However, to play a bit of Devil’s Advocate, there is a side of the replacement level question I think gets missed here (and perhaps too frequently). We all think of streaming in terms of pitchers, but streaming hitters is a perfectly viable way of securing results better than replacement level from replacement level players. Of course, this works much more effectively in leagues with daily roster changes, but can work to a lesser degree in weekly leagues as well with appropriate planning. Focusing on daily leagues, though, if you’re willing to accept that additional roster spot won’t be committed to a single player, all of a sudden platoon players–even weak-side platoon players–become viable options. Last year I found myself in a situation where I felt streaming hitters for part of the year was a good option, and I wound up getting very respectable results out of sub-schmohawks like Juan Rivera and Jerry Sands vs. weak lefties and Eric Hinske, Brennan Boesch, and David DeJesus vs. weak righties. This requires a very high level of daily involvement, but it could very well allow you to assume you’ll get results superior to replacement level until Braun is back in action. You can even look at speed guys vs. a poor defensive catcher, or guys with moderate power against fly ball pitchers in small ballparks. Research, planning, and creativity can reward with results much better than simply taking a shot that a lesser player an maintain a two-month streak.

This strategy does have a downside though–it requires you to concede any kind of long term potential opportunity value from a second bench spot (however, if you’re streaming to replace an injured stud who you can stash on the DL, this issue is significantly diminished, but that’s another discussion). With at least five bench spots, this problem isn’t huge, since that extra hitter won’t be necessary every day, so on days where you like the matchups from your regular active outfielders, you can use that spot for greater flexibility (such as streaming an SP with a good matchup or a setup RP if his closer has pitched on a number of consecutive days or even nabbing a top prospect preemptively if there’s some buzz he may get called up soon), but it still kills most of your chances of securing any long term value with that spot off the wire.

Love the analysis and looking forward to more of it (especially your Point Shares). Hope fatherhood is keeping you happy and busy.

Pick 2 of the following:

Santana (lose 4th rd pick this year, option of 3rd rd next year, etc)
Cuddyer (14th, …)
Haren (5th, …)
Dan Hudson (10th, …)
Motte (18th, ….)

Thanks!

I removed Thornton, Trumbo and Dee Gordon.
I added Lind, Cozart and Street.

Do you think Tabata is still too much speed and should leave Trumbo?

C-Devin Mesoraco
1B-Joey Votto
2B-Danny Espinosa
SS-Zack Cozart
3B-David Wright
OF-Carlos Gonzalez
OF-Jacoby Ellsbury
OF- Jose Tabata
Util- Adam Dunn
Util-Adam Lind
BN-Ryan Braun
BN-Brandon Belt

SP-Clayton Kershaw
SP-Stephen Strasburg
SP-Mat Latos
SP-Ubaldo Jimenez
SP-Mike Minor
SP-Chris Sale
SP-Roy Oswalt

RP-Jason Motte
RP-Kyle Farnsworth
RP-Matt Capps
RP-Huston Street

Who would you keep? Choose one from Morse, Heyward and Choo. Thanks.

Both of these are H2H leagues. The one with those monster keepers is an 8 Team league, FYI, so that is part of my reasoning for not keeping pitching. I could probably get some great arms early. I’m 8th and 9th pick (won the league last year).

I like your thought on keeping Kimbrel. I’d been debating that anyway. He’s set up to be the best in the game, but I hate keeping closers. Do you still see that as a good idea knowing it is H2H?

Thanks! I really appreciate it!