This draft was so slow that I lost half my starting rotation before the draft ended. This draft was so slow that when it started Minnie Minoso was still alive. This draft was so slow when it started Tupac was still dead. I didn’t enjoy my time last year in the 15-team NFBC slow draft. I drafted Mark Trumbo, Prince Fielder, Cliff Lee, Anibal Sanchez and Patrick Corbin and my only chance was a big year from Nadir Bupkis, who gave me just that. See, there’s no waivers and the league is 50 rounds deep, so if you’re hit by injuries, you’re done. So, I was talked into doing the league one more time, but knew I had to draft starters early and often, and, of course, prior to the draft even completing I lost Zack Wheeler and Tony Cingrani. Many will disagree with me, but I’m under the firm belief that it’s a lot harder and more fun to win a league like a Razzball Commenter League, than it is to win a super-deep league. With super-deep leagues, if you’re hit by injuries, you’re done. That’s neither fun nor challenging. That’s just shizzy luck. You can say I should’ve known Wheeler and Cingrani weren’t safe, and I’d say to you that neither are any of the pitchers that are healthy all year. They just happened to stay healthy. It’s not like the guy that drafted Alex Cobb is any smarter than the guy who drafted (insert pitcher that is healthy right now that may not be healthy by the time you read this). How’s dem grapes? Sour! Anyway, here’s my 15-team, 5×5, roto, NFBC slow draft team and thoughts:
C: Mike Zunino
C: Hank Conger
1B: Carlos Santana
2B: Scooter Gennett
SS: Hanley Ramirez
3B: Adrian Beltre
MI: Alcides Escobar
CI: Eric Hosmer
OF: Adam Jones
OF: Wil Myers
OF: Denard Span
OF: Steven Souza
OF: Dexter Fowler
UTIL: Colby Rasmus
Bench: Welington Castillo, Jordan Pacheco, Mark Reynolds, John Mayberry, Logan Forsythe, Omar Infante, Jake Lamb, Zack Cozart, Francisco Lindor, Zoilo Almonte, Shane Victorino, Kevin Pillar, Domingo Santana
P: Jeff Samardzija
P: Zack Wheeler
P: Mike Fiers
P: Tony Cingrani
P: Jake Peavy
P: Danny Salazar
P: David Robertson
P: Francisco Rodriguez
P: Jeremy Hellickson
Bench: Anthony DeSclafani, David Buchanan, Jhoulys Chacin, Jason Marquis, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen, Randall Delgado, Danny Farquhar, Marco Gonzales, Colby Lewis, Aaron Nola, Brett Oberholtzer, Adam Warren
HOW DEMORALIZING IS IT TO LOSE YOUR 2ND AND 4TH STARTERS PRIOR TO THE DRAFT ENDING? YOU CAN GIVE IT TO ME ON A SCALE OF 1 TO SEPPUKU.
Seppuku. Definitely. By the by, my autocorrect wanted to change seppuku to Giuseppe. So, I’m guessing there’s a lot of Japanese people reading their iPhones, trying to decipher who the hell is this Giuseppe and what did Giuseppe do to drive their loved ones to disembowel themselves. I already went over the luck involved in a league this deep in the intro so I don’t want to belabor the point, but, I mean, c’mon, can’t Samardzija and Peavy hurt themselves already to get the pain over with? Actually, that would just begin the true pain, because then I’ll be starting Colby, Buchanan, DeSclafani and Oberholtzer. Note to self: If you have an Oberholtzer on your fantasy team, reexamine life. Oh, and I didn’t even mention Fiers has shoulder problems. I’m in good shape! *high fives self*
YOUR HITTING DOESN’T LOOK THAT BAD. OKAY, WHEN COMPARING IT TO YOUR PITCHING.
My hitting doesn’t look bad if, and this ‘if’ needs its own zip code, they all stay healthy. I have no sort of depth on offense. If Santana, Beltre and Hosmer are hurt at the same time, I have Mark Reynolds and John Mayberry and Jake Lamb…um…Well, I have a good excuse for not having more corner backups. That excuse is my pitching was falling apart in media res, so I went starter crazy, sacrificing my hitting depth. I have some flexibility due to Pilates. My team also has some flexibility since Santana can go to 3rd, Hanley presumably to the OF, Reynolds can go to 1B or 3B and Mayberry can play 1B and OF. When I say “play,” you know I’m stretching its definition, right? Good. Having been in one of these leagues last year, I know that the pitching injuries I’ve been hit with are only the beginning. I’m sure at some point my starting lineup will have in it Infante, Mayberry, Pillar and Boeuf Welington.
YOU SURE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON K-ROD AND ROBERTSON. SHOULDN’T YOU HAVE MORE RELIEVERS OR DID YOU BUMBLEFUDGE THAT TOO?
If Robertson or K-Rod get hurt and King Farquhar doesn’t steal some saves, I’m finished in ye ol’ saves category. But whatevs. Something I learned from last year is since there is no waivers or daily transactions, you end up missing most vulture saves even if you own the players getting the vultures. Last year, I had Joe Smith and I might’ve got three saves from the 15 he recorded. I’ll explain. It’s Monday and Fernando Rodney goes down with a sore hamstring. You can’t get Farquhar into your lineup since lineups have already locked, so you miss out on a week’s worth of vulture saves. The following Monday rolls around and Rodney is supposed to return on Saturday, so you decide to put Farquhar into your lineup for almost a full week’s worth of vulture saves. Unfortch, the Mariners don’t get one lead for the next week and on your bench you waste a perfectly good spot start by Delgado. So, you either have a closer in your lineup or a starter. Starting a middle reliever for 2 IP, 2 Ks and the hopes for a save is a waste of time. It’s almost like it’s SAGNOP, Saves Ain’t Got NO Place.
HOW ABOUT YOU STOP COMBING YOUR WELL-MANICURED MUSTACHE AND TELL ME HOW YOU THINK THIS TEAM WILL DO?
My calculations on my starting lineup are $32.1 for runs, $23 for HRs, $29.3 for RBIs, $39.2 for SBs and AVG is at $34.2; pitching comes out to $13.8 Wins, $15.9 Saves, $16.9 ERA, $16.2 WHIP and $20.2 Ks. In other words, my hitting is tight, boi! And my pitching is light, boi! You prolly could’ve guessed that just from looking at it. I’m hoping to throw quantity over quality to rack up Wins and Ks while praying my ERA and WHIP aren’t that bad, then score on my hitting. In theory, this sounds like a good plan. Will this actually work? Yes, if the apocalypse comes tomorrow and the season is cancelled and we reward the championship to the best team in theory.
With the following pts system is it a good idea to target Billy Hamilton and Dee Gordon?
Runs (R) 1
Hits (H) 1.5
Triples (3B) 2
Home Runs (HR) 1
Runs Batted In (RBI) 1
Stolen Bases (SB) 1
Walks (BB) .5
Ground Into Double Play (GIDP) -2
Thank you.
@Kiss a Bum: Depends on if it’s a super deep league or not but speed doesn’t really play too well in points leagues. The scoring system you listed is kind of bizarre though. More points for a hit than a home run? Since hits count for the most points, I would target guys who get lots of hits and walk a lot. Gordon and B Ham aren’t going to hit into a lot of DP’s because they’re so fast but they aren’t great hitters and they don’t walk much either. Gordon is probably going to score a lot of runs as long as he gets on base at a decent clip and he’ll hit lots of triples playing in Crayola Canyon.
@Kiss a Bum:
So for the sake of comparison with your scoring system i ran my projections for Billy Hamilton vs. Ryan Braun who usually goes for more in auction drafts. Braun gets a -34 from GIDP from last years numbers why Bham only gets -2.
Braun still takes overall points with 458.5 projected points
vs. Bhams 451.5 projected points
Hope this helps, he probably has more value then normal leagues, but still don’t bump him to high
@Kiss a Bum: What dscottncc said
Genuine question Grey- Why would people play in such kind of a league format? No waivers or trades :O This is worse than Fantasy Football
@Blint: Yeah, feeling similarly about it. Wouldn’t blame ye for ditching the format in the future. Toutwars I get, Trout fWAR I like, RCL da bomb, Ozuna eat fish. I see the beauty in having to nail the draft but sheesh
@Ra’zball Al Ghul:
Yeah dude, chance operations are dicey!
John Cage would’ve loved him some roto.
@Blint: Because you don’t have to work hard during the season. Oh yeah, and you can win a lot of goddamn money!
@Blint: Yeah, I’m not a huge fan, but some people like it… Plus, you can win big money in the big money leagues (like $150,000, I think; this isn’t one of those leagues)
@Grey: $25,000 = Peanuts now that skrilla is coming in from Streamonator/Hittertron
Ha!
Grey!
Great article! The team is as good as it gets. Here’s hoping your hitters hit harder and your pitchers do better than expected. If not, well there’s always next year. Maybe it’s better that you got your injuries out of the way early and hope your opponents’ injuries come later as you pass them by in August / September.
Cheers,
Ante
@Ante GALIC: Thanks! We’ll see…
@Ante GALIC:
this guy cracks me up
@Ante GALIC: I could have sworn a few weeks back this guy blasted posters for sucking at the teet of Grey? Yet every day he posts how sliced bread has been replaced…? So confused.
@Catcher Fever: Ante defends Grey, he would not blast any posters for anything..He is just a fantasy baseball guy like the rest of us, trying to have a little fun, is the way I see it..
@Malicious Phenom:
Malicious Phenom!
Gr8 post man! Really Gr8 stuff. Here’s to hoping that your American themed clip art thumbnail reminds these other posters why we’re here!
A) I agree, fantasy baseball is fun bro!
B) In my 4 team league (kind of shallow!) would you drop Max Scherzer for Mike Trout?
C) That Albert Belle guy still give me agada!
Cheers,
Anti
@Catcher Fever: For me, this is the most transparent way of really practising what Grey preaches. No holds barred, door wide open, take it or leave it. It’s not ass-kissing, it’s a simple statement of facts. You can attribute it to cause and effect, you can attribute it to chaos theory, you can attribute it to good karma / bad karma. It’s all up to you. Looking at the draft, seeing the result of having two top pitchers wiped out, it’s not a fantastic event. But he’s throwing it out there for everyone to see and I’ll champion that ’til the cows come home. Hope you’re less confused.
Cheers,
Ante
@Ante GALIC: right on!
Played in a 20 team league like this with a bunch of hippies from Tahoe. They liked the no wavier-weekly moves format because they were so stoned most of the time that they couldn’t remember to change their rosters more than once a week. They also thought waivers and trades can be “unfair”. Hippies ruin everything! Except maybe VD’s and grilled cheese sandwiches.
@Ralph Lifshitz: “Hippies ruin everything!” is your bumper sticker, why do you not have that?
@Grey: On the phone with my Bumper Sticker Guy as I type this…
If his name is Tom, we have the same Bumper Sticker Guy and that’s just weird
@Grey: is your sticker “My other woman is Giancarlo Stanton”?
Mi novio…
How concerned do we need to be about Encarnacion’s back? He isn’t a spring chicken, but I’m sitting with the 12th pick in a 12 team OPS H2H league. Of course, I was also looking at Tulo. Having both on my team could kill me.
@Uncle Red: I’d take Edwin 12th
Grey,
You recently answered my question about keeping one hitter/one pitcher (Goldy/Chapman) Ten team points league and have the 5th pick after the other 9 have kept their 1/1. My next question is how should i adjust my draft strategy in a keeper league? I used to use first 4 rounds for hitters only and then start pitchers in 5th round, but unsure of the strategy i should use since i’m keeping a RP instead of a SP since JV unfortunately was my best option. Would you still go for hitters or get a SP early since I don’t have one? Thank you so much for your help year in and year out
Steven
This keeper league also has rules that you cannot keep the keeper that you kept the previous year. So unsure if that would impact who you draft for next seasons keeper.
Thanks again
@Steven: I’d still go for hitters, you don’t need a top 10 SP in a ten team league
Need one more team for a Razzball league. $100 buy in, 3rd year running the league.
Draft is this Sunday at noon eastern time.
Email [email protected] to join
That blows losing Wheeler and Cingrani before the draft is even done…takes a toll on how you finish that draft.
@JeF With 1 F: Yeah, completely
@Grey: I can’t confirm but i heard they are moving Cingrani to the pen and bumping his innings. At his current K/9 that puts him near 100Ks for him if this actually happens.
Hey, that’s what I heard, so…
Yeah, went over him the other day…
@Grey: Oops, then that’s where I heard it. Pay no attention to the man with the bottle of jack and pizza stains on his shirt.
Vegan pizza?
@Grey: The best! GF crust, veggies, vegan cheese, faux meat toppings… mmmmmmmm
Soyrizo?!
@Happy Vegans: why gluten free?
Grey, what do you think about this 6×6 roto 15team keeper team for this year? Don’t like the Weaver/Hawkins picks but had to nab a 2nd closer at th auction.
C-Y.Grandal LAD
1B-D.Ortiz BOS
2B-D.Gordon MIA
3B-C.Davis BAL
SS-B.Zobrist OAK
CI-M.Machado BAL
MI-A.Escobar KC/Valbuena HOU
OF-CarGo MIL
OF-Puig LAD
OF-Ozuna MIA
UTIL-Blackmon COL/Howard PHI
SP-Scherzer WAS
SP-Kluber CLE
SP-Arrieta CHC
SP-Kazmir OAK
SP-Weaver LAA
RP-A.Wood ATL
RP-B.Cecil TOR
RP-Hawkins COL
BN: Rodon
BN: Buxton
BN: Haren
BN: Hammel
BN: Petit
@Matt: You look exact opposite of mine… Your pitching’s better than your hitting, so you need guys like Machado, Zobrist, Ortiz, etc to hold up their end of the bargain
@Grey: yeah it was a weird draft a bunch of hitters were going wayy overpriced over their auction values-Betts went for $27, Miggy went for $50 and Tulo went for $45 and guys like Trout Goldy E5 Abreu Stanton kept (Every previous team has been hitting over pitching) relying a bit much on Ortiz, Machado, Puig and Davis
Gotcha
Carlos Gomez for first waiver position (Kris Bryant) in a keeper league?
@PhillyYorker: Id Hold
@PhillyYorker: HOLD
@PhillyYorker: how long can you keep a player?
How do you these long drafts work even? Is it segmented? Do folks get a day to make a pick? I can probably just use the ol googily googily, but for sake of the room…
Also, drafting an injured player and realizing it is the worst, I know that’s not what happened here, but yeah same feeling. Burned a draft spot on Cliff Lee sadly the weekend he went down.
@SallyCips: Correction: drafting an injured player and realizing it is the worst…should be drafting an injured player is the worst. That’s what I get for writing without coffee.
@SallyCips: You get 8 hours to pick
If there are no waivers, I am assuming there are no DL spots? If you do not mind, I have a few more questions/comments for ya…
1. When is Span expected back? He will be a nice addition to your OF.
2. Are trades permitted in your league?
3. I really like your offense, but your pitching has some interesting names that could prove to be beneficial throughout the year.
Thanks for the article, it was an interesting read. I have only heard of these slow drafts, but have never participated. Good luck!
@Jason E.: Given the typical recovery time, plus a minor league rehab assignment, May 1 seems the current reasonable assessment.
@Jason E.: Nah, no DL spots… 1. May 1 2. Nope 3. Thanks!
Hey Grey,
I have Danny Salazar and Kevin Gausman.
With Salazar getting roughed up yesterday and I have read rumblings of Gausman being used as a reliever. What are the chances of these guys not making the rotations of their respective teams? Best free agent starter options are Pomeranz and Hammel. Would you hold on these guys or are they droppable for the guys I mentioned? Rest of my pitching is…
Zimmerman
Cole
Arietta
Quintana
McCarthy
D. Holland
Paxton
Thanks in advance.
@cubjet: I am also curious for Grey’s take on the possible Gausman to relief role news.
@cubjet: For now I HOLD
@cubjet: Sucks about Gausman and Salazar… I think both will be in the rotations by May, but may not be in April… I’d hold for now, no rush to get Pomeranz and Hammel, wait for final word on Gaus and Kzar
@cubjet: Baltimore is a train wreck with how they handle young arms.
I think Giuseppe is what happens when an Italian commits seppuko.
I don’t think that was an auto correct, I think that was Google translate.
@Connman: Oh, crap, might’ve pressed wrong button
You know, while I was drafting, I had this false belief that I had some depth at every position… and then the draft ended, and I kinda freaked out! I spent so many times queuing and thinking about picks that sometimes I legitimately thought I picked a guy that actually got snagged right before I was up. I think I’m in the same boat as you, strong hitting, light pitching, but not due to injury, so I don’t know what that says about my team! I’ll reassess my desire to do the NFBC leagues depending on my frustration levels in September.
@Nico: It was tough to assess even with all that time. It was like, do I take this 9 th SP who could be useful or this 7th OF who might be the last legitimate starter on the board? And then that 9th SP ends up in AAA and that 7th OF ends up losing the job to Jake Smolinski, so it didn’t matter anyway!
@Cram It: haha exactly
@Nico: Looking at everyone’s Roster there are very few guys after round 28-30 that are for sure going to see PT. I just tried to find decent guys who would get some at bats, and cover off with multi-position eligible players where I could.
I am in the other boat. I like my pitching and am now worried about batting, especially steals since I cant just pick them up.
Come On E.Y. JR!
@The Great Knoche: I love my pitching too. I covered myself pretty well with multi-positional players in the infield. I’m really only worried about my OF depth. If someone gets hurt, I’m pretty screwed as it stands now. Otherwise, I’m stoked about my team.
@The Great Knoche: Wait, what team are you?!
@Nico: RBI’d for her pleasure
@Nico: It’ll be tough to assess even come July… You could be moving along and then your 1st round pick goes down and you’re backing him up with Joe Isuzu
@Grey: Ha! They discontinued Isuzu’s, silly!
First I’m hearing of this
@Grey: RIP, but only in the US Market! You can always hold out hope for a Japanese transplant.
How about a Japanese eggplant?
@Grey: Arguably just as good as Joe Isuzu as a backup 1B
Have I mentioned that I lost Salazar too now?
@Grey: Man. Rough. Just the way your mother likes it, Trebek! It sounds like he might be up mid April, though?
Ha! Yeah, he won’t be down long (hopefully)
12 team 6×6 with QS replacing W’s and OBP replacing AVG and the extra category being SLG, which side of this trade would you prefer: Duda/T. Walker or Dozier/Cron?
Thanks
@David: Not a big fan of Cron and I love T Walker..For me it is T Walker/Duda
@David: Duda, it’s fair
@David: CRON! Dozier best player there
One of the past frustrations with young arms is how often they get yanked at 5 2/3 innings. It’s more a perception of mine.
I would have neither the patience nor the forethought to handle that league. There are no additions the whole year? What about callups?
Question: I have a draft on Sunday for my 12 team H2H 5×5 keeper league. One of the categories is Saves+Holds. My keepers are Miggy, Goldy, Tulo, Ellsbury, Joey Bats, Harvey and Cole. As a result, I really only need starters, a few outfielders or utility players, a catcher and 2B.
Here’s what I’m thinking….completely punt relievers in the draft and just grab starters I like. Last year, my best closer was K-Rod who I got off waivers and saves count no more than holds, so I can just drop pitchers I don’t want for middle relievers. I don’t see the downside here, but I’ve been known to miss red flags.
So the question to everyone in the commentariat is is this crazy with crackers?
@Lincecuminmypants: There’s no waivers of any kind… Works fine for me, but at some point you should get Holds/Saves guys
I didn’t know how the RP strategy should go, but from what you said, I guess I shouldn’t have drafted so many relief pitchers. I thought having a couple of diesel MR’s would help K’s/ratios, with an outside shot to vulture a save. But it sounds like you’d rather be starting as many SP’s as you can. I went off of Rudy’s NFBC draft strategy from a couple of years ago where the avg team drafted 7.5 MR’s. I feel like enough of my bats are multi-positional to cover myself should sh*t go sideways. In hindsight, maybe I should’ve went for my offensive depth, but I sense a lot of people are in that boat.
@Cram It: I just found MRs hella frustrating last year… They’re frustrating in general in weekly leagues
@Cram It: you can view your starters like streamers and go heavy pen for half the year or bad matchups weeks then go heavy starter. You can figure out the splits. You need to study game usage patterns for relievers to maximize probable appearances
@J-FOH: I think I have 7 or 8 solid starters for 9 P slots already. So my RP’s of mostly young/unproven guys might not see much time for me unless someone emerges as a stud K/ratio guy or save vulture. Especially since I don’t know how they’ll be used. I don’t have any Joe Smith/Darren O’Day types. I’m suddenly feeling like all my MR’s were wasted picks now.
Hello Grey, and everybody:
Thanks for your comments.
H2H League, 12 teams
I moved Syndergaard to the NA spot and have an open roster spot.
Which Sp is the best add:
Tim Hudson
Jimmy Nelson
I actually plan to add Doolittle, and move him to DL when the DL slots open. Then add Nelson or Hudson.
Also, if Rusney Castillo starts in the minors, for my Bench, should I add Alex Rios (in my league nobody likes him), Kris Davis, Lorenzo Cain, or Eaton. Davis looks like this could be a good year.
Thanks!
@Chris: Nelson…Sure, Davis
In a 3-year keeper league, how would you rank Harper, Encarnacion, Tulowitzki, Scherzer?
@Gator: I’d rank them like this:
Tulo, E5, Bryce, Max
@Gator: Harper, Edwin, Scherzer
Thanks again for all you do. I find these draft recaps incredibly helpful this time of year, both from the experts and the commentors giving their insights on what went right and wrong. In keeping with that theme, results from my 12 team h2h auction last night. League is offense heavy, with 5×5 + H, TB, OPS. ($260 budget, prices are the best of my recollection)
C- Waiver wire pick up
1B- E5 $35
2B- Wong $11
SS- Segura $4
3B- Arenado $22
OF- Giancarlo $46, Marte $24, Cespedes $23
Util- Crush Davis $12
BN- Joc $2, Hosmer $3, Brett Lawrie $3
SP- Shark $17, Arrieta $16, Cole $16, Carrasco $9, Fiers $3, Shoemaker $5, Liriano $2
RP- Papelbon $4, LaTroy Hawkins $2
DL- Jose Fernandez $2
My takeaways: I tried to draft according to the emphasis on offense but got out priced on some of the bats I wanted and little over excited about some of the pitching later on. Really want Bryce or Upton but couldn’t justify $35 for each, then sat out a few slightly better ranked guys because I wanted Wong and Segura. -Watching Paxton, Taijuan, Yasmany Tomas, and particularly Wil Myers go for $1 after I’d finished my team really smarted. May have been a better substitute than Pederson and really drove home the main tenat here that you can get good players, pitchers in particular, for cheap. I could have spent a little more on my outfield (I love Mike Trout, but $65 still feels like a lot; that’s what I paid for Giancarlo + Arrieta + Fiers)
-I usually go for a deep pitching bench and only one or maybe two bench bats. I’ll explore the waiver wire options, but will likely sit on these guys for a little bit.
Thanks for all you do. Sorry for the verbosity. Obviously open for comment/ compliments, and I hope it’s somehow helpful to some other reader.
@Matty: Thanks! Team looks real solid, agree with your assessment
I enjoy the slow drafting of it and a league I dont have to rush to the waiver wire, sucks when one day your excited bc u think you got a steal with 12th rd or whatever Stroman and next day he tears his ACL, def learned to draft more pitchers this yr since last yr I started Colby Lewis more times than anyone should have to and was fun drafting with rudy who was real active in the chat room
@tvators: Gotcha
10 Team H2H Points League:
Here’s my pitching staff:
SP – Bumgarner
SP – Arrieta
SP – Ross
SP – Carrasco
SP – Latos
SP – Hughes
SP – Gausman
SP – Salazar
SP – Shoemaker
RP – Storen
RP – A. Miller
RP – Casilla
RP – Hawkins
I was pumped about Gausman until I heard that there’s a chance he starts the year in the pen. I’ve got T. Walker and Fiers on waivers. I was planning to drop Hawkins for Walker and now thinking about dropping Gausman for Fiers. Thoughts?
@Chris: I’d do Hawk for T Walker and HOLD Gaus for now..Fiers has a bum shoulder right now.
@Chris: Agree with Phenom
I’m no mind reader, but I’m going to suggest that maybe this isn’t your favorite league to play in.
How much do you discount/ignore Anthony Rendon injury concerns if you’re drafting for a keeper league? Nornally I’d take him over oldies like Bautista and still feel like that’s the best strategy, wobbly pins be damned.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: BVV! Good to see you! I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on Rendon’s injury in a keeper… Take him around mid-2nd round… He’ll likely be fine by mid-April and by July we will have forgotten he was even injured.
Agree 100% on your assessment of winning a league like this vs an RCL, it’s why I passed on these this year.
Besides the draft I think contemplating trades is my second favorite part of fantasy baseball. Playing Darin Ruf at first base because you’ve got so many injuries at CI while playing musical MI with your excess of options there and not being able to make a deal just kills my motivation.
I like the offense obviously though, even the boring bench guys like Infante and Victorino who are pretty valuable if and when injuries happen.
What do you expect from Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez? I grabbed him as a minor league stash in the Razzball dynasty league. He had some hype when he came over but has been pretty awful/injured thus far. He was a post draft snag for me, so no risk at all, figured it couldn’t hurt to wait and see. Just curious what you think about him.
@MattTruss: Yeah, completely agree… Shuffling MIs doesn’t gullet stuff my goose either… M.A.G. has great stuff and the Phils are playing for nothing, I like him… Likely wild with Ks… Look at Nola too…
10 team roto 9×9 with extra categories: H, TB, OPB, SLG and IP, HLD, K/9, QS. It’s a 2 catcher league and starting pitching rosters are SPx5, RPx5 and Px1. Max 100 acquisitions and 2000 innings pitched.
Any thoughts on draft strategy?
War Room question for ANYBODY who is in the know.
I deleted Billy Hamilton by mistake, how do I get him back?
cheers
@Malicious Phenom: Yo MP! I’m your man. Have you made any other modifications?
@Nico: Hey Nico.
No other changes. I added my nine keepers to the roster and was just deleting guys that were taken by others in my league to prepare for tomorrow nights draft and made the mistake of deleting BHam. I did a search for him and he does not come up…
@Malicious Phenom: Hmm, did you delete him in the Players Tab?
@Nico: no from my roster
@Malicious Phenom: I clicked on the small red line next to player position when he is on your roster
@Malicious Phenom: Email it to me: [email protected]
@Nico: done
@Malicious Phenom: Can’t you delete it from your ‘puter and just download it again?
@Grey: I didn’t download it, just using it on the site
Gotcha
@Malicious Phenom: it would’ve been much faster to just delete league and start over.
Don’t worry, you got King Colbra on your team. Colby Lewis’ metal hip and 35 year young frame will win him a Cy Young this year. And that’s me quoting an unrealistic Rangers fan
@Fireball Feliz: LOL
@Fireball Feliz: If they exclude everyone in MLB not named Colby, then he has a fighting chance
The only thing worse then being in a league like this is reading about someone else in a league like this. Who talked you into this? I’ve got a sales opening at my company and I’d like to talk to this guy. Or is he busy selling ice to Eskimos?
@Bobby Nice: You could win $25,000. Sold?
@Bobby Nice: You can win money as Cram said
Drafting tomorrow and I realized that I owed Grey & Razzball a ‘thank you’ for all of the work done here. I’ve been in a dynasty league for over a decade and until last year I hadn’t won but had been close several times. It’s a very competitive league. The tips I found here last year were definitely a key part of my championship run, and I appreciate it.
Thanks for all that you do!
@bruuuuuce: No problem, good luck!
Not to be the bearer of bad news but it appears that Robertson is having some arm issues as well.
@ashtray: And Salazar could be out of the rotation…
Morning. I mustache you a question…
Would you consider trading Tulo for Kluber in a 14-team dynasty? My rotation’s Cueto, Richards (Inj), Ryu (Inj), Smyly (Inj), Hahn and Bauer, who, amazingly hasn’t walked anyone in 15+ IP this spring. Yet he’s given up 10 ER. This commitment to throwing strikes doesn’t amount to much if they’re extremely hittable.
Rollins is my backup SS. I’ve been trying my damnedest to unload Ellsbury or Cruz for a SP or 3B. Nobody seems to like them. They always counter with offers for Rendon, Tulo and Wong. I know they’re older, but what the hell??? What kind of pitcher would you be willing to trade for one of Ellsbury or Cruz in this format? I’m about ready to give up on moving them. I don’t wanna be the guy who spams trade offers.
Notable-ish free agents include: House, Buccholz, Happ, B. Anderson, Worley, Kyle Gibson, Anthony DeSclfani, and Masterson. The gods have decreed that I may have two of these warriors in my upcoming struggle for not last place.
@Monken Drunkey: Keep Tulo… House and Gibson for now
@Grey:
Thanks again. I’m glad I stumbled onto Razzball. Humor. Helpful. Facial hair. I’d tell my friends about it. But they don’t like baseball. Or me.
Ha, thanks!
Should I trade Kinsler and Leake for Devon Travis and Carrasco in a dynasty weekly categories league where Carrasco is eligible at RP?
@Boom: Sure
What up Grey! Site’s growing like crazy. Congrats. Been around here since 09 and have loved the progression. You guys deserve all the kudos & daiquiris you get.
ANYHOO
How terrible is this pitching staff? 10 team 7 keepers(lifetime) 5×5 Roto:
Kershaw (Keeper)
Scherzer (Keeper)
Ventura
Fiers
Gausman
Hutchinson
I focused on hitters since I was starting with 2 of the best SP’s. Kept seeing value and those SP’s are what I ended up with. I’m good about playing the wire and will get a streamonator subscription.
What do you think of my high K high upside guys?
@stoopid: As long as your bottom four stay healthy and pitch like they are capable of, you will be fine!
@stoopid: Thanks! Looks fine on pitching for now, in a 10 team league you’ll be able to get guys off waivers
Which side is preferred for an AL-only 12 team dynasty
Longoria
Pearce, Tanaka
@paz: Longo
@paz: Longo
Hey all,
Had a 12 team mixed league Head-to-Head $260 auction last night. 6×6 with OBP and Holds. Since it’s H2H I decided to punt Saves and go with cheap holds guys. Please let me know what you think!
Name Cost
C Salvador Perez 5
1b Miguel Cabrera 43
2b Dee Gordon 12
3b Nolan Arenado 18
SS Alexei Ramirez 7
OF Bryce Harper 26
OF Starling Marte 20
OF Kole Calhoun 9
UTIL Prince Fielder 24
UTIL Victor Martinez 14
BN Leonys Martin 2
BN Byron Buxton 1
SP Jon Lester 21
SP Jake Arrieta 11
SP Jeff Samardzjia 10
RP Luke Gregerson 2
RP Ken Giles 1
RP Kelvin Herrerra 1
P Anibal Sanchez 5
P Tyson Ross 8
P Michael Wacha 6
BN Colin McHugh 6
BN Taijuan Walker 2
BN Andrew Miller 2
BN Pat Neshek 1
What do you think?
@Hawk:
So I tried to format that but it totally didn’t take. Gah!
@Hawk: I think you got great prices on Samardzija, Arrieta, Ross, and I like your pitching in general. I’m guessing you’ll be rotating those setup men throughout the season
@paz:
That’s the plan, yeah.
@Hawk: Nice team overall… Good balanced hitting, I think you might be a tad low on power, but barely if that… Nice pitching too…
Nice team! Would love to hear your thoughts on a trade proposal I just received:
My team is very strong on hitting, but carries a lot of injury risk. Pitching is solid but not great.
For my Carlos Gonzalez, I was offered (1) Betts + (2) one of deGrom [obviously the best of the group], Wacha, Walker, Pineda, McCarthy. He also has Hamels, but I doubt he’d move him.
Would you do this trade for any of these guys (including Hamels)? I like Betts a lot for R and SB, particularly in my OBP league.
If I did the trade, my OF would be Springer, Marte, Betts, with Joc on the bench and Votto as my UTL (this is an OBP league).
Thanks!
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: I am not trading Cargo for any of those guys..
@Malicious Phenom: Haha, funny enough I just offered Gardner/McCann for Cargo/Hawkins in a Yanks/Rocks swap. Haven’t heard back, but he could us a catcher.
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: Hold
@Grey: Thanks everyone! My thinking exactly. CarGo’s an injury risk, but he’s “healthy” now + is still being viewed through the lens of last year (which I’m happy to throw out in terms of his per-game performance), so if I’m going to trade him, I’d rather wait for him to have a strong April/May.
No problem
For your sake and theirs, I hope the M’s come to their senses and Farquhar ends up with the closer job. I do really like the offense, but I’m a Myers devotee.
Whaddya think of this team I drafted in one of Jay’s RCL’s?:
C- Hundley (25)
1B- Rizzo (1)
2B- Zobrist (14)
3B- Arenado (3)
SS- Danny Santana (12)
MI- Segura (17)
CI- Pujols (5)
OF- Puig (2)
OF- Carlos Gonzalez (4)
OF- Ozuna (9)
OF- A. Garcia (19)
OF- Souza (20)
UTIL- Carlos Santana (6)
P- Harvey (7)
P- Arrieta (8)
P- A. Wood (11)
P- Latos (13)
P- T. Walker (16)
P- Hutchison (21)
P- C. Martinez (24)
P- C. Allen (10)
P- K Rod (15)
BN-Casilla (18)
BN-J. Peralta (22)
BN-Romo (23)
I wanted to draft the opposite of my old man team, but when Pujols was around at 57, decided to just try to draft a team that followed only your rankings. Made a couple of exceptions for Harvey and Zobrist, and drafted more top arms that I would have otherwise, but the other owners didn’t seem to be reaching for people you’ve been high on, so I figured I could wait on guys like Avisail, Souza, Segura, etc. Also, too many people waited until the last round for a C. I think Hundley might end up being my first streaming spot!
@royce!: I like the team a lot, much better than your last… I think the pitchign will be insane if Harvey is lights out… Hitting is fine, tad light on power
@Grey: I keep having this problem in ESPN drafts- around round 7, I’m not really intrigued with any batters, partially because I want to save space for flyers later on. Would’ve drafted Wong instead of Harvey, but he went right before my pick. Regardless, I’m pretty stoked on this team. Way more than the Old Guys Rule team. I guess we’re ageists and owning it.
Yeah, I find that with all drafts… 5th to 6th round in 15 teamer, etc…
I like the infield you drafted and then I like the song “Good night,Irene.” I mean “Good night,Grey”.
@Don: Thanks!
I was referring to your slow draft. By the way.
I am starting NFBC Auction in a couple hours. What should one pay for Trout really and should you really wait to the arrieta tier for SP1? Like your thoughts.
@Don: Depends how comfortable you are waiting on SPs and depth of the league… In a 12 team, definitely wait… I wouldn’t pay for Trout
Morning Grey,
Any of these MiLB guys tickle your nethers? 10 Team 5×5 OBP/QS league
Raimel Tapia
Nomar Mazara
Josh Bell
Jesse Winker
@I Love You Wong Time: Why would you need any of these guy’s in a 10 team league?
@I Love You Wong Time: Not really
@Grey:
Were drafting to build up our farm system and I have an open spot. These dudes were the highest ranked
@I Love You Wong Time: i think mike has winker highest of those.
12 team, H2H.
Categories are:
runs, rbis, hrs, nsb, obp & slugg
Era, whip, QS, holds+saves, k’s, k:bb
How bad is my outfield…
C- Wilson Ramos.
1B- Prince Fielder.
2B- Brian Dozier.
3B- Josh Donaldson.
SS- Jimmy Rollins.
MI- Neil Walker.
CI- David Wright.
OF- Mike Trout.
OF- Marcell Ozuna.
OF- Oswaldo Arcia.
OF- Joc Pederson.
OF- Melky Cabrera.
U- David Ortiz.
BN- Lucas Duda.
BN- Jed Gyorko.
BN- Dom Brown.
SP- Stephen Strasburg.
SP- Matt Shoemaker.
SP- Tyson Ross.
SP- Dallas Keuchel.
SP- Chris Archer.
RP- Aroldis Chapman.
RP- Wade Davis.
RP- Hector Rendon.
RP- Jordan Walden.
@KH: Your OF looks fine, your infield’s weaker
HI Grey.
Who would you rather keep? Shoemaker or Keuchel?
Thanks.
@SF: Shoe
@SF: Shoe
looking for a DRAFT tonight
any action in an RCL or opening in a league?
[email protected]
Hey Grey!
Finally got my auction draft done last night – how does this staff look?
SP – Jake Arrieta
SP – Carlos Carrasco
SP – Garrett Richards
SP – Michael Wacha
SP – Matt Shoemaker
SP – Drew Smyly
SP – WIly Peralta
RP – Aroldis Chapman
RP – Drew Storen
RP – Glen Perkins
I was the moron that left almost $20 on the table at the end, so I probably could have been more aggressive in hindsight. But, thoughts? Is there a glaring weakness anywhere?
Also – with Richards and Smyly probably starting on the DL.. which of these arms should I add in the meantime? Jake Peavy, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Hutchison, James Paxton, Jesse Hann?
@b-murph: Staff looks great if it’s a 12 team league
Grey-
Rank these OF’s and tell me which two you select in a redraft 12 team. Forget what the rest of the team looks like, which 2 are you rostering? I’m leaning towards Garcia & Davis, what says you and your mustache?
Khris Davis
Avisail Garcia
Mookie Betts
Steven Souza
@Lost in the canyon on a Donkeycorn: Nice username… Garcia, Betts
14 team league with standard Yahoo scoring; aside from needing to grab a catcher, how did I do?
Jake McGee TB C
Albert Pujols LAA 1B
Jedd Gyorko SD 2B
Troy Tulowitzki COL SS
Ryan Zimmerman WAS 3B
Giancarlo Staton MIA OF
George Springer HOU OF
Yasmany Tomas ARZ OF
Nolan Arenado COL UTL
David Ortiz BOS UTL
Gio Gonzalez WAS SP
Drew Hutchison TOR SP
Hisashi Iwakuma SEA SP
Mark Melancon PIT RP
Steve Cishek MIA RP
Santiago Casilla SF P
Carlos Carrasco CLE P
Mike Fiers MIL P
Avisail Garcia CWS BN
Rick Porcello DET BN
Alcides Escobar KC BN
Rougned Odor TEX BN
Matt Shoemaker STL BN
Danny Salazar CLE BN
Gregory Polanco PIT BN
@Jammer McSlam: Solid team, you look light on AVG, and I don’t love Porcello, and Salazar might be out of a job
Been studying your rankings for weeks now (thanks!) but I’m still undecided about whom I’m taking at pick # 10 tomorrow – and your own departure from your rankings in the Yahoo Friends & Family draft confused me even more.
Sooo – who do I grab: E5, J-Bats, Miggy, A.Jones ? . . . running low on grey matter !!
@Bodacious Taters:
I take Swiggy if still there at 10
@Bodacious Taters: Miggy
Thanks – & if Miggy is gone ? ?
@Bodacious Taters: E5
Did the NFBC draft in Sky’s league and it was a slow process. Plenty of time to second guess your self. My strategy was to try and stay away from any injury prone players, since losing any starter would be a killer. Draft out of the 14th spot. Team is weak on power and saves and has no depth at any of the IF positions.
Think my team can compete. An interesting stat is you go to NFBC ADP section is how your picks compared to the average pick. The lower the number the more you reached, the higher hte number the more steals you got. For the draft I ended up at +1711.12 (Biggest contributors – Broxton +229, James Jones +138, and Jackey Bradley Jr. at +115)
Top 5 picks – Altuve, Desmond, Price, Springer, Bruce
C: Salvador Perez
C: Chris Iannetta
1B: Eric Hosmer
2B: Jose Altuve
SS: Ian Desmond
3B: Manny Machado
MI: Ben Zobrist
CI: Billy Butler
OF: George Springer
OF: Jay Bruce
OF: Desmond Jennings
OF: Carlos Beltran
OF: Tori Hunter
UTIL: David Ortiz
Bench: AJ Ellis, Ryan Hanigan, Jeff Baker, Christian Walker, Andy Wilkins, Dilson Herrera, Hector Olivera, Lonnie Chisenhall, DJ Peterson, Justin Turner, Adeiny Hechavarria, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jon Jay, Brock Holt, James Jones, Denard Span
P: David Price
P: Hisashi Iwakuma
P: AJ Burnett
P: Yavani Gallardo
P: Phil Hughes
P: Francisco Liriano
P: Justin Masterson
P: Shelby Miller
P: Glen Perkins
Bench: Mark Appel, Archie Bredley, Jonathan Broxton, Sean Doolittle, Dillon Gee, Ken Giles, Jon Gray, Casey Janssen, Brian Matusz, Daniel Norris, Junichi Tazawa
@BISS: Your team looks exact opposite of mine, better pitching, lighter hitting.. Light on AVG and power… I bet you play Jon Jay more than you’d ever think… You might need more SPs, hopefully your guys stay healthy
@Grey:
Jon Jay and Span when back and healthy could see a lot of time if Hunter and Beltran can’t stay on the field. Counting on Spring, Bruce, and Ortiz quite a bit for power. All my replacement SP’s are young and could be an issue.
I had targeted Rizzo with pick 14 and then flailed when he went at a couple picks before me.
Yup, totally
Had my 12 team H2H draft last night. It is a 6X5 (OBS). So this is what i came out with after the draft. It like my hitters, and hope quanity will out preform quality!!
C Gomes
1 Abreu
2 Gordon
3 Frazier
SS Desomond
OF Harper, Cespedes, Myers
Ut Pujols
Pitchers Ross, A. Wood, Latos, Odorizzi, Smyly, E. Santana, Eovaldi, Burnett, Hahn, C. Rodon
RP Storen, Betances, Giles
So what does the all mighty Grey think? Again this is the best website around for fantasy baseball, and I love what you and your crew do.
Best of luck this year.
BB
@B Boyle: You look solid, don’t love Gordon in H2H, but that’s a small quibble… Nice pitching, backend of the staff prolly will become streamers
I think I’m the only one
really high on Arenado this year
@FrankGrimes: You and everyone… Let’s not forget I was on him before everyone jumped in…
@Grey:
how could I forget shmoopy
Don’t forget Shmoopy ever
My 16-team keeper drafted recently, and I have two roster moves that I can make before the season begins. After that, rosters are locked (trades being the only exception) until a supplemental draft in June. My team was light a few picks, because I sold the farm last year for a run at big money (and ended up finishing third). This league also has weird eligibility rules (1/6th of total games played must be at a particular position in order for a position player to qualify for a particular position). I know that I’m very scary at 2B, and I could maybe use help at RP or CL. The waiver wire is thin in terms of qualified 2Bs (Bonifacio, EverCab, and La Stella are the only ones left). But there are more options at CL/RP (Hawkins, Qualls, Mujica, Ottavino, Romo, Strop, Joel Peralta, JP Howell, etc). We set our lineups retroactively every two weeks. In order to qualify at RP a pitcher can have no more than 2 saves in a two week period. I’m wondering who, if anyone, I should drop to pick up a second baseman and a RP? I’m leaning towards losing Granderson and I don’t know who (maybe Reed). Here is my current roster. Sorry for turning my question into a short prose piece. And thanks.
C – Zunino, Conger
1B – Miguel Cabrera, Duda
2B – Brandon Phillips, Schoop
SS – Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor
3B – Josh Donaldson
CF – Charlie Blackmon, Rajai Davis
OF – Christian Yelich, Yasmani Tomas
OF – Jay Bruce, Granderson
DH – David Ortiz
SP1 – Samardjiza
SP2 – Carrasco
SP3 – Shoemaker
SP4 – Wily Peralta
BN – Jason Hammel, Dallas Keuchel, Wei-Yin Chen, Carlos Rodon
CL – Hector Rondon, Addison Reed
RP – Joakim Soria
@Principal Blackman: Ugh, tough calls… Granderson for Bonifacio… Chen for Hawkins
@Grey: Thanks. Yeah, I’m not thrilled about the corner I backed myself into. Bonifacio would at least give me a little more CF depth heading into the season. Hawkins on the other hand, might come back to bite me if Soria takes over the closer role in Detroit. There may be a few periods where I end up taking a 0.0 at the RP position if all my relievers have more than three saves. That’s why I was thinking of grabbing someone like Kelvin Herrera, who has nasty stuff, but still is buried a bit on the depth chart.
Meh, you know your league better than me, but I’d go for a CL
Too bad about your arms, Grey… I drafted Gausman in a deep mixed league and now I’m hearing that he might end up being in the bullpen even though he’s pitched better than Jimenez…FML! Anyway, good luck to you with this team!
Unrelated, was wondering if Grey, other writers and readers may be able to guide me in the right direction. My slo-pitch team switched jerseys. We’re going with Athletics green and white colors. Was wondering if anyone can provide a link for a place to get nice cleats with Athletics green and white design?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help out!
-Big W
Thanks! No idea on jerseys
@Big W: I would just google the cleats and see what you come up with..
Grey, just had my yearly draft in my 11 team, 5×6 (holds) league. I picked 9th, could you give me a quick eval?
C- d’Araud
1b- Encarnacion
2b- Wong
ss- Bogaerts
3b- Arenado
CI-Rizzo
MI- Gyorko
OF- Dickerson, Harper, Hamilton, Pollock, Kh. Davis
UTL- Al. Escobar
P- Cole, Carrasco, Shoemaker, Hutchison, Fiers, Salazar, Smyly, Paxton
RP- Allen, Cishek, Storen, W Davis, A Miller
From my initial post draft recap I figure to be a little slight on AVG, SV by a bit, and Holds.
Any thoughts on possibly losing a starter for another RP, possibly Evan Marshall?
You look low on AVG, but nice power/speed… Your pitching looks solid, hopefully Salazar pulls through the spring with a job
@Grey: Thanks, I just read about the most recent turd that K-Czar dropped in the punch bowl…his grasp on a job may be tenuous at best right now.
If he weren’t to make it, do you suppose that Familia or Marshall could get looks at the closer role respectively? Closers are such crap…
Yup, definitely
Looks like Gausman is slated to go 5 innings Tuesday vs TB – Buck what the fug are you doing?
There’s no way he stays in the bullpen all year even if he starts there in April
Need to keep 3 of 5 in a dynasty league, 12 teams, pick last in 1st, 1st in 2nd snake(if 2 kept in same round one moves up)
12th round–Rusney Castillo
14th round–Mookie Betts, Garret Richards, Danny Santana
16th round–Brandon Moss
Any suggestions appreciated
My keeps are
McCutch-2nd
Pujols-3rd
Nelson Cruz-6th
Sale-8th
Gray-9th
Rendon-13th
Rosenthal-22nd
Cole-23rd
Mookie Betts, Garret Richards, Danny Santana
@Curt C.: 6 X 6
@Curt C.: Thanks you handsome devil!
Yasmany Tomas is on my bench, took a flyer on him in the later rounds. Given his struggles and the talk about starting him in the minors, is it worth dropping him for any of these pitchers or hold?
Henderson Alvarez
Tanner Roark
Wily Peralta
Clay Buchholz
Brandon McCarthy
Hold for now
Don Mattingly’s Sideburns here. That was my first NFBC draft and I had/have no idea what to expect. The process wasn’t too frustrating despite MarQUEs and his hatred of the QUE.
I think I went a little crazy with MR late in the draft but I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I went into it knowing I wanted one legit SP1 and a stud closer but missed out on a bunch of bats that I wanted due to drafting on one of the ends. Oh well.
C: Brian McCann (11.153), Carlos Ruiz (24.358), AJ Pierzynski (37.543), David Ross (50.748)
1B: Prince Fielder (5.63), Joe Mauer (19.273), Jon Singleton (27.393)
2B: Robinson Cano (2.28), Gordon Beckham (40.598), Sean Rodriguez (41.603)
3B: Nick Castellanos (18.268), Mike Moustakas (19.273), Mike Olt (49.723)
SS: Jimmy Rollins (12.178), Andrelton Simmons (22.328), Addison Russell (29.423)
OF: Giancarlo Stanton (1.3), Jorge Soler (6.88), Brett Gardner (9.123), Jayson Werth (13.183), Lorenzo Cain (14.208), Dalton Pompey (15.213), Jarrod Dyson (25.363), Chris B. Young (36.538), Eury Perez (43.633), Aaron Judge (47.693), Matt Sczcur (48.718)
DH: Jesus Montero (34.508)
SP: Chris Sale (3.33), Hisashi Iwakuma (7.93), Masahiro Tanaka (10.148), Carlos Martinez (16.238), Taijuan Walker (17.243), Jimmy Nelson (20.298), Trevor Bauer (21.303), Archie Bradley (26.388), Rubby De La Rosa (28.418), Jesse Chavez (31.453), Edinson Volquez (35.513), Brandon Beachy (42.628), Jarrod Parker (44.658), Luis Severino (45.663)
RP: Craig Kimbrel (4.58), Drew Storen (8.118), Ernesto Frieri (30,448), Darren O’Day (32.478), Jake Diekman (33.483), Jason Grilli (38.568), Tommy Hunter (39.573), Antonio Bastardo (46.688)
@Eds: How many guys do you start at each position? That’s a big roster..4 C’s????
@Malicious Phenom:
Same league as Grey. Start 2 C.
2 C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, MI, 5 OF, Utl, 9 P.
Your team looks solid, like it better than mine… You need Prince and Castellanos to get their shizz together, obviously… Tanaka staying healthy wouldn’t hurt either
Grey,
What do you think of this Starting Pitching Staff in a 12 Team Yahoo H2H League:
Iwakuma
Carrasco
Latos
Fiers
Archer
Salazar
Pineda
Hutchison
Gausman
I know it reads like a Razzball Roster, but the recent news I have been seeing on Latos in particular makes me a little nervous. Your input would be most welcome.
Thanks Grey.
@Yankee my Wanky!: Too much upside maybe. Lot’s of health/IP concerns.
Yeah, I’m starting to think that. I missed out on some guys and never recovered. Oh well. Thanks for the [email protected]Cram It:
Staff looks solid, Latos news scares me too, hopefully he’s fine… And Salazar too…
@Grey: Thanks much Grey.
No problem
I got offered ozuna and Dannys Antana for Heyward and Jose Ramirez
It’s a 20 team dynasty ROTO 6×6 with OBP and SLG rather than AVG. I’m a little concerned about giving up so much OBP and some steals with heward, but with JRam likely replaced by lindor in a few months this could be a 2 for 1 without too much downside. Do I pull the trigger?
Hold
RCL isn’t my style but on the flipside, NFBC is definitely an overtly extreme response to it. I like seeing a middle ground based on either deeper roster settings for 12s or 14 to 16 team settings. The no waivers/trade set up is out of necessity so as not to allow collusion (as you know) so it’s just a ‘making the best of a bad situation’ route more than it is a strategy thing. If it had FAAB and no trades, I’d be happier but they still have no true way of monitoring so it’ll never happen.
@Sky: ACTUALLY, I take that back. They should make it FAAB but whoever you ‘drop’ is gone for the year, i.e. no one else can pick them up, including yourself. That would be a great middle ground.
Yes, I know, I’m talking to myself.
Yeah, can’t have waivers in it, true…
COULD, I proved it! Sky and I talked it out!
Wait, aren’t you Sky?
Clearly you didn’t read in full what I put. It’s ok, it’s Friday. Wuv you.
Wuv you more!
I’d put *Blows Kiss* here but the last time JFOH did that I asked him ‘the band?’. I’m not gonna set myself up like that!
Yeah, good call!
@Grey: you two should leave this for texting, you dont want some of your commenters getting jealous
Any questions for Sen Dog?
So with the Salazar news do you hold on him or is it not worth waiting for?
Hold for now
@Grey: Even over someone like Eovaldi?
Grab Eovaldi
Busy drafting weekend! Your old crush B. Miller has the Tampa SS job. Moving him up? & if so, around where? Thanks & good luck to all…
I knew he had the job when I ranked
@zombie: Tampa Bay? You mean Seattle? Wasn’t he the starter by default when Taylor got hurt? I’m all sorts of confused.
Grey,
Should I be worried about Phil Hughes ugly spring training, or am I over thinking? He keeps getting knocked around by single A guys….like a 6.35 ERA….what gives?
Overthinking
Below are the players I drafted in a 5×5 roto/H2H league…I play every team every week. Player salary is included. I can only give contracts to the players drafted in the current year, so which players would you give contracts to…I have 1 4-year contract, a 3-year contract, and 3 2-year contracts to distribute….I already plan on giving Russell a 4-year contract.
Derek Norris $4
Sandoval $18
Odor $2
Morneau $11
Cain $4
Jennings $9
Heyward $20
L. Martin $10
Butler $7
Jose Ramirez $4
Saunders $2
Addison Russell $0 (4 year)
Archer $13
Greinke $26
Liriano $11
Latos $17
KRod $7
A. Reed $9
Fister $16
Gausman $8
Nelson $0
Peavy $1
Thanks for your thoughts.
Not great choices… Heyward 1, Leonys 2, Archer 2, Sandoval 3
G I drafted this team last night. 10 team roto, same basic setup as rcl but since its only 10 teams I added 1 utility, 1 more pitcher and 2 more bench spots. I had the dead last wrap around pick…
C-Martin
1b-Rizzo
2b-Dee
SS-Dannys
3b-Crush
MI-Wong
CI-Duda
OF-Jones/Upton/Harper/Cargo/Soler
Util-Yasmany/Bogaerts
Bench-Avisail/Souza
SP-Arrieta/Wood/McHugh/Quintana/Salazar/Fiers/Hutch/McCarthy
RP-Kimbrel/Betances/Storen/Casilla/Cecil
Now take a look at that OF and tell me it doesn’t make your corduroys move! Stayed away from starting pitching til late late to go with better closers and still ended up with too many, so the back end is primed to become streamers and i’ll prob lose Mccarthy and Salazar if he doesnt get a rotation spot for a couple middle relievers as they are bountiful in FA. My only regret was I wanted Arenado badly this time and was set on waiting til the Frazier/Arenado/Santana tier and get one of them but got over zealous and waited just too long as they all went right before my pick. Crush is a solid consolation prize though before I got into Machado or Aramis territory. Now this is where people ask, how’d I do? Thoughts? I actually don’t need your thoughts, thanks. I already know you love it.
Looks like everyone else is playing for 2nd to me
@MattTruss: I know right? Going by Greys rankings I have 5 top 25 overall players. Woulda been 6 if I could’ve snagged Arenado. The beauty of guys trusting espn rankings. Not too shabby!
Ya, I was trying to figure out who you drafted 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th and couldn’t figure out the order you went, that’s a good sign. See you clarified below. This is why I love the home leagues. It’s nice to just be able to crush a league now and then.
@MattTruss: Zzzzactly..money league too
@nick the dick: appears like 5 of first 7 picks were OF’ers, and if only 5 out of 8 you got lucky with arrieta/c.davis and wong/d.gordon at where you got them, nice. nevermind, i’m just noticing it’s 10 teams, but even then, you probably had to get lucky with the placement of some of those 4 guys.
@goodfold2: yup it was 4 of first 5, went rizzo, jones, upton, harper, cargo. Figured id try a bonkers OF with 5 and 2 utilities. Definitely a bit of luck in placement for some guys. I took kimbrel 6th round but no starters til 10th
@nick the dick: Salazar is suppose to start year in minors, he can get booted. I would start Avisail over Yasmany, who might be sent down to AAA to start the yer and Bogaerts is meh
@J-FOH: Yup already in the works, just waiting for waivers to clear to drop Salazar. And yeah I def like Avisail in there as well, just waiting to see what happens with Tomas. I like Bogaerts for flexibility tho, backup ss and 3b. Gonna bulk up on MRs
Sen Dog’s gonna be on this weekend’s podcast, any questions you want me to ask him? For serious… Yup, solid team, get Arenado next time though, please.
@Grey: Awesome man! Ask him how could he just kill a man??…Really tho umm im not sure, i bet you have all the bases covered. Favorite artist hes worked with, lowdown on a new Cypress album, ask about his band, favorite strand of weed, if he even cares about baseball…
He doesn’t care about baseball… Listening to the eponymous album now… It’s ridiculous from start to finish
@Grey: Ha word. Yeah the old stuff is the tits. You’ll do a bang-up job G
It’s kinda ridiculously good… I think they got too spliffed later on
@Grey: the Cheech and Chong of Hip Hop
Indeed
@Grey: you have to mention that
Weed in general? Of course
@Grey: for reals, I need to send you an email with things i would like to know and is there any way I can sit in for this one? J-FOH’s rapid fire 5 questions? The sirius guy said I have a radio personality.
Ask JB, you can jump on if he can pull it off
@J-FOH: I’d like to hear you on there. Couple of Cali OG’s shootin the shit
Grey,
Salazar was optioned to the minors. Is he droppable at this point? If so, would you grab Hahn or Shane Greene?
Hahn
i see you are advising many to hold salazar for now, but in really deep leagues we should grab house over C.anderson or greene? dynasty league 20 teamer.
2. keep salazar over these in 12 teamer h2h redraft with 4 keepers? pomeranz/happ/house/c.anderson/bauer/burnettl. i grabbed hahn when i dropped wheeler in this one.
3. these in 14 team roto with 1725 max innings redraft with 4 keepers?
anderson/house/happ/greene/? or i could drop haren and keep salazar AND house to lock up the spot. i grabbed haren when i lost wheeler already in this one.
4. drop pomeranz for house in 12 team dynasty with deep benches?
Over Anderson… 2. House 3. no idea what you’re asking 4. Sure
@Grey: in #3. i have salazar and haren (he’s my worst guy, picked up when wheeler went out). Should i drop either for any of house/greene/happ
Salazar for House
Hey Grey I asked you last week about a trade that involved Rendon. With his injury issue right now do you still prefer Rendon & Dickerson over Puig & Dozier this year?
Yes
@Grey: Thanks!! keep up the good work
No problem
Hey Grey, Couple of quick questions for you as your knowledge was immensely helpful last season.
Just finished up my draft Tuesday night, It’s ESPN HTH 5×5 league but we use OBP instead of BA. My team is as follows:
C McCann
1B Freeman
2B Altuve
SS A. Ramirez
3B C. Santana
OF Stanton
OF Soler
OF Springer
OF Souza
Util Semien
Util Morse
Util Jennings
Bench Prado
Bench J. Peterson
SP Kluber
SP Wainwright
P G.Cole
P Ventura
P Salazar
P Cecil
P Nathan
RP Chapman
RP Perkins
Bench Lackey
Bench T. Walker
Bench J. Paxton
Ok so my question is Salazar had a rough spring and was optioned today. With my current staff do I hold tight or do I drop him for one of the following: SP K.Gibson(I think he may be in for a good season), SP T.J. House, SP Pomeranz (also like him), SP J.Nelson, SP K.Hendricks? Other SP’s available would also be guys likely to start in the minors SP C. Rodon, SP A.Bradley or SP A. Heaney. I’m 2nd on the waiver wire so as the season progresses I should have a good shot at grabbing a hot prospect. I know Im closer heavy but this league hoards them and they charge an arm and a leg in trade scenarios. And the position eligibility allows you to play 4 closers at a time if so desired.
And finally, what say you on my Offense. Anyone you’d drop for one of the following: DH Kennys Vargas, Travis Snider, or Micah Johnson or Stephen Vogt? I know Jace Peterson looks like the most drop-able but I think he wins the 2nd base job for the Braves and would then have SS and 2nd eligibility and adds speed to a lineup that doesnt have much outside of Altuve, Ranirez and maybe Jennings. Sorry for the long post but I would greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer.
Lose Salazar, sure grab Gibson, your hitting looks great for a 15 team league, not as good for a 12 team league
@Grey: Thanks, I really appreciate the insight. I didnt want to be too hasty on Salazar. And yeah it’s a 12 team league sigh… any suggestions based on who I mentioned was available? Vargas, JJ Hardy, Snider and Chisenhall are on the wire and the signing period is open without impacting waivers. Do any of them help me enough and if so who do I drop Jennings, Peterson or someone else?
Or I could try to move RP Nathan for a bat, If you agree he is my weakest closer between Nathan, Cecil and Perkins.
@Eric Bateman: Are you related to Justine and Jason? Lose Prado for Vargas or Snider, flip a coin on which you like… Hold Peterson
@Grey: Sadly no there are no “family ties”, but I have had my share of “horrible bosses” lol. Thanks for the advice, last thing promise: On the coin flip wouldn’t you expect Vargas to get more at bats, last I read Snider would be in a time share where as Vargas would be the everyday DH. If that’s accurate I’d think Vargas would be the better fit no?
Haha… I’d go Vargas likely, yeah
@Grey: You rock man, I greatly appreciate it. I’m sure I’ll be picking your brain as the season progresses.
No problem
Grey – Thoughts on DeSclafani.
Well, I’ll throw out mine for review also. Think I covered off fairly well. Got My RP Handcuffs for closers, as well as 3 other handcuffs, so hopefully one of them finds work as a closer later in year. I wasn’t planning on getting as much pitching early, but couldn’t pass on Hamels in the 5th. Also Like Jose Fernandez in the 15th. Lots of Multi-Position Coverage, but I could struggle to get ABs with any injuries to my offense.
C: Chirinos (19)
C: Ianetta (21)
1B: Encarnacion (1)
2B: Wong (6)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera(16)
3B: Frazier (3)
MI: Gyorko (14)
CI: Fat Adams (12)
OF: Harper (2)
OF: R. Zimmerman (7)(Also 3B)
OF: Pollock (9)
OF: A. Garcia (10)
OF: Crawford (17)
Util: E.Y. JR (24) (Will probably be many people over the year)
SP: J. Zimmerman (4)
SP: Hamels (5)
SP: McHugh (11)
SP: Hendricks (18)
SP: Duffy (22)
SP: Gallardo (25)
RP: Rosenthal (8)
RP: Feliz (13)
RP: Quackenbush (23)
Bench
C: Gosewich (37),
C: Maldanado (46)
1B: Craig (20) (Also OF),
1B: Bour (39),
1B: J. Francisco (45) (Also 3B)
2B: Sogard (43)
SS: Romine (50)
3B: Gillespie (31),
3B: Urshela (32) (Fucked this one up. Was Looking at him and accidently picked)
Util INfielders: Amarista 2B, SS, 3b, OF (26),
Util Infielders: Flaherty 2B, SS, 3B (36)
OF: Seth Smith (28)
OF: Van Slyke (33) (Also 1B),
OF: Hart (41)
OF: Maybin (49)
SP: Jose Fernandez (15)
SP: Collmenter (29)
SP: Lincecum(30)
SP: A. Webster (35)
SP: Jimenez (42) Put Gausman in the Pen!
SP: Lyles (44) Could be good when they aren’t at Coors
RP: Walden (27)
RP: Scheppers (34)
RP: Fien (38)
RP: Herrera (40)
RP: Petricka (47)
I like your team better than mine! I think you’re only really weak on AVG and that could go any way… You do need health though, your reserves are little wonky
@Grey: Yeah definitely depth issues, but hey when Matt Kemo goes down, I got Cameron Maybin’s Breakout Season in Round 49!
Haha
It’s all right, I lost Salazar too…and Fiers is close to gone
@Grey: Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez will be there to rescue you.
Haha, oh yeah
On the NFBC, I really wanted to play this year but going to Phoenix killed that. It’s OK, I made some new friends! Here is what I have gathered from observations and conversations with Oaktown, Magoo and Sky. In the Razzball league format you do it becomes a test of player knowledge beyond just the realm of fantasy relevance but in how how the real world works in the case of playing time, call ups and the order of the depth chart. Player evaluations to the deepest of depths is key. I get how some dont see the point but, that is because a 12 team is easy to draft. To go down the analogy road, I think this becomes who can write the best essay before the class ever starts about the subject of study and then we see as the semester unfolds who wrote the best paper. Next year I’m in, already starting my NFBC swear jar
@J-FOH: no thoughts on this?
@J-FOH: @J-FOH: Nope… no thoughts. HA! I’ve done the NFBC three years now and I love it, but as so many have already said, it is a completely different animal.
@J-FOH: Missed this at first… Good analogy! Salazar gets sent down on crappy spring that doesn’t mean anything… That kills in this league, and I don’t think very fair, that was all I was saying
@Grey: It just not fair! I think the indians hate us and it has to do with Gareth. *puts on tin foil hat* Seriously, since he went there the Salazar situation has gone down hill. He probably talked you up too much and then they spite you with this one.
Yeah, puzzling choice by Indians… Salazar could be an ace, instead he’ll be an ace in the 2nd half of the year
@Grey: he’s a AAAAce
Nah, he’s nasty, just like Carrasco, who took 5 years to catch on
@Grey: sorry he’s getting treated like that
@Grey: Tomas, Salazar… my FCL team is fraying at the seams already.
@SteveNZ: Koji too…
Me too!
@Grey: Oh man, I just saw your comment above about Fiers – I have him in the FCL too.
My draft is the direct opposite of last year’s…
Still early!
@Grey: Yeah. Season hasn’t started yet, has it? I’m a bit out of the loop…
Started last Tuesday, you’re good still!
@Grey: Stupid Yahoo and ESPN not updating the stats again!
Haha
@J-FOH: Other than Cleveland, where is Gareth anyway?
@Happy Vegans: cat scratch fever?
I’m down to 4 days left. Is R. Castillo worth keeping at $3? It’s him or M. Carpenter at $7 or Paxton at $4
I’d want 4 days to decide
@Grey: what if my deadline to keep is tomorrow at midnight…Castillo went yard again today
What are your choices?
Worth signing Kole Calhoun to a mult-year deal? AL-only roto.
Can either keep him for $5 this year and then have to let him go, or sign him, and keep him for $10 this year, $15 next, etc.
@Abe Froman:
If I did, would probably only do 2 years, so $10/$15 for this year and next.
I’d keep him for $10/15 for 2 years
@Grey:
Thank you sir! Have a great weekend
You too!
Pearce or Souza in an OBP league?
Souza
@Grey: The game today got rained out but Souza had 2 walks according to the box I was following.
Grey your thoughts on this NFBC 50 rnd team
C flowers
C. D’Arnaud
1b Duda
2b Dozier
3b Beltre
SS Bogaerts
MI Segura
CI Arenadi
OF Aoki
O.Arcia
Cain
T. Hunter
Stanton
SP Arrieta
SP AJ Burnett
SP W. Chen
SP G.Cole
SP R De La Rosa ( originally had D Salazar)
SP Greinke
SP Hughes
RP Casilla
RP Cecil
Thanks.
Looks solid, homey, you got to avoid injuries and maybe a tad light on power due to Aoki, Cain, Hunter and Segura…
12 tm redraft lge. got offered taijuan and eovaldi for hughes and benoit. which side u likey?
Hughes, could go either way
Got my last draft of the season coming on Sunday, any tips?
Joking, good luck on your teams Grey.
Thanks, you too!
5×5 h2h categories league. Good, bad, meh? Areas to improve? Obviously offense heavy so pitching needs a bit more depth.
Gomes Scherzer
Encarnacion Samardzjia
Wong Wood
Longoria Ross
Desmond Archer
Ellsbury Smyly
Cespedes Paxton
Dickerson Kimbrel
Ozuna Storen
Calhoun
K Davis
A Garcia
Pollock
Tomas
Myers
Hosmer
How many teams matters
@Grey: sorry bout that. 10 team.
@Grey: Wong Wood hehe. Had to be intentional
@nick the dick: tried to do pitchers and offense side by side but formatting messed up, just randomly worked that way, lol.
@Bob: I believe you. Now if it said C-Dick Longo Wong Wood Smyly then i’d call you a liar
Haha
if gibson is ahead of house (with that K rate of gibson’s), seen above, where does gibson now slot into SP rankings? C. Anderson was at 110, Gibson at 112, and i’ve seen House over C.Anderson. All of these will be higher overall by now with all of stroman/wheeler/lee/darvish etc now completely dropping out, but i still would’ve thought the others rank the same relative to each other.
He’s not ahead of House, they’re all the same mess of risk and upside
@Grey: based that on response to Eric Bateman at 10:53, re: gibson>house
I know what you’re basing it on, I’m just saying they’re all risky upside flyers… It’s one tier of risk/upside
@Grey: yeah, the petit to cosart tier, “safety net none…, which house has crept into with job.
Yeah, exactly… They’re all the same shizz, nothing’s safe there, but could turn out well
Can you find a maximum of 6 to keep from these guys? It’s the Hippo/Al K keeper. We could be anything from 8-10 teams (things are a bit disorganised this year… ) $300 budget, 5×5 plus OBP, Hitters’ Ks, Games Started, Losses. Prices are to keep this year…
Stanton $25
Marte $11
J-Zimm $22
Lester $8
Pujols $30
Car-Go $30
Andrus $24
McCann $8
I’m pretty set on the first 4, could be swayed on Pujols, but I think it might be time to say goodbye to Car-Go, which is a shame as I have had him since I grabbed him off waivers right back in the day…
Yeah, first 6… In 8 to 10 teams it’s okay paying for guys
@Grey: Thanks. Stanton is still a bargain and I like Marte and Lester at those prices, so I guess that means I can afford CarGo and Pujols – the top 1Bs are normally north of $50 in this league.
Yup, that’s how it usually goes in keepers… Everyone who isn’t kept is inflated
@SteveNZ: i want stanton you dirty dog
@AL KOHOLIC: Ha! No chance, Al ;-)
in OPS league where soler was dropped and i waivered him with this roster (12 team league)
C – Ramos
C -Ruiz
1B – Rizzo
2B – harrison
3B – Donaldson
SS – j.ram
CI – sandoval
MI – Lawrie
LF – upton
CF – dickerson
RF – heyward
OF -Marte
Util – soler
BN -Avisail
do i drop avisail for myers (just dropped by same team that dropped soler, i don’t know what’s going on with this guy). Your ranks score it Myers over Avisail 16-12, but OPS rater give it to Avisail 11.9 to 4
Sure
Grey
Who are some guys who are good $1 guys to get in a dynasty auction? They would be $6 next year. Guys like buxton etc. thanks
Drop Salazar for Duffy or House?
House
Just traded in my keeper league Nelson Cruz(6th rounder) and my 16th pick for Jake Arietta(12th round) and his 20th, 12 team league…Thoughts
Sounds decent
10 team h2h 5×5 categories
I give Ellsbury I get Jordan Zimmerman and James shields.
My other OFs would be Dickerson, cespedes, ozuna, Calhoun, pollock, k davis, a Garcia so I’ve got depth there, steals would come from Ian Desmond, Wong and pollock.
Would you do it or hold?
Hold
Hi Grey,
Playing in a 10 team 5×5 league with no DL spots. I have the following pitchers but someone dropped Jake McGee and Drew Smyly. Is it worth dropping any of my pitchers for them? I’m thinking maybe Peralta for McGee but it means stashing for a month and McGee may not get the job back:
S Strasburg
P Hughes
F Liriano
J Samardzija
D Fister
J Hammel
D Hutchison
J Quintana
A Chapman
T Clippard
N Feliz
G Holland
J Peralta
Hammel for Smyly, Peralta for McGee
I have to set keepers tomorrow in advance of our upcoming draft. Which 5 of the following players would you recommend keeping:
Goldschmidt, Betts, A. Jones, Carrasco, G. Cole, G. Polanco, J. Pederson
All except for Jones have late round (20th plus) draft statuses. Jones would require a 4th round pick. I am intrigued by Betts, Polanco and Pederson given that I would have them for great future draft value if any of them break out as stars this year. Then again, I do not want to write off this year as well.
Thanks so much.
Not the last two
14tm roto kpr league. With street doing his best ernesto frieri in spring would you drop J Smith Or T Watson for Jace Peterson (sb/r purposes)…my sp is decent, bullpen solid( that may be subject to change by the time you read this). I too fell victim to Cingrani it makes no sense.. thanks for droppin knowledge.
What does Street have to do with Peterson?
Hey Grey, what do you think about this team?
10 teams, 8×8, H2H, SV, Holds
C: Wieter
1B: Goldschmidt
2B: Dozier
3B: Donaldson
SS: Desmond
OF: Kemp
OF: Dickerson
OF: Cruz
UTL: Pollock
UTL: Cespedes
BN: Khris
SP: Samardjia
SP: Ross
SP: Carrasco
SP: Fiers
SP: Ventura
SP: Archer
SP: Latos
SP: Smyly
RP: Reed
RP: F-Rod
RP: Boxberger
RP: W. Davis
PS: i am not a friend of many closers. I have won the league last year by collecting more young high K holders than known and high ranked closers. There are always good RPs on the wire so i wouldnt read all too much into my RP situation. It will be absolutely ok after everything is said and done.
Thanks
yeah, in a shallow league like this, you can pull off saves from the wire, or go high K… Nice team overall… Looks well balanced, hopefully Cruz and Kemp don’t disappoint
Ok fellas. How’d I do? 15 team roto auction.
C1 Phegley $1
C2 Chirinos $4
1b Pujols $21
2b Lawrie $7
ss A. Ramirez $14
3b D. Wright $12
MI S. Castro $14
CI Carlos Santana $19
OF Pence $12
OF Trumbo $13
OF Soler $16
OF Revere $14
OF Alcantara $6
Util Vogt $2
p Harvey $23
P Arieta $14
P Wacha $16
P Carrasco $17
P Liriano $9
P Hahn $6
P Miley $4
p K. Jansen $13
P Hawkins $3
Reserves:
Stubbs
EverCab
Marisnik
Smoak
Singleton
Masterson
McCallister
You drafted already? Let me get to my computer to look…one sec
Wow, you either got great deals or no one wanted these guys… Wright, Pujols, Lawrie, Pence, Trumbo, Soler? Those prices are insane. Arismendy is actually too high compared to those guys… Your staff look great too, really surprised you were able to get the guys you did… I don’t love your reserves other than Smoak and McAllister, but that’s a small thing…
@Grey:
I had a great draft. I found all these soft prices and felt the cadence to my bidding was really good. Didn’t buy anybody above $21 dollars. Probably the lowest standard deviation of prices on a roster you’ll ever seen. Just a huge cluster of guys around he 15 dollar mark.
Alcantra is not worth that but I like the flexibility in case Lawrie should get hurt. I think he can kick in some steals.
I took the Sky recommended EverCab for some steals. Singleton was probably not a great pick. I actually kind of think Masterson could end up useful. As the season gets rolling I’ll be swapping some of these reserves out for CIWs and more SP. I’ll drop Phegley when Vogt gets C eligible.
@GhostTownSteve:
Also I saw the NFBC auction question from Don above this morning. He was in my league. After it was over I asked if that was him on the site this a.m. and we had a laugh. Nice guy.
@GhostTownSteve: Your pitching looks incredibly strong for this format. Love that top four, and even Liriano and Hahn could turn nice profits.
Trumbo for $13? Looks like a cheap 30/90 to me. Wright and Pence are key players on offense. If they perform the way they’re capable of (once Pence heals up), could push this roster over the top.
Nice bidding partner.
@Big Magoo:
Thanks partner. Thanks for the help in the offseason and the great work on the site.
@GhostTownSteve: Great job. One down, one to go. Good luck tomorrow.
I hate going too high on any player cause then it hurts the rest of the team, but I’ve never seen it quite to this extreme… That’s hilarious about Don… Nice team, man, good luck!
@Grey:
That, Albright. Credit to you and all the writers on the staff for making a great place to talk FBB
Happy to help!
@GhostTownSteve: I like the Marianik pick
Wow – you put $105 into pitching? Your offense looks amazing given the spend. Like the trumbo/revere play.
saunders or red dick
Saunders
with Miggy actually playing should I take him2nd overall? 10 team yahoo h2h redraft
See my rankings
Shark is giving up homeruns like it’s his job or something. Always been a little prone to the long ball and now going to USCel launching pad. Got him on a few teams already so a bit nervous. Don’t think i will draft him again this year. Hope he was just trying out a new pitch or something.
Hopefully he’s okay
Many will disagree with me, but I’m under the firm belief that it’s a lot harder and more fun to win a league like a Razzball Commenter League, than it is to win a super-deep league. With super-deep leagues, if you’re hit by injuries, you’re done. That’s neither fun nor challenging.
Agree with the luck factor in this format, but there’s no support behind saying a super deep league with pickups has more of a luck factor. It’s more challenging because you actually can’t bomb the draft and expect to compete. The RCL leagues are a joke. Half the teams aren’t following by Memorial day and another quarter make a couple hundred pickups to manipulate the absence of an ip maximum. Every “expert” league is deep, and sport much more equitable waiver wire systems than getting to the computer first to pickup the next hot commodity.
sour grapes indeed…
I hate when injuries kill your team… Injuries are mostly unpredictable… In deep leagues, injuries play a huge factor…
I spent this off-season excessively celebrating my first Fantasy Baseball championship in many years. As a result, I was woefully unprepared for my draft today in the Winners League. What do you think? It’s a standard, Yahoo 12-team league.
C- Salvador Perez
1B- Chris Davis
2B- Hector Rendon (didn’t realize he was injured! OUCH!)
3B- Nolan Arenado
SS- Hanley Ramirez
OF- Giancarlo Stanton
OF- Carlos Gonzalez
OF- Cespedes
Util- Eric Hosmer, Hunter Pence
Bench- Wil Myers, Kolten Wong, Chase Headley, Jose Ramirez
SPs- Iwakuma, Tyson Ross, Francisco Liriano, Drew Hutchison, Jake Peavy, Ervin Santana, Shelby Miller
RPs- Koji, LaTroy
Thanks for bringing my team to victory last year. Let’s do it again!
Your offense looks a bit injury prone (Pence, CarGo, Hanley)… Not bad though… Pitching looks solid if a tad boring (not that upsidey), which isn’t terrible, just is…
ok guys ive been busy this year,,is mockdraftcentral a site worth using or do we have better ones with real competition,thanks
Not sure, sorry
@Grey: ive tried 4 or 5 diff ones but most are wierd,3 outfielders no middle or corner guys etc
Yeah, that’s odd
In a 10 team head to head i have Hosmer and Mornea at 1b would you trade Hunter Pence for Pujols?
I have great outfielders Trout, McCutchen, Carlos Gomez, Cespedes and Carlos Gonzalez and Pence
The other guy is stacked at 1B
@PeteRosesRevenge: yes
@PeteRosesRevenge:
absolutely. Poo rules
@jal179:
Thanks guys, I was just concerned about hijm breaking down; when he is on he can be a monster
Yes
10 team yahoo redraft h2h 5X5 plus Hits, OPS, and Quality starts. How’d I do?
Secondly, who to drop for Boxberger? Arcia, Garcia, Pearce, Walker or Odorizzi?
C- McCann
1b- AGon
2b- Kendrick
3b- Miggy
SS- Danny Santana
MI- Alcides Escobar
OF- Marte
OF- Nelson Cruz
OF- Yelich
OF- Martin
OF- Pearce
Bench– Avisail Garcia, Oswaldo Arcia
SP- Mad Max
SP- Hamels
SP- Garrett Richards
RP- Holland
RP- Cishek
P- Hector Rondon
P- DeGrom
P- Wacha
P- Odorizzi
Bench- Tajian Walker, Willy Peralta
Drafted from the 3 slot– pleased with Miggy and Mad Max– filled my corners early tho reached a bit for Adrian Gonzalez but I take comfort from his steady production– I tend to value floor early.
Feedback appreciated gents. Great work on all the preseason prep guys– big props to Grey, Rudy and Magoo.
RP-
@jal179:
Also, Pujols at CI…. how could i forget the Poo man.
I’m feeling a tad light in power and would like another SP as I just misesd out on Pineda
Thanks! Lose Pearce… Team looks solid, a little light on power, and most teams will in a league this shallow so you’ll have to work waivers all year…
@Grey:
Interesting– I know its only the preseason, but Pearce is looking like a lock for daily DH or 1b play in BAL. I just like his look at the plate in a non-bonerific kind of way….
Do you foresee Arcia moving up from the 6th or 7 spot??
2 bench bats seems wasteful but hot damn the Arcias were too tantalizing to pass up– these non-razzballers are screwed bwahahahaha
Arcia is the 6 hole hitter
Considering your first two round pairings and how you think the rest of the draft unfolds as per ADP, where do you think is the best seat at the draft table in a 12 man league? Still like toward the end this year?
Anywhere in first 5 spots
@Grey:
I got the 2 hole and HATED it… for what its worth lol.
Grande Dolor and Miggy debate kept me from picking until the last second…
Giancarlo
5×5 10 man roto auction ESPN . how is it?
C-Ramos $3
1B-Pujols $17
3B-Arenado $16
CI-Todd Frazier $12
2B-Howie Kendrick $6
SS-Jose Reyes $14
MI-Danny Santana $4
OF
Adam Jones $28
Jacoby Ellsbury $18
Justin Upton $18
Alex Gordon $9
Charlie Blackmon $8
UTIL
David Ortiz $13
Pitchers
David Price $18
Jordan Zimmerman $15
Gio Gonzalez $10
Iwakuma $9
Alex Wood $8
Phil Hughes $6
Chris Archer $5
Anibal Sanchez $5
Closers
Joaquin Benoit $7
Glen Perkins $5
Addison Reed $4
Jake Mcgee $2 on DL
You look slightly higher on speed than power, but not huge…Solid hitting though… Pitching is very solid, nice team
BIG money keeper leauge. Standard head to head, + walks and GS.
Should I keep Abreu or Goldsmit?? I can’t decide!
Thank you Grey! Feels good to be back.
@Carlos:
I should probably add that I am leaning Abreu, due to Goldy’s hand injury.
Goldy
14 team H2H 6×6 (5×5 with holds and obp) league. We keep 3 players for one year only at the previous years draft round
C. Chirinos
1b. Pujols
2b. Wong
ss. Segura
3b. Arenando
Of. Trout, Harper, Springer
Utl. Tomas, Garcia
B. K.Davis
N/A. Sano, Gallo
Sp. Lester, Ross, Carrasco, Shoemaker, Hutchison, Peavy, Hahn, Salazar, Corbin
Rp. Robertson, Storen, K-Rod, Cingrani, C.Martinez
DL. Beachy
1. Thoughts on my team?
2. Need a couple of holds guys if C-Mart gets demoted. Will free up a spot when Corbin gets placed on the DL. But should I cut Salazar or cut one of Sano/Gallo and place Salazar on my NA slot?
1. I like the pitching and hitting, solid team, you must’ve had nice keepers…Only concern is AVG, but since OBP too, it’s all good 2. Cut Gallo
In todays first inning Latos had 1BB,1K and a WP.Any idea where/how to check his velocity? If he can’t break 91 I think I’m done.
Not sure
@Grey: 4 innings-4H,3K,2WP,2BB
It’s the spring
Greetings Grey…
Lost Salazar. Jake Peavy is the highest ranked guy available on waivers. Among your favorites, TJ House and Jesse Hahn are also available. Should I grab Peavy or look for upside with one of the other guys?
I’d go Hahn for now
Another question…my next draft is 6×6 OBP so I was looking at the player rater and the latest article on OBP leagues. In the article, Brian Dozier is pointed out as a guy to target in OBP leagues. Per the player rater though, he’s ranked #94 vs #49 in the overall top 400 rankings. Any reason for this?
@letsgobravos: Happy to be corrected, but I think it’s because the Player Rater ranks guys objectively, purely on the numbers that the Rudy/Steamer analysis spits out – it’s not really a draft order as such.
Whereas the top 400 has a Grey Special Sauce “this is about where I’d draft them’ component to it.
Top 400 isn’t for OBP… You’d have to ask the writer of the Dozier article why he should be targeted, I’d assume because he’s going cheaper than where his value lies in OBP
@Grey: Yeah, and that too.
@Grey: I know top 400 doesn’t factor OBP in so that’s why I wondering why Dozier would be so much lower on the player rater w/ OBP included. His OBP last year was .345 and the Blues gives his $2.3 value in the OBP category as a reason he is more valuable in OBP leagues than standard.
Comes down to what Steamer is projecting Dozier for OBP, that’s .319, so Steamer is projecting regression…
@Grey: I guess the real question is whether I should use the top 400 to draft this OBP league or redo my predraft rankings based on the player rater 6×6 w/ OBP?…or should I use the top 400 and just have a list of good OBP guys that I should be targeting?
I’d use 6×6 OBP, OBP changes a lot
@Grey: @Grey: Was setting my pre draft rankings just now using the 6×6 OBP and I’ve noticed a few things that seem odd. One example is Desmond Jennings…he’s not a high OBP guy and streamer has him projected for negative value in the OBP cat, but he’s ranked 123 in the 6×6 vs 266 in your top 400. Another example is ben revere. Also projected for negative value in the OBP cat but is ranked 90th in the 6×6 vs 271 in the top 400.
Needless to say, using the 6×6 to draft an OBP concerns me with some potential glitches like this in the rankings. Do you still think I should use them?
Jaime Garcia’s injured, water’s wet, pizza’s delicious, all is well
Ha… Yup!
Who would you rather in a keeper league between Bogaerts, Alex Wood, or Michael Wacha?
Xander
G woukd u trade Fiers to get Boxberger?
Nah
16 team league dynasty, needs 8 teams filled. these extra categories doubles/triples/IBB/put outs/assists/hitting for cycle/grand slams/outfield assists/double plays for hitters and appearances/complete games/shutouts/double plays/holds/K per 9/relief wins/pickoffs/ no hitters/ QS. 25 man rosters with 5 SP/ 7 RP/ 4 BN/ 5 DL/ 5 NA slots. 1 of each hitting spot with 1 util.
rosters to choose from:
1. arenado/ aviles/ bogaerts/bonifacio/c.davis/fuld/g.jones/navarro/parra/revere/rollins/utley/villar, P’s are belisario/w.chen/gray/greene/lindstrom/s.miller/petricka/shoemaker/a.wood/h.alvarez
2. aoki/butler/chisenhall/crisp/dickerson/j.francisco/kinsler/marte/mesoraco/napoli/alexei ramirez/rios, P’s britton/buehrle/cishek/j.de la rosa/estrada/hammel/haren/g.holland/kuroda/machi/minor/b.morris
team 3: bourn/brantley/as cabrera/y.gomes/d.gordon/t.hunter/austin jackson/kipnis/pearce/plouffe/w.ramos/c.santana/viciedo/n.walker P’s cotts/duke/fister/gee/b.hand/kazmir/masterson/parra/rodney/storen/thornton/tillman
team 4: l.cain/k.davis/avisail garcia/harper/c.joseph/j.d.martinez/v.martinez/mercer/panik/pujols/rendon/m.reynolds/r.zimmerman/zunino and P’s cecil/colon/r.de la rosa/doolittle/farquhar/fiers/g.gonzalez/hawkins/paxton/shields/tazawa/wacha/wheeler
@goodfold2: team 5: ybar/byrd/melky cabrera/calhoun/castro/choo/duda/grandal/carlos gomez/headley/c.johnson/lowrie/owings/ozuna/prado and P’s wade davis/dunn/frasor/garza/liriano/wily peralta/perkins/petit/quintana/roark/shaw/a.warren
team 6: abreu/bruce/baez/carter/coghlan/frazier/gyorko/b.hamilton/hechavarria/b.pena/phillips/vogt/wong and P’s alburqurque/bailey/bastardo/chapman/cingrani/cueto/giles/latos/leake/neshek/putnam/soria/ventura/c.young
team 7: ackley/castellanos/de aza/edwin E/flowers/marwin gonzalez/markakis/morneau/puig/hanley Ram/s.smith and P’s abad/b.anderson/bumgarner/casilla/familia/hendricks/howell/t.hunter/kluber/lohse/o’day/sale/w.smith/anibal sanchez/tanaka
team 8: m.adams/amarista/arcia/e.cabrera/donaldson/gattis/heyward/h.kendrick/m.montero/springer/c.taylor/j.turner/upton/valbuena/vargas and P’s allen/cashner/kennedy/lester/e.marshall/c.martinez/price/richards/j.smith/teheran/uehera/vogelsong/j.wilson
keep up to 25 and draft is april 5th at 4:00 PM central. Leave contact stuff here.
Gonna try to write this on my phone. 10 team h2h counting 5×5 plus OBP XBH, K/bb holds.
C- Santana
1B- Rizzo
2B- harrison
3B- Donaldson
SS- Segura
CI- votto
MI- odor
Of- puig
Of- heyward
Of- ozuna
Of- soler
Util- Choo
Util- Souza
Bn- werth
SP-wood
SP- carrasco
RP- chapman
RP- Rondon
RP- Cecil
RP- a miller
P- degrom
P- tanaka
P-Hughes
P- Walker
Bn- McCarthy, Hutchison, quackenbush, keuchel
So 10 tm but 290 picks. Too lazy to comment on the draft bc typing on my phone sucks.
@royce!: two notes- Bryant was drafted in the 2d rd. And I reached for carrasco and wood bc they have RP eligibility
@royce!: in my biggest money league a guy is seriously about to grab bryant 2nd overall, helping me get somebody better at 9th.
Crazy on Bryant, jesus
I’m not a huge fan of Harrison, Choo, Tanaka and Keuchel, but those are minor things… Hitting looks a bit light on power, and pitching looks a tad risky… Not a bad team though…
@royce!: You deserve an award for just managing to write out your whole team on your phone!
Does Soler drop from 4th to 5th in BO when Bryant comes up?
Maybe, maybe down to 6th to keep righty-lefty
@Fred Barker:
@Grey:
I think I’m the only one really high on Bryant this year
Hahaha
Grey! Draft day emergency! Our love for Rendon is mutual, but how do you feel about his recent knee injury? Supposedly doubtful for opening day, ESPN moved him down to like 33 in rankings, do you de-value him at all? What are your thoughts? Thanks
I’ve moved him in my rankings
@Grey:
Just to be sure, 17 behind Donaldson is his new ranking right?
Yup
Get Jerko and Shelby, give Archer and Micah.
Could use a more reliable 2B and think the Jerker will bounce back. Yay or nay?
Meh
Greybones,
I have a draft tonight, need some last minute advice. 5×5 10 team.
Keepers:
Upton (Round 5)
Rizzp (Round 9)
Arenado (Round 17)
Available at pick 2:
Adam Jones
Miggy
Tulowitski
Would you def go Adam Jones to match up with Upton? Giving me 2 (similar but great) OF’s in the first 5 picks? Or take the risk and go for a dynamite IF by getting Tulo?
Based on that pick, and my keepers, what would you look for when my 2nd round pick comes around?
Thanks pal!
Jones, Miggy
Just drafted in a 10 team H2H 5×5 keeper league
I honestly think pitching is shallower than everyone is making it out to be this year. Not a lot of choices at the end, so I just went all closers. Guys like Gausman and TJ Walker were all grabbed before I could get them. Hopefully I can work out a trade later on.
C) Wilin Rosario (Col – C)
1B) Edwin Encarnación (Tor – 1B) Keeper
2B) Jason Kipnis (Cle – 2B)
3B) Miguel Cabrera (Det – 1B,3B) Keeper
SS) Ian Desmond (Was – SS) Keeper
OF) Justin Upton (SD – OF)
OF) Brett Gardner (NYY – OF)
OF) Mark Trumbo (Ari – 1B,OF)
UTIL) Albert Pujols (LAA – 1B)
UTIL) Adam LaRoche (CWS – 1B)
SP) Julio Teherán (Atl – SP)
SP) Jeff Samardzija (CWS – SP)
SP) Sonny Gray (Oak – SP)
SP) Gio González (Was – SP)
SP) Lance Lynn (StL – SP)
SP) Drew Smyly (TB – SP)
RP) Drew Storen (Was – RP)
RP) Joaquín Benoit (SD – RP)
RP) Brad Boxberger (TB – RP)
RP) Jenrry Mejía (NYM – SP,RP)
RP) LaTroy Hawkins (Col – RP)
RP) Joe Nathan (Det – RP)
There’s a ton of pitching in a ten team league… Your pitching looks fine, I like your hitting a lot but Rosario’s not a starter and LaRoche’s just okay
@Grey I have 2 teams here both h2h 12man pay leagues need your opinion
Team A:
1. (7) José Abreu (CWS – 1B)
2. (18) Josh Donaldson (Tor – 3B)
3. (31) Nolan Arenado (Col – 3B)
4. (42) Chris Davis (Bal – 1B,3B)
5. (55) Jon Lester (ChC – SP)
6. (66) Yoenis Céspedes (Det – OF)
7. (79) Jorge Soler (ChC – OF)
8. (90) Jason Heyward (StL – OF)
9. (103) Carlos Carrasco (Cle – SP,RP)
10. (114) Danny Santana (Min – SS,OF)
11. (127) Mat Latos (Mia – SP)
12. (138) Howie Kendrick (LAD – 2B)
13. (151) Yadier Molina (StL – C)
14. (162) José Quintana (CWS – SP)
15. (175) Jesse Hahn (Oak – SP)
16. (186) Avisail García (CWS – OF)
17. (199) Matt Adams (StL – 1B)
18. (210) Henderson Álvarez (Mia – SP)
19. (223) Kyle Hendricks (ChC – SP)
20. (234) Kyle Lohse (Mil – SP)
21. (247) Dallas Keuchel (Hou – SP)
22. (258) Rajai Davis (Det – OF)
23. (271) John Lackey (StL – SP)
TeamB:
1. (9) Edwin Encarnación (Tor – 1B)
2. (16) Anthony Rizzo (ChC – 1B)
3. (33) Chris Davis (Bal – 1B,3B)
4. (40) Nolan Arenado (Col – 3B)
5. (57) Jeff Samardzija (CWS – SP)
6. (64) Nelson Cruz (Sea – OF)
7. (81) Carlos Santana (Cle – C,1B,3B)
8. (88) Jay Bruce (Cin – OF)
9. (105) Lucas Duda (NYM – 1B)
10. (112) Carlos Carrasco (Cle – SP,RP)
11. (129) Matt Shoemaker (LAA – SP,RP)
12. (136) Kolten Wong (StL – 2B)
13. (153) Danny Santana (Min – SS,OF)
14. (160) Francisco Liriano (Pit – SP)
15. (177) José Quintana (CWS – SP)
16. (184) Wil Myers (SD – OF)
17. (201) Eric Hosmer (KC – 1B)
18. (208) Dallas Keuchel (Hou – SP)
19. (225) Avisail García (CWS – OF)
20. (232) Jesse Hahn (Oak – SP)
21. (249) Drew Pomeranz (Oak – SP,RP)
22. (256) Kyle Hendricks (ChC – SP)
23. (273) Danny Duffy (KC – SP,RP)
I think TeamA is solid and again I don’t believe in drafting a closer… Team B I am kind of concerned about… Team B league has Run-HR-RB-SB-AVG-OBP .. I think my team will struggles AVG OBP wise with CSantana Chris Davis and Jay Bruce your thoughts? Also I think I might start Avisail Garcia ahead of MYers… Myers hasn’t really been doing much in Spring training
I agree with your assessments…. I like Myers more than Avisail as my rankings show
Grey! I inherited this team in a 10 team keeper league. League is H2h, standard categories plus walks and GS’s (which are stupid categories but whatever) and walks issued, CG’s, shutouts, and losses (some stupid categories in there too). I have Tanaka on the team because he was passed on to me. League is semi shallow but not too bad. Everyone went crazy drafting starters early.
I think I am a little light on power. I’m not too psyched on Zobrist either, but Wong and Kipnis got snatched from under my nose. What do you think of this team? A. Reed is sitting on waivers as a possible pick up for saves.
C- Y. Gomes
1b- J. Abreu
2b- Zobrist
3b- Arenado
SS- A. Ramirez
CI- Hosmer
MI- E. Alscides
OF- Dickerson, Brantley, J. Upton
Util- Heyward, CarGo
Bench- Calhoun, W. Myers
Starters- Tanaka, Samardzija, Carrasco, Hamel, Latos, Hutchison, Liriano, E. Santana, S. Miller, D. Smyly, J. Peavy
RPs- Hawkins, Perkins, Feliz
What do you think? Which categories should I improve in? I feel a bit light in power, but I think this team can really make it happen. I’ve never played with these xtra categories before so I am interested to see how it shakes out.
Thanks.
You are light on power, Zobrist and Alexei are kinda bleh… Outfield is nice though and UTIL if CarGo stays healthy… Hitting’s not too bad overall… Pitching is terrific, should have no problem competing…
@Grey:
Thanks man. I guess the area to improve will be some pop out of that infield?
Looks like Rua has the early lock on LF in Texas. What do you say, what do you know?
Drafted a snake draft keeper league today. Stat categories are: R,HR, RBI, SB, OBP and Saves,K,ERA,WHIP,QS
How does my team look in the eyes of Grey??
C Yasmani Grandal
1B Chris Davis
2b Kolten Wong
SS Danny Santana
3B Nolan Arenado
CI Todd Frazier
MI Dee Gordon
OF Nelson Cruz
OF Bryce Harper
OF Marcell Ozuna
Util Kennys Vargas
Util Javier Baez
SPs: Colin McHugh, Drew Smyly, Matt Shoemaker, Jake Ordozzi, Shane Greene, Nate Eovaldi, Jake Peavy, JA Happ
RPs: Brett Cecil, Zach Britton, Francisco Rodriguez, Joel Peralta
JBs RCl today was so razzballian (arenado went 22nd)
Hence I tried to go contrarian
oof I did not draft well
can it be fixed to even compete?
C Zunino
1B AuShizz
2B Murphy
3B Harrison
SS Baez
CI Semien
Mi LaDouche
OF Springer
OF Yelich
OF Soler
OF Pederson
OF Pearce
U Carter
BN Rajai, Kang
P Scherzer, Strasburg, Chapman, Teheran, Robertson, Wacha, Pineda, Walker, Qualls, Rodon
tl;dr failed at trying to zig vs razzballers
20 teamer with holds and OPS. got 3rd overall pick. fairly versatile lineup here as well. Hundley at home, Vargas gets benched vs lefties.
C C-sant (43)
1B – Vargas (323)
2B – J.Ram (318)
SS – Dannys Antana (163)
3B – Sandoval (83)
OF – Stanton (3)
OF – Yelich (78)
OF – Arcia (203)
Util Souza (238)
BN -Flores (398)
BN – Hundley (443)
SP – Kluber (38, can’t wait for SP in 20 teamer, not if you want an ace)
SP – Fiers (118)
SP – McHugh (158)
SP – Keuchel (243)
SP – Peavy (283)
SP – Hellickson (363)
SP – Happ (438)
RP – Koji (123)
RP – McGee (198)
RP – Miller (278)
RP- J.Peralta (358)
RP – Jepsen (403)
how’s this one loo?