Alex Trebek, “Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler.” What’s the deal with all of these Rangers having all the upside in the world but not being able to stay healthy? Alex, “Um, okay, we would’ve also accepted, ‘Who are some Ranger players?’ Oh, and nice mustache.”  Nelson Cruz has hit the DL five times in his short career. Always with these little niggling injuries. Shoulder fatigue this, ankle sprain that. Someone get this guy some HGH. I’d like to see a rule put into place that every player who has an injury needs to make two phone calls before they’re able to go on the DL. One phone call to discuss their injury with Cal Ripken. Another phone call to a Holocaust survivor. If they can handle the guilt and still think their injury should force them out of action, then so be it. Nelson Cruz will be out at least two weeks. Nothing you can do but DL him and try to find a decent replacement. David Murphy’s a good in-house one. Though he needs to benched by you and the Rangers vs. lefties. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Brett Anderson – B.A. could miss up to 6 weeks. So far it’s been a bad week to be listed in the risky pitchers for 2010 post. Two guys hit the DL, another guy strained his groin. Hey, there’s my groin… No, wait. That’s my outie belly button. Damn, I shouldn’t be straining to find– Ouch! I was pretty hands off with Brett Anderson this year. As in, there’s Brett Anderson in my drafts and I’m not touching him. A forearm strain… Shoot, anything with the arm is tricky for a pitcher. You thought I didn’t want to own him before the injury, guess how I feel about him now. One hundred sixty pounds! That’s trying to guess my weight, random italicized voice. Totally my bad! But you’re kinda SOL right now because you can’t sell him for fifty cents on the dollar… Well, I mean you could, but I wouldn’t. If you were to wait until he returns and pitches well, then traded him. I could get behind that.
Jorge de la Rosa – The 2nd risky pitcher to make his way to the DL; de la Rosa’s suffering from a torn tendon in his middle finger. In layman’s terms, this is called a wounded bird. Rox docs are saying he should only miss a few starts. I don’t want to yell fire in the theater of Razzball, but this is a similar injury that Wainwright suffered a few years ago and it knocked him out from June 7th, 2008 until August 22nd. Listen, I don’t even know what to take for an upset stomach, so I’m obviously no doctor, but don’t try and buy de la Rosa on the cheap.
Jhoulys Chacin – Will take over for dlR. Just went over him yesterday. Scroll down or click here. Your options are endless.
Chris Iannetta – Sent to the minors. I’m in a league where I had him sitting in my catcher slot all year. I’m also in first place in that league. I’m telling you, guys and three girl readers. Your catchers don’t matter. Just throw someone in there. In that league, I grabbed John Jaso for s’s and g’s. Olivo is a great option if he’s out there.
Eric Young Jr. – 2-for-4 as he hit leadoff. Followed by Fowler, Helton, Tulo and CarGo. Now that’s a lineup!
Jason Bay – Hit his first homer of the year. Glad to see Metco can’t hold in his power. Just severely limit it.
Carlos Santana – He might be up any day now. At least within the next month. As I told someone yesterday, look at Wieters’s stats last year. Look at Wieters’s stats this year –> he has one home run, 6 Runs and 7 RBIs. What are you hoping to get from Carlos Santana? A lunch date with Rob Thomas? If you’re hoping Carlos Santana saves your team, you have a lot bigger fish to fry. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Carlos Santana get called up and do nothing productive until next July. Oh, and Santana’s dealing with a knee injury.
Buster Posey – See 1/8 of an inch above.
Clay Buchholz – 8 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners, 4 Ks and has a 2.19 ERA on the year. See little reason why it can’t continue. Could he be the Red Sox ace this year? Without a shadow of a doubt. It’s amazing to me the comments I still get asking if people should pick him up. Are these one team leagues? Own Buchholz before you give me an ulcer.
Brandon Wood – Yesterday, I mentioned that Wood has hit in three straight games. Now it’s four as he went 3-for-4 with a homer.
Austin Kearns – 6 for his last 10 with two homers. He won’t be good for the whole season, but right now Kearns has the juice.
Dioner Navarro – Suspended for two games for bumping an ump. Navarro apologized saying the ump kept humming “Been Caught Stealing” and he just lost it.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia – All catchers, all the time on Razzball, huh? Salty should be bacchia by the end of the week. If you lost Iannetta, he’s another option I’d look at.
Max Ramirez – I swear, this is the last catcher for today. If you want, skip down to the next blurb. No? Okay, but don’t pout. That’s for guys who play fantasy golf. Max Ramirez will actually be covered this afternoon by Stephen. Coinkydink, huh? Max Ramirez, who sounds like a Latino-Yiddish fusion chef, was the name bandied about for Mike Lowell this past offseason. Ramirez has good power but the Rangers might just leave him as a backup to their backstop since his defense is poor. It’s a sitch that’s worth watching.
Justin Smoak – 1-for-13 since his call up. Someone needs to take Smoak aside and explain to him that when they wanted him to replace Chris Davis, they wanted his own interpretation not a facsimile.
Frank Francisco – 1 IP, 0 ER and his first save of the year. “I take back what is mine. Then I make love to your women,” said Frank-Frank as he entered from the bullpen. Even money says Frank-Frank is the closer again-again.
Zack Greinke – 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks as he was appropriately Greinke’d.
Randy Wolf – 8 IP, 2 ER, 11 baserunners, 4 Ks and a no decision. Hey, seems like old times.
Trevor Hoffman – 1 IP, 5 ER. Ouch… Wait, what? Oh. Ouch.
Derek Lowe – 5 2/3 IP, 5 ER. It hurts me soul when I hear people own Lowe.
Ryan Ludwick – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer as he now bats .303 on the year. I’ve seen worse 5th outfielders. Hey, Nate McLousy, that’s you!
Jon Garland – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 10 Ks. I don’t buy it. He’s still a hodgepadre.
Edwin Jackson – 2 1/3 IP, 10 ER. But just think, if you had drafted him last year, he would’ve been good.
Cody Ross – Missed yesterday’s game with a nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy-head fever. Maybe he’s allergic to the thought of losing his job to Mike Stanton.
Justin Verlander – 5 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks. It’s not May yet, but don’t tell Verlander.
Francisco Liriano – 8 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 10 Ks. Three weeks ago, I traded Jenks for Liriano and Maybin. ABtC –> Always Be trading Closers.
Justin Morneau – Left the game with a stiff back. Might’ve been from trying to catch up with Verlander’s 100 MPH fastball.
Brian Roberts – Still hasn’t started any baseball activities. No spitting, no ball scratching, no nothing.
Rhyne Hughes – 1-for-4, 1 Run and RBI. Now has a hit in every game he’s appeared in, but he won’t face lefties, at least for now.
Jim Johnson – Trembley looks at his bullpen and gets the *pinkie to mouth* shakes. He said the Orioles don’t have a closer. Johnson’s just a guy who can’t pitch that has appeared in the ninth inning in the past. Yesterday, Johnson appeared in the 8th. Giving way for the one, the only…
Alfredo Simon – Yeah, I’m a save whore. I’ll admit it. I grabbed him in multiple leagues. By the time I grabbed him in every league I could, he had two men on and was about to blow the save. He escaped. Barely. During his almost blown save, Jim Palmer said, “I told Simon in spring training just throw to the mitt. And wear Jockey underwear.” I added the last part. Simon’s stuff looked decent from what I saw, but his minor league numbers show a guy who barely has a 5 K/9. Who throws 90+ MPH and only Ks 5 guys per 9? The Orioles new closer, that’s who!
Rajai Davis – Sat out because of a slump so Pennington hit leadoff and went 4-for-5 with a homer. Uh-oh.
Ben Sheets – 4 IP, 8 ER as your A’s got the Sheets.
So who takes over for Hoffman when his arm falls off in a week? I say Villanueva.
Austin Kearns could have a long hot streak in him. Finally had to drop Big Papi to get him. Big Papi has become the hitting version of the lefty specialist out of the bullpen. Who needs a DH-only player that starts only against righties and then gets pulled late in the game when a lefty comes in? At this rate, he will have 200 at bats by Sept 1! OK, rant over.
Derek Lowe just got dropped in my league this week. Should I drop Buchholz for him? My other free agent options are Suppan, Scott Olsen, Ricky Vaughn, and Dave Dravecky. How would you rank them?
Thanks, Grey!
All I can say is: Ha Ha!
@Terrence Mann: Try to flip Bucholz for a hot hitter looking to be on the verge of a career year; I’m thinking Pudge, especially since filling the catcher spot with talent is critical. Then replace Bucholz by picking up a proven veteran like Lowe or Suppan, who will always be a solid source of wins. Also check to see if the April 2009 version of Bonifacio is still available in your league.
@penpen: Hey that’s how Cito Gaston manages his team!
Just got offered Chris Shelton for Teixeira and Verlander, I hit accept before the other guy could realize his mistake…CHAMPIONSHIP!
Grey, I noticed your comment a few days ago about CarGo being wasted in the leadoff spot (and now this follow-up). Isn’t it ideal to have a guy with some pop batting leadoff (think Rickey Henderson)? I’m not convinced that Fowler is a very good #2 hitter and if he doesn’t improve his plate discipline he’s destined to end up as a #8 hitter or #9 hitter in the AL. I can definitely see Fowler being moved for a starter when we get closer to the stretch run.
For crying out loud.
Doug Davis @ Petco or Hochevar @ Tampa?
Don’t make me type the name of the ONLY other available starter.
“I traded Jenks for Liriano and Maybin”
What expert leagues do you play in?! That dude needs to give back his Certified Fantasy Baseball Expert card.
@Grey
With Zimmerman’s Hammie (Klezmer music anyone?) and Morneau’s back stiffening up, I might need some CI depth . I am thinking of dropping Stashee Stanton (Sorry I know you love stashes) for Wood, who could be a legit break out this year, but Frank^2 is sitting there on the wire too. I could also drop Norris and not ride him for his 2nd start this week.
To make matters worse, R Davis as you pointed out, was benched…so I need an OFer too potentially
fek!
Ode to Sizemore owners
Grady, Grady, are you a ruse?
Everyday you bring terrible news
Strikeout twice and foul out too
That taste in my mouth is definitely poo
Maybe you’ll hit and then get caught stealin’
Either way, it’s rage that I’m feelin’
Maybe it’s amnesia or you need a good lay
But please don’t swing when it’s down and away
I guess I’ll just drop you for any old shmohawk
Or maybe I’ll trade you and hope for a beanstalk
Sadly I’m all talk so I’ll likely just pray
May the gods bring us mercy and teach you to play!
Well Wood is owned, crap. Theres always Andy Laroche
@mookiewilson: Nice one. I’m going to start a Grady Sizemore Owners Anonymous group, and we will recite this poem in unison at the beginning of every meeting.
@Griff: Don’t drink the kool-aid, not worth it bro..
” needs to make two phone calls before they’re able to go on the DL. One phone call to discuss their injury with Cal Ripken. Another phone call to a Holocaust survivor. If they can handle the guilt and still think their injury should force them out of action, then so be it. ”
Did you really just suggest that injured players should liken themselves to Nazi prisoners being subjected to genocide, and gain some fortitude from that? Brilliant, but somehow I think Grady Sizemore misinterpreted the fear of the showers, dude stinks.
@Bodymore: I was thinking something stronger than kool-aid; turpentine maybe?
Looks like Ianetta was just optioned to Triple A. Sucks for him.
@Grey: 2 part question for you
1) Frank2 worth picking up over Dotel?
2) With Nelson on the DL, my other OFs are Lind, Grady, Rios, and Borbon. I don’t know if I can be competitive the next few weeks with these guys, so thinking about cutting Borbon (10 team H2H, with an abundance of ww OF options). Which of the below is my best bet, or should I hold Borbon and pray that he and Sizemore realize the season has started?
Ibanez, Kubel, Krispie, Hart, FraGu, Kearns
What about Takahashi in NL only?
@mookiewilson good luck pissing out the flames with that
Hi Grey, I’m thinking of selling low on Hoffman, maybe targeting Dotel or Qualls. Worth a shot or am I trading tomatoes for tomahtos? ty
Need to choose 3 OFs to start today. Help a brother out!
Pence – Cincy (Leake)
Reimold – NYY (Sabathia) – Reimold is 4 for 8 lifetime vs. CC
Venable @ Marlins (Robertson)
Blanks @ Marlins (Robertson)
Borbon – CWS (Peavy)
I’ll definitely be starting Lester @ Toronto
Any thoughts on starting Correia @ Marlins?
Worth holding onto Downs after this last week or so? I was hoping for some saves down the road, but he’s been ruining my SP performances…
@Howard: from a dotel owner…. DONT…. you’ll be sorry when the brewers bring him in down 14 runs and he gives up 4 more…. trust me, it sucks, i hate him, yet i still run him out everyday! sagnof
Hi Grey (or anyone else) — my question is part theory part practical. But in a league where you have daily lineup changes and you have to choose between a hot young hitter with great upside but no track record against a specific pitcher for that day over a veteran with a less-hot hand and a good track record against the pitcher he’ll face, which do you choose? For tonight, on my team, there’s Eric Young (who has been unconscious at the plate but will face his first lefty tonight in Greg Smith) and Brandon Wood (facing Westbrook, a righty) vs. Jose Lopez (slowly heating up, and with a .353 career mark against Meche). What are the factors you take into consideration when making a decision like that? Would you go with both Young and Wood, or bench one (which one?) in favor of Lopez?
And a catcher question: Understanding it can be a throw-away position, if Fox gets C eligibility (as he might this week, with his fifth start), how do you rank him compared to other catchers? Better or worse than Napoli? Soto? Santana?
Grey – Beckham just hit the WW. Got Zimm/Headley at 3B and KJ/Roberts(DL) at 2B. Drop Headley or KJ for him going forward?. Thanks!
@TheEvilEmpire: watch out starting hodgepadres on the road (see latos, mat circa 2 days ago)
@Eric: i’ll almost play the hot hand, i mean its not like you’re benching Hanley or Pujols here for Eric Young, its jose lopez…. so whats the hurt? if Lopez hits a HR then you just got worked, but trends alot of times will continue, and if a guy is hot he’ll keep it up for a while, if a guy is cold he’ll keep that up for a while…. switch it up, teach Jose Lopez a lesson, hit or get benched!
Any thoughts on dropping Kyle Blanks for Eric Young Jr.? Position is irrelevant as I have plenty of MI and OF. Just looking for the best option for one of my bench slots.
I’m pretty sure that a nut cancer like Milton Bradley is the only guy in the bigs who can shit talk the pitcher on his way to first after drawing a bases loaded walk.
@Tony: Now the Brewers get to decide when Dotel comes into a game?! Just when I thought owning him couldn’t get any worse.
Grey, would dumping Beckham for Wood be pushing the panic button. Methinks yes, but I need confirmation (and a hug, if that’s not asking too much).
Wigginton or Wood as a Zimmerman fill-in?
@Bring Back Pluto: Benson going tonight for the Snakes. No word as to whether Anna will be servicing the clubhouse.
Any dead weight I should cut to pick up Kelly Johnson? Just noticed he’s still available. I just don’t know if I really need him.
C: Napoli
1B: A. Gonzalez
2B: Pedroia
SS: Bartlett
3B: Youkilis
OF: Werth
OF: Lind
OF: Headley
UT: I. Stewart
BN: Damon, Kubel, Smoak, Soto, Rios
DL: C. Beltran
P: Santana, Wainwright, Slowey, Rivera, Broxton, Bell, Shields, Latos
as much as it sucks to lose cruz and dlr to the DL, it did allow me to put in claims on frank^2 and wood without committing anything to them except an open bench spot. i have feliz in another league, so not necessarily hoping frank^2 reclaims the job, but might as well hold him and see what happens. and here’s hoping wood is finally getting it.
@Bobo Brazil: maybe latos, but that would leave you without much SP depth.
@Awesomus Maximus: ya scary, and you cant drop beckham 3 weeks in…. especially not for WOOD!
@Matty D: i’ve had wiggy rostered for 2 weeks at least, how is he not? wood might be hot now who knows with that guy…. short term he might be a decent hot hand to play.
Flip Ellsbury for Sizemore or hold tight?
Sorry –
Jose Lopez, Wigginton or Wood as Zimm fill-in?
Grey,
I know you are a fan of Headley… but how much of a fan to continue what he is doing? Would you trade Oswalt for him?
While the Samuel Beckett reference in yesterday’s post nicely played, today’s post was awesome. Numerous LOL moments….special mention has to be made of the Jane’s Addiction reference….man, they were a great rock and roll band for a few yerars…to date, Jane’s at the old Studio 54 in 1990 is still the best show i’ve ever seen…they simply ripped the place up. With regard to baseball, Morneau’s stiff back sounds ominous this early in the season given the surgery he had…trade high now?
@Bring Back Pluto: You’re right. I looked at Arizona and Colorado and my brain said “Young plays for Arizona” (thinking of Krispy, obviously) and I looked across and saw Greg Smith pitching. My mistake. That makes it an easier decision for Young.
@mc serch: I snuck out of my parent’s house to see that show. I believe The Pixies opened?
Hey don’t hate on the g-o-d. It’s not his fault that no one’s hitting in front of (or behind him) him. Maybe he hasn’t showed divine power yet, but he could easily have 2x the RBI and R scored.
I hear you about The Supernatural though. I’m just looking for 2 good weeks so I can flip him in my keeper league. In my 15 team, 2 C league, anything will be better than AJP right now.
@mc serch: i dont think you’re selling high on morneua now with the news of back issues… not with his past, its exactly why i didn’t touch him in drafts…. i’d be scared.
ABtC, always be trading closers. First trade was Dotel for Slowey. Second trade was Morales for Victorino. Third trade was you’re fired.
Wait, that doesn’t make sense.
@Mark Geoffriau: Nice trades. God I wish I played in your league. I can’t be gettin’ rid of my closers. Just offered Ajax and Fuentes to Rodney’s owner for FraGu. I have a feeling he’ll decline it.
Anyone starting Baker tonight against Detroit? Grey, what do you think?
Baker’s up to his regular slow start to the season, and, even if he wasn’t, Miggy, Damon, Magglio, Raburn, and Santiago are all probable starters hitting over .333 against him over his career (Magglio’s 19-for-42!).
@Mark Geoffriau: jesus. the other owners are fools then.
@Eric: I’ve got Baker and Hamels tonight, and I’m honestly thinking about benching both…pretty sad.
@3FingersBrown: @ThePoonTycoon: Same owner. He overvalues closers every year, I always snake a couple away from him in the draft, piss him off, then trade them to him when he panics 2 weeks in because he’s falling behind in saves. Rest of the league is pretty solid.
I’m starting Hamels AND Baker. I AIN’T SCURRED!
Is it worth considering trading Torii Hunter for Broxton? I have Braun, Bay, and Adam Jones and Garrett Jones as my other OFs.
For the rest of the year, B. Roberts or I. Stewart?
Do you think Roberts is droppable in 10 team leagues? (Yep, I need the other DL spot (Rollins))
Thanks
PS If you can’t start Hamels @ SF, why is he on your team?
@Anybody: 8 team, H2H league (9×9). Here’s my roster: V-Mart, Kendry, Utley, Longo, Bartlett, Kemp, B-Up, Abreu, I. Stewart, Konerko, Beckham, Cruz (DL); Halladay, Verlander, JJ, Ubaldo, Slowey, Weaver, Burnett, Shields, Aardsma, K-Rod, Capps, Hoffman.
1. Do I drop Beckham for Ludwick, Krispie, Bourn, Headley for another OF spot (since I’m down to 3 right now and have my 2B/3B shored up)?
2. Do I drop Hoffman for a Bucchy?
Much obliged, gentlemen.
@AdamH: Because I think his trade/future value is higher than his current value?
Seriously, I’ll probably end up starting Hamels and sitting Baker. Hamels is on his way out the door (for B Phillips) anyway, so this is my last chance with him.
Backup SS in a keeper league: Pennington, Brignac, Theriot, or EverCab?
@EffenHooEr: Trade him. Look for someone with vacant DL spots who needs help at MI.
@Mark Geoffriau: Nice trade!
Kyle Drabek or Madison Bumgarner IN 20 TEAM Dynasty League
I would have to use my 4th waiver spot to obtain him
@Wilsonian: it’s not even may yet. and his babip is like .237, but most of his other peripherals are pretty in line with where they were last season.
Rate… these… trades!
1) E-Longo for Dunn/FLiriano
2) Utley for Felix/KJohnson
If you could do one of these two (getting Longo or Utley) which would you choose? How much do we believe in Francisco Liriano going forward?
Is Verlander a buy low candidate?
anyone know anything about MartÃn Pérez here as a prospect
@Curly Day: Yep, and only if his owner doesn’t know about his April suckyness every year…
Is Diaz an upgrade over any of thee: Willie Harris, Maxwell or G. Parra?
@Baron Von Vulturewins: whats your 3B situation? IDK i kinda like the getting Longo deal more. Altho selling high on KJ might not be bad, but we know Felix is a more stable commodity than Liriano.
@Curly Day: @I’m Keith Hernandez: Not buy-low for long. I tried for Verlander in my league, owner was hip to Verlander’s April jive.
what’s everyone’s take on david wright this year? i ended up with him in a league with my 2nd round pick, but wasn’t ecstatic about it. he’s K’ing at a mini donkey-like rate, and reports i’m reading say his swing is all messed up. he didn’t look good in the one mets game i watched either. his babip is like .360, but he’s always had a high babip. the way the mets are juggling their lineup around though worries me a bit too.
i’ve got a guy willing to work a trade around bj upton for wright. i’ll also get an upgrade at another position (i.e. trading a lesser SP for a better SP). i can slide mmd into 3B and bump weeks from util to 2B so position factor isn’t a big deal. upton on the other hand looks like maybe he’s fully recovered and got his head straight, AND his babip is only .288. not awful, but with his speed, definitely a little room for improvement.
am i crazy for seriously considering this, figuring wright/upton will be a wash at worst, and upton has the talent to put up better numbers, plus i’d upgrade another position?
@Tony: I could use Longo more, actually. Right now I have KJ at 2B and MMD at 3B — but MMD slides nicely to second if I get a real 3Bman.
Prying first-rounders out of cold, dead hands is pretty tough, though.
@ThePoonTycoon: After suffering through Wright all last year, I feel your pain. I think it’s optimistic, though, to think that a Wright-for-Upton wash is the worst-case scenario. Wright could go .300/100/25/100/15. Or he could go .280/85/15/85/10. But BJ’s worst case is more like .245/65/10/65/40 — i.e. Victorino with Dunn’s BA.
Which is to say, I’d make sure I’m getting a good SP upgrade if I’m dealing Wright for BJ, and entrusting my INF to MMD and Weeks.
@Rudy Gamble: doesn’t the same book say the #2 hole (hehe) is the best spot int he lineup to optimize production from an individual player?
hahhaha @ “Are these one team leagues?” My thoughts exactly.
Thoughts on Brett Cecil vs the Red Sox tonight? Anyone going with him?
@Baron Von Vulturewins: i guess i’m more pessimistic on wright. his K rate is over 36%. and last year it made a substantial jump, so it’s not like this is a small sample size “it’s april” kinda problem, it was prevalent last season too, just not quite to this extent. factor in metco which has to be affecting him mentally so see a sudden change in his peripherals the last 2 years when he should be right in the middle of his prime, and i’m worried that your worst case scenario for wright is pretty close to reality, but with a few more SBs perhaps. if he keeps his K rate above 30% i fear he’ll struggle to hit .280 too.
also, i don’t see BJ hitting .245 again. he’s looked good and in the rays games i’ve seen hit the ball hard even on outs. i think his shoulder was obviously a problem last year holding him back.
just wanting feedback. i’ve also read on multiple sites (real baseball sites, not fantasy) that wright’s swing is messed up.
@ Baron: Oh, we believe in Liriano. Dude’s slider was from outer space last night – 9 of 10 K’s on the slider, 6 of his K’s looking. He’s been sitting 92-94 and showing much better command of the heater. I don’t think he’ll go unscored upon for the rest of the season as he has over his last three starts, but he’s flashing a serious whip so far. Assuming his elbow don’t explode he’s not that far behind Felix (or any other pitcher in baseball) this year.
@dsimon: I am using him in my Razz league(the one where you try to have the worst team)
Brett Cecil vs the Red Sox tonight? He faced the Red Soxs Twice last year and it was not pretty – I would say the high side would be the numbers he put up on Tampa Bay in his only start this year and the low end an 7 run beating — Cecil the Sea Sick Sea Serpent will not save your fantasy day. – “Nya-ah-ãhh!”,
@Tarasco’s Secret Stash: yeah i think the way liriano is pitching, he should have top 20 SP value when it comes to trade discussions. cause he has the potential to be even higher than that. if someone is trying to low ball you, you are better off keeping him. and if someone is trying to play hard ball and only give you some mid-tier OF for liriano, you best value may be to stay put.
@ThePoonTycoon: Oh, if I was in a 12+ Team league, I wouldn’t even be considering dropping him. It’s the 8 teamer with a lot of solid producing options out there, while he’s riding the pine offering nothing to my team.
Plus, what do you guys think about dropping Hoffman for a Bucchy when I have Aardsma, K-Rod and Capps already?
Ouch. No Cecil for me.
thoughts on Jason Vargas from the M’s as an Anderson replacement? i’ll probably just end up streaming anyways, but he’s on waivers and has been decent.
Grey,
Would you give up Holliday to get Halladay in a keeper league. I’m going to dominate offense and need to move someone.
Thanks.
@mrbaseball:
i’ve heard comps to Johan. should be a stud in a couple years.
@ThePoonTycoon: ha. yes, it does say the #2 hole should be your best hitter with #4 as your 2nd best hitter. That’s the reason I like Tulo and CarGo at #2 and #4. I like Helton at #3 for OBP reasons only.
And I also think that #6 and #7 (assuming pitcher hits 9th) are the best SB spots since it’s less likely the hitters behind them can advance them 3 bases. I think Granderson hitting 7th should increase his SBs by 5-10 compared to if he hit leadoff. Whether it will or not, we’ll see…
I’m excited about Cecil breaking out, but didn’t pick him up for tonight’s start as Boston has owned him before…I’ll let him exorcise those demons before starting him against them. Just my 2cent.
Meanwhile, scooped up Kearns to see where this hot streak takes us. Worried I need MI/CI depth with day to day injuries to Zimmerman, Furcal, and Morneau.
@Grey, would you drop Bud Norris to get andy laroche so I can fill out my lineup this week? Worried about the injuries I mentioned above. I have Ian stewart which gives me nice flexibility w/ who I pick up for depth)
@Grey OR I could just cut R. Davis since I have Mr. Kearns now…but if he gets over this slump the steals will be useful at some point, even if I am just slotting him in on certain days. But dang, bad slump…getting benched and outperformed is no good
I need to get rid of a closer (I have twice as many saves as the 2nd place team) and need a CI. What do you all think of:
I give: Gregg and Krispie
I get: Lilly and Headley
Olivo or Bengie Molina?
@royce!: i’d do that in a heartbeat. by the end of the season you probably have the 2 best players in that deal.
@royce!: Definitely. Looks like a win for you there.
Speaking of the Rockies lineup. They designated for assignment yesterday, a one Al Alburquerque (double AA pitcher). Which has to be about one of the most awesome alliterative names ever.
A San Diego pitcher you thought had a good enough matchup to start away from PETCO, but ended up fooling you with his clever ruse. i.e. Monday Latos, coming off a good start and facing The Fish who K a ton.
@mookiewilson: Amen, brother!
Wow, who gave you Liriano and Maybin for Jenks? The offers I’ve been getting for Rauch are basically guys they are about to drop anyway or guys they just picked up from waivers. Dudes like Pavano, Felipe Lopez. Offers that even while drunk I would not accept.
@Rudy Gamble: Bonds would have lead off. So would Albert. The object of the game is to not make out, so OBP is king.
@papasmurf: I commiserate. I’m working my ass off to try to get something for any one of Rausch, Fuentes, Gregg or Madson. Having 4 RP in a 3 RP league is not working for me. I’d rather have a decent starter or outfielder.
@3FingersBrown: good luck getting anything for madson at this point. lidge is about to return and madson appears to be a cuddle boy.
Do you think Uehara becomes the closer in Bal (not that it means much)? He’s coming back soon
@Grey – I waived Jaime Garcia for Frank Frank, but I think I may have made a mistake… should I have dropped Ervin Santana instead?
For me, Madson not running away with the job is better because my league counts HLDs. I now have 4 closers, too many since then I don’t have room for the optimal number of setup guys. So with Madson slotting into setup, that helps my team gain pts in HLDs while still being front of the pack in SVs and I don’t need to trade off one closer.
@Grey: Waiver claim for Gardner didn’t make it. Drop Venable for Andy LaRoche, Kearns, Fowler, DeJesus? OBP counts.
I drafted Fowler hoping he’d build on last season. Think I should give him a second shot over the boringly steady Of Jesus or the scortching hot Kearns or LaRoche?
@ThePoonTycoon: Yeah cuddle boy all the way. I’ll be happy when Lidge comes back and I can finally drop him. I would do it now for roster depth, but Saves may be one of the few categories I win this week.
@Mark Geoffriau: Don’t bench Hamels! He dominates SF hitters. The W isn’t a foregone conclusion because of Lincecum but I believe Hamels will have a strong game tonight. But Baker? He may be riding the wood for me, too.
mrbaseball: Did you own Bumgarner? Kyle Drabek
I own him now – but if Drabek looks better then I would try to obtain him – if not I would hold on to my hand
Guess I’m grabbing some Wood
My team has underwent a Port-a-Potty week thus far in H2H.
First Latos takes a big dump on my team (23.63 ERA), then Dotel takes a squat and poops right on top of Latos’ stinky loaf (108.0 ERA).
Who’s that pounding on the Port-a-Potty door? Oh, come on in Hoffman! Add to the pile! (45.0 ERA)
Is it next week yet?
@Grey That was a crazy long response post, but thanks. =]
Grey,
In a points league where the HRs/SBs won’t throw things off except for that they’re always fun to get points off of, would you trade:
David Wright, Jonathan Sanchez and Julio Borbon/Nate McLouth
for
BJ Upton, Michael Young, and Tommy Hanson?
Thanks.
@ASAOK — If Simon can run with it, and it seems that he’ll be given the chance to,Uehera won’t. If he struggled, Johnson gets a few more tries, and its bounced around…good chance Uehera gets a shot at it. If you have an open DL spot it can’t hurt to stash but its something you just have to watch (Or keep checking here)
@jesse: i’d take the wright side.
@papasmurf: Ha
@ASAOK: No one knows.
@William: It’s fine.
@3FingersBrown: Guys provide different things. I’d own Fowler for now.
@mrbaseball: Ah… Yeah, hold on.
@Dad: And Mom wants a divorce.
@Bodymore: No problem.
@jesse: Nope
@Grey: Ha! I just needed to get that off my chest. Fantasy complaining is annoying, but unavoidable at times.
@Grey: Would you target any of these SP’s in a 10 team 7 Keeper roto? Guy just threw his whole staff, minus Strasburg on the block:
Carpenter, Chapman, Liriano, Matusz, Pelfrey, Shields, James, Zito
My staff:
Nolasco, Baker, Kershaw, DLR, Sanchez, Vazquez, Wilson.
The risk of my staff has me nervous. I’m bottom of the barrel in ERA/WHIP but leading in K’s & Wins.
@Dad: hopefully no one poops on the other 3 poops…..
@Grey: Yeah I’m just thinking best overall player
@Grey: I have good OBP and need a high K SP. Would you trade Swisher/Rausch (or Fuentes) for AJ Burnett?
I’d probably pick up LaRoche to fill the empty CI slot
@Bodymore: Yea I’ve had him as my DL stash. I know he was a closer in Japan, but I think I read somewhere his contract includes incentives for if he becomes the closer…maybe the O’s will be cheap.
Sheets and Hoffman killed my good performances from Ubaldo, Wilson, and Marcum. Not to mention I also have Dotel’s awful performance from the other night. At least my opponent this week has Latos.
When did the girl readership jump to three?!
That’s a 50% increase! Awesome.
is wade leblanc a good spot for tomorrow @ home vs. MIL ???? thanks guys. let the voting begin lol
@timSTi: Liriano, but depends what you’re giving up.
@and1mcgee: I hope so. I picked up for a spot start.
@and1mcgee: or Bronson Arroyo vs. Houston?
In a 14 team, Head2Head, 5 x 5, with 8 keepers. I am pitching starved currently I have:
Lester
Hughes
E Santana
Slowey
and
Pettite
Just got offered Niemman for Headley. I am pretty deep at 3rd base with Arod, Stewart, P. Alvarez and Headley. I would like to sell Headley while he is hot but dont know who to target. Thoughts???
@3FingersBrown: my Cruz just hit the DL, so i was going to use his spot to stream LeBlanc…. but Braun and Fielder could destroy him… could they?
@The Dude: I was notified off blog we had a third. Rawr!
@and1mcgee: Hodgepadre at home.
@and1mcgee: Sure but you got to go with SD @ home. Who’s going for MIL?
Now I’m wondering if I should wait on Fowler until after tomorrow’s game, since COL’s not playing and SD is. I have no bench right now, so every game missed hurts.
I think I might take the gamble. Gotta scrap for every game in this league.
I own both Maeur and McCann in one league, and am looking to deal Maeur since no one has shown much interest in McCann. I’m pretty weak at SS and 3B(starting Alexei and Beltre). What should I be looking to get? One team has offered Youk and Stephen Drew(he also owns Jeter). Another team has shown interest, he owns Holliday and Mark Reynolds, along with numerous closers(I could use some help with saves).
Much thanks, keep up the great work Grey.
Howdy, Grey. How would you rank Adam Jones, Pence and Bruce from here on out?
@Slumpbustin: I’d want Headley.
@Howard: I’d take Holliday.
Can someone give me a brief explanation of Always BE Trading Closers?
I have Bell, Rauch, and CarMa and they’ve been already won me 2 matchups in my H2H league.
@Clyde Prompto: Jones, Bruce, Pence…
Okay, I need some help from you gurus. I have two situations:
1) Pick your favorite: Alcides Escobar vs Ian Desmond
2) If Peavy lays an egg in Texas, is it time to drop him? I have needs that dropping him would allow me to address.
Frustrated in Denver.
KB
@Grey: What do you think about me dropping Everth Cabrera for Pennington? Not a whole lot in free agency and I am not sure I can continue to put EvCab out there, he is awful. Other FA options are Uribe, Orlando Cabrera, Hardy and Desmond.
@Falcon: Alcides…. Can’t drop Peavy yet.
@Danny: Try Pennington if you like, I wouldn’t make that change.
@TheEvilEmpire: well you have to own a closer or two, but if you have surplus or a junky closer, OR a closer u know might not have his job in the near future…. ABTC…..
Saves come about on the wire often, this year the overturn has already been pretty wild. If you’re not a waiver hawk it might not help you, but if you are the first to jump on new closers you can deal….
?
@Grey: You would stills tick with EvCab over the FA options? Would you try to buy S. Drew on the cheap from another owner or just stick with EvCab?
@Falcon: too early to completely bail on peavy. you spent a 6th or 7th round pick (or whatever) on him to be your SP1 or SP2. it’s time to be patient. he wouldn’t be the first SP to start off slowly and pretty much tank april, and end up the year with solid numbers. there are a lot of factors to take into account, like is he still adjusting to the AL, has the cooler early season weather affected him, etc.
@TheEvilEmpire: basically don’t be the guy trading away jay bruce for matt lindstrom.
@Tony: Thanks :)
12 tm roto 5×5. McGehee 2B. Jose Lopez 3B. Zimm on the bench. Drop Lopez and get Brandon Wood off the wire?
Alright, so I’m currently last in the S-BS catgeory with ZERO cuz the only closer I have is Marmol. I am, however, in first in HD cuz I have guys like Motte, Romo, Moylan, and Betancourt. Punt saves?
I know most people would say it’s too early to do such a thing, but is moving out of last place in S-BS even feasible when trading for a closer or two is pretty much out of the question?
i’m stuck with Lady Sizemore, as he is on the can’t cut list in my keeper league. i’ve put him on the block, i’ve been trying to pawn him off all over the place, but nobody is interested. right now, i’d consider trading him for someone’s worst player just to get him off my team and free up a spot for a FA pickup (only 10 teams with small rosters, so tons of serviceable players available). Someone please talk me down from this ledge…
@ETMcgee: its 3 weeks in….
@ Grey/all:
Which side do u like better, Prince 4 Hanley?
Also, safe to drop Rajai for Borbon now that Rajai is starting to fall out of favor?
@Jarrad: you can trade for a closer, just don’t flip out and pay a lot for one. and i’m assuming that whoever your other closers are have been blowing saves, cause marmol has been fine. in which case i wouldn’t punt yet. keep marmol, maybe you catch lightening off the wire or can sneak a cheap trade in for a sagnof, or your sagnof picks up some saves without blowing any. just far too early to punt imo.
@Danny: I’d give EverCab another week or so. It’s early. Pennington’s not winning you a league.
@Kazmere: Sure
@Jarrad: Never punt anything.
@ETMcgee: You’re panicking.
Correia is shitting the bed as we speak.
@tHe ShiT: If you like… The trade’s fair.
@tHe ShiT: hanley. i mean he was the #2 pick in most drafts and hasn’t really done anything to lose value.
@TheEvilEmpire: He’s not a hodgepodge today.
@Grey: Would you start Peavy in Arlington?
@TheEvilEmpire: I forgot he’s pitching, haven’t checked but right now inside i’m screaming YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS….. lets hope your $HITTING the bed is = to my $HITTING the bed!
@TheEvilEmpire: lol my opp is throwing him….. 3 runs NICE, but thats still not terrible, he settles in and its a QS and could be overall a solid outting besides a rough start…. lets hope for more $HITTING!
I just got called the Lloyd Blankfein of fantasy baseball for trading Morneau and Ricky Romero for J. Upton and Nolasco. My proudest moment!
@TheEvilEmpire: He’s making me vomit in my mouth a little. I need a damn starter.
Going after AJ. His owner is the only one who might trade for a closer.
Who’s got the best chance to lead the O’s in save this year? Alfredo Simon, Jim Johnson, Mike Gonzalez, or other?
@Falcon: If you have him, start him.
@royce!: Ha!
@ThePoonTycoon:
@Grey:
Marmol is the only guy I have that’s a true closer, so the BS have been coming from the MRs that I have for HD purposes. I had the opportunity to trade for Valverde and Broxton earlier in the season, but dude was asking for guys like Pence and Dunn and I certainly wasn’t gonna do that.
Thanks for the input. I’ll just wait to see what develops as far as closers that come up during the year. It just kinda sucks that the guys that I rostered for that purpose – guys like Downs and Betancourt – have already cost me 4 wins when I probably never would have rostered them in the first place…
@Arthur O: No one knows. Trembley doesn’t know. I own Simon and Johnson where I can. In that order for now.
@Grey: Think the Rangers will try and move Feliz to the starting rotation if Frank Frank holds his own this season? Or do you think they will just keep swapping them when one starts sucking?
Then I just saw this..
Manager Ron Washington said he still considered Feliz his closer, but then added the closer is “anybody we put out there in the ninth inning.”
Thats great…
@Sal: Feliz isn’t going into the rotation without going to the minors to stretch out. Far away from that.
@Jarrad: pence for broxton isn’t a bad deal if you have plenty of OF help and you need the saves. at least you are trading a middle tier OF that could probably be replaceable for a top 2 or 3 closer.
Daily lineups, H2H, 12 teams – R, RBI, SB, HR, AVG, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP
Here’s my team:
C: Napoli
1B: Youkilis
2B: Pedroia
SS: Bartlett
3B: I. Stewart
OF: Lind
OF: Werth
OF: Headley
UT: Kubel
BN: Damon, A. Escobar, Soto, A. Rios, Smoak
DL: C. Beltran
SP: Wainwright
SP: Santana
SP: Haren
SP: Beckett
SP: Slowey
SP: Latos
RP: Broxton
RP: Rivera
RP: Bell
The other guy’s team:
C: Mauer
1B: M. Cabrera
2B: R. Cano
3B: A. Rod
SS: A. Gonzalez
OF: Jose Guillen
OF: A. Jackson
OF: M. Bourne
UT: Ichiro
UT: Willingham
BN: Maybin, Span
SP: Hughes
SP: Jimenez
SP: Lester
SP: Zito
SP: Floyd
SP: R. Wells
SP: Jurrjens
RP: Wilson
RP: Madson
RP: Morales
DL: Street, M. Gonzalez, B. Anderson
We had discussed a deal to trade my Santana for Lester and Brett Anderson. But now that Anderson hit the dl for 4 to 6 weeks, I have my worries and have backed off of that deal.
Miggy is off limits he said. He said that A-Rod and Ichiro are available.
I recently traded Adrian Gonzalez and James Shields for Josh Beckett and Dan Haren… so I was hoping to add a little more pop to my lineup in place of A. Gonz. I know Ichiro won’t really do that, but he’d be an upgrade for me in the OF and help out with SB’s while maintaining a good average.
Any trade suggestions to try and land A-Rod and/or Ichiro? Any others to target out from this guy’s team?
I’ve also been trying to flip either Santana or Wainwright and Kubel or Damon to another team for Votto and Dunn… but dialogue with that owner has been basically non-existent.
Yo dudes — Which side of Kendry/F-Her for Prince/Lester do you prefer?
I’m trying follow the Razzball guidelines on closers and not ever give up too much for them but the market for closers in my league is incredibly tight. I have a pretty stacked (though somewhat underperforming) OF of Lind, Markakis, Quentin, Werth and Maybin. I thought of offering Maybin for Lidge (I’m a Madson owner) who would join F-Rod and Dotel as my closers.
Is that crazy for me? Would it be crazy for the Lidge owner? You can see I’ve lost my bearings.
grey or whoever, i asked earlier but it was lengthy post so i’m condensing.
in light of wright’s continued struggles and increasing K rate and amidst rumors that his swing is all messed up, would a deal of wright + SP4/5 type for bj upton + SP2 type be worthwhile?
i can slide stewart down to 3B so position scarcity isn’t a huge factor.
@Grey: Hey Grey/all, can u explain the “if u own him start him” theory? Is it about having the cajones to stand by your drafted starters? Or more that eventually they’ll take a positive turn and you don’t want to miss out? I’ve run Peavy out there the last couple times and, well….. I don’t doubt the Master of Razz, and I’ll run him out there again today, but just want to know the logic behind it when a guy seems to be struggling. Thx!
@Grey: 2 quickies for ya…
1) Who would you rather own from here on out (or at least for the next month or two), Barry Zito or CJ Wilson?
2) Please rank in terms of pure 5×5 value for the rest of the season, Carlos Quentin, Jay Bruce and Hunter Pence.
@Kazmere: if you draft a guy in the first 10 rounds to be your SP1 or SP2 guy, or even SP3, then you pretty much pitch him every game. cause the guys that are that good are capable of shutting down any team anywhere. especially this early in the season. guys put up 5, 6, 7+ eras in april all the time and end up having a sub-4.00 era by the end of the season.
@Grey:
I’ve been offered Jose Guillen and CJ Wilson for Ryan Franklin in the RCL.
I am first in saves (by 4) and would still own Valverde, Lindstrom, J.Johnson, and Madson.
Since Nelson went down for me, my ONLY power guy is Bay. I got a buncha scrubs like Fukodome, McClouth, Reimold, and Podsednik stinking up the place, but hey, you make-do.
Finally, I’m dead-last in wins, and WHIP. Not to mention, 8th in ERA and middle of the pack in Ks.
So do I pull the trigger and hope Guillen is experiencing a one year wonder? Or is the risk of losing Johnson and Madson as my closers soon too great to trade away Franklin?
Sorry for the lengthy background, it’s my first roto league and I’m not sure what info you’d need.
@Kazmere: i will say some guys on here say “if you own him start him” well that might be fine and dandy for roto, but H2H u need to pick and choose depending on your leagues settings…. if he’s been garbage and its H2H dont just run a guy out there…. throw someone else, bench him, wait and see….
HR f/ Andy LaRoche…
@ThePoonTycoon: Thx for the insight. Same goes for shallow leagues, deep, roto, H2H, innings limits? Pretty much across the board then, eh?
@Danny: do you think Pennington is going to go 4 for 5 every game?
@tHe ShiT: Yeah he’s raking right now. Picked him up in my 15 team league. I think I might roll with him over Fowler, since I’m thin at the corner and SAGNOF. There’ll always be other Fowlers around…
@Kazmere: like tony said, h2h/shallow/low innings limits you can be a bit more selective. if a guy has been throwing like crap and not just been unlucky, and has a tough matchup, sit him. but if no innings limit or deep leagues, then you always throw your big SPs unless it’s june and they still are rocking a 7+ era or something.
napoli or olivo?
Look at Eck go. That guy’s got grit man. Like Mark Lemke.
unreal frikkin david eckstein?!
@Grey: Do you see any hope for Edwin Jackson this season? After last night it made me realize why the Tigers wanted to unload him so badly. Scherzer for Jackson=Jackpot! This could be the worst AL to NL transition since Barry Zito.
Kyle Blanks should switch names with Homer Bush
@Kazmere: The idea is that, with certain starters, you drafted him, now run him out there every start.
Let’s say you think Nolasco will end the year with 16W, 200K and a 3.50 ERA. Well, that means some weeks he goes 9 IP with 1 ER and 10K, and some weeks he goes 5.2 with 4ER and 2K. It all comes out in the wash and eventually, all together, you’ll get your good outcome.
But if you start guessing when to start him and when to sit him, you’re more likely to miss the 9IP, 10K game then you are to hit that bullseye every time. Witness Nolasco’s two last starts — at PHI, and at COL — which plenty of people on here were asking about sitting him for. Both starts were gems in the end.
Unless an SP is at the back of your bench, or has historic splits (think Ervin a few years ago, when he was like 1.50 ERA at home and 5.50 on the road, something like that), or is coming off three straight duds and os facing the Yankees at home, there’s no use trying to outguess the system. You’re overthinking and overmanaging.
In short: If you don’t have the confidence to start your top-three starters every week, you need a new set of top-three starters.
Geeze, Soto get’s way to many days off.
@ Grey/all:
Since I have Cruz takin up my only DL spot, and with a shallow bench, is B Anderson droppable? I could use his spot to pick up B Wood who could spell Zimm. Really appreciate your thoughts guys…
over the long haul (this season): ricky romero v. pelfrey v. cjwilson v. duchschererer v. garcia v. braden?
Looks like Wright is finally heating up.
@Lava: Way *too many, that is. If he weren’t producing I’d call him lazy.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: Good post. Different type of thing then trying to pick which matchups are favorable, but, what would your thoughts be on sitting pitchers that are on bad runs?
Like, with Beckett right now. I just got him on a trade. Monday before that game, so did not have him in. But, I had been thinking about benching him until I see a decent game from him.
@Riems: @Lava: stop picking at it.
Grey-
Derek Lee: Slow start or year of the decline?
Derek Lee: Slow start or year of the decline?
@Bobo Brazil: You don’t want Ichiro. How about A-Rod for Haren and Stewart?
@Erock: Prince
@hideousmutants: It’s not crazy.
@ThePoonTycoon: I wouldn’t.
@Eddy: Trade Franklin.
@Riems: Olivo
@Tony: He’s killing me.
@Rick Dempsey: He was also a risky pitcher. I didn’t like Edwin in the preseason, nothing’s changed.
@Tom Emanski: Hehe
@tHe ShiT: Is this a ten team league? Sure.
@pubscoot: Duchscherer
@Maitland: but beckett has started poorly before and has turned it around quickly. i own beckett in a league and he’s gonna be out there every game unless he’s still pitching poorly and has a @nyy matchup on the schedule, then i might sit him. but he could go for a CG shutout with 10 Ks his next start.
@Baron Von Vulturewins:@ThePoonTycoon: @Tony: Appreciate all the info– thanks guys! Weird thing is that Peavy was drafted to be my SP3. After a trade and the mess he’s made of my ERA/WHIP, I now view him as a “back of the bench starter.” 12 team roto. Lester, hamels, nolasco, slowey, oswalt… And peavy.
@ Grey:
No its a 16 team league. Heres my roster:
C-Napoli
1b-Prince
2b-KJ
3b-Zimm
ss-Zobrist
of-Borbon
of-Kubel
of-Rajai
util-Butler
dl-Cruz
sp-Gallardo
sp-Liriano
rp-Wagner
rp-Soria
p-Garza
bn-B. Anderson
bn-Jaime Garcia
bn-Bills
I’m trying to address my OF deficiencies thru trades but nothin so far. The wire has guys like Kearns, Blanks, Ike, Wood, LaRoche. No OF really pops out at me on the wire…Also tryna flip Prince and or a pitcher…
Would appreciate your help…
Following @Riems inquiry regarding the lame fantasy position of catchers, time to show bengie molina the free agency pool?
With his 3-hit game, including a HR, last night, is Matt, I mean, Jeff Clement finally getting comfortable being the guy who was picked before the Ryans (Zimmerman and Braun) and never quite amounted to anything and settling in as this year’s Inge (non-catcher with catcher elig)?
weeks/pods not too much for phillips right?
@Casadilla: He started slow last year too.
@tHe ShiT: You can’t drop Anderson in a 16 team league. Trade Butler and Anderson for an outfielder that’s been struggling. Think Adam Jones.
@Arthur O: Own Clement.
@brad: Nope
@ Grey:
By the way its a h2h league w/ min 27 inn a week pitched. Thinking i can get by with 4 sp’s
i love how the mets score 4 and i have wright, reyes, and bay in one league (not a mets fan either, dont ask how this happened)…. give me a break and correia craps his pants and then SD comes right back and scores 5…. come on!
oh and did i mention those 3 did nothing but hit one double…. thats what i was getting at, craptastic….
@TheEvilEmpire: perfect example: I drafted 4 closers and dress three…then picked up rauch off waivers before flipping him for Kuroda…then picked up F. Morales off waivers before flipping him and Crapps for J. Hamilton. Still have four closers cause just picked up Frank Frank, who was waived when he lost the job what’s that? He might have his job back, nice! Long story longer, I’ve traded for Kuroda and Hamilton using waiver wire pickups plus Crapps, the quintessential junky closer who i probably drafted in the 19th round. Plus i’ve reloaded for more trades. That, my friend, is why you should always be rostering and trading closers.
@ Grey:
Thanks. Lets c what the other guy says. Same guy has Hanley, Grandy, Pence. Hes tryna unload Hanley since he didn’t like taking him *2 overall in the draft. Earlier this morning he proposed Hanley/PacMan 4 my Prince/Zobrist… Didn’t like giving up Zobrist so I countered with Prince/Bills since he needs a sp…
@Kazmere: @Maitland: I can see sitting a guy who’s had three or more bad starts in a row — only because there might be injury news on the horizon.
However, the logic of sitting a guy is weird — b/c assumedly, if he pitches well, you’ll start him again. So you’re basically guaranteeing that you’ll miss at least one good start from him; i.e. the start that convinces you to use him again.
Beckett and Peavy have both been getting pounded; I can see sitting them one start if it makes you feel better, more for your psychological well-being than for any other reason.
I think the “own him/start him” rule is more for the every-start waverers; the people who are constantly asking “Ubaldo against PHI? Nolasco against COL? Greinke against NYY?” If you don’t have the confidence to start someone, why own them?
Starters only go every 5 days anyway — if you skip a start you’re basically carrying a dead roster spot on your team for 10 days in a row. Better to jettison Johnny No-Confidence and use that spot to grab some hot OF of the moment.
Othwerise, at a certain point, for everyone’s sanity, you just have to set/forget.*
set it and forget it, in the immortal words of Ron Popeil.
@mc serch: You should’ve ended that advice with a catch phrase, like “Pop goes the weasel!” or something…
@3FingersBrown: don’t know if your experience matched mine from that night, but it was a surreal show.
@Tony: I hear ya.
@tHe ShiT: Okay, cool.
In a shallow league, I just traded Billy Butler for David Wright and Josh Johnson for Miguel Cabrera! My question for Grey is, how do I deal with the existential guilt of having taken advantage of these rubes?
@Grey – What’s the deal with Gordon Beckham? I’m actually happy the guy declined my Wandy Rodriguez straight up for him before the season started. Is there any optimism for beckham?
I don’t own him anymore, but why are the Nationals fucking with Ian Desmond so much??? He’s done good at 2nd in the lineup, now they move him back down to 7th. Talk about setting him up to fail, man. All the moving around and riding pine after a gd day can’t b doing any gd 4 the kid…
@Grey:
That last tweet was hilarious
@john butte: Light a cigar and make love to a hot woman.
@William: Hopefully he turns it around. I’m carrying his dead carcass too.
@tHe ShiT: They hate him, not sure why.
@Eddy: Hehe
Any thoughts on trading my Hanley and Berkman for Jimmy Rollins, Joey Votto and Adam Jones?
I think I would have traded Hanley for those dudes at the start of the year, but, with Rollins injured, Berkman having DLstint1 out of the way, I’m not entirely sure anymore.
Thanks.
Anyone have any inside info on Zimmerman’s hammy? I’d like to trade for him. Thanks.
Drop Snider for Cust if he comes back up soon?
20 team ROTO AVG doesn’t matter.
Don’t want to miss out on Cust lol if Snider gets sent back down.
@Scott: And if I do, any of these guys too much to give up in a keeper league:
Jered
Wandy
C Bills
Hamels
Buchholz
Thanks.
@mc serch: Insane stuff. I was 15 and on acid, so I’m not sure what was real or not.
Hart attack! I have to get excited about something with Cruz on the DL.
Lost Jorge De La Rosa and am in 1st place and sporting a 3.01 ERA and 1.17 Going forward, who do you take to keep those #’s.
WW-Gorzelany, K Davies, Gio, Millwood, Livan Hernandez, Villanueva, Lowe, Stauffer,
Why am I sucking donkey dong and are there any indications that I’ll come out of it?
@johnny o – I’d look at Gorzelanny if his matchup is good, but a close second in Millwood.
@Maitland: Looks decent for you.
@Scott: Should be back in the next couple of days.
@Dumbmutt: Not right now.
@Scott: Nope
@3FingersBrown: Ha!
@johnny o: Gio, but they’re matchups material.
@Curtis Granderson: Hehe
@Grey – Maine’s performance against the Dodgers today… positive sign for Maine and the Mets or a sign that the Dodgers are in a deeeeeeep slump?
@Grey: 2 quickies for ya…
1) Who would you rather own from here on out (or at least for the next month or two), Barry Zito or CJ Wilson?
2) Please rank in terms of pure 5×5 value for the rest of the season, Carlos Quentin, Jay Bruce and Hunter Pence.
@William: deeeeeeep slump. No Manny, no Furcal. Keep in mind Scott Olsen shut down the same lineup this past weekend.
@grey: Drop Rajai for Maybin or Bruce? I need runs and average. Is Maybin gonna stat at the top of the order?
@ Grey:
U starting Jaime 2nite?
@ Grey, and anyone else who wants to comment…
What do you think of a Markakis for CarGo trade, straight up? Close enough, or do other players need to be brought in?
@ El Famous Burrito:
Are you getting CarGo?
3 run jack for Krispie!
@tHe ShiT: No, I have CarGo. I also have Werth.
Given his immense man-crush on Markakis, I thought I’d go to the expert for some insight.
I’m just wondering which way the trade leans, to see how to counter it.
@William: Dodgers are icey cold. I’m going to keep an eye on Maine but he needs to be hitting 93 to be a solid starter. Otherwise even if he’s on, he’s just another streamer/match-up guy
Shields or Slowey?
Just got offered Cole Hamels and Carlos Quentin for Grady Seizmore. This is mighty tempting since he’s been anemic so far, but so has Quentin.
@ El Famous Burrito:
I think u giving up CarGo 4 Markakis is too much. CarGo can easily outproduce Markakis this yr. The steals and lineup make a huge difference to me…
Wow, with how much you have to hear about Heyward on every channel, I was expecting to see a .300 avg with 7 hrs and a couple of steals.
But the dudes batting .220. I guess they just show every hit he has in the Brave highlights. Can they please give it a rest.
@tHe ShiT: Thanks for the input.
adam jones for ian stewart in an ops league?
@El Famous Burrito: I like CarGo over Markakis. Mucho upside-o
@ Grey:
Robot over Kubel or Rajai in my 16 team h2h league? I lost out on the Victorino waiver…
well they’ve already used Villenueva, Coffey, and Hawkins. So I guess its Hoffman again today to close it out.
@jj: GUH…I have my fingers crossed, and the mouse ready to click “drop”…
@William: Dodgers look terrible.
@LagunaLuver: Wilson… Quentin, Bruce…
@NukeLaDouche: Maybin should stay up there. I’d own Bruce. Not for runs though.
@tHe ShiT: I don’t own him, but I would. And start him.
@Bobo Brazil: C’mon, Bobo. Slowey
@FlyinHawaiianPizza: Looks decent for you.
@jj: Yeah, mentioned that in the post the other day.
@joey joe joe jr shabadoo: Jones
@tHe ShiT: Sure, over Kubel.
@tHe ShiT: kubel
hoffman blows it again
I have a problem and I’d like anyone’s input. Kinsler is coming back from the DL in a few days. I don’t have space for him. I could drop Headley, Kelly Johnson, Krispie, or maybe a pitcher like Harden. Nobody trades in my league but I could try to propose one like Krispie and Kelly Johnson for someone? I dunno. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I need HR/RBI help (10-team H2H league).
@ GTS:
Drop Harden if u dont need his K’s.
There goes CarGo with a dinger…
And CarGo goes ahead and makes my decision much easier. Thanks, guy!
So is Villanueva the next in line yet? I haven’t been paying attention.
Bruce or Willingham?
@jj: he’s officially dead to me. And now on the WW…
@ El Famous Burrito:
Yeah man i wish i woulda been able to get CarGo in my money league, but he went way to high. Too much preseason hype on him but hes lived up to it so far…
@Grey – I give Aramis and Kershaw. I receive Zimmerman and Guitierrez (Qualls handcuff). I have depth at SP with Nolasco, CC, Bills, Lackey, Lewis and Correia and am trying to vulture saves.
Am I jumping ship on Aramis too quickly or do I jump on this offer?
@Wilsonian:
For what it’s worth, he didn’t look that bad.
Doumit golfed one out. Wasn’t a bad pitch.
@Real Tom: I’ve heard some “speculation” that Latroy Hawkins could be next in line because Villanueva sucked it up last year when he had some chances. No idea though…
@jj: Don’t you do that. Don’t you defend that man!
@jj: I actually slowed my roll on dropping him and haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I’m in a small league (8 teams, H2H) w/Aardsma, K-Rod and Crapps on my team already, so I’ve been fighting it all day long. I have an open DL spot and have been debating on dropping the Hoff for Wood, DL-ing him and snagging an available Buccholz.
I want to (read: will) pick up Strasburg around the end of this week. Trying to put together a 2-for-1 trade to free up the space, but if I can’t who would you drop from this pitching staff (10-Team, H2H, currently in first place):
Roy Halladay, Zack Greinke, Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, David Price, Justin Duchscherer, Max Scherzer
Brian Wilson, Carlos Marmol, Kevin Gregg, Leo Nunez, Octavio Dotel
And don’t say “no one”, because I’ve already told you I’m gunna’ do it! Seriously though, I’m thinking either Dotel (no one wants to trade for a closer in this league, even the guy whose only closer is Morales, I’ve been trying all season) or Duch/Scherz… depending on who has a worse outing this week.
Hmmm…drop Jim Johnson for LaTroy Hawkins?
Hadn’t really seen Lincecum pitch. Damn he’s nasty!!!
Oh no, now it’s Dotel’s turn.
@Mark Geoffriau: Nevermind, Hawkins just got picked up.
@tHe ShiT: Howard, Werth, and Ibanez all down on swinging strikes.
@Grey: Austin Jackson/Rausch for Scott Baker? Same guy has Liriano but I don’t think he’d go there.
@tHe ShiT: His velocity’s down.
Dotel is going to have to face Braun & Fielder. I’m not optimistic.
Morneau (back) sitting today.
Is Hamels as wild as the box score indicates so far? 2 BB’s, 4 K’s, and only half of his 42 pitches for strikes?
Grey,
Would you drop Neftali for Qualls, Frank-Frank, Perez, or Morales? If so, which one would you pick up?
@jj: Jesus
@Real Tom: Villanueva
@NukeLaDouche: Bruce
@Awesomus Maximus: Dotel then.
@Mark Geoffriau: For Villanueva.
@3FingersBrown: Eh
@Kent Bottenfield: Qualls
@Awesomus Maximus: later dotel. i mean, not like you are starting all 5 RPs are you? if you had to hold onto your closers, i’d drop scherzer. a correction is coming.
Great. Macha PHs for Hart with 2 runners on when the guy’s already hit a HR
Dang it Dotel! I hate the intentional walk with a fiery passion!
every year there is a guy or 2 that always captures a fantasy owner’s heart. this year that player is casey mcgahee.
i looked around the scrap heap of 3B available after everyone named their keepers. i drafted chipper jones hoping to get 130 games out of him. he promptly goes day-to-day and casey swoops in off the waiver wire to save the day, and hasn’t stopped.
<3
@Big Nate: No, it’s fine.
@ThePoonTycoon: Ha
Crapalanco breaks up the perfecto in the 4th!
@Dingo: Intentionally putting the winning run on base!
@Grey: I build most of my staffs with Ubaldo as my first pitcher. The guy looks unbelievable. Time to deal him? Last three starts have been 115, 128, and 121 pitches…
checking his peripherals, mcgahee hasn’t even been incredibly lucky (this year’s .316 babip lower than last year’s .330), his K rate is down slightly from last year, and his BB rate is up slightly from last year. so i don’t see why his production isn’t relatively sustainable.
My Cargo 160 swiftly.
@Grey: Your advice was right. Acquittal after staring at the small Hispanic woman. I do not know if she was turned on or scared. Either way got the client off.
@sean: edit: built
anyone got an idea whose next in line after dotel.
Better pick up- Evan Meek or Villanueva?
@sean: i think next year might be the year to avoid him. that’s usually win the innings/pitches catch up to guys. though it might be wise to watch his velocity throughout the season. thus far he’s been hitting the same speed on his pitches late in the game as he was early. so maybe he’s one of those guys that can throw 97 mph all day every day and never have any arm issues.
@Levo: I guessed Meek. He’s been solid.
@Levo: Crap
hoffman blows another (not to mention dotel blows one of his own in the same game).
latroy time? coffey break!?
How many steals do you think EYJ can get? His minor numbers suggest like Jose Reyes type steal production! My team would be very happy with any SBs from my IF slot!
So what do we call it when two closers take turns blowing saves?
Anyone?
@ThePoonTycoon: His ~ .300 BABIP seems high considering he’s got a line drive rate under 10. He also has posted an ISO .100 over his highest career mark, and added 10% to his HR/FB rate. I would say that he is due for a correction, although it might not be extraordinary. According to Hittacker, 4 of his HR’s were “just enoughs”, and only one was a “no doubter.”
I have Hoffman and Dotel on one team…and for the record two crappy performances do not cancel each other out. They just form one huge steaming pile of crap and smear it on your team’s ERA and WHIP
@Grey: Wow he didn’t want any part of that offer. Rough trade. Closers really have little value to most owners in my league.
@royce!: well, i said “relatively sustainable”. i am not expecting 30 HRs, but i think he could get to 20-25, with solid RBIs driving in braun and prince and a .280 avg. also, his LD% was 21% last year, and that 12% or so drop didn’t translate to FBs like a lot of guys deciding they want to hit for more power, they went to GBs. it’s easier to get a little more lift on the GBs and turn them into LDs than it is to correct an upper cut resulting in an increased number of FBs.
@sean: You’re overthinking things.
@Levo: Hanaranananan or Meek
@royce!: Villanueva
@Arthur O: Villanueva
@GopherDay: 40
@El Famous Burrito: Hot blowtato.
I have Johnson and Dotel on several teams.. Would you advise dropping either of them for any of the set up men in waiting such as Villanueva or whoever is next in line in PIT? Or just hold tight?
@royce!: Ha
@Grey: Reliever in a tailspin, a la Hoffman: Blowhard.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: Ha
Robot finally gets a hit…
@El Famous Burrito: Unwanted Double Penetration or UDP..as in, “That UDP last night really tore my ERA and WHIP to shreds.”
@Grey: That makes me very happy! Hopefully the Rockies don’t get all dumb-nut on me and not start him every day!
**MMD up with bases loaded!
Wow – Milledge “popped bunted” into a double play. Who’s the goat there — Milledge for botching the bunt or McCutchen for getting caught in the rundown?
Drop McLousy for Vilanueva? Or too early?
@ThePoonTycoon: Good points. I’m not buying his jump in power, though he could sustain it. For all of his owners (not in my leagues) I hope I am wrong.
@royce!: i don’t think 20-25 HRs over a full season is too much of a leap/jump over 16 HRs in just over 100 games last season
Great now Fowler goes 3-3 with a HR + SB, after I picked up LaRoche simply because he was playing tomorrow.
Meh. I need the AVG and COL is in SF this weekend.
@royce!: Never to early to drop Mclousy
Grey,
Got an open slot from DLing Anderson, want to add a SP… not a ton on the waiver.
Is this Mitch Talbot dude worth a roll of the dice or are his numbers deceiving? Not worried that he makes Joel Pineiro look like a K machine because I’m otherwise fine there.
So… grab Talbot and hope he’s legit or pick up a struggling Arroyo, Cueto, or (one crap start) Masterson?
@john: I also own both Dotel and Hoffman. This is killing me.
@TheBravesWearPrado: @john: I had both Dotel and Hoffman on my Dynasty league roster and traded them for Ian Desmond, Krispie Young, and a 1st round pick in the college draft. I’m feeling pretty good right now!
So maybe I’m not so happy about trading Hamels for B Phillips.
@Kent Bottenfield: Masterson, but bench him the first start.
@GopherDay: That is some shrewd managing right there. I should have known better than to count on a 42 year old and a guy who has lost the closer job on several teams previously.
Drop Morales for Vilaneuva or hold tight?
For his career Dotel has 86 saves and now has 41 blown saves. I just don’t think he the mental ability to close.
Sorry to double up but would you rather have Qualls or Lindstrom?
@ThePoonTycoon: By “jump in power,” I meant his ISO. He’s got the 12th highest ISO in the majors right now, and, as I said, 4/5 of his HRs had “just enough” to leave the park. He also did not display nearly this much power in the minors. My guess is that means he’s getting lucky, and his HR/FB rate will decline.
But he has progressed from 10 HR in 2007 to 12 in 2008 and 16 in 2009, so perhaps with these 5 already hit, he could hit another 15-20 from now until October.
I’m just saying I’m not betting on it.
@Grey,
5×5 roto… Best overall MI for rest of year – JJ Hardy or Scutaro?
And Scott Sizemore “isn’t ready” this year, you agree?
Mike D.
Is the consensus to pick up Villanueva? Latroy is one of those guys that managers love to put in there because “he’s done it before.”
@El Famous Burrito: Hoffman made his move, but Dotel re-raised him. Sprung the trap, good poker there.
@TheBravesWearPrado: I wouldn’t really call is shrewd…I was shopping around Rauch, but no one wanted anything to do with him! All I was trying to do is get my team younger, adding Krispie to an OF of Cuddyer, Manny, and Ichiro, and Desmond to fill in for Tejada.
I didn’t originally have this team, but whoever did took a stars and scrubs approach!
12-team H2H: I have Capps, Cordero, Franklin and Dotel with Wood coming back eventually. Should I drop Dotel for Strasburg and just eat the next month or so? …not sure how much longer he will sit on the WW…
Extra Krispie Young Goodness.
Come on Hamels!!! Why do you tease me for the first few innings then blow up??
What got Hamels into trouble there y’all?
Hard to tell from Fantasycast ;-)
@GopherDay: At least his Ks are nice…helping me pass the guy in first with Ks even though he’s pitched 60 more innings than my team has!
Wow. Has Cole Hamels become a healthy Scott Kazmir?
Very discouraging. I may be on suicide watch if Floyd and Slowey don’t turn in good starts this week.
@TheBravesWearPrado: blown saves are literally the worst stat ever. any time you enter the game in a save situation and give up the lead, you get a blown save. the stat doesn’t know if you’re the closer or not. so if a setup guy fails he gets a “blown save”. if he succeeds he gets a “hold”. in terms of “save percentage”, he can lose but he can’t win. then every time a setup guy is considered for a closing job some sportswriter looks up his career save percentage, sees that it’s terrible (it always is, for reasons just outlined) and pronounces setup guy psychologically unfit to close.
sorry for rant, not intended as such, just get really annoyed by this
What side do you guys want in this trade:
Adam Jones vs Pence/Ryan Franklin
@Steve: Walked Torres with the bases loaded and 2 outs to score a run and that lead to Renteria’s 2 RBI hit.
@3FingersBrown:
Not that bad. But hes getting hit pretty hard at times.
@Falcon: Pac Man
@Elijah: The only reason he kept the ball in the yard today was because there’s a gail force wind blowing in. Did you see the wind knock down Panda’s double?
Krispie SONAVABENCH!
@3FingersBrown:
When guys are making contract it’s getting hit hard.
@wily mo: That is a fair point. I thought about that but didn’t want to make the effort to get in depth and see which saves were blown in the closer role. If you were to limit it to seasons where he was the closer his save % is still bad.
@GTS: Only after Krispie has gone 0 fer 8 do you bench him, then once he goes 0 fer 22, start him because he is bound to hit something. Rule of thumb for Krispie! Ha!
Ahhhh…feel so much better. Dropped the Hoff for Wood, promptly DL-ed him, then snagged Buchhy Beaver. Gotta love 8-team leagues! That was like taking a huge dump after a Chinese buffet…
Busy day on the razztastic comment boards. I would just like to add that I didn’t take Rudy’s pre-season advice and went along and drafted Brett Anderson, anyway. I had planned to deal him shortly after the season started, but I kind of developed a man crush on him. Anyway, I dealt Rickie Weeks today out of fear that I would be the one “holding the bag” again. I got Big FraGu in the deal. Should I be happy with my return?
Cole Hamels or Clay Buchholz? Today, the weak hitting S.F.’s are having their way with Hamels. I’m getting sick of him and Buchholz is on the waiver wire. Am I crazy to think Hamels is pretty much no more than a waiver wire streamer offering team-destrying WHIP and ERA, and a few wins and K’s, in other words, the same or worse than Buchholz, without the upside.
Crazy to be considering ditching Elvis or Asdrubal for Young Jr?
@3FingersBrown: I am having a lot of trouble pulling the trigger on sending Pence & RyFranklin away for PacMan…
Talk me into it?
Lind getting a day off today. Adjust your lineups accordingly.
Or, if you’re like me, leave a gaping hole at LF.
@3FingersBrown: @Bob: You can’t drop a pick from the first ten rounds in April.
@Grey: Hate to bring up catcher questions but Doumit was just dropped in my 10 team 7 keeper. You like him over Napoli? I have Montero on my DL so its only a temporary thing.
MMD doesn’t look comfortable today.
@Pops: It’s okay.
@Falcon: Pence side.
@Mike D.: Hardy… Maybe, it’s early to say this year.
@nick m.: Eh
@Flyin: Yup
@Steve: Thanks for the heads up!
@timSTi: Doumit
Grey,
I’m in a points league (HR=4…1B=1; RBI/R/SB=2; BB=1) and I am getting crap for production out of my 4th OF and both UT guys. Here are my options going forward – do any of them stand out to you? (Need 3):
Nate McLouth
Julio Borbon
Nick Johnson
Dexter Fowler
Rajai Davis
Ryan Sweeney
Kosuke Fukudome
Alcides Escobar
Anything???
Is Chone Figgins a buy low candidate?
@Brian: Is it okay to switch out Hamels for Buchholz three days from now, when it’s May?
Wilson blows the saved for Timmy!
save*
@tHe ShiT: Lincecum got greinke’d.
Damn you Stewart for that ticker tease!!
@ GTS: LOL yes he did…
@ Grey/all:
Should Frenchy b rostered in my 16 teamer? If so, Frenchy or Robot?
Grey, if you could trade Grady Sizemore right now for CarGo, which side do you prefer?
@El Famous Burrito: Hmm… two guys take turns blowing a save… would that save opportunity then be the “Lucky Pierre”? I don’t think I know enough about gay porn to make the proper reference, sorry.
@ all:
Pick 2 OFs:
Frenchy, Robot, Kearns, Colvin, Venable, Blanks, Fowler, Rivera, Milton, Delmon, Coglan.
@Awesomus Maximus: apparently you do…and that shiz is hilarious!
@3FingersBrown: ok, then it sounds like we were on the same page. it was real!
@ Grey:
In a vacuum, bubble, or what have you – which side do you like?
Wright and McCutchen
or
Phillips and Haren
@tHe Shit
Robot Jones and Fowler
Honorable mention: Coghlan and Colvin
@grey- would u drop DLR for blanton right now?
@Awesomus Maximus: I just googled Lucky Pierre. Let’s just say it’s not quite what you guys were thinking of.
guy just offered his Jason Bay for my Heath Bell in a grand canyon league. ABtC
I was happy about benching Kelly Johnson until right now, when I see that he Homered in his 5th freaking at bat.
I can only hope Bruce of Phillips homers tonight to make my decision a good one.
A double whammy! Kelly Johnson is on my bench (had J-Lo at 2B instead) and hits a home run off Morales, who is part of my potent closer line-up that also includes Dotel.
Gutierrez in for the save. Is Qualls unavailable to pitch or something?
can morales-gutierrez be as epic a bout as hoffman-dotel? two fighters matching blow for blow?
Ha! I dropped Gutierrez today for Simon. What a spectacular night of fantasy suckitude for a lot of us, eh?
Gut gets the save but he was sonofabenched!!!!!11oneones1
I don’t even know why, I put him in a P slot yesterday and it reverted today for some reason. fkn yahoo!
@BeanyBill: Fowler
@chisox: Sure, if you need steals.
@GTS: Ha
@tHe ShiT: Robot… There sure is a lot of guys available in this 16 team league.
@Chris: Grady
@tHe ShiT: Fowler, Robot
@Pops: Wright side.
@Martin: Not ideal, but okay.
@DrEasy: Ouch
@Steve: He might’ve been warming up then the D-Backs scored and they just went with him. I’m not sure, was on the phone. Stupid phone.
@brad: Ha!
@Falcon: Franklin’s not a very good pitcher. He’s going to get the opportunity to fail, but he will eventually. I really wouldn’t be surprised to see Motte closing by the all-star break.
PacMan’s got more upside than Pence. That’s my take. Maybe straight up is a better swap, since they’re both doing lousy.
Just my .02, since you asked.
Cuddle-boy Madson for the vulture win! Ka-KAH!!!
@ Grey:
Yup there are quite a few guys available cuz some of my leaguemates have quick trigger fingers. I’ve been able to pick up Soria and Kelly Johnson cuz of this : )
Grandy got a hit! Grandy got a hit!
now that the venting is done, did I just win the closer lottery or was Qualls just not around for one day? Winning the closer lottery would at least soothe the sonofabench pain.
@Steve : No way, I forgot he was even on my team.
@ Myself You fucking moron you dropped F Gut today for F^2
Seriously guys, sorry for the spam…but it burns. Sonofabenched and dropped. Lets just hope F^2 gets the closer job back so at least my move wasnt for naught. Please Baseball Gods. I won’t shave my stash for 10 years if you do this for me.
@Bodymore: Ha! Liked the @myself.
So I’ve been offered Ibanez and Swisher for Bourne. Should be ok in steals with some waiver wire scouring. Is this an immediate accept?
@William: Judging by the way Ervin’s pitching right now, it looks like you made the right move.
Granted, it is the Indians, but it’s still a good sign.
@GhostfacePrzybilla: I’d have thought so. Ibanez has to be better than he’s been (he’d better – I own him on two teams) and Swisher is streaky as hell, but could hit 30-35.
Why was Posada taken out of the game? Another topping for my shizza…
Reading CBS advice confuses the shizz out of me sometimes. They have they mantra where “sluggers notoriously do 50% of their damage in 25% of the season.” Notoriously? Doesn’t that mean that it’s an accepted maxim? Is there any statistical evidence for this? Seems made up.
@grey- also what do you think of zito? His stuff has look down right NASTY so far. That curve goes from12-6 so amazingly.
Where’s Elijah our resident D-Backs expert? I’m curious about this Gutierrez save.
ESPN says Posada was HBP on leg fyi
@GhostfacePrzybilla: Accept
@Martin: Yeah, hasn’t look bad.
@tHe ShiT: Thanks!
CBS says Posada was hit in rt knee, he struggled running the bases, scored, then was pulled out.
And Ervin gets a 3-K inning!
@tHe ShiT: OK, doesn’t sound too bad. I guess with the big lead they didn’t mind bringing in Cervelli.
It might have been an oversight but I did not notice Kris Benson on the list of 20 most risky pitchers for 2010
Kris Benson is set to undergo an MRI Wednesday night on his sore shoulder.
@mrbaseball: Ha
for those keeping records – J. Fox Catcher for tonights game – this is his 5th game as a catcher
on another note – he is hitting below .200
@Grey even providing you with a single Ha helps with the burn a little. However, I must add that I’ve never communicated with myself with such clarity. You may try it sometime, before I patent it, or start some new asocial network based off of it.
Plus, the more I think about it, owning Frank Frank wasn’t a bad idea and will probably pay off down the road, and we don’t know anything for sure about Gut yet. Maybe he’ll slip through waivers… either way, goes with the territory. 3 guys hurting day to day and a 4th getting benched for slumping means I need to use bench slots on position players… oh well … 6-5 for the week so I should just hang in there…
so getting right to the point here with FOX – there is not way anyone should want to pick him up because as of tommorrow he has catcher
Eligibility in all yahoo leagues
@mrbaseball: There needs to be a word for catcher eligible scrubs like Clement & Fox. Perhaps we should call them Sirens. They lure us with their C eligibility only to destroy us with their swinging!
Wait seriously? Posada was pulled from the game early? Pretty soon I’m going to be listing guys on my roster not injured.
Rajai Davis is on the bench for the third straight game on Wednesday.
I don’t understand why he was bench – all my other hitters that I drafted are hitting around the .200 mark and they are still in the starting lineup
grey could you have a talk with Bob Geren and get him back in the starting lineup for rickey henderson sake
Rickey Henderson’s 80-steal projection doesn’t faze Rajai …
@mrbaseball: Thanks for the heads up!
@Bodymore: Yup, shake it off.
@mrbaseball: I see what I can do.
@Grey: No love for the Siren? :-(
M. Scherzer – I got stuck with him in one league and there is no way out – they beat him up good tonight
I have Scherzer and Billingsley and ambivalence about both… drop one for Buchholz, or wait? I’m leaning wait, but I’d love some opinions.
Kyle Blanks – the padres should give us fantasy owners a break and give Blanks a day off – Hey I am even for triple A at this point
@Bill Lumbergh: You addressed Mr. Baseball so I hadn’t read it. It’s okay. Did enjoy that movie though. Rawr!
@mrbaseball: Ha
@Lines: Eh, you can drop Scherzer for Buchholz if you like.
@mrbaseball: Ha!
Anyone know why Beckham is sitting today? Just a general day off for sucking?
@Lines Drop Scherzer, I wouldn’t let Buchholz sit on a wire in any league at this point. He’s blossoming into a legit ace.
Drop Marcum, Matusz, or Duchscherer for Jaime Garcia? Weekly points league, non-keeper obv.
@Awesomus Maximus – look at the bright side of life – at least Beckham has 2B Eligibility
@Grey:
Qualls was just tired, nothing to see with Guiterrez (yet).
Grandy with two hits and now CQ with a donk.
The apocalypse must be nigh. Been nice knowing you all.
@Awesomus Maximus: I believe so. He’ll get his head together and start getting on base for Quintensity!
@Grey: Wow not even AJax and Fuentes for FraGu. I swear these guys just hate me.
@grey- Can you rank Bailey, Soria, Valverde?
Oh – and stupid Tiger offence/Twins defence. Wanted a Coke hold today.
Is Travis Snider long for the majors?
@Chris: Marcum for Garcia.
@Elijah: Ah… Thanks!
@Steve: Hehe
@3FingersBrown: That sucks.
@Martin: Soria, Valverde…
I picked up Jim Johnson to try and pick up a few cheap saves. Now with the situation as it is in Baltimore, should I just dump him for one of the lights out middle relievers out there in the FA pool?
Has anyone been watching Peavy pitch? I’m assuming 4hs, 5bbs, and 7ks pretty much tells the story?
Got offered teix/bartlett/braden for wainwright/quentin/alexei ramirez in a 5×5 roto — I have to take this, right? I’m last in ERA thanks to blowups from Lester / Hamels, but think I can afford to lose Wainwright with Hudson/Buchholz/Romero/Marcum in waiting, and guys like Jurrjens/E. Santana available on the wire.
Can’t help but think I’m missing something here.
James Shields – 12K
Helper Monkey, from the games I have seen, he is walking everyone under the sun, and his fastball is topping out at 90-91mph. I think he might be hiding an injury.
Baker suffers from the Rule of Romulus and Remus after Liriano!
Beware Slowey this week!
@Grey: Got back a counter of Hamels for FraGu. C’mon. As much as I’d love to get rid of Hamels, it’s as though the other guy doesn’t even bother to look at my lousy pitching staff.
Offered another guy Swisher or AJax and Gregg for AJ Burnett. What do you think?
Unfortunately he’s one of the only guys who I can seem to deal with.
Closer question: in evaluating closer value how much does job security factor into the equation when accounting for skill set? For instance, I’m looking at Qualls and Lindstrom right now and having a real pickle of a time deciding who is the better option going forward. Any thoughts?
@Grey: Just got Callaspo as a piece of a trade, are any of these MI better in a bubble?
Pennington
Uribe
O. Cabrera
JJ Hardy
Christian Guzman
Orlando Hudson
EverCab
Tea for Tillman
Chris Tillman threw a no-hitter Wednesday at Triple-A Norfolk.
Tillman was brilliant for nine innings Wednesday night against a group of Braves minor leaguers. He finished a walk shy of a perfect game while collecting six strikeouts.
@SotoMojo: Has there been a discussion about the PitchFX data on Peavy? In the past he primarily threw his slider and fastball (in each past year at least 77% of pitches thrown) but throws those pitches decidedly less this year (roughly 40%). He’s making up for it by throwing a two-seam fastball (~24% of the time [he never even threw this pitch before last year and it only comprised 3.7% of his pitches) and then splitting the rest of his pitches pretty evenly between his cutter, changeup and curveball.
That being said…I have no idea what any of this really means. Is it possible he realized he was no longer effective focusing on those two pitches? Is he “learning how to pitch” again this season? That’s all speculation but I’d like to know what you guys think. Sorry for the long post. Is this the kind of thing that would be better to post in the forum?
Kyle Blanks – how much longer should we keep him on our roster
a- should have dropped him 2 hours ago
b- drop him this minute
c- drop him within the next 10 minutes
d- only drop him if Austin Kearns is available in your league
Holliday only seems to hit when nobody’s on base, that’s not why he’s getting all the big bucks! 6 LOB again today so far.
@Grey: Thanks for the consideration. By the way, where does “Rawr!” fit on the HeHe, Ha, & Ha! scale? Another name for these crappy C-eligible players could be “Sushi On A Stick.” You know, it seemed like a good idea at the time, only you regret it two days later when you’re crapping your guts out.
@mrbaseball: I dropped him Sunday. Can’t carry his AVG anymore. Had to roll with Corey Hart.
Micheal Stanton – Florida top prospect has now homered five times in his last two games
I can’t take another O for from Adam Jones, I just can’t.
Was just listening to the Rangers’ broadcast. Feliz velocity has been down. He would have blown the save if not for a nice defensive play, he was getting hit hard. Frank franc was warming up by the end of it…I say he is going to have the job back in a week.
@SotoMojo: I’ve dumped Johnson in a few leagues.
@Mojo the Helper Monkey: Hasn’t looked good.
@Spike: I’d take Tex.
@mrbaseball: Yup
@Lava: Ha
@3FingersBrown: I’d take Burnett.
@Yo Soy No Bueno: Lindstrom, it’s not that close right now.
@MattW: EverCab for speed, Hardy for power.
@mrbaseball: Thanks for the update!
@mrbaseball: A
@Bill Lumbergh: Rawr is if you’ve seen that movie. Catchers are like cheap sushi, but I don’t think the term is there yet.
@Bodymore: Thanks for the update!
@Grey: Thanks Grey! Perhaps this is something the Razzball Nation can come up with? Next time you are looking for a topic, throw it out there, along with what you call the act of dropping a Roofie after he violates your ERA and WHIP, while your league mates mock you for even rostering the guy – perhaps the roster move is called “The Drop of Shame”.
P.S. If this one bombs too, I’m going to have to quit before I forever shame myself!
@Grey: I figured as much about Peavy. I’ll take solace in the fact that all five of his runs and 3 of his 5 walks were given up in the first inning.
@Grey: I am sure this question has probably been asked, but couldnt find it. Is there a consensus replacement if hoffman ends up going to the DL, villanueva or hawkins? CBS is claiming hawkins, but i dont exactly trust their in depth reporting.
Thank you.
Delmon Young or Andruw Jones
grey, which side for the rest of the year?
quentin/olivo for vmart/willingham
@mrbaseball: In a sick twist of irony, Beckham’s eligibility has become a liability. No matter what, I always have a place on my roster for him to suck.
@mrbaseball: 12Ks from Shields, 11Ks from Lincecum, and my H2H opponent had them both going. I don’t think I’ve ever had a lead of 20 in the K cat disappear so quickly.
In regards to Qualls, this is what cbs said (as vague as it comes):
Diamondbacks closer Chad Qualls, who has recorded saves in each of his last three appearances, the last one coming Monday, was unavailable for a save opportunity Wednesday at Colorado. Juan Gutierrez pitched a perfect tenth inning in his absence.
Qualls’ absence is puzzling considering he already got a day off Tuesday, but sources so far indicate he was simply “unavailable,” whatever that means. The right-hander has had his struggles this year, but you’d think those three recent saves would earn him some wiggle room. Then again, he did allow an earned run in recording his last save. Qualls seems to have the job still, but he continues to make things interesting. Qualls owners should probably hang on to Gutierrez as an insurance policy.
@herschel: ESPN also has Hawkins as “next in line”, FWIW.
Well looks like I caught some breaks today. 4 W’s between Garcia, Correia, Madson and Fuentes. 19K’s in 20IP.
Strength in numbers. Going to role LeBlanc and then give the rook Chacin a try this weekend.
@herschel: @Awesomus Maximus: Just to cloud the issue. From Rotorimes:
Trevor Hoffman, P, Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday 4/28, 8:18 AM CT
Brewers manager Ken Macha has stated that he has no plans to replace Trevor Hoffman as the team’s closer, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Hoffman will remain the ninth-inning man for now, and he’s certainly helped by the fact that Milwaukee lacks a dominant setup man or any ideal replacement to close. Hoffman has been atrocious in the early-going this season, converting just half of his six save chances and allowing 12 runs over just eight innings. With that said, he simply cannot afford too many more rough outings, as Macha’s hand would then be forced, and a change would have to be made. Carlos Villanueva is probably next in line to save. He’s been excellent so far this season, but it’s worth noting that he floundered his chance to close last year and had just three saves with five blown saves. LaTroy Hawkins could be an option as well, though he hasn’t pitched much better than Hoffman.
@herschel: I absolutely love the “owners of [insert closer] should keep [insert handcuff] on their roster for insurance” advice these twats throw around. Like I have an endless number of bench slots to handcuff every one of my closers who isn’t named Mariano Rivera.
Roy Oswalt to continue dominance over Cincinnati Reds
28 starts: 195 innings pitched, 23-1 record, 2.35 ERA, 1.09 WHIP.
he will be pitching against the Reds tommorrow
If I can get anyone but the current closer in AZ, Pitt, Mil who should I pick up?
Thanks
@Awesomus Maximus: The so called “analysis” could not be less analytical if they tried. I love the concrete phrases they use like “whatever that means”, “but you’d think” and “probably hang on”. Thanks for the insight John Kerry….
@Bill Lumbergh: Well, droppelganger is already in the glossary.
@herschel: Villanueva
@BKK: Jones
@grandysdandy: Vmart
@Griffey24: Gutierrez
@Grey: With Iannetta sent down to AAA, and Fox having newfound C eligiblity in Yahoo, should I go ahead and slot him in or start my hot catcher pick up of the day? (In this case…John Jaso)
Are we concerned about Dotel yet? Last 6 appearances 11 ER. At least 1 ER in each. 2 blown saves.
@Tom Reale: I think I’ll have to lose him in my switcheroo to bring the Adverb back from my DL slot and put Chris Young in there. I’ll have to pick up one of these numerous handcuffs, but I don’t know which: Villanueva, Meek or Simon? Gut + Grey says Villanueva.
@GopherDay: I’d grab Jaso.
@Tom Reale: Yup
@DrEasy: I’d go Villanueva if I were you. I picked up Meek in a deep league where all closers, and anyone with a remote chance of closing is gone. With a deep bench, I have a ton of Takashi Saitos, Gregerson, etc. Meek was the only one available for me!
@Grey: By the way, I’m liking Hamilton and Quentin’s nights…I’m kind of (REALLY) invested in them…Like in every league I’m in besides the dynasty league…But yeah, hopefully this sparks them into hitting!!
@GopherDay: The thing is, while I agree that Villanueva has been the better pitcher, it’s Hawkins that was used as the set-up man in today’s game. He seems to be the next in line, good idea or not. Decisions, decisions.
@DrEasy: Just like you said about Villanueva, Meek has been the first guy out of the bullpen, not the last.
Also, in Yahoo, I don’t think you have to drop anyone to switch DL spots.
I loved my draft, but my team’s in last place of a 12 team league. I feel like I need to make a move. Any suggestions?
C: Napoli
1B: Morneau
2B: Beckham
3B: Wright
SS: Tulowitzki
OF: Granderson
OF: Lind
OF: Quentin
UTL: Pence
BN: Smoak
SP: Lester
SP: Hamels
SP: Liriano
SP: B. Anderson
SP: Price
SP: Slowey
SP: Sanchez
SP: A. Chapman
SP: S. Strasburg
RP: Hoffman
RP: Dotel
@Tom Reale: Heh, I had no idea, thanks! So I just did the DL switcheroo and kept Dotel for now. Meek and Villanueva will have to wait.
efffffing KELLY JOHNSON is the man!!! 4-5 with 3 ribbys! haha maybe i’m late to this party, but just getting home! cheers again grey!