Greetings and salutations my fine and not so fine readers. I’ve peppered you a bit this off-season with Draftkings info, dropping a Primer as well as a little Strategy Guide to wind your way through the @Draftkings world. What’s the first link, you ask? Oh nothing, just a way to sign-up for DK (that’s what I call Draftkings cuz we’re friends like that) that helps us along the way which if you’re reading gives you a guilt-laden excuse to sign up and help a brotha out. Alright, now that the pimping is done, let’s get down to why you’ve arrived here. Wait, what was that? You want more links you say? Well how about a big ‘ole Razzball Draftkings Contest one for this coming Friday. Check the specs and see if it’s up your alley. Also, though we’ll eventually have our very own DK evaluation tool, in the interim, feel free to use our Streamonator and our Hitter-Tron to flesh out if a matchup is worthy or not. And BTW, I wasn’t just punning on DK’s name in the title, y’all. I have a player in mind to kick out the jams with on opening day. That players name is King Felix Hernandez. Plus anytime you can squeeze in a Mel Brooks reference? You do it. The reality is, you’re gonna be hard-pressed to find pitcher value plays. It’s opening day, everyone has their ace on the mound! Besides, as I mentioned in some of the off-season DK content, spending your money on pitching is a wise play. Don’t fight it, embrace it even if it costs you $11K. Also as an FYI, this will probably, maybe be the longest post of the year you see on here. As I’m sure you can understand, I had a little time before it came out. So don’t hold me to diatribes of this nature in the future nor the other six writers we have coming at you soon. Ya dig? Yeah, ya dig. And before we get to the next part of this little game, let’s keep one thing in mind: it’s opening day of a new season. No one knows which team will suck or not. We have our guesses but everything is predicated on a season that is behind us now. Like Rafael Furcal says to himself in the mirror in March each year, ‘I feel fresh and ready to start the season. Nothing can hold me back!’ before he trips on a doggy chew toy and breaks a fibula. Wait, can you break a fibula? I honestly don’t know, I’m no doctor except when on particular ‘adult’ sets. All this to say, it might be messy to start the year, I’d stick with trusted arms and play matchups on hitting as best I can until some small trends start emerging. Also, you’re reading this at 9:45 PST. Seem like an odd time? Well, get used to it cuz that’s when you’re gonna be getting these. So work on your clicking speed and get your lineups right before everything goes horribly wrong. Alright, blathering done, now lets get you lathered up about opening day with Draftkings for 2014 Fantasy Baseball…
Chris Sale, SP: $10,000 – He’s good…hrm, duh. Well ok, he’s also facing the Twins…yeah, another duh. I don’t know what to tell you my friend, as much as I said last year is over and we’re starting fresh, I still say Minny still kinda stinks. I’m basically not heeding my own advice here and relying on old information to dictate who I choose but…c’mon…Twins…
Francisco Liriano, SP: $10,200 – ESPN hates him for fantasy drafts this year. Don’t know why. Don’t care why. I blame a certain person’s bald spot. Neverthewho! I’m breaking my own rules yet again. Cubs. They suck (for now). Hard to fight 105 years of futility (for now). Don’t be leery with Liriano (for now). A 10 K performance is very reasonable to expect here. IMPORTANT NOTE! Better swap him in early if you’re game for it. Like now…oops, too late! Thank you diety of choice for late swaps, right?
Justin Masterson, SP: $8,500 – So I get it, he’s not Max Scherzer or anything but 9.09 K/9 last year and is pitching in Oakland, a proverbial ‘pitcher’s park’. Maybe it’s all the left-handed bats he’s facing that has his price pushed down but not an unreasonable price to take that chance with.
Norichika Aoki, OF: $3,900 – Came at a discount entering most drafts this year and is fairly discounted on DK For some reason, no one likes a lead off man who should see 700 PA on a team that likes to steal. Kinda weird if you ask me. Factor in the Tigers had the second worst CS% last year and there’s a recipe for a steal or two and maybe a run, hit, walk combo. Chicks dig the long ball but DK digs the small ball: SB are worth five points, same as hitting a double. Take that Billy Butler!
Avisail Garcia, OF: $3,300 – Pretty much everyone on Razzball is smitten with this guy and I’m no exception. Sicky, Icky Ricky Nolasco takes the mound for the Twins to combat Chris Sale. He’s a flyball pitcher that will be pitching in a hitter’s park. Though it’s fair to say the weather might help him a bit since the US experienced Frozen in both the Box Office and in real life, there’s still a good shot that this cheap OF play could pay dividends.
Dan Uggla, 2B: $3,200 – The reason here being moreso Yovani starting historically slow than Dan Uggla going all Angela Bassett on us and regaining his groove. But Dan has had a good spring which may lead to a hot start. Cheap way to find out and in a good ballpark while we’re at it. Remember, no penalties for striking out nor on bad average. Hackers appreciated as long as they go yard.
Brad Miller, SS: $3,100 – So it pays to read the site. Miller is gonna be the cheapest starting SS option that might actually do something for you on opening day. Unless you really think Yunel Escobar brings the goods. Yeah, thought so. Cheaper is Chris Owings, of course, as he just won the starting job but let’s see what Miller has to offer first, shall we?
Cody Asche, 3B: $3,300 – Now I’m not actually with Grey here even though he wrote a Cody Asche Sleeper post. And I’m not saying that to be contradictory to the venerable and venereal ‘stache. Nay, I have a simple reason for me thinking we’re all gonna see a hot Asche in Texas on Monday: Scheppers, Tanner. Yeah, there’s your Rangers opening day starter and not by choice. Consider this a reasonable thumbs up for philling your lineup with Philly parts on day one if you’re in a pinch.
Jose Abreu, 1B: $4,200 – This is me still picking on Ricky. Sorry, not sorry, Ricky. Have I mentioned this is opening day? Nolasco is the Twins’ ‘Ace’. I can think of another three letter word that starts with ‘A’ that better describes that shituation. I’ll let you ponder on that on your own, ponderers. Oh and what say you, Hittertron? Daddy likes. Come here and let me rub your latin body down with some Pennzoil before I stick my hard OK THAT’S ENOUGH FROM HITTERTRON FOR TODAY KIDS. If you wanna go cheaper and deeper, Matt Adams in a hitter friendly park is also game.
I’m Only Happen When It Rains
Went the Garbage song. Sad when you’re actually a decent band and someone has the great idea to call you Garbage. Not the best way to garner fans long term, friends. My tribute band to them shall be called Compost…where was I? Oh yeah, I’m talking weather. Oddly, opening day – or is it opening day three? Does Australia count? Did yesterday? Whatever MLB, you so cray – looks to be fine weather-wise.
Doing Lines In Vegas
Again, it’s early so we don’t know what teams will or won’t do but in future I’ll do my best to point out games that are expected to be high scoring based on Vegas odds. It’s not a perfect predictor but if it’s down to trying to fill a lineup with a hitter, I’ll take the one game where Vegas thinks is going to turn into a shootout over what’s supposed to be a pitcher’s duel. BALvsBOS is at 8 1/2 while PHIvsTEX and ARZvsSF are both at 8. Yet another good sign that taking a few cheap Phillies makes sense. Thanks Scheppers! And with that I’m out. See ya tomorrow!
