Over 1,500 players took a swing or threw a pitch in 2018. We couldn’t cover every single one, so we pinpointed those we thought would be weighing on your minds most for your 2019 rosters. Our 2019 Fantasy Baseball Video Draft Guide begins, right here on Razzball! Andy Singleton (@PeoplezPen) and Ralph Lifshitz (@ProspectJesus) give you 5 quick hitting minutes on why, or why not, you should be drafting these guys. Today we feature Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi.
The Baseball Show — Adalberto Mondesi
December 31, 2018 | The Baseball Show | 47 Commentsby: Andy Singleton
Mondesi is pretty polarizing, because there is a very thin line. All breaks right he is as good (better) than Trea Turner. All fails he is Tim Anderson. Now I get what the guy said above, but if the worst outcome is Tim Anderson I think that is a very good gamble. You can’t prorate, but it wasn’t just a cup of tea last year. Some of the reviews on him from fellow KC guys and coaches are impressive as well. Their coach said he has the most batting practice power of anyone he has ever coached. That to me sounds like a guy whose raw power tool is there as well.
@carter: This will sound sarcastic, but I mean this with all sincerity… I like the simplicity you broke it down to. It works. And it is why I say I am taking the plunge more times than not.
Great stuff guys!
Mondesi 2020 1st rounder, mark it down!
@Donkey Teeth: Thank you, sir! And in 2019?
Don’t let Donkey Teeth get in your head, Andy. You’re doing a good job. He will corrupt you.
@Grey: You mean Razzball’s own, Donkey Teeth?
One in the same. He lures you in with chitchat then he takes compromising photos of you while you’re sleeping….
@Grey: ::insert Homer Simpson backing into bush.gif::
Ranks will likely change before the season, but espn has Mondesi within 6 picks of Villar who i believe has a similar(ish) profile. Standard 5 categories plus K’s, XBH, and OPS who you taking? What if Mondesi ends up more in the 50-100 range vs Villar ~130
@Curious George: In all honesty, Villar is probably the best player to look to, because his 2016 is what Mondesi could be at his highest – and 2017 could be the floor. The difference I believe is that Mondesi is already at that 2016 stage (when Villar was 25), so as to say he is a few ticks better. Whether it all comes to fruition is the gamble. I was more bullish on Villar last season, and way out in front of the masses on it, before the move to Baltimore ever came. I love it for him personally, but he’s also showed the inconsistencies to his performance making me a little more hesitant to blindly trust it. Mondesi hasn’t had that same opportunity. It could be considered a weak argument, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.
kid is 23. i like how people don’t think he can improve. yes his plate discipline sucks, but i what if he is getting better? players can improve.
@jules: I’m sorry, is that not what we conveyed?
I’m getting some Billy Hamilton vibes from this guy. Lots of stolen base upside but can’t steal first. If he had a respectable walk rate, I’d be all in but as it stands, he could be really painful in weekly leagues and OBP/points formats.
@SwaggerJackers: He is a better hitter than Hamilton, by leaps and bounds
@Andy Singleton: Are you sure though? Here are Steamer’s projections:
Hamilton: .241/.302./.341
BB%: 7.8%
K%: 20.8%
Adalberto: .252/.292./.435
BB%: 4.9%
K%: 29.3%
Outside of SLG, these projections aren’t far apart with the plate discipline numbers favoring Hamilton
@SwaggerJackers: If I were sure about anything, I’d be playing lotto numbers and not making Fantasy Baseball videos. And who’s Steamer? I mean I respect em and all, but those are guesses. This is mine. Is it possible (Ancient Aliens voice) that maybe Mondesi swings at more than Hamilton because he knows he can get balls out of the infield? It’s also a very small sample for Mondesi. If you’ve been tracking Mondesi for a while, the scouts have often said the numbers don’t speak to how good he is. Now, unless they were all of the extras paid by Clint Eastwood and were just fake scouts, I’m willing to give them a listen. If we’re debating whether or not Mondesi is a better hitter than Billy Hamilton, you should skip this to the next video, and absolutely do not draft Mondo this year (or ever).
@Andy Singleton: I think Rudy ran the numbers and said the Steamer projections are the best in the business. They tend to be pretty conservative and throw cold water on pretty much every sleeper. So that’s no fun.
My comparison to Bill-Ham (do people call him that?) is mainly just the fact that they’re both speed guys that strike out too much.
@SwaggerJackers: I would go with Bill-Ham only if you pronounce it Billiam. Other than that, its yours. I know who and what Steamer is. Even better than that, I know the human computer you refer to as Rudy. Some call him Rudbot (and it has nothing to do with manners). I don’t think you’re fully grasping who Mondesi is, based on your loose comparisons to Billiam.
You guys like drafting Tim Anderson 40th overall? No thanks!
@Pasha: I like what you did there. And if you shape it like that, you’re right. But for me it’s also about the other players in those ranges. So if you take Mondesi, who do you get in that Anderson range, and vice versa. Pitchers like C-Mart and Castillo are currently there. I’m fine with that
Keep him for 1 year at $1, or 2 years at $6 and then $11?
@Sean: Why such steep jumps? And whats the total budget? If it all pans out, he’s still a bargain in 2 years at $11. It’s a long term play, and I’m a believer he’s here to stay in this league.
@Andy Singleton: Option contracts are at previos year’s salary. If you want multi-year, it’s a $5 increase each year. Total budget of $310
I have Mondesi in a 6×6 keep forever 14 team OPS league. We can only keep 5
Betts
Scherzer
Vlad Jr
Hoskins
Bryant
Mondesi
Who is the odd man out?
@Stayinhot: Dang, those are good choices! It’s Hoskins for me (today). A healthy Bryant is just a year older, and the same numbers with much higher averages.
I’m considering keeping Mondesi over Kluber in a keep 4 league. It’s h2h 5×5. I’m torn but I think I want to roll with the upside.
@Bterry: I don’t think its bad at all, really. Who are the other 3 tho? And is there a price tag on how they are kept?
@Andy Singleton: my other three are studs and safe. Trout. Harper. Arenado. 12 team league and the keepers slot into your first four pick slots. So no real penalty. Our leagues only quirks is you have to start 7-14 sp starts a week, ang k/9 instead of total k’s. So elite sp is worth a lil more. But keep 4 forever at no penalty makes me wanna go monde.
@Andy Singleton: my other three are studs and safe. Trout. Harper. Arenado. 12 team league and the keepers slot into your first four pick slots. So no real penalty. Our leagues only quirks is you have to start 7-14 sp starts a week, ang k/9 instead of total k’s. So elite sp is worth a lil more. But keep 4 forever at no penalty makes me wanna go monde over the arm
@ian: Lol, no [email protected]Bterry: I could see where you’d opt for the youth in a keep forever set up. I’m not opposed to it
Awesome show …. whatever you guys say. You obviously care! Missed out on Mondesi Whitley etc.last year in my newer dynasty experience. However I own Acuna Bregman Correa Devers Jimenez Lindor Tucker Brinson. Please help me choose two more keepers already on my team from
Upton Buxton Sano Moncada.
Also these next ones are the unowned upside players available for our dynasty draft. Could you please rank them (in regards to who you would personally draft this year)? Thanks!!!
Brendan Rodgers
Peter Alonso
Logan Allen
Justus Sheffield
Luzardo
Cease
Trammell
Luis Robert
Adell
G Hampson
Honeywell
Hiura
Tristan McKenzie
@Ian: Ian, thank you! I checked into the bottle a little early last night, so apologies for the delay. And yes, we care probably too much lol. The keepers would be Moncada, and the rest. It would be between Sano and Upton for me, and they return similar production, with a 6 year age difference, so it’s Sano.
Those are some awesome names to be available! And really closely bunched. I don’t normally put a big premium on pitching, but Luzardo probably on top for me, followed by Alonso/Rodgers, Trammell/Adell, Honeywell, Hampson/Robert/Hiura, Cease, McKenzie, Allen, Sheffield
@Andy Singleton: thanks so much for doing the hard work for me. Appreciated!!
@ian: Lol, no problem
I have him in R/RBI/SB/OBP/SLG keep forever. Obviously a great place to have him, but I do wonder if his 500 SLG is reproducible. Dropping the average by 15 points and then seeing a slight downturn in power could easily leave me with a 280 obp, 420 slg … and 700 ops is not gonna win anything, even if he does steal 50 bags. Obviously I keep him and pray for the best, but I am a bit concerned given the format. Thoughts?
@Big Ticket: I honestly think it’s too soon to tell. I always loved him as a prospect, and as I mentioned got impatient in waiting. I wish I still had him to be able to make the decision. If you didn’t already own him, I could see not drafting him, but to be in the drivers seat I think you hold. If you’re really that nervous, this might be the peak of his value. He could certainly add a round or two with a great performance, but people are paying for the optimism right now.
he’s going to steal 50 bases I think. 22/50 seems reasonable, could hit 25+ HR, got in a really nice groove the last month or so in 2018. extremely athletic swing, great torque/speed, effortless power. can’t miss potential, imo. I want him everywhere
thanks!
@Whirlaway: No, thank you! And Happy New Year. 50 sounds way optimistic to me considering the history, and his caught rate, but at the same time I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened. I don’t think it’ll be both tho (HR + SB), at least not this early on, but I agree that I want him where I can get him.
@Andy Singleton: he stole 32 in 75 games last season, only caught 7. royals really like to exploit speed on the basepaths, so I think opportunity will be there. I haven’t seen track speed like this mixed with 25-30 power in a long time! happy new year!t
@Whirlaway: Didn’t come out how I wanted it to, and yes he is a legit base stealer. Can he surpass 50, yes. I think he’s more likely to flirt with it tho. His ceiling as opposed to his floor, if you will. We’re talking semantics if we’re debating 45 vs 50
i agree that ill probably not be in on the draft price,think he could possibly be a 220 -240 hitter
@AL KOHOLIC: He’s been pushed pretty aggressively and has responded well. I don’t think anyone will ever confuse him for a high BA, but north of .260 should be the standard. It’s the BB rate that worries me most, impeding on his chance to get some free attempts at stolen bases.
With abysmal plate discipline and low contact rate, i think hes prone to very long droughts. Droughts that would make him unplayable. Categories id take a shot, points i stay away at the current ADP
@Dude Dombrowski: Appreciate the response, Dude. I actually feel the opposite based on what you said. Makes me think of Puig, and when he gets rolling, I’d love him in any format, but points feels safer because that plate discipline wouldn’t sink me in any one category. He’s definitely polarizing. Happy New Year!
@Andy Singleton: I guess points leagues that value steals would be worth the pick, but plugging him in your lineup during a lenghty slump in a points league that doesnt value steals can be brutal. At least in categories, while he might not hit a ton he can steal win you that steals cat by himself in any given week. Great series you and Ralph got, looking foward to more. Happy New Year!
@Dude Dombrowski: I like to give comps to feelings players give me. Ralph generally hates my comps, because he takes them literally. So maybe I don’t present them properly. But, with all this fear of Mondesi having droughts and/or slumps (all of which is unproven still), it makes me think of Yasiel Puig, who runs as hot & cold as anyone. I understand the situations, positions, and more are completely different, but in most cases you’d be happy to have him. Appreciate the feedback also! We have 50 videos coming in total, 1 new one per every weekday for the next 10 weeks. And then our weekly LIVE show on Wednesdays as well (where we bring on guests). Happy New Year!