Two weeks ago I said that 2016 was not the year to own Byron Buxton and that in non-dynasty formats he was droppable. Some of you applauded my position, while others second guessed their decision to even read my post. One reader went as far as sending me an email letting me know that I was an idiot and that he wished I was in his league because his league could use more bad players. I accepted his invitation, but have yet to hear back. On Monday Buxton was optioned to Class AAA Rochester. Game. Set. Match. Fantasy tennis anyone?
Why in the world is an Insider account required to read half the articles on ESPN’s fantasy baseball site? Who in their right mind is actually paying money for that watered down content. This post you are currently reading is provided to you gratis by Razzball, because that is how we roll. Today’s “pay to read me” article is entitled “Should fantasy owners pick up Jose Berrios?“. Why not “Does a bear sh*t in the woods”? Save yourself the membership fee, the answer is “yes”. If Buster Olney is waiting for me to pony up my hard earned cash he’s going to be waiting a long time. Buster Onley. More like Buster Lonely. Besides, I’d rather buy Grey two daiquiris and myself a lottery ticket.
While I’m ranting about senseless articles I might as well mention Scott White’s “Call-up Berrios a must add” and another I read the day Blake Snell got the call titled “Add Blake Snell Now“. You can file both of those under “No sh*t Sherlock”. Seriously, what’s next, a post telling me not to sell low on Mike Trout? Or how about a “It’s now safe to drop David Murphy” piece?
Keep an eye on Jon Gray. The kid has pedigree. I hate that word, but felt compelled to use it. He’s a two-start pitcher next week and both starts are on the road away from Coors Field. Forecast calls from Gray skies.
Don’t look now, but Mike Moustakas is doing is best Manny Machado impersonation. He’s a little short in the batting average department, but when a guy with an ADP of 155 is nearly matching a first rounder, those that own him have certainly struck gold. Unless of course that first rounder is just sh*tting the bed. Perhaps it’s in the initials. I’m a huge fan of Machado and expect to see him pull away from Moose, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Moose finish in the top five.
I wonder how you would have felt if you exited draft day with the following team:
C: Welington Castillo
1B: Mark Trumbo
2B: Joe Panik
3B: Eugenio Suarez
SS: Jean Segura
OF: Dexter Fowler
OF: Angel Pagan
OF: Colby Rasmus
UT: Chris Carter
Most likely you would have been the laughing stock of the league post draft, but that honor would have been short lived. Right about now your league mates would be trying to figure out how in the world you pieced together such an “under the radar” team that was owning the league. And that same time you’d be doing everything you could to keep them from finding out about Razzball.
Beef Welington Castillo is going to make a run for the border, and by border I mean 25 home runs. Man do I wish I had dumped Travis d’Arnaud for him last week when he was still on the waiver wire. Catcher fail. It appears that Baltimore agrees with Mark Trumbo as he is on pace for a potential 40-homer season. And let’s be honest, Eugenio Suarez sounds more like the name of a soccer referee than a third baseman whose stats have him about level with Manny Machado. Jean Segura? I thought he fell off the map two years ago. Looks like we’ve found 2013 Segura (and then some). I’m not so sure Trumbo will get to 40 homers, but Chris Carter just might. And did I mention he’s hitting .295!
Let’s mention a few leaders of the pack. Jean Segura, Josh Donaldson and Paul Goldschmidt lead the league with 95 plate appearances. Segura leads the league with 32 hits and 22 singles. Dexter Fowler, Starling Marte, Jose Altuve, Chris Carter and Nick Markakis lead with 9 doubles. Joe Panik and David Peralta each have three triples. Bryce Harper has ten homers and 23 RBIs. Donaldson 21 runs scored, Goldschmidt has 21 walks and Justin Upton has 314 strikeouts. Ok, so it’s only 32, but it certainly feels like a lot more.
For the rest of you minor league stashing fools like myself, in case you didn’t know, Tyler Glasnow struck out 11 over six innings with one walk, two hits and no earned runs. Let the count down begin. Here’s the Bucs reaction to Glasnow’s performance and eminent call-up. Do a YouTube search for “Dancing Pirates in dugout” and you’ll quickly discover which Pennsylvania team would win the PA MLB Dance off.
Okay, so I have a confession. Today I listened to my first Razzball podcast. Here’s what I think. Entertaining and informative, and at times reminded me a bit like Beavis and Butthead discussing fantasy baseball. Allow me to clarify that last statement. It was a compliment as I have mucho respecto for Beavis AND Butthead. If only Grey’s belch had been a fart! Usually I listen to Howard Stern in the car, so this was a nice change of pace. Is it me or does Grey sound a bit like Luke Wilson (maybe it’s Owen) and JB like cross between Jeff Ross and Seth Rogen? Either way, for those of you that don’t listen, I strongly suggest you give it a try. Keep ’em coming commenters…
