Michael Conforto (+29%) was the most added player in fantasy baseball this past week. The New York Mets have been staggering along on offense this season (29th in MLB in runs scored), which hasn't exactly made life easy for their impressive trio of starting pitchers (Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, and Noah Syndergaard) thus far. Despite this offensive ineptitude, they are currently just two games behind the NL East leading Washington Nationals in the standings. Ownership doesn't seem to be interested in significantly adding to the team payroll in order to improve the offense, so what's a playoff contending team to do? Why not call on your stud prospect for a boost down the stretch? Sounds nice and cheap to me!
Enter Conforto. The 22-year-old former first round draft pick has been successful at each stop in the minor leagues, but logged just 197 plate appearances above single-A ball prior to his MLB promotion. However, he's certainly hit the ground running in the very early going, producing a .444/.583/.667 triple slash line in his first three MLB games, including an impressive 4 hit outing against the Dodgers in just his second career big league game. Unfortunately, Steamer isn't terribly impressed, projecting a .243/.297/.383 line with 4 homers and 1 steal in 143 plate appearances for the rest of the 2015 season. The early book on him seems to be that he has plus power and plate discipline for his age, but offspeed stuff, particularly breaking balls, can give him problems. He's definitely worth a lottery ticket, but you probably shouldn't expect Conforto to be a fantasy stud immediately.
Here are a couple of other significant adds and drops in fantasy baseball over the past week:
Monthly Archives: July 2015
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Nearly a month ago the Marlins made the somewhat curious decision to send Marcell Ozuna down to Triple-A. Just looking at his offensive numbers — and not reading into their potential displeasure with him showing up to camp somewhat out of shape or he and agent Scott Boras' rejection of an extension— it isn't like Ozuna was setting the world on fire with his bat. Owner of a .249/.301/337 batting line before being sent down, it's hard to argue something too sinister, even from the Marlins. Sure, the team could be playing service clock games, but they would hardly be alone in doing such a thing. As Ozuna continues to pile up the stats in the minors, he was hitting .322/.365/.576 with three home runs in 63 plate appearances, prior to yesterday's game, I'm expecting to see Ozuna up sooner rather than later.
RCL Update, Week 17: And We Were Barely Dressed
July 28, 2015 | Our Leagues | 18 Commentsby: VinWins
Ain't no doubt about it, we were doubly blessed. OKAY, a bit more obscure than RCL Update, Week 16: Candles, but that's what you get with a substitute writer. I know many of my friends got it, including the fantastic Pamela. Hey, Pam, the Vin and Pam Revue is still rocking in the top 100 - check out the Master Standings!
Last week it was lefties beating up on Shane Greene, this week we have the Canadian lefty killers, the Toronto Blue Jays. If you read me at all this season you’ve noticed some themes. Mainly the pitching staffs I enjoy picking on most, Texas and Philadelphia. When one of those two waltzes into a home stadium of the highest scoring team in MLB, I get a little excited. The cherry on top is the first starter just so happens to give the platoon advantage to Toronto’s three best hitters. Not only have the Blue Jays scored 70+ more runs than the next best team, but they own the best team OPS (.832) vs. lefties by over 50 points. This is almost too good to be true, a dream matchup that most likely everyone will be on. Do with that info what you will, but you won’t catch me fading Josh Donaldson tonight, even at a lofty $5,800. Whether it be tournament or cash game, Dongaldson and his 1.051 OPS vs. LHP (or .441 wOBA if that’s the language you prefer to speak) this season will find his way into my lineups to pheast on Adam Morgan. You can fade him if you like, but if he goes triple dong, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Let’s see who else I’ll be looking at on tonight's slate.
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Late last night, Troy Tulowitzki was traded to the Blue Jays. Both hammys, his quads, his obliques, his elbow tendons, both groins. Why does he have two groins again? Maybe we don't need to know. The Rockies getting rid of Tulo makes me think of when a kid is dropped off at the airport to fly alone. A flight attendant walks with the kid, trying to make conversation, waits with them at the gate, helps them into their seat, watches after them on the flight, escorts them off the plane and walks them to their uncle. Once the Rockies representative handed Tulo off to his uncle, Alex Anthopoulos, the Rockies representative went into the bathroom, did a line of blow and dialed the Rockies, "We got rid of him!!!" The Blue Jays longed to have a shortstop with two good legs. Sadly, they traded Jose Reyes to the Rockies, so now they still have a shortstop with one good leg, unless the deal includes Reyes leaving behind a hammy. Obviously, leaving Coors isn't going to help anyone, but Tulo's big problem has always been his health. If he stays healthy, the Blue Jays aren't exactly the Kalamazoo Fightin' Zebras playing in Petco. The lineup around him will be better, and he'll get to face a junkload of terrible pitchers in the AL East. As for Reyes, he might not be long in Colorado, and if he is, then he gets a boost in value, until the Mile High air creeps into his hammys and does its worst. Reyes could now get back those extra five homers that seem to have disappeared from his usual batting line. Also, in this deal, LaTroy Hawkins went to the Jays. He was the flight attendant in the above scenario. Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
It's hard to pick which Ross is hated more: the one in Friends whose character is so annoying David Schwimmer could never get work again, or the dynamite starter for the Nationals, who even after pitching mad impressive through his first few starts, wasn't even the first SP to get the call when [player]Stephen Strasburg[/player] went back to the DL yet again. Why wasn't he the first call?!
After [player]Joe Ross[/player]'s first run in June, I kept him in the ranks a few more weeks even without a for-sure rotation spot, and when Strasburg tweaked the oblique, I was ready to vault him into the top-50. But nooooooo, instead they use, I dunno, [player]Taylor Jordan[/player] or someone who doesn't matter? C'mon Nats, what did Ross ever do to you?! Finally the Nationals got Ross back up to face the Mets last week in a decent - albeit underwhelming - start given the matchup, so I decided to break down his 5th MLB start at the Pirates, in a pitcher's duel Sunday afternoon against [player]Gerrit Cole[/player]. Here's how Ross looked:
SAGNOF Special, Week 17: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Bullpens
July 27, 2015 | Closers, Steals | 49 Commentsby: RotoLance
Some of the trade rumors I've seen are just plain funny. Craig Kimbrel to the Yankees? Wait, what!? Really? I'm not denying it as a possibility but I am thinking it might be a little overboard to acquire a premier closer when you probably only need a solid bullpen guy because you already have TWO premier closers. The list of closers and strong middle relievers available is so long this year. One thing's for sure, there are going to be some strong bullpens vying for postseason play. Here's the lowdown on closers and some other relievers who could be dealt in the upcoming weeks, starting with some of the players most likely to be traded and ending in with those much less likely to be.
A bonus edition of the Razzball Pod is here - well - bonus as in we brought the length this week! I don't know about the girth... Don't ask me about girth... On today's show we talk Scott Kazmir and Johnny Cueto's new teams (yes, to Grey's chagrin in that order), Preston Tucker staying hot, and if Grey puts any credence on splits. Hint - Grey isn't flexible at all! We then play another edition of higher/lower, discuss Cole Hamels' no-no, and A Rod hitting another bajillion homers. Plus some extra Grey singing! I have no idea what song that was... Here's the latest edition of the Razzball Baseball Podcast:
Nothing like starting the week off with some Alice In Chains, amirite? Wait, what am I talking about, I'm the old fogey around here. So what do you want to hear, kids? The Billboard top 100 tells me you might want to hear some guy (band?) named OMI and his song about cheerleaders so lemme go listen...yeah, you can keep that at a comfortable 100 foot distance from me cuz I just filed a restraining order. Alright, checking the top 100 rock tunes...Walk The Moon with 'Shut Up And Dance' is a rock song? I mean, I get the guitarist things he's The Edge but rock? You know, I was right, you wanted to hear some AIC and if you didn't please leave and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. Or do, really, I DGAF, that shizz is terrible. Wait, where'd you all go? Damn kids...ok, for those still here, I'm done with the nostalgia bomb and read to talk about Wood. Alex Wood, to be specific. Everyone is going to be scared off and for good reason. Pitcher going from the easiest division for pitchers to one of the best parks for hitters is very daunting but those splits, doe. Orioles don't sit at the top end of K% against lefties on the year but 22% is no laughing matter when you consider the miniscule 5.5% BB rate. It's definitely not a cash play call here as Alex has not performed up to expectation this year but if you're looking for a tourney edge, no one will be on Wood at $7,100 today and there's K upside here. So go enjoy your rock of choice (caveat: it can't suck) and play some Wood, could you? Your wallet may thank you for it...
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If you can remember back a few years, Johnny Cueto 401KO'd Jason LaRue with a kick to his head. When he got up, LaRue couldn't see straight and needed to retire. Elsewhere, Yordano Ventura (7 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks in what might've been a spot start) has been honing his fight-picking and ability to be held back by teammates so it doesn't look too obvious that he wants to be held back. After every game this year, Ventura sat in his hotel room, perfecting his Clubber Lang at the Rocky statue coronation. "Yo, if you want a real man, you come find me!" There was really only man that Ventura admired the league over. One man as diabolical. As lowdown! And now through a trade between the Reds and Royals, Cueto joins Ventura! This is like thunder meeting lightning! Bonnie and Clyde if they were both men! Germany and Italy joining forces to rid the world of non-mustached, non-broad shouldered women! Wonder Twin powers activate in the form of pure evil! So, Cueto's trade to the Royals obviously doesn't hurt him. He'll be on a team that can win games and it's a much better home stadium, but he also leaves the NL. That makes this feel like a push in value. Right now, his ERA is 2.62. How much lower could it be? Not much is my guess. He's a 2.50-3.15 ERA pitcher anywhere he is, so that's what he'll continue to be. Unless Yordano throws Great Kabuki-style green dust into every hitter's face when the ump's back is turned. Anyway, here's what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Top 100 Hitters, Week 17: Vacation Mandate
July 26, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 58 Commentsby: J-FOH
I went out on my annual mid-season man-date with Grey this past Friday. What a day! Sandwiches at the wine shop, facial hair products at the beauty supply store, and coffee at some weird fancy hipsteresque spot. I think the guy at the coffee spot wanted to kill the two of us because we were harassing him for not having any alternative sweeteners for my diabetic arse. No matter what we said to him, he just kept responding with, we only have our raw organic fair trade artisanal sugar syrup. He was Mets-front-office annoying. You might be asking yourself why am I telling you all this. Well, at Grey's suggestion, I have added in the DL players to gain some perspective into what they are worth compared to the healthy players for the rest of the season. Earlier in the year I left them out to get more players on the list, as I was figuring out how I wanted to take on the rankings. Like many of you know, this list got dropped on my lap right before the season started and I have been learning on the fly how to approach this. This is FOH's list!
Note: I mentioned in the RCL Update this week that I would be out on vacation. The Big Magoo handled the Creeper of the Week, and I will be in and out of the comments today. I'll also be getting some help from my co-workers so we don't leave you guys... and girls hanging. VinWins! will be covering the RCL Update for me on Tuesday. Thanks guys for helping me while I'm out. *hugs screen*
Creeper of the Week: Preston Tucker, The Fifth Outfielder
July 26, 2015 | Creeper of the Week | 31 Commentsby: Big Magoo
Greetings, weekend warriors. Your resident creeper, J-FOH, is unavailable this week due to either a mani/pedi or macaroni, I'm not quite sure. Bad phone connection. But whether he's tending to some fugly nails or an empty stomach, fear not. I'm here to fill the void, minus a hundred hyperlinks or so. So let's get to it. First up is Preston Tucker, one of the hottest schmotatoes in the land. Over the past week, he's produced a .381/.409/1.048 triple slash with 4 homers, 8 runs, and 6 RBI. That's a 1.048 slugging percentage, not OPS. Pretty Bryce Harper-esque. At home, where he'll be playing six games this upcoming week, he's managed a .291/.351/.523 line, and he's crushed right-handed pitching to the tune of .296/.359/.585. The four righties that he'll be facing - Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver, Rubby de la Rosa, and Jeremy Hellickson - aren't exactly a fearsome group to contend with. As of right now, Tucker is owned in 11.2% of ESPN leagues. Like Chris Tucker in The Fifth Element, he won't outshine the studs, but he should be a valuable role player.
Here are a few other bonus creepers for the week of 7/27 - 8/2:
