Like the 2nd basemen to target, this is necessary. You want to take flyers on late middle infielders. I like a few top shortstops this year: Hanley, Desmond and Tulo, but if you don’t get them, don’t sweat it and definitely don’t ‘panic reach’ for another shortstop just because you feel like you need one. This is a (legal-in-all-countries-except-Lichtenstein) supplement to the top 20 shortstops for 2015 fantasy baseball. The players listed have a draft rank after 200 on other sites. Click on the player’s name where applicable to read more and see their 2015 projections. Anyway, here’s some shortstops to target for 2015 fantasy baseball:
Jean Segura (Yahoo 247, ESPN 211) I already gave you my Jean Segura sleeper, and I ranked him about 100 picks above most big box sites. Yet…Again with some stank…YET! I sense no one wants to own Segura. I get it. He burned you last year like Bruce Jenner’s burning all his jockstraps. He burned me too. Here’s a good thing to remember. This isn’t last year. I know, crazy. When you were younger, you forgot what happened on New Year’s Eve. Now, you forget what year it is. Why do we even care about Segura? Oh, I don’t know, because he was the best shortstop in all of fantasy in 2013 and he’s only 24 years old. I’m not saying throw out his 2014 completely like it didn’t happen, but what makes us, say, throw out Pablo Sandoval’s last three subpar years? It’s not like his great year in 2011 was that amazing. Segura wasn’t good last year, but that doesn’t mean he won’t ever be good again. This year he could be the Liam Nessons.
Danny Santana (Yahoo 187, ESPN 232) I knew I was going to be more excited about Dannys Antana than other sites, but I wasn’t expecting to be over a hundred slots different than some. Antana is going to be the leadoff hitter on the Twins. Burp, fart, IBS symptoms. Right? Well, the Twins were the 7th best offense last year. So, that burp, fart, IBS symptom is bringing indirect relief and you don’t even know it. Also, Antana last year had 7 homers and 20 steals in only 101 games while batting .319. So, ya know, basically, interjection, better than 15 of 17 shortstops ESPN has above him. No, he won’t hit .319 again, but he is fast and can hit .260 and steal 30 bases without killing you in power. If he gets 10 homers and 30 steals, he’s going to challenge the top three at the position. Yeah, I’d take that in the 23rd round of a ten team league if I were playing John and Joe Schmohawk at ESPN. (By the by, sign up for our Commenter Leagues now. We’re not making any new leagues, so the ones that are there are it.)
Chris Owings (Yahoo unranked, ESPN 313) I went over him in the 2nd basemen to target. You know that because you read everything I write. Even that Brad Miller sleeper post last year. Oy gevalt!
Wilmer Flores (Yahoo unranked, ESPN 461) I get the sense that Flores is being ranked low because even the Mets don’t want him. I say they don’t want him because the Mets have been apologizing all winter for having Flores at shortstop. First, they said something like, “We’re not too worried about having Flores as our shortstop.” Like he’s that much worse than Tejada, who they’ve trotted out there for the last few years. The Mets management is worried about Flores, but signed Cuddyer for two years. Doesn’t that say how serious we should take anything the Mets management says. The Mets fans even tried this offseason to start a Kickstarter campaign to buy a billboard to tell the Wilpons to sell the team. (Don’t even start with the logic about buying a billboard. Yeah, that’ll get the Mets to sell the team. “Oh no, Mr. Wilpon, they have a billboard!”) The Mets don’t like Flores, but that should be taken as a positive. Flores hit 15 homers and .321 in Triple-A in 2013 and followed that up with 13 homers and .323 last year in Triple-A. Then he hit 6 homers in only 78 games in Metco. He’s only 23 years old and he’s not bad. I’d even go as far to say he’s good. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he shocked the world and hit 20 homers and .270. At shortstop? That’s near-top 5 stats for the position. Also, Sky has already given you his Wilmer Flores sleeper.
Jose Ramirez (Yahoo unranked, ESPN 489) Unranked and 489 overall? Whose ombudsman wife did Jose Ramirez sleep with? The unranked thing by Yahoo is pretty much their MO if you’ve been following along with the first two positions to target posts. They don’t rank after 250, which is kinda bonkers, but it’s crazier to think ESPN ranks Ramirez at 489. Some players above him are Ryan Flaherty, Matt Dominguez, Jake Lamb, Joey Gallo, Welington Castillo, Sam Fuld, Carlos Quentin, Jon Singleton… Oh, that’s just naming a handful of players that don’t have starting jobs that are above him. Not to mention, Jose Ramirez is slotted in the two hole above Michael Brantley, Carlos Santana, Brandon Moss, Yan Gomes and Jason Kipnis on a potential top ten offense. The same Jose Ramirez that is 22 years old, and stole 38 bases in Double-A in 2013. I like Lindor as much as the next cat, but waiting on rookies to be promoted is a fool’s game. Sometimes they’re up in June, sometimes they’re up next year.
Alcides Escobar (Yahoo 214, ESPN 199) I’m not a huge Alcides fan, but at 200+ he’d be a steal. On a related note, Alcides is projected for 4 HRs and 29 steals at ESPN, and Segura is projected for 7 HRs and 32 steals, and ranked after him. Jose Ramirez is projected for 3 HRs and 20 steals, and ranked almost 300 spots after Alcides. Oh… *pounds out a chicken cutlet, fills it with spinach and ricotta cheese, rolls it up, ties it with twine, bakes it on 450 for 18 to 22 minutes, pulls it out and breathes in the aroma* …kay. Someone reading over your shoulder, “Did he just drop a Chicken Florentine Pause? I haven’t seen that since a summer I spent in Tuscany.”
What’s up guys?
Question for you….I’m in a 5×5…10 team H2H keeper league. No time limit on Keepers. Offensive stats are H,HR,Avg,RBI, Stolen Base
I was offered Soler for Car-Go (Colorado) and a lower tier P. What are your thoughts? I’m bullish on Soler but for where my draft position was, Cargo was a potential steal (6th round) and I don’t want to sell low. Thoughts on Soler this season? Will he produce better that say, Gregory Polanco who’s on my bench and a potential keeper?
Thanks!
@Andre: I like Soler a lot
@J-FOH:
Enough to move Cargo and say, Matt Cain for him?
@Andre: in a long term keeper I would
drafting with Royce right now and he is going for the oldest team ever
@J-FOH: It’s true. And it’s spectacular
@J-FOH: FUUUUU…Utley was my MI. How many MI over 32 are there…Lowrie?
@royce!: so sorry my man, I only have two starting pitchers
Hey buddy I was only kidding about salazar. Don’t go throw yourself out your first floor window again.
Oh thank God!
10 team 3 keeper 5×5 H2H scoring.
Offer was Ian Desmond and Max Scherzer for Miguel Cabrera.
It’s pre-draft so one less keeper in the trade means one less player on the roster once draft is over.
What are your thoughts?
Miggy side, it’s fair
Sure hope your right about Wilmer Flores !!
Hey Grey. Great Site. Happy Early St. Patty’s Day and Happy Spring Training. Question about my keepers…who should it be? I’m in a 6×6 H2H 10-team Dynasty League. I can keep 5.
Pretty sure that I am keeping: Donaldson, Strasburg, and Brantley.
Are there two out of Starling Marte, Adrian Gonzalez, and Alex Cobb that I should keep or should I just go fishing?
I also own the rights to Rendon, Arenado, Martin, Archer, Wacha, and Polanco.
Thanks a bunch! Keep up the great work!
Thanks! Marte and A-Gon
I write a post with your name in it and dont even get a hello or a snark or even a TC and the FOH bromance joke? Rudy came in and said hi. Consider the feelings teetering on the edge of being hurt.
Holamigo! Just woke up from a 42 hour catnap…the FCL draft was like wrestling a bunch of drunken pigs…a whole mess of slicked up drunken pigs…a buncha slippery intoxicated puigs…a porcine pornucopia…a Suidae family outing, where everyone gets wasted and wrestles a buncha shizzfaced pigs shizzfaced…not sure that I am fully back inside my body…I will recheck in the morning and most likely check in…cin cin
Hola Wake! Wrestling pigs reminds me of a dream JFoH told me about with him and Cockcroft in a mud pit…
@Grey: A puig with two back?
It was like the dishware in The Birdcage come to life
@Grey: HA!
A Greek game of leap frog?
Gave em the old how’s your pater?
Haha
@Grey: strangely we both were fighting snafu larry as a tag team ala the British Bulldogs
Nearly got a NC-17 rating strictly due to the banana hammocks
@Grey: larry and his slings. What do you do? I could of sworn the masked man was tehol in Larry’s corner
Grey! Red alert.
I got the 7th pick in my draft. I’m not happy about it and I can trade up to get 2nd pick. My keepers are:
Round 5: Upton
Round 9: Rizzo
Round 18: Arenado
Top guys available are:
Mccutchen (who will definitely go #1 because the dude with the #1 pick has a boner for him)
Adam Jones
Tulo
F-Her
Scherzer
Altuve
My question to you is….with my keepers, should I make the trade (I’m not giving up much for it) to take Tulo? That’s a pretty solid base right there, then I’ll take Wong later on to fill up my infield. Or just go with Jones? Need your help as usual….
Love,
Merkin
I’d just take Jones
@Grey: but how tempting is Tulo??
Tempting until he misses 40 games
I’m having a sh!Tfit here deciding on keepers.
I’ve got Stanton jones Arenado scherzer and desmond.
I can swap desmond for Donaldson.
Is there any of the 6 outside OF Stanton that you wouldn’t move for rendon?
We keep 5 so would you do a 2 for 1 if it was say jones and Donaldson for rendon? knowing you couldn’t keep Donaldson
I’d take Rendon there
10 team, 3 keeper, 6×6 with OBP and SLG along with QS and IP
I took your advice and accepted Arrieta and Trumbo for Prince and Fiers…now I have another trade proposed to me…Greinke, Khris Davis, and Kang for Kinsler, Rusney Castillo, and Liriano..would you take it?
C: Wilin Rosario
1B: Jose Abreu
2B: Ian Kinsler
3B: Todd Frazier
SS: Danny Santana
2B/SS: Dee Gordon
1B/3B: Pujols
OF: Adam Jones
OF: Justin Upton
OF: Dickerson
OF: Wil Myers
OF: Rusney Castillo
UTIL: Trumbo
Bench: Yasmany Tomas
Bench: Odor
Bench: d’Arnaud
P: Jake, Arrieta, Tyson Ross, Zach Wheeler, Mat Latos, Phil Hughes, Francisco Liriano, Kazmir, Trevor Rosenthal, Wade Davis
Greinke side
Here’s another team drafted in the ol’ H2H (14 teams, OBP & AVG, Holds). Be interested to know what you think…
C (164) Brian McCann
1B (33) Freddie Freeman
2B (89) Jason Kipnis
3B (52) Evan Longoria
SS (24) Hanley Ramírez
LF (136) Mark Trumbo
CF (192) Coco Crisp
RF (5) Giancarlo Stanton
Util (80) Jay Bruce
BN (332) Dexter Fowler
SP (61) Jordan Zimmermann
SP (117) Carlos Carrasco
RP (108) Mark Melancon
RP (145) Joaquín Benoit
P (220) Joe Nathan
P (257) Bryan Shaw
P (313) Casey Fien
BN (173) Mat Latos
BN (201) Matt Shoemaker
BN (229) Jake Peavy
BN (248) Shelby Miller
BN (276) Drew Hutchison
BN (285) Tony Cingrani
BN (304) Trevor Bauer
You went a different way with this one, huh? Solid pitching, if a little question marky on the back end… I do like the guys you have though… Hitting looks rock solid on power and OBO and a little on speed, which is fine with a OBP league
@Grey: That’s my sister’s team (emoticon). I was messaging her with which guy to pick! She’s not as active a manager as I am so went for a ton of starters. Nice to get Stanton at 5…
Oh, nice… Yeah, that makes sense why to take SPs
@Grey: She has more of a proper team this year, which of course I will regret when she cleans me up in the first week of the season!
One guy (picking behind me at 14) missed the draft (he must have had a drama, he is not the kind of guy who would just forget) was auto drafted 9 pitchers in the first 10 rounds, including Darvish and Cliff Lee! Says something about the default Yahoo ranks.
Guess it meant there were plenty of hitters there for me in the rounds where he had first pick.
The only hitter drafted for him in the first 10 rounds? Hunter Pence.
Serves him right to not re-rank and use the defaults, but ouch… Oh, yeah, of course, she’s gonna win the league now
Hey Grey,
Can you rank my draft and team? 10 team OBP/QS keeper league. Took some flyers on my last 2 picks with Lee and Saunders (we have 3 DL spots) but could always lose them for some FA SP if they bomb.
I Love You Wong Time
1. (3) Adrián Béltre (Tex – 3B)
2. (18) Yoenis Céspedes (Det – OF)
3. (23) Hisashi Iwakuma (Sea – SP)
4. (38) Drew Storen (Was – RP)
5. (43) Marcell Ozuna (Mia – OF)
6. (58) Max Scherzer ? (Was – SP)- Keeper
7. (63) Mike Fiers (Mil – SP)
8. (78) Neftali Feliz (Tex – RP)
9. (83) Francisco Liriano (Pit – SP)
10. (98) Brett Gardner (NYY – OF)
11. (103) Drew Hutchison (Tor – SP)
12. (118) Brett Cecil (Tor – RP)
13. (123) Wily Peralta (Mil – SP)
14. (138) Cliff Lee (Phi – SP)
15. (143) Michael Saunders (Tor – OF)
16. (158) José Bautista ? (Tor – 1B,OF)- Keeper
17. (163) Evan Gattis ? (Hou – C) – Keeper
18. (178) Ian Desmond ? (Was – SS)- Keeper
19. (183) Anthony Rizzo ? (ChC – 1B)- Keeper
20. (198) Michael Brantley ? (Cle – OF)- Keeper
21. (203) Sonny Gray ? (Oak – SP)- Keeper
22. (218) Matt Shoemaker ? (LAA – SP,RP)- Keeper
23. (223) Kolten Wong ? (StL – 2B)- Keeper
24. (238) Javier Báez ? (ChC – 2B,SS)- Keeper
Team looks a little light on speed, but solid overall… Really nice hitting, but hard to go wrong with those keepers… Pitching is a little iffy, but I do like the guys you got
@Grey:
Thanks….ditto on speed, hopefully Gardner can help fill that void with a 15/30 season.
starting a deep league 16-18 team (28 man rosters, so 448 drafted players) roto redraft with these 11 stats per hitter/pitcher: normal 5X5 plus hits/slugging/OBP/OPS/net steals/XBH and these pitcher: holds/K per 9 /K per BB/ OPBA/net saves and holds/QS. 1 of every position with 1 extra OF and 3 utils, 3 BN, 5 SP/ 5 RP/ 1 P slots. 3 DL’s. 1 NA.
[email protected] or drop your email here. 11-13 spots open so far.
draft is 8:15 AM March 27th (saturday). yahoo league.
@goodfold2: oops, not 8:15 AM, but 8:15 PM eastern march 27th.
@goodfold2: and march 27th is friday, not saturday.
Typing this with a pencil in my mouth, are we worried about Wheeler yet, and do you think you could hit my knuckleball??
Ha! Yeah, I am worried
@Grey: Should I be soaking my nails, in a vat of lemon juice and coconut oil, to start the unrolling, and start nibbling?
Way too early for that… I also wouldn’t put on another coat of acrylic paint either
Looking forward to another great season of razzball !!!
12 team h2h
C mesoraco
1b gonzo
2b odor
Ss Escobar
3b lingo
Of trout
Of puig
Of marte
Util trumbo
Utl Davis
Bench Ben Rivere
Bench perversion
Sp iwakuma
Sp Tehran
Sp cole
Sp Ryun
Sp cashier
Sp shoemaker
Sp loose
Cl street
Cl k rod
Cl Hawkins
Cl miller
Couple of questions
1 who are the 2/3 players that I can think about as first cuts for pick ups
2 overall how does the team look, kinda of new and would like your advice where my opportunities might be.
Thanks again
1. Revere, Lohse (maybe, have no idea who Loose is) 2. Looks solid, and shallow, so it’ll come down to in-season management
@Grey: @Grey: u
Thanks as always. Your seal of approval is where it is at????????
Yes that is lohse
Dang Apple products
Keep kicking ass
No problem
Typing this with a pencil in my mouth, are we worried about Wheeler yet, and do you think you could hit my knuckleball?
Quick Keeper Question: 12 team H2H league. Betts as a 22nd Round pick or Nellie Cruz as an 11th rounder…. Scared about the Betts situation – need any and all advice ASAP!!
Thanks and love to site!
Thanks! Go Betts
14 Team h2h league with OBP instead of Avg.
Keepers kept forever without restrictions
Keepers: Miggy, McCutchen, Donaldson, CarGo and BumG
I have a supplemental pick coming up before our draft begins which would be about the 79th pick in a regular draft. Craig Kimbrel is available. Is he a good value at this spot or would suggest someone from below instead?
Best available hitters are: Dozier, Kipnis, Ortiz, Wong
Best available starters are: Lester, Zimmerman, Arietta and Cole
He’s good value there
Draft today! How concerned are you about rendon’s knee strain?
Sounds minor
@Grey: thanks for the swift response!
No problem
Points league top 12-15 pitchers kept. 12 teams.
I keep Aushizz Tu novio Jones and springer
Which pitcher would you take in round1? Harvey? Iwakuma? Cueto?
or wait another round or two?
Cueto
I read your pairings post but wanted your opinion in 12 team points league with only 3 of spots. Would you rather have a 1b and and of (prob jones or puig range) or a 1b and rendon coming out of the 1st 2 rounds?
1B and Rendon over Puig
@Grey: over rendon over jones too or not?
Nope
Grey, had my draft last night. Overall, I’m disappointed. I think I’m missing AVG and SBs. What do you think?
10-team, H2H Auction/Keep 5 League
C Gattis
1B Goldschmidt (K)
2B Altuve (K)
3B Arenado (K)
SS Baez (K)
OF Stanton (K)
OF J-Upton
OF Gardner
Util Tomas
Bench Bogaerts
SP Strasburg
SP Hamels
SP Ross
SP McHugh
SP Wheeler
SP Walker
RP Chapman
RP Cishek
RP Perkins
DL: Jose Fernandez
NA: Miguel Sano
It’s a very shallow league, you can fix things in-season… It does look a little light on AVG, but your speed looks more than fine, if anything you look light on power… Pitching looks solid…
@Grey: Thanks. I was worried about my pitching.
No problem
No Bogartes suprised me. Is he going too early for your mustashioed tastes?
He’s going before 200 the cut off for the post as I wrote in the post
Hi Grey and all, kindly give me advises about my team, which just drafted. (10-team, 5×5 standar), thanks,
C Matt Wieters, Bal C
1B Albert Pujols, LAA 1B, DH
2B Anthony Rendon, Wsh 2B, 3B DTD
3B Nolan Arenado, Col 3B
SS Xander Bogaerts, Bos 3B, SS
2B/SS Brian Dozier, Min 2B
1B/3B Steve Pearce, Bal 1B, OF
OF Mike Trout, LAA OF
OF Justin Upton, SD OF
OF Matt Kemp, SD OF
OF J.D. Martinez, Det OF
OF Khris Davis, Mil OF
UTIL Mark Teixeira, NYY 1B
Bench Nick Castellanos, Det 3B
Bench Scooter Gennett, Mil 2B
P Jeff Samardzija, CWS SP
P Gerrit Cole, Pit SP
P Jake Arrieta, ChC SP
P Trevor Rosenthal, StL RP
P Zack Wheeler, NYM SP DTD
P Huston Street, LAA RP
P Drew Storen, Wsh RP DTD
P Tyler Clippard, Oak RP
P Phil Hughes, Min SP
Bench Francisco Liriano, Pit SP
@Wilson: This team is the bomb.
@Wilson: That is the official Grey man-love team.
Team looks solid, it’s a shallow league, will come down to in-season management
Yup .. I drafted based on Grey’s ranking this time.
It’s a pity that I didn’t grab Kris Bryant earlier… somebody took him.. damn..
Hey Grey,
I was checking your player rater and I was wondering if you really thought Arenado falls 50 spots in OBP leagues compared to AVG? Haha thanks!
I think he falls a tad in OBP… To around 50 overall…
@Grey:
I guess what I’m kind of wondering is if the player rater for other columns such as 12 team yahoo, 5×5 OBP, etc. are based upon your rankings? Because even when I select the just the normal 12 team yahoo league values, arenado alone drops from 20 (in your rankings) to 63. I thought your rankings were already based upon “normal” 5×5 category scoring?
They are not mine, those are Rudy’s using Steamer’s projections
Can u help me w/keeper question?auction keeper,12 team,$260
Keeping Frazier$5 and Kluber$5
For a 3rd keeper, Is it better to keep :
Donaldson @$21
Or either one of the following:
Arrieta$5
Harvey$5
Degrom$5
AJ Pollock$5
Pitching unpredictable but the price point is nice
Thanks for the help!
Arrieta
So here it is. 14 teams, OBP and AVG, we count Holds too. Going relievers-only…
C Santana
1B Davis
2B Wong
3B Donaldson
SS Segura
LF Holliday
CF Puig
RF Car-Go
Util Choo
BN Tomas
BN Souza
BN Gyorko
BN Owings
BN Avisail
SP C-Mart
SP Petit
RP Robertson
RP Perkins
P Papelbon
P Davis
P Watson
BN O’Day
BN Warren
BN Quack
I don’t love Choo, but he’s good for OBP. Got him in the 120s which is probably OK – he’s in the 70s in Rudy’s OBP rankings. Waited too long on Santana for SS, so hopefully Segura bounces back.
Tomas at 156, Avisail at 237 and Souza at 293, so nice values even if they’ll just be short day fill-ins – unless they get hot of course.
Pretty happy overall…
@SteveNZ: And now a slight pang of remorse at not taking Dickerson instead of Car-Go, though Car-Go is higher up Rudy’s OBP rankings…
With that many bench bats, you can weather CarGo’s eventual injury…
The hitting looks rock solid… Will just come down to you making sure the right guys are in your lineup at the right times… Your pitching looks fine, did anyone else in your league follow your lead and punt starters?
@Grey: I don’t believe so. Thought a couple were but they were just waiting real late on pitching. I wouldn’t mind another closer (Hawkins and Cecil were available real late) but 3 should be enough in a 14 teamer, right?
Yeah, you’re fine for now… I’m sure guys will emerge thru injuries or ineffectiveness
ok, finished. 14 team roto with OPS/BB/K’s for hitters and holds/losses/IP/BB’s for pitchers. Keepers slotted into closest draft slot that makes sense by ADP.
C – OBP wolf (347)
1B Rizzo (11th)
2B Altuve (39)
SS J.Ram (263)
3B Beltre (46, this late from not being kept)
CI C.Santana (67)
MI Lawrie (235, him or Gyorko, who went next, OPS rater likes him better)
LF – Melky (130)
CF – A.Jones (18th)
RF – Heyward (95)
OF – Revere (158)
Util – Arcia (179)
BN Reddick (375)
SP – Arrieta (74)
SP – Carrasco (123)
SP – Wheeler (186)
SP – Shoemaker (214)
SP – Salazar (242)
SP – Peavy (291)
SP – Hutchison (298)
SP – Bauer (354)
RP – Allen (102)
RP – Cishek (151)
RP – A.Miller (207)
RP – Kelvin H (270, probably should’ve gone J.Peralta here)
RP – Quack (319)
RP – Strop (326)
Am i right to stick with (OPS) rankings and keep Reddick (batting 3rd at OAK) or grab who would be my only 2nd LF with Dom Brown (platooning and batting in much worse part of order)?
@goodfold2: actually red dick is ranked slightly lower than dom brown in OPS rater, but it’s close. 3rd in order seems to be worth more though.
I’d stick with Reddick for now… Nice team overall, you do look a little heavy on speed and light on OPS… Pitching is excellent
@Grey: last few hitters other than j.ram (simply cause he hits high in order) were OBP wolf/Lawrie/Arcia to balance out OPS weakness. Also, if i’m too big at steals i could bench or trade Revere for higher OPS guy. guys that good at steals have to have trade value. Lawrie is liked much more for OPS than Gyorko.
Stras over max in a keeper?
Coin flip, sure Strasburg
@Grey: stras has the age factor.
Have a possible deal in place. Trying to get younger in my keeper.
I give jones and Max I get rendon and stras
Also keeping Stanton Arenado and Donaldson. We keep 5.
Happy March 14th steak and BJ day Grey!
Keepers are locked in my 15 team keep 11 roto. Have all starters except C and LF.
(Rizzo,Dozier,Arenado,Tulo,Jones,Braun,Bruce)Pitchers so far are Scherzer, Ventura, Shields, Jansen.
It is a 8×8 with OBP and SLG as well as K/9 and QS.
I have two of the first 5 picks. Looking for some thoughts on what direction to go.
Best available LF is Gardner, Rajai, Peterson, Tomas
Best Sp for my cats are probably : Ross or Salazar, Fiers, Latos
Best RP is Allen (most donkeycorns gone)
Best available period might be Polanco (would be a bench bat)
Best catcher is Lucroy or Gattis (both good OBP guys)
Sorry for longwindedness
Ha, thanks! Gattis, Allen, Tomas, that order, only cause you can likely get Tomas last and still get him
drafting a 14 team OPS/holds roto league with altuve/a.jones/rizzo as keepers. middle of draft, just over did it on steals with revere, realizing i’m weak in homers and will grab arcia and hopefully bogaerts and zunino to make up for it.
1b rizzo
2b altuve
ss
3b beltre (4th round)
LF melky (OPS rater loves him)
CF a jones
RF heyward (OPS rater)
OF revere (i was weak in steals)
util
SP arrieta (5th round)
SP carrasco (9th round)
RP allen (8th round)
RP cishek (11th round
still need 6 more SP and 4 more RP and 1 BN hitter. homers, right? War room says i’m good in average already so can maybe afford zunino’s OBP/avg hit.
@goodfold2: in non razzball or expert leagues you can really really wait on pitchers. i haven’t done this yet, but i could’ve. i just missed ozuna and jew don martinez by grabbing allen when i did, figuring there’d be a closer run soon, as we can start up to 7 RP, i go 6 since we have IP as a category, with 8 SP/6 RP, leaving 1 of 3 BN slots for hitters.
Yeah, lots of SPs available late, even in RCLs
@goodfold2: shit, forgot, we have CI and MI
CI C.santana (5th round, arrieta was really 6th round)
MI none yet
@goodfold2: missed bogaerts by 3 picks, went arcia way too early to make sure. man he’s really highly ranked in your OPS rater for both homers and OPS in general.
@goodfold2: even though it’s roto, we have 1725 innings cap, so it’s not like 6 SP would cut it. i’ve since gotten
wheeler/shoemaker/salazar/a.miller/lawrie
@Grey: 1. Pujols/Betts or 2. Springer/LaRoche?
Apples and oranges… Pujols/Betts
Roto league . We do have keepers , those were taken . I know I could Saves & Stesls. But, whata think ?
Or Bautista then Rizzo even!
@SteveNZ: 14 teams?
@J-FOH: Yeah and OBP counts. All the top 1B gone. Went Donaldson/Puig.
Oh, Donaldson and Puig is solid
@Grey: Santana and Car-Go next.
@SteveNZ: Reckon I could go Chris Davis next?
Yeah, definitely on Davis
Assuming Santana is playing catcher… Otherwise, Davis is going where? UTIL?
@Grey: I was going to put Santana at 1B. Still have room for Davis. Be surprised if he makes it back though.
@SteveNZ: Hope he does. Could go Davis/Holliday for balance…
@SteveNZ: Davis/Holliday it is.
Nice
@Grey: Bautista, EE and Rizzo were the three guys taken before me. Freaked me out for a sec.
@J-FOH: Rudy picks. Sweating on Santana or Pujols now.
@SteveNZ: Pujols gone
13th spot in the ol’ H2h draft. Bautista or Rizzo perhaps?
Bautista then Rizzo, yeah!
Good Evening Grey. Just drafted , your thoughts please. 13 Team 6×6 roto. I drafted 13th.
Go Nats !
Pick.
13 Bryce Harper, Wsh OF
14 Ian Desmond, Wsh SS
39 Kyle Seager, Sea 3B
40 Jorge Soler, ChC OF
65 Gerrit Cole, Pit SP
66 Carlos Santana, Cle 3B
91 Jake Arrieta, ChC SP
92 Ryan Zimmerman, Wsh 3B
117 Jordan Zimmermann, Wsh SP – Keeper
118 Xander Bogaerts, Bos 3B
143 Jose Quintana, CWS SP
144 Avisail Garcia, CWS OF
169 Tyler Clippard, Oak RP
170 Anthony Rendon, Wsh 2B – Keeper
195 Andrew Miller, NYY RP
196 Brad Boxberger, TB RP
221 Travis d’Arnaud, NYM C
222 Kennys Vargas, Min DH
247 James Paxton, Sea SP
248 Desmond Jennings, TB OF
273 C.J. Cron, LAA 1B
274 Drew Pomeranz, Oak SP
Bench
299 Kendrys Morales, KC 1B
300 Adam Ottavino, Col RP
325 Juan Lagares, NYM OF
326 Joel Peralta, LAD RP
351 Brad Miller, Sea SS
352 Marco Gonzales, StL RP
377 Henderson Alvarez, Mia SP
Not totally sure what the team looks like, but you have some good guys, looks like it might be a little weak on power and saves
Need to choose one last keeper: who would you keep in a Yahoo format 10 team auction draft?
Stanton for $27
Frazier for $5
Carrasco for $1
Love Stanton, but nervous about having less money for the auction itself. Thanks!
Stanton
@Grey:
Thanks!
No problem
Would you trade Adam Jones for rendon in a keeper?
Sure
There’s a lot of Cubs to be interested in this year. In fact, a guy I drafted with last night took 8 Cubs out of a 23 player team. lol
Ha, that’s crazy
Hi Grey
Will Bryant be listed in opening day?
With his homer show these days, people must be excited about him this year.
Nope
@Grey: Worthy to hold him before opening day? (10-team league, which is shallow, so I can hold him on the bench and manage from FA, flexbility)
Yup
@Grey: Thanks. Other team could this this as well. Where do you suggest to pick Kris Bryant?
(My first 5 rounds would be hitters, after 6th round would take turns by hitters and pitchers. 10-league with ESPN standard, 13 hitters & 9 pitchers & 3 benches)
75 overall
@Grey: Thanks Grey
Experts say Cubs won’t put Bryant in opening day cause one more year manipulation. But still call him up earlier depends on Cubs will be going up in the end of year.
If guessing Cubs get high possibility to going up for postseason, and need Bryant’s bats. Where is it worthy to grab him? (Still 75 overall? or earlier?) thoughts appreciated.
If guessing Cubs get high possibility to going up for postseason, and need Bryant’s bats “before 6/1, even much earlier”. Where is it worthy to grab him?
75
actual draft went off; but mocking plans didn’t work nearly the same, since in first 10 picks after keepers (49-58) both posey and c-sant went, throwing all those earlier plans out window. Was able to get 8 top 50 SP without having to pay much, if anything, over their ADP’s, however. missed Arenado by 1 pick, having gone Marte first (steals and he ranks higher on OPS rater)
C – Ramos (155)
C – Ruiz (302, should’ve waited one round and got Jepsen here instead)
1B – Rizzo (11)
2B – Harrison (131)
SS – J.Ramirez (278, D.Santana went pretty early)
3B – Donaldson (14)
CI – Sandoval (86, ranks higher on OPS rater than Arenado also)
MI – Lawrie (227)
LF – Upton (35)
CF – Dickerson (38)
RF – Heyward (83)
OF – Marte (62)
Util – Avisail (179, might have been able to wait)
BN – Odor (299)
SP – Kluber (59, posey/c.sant were gone, but he was left)
SP – Arrieta (107)
SP – Wheeler (158)
SP – Fiers (203)
SP – Shoemaker (251)
SP McHugh (254)
SP – Salazar (275)
RP -Perkins (110, time clock freak out, would’ve grabbed later)
RP Allen (134, would’ve probably had Cishek/Benoit instead)
RP McGee (182)
RP Boxberger (206)
RP A.Miller (230)
RP Farquhar (326, should’ve grabbed Jepsen 1 or 2 rounds earlier, missed him by 1 pick here)
Other than really really hoping Jepsen doesn’t somehow keep TB job all/most of year, i think this went fine. my OF/SP is certainly better than in those mocks.
No idea how many teams
@Grey: 12.
@Fuzzy Dunlop: I don’t love HArrison, and your hitting looks low on steals, but I’m guessing you have OPS in this league though I don’t know the categories… Pitching looks much stronger than hitting, very solid on pitching
@Grey: OPS/net steals/BB/K’s for hitters (Harrison also is ranked VERY high compared to a lot of other 2B on your OPS rater, much higher than say, wong), holds/BB/homers against/ IP/losses for pitchers. I wend by Rudy’s recent post of targets for 12 team leagues rather than War Room’s number. (might be hard to see, since i have a lot of middle steal types in heyward/avisail/dickerson/harrison). I’ll obviously attempt to corner CLE SS steal market when Lindor comes up.
Gotcha
Any of these guys seem like good value to you?
morneau $9
Cole $23
Shields $16
Ryu $13
Depends on the league
ESPN has different people do their rankings and projections. That doesn’t really make sense, but you’ll hear guys like Karabell say “I don’t control the projections”, which leads to stuff like you’ve listed above.
Doesn’t make a lot more sense, but that’s the reason….
So my league must start one rookie hitter and pitcher each. I’m curious how you would move guys like Soler and Bryant in your rankings given that format and the lack of impact rookies available (the same guys could also start at their actual position if I have extra rookies).
Bump them a few rounds
@Grey: Thanks Grey! and if Bryant makes the team out of spring, where does he jump to? I’m not sure how likely that is, but if he keeps mashing like he has been it will be hard to justify sending him down.
50ish
Bleurgh. Drafting from 7th in the FCL.
Take Trout!
@Grey: Effing Wake will have that privilege.
@Grey: 7th is Deadsville.
Wake! Nice… You get Adam Jones cause no one wants him
@Grey: Yeah, and then at #18 it’s like where did all the 1Bs go?
At least every couple of rounds I’ll have a chance to take a guy that JFOH really wants right in front of him.
Ha, nice!
@Grey: my sniping of Arcia ruined Steve from then on out
@J-FOH: Will still beat you like a drum like last year.
@SteveNZ: not a chance in hell
@J-FOH: Is that right? Guess we’ll see.
@SteveNZ: you better be one hell of a streamer, and I’m letting Grey know you drafted based off Rudys ranks
@J-FOH: Well obviously I’m planning to stream – unless you gift me another good starter like last year and then I might have to re-assess ;-)
Tell Grey what you like, I used his and Rudy’s rankings, and I did the same last year. Turned out alright.
@SteveNZ: you might of got a ioft but you didnt finish the race, and thats two gifts, I dropped Arrieta at the end to go into heavy stream mode.
Speaking of shortstops – I’ve been offered Stanton/Price for Tulo/Strasburg. I love Stanton and have been after him for awhile and think this is a good deal. What do you say? It’s a keeper league with 4 bats and 2 pitchers.
I’d take Stanton
@Grey: Stanton and Price. Healthier (I know… luck driven), I always value the younger hitter a notch higher in keeper, and Price is equal to Strasburg, IMO.
i did the same Fantasy Pros mock, with my own league specs (12 team h2h with OPS/BB/K’s/net steals for hitters and holds/homer’s against/ BB’s/ Innings pitched / losses for pitchers), only this time i set the other 11 drafters to “expert” status, rather than yahoo ADP status, like the first time. They are better,in the sense of certain things (they like Arenado a lot more, draft pitchers more like your rankings etc). Strangely they leave C.Santana around for a long time. So here’s what happened this time (same keepers of Rizzo/Upton/Dickerson/Donaldson). I would’ve went Yelich over C.Santana probably, but missed and went a different way.
Team B.
C – C.Santana (83)
C – Ruiz (326)
1B – Rizzo (11)
2B – Harrison (86)
SS – D.Santana (158)
3B – Donaldson (14)
CI – Posey (59)
MI – Lawrie (230)
LF – Upton (35)
CF – Dickerson (38)
RF – Arcia (227)
OF – Revere (131)
util – Avisail (275)
BN – Odor (or J.Ramirez), (302)
SP – Lester (62)
SP – Carrasco (107)
SP – Hughes (134)
SP – Shoemaker (179)
SP – Salazar (203)
SP – Wily P (254)
SP – Hammel (278)
SP – Nelson (323)
RP – Cishek (110)
RP – Benoit (155)
RP – McGee (182)
RP – A.Miller (206)
RP – Boxberger (251)
RP – Jepsen (299), or could’ve went J.Smith/Dunn/Strop, but shored up TB bullpen.
So basically, the “experts” effected me trading these for these:
Team A’s
Yelich/Arrieta/Mchugh/Hutchison/Sal Perez/Peavy/J.Ramirez for
Team B’s
Posey/Lester/Wily P/Hammel/Revere/Nelson/Odor
Which is better Team A or B?, the experts drafted pitching much better, weakening mine.
Team B is slightly better, as much as that pains me to say b/c that’s with Posey
@Grey: that’s what i thought too, and right at pick 59, OPS rater (razzball’s) was so gung ho for him over others i had no choice. Fantasy pros of course moved Team A’s 3rd overall to Team B’s 8th overall (i don’t buy those though). The fantasy pros “expert” option, really has some decent intelligence, they wait on catchers, and grab a LOT of good SP, compared to ADP rankings, which do the opposite. Having both Posey/C.Santana in OPS league should be seriously sick. Now i get to see in about an hour if i can get these guys for reals. I’ll have either Lester/Arrieta as ace, along with Carrasco, very likely though.
Yeah, I wouldn’t buy it either
Just got back from the Carneceria with some nice marinated meats, going to get the BBQ going, the family is gone, and I’m having a draft party for one. FCL for Life!
I bet you grill a little extra just in case Cockcroft stops by unannounced
@Grey: I’m setting the table for two
He’s like your Elijah at Passover
@Grey: shalom
Haha… Jack Full of Hebrew!
@Grey: if things go well it might be shaload
@Grey: If he goes on to autodraft, we’ll know what’s happened.
Sexy time!
@Grey: or I got talked into going by espn ranks
@Grey:
This Cockcroft/J-FOL subplot is my new favorite thing in the world.
It’s like True Romance meets Diabetes.
@Kid A: He’s a sweetheart
Sweetheart, get the irony? Movie trailer man, “They share insulin needles and sleeper picks,” Then JFOH and Tristan say in unison, “Just call us Jack Full of Cockcroft.”
@Grey: *in a whispery echo*
Haha
Hey Grey, need help picking a keeper. Standard points league, but wins are +7 and losses are -5
Josh Donaldson, give up 7th round pick
Cole Hamels, give up 14th round pick
Javier Baez, give up 30th round pick
I only keep two players, and I’ve narrowed it down to these three.
Thanks for the read and advice Grey
Not Hamels
Hi Grey. I’m asking a lot here but this draft and year is key. We’re in a keeper league so 60 players are off the board.
My keepers are
Fielder, freeman (1B), Frazier (3B), Wong(2B), then Danny Salazar as a pitcher. I know they’re bad, but I have 7 of the top 29 picks.
So of these players and considering I’ve got to many 1B already and Wong, what would be your top 10 in order.
Hanley, Beltre, brantley, cargo, marte, cespedes, Carlos santana, Reyes, soler, Matt carpenter, Calhoun, bruce, trumbo, Desmond, pujols, kinsler, Longoria
Iwakuma, samardjiza, gray, Arrieta, gio, Degrom, Ryu, Garrett Richards, Phil Hughes, verlander, Smyly, Strasburg
I’d take outfielders, I’d go by my outfielders rankings
@Grey: thanks Grey. You’d take them before strasburg as well in case he’s available for my first pick?
Yup
In a 12 team auction league keep 5 can keep Bryant for 2 years at auction price following this year. How much would you bid on him? 260 budget
$21
Hi Grey, can you give me some advise on draft strategy? 11 teams standard roto.. Starting with this team for keepers: Cano, Brantley, Wood, Carrasco
I have the last pick (snake). Here are the players I expect to be available.
1B) Chris Davis
3B) Chris Davis, Y. Tomas
SS) A. Ram tier
OF) Harper, Puig, J. Upton, Dickerson
SP) Greinke, Bumgarner, Zimmerman
I should go Davis & Best OF available right? Otherwise I’m effectively punting both corners.
or should I go OF/OF based on ranks?
Thanks!
You should take Davis, Harper, Upton, Puig or Dickerson
Great stuff!!
What do you make of Anthony Gose? I don’t want to ” sleep” on him…. He’s truly grabbing my attention as a potential contributor in my 12 team mixed league team.
What do you make of all the buzz?
Thanks!
My auction draft is tomorrow, 12 team 5×5 roto. I’m heading in with these keepers: Rizzo $13, Wong $5, Blackmon $5, Arenado $11, Pederson $5. I’m a little worried about all this talk of Pederson’s playing time, but it’s a’ight. Wish me luck, and good luck to everyone else drafting this weekend!
Good luck!
Keeper league. Brandon Belt got dropped.
Drop Y Tomas or Gyorko for Belt?
Gyorko
May