So I’m out of town this week, then all the sudden while I have left my upper lip unshaven and drinking a daiquiri (the latter a true story), I get thrust into this twitter chain (@jbgilpin) about a keeper question from Nick the podcast host. What it devolved into was a battle for just how bad R.A. Dickey projects in a keeper league from this point forward. My answer – “turrible!”
But what do I really get out of it if I’m wrong or right? No one will remember that chain when Dickey is cut by the Blue Jays in 2015 and can’t keep his ERA under 4.80. It’d be like saying in 1999, “that Robert Downey Jr. is going to be a Hollywood G in 10 years just you wait.” 10 years pass and people are like, “meh, whatevs.” Or, “‘derp’, whatever brah. I coulda told you that!”
That’s why daily fantasy leagues exist – for obliteration of long-term memory loss and bragging rights each and every day. In another RAZZBALL EXCLUSIVE Can You Beat Rudy Gamble, the stakes are still at $10 per entry with the top billing a ticket into their huge $500,000 Midsummer Classic, with the winner bringing in six figures at $125k. Spots 2-10 in our Razzball contest will bring in $20 and past that will sulk and write about how bad their picks were (wah emo song!). And for Razzballers who are new, any first-time depositors (you can throw in as little as $5 to get started) will get a free ticket into a Midsummer Classic qualifier, a $5 value just for joining. But you’ve got to hop into the Razzball contest quick (still exclusive through the link above – only Razzball Nation gets past the bouncer) as we’re filling up our DraftKings tournies every week!
SP – Ricky Nolasco 5.2 IP 9 H 2 BB 3 ER 1K (2.15 Pts)
CI – Freddie Freeman 0-4 (0 Pts)
MI – J.J. Hardy 2-4 1 HR 1 RBI 1 R (17 Pts)
OF1 – Nate McLouth 1-4 1 R (5 Pts)
OF2 – Jason Heyward 0-4 1 BB (2 Pts)
UTIL – Torii Hunter 2-4 2B 2 R BB (14 Pts)
TOTAL – 40.15 (Previous weeks’ finishes – 47.65, 54.3, 93.85, 76.9, 68.8, 47.7, 67.3, 92.4, 75, 83, 96)
Well, despite a pretty bad showing here I was still solid last week with the remainder of my roster. I made it all the way up to 3rd a few hours in, but fell out of the money late and finished 14th – my first a time out of the money. I love the live scoring though, kept me glued to the contest. My second pitcher, Hector Santiago, kept Nolasco from killing me, and I wish was my pick here to balance out my lowest score. But the great thing about DraftKings is it’s a new week and a new battle. Here’s who I like on Friday night:
SP – Dillon Gee ($7,400) – Pitching fantastic lately, Gee has burst onto the scene and gets a great matchup Friday night at home against the scuffling Nats offense. No Bryce Harper means skipping out on Gee is just out of the (clown) question, bro.
CI – Edwin Encarnacion ($4,500) – For a guy hitting over 20 homers, Encarnacion is a solid value Friday night as he’ll be mashing in Fenway against the double-digit ERA of Allen Webster. Love the homer chance here.
MI – J.J. Hardy ($4,100) – As I mentioned on this week’s pod, I’m going heavy on the Orioles’ and Yankees’ hitters this week and sticking with one of my usuals with the Hardy boy yet again. He’s 3-8 against opposing pitcher David Phelps and I think another Oriole outburst is about to come. What would that sound like? Sorry I skipped out on bird calls class…
OF1 – Ichiro Suzuki ($4,000) – That Ichiro is so hot right now… And sticking with the theme a guy I like a lot in what should be an offensive game. Not offensive like Paula Deen but lots of runs. Ichiro has been hitting higher in the lineup with his hot bat, and right after I said this game would be against the terrible Freddy Garcia on the podcast, the Orioles sent him down. Fear JB’s picks! Look for them to bring up a AAA punching bag for the Yanks to tee off on.
OF2 – Adam Jones ($5,300) – I’ve spent pretty frugally (frugalish? frugulent?), especially with my pitcher, so my big ticket spending will be on Jones, who like J.J. is also 3-8 career against Phelps who will fear the Camden Yards. Going to be a nice night to be in Orange in Baltimore!
UTIL – Zoilo Almonte ($3,000) – Officially one of the coolest names in baseball, Almonte is getting some run as the terrible Vernon Wells gets weighed down to earth, and Almonte is taking his shot and running with it. Even when he has his first starting 0-fer he nabbed a base last night and I think will be a solid value play Friday night.
