What could be more exciting than an entire Fantasy Baseball Podcast dedicated to the catching position? Who doesn’t want to own more catchers? Okay, okay, so I’m laying it on thick, but thick is the new thin, not sure if you heard. Low key thickness aside, January Grey or Anime Grey, not sure which Grey I’m getting, but either way our hero returns for another week of in depth fantasy baseball discussion. We fawn over Gary Sanchez, discuss JT Realmuto vs. Willson Contreras, breakdown Buster Posey’s value, and talk up Salvador Perez’s sleeper status amongst the top tier at the position. But it’s the recent “Evan Gattis is a full-time DH with catcher eligibility” story-line that hangs over the podcast like a storm cloud, eliciting reactions from us intermittently. Finally, please make sure to support our sponsor by heading over to RotoWear.com and entering promo code “SAGNOF” for 20% off the highest quality t-shirts in the fantasy sports game. It’s the latest edition of the Razzball Fantasy Baseball Prospect Podcast:
Find all of the 30 Minor League Previews, and Offseason Rankings on the Minor League Index
On Twitter as @ProspectJesus
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Let me be the first reader to say thank you to your wives for putting up with you guys and allowing you both to live your fantasy baseball dreams.
@Rauol Duke: They are married to each other and share a basement with one waterbed
Haha
@Grey: always think of this when I hear Mandy Patinkin
Haha, I thought you were gonna link to Princess Bride…
@Grey: He seems so much less Jewish in the Princess Bride.
@Grey: I go deep. Run Ronnie Run!
@J-FOH: I always think of this https://youtu.be/yKhXxaMbvxg
@Ralph Lifshitz: I like my memory better. But speaking of Elmo, he has the best young kids DVD
https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0074645885797_p0_v2_s550x406.jpg
@J-FOH: I like to jump on it to make waves, but I always fall off.
@Ralph Lifshitz: must bump your head a lot, that would explain some of your fantasy decisions
@J-FOH: Well that was a low blow.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Im in a mood today. If others were here I would lash out at them
@J-FOH: Jack Full of Feelings?
@Rauol Duke: Wives!
Ralph! I thought you really liked Rooker? Comparing him to AJ Reed is huge downgrade.
@Randy: Also, quick question, any thoughts on Hudson Potts?
@Randy: He’s okay, I need to dig into him soon. Numbers are great for a teenager in full season ball. Love the power, but I’d like to see him walk twice as much next year. He doesn’t run, so he needs to keep popping homers. A batting average north of .270 would really help. That said he played the entire season as an 18 year old.
I’ll say this I like Hudson Potts more than Hudson Sanchez! I had always heard him described as an overdraft. He’s certainly shedding that label. There aren’t many good 3B prospects right now either. You got Vlad Jr. and Senzel and then the next is Austin Riley?
@Ralph Lifshitz:
I was just pondering the 3B prospects, and wanted to pose this to you:
Who has the most value after their first three MLB seasons?
Austin Riley, 3B ATL
Miguel Andujar, 3B NYY
Ryan Mountcastle, 3B BAL
@Randy: I do like Rooker, similar profile but Rooker has better bat speed and athleticism. That should be the difference in Rooker being successful at the MLB Level.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Thanks, I feel better now, I have been investing. You rankings are always my first go-to.
@Randy: yeah Rooker is good, and he made BA’s Top 100, so other believe too.
Love the podcasts! Dynasty League: Cam Bedrosian and Austin Hedges for Jose Peraza and Grant Holmes? Which side ya like?
@whew: I don’t love either side. Do you need speed?
@Ralph Lifshitz: Just looking for upside players. I have Segura already at SS, Desmond and Albies. I’m just kind of fed up with Hedges after last year I think haha.
@whew: Then take the plunge!
Thanks for the mention today. To clarify, you approached me like a fan boy, I vetted you, passed you on to Sky, Sky let you write DFS. Year one DFS was a cutting of the teeth that all writers should go through
@J-FOH: I just remember writing this long blog about Dallas Keuchel and then an hour before it was going to post he got pulled from his start and I had to re-write my opening in an hour.
@Ralph Lifshitz: classic DFS war stories. I told you I still have my initial email to Sky talking up this enthusiastic kid we need to give a shot. I should frame it and send it to you
@J-FOH: put it in my office next to my wrinkled Fantrax banner.
don’t think an entire hour devoted to catchers is necessary.
@Victor:
Here’s the other angle. Set the bar low, can only go up from here!
Noticed Steamer has greatly reduced the expected ABs for Gattis. A week ago it was like 550. Now 389. Must have heard Gray! More like a typical Catcher ABs.
It is worth mentioning he had 600 ABs as a mostly DH in 2015 for the Astros, so I can see where some are coming from. That would be over a 100 ABs more than any other catcher’s projections. But that was a different Astros team and he is a different Evan Gattis.
@Darrell: Agree, it’s not groundless but I just don’t understand the supreme confidence in it.
We move the needle on steamer!
Ralph,
I am not going to be able to draft every player I want, but I am sure going to try and there is always trades. One trade target I have in mind for during the season is for Jimenez.
How is this for dreaming big? Nice keeper list for 2020.
“Dream team 2020”
1- Trammell CF (20) A
2- Urias 2B (20) AA ————–gone in my two other leagues
3- Smith 1B (22) RK ————–gone in my two other leagues
4- Riley 3B (21) AA
5- Tatis Jr SS (19) AA —— OWNED
6- Ortiz RF (19) A
7- Lutz LF (19) RK
8- Ruiz C (19) AA
1- Reyes RHP (23) MLB ——OWNED
2- Buehler RHP (23) MLB ——OWNED
3- Urias LHP (21) MLB ——OWNED
4- Wright RHP (22) MLB ——OWNED
5- Gore LHP (19) RK ——-OWNED
Available: Baez (22) A, Medina (21) A & Baz (18) RK
Sanchez (19) A+ ——— gone in my two other leagues
What do you think? Wishful thinking?
Hey Ralph!
Should be mentioned – all the pods you’ve done so far have been fantastic. Thank you for that.
We can discuss this as the preseason unfolds but I’d like to get your early thoughts on my keepers. I have too many great options (in my opinion), which I guess I shouldn’t complain too much about.
I’ve medal’d 4 out of the last 5 years (1st twice, 3rd twice, and 6th) so I was considering taking a slightly more long-term view with my keepers this year than I normally would.
I only get 4 keepers (4 keepers / 10 team league / so 40 off the board). Each can be kept in the round they were originally drafted in for two additional season… then they move up 2 rounds each year.
The Obvious (I think):
Alex Bregman – Round 24 – starts moving up next year
Bryce Harper – Round 5 – already moving yearly
Ronald Acuna – Round 24 – starts moving up in 2 years
Less Obvious:
Ozzie Albies – Round 24 – starts moving up in 2 years
Whit Merrifield – Round 24 – starts moving up in 2 years
Robbie Ray – Round 19 – starts moving up in 2 years
Jose Berrios – Round 24 – starts moving up in 2 years
I also have Conforto, Clevinger and Alex Wood (all in that 24th round) but I don’t think they are in the conversation with the others?
Thoughts? Help!?!