You might remember ten years ago I drafted in the live LABR NL-Only auction. Okay, you don’t remember, but I do, so you’ll have to take my word for it. It was the first major league I was in. I was sailing on the wind of doves. I thought my feces smelled like Reese’s Pieces. I even joined the Local 564, a railway union, thinking LABR had something to do with that. Ah, the memories…they sure were fleeting! I was booted from the league after one year. Why? I’m not sure, but my money’s on I insulted someone. Well, ya boi’s back and he’s learned his lesson! Though, someone drafted Rhys Hoskins for $28 and I was cackling about that for a good 45 minutes. Yo, just send Rhys flowers and a ball in the dirt for him to swing through; he might respond quicker. For those of you not in the know, this is a 5×5 league with average. (If you want a shallower league, play against me and hundreds others for prizes –> Razzball Commenter Leagues.) Anyway, here’s my LABR 12-team, NL-Only draft recap:
C: Austin Hedges $1
C: Matt Wieters $1
1B: Pete Alonso $28
2B: Jurickson Profar $11
SS: Javier Baez $30
3B: Josh Fuentes $2
MI: Trevor Story $35
CI: Jose Osuna $1
OF: Sam Hilliard $7
OF: Ketel Marte $25
OF: Tyler O’Neill $7
OF: Ian Happ $9
OF: Trent Grisham $7
UTIL: David Dahl $20
Bench (free): Matt Adams, Billy Hamilton
P: Kevin Gausman $7
P: Craig Kimbrel $12
P: Dinelson Lamet $16
P: Steven Matz $6
P: Mark Melancon $8
P: Freddy Peralta $5
P: Jose Quintana $6
P: Julio Urias $14
P: Bryse Wilson $2
Bench: Edward Cabrera, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Jordan Hicks, Drew Smyly
YOU WANT TO TELL ME YOUR WAR ROOM VALUES, SO JUST TELL ME SO WE CAN MOVE ON WITH THE RECAP.
Mr. Al Caps, you sound like you could use mediation.
IT’S MEDITATION, YOU IDIOT! MEDIATION IS WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THAT RAILWAY UNION.
Ah, yes. A brief, but enlightening stint. Okay, here’s the War Room goals and where I’m at.
For this league, I once again use Rudy’s NL-Only rankings, and his War Room (it’s free with a subscription). To blow some extra smoke up his hoo-ha:
Just some sweet nothings in our man @rudygamble‘s ear about his projections — article is here if you want to read: https://t.co/xHA06NuAoM pic.twitter.com/NtSFsz8AGS
— Razzball (@Razzball) February 28, 2020
I jpg’d the important stuff, because I know your reading comprehension is between “fortune cookie” and “bathroom stall limerick.” The general gist is Rudy is fan-effin-tastic for pitching. By the way, General Gist was also the name of my high school band. You might remember our single, “I Get The Idea (Sorta).” For full disclosure, my war room values in that above screenshot are from before Bryse Wilson, because he would’ve brought my numbers down, and I didn’t draft him for that. I drafted him to send him down. Allow me to explain.
TERRIFIC. AN EXPLANATION WITHIN AN EXPLANATION.
Right, so in this league, you can’t move guys off your bench into your lineup and vice versa (great movie!) unless a guy is sent down or injured. Ideally, Bryse will be sent down and I can start Smyly for good matchups. If I had drafted Smyly and Bryse was on my bench, then I’d be stuck with starting Smyly every single week, even if he was in Coors. So, not only was this an explanation, but within it you also found a plan. Punny? P to the erhaps.
PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW YOU DRAFTED DAVID DAHL AGAIN — FOR $20 NO LESS! — AFTER ALL THE HARDSHIP HE’S GIVEN YOU IN PAST YEARS.
David “Porcelain” Dahl is my Achilles heel, which is ironic because his entire body is like Achilles’s Achilles heel. “What’s hurting you?” David Dahl looks sullenly in the mirror, and replies to the doctor, “Everything.” Hayzeus freakin’ Cristo, I can’t get away from David Dahl. There’s Joe Ross, Tyson Ross, and he’s the third Ross brother, Albat Ross, and he’s hung around my neck. I admittedly can’t resist a guy in Coors. See also Sam Hilliard, and to a lesser extent, Josh Fuentes. I say lesser extent because, for Fuentes to play, I think I need a giant wind to pick up Arenado, have him become the Marvel superhero, Torenado, and get relocated to one of the other 29 MLB teams.
OKAY, YOU SOUND CRUMBY IN YOUR HEAD, SO SEARCH BETWEEN THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES OF YOUR BRAIN CUSTARD AND GIVE ME SOME TAKEAWAYS.
My offense is ridunk. It is rerun on Showtime after midnight and guys mute the volume and just watch my offense when their spouse has a headache. It’s a gorgeous vessel of wonderful like a Pepperoni Combo. As you see from my War Room totals, I’m so far above in runs, HRs and RBIs, and that’s without a 3rd baseman or corner man. Can I get a cackle?! Even my steals are good and I didn’t sacrifice anything else, well, except average. I could quibble with Rudy’s projections for Albombso, Baez, Ketel and Story and say that my average is actually better than his projections, but if I’m trusting the other stats, I’m not going to pick and choose. (Not to be confused with hair picks and Choos from The Seoul Train Awards.) Also, Rudy’s projections are conservative on Happ, who I love, Grisham, who I love, and Alonso, who I love love love, so if I’m more accurate on those guys than Rudy, my offense is going to be silly stacked like a drunk game of Jenga.
YOU’RE PURPOSELY NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR PITCHING, RIGHT?
Listen, you can’t get the offense I managed to buy and not have some weaknesses. In these NL-Only leagues (and AL-Only, for that matter), I ignore pitching a bit. I’ve discussed it many times, so I’ll keep it brief, after this awkward intro about keeping it brief, at least nine of 12 teams are going to have weak pitching staffs. As long as I can get around a 4.00 ERA, I should put myself in the running to win the league if my hitting performs. Specifically, about the guys I drafted? Matz I can’t quitz; Gausman in San Fran is worth a flyer in every league as I say in my top 80 starters; Lamet is capable of being an ace, and I wrote a Dinelson Lamet sleeper; Julio Urias will be an ace if he gets 150 IP, and Quintana, well, someone’s got to get wins and innings. Overall, I like my chances, which is what’s important. When you get one chance a decade to play in LABR, you gotta make it count (like counting to 28 for dollars spent on Rhys Hoskins).
In my 14 team h2h dynasty league I could use a 1b upgrade. Yuli Gurriel is my current 1b and Kepler is in my util spot. Anyway I was offered Abreu for Kepler. Do I take this deal?
c gary sanchez
1b yuli gurriel
2b ozzie albies
3b rafael devers
ss bo bichette
lf juan soto
cf ronald acuna
rf austin meadows
Util max kepler
na robert puason
na corbin carroll
na jeter downs
na julio rodriquez
sp brandon woodruff
sp julio urias
sp max scherzer
Sp robbie ray
rp ty buttery
rp ryan pressly
P Kevin Gausman
p zach efflin
p jon lester
bn alex wood
bn deivi garcia
bn sixto sanchez
na logan gilbert
na luis patino
na casey mize
Oops forgot to mention that’s Jose Abreu
Yes, I’d want abreu
*PING* You’re up, fool.
How’s your team so far, Cram?
We’re only through 2 1/2 rounds. Arenado and Harper from the 12th slot.
You?
Trea/Alonso from 6th slot
Nice power/speed combo.
I was hoping for Trea before he went the pick before me.
TWO guys went SP/SP with their first two.
That is confounding
Cole went first overall, then he took Strasburg with his 2nd. Fascinating.
I just took my 1st share of Springer in the 3rd — let’s go Astros! No? Okay.
I’m rooting for Bregman because I own him in a keeper, but that’s it. I’m not willingly drafting any of their hitters unless it’s a ridiculous ADP value.
Just bagged Bogaerts @ 42. Held my breath on that one with the 3 guys before me all having SS already.
Nice! I like that start a lot
Yes, take Abreu
Agree with others
Cool just accepted! Btw see any other parts of my team I should look to improve?
Your hitting’s much better than your pitching, which isn’t bad and I like your pitching in general, but worth noting
I initially had story, but recently traded him for max scherzer and ray. He was pretty much the best sp I could land via trade. Don’t think I could’ve gotten a better arm for him. Do you think that was a good move?
Not especially
Nice team. I will probably own Freddy in a few this year also hoping he can get a rotation spot at some point and produce
Grey, thanks to your rankings and other people reading too much ESPN, I recently had a fantastic draft. My first 4 picks ended up being Story, Arenado, Mondesi and Albomso! With a pitching staff of Giolito, Woodruff, Lamet, Gallen and Houser. Where do I send your cut?!?! Thanks again.
Buy-a-Boba link on the Homepage
or buying Rudy’s tools would be a really smart investment if you haven’t done that already
Ha, nicely done, Aaron!
Thanks, AL! In this league, even if he’s MR, he’s solid
I actually think this is really good for NL. This would even be good offense in mixed leagues. I was chagrined when Dahl went way over AAV at $15 and I missed him. I’m all over him this year. 2/4 so far. I should be getting a $1500 payout later this week for NHC to apply to NFBC so I’m looking at maybe one or two more higher dollar leagues.
Thanks!
Awesome! Congrats on the hockey win!
Thanks!
Regular season ended yesterday with a playoff starting today kinda like Cutline format.Theres something like top ten teams left competing for a top 5 overall payout with winner getting $3500. So a chance for more. It should be fun (I hope).
Nice, good luck then!
Your pick in RazzSlam league
You’re not falling for the ‘ol Kimbrel in the tail-pipe again, are you? Hope you had fun drafting… sounds like you did. Those are some big bats and strong legs… but LOL on Duhl.
Haha, thanks! Yeah, freakin’ Dahl…Is he hurt yet?
I am in 10 team 5×5 roto. We are at pick 130. Wondering if there is hope for this team especially to save the pitching.
C – nobody yet and it is 2 catcher league
1b – Olson
2b – biggio
Ss – mondesi
3b – rendon
Ci -vlad jr
Mi –
Of – yelich, Luis Robert, laureano, franil Reyes
Sp – flaherty, gioloto, montas
Rp -yates
Plenty of hope!
Thanks Donkey.
What do you make of Lance Lynn, Luke weaver, Kenta Maeda and Carlos Martinez for possible starters?
Heard some chatter that Weaver is perhaps ticking time bomb with left over from injury last year. You hear anything about that?
Was also thinking about Luzardo but since I have Montas not sure wanted to go to the same well with A’s.
Earl, you should check out the rankings https://razzball.com/2020-fantasy-baseball-rankings/
You have two aces and a #3
Snell injection in his elbow. Wouldn’t touch him even if he fell a few rounds.
Just came across your Seth Brown article from last October and picked him up for a final outfield spot flier, since Piscotty doesn’t know when hes going to be healthy.
I know you don’t put stock in spring stats but for a rookie with an opportunity to win an everyday job def important.
Seth Brown is 8 for 18 this spring with 4 doubles a tripple and a HR (which was a grand slam yesterday)
Kinda surprised you don’t have him higher in the rankings considering Piscotty doesn’t have a time table and seems like a lock to start the season on the injured list. And considering how you thought Brown could blow away the projections if things break right.
I’ve never even heard of the guy until yesterday but I’m thinking Seth Brown is a good sleeper for 2020 and he should be getting way more attention in drafts right now (thumbs up emoji)
Seth Brown’s current ADP on fantasy pros (which I think is a concensus big box ranking site right?) is 599.
Apparently Brown can play first base also so if they want to bench khris Davis vs the righties Davis had a .588 ops vs righties last year! Eww Wow!) and dh Olson those days or put Brown in the DH vs righties, that’s another avenue for at bats. Why am I getting so excited about this guy?
Oakland is so good I’m starting to realize. They might have the best rotation in baseball and nobody knows it.
He is pretty high on Seth Brown, check the ranks. I have him in a few DCs thanks to Grey
I have Seth Brown the highest in any rankings I’ve seen
For sure. Got to love Piscotty getting shut down. Seth Brown Moon
Love Brown!
Can he take a pitch the other way or does he only pull it? Seems like the shift could tank his avg but he hits a lot of line drives apparently. I saw his highlights from a 3 hit game vs the Yankees in regular season last year all basically pulled on the ground. all hard but wonder if he can go oppo. Then in the post season Rays shifted hard on him. Anyway I’m excited about him. Keep em coming!
Yeah, he’s got issues, but he’s also being drafted dead last in leagues, there’s no risk with a late round flyer
Yup, no thanks on Snell
Agreed, I wasn’t drafting Snell prior, not drafting him now
Would you keep Syndergard or Lamet over Snell at this stage?
Meh, for how long can you keep them?
Lamet for 2 years. Others just 2020. No dollars or rounds associated with keeping.
Lamet
Thanks!
No problem
That offense plays in a 12 team mixed; in an NL only, its EMF Unbelievable.
Did any of the other teams in the league strike your fancy?
DVR’s team looks good and Gardner’s team
Actually, I like your pitching here, lol, was following the auction and was soo mad I didn’t know there was a chance to be in audience, maybe shake hands with some of my heroes, Grey Albright, Lenny Melnick and others, so I’m gonna write a Razzball Commenter Schmohawk post on myself…, horrible…, by the way Happy RazzSlam day!!!!, good luck to everyone, !!!!
I agree…Happy RazzSlam day!!!!, good luck to everyone except Duffy !!!! HA!
RAZZSLAM!!! Get em!
Yeah, Danny Duffy can eat a d!
Ha!!!
You live down there? Yeah, you should’ve came out! Maybe next year
Lol, Tampa Area
Oh, man, I was right there…I would’ve had lunch with you
Next year!
Lol, of course, hopefully LABR comes back
I’d guess it does, hopefully they have me back
Same goes here. I’ll meet you and Ralph if you ever get nearCT. Maybe catch a Yard Goats game.
Nice!
Good morning!
10 team league. We get to keep one pitcher and one hitter for a max of 3 times, repeating keepers Move up 2 rds each year. I’ve got Captain Jack in rd 21 (2nd time keeping) and Mondesi in rd 10 (2nd time keeping). I know you’ve got Mondesi higher than Eloy, but I’d get an extra year of keeping Eloy if I kept him. I’d keep eloy in the same round 10. Whatcha think?
Mondesi for me still
Agree with DT
Do you think you could have gotten baez for less than 30
Ha I’m pretty sure if he could’ve then he would’ve!
Prolly yes. I heard that part of draft.
Grey nominated Baez for $30 and got crickets hahaha.
Gotta respect it tho.
I hate when dbags say “uh Trout for $1” knowing full well his price.
Maybe for $28…? I don’t know, hard to say…My price I have him for is $31, so if I said $28 and it was crickets, then great, but if I said $29 and someone went to $30, I would’ve had to go to 31…Rhys Hoskins went for 28, so I find it hard to believe no one wanted Baez for much less than 28
wow that is nutty AF
Yeah, I don’t know…Does anyone really think Baez is not worth same as Alonso or…Hoskins?
I like that strategy. It’s like the no-bluffing, no b.s. approach. Good in many cases when you really want a player and know what you’re willing to pay.
Yeah, I don’t mind it…Some people become slaves to ADP and end up with teams they don’t want
“I even joined the Local 564, a railway union, thinking LABR had something to do with that.” HAHA!
ayo Grey-o .. solid squad .. Jose Osuna showing out in ST and coming for all the playing time he can get on the Bucs this year
Musgrove dealing w/ “pinching” in his shoulder now .. 2020 is truly becoming a year to draft the old heads w/ durability .. everyone’s arms are falling off
drafted in RCL 1 last night .. LOLmets was in there too .. was nice to break out of the slow draft soul sucking of TGFBI .. finished the RCL draft w/ this squad
C – Salvador Perez
1B – Trey Mancini
2B – Keston Hiura
3B – Matt Chapman
SS – Javier Baez
CI – David Fletcher
MI – Dansby Swanson
OF – Juan Soto
OF – Bryce Harper
OF – Luis Robert
OF – Andrew Benintendi
OF – Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
UT – Khris Davis
Reserve – Miguel Andujar
Reserve – Yoshi Tsutsugo
P – Jack Flaherty
P – Max Fried
P – Dinelson Lamet
P – Kyle Hendricks
P – Aaron Civale
P – A.J. Puk
P – Ian Kennedy
P – Joe Jimenez
Reserve – Zach Eflin
* forgot to include Marcus Stroman as a part of the pitching staff
going for every share of Eflin in 2020
Your light on speed and saves need a little sagnof.
There’s already been 7 waiver wire transactions
That’s going to be a competitive one
the idea isn’t to win all of the categories .. both saves & speed can be grabbed on the wire all year long .. like you said SAGNOF .. all you need is to compete in those categories (not win them)
Hope so on Osuna!
Thanks!
Damn, really on Musgrove? 1st I’ve heard that, eff me
That team looks great! I love the pitching, maybe a little better SAGNOF guy for saves, but it’s fine… Your hitting is awesome too…Nice team!
thanks Grey!
the Musgrove news is a bummer .. he said it’s been lingering thru spring training which is making him concerned now .. not much from the team or medical staff yet .. thankfully mercury retrograde ends tomorrow
who would you suggest as a drop for a SAGNOF guy? Puk, Civale, Eflin?
Drop already? Nah
excellent. thank you for talking me off the ledge.
enjoy the rest of your Monday Grey!
You too!
I am always confused as to how many other ‘experts’ are saying that times have changed regarding pitching and that it is now wise to grab pitching earlier rather than later.
Yet I know that here at Razzball still say that is not true and should still grab hitters early. I still follow this advice for the most part.
I should for one of my drafts, go for early pitching and see where it leaves me in the hitting department.
In a draft I am in now, one guy took DeGrom in 1st round and Buehler in 2nd. He then switched over to hitters for like next 5 or 6 picks and come to round say 14 and he is doing okay overall it seems.
Anyway, food for thought perhaps??
It can work but I don’t like starting with two aces.
Rudy seems to like starting with an ace this year actually…
Took Bieber in our DC to feel this out myself. Happy I got a share :)
Hitting is much stronger than pitching in the 30-70 pick range, in my opinion. Snell just had a cortisone injection in his elbow. Severino’s finished. Sale’s a mess. Giolito was unrosterable prior to last season. Clevinger’s still recovering. Strasburg just had his biggest workload by far. Morton’s old, and has had tons of durability issues throughout his career. Lots of land mines out there, and plenty of quality bats. Grabbing an early ace this year looks like a smart move.
I’m still not doing it tho haha
Magoo!
Grimey!
Scherzer just went #7 in my RazzSlam league ahead of Cole
That’s aggressive. Verlander and Scherzer are gonna run out of bullets eventually.
Agree mostly, but I like Morton this year at that price. It’s not like taking Verlander at the 1/2 turn price.
And Giolito isn’t *that* risky. He’s really only had 2 seasons: 1 bad and 1 good. He’s going to be 25 and made a lot of great changes last year. My main concern w/ him is that injury doesn’t turn out to be sports hernia (or wtv they call it nowadays).
Giolito is fine…Magoo making up stuff about him
I guess fangraphs and baseball reference are making up his numbers from 2017 and 2018…
There’s changes between then and now
It could work if you nail your pitching, but top pitching is riskier… Severino, Clevinger and Snell are already hurt…And when pitchers get hurt, they’re usually gone a while (tho, Clevinger is exception there)…
Hey, Magoo, you forgot one…Cole is now in Yankee Stadium
Scherzer missed all of the 2nd half of last year
DeGrom has 20 wins across 3 seasons
Enjoy the top pitchers!
It’s not all top pitchers. Depends on the player. I’m not in on Verlander or Scherzer, and I think that Cole’s numbers will come back down to earth a bit. But deGrom, Buehler, and Flaherty? I’m in. Bieber should be solid again. I like Castillo. Filthy changeup. Kershaw is priced nicely.
Who are you counting on? Giolito a year removed from a 6+ ERA and a 6.5 K/9? Sonny Gray, the guy who had a 5ish ERA two years ago? They’re suddenly aces? Good luck with that.
Giolito is a new pitcher from two years ago and Gray struggled in NYC, everywhere he’s been great… I guess my whole point is I don’t rely on any pitchers, which is why I don’t draft them high
It’s not about some blanket strategy of having SPs early. I just like the guys I mentioned above and trust them much more than the Giolito/Gray types. Not to mention the whole mess of SPs with issues that I referenced in my initial comment.
Yeah, that’s fair…I owned Buehler last year in our league, and that took me nowhere, but I did have Giancarlo
I agree that it’s very specific. I have Bieber up at SP 4 now. Hence why I took him at 26 (and I just really wanted at least 1 share)
Hey grey, got a trade offer before our draft. 12 team. 6×6 h2h. His 1st, 2nd, 22nd, 23rd draft picks, for my 3rd,4th,5th,6th picks. Would you take that trade?
Crucial info for a question like this: What is his draft position, what is your draft position, and are there any keepers off the board?
I have the third pick and he has the 7th pick
Agree with Len. But if it’s a straight redraft league then I’d do it.
Yes, take 1st pick
Hey Grey, keep up the good work Man! 12 team, H2H, 6X6, last year of auction re-draft. No bench and two Catcher League. I thought salary cap was $250, however it was $260 so I left so money on the table, that I probably could of used on my last two P’s. Was not going to draft an RP but Liam was there at the end for $1..and Musgrove & Bundy. Your opinion Please.
C-Omar Narvaez, Mil
C-Carson Kelly, AZ
1B-Matt Olson, Oak
2B-Lourdes Gurriel, Tor
3B-Jose Ramirez, Clev
SS-Francisco Lindor, Clev
MI-Paul DeJong, St.L
CI-Anthony Rendon, LAA
OF-Mookie Betts, LAD
OF-Bryce Harper, Phi
OF-Eddie Rosario, Min
OF-Oscar Mercado, Clev
OF-Max Kepler, Min
DH-Justin Turner, LAD
P-Max Scherzer, Wash
P-Luis Castillo, Cin
P-Yu Darvish, Tx
P-Trevor Bauer, Cin
P-Jose Berrios. Min
P-James Paxton, NYY
P-Joe Musgrove, Pit
P-Dylan Bundy, LAA
P-Liam Hendricks, Oak
Your pitching actually looks stronger than you need, but it hasn’t hurt your hitting, great team!
12 team H2H pts
keep 2, thanks
ray
e rod
wheeler
gallen
Gallen, EdRod
Grey,
I love this team. Your years of pitching propaganda has led me to completely devalue it. In my upcoming auction I don’t plan on spending more than $12 on any pitcher, other than a top closer. Also your write up format for these teams is by far the best. I’m actually mildly interested in someone else’s fantasy team which is impressive.
Good luck in LABR!
Haha, thanks!
Turned out much better than your CBS NL Mock warm up.
Thanks! Maybe that was a ploy since I was in it with some leaguemates…Hmm..
I dunno, you went after Matz again.
Ha, he’s so cheap! He usually returns around $5 worth of value
Is JoRam a good or bad 2nd round complement to Trevor Story in a 5×5 OBP league? I know that in your pairings write-up you had said that you would not pair Lindor with JoRam, so just wondering if it is same case with Story or if that had to do more with both playing for a team who may be tanking?
I don’t mind it in OBP
Always look forward to your N/L only posts since I am in a n/l only 10 team auction roto with unlimited keepers and have won the league for last 3 years…$4500 cha ching. $260 budget
Here are my keepers this year. Would you keep everyone?
Acuna $16 obvious Yelich $38 obvious Story $26 obvious christian walker $6 kolten wong $6
Eugenio Suarez $26 Joc Pedersen $14 Dubon $6
Paddack $14 Castillo $16
My question marks are pedersen and dubon. If it were a 12 teamer they are definite keepers . Do you still keep them in 10 team n/l ony league?
Thanks!
I’d keep them all
Keeper question for you. It s a 12 team roto keeper auction where you keep 8. The team cap is $300. Keepers for sure are Yelich, Buehler, Laureano, Corbin at $33,$10,$10 and $4 respectively. My other would come fro the following:
Grandal at $3 for one more year
Will Smith C at $10 for two more years
Eduardo Escobar at $2 for two more years
Springer at $33 for two more years
Trevor Bauer at $16 for one more year
Roberto Osuna at $10 for one more year
Jesus Luzardo at $10 for two more years
Soroka at $10 for two more years
Gallen at $10 for two more years
Liam Hendriks at $10 for two more years
Top 10 players go for $55-75. Which additional 4 would you keep? Thank you and another great on Razzball is upon us!
Thanks!
Osuna, Luzardo, Gallen, Springer, I guess…You have so many pitchers
Yeah. Trying to trade. Can’t get a value better than I have other than maybe Story at $51 for two years. I think I need to keep Grandal over Luzardo or Gallen just for balance. Also, then could just spend a buck or two on a second C. I won this league by a wide margin so I do look stacked. Should I give up Will Smith and Gallen for Story? Thanks for your help there too.
Sure, seems unlikely to happen tho
I would throw in Arenado at $58. OK?
No, now too much
14 team H2H dynasty, probably got the best team in the league. We add K/BB and L’s to the usual 5×5.
All else equal, would you trade Buehler 1/$10 and (dump) Lucchesi 3/$10
for
LCastillo 2/$16?
I’d want Buehler
Agree with Knoche
Hello Grey! H2H custom Pts league. Need to figure out my last 3 keepers. Who would you take?
Willie Calhoun – last rnd
Kyle Tucker – last rnd
Giolito- last rnd
Senzel – 15th
Darvish – 8th
Kingery – last rnd
Glasnow – 12th
Trevor Bauer – 7th
Caleb Smith – last rnd
Dinelson Lamet – last rnd
Giolito, Lamet, Glasnow
Hey Grey,
12 team keeper league. Keep 10 players and up to 7 Minor leaguers
R, Total bases , RBI, SB, OBP
ERA, WHIP, K, wins +qs, holds+saves
C,C-
1B-
2B- Ozzie Albies
SS- Trea Turner
MI- Villar
3B- Arenado
CI-
5 OF- Acuna, Harper, Marte
6 Sp- Walker Buehler, Snell, Patrick Corbin
Minors- Mitch Keller, Patino, Graterol, Brujan, Royce Lewis, Andrew Vaughn, Alec Bohm
Question for you. I really need a 1B. I had a chance to trade Marte and Snell for Olson but the owner backed out.
Now I have a chance to trade Snell and Arenado and 3rd round pick(like pick 150 after keepers) for Gerrit Cole, Miguel Sano and round 10 pick.
I still think it’s an overpay on my part and I hate to give up Arenado. Thoughts? I have the first pick in the draft and would likely use it on a 3B
Not good
So pass on this….I have other keepers(eg. Tim Anderson) that I could keep instead of Snell if the injury is severe.
I wouldn’t mess with Snell — I said not to draft him before this injury
Grey,
My league has Y Alverez as U spot only. He’s the best available next to Jimenez. Do I just take Alverez and wait for him to play OF 5 times or just take Jimenez?
Thoughts?
I have the 1st pick in 10 team keeper league. My U spot is already used up by Tatis.
1b – Bellinger
2b – Albies
SS – Lindor
U – Tatis
Eloy
Quick strategy question – in a league that includes OPS and Holds as sixth categories, would you use your standard rankings for the draft or Rudy’s modified rankings for each format. I mention because depending on which set is used, there appears to be some sizable differences in player values (e.g., JD Martinez is ranked as the 5th player overall under Rudy’s OPS rankings).
Thanks!
I use Rudy’s rankings for OPS leagues
So I’ve been reading your player ranking blurbs as I always do this time of year and starting wondering how paragraphs and paragraph breaks hurt you in the past to the point of such trauma that you refuse to use them? Have you brought this up in therapy?
Haha, it pains me too, but it’s the blog format, otherwise the posts would be 18 pages long
Punting 3B is a bold strategy Cotton, lets see how that works out for him.
Though Happ has eligibility already in that format, right?
Nah, not yet on Happ
oof
how often is your top 500 link updated? https://razzball.com/projections-grey/
I see Snell still ranked at 35 overall right behind Buehler and Stras. I imagine that changes now with the news about his elbow. Or are you holding steady?
It was supposed to be updated by Rudy last night, guess he forgot… Snell is now down at 72 on top 100 https://razzball.com/top-100-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
I wouldn’t have drafted Snell before injury as I say in my top 20 starters, so he should be off the board for you anyway
Funny how everyone’s own projection system *always* comes out numero uno when they try and rank who’s best…
Yo, this squad is legit! Way better than the last one haha.
Your IF is juicy af. The OF has uber sex appeal. Happy to see you got a share of Dahl and don’t even really need him to be OK.
I was soooo off Dahl last year, and still don’t have a share, but he’s the kind of guy I really like in an auction format where his value can fall. I might grab him in some 12 teamers, but I still don’t love where he’s going for 15 teamers w/ that injury concern.
Staff looks solid enough. LOVE Lamet for that price. What a freakin’ steal! Urias too. Nice gamble on Quintana for that price. I see you’re lovin’ the Ponce de Leon this año. ¡Felicidades!
I really don’t understand the Bryce Wilson blurb, but also pretty sure I don’t want you to try and explain it again. lol
—
15-team DC w/ Donkey started yesterday afternoon. We’re in the middle of round 3 — not too bad for a 4h slow draft.
My start is Bellinger, Bieber, Albies from the 5 slot. Really happy w/ that. DT has Turner and Freeman, waiting on his third pick. Cram It has Arenado and Harper. Knoche has Tatis and Buehler. Pretty happy my pick isn’t near those guys!
Later, bro! Read the Jose Bautista news if you want a good laugh.
That’s a great start, love Belly and Albies, that’s fine on Bieber, if you must…
*going to search Bautista now*
Bautista is an idiot — ha
hahaha
I’ve gone Bellinger, Albies, Castillo in a draft. I wanted to gamble that Albies or even one of the other 2B would still be there in the third, and get my Bieber share. I’m super high on him, so wanted to put my money where my mouth is…
I wouldn’t do this in a regular league, but since there’s an overall component… trying something new here. TBC!
I’ll give you another update in a few hours, but SP going SUPER light in this draft so far. Kind of what I expected to see from a Razzball DC haha.
Only 9 pitchers taken through 43 picks. And there are 2 teams w/ 2 pitchers each. I expect things to start to change coming up in round 4…
Yeah, about the same here…8 SPs thru 40 picks…Little behind, but Snell is now off board, or he prolly would’ve went in that mix
If you have a pick in the top half of a 15-team league, I feel like you kind of need 1 pitcher in the first 3 rounds to help avoid the possibility of getting shut out on the guys you like when it comes back around.
What’s your start and from what pick?
Nah, I got Story, Alonso, Ketel, Paddack, Robert in my 1st 5 rounds of TGFBI, which is same league setup — Yu, Nola and Morton went after me…They’re fine for a #1
Robert at 3.1 is extra reachy…
Yeah, I do love him tho
That person rightfully assumed he wasn’t making it back
Was just going to say that ha
Yep exactly
Looking for some keeper advice. I have 8, need one more. 5×5 obp/qs 14 team $260
A=can be kept this year and next
B=this year only
Keeping
Fernando Tatis Jr A4
Vlad G B4
Jorge Soler A1
Cavan Biggio A4
Lourdes Gurriel A2
Will Smith A1
Liam Hendrix A2
Brandon Workman A1
One out of this group
Eugenio Suarez B10
Trent Grisham A1
Mark Cahna A1
Aaron Civale A1
Archey Bradley A1
German Marquez B3
Adrian Houser A1
Eugenio
Hey Grey, Great post…DCDR!
I love watching you and Magoo going back and fore. You guys should collab for a point/counterpoint post. Grey you ignorant slut! For all the Razzicans/Razzballians/Razztards who gloss over the comments to ask questions about their 4 team home leagues.
Smoochie Boochies
Jack
If only we had some Razzbillionaires
what happened to LT Murray?
Think he’s a practicing yogi
Like the Bikram yoga guy?
Yeah, exactly
Makes me think of G. Gordon Liddy when I see that name
I think of TJ Hooker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEqIuwchDyw
Nice!
Top five intro of any show ever!
Totally!
That team looks super solid. Offense is obviously filthy (wait, so someone got Rhys for the same price as Albombso?? or did i misread?). I like the pitching a lot too. You’ve got the Ks and upside from Urias and Lamet, and Gausman / Quintana will give you IP. Also think Melancon is a super under the radar RP2 pick. If he keeps getting unremarkable saves like he did last year, why mess with it? Plus, plenty of opportunities to come from ATL.
You didn’t misread
Agreed on Melancon, he’d have to completely meltdown to lose job, which is possible, I guess, but he’s the man in ATL until further notice
Ooof! That’s why it’s good to keep an eye out for early bargains auctions. That last guy in a tier (like I’m guessing Rhys was) gets inflated when more than 1 team need to fill that spot + don’t want the tier below (like Daniel Murphy haha). I learned that the hard way a few years ago when I planned a team around getting Deshizz for cheap SB, but he was the last speed guy, so I ended up paying like $18 for him!
Yea, I like Melancon a lot too. I feel like Wade Davis is sort of similar, except Davis will definitely implode + also has a contract that incentives COL to ditch him at some point.
Honestly, I would’ve punted 1B if Hoskins went that high, and just went for a Hosmer, lower level guy for $15 or whatever
Davis scares me a lot
Grey!!!!!
Excellent LABR draft report, from start to finish.
a. Loved the way your message is reinforced on Hoskins going for $28! Really comes full circle! At the same time comparing Alonso to Hoskins each for $28 is really absurd.
b. Late, yes! Kill me. Went to a virtual job fair (so actually didn’t leave the house but I had to get dresssed okay it was a shirt and tie above with shorts and flip flops below, but I had to be there in my mind’s eye from 04h00 to 10h00 EST). Maybe something will come up from the job fair.
c. Kind of down because the job interview +test +French test for a really good job I had lined up (the one where I wrote the best application of my life) was postponed indefinitely because of corona. That is, the employer was concerned for the candidates contaminating their premises with the corona virus? I’m confused, you don’t stop businesses because of corona. Just wash your hands and face when you come home and try not to directly massage your eyeballs with a transfer of the virus from someone who just coughed and spit into both their hands and then thought it would be cool idea to shake your hand, right? Anyway, super pissed. They claim ‘postponed only’ not cancelled.
d. MLB quote of the day for July 31, 1948
‘You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you, too.’
Roy ‘Campy’ Campanella
Cheers,
Ante
A. Ha, thanks!
B. Hope it works out!
C. No eye massages for anyone! That sucks, I’m sure you’ll find something
D. Awesome!
Got offered Lindor and Sherzer for my Soto and Corbin. It’s a keeper league, thoughts?
Also, do you think Puk will have any impact this year?
Not really on Puk, maybe as a solid MR
Oh, and Lindor side
Grey, can u give opinion of this 12 team roto mock with 6th pick?
C-Kelly
1b-Olsen
2b-Muncy
Ss-Story
3b-JoRam
Mi-Mondesi
Ci-C.Walker
Of-Springer
Of-Soler
Of-Mercado
Of-W.Calhohn
Of-Happ
Util-Tauchman
Sp-Giolito
Sp-Gray
Sp-Lynn
Sp-Odorizzi
Sp-Plesac
Rp-Kimbrel
Rp-Robles
Rp-J.Jimenez
Rp-Oberg
Rp-Castillo
Rp-A.Miller
Rp-W.Davis
I’m full in the middle infield the other guy is full at the corners. I can trade my $2 Tommy la Stella for his $12 Yuli gurriel. It’s a 12-team Al only Roto auction. Sure he might get the cheaper player and I would have to extend gurriel this year where she only has to make a decision on la Stella next year but I think I’m getting much more reliability and the same profit if I don’t extend. Do you agree
I’d want Gurriel
Just did the deal. Enjoy the year at 12 or sign at 17 for 2.
Btw justsigned up for my first RCL this year. Excited. If I have questions where do I go for that
Enjoy the year
Go here
G, I’m back, baby! Need help with my keepers. 10 teams, H2H, 5×5 with OPS (no Avg) and QS (no Wins), $260 budget, auction price goes up 20% every year.
KEEP 5 from the following (leaning first 5 but wanted second opinions):
Trout $50
Yelich $49
Treat Urner $6
Alonso $2
Scherzer $20
Javier Baez $17
Bieber $13
Strasburg $20
Verlander $34
Buehler $36
Suarez $30
Mondesi $30
I know Trout and Yelich are the most expensive by far, but I think I still gotta keep the best players. There’s still probably some “savings” in their prices (they’d probably go in the $60s), along with the fact that I’m guaranteed to own them. Baez and Bieber are tough to let go at those prices but I don’t think I have any other options except maybe keep Biebs over Max?
Thoughts?
Good to see you again!
Trout $50
Yelich $49
Treat Urner $6
Alonso $2
Bieber
Nice keepers!
Thanks man! I traded away a lot of young and/or cheap and/or proven talent last year (e.g., Tatis, Yordan Alvarez, Hiura, Hoskins) but Trout, Bieber, Stras, and JV were all acquired via trade to help me to the ‘chip so I can’t really complain about having too many good players that I need to let go now. JUST WIN, BABY!
Yeah, definitely! Get that title!
10 team Mixed Weekly H2H 6×5 (standard + OPS). Keep 3 for 1 year max. Who makes the cut for 2020?
JustDong
FTJ
Story
Soto
JoRam
FTJ
Story
Soto
Grey, did a 12 team roto mock
Please give me your opinion on it
C-Kelly
1b-Olsen
2b-Muncy
Ss-Story
3b-JoRam
Mi-Mondesi
Ci-Walker
Of-Springer
Of-Soler
Of-Mercado
Of-W.Calhohn
Of-Happ
Util-Tauchman
Sp-Giolito
Sp-Gray
Sp-Lynn
Sp-Odorizzi
Sp-Luchessi
Rp-Kimbrel
Rp-Robles
Rp-Jimenez
Rp-Oberg
Rp-Castillo
Rp-A.Miller
Rp-W.Davis
Exactly type of team I would draft, love your hitting and pitching
NFBC 15 team draft champions, drafting from the 10 spot.
1. Lindor
2. Tatis
We’re one out from our third round pick. Initially thought we’d go SP but Alonso, Yordan and Marte are all still available. Corbin and Giolitto would be options if we went SP. Not afraid to piece together pitching but have in the past taken an “ace” early on in these DC. Thoughts on the remaining available?
100% drafting Alonso in every league — and *Ketel* Marte
I would’ve taken Ketel, but Rudy grabbed him one pick in front of me. Don’t mind Torres though.
Nice, I love Ketel, don’t like Torres but I understand I’m in minority
Looks up Grey’s rankings… Gleyber at 28, Ketel at 39… It all checks out!
But I say I won’t draft Gleyber
more or less a coin flip for me….Marte was a better fit w/ Harper.
Yeah, I agree that Ketel was a better fit for you there. The top four in my queue were Springer, Ketel, Torres, and Meadows leading into my 3rd pick. At least the choice was easy.
Started my DC with Lindor, Flaherty, Torres, and Robert. These are dynasty startups, right?
I got Story, Alonso, Ketel, Paddack, Robert in my 1st 5 rounds of TGFBI, which is same league setup
Didn’t think that Robert would make it back to me in the 5th, so I jumped him a bit
Yeah, I’m all-in on him too tho, so I don’t hate it — Someone took him as the 1st pick of our 3rd round
That’s aggressive, but then again how many players are capable of going 25/25?
Yeah, I’m with you
10tm 5×5 with OBP instead of BA. Four keepers per team. Guy offered me Mookie (round 1 price) for my Gerrit Cole (round 8). My best hitting keeper left is Bogaerts. If you’re me, do you take it?
Nah
Follow up from a question a few days ago. In a 10 team h2h dynasty league where 20+ players are kept. I’m wondering what you think of trading Weaver for Severino and Patino. My pitching staff looks like this after a few trades:
EdRod, Lamet, Ray, Weaver, Manaea, Marquez, Lucchesi, DeSclafani and minor league pitchers of Mize, Honeywell, Hunter greene, and triston McKenzie. Might be able to pull off a trade of my hunter Greene for Jake odorizzi.
With this staff, would you consider trading to get Severino for the future?
Thanks!
Nope
Thanks Grey.
How bad is my pitching? Went all in on Marquez last year and moved scherzer and strasburg, so I took a pretty big hit.
Not the best — you have a few low-end #2s or high-end #3s – no real #1, but trading for a guy who just had TJS isn’t the answer either
Yeah, I know. He’s really the only ace available now, so just seeing what I can do. Made trades to get lamet and Edrod all this year, so hopefully some of those high upside 2’s and 3’s can make a big step forward.
You like the trade of Greene for Odorizzi!
Pitching fluctuates every year, you don’t know who will be an ace yet…Giolito wasn’t an ace as of this time last year
I hear ya. Thanks for talking me off the ledge!
No problem
Grey, which package would you want if you were rebuilding a deep league dynasty team and had no hope of contending:
A. Miguel Sano
B. Kieboom, Pearson
C. Pederson, Hendricks, Pache
Thanks, Homey! Always appreciate it!
B
Thanks!
No problem
Acuna, Flaherty, Alonso to start off RazzSlam. Like it
Nice! I went Freeman/Betts — 1st shares I have of either of them, so either this will be my only team that’s good or my only team that’s bad
Rudy lost the game of chicken. Just couldn’t resist Giancarlo’s charm.
Wow, you must’ve taken him high if you got him before Rudy
No, Rudy lost the game. Gave in to the temptation in the 5th.
Damn, surprised he didn’t beat you to punch
He did. I’ve been telling you that he drafted him.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Oik6dXm-0l0
Taking Abreu after I took Stanton must’ve been like eating a bowl of white rice while the guy next to you is eating blowfish sushi
Haha. I’ll take my boring, predictable rice. I don’t even know if that other one’s a thing, but I’d rather not spend the rest of the night in the bathroom.
Grey
What are your thoughts on Jesse Winner and Ian Desmond?
My thoughts on every player in are in my rankings https://razzball.com/2020-fantasy-baseball-rankings/
Thanks
Hey G!! We’re geared up for a 3rd title run in 4 years….. LETS ROCK!!! This year we’ve expanded to a 12 team league with H2H Categories 6×6 (OPS and Holds). We get 4 keepers this year, for as long as we want to hold on to them. It’s an auction draft and their values factor into our $260 budget. Which 4 you thinkin?
$55 Trout
$36 Acuna Jr.
$31 Treat Urner
$26 Rizzo
$24 Gerritt Cole
$23 Bellinger
$21 Baez
$16 Strasburg
$9 Mondesi
$1 Sano
Really appreciate it!!
Grey,
Yahoo 10 team, 6×5 including OPS, keep 7 players which are tied to the round they were drafted last year. I have 10 players and get to keep 7. Which 3 would you throw back? Thanks!
Trevor Story (round 9)
Mookie Betts (round 7)
Jose Ramirez (round 5)
Alex Bregman (round 2)
Aaron Judge (round 24)
Ozzie Albies (round 14)
Eddie Rosario (round 4)
Nelson Cruz (round 6)
Blake Snell (round 16)
Trevor Bauer (round 10)
NL Only Labor —-
So…. ESPN guy who shall not be named bought the entire Nationals OF? And got their 4th OF in the reserve draft? Don’t get wrong, I like them all, but you need to diversify your bonds. Go to WU Financial.
Someone paid $19 for Hector Neris!?!?!? He can’t continue to throw his splitter 126% of his pitches and not be exposed. Also makes the $20 you spent on Kimbrel and Melancon look like a deal. If Neris goes for $19 in my leagues, I will not be buying closers. Well at that price at least.
$28 Hoskins. Ha ha ha, that deserved the 45 minutes you dedicated. I had him for $30 last year, and somehow still finished 2nd. Finished 8th in average… I wonder why?
The same team bought Votto for $13 and Longoria for $8, because the DeLorean is going to show up and take us back to 2012.
I think your main competition for the title will be Gardner of USA Today. I like his team on top of yours. Maybe the Athletic guy, Van Riper. Another solid mix. Their holes are minimal. So are their cans. It’s all about cans and holes.