When you’re hot for two straight weeks, you’re talking in sexy whispers on my earlobes. If Avisail Garcia and Mike Trout are filming a body-switch movie, I never want it to end. For years I’ve remarked — I’m a remarker, yo! — that Avisail looks like Mini Miggy, now he’s actually hitting like him. “Miggy, that is the first time in two years we’ve made love without you screaming your back hurts,” Mrs. Miggy rolls over. Avisail Garcia smiles wickedly at the camera. Yesterday, he homered two more times (3-for-6, 3 runs, 6th and 7th homers), and now has six homers in the last week, and he hit .330 last year. Sure, we can pee in the electrical blanket by talking about his BABIP last year, but there is no excuse for Garcia being on waivers. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Daniel Palka – 2-for-6, 3 RBIs and also homered twice (8, 9) yesterday, but he hadn’t had a hit in a week, so Palka’s not dotting the I in waivers for me yet.
Anthony DeSclafani – 5 1/3 IP, 5 ER, ERA up to 5.08. I can’t believe I got suckered into this shart. DeScabface is a giant dung beetle but what does that make me for falling for it? Stupid Grey! *smacks face, weirdly turned on* Ooh, smack me again, big boy.
Scooter Gennett – 1-for-6, 2 RBIs and his 14th homer, hitting .332. Your NL batting average leader, but Albert Almora is right on his tail. Hello, weird times to be living in, say hello to your mother for me.
Eugenio Suarez – 1-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 17th homer, hitting .305. I’m busy working on my top 100 for the 2nd half that will be posted during the All-Star break, and Suarez is a tough one to rank. Also, literally a tough SOB for breaking his thumb and coming back in ten days, when he could’ve sat on his new contract and waited a month to return. Right now, he’s a top 25 bat on the year, and I get the feeling already he will be underrated even next year.
Christian Yelich – Has missed five straight games with a sore back. He’s got the face of a 14-year-old and the back of an 80-year-old. Are we sure he’s not Benjamin Button?
Eric Thames – 2-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 12th homer, hitting .248. Not sure if this is a compliment or not, but the Brewers are built like an AL team. They desperately need a DH slot. Maybe they can trade for Matt Harvey and be Harvey’s Wallbangers once again. Let’s see, Gorman Thames, Robin Braun and, of course, Jesus Aguilivie.
Junior Guerra – 5 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 2.87. Not sure what’s more frustrating. Struggling to find pitching or owning Guerra in one league, and watching him sit on waivers in other leagues while struggling to find pitching. Okay, not even sure those are choices, but I’m struggling and not thinking straight.
Jake Odorizzi – 5 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners (4 BBs), 9 Ks, ERA at 4.57. Since he tweaked his delivery, he had ten scoreless innings until Thames’ homer. He gets the O’s next time at home, which is weirdly low on the Stream-o-Nator, but I think I’d stream him anyway.
Wilson Ramos – 2-for-6, 2 RBIs and his 12th homer, hitting .291. Mean’s while, I’m diddling myself with Tom Murphy and the Rockies inability to see the nose on their face while being Jon Niese.
Sandy Alcantara – Hit the DL with an armpit infection. As Teddy Roosevelt always said, “Speak softly and carry a Speed Stick.”
Shane Bieber – 6 IP, 4 ER, 10 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 2.97. Bummer, sure, but have I mentioned in the last 400 words I started DeSclafani yesterday? A 6 IP, 4 ER is practically a Quality Start nowadays. Plus, Stream-o-Nator likes his next start, and I could see holding tight.
Jack Flaherty – 6 IP, 4 ER, 5 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 3.19. Favor to ask, can we turn the humidor up higher?
Paul Goldschmidt – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 19th homer. Au Shizz!
Brian McCann – Headed for knee surgery and will miss 4-6 weeks. Yelling, “Yes we McCann,” has taken some recent setbacks. Max Stassi is supposed to fill-in for him, but he left yesterday’s game after taking a pitch off his forearm. The military police can’t get any breaks!
Carlos Correa – Not doing any baseball activity. That sounds promising if he were anything but a baseball player.
Tony Kemp – 1-for-2, 2 RBIs and his 2nd homer, hitting .313. What a golden age for Kemps!
Josh Reddick – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 7th homer. Sounds janky but I am cyclops’ing Reddick.
Dallas Keuchel – 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.12. Yeah, but it against Texas. If Dallas can’t feel at home there, then I mean cmon.
Colby Rasmus – Discontinued his baseball career. Geiger! No mo’!
Mark Trumbo – 2-for-3 and his 11th homer. Avisail is doing otherworldly things right now, but with less pub, Trumbo’s not far behind. Trimpubo? No, that’s awful, let’s pretend that was never said.
Zach Eflin – 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 2.97. But he left with a blister. *tears up everything nice* Happy?!
Nolan Arenado – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 22nd homer, hitting .313. I’m gonna go ahead and light these fireworks by my window where I’ve hung wool curtains and hope the wind blows outwards. Is outwards a word–NOOOO!!! Torenado!!!
Charlie Blackmon – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 15th homer, hitting .275. So, Chazz Noir didn’t retire after May 4th. I thought so, but you can never be so sure. This was his 4th homer since May 5th. Stinko de Mayo, amiright?
Shohei Ohtani – 0-for-4 as he was activated from the DL. Not saying this was strictly a move to get more fans into the stands, but it was a move to get more fans into the stands.
Wade LeBlanc – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 3.19. His peripherals are saying he’s not quite this good, but all of my leagues use ERA and not xFIP.
Starling Marte – Out of the lineup three days in a row because the Pirates don’t want to tempt fate with him getting injured and them not being able to trade him or alerting anyone of an injury he already has so they can’t trade him. Tomato-tomato said with a different emphasis.
Max Muncy – 3-for-4, and his 19th and 20th homer. And because he’s likely feeling like the middle child after a new baby is born, Chris Taylor homered too. “Hey, honey, look Chris Taylor’s juggling with his feet.” “Meh, Max is spitting up. He’s so cute.”
Joc Pederson – 1-for-3 and his 13th homer, hitting .266. In the last few days, Dave Roberts decided Pederson was his leadoff man, and the Dodgers are doing well, so it might stick for a while. Since I own him, this is a time when a goofy manager is working out well for me. The one time.
Enrique Hernandez – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 15th homer. Also, in this game, Yasmani Grandal (2-for-3, 2 runs) hit his 12th homer, and whatever the Dodgers are feeding their players, give all my players that.
Kris Bryant – Felt a twinge in his shoulder. Not twinging!
Kyle Hendricks – 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 4.27. Podcaster Ralph and I talk about Hendricks on this week’s podcast. Complete with guitar licks (no guitar licks).
Kyle Schwarber – 2-for-4 and his 17th homer, hitting .247. Jason Heyward (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, hitting .288). On our Player Rater, can you guess who’s higher? Ha, not close. As Dark Helmet would say, you fell for the oldest trick in the book, mon. Schwarber is almost twenty-five spots higher for outfielders — Heyward ~60, Schwarber ~35.
Pedro Strop – 1 IP, 0 ER and his 2nd save. Morrow should’ve been able to throw yesterday, but Maddon is either trying to reduce his innings, totally forgot about him or Morrow is hurt again. In case it’s the latter, I grabbed Cishek in one league even though Strop is obviously not the wrong answer either.
Josh Donaldson – Could resume hitting this week. Sounds like he’s one step closer to being only a month away from being activated to then re-injuring himself.
Marco Estrada – Topped out at 85 MPH and was promptly removed from the game. He’s injured, or traded to the Mets. Stand by for updates. *holding finger to ear mic* They’re saying it’s an injury. That means he could still be traded to the Mets.
Yangervis Solarte – 1-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 16th homer, hitting .250. Not to totally depress you on this fine ‘Murica day, but Solarte is nearly top ten 2B and 3B on the Player Rater. (Barely top 17 for shortstops; they’re much deeper thus far.)
Lourdes Gurriel – 1-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 4th homer, hitting .225, and his 2nd homer in the last three games. If I remember correctly (and I don’t), he got hot for a few weeks last year (he didn’t; he was just called up for the first time, I’m thinking of a different Gurriel), so this could be a little schmotato.
Yoenis Cespedes – Began running. Mickey Callaway said, “All went really well,” then continued, “Regarding Cespedes. Everything else is awful.”
Noah Syndergaard – Threw a simulated game. When he came off the mound, the Mets wrapped him in bubble wrap and hung a sign from his neck that read, “Do not pop the bubble wrap.”
Asdrubal Cabrera – 1-for-2, 2 RBIs and his 15th homer, hitting .281. After Cabrera homered, he tried to connect on LinkedIn with the Mariners.
Devin Mesoraco – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 8th homer, hitting .225. Also, in this game, Wilmer Flores (1-for-4) hit his 7th homer. Topps should do a combo card with these two guys, titled, “Ugly Crying.”
Eduardo Nunez – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 6th homer, hitting .254. I said after his last homer a few days ago he is the type to get scolding hot schmotatoey, and I stand by that. Literally, I have a standing desk.
Xander Bogaerts – 2-for-3 and his 13th homer, hitting .276. If he cools off his current ‘blistering’ 23-homer pace and only hits 21 homers, same as 2016, can we chillax with the launch angle talk on him?
J.D. Martinez – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 4 RBIs and his 26th homer. Just Dong, because what the hell? Shruggy the Emoji.
Brian Johnson – 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 10 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 4.23. Actual fun fact! His mom and aunt were the Doublemint Twins. They really chewed up the scenery! *dodges flying tomato* His mom sounds like a nice person, never wanting to pop your bubble. *dodges thrown head of cabbage*
Stephen Strasburg – Threw a bullpen session, which puts him on pace to return right after the All-Star break. Odds he can stay healthy for two months after the break: 12 to 1, which is slightly worse odds than “odds person who drafted Strasburg after I told them not to will take another top starter again next year.” That’s 9 to 1.
Tanner Roark – 7 IP, 9 ER, ERA up to 4.60. Damn, Davey Martinez has a slower hook than Keith Richards dressed like Captain Hook.
Matt Chapman – 0-for-3 as he was activated from the DL. Kevin from ESPN’s “Get Him In Your Lineup” Department said, “Every holiday should fall on Wednesday. Double Fridays!”
Mark Canha – 1-for-3 and his 11th homer. He has a hit in ten of his past eleven games (maybe more, but I didn’t feel like clicking “More”), and looks like a light schmotato.
Arodys Vizcaino – Activated from the DL. Minter and Winkler move back to setup until Vizcaino pitches terribly for three straight games and heads back to the DL. I’m only half kidding, shoulder soreness is never good.
Sean Newcomb – 2 2/3 IP, 5 ER, ERA up to 3.10 vs. Domingo German – 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, ERA at 5.37. This matchup was billed as, “Meh, he was in Yankee Stadium so what can you do about Newcomb there vs. What’s your excuse?”
Ender Inciarte – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and a slam (6) and legs (22), hitting .249. I love, love, lurve Acuña, but I do prefer Ender at the top of the lineup as he’s been and Acuña in the six hole.
Ozzie Albies – 2-for-5 and his 18th homer, hitting .273. I can’t say his name without busting into Biz Markie’s Albee Square Mall. I got Old School Tourette’s.
Nick Markakis – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 10th homer, hitting .326. Sparkakis!
Aaron Hicks – 1-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 15th homer, hitting .262. You know what’s weird? Ostriches. Yes, Random Italicized Voice, but not where I was headed. What’s weird is I grew up a Yankee fan, surrounded by them, and I don’t remember them being as dopey when I was younger. I know, news flash, the internet amplifies dopey, but you can find Yankee fans who think Aaron Hicks is the 2nd coming of Jesus (Aguilar, Alou, Christ, you name it), but they didn’t know who he was before this year. I guess there’s homers for every sport and every team, but it feels more pronounced with New York, or pronounced Noo Yawk. Any hoo! Aaron Hicks is solid, I told you to buy him two weeks ago, but the 2nd coming? Maybe after a Viagra.
Giancarlo Stanton – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 20th homer, hitting .267. *me watching fireworks today* “It looks like Giancarlo and me spooning.” Cougs, “You say that for every one.”
Kyle Higashioka – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 2nd homer, hitting .154. Gary Sanchez who?! He’s the regular Yankees catcher who is injured. Hey, Random Italicized Voice, you get holiday leave from the slanted font factory?
Gleyber Torres – Out with a stiff hip flexor. Fun fact! A stiff hip flexor is a drink often ordered by Ben Gay.
Hi Grey, 10 tm h2h pts for ROS: Buehler in, who’s out (1 drop)?
Mikolas
Bieber
Newcomb
Mazara
Desmond
Acuna
…many thanks.
Random thought between a drink or 10…I check some scores and notice Andrew Suarez… I picked him up for a 2 start couple of weeks ago vs MIA and SD..went well.. then drop him when I see he was @ ARI then @ Coors…. tonight @ Coors he’s going 6 IP 4 hits 0 BB 0 ER and 6 Ks… that’s better than our boy Bauer’s line… what’s the term for this ha!..ugh
@Grey: weekly roto redraft, need to drop two of Kingham, Stroman and Rodon. Who goes?
Thanks and happy 4th!
Hi Grey,
Who would you want out of A. Hicks, Bauers, and M. Duffy?
@Thunder Thighs: hicks here.
Hicks
did the announcer for the WSOX @ CIN game just say that the WSOX hitters have the worst K/BB ratio since 1879 or 1979? either is pretty damn bad of course.
Haha, did he?
@Grey: likely NOT 1879, but even if it’s just the worst since 1979 that’s pretty F’d. avisail got his first BB of the year i think yesterday and it was probably just from pitcher being scared of him as of late.
In a standard 5×5 roto using R-HR-RBI-SB-AVG and QS-K-SV-ERA-WHIP.
My roster. There are 2 DL slots and 3 BENCH slots:
C Molina
1B Freeman
2B Baez
3B Arenado
SS Story
OF Trout, Judge, Betts, Benintendi
UTIL Springer, Goldy
BENCH Correa (DL)
SP Severino, Kluber, Paxton, Bauer, Nola, Berrios, Thor (DL slot), Stras (DL slot)
RP Kimbrel, Jansen, Allen, Doolittle
I’m in 1st overall by a decent margin. The HR (2nd), RBI (2nd), K (2nd), SV (2nd) and QS (1st) categories are close between 2-3 teams.
With Thor coming off the DL I was wondering who I should drop if I couldn’t make a 2 for 1 trade to make room for him? I was thinking Cody Allen since I’m only 3 SV behind 1st in that category and no one is close to me.
Sure, Allen
Unsure what to think of Britton. Does he get traded and become a set up guy? Traded and become saves guy (not sure where). Pitching so inconsistently, could he have no takers and end up with Orioles as saves guy? Split ninth inning with Brach? Ugh and ugh. Do I hold and see how it shakes out or just drop him and pick up Hirano or Trevino for holds and ratio help???
He prolly does get traded and becomes a setup man, or he’s a mediocre closer on a terrible team
@Grey:
Thank you. So in a holds and saves league, would you dump him and his bad ratios for Hirano or Trevino? Or hold a bit longer?
1. I give Story and Thor and receive Manny Machado
2. I give Correa and Thor and receive Manny Machado
If I was to make this offer for Machado are either of these options fair and would you part with both to pick Machado up?
Sounds fair, I’d do #2
If he doesn’t take #2 would you still do #1?
Also, out of these three SP who would you keep and in what order for the ROS in a standard roto using QS: Thor, Stras, Berrios?
1 is fair — Thor, Stras
Two adds left this week and interested in adding some SPs, either for streaming or for ROS potential. Picking between:
Hellickson (7/5 vs MIA)
D.Rodriguez (7/6 vs STL)
Harvey (7/7 @ CHC)
Heaney (7/8 vs LAD)
These are not good… Hellickson, Rodriguez
Can only start four of these guys on Saturday …
Gausman vs. Minnesota
Matz vs. Tampa bay
Morton vs. White Sox
Robbie ray vs. San Diego
C-mart vs. giants
Hamels vs. Detroit
Which four would you go with?
Morton, C-Mart, Matz, Ray
@Grey: you like pivetta vs. Pittsburg this week? Drop hamels for him?
Yeah, go for it
DeGrom for Nola?
DeGrom, coin flip
Grey,
I am so confused. MLB.com and rotowire reported that Evan Gattis had surgery on his knee last night and was placed on the DL, yet he is in the lineup tonight. Does Gattis have super healing powers I am not aware of or is the report completely false?
@Scott Kimmel: umm, please find where b.mccann getting surgery is the same thing as gattis getting it. find ONE source. we’ll wait. before you start looking you do realize that brian mccann and evan gattis are 2 separate humans, yes? in related news, please don’t try to chew gum and drive
youre right my mistake. It was McCann.
@Scott Kimmel: it’s always best to make sure which guy had the surgery before worrying.
Hey Grey Happy 4th
Quick question
Would you drop Odor for
Jorge Polanco, Nunez, Russell, or Chris Taylor
Can use some speed
Happy 4th! Nunez
$10 Correa and $11 rizzo for $30 Stanton and $36 kershaw?
Thanks
Stanton, but I guess Correa/Rizzo for next year
Ugh. Third home run given up by Berrios. He had been walking between the rain drops all day and they’re finally tearing him a new one. I have no hard science–or even weird science–to back this up, but I think pitchers slowly become more hittable once they learn they’ll never get any run support game after game. It’s gotta slowly drive you insane knowing your margin of error is non existent.
Ha, maybe…I think Berrios is just young and not quite where he will be next year
@Grey: You’re totally right. It’s his youth. I just wish Berrios knew how money he was. Sometimes it seems like the batter is this little bunny cowering in the batters box, and Berrios is a big bear with claws and with fangs, and he’s standing on the mound staring at his claws and thinking, “How am I supposed to kill this bunny?”
Haha, you should be a pitching coach…”No, you’re not the bunny! You’re the bear!”
wow, not owning odubel anywhere now i had no clue his OPS was only barely over .800! i know he’s had ridiculously hot AVG streaks and for a while hit a bunch of HR’s, so he really must’ve started the year horribly, and gone quite cold after those HR’s. based on just the times i’ve seen him in box scores doing great things i’d have guessed like an .860-880.
That’s surprising, I own him and he’s been aight
@Grey: i know, very surprising. do you now have 3 podcasts a week, ralph already runs the weekly podcast with you, the prospect one, now another prospect one just today. or maybe donkey teeth took over the prospect one (but that seems to not make sense as if ralph was taken off one of them shouldn’t it be the one with you and he’d remain on the prospect one since he’s the prospect guy)
Nah, Donkey Teeth’s is new, more of a general podcast
Ohtani really did hit well before he wenton DL. My question is now that he is activated, do you think he all of a sudden becomes an every day DH? I.e maybe this is the best case scenario for him in fantasy?
He is likely the everyday DH, yes
Is Buxton going to do anything? He was a keeper in my 14 team league. I could get JBJ now but likely lose Buxton forever.
I’d hold Bux if JBJ is the option
@Grey: thanks bro shot
No problem
schoop a doup just gave away a bag that would’ve easily led to him scoring. he hits a double that the PHI LF let bounce off his glove and even as he sees this he slows down to stay at 2B rather than take his free bag the bad D gave him. then of course his shitty team mates don’t get him in later. he would’ve gotten in from a groundout had he been on third though.
Yeah, was watching… So lame
@Grey: yeah it’s nice we got back to back to back games on espn today. due to andujar/mallex being out today i’m actually starting schoop too.
Yeah, not bad fallback
Best choice to fill in for Gleyber: Happ, Castro, Odor?
Odor
@Grey: got it
Grey,
Here is my team listed below. I am looking to trade Marte, Pollock, Morton, Corbin and Hand. Who else would you trade? I am trying to improve my team. Second line of players are pitchers.
Molina, Votto, J. Ramirez, Arenado, Machado, Hoskins, Judge, Stanton, S. Marte, Pollock, Springer,
Severino, Morton, Ray, Kershaw, Sale, DeGrom, Bauer, Corbin, Hand, Kimbrel
Here are the list of players who are available to trade in the league. Who would you trade for.
Second list of players are pitchers.
Rizzo, C. Santana, Didi, J. Martinez, Muncy, A. Hicks, Posey, Baez, Bogaerts, Puig, C. Hernandez, McCutchen, Schwarber, Semien, Hosmer, Lowrie, Lindor, K. Davis,Profar, Haniger, T. Shaw, Segura, Aguilar, Gennett, Castellanos, Herrera, A. Cabrera, Cain, G. Sanchez, Goldschmidt
Godley, F. Hernandez. E. Rodriquez, Pivetta, Quintana, Clevinger, Tailon, Happ, Hamels, Eflin, Gibson, Chacin, M. Gonzales, M. Fulmer, Gausman, Keuchel, Bumgarner, Snell, K. Headricks, Archer, Foltynewicz, S. Greene, Newcomb, C. Martinez, Doolittle, Roark, Nola, Flaherty, Lester,
Strasburg, J. Gray, Cueto, Tanaka, Stripling, C. Allen, Berrios, G. Gonzalez, Syndergaard,
Hader, W. Davis, Knebel, Mikolas, Freeland
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Just looking to fill all the team needs for the playoffs.
Willing to trade Votto too.
Ray, deGrom or Corbin… Pollock and Marte for Haniger? Ray and Hand for Bum? C-Mart? Noah? Happ?
10 team h2h points league
Beiber or Garrett Richards moving forward?
Richards
Happy 4th Grey,
Following up on yesterday’s question about trading for Snell, C-Mart, or McCullers. Out of these guys, how do you rank them in terms of durability/health? Which one do you trust most to be pitching well when fantasy playoffs roll around (crap shoot question, I know)?
Thanks!
C-Mart, McCullers
@Grey: As in C-Mart has the highest injury risk or least injury risk?
Safest
@Grey: Thanks very much! Hope the rest of your 4th is great!
You too!
Who would you rather have in September….Ryu or Peralta?
Ryu
Oh great Grey,
Happy 4th!
1) Would I be crazy to drop Eaton for Heyward?
2) Who wins this trade? D.Murphy/Eaton for J.Baez/J.Jay
You too! 1. Not crazy 2. Baez
Happy Fourth, Grey!
Geez, this year is nuts for me injury wise. No sooner do I get a guy back when I lose a couple of others. I just lost Freddie Freeman and Gleyber in the same game. It’s amazing I’m doing as well as I am with the walking wounded I’ve had to throw out there.
Please form a prayer hexagon for my boys.
Freeman’s not hurt bad, right? I mean, please…
Happy 4th!
@Grey: The Braves have just said upper-arm contusion, he’s day to day. I guess that’s the best we can hope for. Crazy he keeps getting hit. Is Freddie a big plate crowder? He should really start wearing Barry Bonds’ old body armor.
Whew… He just doesn’t move when thrown at…Lucky it wasn’t his hand or wrist
@GrassyKnollRedding: elbow hit by pitch, but he still played defense after and ran for himself. this skaggs thing sounds much worse though
Yeah, but Skaggs is always injured
@Grey: well as often as freeman gets hit by something we’d assume he would be as well. i think that’s the 3rd freeman scare this year thus far. skaggs did make it half a year this time (or am i forgetting a this year DL stint already?)
All DL stints are running together for me for Skaggs
10 team keeper. OBP. K/9 QS
Happy 4th. Can’t wait for the 2nd half top 100.
I hope to see guys like Castellano, Clevinger, Cruz, Dozier on it. I am trying to get those guys for my playoff push. I don’t think I need all those guys but like to have a strong bench as well in case of injury.
Drop any off players for Garcia?
My team below.
Realmuto
Freeman
Pereza
Arenado
Story
Mazara
Jose Mart
Haniger
Ozuna
Bellinger
Moncada
Profar
Cain DL
Seager DL
Trumbo
Hicks
Pitching
Kershaw
Strausburg – DL
Nola
Bundy – DL
Erod
Tailon
Bieber
Maeda
Diaz
Dolittle
Over Profar
h, and happy 4th!
All Kyle Higashioka does is hit home runs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, let me put my catcher questions in numerical order…
1A. Yup 1B. Sure 2. Nah
@Grey: Now backwards and in heels!
Happy 4th from Brooklyn, where dozens of groups of 10-12 shirtless dudes have been launching their own Akron-worthy fireworks on the sidewalk since mid-June.
Ronde…jambe, bow, fades off stage like a pixie… Happy 4th!
@Grey: Hahahahaha
It’s on only the 1st inning, but if Quintana tosses another dud, I’m fully prepared to drop him in a 10 teamer. Tell me I’m wrong.
@Bk: Sorry that was dramatic…
One more question for you and thanks for working on a holiday.
Need save potenial and ratio’s: Choices
Parker
Minter
Hirano
Brach
Trivino
Leaning Parker(maybe current closer) Minter or Trivino but wanted your take.
Thanks again
What’s good Grey? My 12-team keeper league has some funky rules for its keeper selections. You get to keep six total, but at least two need to be hitters and two need to be catchers (e.g., you could keep 3-and-3 or 4-and-2 either way). Last year I kept Kluber (32), Sale (29), Jo-Ram (25), Arenado (27), Turner (25) and Rendon (28). This year we have to add into the mix Bauer (27), Berrios (24), and I guess Pollock (30) warrants some consideration. Factoring in age, who would be your top six out of that group?
I think you drop Rendon out and add in Bauer and keep three hitters and three pitchers. However, I kind of think I could trade Kluber and get three players in return to help me out this year and then just go with Sale, Bauer, Berrios, Jo-Ram, Arenado, and Turner.
Happy 4th my friend…may you enjoy multiple poolside daiquiri’s!
Thanks! Happy 4th! Sale, Bauer, Berrios, Jo-Ram, Arenado, and Turner works for me if you can get something for Kluber, otherwise you drop out Berrios
10 team keeper league Obp. Currently 2nd place and we keep 7 players.
Freeman and c seager for severino and snell.
Realmuto
Freeman
Pereza
Arenado
Story
Mazara
Cain
Haniger
Ozuna
Bellinger
Moncada
Profar
Jose Mart
Seager dl
Trumbo
Hicks
Kershaw
Strausburg
Nola
Bundy
Erod
Tailon
Bieber
Maeda
Diaz
Dolittle
Freeman side
10 team h2h points league
Some of my outfield and utility spots are Braun, Thames, Eaton and Puig. Should I swap any for Avisail?
Thanks and happy 4th.
Eaton
Happy 4th Grey!
Would you trade Bellinger for Bumgarner or Bauers? Trying hard to move a bat for a starter (too many good bats).
Happy 4th! I’d take Bum
Or Bauer, if that’s who you mean
Grey,
Good stuff as usual.
Got to it late today as my focus has been on the World Cup. England keep fraying my nerves …
Been sent a trade. 13 team 5×5 roto. Keep 5 players year to year. Counted as first 5 picks.
(Am in first by quite a margin at present but will trade if it improves my team).
His Dozier for my Soto ? (Position is largely irrelevant because I have flexibility).
Not sure either will be keepers for me as my roster includes (thanks to you!!) – Benintendi, Machado, Rosario, Hoskins, Acuna, Bellinger, Severino, Bauer.
Best wishes,
Another Dan
Thanks! Depends if you need a 2B, it’s fair, you have plenty of keepers too
@Grey:
I have Merrifield at 2B, so Dozier isn’t that much of an upgrade.
Then not sure why you want to do it
@Grey:
Thanks. Stick with Soto. Waiver wire adds make me feel good when they are contributing big numbers.
My pitching is also doing minuting thanks to you. Severino (keeper), Bauer, Morton and a trade for Pivetta along with some streamers and a good relief corps. They have pitched 810 IP , 960K, 3.00 ERA, 1.16WHIP. And it should have been much better but for my stubborn streak which meant I wouldn’t cut Castillo until later than I should have.
Best wishes,
Another Dan
I hear ya… No problem
“Not sure if this is a compliment or not, but the Brewers are built like an AL team” . They for got that they moved from the AL years ago!
Ha, yup
Thanks brotha, Have a happy and safe 4th!!
You too!
Happy 4th Grey!
Who would you pick up for ROS: Gausman, L Castillo, Harvey, Minor, Buchholz, Fried, Marco Gonzalez, Gausman, Odorizzi, Weaver or either of the Gray’s?
Happy 4th! Really ROS? Gonzales I guess
WHAT UP GREY! Idk if you remember my question about keeping Avasail ROS after I picked him up a couple of days ago and then you said can we wait till Sunday to find out, well I guess we did lol! Anyhow Im sailing away after setting my “Avasails” in first place but I wanted to ask you out of these guys on my bench who has most to least value;
Andrus
Dozier
E Escobar
M Kemp
Also these guys are on my waiver wire; whos all worth an add ROS
Merrifield
J Turner
C Santana
Solarte
Gallo
-Roto league
Ha, nice! Escobar for Merrfield
Happy 4th Greylord! Rapid fire before the fireworks start
1) would you rather own Maeda, Hendricks, or taillon
2) which of these 2 closers do you want on your team
Vasquez, Vizcaino, boxberger, rondon
3) drop hosmer for Trumbo or hold?
Happy 4th! 1. Maeda 2. Vasquez, Viz 3. Hold
should I trade a $30 Goldschmidt this year and next (260 cap league NL) for a $15 Albies ’18 & ’19 ?
is next years difference worth the $15 I would gain?
Yes
Oh patient one! One final question, sanity check. I think my reluctant trading partner finally landed on a deal. Triple checking with you as it seems more than fair to me especially since Seager has been a bench bat for me (playing Carlos Santana instead as walks count as a category). Would you do this deal in a 12 team, H2H league, focus is on September?
My Seager, DeJong and Wood for his Dozier, Wade Davis and Knebel. Here is my team if that helps.
C- Gattis. MI – DeJong, Dee, Bregman. CI – Freeman, Santana, Eugenio. OF – Trout, Mazara, Peralta, Jo Ma, Rosario. Util – Cruz. Bench – Seager. SP – Max, MadBum, Bauer, Morton, Wood, Hendricks, Peralta. RP – Bear Claw, Parker, Britton
Dozier side
Streamers for tomorrow-Please pick one
Fried @ Mil-Son-3.2
S. Miller vs SD-Son +5.8-Do you think he can put a good game together?
Boyd vs Tex-Son +1.5
Than you have have a nice 4th.
I’m starting Fried, you too!
Happy 4th Grey! Thanks for not mailing it in on the holiday!
What are your thoughts on Martes situation over in PIT? 3 days in a row on the bench, they say they’re just clearing his head to get out of his slump (which they’ve done before w McCutchen) – do you buy this and see it as an opportunity to buy low? Or more concerned it’s something bigger?
Happy 4th! I’d buy him low if price was low enough, but I am a little concerned that he’s just not that great
H/H points start 2 closers…have Kimbrel,Vizcaino & Britton
Is Britton worth a stash until he finds his groove or cut him loose
Can lose him
How is it that Sandy Alcantara has an armpit infection on the same day that Joe Musgrove has a finger infection? Do they know each other?
Ha!
Would you trade Bellinger straight up for Votto?
Sure
Forgot to mention it is a OBP league.
Hey Grey,
Happy July 4! Your guidance this year has brought me back into 1st place.
Very deep roto league, standard 5×5 categories.. few questions.
1) in terms of rest of season value.. mostly need average from these guys. How do you rank Dietrich, Matt Duffy, almora
2) ROS how do you rank odor, Smoak, trumbo, kike Hernandez . Can you rank all of them so I know how to set waivers ?
3) what do you see avisail doing rest of season? Do his peripherals back this?
Thanks Grey!!
Happy 4th! 1. You did 2. Smoak, Trumbo, though all interchangeable 3. Maybe 17 HRs and .300…What he did last year but with more power (per games played) and less AVG
@Grey:
Follow up…
ROS, Smoak or avisail? Thanks!
I’d try Avisail if shallow enough
Gotta drop someone today, keep forever 5×5 stats:
Matt Chapman, Nimmo, Choo, Billy Hamilton, Winkler, Minter, Yates, Ken Giles, Archie Bradley
Who goes?
Giles
Hader in for 3 innings yesterday (36 pitches), are they stretching him to a starter or just wishful thinking? Thanks, happy 4th!
Wishful thinking… Happy 4th!
@Grey: alas, thanks. Was offered Cutch for him (Hader), fair value or hold and enjoy the ks/ratio help?
I’d want Hader
11 team 5×5 R oto (avg, HR, RBI, SB, R — ERA, WHIP, QS, SV/HLD, KS)
Was offered deGrom for Aguilar or Verlander for Aguilar.
I’m near the bottom in ERA and WHIP but leading in HRs and doing decent in the other hitting categories.
Hitters: Barnhardt, Gary Sanchez (DL), Abreu, Schoop, Arenado, Tim Anderson, Aguilar, Castellanos, Eddie Rosario, Cain, Chris Taylor, Joc Pederson, Gregory Polanco, Juan Soto
SP: Greinke, Alex Wood, Pivetta, Ray, Heaney, Peralta, Keuchel, Buehler (DL)
RP: Seranthony, Devenski, Giles, Hector Rondon, Vizcaino
Do I pull the trigger and if so for which pitcher — deGrom or JV?
Take Verlander for Aguilar
Hey Grey
Can I get your thoughts on this trade please. I am in a Pts League 18 guys.
Morton for Tanaka and Darvish
Thanks Grey!!
Morton side
Please rank in a Points league Rest of Season:
Conforto, Kemp, Avisail, Joc
Also, is Godley worth holding for now, or should I dump and stream in his spot?
Thanks man. This is the best place for advice.
Kemp, Avisail, Joc — Dump to stream
And thanks!
Would you start mikolas @ ari vs Corbin ?
Yes
Thanks for for the encouragement
No problem
I’m hesitant to start Berrios today.
Happy 4th!
I’m streaming Steve Pearce, Happy 4th!
@Grey:
Muncy! Insert tear emoticon.
I didn’t believe.
I’m not sure if I believed or not, but definitely don’t own him… I wonder if he was even drafted in my NFBC league (50 rounds, 15 teams)
@Grey:
maybe in some of those leagues since they are sooooo deep
Maybe, I should look (so lazy)
@Grey:
Do it!!
Okay, geez
Stripling was drafted 601st overall! John Hicks (by me) 697th overall! Junior Guerra 648th!
No Muncy, went undrafted, wow
@Grey:
Nice on Hicks tho!
Yeah, in this league, it’s solid for 2nd catcher… Muncy would’ve been da bomb dot gov
@FrankGrimes: if you happen to be in a 900 innings cap maybe do that. but if you’re benching all your top 100 drafted SP i don’t know how you’ll get many innings total. honestly even in a 900 innings cap berrios is a start every time out guy.
-good news is we can try this again, i could question your hesitancy to bench your highly ranked pitchers loved by SON, you have doubts about playing them with no discernible reasons, play him anyway, if he gets blown up, then you can think of me as the “douche” o moron and somehow be less culpable for your ratios being blown up. start…. now! in this case at least (unlike with ray) berrios did do quite badly last time out. so we found one reason this time.
– one curious question, what SP DO you have no issues with starting? is the list like 8 guys long
@The Harrow:
Look at it like poker. I know all the math of hitting a gut shot but I am a feel player as well.
@FrankGrimes: i was actually thinking the same thing as far as the poker metaphor with you here. you being worried about playing top pitchers (unless you actually have a reason to be worried) is like being worried about calling an all in in a heads up pot with aces since the last time the guy in the pot against you won with his 87 suited. yes 87s is the best hand against aces, but it’ll still only win 23% of the time and you should snap call, and not be worried (or even if worried be happy you got your money in this good since it’s all you can do)
-if you are taking “feel” player to mean somebody who thinks things like “this seat is lucky/unlucky” or “wash those cards dealer i’ve been being dealt crap” or “this dealer has it out for me” that’s not what it means.
now if by “feel” you mean you have some other actual reason to be worried about ray/berrios since you maybe saw one of them the day before his start at a gas station and he seemed out of sorts, well that might be a good reason. or maybe if you saw that pitcher look bad lately that could be a reason (like berrios last time out)
Would you deal Rendon/Folty/Jed Lowrie to get Blackmon?
Sure
Happy 4th, happy to watch morning baseball!
Please rank ROS
Bumgarner Morton Corbin Greinke Happ Cueto
thank you
Happy 4th! You ranked them
H/H points ..ROS
Soto or Acuna
Acuna
@Grey:
Not close
Yeah
@Grey: i’d think this would be closer for this year only, but longer term more towards acuna. unless you think soto’s hitting to this point is quite lucky and/or he’ll lose playing time. he hasn’t lost playing time yet and harper might even play 1B to make sure he doesn’t lose at bats. WAS is stacked, fatt adams is back too for 1B. r-zimm maybe they just demote or something shortly.
Nah, they’re close this year, Acuna’s got more power and speed tho
@Grey: yeah, and soto at least for right now has better hit tool (yet that could balance out eventually and probably will) or acuna is getting BABIP unlucky, i haven’t seen his.
Yeah, pretty close
H2H league so aiming for the best lineup come September. In first by plenty so I can be patient, even take a flier. Thanks in advance as this team owner keeps moving the cheese on the offers. Your guidance has been so helpful.
1. Is Peralta a back end SP that can be counted on late in the year? Innings limits or other concerns? (Besides being 22!)
2. Of these closers, who do you trust to hold on to their gig and contribute late in the season? Norris, Familia, Soria, Rodney.
2a. Out of the group above, is the top choice better than Parker? Britton? for saves.
3. His Dozier and Wade Davis for DeJong and Hendricks is a YES correct?
1. Not really 2, Don’t think Familia or Rodney are going anywhere 2a. Huh? 3. Dozier side
@Grey:
Thanks, 2a was not clear. Sorry.
1. Would you rather have Familia, Norris, or Rodney come Sept. (pick one pls)
2. Whomever is your top choice from question #1, would you rank him above Britton for Saves come Sept.?
Thanks sir!
1. Familia 2. Yeah
Thoughts on Domingo German last night? Hold on to him or stream his spot?
Thank you. Happy 4th!
Stream… Happy 4th!
Was offered:
Hoskins, Eloy Jiminez, Chris Archer
for my
Goldschmidt
This is a keeper league.
Thoughts?
@Steve Jaguar: Hoskins side, it’s fair
anybody else in a dynasty (that somehow didn’t see this coming) in yahoo wake up to otani now having to take up TWO MF’ING SPOTS WHILE ONLY HITTING ROS!, this already wasn’t cute when he was taking up 2 DL spots, now that i can’t even stream pitchers (and have a useless dead BN that should be a SP) without sucking up 2/4 of my BN slots, this ain’t cool yahoo gonna yahoo.
note, this is for leagues where it was decided preseason where any otani owner gets both, but these leagues do exist in dynasties in yahoo. and long term i’ll be quite happy (esp if yahoo, and as dumb as those guys are this probably is only like a 4% chance) with having otani of course. about 18 months from now, when he’s back with a healthy arm (but LAA have a really stupid history of NOT fixing their broken elbows, see: richards) i won’t mind this. IF yahoo is stupid enough to have 2 separate otani’s they should at least allow us to DL the pitching one, as the pitching otani is still disabled.
@Mordacious Levator: we’ll probably get lucky here if/when LAA realizes either of these:
1. they fall out of playoff contention and realize spending extra months wasted where he should be having surgery, thus sending him to get his elbow fixed
2. they find out that somebody with a damaged elbow also doesn’t make a very good hitter either
3. he actually gets either the elbow more injured or something else more injured.
@Mordacious Levator: Here’s hoping the Angels do the right thing
@Grey: halo fan here.
They wont do the right thing
I know, sadly
The right thing would have been to build a strong farm system years ago and not overspend on 32 year old free agents to long term contracts.
However this past off season signing a real 3rd baseman like Moustakas for $18-20 million annually instead of signing a 2nd shortstop and converting himeould have been nice. Having a bullpen that could hold a lead wouldn’t hirt either. While I’m at it, maybe having at least one arm capabale of throwing 200 innings. Hell, even one that could throw 150 would be a good starting point.
Haha, awesome…
Hey Grey! Awesome recap today, loved the outwards and second coming lines! Two quick questions for my 12-team standard Y! league:
1. Have Zunino, Cervelli just got cut onto waivers, should I put in a claim or hold Zunino?
2. Have Puig, hold or pick up one of these available bats: Seager, Almora, Nimmo, Schebler, Marwin
Thanks!
@mrm3711: 1. Hold 2. Hold
@Grey: I figured, thanks!
No problem
Dump Salvador Perez in a 10 teamer?
Grandal, Hicks, Barnhart, Suzuki, Diaz, Gomes all available
@manormachine?: Grandal
Happy Independence Day Grey!
Very deep RCL league where starting pitching is at a premium, which Brewers starter to keep
Suter, Peralta or Chacin?
Thanks!
@Uno Mas Cerveza: Happy 4th! Peralta
My team is now at .500 despite a hot start. I have the best player in baseball and the “Japanese Babe Ruth”. What the hell is wrong? If this keeps up I could become a scapegoat, God forbid, and be fired.
@Mike Scioscia: You should play Valbuena more
@Grey: HaHa!
“On sale or not, he is what he wears… an Ass-veil, and that’s that. Btw, don’t be an Ass-veil. Thank you very much. ” -Biff Pocoroba, 1978 All-Star game
@Dave D: Ha!
Grey, happy 4th to you and yours!
For a 12tm H2H weekly lock league, I don’t find the need for more than 1 bench bat. Right now I have Ozuna in utility and Moncada on bench. Would you drop Ozuna or Moncada for AGarcia / Hicks or hold the move.
@Gotime: Happy 4th! You have a move limit? Hold
@Grey: yeah 20 moves for ROS, I noticed you going Richards over Pivetta would you make the move of dropping Pivetta for Richard instead or are they close..
Nah, they’re close, not with a moves limit
@Grey: Gotcha, I’ll probably jinx myself as I’m in 2nd and look playoff bound, but i take it for limited moves you’d use them during playoffs to stream and pick up hot bats? 1st time with limited moves
Appreciate the work on a holiday thanks again!