Zack Greinke fractured his rib while playing basketball. Word is he jumped from the free throw line and tried to dunk over the Brewers’ 2011 expectations. Prince Fielder would’ve missed the shot before looking bad. Since we just drafted Gallardo, I’m glad he doesn’t play hoops with Yovani. Greinke will miss 3 starts, so take him from 220 IP to 200 IP or the equivalent of 3 rounds, or $20 to $16 in 12 team mixed leagues. (BTW, Point Shares for AL-Only and NL-Only have been added.) In my top 20 starters for 2011 fantasy baseball post, I was already pretty realistic (read: not crazy optimistic) with Greinke so I’m not changing my projections or ranking. I.e., I do what I do, you do what you do and together we do what we do. Anyway, here’s some more news for fantasy baseball:
Corey Hart – Was already avoiding him in all leagues this year and now he has a sharp pain by his strained oblique. I wouldn’t touch him with your team. Hart’s hoping his trip to the doctor can figure out what ails him. Never surrender, Corey Hart!
Ryan Zimmerman – Strained his abdominal muscle when he heard someone call out his name during a game of Jew or Not a Jew. He should be fine, but this is a reminder that as great as Zimmerman is he still always seems to have nagging injuries.
Brandon Webb – Won’t be ready for Opening Day. In other news, water is wet.
Joel Zumaya – Will miss Opening Day. Water still wet.
Derrek Lee – Will have an MRI on his wrist today. This is an update for all of those fantasy baseballers (<–my mom’s term!) who think they’re outsmarting everyone by taking Lee very late and thinking they’re going to get a 2010 Konerko out of him. Modify Derrek with past-his-primely.
Carlos Beltran – Now having problems with his non-surgically repaired knee. Somewhere, Kauffman Stadium is saying, “Hey, I switched to natural grass in 1994 so stop looking at me!” You really don’t want to get pot-committed to this schmohawk. No matter the price, you’re going to regret it.
Justin Morneau – Returned from his head knocking… Where did I put my caps? Oh, here they are… FINALLY! He knocked in three with a double and I’d draft him with confidence. It’s not like he broke his wrist. Other players (minus Jason LaRue) have returned just fine from a concussion. Because Rudy and I have already drafted Morneau in two leagues for around $20, you’ll have to pardon me while I bask in my discounted Morneau. BTW, someone from one of our leagues tried to tell us a trade of Morneau for Ubaldo was “simple silly” and instead offered us Ackley, Ubaldo and Pineda for Holliday, Stanton, Danks and League. Apparently, he’s an alpha trader.
Grey, on an unrelated note, I’m calling your favorite ex-Rock as NL Comeback Player of the Year…Brad Hawpe. I know how much you love him…and he’s CI eligible. He’s this year’s last pick of the draft. If he puts up his historical .281/.371/.451 at Petco it’ll mean fantasy glory. By the way, his career NL line is .280/.374/.492, so while Petco will lower the SLG not much effect on AVG/OBP. Lastly, read that you live in LA, so to end by borrowing from Vin, Brad Hawpe, Dodgers killer (I’ll be waiting for those series).
I’d still trade Morneau at the half no matter how well he is playing.
Morneau just jumped 2 or 3 rounds in drafts. Once people seem playing, much less producing, the will move him up. I was not expecting a discount drafting here in MN anyway.
Really too bad there wasn’t another Diamond post.
Last pick in the draft in H2H points league, you go with Hanrahan or Lyon for more saves this year? My only closer is Axford, or should i take a flier on Farnsworth, Rodney, or whoever is closing in Texas? Thanks
@Malacoda: no joke on that! I still don’t like Morneua, no offense grey, that dude has back issues and like malacoda just said is usually on fire for the first half then fizzle dizzles out…. Im not a fan.
Re: Zack: how… pinkie to mouth… depressing
I need some technical help in a keeper league where there’s a three-round inflation every subsequent year you keep a player.
I have it set so that if you want to keep a 3rd, 2nd, or 1st round player a second straight year, you have to give up your second round as well in addition to your first.
Now– if someone trades away their second pick in the duration of the season, do you then nix their third round pick? Or do you avoid taking anything away at all?
@Eddy: They should be able to trade their draft rights, even if they may not exist at the end of the season due to opting to keep a player. Caveat emptor.
@sean:
Haven’t heard someone use that phrase in ages. Nice.
And I think we may be on different pages here. I’m not disallowing trading their second round pick if I know they plan on losing that pick due to inflation. I just think it’s a loophole if at the end of the season you can trade away your 2nd round pick for a player, but still keep your original keeper and now only inflate him to the 1st round without any penalty.
Was that clear enough? I felt like I lost myself in that last paragraph.
Has anyone else had problems getting to the 2011 Baseball Tiers? The link I have from mid Feb is no longer working……. Thanks
@Grey: No LABR hodgepadre? Saw the NL LABR results. Clayton Richard made the squad at $5 but you passed on Stauffer who also went for $5 and Harang who went for $4. No sleeper love for Stauffer?
Grey,
I drafted my 4th team of the season last night in an extremely tedious 3 hr 30 minute-long 16-team draft. I have no clue why managers were letting the clock tick down to the final seconds when drafting the likes of Jack Cust and Nate McCLouth after the 20th round.
Anyways.
It’s a H2H, 16-team league with 3 OF, 1 Util and CI/MI. It is 6×6 with OPS and HLDS as the extra categories. How’d I do?
C-Chris Iannetta
1B-Miguel Cabrera
2B-Ryan Raburn
3B-Casey McGehee
SS-Elvis Andrus
MI-Alcides Escobar
CI-Lance Berkman
OF-Matt Kemp
OF-Jason Heyward
OF-Jose Tabata
Util-Magglio Ordonez
BN-Kila Koo-laid
BN-Lonnie Chisenhall (27th round throwaway pick)
SP-Yovani Gallardo
SP-Justin Verlander
SP-Daniel Hudson
SP-Hiroki Kuroda
SP-Johnny Cueto
SP-Mike Minor
SP-Brad Penny
CL-Jose Valverde
CL-Fernando Rodney
CL-Joel Hanrhahana
RP-Matt Belisle
RP-Octavio Dotel
RP-Jason Motte
RP-Wilton Lopez
I had a shot to draft Chacin over Kuroda. Would you have made that move or stuck with Kuroda?
My final question: Do you think Aardsma gets his closing gig back when he returns? I have a waiver claim on him in a 12-team league where I’m weak with closers, but I’m concerned by the fact that he has yet to be cleared to throw. In the same league, Kuo was also dropped. Is he a better option? In both cases, Farnsworth would be the one getting cut (I have McGee on my team).
Yeah the alpha trader post never had a follow-up huh?
Utley’s knee diagnosed with chondromalacia–inflammation and tendinitis. Sounds like something you can get in the Congo.
They said the cortisone shot didn’t help and that they’re currently seeking other options.
grey, would you rather have fielder or a-gon for the next 4-5 years?
@Grey:
Which side wins?
Team A gets Daniel Hudson
Team B gets Jhoulys Chacin + Jon Niese
@Grey
Who would you rather have?
Adrian Gonzalez and Roy Halladay
or
Albert Pujols and Justin Verlander
This is a keeper league.
So, let’s say D. Lee has fallen and he can’t get up. O’s have alot of talent that might get the shaft this year as far as playing time is concerned with Josh Bell, Felix Pie and even Nolan Reimold (having a good spring). Who do you see winning time in that situation? I’m thinking Felix.
@Eddy: I think you have to nix the 3rd rounder as well in that scenario. Or institute a rule that if you trade away those draft picks, you can’t keep an early rounder.
Eddy
Brad Penny is really looking good
Grey any chance you can at some point do a compilation of spring training stats? or is there a site that tallys them?
I read box scores but how they’ve done the WHOLE spring isn’t clear.
I take spring ball stats with a grain of salt, but for some younger guys it’s a nice sneak peak. If i have the option of taking a younger guy who’s been hot all spring and touted or a younger guy who’s touted but hasnt hit well, im obviously taking the guy with the hot spring….
@Oregon Nut Cups: Well Scott goes to first and than they keep both Pie and Reimold for LF.
@Tony: MLB dot com
A couple questions: If Zimm is prone to injuries here/there and either misses some time or is inaffective when playing hurt, what’s the upside of picking him over ARod?
Also, do FB sites like ESPN and Yahoo update their rankings from time to time based on ADP’s from real drafts? If so, how often? Is ESPN really going to keep Miggy at #13 overall?
20 team league
im in the final round and i havent drafted a catcher. these are the guys who are left. im looking for the best available with emphasis on most at bats. thanks as always.
lecroy
hernandez
irod
hundley
snyder
hanigan
cervelli
rosario
shoppach
baker
florez
veritek
navarro….
@giantJJ: Hundley or Snyder, Doumit is not in favor in Pitt at all.
@Steve Stevenson:
Yeah, I think that’s the best course to take.
@Mike of Swartz Creek, Mi:
Yup. Pretty much the only reason I took a gamble on him. Looks like he took some of that Dave Duncan magic in a to-go box.
***Phils GM says that Opening Day is not a goal for Chase Utley at the moment.***
@Smokey: thanks smoke
***There are THREE spots left in tomorrows Razzmock!***
It takes place at MDC at 7 pm EST
password is razzball.
Smokey/Grey,
Who do you like best for upside and steals(really a bench spot or filler for my OF position)? League is 5×5 10 team keeper using OBP instead of average.
DFowler
RDavis
JBorbon
PBourjos
ATorres
@Grey
Thanks for the heads up on Grienke!
Just had my first draft: 10th spot in a 12 team mixed league. We start only 3 OF and 2 Util plus we sub out avg for obp. Any thougths to help improve my squad? I appreciate it. I forsee some daquari’s in your future…
C- Napoli
1B- Dunn
2B- Phillips
SS- Andrus
3B- Wright
OF- Braun, Dread Pirate, Stubbs
Util- Mini Donkey, Pena
SP- Josh Johnson, Billingsley, Marcum, Dempster, Peavy, Stauffer
RP- C. Perez, Lidge, Hanrahan, Nunez, Bard, Meek
Thanks!
@Mr2Bits: Fowler or Davis.
Zack Greinke fractured his rib while playing basketball. Word is he jumped over Kendry Morales homerun celebration
Zack Greinke fractured his rib while playing basketball. Word is he jumped over Prince Fielder dinner
The Bird is the Word
C: jesus montero (milb draft)
1B: Ryan Howard
2B: Ian Kinsler
SS: Alcides Escobar
3B: Jose Bautista
LF: Jose Tabata
CF: Chris Young
RF: Matt Kemp
DH: Justin Smoak
SP: Francisco Liriano
SP: Edinson Volquez
SP: Gio Gonzalez
P: CJ Wilson
P:
P:
P: frank francisco
RP: Francisco Cordero
RP: Leo Nunez
16 team roto slooooow draft. any thoughts/comments/concerns moving forward
@The Clear and the Cream: nice team man….offensively you are stacked, a little bit of worry with the staff, if JJ can stay healthy and marcum improves plus you find a waiver gem you should be alright…. very solid if you ask me. How you got wright and Braun is beyond me.
We got a 2010 Paul Konerko out of Derek Lee in 2009. He’s already had his fluky luck year.
@Eric W: Another quality stick for if and when Smoak falls in crevasse, And another Sp that isnt so upsidey.
@mr baseball: some mass awareness of an aviary variety perhaps.
@Slappy: Don’t think there’s a chance of that.
@Jason: I’m sure there will be another.
@Maximus: Hanrahan
@Euroalien: Yeah, not sure what the deal is. I emailed VinWins who made the sheet.
@JustMatt: Richard is on the team. He’s not a hodgepadre?
@Eddy: Kuroda’s fine there, I think Aardsma will get the job back, no on Kuo, team looks okay, some of those picks aren’t that pretty — Penny, Berkman, Maggs? Blech.
@Buddo Chezuski: Diamond still hangs out at Razzball HQ.
@Eddy: Thanks for the heads up!
@wilsoniam: Fielder
@tommy too strong: B
@E AND A: Pujols
@Oregon Nut Cups: Reimold
@Tony: Spring training stats mean nothing unless it wins someone a job.
@Frank Rizzo: A-Rod isn’t prone to injuries? A-Rod stopped playing full seasons 3 years ago.
@giantJJ: Snyder
@Mr2Bits: Fowler
@The Clear and the Cream: Your team is going to be in a bit of trouble with OBP, pitching looks good and the balance of power and speed. Overall, solid team.
@mr baseball: Word is Greinke tried to dunk over his emotional issues.
@Eric W: Your average is terrible, your pretty heavy on steals and light on power, pitching looks like it has a bunch of risk and WHIP.
@35 Tony
Thanks bro! I was surprised to see Wright on the swing in rd 2. I figured I’d get someone like Tex or Howard on the swing. Got a little lucky, but I’ll take it. Yeah, I’m worried about JJ too. I just don’t know who I can package for a better SP or if I should stay put and scour the waiver wire. Appreciate the input. One team down one more to go the end of this month. Hey Grey, Are you gonna do draft pairings like last year? Thanks!
Smokey/Grey,
Who is your pick in a minor league keepers league? No rush to bring them up as a 2012 call-up is not terrible. Can you rank these guys as well?
Jameson Taillon
John Lamb
Dee Gordon, ss, Dodgers
Chris Archer, rhp, Rays
Zach Britton, lhp, Orioles
Danny Espinosa – 2B – WAS
Gary Sanchez, c, Yankees
Grey,
A ‘Saved By The Bell’ reference, you are a fantasy manalyst after my heart…you had me at “Zack” (in a non-weird, non-homoerotic way; if that’s possible any longer, after what I just wrote).
Speaking of the alpha trader, will there ever be a “Lesson #2″ from Diamond or his wing?
Yes, I realize this may be the most boring question of the day. But, even so, which two of these guys do you think will get the most holds this year? Acosta, Jeffress, Howell, Joel Peralta, Contreras, Frasor, and Arredondo. If it’s close, a slight edge would go to guy with higher K/9. Thanks!
@Mr2Bits: Espinosa for this year, Taillon, Sanchez, Lamb Gordon, Britton, Archer
@Yep, I said it!: i love middle relief questions, Peralta, Frasor, Jeffress are my three out of teh ones given.
@Eddy: I’d say the player that gave up his 2nd rounder already has lost his right to keep a top tier player – one that requires a 2nd rounder. If you don’t have the cash you can’t buy what you want.
@Jason: @Buddo Chezuski: @Sir Larry: Hello my fantasy baseball flock! Sabre and I have been swamped with seminars of late but should have some time to craft some more wisdom in April. Stay tuned!
@Grey: i agree spring training means nothing, but i’ll take a flier on a spring training carrying over to the regular season than hoping some guy who just went 2-36 turns it around once opening day comes around. Obviously if the 2-36 is Albert Pujols I’m not phased, legit studs I dont care what happens, but a younger guy or a guy I’ve been thinking about drafting is hot it will make me more likely to go after them. It might not carry over, BUT its better than watching a 2-36 guy come to the bigs and continue that… chances are that 2-36 guy is on the waivers and I can snag him up if he does get hot in the bigs.
Just my feelings.
@Mr2Bits: Jameson
i like it on the rocks.
@Mr2Bits: Espinosa, Gordon…
@Sir Larry: Diamond just dropped in in the comments.
@Diamond, The Fantasy Baseball Pick-up Artist: Hey, D.
@Tony: Sure, if it gets some rook a job.
Tiers are fixed. Was my bad.
@Grey: Sorry – poorly worded post. Yes – Richard is a hodgepadre. I was wondering why you didn’t load up on them – particularly Stauffer as he went for $5 as well and you even went as far as to write a sleeper article on him.
@JustMatt: Not sure how the draft went in regards to those two. If Richard went first, we weren’t going to take 2 of them. If we were at $4 for Stauffer then someone went to $5 we weren’t going to $6… Rudy has Richard for 200 IP and Stauffer for 140 IP, so maybe we went that way because in a league that deep with no bench we needed all the IP we could get…
**Hey, could someone point me towards this Yahoo top 100 that people want me to make fun of?
@Grey: http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news;_ylt=AkqJb5uMAIefeh8R.sxRq1W5bZ8u?slug=ys-expertpoll-11preseason1-top100
ive been reading this site for 2 and a half full years now but somehow missed that alpha trading post. gold!
Also @Grey: are you doing the Y! friends and family again? when is that draft?
@charlie batch: Thanks! I am in that league, sometime at the end of March.
Keeper question, 12 teams, no CI or MI, 3 OF, 1 Util league. 7×6, extra categories Hits, OPS for hitters and QS for pitchers. I’m keeping Pujols and Mauer. 3 of the following: Cruz, Morneau, Gosh Johnson, D. Price
The tiers link is working again!! Thanks !!!
Seems like trying to find (consistent) yahoo rankings is impossible…if you go to the “player” tab and look at their o-rank thats 1 way, then they’ll have different rankings in a PDF file under the draft research tab, and then they’ll have an article of composite rankings from the idiots that write for them.
I think the O-rank ones are the main ones b/c thats what fantasy baseballers (!!) will be looking at (default) in the draft room
I didnt have greinke in my top ten pitchers, but shouldnt I keep him where he is in my ranking in a H2H league? Im thinking I might actually have a chance to draft him now. First three weeks doesnt mean much H2H but my oponents will all be shying away from him anyway.
Grey, I direct your attention to http://razzball.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=14543 . Thank you, sir.
@Grey: Are we seriously 57 comments into this post and no one has given you props for the Saved by the Bell twisty thing you did with the title? Shame on us all. El Oh El.
comment #41
@Grey: Who has more upside, Romero or Edwin Jackson? Thanks.
@Buddo Chezuski: Yahoo “O-Rank” is based on the composite of their expert rankings found in the link that @charlie batch posted. They are rarely updated once they’re set. You’ll notice that Wainwrong is still listed at 28 overall – zoiks!
@Eddy: I thought you meant that trading a second round pick means that he would have to be inflated to 1st or deflated to 3d.
@The Dude: Yahoo did drop him in their player page though – so that’s nice of them (not really need those wasted bot picks in the draft). Unfortunately Grey wouldn’t have access to that page unless he’s a member of a Yahoo league.
@Craig: No on Morneau
@Euroalien: No problem, was my fault.
@Buddo Chezuski: Yeah, I’m just going on their top 100.
@Brad: Yeah, he should be fine when he returns. Don’t overrate his injury.
@p0rk burn: Okay…
@JustMatt: Title is solid, was all Rudy.
@bill: Romero
And if I have to keep a pitcher?
@Smokey:
Since you love MR questions, what’s your opinion on Grey’s rankings? In particular, who are your top 5?
@p0rk burn: Answered…
@Buge Hoobs: How dare you turn my people against me! Kidding.
Would you rather keep Greinke or Haren in a 12 team H2H league? If I drop both, I get a second round pick, which is only ok with 60 names off the board.
@Matt S.: Greinke, assuming there’s no better SPs that will be there for your first pick.
@Grey:
please rank these late round closers
aardsma
lyon
rodney
gregg
farnsworth…
thanks!
@bravo: http://razzball.com/closer-look-03-03-11/
@Grey:
The last thing I would ever want to do is offend the Greyt One. My humblest apologies.
How do you find time to play in 15 some odd experts leagues? I mean the day to day the time investment of spot starting and waiver pickups. Are these minimum maintenance lock and go leagues? Or do your minions help out?
@Buge Hoobs: No worries, Buge.
@carlos marmLOL: I think there are only 7 and it’s Rudy and I co-managing and some are weekly, unfortunately.
***TWO LEAGUES WERE REMOVED FROM THE RCL LIST, MAKE SURE YOU WEREN’T IN ONE OF THEM.****
@Grey:
O, haha. Was looking at the top 20 closers…and was wondering where that post was with the donkeycorns. I’ll just search for donkeycorn next time. My bad!
Grey, 12-team mock draft with the 3rd pick I take M. Cabrera. Second round (22nd pick) Prince Fielder is still on the board. In a real draft, would you ever consider taking two first basemen with your first two picks???
Which, if any, of these guys would you rather have for this season than Utley right now:
Weeks
Krispie Young
BJ Upton
Gardner
Thanks
@Grey: Long time reader, first time caller. I’m in a 5×5, 2-year max keeper. My draft if coming up and I’m well positioned to land the following staff:
1. Liriano
2. Gallardo
3. D. Hudson
4. Lilly/Kuroda (to balance out Gallardo’s whip)
5. Chacin
6. J-Zimm/Minor
I have read your rankings and starter pairings ad nauseum and this seems to be pretty in line with a staff you’d recommend. However, I worry that this staff has a little too much risk (I think Rudy would agree with this as well): I’m worried about Liriano’s shoulder and coming to camp overweight. Gallardo’s 1.37 whip last year despite lowering his BB/9. D-Hud and Chacin being a bit young and unpredictable. J-Zimm’s return from injury.
I’m primarily worried about pairing Liriano and Gallardo at the top. I may be able to move up in the draft and go with a Haren/ Oswalt/ Cain/ Price/ Hamels instead of Liriano or Gallardo. Do you think it makes sense moving up for one of them or just going with my original projection. Think Scherzer might be safer than Liriano/Gallardo?
Much appreciated Grey Dirt!
@bravo: No problem.
@Combo: No
@PepeSilvia: None
@Alex: Fair assessment. Pair Hamels with Liriano then or Hamels with Gallardo. Cain’s elbow is barking, he has risk too. Oswalt is a bit injury prone and Haren is in the AL and only pitches half a season at a time.
@Grey: league 15 was vinwins? he posts all the time, come on vinwins! get with the program lol…..
@Tony: No, the league numbers #15 and #31 were before I removed the two that didn’t respond to me. The leagues that are still there are good to go.
@Tony: I’m Sweet 16
Or I was. I’m moving up!!
@Grey: Kendry Morales is now Kendrys Morales.
@Jay: I hope so.
@Grey: Couple of funky projections of yours that I put into my “system” are spitting out weird results. Just wonder if you stand behind:
Adam Jones 85/25/95/12/.295 that’s basically 3rd round pick territory right there. Markakis seems high too.
Howie Kendrick: 65/12/85/15/.305. The 85 RBI are pretty high. Puts him in Brandon Phillips territory.
Chris Coghlan: 95/8/60/17/.300
Also, Kalish and Colvin, but those might be playing time things.
Pretty annoying to ask “hey, you did these rankings are these really your rankings?” More just curious because at those numbers those guys seem like huge value picks.
@OaktownSteve: Jones’ are optimistic but within reach, Kendrick had 75 RBIs last year and will hit better this year and what’s the problem with Coghlan assuming he’s healthy?
@OaktownSteve: FWIW, Rudy has Jones at 615/83/19/79/11/.281 and that’s an average of everyone’s projections (not mine, obviously).
@Grey: 85 RBIs for Kendrick just seem like a lot even assuming continued good health. Same number as you project Werth, Chris Young, Victor Martinez. Maybe it’s just a perception problem I my end and I can’t see him in that company. It is a 13% improvement on a career year last year. He did suffer from low BABIP.
Coghlan the 95 runs feel like an awful lot. That’s 5 fewer than you’ve got Carl Crawford at. Yeah…I know…who gives a crud about runs.
Anyway…thanks for taking peek. If you’re right, Kendrick and Jones are both drafting way too low at the moment.
With your first round pick (round 13) in a keeper league draft who would you take first: SP Max Scherzer or SP Daniel Hudson.
I’m hoping to be able to draft both of them along with Marcum in my first three rounds as i’m basically keeping 10 hitters as keepers and 2 sp.
Grabbing a SP from the FA pile in my H2H league. Who do you guys like from:
Bud Norris
Clayton Richard
Tim Stauffer
Jon Niese
Hey Grey and Rudy,
Does the BRAN and PEDS strategy change in a league where you start 2 at each infield position plus your regular 5 outfielders?
@Jason:
Bring Diamond Back!
@OaktownSteve: No problem.
@SephMeier: Scherzer
@Hardcore Midget: Niese… Any of them…
@Jamaican Me Happy: You need to go heavier with infield drafting.
@Grey: Assume he’s given up Guitar Player – wonder if Zumaya was throwing too hard on Wii Baseball.
I’m in a 10 team keeper league where you can keep up to 5 people, if you choose not to keep one you would get a draft pick in the first round. My first four keepers are Votto,Cano,Tulo, and Kemp.
Should I keep any of the following guys or take the draft pick?
Chris Young,Granderson, or Ubaldo
@Steve: Ha
@yanks4life: Draft pick
@Grey – In a 12 team H2H, is Kinsler/Pedroia/Reyes worth taking at the 24-25 turn with Pujols and Holliday assuming the elite 3B’s are gone? Thanks!
Latest on Miggy’s arrest. Evidently he threatened to blow up a bar that night.
http://detnews.com/article/20110309/SPORTS0104/103090424/1129/rss15
@AnotherFalstaff: Yup
@Black Beard: I love him even more now.
@Grey:
Random comment but I’m basically taking Utley off my board at this point…I already had decided he wasn’t really a good choice in r2 as I’d prefer to lockdown a 1b and 3b in the first 2 rounds if I can, plus Phillips or Kinsler is usually available in r5. The knee thing just clinches it.
@Grey:
Oh and what’s your take on Krispie hitting in 3 or 5 slot as its starting to seem likely? Probably doesn’t change his overall value much I guess.
@Grey:
Is it too much to ask to see the “winning” fantasy razzball team last year? Or, if it’s easier, just the league page?
A little excerpt from a ESPN chat today with “Expert” Eric Karavell:
Chris (Phoenix)
In a restart Keeper league draft. I have the 5th pick and I expect to take Longoria, but I REALLY want Michael Stanton this year, what is the Highest you would take Stanton in a Keeper League? I am thinking 5th maybe 4th?
Eric Karabell
I know someone in our start up draft today that took Stanton in round 1… I can see it. A little bit of a stretch with all things equal, but if you really want him and can draft wisely later, sure.
Stanton in rd 1, make up for it with smart picks later? Really?
Really?
@Elijah: I don’t think Krispie’s value changes unless he hits 8th or 1st, which isn’t happening.
@Eddy: If you can find it, go for it. I don’t have it handy. I’d search schadenfreude on the top left.
@quimmy: Wacky… You should ask him in the chat about LABR then shout RAZZBALL.
@grey: will do!!! speaking of which, the NL LABR came up, check it:
Nicky D (Sacramento, CA)
Karabell, horrible team in the NL LABR league. Too many risks at pitcher, not enough AB. Horrendous overpay for the K-machine Rasmus. Be honest, you got railroaded this year, huh?
Eric Karabell
Ha! Absolutely not. In fact, I think this is a very good team, and others agreed (and they weren’t just being nice. When it’s a bad team, they say so.) Thanks for the kind words, though. Rasmus is totally worth $24. I don’t know why you people care about the strikeouts when there is power, the potential for average and enough steals to matter. And Carpenter is not a risk. He’ll be fine. To each his own!
Grey, did you tell him he has a very good team?
@Eddy: Here’s a link to 1 league from last year, which you may have already seen.
http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/razzball13.
I guess if you change the # in the link you can find others.
Grey,
Here’s my team in an 8 Team H2H. Our categories are:
H, R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OBPS, W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP, Ks/9
C – Napoli
1B – Fielder
2B – Zobrist
3B – Longoria
SS – Andrus
OF – CarGo
OF – Kemp
OF – Krispie
UTIL – Wright
UTIL – Bruce
BN – Rasmus
BN – Kendrick
SP – Lincecum
SP – Verlander
SP – Bills
RP – Soria
RP – K-Rod
P – Rodney
P – Lyon
P – D. Hudson
BN – Peavy
BN – Gio
BN – E. Jackson
I just barely missed Aaron Hill, which really pissed me off, and left me with Zobrist and/or Kendrick at 2B. But I was wondering if you would pick up any of these available FAs and swap them for what I have:
S. Drew, Lind, Raburn, Furcal, Alcides, Man-Ram, Nolasco, Cueto, Ian Kennedy, DLR, Shields, Garza, Cecil, Matusz, Rafael Soriano, Motte, Dotel, Sale?
Thanks man. What do you think of my team overall, as well?
@quimmy: Nice… I do think his team is solid on paper. I didn’t say that to him though.
@Wilsonian: It’s an 8 team league, all the teams are going to look good. Yours does. Drew over Kendrick… Cueto over Edwin…
@Grey: so you would be cool with Zobrist as the every day 2B?
I know they all look good, I was kinda thinking mine looked the best out of them, but that’s just me. I was really looking hard at Drew, as well, I actually missed the fact that he was available. Should I use my #1 waiver option on Drew and drop Kendrick?
@Wilsonian: For now… Yeah, pick up Drew.
@Grey: thanks man, I appreciate the advice. I made my waiver claim on him. Probably will wait for waivers to clear to drop Jackson for Cueto. OR with the FA pool of SPs being pretty deep, would you drop Jackson for another bat, like maybe Lind or Raburn or drop Jackson for Drew and keep Howie?
@Grey, im doing my first H2H league (10 teams) and have had good experiences with punting in fantasy basketball, im looking to do the same in baseball. Its a 6 x 6 league with Total Bases and Quality starts the added categories, so to me, that screams home run hitters and streaming for pitchers. What do you think of punting the ratio’s and steals? That still leaves me ultra competitve in 8 categories and im thinking 8 or so rounds of huge hitters something like Howard, Teixeria, Uggla, Dunn, Stanton, Bruce, Beltre, Reynolds, etc.
And then load up on pitchers, stack my bench with them, and stream with my 5 pickups, (also 3-4 closers like Cordero, etc.) 3-4 closers, 9-10 starters, and stream 5 a week.
Thoughts? Winning 8-4 every week is a championship in my mind.
@Grey: What do you think of this trade in a 10 team league?
I give Tabata and Gallardo and receive McCutchen.
My Starting Pitchers after the trade would be Kershaw, J.Johnson, B. Anderson, Morrow, Lilly, D. Hudson and Gio (there is a 200 start limit).
My Outfield would be Kemp, McCutchen, Bruce, Stubbs and Gardner.
Good deal?
@A Hill O’ Beans: I’d do that in a heartbeat, especially with a pretty solid staff left over after losing Gallardo. McCutchen could be a MONSTER.
@Grey: How far down your pitching tiers would you trade Utley if he’s one of your 5 keepers in a 5X5 16 Team league? Lester tier? The next tier?
@Wilsonian: Thanks. I offered it to the guy to get the conversation started and he accepted, so I just wanted to check and make sure I wasn’t crazy. This is my first ESPN league and I’ve already had that trade accepted, somebody dropped Gardner (11th Rd Pick) who I picked up, and somebody dropped Lilly (11th Rd Pick) who I picked up. This league seems a little wacky to me, not that I’m complaining or anything…
@A Hill O’ Beans: no problem. I’d be pretty happy with that deal then. I’m in a league that just drafted and some people took two catchers when there are solid arms still out there (like Cueto, Kuroda, DLR, and more) and they only have 4 starting pitchers on their team. Makes no sense.
@VinWins:
Thanks! I’m assuming Freebase won here? Or am I reading the points wrong?
Follow up,
To put my plan into prespective, how does this team project in a 10 team H2H 6 by 6 league (add Total Bases and Quality Starts)
C, Geovany Soto
1B, Ryan Howard (1)
2B, Dan Uggla (3)
SS, Ian Desmond
3B, Mark Reynolds (10)
OF, Jose Bautista (4)
OF, Jay Bruce (6)
OF, Mike Stanton (8)
UTL, Mark Teixeria (2)
UTL, Adam Dunn (5)
BENCH, Curtis Granderson (11)
SP, Max Scherzer (9)
SP, Chad Billingsley (12)
RP, Carlos Marmol (7)
RP, Francisco Cordero
P, Jonathan Sanchez
P, Ryan Dempster
P, Daniel Hudson
P, John Axford
Bench, CJ Wilson
Bench, Craig Kimbrel
Bench, Starting Pitcher
Bench, STREAM SPOT (5 ADDS PER WEEK)
Give or take on all the rounds but i feel i can put that type of offense together, is that good enough with good streaming to consistently be 8-4 or 7-5 in a competitive, yet young league?
@Grey:
I want to trade away Ellsbury for Heyward who has LAST round value (Heyward, that is). If the owner has any smarts, he’d also want a pick.
If you were the owner of Heyward, what would be FAIR pick value in addition to Ellsbury? Obviously you want to squeeze every drop of juice out of me, but we’re pretending that you care for me here, best friend.
so , ive signed up for my 1st Razz league .
it’s a 10-teamer with 4 Razzball Dummy teams .
not knowing letterman ,
i come to you , (all) .
“how do you trade with a Razzball Dummy ?”
@chata: Dust off your DTM list – it’s Fantasy Razzball!
Grey-san,
First things first, did you catch the premiere of the new RW Vegas? Looks like a promising season… and by that, of course, I mean tons of self-destructive, attention seeking behavior which the camera crew will hopefully catch a little more than just the tail end of.
In other news, my league wants OPS and Ks added to the standard 5 batting cats, and QS and Ls added to the standard 5 pitching cats this year. Just wondering if there are any big names that jump out at you as losing/gaining significant value given those extra cats (not looking for a list of 20 players here, maybe just a few of each). Your wisdom is greatly appreciated, Sensei.
/bow
Hajimemashite.
@Awesomus Maximus: Fight against Losses with every fibre of your being. It is a nonsensical stat.
Losses are even more arbitrary than Wins – and that’s saying something.
@Steve: That is saying something, indeed. I’m the League Manager, so I can do whatever I want, if push comes to showve. I’ve been considering swapping out Ls for either K/9 or K/BB. Either makes more sense to me.