2020 Fantasy Baseball Player Shares: No, Siri, Not Cher’s

1. Just as I got into the fantasy baseball mindset, the coronavirus crisis blew up. I have no desire right now for the fantasizing. I deleted my league which would have had a draft on March 24th. If there is a season in 2020, I’ll create a league later.

   A July start to the regular season (with a true spring training in June) is perhaps the best scenario. If not, then no season I guess.

   Not sure a season could be started in August. What would it be- three months of regular season and playoffs in November and early December? That would mean very cold playoff games in some cities OR moving all playoff games to neutral sites in Florida (Marlins and Rays parks and various spring training parks). Then that would lead to a short offseason.

   I have not been reading this site the past week. I am sure you guys have been speculating. Just no way I would bother with a fantasy baseball draft right now.

   • Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I’d still plant my apple tree today.
     I’d also draft my fantasy baseball teams….

     • Thank you, MLK!

     • Good Quote Dr………..

       Damn Wallpaper you give up too easily……..Bad shit happens every day pandemic or not besides seems better to speculate about FBB that listen to I’ll informed talking heads on cable news pretending to be experts speculate on a virus they know little about

       time will tell

       • I feel like people saying there’s no baseball this year are the ones who look at one big game by a player and overestimate how good he will be — at some point Mike Trout will be good and baseball will be played

         • I like that ” at some point Mike Trout will be good and baseball will be played” although you are starting to sound a little like Ken F-ing Burns.

           I tried to watch some more of the Burns I just can’t do it…….Watched White Boy Rick last night instead. That was good if you haven’t watched it.

           • Don’t you dare compare me to Burnsie — I liked White Boy Rick, saw it in theater

           • I have it and haven’t watched it yet. Think I’ll watch it tonight.

             • You won’t be issapointed

       • Give up easily? I am an essential state government employee who now has to work from home because somebody in my small office may have gotten COVID-19. My office has been closed until at least April 13th. I now have to essentially quarantine myself and hope I have not already acquired the virus.

     • Bravo !!!

     • The specific fantasy problem for me is I had a specific division and schedule setup based on an uninterrupted MLB season. Since that is out the window, I need to know what will happen so that I can devise a sensible league schedule. I had a nice 2-division setup in mind for a 12-team h2h league. 21 weeks, three matchups vs division foes, one matchup vs the each of the teams from the other division. I will figure something out once we know for sure what the heck will happen with the MLB season.

   • Totally agree. I still read Razzball daily but w/o any zeal; and I have thrown away my notes. 2021 can’t come soon enough.

   • Meh, and some people want something to do even if it is for fun…Wait a minute, fantasy baseball is for fun, wut

     • I started the Covid-19 roto league for charity:
       19 quaranteams
       $19 buy-in
       19 round slow draft to pass the time (11 hitters and 8 pitchers)

       Half the $ goes to a local food bank. Set lineups at the beginning of the season- no trades, waiver pickups, or lineup changes. Winner gets the other half of the $, and if there is no season everyone gets $9.50 back. It’s been a fun way to pass the time, stay connected to others, and help the community.

       Feel free to steal my idea!

       • Love it!

   • i’ve seen people in message boards basically talk this way (“OH MY GOD A FLU SHOWED UP THAT KILLS A WHOLE UNDER 4% of people! closer to a 1/3 than half that number for u.s. people, so i better run right out and say why should anybody care about anything else!”), i have no clue why anybody would feel like thinking others want to read this kind of at least near freak out. are you hoping for somebody to try to convince you to do something? these always appear to read almost like suicide note that’s either passed around hoping somebody talks the writer out of it or worse is trying to convince others to do the same as the writer appears to be intending. if all you really need is a calming down with support that’s great, good luck to you if so.

     – nobody is forcing you to do anything with fantasy baseball, and they weren’t before either. wait to actually be dying before talking like this, anything else is fairly sickening (wink wink, you are extremely likely to not be dying anytime soon).

2. Well, I hope you’re right. Manfred/MLB is going to have to confront these mayors like Garcetti, DeBlasio, Lightfoot that are trying to order people inside to not even exercise, threatening this will last two months or more. It seems to me all the short-selling globalist billionaires profiting from this and these power-grabbing/hungry weasels are having the times of their life right now. Common sense needs to prevail so we can get beyond the hysteria and MLB can get back to normal. I’m sensing there will be some big spectacular power struggles in the weeks ahead between people like Manfred and Garcetti. Grab your popcorn.

   • Sup Dave.
     If we are to believe anything from China (yeah i know, lol) then we are about 50 days behind their curve and they lied and covered it up for so long before it became public. So that would put toward the latter 3rd of April getting back to normal. And if Spring Training resumes in mid-May, then early/mid-June would be a logical Opening Day. So maybe a realistic timeframe is end of June? lol.

     Seems like 100 games is would relatively easy to reach, a few extra doubleheaders with maybe expanded rosters of like +3.

     • wow this is the worst grammar post of my life LOL, who am i Joe Biden?

       • Haha

         • Lol!

       • Haha! I hope June 1st. DeBlasio closing NY until end of May apparently though.

         • Yeah, might be tight, but they could play in Florida for a few

           • Giancarlo in cutoffs?

             • Now you’re talking

     • Hope you are right – heard a few talking heads saying more cases presented in China today. Hopefully not round two of this plague.

       • Hopefully

   • Yeah, maybe, but at a certain point even residents of cities like LA will be like, “Um, dude, we’re all going bankrupt, we need to risk it…”

     • I think most of the Hollywood elite would be okay with any amount of human suffering if it meant deposing our president. The hell with things like MLB, NHL and any sense of normalcy. Bill Mahr and others have essentially said as much. Its like shooting the fly on your wall with a bazooka.

       • Meh, maybe, they’re all out of touch tho and why do we care what someone thinks who was on a good TV show or something

         • Yeah why would we listen to, like, a reality tv show star.

   • Don’t forget that power hungry and sanctuary state pusher Newscum. California in bad hands. Agree with you about the power struggles. Problem is the media are not helping.

     • Yeah, never mind they used mail in ballets to steal those congressional seats in OC. CA has gone to hell. I spent my last 6 years there in the “State of Jefferson” Northwest Coast. State policies ruining it there too. I grew up in LA’s South Bay. I miss family/friends and beaches but not much else. The hordes of people and the people who are leaders are no good. I totally agree. Paradise lost. At least Del Mar is a bit better. I hope you have a CCW, lol. You might need it soon.

       • Where were you in South Bay?

         • I grew up in MB 90266

           • Ah, nice

       • Word on all fronts. Del Mar, Oceanside, San Marcos was all once my stomping grounds… Don’t miss Gov Moonbeam and all that nonsense. lol

         • Haha

         • Where you at now Coollwhip?

           • OKC. lmao. my parents moved here and wifes family here… so now that we have kids, here we are *facepalm* at least i have a front row seat to the dodgers farm system. lol.

             • Ah, wow! Do you like it? I’d probably like some things better but I’ve surfed my whole life and the east coast is already a major step down for that. They would need a really good wave pool to get me to mid-continent. I imagine it has its benefits though. Its pretty spread out here in SE Connecticut fortunately.

               • I used to surf and go boarding at Big Bear etc a lot, not so much now! lol. Its not that bad: people are really nice/friendly/helpful, property is super cheap, its a decent midsized town with mix of small/big city feel… however! i didn’t have allergies before moving here, now i do! and that sucks.

                 • You outdoorsy types!

3. 1. How do you not have a single share of Matt Olsen?
   2. Quite impressive that you don’t have a single share of G. Marquez ANYWHERE.

   • Hah good spot! My guess is because he went all in on Alonso in full “witness me!!!”mode a la Tom Hardy’s mad max

     • I too am here for this. LOL. Hyped Olson above everyone, ranked him way higher, and yet never pulled the trigger, haha. I guess all those Albombso shares took all the limelight and he didn’t want to pay up for a CI/DH.

       Thats the real headline, “How Do I Not Have Any Shares of Olson? No Siri, Not Chers”

       • Haha

         • All your first base belongs to us.

           For what it’s worth, I drafted Olson and Alonso so CoolWhip would cry. Them fighting words.

           • You the man, thehombre

           • LOL… thems fightin words… You got them but i still got Muncy at a discount and GOT ALL THE OTHER bats *dab*

             • Muncy that late in the 5th was a crime.

               My fake baseball will be the best fake baseball team!

               • Haha

     • ha, Nice!

   • Shoot, meant to point that out in 1B notes…I got Alonso in every league and the one league I didn’t get him in, Olson was taken right before me

4. Hey Grey! First off, what’s a “Dom Nunez”?? Saludos from day 21 of ‘Living Like my Housecats’ here in the South Bronx. I hear you on Rays’ bullpen. I drafted Castillo and Alvarado late, but have since dropped the latter for Spencer Howard. If both are confirmed in rotation, you taking Howard, Freddy Peralta, or try for both?

   • Try for both

   • Dom Nunez is the Rockies backup catcher, look at his minor league numbers and tell me you wouldn’t draft that around pick 500th overall…

     Both

5. Grey!!!!

   Great shares of your rosters report!

   a. Honestly, you could write a report on dog food and make it sound appetizing! My mouth’s watering as I write!!! Our dog Simba is good, we get out 4 times a day for about 1 mile per ‘walk’ so he’s feeling good, eating well and sleeping well.

   b. Thanks for drafting Stanek at the same time recommending me to sign up Kintzler! You don’t have much faith in Kintzler keeping the closer job in MIA do you? Just kidding, Stanek could be a good setup man but could also move to the 5th inning or move to the much appreciated 1st-inning starter role, right?

   c. MLB quote of the day for May 17, 1953

   ‘I love everybody. South side, West side, East side. I love everyone. Respect each other.’

   Saturnino Orestes Armas ‘Minnie’ Miñoso Arrieta, aka The Cuban Comet and Mr White Sox. The first Black Cuban in the major leagues and the first black player in White Sox history. [Only the creme de la creme in this pre-season quote section.]

   d. Have a nice weekend all!

   Cheers,
   Ante

   • Minnie was by far Cab Calloway’s favorite player.

     “He gave her his townhouse and his racing horses,
     Each meal she ate was a dozen courses,
     She had a million dollars worth of nickels and dimes,
     She sat around and counted them all a million times.”

     • pretty sure that song isn’t about minie minosa, but have to wonder about that lyric ..

       was each of the dozen courses comprised of horses?

       “He gave her his townhouse and his racing horses,
       Each meal she ate was a dozen courses,

       • Considering Calloway recorded it in 1931, probably not.

         • Haha

     • Minnie the Moocher. Cab Calloway !!

   • Thanks!

     A. Haha, that’s good, need to give Simba love

     B. Yeah, I don’t know…I’d draft Kintzler 1st but he was likely gone in all those leagues so I went Stanek later on, around pick 400

     • Grey!!

       a. If Kintzler puts up 4.4 ERA, 25 saves, 80K, 1.2-ish WHIP I’ll be happy. If not, oh well, Chef Boyardee will be happy. Someone will be happy regardless his on field performance.

       b. Broke the news on the anniversary plans this AM! It went about as well as could be expected. I define a democracy as feeling good at doing what you want to do as long as you don’t encroach on others’ feelings or make others feel less worthy. Democracy is never easy but it’s way better than autocracy or oligarchy, right? We’ll re-program the dates for everything for late August / early September, then if the sh*t storm continues we’ll re-schedule again. It was good that there was an alternative plan in my plan. Thank you for your help and advice. By the way, she liked the slam dunk restaurant on the island a lot.

       c. No baseball news? Wow, I’m amazed.

       d. Stay well this weekend.

       Cheers,
       Ante

       • A. If Kintzler gets 25 saves, Cougs and I will vacation in Croatia this winter and sleep in Simba’s bed

         B. Yeah, long overdue, you had to…It’s all right, you can make it up in August/Sept

         C. What do you mean sir

         D. You too, always!

         • Grey!!!

           a. Come on Kintzler!

           b. Hopefully. She liked the greeting card I made, she wasn’t impressed at my lack of entrepreneurship in managing the plans. Like just booking a great hotel and the flight was insufficient. She would have preferred that I had made a super deal with the same dates. I didn’t approach it like that and it’s not the way she would have liked it. Nevertheless we’ll re-book everything, life goes on.

           c. HAHAHA!!!! I’m going squirrely with the lack of any information on MLB. I really do hope we get a season, 100 games would be great!

           Cheers,
           Ante

           • B. Tell her, we should just be happy we both have our health — that will fly real well!

             C. Haha, same

6. I accepted a trade this morning. I get Yellich and Flaherty I give Acuna and Bieber.

   • Fair deal

   • Why

     • our league is 7×7 extra cats are obp and slg Yellich seems to be more valuable to me than Acuna steals tend to be devalued in this format and I like Flaherty mor than Bieber. I tried for more this was his counter offer

       • Ah, okay, I didn’t know what categories were in your league

         • np you asked so I answered.

     • was just gonna say that

       • Smitty!

   • Agree with Grey. Why.

     • With 137 less abs Yellich had 3 more hrs and only 7 less steals .049 point better avg .064 point better obp and .153 point better slg percentage isn’t that worth doing.

7. With all the doubleheaders do you think catchers who get time at other positions will increase in value? I’m thinking about Austin Nola and Kiner Falafel. Are there others?

   • Eh not sure.

     A lot of times they’ll want to rest the catcher in one of the games, regardless of whether they can play other positions.

   • Posey — That isn’t necessarily what I’d expect…I’d expect they get rested or catch more games

8. I’m already looking forward to a January World Series.

   • Bring it on!

     • Go straight from the World Series to pitchers and catchers reporting.

       • Love it!

9. Grey,

   Following up on yesterday’s post about the Devers and Xander projections and how the loss of Betts in the lineup is going to hurt their production compared to last year.

   I went to Baseball Reference as Big Magoo suggested to find out how much their RBI production was attributed to Betts being on base and getting in to scoring position.

   Most Driven In Stats (Devers)

   Self – 32 times (HR)
   Betts – 29 times
   JD – 9 times.

   Most Driven In Stats (Xander)

   Self 33 times (HR)
   Betts – 32 times
   Devers – 21 times
   JD – 7 times

   I think I would take the player hitting behind the other this year, but I still don’t think the numbers are going to be as big as last year.

   What do you think? Would you change your projections for them based on this information or leave as is?

   • Don’t see a big difference here, tbh…It’s not like he’s now a one-man lineup

     • Who would you take between Xander and Devers for across board production? I think Xander will hit behind Devers.

       • Devers

10. What if Alonso does get better? How do you see peak Albombso?

    • 100/45 HRs/120/.275 — basically Arenado

11. I did a find in page for the words “Mondesi” and “Olson” just to be safe and yup, looks like you have exactly zero shares of the 2 guys that you’re higher on than anyone compared to their ADP (ranking both in your top 20 overall and having zero shares).

    This would make perfect sense if you only did a few drafts. But how can you do idk maybe 20 drafts and never end up with either of the 2 guys who you have ranked like 4 rounds ahead of their ADP?

    Here’s what you said what you listed Matt Olson as a top 20 overall fantasy player this past January.

    “I nearly ranked Matt Olson five spots higher. I’m so excited about drafting Olson that I just drafted Olson and I’m not even drafting. Finding it hard to differentiate between Olson’s projections and some of the 1st basemen above in this post.”

    So I guess that was all bullshit? Because you did what looks like 20 drafts and have Olson exactly zero times.

    Now if Olson is great you can’t even take credit for it becasue you never even drafted him once.

    Have some conviction in what your selling. Not sure how your not passing on Alonso and taking Olson 2 rounds later in all these drafts if you’re really having trouble seeing the difference between them as you said.

    • I know you. You used to post under a diff nick.

      • How about just comment intelligently on my post, NUX?

    • I don’t have it in front of me but I think you did the same thing last year with Mondesi. Ranked him in the top 20 overall (like 50 spots ahead of everyone else’s ADP at least) and somehow ended up with zero shares after draft season. It’s lame. And I know you’re just going to have some sarcastic reply to this but whatever.

      • Idk how you can rank someone 20 overall (Matt Olson), say they could be ranked 15 overall in your top 20 post, say your extremely excited about drafting them (when they are very draftable with an adp at like 60 overall) then do 20 drafts and never come out with a single share of that player. Sorry, that makes no sense.

      • I owned Mondesi last year

    • Haha, I know, I wanted them both…Maybe I can get them in RCL…Alonso and OIson are both 1B and I was drafting Alonso in every league, so I wasn’t taking another 1B immediately… Mondesi, I have less of an excuse, it just never worked out

      • For me it’s like it gives me less confidence if you’re not even targeting/drafting these guys at all.

        How many drafts was it btw? Is 20 correct?

        • It says it was only 10 drafts total in the post but you have 23 total catcher shares? How’s that add up? Even if it’s all 2 catcher leagues that’s a lot no? You draft 3 catchers on some teams?

          • Two catcher leagues, NFBC leagues where I drafted 3 or 4 catchers in one league

        • 20? Where’d you’d get that #?

          • I counted the catchers and was thrown off

            • Gotcha

      • Alonso was drafted 16th last night in that last minute RCL.
        Earliest I’ve seen and right before me.
        I have zero shares…

        • Still too late!

          • Truss said he asked you to join but you declined lol
            For a second thought it was you with pick behind me until guy took Pham!

            • Haha, nah, I didn’t decline, I think I pretended to not hear invite…I have too many teams already

            • Yes Grimey, was waiting for Lou Rob. Think my queue emptied on that 7th round. Lots of sniping to speak of.

              • Definitely one of the tougher drafts. Fun!

      • Add me to the list of people that are surprised by the lack of Olson and Mondesi. Tatis is another guy you were super jazzed about and didn’t pull the trigger on. While LOLZ is kind of a dick, his point is valid. Why hype guys and not make more effort to take them in your own leagues? I get that sometimes they get sniped but you’re playing in auction leagues, too, right?

        • Alonso is ranked before Olson and I drafted him in 8 of 9 leagues, so I’m not sure how I was drafting Olson too

          Mondesi just didn’t work out in the 7 possible leagues

          • Point is if you think Olson is as good as Alonso or just about as good, as you said in your top 20 overall post (you said you could have ranked Olson 15th overall) then wouldn’t it make sense from a value standpoint to pass on Alonso and get Olson at a much cheaper price? Wouldn’t that even be the strategy going into the draft considering Olsons price? Whatever it is what it is.

            • I have Alonso above Olson…I’m not passing on Alonso with the hope I can get someone else later…He’s two tiers above him… Remember, I’m not drafting Alonso at 15th overall…I’m getting him around 25-40 on average

              • Fair enough

      • Grey! If it makes you, or anyone, or everyone, feel better… I have Olson on all my teams! And Mondesi! Of course it’s only one team. And they were both keepers. But still!

        On the furreals, your endorsement of Olson influenced me in keeping him in 3rd round. Which worked out, I guess, since my other options woulda ended up being Goldschmidt, Gallo, Correa, El Chapo, Blake Snell, Donaldson (who I took in 4th)… only 286 players drafted but with around 110 kept, top end players went quickly.

        So when Olson goes off this year, I’ll be happy to humblebrag about it for you. And if he doesn’t… I’ll have to see how I can delete this comment!

        • My advice to me is #1, what my teams do is #2 — I hope Olson does well, and think he will

    • Your observation on why Grey didn’t draft him after his write up and ranking him in top 20 is a fair observation. I’m not sure if you’re questioning Olson’s value too?

      Looking at Olson’s production last year after missing time and recovering from a broken hamate, and his reputation as a masher I think he’ s legit and belongs among the top 1B. Same with Muncy.

      Personally, I passed on Alonso to grab others I valued at other positions more and did pick up Olson and Muncy too in a lineup that now includes Betts. I don’t see much of a drop off in production compared to Alonso..maybe RBI. Also, Alonso will be a 2nd year player and pitchers have a book on him now to his approach and there could be a drop off. It’s up to Alonso to adjust back.

      • I couldn’t have been more clear about what I meant. Grey answered my criticism adequately.

12. Oh Grey master (and other Razzers), How am I doing with following team in 12 team 5×5 roto:

    c – Sean Murphy
    c –
    1b – Olson
    2b – Cavan Biggio
    3b – Rendon
    ss – Story
    ci – Yandy Diaz
    mi – Kevin Newman
    of – Eloy Jimenez, Ramon Laureano, Franmil Reyes, Hunter Dozier, Mallex Smith

    Sp – Corbin, Morton, McCullers, Montas, Bundy, Garrett Richards
    rp – Taylor Rogers, Nick Anderson, Joe Jimenez

    Now have to work on bench/replacements for remaining 8 rounds.

    Thoughts/suggestions or just look at needs (maybe some higher average hitters?) and/or follow rankings to round things out.

    Thanks

    • Would u prefer CJ Cron or Brian Anderson for this team?

      Would either be instead of or in addition to Yandy Diaz?

    • Hmm…I like the hitting and pitching, but I think you’re missing some safer arms…I’d look at maybe one of them, then you could use AVG if you can find it, maybe Shogo

      • What would be safer arm that could be had after round 20?

        Do u mean like yarborough, Alex Wood, Aaron Civale type? Was thinking Kopech or Nate Pearson for some more upside but do not think u would say I need that.

        Was maybe thinking of Austin Hays or Santander and maybe Dylan Carlson for OF. Possibly Austin Riley but he might be more drain on average.

        Might see if Shogo available also next time around.

        Thanks

        • Yarbrough 100%

          Hays or Carlson are good too

          • what u make of the Mitch Keller hype? Suppose according to ranks u would still take yarborough.

            Guess Mitch would be considered another risky play for me.

            Do u really like CJ Cron this year or ranking seems to be little Meh!

            • Mitch is risky and not what you want

13. Very cool article, thanks mi mustached amigo’! We need DT to update us on Grandpa Donks in self isolation……

    • Grandpa Donks is out on the frontlines, saving lives in the ER

      • Hell yea! Nice, from America’s Greatest Equine generation!

        • Heehaw!

    • Thanks, Snacks! You be safe as well!

14. After seeing O’s atop the C, 1B, and 2B positions, I kept looking in the other position lists. Kind of anticlimactic exercise on my part. Though I thought I’d see some Austin Hayes shares and maybe a Nunez. Any particular reason?

    3B seems tough this year. Some good players, but they come at a cost. Sano’s been my guy this year. Surprised I didn’t see more Hunter Dozier shares.

    • Shoot, I did this by eye and I think I do have Hayes somewhere, if not, it was on purpose, I like him, but he just never found his way on team… I love Dozier, Sano, Walker, Kingery, Edman…Just not on teams, but not bc I didn’t want them

      • I get it. Once the bullets start flying, you have to trust the muscle memory from research/drilling. And expecting Olson on the say team where Alonso was already drafted is a bit ridiculous. Especially in a snake draft.

        I’m not super high on Hayes, but I think he’ll be better than his ADP. Same with all those guys you listed.

        FWIW – kudos for this portfolio wrap up. It’s kind of a good 360 check. Despite the sayers of nay, this is an integrity move.

        • Yeah, gotta do what you gotta do

15. Do we think this Corona timeline helps or hurts Puig’s value?

    • Hope it helps……..i’m counting on it!

    • Can’t hurt, there’s no games for him to miss

16. No Tim Anderson shares? I kept getting sniped with Sano and figure it was something like that.

    • I wish I could have an Anderson share, just didn’t happen

17. Hey G!

    Hope all is well. Everything fine here, minus being one step removed from a war zone in NYC… here are the quick seal thoughts and team updates below.

    Really hope they get this thing off the ground! I’m a little more optimistic than most, but think your 100 game median prediction is spot on, if I were to estimate it myself. I’m personally leaning a little more towards 120 when I’m drafting, just because I don’t want to get sucked into the trap of thinking it’s 80 games, drafting a bunch of Lizard King, McCullers, Glassman, etc. and then end up massively short IP…

    I’m not sure if it impacts hitting too much, besides injuries of course. But if anything, I am even more off those injury prone guys now. The upside tradeoff for missing a larger % of the season just doesn’t do it for me. And I’d rather fade consensus when given a choice.

    Thanks to B_Don for putting together this really cool slow draft auction with more sabermetric-like categories. We’ve been drafting all week, and this finally got my baseball juices flowing again! (It also helps that the market hasn’t gone completely insane again this week.) Due to the strange cats (can get into this more if u want / haven’t heard about it yet), I’ve been spending most of my free time building up a beast workbook this week, a la Rudy’s War Room Light tm.

    We never caught up on my RCL team…. it’s pretty absurd lol. I’m in B_Don’s $20 league for this one.

    C: Realmuto
    1B: Abreu
    2B: Albies
    3B: JRam
    SS: Story
    CI: Starlin
    MI: C.Seager
    OF: Meadows
    OF: Laureano
    OF: Schwarber
    OF: Avisail
    OF: Upton
    UT / Bench: Happ / Cron

    P: Morton
    P: Gallen
    P: Lamet
    P: Urias
    P: Yarbro
    P: Houser
    P: Iglesias
    P: Robles
    P: Melancon
    Bench: Bundy, Eovaldi

    LMAO — first time I’ve checked-in on that all week. What a fuckin’ stacked team, if I can say so myself. #DraftingWithIdiots ;-)

    OK, apologies the length of this post is long, but content should be an easy read. TBF, your post is long af too.

    Here is the finish of my Razzball DC. Love this squad.

    Molina
    Castro
    Bellinger
    Albies
    Anderson
    Moncada
    Schwarber
    Upton
    Happ
    Akiyama
    Santander
    Edwin
    Edman
    Cron

    Bieber
    Darvish
    Montas
    Giles
    Hendricks
    Kennedy
    Wood
    Eovaldi
    Means

    Highlights from the bench — will spare this post another 50 lines, lol:
    Starlin
    Voth
    Turnbull
    Bader
    Howard
    JaCoby
    Tellez
    Crick
    Straw
    Seranthony
    Ponce de Leon
    Strop
    Zimmer

    FWIW, disagree a bit w/ what u said on the pod about Hendricks – value maybe goes down a touch due to volume, but think ratio support may be even more import now w/ fewer total IP, so that should balance itself out, IMO.

    Will stop there and be back in a few!

    PS. Never waste a crisis. I’m trying to focus on the blessings in disguise during this very weird time in history.

    PPS. We are now part of an indelible moment in history, me thinks. Let that one sink in. DEEP SEAL THOUGHTS!

    • Deep seal thoughts! First, be safe and well, that’s number one…Don’t go into Wall Street right now, let those stocks dead cat bounce out to New Haven…(Guessing on all of this) I hear you on Hendricks, but volume is going to be tough if there’s no volume…It’s just something to consider, not saying it’s 100% right on, bc we don’t know how many games will be played…Games will be played tho, is my thought… Your NFBC DC team is solid, bit higher on pitching than I do, and your hitting looks low on AVG (Upton, Schwarbs, Edwin, Cron, etc)…Your RCL looks stacked and I love it, solid all around team…

      • Thank you, G!

        Just to be clear, I’m 100% WFH right now. Trying to take a walk once-a-day, but sometimes can’t even get around to that. Totally healthy, though. I live in Hudson Yards where there aren’t a ton of ppl right now, and can walk by the water as it gets nicer out.

        Agree on AVG, one of those situations where you’re catching up on power late, and it starts to get away from you a bit. Hopefully Edman, Starlin and Akiyama can help bring that up. Also will depend if Moncada is a .300 hitter again (probably not, but who knows what happens). I’m higher on Schwarbs AVG than most — why I’m generally taking him before Franmil (plus others tend to take Franny first) — think his swing improvements last year were for realz; he ended the season quite well and was doing the same shiz in ST. And Yadier is a good AVG guy relative to C. Maybe the time off will help him have a decent season again? Obviously, this is a totally biased paragraph… :-)

        Recall I wanted to try to take pitching a bit earlier here to see how that worked out. I’m still cool w/ it all. Agree w/ B_Don on the pod that AVG is going to be one of the toughest categories to figure out this year.

        RCL team is a total joke. About as perfect as it could’ve went. But I think, in general, streaming is going to be even more important than ever this year. Probably one of my biggest weaknesses, since my home league is so shallow w/ limited moves, so haven’t had a ton of practice. I guess the upside is that this is a good year to work on it… I’m generally pretty decent w/ pickups, just have almost zero experience “streaming” hitters.

        Will be learning the ways of the Fantasy Master Lothario!

        • WFH is good to hear, don’t eff with it, not worth it… Hudson Yards is beautiful, don’t go outside tho

          Yeah, AVG is such a large variance category I can’t hate a team bc of it, it’s just a worry sometimes

          Yes, your RCL is kinda beautiful

          • I know, it’s so pretty.

            Now that we got my shenanigans out the way, we can focus the attention back on special ol’ you (I’m not saying you’re old — I promise!).

            Regarding Albombso, we discussed previously both on how he was a fade for me, but also said the hate has gone too far. It’s funny though, pretty sure his ADP is still in the mid-30s last I checked, so clearly *someone* is taking him there… I haven’t heard anyone say you can get the same stats from Cron, but have heard the Olsen comp many times.

            This brings up one of my new working theories on how to approach the short season. You may recall I generally prefer to avoid the mega category guys. Not that I won’t *ever* take them–just prefer the balance w/ AVG early on. Bunch of reasons for that, which is hopefully fairly obvious. However, I think you may want to make sure to have some big category guys on your squad when the season is shorter. You can *pretty much* bank on dongs from Alonso. That is pretty nice to tuck away. Personally, I would be more apt to take a Robles or Turner now. The 10-bag chip in guys are more “volatile” than usual I think, and we may not be able to count on those steals as much in a shortened season. Does that make sense? Any who!

            Agree on SS comment. It’s DEEP, up until a point, and then there’s a cliff. Reminds me of my Razzslam team… shall I post that here too? I wanted to get Story and Baez early so I could forget about it for the most part thereafter.

            We’ve discussed before, but I think Turner + Albombso is some straight sex. Perfect for your strategy, and I think + Ketel still works very well there too. Killer start. *Obsceneso!

            3B: Donaldson a good target for you, Moncada sometimes, and while I know you aren’t big on McNeil, I think he can make sense where you don’t get Ketel or a bonafide AVG guy in the third. Other guy you know I’ve fallen in love with is Edman. So, if you go OF post SP, Edman for the steals + AVG is super sexy. JD Davis and Dozier aren’t bad fallback options either.

            You also don’t have any Kingery, which is a bit strange since I thought you liked him. I haven’t found myself owning him either. Feels like a bit of a reach bc I love the other guys going around there much better. If you really super punt it, I like Brian Anderson, Starlin and Urshela to a lesser extent, and La Stella if you want to say a Hail Mary while drafting (works every time, 60% of the time!). Riley…. ouch. Really not a fan, but he isn’t going to hurt you, at least not like Giancarlo does.

            SP: Very on brand. Agree w/ most everything except I’m off Eduardo. I don’t see him having a huge breakout, so if he’s fine, then whatever, it won’t be on my teams. If you have too much Lynn, Stroman, Castillo, E-Rod, then your WHIP is going to be a serious issue unless you also have Hendricks, Yarbro, etc. Is there an etc.? Don’t think so!

            RP: Very nice. I like to grab Melancon where I can, especially as a third closer (see: RCL team). Another guy you should look into more (if you have any more drafts…) is Robles. I know you’re a closet Mets fan (or an actual one?), but I’m fairly certain he’s figure it out, and he’s said as much that he wasn’t comfortable in NY and couldn’t handle it. So he GTFO of the kitchen! Not worried about Madden messing that up either. You already know he had a good season, but check out a rolling graph of his last ~10-15 games. Was pitching at an elite clip w/ the skills to back it up.

            But, as you once famously said: MA, WHERE’S THE MEATLOAF? CREAM THE SAGNOF! [What hunny?] JUST DO IT! SAGNOF BITCH!

            • That makes a lot of sense on one category dongers… Yeah, post Razzslam too, all good… Obsceneso! Is right! I don’t think there’s any way to say this other than, Ketel and Alonso do what everyone expects of them — not just me — and I’ll be sitting pretty! Yeah, I liked Kingery a lot, but I think he was going around time I was taking 3rd SP, it’s tough to go bat in the 100-150 range when you punt SPs a little like me — Stroman isn’t bad for WHIP…. Yeah, Melancon is dirt cheap like people think he’s gonna be what? An 8th inning guy? Ain’t happening…

              • Sorry, got busy. If I reply here — will you read over the weekend?

                If I don’t hear back, will just comment on Monday’s post. Cheers

                • I’m here

                  • Oh yeah! Got Grey on line 5, baby!

                    I guess it makes sense you’re around — what else are you going to do when quarantined; other than go on the computer, dream of baseball, make Twitter jokes, and hope baby seal sends you another 5k word essay? :-)

                    What do you think about what I said regarding the 10-bag-type guys? Seems like you agreed on the one-cat guys, but wanted to know if you agree on that point about, e.g. Moncada or Ketel’s steals being a little more in question than before? Believe me, it gives me no great pleasure to say that, because I own one of those guys (+Albies) on pretty much every team.

                    I *do* feel a little better about those guys specifically vs others, because they are fast. But the point still stands. A better example might be like an Ozuna. So maybe saying, “7-steal guys” is the more accurate way to phrase it.

                    OK, I need to clarify the WHIP thing. Since you’ve disagreed w/ me there before, and it seems like I’m not being clear. Don’t think what I’m saying is really that controversial.

                    I don’t think Stroman is a *bad* WHIP guy. My point is that if you have a few of these below avg WHIP guys on the same squad, then you *really need* a ratio stabilizer, or you’re fighting an uphill battle there. I usually have a pretty good WHIP, even when somewhat punting SP, because I try and focus on that stat more than most. I think it’s the second most “predictable” stat for SP after Ks. All else being equal, I’d rather have the guy who usually has a *good* WHIP — and hope he spikes a nice ERA — vs the other way around. Also, those guys tend to come cheaper, since most ppl are biased towards ERA. So, it’s a bit of a double win, IMO.

                    I love Stro, especially in deeper formats, and have him in a few spots. But you cannot deny he pitches to contact. It’s quite unlikely he has a plus WHIP, especially w/ that amazing Mets D. To me, Stro is a + ERA guy, with Ks that should spike higher than expectations, and a WHIP that should be *fine* but kinda wtv. He should be able to keep the ball in the park better than most w/ his sinker, that home park, and now facing the pitcher for a full season. As I write this out, realizing I should bump him up my board a bit, bc anyone who can keep the ball in the park is someone who should be more of a target in a shortened season w/ a juiced ball… I know a lot of that was probably old news for you but was helpful for me to work through just now. Just trying to be objective here. :-)

                    The other SP I want to target are guys who are more likely to go *deeper* into games. That’s one of the few ways SP are going to differentiate themselves. Just means Bieber and Morton hold firm as top guys for me. I love Paddack, but probably not giving him an extra bump like most. Had him higher than consensus before anyways, so maybe I’ll just be in line w/ the market now. He’s a tricky one, because if that curve shows some signs of life in ST, then I may change my tune and give him that bumperoo.

                    One guy I was off before — and agreed w/ you — but now I am fully onboard, is Price. I think the time off should help w/ the wrist, he was looking sharp in ST, and there are a lot of nice and soft narrative factors moving to LAD. There are also some real-life context improvements, too. I do recall writing something to the effect of: watch in ST, wrist is an issue, but could be a target if shows he’s healthy. Might’ve gotten that line from you.

                    Happy I don’t have any Boyd per the HR comment above. Sure, he got unlucky to some extent, but you don’t allow that many HR unless you have a legitimate HR issue. Kind of like Tanaka. Think that’ll mostly stick w/ him, unless he can get that change to be better, and/or get another tick or two on the FB. He’s going to be behind counts where guys can sit FB and smoke it.

                    Wheeler is another context change guy I have punted this year. Don’t feel strongly one way or another, so just passing because I’m not sure he should be much better in that park, on a big contract, new team, etc.

                    OK, after much handwringing, I present to you the baby seal Razzslam squad!

                    Think my biggest regret was not getting some better OF. While I got some nice closer values, I probably would’ve been better off securing some more OF in the early-to-mid 100s.

                    Think my biggest success was getting a bunch of good multi-position guys early, and my pitching is quite strong considering how much I waited overall. But again, maybe another nice OF instead of Montas and/or Jansen would’ve been the right call. But in my defense, I recall that OF was getting seriously pushed up the entire time.

                    The saucy meat sticks:
                    Perez
                    Kelly
                    Rizzo
                    Muncy
                    Story
                    Devers
                    Moose
                    Baez
                    Castellanos
                    Reyes
                    Grisham
                    Eaton
                    Domingo
                    Cron

                    Darvish
                    Montas
                    Jansen
                    Diaz
                    Price
                    Iglesias
                    Marquez
                    Bundy
                    Wood

                    La Stella
                    Eovaldi
                    Santander
                    Chirinos
                    Reynaldo
                    Turnbull
                    Voth
                    Means
                    Bader
                    Galvis
                    Howard
                    Cabrera
                    Sogard
                    Pedro Severino
                    Dominic Smith
                    Ponce de Leon
                    Monte Harrison
                    Brian Goodwin

                    Whatcha think?? Later!!

                    • I think 10-bag guys are player dependent…Albies could steal 12 bags in 80 games but I’m not sure Moncada can or would…agreed on WHIP but I think specifically Stroman can be okay for WHIP…WHIP guys can be cheaper but you might get saddled with a good WHIP/6 K/9 guy…Price is interesting now, agreed…I think Paddack is enticing bc of K/9…

                      I think your squad looks solid! I like your pitching a lot, but wish your bench arms were more interesting… I think your hitting looks solid with a nice base, very safe hitting team aside from Grisham ie not much upside

                  • Thanks for the reply, very helpful!

                    I’m actually just starting a slow auction BB draft w/ B_Don, DT, some Razzball commenters, and idk who else…

                    Going to use some of that feedback in this draft. *fist pump*

                    Agree on the lack of upside there…. was hard to get, unfortunately. Bader has some, but not like what you’re talking about. Monte is a super long shot. And Santander you think is fine, but pretty unlikely to do anything crazy, right?

                    BTW, it was Asdrubal Cabrera. I couldn’t even figure that one out myself looking back at it lol. Because there’s no shot in hell I would touch Miggy.

                    Guess I was thinking that I would rather avoid zeros by making sure I get stats, hoping random guys have big weeks, than swing and miss on a bunch of fliers that don’t even play. Usually it’s a long season, and there’s definitely a war of attrition aspect to these things.

                    Good food for thought on the WHIP & K/9 comment. Going to ponder that one a bit more. Think I’m usually fine there, but like that advice a lot.

                    Thanks bro!!

                    • Santander is kind interesting but Bader isn’t really…Monte is a guy I like a lot, but that’s a flyer vs a guy with job who has upside… No problem

18. With Willie Calhoun now cleared for baseball activities, would you consider ranking him where he ways prior to breaking his jaw?

    • Yeah, I moved him back up in my rankings

19. I’m in a full dynasty league and haven’t drafted in about ten years. What are your thought on my RazzSlam team?

    Barnhart
    Stallings

    Rizzo
    Marte
    Mondesi
    Arenado
    Gurriel
    Gregorius

    Shogo
    Jd martinez
    Eloy
    Louie Robbie
    Kepler

    Mercado

    Paddack
    Sonny
    Eduardo Rodriguez
    Minor
    Manaea
    Luccesi
    Archer
    Chironos
    Cueto

    Calhoun
    Garrett Hampson
    Hays
    Arraeaz
    Myers
    O’Neil
    Franco
    Bohm
    Austidillio
    Pujols
    Chris Davis
    Pache

    Shoemaker
    Burnes
    Bassett
    Yamamoto
    Skubal
    Quantrill
    Pivetta

    • Looks solid, I like the pitching aisde from Manaea and Archer…and your depth looks shallow on arms… The hitting looks solid and much better…Overall looks good, I’d be a little concerned on pitching

20. Here is your sleeper for tasty SAGNOF this year: Joey Gerber

    He was dominant as Illinois’ closer in college, and he’s got a shot of making the M’s out of camp. Worst case he starts at Tacoma and gets called up when Yoshi craps the bed.

    • What about Art Warren?

      • Warren is 27, and already got optioned to Tacoma earlier in March.

        • Gotcha, fair

          • My big concern with Warren is he was 26 and dominating at AA last year against a bunch of kids. Might be a Quad A kind of dude.

            • Yeah, maybe, or maybe M’s have nothing else to do and why not try him

21. Grey,
    grade this current keeper roster – We keep 10. its a 12 team H2H league.
    Categories – R,HR,RBI,SB,BB,TB, Ave.
    Categories – W,L,SV,K,ERA, WHIP, QS
    C – W. Smith
    1st – Abreu
    2nd – Hiura
    3rd – Moncda
    SS – Bichette
    OF – Y. Alvarez
    OF – Betts
    OF – Dahl
    UTL – Brantley
    UTL – Ian Happ
    Bench
    Verdugo
    B. lowe
    Segura
    Brujan

    Pitchers:
    Snell
    Buehler
    Paddock
    Urias
    J. James
    Cmart
    Puk
    Keller
    RP
    Yates
    Neris
    Kela

    Who should i drop or should i hold? Available FA – D.Gordon, Cutch, Adames, Luis Urias, Santander, RIley, Grisham, N. Lowe, JP Crawford, A. hicks, Cordero, R. Arozerena.

    • Love this team, you must’ve had some solid keepers…If I had to nitpick, I’d say Segura is mostly a waste of time and you should be speculating on someone with more upside, but it’s fine to hold…Your pitching is a chef’s kiss

      • Thanks buddy!
        If you’re a Netflix fan, watch these while we’re quarantined (if you haven’t already):
        Ozarks
        Stranger things
        Tiger king
        Narcos
        Narcos Mexico
        Long shot ( so good and only 1 episode)

        • Sadly, I’ve seen all of these — Ozarks returns today!

22. Good stuff Grey! We have some similarities…but I did some NFBCs prior to the Lothario’s rankings release…so there definitely are some irregularities. Pretty much my entire fantasy season hinges on Eddie Rosario, Kingery, Bogaerts, Devers and Amed Rosario!

    I’m ALL IN on Rosarios…especially DAWSON!!!

    C… Maldonado-5
    Alfaro-4
    Reese Handies!-3

    1B… Renato-5
    C Walker-4
    Rizzo-3

    2B… Wong-4
    Isan-4

    SS… Amed-5
    Bogaerts-5
    Baez/Swanson/DeJong-3

    3B… Kingery-9!
    Devers-7
    HunterDoz-3

    OF/DH…E Rosario-9!
    W Calhoun-4
    Seth Brown-4
    Laureano/Avisail/Santander/Conforto/
    Riley/M Andujar-3

    SP… Tyler Anderson-5 (wut?)
    Kikuchi-4 (huh?)
    Yarbrough-4
    Lamet-4
    Alex Wood-4
    Freddy Peralta-4
    Odorizzi/Heaney/Pablopez/Urena/
    Lynn/Stroman/Desclaf/Manning-3

    RP… Nick Anderson-6
    E Diaz/LeClerc/Workman/TrevorGott-3

    • These are from 7 DCs and 5 RCLs….I MAY have a problem! ha

    • Alfaro — yes!

      Walker — yes!

      Wong — okay!

      Amed — yes!

      Kingery — damn! You have all the guys I wanted!

      Anderson — huh?
      Kikuchi — um…
      Yarbrough — yes!

      Anderson — okay!

      • LOL! Thanks Grey!
        Didn’t know I had an interest in Wong?!? Obv I may have to revisit 2B in any future drafts. But I just lerve me those SS!!
        Kikuchi-love must be a by-product of Donkey. May need to re-examine my list of gurus!! Ha!
        Fondness for Tyler Anderson must be related to ballpark…but the guy is coming off an injury and may not be in the rotation. Sweet!

        In DC’s, I seemed to focus on Avg and Power early…which left a massive need for speed, and because I wanted to avoid the SB-only drains, I found myself picking up the few mid-tier multi-cat speed guys that you loved: Kingery and Amed. …and have Tim Anderson twice.

        Lastly, I must confess…it’s difficult for the Cobblers to draft the likes of Alonso, Olson, Tatis and Mondesi within the first 30 picks. Feel like there is an abundance of .250/25/2 guys late….but not .290/20/2 or .290/15/11. Although I know Avg is fickle.
        Anyway, THANKS Grey for all of your help!

        • Donkey is rubbing off on everyone, without consent

          Yeah, Tyler Anderson has that at least…

          You can’t compare Cron to Alonso, I won’t allow it

        • Wong’s .285 avg with 24 SB’s and double digit HR’s for zero cost won people a lot of championships last year!!!

          • True, he’s fine — just not F.I.N.E. fine

            • I’m with ya

23. What up G?

    12 team roto, weekly lock league. Thoughts?

    C Alfaro
    1B Olson
    2B Villar
    3B Chapman
    SS Mondesi
    MI Muncy
    CI Sano
    OF Bellinger
    OF Soler
    OF H Dozier
    OF Domingo
    UTIL Yordan
    UTIL Happ
    BE Solak
    SP Corbin
    SP Castillo
    SP Giolito
    SP Woodruff
    SP Heaney
    SP Houser
    RP Edwin
    RP Workman
    RP Leclerc
    BE (RP) Melancon
    BE (RP) Givens
    BE (SP) Civale

    Cut Civale now that he’s in the minors or wait to see if he’s back when the season actually starts?

    • Love the hitting and pitching…I don’t have much to quibble with…I guess you might be low on AVG, maybe, but not bad…I like the team a lot…Don’t think Civale is really going to minors, it’s a procedural move is my guess

      • Thanks!

        Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it’s OBP so maybe the average concerns aren’t as bad?

        The team feels a bit light on speed in my opinion. Was trying to trade for Laureano. Then I’d be feeling really good. As it is, I’ll punt Solak for whatever hot shot steals a few bags in week one.

        • Oh, yeah, less AVG concerns then — Nah, you have speed

24. Grey: Just came back from juicing and see that I’m the clock with my 70th/71st picks.
    So far, Story
    Devers
    Albies
    Springer
    Eloy
    Rizzo

    Darvish/Glasnow/Paddack just taken, and Morton/Yates available.
    Machado (ss/3b)/ Vlad/Suarez/Cruz/Moustakas/Grandal available.

    Thinking Machado/Morton.

    What do you think ?

    • You’re doing PEDs?

      Machado/SP for sure..Morton it is

      • Kale spinach smoothies. Add tumbril/chia seeds/flax seeds/pea protein/ginger w/ strawberries/banana/pineapple. One 32 oz. in the a.m. and 1 24 oz. w/ dinner.
        Start with a double shot of wheat grass. Damn Grey, I had 5 stents put in 5 1/2 yrs. ago, and a small dose of prostate cancer. Now I’ll go on my 1st of 2 3 mile power walks.
        Life is for the living, right bro ?
        Thanks as usual. You the man (though I own 6 shares of Olson) not just thanks to you, but for helping me win an overall championship last year and 4 other lgs. I owned Alonso on several teams last year as I was fortunate to draft him in the 280’s. haha

        • That’s awesome! Stay well, man! I need to start juicing too…I’m talking PEDs tho…

          • Haha. Yeah, my 2 youngest who own a gym in Williamsburg, now freaking closed after they put $1 mil. + and finally had all of the kinks out and was kicking ass, work out and take PED’s I believe. They’re 35 and 36 yrs. old and are in great shape. My daughter old was a teaching spin classes in nyc for a decade, and now is out of a job, is also a nutritionist, and helped me turn my diet around and get me on the good path to health. Starting young is the way to go. Took me 65 years. My 5 yr. old grandson is a great example.

            • thought I spelled turmeric. Great book to buy for you and the Cougs….How Not to Die, by Dr. Michael Greger. Worldwide best seller. That’s the least I can do for you in return for all you do for me and so many others.

              • I bet Cougs has read it, she’s very into nutrition

            • Never too late, right?

              • I sure hope not. haha

25. Is there a Buy/Sell coming yet today?

    Is DanPants doing a fake Friday summary tomorrow?

    • Sell Sale, Severino, and Thor.

    • Haha, ugh, sad thoughts you’re giving me right now

      • I know. I’ve been watching the MLB 2020 the show simulations from yesterday.

        Highlights so far

        Elvis Andrus went deep twice
        The A’s hit 7 HR
        Paddack gets roughed up by Rocks who win 16-2

        • Paddack got rocked? Oh crap!

26. adding power to my team.. i was going to trade a starter to the team that lost noah s and try to get franmil or olson .. if i go olson i would trade castillo or for franmil who would you part with that you think is fair.. gallen, urias, ohatani, or odorizzi.. i also have degrom and flahrety.. dont shame me for drafting too much pitching.. its a keeper league haha

    • I’d send any of them for Franmil, go with my rankings and work backwards

27. Mitch Keller or McKay?

    • McKay has a better chance to get you wins. Keller won’t. Better defense behind McKay in my estimation.

      Keller if you need Ks.

      For what it’s worth from non-pro.

    • Keller

28. Good! Glad you’re high on Austin Riley at his current price. Insane value where he’s going. Got me 3 shares of AR in 4 leagues.

    Your thoughts on Miguel Andujar at his current low cost?

    Awesome post! These are the kind I really like.

    • I like him at his price, I’d draft him, just haven’t yet

29. Grey: 2 guys ahead of me.

    Have Story/Devers/Albies/Springer/Jimenez/Rizzo/Machado/Morton.

    Highest rated pitchers available are: Chapman/Osuna/Luzardo/Montas/Gray/Kluber/Soroka/Lynn/Hendriks

    Highest rated hitters:
    Grandal (73(/Ozuna(82)/Castellanos(86).Robert(86),Garver(88),Escobar(95), Sano(98), Pham(98),Correa(101).

    Really would like either Luzardo or Montas, but Chapman and Osuna will get saves. All these guys will be gone when I pick @110/111.

    Really wanted 2 pitchers here, since I only have 1 (Morton).

    Grandal still here is intriguing as is Ozuna. Correa could be a steal as long as he’s healthy.

    That said I’d bet 1 or both of the guys I want will be taken with the next 2 picks.

    Your thoughts ?

    • Ozuna or Cast or Roberts for sure…Than Sano or Correa

30. I wanted either Laureano or Mondesi with 1 of these picks but they were taken by the 3d and 4th picks ahead of me.

31. Woodruff also available (adp 92).

    • Woodruff 1st then

      • You could use an SP more than a bat right now

32. What do you think? 12 Team 6×6 roto.
    C Sean Murphy
    1B Christian Walker
    3B Eugenio Suarez
    SS Francisco Lindor
    2/S Ryan McMahon
    1B/3B Scott Kingery
    OF Bryce Harper
    OF Franmil Reyes
    OF Lourdes Gurriel
    OF Trent Grisham
    UTIL Austin Hays
    UTIL Dylan Carlson
    Bench
    Michael Chavis
    Randal Grichuk
    P
    Marcus Stroman
    Jose Urquidy
    Jack Flaherty
    Frankie Montas
    Max Fried
    Matthew Boyd
    Liam Hendriks
    Edwin Diaz
    Seth Lugo
    Bench
    Aaron Civale
    Daniel Hudson
    James Karinchak
    Nathan Eovaldi
    Dylan Cease

    • I think your pitching is stacked, prolly better than it needs to be, which has hurt your hitting a little, you have a lot of flyers for a shallow league — not bad tho, they are guys I like

      • Thanks. There’s some interesting FA’s available: Luis Arraez , S.Akiyama, B.Nimmo, N.Ahmed, M.Yaz, A.Santander, V.Reyes, J.Smoak, Kieboom, M.Dubon.
        But, thinking I should waiting it out.

        • Shogo’s kinda interesting, but you can wait

33. I think I might Castellanos more than Ozuna. On the Reds. More consistent. Just doesn’t steal like Ozuna. Castellano has a very nice floor, and that’s w/out having played in Cinn. 2017 may be the outlier for Ozuna.
    I think Montas may be the best starter in the a.l.

    • Yeah, that makes sense

34. Ozuna went. 1 pick yo go. I think I’m leaning to Castellanos/Montas, if this dude doesn’t take them. He’s already snaked me 2-3 times.

    • Cast

35. Would you take 2 pitchers here ? Castellanos good really breakout in Cinn.

    • Cast and SP

      • How much is 183414 paying you to draft his team? heh

        • Whatever Grey asks me too. Fyi, I won the On Line Championship last year along with 4 other lgs., 1 being a Super. This is the 2nd time I ever drafted a Best Ball team. Thanks for caring.

      • Thanks Grey. You do know I appreciate the help. Yeah, the dude just drafted Robert.
        Castellanos/Woodruff it is.

        • Nice!

36. You ranked Gray ahead of Woodruff, though. 3 pitchers I do like best are Montas, Woodruff, and Gray. You say Woodruff ?
    Do you like Robert more than Castellanos and Pham ?

    • Woodruff in Best Ball is pretty enticing…Gray across 200 IP in regular league is bit higher

      • Forget Pham

      • Thanks for the explanation. Us attorneys always like explanations. haha

        • Yup, No problem

37. Hey Grey, you answered this yesterday but I misread my league rules and contracts are due.
    12 team dynasty league. 6×6 Head to Head cats, auction draft, players signed at their auction values. Sign a max of 4 years. I already own Soto, Rendon, Mondesi, T. Anderson

    You suggested this:

    Story $28 – 4 yrs
    J. Soler $13 – 4 yrs
    H. Dozier $11 – 2 yrs
    Kingery $6 – 3 yrs
    JD Davis $2 – 1 yr
    Akiyama $1 – 1 yr
    Giolito $30 – 1 yr
    Gallen $21 – 1 yr
    Ed. Rod $11 – 2 yrs
    Yarbrough $2 – 1 yr
    McKay $1 – 3 yrs

    All players above are already automatically signed for this year. So would you sign a “1 yr” player beyond this season for the next season or put him back in the draft next year. Thanks!

    • Nah, not beyond this year

38. Yeah Joe definitely crazier. Carole is lame and definitely killed her husband. Great watch, now back to Sopranos.

    Thanks for keepin shizz positive btw. I feel like everywhere else wants to state the negative right now, but not Grey! and I appreciate that. The next best thing to not having baseball is looking forward to baseball, not dwelling on a scenario where there is no baseball. I read rotoworld blurbs to keep up with baseball news and I swear I read “if there even is a season this year” in like 3 blurbs today. eff them, we’ll have baseball!

    • Yeah, baseball will happen!

39. Hey Grey,
    Keeper league inquiry we have been debating all day. Our league has varying degrees of short and long term contracts, auction style drafting, minor league spots, etc.
    Should Covid force the cancellation of the MLB season, what should happen to said fantasy keeper contracts?

    Should they A. freeze & extend to the next season or B. age as if 2020 was played?

    Thank you almighty Grey!

    • A, freeze

      • Thanks! That seems to be the consensus.

        Although I’m 99% sure some sort of season will be played. Go USA!

        • USA! USA!

    • Main reason owners are clamoring for an answer NOW is for trade planning purposes. Trading for or trading away expiring contract deals has WAY more consequence should there not be a season and those contracts expire;
      on the flip side, if you were a team eyeing certain players in next years auction only to find their current contract freeze and extend would be disappointing. Thanks

    • Freeze. Only a wild wild Willie would decide to move on as if they played a season.

40. Hello Grey! Thanks for continuing to give us FREE content during these crazy times. Since I’m bored, what do you think about the team I drafted?

    H2H custom points keeper league. Notable points: ER count against pitchers negatively, innings pitched is a very good thing too. For hitting, an at bat effects negatively if it doesn’t lead to a hit (or walk), so higher average players especially with power and or speed are gods.

    C- Vazquez
    1- Abreu
    2 – Lourdes JR
    3 – Arenado (k)
    SS – Dubon
    IF- Suarez
    OF – Acuna (k)
    OF – Harper (k)
    OF – Eloy
    UTIL – Franmil
    UTIL – Calhoun

    NA- Madrigal

    RP – Joe Jimenez
    RP – Josh James
    P – Giolito (k)
    P – Darvish (k)
    P – Glasnow (k)
    P – Bauer (k)

    BN – ED-Rod
    BN- Maeda
    BN- Cueto
    BN- Canning

    I know, I know, I waited too long at SS and got sniped one right after the other after a SS run. So Dubon is my contingency plan until I can find a more solid player. Hell he might be solid anyway.

    • Of course, but how many teams?

      • Sorry! Most important pic of info! It’s a 12-team league.

    • How do you have Dubon in a 12-teamer? That’s something, the rest of the hitting looks great tho, the solid keepers don’t hurt….if I had to nitpick, you look low in speed…your pitching is crazy strong too, with no saves…great overall team…

      • Oh I know! It’s insane all the shortstops people are rostering. Multiple teams carrying 5+ SS. I don’t get it. Debon is the best guy available. Atleast it sounds he will be playing everyday..

        • Yeah I hear ya

41. 12 teamer, h2h league. 19 categories each week.
    Hitting: Runs, RBI, SB, BB, Ks, Ave, 1B, 2B, 3B, HRs
    Pitching: Runs, HRs, Wins, Losses, ERA, WHIP, Saves, Holds, Ks

    1. Strongest areas? Weaknesses?

    2. Overall thoughts on the team? Maybe a score of 1-12 since it is a 12 team league?

    Contreras
    Alonso, Chapman, AuShizz (he will be better I think)
    Mondesi, T Anderson, Lowe
    Trout, Laureano, Stanton, JD Davis, Verdugo
    Util: Solak and Berti
    Buehler, Clevenger,Soroka,Yarborough,Wood
    Colome, Doolittle, Pressley, Lugo, Gallegos

    Thanks!

    • 1. Your hitting and pitching both look solid, I don’t know about weaknesses…I guess low on AVG

      2. 11

      • Thank you. I kinda like this team too. Usually wait on SP but Buehler at 25 and Ckevinger at 48 seemed solid. I hear you on average. Had a choice between SBs (Mondesi, T Anderson) or trying to get that average up (McNeil, etc). Went SS and speed. Can’t be great in 19 categories! Take care

        • Yeah, totally!

42. Hey Grey, 12 team dynasty 6×6 head to head cats
    Keep H.Dozier @ 1B $11 for 2 years (this and next)
    C. Walker $4 for 2 years
    Or both

    • Both

43. How did we not know about joe exotic before this?

    • I listened to podcast about him last year

      • Oh shit. Did you listen to white boy rick?

        • Nah, I watched it

44. Just was offered a trade in a Yahoo Dynasty roto league. It seems like a no brainer for sure despite prospects being valued. Guess my fear is maybe it gets voted down.

    My Thor & SF SS prospect Luciano for his Woodruff & Laureano
    Take the trade & laugh hysterically? Not so much asking as sharing because it seems so crazy ridiculous.
    My issue would be who to drop since some prospects are not identified as NA at the moment.
    Choices seem to be Lourdes, Segura, Adames, Walker, H Harvey (might be closer) or Burnes.
    Almost leaning 30 yr old Segura because I have Adames & Polanco who are younger & maybe more upside plus Oneil Cruz as a SS prospect

    • Or maybe drop R Lopez (was hoping he might breakout given he is just 26). My pitching is pretty stacked Buehler, Paddack, Ray, Bauer, Wood, Kluber, C Smith, Heaney, Burnes then Diaz, Robles workman & Harvey as closers,

      • Oh BTW Ozark season 3 started last night & really liking it. I thought you said you watched the earlier seasons. Went thru 4 episodes last night.

        • Yeah, I’m 2 eps in, it’s a great show

    • Woodruff side

      • Without seeing my entire team based on the guys I mentioned who would be the drop since Luciano is in a NA slot & some prospects like Cruz are not designated as NA guys just yet (stupid Yahoo).
        I think narrowed down to Segura (age) Harvey (closer? or future closer) or R Lopez (maybe breakout). Still leaning Segura, despite always liking him, based on age & the other 3 SS I have … plus he might be squeezed for PT.

        • Harvey

45. 1 pick away from 150/151. Still no catcher. have 3 o.f.’s, 4 s.p.’s, and 1 r.p.and no util.
    Since my Woodruff/Castellanos picks; drafted Aroldis/Montas/Wheeler /Biggio.

    Passed on Ency in favor of Biggio.

    My queue: Kingery/Neris/Seager/Reynolds/Calhoun/Andrus/Vazquez/JD Davis/McMahon

    I’m leaning Kingery (gives me o.f. and 3b) and Neris (wanted Rogers, but chose Wheeler @130).
    McMahon is interesting, but have Machado 2 c.i. and Biggio @ m.i.

    Feel like I can get quality s.p.’s over the next few rounds, and I like Neris better than all other closers. Wanted Gurriel or Kingery as my 4th o.f., and Gurriel is gone.

    Thoughts ?

46. Yeah, my gut and what I’m reading and the fact I won’t be picking until 170/171 (don’t really like these double picks, other than I can only get snagged once per round, haha), tells me Kingery and Neris are decent values w/ decent upside. No catchers excite me, and like the multi position from Kingery.
    Wished I owned Neris in my roto lgs., so hopefully he’ll get me a couple of 3 save weeks.

    • Kingery and a closer works for me…Neris is fine

47. Happy to see you are around today, guess it’s time for your critique. After my 1st DC draft I learned to address speed early (or end up with Mallex ha) and don’t wait on certain guys (missed on Franmil, Lourdes etc.)
    Having 1st pick yielded Tildaddy, but weak at 3B/CI, hoping K. Seager and Maikel are decent (yikes!):
    C Garver (13)
    C T. Murphy (19)
    1B Y. Gurriel (10)
    2B Madrigal (15) Dubon (21)
    SS J. Polanco (12)
    3B K. Seager (20)
    CI Mk. Franco (25)
    MI Berti (16)
    UT Y. Alvarez (2)
    OF Acuna (1)
    OF L. Robert (3)
    OF Soler (5)
    OF Do.Santana (18)
    OF Yasztremski (22)

    SP Morton (4)
    SP S. Gray (6)
    SP Lamet (7)
    SP Luzardo (8)
    SP Civale (17)
    SP Mikolas (24)
    RP W. Smith (14)
    RP Iglesias (11)
    L. Hendriks (9)

    Res. Bats: Fraley (26), S. Brown (28), O’Hearn (32), Quinn (37), A. Allen (38), Js. Osuna (41)
    Prospects: Arozarena (38), Brujan (39), Jy. Davis (41), Varsho (44), C. Tucker (45), S. Beer (47)

    Res. P : B. Abreu (27), E. Hernandez (34), L. Webb (35), Leake (36), E. Cabrera (43), Strop (49), Sherfy (50)
    Prospects: Karinchak (23), Ginkel (29), I. Anderson (30), C. Mize (31), Patino (42), L. Gilbert (46), Kaprielian (48)

    I feel battle tested after these drafts. Sorry so long, thanks for all your help and expertise!
    Play Ball!

    • You went speed early here? You look speed light…Berti doesn’t light the unders like he did six months ago, sadly… you look strong in AVG and ok in power and speed…not bad tho… your pitching looks solid, no complaints there

      • Yeah namely Acuna and Robert, but a little early on Madrigal? I swear SB’s are freakin’ elusive! Might have to go with Fraley, and will watch Berti and Quinn closely. Arozarena, Brujan, or C. Tucker may help at some point. Jeez, V. Robles is looking better and better.
        Also, interested to hear where you see Clevinger moving forward? Thanks Grey, stay safe

        • I reranked Clevinger when season got delayed…I don’t mind him at all anymore…

          • Shoot 120 innings from Clevinger into my veins! Went back to it and read UPDATE II – but you have no chers (HAHAHAHA)
            Have a great day

            • You too!

48. At a crucial spot in a 50 round 15 team NFBC draft where I have back to back picks with 10 closers off the board …Neris is a bit of a reach but best available @ picks 120-121.
    SP best are Lynn, Urias & Lamet. I need a 2B … best is Biggio.
    The rest of my team so far
    1B Pete Alonso – NYM 2/30
    3B Matt Chapman – OAK 6/90
    SS Bo Bichette – TOR 5/61
    OF Ronald Acuna Jr. – ATL 1/1
    OF Eloy Jimenez – CHW 4/60
    P Patrick Corbin – WSH 3/31
    P Brandon Woodruff – MIL 7/91
    advice??

    • make that 11 closers off the board

    • Biggio…Lynn…closer, but if you went Biggio, Lamet I wouldn’t hate it…don’t think Neris is worth it yet…but you do need a closer when draft comes back

49. I’m up @170/171. Pitchers flying off the board. Odorizzi/Maeda, et. al.

    Available : Marquez/Manaea/Weaver/McCullers/Heaney/C Mart/Folty/Musgrove/Stroman (do I reach for him ?)/Tanaka/Workman/Kimbrel/Colome.

    Hitters: Newman (could use a 2nd/ss combo)/Calhoun (actually leaning to him)/Tucker(afraid of p.t. issues)/Pederson/Alfaro/Narvaez/Kelly/ Walker (do I reach ?).

    Think I should take at least 1 starter here. Do I take 2, or Calhoun, Walker, Newman, or catcher.

    Thanks Grey. Hope you’re around.

    • Calhoun, Heaney

50. Actually thinking of reaching for Stroman/Walker. What do you think ?

    • Walker/Heaney…can get Stroman later

      • Or Calhoun/Heaney

51. Later is 190/191. His adp for the last 2 weeks is 191 and Heaney’s is 192.

52. If I take Calhoun, which I’m now leaning, assuming Walker is taken, what do I do for b/up 1st baseman ?

53. Grey! How’s life in the city?

    • Awesome! So much to do…I’m vacationing in my living room right now…you?

      • Me too, but my house is like a cruise ship with no ports to dock in and no access to the upper deck

        • to avoid an mistakes sir we can’t allow you to be an upper decker

          • oh mistakes were made

            • Many many

54. Grey,

    I’m having a hard time deciding between Castillo and Giolito. I keep looking at Giolito’s walk rate from last season and don’t think it’s repeatable and he has a low ground ball rate. Both miss bats. Castillo seems to be putting it all together over the last few years and he keeps the ball on the ground more so than Giolito. I also like that Castillo is on a staff that includes Bauer and Gray to learn from each other.

    I’m making a trade offer for one of them that includes Wheeler or Lynn along with a redundant bat I have no need for. Looking for better ratios in my rotation.

    I know you ranked Giolito higher than Castillo. Who is the safer play?

    • If you’re worried about walk rates and Castillo is the guy you think is safer, I’m not sure what to tell you

55. Hey Grey – I know you’re not a huge fan of Brad Hand, but wondering your thoughts on the following trade in a weekly roto league:

    I trade Hand

    I receive 1 of Gallegos or Jimenez + 1 of Houser or Yarborough

    Hand is currently my RP1 – other RPs are Nick Anderson and Hunter Harvey (so, Hand maybe gets an extra point for representing guaranteed saves)

    • Jimenez and Houser or Yarbrough works for me

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