Something that may help you is my pitchers pairing post. Something else that may help you is APPLES. Something else that might help you, our Fantasy Baseball War Room. Something else that may also help you is mocking A-Rod. One note before we get to the lede’s lead-in, ESPN doesn’t look like they rank any starters. I have no idea where a bunch of these guys are on their list, I’m assuming they are after 300. If you know where they’re ranked, you’re smarter than me. Pat yourself on the back, you’re in the top eighty-six percentile. So, these starters are all being drafted after 200 overall. Now, this is a (legal-in-all-countries-except-Trinidad-and-Tobago) supplement to the top 100 starters for 2013 fantasy baseball. Click on the player’s name where applicable to read more and see their 2013 projections. Also, I’ve gone over all positions for sleepers; to see them all 2013 fantasy baseball sleepers. Anyway, here’s some starters to target for 2013 fantasy baseball:
Matt Harvey – (MDC 208) I’m mentioning him because I had him as a sleeper prior to the world ranking him so effin’ high. I should’ve drafted in fargin’ November so I could’ve got me some Harvey. The fact that ESPN and Yahoo are high on Harvey points to a secret Illuminati fantasy baseball society. Someone check Funston’s rear-end for a pentagram. Seriously. Are you people with me or not?! I am your fearless leader and I demand someone check Funston’s rear-end! Now! Or find Andy Behrens on Twitter and ask him. I am your King! Damn, I’m watching way too much Game of Thrones.
Marco Estrada – (ESPN 232; MDC 262) You know who I miss? EPMD. ‘Cause I clock Gs while you clock Zs! How could they just disappear? I don’t get it. They were easily in the top five of MCs in 1991. 1. Ice Cube 2. Rakim 3. Guru 4. Slick Rick 5. EPMD. I don’t care that they were a group it wasn’t like Rakim rapped a capella. Anyway, I mention EPMD because if Estrada doesn’t pan out this year he will also completely disappear. Guess I’m saying this could be 1991 for Estrada.
Alex Cobb – (ESPN 234; Yahoo 260; MDC 267) Here’s what Sky had to say in his Cobb sleeper post, “Shields…my…Cobb…to hear the lamentation of their women…” Whoa! How did this get passed our censors? I really need to keep a better eye on what this guy and Jaywrong are posting. I think Jaywrong put a virus in my head because whenever I hear the word “wrong,” I reply, “Jaywrong?” Get out of my head! Cobb is a solid late 5th starter, but I think his upside is limited due to his ‘lack of stuff.’ Grizzled scouts words, not mine.
Bud Norris – (ESPN 273; MDC 424) Now this guy’s got stuff. RIP George Carlin. Where you’re drafting Norris, I wouldn’t worry about things like are the Astros going to win more than 35 games. No, they won’t, but that’s of what concern to you? Sorry, I had to go all Jewish grandmother on you. And stop picking at it, you’re gonna leave a scar!
Chris Tillman – (ESPN 286; Yahoo 244; MDC 359) Hey, white boy, what you doing in Baltimore? I’m waiting for Chris Tillman… I’m waiting for Chris Tillman until I have four other starters. I don’t like that song at all. What am I missing with Lou Reed? Maybe if you have to answer that I’m a lost cause. Unlike Cobb, Tillman has velocity and he abbreviates it with three letters, MPH. Since the Jankees and Po’ Sawx look like Roseanne Barr’s psychology examination results, I don’t fear the AL East as much. Tillman, however, does have some question marks. A flyer, yes. A guarantee for an under 3 ERA, no.
Dylan Bundy – (ESPN 300+) He’s like the Wil Myers pick at your end of your draft in keepers or very deep leagues where you can spare a bench spot while he diddles in the minors.
Hyun-Jin Ryu – (Yahoo 230; ESPN 300+; MDC 287) My love for Ryu went from zero to sixty in four seconds, then my speedometer said, “He’s out of shape and the Dodgers aren’t even sure if they’re going to put him in the rotation. They might go with Ted Lilly.” Ted Lilly? Really? Really, Seth Myers? Shouldn’t surprise me. The Dodgers also put Brandon League in as closer over Jansen, and Hanley over Dee Gordon (kidding, sorta). I still like Ryu, but you need to make him more of a end of your staff flyer rather than a number three starter.
Kyle Kendrick – (Yahoo 233; ESPN 300+; MDC 414) Here’s what Charlie Manuel said when asked if Kendrick would see time in the bullpen this year, “His juju looks good, but I’m not sure about the junebug stinger that comes along and bites him in the summer punch.” So, there ya go.
Felix Doubront – (Yahoo 239; ESPN 300+; MDC 433) I talk at length about fake doody in the Doubront sleeper post. I get it; I would think I smoke weed too. Some pitchers have to come out of nowhere and put up huge seasons. They just have to. Every year it happens. Seasons no one was expecting. So does that mean I ruined Doubront’s chances of that big season because I’m talking about it? Seriously, I would think I smoke a lot of weed, too. Have I said that already?
Trevor Bauer – (Yahoo 242; ESPN 300+; MDC 286) If you click on the link, you’ll see that was from November before Kevin Towers had a team summit and made the Diamondbacks’ number one priority, “Trade all of our good prospects.” Which sent all team employees into a 200-email tailspin trying to decipher if he was being sarcastic. “Are we really trading good prospects?” “Is he using good to mean bad?” “Was he being facetious?” “What’s facetious?” Either way, my projections from that November post didn’t change. Bauer’s problem isn’t what batters he’s facing, it’s getting out of his own way and throwing the ball sixty feet and six inches, not 300 yards.
Jason Hammel – (Yahoo 243; ESPN 300+; MDC 346) A pitching staff of Hammel, Doubront, Estrada, Cashner, Fiers and Harvey is probably all you need in most 10 team leagues. I’m not messing with you. Though it would take Rocky Dennis-sized balls to draft that pitching staff. On that Rocky Dennis-sized balls staff, Hammel would be the safe one.
Andrew Cashner – (Yahoo 243; ESPN 300+; MDC 330) You know how there’s that thing where you add “in bed” at the end of all fortune cookie sayings? You could do that with all Padres pitchers but add “at home.” A thrilling time is ahead for you (at home). Behind every able man there are other able men (at home). A man with brown eyes has a surprise for you (at home). Okay, not the last one as much.
Nate Eovaldi – I have to give a shout-out to frequent commenter, Oaktown Steve, for getting me further jazzed about Eovaldi. I wrote back in February (really in December when I actually write the rankings) about how Eovaldi can hit 98 on the speedgun and how he’s a solid guy to look at very late. I always liked him, but he’s been completely abandoned in my writings since that top 100 starters post. As with Norris, don’t worry about all that “But can the Marlins win any games?” nonsense. It’s of no concern to you!
Mike Fiers – (Yahoo 250; ESPN 300+; MDC 236) You couldn’t get Michael Fiers if you were f**king Michael Fiers! So, he went and changed his name to Mike. If you’re gonna change your name, go with something colorful like Giancarlo or Grey. Geez, Fiers. I worry Fiers is going to be the number one “sleeper disappointment.” I just made that up. Clever, huh? Yeah, not really. Oh, well.
Tommy Milone – (Yahoo 257; MDC 274) You couldn’t get Tommy Milone if you were f**king bologna! Wait, what? Milone might be the least exciting name on this list but he’s also the safest and highest up in my rankings. I mean, I like Jon Niese more than anyone, but is a guy going as a number two or three starter a sleeper? I don’t know, maybe. Niese does have number one starter upside, Milone doesn’t really. I also really like Samardzija, but he’s going too early for this target post too. Why am I talking about Niese and Samradjonvscosnba? Cause Milone’s pretty boring. You couldn’t get Tommy Milone if you were f**king bologna!
Wily Peralta – (MDC 398) – Okay, you know what? Just go to the Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar tier in the top 80 starters for 2013 fantasy baseball and gleam the wonderful from there. I have a 12:30 pedicure with some hot Asian broad that loves mustaches and cougars. I gotta go work on some Indecent Proposal shizz.
Really? Really Tina Grey?
First off, loved the podcast. The format is working for me. Information from the other writers and then just playful banter with a hint of cackle from our fearless leader. Rudy sounded less white than normal…odd.
Anyways, you missed another question of mine yesterday and I’m feeling a little unloved. Here she blows:
Hypothetical: I have the 9th pick in a 10 team draft and McCutchen falls to me. Clearly he is the best player available. However, Fielder is the last elite 1B on the board as well. Sitting behind Fielder (Southwest forced him to buy the seats next to him) are a handful of other top outfielders such as Stanton, Cargo, and Bautista. Do I take McCutchen and risk losing Fielder (11th in adp) for my 12th overall pick, or pick Fielder, allowing me to take the top outfielder (likely Stanton) with my second pick. If I took McCutchen and Fielder was gone, this would likely lead me to reach for a 3B like Longoria since I’m not taking a pitcher or another outfielder.
Am I wrong or just jaywrong?
@papasmurf: You should hit up Vin if you’d like to join [email protected]bossmanjunior: The answer is always jaywrong. Except for the times when the answer is Ryan Gosling.
@jaywrong:
Who is more dreamy, Ryan Gosling or Grey Albright?
Grey +1000
Not at ‘Nova, where it’s JayWright
@jaywrong:
@bossmanjunior: Whoa, what a weird thing that happened there.
jaywrong on both counts!
@bossmanjunior: Thanks, bossmanjunior! Take McCutchen all the fruit that it bears…
@Grey:
So you would take McCutchen/Longoria over Fielder/Stanton?
Not over Fielder and Stanton…
@Grey:
That was my point. If I take Cutch then I likely lose Fielder and have to settle for Longoria as my second pick. If I pass on Cutch and take Fielder, I can still grab an elite outfielder like Stanton with my second pick.
Here is the yahoo adp around my first two picks:
7. McCutchen
8. Votto
9. Verlander
10. Cargo
11. Fielder
12. Strasbourg
13. Kershaw
14. Stanton
15. Tulo
16. Bautista
17. Posey
18. Hamilton
19. Beltre
20. Hernandez
21. Longoria
I really don’t want to take two outfielders with my first two picks, so you can see why I am leading on taking Votto/Fielder first.
I’d take Fielder and Stanton then, yeah…
@Grey:
Thanks! That’s what I was thinking. Screw Gosling, Im writing Greycarlo all over my trapper keeper.
Speaking of which, funny story, when I lived in Italy in college, I went by Giasone and picked up American girls pretending to be Italian. Honestly, it was so easy. They were so eager to meet an Italian guy and I spoke pretty good Italian with a little bit of broken English mixed in. When you’re a sexy foreign guy, you can get away with anything haha
Ha! I read your last line in a bad broken Italian English…
@bossmanjunior:
I have the 9th and 12th pick.
@bossmanjunior: Thanks for the pod luv Bossman!
@Nick the Podcast Host:
We just need some more of those Propecia advertisements…I mean razzball promotional videos. Much respect!
@bossmanjunior: I thought that was going to turn into a catch a predator episode
@bossmanjunior: ESPN 14 team H2H. Keep 3: Medlen, Wainwright, Shields, Latos, Cueto, Peavy.
I too was loving Cobb this year – until I finally got to see him pitch this past weekend. He certainly didn’t pass the eye test for me. I think the league catches up to him.
@Brownie: Will keep it in mind…
@Brownie:
Disagree. I didn’t see the game you referenced but I have watched a lot of Alex Cobb. First off, he is pretty boring to watch. Very simple delivery, clean mechanics and repeatable . Secondly, he doesn’t light up the radar gun. Sits in the low 90’s with good sink. His split change up is definitely his out pitch and he throws it in any count. Curveball is an above average offering and his cutter is developing nicely. Three most important qualities for a pitcher are strike outs, groundballs, and limiting the free pass. Led the American League in gb% last season has shown above average k potential (>9k/9) in the minors.
A SP rotation of Wainy Harvey Estrada Parker Ryu Detwiler and Miller in a 12 team mixed 6×6 (OPS an QS). Do you and the Stache see that rotation competing?
@Justin: I do, yeah… Detwiler isn’t great though…
@Grey: Last pick of the draft, I had blacked out, he is the first drop of the year,
@Justin: Grab Teheran
I think that if Giancarlo really wants a fast ticket out of that mess in Miami he just needs to change his name one more time, to Fidel.
@nyydj2: Ha, good idea…
Grey, love the war room. Thank you very much for your work and time on that. Anyways, it tells me that I am light on Ks, Ws, and Rbis. I would really appreciate your thoughts and any advice going forward to defend my championship. Thanks!
ESPN 5×5 head-to-head (categories) 12-team, I picked from the 8th spot.
Sal.Perez
Goldschmidt
R. Weeks
Rollins
Zimmerman
MI-Rutledge
CI-C.Davis
McCutchen
Stanton
Choo
Aoki
UT-Frazier
BN-Bonifacio
SP-Scherzer
SP-Shields (didn’t want him, but took at 89)
SP-Peavy
SP-Parker
SP-Cahill
RP-Perkins
RP-Wilhelmsen
P-Hammel
P-Parnell
BN-Santos
BN-Fiers
BN-Cashner
BN-Iwakuma
@Traded a BJ for a Fister: Might be light because you’re only imputing 5 starters instead of six… Not sure, the team doesn’t look bad other than Shields… You look more light on average with hitting than anything…
@Grey:
Grey,
Why no love for Shields? He’s ranked 22 on your top 40 SP ( that’s right…I did the research that you did already) where your mention his fine periphals and improvements. granted his Kaufmann Stadium ERA was 6.somethin’, but it’s also true that it was against a Royals team that he technically isnt pitching to anymore….That’s a decent pitchers park for a guy that goes deep into games with a good K rate and is now supported by an argueably better offensive team in KC (as in not relying on Longoria’s quads to hold up…. Eva or Evan…whichever…..i ain’t picky’ bout quads) Shields should be fine slotted on a fantasy team as a 2/3 starter taken in the 6-8th round. No? C’mon….I know you are seeing the light on this! Just imagine saying this newfound knowledge in a fake italian accent and watch the ladies drop their gelatos and swoon at your feet…
There’s about 50 pitchers I like and you need about 6… I’m not messing with Shields because of how he pitched away from home in prior seasons…
@Grey:
The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Not good.
You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
I’d say more like one out of a million.
[pause]
So you’re telling me there’s a chance… *YEAH!*
One in 8900.
@Grey:
Haha…..I’m going to remember this conversation for when my boy Jimmy goes 15-7 with 201K’s and a 3.69 ERA this year. If he goes 7-15 with 159 K and a 5.90 ERA , then this conversation never happened…
disclaimer: .The fact that I love Shields this year and used the number 69 twice in that post is purely coincedental…
@Sange-da-man:
I meant once….the fact that I can’t count is NOT a coincedence…
Ha!
@Grey: hmmm is this particular list of 50 available in one place? Just an simple list of the 50 you like, regardless of overall rank. That’d be super helpful in a pinch. forgive me if im missing something obvious.
Thanks for this site, I’ve found myself unlearning all id picked up at the big corporate sights and finding the zen of fantasy baseball in your analysis. Much more in tune with the way i like to roll. Cheers.
@Traded a BJ for a Fister: As far as I can tell it doesn’t add in the bench players either, so no credit for any K’s from Cashmer and Fiers.
I drafted Fiers, Ryu, and Hughes – but B. Anderson is on the wire – should I ditch one of these guys for Mr. Anderson?
Thanks for the great work, guys!
@BrainsnotBraun: I’d hold for right now…
No love for Chuck D? I actually think he’s the best MC of all time, but that’s just me.
@RandomItalicizedVoice: In 1991 he probably was top five. As for all-time I would not have him in my top five.
Rakim, 2Pac, Andre 3000, Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick, Kool G Rap, Nas and some others are who I would consider.
@Wallpaper Paterson: Nice list. I feel like Rakim can be either overrated or incredibly underrated depending who you’re taking to.
@Wallpaper Paterson: I think Rick falls off the list if we go all-time…
@Wallpaper Paterson: Where’s Vanilla Ice?
@Wallpaper Paterson: No love for A Tribe Called Quest? (4 outstanding albums before it went bad)
@ETMcgee: thats a group, not an MC, and on their own, no way
@Jack Full of Hate: i can respect that you have your own opinion, but tip and phife were both certainly as good as guys like nas, killa, etc. (as a part of tribe, not on solo stuff)
Did you see the Beats, Rhymes, Life documentary? Really solid…
@ETMcgee: they are great together, just like many groups of their era, but when they had to stand on their own two feet, they couldn’t deliver. i love tribe, one of my top ten all time, but as solo mc’s, nah. The pharcyde is one of my all time favorites, but when they did solo it was horrible. Some people need the right person to feed off of and bring out their best. also who is making the beats can help drive a direction that better suits the MC, i think that was Phife and Tips problem. They tried to be who they were not….Nas is a douche
@Wallpaper Paterson: Rakim, 2Pac, Big L, KRS-One, and my sleepr is Talib Kwali
Tupac was barely a blip in 1991…
@Grey: I was going all time, circa 1991 then thats more like Rakim, KRS-One, Kool G rap, Ice Cube, and Too Short. 91 is a tough cut off point, so much game changing stuff came to the surface in 91. Cypress hill, DJ Quik, pete rock and CL Smooth, Black Sheep, Scarface doing solo work, the list goes on. I hate contempoary hip hop. its poop
Yeah, 91 was peak, then some guys came along that were excellent for a few years… I think B.I.G. was overrated… B.I.G. time…
@Grey: Thats a B.I.G. statement….I agree with you B.I.G. time. I like E-40 and the Click way better from that time
If he didn’t get shot, people would be like whatever happened to that big brother…
@Grey: I think his fame came more from the beats than the mic skills. if you take 2pac cut the music and only hear the lyrical content then there is no question who was better. BIG had great production work that made people drawn to it.
Biggie had a great album… Ready to Die was great in parts, not as a whole… That’s it. I don’t see how that stands up a bunch of other rappers… We’re on the same side here, Cust kayin’….
@Jack Full of Hate: That is a good list. Big L was the Lyman Bostock of hip hop. He provided enough of a sample for us to conclude he was at least very good but unfortunately he was killed and we did not get more.
@Wallpaper Paterson: I know the sad story, it sucked. he could have been up there. I think thats why I got into the underground game, late 90’s to mid 2000’s, it kept the art alive. B-Boy type shizz
@Wallpaper Paterson:
No Biggie?
I’d also add Black Thought to the discussion – dude is gifted. Saw him freestyle for, no joke, like 11 minutes straight one time, and just going at a jaw-droppingly fast pace the whole way thru. One of the most incredible musical feats I’ve ever seen.
@Goose: he’s over rated, seen the roots 3 times, never felt i got my moneys worth. for the free style game, Planet Asia, Gift of Gab, and this fat white dude i saw once called Dizzy Dustin from an underground group called Ugly Duckling was ridiculous.
@Jack Full of Hate:
I admit I’m not that knowledgeable about too many MCs, but it still was damn impressive – and whenever I see BT on late night, he’s pretty great. I feel like going “mainstream” (on tv) has to have increased his overall ranking, legacy-wise.
@Goose: the last time I saw them live was ’01 and they got blown off the stage by the Black Eyed Peas who performed with an LA based funk band instead of a DJ. Same concept, way better.
@Goose: That is why I wrote “and some others”. He was not a favorite of mine, but he was good and so was his first album.
Another guy who is especially skilled is Brotha Lynch Hung. Based upon the sound of his voice and his cadence and flow and what not, he could have been a superstar if he signed with a major label when he was young. Instead he stayed underground and focused on horrorcore rap. “Season of da Siccness” is a cult classic. “Loaded” was pretty good.
@Wallpaper Paterson: wow, never thought I would see a BLH drop in here. I think he’s from sac town. You bay area?
@Jack Full of Hate: Nope. Have lived in NJ my whole life but was not like so many other people from NY and NJ who hated on rappers from other regions. To me, good rap was good rap. If the guy was from Sacramento or Houston or Atlanta it did not matter to me.
@Wallpaper Paterson: A true lover of the Hip Hop. I always hated both the snotty NY thing and the us against the world west coast thing, if you got skills, then you got skills. Respect for Wallpaper Patterson.
@Jack Full of Hate: Thanks.
I was listening to OutKast since 1993 (debut album came out in ’94). I was definitely abnormal to be following rap artists from the south. My fellow classmates (HS and late college) were about the NY/NJ acts or the LA ones.
@RandomItalicizedVoice: Can’t agree… He never meant sh*t to me… He has some great moments, but that’s about it…
@Grey: So basically you’re saying fuck him *and* John Wayne?
Exactly what I’m saying…
How about Julio Teheran? He’s ranked in the 1000’s by ESPN.
I can’t remember exactly what off the top of my head, but he made a change in his motion or added a cutter or something late last year and he’s been a different pitcher since his disappointing start to 12 after 20.
@MrMojoRisin: I was kinda surprised to see he wasn’t on the list, and Dillon Gee, too. From what I’ve read on both of them, either one could be that breakout guy for 2013.
@Wilsonian: Gee is a back of the rotation starter on a mediocre team. On the Astros he is an ace.
Teheran has a much bigger ceiling than Gee.
@MrMojoRisin: I like Teheran, I just went over him in a roundup like 3 days ago…
12 team mixed, 6×6 head to head with OBP instead of AVG and TB, adding holds on pitching side. We keep 7. I kept:
Robinson Cano
Joey Votto
Hanley Ramirez
Brett Lawrie
Giancarlo Stanton
Justin Verlander
Madison Bumgarner
Best unprotected players are Edwin Encarnacion, BJ Upton.
Best unprotected pitchers are Adam Wainwright, Mat Latos, Max Scherzer, Kris Medlen, Jordan Zimmerman, Aroldis Chapman
I have the third pick. Assuming Encarnacion is gone, how would you rank the rest of them? If Upton is still available, should I take him over one of those starters? If not, which starter is the best one?
@Hawk: Upton, Upton, Upton… You have two top starters, you don’t need another top arm…
Quick note on Ryu since I saw you noted the Ted Lilly comment twice in your articles: Ryu is the Dodgers’ #4 starter, not #5. So when the Dodgers say they are considering Lilly for #5, they are not replacing Ryu in the rotation; rather, they would be replacing Chad Billingsley and his wonky elbow (the #5 starter). With the amount of money the Dodgers paid Ryu, he is locked in as a SP for start of the season.
Also on a complementary note–these sleeper posts are my favorite posts at Razzball in the offseason. Its what puts this site ahead of the rest. During the season, the daily roundups and the Buy/Sell columns are the stars.
@Adam: I don’t agree… Bills, if healthy, always had a job… Ryu was never locked in… Thanks for the kind words!
Need some help on making a keeper league pick (12 team, weekly head to head 1 win 5×5, start 9 bats, 5 SP, 2 RP)
* ~top 50 bats & top 30 SPs kept every year; Keep 6-8 players restriction free as long as you want
*current roster is 1B Votto, SS Reyes, OF Holliday, OF Heyward, SP Greinke, SP G Gonzlez, SP Gallardo
Here is best avail I believe:
2B A Hill
OF A Gordon
OF M Trumbo
OF C Granderson
OF J Reddick
3B M Macahado
2B/SS D Espinosa
2B J Altuve
2B J Kipnis
3B C Headley
3B M Moustakas
SP R Halladay
SP J Parker
SP B Anderson
1B E Hosmer
1B/3B T Frazier
1B I Davis, 1B F Freeman, 1B A Rizzo
31 SP already off the table so Roy is clearly the best avail, but tempting to fill holes at 2B, OF, take a flier at 3B. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance
@Matt B: You don’t need another SP… I’d take a 2B or another OF if that’s the 3B available…
I’m not that big of a Lou Reed fan either, and I hate to advocate a compilation, but “The Best of the Velvet Underground” is pretty damn solid from start to finish.
@Fooch: Maybe I’ll check it out, but I haven’t liked anything I’ve heard by them…
@Grey: Wait until the next time you drive to Vegas. Pop it in the ole 8-track around Victorville or Barstow.
@Fooch: @Fooch:
Love Lou’s song “Perfect Day” off his second solo album. A personal anthem of mine.
Okay Greystroke-Lord of the OPS…Here is my Yahoo pro league roto 5×5 12 team squad. How am I looking?
C Santana C
I Davis 1b
J Rutledge 2b
P Sandoval 3b
B Zobrist SS
J Upton OF
R Braun OF
J Heyward OF
C Gomez UTL
A Dunn UTL
J Gyorko BN
C Hart BN
B Belt BN
K Medlin SP
J Samardgiza SP
M Estrada SP
J Parker SP
W Miley SP
J teheran SP
P Hughes BN
K Fujikawa BN
C Marmol RP
E Frieri RP
I know the relievers are weak but I always seem to pick up a Kimbril/Chapman thanks to you G Money!
@Clubber Lane: You’re looking good, cuz… Nice balanced hitting team… You have too many bench bats… I like the pitching, but it’s very high risk high reward… Be nice to see someone safer there… You seemed to sacrifice some pitching for hitting…
@Grey:
@Grey: Keep up the great work discovering those pitching gems.
Thanks!
Grey – Speaking of low end pitchers….Streaming a pitcher with good to great matchups in a 10-team H2H league with DAILY lineups. Assuming no one trys to block my streaming effort that pitcher would be equal to a ___ ranked pitcher?
@Tom: Impossible to say
Mr. Gray: I think, I have personally fixed my puter’s cursor problem …. Nope, just did it again… Darn it…. What happens on here is the cursor just sticks too… It takes about 10 seconds or more to regain control of it again to move it back… Very frustrating
I’ll slog on… MOVED!!! Writing on a Doc page now – not your template… Cursor is working much better here…
You didn’t get to see the story of what happened to me at the library when I posted from there last time – it got ate by your system… Perhaps, I’ll share it sometime again…
On pitching in our ESPN draft… Someone went off on starting pitching …. Grabbing the BIG ones one the first turn … And kept it up….
I stopped at 3 top pitchers in rounds 3 – 6
Price – My guy
Darvish – Jumped him up
Sale – Last target one left I got a shot at…
I was at the top end of the board… By the time I got back at the start of the 9th round all my target guys were gone… 6th – 8th was a pitcher-mania time..
So the 11th rolled around … I grabbed Lincecum ( yeah, I know you hate him… But, he is a success or failure guy for me… If he fails, he becomes my match up slot… 60 – 80 starts)
I decided there to forgo more SP… Went for Closers 14th – 19th rds… I drafted 5 lower-end ones and ended with Fujikawa too… I will SP match up or try to replace them in their slots as they fall from grace and become RP ordinaries… I will keep them all for now and allow attrition to do its job.. I don’t think, I will lack for quality starts with just 4 SPs on paper now… A good Plug-in Plug Off Pitching Potential roster…
My draft had a brain freeze around the 10th rd… First time ESPN… OK… Expected it
I don’t have a really good O team… But, I think, it has descent BA/Power Potential, … Speed will have to come from the puddle… The best place for it IMO… No love for Jay at draft… He was just picked up after 5 days in the puddle… He is the Keppinger of the OF IMO
Relying on some good seasons out of a well placed hitters with very strong MLB lineup spots across the board from all – many from weaker teams… lots of 3 4 5 types
I am not happy with some ESPN features… The Trade one needs a fail-safed 2nd page and cancel offer feature like Yahoo does… Bad info/instructions on using it… Almost got stuck with a trade by it… Lucky the guy didn’t do it…
I’m also worried about the system being too techie…. The game is getting far to tech driven IMO… Is the winner going to become the best tech guy in the near future???…
Worried about barging in the player add system for future dates… Will await making a judgment on this… Will explain what I mean here if it becomes an issue…
O’ yeah…. I’m worried Suzanne Somers may be in my league… And to make things worse… I think, Como, our commish, is a Joan Rivers clone..
@T Moore:
Too much pitching TMoore. Way too many closers too early. Gonna struggle.
Have you tried using Firefox instead of IE to get to Razzball? Seems to be a little happier.
@Oaktown Steve:
Steve: Love Closers…. Half will be killed off anyway… Too hard to get there quick enough to replace them anymore. during the year…. Unless you live on your puter…
My techie point comes into play here… It has become a twitter alert game… You get notifications and make your move… Others less techie are screwed….
Think a waiver for all players taken in a day should exist… Say, at 4 AM EST to give the west coast guys a late night chance…Alll player added should be under this blanket waiver rule leveling the playing field… It has become a stupid race
I should try Google chrome… I do have that… Thanks for the tip… Don’t know all this puter stuff
@T Moore: There’s a Louie CK episode where he has a bad show and Joan Rivers consoles him and gives him sage advice about the life of a stand-up comic. Louie misinterprets her signals and tries to make a move on her. She rejects him.
I think to be rejected by Joan Rivers is perhaps the ultimate slap in the face for a male. The only thing worse would be being rejected by Cher.
Hmmm… the Magpies sort of blow. Like a blue whale! Lucky you got MCab as an anchor. You also sniped Frieri from me, damn you to hell!
Either way, I’d say both our teams need a little help from the fantasy baseball gods (no doubt our faces could use the same love).
@JoeC:
F***ing love Louis CK
@JoeC:
Joanie Baby!!!: Yeah, my teams always look funky… I play the game differently than most…
This is a low expectation year for me … Until, I figure out the how the puddle works in ESPN, compared to Yahoo…
As to the other teams in our league, I’m not convinced anyone is in a runaway position…
Who is Louie CK… I don’t watch much TV … To busy with my fantasy meditation, telepathy experiments and attempts at successful time travel.. And of course, paranormal fantasy sports…
You don’t happen to play Barclay’s EPL fantasy foolball (real football)… Great game that…
@T Moore: Louis CK is a professional comic and he has a show called “Louie”. It’s a strange mix of Seinfield, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Dallas. It’s true-to-life, depressing, and horribly funny. Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you don’t like Louie, you are a rotten bastard who probably kicks puppies.
@T Moore: I agree with Steve on both counts… If Somers is in your league, tell her Janet is the real star…
@Grey:
Why am I not surprised you think that about my pitching….
Where’s peacock? ;)
@Pea cock:
He’s having a good spring. As a sidebar, I don’t think the Astros will be as lousy as everybody says they will. I’m super impressed with Bo Porter. Carlos Pena, who is one of the best and brightest people in MLB was on XM the other day just raving about camp, about the coaching staff, about the focus and the preparation. Their hitting instructor John Mallee is getting a lot respect from insiders. Hard work pays off.
There are actually quite a few reasonable late round options on the ‘Stros. Love Jason Castro. Ripping up spring. Kind of a post-hype sleeper without the hype. Chris Carter should love the short porch in left. Brett Wallace has made some swing adjustments. There’s Maxwell who has 20/20 potenatial with BA risk. One guy who has been glove first who might be able to be useful in super deep leagues and only leagues is Matt Dominguez. He’s another guy who could benefit from the short left field. Might play 162 games because his defense will be well above average.
@Oaktown Steve: minus that 6+ era last year in AAA he was the perfect sleeper.
@Pea cock:
He was stuck in the Super Nintendo PCL last year. He still managed 9+ K/9 last year. Having a real solid spring. Good prospect pedigree. A’s soured on him.
@OaktownSteve: I don’t care if he pitched in a little league dimensions park…a 6+ era is a 6+ era. A guy in my league actually drafted him last year. Knowing he must’ve been an avid razzball reader, I was able to trade him longoria for a pretty penny…before his annual injury. Thanks guys.
@Pea cock:
I’ll give you the statline…you give me the player:
19 games 67.2 IP, 4-7 record 10.64 ERA, 2.20 WHIP, 5.85 K/9
Give up?
Roy Halladay year 2000
things can change.
@Oaktown Steve: I like Dominguez a lot too. He put up great numbers and is a former 1st rounder. grey hates him, but I don’t. Might be a nice guy to have in a 14+ or maybe a 3B/CI for early drafters of Wright.
@Jack Full of Hate:
I’m looking at him primarily because I need to back up 3b since losing Headley. I have Josh Donaldson, but I’d like to be covered for a month or two with a reserve just in case. Other choices are bad. Polanco, Valbuena are other choices.
@OaktownSteve: No Arendo, Chisenhall, johnson, or Francisco. I would take a shot at MD over Polanco, you might get the guy who in 31 games last year went .284 with 14/5/16/0 with 9XBH, downside is that 17/4 K/BB ratio.
@Jack Full of Hate:
15 team 2 catcher league with 7 player bench. Pickins are slim, especially pre-season before there are changes in the starters and injuries (other than the one to my effing guy of course).
There’s actually a solid chance that I could try and FAAB Dominguez and not get him if I low ball.
@OaktownSteve: with headly lamars injury, MD’s relative value goes up more for you. If he lands a good spot in the order then might be a decent source of RBI’s since i think Pena, Martinez and JD will K a lot.
@OaktownSteve: I miss playing big leagues
@Jack Full of Hate:
NFBC. It’s a pretty good place to test your fantasy chops. I like the format. No trades, 450 players rostered, FAAB.
Which of these guys would especially be successful in a daily H2H league where I can closely watch the match-ups? I’d assume Cashner and Milone would apply because of favorable home parks. Anybody else?
@Jon: Depends on the matchups…
10 team, h2h with the following pitching stats: W, L, K, ERA, WHIP, Sv, Hld, CG and QS. No innings limit and daily lineups.
What are some weak spots I could look to upgrade at?
SP: Bum, Gio, Moore, Gallardo, Bailey, Estrada
RP: Perkins, Wilhelmson, Chisek, Robertson
Available FA: Fiers, Doubront, Ryu, Cook, Hammel
Or should I look to trade one or two of the higher rated guys for bats and use the available guys at the back end of the rotation?
Thanks!
@Cartman 4evs: Your pitching is plenty solid… Hold for now…
@Cartman 4evs: you’ll be too thin if you trade one. You only have a couple of legit guys. No every razzball sleeper will pan out so don’t rely on the WW for your pitching stats.
I liked the T&T mention. My wife is from there. I betcha Razz all has no readers native to that country.
@Wallpaper Paterson: I don’t know, we have some far reaches…
@Grey: They like cricket and non American football there. I will find out how much they like baseball, if at all, when I visit in a year or two.
There’s gotta be a few ex-pats…
@Wallpaper Paterson: And sprinting, right? Hasely Crawford anyone?
@Steve: Yes, sprinting too.
@Wallpaper Paterson: And kinda cool that T & T produced one of the greatest cricketers of all time…
Hey Grey,
I have a free roster spot available in my 12 Team Yahoo H2H 5×5 and I’m looking to grab either a starter or RP. The best available SP are Derek Holland, Andrew Cashner, Mike Fiers, Alex Cobb, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Francisco Liriano (for some reason I have an unhealthy affinity for him), Bud Norris and James McDonald. As for RPs there are guys like Sergio Santos and Kyuji Fujikawa.
My current SPs are Latos, Zimm, Lester, Niese, Milone, P. Hughes, Teheran and my RPs are Betancourt, Holland and Parnell.
Who should I grab?
@B.J.: Santos
I’m in a 20 team h2h dynasty league. Do I trade longoria profar wheeler crawford for Ian desmond ellsbury and moustAkas? Also CHRIS carter was dropped. Who do I drop to pick him up? Thanks!
c jp arencibia
1b prince fielder
2b neil walker
ss yunel Escobar
3b miguel cabrera
inf evan longoria
lf michael morse
cf norichika aoki
rf justin upton
of carl crawford
util desmond jennings
bn Travis snider
bn jurickson profar
bn peter bourjos
sp clayton kershaw
sp cliff lee
sp yu darvish
sp daniel straily
rp sean doolittle
rp mat belisle
rp Jose veras
rp joe kelley
p mat thorton
p Jason motte
p aaron harang
p Barry zito
bn zack wheeler
@Ryan: That trade isn’t good… Drop Snider for Carter…
Ryu is my #2 SP. My team rocks. :)
I only wish I was in a razzball league. I’d win for sure.
@papasmurf: Jaywrong has a post coming tomorrow that you’ll be happy about…
I’m hoping Eovaldi develops into a pitcher over the course of the year. He’s a work in progress right now and definitely carry-able in deep leagues. He misses surprisingly few at bats for a guy that throws that hard. I think it’s because his 4 seam doesn’t have a ton of movement. I’ve heard that he’s throwing his 2 seam a lot more which can make him a better pitcher but doesn’t necessarily up his K rate. What I’m hoping is that he continues to command both fastballs well and gets whiffs with the slider and that will put him at a 7+ K/9. Then if he can develop any kind of change of speed, it rounds out his stuff and the K rate could go right through the roof.
@Oaktown Steve: Agreed, but I’d love to see him hit 8 K/9…
@Grey: @Fooch:
you and me both. If a guy throws that hard at least there’s a chance. It’s not like he’s Jason Vargas.
Somewhere, Rudy shed a tear…
@Grey: I do like guys with FB speed. Oaktown nailed his issue though – he doesn’t miss bats. Given he has no W potential, he’s a hard one for me to like outside of NL-only. He writes great concertos though.
@Rudy Gamble:
I think there are some signs. Super small sample, but his last two starts of 2012 were 8Ks/2BB in 6 and 7k/1 BB in 6. From August 24 on he brought his walk rate down to 2.25/9. What that says to me is he discovered fastball command. And that is a two way benefit because it lead not only to fewer walks but also to more strike outs.
A lot of guys like that with his stuff, this is the career trajectory they follow. First they learn to command the fastball. Then the develop the secondary stuff. Then they refine the art of pitching and aren’t just throwers any more. He’s somewhere on the early part of that continuum, but the signs are pointing upward. The solid spring and being counted as the Marlins 2 right now are encouraging.
Just because he hasn’t missed bats so far doesn’t mean he can’t. Anybody who throws that hard can. The key will be building on the end of last year and the spring. I think he’s at 7.2 K/9 for the spring with a low 3’s ERA.
Sounds like a reasonable outcome. I’ll be keeping an eye on him in our 15-team leagues…
@Rudy Gamble: In honor of you i have drafted Berkman twice. i hope it’s not the texas heat affecting you. I get him real cheap so its a low risk
@Jack Full of Hate:
I am right with you on Berkman. Seriously, you’re getting a guy a year removed from a 90/31/94/.301 season who is going to be getting most of his at bats from the left side in what is very arguably the best park for left handed hitters in all of baseball. Oh and he’s going to hit 3rd, by the way. And his ADP is 251.
Yeah he might get hurt. But he might not. He’s not even going to have to take the field. All he has to do is hit singles and homers.
sweet.
Grey with Hughes getting good news and looking like hes gonna be ready to start the season is he worth drafting and what round?
@mikey boy324: Could see a flyer on him in the late 100’s early 200’s…
I would like my fantasy pat on the back for warning ya’ll about Hanson for the last 3+ years…
I would also like a pat on the butt from any member of Hanson (still spreading the word about your greatness bro…you know who I mean…no, not the drummy Hanson…the other one…yeah, you!)
@Wake Up: Ha… Mmmpat…
@Grey would you rather take a super late MI flier on Jordanny Valdespin or Eduardo Nunez? Is it close between the two?
Thanks!
@Bill_Buckner: It’s close… Valdespin…
@Bill_Buckner: Valdespin might see more playing time so go with him. There is not much separating them.
Thanks as always for the great (and more importantly, sarcastic advice). Two questions, one slightly more off topic than the other.
Just finished up a roto dynasty draft, and my starters are looking pretty weak (Morrow, Vogelsong and Johan are my top three). Someone has Cueto on the block and I have an abundance of MI (Andrus, Castro, Kinsler, Altuve, A. Ramirez). I was thinking of offering Andrus straight up… Yay or Nay (or neigh if you’re a horse)?
Next off topic question – H2H keeper league (7+a rookie with no prior MLB experience) draft this weekend. How early is too early to take Oscar Tavares. I’ve got the 4th pick in a snake draft, and didn’t know if I’d be reaching by taking him with my first or second pick (9/10th round).
Thanks in advance.
Neigh… I don’t think that would be reaching for Taveras…
Any list that doesn’t start with KRS-ONE, is not right…meaning not correct but also that it ain’t right…j essin’
@Wake Up: I thought of him, but he never had me move the crowd…
@Grey: I like your list, I like moustaches, I love beards, I mean I might even lourve beards for all I know, (insert your joke other random blog reader)…
I’m all about Business as Usual…I would probably replace “Are we done yet” with Breath Control on my list, j essin’
Plus, the song “Breath Control” basically invented yoga…and that my friend is Edutainment…
Business as Usual and Strictly Business are two of the best albums of all-time… ALL-TIME… From Manslaughter on, Business as Usual may be pound for pound the best album the Beatles wish they did…
@Grey: No need to convince me that the Beatles are way overrated!
and thanks for the mmmpat!
@Grey: Funny I was like why are you referencing the Men at Work album when discussing rappers.
Ha!
@Grey: can’t argue that so i won’t
greyman,
got longo, votto, swiggy, cutch, kemp
next pick should be holliday, zobrist, santana, c.lee, hamels,
respeckt.
@the grate one: 2 team league?
12 team keeper
Not a starter question but would you punt saves in a 6×6 h2h category has a blown save – 1 point. Load up on Starters and go after Quality Starts
I wouldn’t punt saves…
Colvin or Adam Lind at CI?
Neither? Lind…
@Grey: I know. Do you like Alfonso Soriano or Ruggiano better?
Go with Lind for now…
How comfortable should I feel about my SP in one of my money leagues? I tried to hitting early and then in the mid-rounds alternating between hitting and pitching.
Darvish, Chapman, Moore, Morrow, Samardzija, Harvey, Anderson, Estrada.
Roto, 10 team, 5×5 cats.
It looks solid, I’d be comfortable…
@Grey: @Grey: Would you prefer Ruggiano over Lind?
Eh, they’re tomato tomahto right now…
Thought I would share where I was able to grab Beckett and Burnett in two different RCL’s
Beckett 18th (210) & 22nd (264) – Grey Rank 167/ E$PN Rank 227
Burnett 15th (175) & 19th (217) – Grey Rank 141/ E$PN 200
I think these are two great late round grabs, in Beckett’s 43 innings with LA he had a 2.93/1.33 with 38K’s and of that at home in 18 innings he had a 1.50/1.39 with 20K’s. Lastly Beckett is an every other year man playing for his last big contract and this is the good side of his every other year syndrome.
I agree, they’re vets that should put together solid if unremarkable number 3 to 4 fantasy starter seasons…
@Grey: I have them as my 4 and 5 in one league and 5 and 6 in another.
would you take benoit over friers right now. i have 6 solid starters and Shelby Miller chillin in limbo
Not over Frieri…
@Grey: have you covered marcum in any posts
I don’t like him… He’s ranked…
@Grey: Friers not frieri….I just caught that
Oh! Fiers over Benoit…
@Grey: so thats a yes, I only have holland and wilhelson
Hold for a spell, it’s not a dire move to make right now…
Keeper league with a r9 Strasburg and a r16 Chris Sale. 12 team h2h 5×5
My reading of your advice is I can then wait until r11 types (like Morrow). Then wait until r14 types (like Jarrod Parker). Then take whoever I damn well please. (1) Is that approach sound?
(2) Alternatively, would you feel comfortable skipping until the Jarrod Parker types and stock up on the high upside dorks like Parker? I’d normally do this one but the risk of Sale breaking feels too high to run what could quickly become “stras and some kids.”
It is sound… I could see skipping Parker and going upside… You have two aces… Assuming Sale stays healthy…
Off-topic from your post, but drafting tomorrow. Which hyped up prospect would you take in a keep 6, 12 T H2H with usual 5 cats + BB & TB as a potential break-out? Obviously with keep only 6, if they don’t make enough impact this year I can just redraft them and not worth wasting a bench spot. Ordered in my preference right now.
Leonys Martin
Jedd Gyorko
Oscar Taveras
Wil Myers
Gyorko
I have yovani gallardo on my team and I have been offered zack greinke for him in a trade. Should I do it?
I’d take Greinke…
BTW – your yahoo rankings aren’t correct any more. Yahoo made a massive ranking change i believe on sunday, Altered it a lot.
Would be cool to see another overvalued/undervalued yahoo list again.
Top 25
Default Rankings
1. Mike Trout
2. Miguel Cabrera
3. Ryan Braun
4. Robinson Cano
5. Matt Kemp
6. Carlos Gonzalez
7. Andrew McCutchen
8. Joey Votto
9. Albert Pujols
10. Prince Fielder
11. Clayton Kershaw
12. Giancarlo Stanton
13. Justin Verlander
14. Stephen Strasburg
15. Jose Bautista
16. Troy Tulowitzki
17. Adrian Beltre
18. Dustin Pedroia
19. Bryce Harper
20. David Wright
21. Jose Reyes
22. Evan Longoria
23. Justin Upton
24. Hanley Ramirez
25. Josh Hamilton
@Mitch: holy crap, Harper at 19?! Too bad, I was hoping to have him on at least one of my teams this year. No way in hell that’s happening now.
@Bill_Buckner: yea harper jumped, cargo jumped, i think longoria went down. Round 4-5 yahoo has like 15 pitchers ranked and every mock there appears to be a run.
Gotcha… Yeah, I’m not going to go back over those…
While I usually hate to burn keeper spots on pitchers, I have a dearth of bats for good value, but have 1B, 2B, 3B and my OF1 spot locked up already. With the news about Aroldis possibly staying a closer, would you keep him and give up a 14th round pick, or Niese for a 21st rounder? 10-team H2H, 5×5.
I’d keep Aroldis…
Grey,
Have a SP rotation of Sale, Gio (got to keep those two at late value), Moore, Lester, Anderson and Cobb. Who would you pick up of the following to fill my rotation out: Tillman, Fiers, Griffin, Gee, Dubrount? Since it’s early I am leaning toward the upside play over safe floor so who you think?
Thanks
Fiers
Well Gman I attempted to follow your pairings but SP started going earlier than expected and it fell apart after Wainwright. I probably should have reached for a Smarjdizda or a Zimmerman but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. So the good news is I have most of the guys in this post on my team. The bad news is I have most of the guys in this post on my team. How bad off am I in a 12team H2H weekly pts?
A Wainwright
M Minor
A Cobb
M Harvey
T Milone
B McCarthy
B Norris
C Tillman
A Cashner
C Perez
G Cole
Bit wonky on upside… Be nice to see one more guy that could be trusted besides… Well, do you have anyone on there that’s thrown 200 IP in the past 2 years?
@Grey: Yeah I figured I could get plenty of boring during the season on waivers or in trade and went with upside but I see what you mean. I’m going to grab Luebke and stash him leaving me room for one more pitcher. Any of these guys worth adding:
Lohse, Smyly, Erasmo Ramirez, Corbin, Eovaldi, Joe Kelly
I’d hold for now…
Hey Grey,
I really didn’t want to burden you with a quick team analysis, but I couldn’t resist.
12 team mixed, 6×6 head to head with OBP instead of AVG, 3 OF, 2 UTIL. Had the 9 pick.
My main question really is if you think I should drop Bundy, or any of the other prospects I drafted. It’s a keeper league and you keep the player 3 rounds prior.
C: Carlos Santana (I couldn’t resist taking a catcher because I had 9-12 as keeper picks, proved costly as Salvador Perez, and Wilin both fell drastically, so of a!)
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Ian Kinsler
3B: Adrian Beltre
SS: Ian Desmond
OF: Giancarlo Stanton
OF: Matt Holliday
OF: Allen Craig
UTIL: Josh Rutledge
UTIL: Josh Reddick
BN: Leonys Martin (Round 19)
BN: Oscar Taveras (Round 23)
BN: Travis d’Arnaud (Round 24)
SP: Matt Moore
SP: Kris Medlen
SP: Jeff Samardzija
RP: Mariano Rivera
RP: Glen Perkins
P: Mike Minor
P: Marco Estrada
P: Mike Fiers
BN: Steve Cishek
BN: Jason Hammel
BN: Dylan Bundy (Round 21)
I know the pitching is not that great. Plan was to just throw out a lot of guys, and draft the ones you felt were undervalued/awesome, problem is I didn’t even draft enough pitchers, stupid!
So yea just wondering about Bundy, Leonys, Oscar, and Travis. Would you drop any of these guys now? Should I wait for the first Buy/Sell?
Btw I had made a habit of sending my Phillies friend anything you wrote about Charlie Manuel, he is now a full Razz-addict, and contemplating growing a mustache. I told him there are not enough antlers in the world that could help him equal your mustachio-ness, but that Grey would surely welcome you to the brotherhood.
Your pitching isn’t terrible… I think your hitting is definitely stronger though, which is a good thing, not a bad one… Lose Bundy and d’Arnaud… Ha! re: your Philly buddy…
@Grey: Gotcha, thanks grey!
greyman,
repose from above
got longo, votto, swiggy, cutch, kemp in 12 tm keepers
next pick should be holliday, zobrist, santana, c.lee, hamels,
respeckt.
You can take Lee or Hamels… You have a solid hitting core already…
Hey Grey,
Last night you approved my team in the 14 team h2h, 5×5 plus XBH, OBP, K/BB and Holds, league. As I mentioned there, part of my frustration arose from having to also draft much of my brother in law’s team. So, did I screw him over? He picked from the 5th position.
C- Napoli (136)
1B- Pujols (5)
2B- Kipnis (52) [got bumped offline]
3B- Sandoval (61) [autopicked when we were switching to him drafting]
SS- Asdrubal (80)
IF- Freeman (89)
OF- J. Upton (24)
OF- Trumbo (108)
OF- Morse (192)
OF- Marte (229)
UTIL- Middlebrooks (145)
BN- Granderson (117)
BN- L. Martin (304)
SP- Felix (33)
SP- Fister (164)
RP- Reed (202)
RP- Fujikawa (276)
RP- Rondon (285)
RP- Doolittle (332)
P-Bailey (173)
P- Hellickson (220)
P- Jackson (248)
BN- Myers (360)
BN- Madson (257)
BN- Beachy (341)
BN- Gee (313)
He took over at Asdrubal in the 6th round, and had to have me draft for him again starting at round 17 (Marte). I felt like some earlier picks put me at a disadvantage, so I had to go with upside picks…anyhow, is he in trouble, and what should I advise him to pursue? The top 8 teams make the playoffs, so I think that once Granderson returns, and later Beachy, he should be pretty competitive, but until then, he needs good performances from some people I don’t believe in too much, like Kipnis and Asdrubal, as well as a good early start from those I do believe in, like Pujols, Upton, and Marte.
Yikes, you don’t like your brother-in-law? Team’s not bad… Don’t love the OF after Trumbo and the pitching staff leaves something to be desired… Like a #2 or #3 SP…
@Grey: I do like my brother in law, that’s why I drafted him Pujols and Upton! I could have left Upton on the board and hoped he fell to me three picks later (which may have happened- the intervening picks were Price and Dickey), but there wasn’t a lot I could do about his pitching when I took over again at #248. Well, hopefully Morse will thrive in Seattle!
@Grey: I’m going to tell him to grab a SP or two from Wily, Vargas, and Norris. Otherwise, I think it’s going to be wait and see, and hopefully he can stay in the middle until people start coming off the DL. Thanks for the input, and for rhetorically questioning my fondness for a relative!
Ha… No problem…
@Grey: Sorry, one more Q. Should he stash Bundy? Or too early for that?
Too early…
@royce!: Oh, and one other thing, once people go on the DL, he’ll have two open spots. I was going to tell him to use those for SP flyers (I’m not really stoked on his pitching past Fister).
so we established you don’t like marcum would you replace him with any of these
Buchholtz
Lohse
Johan
Capuano
Floyd
Worley
Smyly
Kendrick
Peralta
Kendrick for now…
@Grey: GRACIAS
I’m using Chrome, and keep getting this message when I visit the site:
This page requires AC_RunActiveContent.js.
Any ideas?
@royce!: I’ve been getting that a lot lately too.
@Jack Full of Hate: I cleared my cache over the last 4 weeks and it seems to have disappeared. I also had one prompt that asked me if I wanted to stop doing something, though I can’t recall the wording, and I said yes. I probably just infected my computer, so…smart dude, this one.
My web person says to clear your browser cache… Let me know if that doesn’t fix it…
@Grey: Hehe. ‘Clear the cache’ is the oldest tech support trick in the book. :-)
Ha… It’s all I got…
@royce!: I’ll try that. Thanks
Hmm… Will ask my web person…
I know it’s Firefox support, but prolly similar, no?
Hey Grey, great stuff as usual, I love these Players to Target post…I also have not been able to get Cobb, he went 159 in my last draft and received a couple “great pick” in the chat box.
I have a 12-team 5×5 roto 4-player keeper league where you lose the round you drafted the player in. My keepers are Lawrie, Jennings, Heyward, and Medlen. My 1st 2 pick are #11 and #14. These are the players that will most likely be available around those picks Longoria, Kemp, Hamilton, Beltre, Kinsler, Bautista, Gonzalez, Tulo, Reyes, Pedroia…what pairings would you target?
Since I already have a 3B, I guess Longo and Beltre are out of the picture…I also doubt Kemp and Tulo make it.
Nice… Yeah, not a 3B… Could see Kemp and Kinsler… Or Kemp and A-Gon…
@Grey: If Kemp doesn’t fall…would you go Hamilton or Bautista ?
Yup
Got offered this trade in 12-team keeper league, standard 5×5 roto.
Give
C Lucroy
RP Wilhelmsen
Get
C Pierzynski
SP Dempster
Currently leaning no. I figure that Lucroy for Pierzynksi is basically a wash. The question is, can I give up Wilhelmsen and still be competitive in saves/do I need Dempster? Sort of a SAGNOF vs. streaming idea. Current RP besides Wilhelmsen are Romo, Holland, and Perkins. Current SP are F-Her, the Whirling Darvish, Niese, Miley, Vogelsong, and McCarthy.
Not good
@It’s A Trap!: ask rudy this same question. Answer: Drop pants and run to accept!
@It’s A Trap!: @prezii: Dempster, no thanks. Avoiding marginal SPs in all formats this year and just about everyone who pitches in AL East short of Price, Dickey, and Sabathia would fall into this category (Lester could surprised but he burned me too much last year). I like Wilhelmsen a lot. Wouldn’t make this trade at all.
@Rudy Gamble: How are you defining marginal, Rudy? A specific point shares ranking?
nothing mathematic but i suppose it would be guys near or below 0.0 Point Shares (~$10 or less based on my values). Those types of SPs are fungible in 10/12-team leagues. In RCL league, the only SPs I drafted in that area were Lance Lynn (14th) and Derek Holland (19th) as I think both have upside. I think a good rule of thumb is no more than 2 of those guys in an RCL league with 2-3 SPs that are above 1.0 PS ($12+).
@Rudy Gamble: wasnt it you who was high on crack? I mean dempster… Might have been Nick… My apoligies Rudz!
It was JB who was high on Dempster…
@Grey: one of you assholes…. Sorry i should have known rudy is far too intelligent to think dempster is gonna have a year..
Is it possible to put Gyorko in my 2B or CI spot in the Online War Room tool?
Thanks.
What’s he missing? He doesn’t have Yahoo 2B eligibility yet…
@Grey:
He’s 2B eligible on ESPN.
Hmm… Well, that’s an issue… I need to ask the programmer to fix, so it could be a bit…
@Grey:
Thanks! I love the site and the podcsat, BTW. Stream-o-nator pretty much won me my league last year.
Sweet… Thanks!
I have an extra bat In Starling Marte to trade for a SP because I need a little more rotation depth. Its my dyansty league and Ive been offered Derek Holland for him. Do you think its a good enough SP to get in return for Marte?
It’s not enough…
12 team H2H (that counts losses and CG’s as well)
Current staff:
Gio
Peavy
Samardjiza
H Bailey
Beckett
Fiers
Miley
Griffin
Milone
Gee
Teheran
Available from your list are: Norris, Eovaldi, Cashner, Peralta and Kendrick. Make any changes?
I’d hold for now…
Do you like Rick Porcello if he lands the 5th starter spot for the Tigers (or gets traded to the Padres!)?
Rank these late upside flier SP’s: James McDonald, Porcello, Teheran, Shelby Miller
Thanks!
Ha… Yeah, on the Padres… I ranked them in my rankings…
Mr. Grey,
Just finished a mixed league keeper draft. Ten teams, OBP vs AVG. How did I do?
C Yadier Molina (keeper)
1B Allen Craig (keeper)
2B Rickie Weeks
SS Ben Zobrist (keeper)
3B Miguel Cabrera (keeper)
MI Everth Cabrera
CI Brandon Belt
OF Adam Jones (Keeper)
OF Matt Holliday
OF Josh Willingham (keeper)
OF Desmond Jennings (keeper)
UT Nori Aoki
UT Michael Cuddyer
UT Torii Hunter
Bench Alexei Ramirez
Bench Yonder Alonso
Bench Darin Mastroianni
P Jordan Zimmerman
P AJ Burnett
P Homer Bailey
P Hiroki Kuroda
P Anibal Sanchez
P Dillon Gee
P Craig Kimbrel (keeper)
P Fernando Rodney (keeper)
P John Axford
P Kenley Jensen
Bench Tommy Milone
Bench Wade Davis
And I have Wily Peralta and Chris Archer in my Minor league slots.
I don’t love the team…. You’re weak on power… Very weak, actually…. Not sure I understand your pitching staff either…
@Grey:
Interesting. Using your projections I finish with 288 HR, 1109 RBI, 1069 Runs which places me third in all three categories based on last years standings. Not sure I agree with you on the power.
As to my pitching, I have three closers and closer in waiting. I know my starters are not all top of the line but you have to make concessions somewhere.
“when I come around, homeboy watch your nugget” – EPMD
You sniff blow? Hell no, got my whole life ahead of me no time to be sniffin’ parents find out and they start riffin….
@Grey: niceeee, gett it greyy
Oh, it’s got.
strawberry donuts are here!
Booyakasha!
@Grey: you can come watch a Quakes game and grab some when you come out this way. Too bad Puig won’t be in High A this year
Yeah, never been to one of those games, not a bad idea…
@Grey: when the angels owned them they did taco tuesdays ($1) but now its just cheap beer nights
Mmm…tacos….
Is a greydar similar to a gaydar?
Exactly the same.
@Grey: idk why but i just loled to that… Legit..
Now that Hanley is not going to be there Opening Day, my terrible choices are Jhonny Peralta or Luis Cruz, Nakajima, Pennington, Ciriaco, Barmes, Izturis, or Kozma?
Ciriaco
in a 12 team h2h pts keeper league, who’s a better add?
peralta, eovaldi, tillman
thanks!
Tillman
14 Team Keeper 6×7 with OBP TB and L
Moustakas/Harvey for Kinsler?
My 3B is Longo, so Moose is expendable sort of. Haren/Lince/Harvey/Parker/Beachy are my top 5 SPs.
Kinsler
@Grey: He wants more. So Moose and Trumbo for Kinsler. Who wins then?
Eh
I was watching Dan Patrick on TV the other day and saw that some fan has been getting portraits of Dan and the Danettes. has that happened in Razzball yet?
No, but it should…
@Grey: GREY on one knuckle and RUDY on the other. The razzball duality. You guys are Barnes and Elias, my two FBB Fathers. Hmmmm, could be more like a my two dads situation which makes Rudy Paul Riser and you the hip dad with the beard
Since I got to be FPJ, I’ll take Evigan.
@Grey: hehe…. you knew his name
@Grey: Still riding on the coat-tails of BJ And The Bear, eh?
Going with his peak of My Two Dads…
@Grey: Well, he is a Jersey boy…
the hip dad was from my hometown…go figure…
Respect the top 5 of ’91 son. I know you’re a West Coast guy so I don’t mind Cube on there just has to go anywhetr after the GOD Rakim.
Of I loved the War Room download. Best draft tool ever.
Respect… I grew up in Jersey, I could’ve put Treach on there… Cube in 91 was the king.
Would you cut Dempster for any of the following (W, L, SV, Ks, Ks/9, ERA, WHIP):
Norris, Kendrick, Eovaldi, Vargas, Yo-Lease (gah!)?
Rest of my staff is Price, Moore, Niese, Parker, Teheran, Gee, Wilhelmsen, Veras, Santos, Pestano
@Wilsonian: guess we broke up, Grey.
Sad trombone…
@Wilsonian: Sorry, missed it… Kendrick…
@Grey: no worries… thanks for the input!
At Home… HAAA!! Hey, what do you think of this draft?
C – Jaso….
JK… I like how commenters will butter you guys up first by saying something nice…. then ask your post draft analysis of their 11×11 24 team draft. (Yeah, they’ve got a category for xFip!)
But seriously – the “at home” thing WAS funny.
Ha, thanks!
What are your current projections for Peralta?
The projections in the top 400 don’t work?
@Grey: Sounded like you were bumping him up into your Top 80 Starters, and your initial write-up talked about him not having a roster spot locked up. Looks like he’s in the rotation now, and you were getting on the Peralta-mobile with a little extra giddy-up.
Eh, I like him, but he’s still very risky… He’s a 6th starter with upside… He could have a rotation spot today and not on May 1st…
NL Only (10 team 5×5) keeper league. Have to pick 2 of these 3. Who do I let go?? Anyone’s thoughts would be appreciated!
Pierre – $4
Kubel – $9
Cueto – $14
Kubel
@Grey: Thanks! Would it change anything to know Ricky Weeks, Medlen, and Rafael Betancourt are my other keepers? Not going into the draft with too little power w/o Kubel or too much pitching with Cueto/Meds/Raf?
I’d go with Kubel over Pierre…
@Grey: Sorry, now I’m confused. I thought you said at first to cut Kubel. Were you saying he’s your favorite of the 3? I get to keep 2 out of Cueto/Kubel/Pierre.
I’d saying now to cut Pierre, after you gave the rest of your info… None of them are good, sadly…
Which side you like here in my 6 (OBP instead of AVG, add TBs) x 6 (Holds) 14-team keeper:
Reddick/AJ Burnett for Dickey/Span
Dickey
@Grey:
What if it were Reddick/H. Bailey or Reddick/J. Parker = feh, same same, still Dickey?
Same
Talking about APPLES (not the fruit), love the program but any reason why Weaver and Dickey are missed off there. Smoking too much weed whilst doing it?
I wouldn’t draft them so they’re not there…
How much earlier would you take Harvey in a long-term keeper league? You have him around 200 – CBS ranks him in the 300s – where should I take him based on long-term potential? Anyone else on this target list have his upside?
Actually, same question for Moore. Does he get a bump or is he already ranked thinking about long-term?
Thanks!
I’d take him around 70 overall… You shouldn’t be targeting pitching keepers…
@Grey: I’m only taking pitchers after I have my starting lineup complete. Just two OF spots to fill and DH, and then I’m looking at pitchers. With 18 keeper spots, gotta keep a few pitchers…
I’d take him around 120 overall… Yeah, there’s lots of guys to target… Check the site…
@Grey: What I meant was, on this target post, does Harvey have the biggest upside/best long-term potential?
Bundy, Taillion, Cole, Harvey, Wheeler…
Fair enough man. Start of pickup season anyway, might aswell get you ready for the flood of them that’ll soon follow…
Alexi Ram on the waiver wire, him or Segura for my MI spot?
Segura
OBP Keeper
He offered Moustakas/Fowler/Moose for Kinsler/Burnett/Niese
should I counter with Moustakas/Trumbo for Kinsler?
It’s fair… You could also just trade a 3rd starter for someone like Altuve…
@Grey: You make it sound so easy. I WISH I could do that……….
In a 6×6 league (standard + OPS), which two do you keep: Pujols, Fielder, Stanton, Harper?
Fielder, Stanton
@Grey: Thanks! That’s what I’d tentatively plugged in, so glad to see the confirmation.
Valdespin set to be Mets leadoff hitter according to Terry Collins.
For those in 14-team NL-only leagues, Byrd is expected to be the Mets right fielder.
Nice!
Your excitement was about Marlon Byrd, no doubt
grey please pick 3 for keepers. gio gonz, gian stanton, jose reyes, edwin encarnac, matt holliday, hosmer, wieters, cueto
Stanton, Gio, Reyes…
RE: the Cashner comment
Let me try this on the worst message I ever pulled from a cookie.
“The food here taste so good, even a cave man likes it” in bed.
Must have gotten that one three years ago. I might put it in one of those plastic trading card holders. I like that “taste” was used as opposed to “tastes”.
Yeah, the fortune cookie messages that aren’t really fortunes as much as statements are bad… “You’re lucky to have such great friends.” That’s not a fortune, cookie people.
@Grey: Hahahaha “cookie people”! I, and/or the whiskey in me, love that. Freaking cookie people.
I worked at a vintage clothing store a while back that have out fortune cookies, and a customer once got one that read, “you will soon get new clothes,” which was funny bc it meant that they should shop somewhere else. Damn you cookie people!!!
@royce!: *gave
Cookie people just trying to make some dough…
Grey, Razzball nation
this is one of my teams, have 6.
lucroy, craig, zobrist, longoria, asdrubal. stanton, j-upton, plouffe, r weeks, aramis, everth, m. young,
lincecum, fiers, romo, betancourt, vogelsong,, perez, axford, lohse, Samardzija, storen,
neimann
What do you think of it, what moves, additions, drops should I make? I can get several players from your top 300 list, some in the top 75, make a move? Who should I drop. . Keep any of the reliefs pitchers or let go, thinking of picking up Jansen.
Thanks
RevClyburn – The Bishop of Swaing
How many teams?
@Revclyburn: @Grey: @Grey: 10 team h2h points
Your pitching is pretty terrible… Your hitting is better, but weak on average and is injury-prone…
@Grey: Any suggestions?
grey when you think we see puig and do you like him
June 2014… I like him for next year… Way too early to say on him… He’s just hitting well right now….
Hey Grey. This is easily my best draft yet. 10 team Yahoo Roto.
I used your rankings as a reference the whole time. They were very helpful. The only player I really missed out on was Sabathia in the 6th (went right before I took Zorilla). Would have had a legit ace then. Otherwise I’m very happy with the final team. Your thoughts?
1. Robinson Cano (NYY – 2B)
2. Jose Bautista (Tor – OF)
3. Josh Hamilton (LAA – OF)
4. Jason Heyward (Atl – OF)
5. Paul Goldschmidt (Ari – 1B)
6. Ben Zobrist (TB – 2B,SS,OF)
7. Mat Latos (Cin – SP)
8. Carlos Santana (Cle – C,1B)
9. Yovani Gallardo (Mil – SP)
10. Jake Peavy (CWS – SP)
11. Jeff Samardzija (ChC – SP)
12. Mariano Rivera (NYY – RP)
13. Joe Nathan (Tex – RP)
14. Todd Frazier (Cin – 1B,3B,OF)
15. Josh Rutledge (Col – 2B,SS)
16. Will Middlebrooks (Bos – 3B)
17. Lance Lynn (StL – SP,RP)
18. Kendrys Morales (Sea – 1B)
19. Steve Cishek (Mia – RP)
20. Brett Gardner (NYY – OF)
21. Wade Miley (Ari – SP)
22. Tommy Milone (Oak – SP)
23. Jedd Gyorko (SD – 3B)
I don’t like CC so that wouldn’t be my rankings… Pitching looks solid overal… I like your hitting a lot… Team looks very solid overall… Well played….
Something that always come up in drafts is a choice between Goldshmidt and Adrian Gonzalez around the late 4th/early 5th round. I know you prefer Goldy, but is there really a wrong answer when choosing between the two?
Not really, no…
10 team, H2H Yahoo league with OBP instead of Avg…I have the 4th spot in my upcoming draft. Was just doing a mock and took Cano then Longo (17th pick). In the 3rd round (24th overall pick) there was Reyes, J Upton and Edwin still on the board. Also, I don’t have my 4th or 7th round picks. WWGD in my shoes? I wear size 10s.
Upton
@Grey: Thanks! Mind if I ask who you’d take there if Upton wasn’t an option?
Edwin
Just saw my league is counting losses this year.. Change your strategery at all?
@prezii: @c0wfunk: (12 team mixed head to head )
@c0wfunk: hey, dont be callin me over for nothing Cowboy! Takin me away from all this great, incredible stuff im doing…. Well, im not doin shit, but still! Geez…
*walks back into cave mumbling*
@prezii: yeh sorry.. The sites a little wonky on zee tablet. Does this count as nothing?
@c0wfunk: haha im just yankin ur man chain! Ive done it before myself cuz im always using razzball on zee telephono..
Nah…
@c0wfunk: Not really. Don’t pass up a pitcher because he is on a crappy team.
Look at Dickey last year or Steve Carlton in ’72. Generally speaking, good pitchers will win and bad pitchers will lose. In other words, don’t change your strategy. Draft good pitchers.
I know the temptation is to avoid Cubbies and Astros and Twins because their teams might lose often. A guy like Large Samarge might have a winning record for a 73-89 team. Also, your opponent every week will get losses too. It is a toss up category that your commissioner likely added to cut down on excessive streaming.
@Wallpaper Paterson: for sure.. I beat him in the semis last fall by grabbing a new pitcher every day and it was a big last minute dramatic 1 pt win that went til Sunday night to decide so it stung particularly I’m sure.. Thanks guys. Third twice in a row ima win this thang this year
@c0wfunk: urm yeah I was third so my dramatic win was quarters. Gotta be accurate about these things.
yahoo, 5×5, roto, 16 team keeper league.
we keep 5.
my 5 keepers are..
SP- David Price. 1B- Billy Butler. SS- Jimmy Rollins. OF- Shin Soo Choo. 3B- Manny Machado.
I have the 2nd pick in the draft. I know the guy who picks 1st is going to pick Cole Hamels. he owned Hamels last season, and kept 5 better players. so he told me he will be picking Hamels again.
that leaves me with these options.
SP- Yu Darvish.
2B- Brandon Phillips
OF- Austin Jackson
SP- Gio Gonzalez
SS- Ian Desmond
SS- Asdrubal Cabrera
OF- Alex Rios
1B- Paul Konerko
2B/3B/SS- Martin Prado
OF- Alex Gordon
3B- Will Middlebrooks
3B- Mike Moustakas
I was thinking of taking Philips, and having my infield set. but the more I look I think Darvish is a better pick, and then I can pick up a 2B later. Darvish looks like he could be so good. his BB overall for 2012 was high, but it was lower in the 2nd half. his K rate is insane.
I also have the 9th pick in the 1st round. (traded 3rd and 6th for 1st and 10th). was thinking of maybe a power hitter like Konerko, but if I pick Darvish (and Phillips is gone) maybe Prado would be a better pick at 9? other 2B available in the draft. Rickie Weeks, Dan Uggla, Neil Walker, Howie Kendrick, Kyle Seager.
or should I not pick Prado at 9 (if available), and go for one of the other 2B later. instead maybe Konerko, Gordon, Rios, Middlebrooks ??
Gio’s better than Darvish… Konerko isn’t close to draftable here… You have Price, I’d go Phillips…
Has Rondon’s recent mechanical tweak changed your thought on making him a brain freeze? Has become almost unhittable lately with plenty of Ks.
Nope
Grey, I’m in desperate need for a MLB quality SS in my 19 team Dynasty league……but I am built for the future more than the here and now, so I can afford to wait for my minor leaguers…I have Javier Baez, Francisco Lindor, and Jonathan Schoop.
My question is, are you so all in on Rutledge than you’d advocate for dealing Lindor + to land him in a dynasty format?
Thanks in advance.
I’d deal him to land Rutledge, yup…
Just finished my draft in my yahoo standard 10 teamer w/ 6 bench spots and wanted to get Grey or anyone else’s thoughts. I had the 2nd pick and tried some reverse psychology when my buddy with the 1st pick texted me saying he was truing to decide between Miggy and Trout. It didn’t work unfortunately.
Lots of pitchers came off the board early. Get the first 5 picks from this one moronic braves homer who somehow manages to finish in the top half of our leagues (football and baseball) more times than not. 1. Medlen 2. Kimblrell 3. Sale 4. samardzija. 5. mauer. Can you imagine a non razz ball draft that was much worse than that? If that guy finishes better than dead last, I’ll be furious. Anyways, here’s what I ended up with.
C Lucroy (20-199)
1B Goldy (4-39)
2b Phillips (7-62)
SS Zobrist (6-59)
3b Longo (2-19) I agonized between him and Beltre. You better be right on this one!
OF Braun (1-2)
OF J-UP (3-22)
OF Desmond Jennings (8-79) Though Choo would come back to me here, went 3 picks earlier
Util Ike Davis (10-99)
Bn Rutledge (18-179)
Bn Frazier (19-182)
Bn Dunn (21-202) Seriously considered another P, RP or Bone-face here, but figured steals would be easier to find on the wire if needed than a 30+ homer guy.
SP Greinke (5-42)
SP Sherzer (9-82)
SP Peavy (11-102)
SP Niese (13-122)
SP Bailey (15-142)
SP Burnett (16-159)
SP Gee (22-219)
RP Nathan (13-119)
RP Romo (14-139)
RP Perkins (17-162)
Per the war room, it looks like I hit all of those goals other than steals. I took Gee over Hughes, Hanson and a couple of other guys who were hire ranked, but per your blurb on him, it sounded like his upside made him a better last pick. Was 7 starters/3 RPs the right # or should I have taken another pitcher and left Dunn on the board?
Anyways, thanks for the help. Definitely couldn’t have drafted a decent team on 2 days prep without your help.
Yeah, was gonna say you look good everywhere except steals… Your pitching looks excellent… I can’t see how Dunn gets in for your team either… Overall, looks solid… I hope I’m right on Longo too…
@Grey:
Would you dump Dunn for Bonifacio, Beachy (to stash-have 2 DL slots), Dempster, McCarthy or Chris Tillman?
Also, should Braun owners be worried about the MLB investigation of the lab in Miami? I knew he had been linked to it, but just read that MLB is aggressively going after allt he players linked to it. Obviously he was probably buying juice from them, but do you think there’s any chance they complete the investigation and suspend him this year?
I wouldn’t worry about Braun… I’d go with Bonifacio…
I thoroughly enjoyed your article until you rated Ice Cube over Guru. FALSE!
Ha… Ice Cube had three of the best albums ever and carried NWA with Dre’s beats…
@Grey:
I liked me some Ez, may he RIP, but you’re righter than Mitt . Guru is…bleah
@Grey: Guru wias the king of montone how can one argue against such a OG nickname. Ice Cube. If we talking about just the year of 1991 I guess we agree to disagree but if its better emcee overall, Guru takes it in a landslide. DJ Premier definitely deserves lots of credit in me making that statement but seriously.
To person commenting below regarding pharcyde being better than Guru. Pffffffffft. Although Runnin is one of my favorite songs of all time, RIP J Dilla and Guru!
I do love me some Ice Cube though, favorite song of all time probably has to be him with Westside Connection. KING OF THE HILL
“I got a voice you should feel! I drink a beer bust a rap and end your f**kin career!”
One song: Jackin’ for Beats. Give me that beat fool… It’s a full time jack move…
I mention two 1991 rap groups (no links) , get an accusatory email about copyright violations and my question gets vanished. Sheesh, I guess gesticulators got to gesticulate.
I still love you guys.
And I’d take P h a r c y d e over G u r u any day of the week.
Not sure what you mean on accusatory emails, I didn’t send anything…
@Grey:
That’s what I got when I posted. Seriously, no prob, you guys rock. Just weird.
@Rafael Bournigal: yoooo get the hell out of here man the feds are watchin you! You are bringin the heat to razzball!!
trade offer in 20 team dynasty league – my team has granderson
Delmon Young
Justin Verlander
Al Alburquerque
for
Ian Desmond
Curtis Granderson
Chad Billingsley
Did you leave the MDS any players tonight
wow I have an image here now – I am looking good
Nice!
Delmon Young – throwing bats at the umpire is a category in the league
Verlander side
I know you had this shizz, Grey, that “such and such has altered his swing and looks great” but Gammons said on Twitter today that we was interested to see whether Viciedo’s new leg kick (which has apparently has helped him) carried over into the regular season because – and get this – “he has 35-40 homer power”
Normally that should be dismissed as bullshit, but it’s Gammons, yo…
@Steve: Sorry, *hate* this shizz….
Is this sneaker for sale
40 homers from Viciedo would insane… Might have to pick him up now…
@Grey: Hit a sneaky 25 last year, played 147 games though so not like he missed a ton of PT. Even Bill James only has him down for 24 ;-)
14 team keeper
Miggy (last year of keeper) and Brett Wallace for Allen Craig and Cargo.
we are giving up Miggy
Looks like a solid return for Miggy…
Tried not to ask for your opinion of my latest draft but couldn’t
10-tm H2H, OPS and Saves + Holds instead of Saves, I mean to say that its only one category:
C Napoli
1B Goldschmidt
2B Utley
3B Miggy
SS Rutledge
CI Ike Davis
MI Seager
OF Upton 1
OF Upton 2
OF Holliday
OF Choo
OF Gordon
Util Frazier
Util Morse
P Price
P Medlen
P Samardzija
P Beckett
P Niese
P H Bailey
P Lynn
P Cobb
P Garza
RP Boggs
RP J Peralta
RP D Hernandez
Evryone got Closers early and I waited till the last rounds for the top Holds guys, used the APPLES for the pitching staff
ESPN 14 team H2H. Keep 3: Medlen, Wainwright, Shields, Latos, Cueto, Peavy.
Can you tell i’ve been reading Razzball too much?? I’m a believer…..Grey,,,what do you think? (8th pick in a 12 team Point League)
C – Wilin Rosario
1B – Goldschmidt
2B – Cano
3B – Sandoval
SS – Rollins
OF – Hamilton
OF – Adam Jones
OF – Beltran
DH – Todd Frazier
RES – Jaso
RES – Berkman
RES – Bonifacio
RES – Hunter
RES – Rutledge
SP – Cliff Lee
SP – Scherzer
SP – Morrow
SP – Matt Moore
SP – Kuroda
RP – Betancourt
RP – Rondon
RP – Serio Santos
I believe you do follow my preachings and ravings… Your pitching is top notch and your hitting looks good… Not sure how you got such a good team, but well done…
@Grey:
i was all set to go with a first 2 rounds of fielder/cargo or fielder/longoria…..when fielder and votto were gone AND cano was still available, i cleaned my pants and jumped on him….my strategy being blown (in positions to target per round) i pretty much followed your rankings (the only print out i had with me)…so thanks!! Just tell me where to send the check …CHAMPIONSHIP!!
Awesome!
I just joined a new league that is an 8×8 head to head scoring system.
The scoring system is as follows – H, R, HR, RBI, K, SB, AVG, OPS – W, ERA, WHIP, K, QS, CG, SV, BS
Seeing as most of the pitching categories favor starting pitchers – W, CG, QS, (i could even count K in this) vs SV and BS for closers.
Seeing as this league counts BS would it be a good strategy to completely forget saves seeing as if I dont have a closer I can only lose SV and possibly tie in SV and BS if my opponent gets a BS. By forgetting saves, yes I would lose the saves category every week but I would have an advantage in getting more wins, quality starts, strikeouts, and the occasional complete game.
What do you think about going with this strategy?
My draft isnt for a couple more days so I still have time to figure out my draft strategy.
Yup, I’d ignore saves…