by: toolsy
There was a frenzy of activity during the trade deadline, and the outfield landscape shifted. Even though it is a week after the deadline, the timing of my write-up actually works out better. It allows me to fully digest the moves and get a clearer read on roles after the dust has settled. All stats […]
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Also, in baseball just as in life, the process of aging plays a part. With players who are getting older (in baseball years at least), decline is a real issue. As a result, as fantasy managers, being patient with aging players is harder than it is with young stars like Crow-Armstrong and Rice or players still in their prime like Alvarez. With older guys, when a long, bad streak rears its ugly head, it’s reasonable to wonder if the guy is just washed. Two such players who have piqued my concerns this season are Gleyber Torres (mostly due to injury) and Marcus Semien. Yet, both guys show up on the MLB leader board for runs scored over the last 15-game period. This led me to a deeper dive to find out if there’s value to be had. Here’s what I found.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: toolsy
This is where the rubber meets the road. For my first set of rest-of-season rankings, referencing R.E.M. and Michael Stipe feels so appropriate here. If you’ve been staring at your outfield roster on the IL, you are not alone, because everybody hurts right now. I also want to offer a quick disclaimer. I’ve learned a […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: toolsy
Grey recently talked about the smell of napalm. There is another unmistakable stench in the air. Agent Smith from The Matrix said it best: “It’s the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink, and every time I do, I fear that I’ve somehow been infected […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: toolsy
Jo Adell Hold your hand up if you’ve been burned by Jo Adell more than once. How many times did he sink your AVG and become completely unplayable within weeks or days after adding him? Consequently, I refused to budge and missed last year’s 37 bombs. Finally convinced he arrived, I, like many of you, […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: toolsy
Quick Intro I have been a regular follower of the site for many years. This is my first article. I want to thank the Razzball team for giving me an opportunity, and I wish Disco Stu well. I will be filling in for him, covering the Outfield column. I’ll start off my first articles with […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?I am hopeful that no tigers are chasing you in your life, especially as it relates to fantasy baseball, though it may feel at times there are tigers all around. Although we play this game because it’s fun, we might often find ourselves focusing on the frustrations of the game and inconsistencies of players – or of our own decision-making – that create obstacles to enjoyment. Or we might find ourselves focusing on the impending – and seemingly guaranteed – lockout coming after this season that may, and quite likely will, cause a delay of the 2027 season, if not a full cancelation of it. Or we may find ourselves frustrated by MLB’s non-consumer-friendly television deals, or problems with the MLB app, or exasperation with the fact that our favorite team’s ownership group won’t pony up the money needed to compete.
Please, blog, may I have some more?I may have mentioned once or twice by now: Fantasy is a game a failure. We cannot predict human behavior 100% of the time, so our predictions about players are going to be wrong. Often. The best fantasy players aren’t necessarily good at predicting what players will do; they are simply less bad at it than the rest of us are. The best fantasy players are also likely less reactive to their analytical misses, able to respond and adjust accordingly, while the rest of us are still yelling at ourselves for our misses – or, even worse, blaming players for how they have failed us. The best fantasy players are able to acknowledge their analysis was wrong and quickly begin the process of rebuilding analysis to help moving forward.
Please, blog, may I have some more?A third reasonable question might be, “Is the player currently performing?” Baseball is a game of streaks, so it shouldn’t be a disqualifier if a player is currently underperforming, but the fact is Shaw is doing exactly the types of things we’d like to see a FAB pickup do. In the six games (including five started games) he’s appeared in since June 13th, Shaw has 25 PA and is 7 of 22 (.318 BA) with 2 triples, 1 HR, 6 R, 7 RBI, 2 BB, and 1 HBP while maintaining an 8% BB% with only a 20% K%. Obviously, the sample is small, but in fantasy, quick decisions have to be made, leading us as fantasy managers to need to react to small samples.
Please, blog, may I have some more?So, if failure is such a large part of the game, both in baseball and in fantasy, why are we so quick to give up on players who have had success previously but who have had recent failure? Players are complex, like the Ensō. They are humans with emotions and flaws and hot streaks. But as fantasy managers, we are vicious with those on our roster who show too much imperfection. “Rage” and “spite” drops happen all the time. And we are slow to forgive a player who we feel dragged our team down. On some level, our emotional response is completely understandable, maybe cathartic. But it’s also often kind of dumb.
Please, blog, may I have some more?It’s hard to figure out who Merrill is. Sometimes, he looks like the touted prospect who hit the majors in stride and became an immediate impact player. Sometimes, he looks like he might not belong on a baseball field. His surface stats to begin 2026 show a good example of both: he’s hitting a measly .224 with a pitiful .288 OBP and even more pitiful .361 SLG%. That looks bad. He also has 4 HR, 22 R, 18 RBI, and 7 SB. Extrapolated to 650 PAs, Merrill’s pace comes out to 16 HR, 88 R, 72 RBI, and 28 SB.
Please, blog, may I have some more?The analysts I consistently read and listen to are the ones who are willing to go back and discuss what they missed, as well as what they got right. Those analysts are the ones who have my confidence that they’ll both be good and keep getting better. So, to that end, I’ll take my own medicine: today’s practice in Wise Effort will be taking an honest look at where I’ve been right and wrong, with one player on each side.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
