What exactly it a post hype sleeper? If there is a standard definition, I don’t know it. To me, a post hype sleeper is a player who was once highly regarded, tapered off, and then bounced back. In some leagues, deeper draft leagues for instance, one expects a post hype sleeper to be taken. To obtain him will likely take a trade and he is never the centerpiece. If you ask a competitor for a single prospect they’ll quickly be aware something is up. In shallow formats I’m a big fan of packaging my elite prospects for good young major leaguers. In leagues where you are allotted a certain amount of minor leaguers, the elite prospects are taken but post hype sleepers may have been dropped. On to a name worth targeting… Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s Roto Riteup is dedicated to that awkward moment (that happens to me at least five times a day) when all of your co-workers are asking you for fantasy football advice, and you say only write about baseball.

• Even before last night’s excellent 3-for4 game with a steal, Carlos Gomez has been turning it on as of late. His past week’s worth of games has him hitting at a .294 clip with two steals. He is up to 35 steals on the year, but has just 66 runs to show for them. His poor OBP is what really drives down his stolen base opportunities, and his walk rate his lowest since his 2008 season. For the short term, Gomez has the speed that can help push you to winning the stolen base category and thus he deserves to be owned. He is available in about half of all ESPN leagues and over 60% of Yahoo! leagues.
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• Jason Motte took to the bump tonight for the third night in-a-row — and fifth straight game for the Cardinals, dating back to September 15th. Motte surrendered an infield single to Matt Dominguez, but struck out the Astros in the ninth en route to his 38th save in 45 chances this year. The former 19th round pick sports a 2.94 ERA (0.95 WHIP) on the year, with a 5.64 K/BB — and his 38th save is tops in the National League.
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It is that time of the year when fantasy teams begin to reach their pitching limits. Limits are in place to to mimic the innings thrown by a MLB team’s pitching staff over a season. Owners should dive into the leagues rules to see if a team can get a late point rush by maxing out as many pitching innings as possible.

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I covered Erasmo Ramirez for the main site earlier this week, disecting his repertoire and comparing him to Kris Medlen. In fantasy leagues, I picked up Ramirez before his lastest start, an impressive eight inning, two runs allowed, six strikeout performance against the Orioles at Safeco Field on Tuesday night. He is owned in just 2% of Yahoo! leagues, so if you are still alive in fantasy or are looking to bolster your rotation at the end of the roto season, Ramirez has to be one of the top targets on the waiver wire.

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While I would like to say that the title of this edition of Kicking Rocks indicates a fool-proof way to win your league here in the final two weeks, it’s actually more of a plea for good sportsmanship.  Win or lose, you want to walk away from this season with your head held high and as someone who the rest of the league is excited to have back the following season.  The last six months were probably filled with a number of moments, both good and bad, and whether you had direct involvement or not, you still want everyone to walk away with the understanding that the league is a good one in which to play and that no matter what happens, it’s all still a game. With that, here are a few things of which to take note: Read the rest of this entry »

Weekly leaguers basically have one more chance to exploit matchups to squeeze out any remaining category points available. Depending on how your league site handles the short series of games in October, it’s possible you will have another shot. If you’re desperate for pitching, here are some pitching options to consider with their next expected starts that might be there for the taking.

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If my nickname of “Professor Pony” sticks, I think I’d be 100% okay with that. Season three is just around the corner — at least I think it will be soon, no one really knows — and it should be the best season yet.

• Brett Anderson is sidelined once again with a right oblique strain. Assuming the injury is similar to the average oblique strain, this all but puts a wrap on Anderson’s 2012 season. Sigh. Just about all that I want in life is to see Anderson have a healthy career. As far as fantasy baseball is concerned, Anderson should be dropped in all leagues.
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• Tyler Clippard closed the door on the Dodgers in the first half of a double-dipper this afternoon, earning his 32nd save in 35 chances this season. Clippard gave up a one-out hit to Mark Ellis, but needed just 14 pitches to induce three fly ball outs in the ninth to seal the deal. Davey Johnson called Clippard to the hill again in the second half of the double header — but gave up a lead-off moonshot to Matt Kemp — and took the loss, his fifth on the year.
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