japan trip is. The TV deal, pushing MLB merchandise over there, pushing the MLB.com package on all of us who couldn’t watch the start of the season any other way. Meh… I should save my rant for the “Corporations Run America” manifesto I’m currently writing in my own feces in the walls of my crawl space.
Peavy or Wandy?
Tomato-tomahto… Wandy…
Felatio confirmed he will start the year on the DL. He’s already making sure he’s doing the “B” part of “BJ” to my team…
@Wilsonian, Blech
Quick Q-
3rd Closer
Holland and Balfour available on waivers. Who should I pick up?
Balfour known closer for now, Holland still questionable.
@TommyL, Balfour
Grey — how would you rank these late flyer SP for 2012 contribution (deep 14 team mixed, 6×6 – OPS and Holds):
Jeff Samardzija
Randall Delgaldo
Julio Teheran
Trevor Bauer
Tommy Milone
Thanks
@El Burro, Milone
@Chunk, or teheran. maybe. I dunno. Hard question.
@El Burro, Milone
great podcast… Grey, drop any of these guys for H-Rod?
Jim Johnson
Brett Myers
Greg Holland
Mike Adams?
@Mrobs, Thanks! I’d go with him over Adams in 12 team leagues…
@Grey,
is that a ringing endorsement of nathan , or ,
just your opinion of the over-all strength of the rangers bullpen ?
I’m not endorsing Nathan, but in shallower leagues you need to go for possible saves…
Great episode! I’d really appreciate your thoughts on my squad. See any categories where I’m lacking? Thanks in advance!
12-team $260 6×6 roto (R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OPS, W, SV, K, HLD, ERA, WHIP)
C – Brian McCann ($14)
1B – Joey Votto ($39)
2B – Brandon Phillips ($19)
3B – Ryan Zimmerman ($24)
SS – Asdrubal Cabrera ($13)
LF – Josh Hamilton ($25)
CF – Desmond Jennings ($19)
RF – Shin-Soo Choo ($17)
UTIL – Yoenis Cespedes ($4)
BN – Colby Rasmus ($1)
BN – Alfonso Soriano ($1)
BN – Daniel Murphy ($1)
SP – Cole Hamels ($25)
SP – Mat Latos ($15)
SP – Gio Gonzalez ($9)
SP – Jaime Garcia ($5)
RP – Jose Valverde ($7)
RP – Huston Street ($7)
RP – Francisco Cordero ($1)
P – Scott Downs ($1)
P – Joel Peralta ($1)
BN – Ubaldo Jimenez ($7)
BN – Justin Masterson ($1)
BN – Trevor Cahill ($3)
BN – Edwin Jackson ($1)
@Bill, Thanks! The team looks frighteningly… awesome! Yeah, no shizz… It’s a solid team, great mix of power and speed and solid pitching…
Hochevar has been absolutely dealing this spring.
If it carries over to the regular season which I think it might (dude had a solid 2nd half last year), would it be long before you’d look to add him in standard mixers? Grabbed him very late in my 16 teamer already, could be a nice breakout this year that noone has talked about.
@TheNewGuy, I’d probably grab him right after his first start in 12 team leagues if it’s good… Could break out…
@Grey, Yeah could be the typical post-hype sleeper…I type this just as he gives up a homer to Murphy, oh wait no overturned by the ump, good call.
@TheNewGuy, And now he’s given up 4 ER in 4 IP. That’s so Hochevar!
Sorry, didn’t mean to sound gleeful. It seems like it’s been years that he’s been stringing together useful starts, and then when you pick him up, he craps the bed. He does have 5 K, though.
I found it rather amusing that someone else enjoyed listening to the podcast while doing dishes…reminds me why baseball on the radio was always cool: you can be working at the same time. More good stuff this time, tho it seems like each week its less baseball and more about ex-roomates and things I have no connection to at all. Oh and yes Grey does sound a bit like Tom Green.
@Elijah, Thanks!
@grey
The draft application made a massive mistake and drafted Vance Worley (?!) for my last pitching slot. And my question is, aside from trying to pull off such an early trade in which I’d likely get taken for too much, which of the following pitchers still available would you take in dropping Worley? Or do you think Worley is going to magically become an ace?
Buchholz (he can be great, given he stays healthy)
Kuroda
Colby Lewis
Wandy
Thx, Grey
@Viagra Falls, My thoughts about Worley are in my rankings… Hint: I don’t dislike him…Lewis is a tad above him though….
I just listened to you sing the RAzzball podcast. I will never get those 10 seconds back. My ears!!!My ears!@
Ha! C’mon, King Wank…
Since we all love Ks so much around here, I feel it’s pertinent to point out that strike-throwing wildman Felipe Paulino will start the season on the DL.
That means Everett Teaford, in addition to being able to fit into one leg of Jonathan Broxton’s pants, will probably now become the long relief guy in the bullpen.
@Steve, Hehe… Everett Teaford sounds like a character on Downton Abbey…
Something you said in the podcast reminded me…
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016602981_apwawsubettywhite.html
@royce!, Hehe… Yeah, that’s awesome. That was all you.
@Grey, I love that the Seattle Times logo includes “Winner of Eight Pulitzer Prizes.” Surely it was for reporting like this!
They do have good baseball reporting, though. Very well informed, for a local newspaper.
They do cover baseball well… Probably didn’t win one for “It’s gonna rain again” either.
@Grey
I know there is a lot of repetition in positions (say that three times quickly…), but, aside from the mixing and matching with FA’s through the season, is my lineup good enough to compete in a 10 team, H2H league?
McCann
Kendryssss Morales
Brandon Phillips
David Freese
Hanley Ramirez
Ryan “FedEx” Braun
Desmond Jennings
Melky Cabrera
David Ortiz
Freddie Freeman
Francoeur
Trumbo
Boesch
Jered Weaver
Josh Johnson
Josh Beckett
Jaime Garcia
Vance Worley
Craig Kimbrel
Brian Wilson
Carlos Marmol
What do you think?
@Viagra Falls, This is just a collection of names, I have no idea your actual lineup…
@Grey,
Apologies.
C – Brian McCann
1B – Kendrys Morales
2B – Brandon Phillips
3B – David Freese
SS – Hanley Ramirez
OF – Ryan Braun
OF – Desmond Jennings
OF – Melky Cabrera
Util – David Ortiz
BN – Freddie Freeman
BN – Jeff Francoeur
BN – Brennan Boesch
BN – Mark Trumbo
SP – Jered Weaver
SP – Josh Johnson
SP – Josh Beckett
RP – Craig Kimbrel
RP – Brian Wilson
RP – Carlos Marmol
P – Jaime Garcia
P – Vance Worley
I know Morales and Freese are serious DL risks, but potentially highly productive if they can keep it together. It’s not the roster I want in all areas, but I wanted to know what you think of it, if you think I can compete with it. Also, with Worley, dirty Sanchez is available along with the other guys like Kuroda I brought up before. Do you think I need to try and look to work some trades, do you see a lot of weaknesses? Or do you think it can can compete in a 10 team, H2H league?
Thx, Grey
@Viagra Falls, Josh Johnson is a DL risk too… I think you’re team is solid enough except Freese, he shouldn’t be starting in a 10 team league at 3rd… You can hold him for the first week until someone emerges off waivers… I’d hold Worley for now, but in a league this shallow I’d be quick to grab a hot arm after a game or two of the season…
RCL team. Obviously my saves are an issue, anyone have any thoughts on other team weaknesses? Drafted from the 6 spot.
C – Wilson Ramos (17th – 198)
1B – Joey Votto (1st – 6)
2B – Neil Walker (15th – 174)
3B – David Wright (4th – 43)
SS – Elvis Andrus (5th – 54)
MI – Derek Jeter (12th – 139)
CI – Micheal Morse (6th – 67)
OF – Andrew McCutchen (3rd – 30)
OF – Jayson Werth (7th – 78)
OF – Shin-Soo Choo (9th 102)
OF – Nick Markakis (14th – 163)
OF – Martin Prado (19th – 222)
Util – Kelly Johnson (16th 187)
BE – Justin Morneau (20th/235), Chris Davis (25th/294)
Pitching: Roy Halladay (2nd/19), CJ Wilson (8th/91), Shaun Marcum(10th/115), Hellickson (12th/150), Dempster/Peavy/Volquez(21/22/23)
Relievers: Drew Storen (11th/126), Javy Guerra (18th/211)
Note: Dropped Koji Uehara to stream Vargas tomorrow.
@HighUpside, Hellickson was actually 13th.
@HighUpside,
just curious .
when you took votto @ #6 ,
was adrian gonzalez still on the board ?
@HighUpside, You zigged away from my advice huh? That’s cool… But now you want my opinion? Just playin’. Team looks solid on pitching… If your outfield works out for you, then the team will be solid… It looks light on power though…
@Grey, Yeah I went the other way on a couple things (Morneau/Hellickson). I respect your opinions, but I find in RCL leagues everyone follows your advice. Its tough when 12 people all have the same strategy, but can make for decent value at certain places. 20th round Morneau seemed well worth the risk when its between him and Vernon Wells. But I am regretting taking Halladay instead of Hanley or Giancarlo.
Now that I think of it could have taken Hanley 2nd round and got a great pitcher in the 5th instead of Andrus… but hey thats how it goes!
Yeah, no worries, it could work out…
Blog Wars – how is the draft going
@Mr Baseball, One of our writers is drafting and managing that team, not me.
Would I be in trouble if 3 of my 5 OFs are Alonso, Heisey, and Jay. NL Only 4×4??
the good news is they are worth $5, $7, and $1.
I am looking at Maybin for one OF spot.. Werth, Pence, Victorino or Kubel for the other. Maybe Morgan or Kubel for UT.
I’m trying to stay away from bidding +$40 for Braun.
Yeah, maybe not be enough ABs potentially for Heisey and Jay… I’d go with only one of them…
@Grey yeah trying to move Jay and a pitcher before we get our keeper lists in. Thanks, as always, for the help.
No worries…
I think every podcast should end with Grey story time.
Hehe… Thanks!
grey having trouble in a 14 team 2 c league counts obp instead of average
5 of ci mi 2 util
one dude missed the draft and got shit Cs he has since dropped his catchers so he has none
i drafted jesus montero ramos and ruiz — i have since picked up aj ellis and josh donaldson so i can afford to lose a catcher or so and would like to capitalize on this opportunity
he has been coming at me with trades like montero bruce ruiz for upton and kershaw
can i afford to do something like that ?? i need cl help can i trade ramos for help there he has balfour and storen
my starters look good to me gallardo jimenez moore liriano niese holland aceves harrison so no need for kershaw
should i rake him over the coals and hold out for anything i want i am really the only team with any C depth and ellis might not be that bad in an obp league
@barker, Justin Upton and Kershaw for Bruce and 2 catchers? That’s great for you…
@Grey, nahh its fellatio upton still prolly great for me tho right — i should just take it and run huh what if it was holliday??
yea if it was j up i wouldnt be here asking u such an inane question : )
It’s only Spring Training, but Broxton has just pitched a scoreless 7th in a one-run game. Cain has a donk, as does Butler who is also 3-for-4.
@Steve, KC playing the Rangers BTW.
H-Rod got the save again today. Who do you like better as a speculative add – him or Addison Reed?
Grey and Rudy, you both do a great f_cking job.
“It’s the Razzball podcast.” –> I suggest adding a crack of the bat before the announcer says “ladies and gentlemen.”
News on M Pineda on ESPN fantasy site that he’ll be demoted to the minors to start the season….excuse my french but what the f**k is Girardi thinking!
A 40yr old Pettite, mid 30 yr old Chief, or a young upcoming stud in Pineda…hmm tough choice… (rolls eyes).
Got him in my 16 team H2H league, partly as a Yankee fan and partly cos I think the talk of him stuggling is overblown- kid is flat out nasty and could rack up the wins on our team. Don’t think there’s any way im dropping him even if he gets demoted though, he can’t be down for long.
Think the Yankee fan is clouding your judgment.
@TheNewGuy, The ESPN article is saying Pineda shouldn’t be demoted and Girardi hasn’t decided anything yet.
With the news that Hughes seems to be going to the rotation, is Hughes worth a look in a standard league. Would likely drop Lidge- is he still lead candidate for saves over H-Rod? If he is i’ll probably hold onto him.