On Sunday morning, I woke around 8 AM to read a text from Rudy saying, “Awful news, Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident.”  I put on my glasses, no time for contacts, and turned on the TV.  It was still on Fox Sports West because I was watching Vin Scully tributes all weekend.  Yesterday morning, Fox Sports was playing Anglers Chronicles, a fishing show, which is wrong in so many ways.  After switching the stations, groggy-eyed and still half asleep, I realized TV was not the place anymore to go for breaking news.  I shut it off and turned to the internet.  I’m still piecing together my thoughts.  He was 24 years old, even if he never played baseball this is a horrible loss of life.  I’m reminded of all the friends I lost to motorcycles in their twenties.  I’m struck by how inconsequential fantasy feels.  There’s a giant pit in my stomach.  Then, I think about how I never saw Jose Fernandez not smiling.  Not having fun.  I think about how on that boat, Saturday evening, you know Jose Fernandez was having a great time, because he was always having a great time.  That exuberance came through in everything he did.  I think about how he spent time in prison after one of his numerous failed attempts of escaping Cuba, and how, even then, he was likely making fellow inmates smile.  How the excellence he brought to the mound every fifth day was felt all the way back in Cuba to raise up even the darkest corners of Cuba’s prisons.  “That was us.  That is us,” the inmates, who are still incarcerated for trying to escape, likely said.  How baseball does that.  How special that is.  You see what you’re going to see in tragedy, but I see Jose Fernandez pitching, and baseball, and making himself and others smile.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Rich Hill – Was skipped on Sunday due to his recurring blister.  In related news, Jason Voorhees is being replaced in the next Friday the 13th by Rich Hill’s blister.  Also, the Halloween costume “Rich Hill’s blister” should be hitting shelves soon.
Clayton Kershaw – 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 1.65.  The Cubs are either going to steamroll through the playoffs or Kershaw is going to win four games in every playoff series, even the ones with only five games.  I’m sure there’s other possibilities, but I can’t fathom any.  Which reminds me, Jacques Cousteau used to dress as Batman in scuba gear and say he was going to Fathom City.  That’s just some trivia for you.
Corey Seager – 3-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 26th homer, hitting .313.  JB and I are going to do the first few rounds of a 2017 mock draft on this week’s podcast, which will be posted on Tuesday.  While JB’s debating between Kyle Davies and Keon Broxton, I might be looking at Seager.
Charlie Culberson – 3-for-5 and the division-winning home run for the Dodgers. Â And….would you believe….the last home run that Charlie Culberson hit would be 2014 against Cincinnati. Â We’ll miss you, Vin.
David Dahl – 1-for-4 and his 7th homer.  You in 2017, “Whoa, Grey, um, Your Handsomeness, yeah, where’d this Dahl come from?  Like, oh em gee.”  Yeah, Dahl’s got gonna be a good one, as soon as next year.
Madison Bumgarner – 6 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 2.71. *counts last six years of Bumgarner’s innings* Â So, 1527 innings was his tipping point?
Hunter Renfroe – Hit his 1st home run on Saturday.  No, no, no, Padres fans, you don’t have to adjust your TV.  That’s just a metaphorical bright spot.  Don’t worry, your organization will screw it up.  Like not starting Renfroe on Sunday after he homered on Saturday.
Manuel Margot – 3-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI and his 1st steal. Â There’s more SAGNOF where that came, Mar-got this!
Adam Rosales – 1-for-3 and his 13th homer, and his 4th homer this week. Â Hot schmotato alert!
Dan Straily – 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.74. Â Straily has one more start left, and the Stream-o-Nator doesn’t like it, and I don’t like it, unless the Cardinals (his opponent) somehow clinch a playoff spot by then or are eliminated. Â Two scenarios that look unlikely at this point.
Maikel Franco – 0-for-3, but three straight days with homers up until Saturday (25 HRs overall).  Gonna be hard for me to not rank Franco higher next year than he likely has any right to be ranked, because I believe in Franco like Mickey Rourke believes in a facelift.
Asdrubal Cabrera – 2-for-5, 4 RBIs and his 23rd homer.  Asdrubal, if you’re going to channel Daniel Murphy, you need to A) Wait until the playoffs B) Act more homophobic C) There’s no C.
Robert Gsellman – 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 2.56. Â Same situation as Straily. Â More has to do with where the Mets are when Gsellman takes his next start, then whether or not I like Gsellman in his next start. Â If the Mets have clinched, there’s no way Gsellman pitches, because he’s the one pitcher the Mets have without arm injuries. Â Yet. Â Hashtag still early.
Bryce Harper – Left yesterday’s game with a hand injury, but he returned to the field during a benches clearing brawl, so some speculated Harper’s fine. Â Well, his hand is fine, his shoulder still needs six months of rest.
Ben Revere – 3-for-6, 2 runs and two steals (13, 14), hitting .221. Â He was hitless for the last week (only 4 at-bats). Â Revere’s looking more and more like Greg Kinnear to Denard Span’s Matt Damon in their Stuck On You remake.
Ivan Nova – 4 IP, 3 ER, and now two starts in a row where he’s looked more like the 4+ ERA pitcher from the Yankees and less like the rejuvenated Pirates’ hurler.  Damn, Nova, you are a Suck-ittarius!  I might be mixing up astronomy and astrology.
Jung Ho Kang – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 20th homer.  Earlier in the game, Kang’s fake tag of Harper caused Bryce to slide awkwardly and injure his hand.  Kang might want to stop trying to touch people for unwarranted reasons.
Joe Musgrove – 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.06. Â I streamed Musgrove where I could, which was cancelled out by the stream of the Tigers’Â Shatt Boyd. Â Shatt’s fantasy baseball for you.
Ken Giles – Gave up 6 runs in a third of an inning on Friday, then was hit on his wrist by a line drive on Saturday, carted off the field and sent for x-rays.  On Sunday, he threw 1 IP, 0 ER and picked up the save.  From zero to hero with a stop at the ER in between.  Wordplay points!
Tyler White – 1-for-3 and his 8th homer.  The guy who fell into a coma in April just woke, “Wow, Tyler White has been nonstop all year!  Hey, did you guys put that Ted Cruz bumper sticker on my car for me?  I wanna go Cruz’ing!  Right?  Guys?”
Evan Gattis – 1-for-3 and his 31st homer. Â When you see him homer, you’re not surprised he has 30+ homers, you’re more surprised he doesn’t homer every time he makes contact. Â Doode mollywhops.
Matt Boyd – 0 IP, 4 ER, ERA at 4.53. Â Sigh, oh, Boyd.
Victor Martinez – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBIs and his 27th homer, a grand slam, hitting .293. Â There’s going to be a recap of every position in the offseason, and V-Mart will be ignored because he only has utility eligibility, but that’s a real shame. Â Or is it?! Â Look at you, Reversal Question! Â Due to an explosion of offense this year, on our Player Rater, V-Mart is ranked around 100th overall. Â Solid, indeed, but around that of Tyler Thornburg and Melvin Upton.
Justin Upton – 3-for-5 and his 28th homer.  Person who was in the H2H playoffs, facing off with an abandoned team that owned Upton, “The Fantasy Baseball Overlord has personally damned me.”
Cameron Maybin – 4-for-6, 4 runs, hitting near-.500 in the last week with a homer. Â Maybin…You’re gonna be the one that saves me… And after all, you are my “Wonder if he’ll hit the ball.”
Alex Gordon – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 17th homer, hitting .223.  Usually a spendthrift organization, the Royals were had signing Gordon this past offseason.  The Royals weren’t the only ones.  FanGraphs said, “This (signing of Gordon) appears to be a tremendous deal for the team.”  I’m admittedly more of a fantasy guy, but Gordon for $72 million for four years at the age of 32 years old strikes me as a good move if the Royals’ owner David Glass planned on also using Gordon as a Wal-Mart greeter.  “First of all, Margaret, happy 62nd birthday.  Now that I have you in here, your $11 per hour has become too much.  It’s early retirement for you.  Okay, Gordon, get in there and greet some people!”  *Alex Gordon runs out in his jersey to greet customers*
Cheslor Cuthbert – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 11th homer. Â If Cheslor Cuthbert doesn’t wear a bowtie under his uni, then I can’t typecast a Cheslor.
Salvador Perez – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 22nd homer, and his 2nd homer in the last four games, hitting .249. Â I wonder if the amount of innings he’s Bumgarnered has finally caught up to him. Â Yes, I see what I did there.
Paulo Orlando – 3-for-5, 2 runs and two steals (13, 14), hitting near-.350 with a homer in the last week.  Hey, it’s Flo Rida’s favorite player!  Orlando could be a light schmotato and a beautiful travel destination for the whole family.
Raul Mondesi – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and a slam (2) and legs (8).  Wanna see a guy who most don’t know about now who will become overhyped by next April?  Here ya go!
Nelson Cruz – 2-for-3 and two homers (40, 41) when he left with a sore wrist. Â If he didn’t have a sore wrist, he would’ve hit four homers in three at-bats.
Taijuan Walker – 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, ERA at 4.35, moving his record to 7-11, which reminds me of Victor Martinez brother, Kwik E. Martinez.
Max Kepler – 1-for-3 and his 17th homer. Â This Kepler’s first hit since June 13th. Â Okay, no, but it feels that way.
Pablo Sandoval – Could return if the need arises.  Like if the Red Sox plane were about to lean over on the right side, Sandoval might be needed on the left side.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 13 Ks. Â Dayum. Â It’s like this, “Ed-Rod’s going to be good…He’s going to be so good…Oh my God, he’s going to be so good,” and he’s not good for a long time, then he explodes. Â It’s like some tantric pitching right here.
Rick Porcello – 6 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 3.11, as he moved his record to 22-4. Â Here’s you in 2025, “Did Porcello win a Cy Young one year or was that a dream I had? Â Damn, I wish North Korea didn’t take over our country and outlaw the internet.”
Marcus Stroman – 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hit, 3 Walks, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.34. Â I kinda mentioned this in the Straily blurb, but if the Blue Jays have clinched a playoff spot, I have no faith in Stroman throwing another full game, or more than 4 innings. Â So, use the Stream-o-Nator at your own risk. Â This is a weird time, when whether a team is playoff-bound or eliminated matters almost as much as who’s actually pitching.
Jose Bautista – 2-for-2, 2 RBIs and his 21st homer, 3rd homer in the last four games.  As long as you’re not going against a team with Bautista, this is an ideal situation because all people are gonna see next year is his final home run count, most won’t see that Bautista did it during fantasy garbage time.  Or some might even justify him with, “He was great in the last two weeks and that’s going to carry over to 2017.”  No, he’s going to get injured by May because he’s as old as those sweatpants you’re wearing.
Dellin Betances – 1 IP, 2 ER, ERA up to 3.00. Â Middle relievers or closers burn bright like a pyromaniac lightning bug, and flame out just as fast.
Carlos Rodon – 8 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 4.08. Â I was already going to like you next year, you didn’t need to announce yourself so loudly.
Colby Lewis – 1 1/3 IP, 7 ER. Â Don’t worry about him, Colby’s a survivor.
Ryon Healy – 3-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 12th homer. Â Hey, I told you to buy him on Friday, and Prospector Ralph just told you yesterday why you should be excited for Ryon Healy in 2017. Â I don’t know why you’re not pumped.
Sonny Gray – Will start on Wednesday.  I’m sure this will end well.  Or is that start well?  Or is that, ‘Will this start go well?’  No.  It won’t.
Jharel Cotton – 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 1.44. Â Not ready to label him the greatest thing since sliced bread with Nutella, but I’m getting more and more interested for next year. Â I’m intrigued, y’all!
Wade Miley – 8 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 5.40. Â It shows you that even a broken clock is right once a season.
Trey Mancini – Hit his 3rd home run on Saturday.  Okay, I’m buying into this schmotato for the final week for some power.  Play us a classy tune, Mancini!
Dylan Bundy – 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.02. Â I really hope the O’s learned something from the Mets and don’t overextend Bundy in the playoffs. Â Bundy shouldn’t even go to a count of five.
Robbie Ray – 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, ERA at 4.77.  I imagine a lot of people are going to be calling Ray a sleeper for next year.  Those same people are the ones only looking at his underlying numbers and not those old school stats like “How often is he actually good?”
Paul Goldschmidt – 1-for-4, 1 RBI and his 28th steal.  I love, love, lurrrrrve Au Shizz, but he should not have more steals than homers.  He lost sight of the obvious at some point this year.  Do the Mashed Potato not the Electric Slide.
A.J. Pollock – His return seems unlikely. Â How many Pollocks does it take to explain to A.J. there’s only a week left of the season? Â One Pollock to hold him, and five Pollocks to help his wheels turn.
Zack Greinke – Not expected to return this season. Â Diamondbacks’ GM Dave Stewart said, “If we had two Greinkes, I’d call them Greinkeses. Â Like Greink-Azizi. Â Man, that guy is funny. Â I’m the GM!”
Odor droppable this week?
Meh, for who?
@Grey: Gordon or Rivera?
Garcia pulled after 1ip??
Nice write-up Grey.
Do you stream Fiers tomorrow?
Thanks! I am
Guess I went back to Bartolo once too often.
Tough going against the Marlins today, felt like it was meant to be for them
@Grey: 10 more to 16!
Haha, yup!
@Grey: And Roark too. I think yesterday was the only day this month that I had a bunch of pitchers not hurting my ERA.
Roark killed me too… Oh well, can’t say I didn’t try
@Grey: I have Colon and Grilli. Look at Roark’s line and be thankful.
Ouch
Rest In Peace to one of the games greats. Still haven’t been able to process it.
Lost my fantasy championship yesterday .. first time in four years (1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd in this league) but I didn’t even care.
Thanks for a great year Grey. Your write ups made my mornings.
Greys #1 Fan
No problem, sorry you lost!
Yankees – Jays little brouhaha. Severino hit JD. Happ hit Headley. Warnings given. Severino, who was just about done anyway, hit Smoak.
@VinWins: Benoitinjured, looks like ankle.
@VinWins: Jays cannot afford suspensions this week.
Joaquin?
@Grey: Yeah, Joaquin Benoit got stepped on in the pushing and milling.
Ouch
@VinWins: was cueto brought in as a temp in this?
@Montezuma’s Revenge…right now: Ha. I’m a Cards’ fan. The evil one is not to be mentioned.
Damn
ah the world of chop arbing
i came back (after telling him i wouldn’t do the earlier one since it made me assume myself as being a 1.91 to 1 dog) offering 610 for both and he gets an extra 60, and play for 124. this would make me assume myself as a 38.39% underdog (since he gets the tie). he haggled an extra $10 out of me (i shouldn’t have waited till now, but being up 31 hours and on a train had nodded off) meaning 610 for me, 670 for him, and play for 114.
so this way i’m assuming i’m a 37. 14 underdog, but i got more guaranteed money and i’m “only” having to sell myself short 63.86-37.14 rather than his earlier 63.68-34.32. i will be curious to see what Rudy thinks about if we assume our teams are EXACTLY equal what this even chop would be (it’s really a question of exactly how often do teams in a 7X6 tie probabilistically)
That doesn’t sound bad at all, I would’ve taken it
@Bull in a Chinese Restaurant: shit, 680 for him, me 610, play for 114. brain is going, needs more booze.
@Bull in a Chinese Restaurant: shit more bad typing (the math is right, just the typing), his original idea had me a 66.68-34.32 dog (the 1.91 to 1 dog)
@Bull in a Chinese Restaurant: what this question is very close to is exactly (in a gambling sense) is just why the house is the favorite in blackjack (not including a good counting strat on the part of the player of course), it’s due to losing when both parties go over 21. that edge is quite large obviously (it “keeps the lights blinking” and millionaires into eventually hundred millionaires and such)
Yeah, exactly!
As a Rizzo owner for the 2nd half and Cubs fan, it seems like Rizzo hits a disproportionate amount of long doubles. Something worth looking into for a greater mind than mine?
I like Rizzo a lot, think he can be a number one type player
@Grey:
Non Trout Category?
What do you mean?
@Grey:
#1 in fantasy, if we exclude Trout because he #1 until proven otherwise
Trout’s #1 until he’s not, just saying Rizzo can be number #1 in value one year due to his power, AVG and steals
Gonna watch me a Mets v Marlins game on MLB Tv on the computer…
Totally
@Grey: How cool that the whole team is wearing a #16 Fernandez jersey!
Yeah, very emotional
Would you rather gamble with Kiermaier or Polanco?
Polanco
@Grey:
I could also add Stanton, Paulo Orlando, Buxton, or Owings
Hate injuries
Kinda like the idea of Giancarlo cause I think he’s going to be playing with emotion… But that might be an emotional response… Likely Orlando
@Grey:
Yea, I keep going back and forth myself. He’s either gonna hit 7 homers this week or they’ll give him a day off here and there to cope.
Exactly
did i miss something or was the only update on brocktune until today (and h’es missed every game since friday) that he just “got some time off”.
He ran into a wall on Friday, out until further notice
Got Hosmer on the bench and thinking of dropping him for a another bat. My choices are Dickerson, Granderson, or Rivera. Thoughts?
Dickerson
Is Brocktune now a Droptune? Not in the lineup again and no update on his status.
Yeah, I’m ready to lose him
@Grey: Is Polanco Brocktune and why do you call him Brocktune?
@Fred Garvin MP: they JUST NOW reported that he ran into wall back the last game he played. STL level of misinfo not to address that for 3 days.
I was born in Cuba and lived in Miami for 21 years. I spent all morning and afternoon yesterday crying. Jose represented so much to me. God, what an agonizing day. I still have bouts of anger immediately followed by knots in my throat throughout the day. It’s unfair. Not to mention the two other victims on the boat? Same graduating class from my high school. I knew who they were, but wouldn’t really consider them friends. That was such a bizarre twist to the story for me. What a horrible day yesterday was.
/sigh
Anyways, I’m in a championship. Need one hitter for the week in an OPS league. A.Rosales, Mancini, P.Orlando, or Dahl?
And in an OBP league, which one of: Kiermaier, Ass Cab, Granderson, Jose Peraza?
It’s so tragic, I’m sorry to hear your connection… Orlando…Asdrubal
Hey Grey- still agonizing on weekly roto lock. In second, only 1.5 pts back.
Harper or Cron?
Colome or Betances? (Betances has been shaky lately and I’m only going with one closer)
Thanks!
Cron….Colome
Ugh, agonizing over my final lineup setting decision. Need Saves, but also a clean WHIP. Do I run out Andrew Bailey or Ryan Dull?
Bailey
With Kevin Kiermaier day to day after getting plunked in the hand yesterday, are you looking for other options in a weekly league? Can’t seem to find an update on him today. But he spent 2 months on the DL with a broken hand earlier in the year, so that’s not great…
I own him right now for his matchup vs. Shields, so I hope he’s in there today… I’ll make the call after Rays announce their lineup
Sounds like a plan. I’ll be right thee with ya.
Last one, I swear! – As a potential Kiermaier replacement, just in case, do you like Tim Anderson (vs TB, vs MIN – 7 games) or Manuel Margot (vs LAD, @ ARI – 6 games).
Good luck this week!
Anderson — you too!
Kiermaier’s not playing
Thanks. Just saw that. Damn.
Probably can’t risk him missing any more games this week… Guess it’s Timmy Anderson time!
Reading a lot of Paulo Orlando “hype”… You like Timmy Anderson over Orlando and Dyson?
Anderson’s leading off and playing (hopefully) 7 games this week… Anderson hasn’t been good though this past week… So it’s a tough call… Orlando has been hitting well recently… I’d prefer Orlando
I do have a fantasy question …..barely hanging onto 1st in 12 team 5X5 roto
Could use Runs & Avg.
I have Polanco, Harper(out today already) & Stanton ….are any of them worth playing this last week?? Hope to play one or else pick 2 of the following
1 Options would be: Parra [email protected]/3 Mil
Renfroe or Margot 3LAD/ [email protected]
Orlando 3Min/3Cle
Kepler [email protected]/[email protected]
2 Drop Drury for Arcia [email protected]/[email protected]
Prado 3NYM/[email protected] Was
Baez [email protected] Pit/[email protected] Cin
3 Lost Fernandez …need K’s & W’s Need to lose 2 of the following SPs Cotton @ Sea; DeLeon @SD & @ SF; Garcia Cin & Pit; Paxton @ Hou; Pineda Bal; Syndergaard @ Mia; Weaver Oak & Hou; Nolasco Oak; Stroman Bal
Thanks for your year long passion for this “sport” & your time in answering so many questions
I think the narrative of Giancarlo coming up big this week due to Jo-Fer plays well… I’m benching Harper and Polanco or dropping if redraft… 1. Renfroe, Orlando 2. Yeah, Arcia 3. De Leon, Paxton
No problem!
Some azzhole in my keeper league posted early on Sunday AM about new rules to replace a player who died. Seriously????? WTF???? Not even a RIP message. what a douche. I told the commissioner I would throw him out of the league… (maybe an overexaggeration but seriously….it made me so mad)
Yeah, that’s a dick message
Do you take Jaime and his two starts at home or do you go Gsellman for one start? Also need to start two of the following bats: Forsythe,Belt, Asdrubal, Drury, Gyorko,or Quinn? Which two? Thanks again.
Garcia…. Asdrubal, Logan
Not so Happy Monday Grey
1) Is Johnson still the closer in ATL?
2) How much will we get out of Harper this week?
1. I believe so, not sure why not 2. Little
@Grey: Thanks!
Was just checking about Johnson since Cabrera got last 2 save opps. Was that just rest forJJ?
It was rest
Great writing Grey such a sad weekend. We lost a great one at such a young age. Baseball has lost the pure joy that Jose brought to the game. The world is a dimmer place without his smile.
RIP Jose Fernandez
Thanks! Agreed, he was a one of a kind talent
hey man, thanks for the great work all season
Ryon Healy or Hunter Renfroe in dynasty? no cost
thanks
Healy, no problem
Hi Grey. Should I start Smyly @ CWS?
I wouldn’t unless I needed the start, he’s not been good in away games
Ok so, JoFer is scheduled to pitch yesterday and is pushed to today, for an extra day of rest. If he pitches yesterday, is he still with us today? He would not have been in a boat at 3am Sunday morning if he is pitching that day.
Would he have died the next time he went out in a boat? Or was it just meant for him to die yesterday, no matter what..
I know known of us have the answer to this.
@Malicious Phenoms: known = none
Yeah, can’t eff with fate…
@Grey: so many what if’s in life…you have to do the best you can do with the time you got…..
Very nice write up on J-Fer today. The video with his Grandma and Mom brought tears to my eyes. He’s so likable and real. I feel like I lost someone close to me too !!! God takes the good ones way to early !!!
Agreed, thanks!
Need to maximize quality starts this week, can you rank the following SP accordingly?
Bartolo @Mia 9/26; @Phi 10/1
Smyly @CWS 9/26; @Tex 10/1 or 10/2
Matt Moore Col 9/27; LAD 10/2
Lester @Cin 9/30
Arrieta @Pit 9/28
Darvish @TB 9/30
Jaime Garcia @Cin 9/26; Pit 10/1
Jon Gray @SF 9/29
Thanks for a great season!
Arrieta, Garcia, Gray, Moore, Colon
@Grey: Thanks!
No problem
Hi Grey.
Tough day yesterday. Made fantasy baseball irrelevant – although, when Yahoo first listed J-Fer as day-to-day, I sorta chuckled… maybe they knew something we didn’t. Maybe they believe in instant reincarnation.
… which makes me think that “Edwin Re-Encarnacion” could be a good glossary term. Specifically for a power bat who takes years before establishing himself and gives himself a new life by finally providing valuable pop. Trumbo is this year’s Edwin Re-Encarnacion. Smoak has got the profile… Gallo a few years down the road too.
Anyway. My question:
Villar has been awesome but he’s been terrible for weeks. And I got Willson Contreras who doesn’t start half of the time. I need AVG and HR. Which one is the better upgrade:
From Contreras to Gattis (yeah, I know, don’t ask me why)
From Villar to Asdrubal
Thx
Trumbo feels more like a late boomer….
I’d go Gattis and Asdrubal
@Grey:
Sorry if I wasn’t clear… I get to do ONE move so I pick between one of those two upgrades.
I’d do the Gattis one
@Grey:
thank you sir !
No problem
@Grey: weekly roto. hail mary time. need wins the most. pick 4 of the following:
garcia – vs cin, vs pit
manaea – @ laa, @ sea
koehler – vs nym, @ was
shields – vs tb, vs min
gray – @ sf
musgrove – @laa
gausman – @ tor (and possibly @ nyy?)
thank you.
Garcia, Koehler, Gray, Musgrove
@Grey: weekly roto, who do you like more at dh? need sbs, rbi and hr (in that order)
domingo santana – 3 @ tex, 3 @ col
healy – 3 @ laa, 4 @ sea
justin turner – 3 @ sd, 3 @ sf
polanco (if he can feel his face?) – 4 vs chc, 3 @ stl
thanks.
Healy
Hey Grey,
Nice piece on Fernandez. Truly shocking and tragic.
I wanted to thank you for these daily updates. I won my fantasy league this past week, and I owe a lot of it to reading you. You are the best are the best “fantasy ‘pert” out there!
Thanks
Thanks! I appreciate it!
I need a qs. I am looking at the best streaming candidates of the week and I narrowed it down to 2 guys, rodon vs min or deleon at sd. Which guy should I add, I can only add one. I owned rodon for his run of success and cut him after we was rocked in his start at kc. He then pitches a gem at cle yesterday of course. Deleon has a good matchup but only went 6 once and that was in his first start against sd. Thx
Rodon
Thanks. I also want to than you for doing a hell of a job all year. This was my first year using your site and enjoyed reading your work. I also want to say that your lead piece on Fernandez was very well done. Thanks again.
No problem, thanks!
SON has AJ Griffin pretty high vs MIL today.
The only problem is Martin Perez is pitching today. Is Perez at the same level?
I don’t trust Perez
Haniger or Puig?
Puig
Which road start do you like better tomorrow?
Eickhoff @ATL
Jose De Leon @SD
Eickhoff
With the Cubs clinching the division, would you start Taillon at home vs them? Say, if you had 18 starts left in the season?
I would
That was a very touching tribute. When anyone dies young it is a bitter pill to swallow, but the vitality and joy that Jose exhibited in every endeavor made this tragedy even more heart-wrenching. You got the feeling that if he was working at Jiffy Lube, he’d approach his life and his work in the same manner. He was rare, supremely talented and, by all accounts, a fantastic person. Selfless to a fault and extremely devoted to his family and community. In just a few years, he had become an icon. He was truly an amazing story of someone who overcame long odds through perseverance and courage to have a life that is the stuff of dreams. My only hope is that a semblance of peace, comfort, and hope helps his family and loved ones through this dark time.
Agreed, thanks!
What do you think about Chatwood and Gray’s starts on the road against SF?
I’d start both if the Giants are in the playoffs or eliminated… If they’re not either, then just Gray
@Grey:
Thanks, Grey! I’ve got Kuhl, but he’s facing the Cubbies and Cards. Would you start?
Trying to replace JoFer is asking to fill some pretty big shoes.
Start Kuhl, Cubs could be resting people and Cards aren’t that scary
Please rank top 3 streamers
E Santana @ KC
Nolasco vs LAA
Lugo @ MIA
De Leon @ SD
Collmenter vs Atl
Snell @ CWS
Nolasco, Lugo, Collmenter
14-team dynasty league and I need to clear two people from my roster before the season re-starts.
Choose two of the below to CUT from my team in a dynasty league:
Welington Castilla (my only C), Jacoby Ellsbury, Ender Inciarte, Elvis Andrus, Francisco Rodriguez, Matt Moore, Jimmy Nelson, Junior Guerra, Chad Kuhl, Hisashi Iwakuma, Yordano Ventura
Honestly, you got a bunch of guys that you can cut… Andrus, Moore
question for ya, finals of h2h baseball (sport doesn’t matter here it’s just a game theory chop question). i’m in a 7X6 (OBP over AVG, total bases and hits added for hitters, losses for pitchers)
we have a prize pool of $1404 with this
1st = $900
2nd = $504 (we used round %’s rather than round numbers, pot was 150 x 12, money went to 1st and 2nd place in season as well)
my idea was to each get somewhere in the $600-$615 range and play for the rest ($204- $174), till opp correctly pointed out that he has the tie breaker. so this brings up interesting point, what exactly is his tie breaker worth here. he has to idea to keep each $585, and he gets an extra $74, and we play for the rest ($160). what do you think? i asked Rudy too in his most recent football post.
I bet Rudy can figure this out to the dollar, but I’d split $1200 right now, give or take $50, if he’s willing to do $585, I’d do it… Then play for the rest
@Grey: his idea was i get $585 he gets $585 + $74 (his tiebreaker being worth that much) and we play for $160.
@Bull in a Chinese Restaurant: i was leaning $74 being a decent enough number. i told him i’ll get back to him before games start and we still got a long time on that.
I followed… I’d do that, split $1170 now, then play for rest…
@Grey: yeah, the math isn’t hard, it’s just been a while since i read those awesome poker/gambling books that lay out exactly what math you do in these spots (it gets really neat when you lay out how much somebody might actually be favored by with it,and then come up with an adjusted value for what that tiebreaker is actually worth theoretically)
Yeah, exactly… Viz might know at hockey… It’s likely higher than the number you’re comfortable taking because you’re definitely going to win $504… With that much guaranteed, I’d bet the real number is closer to $625 to chop… I don’t know though, and I’m conservative so I think $585 is fair
@Grey: more i look at it it’s not looking good, since if we assume i do the chop:
if i were to win i’d be giving up $155 (900-585-160)that i would’ve made
if i were to lose/tie (same thing) i’d be gaining $81 ($585-$504)
so i’ve have to be around a 1.91 to 1 dog for this to work out for me, unless i’m forgetting something mathwise.
before i realized he had tiebreaker i wanted to do $615 each (but of course me claiming tiebreaker doesn’t have chop value is tantamount to me claiming i’m a decent favorite, which i’m not doing, nor is he, at least openly)
@Bull in a Chinese Restaurant: 1.91 to 1 dog translates to only having a 34.364% winning expectancy and i have to think i beat that with an AP stick.
@Bull in a Chinese Restaurant: in instances of the guaranteed money either
1. being a LOT less than the chop amount
or
2. being just a large number relative to my net worth
it is good to be conservative (i.e. take the money when you know you have it)
I think it’s good to take a guaranteed payout that is more than you would’ve got if losing or tying, but I’m conservtive
Yeah, depends on the odds of losing or tying… Which is why I said I think mathwise you should likely get more, but I’m honestly not 100% sure
Grey –
Zach Davies, he’s scheduled to start Friday at Coors … would you start him?
Ha, no way
Am a Halos fan. I remember watching Nick Adenhart pitch very well in his first start of the 2009 season only to wake up the next morning to discover he had been killed, along with two other passengers, by a drunk driver. It hit me hard as I was very excited, along with countless other Halo fans, to see what this kid could do in his first full stint in the rotation. He too battled back from TJ and made the rotation in spring training that year. The Angels community was obviously devastated, and while it took some time, we were able to heal.
I remember towards the end of the fantasy year (out of contention by then fantasy-wise) i went to the wires and picked up Adenhart. Yea, kind of corny whatnot, but fantasy baseball is what i enjoy doing every year and i felt it was a pretty cool thing to do to try to honor a player who loved playing the game, and in his short playing career was able to touch teammates and fans in a positive manner. I imagine that those that have JoFer on their rosters are doing the same thing.
RIP JoFer and the two other victims. Condolences to his family, teammates, fans and the Cuban, Cuban-American community.
Yeah, I thought about that too… Thanks for sharing!
With Harper’s thumb being an issue (think they’re likely to rest him going into the playoffs, but who knows) do I play Harper or Duvall this week? Care only about HR and RBI
Duvall
Grey – Nice write-up re JoFer. Thank you.
AL Only, last week – Need 2:
1) Miranda vs. OAK (Graveman)
2) Stroman vs. BAL (Jimenez)
3) Norris vs. CLE (C. Anderson/Bullpen Day)
Really need Wins without blowing up ERA/WHIP. BTW, Stroman has sucked vs BAL this year.
Thanks, G-
Mike
Thanks! Not Stroman
@Yelyab: Gattis, Kiermaier, Gurriel
Martin Perez as a 2 start guy this week (home vs MIL & TB)? I need starts, you like?
@Don Majikowski: I don’t
Ok thanks. No hesitation benching Bryce?
He’s so banged up and hasn’t done well even when the Nats were fighting for the playoffs
Grey,
I want to thank you for all of the advice this year. Lost in the semis in a close matchup last night but at least I won the regular season title.
Have a great offseason and looing forward to next year!
@Bostero111: Sorry you lost it in the playoffs!
Excellent piece about Jose, Grey. Such awful, awful news. RIP Jose.
It’s down to the wire for 1st place in my roto league, need some expert help for the final push…
1. Looking for steals, would you give either Manuel Margot or Roman Quinn a shot this week? Which do you prefer? You think they get enough ABs?
2. I’m desperate for Wins, need Ks too, but don’t need ERA too much. For W’s, who are the best 3 starts from the following: (weekly league so I need to set lineups today)
– Manaea (@LAA, @ SEA)
– Severino (vs. TOR, and possibly vs. BAL)
– Chacin (vs HOU) SON likes him
– B. McCarthy (@SF)
– Nolasco (vs OAK) – SON loves him
Thanks Much Grey! You’re the greatest. If I win it again, I get one more year of the priceless, hand-painted Jose Canseco original acrylic painting of a baseball diamond that looks like a 3rd grader’s art project! Let’s get this trophy!!!
@GregJeffries: Agreed, very sad…. 1. Margot 2. Nolasco, Chacin, Severino…Don’t love a third… Let’s win this!
Awesome. Thanks!
Just read that you don’t think Darvish goes more than 4 IP this week… crap.
Sorry for loading you up with busy work today, but with so much on the line, I’ve just gotta lay it out for you…
1. I need some SPs who are going to start this week so I can pick up those elusive W’s.
Who should I NOT start due to risk of being pulled/not starting this week?
Darvish (vs TB)
Arrieta (@ PIT)
Duffy (vs MIN)
Lackey (@ PIT, maybe @ CIN… prob not?)
Quintana (vs TB)
Severino (vs. TOR, and possibly vs. BAL)
Chacin (vs HOU)
Nolasco (vs OAK)
2. Do you like Alex Meyer (vs OAK), Manaea (@LAA, @ SEA) or McCarthy (@ SF),better than Darvish for a W this week?
1. Can I get a day they’re going? Cubs SPs won’t go deep after Thursday 2. Just a win? Manaea
You got it…
Darvish (vs TB) – 10/1
Arrieta (@ PIT) – 9/28
Duffy (vs MIN) – 9/29
Lackey (@ PIT, maybe @ CIN… prob not?) 9/27, maybe 10/2
Quintana (vs TB) 9/29
Severino (vs. TOR, and possibly vs. BAL) 9/26, maybe 10/2
Chacin (vs HOU) 9/30
Nolasco (vs OAK) 9/27
2. I need Wins mostly, without totally demolishing my ERA. Manaea has been solid lately, but was struggling on the road earlier. But if Darvish only goes 4 IP, he’s only useful for a few Ks… This last week is TOUGH! Never been in a situation this tight before.
I’d say Darvish, Lackey and Duffy are your worst bets… In order of worst to best… Don’t trust Darvish or Lackey to go deep
Ok Gotcha. With Lackey, you don’t trust him in his 9/27 start, correct?
Do you dislike Duffy enough to replace him with Alex Meyer (vs OAK)? Or worth the risk?
Thanks again!
Yeah, not 9/27… I’d go Duffy over Meyer
This is so tragic. You’re so right Grey, he was a joy to watch.
Feels weird even asking for help today but I still need you Grey…
10 team H2H Points
Pitcher Scoring: WIN (+3), LOSS (-3), IP (+3), K (+1), BB (-1), SAVE (+3), HOLD (+1), ER (-2), HIT (-1), SO (+3), NH (+10), PG (+15)
Here we go heading into the final week of this H2H points matchup and I’m actually up 87 points thanks to your streaming advice! Last day of the matchup is Sunday 10/2 and I’m at 13/24 starts used so which 10 starts should I use through Saturday to ensure I protect this lead and win the championship!?
9/26
McHugh vs. SEA (5.3)
Colon @MIA (0.0)
9/27
Price @NYA (22.7)
Nolasco vs. OAK (16.1)
Eickhoff @ATL (2.6)
Fiers vs. SEA (2.0)
Lugo @MIA (-0.5)
Cobb @CHA (-4.6)
9/28
Taillon vs. CHN (14.7)
B. Anderson @SD (9.1)
Paxton @HOU (5.8)
Snell @CHA (1.1)
9/29
Duffy vs. MIN (20.9)
Nova vs. CHN (10.0)
D. Norris vs. CLE (-2.6)
Straily @STL (-4.2)
9/30
Pineda vs. BAL (27.3)
J. Gray vs. MIL (14.5)
D. Norris @ATL (8.2)
Tomlin @KC (1.1)
Cotton @SEA (1.0)
Finnegan vs. CHN (-12.2)
Asher vs. NYN (-15.3)
10/1
Bradley vs. SD (12.2)
Musgrove @LAA (9.4)
Gsellman @PHI (3.2)
T. Anderson vs. MIL (0.5)
@ebudz: McHugh
Price @NYA (22.7)
Nolasco vs. OAK (16.1)
Eickhoff @ATL (2.6)
Taillon vs. CHN (14.7)
B. Anderson @SD (9.1)
Paxton @HOU (5.8)
Pineda vs. BAL (27.3)
J. Gray vs. MIL (14.5)
D. Norris @ATL (8.2)
Bradley vs. SD (12.2)
@Grey: Appreciate it Grey, thanks! However that was 11 … I want to save some starts for last day so could you please pick one above that I SHOULD NOT start so I only use 10 before 10/2?
Paxton
@Grey: Thank you, thank you very much!
No problem, hope you win it!
Going for the gold in a weekly league. Would you bench Harper in favor of Drury or Brad Miller?
Thanks.
RIP Jose
@Dan: Damn that’s a tough call. I’d probably roll Miller since I had Drury last week and it looks like his hot streak is over
@Dan: Miller
Grey –
Really good job with Jo-Fer.
Which batter…
Gyorko vs Adleman
Semien vs Weaver
Another batter….
Duvall vs Garcia
Saunders vs Severino
Thanks !
@Racehorse: Thanks! Gyorko… Duvall
JFer was my favorite pitcher. came into the year owning him on 2 of 4 keeper teams and traded away a lot to get him on the other two. Was so excited to see how he did in the next couple years once the training wheels from TJ recovery were fully off. Mostly it was his passion that made it so great to watch, his talent was there but in a moment where say John Lackey would swear and roll his eyes in anger at a missed strike call Jose would smile and shrug it off. I have never been one to be emotionally affected by a celebrity death but with JFer it felt like he was part of the family/team in a sense, from following and cheering him on.
Made a point of watching all his starts on MLB.TV if I was home (or listening if not). Cheered as he came off the mount against the Nats in the 7th last tuesday…amazing dominant performance. And as he came off at the end of that start, that last out to keep the Nats scoreless, as he heads for the dugout I distinctly noticed him look up and blow a kiss with a smile to his mom and girlfriend cheering in the stands…chilling now to think back on that, his parting goodbye off the mound.
@Jimmy Bond: whoops make that blowing a kiss coming off in the 8th inning of course (so shaken up I am mixing it up with his 7 inning dodger win with 14 K’s a couple starts before!)
@Jimmy Bond: Agreed, was a joy to watch
I’ll never understand why in ESPN weekly leagues if you pick up a guy midweek and hold him one night and drop him he goes to waivers. It would make more sense that he goes through waivers if he made a weekly lock.
But on ESPN daily leagues I can pick up a guy minutes before the day locks and drop him minutes after the lock and he doesn’t go through waivers. But he’s in your lineup that night. Odd.
@YC: Depends on league settings
my stomach was sick all weekend too, as you astutely put it always sucks when someone so young dies abruptly. cut down in the prime of life. And for whatever reason it hurts moreso when its someone you know is destined for greatness in whatever their realm of life is. Jo Fer was certainly that, you just know that he certain to make his way to Cooperstown. ditto on the smiles, you always love seeing guys play the game with joy, being an Angels fan one of my favorite players of all time was Griffey Jr. (shocking huh?) I was always jealous that the F’ing Mariners had a player like that. Luckily for me, Trout is that same kind of player. And Jo Fer was very much that is well. How appropriate that his final stat line was easily his best of this season: 8in 3hits(0bb) 0er 12 ks. And he leaves us with a career statline of 2.54era 11.2 k/9 2.7 bb/9. So long, and thanks for the fish.
To make my weekend even worse, lost the finals to a tiebreak rule because i only needed 1 QS on Sunday and Rich Hill’s blister came back and robbed me at the end! aghhhh. Next year I will immediately trade anyone that gets a blister.
@Todd25: Agree, truly tragic… That sucks on Hill, that stupid blister!
Do we have a list of pitchers who might be in jeopardy this week of getting bumped or going like 2 innings in their scheduled start? Like all Cubs…
I have a choice between F.Liriano (vs Balt on Tues) and Yu (vs Rays on Friday).
Obv I’d go Yu based on matchup but if Yu may barely pitch or not at all…
@Moneyball: I don’t, need to use intuition… Yu won’t start or go more than 4 IP
Lester is at 19 wins. If he’s leading in final start, i think Maddon let’s him go 5-6 IP for a shot at 20 W.
Yeah, could be
That was beautiful, Grey. Thank you.
@MuneForNothing: No problem
Congrats to every team playing in the Finals this week. I owe 99.9% of my success to Grey… hopefully I can manage my way to one more win.
@William Hung: Let’s get that win!
@Grey: Here’s a throwback reference for you – is J.A. Happ’s improbably season similar to when Kent Bottenfield won 18 games? I remember being as shocked at that as I am now. I can’t believe Happ has come out of nowhere to win 20 games in the AL EAST!
@William Hung: Ha, you pulled that name out of the ether
@Grey: Grey!
You mean Andre Ethier, right? Just kidding.
Cheers,
Ante
Hehe
Hey Grey- weekly league – looking solely for average – steals a distant second- I need one for the week:
Josh Bell
Paulo Orlando
Reddick
Conforto
Cron
Thanks
@YC: Orlando
Strange that someone you never met but followed so closely can affect you but that’s what I feel today. Win or lose this week, fantasy won’t be as fun. A victory will be hollow because everybody lost yesterday.
@Brian: Yeah, real tragic
Great write up and nice tribute to Jo-Fer. A true superstar and good guy. Lets also remember today the great Vin Scully who did his last game at home yesterday after 67 years.. The love he showed for the fans and they returned to him was a touching time. I know I went to sleep many nights in the Midwest listening to that amazing voice turning a simple baseball game into a poetic masterpiece. Thank you,Vin.
And now let’s not forget that Betances has been overworked by Girardi for three years and should be wearing down. He has more relief innings in that span than any non-starter. Way to go,Joe! Questions later. Thank you Grey and Razzball team for another great year.
@DonnieB: Agreed, Vin’s the best… No problem
Feel callous for asking but would you start Colon against the Marlins tonight? I’m in a tight race and could use a good start. Just not how to read that situation.
RIP Jo-Fer
@Ghost of Bob Wickman: I’d start him
A friend of mine who’s also a huge baseball fan informed me yesterday morning. At first I didn’t believe him. Then I went online and read some articles and it gradually sunk in.
The thing that got me was that he was meant to start Sunday, but the Marlins skipped him a day with Conley coming off the DL. If he hadn’t been skipped and was due to pitch the following day, there’s no way he’s on a speedboat at 2 o’clock in the morning.
And the announcement of his girlfriend being pregnant a few days before his passing was just Devastating.
RI Jose Fernandez. What a truly special person and player.
@Gareth: Yeah, real sad news