One Man’s Trash: Peraltus Atrox

August 18, 2015 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 19 Comments

David Peralta (+25.8%) was the most added player in fantasy baseball this past week. Crotalus atrox (aka the Western diamondback rattlesnake) is widely considered to be the most dangerous snake in North America, but since the MLB All-Star break, another Diamondback has given that species a run for it’s money as far as that distinction goes. In 27 second half games (101 PA), Peralta has been on an absolute tear, producing a .409/.446/.677 triple slash line (1.123 OPS – tied for 4th best in MLB) with 12 runs, 4 homers, 25 RBI, and 1 steal. Sure, Peralta’s .500 BABIP over that span might come down a hair (or three) over the long haul, but he’s been an RBI machine (64) while hitting cleanup behind one of the best hitters in baseball (Paul Goldschmidt, in case you’re having a brain fart), and has managed to put up solid power numbers (12 HR, .222 ISO) and a plus batting average (.306) over the course of the season. While Chase Field has been one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks over the past few seasons, Peralta has been almost as good on the road (.874 OPS) as he has been at home (.926 OPS) this season as well. He still sits against tough left-handed pitchers and had some split issues last season, but he’s at least held his own against southpaws this year (.286/.375/.411 in 64 PA). Grab him if he’s still available, but make sure to bring some anti-venom just in case. Those diamondbacks pack a wallop!

Here are a couple of other significant adds and drops in fantasy baseball over the past week:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

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See all of today’s starting lineups

#	MLB Starting Lineups For Tue 8/5
	ARI \| ATH \| ATL \| BAL \| BOS \| CHC \| CHW \| CIN \| CLE \| COL \| DET \| HOU \| KC \| LAA \| LAD \| MIA \| MIL \| MIN \| NYM \| NYY \| OAK \| PHI \| PIT \| SD \| SEA \| SF \| STL \| TB \| TEX \| TOR \| WSH

RCL Update, Week 20th Century Fox

August 18, 2015 | Our Leagues | 68 Comments

by: J-FOH

No, I’m not going to link Doors songs or talk about how I wonder if when they started the motion picture company, they didn’t think they would last as long as they did. I’m also not going to talk about RCL strategy or how awesome Sky is when dealing with the general public. [Jay’s Note: The interesting part is that we’ve had contributors to go on and write at FanGraphs while FanGraphs has had contributors go on and write for us…] Instead I will use Charles Bradley’s (he is sorta new-ish but sounds like he recorded this 45 years ago in the 20th century) song titles to write the rest of this opener. This is strictly reserved for you, the RCL players who support all that is this, the Update. We’ve had our heartaches and pain this year and if you think you got the gold then you better check yourself for we have no time for dreaming. I’ll slip away now for this world is yours…and because no razzball contributer will be winning the whole effing thing.

Note: Want to expand your RCL prowess? Our Fantasy Football Commenter Leagues are now open, and we have some really sweet prizes for you this season…

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DraftKings: Coors And The High Life

August 18, 2015 | DraftKings |

by: MattTruss

It’s good to be back my friends. After a week away, I’m ready and raring to go. I took a full week off from DFS (That’s a lie, I played in the PGA Championship MIlly Maker, but who’s counting) and it was a nice reprieve. MLB is a crazy long season and in the midst of the dog days, it can really be a grind. Taking some much needed time off was great and if you’re feeling sluggish when building lineups I suggest you do the same. Enough about my time off though, let’s get back to business: the business of making cash. Obviously, you have a decision to make tonight and that is what to do with Coors field. Bryce Harper is ludacris expensive tonight, $6,400, but for good reason. Bryce gets to face off against David Hale and his 5.69 ERA, 5.23 FIP and 2.0 HR/9 in Coors field. Do you dare fade the kid? If you do choose to fade Coors this evening, I’d look to the game over in Miller Park. Miller Park, believe it or not, is numero uno in HR park factor in 2015. Of course, park factors are victim to small sample size noise when only looking at a single season, but being number one in HR by a comfortable margin this year isn’t nothing. Miller is top five in runs for good measure as well. I’ll be making a few Miller and Coors recommendations below so you don’t forget, so raise a glass and follow me.

New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 12 teamer of Razzball writers and friends to wet your DK whistle. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care! If you still feel helpless and lonely, be sure to subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays.

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Pedro Alvahomer

August 18, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 428 Comments

by: Grey

I was able to pick up Pedro Alvarez (2-for-4, 19th homer) for the batty call yesterday, which is kinda silly since he has four homers in the last week, and now I don’t see how I can drop him. Wouldn’t be the first time a batty call turned into living with each other for a few years, until the fighting becomes too much for each us. But we’re not brave enough to leave, so we bitterly sleep with our backs to each other, and when Pedro falls asleep before me, I pull out my iPad, lower the volume so he can’t hear the sites I’m visiting and I excite my “Josh Reddick” until my “Marcus Semien” arrives and I cry myself to sleep. Or something along those lines! *giggles awkwardly, coughs, clears throat* So, yes, that’s a vote for Pedro (just don’t get married to him). Seriously, he’s hitting .252 with 19 homers, how is he only owned in 50% of leagues? Not to answer, but to judge others. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Podcast: Segues For EVERYONE

August 17, 2015 | All Podcasts | 4 Comments

by: Jay

Well, if you like a podcast that talks about everything, then this is the show for you. Grey and I cover (takes a deep breath) J.B.’s impending wedding, the wonders of Philadelphia and New Jersey, segues (both the transitional definition and actual mobility device), the new movie: Straight Outta Compton, micro-ing stuff, Fantasy Football RCL’s opening up soon, and our mothers. Somewhere in between all of those things, yes, I can confirm, baseball was talked about. A little. Alright, a lot, let’s just say we fit everything AND the proverbial kitchen sink in this shin dig, including on where Bryce Harper stands compared to Mike Trout for next season, Michael Taylor and Billy Hamilton’s batting averages and the toll they take on their counting stats, Alex Wood’s struggles this year, and some tips on how to close the gap or stay atop the standings as the baseball season goes into it’s last month. Enjoy!

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SAGNOF Special, Week 20: SAGNOFs Lament

August 17, 2015 | Steals | 16 Comments

by: RotoLance

Here’s what I don’t like about SAGNOF. Writing about crappy relief pitchers is a large part of what the SAGNOF Special is about, because Saves Ain’t Got No Face sometimes means there are a lot of terrible relievers in a position to get saves. The past week or so has been rough as we’ve seen Tommy Kahnle and Edward Mujica get pounded. For that matter, the performance of the entire Rockies bullpen is making us long for the good ol’ days of LaTroy Hawkins. The situation in Boston (Junichi Tazawa vs Jean Machi) has little clarity and there was not a single save for Boston, Oakland or Colorado in the past week. It’s been brutal out there for those scrambling for saves and it’s made me yearn for that time when I could recommend A.J. Ramos and Shawn Tolleson and legitimately feel good about it. Because of the nature of SAGNOF in 12 team or deeper leagues, this late in the season, I’ve no choice but to recommend these at best mediocre relievers because there is literally no where else to turn for saves right now. (Fortunately in 10 team leagues it’s more obvious that these types don’t need to be rostered). There just isn’t enough time in the season right now for the Joe Smith’s of the reliever world to have any real chance to see saves this year due to injury or failure of the current closer.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

DraftKings: Who Want It With Hollywood Cole

August 17, 2015 | DraftKings | 8 Comments

by: Geoff

I’m standing outside the club, I got my shirt off, I’m screaming at the top of my lungs. Who want to F*** wit Hollywood Cole? Huh?!? You want some of this 9.02 K/9? You want to try and swing for the fences when I got this .48 HR/9 sitting on my waist? Nah, none of y’all can test Hollywood Cole! My mom calls me Gerrit but it’s Hollywood to you. I got 14 wins so far and I’m looking to make it 15. You got Gold in the middle of your lineup. So what! I got gold in this here fastball. Blow it by you at 96 and follow it up with a slide piece. So what’s up you wanna F*** wit Hollywood Cole? You can if you’d like, just got to hop onto DraftKings, pay $10,600, and see what happens. This was just a really elaborate way to say start Gerrit Cole, he good. Now someone get me a mystic, I’m thirsty!

New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 10 teamer of Razzball writers and friends to wet your DK whistle. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care! If you still feel helpless and lonely, be sure to subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Ozuna Ye Faithful

August 17, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 415 Comments

by: Grey

Marcell Ozuna went 0-for-4 yesterday after being recalled on Saturday. OZUNA glad to be back in Miami. OZUNA miss friends, weather and vomiting unicorn statue in center field. OZUNA promise to hit more powerful home runs. OZUNA fix holes in swing. If need be, OZUNA use cricket bat with flat barrel. OZUNA not sure it called barrel. OZUNA would call paddle. OZUNA hit well in minors, .317 with five home runs in 33 games. OZUNA thought gone longer than 33 games. OZUNA mind like Plato’s cave. OZUNA get confused about linear time. OZUNA think Matrix is documentary. OZUNA take red pill. OZUNA was offered two red pills as his “eye-opener to alternate reality” was “out of blue pills.” OZUNA see pitch in slow motion in 360 degrees. OZUNA say whoa. OZUNA thank you for your time. So, Ozuna’s back and worth a pick up. No, I have no idea what he’s capable of in the final six weeks, other than maybe some power. It’s an upside flyer that’s worth taking in every league. Like blue pill? Yes, OZUNA. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Creepers in the Park and the Top 100 Hitters, Week 20

August 16, 2015 | Creeper of the Week, Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 102 Comments

by: J-FOH

A few weeks back, I was on vacation and the Big Magoo covered the creeper. He did one hell of a job by making good calls and changing up the format. This week, I’m feeling inspired by the Big Magoo and will follow in his form. I should literally follow in his form because we are similar in height, but not in weight. I’m always looking at schedules every week to help assist with my creeper, but this week I’m taking it a step further. I’m going all in on home parks. This is my mixed bag of who to grab throughout the week because you should be shuffling players in and out as long as you don’t have restrictions on moves…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Ambulance Chasers, Week 20: Mostly Pain, Some Gain

August 16, 2015 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 5 Comments

by: Davidwiers

The Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson once said — among other things — “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Clearly Tennyson never played fantasy baseball. Other than the fact Tennyson died in 1892, he clearly never played fantasy baseball with that sort of attitude. While the return of players like Miguel Cabrera, Justin Turner, and even Desmond Jennings will no doubt help fantasy rosters, this past week saw lose more roto players than we gained back.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

DraftKings: Locke And Load

August 16, 2015 | DraftKings | 5 Comments

by: Sky

Sup Sunday goers. Our resident Ralph had himself a thing on Saturday. A thing I don’t really wanna repeat in public so lets just say there were multiple piercings and paddleboards involved and mayhap a few types of ‘beads’. Needless to say, he asked to switch days and after explaining to him that next time he could just tell me he’s really busy and I don’t need the whole story, I humbly and nervously obliged. So here I be and here be Jeff Locke. Jeff isn’t that good of a pitcher; maybe league average. He’s just not one of those guys who’s going to have an All-Star season out of the blue and for streamers and DFS’ers, that’s just fine…wait, he was an All-Star in 2013? Man, I hate that game. Anyways, he only gotta be good once for us to be happy and he’s being spotted a prime matchup to make just that happen. Yes, we all know the Mets have performed well since gaining Yoenis but even he can’t help them with one major thing: their atrocious numbers vs lefties. On the year, the Mets rank 2nd to last at 24.2% for their K% against left-handed pitching. Only the Padres are worse at 24.3% so we are really comparing rotten apples to rotten apples here. Add in a miniscule 84 wRC+ and you’re looking at Locke’s chance to at a cheap $6,400 on DK. On a day with so many good options, there’s no need to risk him in cash but Jeff has 25 point upside with the matchup he’s been handed and if I’m multi-lineup building today, I’m gonna have some exposure to him. But enough about what’s under this overly large, brown dust-coat, let’s get on with the show. Here’s my publicly indecent hot takes for this Sunday DK slate…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Prospect Power Rankings: Week 20

August 16, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects | 94 Comments

by: Mike

Every other week Razzball ranks the prospects closest to contributing to your fantasy roster. The list is limited to players who still have rookie eligibility (less than 130 at bats or 50 innings pitched) and who are currently in the minor leagues. It’s not a list based on talent alone, but rather it’s a mixture of talent and opportunity. It will change frequently over the course of the season as prospects graduate to the majors, injuries occur, or service time roadblocks are passed. Here are the top 15 prospects on the cusp of the major leagues for 2015 fantasy baseball…

Please, blog, may I have some more?