For these pitcher pairings, I’m going to be using our (my) 2016 fantasy baseball rankings. Notably, the top 20 starters for 2016 fantasy baseball, top 40 starters for 2016, top 60 starters for 2016 and the top 80 starters for 2016. You can also just go to our Fantasy Baseball War Room. Okay, formalities out of the way. *rolls up sleeves, makes farting noise with hand under armpit, rolls down sleeve* Let’s get busy! Now, what is a pitcher pairing? It’s your plan for putting together a fantasy staff. A course of action. If you have A pitcher, which B, C, D, E and F pitcher goes with him? Which is different than ‘F this pitcher,’ that’s what you say in May. You should have six starters. The sixth starter is Aaron Sanchez or take whoever you want. I suggest an upside pick. Sanchez comes to mind. Or Vincent Velasquez. Daniel Norris also comes to mind. I’m going to assume you’re in a 12 team, 5×5 and some variation of 9 pitcher leagues like the Razzball Commenter Leagues. Speaking of which, the RCL league signups began on Monday, go sign up for a league. (NOTE: What you are about to read is massively confusing. If it were found scribbled in a notebook, the FBI would be watching me. If Charles Manson stood up and read this at the next prison Meet N’ Greet, no one would blink an eye.) Anyway, here’s pitcher pairings for pitching staffs for 2016 fantasy baseball drafts:
TIERS
If your first pitcher is from the tiers: “Security blankets are for bouncers who are chilly,” or “I ain’t mad at cha, I ain’t mad for you either.”
These tiers are from Kershaw to Bumgarner. If you draft someone from these tiers, you’ll probably lose your league or get lucky with your hitters. If you do draft one, I wouldn’t take another pitcher until the tiers, “Gluttony” and “Drafting like sugar packets on Nicole Kidman’s leg.” Take one pitcher from one of those two tiers. Then grab three starters from any of the tiers, “Ever heard of Effen Vodka? Well, I’m drunk on so many effin’ pitchers,” “They can’t all be *67-this-phone-call-cause-I’m-about-to-catch-charges sexy,” “A) Asleep B) Comatose C) There’s no C. D) Dead,” and “Unexciting but safe.” Finally, one pitcher from, “Grey’s upside your head!” So, you’d have a rotation something like Matt Harvey, Yu Darvish, Luis Severino, Wei-Yin Chen, Joe Ross and Trevor Bauer. Or maybe David Price, Lance McCullers, Mike Leake, Jason Hammel, Aaron Nola and Aaron Sanchez. For the A-A-Rons! Either of those staffs will probably have 13’s in every pitching category in a 12 team league.
If your first pitcher is from the tiers: “I have illusions of drafting these guys, maybe they’re delusions, or is it allusions?”
This tier goes from Gerrit Cole to Strasburg. I’d pair any of them with anyone in their same tier or in the tier, “Okay, you need to draft a starter at some point prolly, but if you’re looking at me to force you to draft a starter, you’re looking at the wrong guy,” or in the tier, “Fetty Wap,” but it’s not mandatory. In other words, if I drafted Gerrit Cole, I could see taking Strasburg or Tyson Ross or Cole Hamels or anyone from any of those tiers, but I wouldn’t reach either. If you do take two guys from those first three tiers, then you jump to Gluttony or Nicole Kidman’s leg and take one guy. You’ll be fine taking Gerrit Cole and moving right into the “Gluttony” and “Drafting like sugar packets on Nicole Kidman’s leg” tiers. If you skip Fetty and “Okay, you need to draft a starter at some point prolly…,” then you draft two guys from Gluttony and Nicole Kidman’s leg. So, you could either have something like Gerrit Cole, Cole Hamels and Lance McCullers or something like Gerrit Cole, Steven Matz, Garrett Richards. Either way, you then move along to Effen Vodka, *67, A, B, C, D and Unexciting but Safe and grab two guys. Finally, one guy from Upside Grey’s Head. So, you’ll have something like Gerrit Cole, Steven Matz, Garrett Richards, Aaron Nola, Eduardo Rodriguez and Erasmo Ramirez. Don’t mind if I do! Or you could have something like Gerrit Cole, Cole Hamels, Lance McCullers, Kevin Gausman, Mike Fiers and Daniel Norris. That’s straight gorge. As in engorged.
If your first pitcher is from the tiers: “Okay, you need to draft a starter at some point prolly, but if you’re looking at me to force you to draft a starter, you’re looking at the wrong guy,” or “Fetty Wap.”
These tiers go from Carrasco to Salazar and Tyson Ross to Jon Lester. This is likely the way I’m going in 12-team leagues and shallower. This would be ideal (and just as convoluted. Anyone that actually reads AND understands this post deserves a gold star and a head exam.) My first pitcher will be from “Okay, you need to draft a starter…” or “Fetty Wap” then two starters from Gluttony and Nicole Kidman’s leg, then two starters from Effen Vodka, *67, A, B, C, D and Unexciting. Finally a starter from Grey’s Upside Yo’ Head. So, you could have something like Carrasco, McCullers, Rodon, Wei-Yin, Kazmir and Paxton. You just won your league and games haven’t even started. You’re welcome.
Close to ideal (let’s say ideal-ish) is if you draft one pitcher from “Okay…” and one pitcher from “Fetty Wap,” then a Gluttony or Nicole’s leg, then two from Effen, *67, ABCD and Unexciting, then one from Upside Yo’ Head. So, you could have something like Carrasco, Cole Hamels, McCullers, Severino, Kazmir and Paxton. Could this post become more confusing? Short answer: no. Long answer: nooooooooooo. But let’s try…
Overall Thoughts
You can’t go wrong with a lot of different sets of pitchers. Shoot (not you, deranged white man), you probably could do fine with drafting only 3 starters and 3 great relievers and streaming. If you stick to the pitchers I like, then you’ll do well matching them up any way you see fit. The key is to make sure you are drafting offense early and often. What I’m doing with my tiers pairing is making sure you’re drafting a balanced staff. You can draft too much upside. That’s why every time I draft a guy from the Gluttony tier, I’m trying to look at the *67 tier, ABCD and Unexciting and not going straight to Upside Yo Head. The *67, ABCD and Unexciting tiers are slightly more boring but safer and helpful for any pitching staff. They are your “Hopefully he can give me a 6 IP, 2 ER start, because Yordano is face-pounding a mascot and it’s the best thing he’s done all year,” starters. Look at some of names in those tiers: Quintana, Leake, Kennedy, Ryu, Chen, Kazmir, etc. You’re really hoping to take the risk off of your Yordanos and Odorizzis with them. Unexciting won’t win you your league, but without it you could be lost.
TROUBLE AREAS
WHIP Issues – For every pitcher who is projected over a 1.23 WHIP, take one below. The quicker you do this, the better off you’ll be. For instance, if you take Quintana, who I have projected for a 1.24, you need to pair him with someone I have projected below a 1.23. Don’t pair Quintana with Eduardo Rodriguez. Pair him with someone like Nola. Remember, the further you get into the rankings, the harder it becomes to find lower WHIPs. Side note: WHIP can be helped by closers and MRs… Or hurt by them.
What about “Oh, I’m so gonna own these guys…at some point in the season” or “Dot dot dot” or “What year is it again?”– There’s a whole slew of pitchers I haven’t mentioned after the Upside tier. I even like some of them, namely the Dot dot dot and What year is it again? tiers in the top 100 starters for 2016 fantasy baseball. These guys are 7th starters, DL-bound or minor league-bound starters that you’re stashing. I wouldn’t count on any of them for anything. I like me some Bundy as much as the next guy fascinated with serial killers or pro wrestlers that look like serial killers, but are you really starting him every time out in April and risking a huge blow up, which would lead to a crushing April that leaves you in your fantasy baseball basement and a chance to start trading for keepers in May? You take a flyer on someone like Rubby, hope he works out and if he doesn’t, you decide whether to drop him in redraft leagues. He’s not your 6th starter.
K ISSUES – For drafters who follow my lead, this shouldn’t be much of an issue. You’re shooting for around 150/starter.
Overall Pitching Issues – Just about everyone, including yours truly, drops at least one of their starters by May 1st. Obviously, you want the best team coming out the draft, but it’s a marathon not a sprint. Starters always come out of nowhere on waivers to become productive. Always. Even in deep leagues.
BONUS FEATURE
Because we both know everything above this point was the gibberish of a mad mind, here’s an easy to use shortcut. Just click the pitcher you draft, then you’ll get a short list of the next pitcher you’re supposed to draft. Frank Voila, snitches! Now, have at it:
Grey!
What’s up?
a. I took the survey do I get a prize? Haha, don’t answer it’s a hypothetical question.
b. War Room up and running, took a few new user registrations so very sorry to all out there. The new e-mail domain of abc.com is now extinct. Am moving on to the new e-mail domain of abcd.com.
Cheers,
Ante
A. Ha B. Don’t worry about it, it’s all good with me, just ignore those Viagra emails we send you, unless of course you don’t want to ignore them
Grey!
This is my first mock draft result which I input into the war room app. My first three picks were OFs – Harper, Betts and Springer. My first pitcher was Stras in round 4. Of course, there were no good 1B available so I waited around for Duda.
Questions abound.
a. At the bottom of the batters stats, it says SBs 75% for goal reached. So I guess I need more SBs.
b. I have Ozuna and 2 pitchers on my bench. Is there something wrong with that? This is my second bench question so maybe someone could write an article about how to occupy the bench? Maybe? Not gonna happen? Ok.
c. I took Uehara with my last pick in panic, similar to when I drafted Panik. Are high-K / low WHIP guys like Capps, Betances, Miller, Romo, Scribner, Smith (not the actor), Knebel and Siegrist really important to draft and where does one draft them? I’m obviously concerned about the 180 start limit. How many of these guys should be drafted in your standard 5X5, 12-team roto league?
C Welington Castillo
1B Lucas Duda
2B Rougned Odor
SS Ketel Marte
3B Maikel Franco
MI Joe Panik
CI Mike Moustakas
OF Bryce Harper
OF Mookie Betts
OF George Springer
OF Lorenzo Cain
OF Jorge Soler
UTIL Michael Conforto
BENCH Marcell Ozuna
Total 1059 285 1009 141 .276
Goal 1045 261 1008 189 .267
% Goal 101% 109% 100% 75% 103%
P Stephen Strasburg
P Danny Salazar
P Marcus Stroman
P Francisco Liriano
P Raisel Iglesias
P Steven Matz
P Yordano Ventura
P Patrick Corbin
P Aaron Nola
BENCH Carlos Rodon
BENCH Koji Uehara
Total 110 1630 3.31 1.16 0
Goal 100 1330 3.44 1.24 92
% Goal 110% 123% 104% 107% –
Cheers,
Ante
A. Yup B. It’s fine, but you don’t actually need a bench bat in a 12 team league… You can just grab one in-season C. Middle relievers are available in-season too, so you can grab one you like but others will be available once the season starts…
@Ante GALIC: if this an RCL prep you might want to grab a couple closers and buy the stream o nator and hitter tron. Those are perfect tools for the RCL’S. Also the daily dfs articles are great places to get daily streams/batty calls
This “Who are your pitchers?” quiz is the best. Finally I can stop taking Buzzfeed quizzes about which movie dog I am based on my zodiac sign and favorite color (Air Bud)!
Anywho, trying to pick my final keeper in a 12 team roto ($260 budget) . . . it’s between a $14 Darvish (there are plenty of DL spots), an $8 Melancon, and a $6 Smyly.
I love Smyly, but I feel like I can definitely get him in the auction for this price or even less (not the case for the other two). SAGNOF and take the raw ridiculous skills of Darvish?
See, I always end up doing which 90210 character are you…Steve Sanders?! I’m doing it again!
Darvish
@Grey: thanks for the Darvish recommendation – that’s SUCH a TOTALLY Steve Sanders thing to say!
NO!!!
Hi Grey
How would you change this for a 16 team league H2H with QS in addition to the standard 5×5? No start caps per week. Limited to 4 pickups per week. Thinking I’ll need to carry a larger number of pitchers, since the waiver wire will be bleak.
My initial plan was to start with Carrasco and lester or liriano, then fill out with volume. Carry about 9-10 starters and 3 sagnof to shoot to win W, QS, K, S every week and era/whip when ever it works out.
Thanks
The pairings tool has Karns on there twice
Oops, fixed
@Grey: I thought that was your way of saying if you are drafting karns you are doing it wrong.
Ha
This is the article I’ve been waiting for!!
New Aesop Rock song today with album announcement and it’s not only on Tidal!!!!!
I was going to put this article only on Tidal, but decided against it
Grey, my league has no innings limit and daily line up changes so we end up having to roster 8-9 SP to meet the W and K. How would this change using this strategy? I am already keeping stroman, matz and rodon.
I’d take another starter in the Effen Vodka through Unexciting range and another starter at the end in Upside
Grey
This is always the most helpful of all your helpful articles! Thank you
I looked back at my last 2 yrs of 5×5 roto, 12 team leagues, ( 5 per yr, so 10 total, a pretty nice sample size).
The top 3 average as follows:
ERA 3.00
WHIP 1.15
K’s works out to 1 K Per inning pitched, or slightly higher ( so in 1300 inking a limit leagues, it takes 1300 K’s to be in the top 3 ).
Will the pairings you set up get me to these numbers? If not, what do you recommend?
Thank s again. So helpful!
Yes, these pairings will help you
$260 auction budget, keeper league: I’m toying with the idea of keeping the following SP, but I’m concerned I’m dedicating too much of my budget:
–Scherzer $42
–Harvey $26
–C-Mart $8
–Gausman $5
I’m keeping a decent amount of “value” positional players (Corey Seager $5, Lindor $7, Cain $6, Schoop $5, Souza $5). Am I dedicating too much to my SP?
That’s a lot for Scherzer, the other three are solid
How would you draft pitching in a league that has extra offence than your typical 12 team H2H? 1b,2b,ss,3b,ci,mi,of,of,of,of,of,util
Would you put more or less emphasis on pitching? Same?
@Nolarado:
one C
Great work as usual. Any idea if there will be a Tiers sheet to use this year? (Everyone on one document but separated by position then your tiers)? It is super helpful.
Someone else makes up the tier sheet, waiting on someone else to make it…
@Grey: cool, that is what I thought. Thanks again.
No problem
Meant to ask this in the earlier comment, but got caught up in AirBud . . .
If you could swing a keeper league trade of your $14 Hosmer for a $7 Polanco, am I safe to assume from your rankings that you would make this trade in a heartbeat?
I’d take Polanco
@Grey: Cool, thanks. Starting off with a lower offer of Melancon ($8) for Polanco to see what happens from there. The other team is out of luck for their $8 Andrew Miller so perhaps they have an interesting in a same-priced closer keeper…
Gotcha
What about weekly leagues? No streaming. I have followed this pairings tool and it seems to work well in weekly leagues. We have a 10 pitcher roster so I just add a guy from the middle teirs. Thanks, I enjoy razzball.
The pairings are still pitchers I like so I wouldn’t veer away from this…
Good morning sir!
Thank you for you hard work! When do you start doing you pert league drafts. I always love to see what the guys from yahoo do in the drafts, they do some crazy things gives me a great belly laugh every time.
The pod casts are really growing on me, very funny stuff! Are you guys up over 108th most popular baseball podcast? Or are you lower lmao.
There is no option to select grienke. He is a keeper pitcher on one of my teams, who would best be matched up with him. Someone with a high k/9? A higherish whip?
I know your not big on grienke but here is the thing, even if he regresses by a full run and a half his era will still be at around 3.00. His whip is going to be good and his k/9 can get back up close to 9. And there will be wins to be had in the desert this year.
@Justin: Yes, pick someone with a higher WHIP. Ya know, to even things out.
@Cram It: sorry for the confusion, I should have made it more clear, I was speaking in regards to someone like a Salazar or corrasco , high k/9 but a risk of inflated whip and era.
Rudy did a LABR draft last night, I don’t think I draft for another couple of weeks… Not sure on the podcast, but we’re easily as good as the 105th best, I have no doubt… With Grienke, you need to make up on Ks and likely ERA
@Grey: Rudy sorta killed that draft. I don’t think I see another team I like better than his.
Agreed
@Grey: Rudy! RUDY! RUDY!
It was a solid draft, don’t you think?
@Grey: it was solid. I would prefer altuve crush. But it’s close and a preference thing. His catcher collection was great for cheap buys and I like the punt ss and grab the prospects.
Yeah, agreed… Love the pitching…
Only pick I don’t like is Ells
@Grey: agreed on ells. We had a discussion on him and Magoo and I were not in on him unless price was low and Oaktown and rudy took ells side. But it works out for you. You can Razz him when ellsbury misses 50 games
I’d actually prefer Rudy won the league with Ells doing well
being called Razzball I always go to that card first, but him doing well makes us look better
Did you hear, I’m in in-person Tout this year in NYC
Stop trying to tear us apart just because our baseball minds occupy two worlds and collide sometimes. Have you learned nothing from INXS?
Are you holding cue cards with rhyming words?
they let you back in, do you need to bring a chaperone?
Rudy, I’m not trying to tear you two apart, I was just playing the Razz game…btw, I’m bad at interpreting the rules of games
It’s in NY, don’t need a chaperone
I will just set fire to all goodwill
I appreciate the burning down of goodwill in a fantasy draft, it really appeals to my sensibilities. Chaperone was my nice way of saying bodyguard.
You better wear your fireman gotchies cause I’m gonna torch the earth!
@J-FOH: Grey is going to set fire to all Goodwill?! Safe to assume you prefer Salvation Army? I know you’re not a Savers guy . . .
Prodigy? You didn’t click it
I’m on a plane on my phone, no, I didn’t click it
hehe, it was drew barrymore firestarter
Ah during her 8 year old crack smoking days…
hey I wasnt saying you are like an 8 year old smoking crack
I’m gonna smoke those other mofers like an 8-year-old Drew Barrymore smoking crack!
Last night I pondered…what if Ezekiel Carrera is good? Is it even possible that he makes some noise for the Tribe this year?
The Amish Porsche? Nah
By the way this bonus feature is amazeballs.
Glad you like
Looking for a manager for a Yahoo auction league, 12 team, 5×5 roto. Redraft league with FAAB. $100 entry fee. Inquire within.
Last pondering…can we start a petition for the Tribe to acquire Alex Guerrero? I think he would thrive there.
Anywhere but LA for him
@Biggest Dickest: I 2nd that.
J FOH- Create Razzball Elite League v2! I want Rangers
@Old School Brother: I’ve already emailed JB and will be setting it up shortly. Of course you get Ta-has
@J-FOH: Yus!! I’ll touch myself to Rangers teen beat tonight. This months issue is Gallo running in a field of puppies and Profar playing steel drums shirtless
How am I looking in my 12 team H2H roto dynasty league? Had to develop this staff through years of drafting and trades, but it looks like it fits your pairs perfectly! Long time reader…
Cole, T. Ross, McCullers, Quintana, Chen, & Gausman
Looks perfect, Bill!
@Grey: Thanks Mr. Albright. Just grabbed Lance Lynn off the discard pile in this same league as a DL stash. When do you think I’ll see any value from him and what do you expect when he returns in 2017?
April/May of 2017
Does this apply to a ten team league? Looking to get two anchors and going with a stars and “scrubs” approach for pitching.
1. Harvey/Fernandez
2. Carrasco/Syndergaard
3-7. $2-$5 pitchers who will still be really good in a shallow league
Thoughts?
Yeah, this applies… Building a staff like that works…
I’d quit all fantasy sports if this was the first article I ever read.
Hahaha… Imagine this was the first one I ever wrote… Genius or crazy?
Crazy. The phrase “sugar packets on Nicole Kidman’s leg” will get that crazy label every time. Trust me :(
Oh, 2 of my 8 keepers are Sale and Archer. I’m waiting for my third a long time unless Raise the Church gets to me around pick 140ish. I need him on my team.
You’re gonna end up drafting a lot of OFs waiting for Raisel
That’s really about my first round pick…..I also have Goldy, Frazier, Tulo, Pollock, Cain, Carlos Gomez…..plus Seager and Franco in my minor league spots.
Estimating my first pick would be Schoop, Lawrie, or a pitcher from the Raisel tier. Think that’s a safe enough offense to get my 3rd pitcher that early?
You can take an SP there, plenty of offense… Plus, no one is drafting Raisel that quickly
Cool, I was thinking I was safe with a pitcher there since bringing up Seager and Franco are like having 2 extra keepers. Appreciate it.
No problem
Love the article…and on a related note…i need some help!
Auction Keeper…Head 2 Head 6×6 (OPS/HLD). I am stacked in OF (Harper/Cespedes/Cruz/Jones/Heyward/Upton) but will be losing a couple of them after this year.
I was offered JD Martinez at $8 for 5 years for my Carrasco ($5 5 years) and Pineda ($9 5 years). Below is my pitching staff before the trade. I want to pull the trigger, but man…it’s tough. Help???
Noah Sydergaard
Jake Arrietta
Carlos Carrasco
Jon Lester
Michael Pineda
Jake Odorizzi
Scott Kazmir
Justin Verlander
Erasmo Ramirez
Mike Fiers
Anibal Sanchez
I’d take JD
Then trade an OF for an SP
The bonus feature is awesome!
Any way to add a reset button to it? It is fun to play around with, but reloading it requires a full page refresh. I have to SCROLL all the way to the bottom.
Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Or bird sex, but we all make do
@Grey: I guess that is an argument I can not refute.
@The discarded head of ted williams: And sorry if I sounded ungrateful. Love this stuff.
Now if you could redo all your rankings based on my custom H2H points keeper league, that’d be great!
Where should i send the 42 cents you would get from the click ad fodder?
Ha
so many possibilities…
Endless
@Grey:
keep one Sano Tulo or Lindor?
Sano
What would be your pitching strategy in H2H leagues?
Love your work!
I’ll go over H2H strategy… I’d still draft a pitching staff like this…
12 team 5×5.
I have arendo, Schwarb, upton, Jdong along with GCole (5th) and Harvey (12) as keepers
Based on your tiers.. maybe not great strategy having two in that tier.
A) Would you trade GCole or Harvey for Sano?
B) keep GCole/Harvey and not draft another pitcher until late.
C) Trade GCole or Harvey? What kind of value should I be looking for?
Thanks
Thanks –
Wouldn’t be totally opposed to B… C) Maybe a top 20 hitter
@Bdub: Are you saying it’s not good strategy to have two aces? Just keep them.
I usually read all the comments so I don’t ask a question you already answered but only have a few…
1. This is a helpful article
2. I’ve never been in a league that gives 5 points for a W and an additional 6 for a QS. Does this mean I should consider taking a guy like Cole in the illusions/delusional tier if I want to be competitive? Btw, I hate drafting pitchers that high! It’s a 16 team dynasty 1st year. We are currently doing the MiLB 20 round slow draft. 5 SP and 2 RP format.
In a 16 team league, you need an ace, no lower than Carrasco’s tier as your first
@Grey: Thank you!
No problem
Hey Grey. Nothing to do with pitcher pairings but I still can’t get anything from the war room. Just get a blank page. Tried Safari and Firefox. Deleted my cache/cookies. Any ideas?
I don’t, sorry…
@dubjay: make up fake emails.
The other day I noticed Matt Adams ranked around 120 or so in your rankings. Someone had noted that was fairly higher than expected. I’m here to say that I can’t even find him in Yahoo at all! Anyone notice where yahoo has him ranked?
He’s crazy low in ESPN too
BFF, I found the Hamilton blurb from the Podcast very, very, very interesting. Thanks for the ensight. You like this set up for 12 team roto? I’ve only been drafting 5 SP’s should I be shooting for 6? Last year was my first year in RCL so I hung tight in a couple leagues where I was able to grab closers, but the others I got crushed in pitching.
Noah
Salazar
Matz
Rodon
Corbin
Giles
McGee
Osuna
W Smith
Capps
Hernandez
That staff looks solid… 5 or six is tomato tomahto… You’ll be dropping at least one before the first week of the season is done
@Grey: I’ll probably drop and add 6 times and then week one, 10 different times! I wanted to pick your brain a little bit as I’m curious about Odor and Schoop. I’ve been drafting Polanco in the spot where I could draft Odor, but Schoop is at Yahoo ADP 240 so the value is insane. Do you think Schoop’s value outweighs Odor’s or do you like Odor that much that Deshields can go in Polanco’s spot way late?
I’d just wait on Schoop and take Polanco
@Grey: Ok, that helps a lot cause I’ve rostered Polanco since he came up and I’m hoping this is the REAL break-out year.
@Teddy Heater: Thanks!
Yeah, I like him a lot this year
League settings are: 12 team H2H, 11 hitters, 5 SP, 2 RP, 7 Bench spots, 5 weekly pickups. So low amount of hitters and most use the 5 bench spots for pitchers and also weekly adds are pitchers. So lots of pitchers. I usually draft power and power/speed combo’s early and wait on SB’s late (Andrus, Span, Burns, etc). With these setting how would you change your draft strategy for both hitters and pitchers?
I think elite pitching is less important and depth more so? Your thoughts?
Elite pitching is less important and depth more, yeah, agreed
12 team 5×5 roto keeper league, with starting positions listed below with keepers. We keep 15 players. Here are the 13 I’m set on keeping.
C –
1B – Rizzo
2B –
SS –
3B – Machado (doesn’t qualify at SS)
IF – Arenado
OF (4) – Harper, Springer, Marte
U –
SP (5) – Archer, Carrasco, Greinke, Lester, Rodon
RP (3) – Giles, Melancon
P –
I have a number of options for the last 2 spots, but also a number of trade possibilities. Debating if I go for some MI options to round out team, maybe target a top prospect that may not contribute until later this year, or just try to keep BAP, no matter what the position. If this was your team, what would you be looking to do with the last 2 keeper spots?
@[email protected]dude: Might help if you listed the other realistic available keepers.
@Cram It: I have Wong, Castro, Turner for MI. Corbin and Quintana at SP. Gurriel (older brother). Pillar in OF. Can afford to keep any combination of those. I also have M-Cab and Adam Jones who are too expensive to keep and that I can use as trade bait.
Curious if I target BAP with bias toward MI, maybe go 1 longer term keeper type, etc.
@dude: I’d keep Castro and Pillar…maybe Wong. I like Wong but people hate him now. Trade Jones for something shiny.
Likely MI but no idea who is available
Hello Grey!
strategy question for an 18 team yahoo roto 5×5… 3 OF, 1b, 2b, 3b, SS, C, 2 UTIL, then its the arms
pick 1 – draft hitter
pick 2 – draft hitter
pick 3 – draft hitter
pick 4 – draft pitcher
pick 5 – draft hitter
pick 6 – draft pitcher
pick 7 – draft hitter
pick 8 – draft pitcher
pick 9 – draft hitter
pick 10 – draft pitcher
pick 11 – draft hitter
pick 12 – draft pitcher
pick 13 – draft hitter
Pick 14 and beyond start considering closers and high risk high upside players?
Something along those lines? Am I waiting too long for my first arm?
Yes, you’re waiting too long for an SP likely… But this isn’t a strategy, just draft a solid team
@Big W: I’d scrap this. You can’t adhere to this in the heat of the draft. Draft a good team, doesn’t matter what rounds it took to get you there.
holy crap my staff of deGrom, Darvish, Severino, Severino, Severino is going to be amazing!!! someone find Michael Keaton, there is a sequel to Multiplicty about to happen… that or the pairing tool went nuts!
Ha
@mauledbypandas: the pairing tool nutted on Michael Keaton
@J-FOH: He definitely had his run of success, I won’t blame the pairometer
@mauledbypandas: I watch Gung Ho once a year
Hey Grey,
Lester Pollock W Davis
Vs
Greinke Miggy Giles
Which side ya got in a keeper?
Pollock
@Nightpandas: hmm, I like the Miggy side of this deal.
@Malicious Phenom: This might be the first time I’ve ever agreed with you. Don’t let it happen again!
@Cram It: Grey hasn’t failed me yet!
@Nightpandas: Stick with what works!
I know you are down on Pollock this year (not in a sexual way), but I have him in a 10tm 5×5 Roto Keeper league (Keep 5) for $3. People I am already keeping are below.
Goldy – $25
Rizzo – $20
Mookie Betts – $6
Stanton – $27
Would you trade my $3 Pollock for Xander Boegarts ($7), Dee Gordan ($11), or Starling Marte ($12)? Wondering if the value for Pollock is worth trading for some MI help or an upgrade to Marte…
I’d keep Pollock
Grey, please pick 2 to keep in my NL Roto, 10 team league:
Carlos Martinez $4
Addison Russell $3
Dj Lemahieu $9
Anthony Rendon $13
CMart, Russell
I’m in a slow mock draft – 12 teamer based on RCL set up (tho with 1 catcher). Here’s my start below.
Where would you go with my next 2 picks (I had 2nd overall and I’m in at 71 and 73). Do I need a 2nd starter here, or OF?
I kind of like Puig, Salazar, Belt, Odor or Sano. (other SPs are Gray, Hamels, Lester, Richards; other OFs are in the Kemp, Ellsbury, Eaton range). Thoughts?
C –
1st – Edwin (2)
2nd –
3rd – Frazier (3)
SS – Bogaerts (5)
CI –
MI –
OF – Trout (1)
OF –
OF –
OF –
OF –
Util
P – Strasburg (4)
P –
P –
P –
P –
P –
P –
P –
You need OF
@SheriffMcRawDawg: Slow MOCK draft assistance? Oy, we’ll make a fantasy baseballer out of you yet.
@Cram It: good to see you are getting your legs back and stroke
@J-FOH: I’m getting it out now because it will grow to unhealthy proportions once the full force of the comments coincides with the season, seeing all the micromanaging minutiae going on already. I’ll have to refrain. Doctors orders.
@Cram It: slow the snowball build slowly, let it peak in May, take a DL stint in July, then finish strong post break. It will save you a few life years
Good afternoon Grey !! Getting that baseball fever here in Chicago !! Im in a 12 team h2h weekly AL/NL . Im drafting 7th How badly am I stretching If I drafted kyle schwarber in the 2nd round on the wrap around pick ? He is catcher and OF eligible or should I just take posey to get a top catcher that plays often and multiple positions. Thanks for your insite !
I don’t draft top catchers, start with my rankings at top of the page… Welcome to the site!
Greetings Grey, thank you for being our Willy Wonka.
I’ve got six keepers in an auction league.
Bryant @ $6
Arenado @ $9
Schwarber @ $6
Arrieta @ $6
Eric Hosmer @ $9
Jose Bautista @ $34
This league does not use Corner Infield as a position, so I’m looking at either trading one of Arenado/Bryant, or starting them in one of the two UTIL spots all season.
I also have an offer for Betts @ $6 in exchange for Bryant on the table. Should I take it?
Keeper costs rise by $5 each year.
Sure, take Betts
what’s the reasoning here Grey just wondering…
PS keep fighting the good fight grey love da razz
@Henroy: Betts is ranked around the same spot as Bryant overall and he plays a position where SAGNOF has an availability
Hey Grey! Can you rank these 8 Keepers for me please (6×6 Roto league)…thanks bud
– Bryant in 16th
– Schzerer in 5th
– Blackmon in 4th
– Cruz in 9th
– Schwarber in 10th
– Cain in 10th
– Sano in 18th
– Polanco in 19th
Bryant, Polanco, Cain, Sano, Schwarber
Another keeper trade:
Get Scherzer
Give Harvey & Liriano (not likely to keep Liriano)
Meh
Which side:
JDong (12th) & Freeman (4th) or Stanton (1st)
Dong
@Grey: Thanks Gray
@Bdub: or rather Grey.. sheesh
No problem
what side in a keeper? full rebuild mode
springer,hamilton, k davis
or
lindor, buxton, w davis
Springer
Im starting to get that itch, that itch for the pain of the season. It got so bad I went and got tattooed yesterday to feel again.
Yeah, starting to fill it too after seeing Rudy draft
@Grey: I have envy he gets to do it for real too
Yeah, same same
@Grey: Its not fair, why does Rudy get the new GI Joe with the kung fu grip but I have wait for two more weeks.
You have a draft in 2 weeks?
@Grey: I wish, I was pulling that out of somewhere. Ive been in a slow draft in that dynasty you got me into, but that draft sucks when you have to get excited about college bats and a high school kid that just discovered the weight room 6 months ago. The Razznasty starts drafting on Friday, but thats a slow 10 hours per pick draft. For now I get to mock on the NFBC format….lower case ya
Ah, yeah, I’m still like three weeks away I think from a draft
@Grey: thats like telling a junkie they are three weeks from a fix
A couple of keeper decisions to make this off season. In an auction draft league, I need to decide between Maikel Franco Vs. Marcus Stroman – can keep either for $1. Also deciding between Cespedes vs. Syndergaard in a non auction points league. Thoughts? Thanks for the advice!
Hey Grey! It’s been way too long. My league’s auction is still 5 weeks away, but it’s time to start see if my planning is going in a good direction.
NL-Only H2H Auction ($280 Cap) 5×5 with OBP instead of AVG. I already have GOLDY (42), Pollock (23), Franco (2), Arrieta (27) and Cole (16). I have Ziegler (1), but Arrieta will go for 35-40 and Ziegler is no guaranty.
I don’t have a lot of $ designated for pitching as hitting is a premium this year. I’m thinking of going for one of: Raisel, Shark, GIO, Hendricks, and finish my last to spots with two of: Nelson, Nola and Eickhoff.
I’ll then go with one of the following Closers (Kenley, Rosenthal, Familia, Rondon) and round up my RP with 3 good MRs with save opps.
Would you be as confident going in with this staff?
Is Outfield pairings a thing? I feel like it ought to be a thing.
@Branta: roster construction is a thing
M. Harvey NYM – SP AND L. McCullers Hou – SP FOR M. Scherzer Was – SP – I get Scherzer in keepr league – is this too much to give
Harvey side
looks like you have Harvey pretty close to Scherzer and McCullens could be a top pitcher down the road
Yup
@grey
You’re so money and you don’t even know it
Straight dolla bill y’all!
Brand spanking new to Grey Matter..i know you just laughed at “spankin” . I’m in a 10 person, 5×5, 1 catcher/1 utility, 3 bench, AL only, auction league how do I convert all your excellent advice to actionable intelligence for my league.
I’d use our AL-Only rankings… Go to the top under Rater and click 2016 Preseason Rater then go to AL-Only