After much success last year in NFBC’s Cutline competition (around top 30 overall out of 1,000 teams), I decided to give it another go. Mind you, they only pay top 20, and I came in approximately (I don’t remember) 30th, so I didn’t win money last year, but money can’t buy happiness. Happiness can only be derived from seeing a Japanese mascot petting a dog. Nothing else counts towards happiness. Luckily, this league doesn’t have a happiness category. You might remember (likely don’t) that I autodrafted the first four rounds last year for my “much success” team, so in some ways this year’s league is a test of Man vs. Machine because I drafted this whole kit and/or kaboodle. Everyone likely knows what a Best Ball league is, but, if you don’t, it’s when you draft a team and the computer manages it for you by choosing who are the best players, and you get those stats. It’s basically one fantasy league removed from the robots taking over and killing us all. Now that I think about it, it’s not Man vs. Machine this year for me; it’s Man vs. Machine vs. Machine. HOLY CRAP, WE’RE OUTNUMBERED! Anyway, here’s my NFBC Best Ball, Points League, 10 team draft recap:
C: Francisco Mejia
C: Danny Jansen
1B: Pete Alonso
2B: Ketel Marte
SS: Francisco Lindor
3B: Rafael Devers
CI: Yoan Moncada
MI: Bo Bichette
OF: Jorge Soler
OF: Ramon Laureano
OF: Kyle Schwarber
OF: Danny Santana
OF: Kyle Tucker
UT: Garrett Hampson
Bench: Renato Nunez, Sam Hilliard, Hanser Alberto, Domingo Santana, Kevin Pillar, Dylan Carlson, Nick Ahmed, Jacob Stallings, Isan Diaz, Kyle Lewis
P: Patrick Corbin
P: Brandon Woodruff
P: Roberto Osuna
P: Eduardo Rodriguez
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
P: Jake Odorizzi
P: James Paxton
P: Brandon Workman
P: Mitch Keller
Bench: Freddy Peralta, Sean Doolittle, Pablo Lopez, Kyle Gibson, Mark Melancon, Mackenzie Gore, Zach Eflin, Nate Pearson, Zach Davies
WAIT A MINUTE, DID YOU SAY THIS IS A POINTS LEAGUE? WHAT, ARE YOU MALAMONEY NOW WITH THE POINTS LEAGUE POSTS? THIS IS A LATE 3RD ACT TWIST I DIDN’T SEE COMING.
Malmoney is still our Points Leagues guy. The scoring is similar to the RazzSlam. For your gander:
It was a 42 round draft, though I only participated in 40 rounds (I’ll get to that in a moment). These points do not compute like most Points Leagues. According to their scoring, last year in what was admittedly a wonderful year, Shane Bieber accrued 610 points. Michael Conforto walked away with 612 points while being, essentially Michael Conforto. Max Muncy is great, wonderful, adjective, but he scored the same number of points as Jacob deGrom. Yes, that Jacob deGrom. I wouldn’t even say this Points League is skewed for hitting; it’s basically hitters and then reach over your FUPA and grab a bunch of pitchers. Also, I found last year that closers are oddly valuable. Maybe it’s that whole 8 points for a save thing. If Osuna gets three clean saves in a week with one K per game, he gets 36 points. In a one start week from deGrom, where he throws a 10-K shutout with seven baserunners, he scores 36 points.
OKAY, I’M FADING, CAN YOU TELL ME IF YOU USED ANY SPECIFIC BEST-BALL STRATEGY? CAN YOU TELL ME LITERALLY ANYTHING OF USE HERE?
Whether correctly or not, I decided to go upside crazy in this league. As I figure it, winning this league doesn’t matter, because of the awful winner’s stake. It’s $150 to enter and, if you win your league, you get $250. I don’t care about winning $100 on a $150 bet. That’s viciously bad. However, the overall prizes are huge. 1st place gets $70,000 (think out of a thousand teams maybe), and I have to imagine the only people winning that prize are going to have a strong core but also a lot of shares of guys who well exceed their draft spot. So, I got some core guys and then a ton of upsidey guys. I got so many upsidey guys, I didn’t even draft two players who I drafted, because I autodrafted.
YOU TOLD US YOU ACTUALLY SHOWED UP FOR THIS DRAFT, SO YOU LIED?
Not necessarily a lie, but more of an omission of the truth. I was there for the beginning of the draft, but at one point in the middle I accidentally autodrafted two guys — Kyle Tucker and James Paxton. By the middle of this draft, I had six drafts going at once and I lost track. It’s either a first world problem that I paid to join a league that I forgot about or I drafted too many leagues this year. I’m gonna make like a teamster and lean on the latter. Thankfully, Kyle Tucker and Paxton both fit into my motto of only worrying about ceiling vs. floors. Due to the system only counting the good weeks, I only thought about what each guy’s best case scenario could be. No sonavabenches here. Same reason I drafted Nate Pearson, Zach Davies, Mitch Keller, Freddy Peralta, Gore (only share of him so far), Pablopez, Hampson, Hilliard, Domingo, Renato, Isan Bonita, Kyle Lewis, Bichette and Moncada. In theory, I won’t suffer any of their bad starts or games and only get the good ones. Of course, if they’re all bad, then the system will have to play some of them. Same with the batters. I’m going boom or bust, primarily. One quick word about Nate Pearson. He’s unhittable. I don’t know if he makes the team, but he should not only make it, but he should be the Jays’ best pitcher.
OKAY, REAL QUESTION, DID YOU, PETE ALONSO AND KETEL MARTE BUY A TIMESHARE TOGETHER?
No timeshare. I own every share of both of them in every league. I can’t remember a year like this where I am so high on two particular players vs. the draft rooms that I’ve drafted each of them everywhere. Honestly, out of eight leagues, I own one of them in seven of them, and one league was an AL-Only league, where I might’ve taken them both just in case they get traded midseason. They’ve actually come a bit like a packaged pair in a lot of leagues they are so complementary. “You’re handsome!” “No, you!” Wait, not compliments like that. They’re complementary because one is power and a lot average and one is a high average and okay power. Alonso brings 80+ homer power, but with a .260 average and Ketel Marte will hit .370+. Or so I’ve convinced myself. Maybe Alonso will hit 90 homers and Ketel will hit .400. Yeah, that’ll do!
AL only 10 team h2h with OBP over AVG, total bases added, holds added and QS over wins. we keep 3 at last year’s ADP prices (so mercado was a last rounder)
C
1B
2B
SS
3B vlad
MI
CI
OF (4) mercado, gallo
util (1)
SP (want around 8) bieber (went him at 1.6, as i knew 2-3 of the picks before my pick now would be SP, and they were (snell/clevinger)
RP (4)
went bieber so i’d have the ace, not have to draft pitching for a bit, and already had 2 OF (judge or bogaerts would’ve been the pick there if not this build likely). what’s best option here, i don’t draft in the 3rd round as vlad is in that (gallo in 5th), these listed are just available indexed by ADP. missed olson just now by 1 pick. if moncada didn’t just lose his 2B i’d want to go him here. i’d guess hoping for abreu for my 4th rounder (unless i went him here) but that’s 14 picks after this pick i’m making now. OPS rater numbers quoted here:
altuve (24.6, it’s still giving him decent steals numbers)
sale
n.cruz (30.5, OPS rater always values him probably whole rounds over ADP tends to)
morton
moncada (17.8)
merrifield (11.7)
eloy (17.5)
abreu (16.6)
rosario (17.9)
greinke
lemahieu (8.8, the opposite, ADP loves vs expected production)
donaldson (27.2, same, rater likes him more than really anybody)
brantley (14.3)
robert (20.5)
t.anderson (10.9)
a.chapman
correa (21)
osuna
benintendi (14.5)
Robert, Eloy, Cruz for me
Agree with DT
wow, robert is ahead of eloy? i guess that’s the speed right (even the rater says so). if moncada still had 2B i’d think it’d be him possibly (from positional builds mostly, already having 2 OF/1 1 3B and no other hitter)
So sexy
yeah and i do have 2 donkey types (speed wise, vlad isn’t a low AVG guy like gallo, but gallo IS a high OBP guy), lobert/mercado is a good speed mix so far. if altuve still stole i’d str up trust that OPS rater number and go him, but alas (plus i’d shore up some non 3B/OF early)
The Best Ball thing is interesting. Might turn a guy like Foltynewicz into a top 10 pitcher. Guys like Renato Nunez and Freddy Peralta are sneaky good picks in that type of league.
Seems like you need at least two backup catchers in that format, and with a better playing time profile than Jacob Stallings. If two of your three catchers get injured or sent down to the minors, is there any way to pick someone up, or will you really have an empty spot in your lineup?
There’s two faab runs for the whole season
Not sure Stallings’s playing time is the issue…Who else are the Pirates turning to?
Fair enough … now that I think about it, Stallings is actually another sneaky value. He may only have 8 or 9 decent to good weeks, but every one of those will help your team.
It seems to me there is actually even less reason than normal to spend on catchers in the best ball format … but you want enough rostered that at least 2 of the X will have decent weeks, so although I know you are allergic to catchers I still think you need to pick up at least a fourth catcher in the first FAAB. And that could be a strategic move to wait until then to get your fourth because it may be clear who is worth picking up by then.
Perhaps, I don’t know…Figure if I have only a negative 15 points from catchers and someone else has an extra catcher they might have more of a chance of negative points
Grey!!!
Very nice NFBC draft report.
a. Good team with a ton of potential as you say. I like the team a lot.
b. MLB quote of the day for August 29, 1966
‘It’s hard to win a pennant, but it’s harder to lose one.’
Charles William ‘Chuck’ Tanner
Cheers,
Ante
Thanks!
A. The compliments are incoming!
B. Haha
“Maybe Alonso will hit 90 homers…”
That achievement might break several records or something like that.
“…and Ketel will hit .400.”
.406… If he averaged .406 over five years, he’d be Rodgers Hornsby.
.402, not .406. I messed up my own attempt at humor.
All within their sights!
Len,
There are two FAAB periods in the NFBC Cutline contests.
Yeah
H2H league settings for 2020
R, HR, RBI, SB, OBP
K, HR allowed, ERA, WHIP, SV+Holds
Minimum 45 IP per week
9 pitcher slots
No transactions limit
Because of HR allowed and two ratio stats, pitcher streaming should not be wild. Am I right in this thinking or no?
My main objective is to have a H2H league with rampant mindless pitcher streaming not being a thing and not capping the number of moves per week.
We were able to stop the crazy streaming in h2h by simply changing k to k/9 and putting a 7 start minimum on each week.
I think you’re erring too far in devaluing starters. Especially with SV+Holds on top of HR allowed. I’d draft offense for the first 10+ rounds and stack my pitching with mid-relievers. Or maybe increase the number of innings per week to force people to value quality starters. Who wants a staff of a bunch of no-name “numbers?”
Agree with Big Bear, too much value on relievers with that setup
Yeah, I can see how someone could decide to pass on good starters but multiple ones would be needed to get to 45 innings.
12-team league
I can see why K/9 instead of 9 is better.
Yeah, what bigbear said
Morning!
10 team 5×5 auction league, $260 budget. can keep 5 players for up to 3 years. Options-
Trout $50 year 1
Bellinger $12 year 3
Hiura $10 year 1
Conforto $12 year 3
LeMahieu $10 year 1
Glasnow $10 year 1
Darvish $10 year 1
Lindor and trea the biggest names definitely available in the auction, possibly more if others not kept. Thoughts?
Trout, Bellinger, Hiura, darvish, Glasnow for me
Thanks. Comanager and I are debating btw conforto and glasnow. (i don’t like to keep 2 pitchers). But the 1st year/last year difference may be the decider.
Agree with DT
You said it with Pearson. I’m all over him in keepers, drafting him like Paddack last year. You just need to watch a couple innings of him pitching to be totally sold.
Speaking of – in a keep forever, would you prioritize drafting him over Josh James? (Understood that James is ranked above for redrafts). Trying to have both guys as my late round sp gambles, but not sure who to value more in this format…I assume Pearson?
I prefer James but both good targets
Yeah, exactly on Pearson…I watched him and I was like, “Welp, I have to draft him”
James over him tho
12 team, H2H, 6X6, I need to drop one…..drop Lourdes Gurriel or Justin Turner?
Grey, Once I looked back at your rankings and sleeper post on Lourdes, I think you would say drop Turner……and I did. Have a nice day Man!
Agreed
Haha, nice
I mean I realize you’ve blocked it from your mind, but you owned this guy named Odor in every league in 2017. Cust Kayin.
Ouch, burn.
.205/77/30/93/11
It’s wasn’t awful, just not quite 2nd or 3rd round in every league.
Why you doing that to me?
Very mean
I’m a terrible person
Any thoughts on either Ryan Mountcastle or Carter Kieboom for last pick in 28 round draft for shot in the dark flier for shortstop (yes Mountcastle is listed as ss in this league)?
THanks
Kieboom for me
Time to make pick so I went with the Boomer.
Thanks Donkey.
Worried Mountcastle isn’t breaking camp with the O’s
Great post as usual Grey.
Do you participate or have any thoughts on Ottoneu scoring leagues? Do you have a draft strategy when it comes to them?
Do you know if/when DT or Malamoney will be posting this years excel sheet for points leagues?
I play ottoneu roto, not points. I’ve found it very tricky managing the salary cap. Save a little cap space for in-season pickups. And don’t be shy about cutting guys in season and taking the cap penalty. Need to hold on loosely in that format…
Malamoney should be posting his sheet, I hope next week. He spent a lot of time helping Rudy out with the war room.
If you cut players during the season, then make sure to re-auction them as soon as possible to lessen the cap penalty.
Last year, if you cut a $24 McCutchen, then you take a $12 cap penalty. When you re-auction him (30 day waiting period?), then the minimum bid is $12. When you win the auction, you cut him immediately and your cap penalty is only $6.
I don’t play in any
Agree with DT on Malamoney
I have a small dilema, my H2H draft is sunday but i will probably only be able to be there for the first 1/2 hr plus it will be on the phone so i won’t have all the screens etc. This happened last year as well and I ended winning or second can’t remember. For the draft i used modified razzball ranking and ended up w/ a bad pitchinig staff but made some good trades and pickups
my question assumming i get to round three will available should i try to grab a pitcher there? I typically wait until round 5 or just put in my rankings and let it roll?
Depends who’s there but in head to head I don’t mind bumping pitching up a little bit. For the most part I’d say just follow your rankings and take the best player available…
Just give grey or me your password we will draft for you!
For real? I would do that i follow the rankings pretty much and preload my revised order before hand anyway………….My band has a show that day at 3pm
draft is March 08, 2020, 2:30 PM ET
Haha
LoL Help a dude out. I’ll do it. Send me your email and the league deets.
Fine! I’ll draft your team for it…for one million dollars! (Actually, prolly a few hundred)
I don’t know that would kinda be cheating bringing in an ringer….
I like the team a lot. Good value on Soler. Cheap 40hr guy in Schwarber. Pillar and Domingo are going so cheap and will be good in this format. Pretty stacked. I absolutely love ERod, and Davies is a totally under the radar QS machine. I’m so all in on ERod and Davies it’s not even funny. I like talent on Pearson but they babied him last year like nothing Ive ever seen. Overall the team looks awesome.
I don’t bump pitching up in H2H…I treat it quantity over quality, 5th round is plenty early enough, Lenny
Davies may not K that many but will be excellent in other 4 cats. I like him even better in5x5 as a cheap ratio stabilizer. He’s s a great pairing for EdRod or R. Ray.
3 cats I mean. No SVs for ZD.
I figured maybe he’ll go in the lineup when he’s in home games
Now that he’s away from Miller he will be good most everywhere but Coors. Mark my words. He will finish top ten in NL ERA with a good WHIP and win 15 games, albeit with 120k’s but whateves.
It honestly wouldn’t shock me entirely he has good ratios, everything else might be gross tho
If Davies wins 15 games, the Pads will make the post season, and as much as I’d love to see my home town team make the playoffs this year, it’s not happening. I’ll take the under in wins for a thousand, Dave.
yes that is my usual i start thinking about it round 5 or 5 but is round 3 too early to grab one if i’m not going to be on-line longer than 3 rounds?
Can’t you draft a 3rd rounder than autodraft a starter in the 4th?
Final keepers due! 260 budget, old format (no MI/CI, 3 OF’d). Pitchers will likely be pricey. Have to throw back one:
Cole, 40
Soler, 6
Bichette, 6
Laureano, 11
Knee jerk is Cole, but want your input
Thnx in advance!!
I’d lose Soler. Lauereano fine with me also. Wouldn’t get cute tossing Cole back but I would try to trade him.
Agree with DT
Honestly think this is one of your better teams I’ve seen you post. Easily the best SP staff, IMO. Stacked IF. Solid OF. And maybe Bud Black forgets to not play Hampson and Hilliard (HA)!
Yeah, bc it’s a 10 team league
You think that matters?
I think it looks better to people who see me post an NL-Only team when they see a 10-team mixed league team, yeah
Its a radical notion to think you could draft a team with more good players in a 10 team league than in a 15 teamer or 12 team NL. Absolutely radical. No explanation was needed for those who pay attention to those details. Funny though.
Ha, yeah, but you gotta be honest it just looks so stacked compared to most teams I share
Yeah. Indeed!
Haha, yeah, missed that. Funny thing, I actually double checked that before posting and still didn’t catch it. Still solid though.
Thanks!
Howdy Grey!
Yahoo h2h league, can keep 4. Going with Bellinger, Alonso, Aranado, and Hiura.
My question: Any reason I should kick one of those to the curb and keep Bieber instead?
Bieber over Hiura for me
Not for me, AP
Better pitcher. Justin Dunn or Adrian Morejon?
Dunn
Thanks. I like that team you draft. Gonna win you the league!
Hope so!
I got in on The Athletic’s Cutline league. Refused to overpay for a C and now I have d’Arnaud and nothing else. Best C available right now in the 22nd round (slow draft) are: Mejia, Suzuki, J McCann, Castro. I regret nothing.
Never regret, never surrender!
Sup Grey & DT
Thoughts on Yordan with this developing knee situation?
I’m not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Prognosis, meh.
Seems like no big deal, but obviously guessing
Your Osuna tweet resulted in 4 closers going off the board in my Razzslam draft last night. I was able to grab Rogers who i am really happy with but I’m doubtful it was coincidence!
Ha, my bad
RCL Drafts all day Saturday still need managers! Draft this weekend!
Saturday 3/7 – Click link and you are in!
3PM EST: https://www.fantrax.com/newui/fantasy/joinLeague.go?leagueId=j2w3qe3uk5vmuak1&isSubmit=y
8PM EST: https://www.fantrax.com/newui/fantasy/joinLeague.go?leagueId=0ra1xqjzk5vmytrw&isSubmit=y
10PM EST: https://www.fantrax.com/newui/fantasy/joinLeague.go?leagueId=50buswimk5vn1hu8&isSubmit=y
Y’all pretending like you have something else to do on the weekends
Grey,
Can you give us loyal followers a few breadcrumbs of a trail to understand your zigs and zags of drafting? AKA, at a minimum of info, what rounds did you draft your man crushes Alonso and Marte?
Cheers,
BB
Lindor (1), Devers (2), Marte (3), Alonso (4th), Soler (5), Corbin (6)
Hey Grey!!
Would your strategy have changed in an OPS league regarding where/when you picked these guys? According to Rudy’s OPS ranks, I think this is still solid, Thanks!!!!
Yelich could be a Brewer for life…thoughts?? I can’t believe he wasn’t asking for more than what is being reported.
Thank you Señor Bigote!
I am Senor Grande Pantaloons!
Alonso in the 4th is fantastic value! He’s going end-2nd, early-3rd in all my 12-team H2H Points drafts…
Yeah, I thought so
Grey!!
Happy to be back in the fantasy baseball swing – as they say. Lots of reading to catch up on but did want to ask your opinion and the opinion of others: in an 8-10 tm keeper league, would you go Belly, Olson, Mondesi and Springer and draft pitching or would you keep Verlander over Springer to have an ace of a pitcher to lead the staff?
Hey, Scuffy!
I’d keep Verlander
Gracias my baseball leader.
Cheers!
El Jefe!
I have returneth as well.
Welcome back!
Likelihood that Kluber finishes in the top 100? 10 team/10 player keeper league. Deciding on my 10th keeper b/w Kluber, G.Sanchez, Zac Gallen, and G.Lux.
Points league.
Thoughts?
Feels unlikely, but I guess possible — 30% chance?
I just got offered (Keepers league):
Conforto $18
A. Verdugo $5
Jorge Polanco $8
Dylan Cease $5
Matt Manning $1
for
Yelich $35 (can’t keep him after this season)
Thoughts?
Hold
Thanks Grey
No problem
Is it just me or is this extra slooooooooow?
It’s insane…I think Rudy and Donkey are thru 7 more rounds…
7!? Wow.
Yeah, they’re thru 15 rounds
We’re at the end of the 12th. Ours picked up, thankfully. But if you’re not even to round 10, that’s so slow, you wouldn’t even finish by opening day.
We’re going to be drafting in May, which is actually good for guys who get hot in April…I want those Chris Shelton shares!
West coast only next year!
I don’t even know what time zone Heisenberg could be on if he wasn’t there in morning just now…Is he in Taipei?
It was so slow last night I fell asleep bored watching TV just after 10ET. Finally guy on clock picks and then 4 picks later, then I’m the asshole slowing it up.
hahaha
Ha, I’m not too worried about it…This draft is going pretty slow, but it’s fine, it’s a slow draft
Hurry it’s your pick haha
Done
It’s brutal. Guys should set up auto-pick if they’re not going to be around
I’m surprised, you pay $150 then you auto draft…wait, I did that on the post I’m commenting on
HA
It is brutal. We are on day 5 of the draft and are only in round 8.
The worst was having the person on the turn take 3 hours to make the first pick and another 3 hours for the second pick.
Ha, did that happen in our league? I wasn’t paying attention
Yah I’m not saying auto the whole draft, I’m just saying you can set your queue and auto a pick here and there if you know you’re not going to be available.
Yeah, agreed
Yeah. On the round 4/5 turn.
Ha, I hadn’t seen that
What are some good points league setups that don’t have mindless and rampant pitcher streaming as a viable strategy? Has anyone here played in a league with the FanGraphs point system?
The post your commenting on is a Points league that isn’t geared towards pitching
Grey, quick trade opinion, H2H points league. Soto/Edwin/Marquez/McCullers or Rendon/Bauer/Hamels/Senzel?
Edwin Encarnacion
Edwin Diaz? Encarnacion?
Encarnacion, sorry. I replied right after, thought you’d see it
Soto side, close tho
Hi Grey,
Would you be willing to post in what rounds you picked guys? Thanks.
Whatever
This is the rounds:
https://twitter.com/Razzball/status/1235607904754925568?s=20
Solid.
Hey Grey – in a OBP OPS head to head 6×6 categories keeper league, would you swap your Hiura for Biggio (same price)?
Rudy’s ranks have Hiura above Biggio in these formats, but seems like Cavan has a much higher floor given Hiura’s 400 babip and much lower BB rate…
Nah
“Happiness can only be derived from seeing a Japanese mascot petting a dog.” hahahaha
Great pod yesterday, man! I might have a little Corona too, not sure, guess we’ll find out!
Think I’ll target Alonso in my RazzSlam satellite draft tomorrow. Let’s see where he goes, but I have the 7th pick, so it’s reasonable I could grab him in the second round depending how things shake out.
I don’t love this format for the exact reason you alluded to above. You should totally get paid out on a 30th overall finish… bit absurd IMO. Bad ROI, but fun! That’s why the RazzSlam version is awesome.
Pretty solid squad for you, not much to quibble with there. Don’t love Tucker as the 5th OF, but hopefully he or someone else is a hit for you. Upside, as you said. Carlson fits the bill too. I honestly wrote this before I saw you auto-drafted Tucker lol, so keeping it as is, because we simpatico there!
FUPA, lolol
—
DC update… because why not. Not much has changed. You probably saw I got Edman–first share there. Big upside play. Recently came around on him. Was either him or Kepler. I feel like Kepler’s profile isn’t all that special. Some other guys later can do similar things. He fit the team fairly well since I needed some power, but if the ball isn’t juiced, not so sure he’ll hit 30…
IMO, Edman’s floor is like 15/20 and upside is like 25/40 with average. Just a matter of playing time with him, and since his defense is supposedly pretty good, I felt OK with it. Good place to take a shot in the 10th, I think. He’s like a safer version of Buxton in my eyes, with less upside to be sure. He’s also got nice position eligibility, and should gain OF at some point, I think.
In a league w/o an overall, probably would’ve gone a safer route since my steals are fine for this league. But Edman could be huge, so let’s do it.
Then I had a really tough choice at pick 155. I noticed OFs are getting pushed up hard. This isn’t too surprising, since I did the same thing in my first DC. But the pitching on the board was really good, and a lot teams still needed these fairly reliable starters. I gambled the next round would be filled with P, so I wanted to grab one.
It was either double up on closers w/ Robles, or get a starter: Price, Maeda, or Hendricks. I’m on deck right now, and so far, 11/19 picks since mine have been P. So good gamble by the seal!
I went w/ Hendricks because I think the ratio floor is a great pairing w/ Darvish and Montas. Cheaper version of Soroka, who’s done it for years, with a little less upside. Drafting 4 starters in the first 11 rounds is wild for me. Definitely a lot different than my other DCs, so at least I have a nice noncorrelated bet here from my other squads.
Robles went a few picks later, no surprise. Maeda and Price have gone too. Still have a couple closers left to pair w/ Giles, and really just need someone who will get saves, since my ratios are rock solid. Then pound hitting into submission.
Let’s recap it quickly:
Bellinger, Bieber, Albies, Darvish, Moncada, Anderson, Montas, Schwarber, Giles, Edman, Hendricks, Kennedy (getting there…)
Couldn’t post this earlier because I got pulled away from the desk, but I’ll leave the above bc it’s easier than editing haha. Just had my 12th round pick at 176 and went w/ Ian Kennedy. So again, gamble on not taking Robles was fine.
Was between him and Kela. Also some other guys were avail like Bradley (who I don’t trust will get a full run at the job), Melancon (too many guys there), Jimenez (sucks), Will Smith (ditto). Kela should have better ratios, but unclear how many saves he’ll get between the Pirates sucking and him being a potential trade piece. What do you think?
Honestly, the tougher choice was that JD Davis was still on the board. My next pick was 8 picks away, and was more worried I’d get shut out on my second closer. JD is great, but there *are* other OFs I like, whereas potentially not getting that 2nd closer would be a major fk up.
JD went. Ugh. Was hoping he might come back around w/ the injury news. Oh well, not a huge deal.
Christian Walker went 3-4 rounds before ADP, same with Willie, Dozier… you catch the drift. Your sleepers aren’t safe! Haha
Also, no surprise catcher has been faded hard all draft. TBD what I do there. Will Smith is still there and could be a good gamble on power.
I have an OF in mind though. Only have 1 so far (2 if you include Belli), and you can only punt this position so long before you’re in a bad spot. But since the other guys have been pushed up so much, maybe I’ll be able to get most of my post 200 targets…
Uhm, nope! Garcia literally went the pick before mine just now. Damn, that hurt. Back to the drawing board here.
Thanks for indulging if you’ve made it this far!
Haha, yup!
I almost took Kepler, but I took Fried and Kepler went right after me…I love Edman, wrote a sleeper on him, so solid grab!
I love Hendricks in this format, cheap and reliable, like Ryu
In a 2 catcher league, at a certain point Smith becomes a steal too
Yeah, Smith is super interesting, especially at 185. It’s tough to trust a young catcher who’s played 50 games and will bat 7-8th. Probably would’ve done it if I were doing my usual strategy
Hendricks is super nice. I’ve been thinking of owning him a few years now, but never have, so hopefully he stays healthy for me!
Love Hendricks in this format, not exciting, but safe year in and out
BTW, yes, I’ve had one pick since yesterday
That’s absolutely brutal. We are trying to move ours along by shaming people. I just took an hour on my last pick and took a beating in the chat… probably deserved haha
Oops!
So I assume Fried was your one pick? Very solid. When are you up next?
I went with E5 just now. I have some average to work with and I need the dongs + RBIs. I had him as an avoid… so not great. But that’s for my usual hitting heavy strategy.
Think it’s fine for this strategy. I just hate old players, and this guy is a freakin’ grandpa.
I took Kimbrel, I needed an RP and he seemed to be best on board, but I did pick at a red light while someone was beeping at me
I stopped reading after Edman possibly 25/40.
Haha!
7 pitchers in 12 rounds. And I thought my 8 pitchers in 16 rounds was pushing it.
In a 14 team h2h dynasty league I was offered victor robles nate pearson for meadows jeter downs. Is this a trade I should consider? I could definitely use another sp and more speed for my team.
c wilson contreras
1b jose abreu
2b ozzie albies
3b rafael devers
ss bo bichette
lf juan soto
cf ronald acuna
rf austin meadows
Util yuli gurriel
bn cj cron
na andrew vaughn
na robert puason
na corbin carroll
na jeter downs
na julio rodriquez
sp brandon woodruff
sp julio urias
sp max scherzer
Sp robbie ray
rp ty buttery
rp ryan pressly
P Kevin Gausman
p zach efflin
p jon lester
bn alex wood
bn nathan eovaldi
bn matt shoemaker
bn deivi garcia
bn sixto sanchez
bn edward cabrera
na seth corry
na luis patino
Sounds fair
Uh oh. Time to move on from Cole.
Were you drafting him?
Nah. Maybe for SnGs in a RCL.
Ha
Demeritte has become a little intriguing as a late game play. All he has to do is beat out Reyes and Maybin for some playing time. Avg sucks, but late pop is definiely a plus.
I don’t hate him if it’s late enough….My guess is Reyes gets 2nd crack tho
Hopefully not G Cole! Yanks can’t take another injury! ahhhhhhhhh I’m so confused
interesting stuff bossman, looks like you got few breaks with guys slipping past others. Alonso that late seems goofy. So in razzslam-like 12-teamers you still looking that late for all upside catchers, like 200-220 range?
does 12-teamers change your approach at all?
Wouldn’t change my approach, I punt catchers in every league, they’re useless for most part… I’ll prolly take one around 200 and another around 300-350
Also… watching Pearson gets me so amped for baseball… makes me feel I’m playing with him. Dude gets so hyped, so confident, so hungry. so filthy.
I EAT IT UP.
Its like listening to Tony Robbins or Jocko’s podcast. I’m so ready for him to start games I can’t contain myself.
TOR has quite the sexy core of young players.
Pearson’s stuff is absolute filth — what’s weird is his minor league #s are…okay.
I might have to dig up some numbers/data/etc because i recall seeing something about him last year where he/something changed. Don’t remember what at the moment. Because i scooped him up in a keeper draft last year for a super deep league.
Gotcha
Hey Grey, I’m trying to go through your old articles looking for where you talk about how awesome it is tofind starting pitching in the 2nd half of drafts and if you only took so and so , and this guy, and these dudes all after pick 100 you would win your league. I thought it was pitcher pairings, but I didn’t see it there. Any idea where I could find that out of your 3,000 plus posts and millions of written words?
I think Alonso for 90 is a lock.
Isn’t that every third one?
https://razzball.com/2020-fantasy-baseball-draft-prep-pitchers-pairings/
Grey,
Is there a prospect north of the 200 mark that you could see making a huge jump into the 50-100 range by the end of the year.
Thanks
https://razzball.com/category/fantasy-baseball-rookies/
Grey
15 team keep 11
QS K K/9 Whip Era w l Sv (8 cats)
My pitching keepers right now are Buehler SGray EdRod and Ryu…
would you move Ryu for Taylor Rogers or stand pat?
My assumption is that the top 5 or so closers will be kept by others
Sounds fair
Here is my 2nd attempt @ a 12 team best ball points league per Fantrax rules:
C Omar Narvaez – MIL 23/271
1B Matt Olson – OAK 4/42
1B Anthony Rizzo – CHC 6/66
1B Christian Walker – ARI 19/223
2B Nick Madrigal – CHW 26/306
2B Kolten Wong – STL 20/234
3B Rafael Devers – BOS 3/31
3B Travis Shaw – TOR 30/354
SS Jean Segura – PHI 16/186
SS Fernando Tatis Jr. – SD 2/18
SS Goodrum, Niko – DET 34/402
OF Willie Calhoun – TEX 13/151
OF Ian Happ – CHC 24/282
OF Kevin Kiermaier – TB 32/378
OF Ramon Laureano – OAK 8/90
OF Starling Marte – ARI 5/55
OF Franmil Reyes – CLE 12/138
OF Luis Robert (R) – CHW 11/127
OF Yoshi Tsutsugo (R) – TB 31/367
P Jacob deGrom – NYM 1/7
P Zach Eflin – PHI 29/343
P MacKenzie Gore – SD 22/258
P Sonny Gray – CIN 7/79
P Mitch Keller (R) – PIT 17/199
P Dinelson Lamet – SD 9/103
P Reynaldo Lopez – CHW 21/247
P Freddy Peralta – MIL 28/330
P Marcus Stroman – NYM 14/162
P Ryan Yarbrough – TB 18/210
P Giovanny Gallegos – STL 25/295
P Brandon Kintzler – MIA 33/391
P Mark Melancon – ATL 27/319
P Taylor Rogers – MIN 15/175
P Kirby Yates – SD 10/114
I also went pretty heavy on upside but have a few steady vets sprinkled in. Still 6 more rounds left. My plan would be to fill out depth @ 2B (Dubon, Peraza,Flores, Barreto), 3B (Maikel, Caberera) & add another C. Another OF? (J. Martinez, Inciarte, Fraley, Haseley, Brown)
Maybe a SP (Bassitt, Newcomb, Mize, Loaisiga, or McHugh) or two or go middle RP with heavy K’s (Green,Barnes, Castillo) . Still a couple of closers (Hudson, Hirano) left out there as well. Where do you see a need to add? guys I should aim to grab?
Let me know how I did …getting used to the format I think (I hope) & it allows me to draft more teams without the hassle of every day lineups & waivers etc
Apologies for the lengthy post. Your team BTW looks amazing …hard for me to gauge a 10 teams but that’s quite the lineup …you have to be psyched getting so many guys you love this year.
Yeah, I was happy with it
Dubon and Brown are interesting, those “closers” (haha) are def worth a shot, probably priortize them.
Don’t love those SP targets. Bassitt not bad. Mize is all upside (prefer Manning). Loaisiga… not sure he’ll get many starts. He’s got control issues.
Thanks for your take on my team. Overall I am pretty happy with what I drafted but the format is still new to me.
Seems crazy that Saves are 6 points while W’s & QS are 3 points each then you’d think Saves would not be left laying around.
I could not list all players available but I feel I hit some of the better ones.
What’s your take on the NYY 5th SP? Boston just signed McHugh …any interest?
Your 3B looks weak, so I’d grab Maikel or Asdrubal, to be safe — Also you need more SPs — I’d take Bassitt and Newcomb
Yeah that’s what I was thinking. 2B looks OK with just the 2 guys or grab some depth there as well?
Newcomb got picked & I just took Bassitt. So Loaisigna, Smyly, Mahle, Urena, Cobb, Zimmerman, Privetta, or Elieser H. Been hearing positive comments on Elieser but don’t see him as a SP…what is his role? Acording to your top 500 it would be Bassitt followed by Urena & Mahle unless I missed someone in the rankings. Somewhat tempted to take quality MRs with big time K’s & they might be valuable in a best ball with weekly scoring (thinking Barnes & Chad Green) but my next pick will be one of the 3B guys assuming they fall to me.
Hi man. Hope life us treating you nicely. Thank you for entertaining me with the nerdy glory of fantasy baseball and fantasy baseball related humor.
In a few weeks time I am going to be in a h2h 12 team 5×5 with obp and svs / holds I was wondering how you would approach speed? My strategy will probably grab 1 pitcher between rounds 4 to 6 and pretty much fill my lineup before going back in since I can usually waiver wire pitching here faster thx to my reading of razz.
I guess with that information it has me thinking whos the best speed targets in an obp league… I love me some mondesi but his obp is so bleh! My other strategy issue is wondering how early to draft players like Nelson Cruz who has an 80 something adp but will probably be a top 50 player (was 36th on the player rater last year). Any wisdom for me???
appreciation
Hope you’re well!
I’d use Rudy’s OBP rankings https://razzball.com/playerrater-preseason-espnmlb12-5X5obp/
Cruz, I believe is around a top 50 overall pick in this, I wouldn’t hesitate — I drafted him in a CBS league earlier this offseason… I’d go more quantity over quality with SPs since it’s H2H with Holds…And I wouldn’t draft any RPs anywhere near high, Holds kills all their value
We started our NFBC 50 and hold on March 1st. Just starting Round 12. Not to bad of a pace.
We’re comfortably behind that pace
right on hitter heavy all the way! Question about those rankings why does clicking yahoo obp vs espn change them?
All is well sir thanks for asking
oh man on my phone and replied to the wrong comment… I am sorry Im stupid… Im stupid Im sorry!
Yahoo is a 2 UTIL league, ESPN is one
Grey!
Here is my team thus far (30 Rounds deep right now) in a very similar league sponsored by The Athletic. Pretty much just filling out the bench and will go very upsidey rest of the way. I think they stole this idea from the Razzslam btw, but it’s 10 Teamer instead of 12.
My team is better than yours!!! Nana Nana Choo Choo!!!
C- Grandal
C-
1B- Matt Olson
2B- Albies
3B- Dozier
SS- Tatis
MI- Semien
CI- CWalker
OF- Ozuna
OF- Conforto
OF- WCalhoun
OF- Akiyama
OF- Choo
UT- Andujar
Bench- Biggio, DJLem, Muncy, Dansby, Ian Happ
P- GCole
P- Paddack
P- Lynn
P- Fried
P- Odorizzi
P- KHendricks
P- Stroman
P- Lucchessi
P- Houser
Bench- Yarbro, YChirinos, Gore
Ugly play just now with Mercado and his wrist bending back. Effffffff my lifeeeee!!!! Ugh
They stole the idea and you’re supporting them, excuse me while I have my housekeeper remove the knife from my back
I think you have too much pitching and it’s hurt your hitting
I like my hitting more than my pitching! I guess I’m maybe doing this wrong… but after doing a handful of bestballs with DT in the offseason, I decided I wanted to lock in my Infield early and so I did that. The sexy-flexy-ness on Muncy and DJSchmohawk allows me lots of room to figure a few things out as I go on throughout the draft. I fully anticipated your hatred of that move. But I did it again in Razzslam :)
And to that point, I’m still a company man!!! Don’t you worry, I’m in Razzslam League #5 and about to wreck the Itch in that one.
Gotcha
Fading closers ? Let me know how that works out. Agree with Grey that you have too much pitching, and not enough hitting. But what do I know.
Dahl hit a dinger, and Aquino swiped a bag while starting in CF. Its a joyous day.
PTL!
Question for you in a head to head league of mine. 10 team keeper league, keep 7 per year. Penalty at draft round drafted. Standard 6×6 format.
These are my options:
Mookie Betts 1
Bregman 5
Josh hader 6
Chris paddack 9
Jose ramirez 13
Blake Snell 13
Austin Meadows 14
Cody bellinger 16
Vlad jr 16
Mondesi 21
Keston hiura 23
Mike Soroka 25
Luis Robert 25
Sorry for the long post just wondering if any of you guys would give input into which seven you’d keep from this list
Austin Meadows 14
Cody bellinger 16
Vlad jr 16
Mondesi 21
Keston hiura 23
Jose ramirez 13
Blake Snell 13
Awesome thanks.
My $30 rendon for his $10 Soler? Standard 12 team H2H.
Soler
Mercado sprained wrist…no change to draft rank, right? Currently have him as my backup option if I don’t get Robert for $20 or less (keeper league). Thanks!
Also, is it just me or are the Rays / Blue Jays quickly becoming AL East favorites?
Not right now, hopefully he’s fine — Rays and Jays look solid, agreed — Jays need SPs tho, and Rays need bats
Sounds good.
If only the Jays has an Unhittable monster In AAA. Let’s make it happen!
In a really shallow 6 team league with 22 roster spots. It’s a snake draft and I’m hoping to get the 3rd pick in the draft. Is it more of an advantage to be in the middle of a shallow league so you don’t have to wait so long between your picks or to be 1st pick to get back-to-back picks at the turn?
Would you trade three years of Carter Kieboom for two years of Ketel Marte? 12 team 7×7 (OBP and SLG), I’m losing most of my roster next year so I’m in win-this-year mode