The first time I got a Led Zeppelin album was when I was 11 years old and my brother hooked me up with Led Zeppelin II. What a life changing moment, I was so utterly in love and confused all at the same time. What great riffs and mind bending sounds that turned everything musically I knew, which was very little, upside down and changed the course of my musical tastes from then on out. I wasn’t afraid anymore to try something I hadn’t watched on MTV or heard on the radio. Back then, 1986, we had very few options for our music and you had to use nobs and a steady hand to “tune in” to get static free tunes. Cute story J-FOH! I know 3rd personality, what is the point? Well 3rd personality, like our lead today, Scott Kazmir, we have a starting pitcher that is someone that is confusing to love, has forced us to change our tastes, and reminds me of a mesmerizing jam that takes me back to Fast Times at Ridgemont High. In the buildup to Rat’s date with Stacy, Damone advises him on his 5 point plan and tells him to play side one of Led Zeppelin 4, but low and behold he has Kashmir on the radio, which is off Physical Graffiti, the putz can’t even follow the plan. I feel like Rat when I keep passing on Kazmir in roto leagues this year. But why? I can’t get over the train wreck that he was for so long after starting out so promising. I think Matt Moore is ready to be the next Kazmir. We’ll see you back to relevance in 4-5 years Mr. Moore. Cleveland did a nice job in their reclamation projects last year, WTF is going on this year, and you need to trust him going against the Astros. He should be good for 8 K’s and a big fat W.
Our DraftKings King and deep league thinker Sky wrote a pre-season article about Mr. Kazmir here. How great minds think alike or is it how narrowly we think with our Led Zeppelin references? It’s the obvious lead in. We could be talking about our Kazmir sweaters, Kazmir scarves, or the Kazmir region of northwest India. But we didn’t and that’s OK. This is daily fantasy y’all, by tomorrow all will be forgotten and we will move on to a new day and a new set of players to tickle our fancy. For today though lets stick to Mr. Kazmir. He’s an expensive play and I get that is not always the best strategy, but after looking at what else is out there I have to highly recommend him. It’s worth the money and here is why. The Astros have the highest K rate in MLB, second lowest runs total, the worst team BABIP, and are the team of my newest hat. It’s f-ing pimp yo’s! Winning at DraftKings is wholly dependent on two things, great pitching matchups like the kind you can find on the Stream-O-Nator and great hitting matchups like the kind provided to you by that commercial grade stainless steal sex machine the Hitter-Tron.
Drew Hutchison, SP: $6,000 – sporting a 10.80 K/9 and getting the Orioles after that shootout on Wednesday may be the perfect pairing with Kazmir to get a strong anchor and the best value play gamble IMO.
Lance Lynn, SP: $10,900 – I have always been a big Lynn hater when it comes to roto but in daily fantasy he’s my boy….for one day. He gets the hapless Mets and their team K rate of 24% and couple that with his 10.27 K/9 and he’s worth every penny of fake dollars.
Mike Bolsinger, SP: $5,500 – he gets the Cubbies and their high K rate (23.3%) bottom ten of run producing teams bats and after how he made the Dodgers look through 3 innings last week has made him my other low dollar high upside gamble. Pair him up with Lynn in the early games and you got one there.
Chris Davis, 1B: $4,600 – I like everyone’s favorite late to the party Bill James breakout at the Rocket Center. I know I also suggested Hutchinson but I also know Drew Doggie won’t e out there all game. Crush Davis goes yard in the eighth.
Ben Zobrist, 2B/OF: $4,500 – I’m stacking against Ricky Nolasco tomorrow and having 2nd base eligibility will allow you other places to save a buck…..like Del Taco and the best value menu ever!
Yunel Escobar, SS: $2,900 – Another one of my value plays going up against Crappy Nolasco and his sterling 6.08 ERA. Escobar is 10/29 with 4 XBH against Tricky Nolasco so I like the odds of a multi hit performance that may lead to more. Speaking of odds, Vegas has the over at 8 1/2.
Scott Van Slyke, OF: $3,600 – Got a start at 1B by filling in for Adrian Gonzalez yesterday. Van Slyke is probably the best hitting 5th outfielder in all of baseball. Could see him getting a second start in a row while one of the regulars in LA take a seat could pay dividends at a low price tag. Watch the lineups and if he’s playing you ain’t over payin.
Marlon Byrd, OF: $3,800 – Dan Haren might be hot but the dirty Byrd will get that worm. He’s got 10 hits in 21 AB’s vs. the right hander and of those ten hits 5 went for extra bases. A $3,800 outfielder is cheap considering that the top ones are going for ovr $5,000.
I’m Only Happy When it Rains
Lot’s of clouds and sun all over the place with no chance for rain. The 23mph winds blowing out to left in Wrigley could be part of the reason I’m stacking there…..and Edwin Jackson’s talent for blowing up the ERA line.
Doing Lines in Vegas
BAL @ TOR at 9. Yesterday they scored 18 runs against each other and I will predict it’s a little lower today. I also like Hutchinson here for the K’s and the win but the ERA will be in the 4’s.
NY @ BOS at 9 Blah Blah Blah it’s the Yanks and the Sox. I’m sure ESPN will be running it’s fourth part in a 12 part series covering Jacoby Ellsbury’s move to New York and where he loved to go in Boston. “Over here is the urinal he used before every home game”.
MIN @ TB at 8 1/2 is the one I like to heavily exceed the total runs. Stinky Nolasco faces off against Eric Bedwetter in a game that will see neither of them in the 6th inning….I think. A good place to stack if you like Rays of light.
