Don’t want to get all emotional but today begins the best six months of your life, except for the last Opening Day, and the Opening Day before that and the Opening Day before that, not the Opening Day before that though, we don’t talk of that Opening Day anymore. That was the worst Opening Day. Before we take this journey together like two rats wearing goggles in an old fighter plane careening through injured baseball players, we have one last preseason update. You know the guy who shows up late to class but still aces the test? Let’s hope Jordan Montgomery is that guy and not the one that shows up late, kicks his feet up on the desk and presses a button in his leather jacket that makes farting noises. JoMo’s HomeHome will be in the desert with the DBags. The top 500 was updated yesterday for the last time, and the 2024 fantasy baseball rankings are locked and loaded! Now, bring on the games when your first round pick goes down with an oblique injury that will knock him out for one to seven weeks. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this Spring Training in fantasy baseball:
Psyche! One further ado, this season’s first Buy/Sell is now available on our Patreon. It will be posted here on Friday and early on the Patreon all year, so sign up for that. Anyway II, the roundup:
Paul Sewald – Hit the IL with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Grade 1 is a strain that “wets bed and says shizz like, ‘Daddy loves me because he buys me gummy worms,'” Grade 2 is more severe. Brutal news here for Sewald’ers. That’s you if you roster him. Great news for Ginkel’ers. That’s people who roster Kevin Ginkel. Prolly was clear without explanation, huh? Updated the top 500 and Bullpen chart is updated by JKJ, who had eye surgery, so take it easy on him and don’t say ARGH! like he’s a pirate.
Jordan Lawlar – Out for a couple of months after rupturing his UCL trying to pick up a ball. Did someone paint stitches on a boulder?
Matt McLain – Had surgery to repair his labrum. Once that’s busted, you can’t repair it. I saw that in a disturbing doc about forced marriages–[intern whispers in ear] Labrum is in the shoulder? Oh, I see. Yeah, McLain is cooked. At least for this year. He was removed from the top 500. Bummed I didn’t publish my Jonathan India sleeper back in December when I wrote it, but it’s in my heart, and yours. He’s a Buy.
Jared Jones – Made the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation. I said this the other day with Cowser, but you have to wonder how it feels for Jones to make the rotation when Skenes is clearly better and sent down. It’s like, “I’m good but not good enough to hoodwink into manipulating my service time? What the hell?” I’m fine with the flyer on Jones; do I 100% trust him? Not even 25%, but we’ll see. That’s what flyers are for. (A lesser known Dionne Warwick and Friends song when they were watching hockey and were inspired by the Flyers.)
DJ LeMahieu – Hit the IL with a foot bruise. Tarantino would rub it out for you.
Jon Berti – Acquired by the Yanks. Wonder if the Yanks know something about DJ’s foot that we don’t know yet. If Berti is hitting leadoff for the Yanks, I like him a ton more than LeMahieu. Do I like Berti in a vacuum? Not really, and how do we get out of this vacuum? I have allergies.
Ricky Tiedemann – Will start the year in the minors. Yeah, of course, because he’s going to be excellent. Great system MLB’s got here.
Dylan Carlson – Was run over by Jordan Walker, which sounds downright delightful. Is there somewhere I can sign up for that? So, Carlson hit the IL and is replaced by the guy who should’ve been the center fielder to begin with:
Victor Scott II – Will make the team. Is that…Victor [crowd goes wild] Scott [crowd loses their shizz, falling over, foaming at the mouth] the Second! Victor Scott II will be in Friday’s Buy column, but why wait for that? If you need steals, get involved!
Bryan Woo – Hit the IL with elbow inflammation. Sounds very un-Woo-like. More like Bryan Boo. He had this last year and only missed 18 days, so it might not be as bad as it sounds. Yes, he was updated in the top 500.
Dominic Canzone – Four months ago, I asked some team people to see what they thought of playing time situations for their teams. My M’s guy said Canzone would be their left fielder, and I have to say, I didn’t believe it. Teach me to doubt team guys. The Team Guys know things we’ll never know! Nah, for real, it’s not important to know everything, you just have to know where to ask for the things you don’t know. Canzone has the best hit tool of the “super iffy back end of the M’s lineup.” Just an AL-Only guy for now, but worth putting a monocle on your cyclops for mixed leagues.
Garrett Mitchell – Out with a fractured hand. Garrett Mitchell remains a Not Ready For Primetime Player. Looks like Frelick is moving back to the outfield and Joey Ortiz has playing time again. Or at least should in theory. Never really made sense to me how they traded for Ortiz and then decided not to play him.
Kevin Gausman – His velo was up in his last outing. It might feel like you’re gonna wish you took that Gausman discount when he was dealing with shoulder fatigue, and maybe you will, but it’s also a six-month season and he’s not exactly topping out at 95 in mid-September by throwing 50 pitches in March.
Max Stassi – Hit the IL with hip inflammation. Max stasi is German for maximum security prison, and he plays for the White Sox, so infer what you want.
Jordan Leasure – Made the White Sox Opening Day roster. You know musical chairs? That’s what the White Sox did with seats on their team bus. Music stops, that’s the roster. I kid; Leasure might get saves, since he pelts them in there 97 MPH.
Miguel Sano – Made the Angels’ Opening Day roster, which is funnier than anything I could write. He did show up slimmed down to make it harder to say he can’t hit his weight.
Jordan Romano – Will start the year on the IL. With elbow inflammation? No way! But I was told Romano could throw cheese with the best of them. [Italian waiter at table with a grater side-eyes me] Yimi Garcia is about to save 25+ games this year, isn’t he? Yimi-ki-yay! Bullpen Chart is updated.
Niko Goodrum – Traded to the Rays. Giving Goodrum to the Rays’ manager? Oh, crap, that’s a Cash bar.
Mike Yastrzemski – Will be away for the first weekend of games for the birth of his child. The soon-to-be-named Carl’s Jr. Jr. Jr.
I’ve had to go check and see who wrote two different articles with bonkers titles today. You’re on fire.
Haha
Cake Batter’s stats were nearly identical to Toescar’s last year and Teoscar’s splits away from Seattle were way better. When I look at the Jays lineup I see an injury prone and declining Springer leading off, Cake Batter, Bo and then an old injury prone JT…then a weak lower half. Teo in a ridiculous lineup. Who do you think has the better numbers this season – Teo or Cake Batter? Do you think Cake Batter puts up elite numbers again after being less than what we expected the last few years? Looking to possibly package Teo as part of a trade to Dodger fan for Vlad, but hesitant giving up too much.
Cake
Grey,
Would traded Taj Bradley ($5) and Joe Ryan ($10) for Corbin Burnes ($23) dyansty keeper salary cap league
Yes
ok im proposing it
Cool
Teoscar or Suzuki for counting stats and ratios? I’m in a 6×6 roto redraft. We use AVG and OBP. I like how Suzuki is hitting in the 2-hole and he continued his 2nd half breakout through ST.
Seiya
Hope the site doesn’t crash before I can post this…
Berti or Neto in a 12-teamer at the MI spot?
Berti
Are you buying Montas?
Nah, vs. Nats
Heard Crochet looked good. Could use an SP. drop Drury for him? Probably my worst batter.
Yes
Foley the closer or is it Lange?
Nvm – just saw your comment below
No problem
Luzardo looking like an Ace! … or at least a high King, for sure a Jack or higher…
Yes!
Who are you stashing out of Delauter or Skenes? At this point, I just want to have the most impactful player. Skenes upside is huge. Delauter looks like he can be impactful too. Both teams are cheap and will hold them back to defer another year of service time. Thanks
Skenes
Someone unwisely dropped Ozuna for a rando off waivers – appropriate FAB bid out of 1000? 12 team 5×5 roto. He is Util only. My OF is Tucker, Yelich, J Walker, Varsho, H Davis, and L Gurriel at Util. Also have J Lowe on IL.
Ozunas over Davis if you have decent catchers…Over Lourdes otherwise
So how much FAB would you go?
Do you have zero dollar bids? If so, maybe $6
12 team, 5×5 roto (saves only)
1) Add Justin Lawrence over Yimi, Brock Stewart or Trevor Megill for saves only?
2) Do you like Henry Davis over MJ Melendez if/when he gains C eligibility?
1. Why 2. Yes
(1) I know he sucks, but saw that Rockies had “penciled” Lawrence in for the primary save share.
We don’t know that yet, might be Kinley
Royce Lewis is so electric on the baseball field. It is hard to watch him always get hurt. This was a quick reminder of why I avoided him in every draft. Despite the tantalizing talent, the draft price was too steep given the risk.
Yeah, a very quick reminder!
No like button now? I will settle for the site working. F-ing bots!
Digging the old school vibe!
Yeah, exactly!
And after he hit a HR in his first at bat of the season and was 2-2 for the game. Sigh. Hope it’s not a long term thing (quad injury is what the Twins are saying).
Haha, yup
And I gave up Buxton for this….
Haha, six of one
Cruuuuuuuuz!
LFGGGGGGGG
Grey, Foley got the save. Is Lange still the closer or Foley?
I dont know, lol…I’d guess Foley and Lange in a time share maybe
Baseball being back currently getting a very-much lowercase yay from me.
Very frustrating already!
Still early!
Haha, yup!
Royce Lewis can eat a D!
HAHA
Line up lock until the end of next week. Util spot. Points league. Langford, Gelof or Rizzo?
Wyatt
Severino home vs Brewers or Kutter at Seattle?
Severino
Happy Opening Day Grey! Thanks for all the rankings and write-ups to get us here!
LFG!
Happy Opening Day!
So if you had an open spot what SP would you roster in a 10 team qs league: Morton, Lugo, Cortes, wacha. Thanks
Morton
Glad to see the site back up. I woke up at 5:40am to do my one and only NFBC OC to end the draft season triumphantly (I hope)!
Happy 2024 Opening Day!!!
Happy Opening Day! Site’s still kind of a mess tho…working on it
happy opening day !!! i know you like Stone and i currently have him. will he get enough inn after Bueh;er and Kershaw return to keep him over someone like say Matz or Kyle Gibson long term ? i also have Varland and Reynaldo Lopez so i’m wondering if i have to many 5th starters ???? also who to choose between Ketel Marte or Teoscar ?? Trout just went yard on Burnes !!
You do have too many 5th starters…Teoscar
is Matz worth any of these to drop ? thanks for the help
CJ or Oneil Cruz?
CJ
Blasphemy!
HAHA
I need to add a MI in an NL-only league. HR/R/RBI/SB/OBP
Lux, India, McNeil, Arcia, Cronenworth, Rodgers, Tim Anderson, Merrifield, Turang, Luis Garcia, or Jackson Merrill??
I could use SB for sure and looking for upside more than safety. This is a bench bat in a shallow league. Thanks!
India
Good afternoon – Choose two please: Kikuchi, Silseth, Olson, Mize.
Reese, Kikuchi
Thanks
No problem
Grey!
Happy opening day! Thank goodness we saved Razzball from the Russian bots.
There are a few IL waiver wire options that I wanted to get your opinion on.
Specifically:
– Scherzer
– Woo
– Baz
– Jasson D
also out there:
– Paul Skenes – Will have to drop Ceddanne Rafaela to pick up.
My questions:
1 – How do you rank the priority of those 5?
2 – How much FAAB (out of $100) would you throw down for each?
Thank you as always!
– IANASM
Haha, happy opening day! Sorry about that…I wouldn’t drop Ceddanne…you have no one else to drop? I’d go Woo, Baz, Jasson
No worries. The internet is a scary place. No faith in Scherzer? Any interest in Paul Skenes?
Only somewhat disposable batters I have are:
Pitchers (QS league):
If Mets put Senga on the IL before tomorrow, I’ll have another spot to play with.
Thanks again!
Update: Well this worked itself out. Senga is on the IL. So really my only question is How much FAAB would you be throwing down for these guys?
Thanks!
Couple of bucks…maybe $2 or $1
Excellent. Thanks!
No problem
I like Skenes a lot…Scherzer’s fine, prolly back in a few months…I’d lose Ceddanne there, but hate to
Hi Grey, how does the team look? Any notable weaknesses? 12 team, 10 category mixed roto.
C- Salvador Perez
1B – Christian Walker
2B – Semien
3B- Steer
SS- Thairo Estrada
CI – Josh Naylor
MI – Ozzie Albies
OF – Adolis Garcia, Lane Thomas, Santander, Ian Happ, Castellanos
UT(1)/Bench(2) – Tyler O’Neil, Masyn Winn, Cowser
Nola
Bibee
Fried
Pivetta
Bassitt
Christopher Sanchez
DL Hall
Helsley
Kimbrel
Alzolay
Hunder Harvey
Andrew Nardi
DL: Verlander
Thanks!
Love the hitting, looks well balanced…I don’t like your pitching, bunch of guys I wouldn’t draft…Nola and Fried…and your RPs are a little wonky
Thanks! It’s a keeper, so only so much I can do on top pitching unfortunately (I kept Nola, Fried, and Helsley). Nardi and Hall are likely early drops for needs. Do you think I am light on saves? Or at this point is my season just dependent on Nola/Fried staying healthy and my trading ability? Verlander was a super late pick, so no real loss if he stays on the IL all year.
Ah, I hear ya…a little light on saves perhaps…Those are always in flux tho
Do you like candelario more with him hitting 4th? My other options are to roster shota Imanaga. This is just for a last bench spot
I do, but it’s one game
Wow, I finally got into Langley, I mean Razzball. Was this your attempt to curtail the barrage of questions that you are going to get today?
Haha, site’s been a mess, sorry about that…spammers are killing us
Can Toronto please decide by 4pm today if Gausman starts on Sunday? My league lineups lock for the week once the teams first game starts. I know managers don’t care, but somehow the NFL has figured out that a lot of their fans like to play fantasy football, and they make it easy. I get it, sometimes stuff happens with a player, but what exactly do the Jays need to see before deciding on Gausman? I can almost guarantee they don’t announce anything, so I either roll the dice or start someone else. H2H league btw or I really wouldn’t care as much.
I know, I’m leaving him in, I’m not trying to lose a Gausman start
Looks like the Razzball site suffered an oblique injury on Opening Day.
Cloudflare Human Verifications and 503 Service Errors galore.
In other news, thank you for all you do for us fantasybaseballers (your mom’s term).
Haha, yeah, getting hit by spammers — Happy Opening Day!
Here are some predictions:
Giants, Red Sawks and Tigers all win their divisions.
I will not have to buy Pandas a pony.
HAHA, I’m going Brewers as World Series champs, which makes no sense, which is why it’s perfect, no question
Thanks, Grey. Happy Opening Day! Which outfielder do you like more in an OPS H2H league, Victor Scott the Second or Sal Frelick the First? And would you drop Sir Nelson Velazquez for either?
Happy Opening Day! Frelick — sure
Thanks! Death to the spammers!
They’re killing me man
damn 2 games PPD (Mets/Brewers & Braves/Phillies) and this site acting all iffy this morning with that human/robot verification. Happy Opening Day!
Yeah, getting hit by spammers
I drafted Canzone as my first RCL streamer of the year. Side note: Sawks all right hand rotation happy days for your strong side platooneers
fun off season here as the usual, albright. nice work and happy opening day.
Happy Opening Day! LFG!
12 team H2H categories. Please let me know what you think, happy Opening Day!
C- Smith
1B- Alonso
2B- Betts
SS- Swanson
3B- Burger
OF- Adolis G.
OF- Soler
OF- Yoshida
Ut- Candelario
Ut- Nimmo
SP- Kirby
SP- Eflin
RP- Hader
RP- Fairbanks
P- Ober
P- C. Sanchez
P- Jansen
P- Alvarado
Bn- Rengifo
Bn- O’Neill
Bn- Woo
Bn- Pressly
Bn- Minter
Happy Opening Day! You look high on power and weak on AVG and SBs, which is fine in H2H…I think your pitching is fine, but light on sheer number of SPs
WHAAAT???? are we seriously done with Matt McLain this year?
He had surgery
many players have had the same exact surgery and the average time for them to be back on the filed is 4 months. McLain will be back in august.
Sounds terrible
he’s the worst at espn and fantrax auto drafted guy as to injured out time. they had adjusted g.cole much more properly by the last 6 days of drafts, but not mclain. he was going in at least the 4th round in 16’ers (for leagues that keep 4 players anyway), near that in 14’s.
Haha, woof
Great work Grey!
16-team H2H weekly points league.
Who should I start for this 10-day week?
I need two please.
Jordan Walker 4 @ LAD, 3 @ SD & 3 Vs MIA;
Outman 4 Vs STL, 3 Vs SF & 3 @ CHC;
Morel 3 @ TEX, 3 Vs COL & 3 Vs LAD.
Thanks
Not Morel
Finished my 3rd and final draft Tuesday. One snake, one 10 player keeper and one auction. We have one All-Grey team and 2 mostly Grey teams. We rise and fall with Puk, India, Merrill, Luzardo, Rengifo and the like. Good luck this year! Play Ball!
Haha, Happy Opening Day!
Grey,
Thanks for all the advice!
Final AL-Only 5×5 10 team keeper
List with late auction this year
1. Rutschman – $15 C
2. J. Naylor – $9 1b
3. Pasquantino – $15 Corner
4. M. Garcia – $10 3b
5. Gimenez – $13 2b
6. Neto – $10 SS
7. Greene $15 OF
8. Bibee $8 SP
9. Jung. $15. Dh3b
My goal was to fill this list with huge potential upside and keeper
Prices.
Cool
Teoscar or CJ Abrams in the utl spot in a standard 10 team roto league? I am good on speed. Thanks
CJ
12 tm H2H daily pts redraft. Scores negatives for AB and CS
Positives for Hits, doubles, triples, HRs, SB, Walks
C K. Ruiz
1 Josh Naylor
2 Bryson Stott
3 Ke’Bryan Hayes
SS Oneil Cruz
MI Dansby Swanson
OF Julio Rodriguez
OF Yordan Alvarez
OF Nolan Jones
OF Teoscar Hernandez
OF Wyatt Langford
Util Jordan Walker
Bn: Chourio, Paredes
Pitching scores IP, Ks, SVs, Holds negatives for hits, walks, homers,
Gallen, Steele, Keller, M. Kelly, Bryce Miller, Pepiot, Eovaldi, Woo, A. Diaz, Fairbanks
A) How we looking?
B) When Woo is IL which arm to pick up out of Ed-Rod, Stone, Lugo, Detmers, Bryan Abreu, Payamps, Nardi,
A. Your hitting looks weak on hits, SBs and maybe walks…Pitching looks solid, I have no complaints on it B. Stone
Happy Baseball Day! I am already drunk Grey!!
Good luck to you this year my man, your teams that I have seen so far look fantastic and your rankings and pithy comments, are just the best out there! You make baseball fun man!
A. Sal Frelick a platoon all year?
B. In weekly lineup set roto leagues, is starting decent MR guys a good idea or best to stream SP?
Haha, Happy Opening Day!
A. Meh, I doubt it, but we’ll see, I don’t know how Murphy is going to manage…2. Stream SP
Grey the best day of the year is upun us! Lets Go!!!!!!! TY for how much you bring to all your followers!
Drafted last night, what do you think. First time EVER I took closers becasue they slid more than expected and in first come first serve, I hate worrying all year…
12 TM 5×5 thoughts?
C- Campusano
1B- Triston Casas
2B- Zack Gelof
SS- Anthony Volpe
3B- Jeimer Candilario
MI- Zack Neto
CI- Anthony Rizzo
OF- Juan Soto
OF- Aaron Judge
OF- Randy Arozarena
OF- Jackson Chourio
OF- Jarren Duran
U- Jackson Merrill
Bench – Sal Frelick, Vaughn Grissom
SP- George Kirby
SP- Freddy Peralta
SP- Bryce MIller
SP- Ryan Pepiot
SP- Brayon Bello
RP- Edwin Diaz
RP- David Bednar
RP- Clay Holmes
RP- Alex Lange
Bench- Luis Gil, Jared Jones, Michael Wacha, Jack Flaherty, Alex Cobb, Frankie Montas
Happy Opening Day! Good on you taking a solid closer, I don’t mind your pitching at all…I think you might actually have too many saves…I think the hitting looks weaker tho…you’re low in AVG and power
Was I wrong that I drafted Bo Bichette over O Neil Cruz for this season.
Nah
Cant believe my Yankees are actually going into the season with Clark Schmidt and Luis Gil as their 4th n 5th starters. Bottom of the lineup is garbage too. Us spoiled Yankee fans deserve better.
How does BaFoone and Cashlessman still have jobs? Adopted Hal must sell! I’ll be rooting for whoever is playing the Asterisks this year.
Haha
Yeah, it’s pretty bad
Happy Opening Day!
McClain news really sucks. Wasted 1st rd in 10 team keeper league on him. I should of went with either Jackson to start the season. Oh well. The league is shallow enough. I have to Steer and ride the season.
India & Frelick are both on available on waivers.
Hitters
Logan O’Hoppe C | LAA
Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Spencer Steer 1B,2B,3B,OF | CIN
Gunnar Henderson 3B,SS | BAL
Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Corbin Carroll OF | ARI
Nick Castellanos OF | PHI
Jordan Walker OF | STL
Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Bench
Edouard Julien 2B | MIN
Nolan Gorman 2B,3B | STL
Matt McLain 2B,SS | CIN IL
Tyler O’Neill OF | BOS
Junior Caminero 3B | TB
Starters
Hunter Brown SP | HOU
MacKenzie Gore SP | WAS
George Kirby SP | SEA
Jesus Luzardo SP | MIA
Joe Ryan SP | MIN
Edwin Diaz RP | NYM
Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Bench
Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Kyle Harrison SP | SF
Nick Lodolo SP | CIN IL
Eury Perez SP | MIA
Happy Opening Day! You have a great pitching and hitting team, I wouldn’t be too worried…India over McLain, clearly…Frelick over Julien
Happiest of Opening Days, and good luck this year, fellas!!
Happy Opening Day!
Berti or Grissom? 5×5 roto
For now? Berti
Grey could you give me Rudy’s contact email address. I am having trouble with getting in streamonater. Thanks
Site’s having issues, unfortch…rudy is rudy @ razzball dot com tho
Grey,
I just drafted for a Standard H2H Yahoo 5X5 12 teamer. Got the 3rd pick.
Someone took Betts first. Though for a second I may get Ronald. Obviously it’s no biggie lol. Also, I picked Bellinger in the 5th. I chose him over Nolan, Nolan was available at 69, I picked 70. I was ?? close. Love my team nonetheless. I know I drafted too many pitchers starting the year on the IL, but I’m not worried. I also already IL’d some of the guys. My 2 questions are:
1. Analysis.
2. I’m gonna give a list of 2 SP and let me know who to claim.
R HR RBI SB AVG
W ERA WHIP K S
C – Campusano
1B – Bellinger
2B – Semien
3B – Steer
SS – Bichette
OF – J-Rod
OF – Carter
OF – Walker
UTIL – Riley Greene
UTIL – Paredes
SP – Peralta
SP – Steele
SP – Bassitt
SP – Keller
SP – Civale
SP – Garrett
SP – Buehler
SP – Maeda
SP – Lodolo
RP – Fairbanks
RP – Alvarado
RP – Megill
RP – Kinley
I can claim:
Tyler Wells
Dean Kremer
Seth Lugo
Michael Wacha
Andrew Abbott
Max Meyer
Louis Varland
Thank you!!
PS: as a Diehard Marlins fan, I’m not happy about the departure of Berti. I doubt get it to be honest. I’m sure per usual the prospects will be future Lewin Diaz, Isan Diaz, Jordan Yamamoto’s, etc.
team looks solid! I like the pitching a lot, looks damn near perfect…bit wonky with injury risk at back end of the staff…I’d go Lugo or Kremer, but these are streamers to pick up…Hitting looks awesome, very solid! I have nothing to nitpick
My man. Thanks Grey !!
Fucking Marlins doing Marlins things. Mid season form. Bullpen really screwing up opening day.
Absolutely!