The playoffs start today in one of my leagues. This is what everything has been building towards. You've been diligently crafting your team for five months. Now is the time to bring everything home. Now is not the time to be tentative. Now is the time to make bold moves, because flags fly forever. Here are your fantasy baseball links for today, August 29:
Michael Morse: Will the Production Continue? | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
Michael Morse looks like he can keep up the 2011 production into 2012, with the possible exception of a drop in AVG. He adds great roster flexibility since he is qualified at 1B and OF. There is no reason to avoid him on draft day next year.
Fantasy Baseball Two Start Starters, Week 22 | Razzball
Joel Hanrahan: Hit It If You Can | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
Looking ahead to next season, Hanrahan will surely command a higher price on draft day, but I’m not so sure he’s going to replicate the success he has seen this season. Hitters will likely adjust to his change in repertoire and without the same degree of luck on batted balls and fly balls, he’ll see some good old fashioned regression.
Follow the jump for more of the latest fantasy baseball news and analysis from around the web.
Josh Collmenter and James McDonald: NL SP Waiver Wire | Roto Hardball
Collmenter hit many waiver wires after a couple blowup starts in August but he's followed that up with three quality starts, including starts versus Philly and Atlanta. It's also worth noting that he's been particularly good at home where he owns a 3.02 ERA and 2.78 FIP.
Waiver Wire: Ross Detwiler | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
While he’s not likely to win a championship for your team, he could be worthy of a spot-start down the stretch. If nothing else, fantasy owners can familiarize themselves with Detwiler; who may be slotted into the rotation next season. That familiarity might be useful next season, as owners prepare for their drafts once again. In keeper leagues, Detwiler is not worth a look unless the league is incredibly deep.
Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 RBI Guys Vol. 9 | LestersLegends.com
Don't Believe The Hype: Last Week Before Roster Expansion Edition | Roto Hardball
White has a future as a starter in the majors if his minor league numbers are any indication, but unless you're in a deep keeper league, you may want to watch this one from the sidelines to see what Coors does to his numbers before you start to screw up your season numbers with a rookie Rockies' pitcher.
Top 15 Starting Pitchers for 2012: 15-11 | Baseball By Paul
A Look at the Top 5 ISO Surgers | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
With the acknowledgement that Hit Tracker data isn’t a perfect way to predict future home run totals or even measure the luck inherent in current totals, it is worth mentioning that Cabrera is tied for second in baseball in "Just Enough" home runs. He will only be 26 next season, so just based on progression due to age, some of the power spike is probably for real. But, I would be surprised if he came close to matching this power again next year.
The Week That Was: September Call-up Edition | Roto Hardball
A few fantasy-relevant players that could get called up starting Thursday.
Injury Report: August 29: Andre Ethier, Hanley Ramirez, Nelson Cruz & More | Rotoprofessor
Prospect of the Day: Eric Surkamp, LHP, San Francisco Giants | Minor League Ball
Although [Surkamp] racked up large numbers of strikeouts in the minors, he is not a hard-thrower, working in the mid-to-upper 80s with his fastball. However, the pitch plays up due to the contrast with his above-average curveball, above-average changeup, and cutter. His control is strong and, like the classic finesse lefty, he has a good feel for his craft, changing speeds and deceiving hitters. He had no problems at all making the transition to Double-A.
Fantasy Baseball Player Prospecting: Eddie Rosario, Julio Rodriguez, Tyler Thornburg, Trevor Bauer | KFFL.com
Rodriguez, a Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect, takes on Thornburg, a Milwaukee Brewers hopeful. Plus, more Minnesota Twins bashing, and Bauer is too much.