Agenda
Last week, I posted the first iteration of the American League starting pitcher tiers. Naturally, I couldn’t possibly include every starting pitcher, even if they conceivably have the upside to push their way into the rankings at some point. So let’s discuss a couple of names that could quickly make a debut appearance.
Today’s Roto Riteup was co-written by my roommate’s cat, who “helped” by continually jumping on the keyboard.
On today’s agenda:
1. Avisail Garcia is positioned for success
2. Quick thoughts on Jake Lamb
3. Adrian Gonzalez numbers that make me laugh
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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• Man your FAAB stations! Well, if you have rolling waivers and Joakim Soria was available before today. Detroit closer Joe Nathan was sent to the DL with a right flexor strain. That the 40-year-old Tommy John veteran is experiencing issues related to elbow ligaments seems to be a big problem. Even if it is purely a mild strain with no UCL involvement, it seems unlikely Nathan will require the minimum 15-day absence. In walks Joakim Soria, the Tigers’ new closer. Read the rest of this entry »
An apology is due here, and I’m sorry. I whiffed on Seth Smith in my American League outfield rankings, even though those are mostly for 5×5 formats. I nearly blanked on him in my home league as I barely set my lineup in time, and it is an on-base percentage league! This type of mistake won’t happen again with Smith, mostly because he’s too productive to be forgotten.
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Neftali Feliz and LaTroy Hawkins both picked up their first saves of the season last night. Per ESPN’s live draft results, Feliz was drafted as the 25th reliever off the board on average and just inside the top 200 overall. Hawkins was drafted 38th among relievers and went at pick 226 overall. These are a couple of the names you wound up with if you chose not to pay for saves.
Maybe I’m wrong about this, but I assume the plan if you own guys like Feliz and Hawkins is to ride them out as long as they hold on to the closer’s job and squeeze as many saves out of them as you can. I ascribe to the “don’t pay for saves” philosophy and scrounge around late in drafts and on the waiver wire to acquire my saves. Typically when I get a guy who has the ninth inning job, I ride it out until he loses the job. But it occurs to me, as it may have occurred to you, that maybe it’s better to cash in that asset after a string of un-blown saves. Read the rest of this entry »
We’re two days into the season and we’ve yet to have a day where every team plays so needless to say that waiver wire recommendations aren’t exactly overflowing right now. On the one hand, I generally like to practice patience early on when it comes to the waiver wire. After all, I drafted these players for a reason so I’d like to give them some time. On the other hand, April is a great time to pick up waiver wire guys because if they click, you’re getting virtually a full season of work.
I think too often people get caught up in “waiting for someone better” with their FAAB or waiver priority. If an available player fulfills a need or can improve your team, then invest. Always expecting something better to come down the pike is dangerous. A lot of people have turned their nose up at Jason Grilli, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as one of the best closers available all year. We don’t know who might be this year’s J.D. Martinez, but I’ve got a handful of hitters to consider early on.
Did you draft Dustin Pedroia, who is on pace for almost 300 home runs? Mookie Betts? In a fit of extreme homerism, the entire Red Sox lineup, which will surely score 1,296 runs? That must feel pretty good. Good for you, Pete. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Or, wait — you were the one who drafted Kyle Lohse, weren’t you? Threw a mid-round pick at Mat Latos? Wrote “stream Nate Karns” on your list of good Tuesday decisions? Do you regret it?
Man, there have been some truly brutal starts to kick off the season. It’s really easy to make a knee-jerk decision in reaction to such preposterous, ego-damaging, season-dooming starts, but you have to remember — and I think it goes without saying — that these guys will (probably) never be worse this year than they were today.
Hey y’all, I know some of you are seeing the dual-pods in the RG Audio Feed. Here is some info on that. Don’t panic!
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Agenda
