Happy Cinco De Mayo! I certainly know I’ll be drinking, as my rebuilding Brewers continue to have pitching numbers go down the drain like after a great relief following 5 margaritas. And I certainly know the co-owners of the Nats are drinking heavy today too! The Nationals are obliterating the NL league, accentuated by a 13-2 drubbing of the Royals in interleague play yesterday afternoon. On the AL side, it’s still the Orange Birds’ show as they’ve been the hunted all year long. Somebody break up this powerhouse on the I-95 corridor! Here’s how week five went down in the 2016 REL League:
| NATIONAL LEAGUE | ||
|---|---|---|
| REL Dynasty – NL | ||
| Nationals | 126 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | n/a |
| For a while, I wondered how much of the Nationals’ early success was due to their easy early-season schedule (21 straight games vs. ATL, MIA, PHI, and MIN to start the season). Now that they’ve beaten the Cardinals and Royals 5 out of 6 games on the road (by a combined 38-13), I’m a little more convinced that they’re legitimately good.
Given Ben Revere’s Opening Day injury, it would be an understatement to say I’m surprised that we’re leading the league in steals. It’s been nice to see that bum Bryce Harper finally contribute in fantasy baseball with 5 steals, and we’ve gotten 10 combined from Melvin Upton, Jr. and Michael A. Taylor. Batting-wise, Harper and Murphy are still carrying the offense with a combined 34 R, 13 HR, 42 RBI, 6 SB and .330 batting average, but we’re still waiting on Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman’s bats to wake up (and Trea Turner to come up and mercifully end the Danny Espinosa era/error at SS). We expected our pitching to be good, and it certainly has not disappointed, placing us no worse than fourth in any individual stat category. We’re hoping that Chase Anderson and Taylor Jungmann find the way back to their 2015 selves soon, but in the meantime we’ll be more than satisfied with the Nats’ real-life rotation. Trade Block: |
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| Cubs | 111 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $96 | Pedro Severino Was – C $1, Dan Vogelbach ChC – 1B $0 |
| San Fran Giants | 98.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $96 | n/a |
| Mookie Mets | 96.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $99 | Tim Federowicz ChC – C $1 |
| Pirates | 94.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $79 | José Urena Mia – SP,RP $2 |
| Pirates surging at the moment has helped us climb into fifth. Not much to report other than Polanco is amazing and finally moved up in the order, until Hurdle hit him 8th yesterday. Ugh. His home run off of Adleman on the Reds had a Stanton-esque exit velocity. Not sure he ever hits 30, but 20 in a couple years seems realistic. FAAB move of note, hopefully, this week was adding Jose Urena and dropping Bud Norris and his tumescent ERA and WHIP. What was I thinking? Really, Bud Norris. Urena appears to be a failed starting prospect for the Marlins, though he did win me some money last year as a minimum salary starting in DFS. He has nasty stuff, but nibbles when he has to go multiple innings. Hopefully being able to put everything into one inning, he can move up the Marlins late inning rotation. David Phelps doesn’t feel like an insurmountable roadblock. His O-swing% and SwStr% are both higher in relief role. He tops out at 94, but if his slider can play over one inning, who knows. If not, easy drop for Taillon or Glasnow. Slim, better known as the underachievers Astros owner, previewed a couple Astros minor leaguers in his post last week and I really liked that idea. I’ve watched a ton of Indianapolis Indians games (though not in person like JB) and I feel like I can give my non-expert opinion on some Pirates minor leaguers, which might help people in other leagues… cause Glasnow and Taillon are gonna be expensive. I figured they were a good place to start and I can go deeper (hehe) as the weeks progress.
Glasnow is owned in all dynasty leagues of course, but only 23% of yahoo leagues. If you haven’t seen him pitch, you have to check it out. 6’8” (yes, even bigger than JB), he’s all elbows and knees coming at you. He has a kind of whipsaw delivery that is going to result in a ton of strikeouts. Command, as with most young power arms has been an issue, but it has improved, giving him a k-bb% of 24%, which would put him behind only some bums named Kershaw, Syndegaard, Smyly and Price. Its a little hard to find pitch type data on minor leaguers, but his curveball is a huge, 12 to 6 yakker, that comes from the same arm slot as his fastball. A lot of swing and miss in his game. Taillon is only 4% owned, but could be up before Glasnow. Once a top prospect, he missed the last two years to TJ and hernia surgery. He has been nothing short of magnificent thus far this year. While not quite the strikeout pitcher like Glasnow, Taillon has shown impeccable control, with a 2% walk rate, coupled with a 22% K rate. His curveball might be better than Glasnows, but he doesn’t have the plus third pitch. He used to flirt with triple digit fastball pre-TJ, and now sits mid nineties. His change up is decent, but doesn’t have the big speed difference with his fastball. |
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| J.T. Marlin | 85 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | Jeff Francoeur Atl – OF $0 |
| Cardinals | 81 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $90 | Alex Guerrero LAD – 3B,OF $1 |
| Philadelphia | 80 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $91 | Michael Broadway SF – RP $0 |
| Knoche’s Rockies | 74 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $89 | Eddie Butler Col – SP $2, Cory Gearrin SF – RP $0, Kirk Nieuwenhuis Mil – OF $0 |
| Well, I officially started the 2016 implosion and set the table for 2017. In the biggest trade so far in the REL I traded Carlos Gonzalez to the Mets for Zach Wheeler and solid pitching prospect Marcos Molina and OF Prospect Desmond Lindsay. The fear of Cargo getting traded to the AL for some bats I don’t need in my farm system is what sparked me to get this done early. While this will hurt my offensive stats over the course of the rest of the year, I am trying to build at least a middling starting staff for next year. I am certainly regretting not keeping Tyler Chatwood at start of the year, but my plan all along was to find a way to get as many decent SP options that don’t pitch half their games at Coors Field. Here’s how the rotation is shaping up so far for next year:
Zach Wheeler I’d like to get one more decent starting option and I think I will be ready to at least compete for a title in 2017. |
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| Brewers | 70 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $57 | Júnior Guerra Mil – RP $4 |
| Well, the Crew added a few points to our Roto Standings in the past week, but we’re still in full-mode rebuild like the Major League club. While the pitching has still been a travesty, we have a few signs of encouragement to look forward to. Zach Davies looked like a competent pitcher yesterday, which is all he needs to be. I picked up Junior Guerra a few FAABs ago since I figured he was the next pitcher up, but dropped him stupidly since I thought no one would get him again and I’d be ahead of the curve. He also struggled in his last 2 AAA starts. But alas, he was called, and the news broke on Sunday so I put in a bid to be sure to pull him in. Throwing 95 consistently with potential in the off-speed stuff, there might be something here. Don’t let the age fool you either, as he’s a converted catcher without the same pitching mileage on other old guys’ arms.
To the non-Brewers, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Adam Morgan. Velo is up, stuff looks good, and there could be something here. The numbers aren’t good, but he was cruising through 4 scoreless before losing it in the 5th yesterday. Cesar Vargas looks like he could be a mainstay as well – and is only 24 – even though he doesn’t have electric stuff. Tons of cutters. If two of these four guys can be contributors in 2018 (when I hope to be competitive), I will be more than happy. I’m still perusing the trade market and staying active in my prospect-hoarding aims. I held off on trading Ryan Braun to the Nats because I still have a soft spot (well, maybe hard spot) for him, but with trade rumors swirling and his start to the season getting hotter and hotter, I just can’t trade him and lose the prospects he would get back if he’s traded in real life. So Braun will be my only beacon of production hopefully by Summer, and if he’s moved, Slingin’ David Stearns better get some mofo pitchers! |
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| Diamondbacks | 70 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $97 | n/a |
| Dodgers | 64 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | n/a |
| Cincinnati Reds | 58 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $69 | Emilio Bonifacio Atl – 2B $0, Jordan Pacheco Cin – C $0 |
| Braves | 50 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $87 | Tim Adleman Cin – SP $3, Gordon Beckham Atl – 2B,3B $0, Hernán Pérez Mil – 2B,3B $0 |
| Jay the Wrongest | 41.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | n/a |
| AMERICAN LEAGUE | ||
|---|---|---|
| REL Dynasty – AL | ||
| Orange Birds | 114.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $90 | Chad Girodo Tor – RP $0 |
| White Sox | 104.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $88 | n/a |
| Red Sox | 99.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $67 | n/a |
| The Tribe | 99 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | n/a |
| Mariners | 98.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $85 | Phil Klein Tex – RP $1 |
| Rays | 91.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $60 | n/a |
| Blue Jays | 86.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $99 | Jorge Bonifacio KC – OF $0 |
| My team is hitting .218! I’m not sure what more there is to say other than that. Think about that. .218! I’m not sure how that’s even possible. I’ll add that my guys have managed to get 60 out of a possible 75 points in pitching, yet only 26.5 out of 75 in hitting. This is the Blue Jays that I own, right?
I also thought it might be fun to throw this out there. Fantasy Baseball success is not always equivalent to real baseball success, but I thought this glimpse into the standings of the American League might be interesting. The good news for me is I’m better than the real Jays, the bad news is that I’m worse than the REL2 Jays, and just that the Jays in general seem to suck this year so far. TEAM- MLB- REL- REL2 |
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| Halos | 83 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $87 | n/a |
| Tigers | 83 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $90 | James Loney TB – 1B $0 |
| Astros | 73.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $83 | Carlos Sánchez CWS – 2B $3 |
| Colin Moran – 3B – AAA – Presumably Moran is the next bat the Astros are going to call up and with White and Valbuena both struggling there is plenty of opportunity for ABs. Unfortunately those ABs are predominately going to singles. Moran currently sports a 310/359/393 triple slash line which is on par with his milb career numbers. His ceiling projects to be about a .300 hitter with 10 HRs and decent RBIs. I guess that’ll play in this league but in a 12er I’d be in no hurry to pick him up even with everyday ABs. He’s basically Matt Carpenter before whatever the hell that was that happened last year. Moran does play an above average defensive 3B so perhaps that will also help him make his debut sooner rather than later, and with the way White and Valbuena are hitting his offensive deficiencies don’t seem nearly as bad.
A.J. Reed – 1B – AAA – One of the top owned fantasy players still in the minors (Y! – 16%) the 22 year old Reed hasn’t faired too well in his 1st taste of the minors. His triple slash line of 244/353/512 pretty much tells the story, and that story consists of a steady helping of breaking pitches, something he will need to master before transitioning to the next level. The HR/RBI are there (6/19 in 23 games), the Ks aren’t out of control and the BBs are solid (21/15 respectively). After taking a 2nd look perhaps I’m putting too much stock in his batting average through only about 100 plate appearances but from what I’ve seen I would peg his callup to be right around that June 1st date. Previous Ruffalo’s (Spotlights) Joe Musgrove – SP – AA – Continuing to throw zeros. Since this time last week he faced the Rangers AA team and went 6 strong with 5 hits, 1 BB, 5 KS, and 0 runs, while throwing a season high 86 pitches and bringing his ERA down to 0.39 and WHIP to 0.86 to go along with his 26 Ks and 3 BBs in 23.1 IN and keeping the ball on the ground with a 1.65 GO/AO. He’s a good one. David Paulino – SP – AA – Paulino gave up a 2 run HR in the 1st to a very good As AA team but threw zeros the rest of the way and finished the loss with 5 IN, 4 hits, 2 BBs, and 4 Ks to go with his 2 ER in 74 pitches. For the year he’s sitting on 27 Ks and 6 BBs in 22 IN, a 2.05 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, which is nearly identical to his career milb numbers. |
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| Power Rangers | 72 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $97 | n/a |
| Royals | 70.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $99 | n/a |
| Athletics | 57.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $97 | Andrew Triggs Oak – RP $0, Sean Manaea Oak – SP (called up) |
| Yankees | 42.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $80 | Logan Morrison TB – 1B $9 |
| Minnesota Twins | 24 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $80 | Ronald Torreyes NYY – Util $0 |
