Maybe it’s because Whip/Nae Nae is permanently stuck in my head — One word of advice.  If you take no other advice from me, please, I implore you, accept this advice.  If you don’t know what Whip/Nae Nae is, don’t, under any circumstances, Google it.  It make Gangnam Style seem like a walk in the park when it comes to catchy songs. If you don’t know what Gangnam Style is, I love how you’ve decorated under that rock of yours.  — but I can’t help looking at Jake Arrieta‘s no hitter less about the 12 Ks and only allowing one walk — Sure, those are sweet — but more about how his season WHIP is 0.94.  There’s Greinke (.85 WHIP), Kershaw (.90), Scherzer (.93) and deGrom (.94).  An under one WHIP and a 9+ K/9 is a little piece of heaven like sitting in an exit row of an airplane.  On the podcast that’s coming later today, I debate Greinke and Arrieta, Scherzer and Arrieta and deGrom and Arrieta as we try to figure out where they’ll be ranked in 2016.  I say something like Arrieta will be ranked around the 4th to about the 7th SP off the board.  I agree with Early Sunday Afternoon Grey, but I will say that Arrieta has made it difficult for me to think of four SPs that should be drafted before him. Let alone six.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Javier Baez – Cubs (team, not the animals) annouced Baez would be in the first round of callups. Â Javier na gila! Â Since the Cubs (still team, not the animal) are platooning Starlin Castro (3-for-5) and Tommy La Stella at 2nd base, I have but one question as I lift my quill, “Why wasn’t Baez called up months ago?” Â *waits for an answer which never comes because I’m writing this in a room where there’s no one else around* Â I’ll take your silence to mean you don’t know either. Â Baez has 13 homers and 17 steals in 67 games in Triple-A. Â He proved months (years?) ago that he should’ve been given a chance to strike out with the Cubs. Â Speaking of striking out, that was always Baez’s biggest issue. Â Last year, he came up and struck out 41.5% of the time, which led to a .169 batting average in 52 games. Â Even Rob Deer looks at a 41.5% strikeout rate and shudders. Â “Don’t speak for me.” Â Sorry, Rob! Â This year, however (I sense some goodness coming), Baez has only K’d 25.2% of the time in Triple-A (vs. 30% in Triple-A last year), which likely means he’ll K about about 30% of the time in the majors this year and hit around .250. Â Hit-schmit! Â You want to grab him for his power (9 HRs in 52 games last year) and his speed (5 SBs in those same 52 games). Â If I were a betting man, I’d bet you’re sitting on the toilet while reading this. Â If I were a betting man on Baez, I’d say he’ll prove ownable in every mixed league and would grab him now.
Jason Castro – Hit the DL with a strained quad.  In a deep league that doesn’t have waivers, I drafted Conger and Zunino.  Well, Zunino just got sent down the other day (to where, I don’t know, since the minor league season is just about over.  You know shizz is pear-shaped when you’re sent to the minors after the minor league season is over.  Any hoo!), now that Castro is injured, I once again have a starting catcher.  That I’m excited about this shows you how well this team has done.  Hashtag, this is what happens when you draft Samardzija, Cingrani and Zach Wheeler as three of your top four SPs.
Carlos Correa – Has missed four straight games with a hamstring strain. Â This is as good a time as any to point out that as clubs expand their rosters like Sandoval at a Golden Corral, they won’t always put guys on the DL because they have extra room to carry them. Â Not saying that’s what is going on with Correa…Or am I?! Â No, I’m not saying it. Â Leave me alone, reversal ellipsis.
Chris Carter – 1-for-3, 3 RBIs and his 18th homer. Â He has fewer singles in the last ten years than Notorious B.I.G.
Jose Altuve – 4-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 11th homer. Â Thank God, MLB hasn’t installed those roller coaster “Bugs Bunny holding his hand” height restrictions.
Lance McCullers – 6 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners (4 BBs), 6 Ks. Â According to the Stream-o-Nator, he gets the Twins again next time and it’s a home start, which we like. Â We meaning me and a robot. Â What, I’m an only child, all I need are robots.
Ervin Santana – 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 10 Ks. Â That’s nice; too bad it was preceded by months of “Oh, God, he’s awful, please get him off my team,” so when a good start came finally, no one was within “Jared and a middle school” distance of him.
Miguel Sano – 1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 13th homer. Â Between this guy and Schwarber, are they trying to make it impossible to reasonably draft them next year? Â Okay, in a 2016 fantasy draft, who do you want: Â Sano or Chris Davis?
Jordan Zimmermann – 7 IP, 1 ER, 8 baserunners, 4 Ks. Â I was able to pick him up for this start on Saturday in my RCL league. Â I know, I know, Zimmermann shouldn’t be on waivers, but there’s a 180 start limit, so at some point guys have to start dropping their slightly lesser pitchers. Â (I also grabbed Hamels.) Â The real challenge will be whether I can hold onto these guys for the entire month of September. Â My guess is no. Â And by no I mean no way, and by guess I mean I know, so I know no (stutterer!). Â Hey, look at me, throwing a know no!
Stephen Strasburg – Left yesterday’s game with discomfort in his back. Â *opens window, jumps out, lands five feet below in a rose bush* Â NOOOOOOO! Â Put me out of my misery, cruel world!
Doug Fister – 2 IP, 0 ER and could go back into the rotation with the newly-injured Strasburg. Â Well, Fister could go into anywhere. Â Even something the size of a pinhole. Â I’m just sayin’, I’ve seen videos.
Jayson Werth – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 5th homer, and 2nd in the last four days. Â I wouldn’t want to own Werth, but I would own him while he’s swinging a hot bat. Â That’s what she said! Â Huh?
Justin Bour – 1-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 14th homer, and his 2nd homer in as many games. Â Hot schmotato alert! Â Also, what’s interesting about Bour, I could see him hitting 15-17 homers no matter what his stats prorate to. Â He’s one of those players that could hit ten homers in April and I still wouldn’t expect him to hit more than 17 homers in a season. Â Okay, it was more interesting in my mind.
Derek Dietrich – 2-for-4 and his 10th homer. Â Here’s a guy that I wouldn’t be shocked to see 20+ homers next year, assuming the Marlins play him the entire year. Â But I thought they were going to play him this year and that didn’t happen. Â Didn’t happen! Â It didn’t happen! Â Oops, I started singing the wrong lyrics to that Shaggy song. Â Well, the lyrics are very complicated.
Josh Hamilton – Not cleared to run. Â If only they declared the same for Donald Trump.
Derek Holland – 9 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 11 Ks. Â Your mustache is a joke, Derek, but your everything else can spoon my nethers. Â Damn, hello, pretty start, don’t mind if I do. Â I’d definitely own him in all leagues until further notice. Â Like now now! Â Like now now now! Â Like now now now now!
A.J. Burnett – Hoping to return by mid-September, so it doesn’t seem odd when, at the end of September, he’s considering retirement again.
Charlie Blackmon – 2-for-5 and his 35th steal. Â Cool, nice, adjective, but can the Rockies go back to Coors before it starts getting cold and they get snowed out and balls are no longer flying out of the stadium? Â Rhetorical!
Ryan Braun – 2-for-4 and his 24th homer. Â We discuss Braun on the podcast that’s coming later today. Â Dot dot dot. Â Of course, we do! Â JB is back hosting it. Â We also have a very special guest that is hip hop related. Â Stay tuned! Â Or not. Â Your choice.
Wily Peralta – 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks.  You have bigger trouser oranges than me if you started him here.  Or anywhere really.  I don’t even know how I ended up drafting this guy since I kinda hate him.  It’s amazing how attractive Speedy K. Goneless is in March and how unattractive he becomes once the season starts.
John Lamb – 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks. Â Solid start, but this isn’t who he is. Â He’s usually a Randy Wolf in Lamb’s clothing.
Luis Severino – 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 5 Ks.  It’s legit weird for me to be excited about a Yankee player, and especially a pitcher, but I’m goose-pimply and I already want to own him in all leagues next year.
Stephen Drew – 4-for-4, 3 runs, 4 RBIs and his 16th homer, hitting .201, as the Yankees scored 20 runs yesterday. Â The only Yankees to not score yesterday were the Civil War reenactors in Roanoke.
Chase Headley – 3-for-3, 3 runs, 4 RBIs and his 10th homer.  By the by, moving to Yankee Stadium hasn’t made Headley into a 25-homer guy.  Please break it to your March self.
Jacoby Ellsbury – 2-for-6, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 7th homer. Â Mo’ better news! Â He didn’t get hurt.
Carlos Beltran – 3-for-5, 1 run. Â Has hit in nine of his last ten games, and, well, everyone on the Yankees is currently hot, but Beltran’s up there with some of the hotter ones. Â Stop thinking about Jeter, five lady readers. Â He’s retired.
Adonis Garcia – 3-for-5, 2 runs and his 7th homer. Â He’s hitting near-.325 in the last week with three homers. Â Yes, I officially wish I dropped Longoria for Adorable Adonis.
Julio Teheran – 4 1/3 IP, 8 ER, ERA up to 4.62. Â The good news, you can drop him without any ill feelings. Â The bad news, everything else.
Lance Lynn – 7 IP, 0 ER, 8 baserunners, 2 Ks, but left his start after rolling his ankle.  “That’s a new one for even me!” said Snoop Dogg.  Lynn expects to make his next start.  After the game, he had no noticeable limp and wore cowboy boots out of the clubhouse.  One reporter remarked, “He looked like Dolly Parton from the shin down.”
Brandon Moss – 1-for-3 and his 17th homer, hitting .200. Â This is perhaps only surprising to me, but I can’t believe he’s hitting for a worse average than Stephen Drew. Â There’s a mystery for J.J. Hardy to solve.
Matt Carpenter – 2-for-4 and his 20th homer. Â Coming into this year, in three seasons, he only had 25 homers total. Â See what that Carpenter can do when he’s not being a martyr or being persecuted, though those two things kinda go hand in hand.
Chris Heston – 3 2/3 IP, 5 ER. Â Get your dirty stats off my team!
Brandon Belt – 4-for-4, 3 runs with four singles like you at 3:30 AM in Spearmint Rhino when you start crying about your woman leaving you for her yoga instructor.
Marlon Byrd – 3-for-4, 4 RBIs and hit a gran slam on Friday.  And this Byrd you cannot cage
Joe Kelly – 7 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 2 Ks.  Before this start, I was examining him, the Stream-o-Nator, tea leaves, and I still didn’t stream him.  Alas, a name Caitlyn calls herself.
Hanley Ramirez – Missed the entire weekend series with the Braves. Â Hanley + weekly lineups = Dr. Kevorkian. Â Hmm, math’s a little off there, but close. Â Was supposed to equal death.
Jean Machi – Red Sox announced that Machi is their closer, which comes about three weeks after they announced Machi was their closer only to start using Tazawa in the ninth.  Hopefully, this time, Machi is their closer that they actually use to close.
Addison Reed – Mets acquired him to work in middle relief and to make other relievers in the Mets bullpen look better.
Michael Cuddyer – 3-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI. Â He seems to have cooled off a bit in the last few days, but he was hitting near-.450 in the last week prior, so schmotato. Â Nahmean?
Noah Syndergaard – 6 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA up to 3.31. Â For those who own Syndergaard in H2H leagues, you’re gonna get a taste of why H2H playoffs aren’t the same as real baseball. Â Mostly because Syndergaard will be skipped for your playoffs and not for the Mets’.
Alec Asher – 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 baserunners, 3 Ks. Â His name completely betrays my feelings for him. Â If you say his full name, you can’t dislike him, but I do.
Cameron Rupp – 1-for-3 and his 8th homer, and his 2nd homer this weekend and his 4th homer this week.  I’ll need to get past my prejudices against anyone that reminds of an Adolph, and admit that Rupp is a hot schmotato.  “Glad to see you’re coming around.”  Not for you, Jimmy Hitler.
Justin Upton – 1-for-5 and his 24th homer. Â Kinda hilarious (not funny at all), that Upton is going to get to 27 homers, as he is wont to do, and next year you’re going to draft him, thinking, “Okay, it’s not sexy, but Upton just gets me stats,” then two months into next year, you’re gonna be like, “When does fantasy football start again?”
Matt Kemp – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 16th homer. Â Bangfizzle! Â Which seems like the perfect glossary term for Kemp.
Yangervis Solarte – 1-for-6 and his 11th homer. Â Because, brucely, I just dropped him. Â Yangervisis is like a bubble. Â I touch it and it pops.
James Shields – 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.78. Â In the past years, I’ve talked about how on one team I’m gonna draft only Padres starters. Â Well, I still haven’t done it, and I’m sure glad I didn’t do it this year.
Josh Tomlin – 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.08.  You streamed Tomlin?  Well, who’s Laugh-in now!
Abraham Almonte – 2-for-4, 4 RBIs and his 3rd homer.  His home run was a grand salami, which is also a title given in the KKK.  The Grand Salami is in charge of lunch meat.
Carlos Santana – 3-for-4, 3 RBIs. Â Oh, stop with the hits. Â Just hit a few homers and let’s pretend this season never happened.
Drew Pomeranz – 1 IP, 1 ER and a blown save on Sunday, after securing his 3rd save on Saturday. Â Doolittle, maybe don’t be so literal and you’ll get another chance.
Stephen Vogt – 3-for-6, 2 runs and his 18th homer. Â Ah, finally, the suffrage is over for Vogt.
David Peralta – 3-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 14th homer. Â Out of the Diamondbacks 130 games, how many you think Peralta’s played in? Â Nope, way higher. Â 18,000? Â You’re not even trying. Â He’s played in 121 games. Â Surprising right?
Felix Hernandez – Will have his next turn skipped. Â McClendon said, “I did the same thing last year. Â I freshened my pitchers up, and Felix had the best September of his career. Â Everybody thought I was nuts when I did it.” Â No, McClendon, they think you’re nuts for various other reasons.
Kyle Seager – 3-for-6, 3 RBIs and his third homer in as many games and fourth homer in the past five games. Â Seager has 21 homers and is batting 2nd. Â I have an idea. Â McClendon should point out when he’s not being nuts. Â Be easier.
Austin Jackson – 3-for-6, 3 runs, 2 RBI and his 8th homer, hitting near-.500 in the last week. Â Someone called action on Jackson, and I’d cut someone else to pick him up.
Jeff Samardzija – 5 2/3 IP, 5 ER, ERA up to 4.85. Â S%@(#*^@zija!
Melky Cabrera – 4-for-5 and his 9th homer. Â Melky went cold, which is nice for cereal, but not so much for fantasy. Â Melky is getting hot again, which is good for melting chocolate, and fantasy. Â Remind to eat before writing blurbs.
Alexei Ramirez – 3-for-5, 2 runs and three days in a row with multiple hits. Â What will he do tomorrow? Â Ask El Cubanati.
Kris Medlen – 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks vs. Jake Odorizzi 4 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 baserunners, 5 Ks.  This matchup sounds like a letter to Dear Abby, where the person isn’t sure if they should mention to a co-worker that they smell.  It’s signed, Meddling in Odor Eaters.
Kevin Kiermaier – 1-for-3 and his 7th homer, and had a slam and legs on Saturday. Â You, “Are you seriously suggesting I pick up Kevin Kiermaier?” Â *looks left, looks right* Â Meekly, “Yeah?”
Drew Hutchison – 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 7 Ks. Â It’s irrelevant who he’s facing. Â If he’s at home, you start him.
Josh Donaldson – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 36th homer. Â F5! Â Also, it’s official, Donaldson is the top rated player on our Player Rater.
Kevin Pillar – 2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 9th homer, hitting near-.400 in the last week.  Sure, he’s kinda like Bill Schnacky, the little known 8-hole hitter on the 1927 Yankees, and even Schnacky had a solid year, and not at all crumby as his name would imply.
Russell Martin – 2-for-3, 3 runs, 2 RBIs and his 17th homer. Â Occasionally, I get comments asking if I’d own more than two hitters on the same team. Â I’d own every Blue Jay. Â Fo’serious.
Edwin Encarnacion – 2-for-3 and his 30th homer, and three homers on Saturday with 9 RBIs.  For Edwin and Bautista, the city of Toronto should put a fountain on top of the CN Tower so it looks like a cortisone shot.
SON two home runs in two days, Fatolo today after holland yesterday.
Have one guy constantly on my bench for offense..
In a race for saves
Drop D.Wright or Moose or David Peralta for Doolittle or Drew?
Thanks!
Drew?
@adg: storen not a closer anymore, there was somebody else around lately wondering if he’d still be getting saves and had held him that long.
Hey Grey,
Choose two in a redraft H2H OBP league.
Buxton, Baez, FraGu (assuming he now gets regular ABs with AJax’s departure)
Buxton, Baez
Better stream for tomorrow:
Gallardo @ SD
Marco Gonzalez v WAS
Haren v CIN
Smyly @ BAL
8 Team H2H – W, QS, SV, KS, KS/9, ERA
Gallardo
Looking for a Starter or Tuesday :
A –Scott Feldman – Home vs Sea. – Elias
B– Tyler Duffey – Home vs CWS. – Sale
C –Both
D– None
Need Whip, ERA ……
6×6 mixed roto
Feldman
Great call on Salazar, Grey! I first saw his start this morning and figured, well I’ll be sitting him there, but put him in based on your comments.
Nice! I’m glad too, since I started him in a few leagues
@Grey: this is funny. I started salazar and sat price in the fcl thinking that I benched salazar and started price. I was distracted while I was doing my lineup. In this case it’s better to be distracted than good? Yeah I know makes no sense.
Nice, I would’ve started both, but hot damn my RCL team has gone cold as dog balls so maybe I should be more distracted…
You might be cold but you’re in first. I dropped colon today for a batty call….a c#&%×@£$%#/ mother f $%£#@÷& batty call. *shoots self*
I have like one hit in two weeks… So effin cold
Watch Sky pass us both
@Grey: My homer lead is falling faster than Steven this week when he goes home
Haha…He’s not going anywhere!
These guys all worth streaming in my H2H points league tomorrow? I just need as many points as possible and no negative scores!
ESPN 10 Team H2H Points:
Pitcher Scoring: WIN (+3), LOSS (-3), IP (+3), K (+1), BB (-1), SAVE (+3), ER (-2), HIT (-1), NH (+10) PF (+15)
Niese vs. PHI (20.7)
Cashner vs. TEX (11.2)
Shoemaker @OAK (0.3)
I’d stream them all
@Grey: Sounds good! Also what about Smyly @BAL (8.1)? If you would start him too could narrow those 4 guys down to just three starters tomorrow?
I wouldn’t start Smyly
You liking Colon tonight vs Phil? SON loves him $26.80, but it’s Colon…
Yes
Word is the Olivera is getting called up tomorrow. Thoughts on him? Add Baez or Olivera?
Is Olivera worth prioritizing? He’s not in the Yahoo player pool right now, so nobody can add him until he plays a game. Do I try to add Baez now or wait for Olivera and risk getting neither?
H2H league, playoffs start next week (on Labor Day). I’m in the playoffs, but no bye, so playing in that first week. My lineup is a disaster. I’m planning on playing several hot hands and working the platoon splits hard.
Assume you’re fine with dropping the following guys as needed to optimize my lineup: Gardner, Morales, Fowler, Khris Davis, right?
Thanks,
I’d add Olivera, clearing path to playing time… Not sure why you’re dropping those guys for Olivera though
@Grey: yeah, I’m not. I just mean as we move into the playoffs, those are sort of guys I’d be willing to cut if their matchups are bad or to add a schmotato. You think they’re must own and cannot drop guys?
10 TM league
I think you can drop them, I don’t see a reason right now from what you’re giving me
Thanks for the article and for all of the guidance this season, very much appreciated! I’m in a 16 team league and playoffs start tonight. My opponent has a two start edge and I’m considering replacing Quintana with a two-start (presumably) Michael Lorenzen. Bad idea?
No problem… Bad idea…
Who do like for this week in a H2H league with the 5 basic roto categories for scoring – C. Gomez or Betts?
Betts
@Grey: Thanks!
No problem
Trust J Ross with 2 starts @ StL & vs Atl??
@henncoop: SON has the week ranked @ $0.4
They’re okay, as SON says
@Grey: weekly roto where the only offensive category i can gain/lose points is avg. which of the following do you start?
2b: wong (3 vs was, 3 vs pit) or wilmer flores (3 vs phi, 3 @ mia)
OF: cargomez (3 vs sea, 3 vs min), khris davis (3 vs pit, 3 @ cin) or paulsen (3 vs ari, 4 vs sf, but facing 3 lefties)
DH: pujols (3 @ oak, 3 vs tex) or xander (3 vs ny, 3 vs phi)
thank you.
Flores..Paulsen… Pujols
I’ve got Blanco, Beltran and Moreland on my team. Just clinched a playoff spot and was wondering if you think Blanco’s ship has sailed along with the others mentioned? Byrd, Kiermaier, Bradley Jr. are on my wire. I also have lost a few pitchers and need some more depth. Happ, Kelly, Eickhoff are out there too. Anything appealing here?
Byrd over Blanco… Happ
@Grey: who to drop for Happ? Beltran or Moreland? They’re my subs.
Moreland
Grey what do you think of this offer?
I give up Bryant, Puig, Freeman, Russell, and Buxton for Goldy? We do OPS instead of AVG
Don’t like it
Thanks, Grey! What about Byrd or D. Peralta ros?
Byrd
Drop Salvy and his Abuelita for RMart?? OBP league.
Yup
Gray,
Would you start Salazar @TOR?
@whatever: never mind. I just saw your response to earlier post on this
Yes
Nola or Shoemaker for rest of season??
Thanks
@Mike Devereaux: Cobbler
Nola
Currently in 1st in a 12 team 5X5 roto league with 96 pts (2nd with 90). The issue is weekly lineups & being worried about Strasburg either being injured or ineffective despite a tasty match-up at home vs the Braves. We start just 7 pitchers (SP or RP) for the week.
My options are to play it safe & start my 4 other SPs ( Hammel, Gausman, Liriano & Arrieta) & go with 3 RPs (H Rondon, K Rod & Wilhelmsen). Boxberger is out there on waivers as well
Currently 2nd in Wins 11 behind the 2nd place guy who I can not catch because he starts 7 each week having punted Saves totally but 3rd & 4th are close behind me within 3 wins. But of course by using the 3 RPs I could move up the ranks (9th place) 5 saves behind 8th but within 9 of 5th if I focused on saves.
Sorry for the length …thanks for your advice over the past season
Bench Stras
@Grey: you doubling down on Tyson Ross in weekly leagues? Vs Tex and vs Lad.
Yup
What’s good Grey? I’ve been singing Eagles’ songs for the past 24 hours…(deep sigh). Totally agree on your Hamilton/Trump blurb. I’m forced to keep up on politics because of my J.O.B., but sheeeeesh dude. Can’t believe the GOP faithful are actually considering that Trump’s a serious candidate.
It’s playoff time in my 10-Team, H2H, keeper league. I’m the #2 seed. I like the Baez call by you, but I’m not sure I can gamble on him and drop either Kipnis, Reyes or Zobrist. Would be interested in your opinion.
Did you hear about Stanton? FRIDAY! I’m not sure how great he’s going to be over the last month of the season, or even how much he plays, but if he’s back, you gotta roll him out there. My OF consists of McCutchen, Pollock, Just Dong, Heyward, K.Davis and Inciarte. Ender has to be the drop there, right?
Happy Monday and thanks for the write-up.
I’ve talked to some republicans and I really think Trump’s polling well with non-voters… I’d hold the MIs you have…yeah, drop Ender… I’m praying for Giancarlo to be fine… If nothing else he hits five bombs and .240
@Grey: I think he’s polling well cause non-voters have manure for their brains and are only going off name recognition. Non-informed…but what else is new with the voting populous?
Yeah, I read it in Atlantic or Slate, but it makes sense that this early they’re polling everyone, non-voters included, which means people are just going with who they’ve heard of… See Perot and Forbes polling well early…
@Grey: Funny you mentioned Perot as I still think that Trump is going to flip to an “Independent” candidate down the road after the GOP gets tired of his shizz, and run on a similar “economic” platform to that of Perot. Much like ’92, it’s going to get either Clinton or Biden elected as he’ll bleed votes from whatever GOP candidate they end up choosing.
Yup, I could see that, and the only thing stopping me from saying Trump is doing all of this to get Clinton elected is I think he’s too much of a megalomaniac…
Please please rank these 3 studs for the last month….
VMart, Burns, Hanley
Aaaaaaaarrieta, they don’t get no bettah
Aaaaaaaarrieta, il puet bien jouer!
Haha
Ian Desmond, Brandon Crawford, or Eduardo Escobar ROS?
Thanks!
Crawford
Hey Grey,
Any room forD. Holland?
Staff: Rodon, Arrieta, Nelson, McCullers, Pineda, Nola, Iglesias, , Richards, erasmo,
DL: carrasco
NA: Berrios
@Greys #1 Fan:
Would you drop any of those guys for him? Thanks!
Over Richards
Do you have any guesses as to when the makeup game between CHI & PIT will happen? This could have HUGE H2H playoff implications. the most logical thing for them to do is to schedule a doubleheader when Chicago goes to Pittsburgh on 9/15-9/17. They COULD schedule it the day before since both teams have an open date, but I think that might violate union rules on the number of consecutive days with games. My best guess is that they will wait until the last minute before that series & if both teams haven’t clinched the wild card by then (Cubs have a 5.5 game lead) they will go ahead with a DH. They can’t wait until the end of the season and have it the day after, can they?
I have no idea, they could wait until the day after the season if the game has real world implications
Heh Grey,
I know myself and a few others asked you about starting salazar today which you said you would do. I also have Price. Should that change anything or just throw them both out there for the starts? It’s a league that counts wins and losses for categories. Thanks again.
I’d start them both and hope for a 3-2 game
i’m in a must win week in a h2h league.
would you start or bench salazar today?
Start
Grey, Blanco or Paulsen?
Paulsen
Parra or Baez ROS? 12 team H2H 6×5 w/ OPS.
Thank you, Lothario.
Baez
TGIM Grey! Hope your weekend was fantastical!
Looking for a flyer in my weekly league for the MI/CI position. Who would you choose out of these shlubs? (independent of need)
– Aaron Hill (@Col, @ CHI) Hittertron #103
– Holt (vs NY, vs PHI) Hittertron #85
– C. Owings (@Col, @ CHI) Hittertron #82
– Rollins (vs SF, @ SD) Hittertron #78
– Schoop (vs TB, @ TOR) Hittertron #109
(Leaning towards Hill, but I’m already starting Lamb and Boeuf Wellington…. AZ overkill?)
Thanks again Grey. Much Appreciated!
Rollins
Thanks!
No problem
Here’s a tough one ; Keeper for next year and the year after in that round :
Arrieta – 7th round
or
Cole – 5th round.
6×6 mixed daily roto
Arrieta
Nola 0r Holland?
Nola
In a league where I only have 13 of my remaining 85 moves left, what pitcher would you take ROS: the emoticon or holland? 12 team 5×5 and need k’s and wins more than ratios help
Holland
Grey, drop Buxton for Paulson or Lamb or hold?
Paulsen
@Grey: thank u
NP
Add/Drops lock for playoffs at the start of the games today and then only an injured player replacements can be added. So I am trying to lock up my best squad now. I have a bye this week, so planning for Week 23-25 (24 & 25 is the 2 week championship final)
H2H, 6X6 with QS instead of W, IP/GS is the 6th Cat; OBP instead of AVG, Doubles + Triples 6th Cat.
Picked up Baez already to replace the Unholy Hanley.
I have (matchups if everyone stay on schedule)
Gausman (Week 23: @NYY; Week 24 & 25:vs. BOS, @TB, @BOS),
Wood (Week 23: @LAA; Week 24 & 25: vs. COL; vs. AZ, @COL)
Hammel:(Week 23: @STL, @PHI; Week 24 & 25: vs. STL, vs. MIL)
Pineda: (Week 23: vs. TOR; Week 24 & 25: @NYM, @TOR)
as mostly bench pitchers (would have to start at least 1 with Kluber/Keuchel/Thor/Verlander – and Thor may get skipped, requiring me to start 2).
Available SPs include:
Holland (Week 23: @SEA; Week 24 & 25: vs. HOU, vs. SEA, @HOU)
Teheran (Week 23: @PHI; Week 24 & 25: vs. TOR, vs. PHI, @MIA)
Chen (Week 23: vs. KC; Week 24 & 25: @TB, @WAS)
Nola (Week 23: vs. ATL, vs. Cubs; Week 24 & 25: @ATL, @WAS)
Hutchinson (Week 23: @BOS; Week 24 & 25: @ATL, vs. BOS, vs. TB) Though if Stroman added to rotation, could get vs. NYY in Week 25
Joe Ross (Week 23: @MIA; Week 24 & 25: vs. MIA, vs. BAL) : Shutdown also possible
I also could drop Hanley, as I obviously loathe him now with weekly lineups.
So long story short – Which 4 (or 5 if I drop Hanley) would you roll with in the playoffs?
Thanks in advance.
Hammel, Holland, Chen, Nola…Man, some of these are hella iffy… I’d hold Hanley
@Grey: Right??? Thanks for helping me sort through it…
No problem
If Hanley’s out again tonight, I’m gonna need a MI in my weekly lineup. Who ya got?
E. Escobar (7G, HT -$4.3)
Dietrich (6G, $3.6)
Coghlan (6G, $3.9)
K. Tomlinson (7G, incl. 4 in Coors, $0.9)
K. Marte (6G if he comes back today, $4.0)
Escobar’s been the hottest and has an extra game but Tron hates him.
Dietrich
H2h league. Rusney is my only bench hitter, drop him for Baez or hold?
Go for it
Another playoff question: we have a late trade deadline. I know Adrian Gonzalez has been in a slump lately but he has a great schedule during the playoffs. Would you trade C. Davis for him in my H2H league using OBP (schedules during playoffs listed):
A Gonzalez (3vCOL, 3vPIT, 4vARI, [email protected])
C. Davis (3vBOS, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected])
Also, Baez is a FA in our league. Would you drop Justin Turner for him (again, OBP league)? Both seem like they will have playing time issues.
J. Turner 13 games (3vCOL, 3vPIT, 4vARI, [email protected])
Baez 12 games ([email protected], 3vSTL, 3vMIL, 3vPIT)
I wouldn’t trade Davis for A-Gon… A-Gon could sit in Coors for the playoffs… I’d go Turner there
@Grey: Probably a dumb question – why will A-Gon be sitting in Coors?
@LittleJoeyCora: I have the same question. Ironically, C. Davis could sit in 1 of those games @WAS without a DH. Are those risks the same?
@Johnny: Also, C. Davis faces tougher pitching.
B/c of real world playoffs, he could rest two of final 3 games
@Grey: Ah Gotcha. Crud. Time to start cyclopsing a possible 1B replacement for the final week, eh?
I’m not saying it’s a definite, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t for at least one of those games
@Grey: That COL series actually is played 10 days before the season ends. Does that change your mind on the trade?
Oh, yeah, I thought he was the Coors series was last one of the season
@Grey: So you WOULD trade Davis for A Gon?
I still don’t see the point of this trade, but it’s fair
BFF, Loved the Jared Blurb!
1. After some conversation with J-Foh last night I dropped Salazar for Wade Davis, as I’m not too keen on his start today or against Det this weekend, I just have that feeling that he’s maxed out on innings this year. I also dumped Wong for Schoop, Wong has been ice cold.
2. I’m hoping last weeks additions of Tomas, Paulsen & Beef (btw I make an outstanding Beef Wellington as I perfected Gordon’s recipe, and I even made a special chicken one for non red meat eaters) pay off this week.
3. We only get 7 moves so last week I added Gio @ Stl, v Atl, Lewis @ SD @ LAA, Santiago @ Oak v Tex. A little worried about Gio tonight as Stl is 13-3 vs Was as of late, should I sit him and rock him vs Atl?
4. I know it’s early but for next week, but who do you like out of these 2 start guys?
J Gray @SD, @ Sea
Elias v Tex v Col
Shoe v LAD v Hou
Hammels @ Stl @Phi
Walker v Tex v Col
Bauer @ CWS @ Det
@Teddy Heater: I didn’t even think about the Noah skipped starts coming up. Im sorry buddy. Ill be watching this one closely. Did you get the pic I emailed you last night?
@J-FOH: I did, I just replied with a pic of our new foster Butter’s! Noah can hang out on the bench this week, hopefully he gets a 2 start next week.
1. Yeah, could be, I would’ve kept him though 2. With a mushroom duxelle, my good man?! 3. I’d bench Gio 4. These aren’t pretty…Walker, Elias, Shoe
@Grey:
1. I’m #1 on the waiver so I can scoop him back up
2. The duxelle consists of Chestnuts, Mushrooms, Thyme and white wine. I do it exactly like his and I’ve perfected so it doesn’t get soggy on the bottom. I get fresh cuts of Filet at an amazing meat market by our house and some 5 star prosciutto (this is one of the times Bug will eat pork)
3. Gio is ridin pine
4. Yeah I know, slim pickens I was leaning Gray @ SD and then seeing if I needed him for the 2nd start
1. Not sure if that’s necessary, more team dependent 2. Wow, that sounds amazing, like serious… Do you put any liver pate in it? Or does he not do that with his Wellington? 3. Yeah 4. Yeah, could be risky, none are great honestly
@Grey:
1. I’ll monitor
2. Nah, it doesn’t call for it and I’ve never had liver pate. I’ve seen some recipes call for foiegras, but I can’t eat that with knowing how they get it.
5. Couldn’t of Arrieta waited til this week? I didn’t have Fiers last week, but I had wakuma & Arrieta, maybe I can get one this week being that they come in 3’s right?
Having a staff with greinke, arrietta, degrom, and kluber as my too 4 paired with EE, arenado, and Goldy has led to the opportunity to clinch mathematically this week. (12 team keeper weekly roto).
What an amazing year and the nice write up on arenado in 2013 when you said to draft him!! Thanks for the daily write ups!
Thanks! Nice work!
Grey, sorry to do this to you but here’s my second sit/start of the season for you. Lackey vs Washington.
Start
Could the Jays’ lineup win a 12 team league? 10 team?
10 team
Rest of season :
Wieters, W.Castillo, B. Swifthart or J Jaso ?
Beef
Oh Great Grey:
I’m jumping ahead a week, but I need major help in H2H points league. Could you please rate these for the following week?
Leake @AZ; SD
Jungman @Mia; @ Pit
Iglesias PITT; StL
Any to stay away from?
Raisel, Leake…I wouldn’t touch Jung
Awesome work Grey! Thanks for everyday exceptional work…
14 team H2H points league and starting playoffs this week.
Need some advice here please.
A) Do you think is safe to start Correa this week? waiver wire runs at midnight everyday and was only able to pick up Asdrubal Cabrera… Correa or Asdrubal?
B)I need to start 5 Pitchers for this week, please help decide the best 5 for the week
Fiers vs MIN;
Hamels @ SD;
Iwakuma @ OAK;
E. Rodriguez vs NYY and vs PHI;
Hendricks vs CIN and vs ARI;
Lester vs ARI;
Richards vs TEX;
Shoemaker @OAK;
McCullers vs MIN.
Thanks, appreciate your help! again and again…
Thanks! A) Correa B) Lester, Hamels, Fiers, Iwakuma, Hendricks
@Grey: Awesome, THANKS!
No problem
Whose dat batty call today?
@Anal Hershiser: Give me 30 minutes to look at who I’m picking up
@Anal Hershiser: I went Headley and Adonis
@Grey: what do you think about yasmany at COL?
I think he’s great if he’s starting
I’m down to a half a catcher in NFBC. And zero available bench SP’s. I was just coming up your ass. Wow, that sounds awful.
I’m not looking up whip/nae nae. I’m so strong!
@Cram It: dont do it, I did and was it not only awful but it constantly reminds you about everything wrong with our look at me society
@J-FOH: Ain’t doing it. If I could go the rest of my life without hearing that kind of crap, or the name Miley Cyrus, I would pay money.
@Cram It: you’d bang her if she asked you
@J-FOH: Probably
@Cram It: Me starting Samardzija every week has been my undoing…Oh, and drafting Beltre and Adam Jones as my first two bats has been great too, with Carlos Santana as my 1st baseman
@Grey: Carlos Gomez. My whole pitching staff outside of Arrieta has let me down. Thought it would be my strength.
Yeah it’s a tough spot when you have an “ace” shitting the bed in this format. You HAVE to start him unless your staff was that deep.
I was happy to have DeSclafani and Wei-Yin Chen all year… Oofa!
@Grey: Chen was respectable. I don’t even want to name my staff. It’s painful. 3 starters have over a 5 era on the year. I’ll leave it at that!
I just benched Samardzija for Colby Lewis!
Which injured dude is safest to start this week?
Teixeira, Hanley, Yelich? None of them?
@Dude: Yelich most likely to play the most among those three
@Dude: Agree with FoH
Odor’s health is up in the air, would you start him or Holt this week?
@McNulty: Likely Holt, but I’d check Odor’s health first
I looked up your whip nene, that was the worst song Ive ever heard
@J-FOH: It has like 140 million views!
@Grey: I rest my case
You are not allowed to write nice things about Derek Holland after bashing him so much when he was activated
@Chosen1: I am
Would you drop Pederson for him? dude is killing me.
@EA: for Baez, that is.
@EA: drop Pederson
@EA: Yes
This is with Sano vs Crush, is the value. If both went a bit later in the draft, in the same round, I would go with Sano. But that will never happen because Sano will be gone long before Crush.
In a couple leagues this year I got Crush in the 6th-7th round, which provided great value. People seemed to be a bit weary of him this year. I could see getting him in a similar spot next year. Sano will be gone in the 3rd/4th, and I will not be the taker. Well. Maybe the 4th, depending on how things are going :)
@ShawnOfTheLivid: I would disagree on Crush, he’ll be coming off a 40 HR/ 100 RBI season.He’ll be drafted higher than this past year
@J-FOH: Couldn’t agree more.
@ShawnOfTheLivid: Agree with FoH… Davis will be a 3rd/4th rounder and Sano won’t be far behind
Who do I drop for Derek Holland
This is my rotation
Hendricks
Thor
Gausman
Tillman
Nola
Wilhelsen
Machi
Axford
Holland
Ziegler
W,l,cg,s,nsv,hr,era,whip,qs
DL matz,carrasco na berrios
@db: Axford
Jay Bruce or piscotty Bruce has juicy brewers matchup coming up
@db: Bruce
Hi Grey,
Is it safe to start Ross (vs TEX Lewis) and Hendricks (vs CIN Lorenzen) all at home? Or bench who if not safe? Thanks.
@Wilson: Start them
K Marte over Wong short term? Not sure if Ketel plays everyday, I just grabbed him as a hot middle infidel.
@Swfcdan: Yup
have you been getting a lot of drop Parra questions? his seasonal numbers are great but he’s been bad for a few weeks and I’ve been waiting all year for him to come crashing back to Earth. Would you rather own him or Yelich?
@dom: Yelich
Q1. Roto with tons of categories, room to start two of these:
– Hanley (3 vs NYY, 3 vs PHI – 1 lefty)
– Wong (3 vs WAS, 3 vs Pit – 2 lefties)
– Coghlan (3 vs CIN, 3 vs ARI – 2 lefties)
Q2. 5×5 roto, all categories competitive: Gardner (3 @ BOS, 3 vs TB – 2 lefties) or Piscotty (3 vs WAS, 3 vs PIT – 2 lefties)?
Q3. same league: Lynn vs. PIT or Tanaka @ BOS? (SON favors Lynn,but doesn’t know about his ankle.)
Thanks!
@The Big Yabu: 1. Not Cog 2. Gardner 3. Lynn
@Grey: I just read that both Hanley and Gardner are on the bench tonight — would that change your view about either? (Both of those leagues are weekly lineups.)
Yeah, bench em both
Since SON seems to be on the fritz, which would you roll with until Puig returns in a h2h points keeper league (or ROS if he doesn’t I guess):
Moustakas, Carpenter, Kendrys, Lindor, Melky, Revere, Paulsen, or Piscotty
@Clint: Carpenter
B to the B,
Well, I think I have just experienced first and a last. No-hitters on my staff in back to back weeks. I know this is all going to end at some point but man it’s fun right now. You are now best buds with a first place team :)
I’ve almost run out of things to say about Arrieta. His arsenal is unfair. His control is impeccable. The slider he was throwing yesterday should really be illegal. The look in his eyes before he pitches is straight insane. I couldn’t love this guy more if he was my own son.
Okay I’m finished.
@Phil of the Future: BB! Nice! Our plan is finally coming together! The sweetest thing of all (besides what we share) is when a strikeout pitcher also has control
@Grey: It’s truly a most beautiful thing. Like when you meet a hot chick who is also interesting to talk to.
And yes, I love it when a good plan comes together!
Talk to…about baseball!
@Grey: Well, yeah. What else would we talk about?
Reality TV?
@Grey: Spending money on useless things?
Wigs?
@Grey: Shoes?
And back to Shoemakers…Fin!
@Grey: Ha!.
I’m actually starting him this week! I feel like some unnecessary stress….
I wish I could say I trust him…
@Grey: I wish I could say that too.
Maybe next year he can be one of the one/two dollar guys that returns big value
Yeah, he might’ve been battling injury at times this year, he definitely didn’t look right
@Grey: Something was going on. I’m hoping he can finish strong here and build on it going forward. Shoes!
Indeedy!
Ziegler thought he was in Colorado already and gave up a million hits and runs. My theory works on both sides of the ball!
@Scott: Yeah, that sucked
I need one more 2-starter. Who?
Gio @StL; ATL
K.Hendricks home v. CIN and AZ
@Josh Freeman: Hendricks