This isn’t about the Cheaty Cheaty Bang Bang scandal. I’m not here to talk about the Fiers Festival. We’re not going to rehash the Banghazi hashtag. You have a Big Bang Theory? Great, so do I. Wanna hear it after saying I’m not going to talk about it? Fine! Twist my arm! The Asterisks cheated; it’s well-documented. You can’t watch a home game of the Asterisks without it sounding like the PA speaker is accidentally on while someone nearby hammers together a piece of Ikea furniture without the proper instructions. “Where does this screw go? Hmm…eff it, I’m just gonna bang it together.” That’s what it sounded like. I made less racket drunk at 2 AM in college. There’s quieter trash cans in the dead of winter filled with a family of raccoons. There’s a ton of evidence. Irrefutable evidence, and they were convicted of cheating by Our Commissioner Manfred, who almost requested the return of a piece of metal. Their GM and manager fell on the swords. Were they the main ones to blame? Haha, my dude, the players are the ones that cheated. I’ve seen video evidence of Alex Bregman at the plate while Bang A Gong (Get It On) played in the background. So, he was right there in the middle of Bang-gate. Should he have apologized? I think so, but they were busted already, so it’s not like he’s saying something people don’t know. It’s the way of celebrities (athletes and otherwise) to not apologize unless it’s through a spokesperson. Never the hoo! None of this matters for fantasy or it all matters. We won’t know until the 2020 season concludes. We’d be guessing on that. The easy narrative for Bang-gate is: Bregman was good on the road, so he’s fine. That’s dismissive of what it is actually going on here. I was saying you should avoid Alex Bregman before any ruling came down about cheating. So, what makes Alex Bregman overrated for 2020 fantasy baseball?
Out of 81 possible players with 400 batted ball events, Bregman was 61st for barrels/plate appearance with a measly 3.8%. About the same as Freddy Galvis and Alex Gordon. For average distance per homer, he was 80th out of 81, only missing last place because David Fletcher is in the league. His launch angle was 19.6, which is ranked 5th. His fly ball rate was 8th with 45.9%. All of that together should be vomit-inducing. To sum up for the back of the room, Bregman is barely getting the ball out of the yard and hitting a ton of fly balls. I’m way more worried he’s going to hit a ton of 370-foot outs vs. anything to do with The Orange Bang. He’s hitting too many weak fly balls. Plain and simple. I can look at his career HR/FB% of 14.3% and back that into him hitting 31 homers this year. Last year, he hit 41 homers. You’re losing ten homers year-over-year and not talking about anywhere near a 1st rounder in 2020. Worse news is (yes, it could be worse) there’s a chance Bregman continues to hit a lot of fly balls that don’t go out of the park and his average plummets. Last year with a .281 BABIP, he was able to hit .296. Steamer says with a .286 BABIP, he should hit .287. He’s never hit .300 in his career and I don’t see how he can with that weak contact batted ball profile and all of those fly balls. It reminds me of Jose Ramirez last year, but at least Jo-Ram still had speed and steals. Bregman’s speed has been decaying for three years in a row. Now to bring this back to Banghazi, if Bregman struggles in April/May, the whispers are going to grow about what he can’t do without banging. You think that’s going to alleviate pressure or be a tempest in the teapot? I.e., there’s a chance here of things spiraling out of control in a bad way, and I wouldn’t go near him with a ten-foot pole, even if that pole was banging on a trash can. Or a more appropriately, “Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Changeup!”
Great stuff, Osho. That dude talks a lot of shizz, too. I don’t feel bad in the slightest he’ll be the Razzball 2020 whipping boy (not to be confused with whipping post – that will be someone I draft).
Ben Maller said we should vote all the Astros into the All Star game so they have to go to LA to get booed.
I don’t know who Ben Maller is but I’m down…Luckily, it’s not 1 person, one vote with MLB…It’s one person and how much time do you have to vote 25,000 times
Interesting for sure.
Thanks, AL!
Any strong feelings on keeping Hiura at 15th round value vs Luis Robert at 18th round value?
Alonso’s the other keeper and it is looking like Lindor will be there for me at the #1 pick.
I like Robert for the potential 5 categories
I’d take Hiura (but they are close)
Carrying the bat rounding first base on a homer, squawking with Bauer, vehemently denying the whole cheating scandal with a shit-eating grin on his face. If there’s a douchebag category in your league, Bregman’s an easy first rounder.
The x-factor with him is the steals. Can he still swipe 15+ bases? I’m not sure. Passed him up in the 2nd round for Freeman last weekend. .295/35/7 vs .275/30/7. That’s kind of how I see it. He does seem to be the kind of person to thrive on negativity though. A natural heel.
Here here
“A natural heel”
Well said.
Actually, we’ve just put in a douchebag category, drafting Bregman 1st — who’s 2nd? His archenemy Bauer! (Though Correa and Verlander are close)
He can’t steal 15 bags, unless Dusty changes whole team philosphy
Corrrea might have passed Bregman for me. Newsflash genius: YOU ALL cheated. Doesn’t matter if they banged the can in your at bat or not. You got more at bats, more opportunities for RBIs, more momentum (not to mention getting in a pitcher’s head) etc as a result of other guys doing it.
And the Astros don’t steal, right? (Bases, I mean. Not championships). We’ve known that for a handful of years now haven’t we? (No statistical data to back this up, btw, just talking out of my butt.)
Your butt is making a lot of sense…But(t) they do have a new manager, so many they steal more (not saying they do, but maybe)
But Trevor is a hoot !!! Crazy as a bed bug, but I’d love to hang w/ him for an evening.
Haha, true
I get a serious incel vibe off Bauer.
Thanks for all the amazing content oooooh Mustachioed Master Lethario!
I have a keeper question for 2 leagues.
1st league- 5×5 Roto with OPB. instead of AVG. can keep 5 forever.
Keep 5 from- Acuna, Tre Turner. Soto, Fernando Tatis, Arenado, Albombso, and Adalbeto Mondesi. I am for sure keeping Acuna, Tuner, Tatis, and Soto, and am really torn between Alonso and Arenado and who you think has the best long term keeper potential in an OBP league, I think I can afford to let mondesi go as my top keepers are pretty good in steals, although I am sad about it. I am slightly leaning toward Alonso b/c of age and power potential and neither steal much, but I could be convinced otherwise.
2nd league- 6×6 H2H league with daily lineups and Walks and K’s/9 as the extra categories.
Keep 5 forever from this group- Acuna, Betts, Soto, Albombso, Adalberto Mondesi, Vlad Jr.
I am keeping the obvious Acuna, Betts, Soto, Albombso and am torn on keeping mondersi or Vlad. Since it is a keep forever I have FOMO on letting Vlad go as his ceiling to me is slightly better, and in a H2H league I don’t worry as much about dominating steals as much, and Vlad gets more walks by about double.
I welcome all opinions, from anyone who wants to chime in. Thanks in advance
1st league – You’re so loaded that I’d just keep the safer guy, Arenado…
2nd league – I’d go with Vlad since its H2H
Agree with DT
I’d argue that when you’re so loaded you can afford to take some risk. Alonso can hit 40 hrs in his sleep and can do that anywhere. When Arenado gets traded he won’t come close to sniffing Alonso’s power numbers. Alonso is the answer for league 1 in my opinion.
Grey!!!!
Awesome schmohawk report.
MLB quote of the day for July 1, 1931
‘ I didn’t mean to hit the umpire with the dirt, but I did mean to hit that bastard in the stands.’
George Herman ‘Babe’ Ruth, aka The Sultan of Swat and The Bambino
Cheers,
Ante
HAHA, you have to do mostly old quotes in-season
Grey!
Gotcha. Fortunately there are plenty of players in MLB History. I’ll try not to repeat any in-season.
Typing with my pinkie ’cause my hands are covered in the marinara sauce my wife spread on the turkey wings. I’d show but it’d be tmi. Maybe Jexi can do it for me, stupid Jexi. Not a bad a movie…went in thinking max 3.7/10 and came out about 5/10, so worth the investment.
Cheers,
Ante
clarification. The Washington Post recently reported that the cheating took place on the road too. So it’s not that surprising that this guy was good on the road. I’m taking the under on just about any projection on him, Altuve, Correa, and Springer… Who according to the very good fangraphs analysis were the main beneficiaries of the cheating scandal
I don’t mind Springer, but I’m way off the other guys
Springer I am only in on bc his peripherals don’t look terrible and he’s cheaper than Altuve and Bregman by a decent amount
I am predicting 20 HBP for Bregman this year. If that’s a category in your Yahoo custom league, pick him up!!! The Astros’ trainer is definitely going to earn his salary this year. He’ll probably need an extra assistant.
20 seems low
Ice dealers and icemaker repairmen in Houston are going to have record revenue.
I’m predicting a collective bargaining agreement happens between Major League Baseball and the Witness Protection Program, and someone who looks like Mike Fiers, but goes by the name Fike Miers, begins pitching for the A’s, and Miers hits Bregman 20 times alone
I just pulled up stats on number of pitchers used per game for MLB for each year. There’s been a really steady increase in the number of pitchers used per game since the moment the stat was tracked. The first year it’s mentioned, 1908, there were 1.40 pitchers used per game. That number kept steadily climbing until last year. In 2019, there were 4.41 pitchers used per game.
Bregman had 690 PA in 156 games in 2019. That equates to 690 / 156 = 4.42
plate appearances per game. The closeness of 4.41 P per game and 4.42 PA per game for Bregman makes this activity so much cleaner.
So straight up, if we use difference between the two (4.415) in our calculation, we can use 4.415 times that Bregman is hit per game multiplied by 156 games (he’s had 155, 157, & 156 games played the last 3 years) giving us a grand total of Bregman being hit:
689 (rounded up) times in 2019.
I know there’s all kinds of variables to take into account, but I just felt the need to do a quick and dirty calculation of what most hope to expect; Bregman hit by every pitcher that pitches to him.
Personally, I love the villain. Glad to have one in baseball. Keeps things entertaining.
Actually, agreed! Baseball needs more villains, it’s fun to root against guys…WWE has made it an entire industry
Jose Urena?
Personally I miss Joaquin Andujar. But, even Pedro, Clemens, Unit all had a ton of tenacity. The George Brett Pine tar incident is definitely one of my top ten alltime baseball moments. Nolan Ryan/ Robbie Alomar is there too.
Bring it on in 2020!!!
Urena was like a good henchman…He wasn’t a big enough name to be a villain
True. Mosquito maybe?
Mosquitos predict weather, just read about it — so no wonder LA has no weather
Ha! Seriously?
Ha, yeah, was some scientific study somewhere I read (skimmed)
Ok, well maybe they’ll pan to a swarm of mosquitoes one of these days when they get to the weather segment of the Eyewitness News. I think I’ll need an interpreter or glossary for buzzing sounds to make any sense of it all. Maybe theyd more accurate in places where we actually get weather.
Hmm…Not that you mention it, maybe they meant mosquitos are the actual news weathermen
So, he’ll have one official at-bat, right?
That’s good in an OBP league (a league that only counts OBP).
Wonder if he gets to green light to run more under this dream scenario.
So in a points league where K’s are -1 and BB’s are +1 HR’s are 10, triples are 7, doubles are 4, singles are 2, RBI is 1, and R is 1:
Do the K’s accrued by Story and the BB’s accrued by Bregman shift you evaluation of Bregman, given the format?
Basically in a points league, I’ve been offered Story for my Bregman, and I might just do it depending on what you say.
Thanks Fantasy Master Lothario! Your write-ups give my heart wings and my soul fire emojis (maybe just indigestion?).
Stolen bases are +2, not sure if that changes much.
I’d want Story
Thanks, homey!
Agree with DT
Decade long reader & fan here. Read your posts daily since. Thank you for your work after all these years.
1st comment in 7 years here. Simple question for ya; which 6 would you keep, thinking of 2020 & the future.
Scherzer Greinke Albies Boogie Gray Senzel Villar Castellanos Mercado, Grandal. I’m going with Scherzer Greinke Albies Boogie Gray & Senzel. But am thinking of swapping Senzel for another & would love your opinion.
15 team decade standing, 6 yearly keeper, roto league. Finished 2nd by 0.5 last season. Thank you good sir!
Villar over Senzel/Mercado due to playing time questions. Grandal as well depending on price
Welcome! I’d go with Villar over Senzel there.
Thanks!
Agree with others…Senzel’s kinda bleh — I’d prolly go Villar, but Mercado even over Senzel
Grey good sir, I appreciate the reply! And thanks WhiteRabbit & Donkey Teeth as well. I like Senzel long term, but I was uncertain & needed outside input. Think I’ll roll with Villar as my 6th. Looking forward to daily baseball & daily Grey posts again! – The Spaceman
Thanks!
All I want to write is CANS AND HOLES!!!
Don’t get Grey started!
Like There’s Something About Mary guy yelling franks and beans, I’m yelling cans and holes
Stay out of West Hollywood, Grey. Too many temptations for you there.
HA
Hey Grey! Which side do you like in the below keep forever trades?
1. Trade my $7 Eloy and $16 Bieber to receive $15 Lindor
(my extra keeper spot would then go to someone like 29 Yordan 9 Brantley 7 odorizzi or 11 maeda)
2. Same league…Trade my Eloy and Bieber to get $11 Soto
Thanks!
The first trade is stinky. The second trade you’ll have Soto and Yordan Alvarez? That’s pretty nice.
Thanks. Both trades are 2:1, so if I acquire Lindor or Soto, I have a spare keeper spot which I can use for someone I’m not currently keeping (like my 29 yord or 9 Brantley)
I’d do either, Soto first for me.
Soto – He’s 21. That’s what is scary about him, he’s only been the legal drinking age for five months, and he’s already a top-15 player and a World Series winner.
Agree with Cram
Agree with Cram
Bregman = 2020 joram…. aka avoid like the plague in the draft and low ball trade for him in mid June?
Also: Aster*cks penalty: next 3 years, win by two.
#ManfredsABum
Yeah, exactly
Pardon the possibly foolish question, I may have missed the Saberhagenmetrics 101 post: what is the ideal launch angle? Is this a higher is better scenario, or is there an angle beyond which we are more likely to see towering fly balls to shallow center?
I’m seeing it more often in analysis, but don’t actually know what I’m looking for.
Thanks.
Ideal is subjective here…High 17+ is heavy on fly balls — below 12 is lot of ground balls… 13-16 is line drive-ish, 15 is ideal line drives
Between Grey and this post I am concerned about my ownership of Bregman. Do you think if I offered Bregman for Bichette and Eloy Jimenez that it would be fair? Keeper League with 14 keepers.
Eh it’s not terrible but I’d aim a little higher
Agree with DT
Bregman was my favorite player. Now, he is not, but I believe inside of him is a great player. As much as I’ve come to terms with him being a full on douchebag, instead of the hardnose, bulldog, chip-on-his-shoulder, Pete Rose type, I came to love, I want to see him have an awesome year.
I’m also pro-Bregman and not ashamed of it
No Bregxiters unite.
I don’t hate him on a personal level, his fly balls have me freaked out tho…Barely hitting it out and a lot of fly balls is a recipe for trouble
I’m shocked.
Need some draft advice !
5 year keeper league. I tanked last year to keep these guys in a 12 team, 5×5, OPS, QS league.
Alonso – $6
Tatis Jr – $9
Jimenez – $10
Alvarez – $2
Bregman – $14
All of the major speed guys are off the board because they will be kept (Turner, Mondesi, Villar, Acuna)
I dont want to waste the speed numbers that Tatis produces, so I dont want to punt. Who would be your top targets at this point? Every time I use the war room, I dont come close to getting to the goal number of steals.
Robert, Robles, Laureano, Anderson
Agree with DT
Just signed up for the NFBC DC league again! Aiming for another 3rd place finish (Finished third in Truss’ league last year and third in your league in 2017).
I know its early, but any idea when they are going to start?
Glad you’re aboard! I’d guess next week, we have 3 leagues filled already, just locking up 4th… We might start 1st three before as people finish filling 4th
ESPN supports your Schmohawk claim with a #9 ranking. I’ve enjoyed owning him the past few seasons, but if you’re telling me to move on then I will move on.
Yeah, not this year for him
Just found out I have 11th pick in a Total Bases and OBP league, would you be ok starting out with Soto and Freeman or should I definitely grab tatis/j ram for speed?
I’d go Tatis if it’s roto
I would go Soto/Freeman…OBP monsters.
I’m also pushing back against this speed early thing. I’m not sure where this came from.
Agree with Cram, OBP is different beast
In an AL only keeper league, do you prefer Bregman for a year at 15 or W Calhoun for 4 years at 10/10/15/20?
Bregman
Agree with DT
Definitely hope Bregman sucks!
Keeper question: in a 12 team mixed 6×6 (k:bb ratio and OPS), who do you like better as a last keeper: JD martinez (2nd round) or Brandon Woodruff (14)? Thanks!
Will your 2nd rounder get you a player with similar value to JD? If so, take the Woodruff discount. If not, keep JD.
Prob looking at someone in the 40-50 range?
JD
I’d like to spin a donut in his front yard on my Harley. That being said, if there is anyone who may be able to shrug off the negativity, it’s Bregman.
Please don’t….I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail again
Bergman is going to get alot of walks this year did you factor in the vegas odds?
On-field retaliation toward the Houston Astros feels inevitable following their sign-stealing scheme, so much so it’s now commanding its own betting line.
Alex Bregman (+350; bet $100 to win $350) is the odds-on favorite to be hit by a pitch first, and he’s followed by Jose Altuve (+400), Carlos Correa (+400) and George Springer (+450), per SuperBookUSA:
Ha, they really have lines on it? I’d go Springer since he’s 1st up to bat
can’t make it up but ………….bergman will get hit more because of the things he has said.
Haha, if only that’s all it took
Wondering what you thought of this crazy (and somewhat risky team) in 12 team 5×5 roto?
I was told I have some of the most interesting player names like Eloy, Shogo and Yoshi.
catchers – Omar Navarez, Carson Kelly
1b – Matt Olson
2b – Mike Moustakas
ss – Trea Turner
3b – Nolan Arenado
ci – Christian Walker
mi – Elvis Andrus
of – Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Domingo Santana, Shogo Akimaya, Yoshi Tsutsugo
bench hitter – Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig
Starters: Snell, Paddack, Luzardo, Maeda, Gallen, McCullers, Yarborough, Dylan Cease
Closers: Liam Hendricks, Alex Colome, Matt Magill
Still have few (4) picks remaining. Might go for few fliers to round things out.
Looks like a solid core!
Thanks Donkey.
Think I have a huge amount of risk with pitching but it could work out.
Also, some unknowns with Shogo and Yoshi but will see how it goes.
Yoenis, Yasiel, Liam, you win the name game!
Agree with DT, but don’t love Snell
Long live Tyler Bauer!
In a 20 team dynasty league during a rebuild the wall take three years or so, do you trade Kyle Hendricks and Christian Pache for Miguel Sano?
Thanks Grey!I always appreciate it!
I’d want Sano
Tyler Bauer for commissioner!
Agree with DT
Only can own one – keeper league – whoooo
MITCH KELLER
DYLAN CEASE
KENTA MAEDA
Maeda for me
Is it because he will face the tigers 10 times this year
Since it is a keeper league can Keller over take Maeda next year or Cease
Sure either COULD over take Maeda, but are you trying to win your league now or 5 years from now?
Agree with others
Last keeper in a H2H 5×5:
Muncy (11th round)
Ryu (20th round)
Other keepers: Mookie (1st), Ketel Marte (16th), Corbin (17th)
Muncy
My favorite time of year has returned: when I can sip my coffee and snort it out each morning as I read your columns!
I agree that he will lose some homers. But…. Does Bregman’s high OBP make him less of a schmohawk in OBP leagues?
My league uses HR, RBI, SB, OBP, and SLG.
Rudy’s Projections have him top 10 for me, and I pick 11th.
1) Would you take Bregman over say.. Nolan? Bryce? JoRam?
2) I am even considering Yordan at 14th due to the OBP, is this smart?
1. I’d go with Nolan and Bryce before him
2. Meh, seems high, but I do more or less follow Rudy’s OBP rankings
Thanks my man!
No problem
Morning Gray and Donkey
Which side would you prefer in keep forever obp K/9
Ohtani (p only yahoo) and Vlad
Or
Flaherty and Meadows
Thanks
Some context : My keepers right now are Olson Albies Vlad Mondesi Soto Cruz S Gray Ed Rod Wheeler Ohtani (p)
Flaherty
Morning Gray and Donkey
Which side would you prefer in keep forever obp K/9
Ohtani (p only yahoo) and Vlad
Or
Flaherty and Meadows
Thanks
16 team 7 keeper forever dynasty mixed league head to head.
Would you trade Bergman for Jose Ramirez and Albies? How about Bergman for Ramirez and Olson? He is willing to give up Ramirez and overpaid with another player. I am having a hard time deciding whether to trade Bergman. Thanks.
Yes, Jo-Ram and Albies, easily — or with Olson
Get Albies. I think he’ll be worth it alone.
I tossed $30 to win $240 at an LAA AL West win
Just enough to enjoy rooting against the Asteriks that much more this year. Gonna really enjoy that!
And also, the NFBC site has been down for the last 10 minutes and I’m realizing how incredibly hooked I already am on drafting cheap bestballs. The chronic rosterbation is fully torqued and we haven’t even made it to March yet.
Chronic Rosterbation and best balls are oil and water…You’re not gonna be able to rosterbate anything with Best Ball
True true, good point.
Referring to the opening/closing tabs like a mad man during work hours. I’m constantly doing 3 or 4 drafts with 2 or 4 hour timers since mid January. It feels a lot like setting my lineups during the season. Really enjoying it!
Ha, nice!
Solid bet, they just need full seasons from their SPs
Welcome to the fanbase NUX! lol
So in my 14 team h2h dynasty league I’ve had difficulty moving Story for sp depth. Everybody seems to want anyone but story lol. Anyway I just got an intriguing offer. It’d be bichette kepler for severino bauer castellanos. It’s a very interesting offer, but I think I prefer to own bicette long term. Is this a trade I should strongly consider or do I just stay put and possibly carefully stream sp wisely going forward?
c gary sanchez
1b yuli gurriel
2b ozzie albies
3b rafael devers
ss bo bichette
lf juan soto
cf ronald acuna
rf austin meadows
util trevor story
bn max kepler
na corbin carroll
na jeter downs
na julip rodriquez
sp brandon woodruff
sp julio urias
sp jon lester
Sp zach pleasac
rp ty buttery
rp ryan pressly
P Mike fiers
p zach efflin
p john means
Bn shun yamaguchi
bn deivi garcia
bn sixto sanchez
na logan gilbert
na luis patino
na casey mize
I’d consider it, you need Severino more than Bichette, and Severino could be a top 10 SP
Should I be concerned though since severino is coming off a major injury?
Yeah, I am
Boone just announced Severino with forearm tightness, yikes, seeing dr kevorkian tomorrow
Really?
Oof!
Ugh just saw
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2832352-yankees-news-luis-severino-shut-down-after-forearm-injury-diagnosed-as-soreness
Yup, updated https://razzball.com/top-20-starters-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/ and don’t draft him
Glad I hadn’t draft him in my 1st 8 drafts, though I kind of wanted to.
I did too, before today — whew!
Which side:
Gleybar/Bogaerts or Huira/Story
Story
Lol, he’s supposedly in best shape of his life…., lost 20 pounds…, pathetic
And a trash can weighs about 20 pounds, interesting
lol!!
Love it when we match up on these Schmos. I’m out.
We’re in on being out!
Hi All – I have a trade/keeper question.
I was just offered Soto for Trea Turner in a keeper league (keep forever with no draft/round restrictions) and I’m thinking about taking it. My other keepers are Acuna, Betts, Lindor, Arenado, and Olson.
I’m for some reason nervous about Turner not stealing as much if he bats out of the 3rd spot in the order and for what it’s worth, I highly think Mondesi will be available for me to draft to make up for the lost stolen bases.
Should I take the trade?
I don’t mind Trea batting third, but keeper forever I’d take Soto
Speaking to ‘hawks. What’s your AB projection for Joc P? Saw a not where he may platoon with Pollack. Have many ABs are you thinking? Does that move the needle?
Doesn’t he platoon every year? He’s on the strong side of the platoon and I’ve projected and ranked him
Thanks. I like that projection. Good CI.
No problem
Hi Grey,
I have Bregman as a potential keeper but have a few other options I wanted to run by you. I need to select three of the following. Its a 6×6 head to head league.
Trout 1st round keeper (6th overall pick)
Bregman 3rd round
Bellinger 6th round
Boegarts 6th round
Moncada 24th round
How deep is this league?
Thank you…Its a 10 team league and most teams keep 3 players so it’s quite deep.
Forget Moncada
I’m thinking Trout (1), Bellinger (6), Boegarts(6)?
Bellinger / Boegarts will end up round 6 & 7.
Works for me
Grey
No questions today. Just a thank you. Thanks to your with and humor I now finally have done something I should’ve done months ago but have procrastinated.
It all started this morning when, doing my daily routine of breakfast , caffeine , and reading your morning post. It was at the end of the post where this all began
” Knock knock ” ” whos there? ” ” Change-up ”
I made the mistake of reading this line while in mid sip of my morning joe and, ( not the first time this has happened ) I wound up spitting the coffee up thru my nose in laughter.
What was different about this time was, the coffee forced thru the snot filter from your hilarity landed on my laptop keyboards. I tried my best to respond rapidly with paper towels, etc. but my screen went blank and I couldn’t revive it with reboots. Luckily I am not working today, so fixing this became my priority.
Turns out, according to the lap top repair man at staples, I wound up frying my motherboard or something like that.
So, I now own a new laptop and I owe it all to you.
Again, this is something I needed to do anyway and was putting it off out of laziness.
I kept saying, after work today I am going to get a new laptop. Then, I would come home from work, walk my dog, twist a fatty, sit and read the commenter sections of your posts. Start reading some of the other blogs posted on Razzball, and before you know it, I wasn’t going anywhere to do anything for the evening.
So , as always, thanks in advance for all of your comedy and all of your insight and thanks for today for being a part of getting my ass to the store and taking care of business.
P.S. Not that you would have the actual time to do so, but if you ever have a day where you didn’t have a particular post in mind to come out, I think you would be doing a great service to your readers to do a ‘ Top 20 fantasy baseball douchebags ‘ post.
I will just have to cover my lap top in plastic before reading it.
Haha, appreciate the kind words! They should have laptop slickers
16 team keeper league, keep 12, $260 budget salaries rise $5 /year
My Huira ($7) & Alonso ($6) for his Yelich ($13), Muncy ($20)
Thanks!
Get that Yelich
Thanks Grey! Keep up the great work!
No problem
Hey Grey – quick update on the above trade chat where I’m being asked to send my $7 Eloy and $16 Bieber in a 12 team keep forever . . . my Lindor or Soto attempts were rejected, and he countered with the following:
My Eloy ($7) and Bieber ($16) for his Albies ($9) and Sano ($3).
That return feels a little light . . . do you agree?
Would you prefer the Albies side if it was Albies plus one of Laureano ($5), SchmoBregman ($24), or Gallo ($13)?
Other idea is to narrow to just my Bieber for his Albies . . .
Yeah, pass on that
Nah, Eloy/Bieber still
Thanks. Here’s hoping Eloy has a little Soto 2.0 in him (minus the steals and insane OBP).
Haha, (minus everything that makes Soto special)
Nah, I like Eloy, he’s solid
there was one year where I saw everyone as “basically vintage Todd Frazier”. Now it’s Soto!
Haha!
I remember that, wasn’t it last year?
I thought 3-4 years ago! Maybe I’m giving my self too much credit.
Haha
Severino shut down with forearm tightness dating back to alcs. No thank you.
Yeah, that’s gonna be a no from me dawg
You know Randy Jackson apparently never said this?
Mandela effect it?
Updated: https://razzball.com/top-20-starters-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
Don’t draft
Pitchers are dropping like flies already. Severino can join Sale in the DND camp. Clevinger, Giolito. Guys like Woodruff, Bauer, and Berrios are gonna keep moving up the board.
Yup! Already updated Severino https://razzball.com/top-20-starters-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
Wouldn’t touch him in any leagues — don’t draft Sale either, yuck
Just to clarify, I was referring to the “do not draft” list and not Dungeons & Dragons. Though it is amusing to imagine Sale and Severino hunkered down in Dr. Andrews’ waiting room playing D&D.
Neither of them may be playing anything else for 12-18 months
Andrews peeking his head out of surgery: “I said to roll using your off hand!”
HA!
No suprises there. 4 drafts this year, 0 shares of TJSeverino (0/4 on TJglaSnow too).
Looked to see who drafted him in our early DC and it was the douchebag guy so Im very pleased. He took him 68 overall. Sigh.
Whew, I would’ve taken him at 68th overall, dodged a bullet…Can’t lie, I liked the bounce back
Giolito will be ready to go on openly day. The way in which Clevinger came back from a back injury, and literally killed it until his last start of the year, tells me he won’t miss more than the 1st 2 weeks.
Giolito’s issues seem to be fairly minor, though any issues this early are worth monitoring. Clevinger has a violent delivery, so rushing back could cost him much more time in the long run.
Since I had already drafted Stras in 2 of my previous 7 drafts, I still opted for Clevinger a couple of days ago, after Bieber went right before me. Hoping for sooner than later, and a recovery closer to 6 weeks, but the thought of facing K.C. and Detroit when he returns is tantalizing.
Pull up baseball Reference and see what he did last year not only against Set. and K.C., which is insane, but what he did against the entire a.l. central.
I also drafted [email protected] Hopefully, Corbin, Berrios, Wheeler,Hendricks, Puk, McKay, and Keuchel can hold it together until I get Clevinger and Paxton back.
Clevinger was on my championship team last year, and I guess I’ll always be grateful.
Drafted Rendon, Corbin, Olson, and Hader as well. So 5 of my 1st 6 picks from that team, with Bellinger instead of Yelich.
I love Clevinger’s talent. Was raving about him earlier this offseason until someone doused me with cold water by telling me his ADP was around 20-22 overall (I hadn’t checked ADP yet). I am concerned about the knee though. I believe it’s his plant leg, which is a big deal for someone with a delivery so violent. Performance isn’t an issue when healthy though.
Feels like it could be a lost season for Paxton, but you’d have a nice bargain if I’m wrong.
Love Hendricks. Always have. Impeccable command. Just carves hitters up. Like a Greinke, or the current version of Kershaw (minus a few Ks). Fun watching those guys pitch.
I’m usually able to objectively evaluate players who have helped me win in the past, thankfully. Yordan was great for me in a couple of leagues last year, but I doubt I’ll own him this year. Ryu and Lynn on the pitching side. Those guys are still affordable though, so I could see being back in on them.
If I’m even going to dream about a repeat, I’ll need a couple of nice bargains. haha Even if he’s back on june 1, 4 months w/ a fresh arm could be nice. I will need Puk and McKay to stick in the rotations, though. Yeah, took a leap of faith on both Clevinger and Paxton. But those numbers against the a.l. central are nuts.
Yeah, it’s at a monitor it stage right now
Is one of the DC leagues still open? Sent a sign up but hadnt heard back / seen an invite
If you put your email in signup, NFBC will contact you by next week…You’re in a league if you put your email there
Is one of the DC leagues still open? Sent a sign up but hadnt heard back / seen an invite , in 3 but probably do one more if its open
I’m worried about the power but I’m still interested in the walks and runs (counted in my H2H league). If he falls to the end of the second round I would be happy as heck.
I can’t take a stance on this cheating scheme. It is so hard to hit a big league baseball. A few of these guys are going to go off this year because this ridiculous distraction of the banging trash can is over. My opinion is that whatever advantage it gave them was a net zero because of how distracted you are waiting to hear a Oscar the grouch get riled up.
BTW-been listening to a lot of EARTHGANG since I heard you mentioning it (at least when the kids aren’t in the car). A lot of great listening songs.
Yeah, as mentioned in post, this has little to do with cheating and more to do with his batted ball profile
Love Earthgang! Wanna see them in cocnert, and haven’t wanted to see anyone in concert in a long time
True-his barrel% sucked. I’m hoping they try stealing more bases with Dusty in charge.
Was just thinking the same about a concert. That would be live as shizz.
I need to assign some MLB players a EARTHGANG lick for when they walk up to the plate. I’m starting “TEQUILA”with Alex Verdugo as his walk up it- “I’m going make you a believer”.
Top Down has Tim Anderson all over it!
Nice!!
I’m going to the Dreamville festival in April. J. Cole puts in on for charity and EARTHGANG usually performs at it.
https://dreamvillefest.com/
And now I’m flying out to North Carolina!
It’s the best time of year here in North Cack-a-lack.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yGnFCh_vpi4
Heard this one? I’m playing for Trout. He’s still up on the top in my book.
“Baby, baby I’m an angel from my head to my toe-STILL UP”!
FT Earthgang?! I didn’t know it before, now I’m all in
Just took over a H2H keeper team. Each week is either an overall win or loss or tie. Been running a long time, so I’m way behind most teams. It’s 5×5 scoring but with OBP and QS instead of AVG and Wins. 12 teams and they keep 11 guys. Biggest assets are Trout and JRam. Rest of my keepers right now are Moustakas, TAnderson, Castellanos, Moncada, Darvish, Ryu, Wheeler, and Gallen. Not sure on the last guy. Best i figure is Workman or Andres. Definitely not the team I’d have built, but it’s what I’ve got. Anyway, what would be a fair return if I moved Trout? 2 good hitters and 1 good starter? I need a 1b and LF, and one guy said Olsen and Conforto would be a start to negotiations. Is that even close to being fair? Any help is appreciated.
Andres?
Elvis Andrus
More wondering about trading Trout or JRam and what I should look for in return that would be a good deal for me
Don’t trade Trout…Jo-Ram should get you a top 15 bat
Howdy any & all who’d like to respond:
2 separate leagues, 2 separate questions…
1) Keep 8 forever 5×5 roto – which 2 do you like: Paddack, Clevinger, Morton, Lux
2) Keep 6 forever H2H cats: which 1 of Hiura, Springer, Giolito, Bieber, Paddack
Thanks, the Astros suck!
1.Paddack for sure…Then I guess Clevinger, but tough call
2. Hiura
Right. The Clevinger injury scares me, isn’t it the same as Kimbrel last year?
… That was a bummer
Kimbrel missed 3 weeks in 2016 w/ a meniscus tear. Don’t recall if it was a partial tear, though, like Clevinger’s was. I’m hoping 6 weeks rather than 8 weeks for Clevinger, and if so, he should only miss a couple of weeks.
Howdy Grey – went ad free this year with my subscription and DANG it makes the site faster. Highly recommend.
Need help with my keepers this year (spoiler: they aren’t great). 13 team roto, 5×5, standard positions (C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, 3 OF, 2 UTIL; 2 SP, 2 RP, 4 P, and more bench spots). $260 budget
Each team gets two keepers so unsure who exactly will be available,but more than likely not many top 15 hitters. We average 2019 draft cost + 2020 AAV to get the cost of the player. So, ideally you wanna keep guys you are saving money on. Here are my options who I think may work best:
1. Xander — would cost me $28 (2020 AAV is $24 so not saving anything, but might be worth it)
2. Laureano — $8 (2020 AAV $14 so a nice savings)
3. Willie Calhoun — $4 (2020 AAV $8)
4. Kepler — $6 (2020 AAV $10)
5. Clevinger — $26 (2020 AAV $27)
6. Corbin — $15 (2020 AAV $20)
7. Sonny Gray — $7 (2020 AAV $11)
Pick 2.
Leaning X and Laureano, but could go cheaper and try and go after some top bats that do become available (Trout or Yelich will probably not be kept).
Thanks for helping me with my shitty keepers!
Trea Turner, Lindor, and Bregman will all be available FWIW. Could grab them if don’t keep Xander.
Yup! Thanks for that!
Xander, Corbin — They’re not bad at all…Could see Xander and Laureano if you wanted to go that way too
If you had to pick, who has a better year as a starting pitcher this year: Josh James or Alex Reyes? (Obviously part of having a good year as a starting pitcher is not being relegated to a relief role)
“A collective bargaining agreement happens between Major League Baseball and the Witness Protection Program, and someone who looks like Mike Fiers, but goes by the name Fike Miers, begins pitching for the A’s. Miers complains about not getting good Italian in Oakland and how it’s all egg noodles and ketchup, but at least he doesn’t need to disguise himself anymore with a beard in the shape of a monkey’s tail.”
Personally I thought he looked like a Batman villain. A different take on the riddler perhaps?
Haha
James
Howdy any and all who care to respond:
2 questions, 2 separate leagues…
1) keep 8 forever 5×5 roto:
Pick 2: Paddack, Clevinger, Lux, Morton
2) Keep 6 forever H2H cats (QS, OBP)
Pick 1: Hiura, Springer, Giolito, Paddack, Bieber
Thanks, Astros suck!
Answered already — Paddack, Clevinger — Hiura
Arguing with Heath Capps and Rotozack on Twitter. Mondesi went 88th in recent 15 team draft of theirs. They’re saying too risky. I’m like he stole 43 last year and he was hurt. .250/15/50 is floor if he’s healthy.
Aren’t Judge and Stanton just as big of risks. Sheesh.
Yeah, sometimes you just can’t figure this stuff out
Quality start, salary cap, keeper (top-7) and Super 2 league (2 extra keepers for those debuting less 2 year ago). My current SP keepers are Stras, Glasnow & Soroka. I have one of the first draft picks and thinking of adding another SP. Of the three that are some of the best SP available that weren’t kept, all things considered (QS, salary, keeper), would you take Darvish, Bauer, Bum or Max Fried? Thanks in advance!
Yu
Grey,
Now you got me all twisted in knots. Have Bregman for 6 bucks in my 12 team keeper (350 cap, OBP). I can either just keep him for 2020 for six bucks or give him a longer term deal. 2 Yrs/16, 3 Yrs/21.
I am really worried about a long term deal.
I’m saying I don’t like him as a 1st or beginning 2nd rounder — you have him for cheap — 21 is still solid
Please help with my keepers!
For sure keeping: JD Martinez, Albies and Villar
For the remaining keepers, which option do you like best?
A)Springer, Corbin – only 5 keeper option
B) Corbin, Tim Anderson, Nelson Cruz
C) Springer, Anderson, E. Escobar – no pitcher option
D) Corbin, Anderson, Osuna -2 pitcher option
15 team roto
Thanks!
I’m between B and D, kinda like D
Perfect, thanks! I was leaning D also. Clevinger is my only other pitching option, would you swap Osuna for Clevinger? I assume not given your Clevinger rank.
For a keep forever? I could see it — not for this year
It’s forever but his cost goes up every year. Both Osuna and Clev are $2. Unlikely either are keepers next year at $3. 15 team roto league and I should be able to compete this year.
Thanks!
They’re not keepers at $3 next year? Huh? explain. What’s your budget, $12?
Lol, sorry. $12 budget. Every year that you keep a player their cost goes up by $1.
If you don’t keep the player they go back to the draft and keeper cost resets to $1.
I think if I keep Osuna or Clevinger this year at $2 I’d most likely be sending them back to the draft rather than use 25% of my salary on one of them at $3
Ah, yeah, then Clevinger gets the boot, can prolly just draft him back for .50 or 1.00
Hunter Dozier for one of Taylor Trammel or Jesus Sanchez
Okay, Sanchez
With the recent Severino news, is he worth hanging on to in an auction keeper league ($16) or dump him?
Updated his rank: https://razzball.com/top-40-starters-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
But wait for further news if you can before dumping him
Grey, draft strategy question
I got 6 th pick in 12 teamer
My early strategy was Story/J.Ramirez/Alonso
With my 4 th rd 43rd pick i know i can get Mondesi because Espn has him rated so low.
Do i grab Mondesi or go elsewhere? I know i already grabbed a shorstop and i dont want to drain my avg.
Kinda want Mondesi if you can get him that low
Yea looking at it now with OF being somewhat thin would it be wiser to look for a Springer in 3 rd round rather then taking Alonso there?
Hey there Grey,
12 team NL-ONLY 5×5 Roto and we keep 4 players. I went all in last year and won the title, but sacrificed nearly all of my draft picks for this year, hence, I’m in a rebuild year. My strategy is to build around the best player I can and then try to upgrade my other 3 keepers during the season.
Right now, my 4 keepers are
Trea Turner
Marcel Ozuna
Nick Castellanos
Noah Syndergaard
No one has interest in upgrading the keepers before the draft, so my approach during this season will be to move any of those 3 players to upgrade.
I’ve just received an offer of Bryce Harper and Kirby Yates for Trea Turner and Noah Syndergaard. The only reason I’m considering it is because of my concern about Turner (seems to be risky – injury-prone with only 1 year of more than 120 games). Another reason is Thor. If he gets out of the gate slow, the rumor mill will start up and he loses all value (NL league and I’d lose him for nothing if traded to AL). My only reason for wanting Thor is for his trade value..
I know Harper has really only had one superstar year, but he’s been durable and seemed to be settling in nicely in the 2nd half to Philly.
I really don’t trust Turner long term to keep the wheels and feel as though Harper’s skill set is more sustainable.
Thoughts?
Thanks!!!
Hi Grey,
12-team keeper league. Would you keep Flaherty in the 7th round or Luzardo in the 17th?
Flaherty
I’m co-owning a team with a dude who wants to keep Bregs at $44 in a $260 7×7 League when I’d much rather keep Rendon at $15 or Fat Ass Ozuna at $12 where a profit will happen most likely.
Bregs and Herve scare me the most, my son is 10 and bigger the Herve so this just reinforces my desire to not keep him, the good part is that he doesn’t K much and we count Ks
Fu king cheaters-
Love your work as always Grey!
Haha, thanks!