Fantasy Baseball: All Questions Answered Thread
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 21, 2010 11:06 PM EDT
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PrintWith fantasy drafts approaching, I figured readers may have some keeper/trade/draft position questions. Feel free to post your question in the comments section and we will do our best to answer them as quickly as possible.
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Chris Getz
I’m in a 5×5 AL-only 10 team keeper league (with OB% instead of BA). I have Chris Getz at $5. Is he a keeper at this point? I’m worried as he is hitting only .123 in a spring in which it matters for him.
Cool Dude
Getz may lose playing time
Once Gordon comes back, which I expect will be mid-Aril, the Royals will try to get Callaspo some at-bats that could come at Getz’s expense.
And Mike Aviles has come back much sooner than expected and has been swinging a strong bat. With his throwing arm a work-in-progress, the Royals may play him some at second too.
I don’t count spring performances AT ALL, so I wouldn’t care if he was hitting .050 or .800. That said, he has some injury history but can steal 30 bases if he can stay on the field. I’d roll the dice personally. $5 in a 10 team league isn’t that much, and he can earn that in steals alone, aside from any power or batting average bonus.
While I agree spring training stats don’t matter AT ALL for guys like Lincecum, CC, ARod etc…they most certainly DO for players like Getz. At least, they matter to GM’s and Managers (not that I agree) which means they matter.
Managers are clearly making decisions based on these small sample sizes. That is how someone like Porcello makes the roster last year. That is how Rodney became the closer over Lyon last year. Or this year, it is why we are talking about Jenrry Meija as a possible bullpen guy.
So for Getz, if he was hitting .500 and Callaspo was hitting .123, I would no doubt be keeping him at $5. With it being the other way around…I’m worried.
Cool Dude
Three questions
Keeper league in which I’ve already secured C, 1B, 3B, SS and OF. With my final pick I can go with Carpenter, Kershaw, Gallardo or Beckham. Right now I’m leaning towards Beckham to round out the infield, at the cost of waving goodbye to Carpenter but adding one of the other pitchers once I can draft.
Otherwise: Kelly Johnson or Julio Lugo? This used to be a harder question before Lopez rained on Julio’s parade. Deep league question. These aren’t players on standard 5×5 draft radar, though perhaps Johnson should be.
Finally, Milton Bradley or Conor Jackson? Another deep league question, and though I’ve gone with Bradley, I’m still curious to know if there’s anyone out there who sees value in him beyond the bad wrap he got in Chicago, a city he clearly wanted out of. Batting cleanup, but, granted, at Safeco half of the season.
Three answers
1 – I’d probably keep Beckham. I generally stick with offense, and for Carpenter, there’s so much risk that I don’t think I could toss back Beckham and keep Carp instead.
2 – Kelly Johnson – He’s going to be the starter in Arizona (or at least that’s what I’ve read), and I’m not sure how Lugo gets full-time playing time. Even if he did, I think Johnson is the better choice.
3 – Bradley – I think the upside on Bradley is a lot better than Jackson’s. Jackson’s playing time doesn’t seem all that safe to me either.
Near Dynasty
12-team, mixed, should be a contender, 5×5 + OPS/Holds
3 quick questions: (mostly pertaining to the last draft pick I have to close off our restocking draft in my near dynasty)
1. I have a two-week roster spot before I call up Wade Davis (assuming he makes the team & exceeds his prospect eligibility for me on the first start on Saturday). Do I take another holds guy (a lesser one — someone I can play in an SP slot) or do I take a flier on an 8th SP?
2. Here are a few of my 8th SP candidates: are any of these worth owning for a start or two ‘til Davis trumps them? Morrow, Anibal, Harang, Jaime Garcia, and Penny are likely the best in the lot. If I took one and he broke out, I would find a way to benefit (If you’re wondering why I care about a couple of starts).
3. I have Fowler & Rasmus to platoon at CF. Mitchell & Hicks are in my prospect list. For a win now team, is this good enough at CF? I could always take Juan Pierre here to see if he’s really all that Olney’s saying this year, but with OPS, too, I hate having a zero homer guy.
THANKS!
1 – I’d probably take the starter. Holds seem like they can almost be random, and for only two weeks I’d rather get some production, even if it’s at a lower upside.
2 – I’d say look at their team’s schedule and see if one of them is going to have a favorable set of 2-3 starts before Davis comes up. Straight upside I think it would be Morrow, as if he performs well he’s going to have the highest potential trade value of that group.
3 – I would say that unless you need steals really bad, stick with Fowler and Rasmus. Fowler is going to provide more for OPS than Pierre, and probably close to 30 steals on his own. As for whether it’s good enough for a win-now team, that depends on what the rest of your team looks like. If this is the weakest position in your outfield, I’d think you’re probably going to be fine to compete.
Thank you
(Rest of OF: LF=Holliday, RF=Bruce, plus Heyward coming and Dunn at UTIL)
Thanks again!
by Johnny Tuttle on Mar 22, 2010 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Russell Martin and Josh Hamilton
I spent to relatively high draft picks on these two guys in a 14 team head to head league…my hopes are that they both stay healthy and rebound…am I crazy?
I am not a fan of Russell Martin at all, so maybe you’ll want to hear from Ray about him.
Hamilton is fine if you’re getting him at a discount. Gotta be worried about durability, of course.
Faketeams.com author.
by Ian, yo on Mar 22, 2010 1:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Martin
I am a Dodgers fan and am not high on Martin. I am not sure what happened to him, but he may have peaked a few years ago.
I am not drafting him unless he is real cheap. His numbers have declined across the board and the SLG is way down.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 22, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Scott Feldman
Is he a legitimate sleeper for this year, or is he Kyle Kendrick redux?
He concerns me. A lot of his value last season came from the 17 wins. I think he could potentially see his wins remain similar, but his FIP last year was 4.31 (compared to his ERA of 4.08). The low strikeout rate (5.36 per 9) worries me.
I think he’s a legitimate pitcher, but he may be a better real-life pitcher than fantasy one.
Absolutely.
I wouldn’t touch Feldman at all. You draft him, you’re chasing wins and he probably won’t get you more than 14 this year.
Faketeams.com author.
Billy Wagner
Are people overrating him in 2010? He might not even be cleared to pitch in back-to-backs, and that’s not good for a closer.
I think he should probably be at the top of the upside group of closers (the ones that aren’t elite) – I think that could put him in the 8-10 range of closers I think. I’d say he’s got by far the most upside of any closer.
I hadn’t heard about him not being cleared for back-to-backs yet, but hopefully it’s more of a over-cautious situation since they have Takashi Saito behind him.
Wagner
I had not heard that either, but he should get the majority of saves in Atlanta. When healthy, he was a top 5-6 closer for me.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 22, 2010 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Forget Morrow, Take Saito?
I hope no one else finds this gem of a thread ;)
Saito
he’s an injury risk as well, but he was pretty dominant pitching in LA for a few years. He is a nice backup to have in case Wagner gets hurt.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 22, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
#1 Pitching Bust for 2010
Also, #1 Hitting Bust
Busts
Pitchers-
JA Happ
Matt Cain
Johan Santana
Randy Wells
Randy Wolf
Hitters-
Mauer
Heyward-just based on the hype he has rec’d
Werth-prior to 2009, he never had more than 418 ABs in a season, but solid if he stays healthy
Ibanez-hits 34 HRs at the age of 37??
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 22, 2010 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
#1 Hitting Sleeper
- Pitching Sleeper…..
……for the end of drafts
TY
Sleepers
Pitching-
Vicente Padilla-pitched very well in LA
Jason Hammel
Derek Lowe-could bounce back after a mediocre 2009 season
Hitting-
Eric Young Jr-could steal 25 bases in part time role
Sean Rodriguez-could be the Rays starter at 2B
Ian Desmond-should be the starting SS for the Nats
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 22, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Casey McGehee is being forgotten a little too quickly. He’s going to be starting the season as the Opening Day 3B for the Brewers, and with Mat Gamel injured for at least 6 weeks most likely, McGehee could get a stranglehold on that job.
I agree about Sean Rodriguez. Even if he doesn’t start at 2B, I could see him filling a super-utility role like Zobrist did last year.
Latos
PAdres pitcher Mat Latos is another sleeper starting pitcher.
Not sold on McGehee as his major league numbers were better than his minor league numbers.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 23, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Rate My Team
Never played fantasy baseball before. I’m in a 10 team 7×7 roto auction league that just had our auction on Saturday. Offensively, the categories are avg, runs, rbi, hr, sb, obp, and tb. Pitching is wins, saves, ERA, WHIP, k, quality saves, and innings pitched. No AB or inning maximums. 15 hitters (2 C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, MI, CI, 5 OF, and 2 UTIL) and 8 pitchers in the starting lineup.
My team is:
C-Soto, Doumit, Jeff Clement (1B for Pitt who has C eligibility in CBS leagues)
1B-Berkman, Billy Butler, Adam LaRoche, and half of Adam Dunn.
2B-Robinson Cano, Kelly Johnson, Howie Kendrick, and half of Asdrubal Cabrera.
SS-the other half of Asdrubal Cabrera.
3B-Aramis Ramirez and Chipper Jones
OF-Justin Upton, Nick Markakis, Jason Bay, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Guillen, and the other half of Adam Dunn.
P-Haren, Vazquez, Beckett, Jurrjens, Shields, Nolasco, Kuroda, and Floyd (decided to punt the saves stat, so went with all starters).
Minor Leaguers-Jesus Montero and Jeremy Hellickson
Is my team any good? What are the strengths? Where should I try to improve? Who (if anyone) should I jettison?
I don’t really see any glaring weaknesses. 3B could be a problem if injuries occur again, but they’re both solid for production.
Saves come into the league, so you could easily go get some most likely and drop Clement, Kelly Johnson, or Carlos Guillen to go get some.
I agree about Berkman being worrisome, but Butler/Dunn/LaRoche should be solid as your 1B/UT combo.
Team
I can see Soto bouncing back in 2010, but am not sold on a rebound for Lance Berkman, especially in the Astros lineup, but do like Butler to approach 30 bombs.
Cano is solid at 2B
you have two injury prone 3bman who are solid when healthy
Love the OF and the starting pitching.
You can always trade for saves, or SBs as your team is lacking in the SB category.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
Draft question
Draft time is just around the corner and I decided this year to make a big step up in competition league wise. The league is a 8X8 head to head with a bunch of fantasy baseball freaks.
Scoring looks like this
Batters Stat Categories: Runs®, Home Runs (HR), Runs Batted In (RBI), Stolen Bases (SB), Walks (BB), Strikeouts (K), Total Bases (TB), Batting Average (AVG)
Pitchers Stat Categories: Wins (W), Saves (SV), Strikeouts (K), Holds (HLD), Total Bases Allowed (TB), Earned Run Average (ERA), (Walks + Hits)/ Innings Pitched (WHIP), Quality Starts (QS)
I picked up the 11th pick in the draft and I’m going to be left with a tough decision in my opinion. I know from talking to everyone in the league where I’ll be sitting when the 11th pick comes. The first RD so far from everything i gather will be
* 1. Albert Pujols
* 2. Hanley Ramírez
* 3. Álex Rodríguez
* 4. Chase Utley
* 5. Ryan Braun
* 6. Matt Kemp
* 7. Prince Fielder or Evan Longoria
* 8. Tim Lincecum
* 9. Joe Mauer
* 10. Roy Halladay
Leaving me with ( either Fielder or Longoria, Cabrera, Howard, and Texeira ) to pick from. If Longoria falls it’s an easy first two picks I take Longoria and see which of the 3 stud 1st baseman falls to my 2nd RD 14th pick (probably Howard and Cabrera). If Longoria’s not there at 11 (which I’m guessing will be the case) I’m stuck with 4 Stud 1st basemen at the 11th (Fielder, Tex, Howard, Cabrera) and at least 2 more at the 14th pick (probably Howard and Cabrera).
My thought is to take the best 2 players available to me in the first 2 rds regardless of position if Longoria doesn’t fall to me. That would probably give me Howard and Fielder which would give me a ton of offense in the first 2 rds. Should i reach for somebody i think is a mid 2rd pick like Kinsler, Crawford, Holliday, Ellsbury or take the best 2 players available.
Thanks
T
In this case
I’d probably take the two best available regardless of position. Based on who’s probably going to be there at 14, I’d have a hard time reaching and ignoring a player. I generally don’t like locking in a UT spot that early, but I think taking a player who’s clearly lower in value because of position at that point in the draft isn’t worth it.
Based on your league though, I’d probably avoid Howard (due to the strikeouts for hitters) if at all possible.
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