Watching Matt Adams doing the baseline dance with Dee Gordon yesterday brought this morning’s Roto Riteup author immense and unexplainable joy.
On today’s agenda:
1. A Fun & Sexy Comparison
2. Jon Niese activated
3. Carlos Martinez struggles with control
4. The Federalist Five
• Does anyone really know what is going on in Joe Maddon’s head? Just as we were debating moving the Tampa Bay bullpen situation yellow (in Jake McGee’s favor), the Rays’ skipper used elite relievers Brad Boxberger and McGee prior to the ninth inning in Sunday’s tilt with the Twins. Who got the ninth? Old friend Grant Balfour. Don’t run to the wire just yet; Balfour retired the first hitter before issuing a pair of walks with a two-run lead. Maddon had seen enough and yanked the righty for former Triple-A closer Kirby Yates who induced a ground out and a pop out for his first career major league save. Worth noting: Joel Peralta missed Saturday and Sunday’s games with an illness.
Episode 144
The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Jason Collette and Nicholas Minnix discuss, among other things, the Houston Astros’ failure to sign Brady Aiken; trade rumors (and the fantasy implications of them) regarding such players as David Price, Chase Utley, and A.J. Burnett; the big news of the weekend, aka the trade of Huston Street, and what it might mean for Joaquin Benoit; the Cleveland Indians’ rotation quandaries; Shelby Miller; Austin Jackson’s move to the leadoff spot; and a host of players returning in the next week or two.
As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions so that we may answer them on our next episode.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Well, it’s been a week since I last threw down here and, wait what, DraftStreet acquired by DraftKings? You got it, bub. And you can easily transfer your account here. It does change some things for us in these pages, but not really by all that much.
The budgets are different, and so the player pricing is different (you’re not going to be spending $20,000 on a pitcher any longer). It will take some getting used to but identifying value will come to you pretty quickly going from one format to the other.
Here’s Landon Jones on the key differences beyond pricing:
As far as I can tell, there are four main things to address: lineups, pricing, mobile app and scoring. With Draftstreet, you had the option to start three starters, if you wanted, or you could only buy two and purchase a reliever. Draft Kings isn’t set up that way. You get two pitchers; relievers no longer matter. Lineups will now be consisted of: P (2), C (1), 1B (1), 2B (1), 3B (1), SS (1), OF (3); utility spots are a thing of the past.
The biggest change, however, is that strikeouts don’t hurt you any longer. The table below shows the biggest and smallest gainers with the new scoring system (everyone gains because points are easier to tally, but some obviously gain far more than others):
Read the rest of this entry »
Given my status as a nerd, I feel obligated to let you know the film “Revenge of the Nerds” has been out for 30 years now. It hasn’t really held up over time — not that it was particularly great when it was released — but this quote from the character Ogre will continue to live on.
On today’s agenda:
1. A strong start from Rubby de la Rosa
2. Everth Cabrera is making progress
3. Quick thoughts on Danny Duffy
4. The daily five
The Bullpen Report team welcomes you back from a much needed All-Star Break rest. While there are lots of news and notes that could be covered, tonight I’ll hit you with what appears to be the most essential tidbits. However, if by chance there’s something I missed that you feel should’ve been addressed, please just drop a line in the comments below.
While we were away, the San Diego Padres shipped All-Star closer Huston Street up the 5 freeway to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a handful of Halos’ prospects. The addition of Huston Street parlayed with the recent acquisitions of Jason Grilli and Joe Thatcher, should bolster an Angels’ bullpen that ranked 21st in the majors with a 3.75 ERA (3.90 FIP). Street will likely take on the ninth-inning for Mike Scioscia’s bullpen, sending Joe Smith back into the eighth-inning setup role. Not a bad problem to have for the Angels as long as both hurlers continue shoving.
Read the rest of this entry »
First a look at the running totals through week 14 / the All Star break:
28-18 record
3.98 ERA
7.5 K/9
2.6 K/BB
1.30 WHIP
Here’s a look at this week’s recs, with team wOBA in parentheses:
Jacob deGrom – 31.9% ESPN/31% Y!/59% own, 27% start CBS – @SEA (.299), @MIL (.320)
deGrom has sort of come out of nowhere, as a right-hander one strikeout off a one per inning pace despite never matching that at any minor league level of his four seasons on the Mets farm. Read the rest of this entry »
Agenda
FanDuel has unleashed the World Fantasy Baseball Championship; a week-long, $5,000,000 celebration of Fantasy Baseball in Las Vegas! The WFBC has something for everyone, from the $250,000 single-entry championship, to the live $3,000,000 DFBC Final in Las Vegas.
Remember to use promocode FANGRAPHS to get your huge 100% deposit bonus up to $200. Click here to win your seat ticket.
Saturday! The All-Star break took the game away from us for four days this year, but thankfully we’re on a full slate today. Honestly, why was there no baseball on Thursday? This was such a boring week for sports. What the hell am I supposed to do at work if there isn’t any breaking news to read? Anyways, I’m using hotel wifi (which sucks), so let’s do this.
Probables Chart
Hector Noesi and his terrible ratios are on the bump today. His match-up isn’t terrible, but Houston does have some power hitters. Travis Wood is better than Noesi, but he’s gotten crushed by right handed batters this season, making Paul Goldschmidt juicy; perhaps Aaron Hill, too. Hell, I don’t mind Martin Prado ($4,000) either.
Last night, David Phelps held the Reds’ lineup in check pretty well. Brandon McCarthy will have to do so tonight. Personally, I root for McCarthy. It’s difficult to ignore his home run struggles, though, considering his new home.
Lastly, I’m all for targeting the following pitchers, on top of the ones mentioned above: Colby Lewis (Toronto is depleted, but Lewis has been wretched lately), Brett Anderson (righties only; huge fan of him as well, but his results this season haven’t been swell), and Wei-Yin Chen (RHB).
There is some iffy weather today, but as usual, that’s more of a worry for pitchers than hitters. I still recommended one pitcher below, despite questionable weather, because I like his match-up so much.
The Daily Five
Todd Frazier – $4,500
Frazier’s power has seemingly blossomed this season. He’ll have Yankee Stadium’s short porch tonight. Devin Mesoraco ($4,200) is also very, very appealing. Choosing catchers on Saturdays can sometime be iffy, but considering the break everyone just had, he should definitely be in the lineup.
Alex Wood – $7,400
The Phillies’ offense is mediocre versus left handed pitching: they’re 19th in wOBA. Wood’s ability to mix strikeouts with groundballs is ideal. Hopefully he’s doing a little of both tonight. (weather pending; hopefully they’re able to get the game in)
Corey Dickerson – $4,400
Charlie Morton has pitched pretty well this season, but Dickerson’s upside is rather large. He’s been quite a boon for many teams, and considering his power/speed potential, he’s nicely priced.
Paul Goldschmidt – $5,700
He’s pricey, but I absolutely love his match-up.
Dallas Keuchel – $6,500
I usually don’t recommend two pitchers, but I couldn’t resist today. The White Sox, as a team, have a .296 wOBA versus left handed pitching. *crosses fingers that Jose Abreu doesn’t hit a bunch of dingers*
This post, covering one of the leading sites for daily fantasy, is sponsored and made possible by the generous support of DraftKings. FanGraphs maintains complete editorial control of the postings, and brings you these posts in a continued desire to provide the best analytical information on the latest in baseball.
Today is the 20th anniversary of NOFX releasing their album “Punk in Drublic.” For me the most significant track is Jeff Wears Birkenstocks? mostly because it was a featured track on NCAA Football 06. I still play that game and I have three different schools on the 2014 season. I probably shouldn’t brag about that.
On today’s agenda:
1. The return of Carlos Beltrán
2. Scooter Gennett continues to hit
3. Danny Salazar to return Tuesday?
4. Quick thoughts on Danny Santana
5. The daily five