We at Razzball realize that exporting our views across the country has damaging consequences on the blogosphere. To help make amends, we are reaching out to leading team blogs and featuring their locally blogged answers to pressing 2012 fantasy baseball questions regarding their team. We feel this approach will be fresher, more sustainable, and require less energy consumption (for us anyway). The 2012 Marlins Fantasy Baseball Preview comes courtesy of Fish Stripes?
1) Not sure how familiar with Jose Reyes’s fifteen minutes extended handshakes, but they’re legendary. I hear he’s come up with one handshake that will involve him lighting a fire under Hanley’s ass so he plays third base. Will this handshake be necessary?
I don’t think it will be, though I’d be more than happy to see Ramirez more fired up than usual. I think the threat of losing out on millions of dollars in a few seasons will be enough to make Ramirez want to be the best third baseman he can be, but it does help to have someone who can be friendly and relate to him playing a few feet away from him. Reyes has a reputation for being an awesome clubhouse character, and that should help keep their relationship smooth and Ramirez hungry to compete and prove that he is still an elite player.
2) Jeffrey Loria’s rich aunt died and left him money to enhance the team (total conjecture…or is it?!) and now he wants to get rid of his rich uncle to fix this about the new park: A) Fences too far out making it a pitchers’ park. B) Fences too low and in for hitters. C) Less seats so it still doesn’t look so empty. Also, in general, how will their new park play?
One of our writers pointed out that the Marlins’ new stadium had walls close to that of Petco Park’s depth. In that respect at least, the Fish will be boasting a pitcher’s park similar to the one it had before the move. While Petco has additional factors that make it the worst place to hit in baseball, I doubt that the Marlins’ new stadium will be nice to hitters. The left field side will be deeper, while the right field remains of similar distance. The corner walls will be moved in a tad, but this is compensating for a deeper left and right middle field.
Also, there actually will be fewer seats to make everything feel more “cozy;” The Marlins will be boasting the smallest full-capacity stadium in the majors next year at just around 37,000 in full seating. Considering that they have not reached that capacity since 2003, I would not blame them.
3) Giancarlo Stanton will hit 40 homers, steal 15 bags and I will change my middle name to Giancarlo-Stanton. What’s the chances those things happen?
Stanton has a very good shot at hitting 40 home runs; a lot of projections have him reaching around 37 this season, so it would not be a stretch to put 40 in his 30th or 40th percentile projection. While it is less likely that he just develops more raw power than he already has as he ages (only Jim Thome has hit more home runs per fly ball since 2010 among players with at least 1000 PA), it is possible that he learns to lift balls more and give himself more chances at knocking them out of the park.
As for the other two projections, they are far less likely. Stanton does have the athleticism to steal bags, but it is difficult to imagine the Fish wanting him moving in front of good hitters with the risk that he will run them out of an inning with his limited stealing experience. And given Stanton’s full name, isn’t it much more likely that you change your middle name to Giancarlo? If he’s not going to use it, someone should.
4) What will 2012 look like for Logan Morrison? (BTW, His Twitter account spontaneously combusts while tweeting with Ozzie’s Twitter account is one answer, but I”m looking for on the field predictions.)
Logan Morrison should appear as someone in between his no-power OBP machine 2010 and his stronger but lower batting average 2011. He isn’t going to bat .330 or .260 on balls in play, so expecting something in between and leading to a .270 batting average and almost 20 home runs is not a bad start. A .270/.360/.470 slash line and a decently productive fantasy season seem to be in line for the Twitter addict Oh, and his Twitter account should repeat as the best in the game for a second straight season.
5) What will be the biggest change now that the Marlins have moved to Miami?
A) Each game will begin with Hanley, Josh Johnson and Giancarlo Stanton entering amidst smoke and lights, proclaiming they are going to win 8 World Series.
B) Marlin catchers will argue balls/strikes by pulling a David Caruso (half statement, remove glasses, finish statement)
C) Marlin pitchers will wear Don Johnsonesque sports jackets when on base.
D) In the pre-game warm-up vs. the Cubs, Starlin Castro will be assassinated.
I’m desperately wishing for B), but I’m going to choose C). They already are wearing oddly colored jerseys, so they might as well complete the ensemble for the pitchers when running the bases. Every time there’s a hit, Miami Vice’s theme song is already going to go off anyway.
Braun #1 on the most current ADP at MDC
@B.o.B., Makes sense…
Offered this deal:
Felatio for Krispie/Walden
I could then pick up Myers, Jim Johnson, or some other handcuff.
I’d then have Storen, Marmol, Farnsworth, and whoever I pick up. Pull the trigger?
@Wilsonian, another offer from the same guy:
I get Doc, BJ, and Guerra
I give Lincecum, Krispie, and Walden
Both offers are on the table. Do I do either?
8 Team H2H keeper league.
@Wilsonian, I’d take Doc.
@Grey, is it close? Also, would you hang on to Guerra or drop him for someone like Myers? It’s a Ks and Ks/9 league.
@Wilsonian, Not really that close…. I’d hold Guerra.
Finished my keeper league auction earlier, how did I do? I’ll include my keepers in my team below, 10 teamer:
C- Wieters (K)
1B- Gaby
2B- Ackley (K)
3B- Zimmerman
SS- Han-Ram
MI- Andrus
CI- Big Donkey (praying he’s not done!)
OF- Bruce (K)
OF- Dread Pirate
OF- Hambo
OF- Torii
OF- Melk man
Util- Moobs
P- Lester
P- Cain
P- Mad-Bum
P- Gio
P- Marcum
P- Holland
P- Motte
P- Walden
P- Santos
B- Perez
B- Minor
B- Encarnacion
B- Boesch
B- R Roberts
B- Pestano
@TheNewGuy, Bum, Cain, Gio and Minor (promoted prospect so $0) were keepers too.
@TheNewGuy, You look pretty low on power and… Adam Dunn? Really? Pitching looks much better than it needs to be, which is the problem with the hitting.
@Grey, Well I thought Big Donkey was worth the risk, ESPN don’t seem to think he’s done and he was only cheap. Also have Encarnacion as backup too if he still sucks. Getting quality hitting was tough because there were few unkept big bats and so the ones available went for premium prices (e.g Prince $43!)
Yeah I might consider trading an arm like Cain for a power bat as the season gets underway, especially if Minor and Holland work out like we hope.
@Grey, prediction, please: How long into the season before Billy Butler gets 5 games at 1B (and eligibility there in CBS leagues), and do you like him more or Jason Heyward in a keeper league where they cost about the same this year (Billy 14, Jason 15)? Thanks!
@Jon D, Barring an injury, depends who aggressive the Royals are getting Butler ABs during interleague, so maybe 2 months… Heyward…
Joey Votto FOR Mark Teixeira/Dan Haren.
Which side wins? I ask because I know you love Votto plus aren’t terribly high on Tex but that offer seems pretty good.
@Ringo, Tex side if you need pitching…
Who do you like for saves in a Ks/9 league:
Jim Johnson or Myers?
@Wilsonian, Kinda tomato-tomahto… Myers
@Grey, kinda what I thought. I’m attempting to deal Chacin/Farnsworth for DHudson from the guy who autodrafted and ended up with one closer, and then I’d grab one of those guys.
Looking for saves. Jansen, Balfour, or Fuentes? Which is the best pick for now?
Jansen…
@Grey: having issues downloading the iPad razzball app. Safari is saying it can’t download it. Have other readers had similar issues? Not exactly tech savvy, so any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks.
@ Grey :
giancarlo hit on the wrist .
being taken for pictures .
@chata, I’m praying for him.
@Grey Looking for a late round flyer with upside (16 team H2H pts): J Parker, Skaggs, Leake, Hultzen, Milone.
Leake
Grey,
In your last post you replied that Yahoo used O-Ranks for auto draft and that they did not base them on individual league settings (I assume then that you think they base them on standard 5×5). Can any verify that this is true?
If it is true, where can I find the O-Ranks BEFORE my league has been set up? My league commissioner doesn’t set the league up until the night before the draft.
Thanks for your help. I’ve always loved the mix of comedy and fantasy in your columns.
@Tammy, Thanks for the kind words! I was given a chart of my rankings vs. O-Ranks, that’s all I went on. Then I Googled what is an O-Rank and I quoted it in the post. I don’t follow/read Yahoo’s coverage so I’m not sure what they are, but I’m pretty sure there’s no way they are changing O-Ranks for each possible variation on a league’s settings.
Anyone else think that Cespedes home run swing today looked like Andruw Jones in his prime? Cust sayin…
@TheNewGuy, Didn’t see it but remember hearing that his stroke was a little long.
first draft down..12 team mixed…how’d i do? weaknesses?
c- ramos
1b- sandoval
2b- young
ss- bonifacio
3b- longoria
of- bautista
of- bruce
of- stubbs
util- butler
bench: morrison, wells, rajai
sp- haren, bumgarner, gio, anibal, scherzer, worley, cahill
rp- motte, farnsworth, myers, clippard
thanks!
Pitching looks solid, don’t think you needed Bonifacio and Stubbs then to take Rajai too is too much…
@Grey, i can always plug Morrison in for Stubbs. rajai was my last pick of the draft and probably the first to get cut. i think there is a solid core offense there. thanks for the input.
@paulzone, Ha since when has Sandoval been eligable at 1B.
@TheNewGuy, Sandoval is eligible at 1B, 3B in Yahoo.
RCL #11 has a spot open. It’s a $50 Buy in. I have ALL owners buy in already in but have been unable to contact an owner. I’m going to delete his team tonight and let a new interested, PAYING, owner in.
If you are interested please email me at [email protected]
I’ve ran this league for 3-4 years now? I’ve always paid out all the money. Multiple guys who have been in it are back this year. Top 3 spots are paid.
OH and we draft this Thursday 3/15/12 at 8:15pm!!! We can’t switch it… sorry, hit me up at the email above.
@ Grey
that A’s raftee that you drafted is in the line-up today ,
batting 2nd .
game time …. now .
also , they’re letting clowny play ?
these rules suck .
That does seem off that Clowny can play but I guess the suspension is only for the regular season…
@Grey, Raftee went 2-for-2 with a donk apparently.
@Steve, Nice, I’d be more than happy if he has a better year than I expected because I ended up drafting in two of 4 leagues already.
@Grey,
the shoulder-high pitch that he hit on a line-drive over the left
field fence reminded me of gary sheffield .
Nice…
@chata, Just watched it… Good call on Sheffield-like.
@Grey: By the time we got to the Grilled Cheese truck, they were packing up and ready to go :/ Gonna give it another try tonight, they will be at some church in Pasadena.
Damn, that sucks…
Grey here is my 12 team, 13 keeper H2H standard ESPN scoring team after our draft:
C – Posey, Ramos
1B – Fielder
2B – R Weeks, A Hill, D Espinosa
SS – Dee Gordon
3B – HanRam, Chisenhall
OF – Stanton, Morse, Crawford, Boesch, Fowler
SP – Grienke, Bumgarner, Pineda, Morrow, Volquez, E Jackson
RP – Beard, Storen, J Johnson, D Robertson
Drafted Robertson the day before he got hurt and 2 picks before Clippard went, DOH!
Anyways I’m trying to move Weeks for a SP, as Hill and Espinosa were just too good of a value to pass up where I got them, and I have 2 UTIL spots to work with. I cant seem to get anyone to bite on Weeks, but I’ve been offered Dan Hudson for Michael Morse. With Crawford hurt I’d be rolling the dice that I could turn around and move Weeks for a good OF before the season starts, but I am worried Morse is a one year wonder so I am pondering this offer. Thoughts?
@TualatinTwoStep, Robertson says he’ll be fine. Moving Weeks would be better than moving Morse. Don’t love your SPs after Bum. Some are okay, but you have a lot of risk.
@Grey, yeah Volquez and Jackson were my last 2 picks, and I got Morrow late enough that it made sense, but I feel you big time. I tried to move Weeks for Matt Cain, but his owner has Pedroia and was not interested. I want to move Weeks for a nice safe SP, lol. Thanks for the advice man, its greatly appreciated.
No problem…
12-team, H2H, 8-player keeper league, 7×7
Batting cat: R, XBH, RBI, H, BB, SB, OBP
Pitching cat: ERA, WHIP, SV, HD, K, W, QS
I have the 3rd pick in the draft, who are your top 3 out of this group to target?
Bats- Uggla, Castro, Lawrie, Konerko, Berkman, Kendrick, BJ Upton
Pitchers- Greinke, Bumgarner
C- McCann
1B- Miggy
2B- Utley
3B- Wright
SS- Andrus
IF- Lind
RF- Cruz
CF-
LF-
OF- Pence
UTILx2-
SPx3
RPx2
Px4
BNx9
@Project_Badass, Greinke, Bum, whatever other SP is available…
@Grey,
surprised you didn’t recommend BJ as the 3rd .
with 96 keepers off the board , the chance to add
a CF who can match up with elvis’ SB production seems
like a no-brainer .
@Grey – huge fan of the site & your writing. Long time lurker, 1st time commenter. Was wondering if I could get your take on a Mock I just did.
12 team ROTO, 3rd position
C – Wilson Ramos (21)
1B – Eric Hosmer (5)
2B – Ian Kinsler (2)
3B – Jose Bautista (1)
SS – Dee Gordon (8)
OF – Giancarlo Stanton (3)
OF – Jay Bruce (4)
OF – Brett Gardner (9)
U – Erick Aybar (13)
U – Adam Lind (14)
SP – Madison Bumgarner (6)
SP – CJ Wilson (7)
RP – Joel Hanrahan (10)
RP – Ryan Madson (11)
P – Cory Luebke (12)
P – Brett Myers (15)
P – Javy Guerra (16)
B – Brandon McCarthy (17)
B – Johan Santana (18)
B – Daniel Murphy (19)
B – Vinnie Pestano (20)
B – Trevor Cahill (22)
B – Addison Reed (23)
Picked up Murphy to cover the obligatory Kinsler DL stint, and Aybar to hedge my bet on Dee Gordon…
Thanks!
@Bill_Buckner, Thanks for the kind words! Really strong hitting team, I don’t love the Aybar UTIL pick, if you need to cover Gordon in-season, then you do it then. Pitching is solid, nice flyers at the end. Daniel Murphy is a throwaway pick.
@Grey, Thanks! Had remorse the second I took Aybar, and the Murphy pick is probably my blue & orange shaded spectacles rearing their bandaged, bengay-coated, overpriced, under-performing frames.
Your username makes sense now…
@Bill_Buckner, Your SPs look weak on the whole imo man. Last 3 guys are all late round gambles, need some more guarantees.
If you grab OF in round one (Braun, Kemp or Upton), who are you targeting for 1B and 3B in rounds 2-5? I know Longoria is high on list. Drafting OF in round one makes me nervous I will fall behind in 1B and/or 3B. Do you agree?
I just recently did a 12 team, H2H auction draft and came away with…
C = Carlos Santana
1B = Billy Butler
2B = Dan Uggla
3B = David Wright
SS = Hanley Ramirez
OF = Ryan Braun
OF = Howie Kendrick
OF = Chris Young
DH = David Ortiz
DH = Mark Reynolds
BN = SS Alexei Ramirez
BN = 1B Ike Davis
BN = 3B/OF Martin Prado
BN = OF Melky Cabrera
INJ = 1B Ryan Howard
SP = Madison Bumgarner
SP = Adam Wainwright
SP = Josh Johnson
SP = Adam Wainwright
SP = Ricky Romero
SP = Derek Holland
RP = Carlos Marmol
RP = Joakim Soria
I went a little overboard on the offensive players and I am trying to figure out who I should drop. Vinnie Pestano is a FA and I am looking to pick him up ASAP but I don’t know who to drop. I obviously need more pitchers aswell. 3 owners went crazy with RPs and picked 19 of them so having 2 good ones in Marmol and Soria with a darkhorse like Pestano should be good. I was thinking drop Melky for Pestano? I don’t normally post “look at my whole team, tell me what you think?” posts but I figure all my bench hitters hold similar value. THANKS MAN
@Ringo, Scrap Adam Wainwright (2) for Tommy Hanson. I got my injury risk, Ace trifecta in Waino, Johnson and Hanson.
@Ringo, Drop Prado… And you need more bench arms and less bench bats when you draft… Especially with a pitching staff as injury risky as yours…
I agree with Grey. I tend to try to avoid the injury risk pitchers, and you went with 3. I’d do my best to try to get rid of Prado, Melky, and/or Ike for some arms. Preferably another closer-ish guy and some less injury prone starters.
@Grey, While I totally agree its not exactly easy dropping those players into the FA pool. Thats why I needed a little kick in the butt.
@Grey, To kind of go a little more in depth with my query, what is your ideal lineup configuration for the Standard Y! setup? How many SPs and RPs? How many Bench Hitters? etc.
@Ringo, 12 team league – no more than 2 bench bats; 5-7 SP; 3-5 RP. The pitchers depend on how big the rosters are.
@Ringo, Agree with Wilsonian.
Thoughts on Ian Desmond? Rumors the Nats are experimenting with other SS. I have Desmond penciled in as a keeper.
@Mac D, I have him penciled in as the starting SS. If he’s your keeper, I’m assuming you’re in a very deep league so I’m guessing you don’t have many other options, right?
@Grey, We declare keepers today and I am getting cold feet on Ian. When we declare we have to decide how many years to keep them. The league just went to 20 teams this year.
I have Votto, Hill, Kemp, Lincecum, Gallardo from last year
I am keeping Des Jennings for the max of 4 years
You recommended keeping
Ian Desmond $4
Chisenhall $2
Hellickson $11
McCarthy $2
With the Nats not confident does Kimbrel $15 move past him? Tabata $11?
@Mac D, If you meant other options at SS….. I know these guys are already kept by someone.
Tulo/Andrus/Castro/Bonifaciao/Hardy
I ASSUME
Escobar/Aybar will be kept but I won’t know until we all declare
@Mac D, Keep Kimbrel…
Grey
Please rank this draft
12 team Yahoo mock draft. I purposely passed over some guys I know won’t be available in my real draft…My league is 6×6 with offensive K’s, QS and Losses.
1. Adrián González (Bos – 1B)
2. Andrew McCutchen (Pit – OF)
3. Pablo Sandoval (SF – 1B,3B)
4. Hunter Pence (Phi – OF)
5. Brandon Phillips (Cin – 2B)
6. Matt Cain (SF – SP)
7. Adam Jones (Bal – OF)
8. Brett Gardner (NYY – OF)
9. Brandon Beachy (Atl – SP)
10. Billy Butler (KC – 1B)
11. Josh Beckett (Bos – SP)
12. Erick Aybar (LAA – SS)
13. Sergio Santos (Tor – RP)
14. Max Scherzer (Det – SP)
15. Chris Pérez (Cle – RP)
16. Kyle Farnsworth (TB – RP)
17. Yadier Molina (StL – C)
18. Brennan Boesch (Det – OF)
19. Jim Johnson (Bal – RP)
20. Mike Minor (Atl – SP)
21. Jonny Venters (Atl – RP)
22. Brad Peacock (Oak – SP)
23. Mike Adams (Tex – RP)
@cashmoney, Team looks low on power and high on speed. Pitching looks fine…
@Grey, My keeper is Napoli…I think with him in place of Molina I will be alright.
This site has given me a huge advantage in building a pitching staff, especially later on in the draft, over any team in my league. Thanks for the help
hey grey…can you rank these end game fliers?
reimold/lahair/presley/andres torres
[email protected]!!!
I wish Berry would participate in the Razzpert leaggue. Guess who he would take wayyyy before anyone else?
“Finally, consider these names: Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, Justin Upton, Robinson Cano, Joey Votto, Carlos Gonzalez. According to our Player Rater, which judges every player on how valuable they are in standard rotisserie categories as compared to every other player, Michael Bourn was better than all of those guys last year. He’s a stud and I don’t want to have to plant a rumor of the existence of a clandestine tape featuring him and a Hollywood starlet to convince you of that fact.”
@schlitzy, That’s awesome. One would think that the Player Rater ranking Bourn so high would cause one to doubt the Player Rater’s ability to, well, rate players, but that would require one to think, so…
@royce!, My question for Mr. Berry is, “What the hell is ESPN’s player rater smoking?!”.
@schlitzy, Ha! Better? Wow… He’s lost it.
Ouch. D was a bad joke.
Last year the marlins were 72-90. They play the Phillies and Braves so I won’t assume they will win the division. However, what do you think are the marlins chances of winning over 85 and grabbing the wild card spot for the NL?
@Bourne, PS, I will add that Jeff Loria will get legislation passed in Florida that each Marlins ticket stub adds a month to work visas and finally the state of Florida will sell out a sporting event that doesn’t have Tim Tebow at it.
@Bourne, The Marlins still don’t have much chance of getting a Wild card spot imo, outside JJ and Anibal their pitching is BAD. Assuming the Brewers, Phillies and D-Backs win their division again which there is a good chance of, I can see the Wild cards coming from the Braves and Reds…or maybe the Giants.
@Bourne, I think they could make the playoffs. Probably 8 to 1 odds…