Last week I drafted against Scott White of CBS and like ten other Razzball guys. Pretty soon this league’s draft will be Scott White smashing a bottle of champagne on the front of the Razzball ship, then twelve Razzball guys will battle for the ‘ship with Donkey Teeth screaming, “You’ve sunk my battleship,” and me saying, “I’m standing next to you, stop screaming.” So, it was B_Don, The Prospect Itch, Donkey Teeth, me, Scott White and some other ‘perts. Maybe those other Razzball guys will give you a recap of their drafts (if you ask nicely), but we’re here for my ishkabibble and I came away with a team more imbalanced than your aunt after two cocktails. This league is deep so hold onto ye olde hat. (If you want a shallower league, play against me and hundreds of your closest buddies in the Razzball Commenter Leagues. Or closet buddies, if you’re reading fast and/or experimenting.) Anyway, here’s my 12-team AL-Only team and some thoughts:
C: Danny Jansen $7
C: Chance Sisco $4
1B: Trey Mancini $20
2B: Nick Madrigal $12
3B: Josh Donaldson $23
SS: Francisco Lindor $36
MI: Rougned Odor $14
CI: Rafael Devers $31
OF: Greg Allen $2
OF: Derek Fisher $4
OF: Tony Kemp $2
OF: Anthony Santander $5
OF: Giancarlo Stanton $27
DH: Nelson Cruz $23
Bench (free): Aledmys Diaz, Matt Duffy
P: Eduardo Rodriguez $13
P: Kyle Gibson $7
P: Danny Duffy $3
P: Marco Gonzales $7
P: Brendan McKay $7
P: Taijuan Walker $5
P: Diego Castillo $2
P: Jose Alvarado $4
P: Logan Allen $2
Bench: Ty Buttrey, Kendall Graveman, Daniel Norris, Patrick Sandoval, Sam Tuivailala
IT’S APPROPRIATE YOU DRAFTED GRAVEMAN BECAUSE YOUR PITCHING NEEDS AN UNDERTAKER. DID YOU DO THIS DRAFT WHILE BLINDFOLDED?
So, yes, the pitching has issues.
MY UNCLE WAS IN ‘NAM. HE’S GOT ISSUES. THIS TEAM IS A DISASTER!
Okay, I get it Mr. Al Caps. I hear ya.
DO YOU? BECAUSE THIS TEAM IS TERRIBLE! I NEED ONE OF THOSE EYE CLEANSERS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASS TO WASH OUT MY EYES.
All right, so I’ve seen better, too. Here’s what Rudy’s War Room says about my team:
You can see I’m high in all hitting categories, and my pitching is admittedly weak. Speaking of pitching (terrible segue alert!), if you subscribe to the tools, you get this War Room. Rudy and I use Rudy’s War Room in all our leagues. We win leagues, snitches, and people who are not Mike Fiers. Though, this team could’ve used Mike Fiers, instead it’s a dumpster fire. So, I clearly knew my pitching was a mess during the draft. I could’ve course-corrected. Or, as Fonzie’s horse would say, NAAAAAAY, I should’ve course-corrected. It was just, well, AL pitching is a nightmare. At one point, I was looking at Dylan Bundy and I started cackling like a mental patient that I was excited about him. Instead, I spent and spent and spent on hitting. My ratios should be middle of the pack, according to the War Room, and I need to get lucky on Wins (possible) and saves (less possible, but who knows). My Ks will not be good. One does not get lucky on Ks.
YEAH, I’LLL GIVE YOU THAT, YOU HANDSOME LUNATIC, YOUR HITTING IS STACKED LIKE PANCAKES AT AN IHOP DURING A VISIT FROM GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.
Since this league is AL-only, I use AL-Only rankings and — here come the false rationalizations, y’all! — Francisco Lindor is 2nd overall and $38 and he’s great and–Okay, I was price enforcing. Mike Trout went for $46; Gerrit Cole went for $46; Justin Verlander went for $43; shoot (not you deranged, white man), Jo-Ram went for $34! I wasn’t letting Lindor go for $35. Wasn’t happening. Rafael Devers is the 5th best player on our AL-Only rankings and he’s $35. Usually, I don’t buy anyone over the cost of $30 in Only leagues, but, again, Devers wasn’t going for $30. Was not gonna let it happen. Not on my watch, which is a limited edition Swatch watch where the clock face reads, “Not on my watch.” My hitting is goofy. So, goofy, I didn’t even include Brendan McKay in my War Room totals–
WAIT A SECOND, YOU DIDN’T LIKE BRENDAN MCKAY. SAID YOU WEREN’T DRAFTING HIM. OH MY GOD, YOU SAID THE SAME FOR GIANCARLO STANTON. DID YOU GET HORNY MID-DRAFT AND FORGET EVERYTHING YOU TOLD US. OR ARE YOU A…LIAR?! THE ‘LIAR’ ENDING WOULD’VE STUNG HARDER IF THE PRECEDING WASN’T ALL IN CAPS TOO.
Was waiting until you caught that. It’s true, I don’t want Giancarlo and McKay, but everyone is ownable for the right price. At least that’s my excuse for Giancarlo. We have him listed for $32. You think I’m going to let my baby boo and his tight thighs just go for $26? Wasn’t happening. Plus, what if next month he says something like, “I’m going to benchpress one person who’s drafted me in their fantasy league?” To not even be able to enter that raffle? Are you kidding? Also, from what I’m seeing in early drafts, Giancarlo might actually end up on more of my teams. I don’t love him this year, but his price shouldn’t be that insanely low. On the other hand (were we using hands?), McKay was the real fubar pick. Our draft was going on three hours; it was noon-ish; I was hungry, and annoyed at how long the draft was taking so I nominated McKay for $7 and no one bid. Oopsie! Shizz happens. Last year, I drafted Bryce Harper in an AL-Only league for $10 (was before he signed with Philly) and I did fine in the league. I’m not too worried.
THOSE ARE TERRIFIC RATIONALIZATIONS THERE, BUB, BUT YOU HAVEN’T EVEN MENTIONED HOW YOU DECIDED TO NOT DRAFT A CLOSER.
Yeah, that’s another my bad. I did corner the market on Rays’ relievers who aren’t getting saves. I need 20 saves from somewhere to get the middle of the pack for saves. Castillo, Alvarado, Buttrey and Tuivailalalalalalalalala could get ten and then I have to scrounge for ten more. Last year, I got 44 saves and came in third — my drafted closers were Mychal Givens, Ty Buttrey, Blake Parker and Joakim Soria. I’ll give you a hint; I didn’t get 44 saves from them. Early on, I picked up Liam Hendricks off waivers. So, waivers are a desert of broken dreams and bad ratios, but there’s some guys out there.
TO RECAP, YOUR PITCHING IS A POOP EMOJI, BUT YOUR HITTING’S AN EGGPLANT EMOJI. LET’S CALL IT AN EGGPLANT EMOJI WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE DIRT ON IT BUT IS ACTUALLY–
Okay, got it. Listen, everyone in this league has holes. One team’s pitching staff is Tarik Skubal, Joely Rodriguez and Nate Pearson, and I didn’t make up any of those names. Another team’s hitting consists of Nicky Lopez, Jose Iglesias, Adley Rutschman, Todd Frazier, Willians Astudillo and Bradley Zimmer. Where’d they spend their money? $77 on Gerrit Cole and Chris Sale. Another team is starting J.P Crawford, Austin Allen and Mike Brosseau. Again, every team has holes. Who knows, maybe Kyle Gibson will be able to get out of the 5th inning of games; Taijuan Walker will throw 170 IP and Jose Alvarado will save 30 games. And maybe when I eat white asparagus my pee will smell like marshmallows.
Before we cut out of here and go trademark our cheese & crackers dispenser, which is a bent-over man where you pull crackers from his crack and cheese fromunda, here’s our NFBC signup sheet for this year. If you want to play against me, Rudy, MattTruss or Donkey Teeth, put your email in the signup sheet below. It is $150 to play, but you can win $150,000 (I think, check their site for rules and prizes). In fact, last year’s overall winner of, like, $150,000 was one of our commenters. I’ve placed in the top 20 overall and won around $3500. You can also become a thousandaire if you win just your league. Plus, it’s fun (okay, no one’s here for fun. Fun’s on vacation! Wait, then fun would be having fun…Hmm… Moving on!). Leagues should start in about two weeks, and it’s a slow draft, so you don’t need to be available to draft at any set time. Any hoo! Join us by putting your email below, then Rudy will reach out to the peeps.
“ Since this league is AL-only, I use AL-Only rankings and — here come the false rationalizations, y’all! — Francisco Lindor is 2nd overall and $38 and he’s great and–Okay, I was price enforcing.”
Price enforcing is like dating the really hot chick who is also batsh-t crazy. We all know she’s crazy. We have done it before, and thought we had learned our lesson – don’t date the crazy, hot chick. Yet our evolutionary mammalian instincts take over and overrule all rational thought and lessons we have learned.
Ha, yeah, I’ll be damned if someone’s getting those guys for one dollar less!
How dare someone get a $1 bargain like that.
The “he could get traded to the NL” discount was in play. Happened to me last year with Puig in NL-Only. Bid enforcing and voilà, he was mine. Didn’t really want him. Really hated it after he was batting .180 after a couple months. Then he got HR/SB uber-hot. Then he got a Uber ride up I-71 after he was traded to the Wahoos.
Thanks for your help yesterday in narrowing down a keeper. Would you keep mazara or jd davis? Obp format. Davis stat cast numbers were impressive. Only the mets can screw this up and give him less than 500 AB. He has dual eligibility. Mazara again was the shiny prospect who has yet to deliver although a new home may help him. Thanks
And this time the hot chick wasn’t even a chick. When will Grey learn!
PS our podcast with Grey recapping this draft also talking RazzSlam and Astros will post in a little bit.
Ha, who you talking to Donkey?
In today’s age, you can identify yourself as a “chick”if you so choose.
Davis
Diego and Jose… I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there!
Haha
Hi Grey
Thanks for the great 2020 content.
I’m deciding on my keepers for a 12 team, points league. No penalty for Ks (I know, I know). Everyone keeps 3-5 players.
My locks are:
Acuna (9th Rd)
Meadows (18th Rd)
Tatis (22nd Rd)
From there I am debating between the following – of course I could always not keep any of them and take the draft pick instead).
Springer (3rd)
L. Gurriel (10th)
Y. Gurriel (10th)
Wheeler (9th)
Odorrizi (10th)
Musgrove (15th)
Glasnow (9th)
Thanks for your advice!
Sorry about the double post…
Springer and Glasnow for me… assuming a lot of the top talent is kept so Springer is a value in the 3rd
Springer is probably the right call. I may go with Glasnow and Wheeler though depending on how heavy your scoring is weighted toward pitching. You’re already keeping 2 OFs, so, if it’s 3 OF like a typical points league, I think you can find a suitable replacement for Springer.
Agree with DT
Hi Grey
Thanks for the great 2020 content.
I’m deciding on my keepers for a 12 team, point league. No penalty for Ks (I know, I know). Everyone keeps 3-5 players.
My locks are:
Acuna (9th Rd)
Meadows (18th Rd)
Tatis (22nd Rd)
From there I am debating between the following – of course I could always not keep any of them and take the draft pick instead).
Springer (3rd)
L. Gurriel (10th)
Y. Gurriel (10th)
Wheeler (9th)
Odorrizi (10th)
Musgrove (15th)
Glasnow (9th)
Thanks for your advice!
Agree with DT
Grey!!!
Excellent AL-only report.
a. As you say, not great on pitching but a lot can change over the next 6 weeks and then the landscape can change again when Hendriks was the man after Treinen was a train wreck (early on last year). Gotta be quick and precise on the moves this year, not just making a million changes for the sake of making changes. I still contend that Castillo is the king in TB for saves. Don’t drop him yet.
b. As you say again, your offense is mighty and you can’t find even 6 hitters if you put them all together who would equal Lindor. So good for you.
c. MLB quote of the day for April 10, 1997
‘I look back now and I realize you have to learn the system. Not kiss ass, but you have to learn the system.’
Oswaldo ‘Ozzie’ Jose Guillen Barrios, who proved that not all bad baseball players became great managers. I guess the exception proves the rule, right?
Cheers,
Ante
A. Nah, I’m not dropping him, I don’t think waivers are until 1st week of season
B. Yeah
C. Ha, these are great
Grey!!
Not to burst your bubble on ‘c’ above, but the quotes during the season will be a quote from yesterday’s games. It won’t be someone in the stands barfing or the concession salesman yelling ‘ice cold drinks, get your ice cold drinks’. But it won’t be like these. Are you disappointed? It’ll only be the umpteenth time I disappointed you, right?
Cheers,
Ante
WHAT? Why?
Grey!!!
Ga!! No problems, going with what you love! Sorry, sorry, sorry.
Cheers,
Ante
Gah! Why tho?
Wait, what?! You’ve gotta keep the old school quotes coming!
If not, can you post the Markakis quote on the Astros?
I agree, we need old school quotes
You did a wonderful job of avoiding all of the good players.
Ha
20 teams. Should I take two shortstops in the first two rounds? I don’t want to but the best available at pick 6 and 36 are story or Lindor and mondesi. Thank you.
Don’t hate it. Whats the format and roster positions?
20 teams and 2 SS off the bat? Nah
I’d much rather sweep up hitting like you did play the lottery on pitching. McKay ain’t that bad! Maybe he’ll get you a save or two also for all we know!
I also like that Nate Pearson pick by the other team—granted I only heard of him from Itch, but dude looks pretty reliable for a minor league guy coming up early this year. At least a grew at prospect target in keeper leagues.
Good* prospect
McKay could definitely start at some point this season. He still has his rookie eligibility, so, we’ll see how aggressive the conservative Rays are with him (and Wander).
totally agree!
Well, that other team is Itch, so he’s giving you propaganda — I kid, he might be okay, but IP are important in these leagues
Makes sense. I don’t remember who said it (so it was probably Itch brain washing me Clockwork Orange chair/eyelids scene style), but it’s sounding like he’s a May/June guy more than a August/September one. And I do love 100MPH coming from a 6’6″ dude with legit secondary stuff…
Yeah, could be great, but Itch needs 120+ IP from him
Totally
Thanks Duda!
Yeah I was scrambling a little for arms there and was stoked to get Pearson and Skooby for a buck apiece.
Was a weird auction with a lot of starts and stops and stops
and stops.
Everyone probably took some turns in the Grey-buying-McKay camp of let’s finish this today.
In an obp / qs league, 12 teams, $260 budget for 23 roster spots, can keep up to 8. Who would you keep?
Arenado $23, lindor $17, Bregman $14, Freeman $30, mondesi $8, hiura $5, benintendi $14, Bell $4, kieboom $5, Aaron Nola $22, darvish $11, Corbin $7
Thank you!
Arenado, Lindor, Mondesi, Bregman, Freeman, Hiura, Corbin, Darvish
Yep
Agree with DT
Areando for ONLY 23$ in a 12 team, 260$ budget league?
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTT?????
Hey Grey, just a quick feet-down, after which you can delete this message. In your top 500 post last week, you have ‘Atl’ beside LAD catcher Will Smith. Likely due to the system thinking it was Atl pitcher Will Smith.
Thanks brother.
Yeah, we don’t know how to fix yet… Will Smith having same name as two guys in top 500 has confused our system
As it has confused many conversations involving these princes.
We gotta find nicknames.
Yes, nicknames are imperative
Do you know if Iowa residents would be eligible for this NFBC contest?
I’ve learned that I’m eligible for the money RCLs and the RazzSlam (if selected) since the host sites don’t take a cut of the money or something like that.
Thanks
Hey D Fresh,
Unfortunately Iowa and Arizona are not eligible this one, sorry!
Reason enough to move. That’s a dealbreaker, Iowa!
You’ll be fine for the RazzSlam though!
Agree with DT, sorry, man
Unfortunately I am out on this one. My new job position makes a DC impossible at this juncture. Id probably time out four hour picks constantly and I don’t want that (nor do you I expect). Here I am on my 30 minute lunch that I worked half way through. Yowza.
At least I’m still going to defeat you and everyone else in our early DC though. Don’t despair. ;-)
Cool thanks fellas
Here is my team thus far in 5×5 roto:
c – Omar Navarez
c – Carson Kelly
1b – Matt Olson
2b – Mike Moustakas
3b – Nolan Arenado
ss – Trea Turner
mi – Elvis Andrus
ci – Christian Walker
of – Eloy Jimenez
of – Luis Robert
of – Yasiel Puig (brain fart and I admit it, I will seek help professionally later)
of – Yoshi Tsutsugo
of – tbd
util – tbd
starters – Snell, Paddack, Luzardo, Maeda, Gallen and McCullers so far
closers – Liam Hendricks and Alex Colome
Thoughts as we enter round 21 of 28?
I probably have to draft at least 2 or 3 outfielders with remaining picks. As of now thinking about Brian Anderson, Mike Tauchman or Lorenzo Cain type.
Also thinking of Jon Berti for bit more speed.
Thinking of another starter or two from likes of Adrian Houser, Mitch Keller or Ryan Yarborough types.
Need to perhaps also find another closer but most are gone. Only maybe Joe Jimenez, Wade Davis and Matt Magil remain. Perhaps Diego Castillo but think he is more of setup and opener if I am correct
I know it is a risky starting staff and also my brain fart of Puig.
So that I know there is alot here in this post. Any help/advice would be appreciated to bring my draft to a conclusion (not sure what that conclusion will look like, lol).
Thanks everyone
How deep in this league? Hard to say without that info — maybe Berti for speed, bc it does look weak but weak for a 12 teamer isn’t weak for a 15 teamer
league is 12 team roto 5×5.
I do have Turner, Andrus and Robert for speed but maybe need some more.
Any other basic input/advice for what to go after?
Meh, Berti in a 12 teamer at this point feels too aggressive…I also missed Trea, you’re fine in speed…I’d go a closer or Anderson
league is 12 team roto 5×5.
I do have Turner, Andrus and Robert for speed but maybe need some more.
Any other basic input/advice for what to go after?
Jimenez
Jimenez gone now.
Think Only leaves me Wade Davis, Magill or Giants closer (Tony Watson or whoever).
Guess I could go for other Rays reliever (Alvardo or Castillo) or Matt Barnes in Boston and hope one of them turns into closer.
I was going to take Giovanny Gallegos from Cards last pick but he got taken literally right before me along with Mark Melancon.
Closers, yikes!
Take Gallegos now
Guess u did not see that I said that Gallegos got selected before me last round. Sorry if I confused u.
Ah…Hmm, those closers left are awful, I guess Yarbrough or Anderson then
Actually thinking of Nick Madrigal at some point (not sure when) for speed and average and what not.
Thanks for help man!
Oh, yeah, grab Madrigal
Curious as to what people think of Travis Shaw and Yoenis Cespedes as late round fliers?
Worth the both to stash them and see what happens?
Also, will Jo Adell make it up early and do much of anything; in your opinion?
Deep leagues stashes, sure.
I think Adell is up early and makes a large impact.
Went over all three in my rankings
Hey Earl, FWIW I’ve already mentioned both of them in my column this pre-season as potential late round fliers… obviously not guys you’d want to reach for or count on in any way, but I like them both as at least having the potential to pay off given where they’re being drafted
Thanks Laura. I hear you. I am in 30 round 12 team draft.
Just have to decide how late to wait then if I am interested.
Ah, yeah, 12-teamer I think you can wait pretty darn late; they are both on the cusp of being draftable in that format IMO. Just checked and in the 15-teamer I did last month they both went in round 26, which puts them outside the top 375, while your draft only goes to 360. I do think they are both trending upward for the moment though (especially Ces since there are already positive reports on him out of camp) so in a 12-team league it’ll probably just be about who else is available those last few rounds and which players you want to spend your lottery ticket money on. Of course in a few weeks if either of them is looking healthy and/or hitting well in spring training they’ll probably shoot up draft boards fairly quickly.
Early reports out of ST is a stance change from Hoskins. Saw a clip of the setup, looks like his hands are lower and closer to his body, little bit of an open base also. Good? Bad? Indifferent? Whats your thoughts?
He needs to drive the ball more and stop hitting so many straight up, so if that helps with that, it could be huge, wasn’t long ago I liked him a lot
Yeah, I also think his approach is passive. There’s a big difference between plate discipline and letting fat pitches go by for called strikes. He used to toe that line, but last year was way too passive. If he takes the Moncada approach and starts to pull the trigger on those early count fastballs he will turn a corner.
That’s true too — there’s problem with Hoskins and why I’m low on him
How much did Jordan Montgomery go for in this thing? Monty pitched 155 innings for the Yanks in 2017 with 9 wins and 144 ks with solid ratios. Think he will be close to that this season. That would be a good look on this roster.
$1 I believe
He went for $1 late in the action, so, some teams had filled pitching and couldn’t bid. His rotation spot out of ST hasn’t been guaranteed and he’s only filling in until Paxton returns, so, not sure we see that kind of IP from JMonty. Like him as an early season fill in until you can make some WW claims though.
Yeah I’m sure Paxton will be back exactly when they say he will. And when he’s back he’s a lock to stay healthy…
This could easily be a lost season for Paxton.
If Monty is rolling they will find a way to keep him in the rotation anyway.
Paxton had a cyst removed that developed from twisting and turning aka pitching. James Paxton is a lemon.
Steal of the draft
How much did Mike Ford go for?
Ford is a long shot call and someone to keep an eye on.
No love for Monty at all? I’d say 90% to open the season as the 5th starter and looks to be healthy.
Monty is the 5th starter right now, it’s a solid gamble for $1, don’t mind it at all… If I had $ still, I likely would’ve took him to $2
Yeah for sure he’s a steal for $1
damn tempted to do NFBC this year with you guys. Thing is I’ve never drafted past round 27 and that scares the shit out of me. That’s like down to the 750th player!
Is it fun? Not too much time to manage during the season?
It’s a lot of fun. In season you do have to set your lineup every Sunday night and you also have the option to adjust your offensive lineup before Friday’s games each week. No pickups, no trades.
So limited in season management but there is a little…
It’s a blast Peace! Usually some good shit talking in the draft room. Takes 10 minutes to manage each week. 8 minutes on Sunday night or Monday AM, and maybe a quick peek on Friday AM for 2 minutes.
Don’t be scared to jump into deeper leagues. You’ll likely find that it’s not as scary as you thought and even that you still have targets you want to draft after all the rounds are over somehow.
What are you doing, man? I thought you were definitely doing it…You have 4 hours to make a pick each round, you can research players to draft if you’re not sure…Just get in!
Signing up!
About time!
Grey, thanks for keeping it light for us through the looong offseason months.
I’m in a 15-team 7×7 league and need to pick 3 keepers from:
Buehler (15th round)
Mondesi (23rd)
Ketel Marte (24th)
Hiura (25th)
Luis Robert (27th)
Appreciate your thoughts!
No problem
Nice keepers, tough call —
Buehler (15th round)
Mondesi (23rd)
Ketel Marte (24th)
$25 Xander or $2 Robles? 12 Team 6×6 . Who would we want?
I lean Robles but it’s a coin flip. What’s the rest of your team look like? Roto or H2H?
It’s Roto. Currently keeping W Smith (C) $5, Olson $21, Tim Anderson $6, Xander $25, Laureano $4, Paddack $16, S Gray $5, Woodruff $2 and then a toss up on the 9th keeper. Looking to possibly move Xander because I have Anderson so Robles was a target.
I’d keep Xander and Robles and lose W Smith.
Sorry. I wasn’t clear. Robles would be a trade target that I would use Xander to acquire.
I’d grab Robles then the value is better. But you are seriously lacking in top end talent unless there is going to be a lot in the pool.
Haha. I am well aware. Trout, Betts, Lindor, Harper, Altuve, Bryant, Machado are in the pool as of now. Pitchers haven’t really been dropped yet but some big names/talent will drop.
Xander
Looks like we’re Giancarlo, Donaldson, and Madrigal bros this year. And we’ll both be sending harassing emails to Cash to let Castillo close.
Taijuan? He’s like that bad ex that you can’t seem to shake. And she happens to be Jodi Arias. How much did guys like Montas and Odorizzi go for? Maybe could’ve used that Odor money to upgrade that spot. That being said, if you find some pitching off of the wire, this team could be in the mix.
I roped OTS into joining another NFBC league this year. We liked the slow draft 15 team format, so I’ll probably sign us up later today. Just want to check in first and get the thumbs up.
You guys should definitely be in! Look forward to drafting with you again…
I love Donaldson and Madrigal…I don’t love Giancarlo (for fantasy), but his price has been insanely cheap so far, which brings me to I might be owning Stanton this year
Walker’s gross, there was just so little left by that point
This is the year to be in on Giancarlo! Don’t jump off the wagon now.
Just waiting on a response from OTS. I think he’ll be in, but he was asking about Ottoneu a few days ago…
Yeah, I think I might inadvertently end up owning Giancarlo — was not the plan, but he’s going so cheap
Judge not taking bp today “managing” shoulder soreness
I mean just no thanks. I can’t get behind him.
When Judges MLB career is over at 33 he should consider WWE to finally get paid.
“GOOD GAWD ALL MIGHTY, THAT’S AARON JUDGE’S MUSIC”
Ha! Yeah, agreed, it’s hard to not feel like maybe he’s too big
All signed up for Razz NFBC #2. If you’re taking requests would love a shot at Donkey Teeth. I am already donating to you in the early NFBC and want a chance to make some money back.
Nice! You think Donkey’s easier, I hear ya!
I’m in high demand!
To beat
Everybody wants to watch The Donkey Show!
Everyone wants to see Donkey take Ohtani in the 1st 3 rounds
It’s a late night webcam show involving peanut butter, cans and holes. Minimal fee. I’ll email you the link, Knoche.
Same here Knoche
I want donkey too, hopefully it happens
I’m beginning to want Donkey too
I want all you guys.
Also wouldn’t mind playing in an baseball league together.
Good call, Donkey, you can only lose once if all in same league
Lol, at least I have some piece of donkey in a Dynasty league , where we all get schooled by The Itch and some other dude….
Haha
Actually you and Grey are donating to me in that early DC. Get that straight! I apologize to you both in advance for not taking your money x2.
They’ve already awarded me the cash, assuming I was gonna win
Haha! Just win the league thats drafting soon and place second in our early DC and that’ll be just fine for us both!
Haha, did you put in your email for this DC too?
Nah, I can’t. The new position is too demanding for me right now to do another DC right now. I’d have to autopick from 8-5 EST or risk timing out daily. I can only manage weekend night drafts before season starts.
Ah, okay…Bummer
Yeah, but at least we can duke it out in the early DC. I think Ill probably do one more NFBC standard draft for this year. I’ll probably do either Solo Shot or a satellite, depending on when the payout comes in hockey if I win the league and/or overall championship. I might even try and crash DT’s league unless I get a better idea. Any other NFBCs for you?
I’m prolly going to do a Best Ball and maybe one more DC, but of which I won’t announce on site
Sounds good. One of these years Ill do a live NFBC. Im still a few years away with young ones but eventually. It’d be fun to have a live Razzball event at some point or something of the like eventually. I recall you saying the one you did in NY last year was a blast.
I’m in a 12-team, 10-keeper forever (majors) 3-keeper (minors) 6×6 roto standard categories with 33-man rosters after the draft. My team finished last in ’19, so I’ve been in full rebuild mode since last summer.
Trying to finalize keepers; which of these 10 should make the cut? Most are pretty obvious, but wanted to give some idea of the shape of the on roster. Thanks!
Vlad Guerrero Jr
Rafael Devers
Luis Robert
Adalberto Mondesi
Josh Donaldson
Max Kepler
Nelson Cruz
Willie Calhoun
Sean Murphy
Tommy Edman
Luis Urias
Mike Clevinger
Zac Gallen
Lucas Giolito
AJ Puk
Jesus Luzardo
Vlad Guerrero Jr
Rafael Devers
Luis Robert
Adalberto Mondesi
Mike Clevinger
Zac Gallen
Lucas Giolito
Luzardo
Donaldson
Then coin flip — Calhoun, I guess, could see Edman or Cruz too
Hey Grey/B_Don,
How would you evaluate a $34 Scherzer compared to a $4 Julio Urias in a fairly shallow (12 team) keep forever league? Scherzer always over Urias at those prices despite Julio’s upside?
I’m the Scherzer owner + also have a $16 Bieber keeper. Scherzer is pricey but would go for $40/45 + I’m also keeping a $50 Yelich (expensive but would go for $60s).
Due to my keeper salaries, freeing up $30 for auction is the equivalent of drafting Cruz + Odorizzi instead of $1 UTL and $1 SP gambles.
In a shallow league, you need top end guys more than bargain picks
Makes sense – thanks
No problem
I need to keep 5. Bichette, Mondesi, Puig, O. Mercado, Tatis, Aquino, J. Polanco, Lux, Biggio, Trea T, Encarnacion, Bieber, Berrios, Morton, Sale, Soroka,
Bichette, Mondesi, Trea, Bieber, Tatis
That hitting is almost 15 team mixed league good! Pitching is kinda brutal, though. I just got Pearson in one of my DCs… why not? Been seeing some interest in Norris out there too, so good luck w/ that…
Is there trading in this league? Might be your path to victory. If Lindor gets traded to the Reds–put a fork in this team! :)
Haha, I think my team might actually be able to sustain itself on hitting even losing Lindor, but you’re right, it wouldn’t help
Haha, just messing around, but you’re probably right. I’m just about to have Mr. Sisco on every team I have thus far hehe
My latest DC team, and final one until March, or maybe even the last one, might be my fav:
Bellinger
Albies
Castillo
Moncada
Laureano
Anderson
Osuna
Lynn
Fried (finally)
Franmil (finally)
Colome
Calhoun
Walker (finally got him)
Stroman (have all the shares!)
Swanson
Mazara
Molina
DeSclafani
La Stella
Kieboom
Happ
Santander
That’s it for now, but pretty good!
My other start w/ Lindor and Tatis is *beautiful*. This offense has #1 potential, but the room is significantly more challenging than my other two drafts. Snipe city after pick 200. So, the pitching and depth hasn’t gone as smoothly as I would’ve liked…
Lindor
Tatis
Ketel (Castillo and Corbin went right before, then massive pitching run right after…)
Greinke
Moncada
Rizzo!
Osuna
Gallen
Sano
H Robles
Lourdes
JD Davis
Dozier
Stroman
Alfaro
Anderson
DeScalfani
Nunez
Yarbro
Happ
Bassitt
Gausman
Pleseac
Tsutsugo
Voth
Pearson (samsies!)
Sisco (again!)
Miley
Cooper
Stallings (C3)
Sogard
JaCoby Jones
Later man!
Wait, are you not joining our NFBC leagues? C’mon, baby seal! Compete against us!
I like the top team a lot, love your hitting and lots of arms I love
Your pitching might be a little scary on bottom team
Haha, I don’t want to overdo it! I will consider! Currently have these two drafts going on with 30min clocks, taking up a serious amount of time, (my gf might kill me), and I’m going to Greenport this weekend to get away for a few days…
When would the draft be? If next week or later, then that could be reasonable for me
Yeah, that top team is serious. Love it!
Bottom team has obvious flaws, hence why I started loading up on as much pitching as I could. Ks could be an issue. But that draft room is no joke. Competition in your league matters! DUH!
Pretty sure Fish is in here, MLB Moving Averages, The Fantasy Doctor, Heberlig (he’s in all of them–get a life dude!), maybe a couple others… I’d be much happier if I could rewind that Ketel pick for Morton. But I guess that’s how you end up w/ Rizzo on your team at pick 86 or whatever… lol
Won’t start for at least a week, it’s a 4-hour clock for ours so you only pick like once at most twice a day
Yeah, bottom team needs some more Ks, for sure
Looking forward to my first NFBC and playing against some of the Razz experts and commenters!
Nice! Glad you’re in!
Hello, in a deep point league, drafted Story (1) and which one would be the best paring? Alonso, Jo Ram or Harper? Thanks
JoRam
Hmm, I’m assuming the only reason I wasn’t invited to participate in this league was because everyone knew if I did I’d dominate it to the point that it wouldn’t be fun for anyone else?
If I had known you be into it, I’d invite… You should get in the league…
Seriously, more the merrier
I’m bummed b/c last year NFBC did NL & AL-only 12 team online auctions… I think they were like $150 and I did two & won both, despite the fact that in the NL one I accidentally spent 8 bucks on Seranthony Dominguez when I swiped my touchpad trying to clean the El Pollo Loco drippings off of my computer. Anyway I guess they’re not doing them this year so I need to find more places to get my single-league auction fix on…
Ah…you mean you wanted in this AL-Only league? I thought you meant NFBC — this was put together by Scott White, I had no say…
I think I am in the NFBC thing. Though I’ll probably get my ass kicked in that format.
Ah, nice! Hopefully you’re in my league
Laura needs in the ‘Perts League Grey – Don’t “accidentally” forget to invite her again this year!
Ugh, don’t remind me, makes it harder to ‘forget’
That was pretty ridiculous how hard I crushed the writers’ league 2 years ago and then not only didn’t get invited to the ‘perts league last year, somehow got left off the writers’ league invite list as well… (insert skeptical thinking emoji)
Lesson to be learned here is finish middle of the pack in all leagues, I learned this a long time ago
Haha, Grey said he was going to invite you so I didn’t! I blame him
Stop making it so obvious about my motivations
Another keeper question: OBP league.
Olson in the 10th and Beiber in the 11th are locked. Have to pick one more:
– Villar in the 4th
– Gallo in the 6th
– Eloy in the 7th
– Merrifield in the 9th
– Sano in the 12th
– Laureano in the 12th
Thanks.
One? Damn…Eloy
I am back in for another go at Razzball NFBC DC!!!!
Nice!
Hey Grey,
14 team auction keeper league ($260 budget) with $5 raises for keepers each year and heavy inflation for stud SPs and powe/speed bats. Can only keep 6 and and was planing on keeping the following:
Rendon – $35
Olson – $26
Matt Chapman – $11
Semien – $6
Ketel Marte – $6
Giolito – $10
With Villar slated for OF eligibility now as well most likely and able to be kept at $13, would you keep him over any of the 6 players above?
Thanks!
Over Chapman
Thanks Grey!
No problem
I understand the priority of hitting over pitching, but I don’t think you can just completely ignore pitching like you did in this draft.
Perhaps you will make some nice waiver wire adds like Lance Lynn and Mike Minor last year. That’s your best hope. Otherwise I don’t believe this is more than a middle of the pack team.
It seems to me your reasoning got flawed when you said to yourself there was no way you were letting certain players go for certain prices. Rather than beating someone on a bid, it would seem more conducive to success if you bid on what helps your team’s needs more than hurting someone else. In a 12-team league, you simply can’t bid to hurt 11 teams but you can bid to help one team. Your team.
I know you know this, but some of your readers may not.
Yeah, my pitching is a mess, it’s pretty much the title of this post
At least your pitchers don’t have to worry about the Astros Knowing what’s coming……, that would totally kill your ratios…….., lol
HA
Great work, Grey!
Looking forward to the season!
(Been 16 years since my last only league . . . )
Yes, rooting for one of us to win (except Donkey)
#anyonebutDonkey
Got Donkeyteethitis?
Good luck to you, but please step out of the office.
Hey grey et al,
Up next pick 15 in a 12 team H2H 5×5 keeper league(keep 10). Team so far is
Trout, acuna, bregman, albies, Soto, arenado, Gallo
Smell, bieber, Corbin, Ohtani, kluber
Right now I’m looking at
GRANDAL
C.SEAGER
BIGGIO
WORKMAN
what do you think?
Workman
Lugo earliest contender for injury of the year. Fractured pinkie toe while in his hotel room overnight??
Crap, what’s the prog-toe-sis
Dynasty Trade Grey:
In win now mode so I feel like I should do this, but need some wisdom
My Max Fried (your sleeper beauty) for his Chuck Morton. My worry is all the talk about Chuck retiring in a year or two but other than that, he’s great. Just sucks value wise.
My rotation with him becomes
Stras
Bieber
Thor
Yu
Sonny Gray
Chuck
Lynn
Robbie Ray
RP
Chapman
Pull the trigger or hold?
How deep is this league?
10 team league. My ideal guy to replace the youth is Jose Urquidy who is FA. I own pick 1.4 so it’s possible he falls to me but not a given.
Yeah, I like Urquidy
Everything you see own my team is via trades. I’ve busted my ass to get those arms.
My offense is even better with most of my guys all in the 23-27 range so I have a lot of youth on they team still. I ideally should be a heavy favorite for this year so this trade maybe makes me even better.
Yeah, you should be the favorite with that team
15 team keeper league. 20 keepers per team. Last man on the cut list. Would you keep a prospect who is in your top 10 (julio rodriquez) over Carson kelly? The choice is having a decent catcher or waiting for a C to see who is available in a 5 rd draft after 300 players are kept? Keeping a prospect would allow the opportunity to add a player after the draft since they would occupy a NA spot. I could conceivably draft kelly in the 5 rd draft too but may not get him. Thanks
I’d keep your top 10 prospect . . . you’ll never regret letting Carson Kelly go, but in this format, you could really regret letting your big prospect go…
Yes, 100% what Duda said
Yes, just draft a catcher
My Strasburg for Machado? Who you taking? Seems close either way.
I have Bieber, Giolito, Flaherty, Woodruff, Cole, Bauer, and Kluber as well.
Not really hurting for pitching, but need a middle infielder.
It’s close, Machado
14 team keep 9 per year (no round escalations or prices). have to keep 5 hitters, each of them different positions than each other (but can use any position they have, it’s espn positions though). can keep 2 max OF.4 pitchers kept, at least 1 of them have to be a RP. OPS, total bases, hits, QS, holds added.
rosters: 1 of each (specific OF spots) 1 CI, 1 MI, 1 4th OF, 1 util. 5 max RP, 5 SP. max DL slots
definite keepers: goldy, stanton, t.turner, ryu, bieber, otani (but i can pick if he counts as pitcher or hitter)
options for those last 4 spots: kimbrel, rogers (probably going rogers over the other RP’s), a.bradley, wheeler, jd davis, semien (but i can’t keep both of semien and turner, both SS), solak, kingery, puig, brantley, cueto, chavis, hillard, andujar
1. what youse thinking my keepers would be here.
i have 2 trade offers, what you think on these:
2. treat urner for eloy (could probably get draft pick(s) back, but so far i got offered this). would likely keep semien and eloy/stanton but couldn’t keep puig or brantley anymore here
thought i had a trade offer of brantly + draft pick for slightly better pick + moustakas. i’m guessing you’d do this one.
my idea was goldy, stanton, treat, ryu, bieber, otani as hitter, wheeler, rogers, but then would keep one of jd davis/kingery/brantley/puig. last year i kept andujar over muncy (both 3B’s) before andujar got hurt it was generally agreed from age that was the right choice at the time. last year i was better in hitter keepers than pitching ones. this year almost certainly the other way.
Kingery, Rogers, Davis, Wheeler
2. Nope on Trea — sure on Moist
so wheeler or jd davis then if no mostsuckass trade? otani as hitter or pitcher determines which. clearly you have jd davis and kingery over puig though (and brantley). from your order listed there it looks like:
hitters: goldy, stanton, kingery, jd davis, treat
pitchers: otani (as pitcher, get both), ryu, bieber, rogers
but it could be: (feels like the clue movie here)
hitters: goldy, stanton, kingery, treat, otani (as hitter)
pitchers: ryu, bieber, rogers, wheeler
if brantley trade it’s clearly:
hitter: goldy, mostsuckass, treat, stanton, kingery
pitchers: otani, ryu, bieber, rogers
You can’t do both? You lost me around the Clue portion of the question… I like Davis, wrote a sleeper post — Wheeler’s fine, but not nearly in love with him this year, I like Moist
assuming kingery is over jd davis, and no mostsuckass trade i’d be able to keep either wheeler or jd davis. 9 total. and i’m assuming all of stanton, goldy, treat, otani, ryu, bieber, rogers (i need at least 1 RP), kingery are ahead of wheeler and jd davis. obviously if the mostsuckass trade gets done he’d be over jd davis for sure.
I can only keep 5 of the following:
G. Cole
J. DeGrom
M. Trout
Y. Alvarez
J. Soto
A. Rendon
Which 2 should I offer up for Acuna?
Yahoo is open for business…
Hey Grey, double tapping here and the forum to see which you see first. Call it a science experiment.
This is for a 6 keeper, H2H Yahoo league. In the forum you said trading for Mondesi and Villar makes no sense. Not sure if my post was unclear or if there’s some other reason it wouldn’t make sense. It would be a domino effect trade. And Villar has 2B eligiblity in Yahoo.
So I’d trade Scherzer for Villar + first round pick + fifth round pick. Then I’d trade Altuve for Mondesi + a first round pick.
My keepers would be Acuna (LF), Mondesi (SS), Rizzo(1B), Suarez(3B), Villar(2B), Vladito(Until). And I’d have 3 first round picks to get solid reliable pitching.
I guess I could just trade Altuve for Mondessi and the 1st rounder. Keep Scherzer. But then draft a 2B instead of probably more abundant reliable pitching.
Thoughts?
for weeks now.
Hey Grey, double tapping here and the forum to see which you see first. Call it a science experiment.
This is for a 6 keeper, H2H Yahoo league. In the forum you said trading for Mondesi and Villar makes no sense. Not sure if my post was unclear or if there’s some other reason it wouldn’t make sense. It would be a domino effect trade. And Villar has 2B eligiblity in Yahoo.
So I’d trade Scherzer for Villar + first round pick + fifth round pick. Then I’d trade Altuve for Mondesi + a first round pick.
My keepers would be Acuna (LF), Mondesi (SS), Rizzo(1B), Suarez(3B), Villar(2B), Vladito(Until). And I’d have 3 first round picks to get solid reliable pitching.
I guess I could just trade Altuve for Mondessi and the 1st rounder. Keep Scherzer. But then draft a 2B instead of probably more abundant reliable pitching.
Thoughts?
Edit: mobile fat fingers. Sorry SteveNZ.
Roberto Osuna,
Joe Jiminez,
or Diego Castillo?
AL only roto league – would you trade four years of Willie Calhoun at $10, $10, $15, $20 for one year of Bregman at $15? I would have to also give up Solak but I have no space for him as already keeping Yordan at UTIL.
Sure
Question about player rankings vs. war room rankings:
12 team NFBC 5×5.
War room has Giancarlo ranked 8th overall ($36.8 value).
12 team 5×5 projections (https://razzball.com/playerrater-preseason-espnmlb12/) has him ranked 19th overall (28.7)
Where’s the discrepancy? Which should I rely on? Thanks.
NFBC and ESPN are not same
Understood, war room uses Yahoo settings I see.
Which do you recommend for NFBC?
15-team? This: https://razzball.com/playerrater-preseason-espnmlb15/
thank you
No problem