Francisco Rodriguez was removed from the closer job, because he was being sued by a dumpster fire for trademark infringement. Â A portion of the deposition transcript follows:
“Is it true that you were passing an alleyway behind a Subway sandwich shop in late-March when you remarked to your friend, Nicholas Castellanos, that you thought it would be cool to also be a dumpster fire?”
“Leading the witness.”
“I’ll rephrase. Â What did you say to Nicholas Castellanos when you saw a dumpster fire?”
“I could be that.”
“That dumpster fire?”
“Yes!  It was aglow like E.T.’s finger!  I am the Icarus of refuse!”  So, Francisco Rodriguez is out, and Justin Wilson is in as the Tigers’ closer.  I’d guess the Tigers will try to go back to K-Rod at some point, but I’d also think it won’t turn out any better, and Wilson will end up being a solid closer, maybe even a Donkeycorn.  I’d grab Wilson in all leagues.  Then, there’s the case of Mark Melancon, who was DL’d due to an injury near his forearm.  “But I just learned it’s not a Hard C!”  That’s a Giants fan.  This might be me overreacting, but an injury near a forearm for a closer sounds like trouble.  There’s been some disagreement about who will take over, and I grabbed Hunter Strickland and Derek Law where I could, but I’m also like Pookie for SAGNOF, fiending for saves.  *smacks veins*  Give me more setup men!  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Jeff Samardzija – 7 IP, 6 ER, 10 baserunners (0 walks), 9 Ks, ERA at 5.44. Â Ah, yes, there it is again, the fantasy baseball owners’ cartoon expletive, Samard%#*&@!
Buster Posey – 1-for-3 and his 4th homer, and 2nd game in a row with a homer. Â Posey’s having a big series in Metco, but, like any visiting Posey, keep him away from Reyes, Familia, Harvey and Mets’ management that stands by while a pernicious culture subsists.
Michael Conforto – 2-for-5, 2 runs and his 8th homer. Â …going to a picnic and I’m bringing apples, bananas and Conforto!
T.J. Rivera – 3-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, hitting over-.350 in the last week with a home run in that time. Â He’s been playing every day, and I’m as crazy for him as someone can be about a player with no real speed or power.
Zack Wheeler – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.18.  Props to anyone that started Wheeler because the Stream-o-Nator was all about it, but I saw that, and was like, “I yeah yo.”  See, when I talk to myself, I don’t need to form coherent sentences, because I know what I’m saying in my head.
James McCann – 1-for-3 and his 7th homer, hitting .157. Â Who knows what will happen with his luck, but I just looked at his peripherals and there’s very little to be discouraged about. Â Line drives, hard contact, walks and fly balls are up; Ks and BABIP are down. Â He could be a .240 hitter with 18 HRs this year, and I’ve changed my opinion about him. Â He McCann!
Robbie Ray – 5 IP, 5 ER, ERAÂ up to 4.14. Â Eff you, Regression Fairies.
Aaron Nola – Will make a rehab start today in Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Â Fun fact! Â While visiting this Triple-A affiliate, French tourists ask for directions to “The High Valley” thinking their Google translator messed up.
Jerad Eickhoff – 3 2/3 IP, 5 ER, EAR at 4.76 vs. Ariel Miranda – 3 1/3 IP, 8 ER, ERA at 5.20. Â This was a matchup billed as, “Grey doesn’t understand the attraction to either of these pitchers.” Â As you can imagine, not that many people call it this.
Aaron Altherr – 2-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 5th homer, hitting .343. Â Sure to be benched again, because the Phils really need to get into the lineup…um…hmm…Who do the Phils need to get into the lineup that keeps pushing Altherr to the bench? Â Just play him!
Tommy Joseph – 1-for-2, 2 runs, and his 3rd homer. Â Yes, after every one of his homers I’ve said more or less a version of, “This could be his breakout finally,” but, ya know, it could be. Â I’m cyclops’ing, yo.
Robinson Cano – Homered, but left the game with a quad strain. Â No word yet on a DL stint, so Robinson-may close down for ten days, or we Macy something else. Â Department store puns!
Ben Gamel – 4-for-5, 3 runs, 4 RBIs and his 2nd homer, hitting .362. Â Zoinks! Â Hot schmotato alert!
Jake Arrieta – 3 2/3 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 5.35. Â My schmohawk posts this year have been slightly less slam dunky as past years (McCutchen, Arrieta and CarGo have been garbage; Yelich and Murphy still need help to suck). Â Arrieta, however, needs a good two months to get back to where you thought he’d be, and he looks so far away from the pitcher he once was.
Mark Reynolds – 3-for-5, 3 runs, 3 RBIs and his 12th homer. Â No jokes, if you don’t own Reynolds for just his home games, you’re not playing this thing the right way.
Javier Baez – 2-for-8, 2 RBIs and his 5th homer, hitting .260.  Finally moved up to the six hole for the 2nd game of the doubleheader, but, of course, Maddon is still ludicrous, batting a one-day callup as the cleanup hitter (Candelario).
John Lackey – 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 10 Ks in Coors, ERA at 4.29.  This sonavabenching was so obvious.  The writing was on the wall, and then the mom from 13 Reasons Why took photos of the writing, showed it to me, and I still didn’t believe it.  In.  Credible.
Antonio Senzatela – 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 2.86. Â See what I said 1/8th of an inch above, or 3 inches above if talking to a girl.
Koda Glover – Ready for a rehab assignment, and should be back by this weekend. Â Let’s see, Dusty Baker is currently juggling three potential closers (Romero, Albers, Treinen), Kelley is due back on Friday and Glover right after that. Â So, Joe Blanton will get the next save, because Dusty.
Enny Romero – 1 IP, 2 ER and the blown save, which caused me to send out my favorite tweet that no one liked.  I’m gonna tell myself it was too highbrow.
Guessing Dusty Baker goes with Meeny, Miney or Moe in the next save situation.
— Razzball (@Razzball) May 10, 2017
Daniel Murphy – 1-for-3 and his 6th homer, hitting .333.  As mentioned above in the Arrieta blurb on the aforementioned tip, Murphy’s denying me a perfect score so far, or sofa if a couch is reading.
Max Scherzer – 8 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 2.59. Â Member all that nonsense in the preseason about his knuckle? Â I’m convinced it’s best to turn out all preseason chatter, aside from players who are out for more than a month.
Zach Britton – Shut down for 45-60 days.  That sounds like “I’m probably done for the season, but will hold out hope.”  Really bums me out that I didn’t grab Brad Brach in a few of my leagues.  Need to take my mind off it.  *reaches into Cougs’ pocketbook for candy, pulls out a Brach’s hard candy*  Dah!
Seth Smith – 2-for-4 and his 3rd homer, hitting .311. Â Maybe it’s not Joey Rickard or the Lisper’s Nightmare, but the leadoff slot for the O’s is magical.
Steven Souza – Held out of the lineup due to a thumb injury. Â Beginning to think Souza was so last month, and this month it’s all about Colby Rasmus (1-for-3, 2 runs).
Brad Miller – 1-for-5 and his 2nd homer, hitting .193. Â So, what you’re saying is, Brad Miller didn’t retire? Â You sure?
Salvador Perez – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 7th homer, as the Royals put back-to-back games together where they actually scored runs, i.e., tell Lorde the Royals weren’t a one-hit wonder.
David Price – Threw a 4-inning simulated game. Â The robots were unable to score in the bottom of the third, after filling the bases.
Drew Pomeranz – 4 IP, 6 ER, ERA at 5.23. Â A) I told you not to draft him. Â There’s no other letters.
Mookie Betts – 4-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer, hitting .304. Â Mookie Ballgame!
Eric Thames – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 13th homer, hitting .327. Â Well, he’s still only hitting homers vs. the Reds, but these Reds have ‘ox.’
Keon Broxton – 3-for-3, 3 runs, 4 RBIs and a slam (3) and legs (8), hitting .258.  Apparently, I should’ve held longer before dropping Broxton.  Okay, point taken, but I’m still glad to be one ‘xton lighter.
Julio Urias – 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 1.06. Â Okay, okay, okay, I have room for you with Severino and McCullers in my BFF circle. Â Get in here!
Andrew Toles – Left with what appeared to be a leg injury. Â Shucks, I guess Bellinger will have to play two positions.
Yoan Moncada – White Sox said he’s not close to promotion. Â Yeah, no dur. Â Halp and I talked a bit yesterday on the podcast about the arcane Super Two rules; they’re dumb. Â Hey! Â The rules, not us!
Kennys Vargas – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer, two homers in his last two games, and four homers in the last nine games and…Okay, that’s all I got about new Kung Fu Kennys.  Kennys is hot, all of them, but they do not play every day so you need to platoon them.
Carlos Correa – 1-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 4th homer, hitting .263.  Correa’s bomb was off Bartolo, which made me think of something.  Member how Dennis Rodman went to North Korea as a personal guest of Kim Jong?  Doesn’t Bartolo feel like the type that will do the same once he retires?  Korean translator, “His Supreme Highness Command Leader would like you to join him for dinner.”  Colon nods, “Everything at Taco Bell that is Supreme has sour cream, is it the same here?”
Charlie Morton – 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners (4 BBs), 5 Ks , ERA at 3.63. Â I’m the opposite of a Morton truther. Â I just don’t get the attraction to him. Â Sorry.
Carlos Beltran – 2-for-4, 2 runs and his 3rd homer, hitting .252.  He homered off Colon, likely due to Colon’s unfamiliarity to C-Belt.
Josh Reddick – 2-for-4, 2 runs and his 4th homer. Â In the right matchups, Reddick is great. Â In bad matchups, use a topical.
Gary Sanchez – 1-for-5 and his 2nd homer, hitting .270. Â Drafting a catcher in the first six rounds is really paying off now!
Didi Gregorius – 3-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 1st homer, hitting .313. Â Who rock the spot? Â Didi. Â You know how the schmotatoes go, unbelievable.
Dee Gordon – 1-for-4 as he was moved to the nine hole. Â Sigh. Â This is the 2nd year in a row this schmohawk is effin’ me in the eff hole. Â Can’t believe I went back in on him. Â If he stays in the nine hole, he’s about as valuable as Jarrod Dyson.
Dan Straily – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.03. Â Definitely has had a few stellar games, but he’s also had some real six-weeks of Odor-ous ones too. Â I’d continue to use Stream-o-Nator for him.
Aaron Sanchez – Says he’s on track to start on Sunday.  He’s recovering from a split nail on his finger.  An injury that could only sideline a major league pitcher and Steve Wiebe.
Troy Tulowitzki – Nearing rehab games.  “Rehab games” are Tulo’s Regal Beagle.
Carlos Carrasco – 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 1.86. Â See what I said for Scherzer and put that broken record on repeat.
Yan Gomes – 2-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 2nd homer, hitting .239. Â Guron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior!
Jharel Cotton – 5 IP, 7 ER, ERA at 5.68.  Where did he come from and when can he go?  Cotton Eye Jharel.
Yonder Alonso – 2-for-3, 3 RBIs and two more homers (10, 11). Â Okay, I buy the change in approach and all of that, but I have one small, crazy question: Â WHY DIDN’T YOU CHANGE YOUR APPROACH 6 YEARS AGO?!
Yunel Escobar – 1-for-5, 4 RBIs and his 5th homer, and 3rd homer in the last three games. Â Hot schmotato alert!
Ben Revere – 2-for-4, 2 runs and his 1st homer. Â Some eyewitnesses said Revere’s home run looked like it went 275 feet, then Denard Span grabbed it and threw it over the fence.
A.J. Griffin – 9 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 2.45. Â Don’t even need to look at the Stream-o-Nator to know this was a good matchup. Â Guys and five ladies, it was vs. the Padres. Â Their 2nd best hitter is a 45-way tie with players, coaches and the equipment manager.
Delino DeShields – Rangers exploded for 11 runs and Delino didn’t play. Â Holy sit!
Joey Gallo – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 11th homer, hitting .205. Â Somewhere, Adam Dunn is clearing a forest with his blue ox and nodding his head in appreciation of Gallo’s year.
Robinson Chirinos – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 5th homer, hitting .294. Â If I would’ve drafted Chirinos, and didn’t touch him all year, I’d be doing better on all of my teams.
Ryan Rua – 1-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 2nd homer, hitting .173. Â I call him The Asian Lion, because that’s what his last name sounds like. Â Rua!
Jered Weaver – 3 IP, 7 ER.  Weaver should retire already and play frisbee golf.  Frisbee Golf Caddy, “You can’t make that shot, Jered.  There’s a tree blocking the way.”  Frisbee Golf Announcer, “This is his only chance of missing wood.”  Weaver pitches so slow, his pitches add an extra ten minutes to every game.  If Weaver was on the Red Sox and Machado hit a HR off him, the pitch plus trot time could be an hour.
was up boss man?no its late but is hoover worth keeping in a rcl where closers are are worth tons,i sometimes dont say it enough but you and your staff here at razzball are number one by a large amount,thanks for all
@AL KOHOLIC: also,i have tulo coming off DL soon but i have harrison,villar(at 3rd)and machadi,,keep him ,trade him or drop Tulo
Grey, You said I may be low on power. Would you trade Polanco for Duvall?
I’m so mad I missed out on Bellinger – dude is absolutely killing it, and actually offered Rizzo for him but was turned down
@William Hung: Of all the early season strugglers, I have faith in Rizzo. He’s just making softer contact and hitting more pop ups. The contact rates and discipline numbers are nearly the same as all the awesome seasons he has put together recently. Hang in there Hung.
Now if you’ll excuse I need to continue screaming myself hoarse with rage after seeing what Brach and Benoit have done to my ratios today.
grey both Cahill and Wood are on waviers which do you like better going forward?
@someone pissed in my alphabet soup: Gotta be Cahill – Wood might not be in the rotation once everyone is back healthy
Roto:
1) Aaron Hicks or Alonso for UTIL spot? 2) 1B/3B: Miggy, Longoria, Shaw, Josh Harrison, Marwin Gonzalez. Drop any for Alonso? 3) Hosmer and Chris Davis. Drop any for Alonso?
Thanks!
Alonso…. Harrison…. No
@Grey: weekly roto redraft. bellinger/k-zar/gallo for rizzo/giles?
@herschel:
Rizzo
Rizzo
Brach has been giving up some runs lately – 3 out of his last 4 appearances. Don’t want him turning into a cuddle boy.
@William Hung:
Sagnof! Peeps gets all wet over some dude
Only to have him replaced soon after!
Grab O’Day
@Grey: you really think Showalter is gonna pull Brach this quickly?
@Grey: after his less than stellar performance today, you still like law > strickland in sf?
@herschel:
They both will get opportunities…
If there are any more Giants stink!!
I like Strickland, always did
I guess I have to get Kzar again
Next year for his breakout
It’s totally 2018!
@Grey:
Ha!
For one night, Deez Nutz in the 9 hole worked out
Sho nuff!
Worth burning top waiver priority (2nd out of 12) to pick up Alex Wood?
To make room, would drop someone from too large offensive bench–either Lemahieu or Hicks. Happy with offense, but am light on speed, so leaning toward dropping Lemahieu, but Hicks’ playing time has me concerned. Thanks…
I’d lose Hicks, but Wood doesn’t seem worth using a waiver priority over
was offered
rizzo, villar, peds, keuchel
for
carrasco, correa, odor, maeda
what would you do?
Odor side
Duffy, Chapman, and C. Salazar for Freeman and Quintana : fair offer?
FReeman
10 team 5×5 – 10 keeper league
Would you drop Bautista for Hicks, Alonso, altherr, or Broxton?
My offense is:
C posey
1b votto
2b Hernandez
3b rendon
Ss boegarts
Of Braun, comforto, Desmond
Util – schoop, encarcion
Bench – Bregman, Bautista, odor, peraza, Franco
Dl – haniger, jd Martinez
Thanks
Altherr
b McCann
goldy
odor
correa
mi schoop
ci santana
3b castellanos
of stanton
of j upton
of werth
of duvall
u pillar
b polanco
sp
verlander, carrasco, severino, maeda, stroman
would you trade carrasco, and correa for rizzo and villar?
Sure
@Grey: weekly roto. need save help. salazar/gallo (bench bat) for giles/duffy?
It’s fair
@Grey: he countered with salazar/gallo for giles/pomeranz. i know your thoughts on pom, but my closers to start the season were melancon/bedrosian/gomez, so im pretty hurting. thoughts?
Salazar side
If you had Kluber and someone offered you Severino for him would you take it?
also if you had Severino would you trade him for Kluber?
I’d want Kluber
Please rank…Odorizzi, Vargas, R.Ray.
Ray, Odor
What’s up w Zobrist? I mean he’s hitting nearly .200 has he lost it or a good value Buy low candidate?
I wouldn’t go near him
I’ll pretend to be you Mr. Grey: A) Toles doesn’t play first base; B) Bellinger is a 1B by trade, so they’re fine there; C) there’s no C.
Yup!
Welp, Bellinger playing time concerns are out the window. Toles out for the year.
Yup!
Andrew Toles – OF – Dodgers
An MRI on Andrew Toles’ injured right knee revealed a torn ACL.
Brutal blow for the Dodgers. Toles will be undergoing surgery in two weeks and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2017 season. With Toles likely sidelined for the duration of the campaign, the Dodgers are probably going to have some juggling to do. Chase Utley is filling in for him at first base on Wednesday, but that obviously is not a long-term solution. Kike Hernandez and Austin Barnes could potentially see additional work. A trade for first base help is very much a possibility, too.
Latest RW blurb. Man, these guys…WTF are they talking about???
Ha
The Gauntlet has been thrown down in my league – nobody wants to trade for Rizzo and one owner is saying Miggy Cabrera will embarrass him this year. Hopefully this will fire Rizzo up ROS
Hope so
Grey,
Is Conforto good return for Bundy?
Also, where would Polanco rank right now/what would be fair return for him?
Thanks
Sure on Conforto — Around top 70
Odubel or Altherr ROS?
Altherr
Hey, Grey. Cutch and Ray or Urias for Verlander and Owings. Which side?
Verlander
TRiggs put up another good outing today, is he for real or a streamer? 12 team h2h not sure if I should be streaming from his spot. Thanks Grey
Streamer
Altherr or Buxton ROS?
Altherr
Maeda and Peraza
for
Arrieta and Altherr
Which side you like?
Looks fair, Arrieta
So I’m believing the whole Gausman pitching better by bringing back the splitter and he decided not to throw it in the beginning of the season and now went back to it thing…
That said
Here is my pitching staff
Should I drop any of these guys for Gausman
Wheeler
Wood @COL end of week afraid to start there and afraid he will lose his rotation spot but he has been nasty
Samarjdzia, great ratios but bad luck?
Duffy (cadadite for a drop if he pitches poor again on Friday? Or Hold him? He bounced back some last start)
Griffin (added for his two start this week has been great but if I’m looking at rest of season him or Gausman)
Basically Idk who to drop out of wheeler, Wood, Samardjiza, Duffy, or Griffin for Gausman
Should I Hold my guys for now and not make the move?
What do you think will happen to wood when Ryu and hill comes back, bullpen or rotation?
Lot of questions here I’m not sure what to do
Griffin
Any of these pitchers worth dropping for Altherr?
Teheren
Lackey
Alex Wood
Or
Could drop Aaron Hicks
Teheran
JD means I have to drop someone. Bruce, no, Conforto, Pollack, Alonso, Brantley, DJ Lemaiheau, or a pitcher, Andriese or Cahill. Leaning Andriese, his next start is at Boston.
I dropped Tehran in 14 team league, no-one picked him up. Wow.
Brach gonna come back to haunt us both, but remember, you said I could lose him. ;)
Andriese
Samardzija just got dropped and I need an SP.
Would you drop Moustakas or Kipnis for him?
Thanks man!
Meh, I guess Kipnis if bench guy
Of course I sat Samard*&#! and Ray last week when they pitched against the Dodgers and Nationals and proceeded to collectively give my bench a combined 1.29 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, and 21 Ks in 14 innings. Sonavabench! And of course I started both of them yesterday when they proceeded to give my actual stats a combined 8.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 17 Ks in 12 innings. Sonavastart!
At least the Ks are consistent…
Ugh, I know
They’re playing in Coors today right? Wow.
Haha
@Grey: need save help. cahill too much to give up for maurer?
Not too much
5×5 roto 10 team, pineda or fulmer, I’m winning ks but losing in wins
Pineda
@<a href="#[email protected]Grey:
Same league as guy offered rizzo/kintzler/Reyes for chapman/c. Seager.
Rizzo side
Bundy or Nola? is it close?
Bundy, sure
Pillar or Broxton?
Broxton
would you drop Mazara for Altherr in a redraft league?
Yeah
After that 5 spot in the 7th, safe for us Neris owners to drop Benoit? Neris may be a cuddleboy, but Benoit isn’t good for anything right now other than unsolicited sexts (dropping so many dongs and other hits on your team notifications)
Yeah
Grey,
12 team holds is a category and saves is a category.
I have Nerris, Giles, Bush, Benoit, Will Harris, and Bradley. I have held onto Benoit to handcuff Nerris and get holds, but after today I’m debating if I should. Would you cut Benoit for any of the following?
Kelley, Bowman, Gregorson, Alex Wilson
Thanks
Kelley
@Grey: Putting a claim in for Kelley would you take anyone else over Benoit incase I don’t get him?
Thanks
Neon Keon leading off. Yay!
Nice!
@Fred Garvin MP: Heyo!
Two more bombs for Altherr. Are these numbers real or is he way over his head right now?
He won’t hit five homers a week every week
@Grey: whats reasonable to expect by years end assuming they play him
17/20/.245
Grey would you trade Kyle Hendricks for Michael Brantley? I need an OF but I have already Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez is it too much Cleveland players for a team roster?
Think you can do better
Derek Law LOL. Next!
Yes!
I mean, shucks, I wish nothing but the best for Truss after he traded garbage for Harper
@Grey: Oh Truss has him? Yeah screw that guy. Hi Truss!
Yeah, he grabbed him after I took Strickland like a bonehead
WHat do you think of Wainwright? His peripherals look ok but his results have been mediocre at best. Stream or hold?
Thanks
He’s garbage
In need of saves good on SBs trade Gordon for Diaz?
Sure
What’s the ceiling for Conforto?
Do I move him for Severino, Tanaka, Duffy or Paxton?
25/10/.280 — Sounds fair
@Grey: Which of those 4 would you target?
Severino, Tanaka, Paxton
That horrifying moment when you see the Mariners have put up a 5 spot in the seventh, but think you’re safe because McKanin wouldn’t possibly bring in his main setup guy/part-time closer in the 7th. Then discover you’re wrong, and of course crummy Danny Valencia and crappy Carlos Ruiz struck the telling blows. Sigh.
Ha, I hear that frustration
Grey, 8 team NL only 5×5 roto I am in third place 14 pòints behind first place. Here is my team.
C Mesoraco
1b Votto
2b Peraza
SS Story
3b Franco
Of Pollock, Polanco, Conforto, Margot Altherr
UT Zimmerman, Reyes
B Renfroe Brinson Dahl
Sp Kershaw Scherzer, Ray Wheeler, Gsellman,Ryu
Rp Ramos Familia Benoit Edwards Knebel
DL Matz My question is do you have any advice for things I could do to improve my team or do I stand pat for now? Still waiting on Story, Polanco, Franco Peraza to play better and Ramos and Familia to get some saves.
@Robert: While “How do I fix my team” is generally an impossible question to answer, namely because we can’t tell which categories you’re lagging in, I guess trading Kershaw or Scherzer for an offensive upgrade is plausible. Kershaw/Zimm for a top 5 hitter and lesser pitcher?
You look low on power, but I don’t know what your standings say… Best advice always is consolidate players — make two for one deals
Hello Grey: Three quickies for you…
(I wrote quickie!)
1. Would you rather have Kelper or Broxton? I need Rs, AVE, and OPS in this league.
2. In a roto league where I’d love to get some vulture saves but holds count as well, who do you like more between Harris, Strickland, Alex Wilson, Swarzak, and Archie Bradley? I have Harris and Benoit at the moment … normally wouldn’t consider dropping Benoit but I watched him pitch just now. He looked terrible!
3. And in a 14-team roto league with a *thin* bench, would you take Wood or Morton? Or stream in that spot? Both have tough match ups up next (Wood @COL; Morton @NYY) and I’d rather not have them riding the bench until their starts in 7 or 8 days. But of course I’d also hate to see them snapped up. Usually, I’d want 5-6 SPs to reach the 1350-inning limit and I have five: Carrasco, Maeda, McCullers, Severino, Danny Duffy.
Thanks!
1. Broxton 2. Strickland 3. Wood
Hey Grey,
Who’d you start today of the below?
Phil Hughes @ CWS
Jason Hammel @ TB
Koehler vs. STL
Thanks!
None
H2H 12 team league.
I am being offered Machado/Dee Gordon (will basically drop) for Lamb, Abreu, Segura.
I think I should take…I have Goldy at 1B + Story/Beckham to cover MI
Take it, don’t drop Gordon
Drop DeShields, Margot, Perez, or Schoop for Broxton?
DeShields
Are there any catchers you “like” (**gag**) who might be available in a 12-team, one-catcher league?
I’ve got Bandy, but he’s sitting so much and I don’t have the bench space to platoon him with Pina.
No idea who’s available in your league
@Grey:
Avila
Vogt
Cervelli
D’Arnaud (DL)
Castro
Pina
Rupp
J. McCann
Mesoraco
Murphy (DL)
Flowers
Romine
Gomes
Norris
Zunino
Vazquez
Chirinos
Wolters (DL7)
Maldonado
Barnhart
Or just keep rolling with Bandy 3-4 games a week?
I’d stream catchers until someone sticks… If that’s not possible, I’d go Vogt for now
Altherr or Broxton?
Broxton
Altherr over Travis Shaw or Marwin Gonzalez
Marwin
Don’t fight the Law Joe Strummer (RIP)
Posey with three games in a row with a homer. The unexpected spark my lineup needed.
So definitely Glover time in DC now right? We found out Treinen sucks even tho he throws hi 90s, and Kelley can’t be trusted health-wise…at least that’s what I hope happens seeing as I have him and all.
Come and knock on our door
We’ve been waiting for you
Where the kisses are hers and hers and his
Clay Bellinger too haha
Hope it’s Glover
Still buying shares of Story? Trade a closer for him? Colome?
@Five-On-One: Maybe not Colome, but def trade a closer since SAGNOF and all…
@William Hung: Package Norris and Cam for him? Other closers I own are Wilson, Kelley and Law. Those are easy gives, I think.
Yeah, for sure
10 team 6×6 roto, BB as a 6th category. Drop Pence (my 5th OF/Bench UTIL) for any of Altherr, Marwin, Werth, or Holliday? (Starters are Trout/Betts/Yelich/Desmond with Haniger on DL)
And which DL pitcher do you give up on (keeper league, potential to keep one of these since my pitching is a dumpster fire right now): Hamels, Taillon, Rodon
Altherr — Taillon
Actually, maybe Hamels, I’d Google latest news on them
@Grey: Yeah really tough for me to gauge their injuries. Taillon much better keeper potential but no clue what the recovery is like for that. Hamels was looking awful this year but maybe pitching injured the whole time.
And thanks for the advice on the OF. I love me some Gangly Bird Man, but the Giants just seem terrible and his days of 20/20 are long gone. Only thing that hasn prevented me from picking up Altherr already is the fact that I own Franco AND Cesar. That’s a lot of damn Phillies….
Yeah, grab Altherr
I hope this weather delay in Colorado somehow turns more serious and prevents the Cubs/Rockies game from being played – If my guys aren’t playing in that game, NOBODY PLAYS!!!
Boo!
Picking 2 ROS Josh Bell, Y Escobar, M Taylor in a 16er
Josh Bell, Y Escobar
Shout out to Lackeys teeth chomping through a Rox lineup @ a snowy coors bumping me back up to 1st….
Ha, nice
Grey,
I’ll admit I’m a little surprised you’re not on the Morton train. Saw above you cited his previous K/9 but that’s when he averaged about 92 mph on his fastball.
Starting last year, he started averaging 95+. He’s currently at 95.3, which is 5th fastest in baseball. In fact, his fastball has averaged 97+ in his last three starts according to Brooks.
FIP is 3.21, SIERA is 3.50, xFIP is 3.41.
3.18 BB/9 this year, has never been a homer-prone pitcher.
The two criticisms I have is that last year when this weird transformation of velocity took place, he was backing it up with a 12% SwStr% and 64% GB rate. That’s elite stuff. This year he’s at 9% and 50% . And second, he’s a borderline two-pitch pitcher (fastball, curveball). He has a cutter that he uses 10% of the time, you can convince me that’s enough for a third pitch.
But those are some strong numbers for a 5th/6th guy in a 12-team league
Sounds like he is a 5th/6th guy in 12 team leagues, which means you’re not starting him in most away games where he has a 7.20 ERA… So I’d go SON for him… Solid stream yesterday, I have no confidence in him in his next away start
@Grey:
Not sure I’m turning my nose up at the guy for 10 innings of road work (especially when only one of those starts was truly bad). Not when he has a 10 K/9 and 3 BB/9, at least.
He’s definitely not an auto-start, and for tough road matchups I’d sit, but in competitive leagues I think he’s worth holding onto.
He’s on waivers in two mixed leagues of mine
@Grey:
Let me get in there ;)
Best future closer stash . . . Evil Knebel or Swarzak?
Knebel
What tier of SP is a fair offer for Cespedes?
Top 20
Grey,
Which side do you prefer ROS:
Bregman for Salazar
Any thoughts on Bregman? Popular long-term guy going into the season. Think he has significant value to provide this season despite his slow start?
Salazar was above Bregman in preseason, nothing’s changed, they are relatively similar in value, apples/oranges obvi
Lol Adam Dunn. I remember around the time when Griffey got traded to the Reds, and watching Peter Gammons on Sports Center say something like, “I think you will look back at this season and remember it as the time when Adam Dunn burst onto the scene.”
I cannot remember what season that was, but I do miss those 40 HR seasons
Haha
The ghost of Taylor Motter lives on as Ben Gamel.
HA!
@Cram It: And hopefully Shane Victorino in Altherr!
add B. Gamel over any of the following? J. Bradley, S. Souza, or A. Altherr
just for my 2nd util slot
thanks as always for the articles and especially thanks for the comment answers. You’re a national treasure :)
Ha, thanks! Over Souza
Yesterday I was pondering a trade in an 8 team points league. I’m stacked with SP, and looking to trade for some offense.
I mentioned trading Stroman / J. Abreu for Daniel Murphy. I’m willing to give up a 1B, since I have Hosmer, Abreu, and Reynolds (also, Moreland is a FA).
Given all the 1B, is Abreu the right guy to trade in this deal?
He’s the best of them
@Grey: Okay, I’m going to try with Stroman / Reynolds for Murphy.
I appreciate it, as always!
No problem
AL Only 5×5 standard roto: Gallo or Mazara ROS?
Maz
what do you think?
Julio Urias
Bud Norris
Yasiel Puig
For
Danny Salazar
Brad Brach
h2h, 5 x5 with obp and k/b added
Salazar
I have noted that from time to time, your leagues have owners who have to drop out for various reasons. If that happens this year, and you don’t mind an active owner, holler at me. Or point me in the right direction.
Other leagues that I am in are lacking in, hmm, let’s call it engagement. Need that competitive rush and commitment.
Many thanks.
Hey Grey, curious to get your thoughts on a few trade offers. We start two at each IF position and 6 SPs, and thanks to the Semien injury I’m rolling with Segura and Duffy at SS (we have very limited waivers obviously, and I don’t love the idea of adding Andrelton Simmons). I’ve been offered the following:
Bogaerts and Dickerson (DH only) for my deGrom and Drury (2B only)
Addison Russell and Dickerson for deGrom and Drury
I’d rather not trade Drury if I don’t have to since Miller is my only other starting 2B option, so I’m considering making this a straight SS for SP swap. I wondered if he’d consider Salazar for Russell instead. Thoughts? My current pitching staff has been very inconsistent (Scherzer, deGrom, Salazar, Jon Gray, Nova, Severino, Pomeranz, Shoemaker, Norris) so not sure if this leaves me with enough?
Bogaerts is fair depends what you need
@Grey: I definitely need a SS. Just trying to decide if I can stand to lose one of my top SPs. You like Bogaerts better than Russell? And I’m assuming you’d rather lose Salazar than deGrom?
Yup
Thoughts on Ed-Rod, 12 team H2H daily (limited moves). He a streamer or someone to hold for now.
Ralph just went over him
P/u L. Cain- which to drop Peraza, Nunez or Kipnis?
Thank you
@lwomack58: Didn’t you ask this already above?
Hold
Posey w/ another HR. 3 days consecutive. Would sure be nice if some guys could get on base ahead of him.
@demribbies: Why would the Mets even throw him a strike? The rest of that lineup is toothless.
Yeah if you own him
Did you read further details about Harvey’s night out, i.e. Adriana Lima/Julian Edelman? I kinda feel bad for Harvs now.
Ha, I haven’t read into it… I like idea of a dildo being the reason
@Grey: He’s a dildo.
Haha, plus dildos are funny
@Grey: the old dildo in the tailpipe gag
Ha
12 team dynasty
Is scott schebler worth holding? Gardner and marwin Gonzalez just hit the ww and I was thinking of making a batty call today.
Sure
@Big league choo: Before the season, I projected Schebler for .265/25+HR/10+ SB. I have seen nothing so far that would make me change my mind. But I seem to be the only one that sees that for him.
So glad I played it smart this week in my weekly 5×5 roto by benching Senzatela with games at Coors against the Cubs and Dodgers and inserting Barraclough to “protect” my ERA and WHIP. Sonuvabench!! Sensatela gets an easy win in a solid start, and Barraclough gives up 5 base runners and 4 ER in 1/3 of an inning.
Now I almost have to root for Senzatela to blow up on Sunday against the Dodgers to make that decision not so tilting. Is there a glossary term for that?
I hear ya, no term yet but in same boat as you
My keepers this year: Rizzo, Odor, Story, Trumbo
Hold me.
Ha
@Slowmez: At least Trumbo looks like he’s snapping out of it
Add Buxton over Renfroe, JBJ or Kepler?
Nah
Talking up the title is like calling out Betelgeuse three times today. Oh Rudy and those tits titles.
you know i do sporadic comment searches for ‘rudy’ and reply :)
In a league with only one move per week, so it gets tough to play the Frankencatcher game. Dropped Vogt last week for Kahnle since it looked like Tom Murphy was coming back, but now I’m nervous about going catcherless for an extended period while I wait for Murphy to heal. I don’t want to drop Murphy since he’s a $1 keeper (all FAs are $10, so getting someone cheap in the draft is valuable), but obviously that keeper value doesn’t help if he never gets on the field. Do I drop him for one of Avila, Chirinos, Bandy, or Miguel Montero, or should I just ride it out until he’s healthy? (#1 claim is going for Yonder Alonso, but I imagine he’ll be gone by my spot)