First, let’s reacquaint ourselves with what I said last year, “Welcome back to the Mets’ Future Stars Game! Arriving any moment will be Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio. There’s nothing that could go wrong–What’s that? Hmm, this is still a breaking story, but we’re hearing the actor who played the pilot in Lost and the actor who played the pilot in Yellowjackets were flying the young stars to this game. This is a developing story. We can return to discussing the Mets’ offseason trade of Pete Alonso for Jarred Kelenic…” So, Ronny Mauricio seems as surefire as surefire comes. There doesn’t seem a miss in this bat. Been a bit surprised that it seems like the majority of people are interested in Jasson Dominguez and not as much in Ronny Mauricio. I get it; the first at-bat homer helps Jasson’s appeal for right now. I agree, but Ronny Mauricio has better eligibility and, for just this year, he could easily be better. Will he? I’m not a part of the Psychic Friends Network. He could be though, as soon as we locate that plane!” And that’s me quoting me! Geez, remember Jasson Dominguez? I do. Barely! Let’s see what Itch’s previously said, “A 6’3″ switch hitter with natural power and back-to-back 20/20 seasons, Mauricio is a wide awake fantasy sleeper for redraft leagues, and I’d like to put asleep Grey with my fist.” Okay, not cool! So, what can we expect from Ronny Mauricio for 2024 fantasy baseball?
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In our eighteenth episode, Mike Couillard and Jeremy Brewer open by discussing the Cubs hiring Craig Counsell while previewing the early offseason before briefly covering the release of Topps Archives. Then we analyze the MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 10 free agents to evaluate the predicted landing spots while offering our best guesses and possible fantasy implications (29:22). […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?After going over the pitchers and catchers the past month, it is time to turn our attention to the top infield keepers. the trip around the infield will start with the first basemen.
I really thought it was going to be easy to find 30 first basemen and another 10 who can play the position well. But what I thought and what I learned were two different things.
The top half of this group solid, especially the top 10 players with the next 10 being very safe keepers. If you have anyone in Tier 3 or better, be happy. But the bottom tier players are just that – bottom tier players. Some may surprise and have a good season in 2024, but others will likely do exactly what you and I expect from them.
With that said, it’s on to the 2024 Top Keepers – First Basemen
Please, blog, may I have some more?Format = Position Player | Age on 4/1/2024 | Highest Level Played | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. RHP Cade Horton | 22 | AA | 2024
Horton heard his name during the seventh overall pick in the 2022 Rule 4 draft, and he’s been making noise ever since. In 21 games across three levels this season, he pitched 88.1 innings and recorded 117 strikeouts with a 1.00 WHIP and a 2.65 ERA. Word around the north side is that they’ll be extremely active in free agency, and it’s hard to disagree after seeing the cash they’re shelling out for new manager Craig Counsell, but I hope they only block Horton for legitimate rotation options. I think he could win a spot out of spring training if they’d let him.
Please, blog, may I have some more?When I left off, I was checking my team and deciding what to do with it. Let’s go into some rules and history from this league and I’ll try to explain what I think I have to do. The first thing a deep 30 team dynasty has to have is the salary cap, right? If […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?If it’s not obvious, I’ve been trying to focus on players who were already called up. Sure, I went over a few guys who haven’t been called up yet — hello, Wyatt Langford fantasy — but if a player is called up already, then they’re in better position to start the year with the big league club. For redraft leagues, this is the most important thing. Are at-bats more important than actually being good? Well, no, but all of these rookies are good. The difference between a great rookie and great rookie with playing time is everything. It’s the difference between hundreds of spots in ADP. And well it should be! In a redraft league, I don’t want a rookie that I have to sit on for weeks or months. It’s why you might’ve detected some pessimism while getting my Jacks-off like Michael Hutchence in the Jackson Chourio fantasy and Jackson Holliday fantasy. Oh, they can be great, but for 2024 fantasy baseball: A Jackson or Ceddanne Rafaela? Well, it’s not quite that easy. Do you have bench spots to stash a Jackson? Because when they’re called up, they should be better. Holliday, specifically, will have six weeks of at-bats — and stats! — to make up for overall 2024 fantasy baseball value when it comes to him or Ceddanne Rafaela. Last year, Rafaela was called up and saw 83 ABs with a 2 HRs, 3 SBs and .241 line. His strikeout rate was also 31.5%, but, honestly, the only thing that matters there is that he was called up. So, what can we expect from Ceddanne Rafaela for 2024 fantasy baseball?
Please, blog, may I have some more?Format = Position Player | Age on 4/1/2024 | Highest Level Played | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. OF James Wood | 21 | AA | 2024
At 6’6” 240 lbs from the left side, Wood is always just a bit of contact away from a double and a barrel away from a bomb. Last winter, he was mostly untouchable in all my leagues. This time around, that shiny new bloom seems to be off the rose. I kinda get it. He slashed .248/.334/.492 in 87 Double-A games, but he also had 40 extra base hits (18 HR) and ten steals in about half a season as a 20-year-old in Double-A. I think I’m more impressed with him now than I was then.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Every year, around this time, I do a google to see what the MLB rookie eligibility is, because that’s how I decide if a guy is eligible for one of these posts. I can remember where I was when I learned Peter Sellers died in 1980 — on the Jersey shore, walking on the hot sand, sobbing my eyes out that Inspector Clouseau passed away, but I can’t remember the MLB rookie eligibility, that I learn every year. Is that long-term or short-term memory that’s ruined? I can’t remember that either! Any hoo! I bring this up, because, by my very thin calculations, Noelvi Marte is still a rookie, so Frank Voila! Here he is! Last year, in 35 games in the majors or 114 ABs, he hit three homers, stole six bags and hit .316. Hey, a 20/40/.300 hitter! Great! That works for me! As I said the other day in my Evan Carter 2024 fantasy outlook, and said again in each rookie outlook post since, there is no giant, flashing lights, behemoth top rookie this year, but there’s a lot of “Could be the 2nd best rookie in a year with a Corbin Carroll,” and Noelvi Marte is yet another one of those. He could be the best rookie in 2024 fantasy, but, if there were an actual best rookie, he wouldn’t be it. Or at least, it’s not readily obvious he’s that guy. So, what can we expect from Noelvi Marte for 2024 fantasy baseball?
Please, blog, may I have some more?In our seventeenth episode, Mike Couillard and Jeremy Brewer open by recapping the World Series to-date (recorded during Game 5) before theorizing how the offseason will unfold. Then we overview the release of 2023 Topps Holiday (22:00). Finally, we discuss six players in the Top 150 to avoid at current 2024 NFBC average draft prices (37:27). You […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?Catchers – you can’t live with them, and in fantasy baseball, we can’t live without them.
This is a position that is not deep and not that talented after the top tier of backstops. You may get a catcher who has power but kills your average and on-base percentage. Or you may get a catcher who hits well and gets on base, but has no power at all.
There are very few perfect catchers in baseball, and the few that are close are going to be tough to get or trade for due to the scarcity of those players. But you almost feel compelled to try to go after them or hang onto them a year or two too long because for every Adley Rutschmans, there are two Martin Maldonados who just kill your team.
I came up with forty catchers to rank, but that is mostly to help fantasy owners who play in 20-team (or more) leagues or the leagues that require two catchers. If you are in a 12- to 16-team league, the Tier 4 and perhaps Tier 3 players will likely mean nothing to you.
Anyway, let’s get to the 2024 Top Keepers – Catchers.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Format = Position Player | Age on 4/1/2024 | Highest Level Played | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. RHP Andrew Painter | 20 | AA | 2025
Underwent Tommy John surgery in late July, so 2024 is mostly washed out. Can’t really put a clock on the value of elite pitching, so if he comes back at full strength, we’ll chart this blip up as a positive in the sense that it buys him a little safety window on the ticking time bomb that is a high-velocity elbow.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Here’s the good thing about not having a top prospect for 2024 fantasy baseball in the traditional sense: There’s instead ten guys who could be the top prospect and this class could be better than any of the previous few. Jackson Chourio could be Ronald Acuña Jr. or not be up until September, and be lined up to be the top prospect for next year. Jackson Chourio was bursting from the seams in Double-A this year with 22/43/.280 line and an 18.4% strikeout rate. That’s wacko, Jacko. They are absolutely not making hitters like they used to make them. They used to be in the Create A Player Factory and make a guy like Pedro Alvarez, and be like, “He hit 24 homers and .210, that’s a success.” And you’d be like, “Are you sure?” And they’d be like, “He won Player of the Week once, how much do you want?” Now the players are like, “I wonder if he can go 25/50 his first season and hit 60 homers and steal 90 bags by year three.” Yeah, things are nuts in the world of baseball prospects. Exciting times. No, I didn’t say Jackson Chourio could be Acuña as a goof. Of course, not in 2024, or, dramatic pause, can he? Or rather: So, what can we expect from Jackson Chourio for 2024 fantasy baseball?
Please, blog, may I have some more?