Jake McGee hit the DL with a sprained MCL.  Damn, 1150 was a very bad year for him.  Wait, a new closer that no one owns is up for grabs!  When this news broke, I was sitting in a French cafe, wearing a beret to the side, flicking a Virginia Slim 120 like a French baller.  I immediately looked for Carlos Estevez, but he was gone.  Then I looked for Jason Motte — gone!  Then I looked for Boone Logan — there!  So, I grabbed him, then I wept quietly.  Was I really picking up the guy third down the SAGNOF totem for the Rockies?  I’m such a pitiful save vulture.  Get some dignity, man, you’re better than this, you’re rocking a beret and a Virginia Slim 120!  After Saturday’s game, Walt Weiss announced Estevez would be the closer, so now, even more pitifully, I will be dropping Boone Logan, who got me a cheap vulture save on Sunday due to Estevez being used too many days in a row.  That’s like the fantasy baseball walk of shame.  Everyone who sees you drop the guy that doesn’t get the closer job knows full well that you desperately tried to make the wrong guy work.  Now I have to pick up and drop twelve other guys to bury my move.  The fantasy baseball shame cycle!  As for Estevez, his outings will be like brother Emilio — short.  His performances may be like brother Charlie’s relationships — rocky.  Unlike his father, Martin, he will not be starring in an awful Netflix series canoodling with the DA from Law & Order.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Tyler Chatwood – 6 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 2.89. Â Never thought I’d say this but I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from this guy. Â *pull back to reveal I’m looking at Danny Duffy* Â You thought I was talking about Chatwood? Â Oh, hells no.
Christian Friedrich – 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 9 Ks vs. Tyler Anderson 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 6 Ks.  This game happened in Coors, which caused Elias Sports Bureau to say this was the most unlikely pitchers’ duel since “Tiny” Joey Warnicko vs. “Cross-Eyed” Rick Thompson in a 1986 Little League game where one coach remembers it like this, “One kid couldn’t reach home and the other kid had to look at 1st base to see home.”
Jason Grilli – 1 IP, 1 ER and the save. Â Blue Jays announced that Grilli will be the primary setup man. Â A few things here, A) If everyone hates you, it’s not everyone that is wrong, it’s you, Storen. B) You have to dislike someone a lot to name Grilli the primary setup man because usually teams just use guys in a role, they don’t go out of their way to announce a setup man. Â Some teams don’t even announce a closer. Â C) There’s no C. Â D) It’s Jason Grilli!
Aaron Sanchez – 5 IP, 6 ER, ERA at 3.38. Â This is hilarious (not funny at all). Â On my fantasy team (through picking up and dropping), Sanchez has a 4.11 ERA in 57 IP. Â Off my team (on waivers or when someone else has owned him), he has an ERA of 1.91 in 28 1/3 IP. Â I’m not joking (I’m crying).
Russell Martin – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 5th homer.  This might be conformation bias, but we seem to get more comments about dropping Martin after he does well, then we get about picking him up.  Maybe your dad was right, you are scared of success.
Kevin Pillar – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer, hitting near .375 in the last week with another homer. Â Hot schmotato alert!
Adam Jones – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs and a double slam (10, 11) and legs (1). Â He’s really taken off as the leadoff hitter. Â Dot dot dot. Â With power (6Â HRs in only 71 ABs), but he has an OBP under .300. Â I don’t know who the O’s can bat leadoff, but anyone else makes more sense.
Pedro Alvarez – 2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 7th homer.  He was in this past Buy column, and will be in every one after because the Hitter-Tron has a raging erectrocution for him.
Matt Wieters – 1-for-4 and his 6th homer. Â Wieters is doing the impossible this year. Â He’s bucking any hot hitter trend that’s ever happened in baseball prior (or of the last few weeks). Â Incredibly, Wieters hits a home run, then doesn’t get another hit again for a few games. Â This is dependent on your definition of incredibly.
Chris Davis – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 16th homer. Â “It’s getting stuffy in here.” Â “Did you try opening the Chris Davis Buy Low Window?” Â “I can’t, I think it’s painted shut.”
Ike Davis – Signed a deal with the Yankees. Â That’s a real life Boone Logan pick up. Â The Yankees got real drunk, realized they had no one to go home with at 1st base, and just grabbed the first guy that would agree.
Michael Pineda – 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 5.88.  Those of you that keep going back to Pineda are trying to make a round peg fit in a square hole when his opponent, Michael Fulmer (6 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 2.52), is the square peg you’re looking for.  And what’s cooler than Square Pegs?  Nothing.  By the by, what’s the blonde guy holding?  A taser?  Early cellphone?  Electric razor?  What the hell is he holding?
Gerrit Cole –Â Sounds to be headed to the DL with triceps tightness. Â Or as I like to call it, where’s Jameson Taillon?!
Francisco Cervelli – Hit the DL with a broken hand.  Chris Stewart should take over.  And you thought the Pirates’ catching situation couldn’t get more boring for fantasy (boringer?  The rich guy with nothing to talk about, Beau Ringer?).
Francisco Liriano – 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 4.92. Â Solid game…OR WAS IT?! Â Oh, snap, the reversal question! Â The K-turns of hope. Â Liriano also gave up 3 unearned runs and this was a favorable matchup. Â His next one will be more of a test coming in Wrigley. Â The ballpark, not the gum.
Carlos Martinez – 8 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.46. Â Looks like C-Mart has buoyed his May (5.18 ERA) with a solid June (2.51). Â We’ll have to see what July has in store. Â Or as The Decemberists call it July! Â July!
Matt Holliday – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 11th homer, hitting .265. Â This could cause me to pick up Holliday for the 17th time in only 10 weeks.
Danny Duffy – 6 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 2.94. Â I gave you my Danny Duffy fantasy on Friday. Â Leave your fantasy password in the comments and I’ll pick him up for you. Â If your password is GreysmellslikeLimburgercheese then not cool, man.
Cheslor Cuthbert – 1-for-3, 1 run and two homers (3, 4) on Saturday. Â Cheslor Cuthbert sounds like the Cesar Chavez of limo drivers. Â “When it’s under 40 degrees, the driver will be allowed to smoke inside the car, or we strike.” Â On top of that, he could be a hot schmotato.
Whit Merrifield – 3-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, hitting .322 and now batting leadoff.  It makes sense too, he’s been one of the best pure average hitters on the Royals.  Of course, “best pure average hitters” doesn’t scream must-own in fantasy.  It mumbles “maybe own.”
Salvador Perez – 2-for-4 and his 9th homer, and 2nd homer this weekend. Â His nickname should be Salve, because he soothes you, and stops you from picking your catcher scab.
Yordano Ventura – 7Â IP, 1 ER, 6Â baserunners, 10 Ks. Â So, Machado smacked some sense into him? Â He’s finally full of sound and fury, signifying something? Â Is he calling Shakespeare a liar? Â If there was one guy in the majors that would call someone dead for four hundred years a liar, it would be Ventura. Â “This is yours, you’ve earned it.” Â That’s Milton Bradley handing Ventura a key to A.C., Asshole City. Â So, this was a solid game from Ventura (no dur!), but I still don’t trust him. Â I’d want to see another solid one.
Jose Quintana – 8 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 2.66.  Seems to go perpetually underrated in some fantasy circles, and if someone didn’t recognize Quintana’s genius, they would be a jerk.  Therefore, each individual would be a circle jerk.
Jose Abreu – 1-for-4 and his 8th homer.  Oh my God, my reverse Sell jinx might actually be paying dividends for once for me.  I’m more pot committed than John Malkovich in Rounders, just do something, Abreu.
Carlos Rodon – 6 IP, 2 ER, 9 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.28. Â Sonavabench! Â You’re not supposed to pitch well when just returning from injury. Â Even if it was a day-to-day thingie-ma-boo-boo.
Tanner Roark – 7 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 2.93. Â Seen Roark mentioned a lot as a potential drop. Â Guys and five girl readers, if a pitcher has a K-rate over 7 and an ERA under 3, then just hold him.
Danny Espinosa – 2-for-4, 2 runs and his 11th homer. Â What if it’s revealed Danny Espinosa is actually Trea Turner in Witness Protection? Â Do Turner’s owners get credit for his stats?
Joe Ross – 7 IP, 3 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.01.  You know what’s gonna happen with Ross, right?  You know, right?  He’s going to give up 7 ER in 2 IP in September but JB is already going to be onto fantasy basketball so unable to answer for all that Ross wrought (almost stutterer!).
Maikel Franco – 2-for-4 and his 11th homer, a bomb that came against Papelbon in the 9th that put the Phils ahead, but then Jeanmar Gomez (2/3 IP, 2 ER) blew the game. Â I’m sure I speak for all Phils fans when I say, ten minutes of Papelbon sucking was worth it.
Dan Straily – Â 7 IP, 1 ER, 8 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.15. Â He was a small positive for this start on the Stream-o-Nator and is again for his next one vs. the Braves. Â I tell you this because Straily really is a start to start guy. Â I believe they have a name for those. Â *intern whispers in my ear* Â A streamer, right. Â Could you whisper a little further away from me, your breath is hot. Â *intern whispers a few feet away* Â I can’t hear you!
Daniel Mengden – 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 10 baserunners (4 BBs), 5 Ks as he was called up to start on Saturday.  With Hahn demoted, Dave Magadan should remain in the rotation.  He’s had control problems in the minors, and did again in his first start.  Also, he’s profiled in the past as a long man out of the pen, which makes my pen want to use sad ink.
Danny Valencia – 1-for-4 and his 10th homer, hitting .335. Â Take a moment and look at the corner man you have on your team. Â Is he anywhere near as good as Valencia? Â I’m gonna guess that at least 75% of you answer in the affirmative. Â And since 25% of you don’t know what affirmative means, that’s a full 100% in favor of Valencia. Â It’s math, you can’t argue with it.
Marcus Semien – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 12th homer.  That Semien shot came off a Lamb.  Sounds Scottish.
Matthew Wisler – 4 IP, 5 ER, ERA up to 4.36. Â Well, we had some good times, though they weren’t that good to put up with these bad times. Â Begone, Wisler! Â Woebegone!
Jason Heyward – 3-for-4, 3 runs and a homer (4) on Saturday, hitting .240.  The mirror situated directly under Heyward’s nose is fogging up.  It’s not an illusion.  Or a trick, that’s something a prostitute does.
Javier Baez – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 5th homer, hitting .272.  The gains he’s made on his strikeout rate are the biggest story no one is talking about.  Or rather, no one is talking about that I’ve heard, for all I know, everyone’s talking about it.  This is why I wasn’t that worried about Rizzo, Kris Bryant or George Springer either.  It seems as if hitters can correct too many Ks if they’re young.  Baez’s strikeout percentage in 2014 was 41.5%.  This year:  19.1%.  Baezinga!
Matt Shoemaker – 8 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 11 Ks. Â Now has 70 Ks, 11 BBs in 68 IP. Â I.e., yes, please and thank you. Â He’s been insane since May 21st — 1.91 ERA in 37 2/3 IP with 48 Ks. Â I’ve been telling you to pick up Shoemaker for the past few weeks. Â A few people thought I was crazy when I said Shoemaker was safe due to his season last year. Â Thankfully, we’re not using his stats from last year for this year’s fantasy leagues.
Jefry Marte – 1-for-4 and his 4th homer. Â How did King Jefry go from a platoon player to hitting cleanup? Â Oh, The Sciosciapath.
Mike Trout – Was hit on the thumb by a pitch and immediately left the game. Â The fantasy community collectively held its breath. Â Pausing at one point from the breath-holding to have some Cheetos. Â Luckily, x-rays came back negative, so we can return to just eating Cheetos.
Danny Salazar – 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 2.19. Â I wonder at what point people will consider Salazar in the top echelon of starters, because he’s been effin’ beautiful going on two years now.
Carlos Santana – 2-for-5 and his 11th and 12th homers, hitting .231. Â Not sure what happened and too lazy/uninterested to figure it out, but Santana went from a perennial .260 hitter to a perennial .230 one and doesn’t look like he can find his way back to .260.
Wily Peralta – Was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Matt Garza.  I guess it wasn’t possible to option the entire Brewers’ staff minus Jimmy Nelson to the minors and let opposing teams hit off a tee for the other games.  I have Josh Hader, star of Napoleon Dynamite and Brewers’ pitching prospect, stashed in one very deep league.  If I remember, I’m going to ask JB about him on today’s podcast.  Though, this is more of a note that I hope JB reads and reminds me about.
Zach Davies – 6 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 3.88. Â He throws 89 MPH. Â By the time he winds up and the ball hits the catcher’s mitt, I can let out one full yawn.
Miguel Sano – During his rehab, he hit off a tee, i.e., off a pitcher with a better curve than a Brewers starter.
Eduardo Nunez – 1-for-3, 1 run and 2 steals (13, 14). Â The most unlikely top 5 guy for any position on our Player Rater? Â Well, at least a top 5 most unlikely top 5.
Brandon Kintzler – 0 IP, 1 ER, and two unearned runs. Â Maybe it’s the Twins’ closer role whose womb is polluted like Michelle Pfeiffer and the Reds’ closer role.
Max Kepler – 1-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 1st homer, and third straight game with a hit. Â I wouldn’t say schmotato yet, but I would say it’s worth a little cyclops’ing.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 4 2/3 IP, 4 ER, ERAÂ at 6.06. Â You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay on my teams anymore.
Xander Bogaerts – 2-for-5, 1 RBI, hitting .359, after having two straight 4-for-5 games. Â I think it’s fair to give him the F5 nickname honor this year.
Felix Hernandez – Could be out four more weeks.  Total shame for F-Her–Okay, enough mourning!  James Paxton will now be in the rotation for another month and, on Saturday, threw 6 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 8 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA down to 2.25.  K-Pax isn’t just a movie that made Kevin Spacey say, “Hey, maybe I should give TV a chance,” but he’s the Mariners’ starter with a 13+ K/9, barely 2 BB/9 and a 1.88 xFIP whose velocity is averaging over 97 MPH.  K-Pax has flirted with being an ace for a few years, and might finally be there.  Duffy, Paxton, Fulmer and Shoemaker have emerged in just the last few weeks, and every year you think you should draft starters high.  As they say in Paris, c’est la vie, ya’ll!  Paris, Texas, obviously.
Leonys Martin – 1-for-4 and his 10th homer.  Pick him up just to see if you’re The Cooler.
Yu Darvish – Won’t pitch on Monday and is headed for an MRI. Â The only thing I can think, and I have thought about this long and hard. Â Our prayer hexagon failed due to a non-believer among us. Â I don’t want to turn this into Salem, burning fantasy baseballers on a stake, but I will if it’s necessary.
Prince Fielder – 0-for-2, 1 run and his 5th homer on Saturday, hitting .202. Â For those kicking themselves that they gave up Fielder too soon, Adam Lind is owned in less than 5% of ESPN leagues and has been more valuable.
Mitch Moreland – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs with his 9th homer, and a huge weekend with two homers on Friday.  Speaking of guys that have been better than Fielder and aren’t owned anywhere.
Colby Lewis – 8 IP, 1 ER, 3 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 3.00.  Rotoworld said about Lewis, “He doesn’t strike out many batters and is homer-prone, but he gets plenty of run support and pitches lots of innings, two factors which historically have combined to help him win more games than his talent would indicate.”  That’s like the person who buys the produce they don’t want that is on sale and about to rot.  “These okra have a weird smell to them, but they’re 30% off!  Anyone have any okra recipes?!”
Zack Godley – 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners (3 BBs), 3 Ks in his first start of the year.  Godley, or as Jews call him G-dley, has never been much of a prospect, and you have to be out of your g-ddamn mind to mess with him in mixed leagues.  Fun fact!  Jewish pagodas are pag-das.
Peter O’Brien – 1-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 1st homer as he was called up on Friday. Â Has big-time power (17 HRs in only 51 games this year in Triple-A), tends to strike out too much, overdoes it with Neil Diamond sing-a-longs like every Irishman, and should be the Diamondbacks’ left fielder for games vs. lefties.
Robbie Ray – 7 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 6Â Ks, ERA at 4.57. Â Robbie Ray is a guy for the Stream-o-Nator and a name for blaxploitation films.
Dallas Keuchel – 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 5.54. Â Listen, you tried to make it work. Â You stayed at a motel for a month to let him have his space; you wanted to go back to Keuchel but you fell in love with Danny Duffy. Â Neither you or Duffy expected it to happen, but it did. Â Let Keuchel down easy, it’s for everyone’s sake.
Carlos Gomez – 0-for-3 and his 3rd homer on Saturday.  Referee Earl Hebner lifts Gomez arm and it falls, lifts it again and it falls, lifts it a third time and it falls–Wait!  He’s lifting his arm!  He’s alive!
Chris Archer – 7 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 8 KS, ERA at 4.61.  Sadly, I think this is the best it’s going to get this year.  Some Quality Starts, nice Ks, bunch of losses and never seeing long stretches of the ace from last year.  At least it’s better than what he was doing in April/May.
Matt Moore – 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 5.05. Â If you pick him up now, you are falling for the banana in the ol’ tailpipe.
Blake Snell – Returning to start on Thursday vs. the Mariners with Andriese bumped to the bullpen.  Snell ya later from my team, Aaron Sanchez!  “Hi, my name is Grey Albright, Fantasy Master Lothario — prefer if you don’t abbreviate it — and I have a problem.”  The chorus responds, ‘Hello, Grey.’  “My problem is I cycle through ten players a day in my 12 team mixed league and half the time I don’t even own these players long enough for them to even start on my team.”  Grumbles, people understand.  “I picked up Grilli, after he got the save, then I saw Snell coming up and I dropped Grilli again.”  Someone yells amen, some people give the Amen’er a sideways glance.  “One time, I was on my way to a funeral and I pulled over to pick up a replacement closer.”  You can hear the dismay in the audience.  “And I was the lead car, so the entire procession pulled behind me.”  Someone yells out, ‘He’s a monster!’  I lower my head, “I know.  I am.”
Should I drop drury, for anyone. Baez will be gone probrably but maybe not. Should I get baez or mallex, merrifield,or maerrifeild. Or shawn kelly. I own papelbon.and hes DTD
My staff seems fragile in my 12 team, H2H league.
Price, Carrasco, CMart, J Ross, Pom, Roark, Snell.
1. Are you thinking CMart is a sell high candidate (your July comments seemed to point there. )
If so, is CMart plus Pom or Snell strong enough to get Greinke or DeGrom….or hold?
2. I grabbed Snell last night filling my usually streamer spot. He goes up against Mariners and Pax. Scary on both counts. Start him or drop for Taillon?
Traded hosmer for g.polanco. walk of shame for doing it or walk of shame bc I have a thing for g.pol? (And I stack all my teams with the same players so theY all sink or swim or barely dog paddle). ?
With Yu heading back to the DL. I’m not in desperate need of an SP and currently don’t have a bench bat
Who should I add from below?
Franco (even with the news about the knee today?), Conforto, Fat Adams, Werth or Carlos Gomez?
thanks grey!
@ryanoger: I vote for Conforto
@ryanoger:Franco for me
I have been deliberating moving Stanton. You may recall that I was kicking around the idea before I traded Kluber for Ortiz last week.
This is a 10-team 6 x 6 with OPS and Holds, and QS instead of Wins. Eleven active bat slots, all 8 position-specific plus 1 OF, 1 INF, and 1 Util. Nine active pitching slots (again, Holds are included).
My current roster:
C – Molina and Martin (play one, call the other a bench guy; in this league we have the space to carry 2 catchers in order to try to max GP at the position.)
1B – Rizzo
2B – Rendon
3B – Franco
SS – Eduardo Nunez
LF – Braun
CF – Gardner
RF – Springer
OF – Stanton
INF – Pujols
Util – Ortiz
Bench: J. Upton, Khris Davis, Baez, Molina or Martin
SPs: Strasburg, Darvish (moving to DL, will nab another SP with the slot), Salazar, Matz
RPs: Street, Cishek, Osuna, Jeffress, Kintzler, Nate Jones, Diekman, Barraclough, Hochevar
An offer I received from an owner three weeks ago was his:
Wilson Ramos (I’ve been scuffling at catcher; maybe this will be an upgrade but I know I’ve missed out on Ramos’s better production this year; Molina and Martin are somewhat recent FA adds to my roster),
Zobrist (still seems somewhat preferable to Rendon, but I wonder how marginal it would be),
Mazara (a replacement RF option)
Arodys Vizcaino (a lower tier closer, possibly a sourer)
Dee Gordon (yes, it was a post suspension offer)
for
my Stanton and a chump dump (Yan Gomes, Hermann, and Will Smith – I’ve since dropped all of these other guys)
So I’m considering the notion of offering him his target of Stanton plus whatever I’d want to drop for a collection of useful players, just as his previous offer was structured. There is an assumption that the other owner will still want to do it. And since it’s been three more weeks of blah from Stanton, maybe even this prospective buyer will have had a change of heart. I previously tried to get Machado from him but no bite and I understand that.
The pool of guys I could see acquiring in a multi-player include:
Ramos
Zobrist or Profar
Kang or Segura
Ozuna, Polanco, Mazara, Piscotty
Harvey, Wade Davis, Familia
I’ve mainly been looking at bats. Ozuna is appealing because he’s CF eligible and could be a nice upgrade to Gardner. It would be nice, but not a necessity, to have 2 players eligible at CF after such a deal. I’m leaning toward making sure I’d getting a SS like Kang as part of the deal because, although Nunez has been good, I wonder if it can really last.
So, considering his previous offer and my areas of need, what are your thoughts on an offer to make? I’m thinking something like
1) Ramos, 2) Zobrist or Profar, 3) Kang or Segura, and 4) Ozuna or Mazara.
for
Stanton, Khris Davis, Martin, Molina
My roster would then be:
C – Ramos
1B – Rizzo
2B – Zobrist or Profar
3B – Franco
SS – Kang or Segura
LF – Braun
CF – Gardner
RF- Springer
OF – Ozuna, Polanco, or Mazara
INF – Pujols
Util – Ortiz
bench: J. Upton, Rendon, Eduardo Nunez, Baez
Or, I could be content at 2B and possibly target Polanco in the hypothetical deal above rather than Zobrist.
Sorry for the length of this post, just trying to provide quality context for my question. Thanks for doing what you do Grey! I’m also open to hearing thoughts from others.
@Hal Incandenza: since you didn’t say otherwise this appears to be redraft. trading stanton now in a redraft seems silly as you won’t get value (even worse of course in a dynasty). unless you actually have deal(s) on the table for something that might be good of course. also, that was a great spot to smoke rock the gange, in the air ducts.
@Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo: It is a redraft. The team I’m discussing a deal with in the post did make me an offer which is the basis for the possible offer I’ll make. So there is a framework of a deal on the table, possibly with some dust on it.
It was more about the ritual, really. Get the gear, go for a walk armed with mouthwash.
@Hal Incandenza: hehe, i’m only at bout page 100 (right around the footnote that is about the guy trying to write his term paper), but great so far.
@Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo: You gotta read the footnotes, no doubt about it. Just thinking about the memory of reading that gives me joy. Hard to believe it has been so long.
@Hal Incandenza: i’ve read all his shorter stuff (essays, stories, short novels etc, first novel too broom of the system), now attempting to tackle the first big one.
The Jose Abreu June watch continues! It’s like Baseball’s Melisandre revived him by through the Lord of Light. And by lord of light, I mean sun, because apparently he needs warm weather to do well.
Danny Valencia is doing better than I’d ever imagined and I would’ve never picked him up if it wasn’t for you Grey. Good call, dude wasn’t even on my radar.
.340, .385, .583
that is ELITE!
Where would you rank this guy if you were doing your 3B rankings today?
Just outside of the Top 5 range? The only for sure 3B I’d take over him are Machado, Donaldson, Bryant, Arenado, Cabrera…and mayyyybe Frazier.
So 6th or 7th best 3B in all of fantasy?
Top 7
@Grey: Any word on who is starting for the Pirates tomorrow? Rumor is that Taillon is coming back and might be here to stay with Cole serving the minimum stint on the DL
Sounds almost def like Taillon, but no official word
@Grey: Papelbon dealing with “soreness”… that’s all we have to go on. Shawn Kelley is the handcuff?
Rivero was warming up all ninth to come in if Kelley stumbled
@Grey: and the way those 2 have been used all year it could be rivero depending on batters anyway.
How about that Eickhoff? How about that crazy m’fer who started him in Toronto? Woo!
That is crazy
Samardja, Paxton, or taillon for the foreseeable future to replace darvish?
Pax
@Grey: thanks man
No problem
@Grey: wow, Pax over Samardzjia?????
Can go Samard if you want safer
who is this merrifield fella and is there anything to see here? If he’s batting leadoff, he’s gotta be good for runs and SBs right?
Don’t I go over him in this post?
@Grey: well i was thinking more the lines of prospect level, etc. all I got was “good average and batting leadoff”… never heard of this guy before today
That’s impossible, I’ve written about him for the past two weeks… “Merrifield had five homers and 16 steals in only 36 games in Triple-A while hitting .278. He’s also 27 years old, so he’s about four years past the point when he should’ve appeared in the majors. Not to take all the merrymaking out of Merrifield, but he’s not as good as he’s shown so far.”
@Grey: Totally missed it!
Lucky you were my favorite AI contestant
Should I add David Freese and drop Justin Turner?
Sure
Abreu dong! Takes some of the edge off my self loathing for batty calling Pillar instead of Revere.
Haha
@Fred Garvin MP: Yeah, as OTS would say, he’s loving the coveted two-hole…don’t sell him
@Fred Garvin MP: i also batty called pillar, but i didn’t have choice of revere.
Hey grey, choo is coming of dl, ive got
Heyward
Span
Valentia
Marte
Martin-leones
And kris Davis
Do i cut davis or choo choo choose to cut shinsoo?
Thanks a million
Choo
good thing i didn’t use that #2 waiver in AL only on shields, he’s terrible. this is even with me now having to add nolasco since andriese got demoted too. mentgen up next.
carrasco should’ve maybe gotten some more innings in AAA before coming back.
Yeah
@Grey: getting porcello’d to death.
Indeed
So… Someone dropped Bautista in my 8 man league. My outfield is : Stanton, Blacnon, pilanco, Marte, springer. Utility is villa, who could be switched with Desmond /Bogaerts/segura. Think I should get Bautista, but who should I drop?
Segura
Pitcher Scoring: WIN (+3), LOSS (-3), IP (+3), K (+1), BB (-1), SAVE (+3), HOLD (+1), ER (-2), HIT (-1), NH (+10) PF (+15)
1) Well I’m already down by lots of points in my H2H points matchup thanks to a two-start Scherzer this week so with the updated news on Taiilon, is he definitely a start for me tomorrow regardless of what SON thinks? (SON isn’t updated yet)
Taillon @NYN (?)
2) Similar question regarding Snell and the possibility of Paxton going Thurs @TB instead of @BOS.. are both of those guys starts this week especially over my original plan of starting Happ and Straily?
Paxton @TB (?)
Snell vs. SEA (?)
Happ @PHI (8.3)
Straily @ATL (2.1)
Duffy vs. DET (-13.3)
1. He hasn’t been named the starter for tomorrow by anyone, I’d start him if he does 2. Yes, Snell and Pax
Going for 4th straight title in 20 team 6×6 dynasty h2h. My staff is rough.hamels, eickhoff, shark, conley, estrada, jaime garcia, lincecum, carson fulmer (strictly a trade chip if opportunity arises), and rich hill. Been offered eovaldi to move down 8 spots from back of first to middle of 2nd rd in the prospect draft we have going right now. To take eovaldi I have to drop someone. Do you drop lincecum, or get rid of an underperformer at a position of depth like dickerson or Carlos gomez? My other OFS are mccutch, valencia, maybin, and fowler. Could also drop carlos estevez and still have dyson, aj ramos, feliz, and cody allen. So who ya drop?
Drop Lincecum
Grey-6×6 roto ERA, Whip, Wins, IP,S, Holds. Yu was just put on the dl and I need a replacement here are a few names that bare free agent. Who do you like? CC, Duffy, Eovaldie, Davies, Martin Perez, Shoemaker, Gausman, Holland, . Thank You,
Shoemaker
Darvish on DL….can’t say it’s a good sign =/
Nope
@Grey: weekly roto, who do like between these two?
starlin – 2 @ col, 4 @ min
profar – 4 @ oak, 3 @ stl
thanks.
Castro
Someone just dropped Gomes. Should I drop hundley for him or stand pat? Both are pretty bleh
Hold
Taillon will be called up to start Tuesday. He will dominate both THAT and his next start in the same week. Was SO close to getting ballsy and starting him this week but couldn’t pull the trigger.
Nice! I started him!
Shields is atrocious.
Awful
Grey,
12 team league daily moves 6×6 with holds and ops the extra categories. We can keep 5 players.
My staff: J-Fer, Cueto, Salazar, Nola, Matz, Joe ross, Taillon, Urias,Dyson, Harris, Colome, Rondon.
These are the keeper values for the back of my staff:
Nola $5 for only 2017
Taillon $5 for only 2017
Urias $5 for only 2017
Joe Ross $1 for 2017 and 2018
Matz $3 for 2017 and 2018
Would you move Urias for a top holds guy. Thinking Miller or Herrera.
Thanks
I’d take Miller…You’re not really only keeping SPs though, right?
@Grey: I hate keeping pitchers. I will mostly keep hitters
Okay, then trade him
Hey Grey. Good. Post as usual
Which I trade if any would you do for Bumgarner
A Fukkner and Profar
Can keep both next year for $6 each
Or
B Fulmer and Franci
Franci would be )16 next year
Bumgarnwr can not be kept
Or should I hold
Thanks, Glory Daze! Don’t know who half these players are
@Grey:
sorry was typing on phone can barely see anything
so its comes down to
Fulmer and Profar for Bumgarner
I can keep Fulmer and profar next year for $6 each
Bumgarner would not be kept
I’d take Profar for next year, but Bum for this year, depends on needs
Duvall has 7 BBs. Why throw him a strike?
Good question
My touch is unrivalled. Benched Duvall for Belt just before start of play…
Damn
Does the jersey that JB is wearing in his pic say, SHART” on the back? If so, he gets mad props.
Hahaha… Hes got mad sharts!
@Grey: weekly roto, who do you like better this week?
mazara – 4 @ oak, 3 @ stl
belt – 3 vs mil, 3 @ tb
thanks.
Belt
ten team h2h points would you do teheran and murphy for carrasco?
Sure
Hey Grey!
1. Would you drop J. Guerra to pick up Jon Gray? You think it’s an upgrade ROS?
2. Any confidence in Musgrove when he’s called up for HOU? (Looking for MI stash in deep league)
Thanks again.
1. Yeah 2. None
Yeah, figured Musgrove was a stretch considering your stance on rookie SPs. Thanks!
Oh, and have you watched all of Bloodline season 2 yet? Thoughts?
I’ve seen it, I liked it, enjoy the slow burn of it
Howdy grey!
Sorry if it’s late!
H2h pts/weekly.
Start Duvall this week who’s at Atlanta for 4 games & @ Houston this upcoming weekend with keuchel on sun.
Or roll w/ Mazara from the bench who is at Oakland for 4 games he faces sonny gray on wed, then at STL for the weekend w/ wacha, Martinez & leake.
Or add + start @ OF either Trayce Thompson (@ Arizona for 3 games & grenike tonight, then vs Brewers )
Jayson werth (who has a two game series vs Cubs gets lackey tomowrow , then wed off , then 4 game series @ San Diego)
Lastly better player to stash : AJ Reed or Alex bregman?
Thanks in advance!
Duvall…Reed
Sorry edited that, not Maz, changed my mind
H2H points league, ROS Braun or Giancarlo?
Braun
You like Fulmer or Roark ROS?
Roark
@The Great Knoche:
I like Fullmer! Aka Full house, but who’s Danny Tanner?
I like your username
Grey, or anyone?…starting Chen tonight at Petco?
As the proud and cursed owner of Cole and Darvish I really am tempted and need the start but have been screwed over so many times by streaming him this year…
I’m starting him
@Grey: Alrighty then!
How were the outlet stores? Any $12 pants?
Speaking of $3 pantaloons, which 1 of these are you rolling with this week:
Urias @MKE
Sanchez @Bal
Gausman @Bos
Rodon @Cle
Urias is the only one with a positive $ from the SON.
I got there and had a medical emergency… My contact lens ripped! So, got nothing…. Urias
@Grey: Better than your spleen! In other news, there was a Jose Tabata blurb this past weekend-dude is only 27
And his wife is only 54
Grey,
The guy who has Rizzo, keeps asking for one guy only Rizzo and that is Trout. For Hosmer, he wants either Donaldson, MAchado or Correa. Are any of the ones he is asking worth me giving them up to get Rizzo or hosmer or tell him to take a hike?
Forget it
Thanks Grey. Thats exactly what I thought.
Grey,
I made an offer of Quintana and Pujols for Trumbo. What are your thoughts? Is it fair or am I giving up too much?
It’s fair, can hold
Grey,
What do you mean when you say “Can hold”
Don’t make the trade
ok thanks.
@Scott Kimmel: wow, probably the same thing it meant the other previous 86 times since march. or maybe the “can” threw you off, as he’s said “hold” by itself at least that many times since then.
10 team (3 keeper) ESPN H2H Points (weekly 12 start pitcher limit)
Hitter Scoring: HIT (+1), RUN (+1), RBI (+1), 2B (+1), 3B (+2), HR (+3), BB (+1) SB (+1)
Pitcher Scoring: WIN (+3), LOSS (-3), IP (+3), K (+1), BB (-1), SAVE (+3), HOLD (+1), ER (-2), HIT (-1), NH (+10) PF (+15)
(1) C: Posey
(1) 1B: Abreu
(1) 2B: Odor
(1) SS: Correa
(1) 3B: Seager
(3) OF: Trout, Stanton, J.D. Martinez
(1) UT: Polanco
Bench: (J. Upton)
(4) SP: Salazar, Carrasco, Harvey, Matz
(3) RP: Osuna, Dyson, Betances
Bench: (McCullers, Walker, Duffy)
(1) DL: Hill
Don’t worry Grey no more questions about trading Posey! I do need help trying to consolidate my bench bat situation though. I’m thinking of offering of Stanton and Upton for Springer to the Springer owner who seems to love bench bats and is in 7th place. Am I overpaying there? I feel like Stanton and any of my other OF would definitely being overpaying for Springer, no? Maybe he’d even settle for Stanton for Springer straight up since it’s a keeper league and maybe he’s already planning for next year but I want to use my bench bat spot for pitching. Who are my best two trade pieces to maybe consolidate my bench bat here?
I’d take Springer in your situation
@Grey: Word so I’ll offer Stanton and Upton for Springer and see what happens…
Hurts a little thinking about giving up on Stanton so soon after just trading Scherzer away for him a few weeks back but I didn’t realize how frustrating it would be trying to decide who to start between Stanton and Upton every day! The other option would be just waiting it out and maybe get a higher return for Upton or Stanton once they’re hot but not sure I wanna wait around that long…
Also you’d still prefer Encarnacion over Abreu ROS right? I might try to sneak in Abreu for Edwin in this deal …
Yeah, I hear ya…Yeah, Edwin over Abreu
@Grey: Welp no luck dealing Stanton and Upton for Springer but he did counter back with Springer for my Trout straight up … I know you’ve been asking Trout or Springer all year so now I’m actually considering this trade… do I stick with Trout or trade him for Springer? Like I said we keep 3 keepers every year so not sure if that matters this early but I’m not even sure who I’d probably keep next year out of guys like Trout, Stanton, Correa, JD, Polanco, Harvey, Carrasco, Salazar, etc? Take the deal, hold or counter back with what? Here’s his team:
(1) C: Martin
(1) 1B: Encarnacion
(1) 2B: Dozier
(1) SS: Nunez
(1) 3B: Bryant
(3) OF: Cruz, Springer, Mazara
(1) UT: Myers
Bench: (Bruce, Saunders, Harrison)
(4) SP: Arrieta, Stroman, Estrada, Tanaka
(3) RP: Robertson, Cishek, Pomeranz
Bench: (Tomlin, Bauer)
(1) DL: Tulowitzki
Appreciate your help!
Hold Trout
@Grey: Okay holding! Now back to watching Mad Max make me regret trading him… oh and he has two starts against me this week! Wonderful… and even more frustrating that Stanton is sitting tonight for no reason? Grrr! Time to break out my PAX full of the good stuff!
Haha, I hear ya
@Grey: Reminder! Travis d’Arnaud is about 7-8 days from returning… giving you more than enough time to prepare for those catcher questions
Haha
Kyle Hendricks or Duffman.
I’m waffling back n forth.
Hendricks
For Frankencatcher today, do you like Josh Thole (L) vs Eickhoff (R) or Dioner Navarro (S) vs Boyd (L)?
Dioner
Drop Eaton for Werth or Pillar?
Meh
Thanks for the advice on FAAB for Anderson on Friday. Was only gonna throw like $6 at it… but you mentioned $21 if I needed a SS. I stated I had Villar.
Went with an $11 bid and won him ($10 being the next highest bid, which is a pretty dumb FAAB bid if you ask me).
Anyways, he is batting leadoff tonight. Lets see what ya got baby boy! Lift my fantasy spirits Mr. Anderson.
@knucks: Should have mentioned, only able to start him because Franco isn’t playing. So hopefully that’s nothing. Apparently tweaked something during a rundown. That happened prior to the Dong off Paplebon though. So I’m sure he’s fine.
HT is pretty into Anderson tonight vs. Boyd btw
Nice! Hope he works out!
Would you start Fulmer (@KC Yordano) or Duffy (DET Verlander) over either of Matz (ATL Blair) or McCullers (CIN Lamb) this week? H2H Points league.
Nope
Hey Grey,
Thanks for the great write up, as always. Hoping to trade Liriano for a bat, ideally OF or 3B/SS. Basically want to sell after his pretty line this weekend before it goes sour again. Am wondering if you have any guidance. 10 team 5×5 roto, with deep pitching. I was hoping to land someone like a Belt, Castellanos, Piscotty, Ozuna. Am I aiming too high? Castellanos owner already turned me down. Thanks for your guidance.
Don’t know, try it… Belt, Piscotty
@dizzystpizzy: I had to drop Liriano, couldn’t get a bite in what sounds like a similar league to yours. Was lucky enough to be able to grab Paxton before this last start. Best of luck.
@knucks: Thanks both– I am hoping to avoid dropping too, not looking good
@dizzystpizzy: FWIW, I offered him for Oh, then Buchter (non-holds league) and got a “No thank you” response from both owners. Was surprised, but also helped put his start to the season in perspective.
Whatever, he’s not a good fit with my WHIP’ed-as-hell rotation anyways. Chen/Liriano/Rodon had done me no favors in that category. Hated to do it at the time, but dropped all 3 over the weekend. Feeling a lot better about it. Just that point in the season where the fat needs to be trimmed back.
What other SP’s are available? I know you said it was deep in pitching. Just curious.
@knucks: My league doesn’t seem to be as deep as yours, but Iwakuma, Wacha, and Ian Kennedy are all SP with name recognition that are on the wire.
@dizzystpizzy: I might drop him and stream then if I were you. Use the SON and you’ll do fine.
@dizzystpizzy: assuming you couldn’t find a trade partner of course
15 team roto – who you got in a vaccum:
L.Cain for Porcello or Jimmy Nelson?
Thanks!
Cain
I’m a Cubs follower. I think Baez is working himself into an everyday role, even if its spread over 7 different positions, ala old-time Zobrist. He keeps getting better. And yet, I’m vexed. My main concern is that the K-rate is a mirage. The walk rate (the walk rate is down to 2.3%, however, and he’s only seeing 3.53 pitches/ab) shows that he doesn’t really have command of the strike zone, because at least one pitch in every one of his AB’s is a chase pitch – the pitchers are still trying to see if he’ll chase something two feet outside (he rarely does). If the K-rate holds and the power holds, what do we have at the end of the year? I think he’d come into next year fringy top-ten at any of ss/3b/2b, with upside if the strike-zone control improves a little more. Do you agree, or no?
That all makes sense
@Big Mike: Not in today’s lineup.
Drop, Shaw for Werth, Adams or Saunders?
Its a bench player, thinking Adams ROS.
Hold
Arrieta for Cespedes or Marte. Am I getting fleeced? I need the outfielder.
It’s fair, depends on needs
@Grey: Just got this counter-offer: Arrieta + Ozuna for Bryce Harper. I’m hurting for power and RBIs, and have plenty of pitching. Arrieta can be kept for a 3rd round pick next year, but neither Harper or Ozuna could be kept.
It’s fair, I’d want Harper
Villar or castellanos
@Rodger Dorn: Power or speed?
@knucks: I can’t pass up that speed
Apples/oranges… Villar
Grey miguel cabrera or anthony rizzo?
Rizzo
I have both Harper and Trout in my 10-team, H2H, keeper league. Would you trade one of them for Bogaerts if you were weak at SS? Thanks!
No
Which trade do you like better? I’m the left side.
Starling Marte for Bryce Harper
Gregory Polanco for Michael Conforto
Polanco
@Grey: @Scott: Not sure who owns Bryce, but I don’t see how anyone accepts Marte for Harper straight up
This guy’s been talking about getting rid of Harper
Drop Castillo for Russell?
Sure
12 team keeper league, would you trade Carrasco for J. Upton and either Carlos Martinez or Kenta Maeda?
Sure, C-Mart
@Grey:
Thanks. Would you do it for Mazara and C-Mart?
Sure
Drop Travis Shaw (as my IF) for any one of these or hold?
Jh. Peralta
J. Baez
P. Alvarez
Hold
Grey, Points question for THIS week. Have to play 2 out of Machado/Bryant/Altuve.
Bryant has 6, including 2 lefties and Nicosia at home. Altus has only 5, but 3 at home v. Cinn., including 2 lefties, and a guy named Wright. Machado w/ 6, BUT……maybe 3, maybe 4.
That’s why you get paid the big bucks. What do you think ?
Not Altuve
Would you drop any of the below for Snell?
Duffy, Shoemaker, Paxton. Thanks!
Nah
10 team h2h keeper poitns league. was just offered my daniel murphy for his carlos carrasco… no brainer right? i have beltre as a backup 3b (yeah hes hurt right now but im thinking ROS
I’d take Carrasco
Rank ROS…
McCullers, Snell, Taillon, Shoemaker, Paxton, J. Gray
Thanks chief!
McCullers, Shoemaker, Pax
Drop Liriano (or Sanchez or Walker) for Paxton?
Drop Pederson for Gomez?
Sure, Paxton…Gomez
@Grey: are you still in LA or did you move out to PS? if in LA, Pete Rock and CL Smooth next monday at the Troubador.
I’m in LA for the week for meetings, but back to PS on Saturday
Damn!
@Grey: T.R.O.Y.!
Damn damn damn
Morning Grey,
I can’t believe you came up with a square pegs reference. Awesome.
I have a few fantasy questions today requiring your wisdom.
1.Somebody dropped O.Herrera in my 12 team H2H fantasy keeper league(keep 10). Do I drop L.Martin(similar player) or Carlos Gomez to pick him up? I know that Gomez has shown signs of life lately but they are fleeting signs at best.
2.I have Dozier starting at 2B. Would Schoop or Forsythe be an upgrade there? I could also drop Gomez or Martin for one of them
Some other available FAs include
T.Thompson
K.Pillar
B.Moss
M.Saunders
T.Anderson(have Seager at SS)
D.Norris(have Realmuto)
thanks
Ha…1. Martin 2. Not really…. Meh, FAs aren’t really upgrades
10 team, H2H keeper league…my staff is Price, Aaron Sanchez, Odorizzi, Tillman, Liriano, Teheran, Velasquez (can’t put on the DL as those slots are being used up currently). Available are the following: Stroman, Roark, Nelson, Duffy, Gray. Who to drop and pick up?
Thanks pal!
Vel, Tillman for Duffy, Roark
Any idea if Paxton is getting the dreaded Sox at Fenway or the Rays at The Trop? Checked a dozen different sites and half have him penciled in to face Snell in Tampa on Thursday. Meanwhile, ESPN, Rotowire and CBS Sports have him going Friday? Wtf? Pain in the ass when rosters lock at 7 tonight.
@Turd Ferguson: Walker / Karns / Iwakuma would have to get skipped for him to Start Thursday instead of Friday. I didn’t see any news about any injuries. I’d expect him to go @Fenway on Friday. Best of luck!
No idea, what does SON say?
@Turd Ferguson: I stand corrected. Iwakuma/Paxton flipped per the Greg Johns on twitter… M’s beat guy. This was to sperate the LH’s (Miley/Paxton).
EFF YEA PAX!
10 team napoli or joseph at Util?
Joseph
Baez or Castro ROS???? This looks like a Cubs question this past fall/winter….. Should I follow their wisdom and go with Baez?
Castro
@JWRAY: well since CUBS wouldn’t give baez a starting job without numerous injuries (and even now at least 1/4 of days off) CUBS didn’t really “choose” baez over castro, they chose zob over castro.
In an NL only league 10 teams
Pitching is Strasborg, C Martinez, Maeda, J Gray, Corbin, Finnegan as starters I have the Colorado “closer D’jour” Estevez and StL’s Rosenthal with his handcuff Oh
Problem: I also have De Scalfini on reserve. Who gets dropped on his activation or do I try to trade him for something since my staff is so “wonderful”
By points I have about the 3rd best staff Could do better in Saves and ERA Leading W’s and ok in whip/K’s
Trade him
d00d! Needed a cleaner area to ask this. Short term pickup in my league with limited moves, have to grab one betting on a brighter future… Eflin, Chris Young, Descalfani, Hellickson? I want to put Pineda on that list, but his peripherals have to be fuggin with me like milk of the poppy. It’s the battle of the bastards on our waiver wire, bro!
None? DeSclafani
@Grey: I wish none. Hellickson was on the buy last week, but that was real short term. Those were my top 2. Don’t get Young’s periphs considering his K rate and swing rate are up.. He’s getting bit by the long ball.
I’d try Hellickson
@Grey: After all that, I think I’m going with Paxton… didn’t even see him out there originally.