David Robertson to the DL for three weeks with a left oblique strain. 2009 was the Year of the Oblique, then there was the Middle Infieluenza Outbreak of Twenty-Ten, and 2011 was a war between General Soreness and Major Discomfort. This year is The Closepocalypse. If you’re a closer and gonna go to the DL, at least get your make-believe plague right. (Oh no, I Can Haz Razzburger has taken over the site!!! Guys and four girl readers, picture the earth is a lolzpop, then this is The Closepocalypse. My apologies, but our advertisers asked if I could bring in more of the teenaged Asian girl demographic.) So Rafael Soriano will continue to get saves. I wouldn’t assume the Yankeensteins will just go to Robertson when he’s healthy, so it’s imperative and other serious-sounding words to grab Soriano. Bee tee dubya, it’s crazy how much Soriano sounds like Sanrio, right? Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Brett Lawrie – Got two marginal-to-bad strike calls on him and went DRUNK HULK on the ump. DRUNK HULK WISH UMP BAD THINGS LIKE HAVE TO TEACH FIELDING TO EDWIN ENCARNACION. I hope the fact that Lawrie was right about the lousy calls gives him solace when he gets his 5-10 game suspension.
Freddie Freeman – Day-to-day with corneal abrasion. I always thought corneal abrasion was being constipated after you ate corn. Eh, what do I know?
Kevin Youkilis – On Wednesday, he will begin a minor league assignment. That assignment is to re-injure himself so Middlebrooks can keep playing. If he fails, Middlebrooks will be back in the minors in a week.
Josh Beckett – 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 9 Ks. Nothing kills the inspiration for country song writing like a start vs. the Mariners.
Alfonso Soriano – Ended his HR drought on his 116th AB. He’s also at 1 SB. He went from 40/40 to probably 40 in 10 years.
Bryan LaHair – 1-for-4 with his 10th homer. *phone rings* “This is Grey.” “LaHair LaHere. Sell this!” *dial tone*
Chris Heisey – Has now started three games in a row and is 6 for his last 7. In mixed leagues, it’s still wait and see right now, but he’s got a nice bat if Dusty would stop chewing on his toothpick long enough to let him play.
Johnny Cueto – 4 IP, 5 ER and his ERA is still 1.89. Ridiculous. I wouldn’t freak out just yet, ERAs aren’t meant to be that low. Lance Lynn, “Shh!”
Matt Carpenter – 1-for-4 with his third homer as Berkman sat out sore. Well, at least I didn’t have to talk about Craig’s three hits. D’oh!
Jon Jay – Onto the DL with shoulder soreness. Carlos Beltran and Lance Berkman can shift over to CF if the Cards schedule all home games in 2007. Short of that, it’s going to be a blahtoon of Skip Schumacker and Shane “Reggie Cleveland All-Star” Robinson in CF. If you don’t have the DL room, feel free to drop Jay in shallow leagues.
Jason Motte – 1 IP, 1 ER as he blew his 2nd save, but Dolis returned volley with a run, so Motte got the win. With The Closepocalypse, it’s a wonder some games ever end.
Bartolo Colon – 6 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 12 baserunners, 3 Ks. Oh, no, Bartolo needs another collagen injection! FWIWuertz, there should be a DRUNK BARTOLO Twitter account.
Cliff Lee – Pitched 8 innings of one run, 10 K ball against the Astros, but he still couldn’t earn his 1st win of the year because of a blown save by Chad Qualls. Really? Chad Qualls? Fine, Papelbon needs a breather now and then but that’s the 2nd best option in the Phillies’ pen? Ruben Amaro is tugging on something and it ain’t no McGraw.
Hunter Pence – 3-for-5 with his 8th and 9th homers, raising his RBIs to 25. You can set your watch by Pence’s stats, and right now it’s 9:25.
Vance Worley – Scratched due to a sore arm. If it’s sore, stop scratching!
Mike Moustakas – Hit his 5th homer yesterday. Go, go, go, go, go, go, go… It’s Greek Lightning!
Colby Lewis – 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 10 baserunners, 4 Ks. We talk a bit about Colby later today in our podcast. You can hardly wait. No, you!
Scott Van Slyke – 0-for-4 as he got the start in the Dodgers’ outfield (and in the three hole), and will continue (to start in the outfield) while Kemp’s on the DL. In Triple-A this year, he had 8 homers and a .336 average, showing solid plate discipline, but that was in the PCL. Van Slyke looks like a ‘just okay’ grab for NL-Only leagues if you’re an outfielder down. I will say this, he’s a much better fielder than Bobby Bonilla’s son.
Jake Peavy – 5 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 11 baserunners, 4 Ks. Cruised through 5 innings against the tough Tiger lineup, then got blasted for six in the 6th. Ventura should’ve pulled him before he gave up the 3rd/4th/5th runs on a homer to Ryan friggin’ Raburn. I think Ventura went to pull him out and Peavy’s southern drawl reminded him of Nolan Ryan and he wanted him to suffer.
Travis Ishikawa – 3-for-4, 5 RBIs and 2 homers. Eh, he’s nothing but a deep NL-Only flyer. Does that make sensei? See, he is Sucky-san.
Jose Valverde – Left yesterday’s game with back stiffness that isn’t supposed to be serious. Too bad, I was hoping for a reason why he’s been so terrible all year. Octavio Dotel ended up saving the game after allowing two runs to be tacked onto Valverde’s line. Thanks, friend! I grabbed Benoit then dropped him immediately for Dotel. My figuring is Dotel has a bit more closer experience. He’s cagey! It could easily be Benoit who sees saves too. If anyone knows exactly which closer will be used while Valverde is on the mend, Dotel!
Max Scherzer – 4 IP, 5 ER. You know how they’re doing that dopey MLB cave thing where they take a bunch of fans and subject them to every inning of every game like it’s Clockwork Orange? I have a spinoff for MLB. Tell one guy, while he’s been cooped up in the fan cave for the last two months, the entire west coast was wiped out due to an earthquake. Then compare that heart rate with his when he owns both Scherzer and Gallardo in fantasy.
Anthony Bass – 8 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 7 Ks. This comes two starts after he gave up 6 ER to Miami, so I’d grab Bass, but get ready to throw him back.
Josh Johnson – 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks with his first win, but second quality start in a row. By Josh, I think he’s got it! Sorry, that’s terrible.
Omar Infante – 4-for-5, 1 run and 2 RBIs. Okay, I’d trade you Zack Cozart for Infante right now. Can we make that happen?
Bryce Harper – 1-for-4 with his 2nd homer in as many games. On the bright side, ESPN’s 24 hour Harper news cycle has a 2nd highlight.
Stephen Strasburg – 4 IP, 4 ER, 9 baserunners, 5 Ks. The sub-par start was due to him being bothered by the ointment, Hot Stuff, in his groin area. Now when he’s pitching well, Nats fans can yell, “It’s da bomb!” and when he’s pitching poorly, they can yell, “It’s da balm!”
Ervin Santana – 7 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 9 Ks. Pitchers like Ervin should have their own category. They’re not Hodgepadres. They’re not Marginers. They’re mixed league starters that are must-starts against weaker offenses, then you pray in other starts. Maybe you suggest a glossary term in the comments.
Albert Pujols – 3-for-4, 2 RBIs. And just like that he’s hitting .212! Yeah, that’s still not so good.
Mike Trout – 3-for-4, 3 runs and a slam (3) and legs (3). Maybe he can have a half of a blurb on the ticker right when ESPN HARPER is going to commercial.
Adam Jones – 2-for-3, 2 runs and also a slam (11) and legs (6). Let’s play a little game. Who’s higher on the Razzball Player Rater? Ryan Braun or Jones? Bruce or Jones?
Wei-Yin Chen – 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 4 Ks. Lowered his ERA to 2.45 but unless I lowered my standards (see what I did there?) I wouldn’t pick him up in a mixed league.
Elliot Johnson – 2-for-4, I’m not going to point out again that he’s hot but I will point out that I’m not pointing out that he’s hot.
Alex Cobb – Sounds like he could take Niemann’s spot in the rotation. He didn’t exactly shine last year in his call-up (6+ K/9, 3.90 xFIP), but in the minors he was able to push his K-rate towards 9 with decent ratios. In AL-Only leagues, I’d grab him if you need to *pinkie to mouth* Cobble together some pitching. And that was corny on the Cobb. I’m on a roll! Literally, it’s pumpernickel.
Derek Lowe – 9 IP, 0 ER, 10 baserunners, 0 Ks vs. Twins. It was throwback day at Target Field. Derek Lowe pitched like it was 2002, and the Twins hit like it was the Dead Ball Era.
Michael Brantley – 2-for-4 with a steal. Now hitting around .350 in the last week with one steal. Well, it’s better than batting .150 with nothing. Hey, Hosmer!
Shin Soo-Choo – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI and his 2nd homer. He was Soo-Overdue.
A.J. Pierzynski – 5-for-5. 3 RBIs, 2 runs with 4 singles and a double. Solid year for A.J. (.288, 24 RBIs is 4 more than Konerko) although I keep thinking he’s on Arizona. That’s A.J. Pollock which is really close depending on how you pronounce it.
Yoenis Cespedes – Cleared for all baseball activities except hitting. Cool, he can spit and grab himself now.
Manny Ramirez – Billy Beane knows that the Johnny Gomes show isn’t going to do too well in summer re-runs so get ready for May 30th when Manny brings his brand of zany mediocrity to Oakland’s part-time DH slot. His show is called, “Once Too Manny” with Jerry Blevins as The Bleaver.
Still no love for Gregor Blanco? Dude went 1/2 with 3 BB, 2 runs scored and a SB. Bochy confirmed postgame that he will be an everyday outfielder for the Giants. He also crushed a 450 ft homer to right center on Monday night. Hot Schmotato
@cbo, I picked him up this morning after i read Bochy’s comments..
@timSTi, Picked him up too, but on stats alone. What were the comments?
LOLS…spit and grab himself!
@cbo, SAGNOF
Should I grab Cobb or Scott Diamond to replace Duffy?
Think Cobb is better but AL East scares me.
Also, Scott Diamond sounds like the lead singer of a hair band, no?
@Random Collmenter, Diamond, unless Friedrich is there
Rank Cozart, E. Johnson, Lowrie, Aybar, Ransom please.
@Steven, Johnson, Cozart
how about new dictionary term…….
Santanaana winds – mixed league starters that are must-starts against weaker offenses, then you pray in other starts
@Scott from MI, Not terrible, don’t think it needs to be after Ervin.
@grey – glossary term “a dirty santana” – its all cool and seems like a good idea when she’s a 5 (a pushover), but a bad call when she’s a hottie (10)…
@Jack Full of Hate, Again… Not terrible, don’t think it needs to be after Ervin.
Have Seager at SS, Hanley would replace him.
Votto on the otherhand would replace Joyce.
Was thinking of TRYING to deal
1. Doc/Joyce for Votto
OR
2. Doc/Prado for Hanley/T Hudson
OR
3. Doc/Prado for Hanley/Beckett
Can you rank the returns?
Thanks and cant wait for the pod this week
@Matt, Thanks! 1, 3, 2…
Not defending Lawrie, but you could see his frustration growing the last few games with questionable calls going against him. I’m definitely biased, but I’d say yesterday those calls were bad-to-terrible.
@VinWins, agreed. And why all know lawrie agrees.
@VinWins,
lawrie needs more seasoning ?
@chata, No doubt. Hopefully he’ll learn from this.
@VinWins,
Any projection on when his suspension will start and how long? Will it go into effect immediately or do I still start him tonight?
@Holmes, There’s no word yet, but it is unlikely to start today.
@chata, hahaha, I see what you did there
I agree on heisey.. dont sleep!! And why you gotta mention earthquake??? Go ahead and jinx us why dont you! Geez…
@Prezii, Sorry!
Lawrie actions are disgraceful!
Should I drop Ackley for M. Ellis?
@Bats, Sure
8 team h2h with limited moves. Doing great in hr/rbi, well behind in avg/obp.
A) Continue stashing Quentin and S Drew, or drop one to stash Cespedes? (2 DL max)
B) Please rank ROS Aviles, S Drew, R Roberts, Seager.
C) Please rank ROS Goldschmidt, Cespedes, Quentin, De Aza, Ibanez, E Johnson, Heisey.
@Shin-Soo Choo Choo, Lose Quentin… Seager, Aviles… Cespedes, De Aza, Gold…
Pujols/Greinke for Lance Lynn
or
LaHair/Greinke for Lance Lynn
Points League with max 4 SP and Lynn is eligible for a RP-Slot
@Glossary
WOSHPOSH
Weak Offense start him/Pray on strong Hitters.
@woodzler, I actually could see myself using that term… I’ll run it by Rudy…. Pujols…
Holy friggin hell, ban the ump not Lawrie.
Just seen the 2 calls, littleleague stuff from the ump. 1st was way outside, and 2nd was clearly high…what is it with Rodney getting all these lucky calls of a sudden…his luck’s bound to run out soon.
@TheNewGuy, agree, then how about the ump getting a beer tossed on him by a fan and then the umps mother effing the fan up and down….. too many umpires in baseball think the fans come to see THEM!
Even in a 14-teamer you’ve got to sit Minor, right? How about Milone? Same?
@Steve, 100% on Milone.. I don’t start anyone outside of my aces vs Texas these days..
@timSTi,
aces and maybe a couple of the rays’ pitchers .
@Steve, Im not even starting Minor in a 16 teamer today…guy desperately needs to earn our trust again.
Grey – fine work as always. I can haz strategy question. I have seven SPs in a league where I basically can start five of them, due to an innings cap. Which of these guys are automatic, which ones do I stream based on matchups, which ones are on the pine? I have Gosh Johnson, Anibal, Kennedy, Peavy, Detwiler, McCarthy and Beachy. Thanks dude.
@Fman99,
imo , maybe just anibal and beachy are your must-starts .
@Fman99, Ha! I’m starting everyone except Detwiler right now…
@Fman99, Make sure to bench McCarthy at Texas tomorrow, though he’s usually ok to leave in your lineup.
I need 2 from these Schmosers: Raunch, Frieri, Dotel, or Balfour..
Deep 14 tm mixed, hurting for offense.. Is Manny worth a pickup?
@timSTi, Dotel, Balfour… Blech…
Regarding Ervin Santana and other pitchers who seem to just pick on weaker opponents and never someone their own size: Biff Tannens
“I thought about starting Santana @ NYY but then remembered he’s a Biff Tannen and I had better wait for that Oakland matchup..”
@timSTi, Ha!… I’ll run it by Rudy….
Grey : Currently have OF overload and need to beef up my pitching to get through Max and Ubaldo starts. Who would you try and trade for a pitcher like McCarthy/Dempster/Marcum.
A. Jackson
H. Pence
Berkman
Kendrick
I also have Bautista and Hamilton but unwilling to deal them right now.
@2 Cups 1 Braun, Kendrick or Jackson…
Ugh….was both Scherzered and victimized by a Bass sonuvabench last night….feeling cheap and violated this morning…Scherzer is dead to me, capiche? …..drop him to pick up a bat (D. Young/Boesch/Rizzo) or arm (Norris)? …. as for glossary term I think “Bully Boys” fits the bill….these guys are all bad ass when preying upon the weaker teams and stealing their lunch money, but give them a real offense to face and they are not so tough anymore.
@mc serch, Norris… Yeah, goes on the Biff Tannen idea…
@Grey, hehe…had to google Biff Tannen but yes that’s the idea….or Scut Farkas, the bully on A Christmas Story …..h’ok, Scherzer for Norris it is….thanks!
Thoughts on jerry sands being called up? I can pick him up in 14 team mixed dynasty but it’s a five year contract. Will I be happy known him in five years?
@SOS, No
14 team mixed: My Lance Lynn for Billy Butler?
Need the offense. Dominating pitching categories..
@stoopid, id almost do that, you can shop around for more, but any smart fantasy baseballers waiting for the Lynn train to slow down, i mean he could be solid all year but top 5 SP solid? doubtful…. butlers not a bad return depending on your lg format.
@Tony, yeah thats what i’m thinking.. league is a 5×5 roto, MI CI, 5OF 2UT 5 bench so fairly deep.
Do u drop Robertson and pick up reed ?
Do not have DL spot open
Thanks!
@Ryan, Sure
Squeamers.
@nyydj2, Not crazy about it…
Milone won’t get lit up SO badly by Texas that he’ll get me negative points in a H2H league….right?…
@scott, I wouldn’t start him there.
whats up with weeks? is he gonna have a resurgence or was that just a random home-run. i have mike aviles but i hate him for no reason and utley is on DL forever..
@Jermo, Rickie that is
@Jermo, I’d prefer Weeks to Aviles…
When Stephen Drew comes back, shall I drop cozart for him? 10-team h2h points league
@Ronkonkoma, Sure
glossary term: The Santana Clause – only gives presents (starts) vs. “nice kids” (bad offenses), while vs. the “naughty kids”(good offenses) it’s a coin flip & a prayer.
@Scottie O., Ha… That’s pretty good… Will run it by Rudy…
“Touchy Uncles” – guys who get some from weaklings, but fail at real world competition.
@Ross, Ha! I like that.. Will run it by Rudy…
Bruuuuce + Gio = too much to give up for Hamilton? He’d also throw in Aviles.
(This league counts Total Bases, plus OBP as well as RBI, R, HR & SB for offense.)
@BERK,
I’d take the Hamilton side, even without Aviles (who is an above average “throw in”).
@BERK, It’s fair… I’d hold…
Is it time to cut bait on Cozart? 12 team H2H, no MI spot.
@Swisher Sweets, Maybe
@grey
Long-time reader, first time comment(er)…possible name for the Ervin Santana type pitcher, must-start mixed-leaguer against the weak offense, maybe you could have your first hybrid term: Mogwai/Gremlin-never expose it to Rangers/Yankees; stay the Mogwai…nobody likes a Gremlin.
@rob, It’s okay… Think there’s better above…
ROS….Soriano or Sean Marshall??
@JG_ism, Marshall
RCL League…
Util Slot: Ike or Carlos Lee?
@J-Birdis, Lee
12-team, H2H, 6×6 (OBP, QS), 4-player keeper (can only keep players drafted after the 1st 4 rounds)
My team needs a boost and a solid keeper. So far I have 2 definite keepers in Jennings and MadBum. I was thinking of offering A-ram (Not keeper eligible) and Lynn (keeper for next the 3 yrs) for Moose (keeper for the next 3 yrs). Loosing Lynn wouldn’t hurt my staff too much…what do you think, is it too much?
@Project_Badass, Too much
@Grey, What about A-ram (non-keeper eligible) and Lynn (keeper next 3 yrs) for Moose (keeper for the next 3 yrs) and Latos (keeper next 3 yrs)?
Which craptastic 3B should I grab for next week when hulkamania gets handed his suspension?
Alvarez, Hannahan, Betemit, Inge, Ransom, Polanco, Stewart, or Ryan Roberts?
Also, which of these two are worth stashing in my DL spot: Cain, Reimold, Street, M Reynolds?
Thanks!
@Schizer Scherzer, Betemit… Reynolds
when you reach my age , every memory seems to recall the ol’ timey days ,
but , the equipment manager always had some flunky distributing the jock-straps .
it made the old ‘ben-gay’ trick easy to pull off , if you wanted to
“razz” a teammate .
surprises me that strasburg would openly admit to being victimized .
all in the name of team unity , i suppose .
@chata, Yeah, agreed
Homemade Santanasizer – yeah, sure, you trust it to kill the most common, run-of the-mill germs…but are you really going to rely on it against heavy hitters like E. Coli or the Yankees lineup?
@scott, It’s okay… Think there’s better above…
deep 16-team H2H-Points league, (SB=3, CS=-1, SO=-1, 1B=1, 2B=2, etc.)
Need a bat. Please give me your Top 3:
Bernadina
Blanco
Venable
Heisey
Nava
Ryan Roberts
Thanks
@Commish Cauda, Bernandina, Heisey, Blanco
Mornin’!
Cishek or Dotel? Holds count.
@CL, Dotel… Morn!
In a 12 team 5×5 – where I’m down to just one closer – I’ve got someone offering me Papelbon and Pujols for Fielder and BJ Upton (after I turned down the same for Fielder and Pence).
Should I pull the trigger?
@John, I’d hold
Rest of the season
Haren or Morrow?
Hosmer or Adam Jones?
mixed league OBP
@Rob, Haren and Jones
@BobbyVCard, thanks – If it wasn’t for Haren’s back, that wouldn’t have even been a question… it worries me a bit…
Ina H2H league where I’m winning in whip and era, but could use sme Ks….pitch Minor today?
@Hunter, Sit
*wright had two hits. I think he’s up to .408
*granderson homered again. Boy that guy is good.
@The editor, haha…. is this because this site advised you to not draft them preseason? Well I’ll tell you what I didn’t need grey or anyone to tell me not to take Wright. The guy had a broken back last year and the mets have a terrible offense around him and lost reyes, i wasn’t going nearhim. And grandy had a career year, i dont pay for those….
@Tony, word
@Tony, I guess granderson is having another career year. Maybe next year too.
Pick 2 from this group: L. Morrison, Rasmus, Bernadina, V. Wells, Saunders
Pick 2 from this group: Seager, Lind, Betemit, Chipper
I’m leaning toward Morrison and Bernadina from the 1st group, and Seager and Chipper from the 2nd.
@BobbyVCard, Lomo, Bernadina… Seager, Betemit
Please include Gregor Blanco in the first grouping above. Thanks.
@BobbyVCard, and Heisey
Josh Johnson has been better since his brother Gosh showed him how to throw an astroglide ball.
@Cole, Ha!
12 team 5×5 Rotiserrie
C: C Santana
1B: Ike Davis
2B: Uggla
3B: Seager
SS: Asdrubal
OF: Braun
OF: Bruce
OF: Cruz
Util: Dirks
Util: Campana
Bench, Gardner, espinoza
DL: Longo
SP: Bumgarner
SP: J Zimmerman
RP: Axford
RP: H-Rod
RP: Casilla
RP: Cishek
RP: Janssen
RP: Walden
P: A Sanchez, G Gonzalez, M Garza, Cahill, Lynn
DL: D Hudson
Trade A:
Give Lynn
Receive Trumbo
Trade B:
Give Casilla and Lynn
Receive Freeman and Moustakas
Which one should I do (currently in tops in most pitching categories and mid-bottom in hitting)
@Grey’s da man!, B
If there are other decent options available on waivers, is Worley worth holding on to though this arm thing and his up and down season thus far?
@Matt2, No idea who else is available…
@Grey, Bud Norris, Christian Friedrich (that seattle matchup sounds good), Anthony Bass, Mike Minor, to name a few. Any of those sound like a better deal? Who would you take?
I have only 1 DL spot with Howard on it and Gardner on the bench, so a 3rd DL doesn’t sound inviting unless there is a greater upside.
Thanks
@Matt2, Norris
No Revenge of the nerds Liquid Fire jock strap reference? No what’s Happening Hot Stuff?
C’est la vie!
Is Bruce Crotchy going to give his Belt the chance to be fantasy relevant? What do you expect his final stats to be given current circumstances.
I guess I really want to know if the juice is worth the squeeze
-YHL
@potus, Ha! Belt isn’t giving himself a chance with his hitting…
With Robertson on the DL, pick up Frieri for the K’s or pick up Balfour and hope Fuentes implodes?
@TualatinTwoStep, Frieri
Wil Myers gets the call for the Royales w/Cheese. He has Catcher eligibility in Yahoo and plays the OF. I’m snagging him now in a 16 Team H2H Keeper. He’s been raking this year…worth a shot especially with Catcher eligibiity.
Odorizzi also got the call, but he’s not in Yahoo’s player list.
@Wilsonian, Thanks for the heads up!
@Grey, im seeing where myers got promoted to 3a but nothing on a major league call,any sources
@AL KOHOLIC, See below from Poo Holes
@Wilsonian, Both were promoted to AAA from AA, not quite at the majors yet.
@Poo Holes, good catch. I guess I didn’t read that…just saw that it said Myers and Odorizzi promoted. My bad.
Nothing to see here…yet…carry on.
Starting MadBum vs StLouis tonight?
@Oxford Comma,
I am starting MadBum, he’s playing against Jaime, who seems to blow up against the easiest opponents. Its a tough call, but there is a reason why he is on your team unless you don’t have a minimum innings limit and you are chasing era, but at the same time, its early in the week, so even if he blows up a little, you will have time to make up for it.
@Oxford Comma, yes. Yes. And yes. First of all, he should be no worse than your #3 SP. That’s a guy you throw out there each and every time. Second, this is STL. Yes, they have been good. But the ’27 Yankees they aren’t. Beltran is wounded and most likely won’t start. Berkman sat out yesterday, so even if he plays today he won’t be 100%. Jon Jay just hit the DL yesterday. Yes Craig is on fire and Holliday is Holliday. But those are the only two bats you really have to worry about. If that’s enough to scare you off of Bum, then you probably shouldn’t own him. That being said, anyone can blow up at any time (see: Peavy, Jake 5/15/2012), so take it with a grain of salt. The worst thing Bum has going for him is his team lacks offense.
@Oxford Comma,
I’m starting MadBum every time out. It does seem he’s due for a correction in his ratios, but I’m riding this train all the way.
@Turk Wendell, My team ERA/WHIP are atrocious (3.91/1.30). Look at this cast:
Haren
MadBum
Darvish
Peavy
Lynn
Dan Hudson
Aceves
Marshall
Johnson
HRod
Capps
Reed
1500 innnings cap. I’ve pitched 348 innings so far and the Yahoo projected thing says I’m heading for 1511. Not sure how that projection is computed as it does not seem to be using rates.
@Oxford Comma,
I still think he’s prolly your most reliable guy right now.
What does Grey say? “Save your fear of failure for your real life…”
Also, maybe try to move Darvish before he goes through the League too many times- for a NatGio or Anibal. Those guys are sick and I think could be huge all year. Will definitely help ratios.
@Oxford Comma, I saw something somewhere sometime about SF messing with his delivery,something about making him not throw across his body to save wear.I’m not familiar enough with him to notice and have been hoping to come across some clarifying info regarding this.
@Hondo, Finally did some googlin’- I dunno if this explains what I was talking about or not.Whatever it is they did,I wish they’d undo stat.
http://championpitching.com/pitching-mechanics-madison-bumgarner.php
Milone is a sit today obviously, can someone convince me otherwise?
Also Nieuwenhuis or Gregor Blanco for the rest of the season? 12 team keeper league.
@TualatinTwoStep, Blanco
Grey,
1. Do I start Hellickson in TB against Boston?
2. What about Jaime Garcia @ San Fran?
I’m leaning towards starting Jaime hoping he will bounce back and benching Hellickson against BOS.
Thoughts?
@ThomasR, 1. Yes 2. Yes
can you let me know what you say about Colby Lewis in your podcast, in written form?(deaf)
I think I saw somewhere in off season that his velocity was down in 2011 from 2010, and that he started out 2012 with same decrease in velocity, which he had in 2011.
And that he was getting lucky in the early part of this year.
I’ve been thinking of dropping him in a deepish 12 team/mixed/redraft, for a few weeks now.
Very interested in your thoughts.
@harrrr, we just joked that colby lewis is awesome in an xFIP league. Yesterday, was an odd start for him. He usually has a great WHIP and mediocre ERA – yesterday was the opposite. Lewis is a marginal SP in 12-team leagues – he’s good for 15 Wins, 4.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 160 Ks. His K rate is fine right now so not reading into any velocity drop – his issue is that when he’s wild, he’s wild in the strike zone and those go for XBHs.
@Rudy Gamble, Thank you Kindly. If you have a moment, what are your thoughts on Floyd and Hammel? And where does Lewis sit with these guys?
@harrrr, Floyd, Lewis, Hammel…
No matter how much you chew and chew, they just slide right out fully formed and whole again…….that’s what I always wondered about corn…sweet kernel termination…
@Wake Up, Ha!
couple quickies… based on value alone, for rest of year… craig or willingham? garza or craig? peavy or joyce?
thanks grey
@Alex, Craig… Garza… Peavy…
To file under “baseball is a weird game” (big file). The Rangers are lighting up pretty much everybody, including one of the game’s best in Weaver (3.1, 10 hits, 8 runs) and Vin Mazzaro manages to last 5 and get a W against them yesterday. I looked at that start before and figured Tejas would set all kinds of records. Remember Mazzaro’s start against Cleveland on May 16 last year? 2.1 11 hits, 14! runs. Fourteen! You never really know.
Watched Lincecum last night. The fastball velocity is the thing that jumps out as being off for sure, but I think with location he can still make it work because his offspeed stuff is still really good. The problem with the offspeed stuff is that it has a ton of downward movement and he doesn’t throw it for strikes. He relies on swing and miss with the offspeed. The league has obviously figured out that you sit fastball and if it’s offspeed you lay off. It must be tough for a guy that’s used to dominating to change his approach and maybe it’s too early to do so, but with the stuff he’s sporting right now I think he has to change the way he attacks hitters and pitch backwards in the count a little and go breaking stuff early and use it to set the fastball. He got into a lot of deep counts last night and he would nibble with the fastball and then guys are laying off the breaking stuff. In his last 5 starts here are the walk totals: 3, 2, 4, 4, 5. I don’t think it’s because he can’t command, I think it’s because he’s afraid of getting too much plate. In years past he’s gone through these funks and corrected himself. Tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel based on last night.
Although Bartolo has started to fall apart, he’s had some pretty amazing starts including the one a few weeks ago where he threw like 88 of 110 pitches for strikes including 32 strikes in a row against the Angels. Gomes had a pretty good line that I hadn’t heard before: “Not even a pitching machine can throw 32 strikes in a row.”
I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again today: Hosmer about to get really hot.
Final thought: Justin Upton needs to get his stuff in gear.
@OaktownSteve,
Wow, this is great.
@Turk Wendell, Thanks man.
@OaktownSteve, I pray you’re right about Hosmer… Nice comment!
@Grey, Hosmer’s BABIP is almost as low as his AVG. Statistical corrections abound!
@OaktownSteve, Appreciate the insightful commentary. I’m glad I’m wrong so far about my comments after the A’s fire sale in the offseason. They look like they’re playing hard every day and could hang around if they avoid the injury bug. It’s looks like the clock has struck midnight on big Bartolo though…
@Big Magoo, the thing with the A’s is Melvin has proven to be a really good manager. Geren was the worst manager that I’ve ever seen. A’s play heads up. From a fantasy perspective, I think they lead the AL if not all MLB in steals. With McCarthy, Parker and Milone they are getting a fair number of quality starts. I’m a season tix holder so I am appreciating the hustle and the fun their having.
@OaktownSteve, Totally agree with this. Bobo the Clown Geren was stupendously bad. Epically bad. I was almost as happy the night they fired Geren as I was on the night OBL got his just desserts.
@OaktownSteve, Yeah, I agree with you on Geren, but a successful managerial change is usually good for a 3-5 game swing in the standings. Ultimately, talent still rules the day. If they keep up their solid pitching, let Weeks, Crisp (when he’s able to suit up), and Pennington run wild, and Reddick and Cespedes do their jobs in the heart of the order, they could be in the wild-card mix come September. With their payroll restrictions and lack of depth, they basically need all of the above to happen to remain competitive though. Melvin definitely has them playing the right way though, and they’re fun to watch.
I loved that the title of this blog was from “Being There”. Grey is busting out some of the best movie references this week.
I’m sick of NFL referees and I’m REALLY sick of MLB umpires. They are a vicious group of middle-school girls that takes pleasure in making players suffer whenever the urge strikes to do so. Brett Lawrie stood and watched ball four and ball five and still wasn’t allowed to go to first base. You know why? Because he took off to first base in a cocky, quick, and athletic manner which made fat-assed Bill Miller wish he was young again and athletic for the very first time ever.
Bill Miller’s sub-conscious thoughts were “Look at this young, exuberant, cocky, sexy dude. He’s taking off for first base and I haven’t called it a ball yet. I’ll show him who’s in charge around here.” Then he calls a stike on a pitch that was well outside. The second pitch was the same thing: Lawrie knew it was a ball so he once again took off for first base. Bill Miller once again, sub-consciously, knew that his own wife would much prefer a night with Brett than with himself, and called Lawrie out on strikes to get revenge for an affair between Brett and Mrs. Miller, even though that took place only in his own mind.
If you replaced Brett Lawrie in this whole scene with Lance Berkman or Bobby Abreu, the ump would never have rung them up…and it’s not because of their reputations for knowing the strike-zone. It’s because they ain’t young, they ain’t cocky, and they ain’t sexy.
Yes, Lawrie went berserk and maybe shouldn’t have. He made it personal. But he made it personal because he KNEW that the ump had already made it personal. Maybe the ump didn’t like his tattoos. Maybe Bill Miller’s high-school sweetheart ran off with a tattooed man. For whatever reason, the umpire felt like ringing-up Lawrie last night and it was NOT because he really thought those calls were strikes.
It was ugly.
@Eric Riptide, I’m standing and slow dramatic clapping right now. You just can’t see it.
@Eric Riptide, I was going to post a rant about that whole thing, too. The call was ridiculous, no doubt. But, Miller was going to be that guy that everybody picked on in HS that became the town cop, in mine. Once he tasted that sweet, delicious power smoothie, it was nearly impossible to stop sipping. The fact that it was broadcast on TV, and he looks like the butt of the joke, was completely lost on Miller. That being said, there is something to say for laying low when you still have less than 300 career ABs. And showing some respect for people twice your age that make 1/10 your salary.
@Eric Riptide, Great comment!
@Eric Riptide, Don’t agree with this at all. Umps (and referees in other sports) make bad calls all the time (remember Jim Joyce costing Galaraga his perfect game?). I think it has zero to do with the profile of the player.
Bad calls are part of the game. Argue them, say your piece, but you don’t come at an ump like you’re going to tear his head off. That’s just bad sportsmanship right there and hopefully the suspension will cause Lawrie to reflect on what he did (he’s already apologized, so that’s a start).
And remember, what he did is not only gonna hurt him, it’s gonna hurt the team, since Lawrie will be sittin’ at home for 5-15 games. Gotta play smarter than that and keep your emotions in check. I have no doubt of his talent and I think he’ll learn from this.
@JoeC, And there are umps, just like everywhere else in the world, who won’t treat you fairly if they don’t like you.
@JoeC, I did state that Lawrie should not have reacted the way he did. Technically, Rocky Balboa should not have reacted the way he did at the end of Rocky V when he punched the sleazy boxing promter in the face. Yet, the entire theatre stood up and cheered. (So did I because that awful movie was drawing to a merciful close.) It’s called justice. So yes, I agree that Lawrie’s reaction was detrimental to his team and to himself as he’s sure to face a long suspension.
But telling me that umps don’t profile hitters that complain is ludicrous. I see Ike Davis muttering expletives when the umps expand the strike-zone on him. The umps’ new attitude with Ike is that if the catcher can actually reach out and catch the ball, it’s a blatant strike. If it bounces by the fungo-circle, it’s a borderline call. If Ike had never exhibited his disdain for lousy calls, he’d be getting a fair shake by now. But since he shows an outward disgust, the umps go out of their way to ring him up on even worse calls than before. You may disagree, but to me this is just an incontrovertible fact.
Lawrie’s reaction after ball-five was called strike three was enough to make Chuck Liddell take a few steps back and possibly dribble slightly in his shorts. Lawrie is like a volcano.
The other thing that drives me crazy about professional sports officiating is the maddening inconsistency. Last year, on the same exact Sunday, Tony Scheffler was given a fifteen yard penalty for the asinine rule known as “using the ball as a prop” because he stepped on the football like Captain Morgan steps on the treasure chest in the rum commercials. Yet later that day, Dez Bryant used the football as if it were a talcum powder bottle and was shaking the powder into his hands and throwing up the imaginary talc a la LeBron James. Guess what? No penalty. That’s inconsistency and it’s downright maddening to fans and players.
At umpire school, on the first day, the instructor says “Some of you in this room are going to show grace under pressure and exhibit great judgement and keen sensibilities, and you will go on to bigger and better things. And yet some of you will crack and wilt under the enormous pressure….and go on to become Major League umpires.”
$100 budget, $70 left. How much would you bid on Dotel? Benoit?
@Grey’s da man!, $2…2
Ahh your slipping Grey. Your line for Bass should have been “I’d HOOK/CATCH Bass,but get ready to throw him back” NotI’d grab Bass.
Its ok I know your a citified Jersey boy. You probably ask hunters if they “caught any deer?”
Great stuff as usual –thanks for tip on Alonso last week at least keeping MI alive last two weeks.
@Pochucker, Ha! Thanks!
Drop H-rod for Frank Frank?
@chunk, Or for Delgado?
My RPs (Start 7): Jansen, Casilla, Soriano, Broxton, Johnson, Dolis, H-Rod
SPs: Gio, Zim, Edwin, Edinson, Samardetc, Smyly
16 teams, 1500 innings.
@chunk, Frank
Leading saves, but too many guys on the DL, which one do you drop, knowing they will get picked up by someone else?
Farnsworth, Street, Robertson, Downs
@Bill S. Preston, Esq., Farns
Hi Grey and Rudy:
My pitching staff (3.91/1.30) is not so good so far:
Haren
MadBum
Darvish
Peavy
Lynn
Dan Hudson
Aceves
Marshall
Johnson
HRod
Capps
Reed
Would you swap out any of my guys for any of these?
Chapman
Zambrano
Vargas
Samardzija
McDonald
Westbrook
Scherzer
@Oxford Comma, forgot that I have Fuentes to drop as well. HRod, Reed, and Fuentes to go first…..
@Oxford Comma, Samardzija over H-Rod
Santiago Casilla or Rafael Soriano for the next month?
@DiscoD, Soriano
I’ll always remember 2009 as the year of the anal fissure.
@furthur, Jockular Spincteristis? Yeah, that was big that year too…
Thanks a ton Grey, great stuff.
Would you guys drop hank Rod and call up Reed? (Can’t send him back down)
@Abell, No problem… Yeah
Wells or Tabata ROS?
@Kevin, Tabata
Great stuff as always Grey, but I have to respectfully disagree about LaHair and Bass. I have both and have no intention of selling. LaHair when it looks like he’s going to slump goes and hits a bomb. While others hit regular flyball outs, his seem to carry out because of his natural power. He’s a waiver wire pickup that will hit .270 with 30+ bombs. As for Bass he is for real. He has swing and miss stuff with that slider and change. Hasn’t even taken advantage of Petco park yet with a better road ERA and showed great poise being able to settle down after giving up 5 runs in the first inning to the Fish. He was once declared the best control pitcher in the minors one year and has a great K/BB ratio.
@Colin, Gotcha… I do agree Bass pitches at Petco and has been good on the road… He also just got shelled so it’s a bit bumpy…
If I could trade Jay Bruce for Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder, should I do that trade and which one should I target?
@weas, Fielder
Closarter – a starting pitcher who makes you feel like you’re arteries are closing watching a shaky closer for the first 5 innings of the game
@mH, I think we have better above…
And down goes Worley. Everyone please pray he doesn’t need TJ
@Sambo Jenkins, Yup
Time to give Colby Rasmus the drop? 12 team mixed w/4 OF’s + UTIL…I want to hold but….
@WhineSpritzer, Addendum…I’m not playing him, so he’s not currently hurting me.
@WhineSpritzer, Who would you drop him for? Are you making room for a player coming off the DL?
@Chillmodious, Maybe a multi-positional guy like Sean Rodriguez or someone who seems like he’s putting it together like Bernadina or Viciedo. I’m still holding a hair of hope that he’ll produce but he’s taking up a bench spot I could use to rotate a hot schmotato.
@WhineSpritzer, FWIWerth, I dropped Jed Lowrie for Bernadina in one league yesterday and Pedro Alvarez for Elliot Johnson in another. Both 12tm H2H. Jed/Pedro still have a pulse but have cooled, and I had no problem dropping the lukewarm schmotatoes for warmer schmotatoes. Of course, Bernadina proceeded to give me a nice 0-4 stinker, but I think he’s got decent value/upside. [Now here's the part where I hedge and remind you that I'm no 'pert and there's a reason I lurk in the comments section asking for advice]
@WhineSpritzer, lose him. You will find his numbers (and much better numbers) in a 12 team league any day. He is simply not the player we all thought he is. Is not all that talented either. I dropped him yesterday for Benoit (was in need of holds).
Good morning Grey,
Nice roundup, per usual.
Wondering about your thoughts on the closer shituation in San Diego. I haven’t seen any update on Street in over a week and Thayer clearly has the gig for now, which makes it difficult to project how things will shake out about a month from now. I know, Street + Closepocalypse + Petco and all that… but do you think there’s a scenario where Street comes back in the next few weeks and Thayer still keeps the job? I have him in a few 12tm H2H leagues where I’m getting ok saves, so my concern is keeping a guy whose value may plummet soon and losing out on a potentially longer-term option for the season (a starter like Delgado or Bud Norris for example). Due to closer-vulturing, Thayer will get picked up off waivers immediately if I drop him, so that brings me back to my speculation on Street.
Would love to hear your thoughts, along with anyone else. Thanks.
@Chillmodious, Thanks! If Street’s healthy, he’ll closer… Thayer’s not really very good, and old…
As my Ant would say, “Wow. That was actually pretty funny today, for the most part. Keep trying, though.”
(My Ant is much tougher than I. I was laughing.)
@Wake Up, Hehe
@Grey, No, it was not a joke. She really only gives back-handed compliments, if any at all. Horrible woman.
@Wake Up, She just sounds misunderstood.
@Wake Up, I’ve got a dog myself. Ants are cool I guess, I mean, what with the whole farm thing, although having only one ant seems a little odd…..did the rest of them die or something? That would be sad….well, as sad as ants dieing could be I guess. Was it a flood? Avalanche? Anteater? Nevermind, this is probably all too personal and sensitive to just tell some stranger on the internet. Ummm, please send my condolences to the remaining ant……..does she have a name, or does she just go by ant? I’m assuming that she understands when you talk to her, which is impressive for an ant. I mean, she’s obviously capable of speech, and sarcastic remarks at that, so she must be pretty intelligent. Oh and, of course she’s tougher than you, don’t take that as a knock on you personally, she’s tougher than pretty much anyone I would think. Unless of course you can lift 100x your own weight??? Yeah, I thought not! Anyway, say hi to what’s her name for me.
Oh, and, I have to agree Grey, it was a pretty funny post today.
I’m in good shape with pitching. Lester/Darvish/Zimmermann/Gio/Beachy/Gallardo/Lynn. I’m also okay on offense and have Teixeira at 1st. I don’t really need to make a trade but for value’s sake, wonder about this one.
I may be able to get Hosmer for Lynn. Should I consider this?
@frank rizzo, I ownLynn and would do that deal in a cocaine heartbeat. But I also have Ike Davis as my primary 1B with no backup, so take it with a grain of Saltalamacchia.
@frank rizzo, Lowest value vs highest. I’d do it. The effing shift is killing Hos.
That Strasburg blurb was hysterical. Keep making my mornings a laugh, Grey!
@Eddy, Thanks!
10-team Standard Roto 5×5. 200 start limit and out of these pitchers who do you guys think is a worthy start today: Matt Garza, Madison Bumgarner, and Johan Santana? Do you guys have any strategies on who you start everyday if you have a lot of quality pitchers?
@Matt, Start them all
Re: glossary terms, I think we’re getting a little too specific on this whole ‘pitcher who is only worth starting against weak opponents’. That’s a streamer. I guess we never came up with a positive streamer glossary item as a bad streamer = Cleveland Streamer.
Here’s something…
Daystreamer – A pitcher that was worth starting for the day. Best to drop them when you wake up. Prolonged attachment to said streamer is a Streamboat.
Streamboat – When you fall in love with a pitcher that you streamed and they become a big crush on your pitching staff.
@Rudy Gamble, Smyly is becoming a Streamboat on my team for sure…
@chunk, i can see that…he’s warranted it so far…we’ll see how long it lasts…
@Rudy Gamble, steamboat is better than any of ours, “Oh I love Ervin Santana he’s such a streamboat”, so if they stay on my roster throughout the season would that make them a strong stream?
@Jack Full of Hate, If he stays on the roster, you’re crushing on a streamboat. Rarely ends well…
@Rudy Gamble, …..he’s so streamy
@Jack Full of Hate, that’s what makes streamboats so tough to give up. i’ve still got nolasco in RCL…
@Rudy Gamble, Nice, Rude Boy.
@Rudy Gamble, Not for the glossary, but funny pitcher-catchers: Jarrod Parker and Buster Posey would make a nice indie battery.
@peter, Nice, added it to http://razzball.com/?p=12142
@Rudy Gamble, You’re a regular Lothario with the words there. Very nice.
I would have to say that Lance Lynn is my streamboater. I just can’t quit him, despite signs that his reign may be coming to an end (7 BBs in his last 2 starts).
I know the correction is coming, but I suffer from irrational exuberance, you see.
@JoeC, Lynn seems to be a case (similar to Peavy) where you’ve got to ride it out to see where it goes. Lynn’s been the most valuable SP so far this year according to the player rater (razzball.com/playerrater) – i think it takes 3 bad starts to drop him (the 3rd on the bench)…
@Rudy Gamble,
How about “Streamweaver,” as in the song? All you really need to do is list the chorus as an explanation for a shaky streamer with upside:
“Ooh [stream]weaver / I believe you can get me through the night
Ooh [stream]weaver / I believe we can reach the morning light
Fly me high through the starry skies / Maybe to an astral plane
Cross the highways of FANTASY / Help me to forget today’s pain”
Come on, that had to be written for Ervin Santana, right?
@Chillmodious, I did think of that but thought it might confuse with Jeff/Jered Weaver. In the end, all streamers have upside…so it comes down to…
Daystreamer – Did well that day, drop after that.
Cleveland Streamer – Crapped that day, drop him and take a shower
Streamboat – Did well for that day and you crush on them, can’t bear to drop them Sometimes turns out okay, usually not.
@Rudy Gamble, You should just add the Streamboat to the glossary. We are just a bunch of Cleveland Streamers when you are the front line starter with a live arm and a plus curve. Damn, I’m kissing alot of ass today. Must be really excited for todays podcast, it completes my week.
Drop either of Nava or Raburn for Heisey?
@chunk, Raburn
@Grey
6×6 league r, hr, rbi, sb, avg, obp
k’s, w, era, whip, sv, holds
who wins this trade?:
brandon phillips and verlander for adrian gonzalez, morrow, and robert andino. guy with verlander already has king felix as his ace and doesnt have good 1st baseman. kelly johnson then becomes starting 2nd baseman. dont you have to pull the trigger?
@alldayLT, Verlander side, it’s fair, sounds good for you…
Grey, I know you like Randall Delgado, but his BB rate is almost sinful. Am I right to seek (possibly short-term) salvation from Christian (Friedrich)?
@peter, Traitor!
@Grey, Does the commenter sink or does he float? It’s the Razzball Inquisition!
@Grey, It wasn’t Peter that was the traitor ,it was that Judas guy.
According to what I read, Beane is looking to play Manny at 1B. Fat Jonah Hill likes his OBP.
@Wake Up, All day!
@Wake Up, The A’s have a weird situation with both Kila (who has been pretty good for them) and Barton (who has been terrible) both trying to share 1st and both left handers. Awkward rotation. So it seems possible that they’d like Manny to play 1st agains left handers and DH Gomes and then use one of their left handers at first and DH Manny against RHP. But god the idea of Manny at 1st sound hideous. Especially for a team that’s living on pitching and defense.
@Wake Up, Ha!! Manny could have some sneaky value…
1.) Rudy, I really like it.
2.) I’ve gone streamboat on Capuano and Smyly.
3.) No three? Seriously? I thought we were over that.
4.) I need to move one as part of a trade. Who has better market value/less ROS potential?
5.) Thanks!
@Slappy Pappy, 12 team HTH, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP, QS
@Slappy Pappy, Yeah, you’ve overdone it. Smyly better market value…
Grey,
Pick up McDonald for his start away against the Nationals tomorrow?
@JTR, Zims gonna strike out 11 pirates in that one… and he might lose by 1 or 2.
@chunk, Ha!
@JTR, I would
Jarrod Parker and Buster Posey would make a great indie battery.
@peter, HA! You should tell Rudy so he can add it to his catcher/pitcher battery…
I think all Lawrie needs is a good “old school” plunking from Cole Hamels. That’ll learn him!
My money’s on 10 games. Do I hear 15?!
@JoeC, Ha! I’m at 10…
Streaming option for tmrw: McCarthy @ tex, Cahill @ col, Dickey v CIN, or Harrison v Oak?
@RTP, Not good… Dickey…
Speculative adds are really paying off for me this year: Jansen, Trout, R. Soriano
Also, Grey, who would you pick as the top 4 closers out of this group:
Jansen
Hanrahan
League
Soriano
Casilla
Marshall
@Kevin, Nice… Jansen, Hanrahan, League, Marshall
J Lowrie in big slump..would u drop him for Elliot Johnson(tampa)?
or wait for Stephen Drew to come off disabled list?
Thanks
@Ryan, I know where Johnson plays… I’d go with him…
@Grey, haha
Need some OF help, pick 2 please for ROS (I have a very limited moves restriction for this league, so I can’t just grab the hot guy – get your mind out of the gutter…..)
LoMo, Quentin, Fowler, Rasmus, Torii, Dirks
@poet, Ha… LoMo, Torii
@Grey, Thanks. Do you have any idea what’s up with LoMo and why he’s sitting so much/getting replaced mid game for other lefties?
It used to be that if you said “Jose Altuve” five times in a mirror, Rudy Gamble would appear.
I tried it yesterday and nothing happened.
Altuve’s a hold, but it’s hard to believe the legend right now.
@peter, The legend’s shrinking…
@Grey, Interesting…Roger Clemens says the same thing every time he stands over a urinal.
@Chillmodious, Yesterday, the same thing happened to Strasburg.
@Grey, Scott Diamond or Alex Cobb ROS?
@Random Collmenter, Neither… Cobb
I have reed, bell, Rodney, Marshall and Santos on dl. Have to drop one.
Also, bernadina, Dyson, Campana or heisey?
Thanks man!
@El guey, Bell… Bernadina…
12 team, 5×5
I have pitching (Bum, Gio, Garza, Marcum, Peavy, Volquez, Lynn). I need offense , especially AVG and runs. Aybar is killing me at SS.
My Lynn for his Jeter? Or can I get more?
Thanks dude.
@L-Boogie, I’d take Jeter…
@Grey…
is it time to drop Scherzer of Billingsley in a 10 team league yet?
@Ralph, Yup, both…
@Grey, Scherzer in 12 team? I already pulled the plug,just wondering if I’m going to be wailing and gashing myself with broken glass in a month or so.
I already dropped him once and got pulled back in a couple starts ago.
In a 5 player keeper league would you trade Lincecum and Heyward for Dread Pirate?
@AA, Nope
Anybody starting Bud Norris in Houston against Milwaukee today? (12-team mixed, H2H) Probably going to lose Ks this week and my ERA/WHIP are pretty low, so I don’t want to outsmart myself if Norris gives up, say 3ER over 5.2 innings or something like that.
@Chillmodious, I’d start him.
@Grey, I’m closing my eyes and taking the plunge. Last time he faced Milwaukee (on road), his stats were: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks. “[Rolls dice] Come on Buddy-Boy… daddy needs a new pair of shoes!!!”
For the streamer thing. “Batteries not Included” (as in 2 double AA batteries) for AAAA offenses.
@Wake Up, I think there’s better ones above…
Hey Grey, i give Lynn and Lind for Butler. Fair?
Yup
Hi Grey —
Are you still bullish on Luke Scott over the rest of the season? He’s obviously slowed down a lot recently, but I know he’s streaky. But I was looking closely at his numbers and noticed his stats at Tropicana Field aren’t great — a career .678 OPS in what is now his home park. He’s doing .050 better than that this year but he’s still hitting for a significantly lower OPS at home (.724) than on the road (.796) with 2 HRs at home compared to 5 on the road, despite the fact that his ABs are more or less split evenly.
I like the fact that the .228 hitter becomes a .274 hitter if I start him only against RHP. But do I also need to start him only on the road? And if that’s the case, is he worth rostering in a 16-team league?
If the answer is no, it doesn’t mean I’d drop him right away (though he’s at home for the next 8 games). But maybe he should be the guy standing closest to the door when someone needs to get pushed out for a quick pickup. Or maybe I wait for him to hit a homer and then try to trade him the next day in a 2-for-1 deal?
Or is all this just a small sample size issue?
He’s just a very streaky player, always has been… If he hits a homer, then 8 more are on the way… When he goes cold, it’s the same…
If you’re looking to pick up one of these guys, position doesn’t matter, who has the best value for now and the near future?
Aybar, Rasmus, Gaby, Quentin, Blanco, Adams, D.Hernandez, Dotel, Santiago, Friedrich.
Position doesn’t really matter. It’s just an open spot.
@Wilsonian, Friedrich
10 team roto. Thinking of trading D Gordon for Carlos Lee. Middle of the pack in steals, but I need someone’s to clean up the bed Hosmer’s been shitting in.
@DjlanceRauch, I hear that… I’d want better/different for Gordon…
Laroche vs Butler?
@Oxford Comma, Butler
LOL Drunk Hulk, Dotel, Bass…man, you were absolutely on fire until that Josh Johnson pun! This article is another victim of the Closepocalypse!
@captainpyper, Ha… Thanks!
Trying to get Kershaw. Think Haren and LeHair is enough to get it done? Thanks!
I don’t, but you can try it…
@yossarian, Me neither, but why don’t you ask the guy you want Kershaw from?
Dynasty points league — I was offered Cliff Lee for my Brandon Belt, Brandon Morrow, and a 1st round pick (which will be low). Pull the trigger?
Pull
And if I can move Kimbrel instead of Morrow, should I?
Nah
Lahair – 6 weeks intot he season and he hasn’t stopped hitting.
Crushed the ball in winter ball.
Good last month of the season.
When are you going to admit you are wrong about him?????
@Jack, I’m a die hard Cubs fan and I still don’t see it continuing. His BABIP is astronomical. He won’t maintain it. He’ll probably end up with about 25 HRs and hit about .265. That means he’s in line for a regression. It’s still a decent year. But sell while the sellin’ is good.
Is it time to trade Lincecum for whatever I can get in my 12 team mixed keeper league? I need some offense. Plus I think the Giants are just going to throw him until his arm falls off and then let him go…
Not whatever…
12 team H2H points keeper league. I drafted starting pitcher depth to play matchups and have J. Zimmerman, Beachy, Marcum, Peavy, McCarthy, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Cahill (start 6 guys, weekly lineups).
Cahill has been awful, should I:
1) drop him for a speculative young arm like Peacock, Shelby Miller, Skaggs, Hultzen, etc.;
2) drop him to grab two start pitchers with favorable matchups each week; or
3) hold?
Thanks! Can’t wait for this week’s podcast.
Go with 2
@Grey, Thanks again man. Looks like Jerome Williams is scheduled next week to go @OAK then @SEA. 2 starts don’t get much better than that.
@SF Values, Better check your road/park splits before you get too excited.
Grey, 5×5,H2H
Who should I Dropout out of these pitchers for Ryan Vogelsong?
Detwiler
Milione
Thanks BnY
@tggq21, Detwiler
*****THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS***
Hi Grey & Rudy
14 team H2H with this categories:
R H 1B 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB K GIDP E AVG OPS IP W L CG SHO SV BB K HLD ERA WHIP NH PG QS
C: W Rosario
1B: Pujols
2B: Zobrist
3B: Alvarez
SS: E Johnson
LF: Hamilton
CF: A Jones
RF: Bruce
Util: Campana
Util: N Cruz
Bench, Cozart, Kendrick, Nieuwenhuis
DL: Bay
SP: Gio Gonzalez
SP: A Sanchez
SP: Blanton
SP: Cahill
SP: Friedrich
RP: Casilla
RP: Jansen
RP: H Rodriguez
P: J Parker, Diamond
DL: Farnsworth
1. Trade proposed
Give N Cruz
Receive James Shields
Should I do that trade, I will appreciate your advise.
2. Also, what about Rosario in C position, ROS?? Only available C in my league are this: Hanigan, R. Hernandez, J Castro, J Buck
Thanks
streamer pitchers…..The Lebrons….they disappear when the games really matter
@Grey, Really that high on the rookie Friedrich?
Sitting on Blanco, Parra, Nieuwenhuis and Campana in a crowded OF.
Pick up Friedrich and drop any of the above or perhaps a pitcher below?
Starting OF: J. Upton, Bruce, Stanton
Pitchers: Lincecum, Gio, Cain, Vogelsong, Westbrook, D. Hernandez, Cishek, Casilla
NL Only Roto 5×5
How would you rank Gallardo, Lester, and Beachy for an H2H that uses QS instead of wins? Thanks!
chauncy gardner? buy or sellers? (nice reference)
*****THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS***
@Grey: So I have three 2B in Altuve, Hill, and eventually Utley (maybe). I’ve been trying to deal one to get any value out of a roster spot that is being wasted on one position. I have finally managed to get one offer: Chris Sale for Altuve. Good deal if its all I can get?
Moustakas/Cueto for Victorino/C. Davis. I’d be giving the Moose side.. think I’m giving up too much? I need OF help and he also has J. Upton, Choo and Bruce.
Sit Jaime Garcia for his start today considering how rough he’s been lately? Even though it’s the Giants…
okay rank ROS Lowrie Aybar Cozart or E Johnson
Glossary term for Santana type: “Altar Boys”
On good days (ie against bad teams), all your prayers come true. On bad days (against good teams) you feel like you’re getting molested.
Marcum, J Zimmerman, Bumgarner… Whos the weakest link?