Here’s what I wrote last Tuesday. Andrew Heaney has to be the most frustrating points league starting pitcher. On the surface, his numbers are fantastic. He has 52 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings pitched across 8 starts. He has a 1.77 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Not too shabby. Here’s the thing, he’s pitched at least 5 innings in only two of his eight starts. As a result, he has just one win. His points per start is just 13.75 points. That’s not enough production to put him in your starting line. Perhaps in a two-start week, but even then it’s questionable. Let’s take it a step further. If you’re almost never going to start him, then why even roster him? There, I said it. Andrew Heaney is not worth rostering in points leagues.
On Wednesday he pitched a 25-point game, striking out 10 over 6 innings pitched. Kinda glad I didn’t finish this post in time to post before this start. Talk about a backfire. A kid on my soccer team once told me that a backfire is what you get the day after you eat too much spicy food!
With 120 points, no hitter has scored more points than Alex Bregman in the last 28 days. His PPPA is greater than 1 at 1.17. Anything over .8 is great. On the season he is the 3rd ranked 3rd baseman, behind only Jose Ramirez and Nolan Arenado. I think we can forgive him for allowing those two to be ahead of him. Considering he was about the 8th third baseman off the board on draft day with an ADP of about 78, I’d say his owners are happy with the return.
Yandy Diaz has been more valuable than Bobby Witt Jr. Diaz has 293 points with a 0.61 PPPA, while Witt stands at 0.59 with 290 points. While they are pretty close, the differentiator is that Witt was an 11th round pick with lofty expectations, but Diaz went undrafted. Let’s also keep in mind that Witt is on pace for 23 homers and 33 stolen bases and Diaz is still outpointing him.
Did someone send Jeff McNeil a wake-up call? In the last five weeks, he’s averaged 19 points per week. Even better, he’s been relatively consistent over those weeks. His point totals have been: 16, 25, 20, 26, and 9. That 9 came last week, but I did start writing this post last week. At that point, his weekly average was 21.75. Personally, I prefer the consistent point totals week over week. While some could argue that totals of 4, 37, 6, and 40 are great for weeks 2 and 4 and might help you win those weeks, the inverse is the same in that those low week 1 and 3 totals might cost you those weeks. While we’re discussing McNeil, what’s up with his bat?
How many of you just Googled “Jeff McNeil bat”? Come on, admit it!
I’m not even going to attempt to make a smart aleck or witty comment about Lars Nootbaar‘s name. Instead, let’s compare his last 28 days to Freddie Freeman.
Nootbaar: 92 points (0.85 PPPA)
Freeman: 74 points (0.67 PPPA)
Let’s throw Kyle Tucker into the mix: 77 points (0.85). With school starting, here’s a little math for you: Nootbaar = Tucker
Now if Tucker is considered very good, then according to the transitive property, Nootbaar is very good.
The only outfielder that has been more productive than Nootbaar is Mookie Betts. When he watches Guardians of the Galaxy do you think he’s ever said “I am Noot!”? Noot, there it is!
Which of the following three hitters do you think has averaged 22.4 points over the last five weeks with point totals of 18, 19, 15, 22, and 38? Pete Alonso, Nate Lowe, or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? I’ll give you a hint. Hit the one in the middle. Can anyone tell you who made that phrase famous? How Lowe can you go? I wonder if he is any good at limbo? Right now he is excellent at points leagues.
Here are some lesser-named players that might help you in the playoffs and playoffs stretch.
Josh Rojas – Averaging 18.4 points per week over the last five weeks. Did I mention he’s eligible at 2B, 3B, SS and OF?
Jake McCarthy – Averaging 17 points per week over the last seven weeks. I honestly don’t have clue who this guy is, but if he’s going to get me 17 points a week, I don’t care if he lets his dog sh!t on my lawn and doesn’t pick it up. I had someone in the neighborhood doing that until my Ring camera caught him. Once I figured out who it was, I was gracious enough to return his dog’s deposit into his mailbox. My wife told me I was immature.
Yandy Diaz – I already pointed out how he’s been more valuable than Bobby Witt. What more do you need? On the season he’s averaging about 14 points per week, and in the last two weeks, he’s combined for 56 points. Yandy dandy!
Eugenio Suarez – I can’t believe I’m mentioning him. I swore him off long ago. However, in the last 28 days, he’s been a top ten 3B despite a .207 batting average. It just goes to show what I have always said, points are points and we don’t care how our players get them.
Jake Fraley – In the last 28 days, Fraley (0.79) has been a top 20 outfielder. Last week was a bit of a dink with only 5 points, but the two weeks prior he scored point totals of 34 and 26. I’m not suggesting you sit a guy like Cedric Mullins (0.65 PPPA) for him, but sometimes creativity can be required.
Anthony Santander – Santander gives new meaning to the term “makes bank”. He is currently tied with Tommy Edman with 301 points for the 11 spot in the OF rankings this season. He should be started everywhere.
Who’s been helping your team down the stretch?
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