When this corona timeline is over, can I be the first to say, please continue to stay six feet from me. Yesterday, I watched the Cardinals win a game of small ball. No, it wasn’t a game from years ago. It was the Cardinals vs. my dog, Ted, in my backyard. Ted just barked at a small ball stuck in a tree for two hours and the Cardinals sat on a perch next to the ball. It was riveting. Don’t let any of those millennials tell you small ball is boring. Millennials ruined small ball! I didn’t simply type that last exclamation; I also screamed it out my window at a group of teenagers who were standing approximately 5 1/2 feet from each other. I’m reporting you! I’m still screaming. Any hoo! With this series, I will take a look around the 2020 fantasy baseball rankings to see if there’s any differences now that we might only play a 100-game season. Projections have been updated on all my positional rankings. This is using the top 20 3rd basemen for 2020 fantasy baseball as our guide. Anyway, here’s thoughts on the top 20 3rd basemen for 2020 fantasy baseball with the new Corona timeline:
7. Eugenio Suarez – I know it’s late, I know you’re weary, I know your plans, don’t include me, still here we are–Sorry, I was singing Kenny Rogers and hadn’t heard you come in. Grab a White Claw and shimmer down from my one half-step in the middle of the living room that has no real use and should be an incline or ramp. When we started the 2020 rankings back in January, we loved Eugenio. You mentioned how he seemed lucky; I countered with how I believed in his power. You conceded and we toasted our virus-free Chablis. Then, enter February, the cruelest month (if you’re a soul-less groundhog), and Suarez needed shoulder surgery and you backed off him, saying, “No, I can’t,” and you held your hand to your forehead like a Southern damsel in distress. I, more generous of spirit, wasn’t worried. Eugenio once healed from a broken finger in a week (not joking), and I said you should still draft Suarez. Well, now, I’ve been wearing a jheri curl wig for 26 days — Intern whispers in my ear, “We’re quarantining, not Quentin Tarantino’ing.” — Nevertheless, I still love Eugenio, and with the extra time for him to get to 100%, I am still glad I didn’t fade him in any drafts.
8. Yoan Moncada – Mentioned this the other day, but I think it’s worth repeating here. A player’s speed is going to come into play now more than in a 162-game season. If a guy who steals 15 bags over 162 games is fast but not always motivated to steal, he could steal 10 bags in a month, which in a 100-game season is insanely valuable. If a guy is a 15-steal guy but not fast and is more like a 2-steal a month guy, well, over the course of 100 games, that’s a lot less valuable. All this is to say, Moncada really isn’t a fast guy. His new 100-game projections are 51/17/58/.272/6, which is about 1.4 steals per month and sounds about right. By the by, point-four steals is when a guy steals 2nd but the pitch is fouled off and he needs to return to first.
9. Matt Chapman – His projections just look too pretty to not move him up. I moved him from my 11th best 3rd baseman to the 9th, up above Glad Vuerrero Juniper and Muncy. Might’ve been long overdue too. Chapman’s projections over 100 games: 59/23/64/.256/1 in 357 ABs. The one thing holding him back is his bating average, and in 100 games, that variance just got more, uh, varied. Think about this, in a 162-game season, the cream rises and to hit .350, it’s gonna take someone who is an elite hitter. To hit .350 in 100 games, might take some good BABIP luck over the course of two months. To say the same in a different way, for three months last year, Tim Anderson hit near .370. Anderson, in case you didn’t know, is no great batting average guy, but a high BABIP and an injury-shortened season, actually led to his AL batting title. Maybe Chapman hits .256 and is a little bit of a batting average drain, but he could hit 25 homers and .300 in only three months. Can’t say that about a lot of guys.
47. Evan Longoria – I’m not moving around a guy ranked 47th in the top 20. (New reader, “Did he say the 47th 3rd baseman in the top 20? Is this guy absolute crackers?” Yes, yes, I am.) But here’s an interesting note about the Giants, Mariners and any other team in a crazy awful pitchers’ park. We don’t know yet what the season has in store, but what if the Giants or Mariners play all their home games in Arizona at their spring training facility? Did you just feel the slightest bit of sweat bead on your brow and your eyes shifted a little? That’s because you realized you might’ve committed highway robbery. All those crazy-late Giants and Mariners hitters might’ve just got a huge boost in value without you doing anything. AT&T and Safeco (or whatever they’re called) vs. a stadium in 100-degree heat where the ball is jumping? For those who are waiting to draft, I’d take a flyer on a crazy-late Mariners or Giants hitters who might see a new, and extremely better stadium. (And, yes, the opposite might be true for Red Sox, Rockies or any hitters in favorable parks.)
In my 14 team h2h dynasty league I was offered an interesting trade. I would get ketel marte and max muncy for austin meadows sixto sanchez and my 1st round pick in next years draft. i think this is a solid deal for me, Also I don’t mind trading my pick because I already have an abundance of solid prospects and my pick. Anyway should I consider this trade?
c wilson contreras
1b jose abreu
2b ozzie albies
3b rafael devers
ss bo bichette
lf juan soto
cf ronald acuna
rf austin meadows
util yuli gurriel
bn cj cron
bn omar narvaez
na andrew vaughn
na robert puason
na corbin carroll
na jeter downs
na julio rodriguez
na erick pena
sp brandon woodruff
sp julio urias
sp max scherzer
rp scott oberg
rp ryan pressly
rp brandon kintzler
p robbie ray
p kevin gausman
p alex wood
bn miles mikolas
bn carlos rodon
bn deivi garcia
bn sixto sanchez
bn edward cabrera
bn nathan eovaldi
bn matt shoemaker
na luis patino
Works for me
Grey,
With MLB considering playing all their games in AZ for awhile when the season starts, do you see any player projections / expectations you would adjust – both hitters and pitchers? For example, the Colorado hitters who thrive in Colorado, but not so much on the road (Arenado, Story).
Too early to make those adjustments…Park factors would suddenly change for pitchers’ or hitters’ parks tho, if it happens…
I got a trade request. Small friends league (6 teams) so most are stacked. I get Jose Ramirez for Olson. Would you take Jo-Ram?
C Garver
1B Abreu
2B Marte
3B Arenado
SS Story
OF Acuna, Soto, S Marte
UTIL Muncy, Baez
Bench Olson
Ooh, I think I would, tough call tho
6 teams. Every team is an all star team.
Bored of watching baseball game reruns and picked up with Ken Burned Baseball esisode 7. All NYC episode, Yankees, Bums and Giants. Mostly just WS games and superstars. A certain 3B did come up, the Giants Bobby Thomson, who had a superb season at the dish even before the shot heard round the world. Did some searching and found this out about the ‘51 pennant winning Giants.
https://sabr.org/research/durocher-spymaster-how-much-did-giants-prosper-cheating-1951-finalist
A spyglass view from CF and an electric signaling system to relay to the hitter!
Haha, wow…I haven’t watched Burns’s doc yet, maybe I will now that I have nothing but time on my hands
It’s definitely worthwhile !!!
i could’nt get thru the first episode. to me , Ken Burns is like watching paint dry
The first episodes are about baseball origins and are boring. Each episode after deal with a certain decade and it builds and gets better. Still, not for everyone.
Speaking of the history of baseball, I found a picture of an MLB game during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. Baseball still went on. Sorry if the link doesn’t work right.
Wow, that pic looks prescient right about now
Back when the nanny-state wasn’t trying to keep men from being men. My how soft these “leaders” want us to be. That’s refreshing. Good one, Ivan!!!
Hey I’d love an outsider’s perspective if anyone would care to chime in on my team
Yahoo, H2H, 7×7, 10 team league (obp league)
C Ramos
1st Alonso
2nd Albies
3rd J Ramirez
SS Villar
Of Yelich, Soler Conforto
Util M Olson, Sano
BN Dozier, Guiller
SP Giolito, Glasnow, E Rodriguez, Odorizzi, Ray, Musgrove, Stroman, Gray
RP Rodgers, Leclerc, Davis/Oberg
NA – SP – S Howard
You look great on hitting and pitching, looks like a team I’d draft…If I had to nitpick, your RPs are blech
Dang. That’s like the ultimate compliment.
Grey!
Will read this in a few minutes.
Join DT, B_Don, myself, and the other degenerates for a Roto “draft & hold”-style slow auction here: https://www.fantrax.com/newui/fantasy/joinLeague.go?leagueId=d4ee80jck8on3r5d&isSubmit=y
Only $20, 5×5, 15 teams. No waivers or bench, so there are a few “more” roster spots than usual (like 7 OF, 2 CI, 2 MI).
Let me know if interested… can give you more details / help walk you through whatever you need help with.
– seal out!
I can’t join any more leagues, but others should — what an opportunity, take on the conglomerate, BunderscoreDonkeyTeeth
Haha, no problem!
Anyone is welcome to join!
How was the weekend?
It was an okay weekend…Watched TV, slept–Wait, was that last week or the weekend? Hmm…How was yours?
Hahahaha, pretty similar. I was supposed to try my first attempt at my family’s homemade marinara sauce recipe… oops.
We finally ordered in dinner once. Hopefully that sushi didn’t give me the Rona.
Definitely need more sleep, but I’m enjoying quarantine life too much… spent a bunch of time playing this PS4 game, Rocket League, w/ my girlfriend — we had a blast. Finished Tiger King!
Pretty pumped that the market is closed this Friday. GOOD FRIDAY!
We should have you on the podcast to give Grey stock tips…I used to dabble in the stocks back in the early 2000s — man did I lose all my money on Boston Market! Haha, worse stock investor ever!
HAHAHAHA, OMG YES
That’s hilarious!! Did you at least get some gravy with your shares?
Only 2 more work days left this week!
What happened on the no post today? World really is ending?!?
Rudy had a post to entertain us so I took a Tuesday to design a homemade mask from paste and construction paper
Well, I dove head first into that one! :-)
I’m back, baby!
Haha
One commenter made a great point in the chat… would make for a *GREAT* podcast to hear you rant about the slow auction, your trials and tribulations, how a Donkey and baby seal coerced you into it all…
Haha, me bitching for an hour? Sounds like every one of our podcasts already, just subject varies
Its a set it and forget it roto league, Grey! No commitment.
But I told baby seal, I don’t think you could handle a slow auction.
Dude, it took me 45 hours to pop out of my mom’s vagina, I was made for the slow!
Haha. Poor Momma Albright.
Bless her and this beautiful package she received!
Stopping by to say hello to the Razzball community!
Hey, Hung!
Pretty sure the Bob Seger version pre-dates the Kenny Rogers version. And playing all games in 105 degree heat in AZ seems like a non-starter to me.
I’m only familiar with the Kenny Rogers version — the true version (I’m kidding, I don’t care that much about this song)…I think July 1st is a long way off, and they won’t need to play in AZ in 105 degree heat
We’ve Got Tonight was off Bob Seger’s 1978 album Stranger in Town:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bobseger/wevegottonight.html
Pretty sure I bought that album when it came out. Yeah, I am old.
Why can’t we admit Kenny Rogers/Sheena Easton is definitive version?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BuITOx3Cs
I see your greatest duet in history and raise you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=G-ugfNXYcDg&feature=emb_logo
Ha nice.
https://youtu.be/SpufHfFm6dc?t=58
HAHA, yes!
Damn, down a rabbit hole now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i-6wfpgbKU
I got an offer of Springer for my Jose Abreu. The other team isn’t happy with his 1B situation.
I don’t know if I should take it. Springer’s numbers last year were ridiculous – especially, for the number of at-bats he got. But, his ISO jumped from 169 to 299! Fly ball % only increased 1.6%, but his HR/FB % increased from 15% to 29.5%! He has a high hard hit rate, but I would think his numbers are coming way down and last year was a career year for him.
I don’t know if I need Springer, but it’s a shallow league (only 6 teams) with friends so every advantage helps. Abreu is consistent for delivering 30/100/.280 but lacks runs. I think I would just be trading the RBI for R if Springer comes down to his norm this year.
Would you trade Abreu for Springer based on my lineup?
1B Abreu
2B K Marte
3B Arenado
SS Story
OF Acura, Soto, S Marte
UTIL Baez, Olson
BENCH Muncy
No catcher listed. Since it’s a shortened season, I’m going to try going without a catcher for a while to carry a bigger bat on the bench and an extra SP.
Meh, it’s close, but I’d hold
Do you like the idea of going without a catcher in such a shallow league and shortened season so I can keep a better and more versatile bat on the bench and carry an extra pitcher? Garver is available if you don’t think it’s a good idea.
You saw my hitters above, my pitchers are below. It’s a combined S+H league. Of the six teams, two of us carry 4 RP and one team carries 3. I’m the only one that carries 6 SP instead of 5.
Clev
Corbin
Giolito
Bauer
S Gray
Lynn
T Rogers
N Anderson
Norris
Pressly
Nah, I’d grab Garver
Who would you drop?
Who is Norris? Daniel? Him
Auto correct. Norris is actually Hector Neris.
That was an auto-correct.
Norris is actually Hector Neris
You don’t need that many RPs either, so still him, or Pressly
Thx Grey
No problem
My league decided to draft last night. We figured that we could at least cure some of the boredom by making adds/trades until whenever the season starts (if there is one). It’s a 10-team, 6×6 h2h categories league with OPS and holds as the 6th categories. Each team could keep up to 8 players (indicated with *).
Please let me know what you think. Don’t hold back!
Bats:
C – Garver
1B – Olson*
2B – C. Hernandez (missed on Moustakas and got sniped on a couple fallback guys, so kinda punted this position)
3B – Bregman*
SS – Mondesi *
MI – Correa*
CI – Bryant*
OF – Acuna*
OF – Soto*
OF – Castellanos
OF – Gurriel Jr.
U – Ohtani*
Arms:
P – Flaherty*
P – Darvish
P – Glasnow
P – Gray
P – C. Martinez
P – Osuna
P – Diaz
P – Pressley
Bench bats:
Calhoun
Wander (flier thinking there could be no season and he breaks camp next year as a 20-year-old; could also be easier to hold a prospect all year with a shortened season)
Mancini (late round pick who, depending on his recovery, could be a big asset)
Bench arms:
Maeda
N. Anderson
M. Keller
Foltynewicz
Kopech
Bummer
Thanks in advance!
Your keepers are kind insane, hard for you not to have a good team…I don’t love Hernandez, and he’s likely droppable…Also, you could likely have another RP over Folty, but he’s fine for now if you want to hold him…Your team is stacked
Yeah, I felt the same way about Hernandez. FAs available are Schoop, Arraez, Fletcher, Madrigal, Goodrum types. What way should I go with them?
Lose Folty over both Kopech and Keller? Thought Folty would be a back end of the rotation type.
Schoop for power, Arraez for AVG, Madrigal for speed / definitely has the most upside of the group, so I’d stash him at the least. Goodrum gives pretty good roster flexibility w/ some speed.
Folty over both for me. Pretty close w/ Keller. Kopech is going to start in the minors, so that’s more of a consideration if u are trying to keep him or whatever, and how long you’re willing to sit on someone.
I’d drop Cesar and Kopech — pick up Madrigal and Schoop… they have the best chance to be above replacement level in a 10-team, IMO…
I know you are down on DJ LeMeh (another 3Bman) but is he still a $5 keeper over $19 Villar?
I’d want DJ unless you need the steals
Yeah, what DT said
First, I types “That’s Bob Seger not Kenny Rogers (RIP).” Then, a quick Google. Oh my. Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton??! Had no idea. Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then …
You don’t want to know about the Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton? What kind of communist are you?
Thanks Grey for the great work!
No problem
Grey!!!!
Great 3B report, way better than our son’s 3M report I had to read yesterday.
a. So ditto on these guys like it was ditto on the SS report. Didn’t draft any of the good ones to draft like Chapman.
b. Just a little word to the wise on POTUS’ push to move the malaria medicine as a cure for corona….The short answer is NOOOOOOOOOOOO! POTUS said that no one dies from the malaria medicine. I have witnessed people dying from malaria who received THAT medicine. Also the same medicine has proven to be almost ineffective against some forms of malaria so…Don’t take the malaria medicine if you have the corona virus.
c. Hope you had a nice weekend. If you didn’t it’s all my fault for not wishing you (as I almost always do) a nice weekend on Friday.
d. MLB quote of the day for May 13, 1990
‘When I get to first base, I start thinking about third.’ [Of course he was thinking about baseball, not sex. Dur!]
Jose Bernabenis Reyes
Cheers,
Ante
all drugs even aspirin have side effects …..hydroxychlorogquine is a known anti-viral proven to have minimal side effects what they don’t know is how effective it is against Wutang Flu. right now the evidence is anecdotal not clinical but it shows promise they are using it in france and believe it is helping. if i was sick with this virus i would take it right now it is the only game in town.
Heard that Lenny – pills or the ventilator?
Lenny got it?
A. I hear ya, I don’t have the ‘good’ ones on too many teams either, punting 3B in quite a few leagues
B. I don’t want malaria or corona or either of their medicines
C. Yeah, what’s up with that?
D. Haha
I’m a doctor, you’re an idiot.
I’ve never written in on this site, don’t know if this will work.
If ANYONE in my family gets this, they are going on this medicine and a Z-pack. It “might” work and has a low side effect profile. Do you know how Oncology/Cancer treatment is done “off label”.
I will go back to dreaming for baseball. You should stick to FBB and stop your Public Service career, please. Don’t pass on harmful facts these days.
Dr. Exotic, I only meant I don’t want either diseases or anything to do with them…Be well, be safe
Not you (appreciate the work)
The gentleman posting above. Sorry for the double post, like I said, I’m inexperienced in these parts…
Ah, okay…no worries
I’d be ecstatic if my doctor was named dr exotic!
Will be telling people I see a Dr. Exotic, even if it’s a lie
It’s not a lie if he’s currently giving us all the very best medical advice one can find in the developed world!
PS. I also thought he was roasting you at first, lolol
Ha!! Nice
HAHA, amazing!
Bunch of morons out there immediately think everything related to Trump, or said by him, is default stupid and/or a lie, etc.
Irrational hatred can make even the smartest people do and say the dumbest things.
Amen Dr. JoJo!
Grey!!
a. Sorry, man! So just to be clear…Did you have a nice weekend?
1. Yes
2. No
If a2 above, am really sorry. I’m losing it.
b. Yeah, I got malaria twice. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone especially where there’s no one who knows about it or where there’s no infectious diseases unit of a regional hospital. Sorry that you took flack from Dr Exotic. I will do as he says and only report on baseball.
Cheers,
Ante
A. 1.
B. No problem, be well, Ante!
I’m a doctor, you are an idiot.
In these times, please don’t pass on false or uneducated information & facts.
I don’t know if I have ever posted on this site or if I can even make this work.
I do know that if ANYONE I love gets this virus or is on a ventilator, they are getting this med along with a ZPack. It “might” work and has a low side effect profile. To not take it is madness. Do you know how oncology/cancer treatment is performed “off label” in this country?
I’m gonna go back to dreaming on baseball, you should stick to FBB and retire from the Public Service Announcement career…. Please.
Probably a dermoltologist
I don’t see how a baseball season could be centrally played in AZ and FL. It would be a logistical nightmare and monumental effort to pull off. Yes there are parks (10 in AZ), but they are all open roofs. Have you ever been to AZ in the summer? It is hot AF. It is still over 100 at 10 pm. Maybe they could play games at 5 am when it is like 85 or have a fall league / cancel the minor league one which is about a month long. Quarantining if that is still happening also creates another set of issues (travel, hotels, dining, safety of players and personnel, etc.).
Wait, so how do they play baseball in AZ in the summer if they’re all open roofs?
It’s not ideal, but they do play in AZ and FL in the summer, not sure how many games they play with the roof open, I’m sure someone knows…Not sure every team would play in AZ or FL anyway
I take my ballclub out to Az every June to compete in the USA tournament. These young men are privileged to compete at the Mariners, Padres, Dodgers, White Sox, Reds, and Indians spring training complex’s. The fields are immaculate but it’s always 105+, regularly getting into the 110-120 range. Not saying it’s ideal, but with proper hydration and maintenance players are able to excel and play at the highest level.
We did have some 6AM starts when it got 120+ or played under the lights.
I believe using the Az and Fla parks would be an excellent alternative. That said, I’m really bummed we won’t be playing there in June.
If they start at 6 AM, then MLB teams can play tripleheaders!
The roof at chase field is closed pretty much from mid may through August barring an exception if the weather is tolerable and it doesn’t happen often.
Yeah, I’m not sure, but that does make sense — why are we saying they will all play in AZ all year?
This Az thing has legs. There is already an alternative hat design in the works for day games.
https://www.baconsports.com/terribly-awesome-baseball-card-of-the-day-involving-a-budweiser-umbrella-hat/
Haha, whatever makes baseball happen!
this post is just hilarious. man it’s a shame baseball might have to be played in ARI in the summer. i’m sure those players might as well just call it off if that’s the only option right, somebody should bring up how utterly impossible this would be.
Haha, it would pose some challenges
yeah the quarantining already infected vs not. tons of extra work to be done, but that’s not germane to ARI only. this guy up here’s talking like people don’t already play in the ARI summer, like we’re talking about ice hockey outdoors in ARI or something.
They’re gonna play baseball, not sure it will be in AZ exclusively tho