Fantasy Baseball Discussion/Advice Thread

[ThomasTomasz]

I haven't seen a thread in here for Fantasy Baseball, so I'm going to start one up. I've actually been the most active for baseball this year than I have in a while, and I'm only in one league.

Anyway, I am in a keeper league on another forum, and I am stuck. I am one of three expansion teams to the league thats been going for three seasons. However, I am in six place (out of 14.) I've made some solid FA pickups, but need some help getting over the hump.

Here is my team- it is a standard Yahoo 5x5 H2H with OBP and Holds added. I know I should look for 2 for 1 deals- an outfielder and starter- to improve starting pitching, and probably add a closer. The only problem is that closers are being hoarded right now, and no one wants to give them up. So I had to punt saves and go after Holds

Any players who you guys think I should look for, and any potential deals that might work?

C- Miguel Olivo
1B- Gaby Sanchez
2B- Robinson Cano
3B- Mark Reynolds
SS- JJ Hardy
OF- Drew Stubbs
OF- Michael Bourn
OF- Angel Pagan
UTIL- Melky Cabrea

Bench: Andres Torres, Johnny Damon, Ian Desmond, Travis Hafner
DL: Mike Napoli, Kendrys Morales

SP: Matt Cain
SP: Trevor Cahill
SP: Bronson Arroyo
SP: Jeremy Guthrie
SP: Brett Myers
RP: Philip Humbar
RP: Mike Adams
RP: Jim Johnson
RP: Antonio Bastardo
P: Dillon Gee

Bench: Eduardo Sanchez, Brian Duensing
DL: Brandon Beachy, Jonathan Broxton, Stephen Strasburg

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

So this is an old school roto cat 5x5 league with OBP & Holds as the 6th categories? Am I reading this right?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

If you need some holds, I can reccomend two Reds who are likely FA's.

Chances are, primary setup man Nick Masset is already on a team. Evem if he isnt, stay away. He gets bombed once every two weeks.

Bill Bray is a left handed specialist who never gives up runs and pitches just about every 7th inning while the Reds lead. He will give you holds and not hurt your ERA or WHIP.

Logan Ondrusik is a better fantasy option than Masset, too. Again, lower ERA/WHIP, plus he comes in when trailing failry often and picks up vulture wins.

You already have Mike Adams, who is pretty much awesome.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

So this is an old school roto cat 5x5 league with OBP & Holds as the 6th categories? Am I reading this right?

Oh, I left out that its H2H, but yes, old school 5x5 with those two added on.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

So Albert Pujols is out for a couple weeks, and he was just starting to come on as late. Here are a couple options for you guys who need to replace Pujols at first base:

1.) Derrek Lee- Lee has raised his average 30 points over the past couple days. Lee is a traditional slow starter, and it looks like he might be ready to take off.

2.) Freddie Freeman- got off to a very slow start, hitting at the Mendoza line, and he's hit .323 over the past 30 days.

3.) Brett Wallace- has not collected many homers lately, but his .300 average and nearly .400 OBP is nice for owners. Wallace is also in the top 20 in the NL in OPS.

 

[Tailback U]

I just started a fantasy thread here in this forum, but hell, I'm game to answer questions wherever.

I wouldn't worry about catcher. I am surprised that Olivo is still available though, but most catchers do not produce much so if you have a solid starter, I would just keep one on the roster.

Ackley is a solid option especially at second, but as someone else said, you can't be sure of his power numbers in that park in his rookie season. Bernadina is in a difficult spot, hitting ninth for the Nationals as Werth is leading off, but he could a solid pickup, as could Blackmon.

Given the options though, its between Hafner and Blackmon. I think the Indians offense will do much better with Pronk in the lineup, and he was having a nice resurgance before going on the DL.

Is there anyone else you could drop for Uggla? He's not going to perform this bad all season, and will be a huge asset once he starts hitting.

I just picked up Vernon Wells a couple days ago because I figure he's got some upside. I dropped some nobody on my team, I think it was the Giants' Brendan Crawford.

I dropped Ibanez for Uggla because I figure Blackmon/Hafner/Ackley won't be picked up that quickly just yet.

My lineup is almost set so I don't know who I would drop for any of those 3 at this point. My only problem right now is Prado is on the DL and Chipper Jones is constantly in and out of the lineup but he does well when he's healthy so I'd like to keep him as long as I have somebody to sub for him.

I guess I don't really need to pick up any of them unless Wells continues to shit the bed.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I just picked up Vernon Wells a couple days ago because I figure he's got some upside. I dropped some nobody on my team, I think it was the Giants' Brendan Crawford.

I dropped Ibanez for Uggla because I figure Blackmon/Hafner/Ackley won't be picked up that quickly just yet.

My lineup is almost set so I don't know who I would drop for any of those 3 at this point. My only problem right now is Prado is on the DL and Chipper Jones is constantly in and out of the lineup but he does well when he's healthy so I'd like to keep him as long as I have somebody to sub for him.

I guess I don't really need to pick up any of them unless Wells continues to shit the bed.

One can only hope with wells, but it seems like the Angels were the only ones who thought Wells would be worth it.

Keep an eye on Ackley and Hafter though- check rankings every couple days. Ackley will get some notice, because he will be a secondbaseman, and Hafner because of his name and he was doing well before injury. If you don't have someone ready to drop, then don't.

 

[NAHSTE]

So Albert Pujols is out for a couple weeks, and he was just starting to come on as late. Here are a couple options for you guys who need to replace Pujols at first base:

1.) Derrek Lee- Lee has raised his average 30 points over the past couple days. Lee is a traditional slow starter, and it looks like he might be ready to take off.

2.) Freddie Freeman- got off to a very slow start, hitting at the Mendoza line, and he's hit .323 over the past 30 days.

3.) Brett Wallace- has not collected many homers lately, but his .300 average and nearly .400 OBP is nice for owners. Wallace is also in the top 20 in the NL in OPS.

Avoid Lee. Bat speed has been nonexistent for 3 and a half years now. I have always loved D-Lee but I don't think he's a good player anymore.

Freddie is really starting to rake, but I'd probably go Wallace due to the slightly better production.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Brendan Beachy's been on the DL for over a month and came back today. He struck out 11 in his return. Time to check the DL to see how many people didn't think to keep him. I stashed him in my keeper league earlier (surprising that someone would let him go) and I'm definitely happy to have him.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Avoid Lee. Bat speed has been nonexistent for 3 and a half years now. I have always loved D-Lee but I don't think he's a good player anymore.

Freddie is really starting to rake, but I'd probably go Wallace due to the slightly better production.

He had a walkoff home run two games ago, and has been slowly climbing Yahoo! ranks the past couple weeks. People could do a lot worse than Lee as an injury replacement, especially considering Lee himself is just back from an injury stint and time on the bereavement list.

Still though, I agree that people should consider Freeman or Wallace before Lee right now, but the dude always starts slow. That is something definitely in his favor, and the fact that a lot of the other Orioles are clicking offensively right now.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

With the team I listed above, I was offered Sergio Santos (who I know has had a rough game or two lately) for Kendrys Morales, and I was wondering what others thought.

I can have up to eight keepers. Morales may not even be one of them, considering Cano, Cain, Strasburg, Sanchez, Cahill and Stubbs are surefire keepers, plus if Michael Bourn keeps his performance up, so is he. Thoughts?

 

[FirstTimer]

With the team I listed above, I was offered Sergio Santos (who I know has had a rough game or two lately) for Kendrys Morales, and I was wondering what others thought.

I can have up to eight keepers. Morales may not even be one of them, considering Cano, Cain, Strasburg, Sanchez, Cahill and Stubbs are surefire keepers, plus if Michael Bourn keeps his performance up, so is he. Thoughts?

You don't have much in the way of saves and who knows what Morales will do once he returns..however I'm a firm believer in not paying for saves. It's a pretty big unknown given Morales injury and lack of recovery to this point. My gut says to go for it...but it's tempered...

 

[Tailback U]

Looking to pick up a pitcher for tomorrow:

Tim Wakefield (BOS) Vs. TOR (Romero)

or

Kyle Kendrick (PHI) @ FLA (Sanchez)

Haven't really watched any of these guys.

 

[NAHSTE]

Looking to pick up a pitcher for tomorrow:

Tim Wakefield (BOS) Vs. TOR (Romero)

or

Kyle Kendrick (PHI) @ FLA (Sanchez)

Haven't really watched any of these guys.

Avoid Wakefield like the plague. Kendrick won't get you much, maybe a quality start and a win if you're lucky but I wouldn't expect a gem, but anything is better than Wakefield. Wakefield is liable to give up 8 runs in the first inning any time he takes the hill.

 

[Tailback U]

What do you guys think of Mike Napoli? I know he just got back but I'm not too familiar with how he's been in the past, though I know he was hitting bombs earlier this season before he got hurt?

I'd have to drop Lucroy or Vernon Wells for him.

 

[Tailback U]

What site do you guys use to set your starting lineups each day?

Sometimes ESPN doesn't even tell you if a guy is out of the lineup that day.

 

[Goober]

What site do you guys use to set your starting lineups each day?

Sometimes ESPN doesn't even tell you if a guy is out of the lineup that day.

We use yahoo in the VSN league. They show a little triangle next to starting players names everyday, and if someone isn't playing they usually have a little news story next to his name saying why, for instance:
Yadier Molina was a late scratch for today's game. It looks like just a normal days rest for Molina who was gang banged again in his hotel room last night. Expect Molina to be back out there tomorrow.

I feel bad for you if you're using ESPN, I hate their setup. I've been in leagues on ESPN before and had to quit.

I assume you're doing a daily lineup change, you just need to check your lineup everyday before the games start, you usually don't find out a player isn't playing until a few hours before game time.

 

[manchild24]

What do you guys think of Mike Napoli? I know he just got back but I'm not too familiar with how he's been in the past, though I know he was hitting bombs earlier this season before he got hurt?

I'd have to drop Lucroy or Vernon Wells for him.

Jesus Christ I thought you were in our league and was looking for a catcher. I just sent whoever has Vernon Wells a deal for one of my catchers.