Institute A Buy On Cooper Pratt

Okay, time to Pratter about Cooper. Super duper. I can’t say ‘super duper’ without hearing Puttin’ on the Ritz in my head. How has no cheese spread used the song Puttin’ on the Ritz with someone glomming some goodness on a cracker? Or has Ritz crackers used Puttin’ on the Ritz and I’ve forgotten? Did Fritz Lang’s wife used to dress him singing Puttin’ on the Fritz? I have a lot of Ritz-adjacent questions, y’all! By the way, one more thing (I’m sorry), but every German, like Fritz Lang, should have an eyepatch. An entire country of eyepatched men and sturdy-legged women. Any hoo! When Cooper Pratt was called up, I said, “Pratt’s MiLB stats: 6/17/.244 and a 14.3 K% and 13.2 BB%. So, they basically have another Brice Turang. Actually, I said that for Lara too. So, they have three Turangs. Holy crap, it’s Multiplicity! I’d grab Pratt in any league, but I’d only rely on him for speed, and occasional homer, since he couldn’t even hit for a decent average in Triple-A.” And that’s me quoting me! He’s actually hit well in the majors, better than in Triple-A. His strikeout rate has been solid too, everything else has been as predicted. Which is not bad! He has a few homers and nice speed. He’s also been hot. Super Cooper. Puttin’ on the Hitz. Anyway, here’s some more players to Buy or Sell this week in fantasy baseball:

PSYCHE! This post was released a week early for Patreon members. It will be released all year early for Patreons, so if people are getting a jump on you, it’s because they paid the $10. Anyway, the Fantasy Baseball Buy/Sell:

BUY

Leo Bernal – Mickey Gasper had already fallen out of the top catchers on the 7-day Player Rater. Sharp inhale of breath! Shock! Gasper?! I know, I was surprised too. Bernal’s been hot, though.

Moises Ballesteros – His last name sounds like a field goal kicker, right? “Ballesteros shanks it! Oh no! An O-Line man is going to sit on him!” Speaking of which (segues so perfect), get our fantasy football subscription. Or, ya know, just go there and get free content.

Jeff McNeil – Was watching the A’s game the other day (I tend to watch the last few innings of the last game of the night so I can post the roundup after it, and what’s hilarious (not hilarious) is I’m watching for the game to wrap up, and rooting for the A’s pen to be decent, and it is always blowing games causing me to have to stay up later — any hoo!), the A’s announcers point out how McNeil is one of the hottest hitters in the 2nd half, and, sigh, I must concur.

Graham Pauley – When his special someone hears the words, “You’re Graham Pauley’s girl,” they have to wear a dirndl dress for the rest of their life. (I had to google dirndl dress too.)

Coby Mayo – The Emulsification is a real Kewpie with those homers.

Brayan Rocchio – If he were to have a lucky year on average and hit .260, well, I won’t write a sleeper post for him but 15/25/.260 is very valuable, and he’s capable of those numbers.

Javier Sanoja – Like Cher or Oprah, he should go by the one name moniker, Sanojavier.

Juan Brito – Wonder if any Spanish-speaking couple ever named their kids, Juan, Dos, Tres, etc. That would be awesome. Brito was hitting .236 in the minors as a 24-year-old, so not sure he’s the answer, but he has been hot.

Christian Koss – San Francisco Giants make you jump! Utility infielder, Chris Koss, makes you jump-jump.

Richie Palacios – He’s been hot, so this is not a crack on him for right now, but only the Rays have guys with stats like 10/10/.220 in 110 games and are somehow leading the AL in  wins.

Jonah Cox – From Dick Palace to Jonah Cox, one man’s story of walking through Times Square in the 1980s. So, Jonah’s got some of the craziest stats, going from a solid contact guy in the minors (17 K%) to near-40%. Oh, and he also averages around a .450 BABIP, which is incredible.

Thomas Saggese – It wasn’t that long ago that Sah-jay-see was considered a solid prospect, who I drafted in an NL-Only league back in 2024. Might’ve just taken a little bit longer to break out, wouldn’t be the first player that happened to. “Hola, chicos!” That’s Jordan Walker speaking Spanish for some reason.

Hector Rodriguez – Saw he was hitting leadoff the other day, and nearly made him my lede Buy. He’s been absolutely capitalizing on OPPORTUNITIES. Sitting on 30+ homers and a solid average across the minors and majors this year with a handful of steals. I know, I know, oh boy do I know, the Reds hitters burn me once a month, and especially outfielders (Dane Myers is currently waving, asking for me to make a mistake with my misplaced excitement), but Hect-Ro looks fantastic.

Dustin May – This is a Streamonator call like the call it makes to a party supply store.

Ian Seymour – This is also a Streamonator call. “Do you have piñatas for stronger kids? My nephew can hit with 1,300 pounds of force.”

Tanner Scott – Dodgers have one of the worst bullpens for fantasy. Oh, they’re great! Top five in the league, according to fWAR, but the problem is they have Dave Roberts who’s like, “I don’t want to choose which Ice Cube song to rock on my way to work, let alone choose a closer. I kinda like Check Yo Self and It Was A Good Day.” So, saves in LaLaLand could be Jack Dreyer, Scott, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez or Ice Cube.

Yennier Cano – Could be Rico Garcia, could be Andrew Kittredge, and I want them in that order, and it’s likely reverse order for saves, because we need to punish Craig Albernaz for SAGNOF crimes. Send him to a tribunal! To The Hague, Albernaz.

Kevin Ginkel – Mentioned this on the podcast the other day, but I’ve been rostering three DBags relievers in one league and it’s worked out well. Juan Morillo, Brandyn Garcia and Jonathan Loaisiga have been great. I also have Justin Martinez in another league, and he’s been solid. Only guy I don’t have is Ginkel, so he’s got the most recent saves. An emoji that smiles so hard its cheeks’ crease hurts making its eyes tear.

SELL

Dillon Dingler – I don’t know where that first half came from but just as quickly as it came it also went. That’s what she said! What did she mean by that anyway? No, I’m legit asking, because she said it and now I’m wondering why. At Tigers games, we had some fun in the stands, dressed as poop emojis, cheering on Dingler with our fellow Danglers, but that time is over. So, this is a drop not a sell, but if you’re in a keeper, I wouldn’t trade Dillon Dingler for a previously worn poop emoji costume, but I would go to the Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and explore options.