Baseball, like a flower, blooms in the spring. They also share equally effusive PR people. Just the other day I read about how a petunia’s branches gained 15 pounds and was in the best shape of its life. Sure, it’s always good to look at spring training numbers to give you an idea what you can expect from guys during the season — can I draft Wyatt Langford yet?! Dude is mashing like the ball’s a potato! Players in spring training are facing the top pitchers who are all displaying their best stuff. No one needs time to get warmed up. No one’s trying new pitches or getting a feel for the ball. They are at the height of their game in the beginning of March. Our former commissioner, Bud, once doffed his toupee and tried to have the World Series played in March. That’s the true pioneer of a sped-up game. Forget the pitch clock, just play the World Series in Spring Training. Since these spring training numbers mean so much, I decided to look at some players stats so far:
Blake Sabol – Three homers and hitting .348! I’m about to Buster in this guy’s Posey! Hmm, sounded better in my head. That happens when you’re so freakin’ excited to draft a guy!
Darick Hall – Five homers and hitting .316. All I need this draft season is Darick Hall and Johnny Oates’s baseball card from the 70’s.
Trent Grisham – Has four homers and it’s all coming up Grisham! He’s challenging for the league lead in Spring Training with aforemewntioned Darick and Romy Gonzalez with six homers. Yes, you heard that right, the White Sox have a bright spot!
Jose Miranda – Five homers and hitting .325. Can someone say post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-hype sleeper?!
Shane Bieber – In 23 1/3 IP, he has 1.54 ERA and a 0.64 WHIP and 25 Ks. Forget how I said I was out on Bieber, he’s back, baby, he’s back! Velo is going wee-woo!
Jared Shuster – In 20 2/3 IP, he has a 1.74 ERA and 0.77 WHIP and can I draft him as my first pitcher off the board? I’m just askin’ questions!
Alek Manoah – In 20 1/3 IP, he has a 3.10 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 21 Ks. After some tough sledding early on, Manoah has rejiggered his belly fat to pre-2023 levels and now that he has his mechanics (he’s aiming his belly button towards first more when he throws his slider), he feels more comfortable.
Okay, stop. This is such nonsense. Now we get to grade everyone’s reading comprehension because these are LAST YEAR’S spring training stats. If someone can read everything but capped words, I apologize in advance if you draft Alek Manoah. (I DON’T.) I like to do this post every year because every year I get the same comments about how well a player is doing in the spring and asking if I’m going to change my fantasy baseball rankings because of it. Spring training stats are a joke. They mean nothing. Let me say it again for emphasis, spring stats mean nothing.
The only takeaway from Spring Training stats: Are those stats helping a guy win an every day job?
Jose Miranda had the best spring training in the history of spring trainings last year, and that led him to do what last year? He couldn’t even keep the starting job away from Kyle Farmer! How did Shane Bieber do? Have the worst season of his career? Yeah, pretty much. Speaking of terrible seasons, Alek Manoah did not look bad last spring, and then he dropped this giant turd splatting all over your teams.
My latest favorite thing about Spring Training madness is the people touting a pitchers’ velocity being up or down after, like, ten pitches.
It is very funny seeing people talk velocity on a pitcher after, like, a half inning in February. He’s down 3 MPH on six pitches in his first appearance? Welp, he’s cooked. He’s up 4 MPH on 9 pitches? Wow, he just won a SpongeBob at the local carnival
— Razzball (@Razzball) February 28, 2024
Seriously, you should only be looking at who’s healthy, who’s winning position battles, and who’s winning rotation spots. The rest is meaningless. With that said, things I am seeing in Spring Training that have affected my thinking:
Christopher Morel – Haven’t moved him in my rankings, but if the Cubs are serious about playing him every day at 3rd base, I am intrigued. It’s hard to know when a new manager comes in how much changes, but this is a change I am very interested in watching.
Luis Rengifo – Ron Washington said he envisions Moniak and Rengifo hitting leadoff. Playing for Wash is like the scene in Goodfellas when Henry Hill is doing lines and the guy is like, “You wanna see helicopters?” Imagine the Angels are going to be running like crazy this year, and I’m here for it with draft bargains like Rengifo, and Moniak. He also said Schanuel is his number two hitter and Carlos Estevez is his closer. Believe Wash, he’s not washed, just slightly fried.
Jared Triolo – He’s hitting well, which might mean nothing, but their Jolly Roger is in storage they haven’t raised it in so long, and Triolo has a lot of positions he can fill. Still more of an NL-Only play for now.
Brooks Lee – People in Florida are telling me Lee looks excellent. He’s 23, going basically undrafted, #2 in Itch’s Twins’ prospects list and everyone in that lineup is injury prone. Correa just read that, kicked a rock, and his plantar fasciitis flared up.
Ronald Acuña Jr. – Oh my God, tell me he’s not hurt. Jesus, Mary, Joseph and all the characters in The Bible, please, tell me he’s not hurt.
Lastly, Rudy’s been in the lab! Meth? Nope! He’s cooked up a new, free Lineup Tool. There’s a new slot in the top menu next to Player Rater. You can see quickly any player you want and where they’re hitting vs. righties and lefties…Never before has it been so easy to see what Bud Black is thinking (now, you have to ask yourself if you want to):
Hey Grey!
10 Team / H2H / 4-Keepers
I think the first three are pretty obvious.
Acuna (Round 14)
Ohtani hitter (Round 21)
Strider (Round 24)
For the fourth spot, I’d like to go for the best “long term” option of the below. Can you help me with the last option?
Vladito (Round 16)
CJ Abrams (Round 17)
M. Harris (Round 24)
“People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” ~Rogers Hornsby
Hey grey!
For a $24 JoRam, would you trade your $15 Adolis and $4 Noelvi? Can’t tell if I’m overpaying. 12 team keep forever.
AL only standard 5×5 roto looking at some final roster spots in a deep league. Please rank the following for playing time upside:
L. Butler, R. Palacios, D. Fletcher, L. Urias, J. Miranda.
Thanks
The better SP IL stash – Springs or Ray?
Springs
Is McLain dealing with the same oblique strain he suffered during toward end of last season? If so, I don’t think I’ve heard of any oblique strains lasting this long.
It’s all so…oblique
Hey Grey!
8 keeper OPS dynasty league. Already have:
Acuna
Soto
Treat Urner
Devers
Pablo Lopez
Kirby
Need to keep 2 more guys from the list below. Could you rank them in order of who you’d keep?
Josh Jung
Castellanos
Kelenic
Freddy Peralta
Logan Gilbert
Thanks!!
Peralta, Castellanos — don’t draft any more pitching
Shane Baz oblique injury. Ugh. I feel like I have been waiting to see this guy pitch since the Obama administration.
HAHA
I remeber in my youth that I was really excited to see him and have him on my teams. Now I will settle for him not being a permanent resident on the IL.
Haha, same
Has Bieber moved up on your rankings? If so what tier and how do you value him now?
No
Thank you sir!!
No problem
I am only asking because I have one pitching spot to fill, here is my pitching for a 15tm mixed auction, all the higher tier guys were kept so I did my best to fill out my roster with your pitcher pairings. Any recommendation for my last pitcher? Any one of these your personal favs? I was leaning Cival after Coolwhips right up. Braxton and Keller were only two available in your highest tier, so I started with them.
Available
ERod
Hunter Brown
Shane Baz
Bryan Woo
Ryan Pepiot
Nathan Eovaldi
Aaron Civale
Seth Lugo
Who I bought so far
Mitch Keller 12
Kenley Jansen 9
Jose Alvarado 9
Reid Detmers 3
Braxton Garrett 8
Alex Lange 6
Jordan Montgomery 10
Gore 1
I’d go by my rankings…I think EdRod is highest
Thanks again, I have been using your rankings and it has gone very well for me!!
No problem
From what I’ve read on Morel, the idea to give him a lot of reps at 3B in ST was at the suggestion of Counsel. Also, Madrigal left yesterdays game with a “right leg cramp” and can’t keep his legs healthy. Wisdom also has a quad injury that is coming along slower than expected.
Like it!
12 T Keep 10 with no contracts.
Harper/ Cole for Robert/ Burnes. One team obviously looking to get younger
Harper side
Has your opinion on Royce Lewis changed after a decent looking last few weeks? I have a guy throwing me Royce and other players for Devers. Just curious.
No
with the requisite acknowledgement that Giolito is a swell guy wh didn’t deserve this, I feel oddly as if his injury has innoculated my teams from further ST injuries. Thank you for your sacrifice, Lucas. You will not be forgotten.
sitting in the austin airport. just spent a long weekend here. great town!
Austin is awesome! You should’ve pinged Rudy, he lives there
Haha, I hope Sonny Gray is fine(ish)
Sounds like Sonny will probably miss one or two starts. keep him out of the coldest part of the season anythehoo. I know Rudy is down here but time was limited and we have friends in town. had a great time here. great food. everybody talks about the bbq but we found other non-bbq places that we killer.
Nice! You go to Uchi?
We went to Odd Duck and Dai Due, both excellent. Uchi was a strong recommend but we ended up elsewhere. They also have a fantastic Sunday farmer’s market. Got great pastrami, nepalese dumplings, juices Grenada style.
Ah gotcha…That’s awesome!
to be fair Grey, i didn’t reach out to Oaktown a couple months back when I went out to party w/ Hammer
U Can’t Touch That Logic
Hey Grey!
Excited for another season here we go..
12 team keeper league – keep 8 players – need help choosing my last one
Torkelson – Last rd
Bryce Miller – Last rd
Thairo – 8th rd (he’ll prob go in the 4th if not kept)
Thanks as always!
For roster context other players kept are..
Gunnar, Steer, Josh Naylor, Luzardo, Fried, Braxton Garret, & Alexis Diaz
Thairo
Depends who you have, but I guess Thairo
Who’s the drop for these “start of season IL” guys: Verlander; Gray; Braxton Garrett?
Braxton
Rejiggered his belly fat! that’s hilarious – so hey feeling battle tested after several DC’s doing my home league 12 teamer seems like a breeze. Got the #3 pick – so I will take Ju. Rod or B. Witt, but coming back at #22 and #27? This league is unpredictable, and realize it depends on who is left, but very high on Yama, thoughts?
Yeah, I like Yamamoto too, but that feels early for him
Yeah hear ya, really think he’s a top 5 guy. Guess I’ll take him at #46 if he makes it back to me, but might just pull trigger at #27….tough call
Yup, hard to say what others are thinking
How would you handle Kyle Bradish in a keeper?
Rather keep Nestor Cortez or Braxton Garrett over Bradish?
Has there been a Billy Butler moob siting this spring? Asking for a friend…
Just here!
The warm embrace of Razzball!
Haha
hey grey! would you keep jordan walker for $13? 14 team h2h mixed league. i get five keepers. i’m keeping two outfielders already (carroll and k tucker). tldr the alternative would be to keep four players and maybe get j walker (or whomever) at a cheaper price.
i may be overthinking it, but how can i not be when walker has 7ks in 11 spring training at bats and clearly needs to consider a career change
Just keep him
kk thank you
No problem
Giolito torn UCL, likely heading for a 2nd TJS and out for the season.
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1765036563900039586?s=20
Brutal.
He was removed from the rankings
Was he really on there to begin with? Lol
Ha
Will there be any SP left to draft by April 1?
lol, kill me now
Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery just got a whole lot more attractive. Boras’ phone is probably ringing, finally, on them.
Yeah, seriously
I’m in a 12 team 5×5 roto lg. I have pick 11
And were in a keeper format where u can keep a player the round u drafted year before. Or if a free agent is a 13th round pick. I’m between Kyle Tucker 1st rd keeper, ohtani 1st rd keeper or skubal a 13th rd keeper. Ohtani was the best player in fantasy besides acuna almost all year. I’m confused why he’s ranked so low. I don’t think taking Tucker over him makes sense at all. But the value of Skubal as a 13th is amazing too. Any insight? I was set on ohtani but now leaning Skubal after what we’ve seen
Go Ohtani
Looks like Giolito is done for the year. Not that I was excited about him but drafting pitchers high scare the crap out of me!
Yeah
Braxton starting season on IL FFS !
Still like him at the new discount or is he a hard pass like Senga
Ugh, sucks…I think he’s just behind but let me ask the Marlins beat writer
Craig to the rescue !
Haha
Oh he said he’s just behind for now until further notice
Dang, sounds a bit ominous. He was my slam dunk SP4 in OCs :(
We move !
Yup
I think it was a few years ago when Joc Pederson hit either 9 or 10 home runs for the Cubs during spring training, then went on to hit .238 with a total of 18 home runs in 137 games in real baseball for the Cubs and Braves in that 2021 season. He went from Mr. Arizona to Mr. Nobody.
Speaking of the DBacks, where are they going to find playing time for their roughly 500 outfielders they’ve rostered this season? Pederson will probably mostly DH, but then they also have Carroll, A Thomas, Grichuk, L Gurriel, J McCarthy and even Albert Almora and Kyle Garlick on their ST roster.
Grichuk, and J McCarthy aren’t starters
You should see the Red’s infield!!
Romy is on the Red Sox now. We have no bright spot.
Sincerely,
A White Sox fan
Haha
Still giving the schmohawk tag to Cole Ragans? From what I read and see he will be the next great pitcher! So much helium right now! I wished I owned him somewhere have a feeling one could get alot in return for him.
What do you think about Matt Manning’s spring so far? Velo is up
Just saw your reply about Manning yesterday.
Yeah, I hear ya
Grey the #1 prognosticator,
How does it look for Junior Caminero to be the everyday (for TB at least) 3b out of camp?
Also what is the real best case with Noevi Marte, 450abs? In weekly changes points league (TB, R, RBI, SB, BB) is that a sustainable lineup spot?
I’ll shut up and read. Thanks
Think the Rays have said he’s not breaking camp…Marte? Why not 500?
For long term keeper purposes (12 team) Marte or Junior. We have 1 slot left
Adam likes Junior
What Marte is this?
Noevi Marte
I was gonna guess Ketel — I’d lean Noelvi
10 team dynasty: 6×6 QS
Manoah or Bradish?
Or cut them both…lol
Also…. Who do you like the most from these 3: Sheehan, imanaga, Jung Ho Lee?(not much to draft after everyone keeps 25)
Thanks G
Cut for who? Bradish over Manoah…Sheehan
I don’t know if you would know an answer to this, but do you know where to advertise looking for new owners for a keeper league? the 16 team keeper league I’m in is looking for new owners, I don’t know where to look since yahoo doesn’t have message board anymore.
Can try right where you are
it would be nice where more eyes are going to see, I don’t think me asking in a message on your post is going to have people see it. I liked when this site had a forum. nbcsports had a forum but it stopped last year mid season.
I hear ya
You could try the Fantrax forums…lost of leagues openings advertised there
Speaking of winning rotation spots – what is your thought on Emmet Sheehan winning a spot?
He hasn’t been throwing and even though most of the SP roster is littered with damaged arms he can’t win a spot throwing plyo balls……
He was a target of mine but starting to shy away.
Thanks!
Sheehan and Stone are battling for last spot last I heard
I saw/heard Stone pretty far in the lead there
I kinda like that
Grey,
We can all relax now as the great news on Acuña just came out!!
How are you feeling about Gausman? He has “shoulder fatigue” but mri revealed nothing structural wrong with it. Cautiously optimistic or dnd?
“OF Ronald Acuña Jr. was seen by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles last night, who confirmed irritation in the meniscus of his right knee. Acuña Jr. is set to gradually increase baseball activities and is expected to be ready for Opening Day.”
Cautiously optimistic
2 walk the plank.. Vinny P $2, Estrada $2, Bryan Reynolds $8 or Suzuki $2. Thank you Grey the Guillotine
Also Estury $1, 3 walk the plank
Keep Thairo and Seiya
Ha ha I was that guy asking about Mannings increased Velo yesterday! 18 team dynasty 6×6…Jared Triolo or Jake Cronenworth…that was great stuff! Puts things in perspective!
Triolo
Dynasty, BA, OPS, HR,RBI, R, SB, ERA, WHIP, W+QS, S, SO, IP
I need to make my final three drops from this group. It is keep forever. Who should the drops be? For some context on pitching, my top thee are Burnes, Gausman, Glasnow.
C. Mullins
E. Ruiz
R. Mountcastle
G. Stanton
C. McCormick
Eduardo Rodriguez
Woodruff (We get one IL spot)
Mitch Keller
Woodruff, EdRod and Stanton
Grey!!!
a. The aforementioned Brooks Lee available in the 40th (!!!) round of THAT BestBall from yesterday. Should I take him? Y/N.
b. Chris Rock quote of the day for March 5, 2024
I will give you an example of how race affects my life. I live in a place called Alpine, New Jersey. Live in Alpine, New Jersey, right? My house costs millions of dollars. [some whistles and cheers from the audience] Don’t hate the player, hate the game. In my neighborhood, there are four black people. Hundreds of houses, four black people. Who are these black people? Well, there’s me, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z and Eddie Murphy. Only black people in the whole neighborhood. So let’s break it down, let’s break it down: me, I’m a decent comedian. I’m a’ight. [applause] Mary J. Blige, one of the greatest R&B singers to ever walk the Earth. Jay-Z, one of the greatest rappers to ever live. Eddie Murphy, one of the funniest actors to ever, ever do it. Do you know what the white man who lives next door to me does for a living? He’s a fucking dentist! He ain’t the best dentist in the world…he ain’t going to the dental hall of fame…he don’t get plaques for getting rid of plaque. He’s just a yank-your-tooth-out dentist.
See, the black man gotta fly to get to somethin’ the white man can walk to.
Cheers,
Ante
A. Sure!