Archive for September, 2015

Field of Streams: Episode 123 – Moose vs. Shark

Episode 123 – Moose vs. Shark

The latest episode of “Field of Streams” is live!

In this episode, Dylan Higgins and Brad Johnson discuss handling a very rainy slate, a couple Escobars, being frustrated by a continual lack of options at shortstop, Christian Bergman’s splits, Brad’s ill-timed defense of Jonathan Papelbon, identifying Jorge Lopez, trying to trust Johnny Cueto, avoiding the matchup of Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner, and bad DFS analysis to avoid.

Read the rest of this entry »


The Daily Grind: Yahoo Exploit, Moore, Bartolo, Zito, Reds

Agenda

  1. The Yahoo Innings Exploit
  2. Daily DFS
  3. GB / FB Splits
  4. SaberSim Observations
  5. Tomorrow’s Targets – Matz, Zito, Cron, Reds
  6. Factor Grid

Read the rest of this entry »


Which Pitchers to Start Tomorrow 9/30/15

So as I figured, you guys benefit significantly more from start/sit advice for starting pitchers scheduled the following day. For the rest of my posts this week, that’s what I’ll do. Unfortunately, that means that tonight’s starters won’t get a write-up. However, if you have any questions about who to start or bench today, let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to monitor and respond while at the office.

Read the rest of this entry »


Roto Riteup: September 29, 2015

Today’s Roto Riteup was penned while a number of episodes of The West Wing played in the background.

On today’s agenda:
1. Adam Wainwright to return tomorrow?
2. Quick Sonny Gray follow-up
3. Angels rotation shakeup
4. Streaming Pitching Options
Read the rest of this entry »


Bullpen Report: September 28, 2015

• Although Matt Williams let Jonathan Papelbon stay in the game after his throat grab on Bryce Harper, he’s now been suspended by the Washington Nationals for four games. Other people have been discussing the fight all day so I’ll only talk as it relates to the bullpen. I wouldn’t necessarily expect Papelbon to be welcomed with open arms after his suspension is over so his days of closing might be done this season and possibly even next year as well. I’ve removed him from the grid, putting Casey Janssen in his place. Matt Thornton threw a scoreless ninth today in a four-run game and could also be used in the ninth in Papelbon’s absence.

Read the rest of this entry »


The Sleeper and the Bust 9/28/2015 – Penultimate Sunday

Episode 282

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live!

In this episode, Paul Sporer and Jason Collette meander along the baseball highway on this penultimate Sunday of the regular season. Jason brings up the second-half leaderboards and we hit some surprises scattered on each end of said leaderboards. It’s a pretty chill episode, small technical glitch in the middle, you’ll hear it.

If you have anything you’d like to hear us discuss next week, let us know in the comments. 

Read the rest of this entry »


MASH Report (9/28/15)

Freddie Freeman has been dealing with a wrist injury since going on the DL to help heal it.

Freeman didn’t start on Wednesday against the Mets due to his bothersome right wrist, although he pinch-hit in the seventh inning and finished 2-for-2 with a homer and five RBIs. He then vowed on Friday that he’ll play through the injury, and started the past two games in Miami heading into Sunday.

However, he said the wrist felt worse than usual during pregame — eventually causing him to make a bunt attempt prior to lining out in his second at-bat.

“I still went out there and tried,” Freeman said. “It was a tell-tale sign when I tried to bunt, though. …I don’t know if it was because of the quick turnaround and it didn’t heal enough like it does with a night game.”

Said manager Fredi Gonzalez, “He’s tried to play through it, but I think today was just a little bit too much. I didn’t want to continue to run him out there.”

Before going on the DL in June for the injury he was hitting .299/.367/.520 and since the injury he is at .248/.380/.408. Just remember when the 2016 projections come out, they don’t know Freeman played through a wrist injury and will be on the low side.

Josh Hamilton is playing in the Rangers outfield.

“I’m surprisingly good,” Hamilton said. “I knew I would be swollen and I knew I would be stiff. The big tell-tale was this morning, and the swelling was down and the moving parts were better. It responded really well, a lot better than I thought, especially playing nine innings.”

Saturday was the first time Hamilton played left field since Aug. 15, and he went 1-for-4 with a single and three strikeouts. The original plan was for Hamilton to play five to six innings and get three at-bats, but he felt good enough to play the full game.

“I felt like I had good at-bats,” Hamilton said. “I felt comfortable at the plate. I didn’t feel overwhelmed or out of place. Three strikeouts but I felt OK. If I wasn’t seeing the ball or my timing was off, it would be a different story. But I didn’t feel out of whack.”

“I thought it went well,” Banister said. “For him to complete the game and get the full complement of at-bats, and still feel good and no real issues, was good. The more at-bats he gets, the more locked in he’ll be.”

It looks like the Rangers will be deciding Hamilton’s playing time day-by-day so he may only be useful in leagues with daily lineups.

Carlos Martinez will miss the rest of the season with a strained shoulder.

A season that right-hander Carlos Martinez opened with a promise to his late best friend ended abruptly on Saturday after an MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain in his throwing shoulder. The diagnosis came a day after he exited his start after just seven pitches, and it will preclude him from pitching in the postseason.

“If this happened, say, Aug. 1, he probably would pitch again,” said general manager John Mozeliak as he held yet another media gathering to address an injury. “But unfortunately, where we are on the calendar, it’s just not going to work out.”

The Cardinals are confident that the issue can be treated with rest, which means Martinez can avoid surgery, and he is expected to be fully healthy by the start of Spring Training.

Players who are now done for the year.

Brandon Barnes (hamstring)

Pablo Sandoval (Pneumonia)

Huston Street (Groin)

Non-player notes

Velocity Readings

Jake McGee’s average fastball velocity is on the low side for this season which puts it 2 mph lower than 2014’s value.

Players on the DL in 2015

The Red players have had updates since the last report. Click on the “Date” for a link to go to the latest article on the player.

Players who should be on the DL


A Minor Review of 2015: Tampa Bay Rays

Welcome to the annual series: ‘A Minor (League) Review of 2015.” This series is a great way to receive a quick recap of the ’15 minor league season for your favorite club(s), while also receiving a brief look toward the 2016 season and beyond. It can also be a handy feature for fantasy baseball players in keeper and Dynasty leagues.

A Minor Review of 2015: Rays

The Graduate: Steven Souza, OF: All kinds of eyebrows were raised (including my own) when the Rays gave up on Will Myers and replaced him with the overaged-rookie Souza. The 26-year-old rookie struggled to hit for average in 2015 because of a massive strikeout rate (34.6%) but he walked more than his fair share and also hit for power; he’s currently third on the team in home runs behind Evan Longoria and the surprising Logan Forsythe — and second on the team in Isolated Power (ISO) behind Tim Beckham. So, he wasn’t the breakout player the Rays were probably hoping for but he’s been more valuable than one might expect by looking at this batting average.

Read the rest of this entry »


The Daily Grind: Choking, Happ, Ray, Robinson

Agenda

  1. Choking
  2. Daily DFS
  3. GB / FB Splits
  4. SaberSim Observations
  5. Tomorrow’s Targets – Ray, Shark, Robinson, Dyson
  6. Factor Grid

Read the rest of this entry »


Field of Streams: Episode 122 – Pitched Pretty Hate-ably

Episode 122 – Pitched Pretty Hate-ably

The latest episode of “Field of Streams” is live!

In this episode, Dylan Higgins and Matthew Dewoskin discuss Matt’s visit to Wisconsin, the Korean holiday of Chuseok, figuring out which players (and teams) still care, Texas pride, David Ortiz keeping an eye on the calendar for his matchup against Ivan Nova, seeing the glass half-empty or half-full for Albert Pujols’ matchup against Felix Doubront, the value of making your own fantasy decisions, the AL MVP, A-Rod vs. E-Rod, Ryan Braun insisting on playing hurt instead of being shut down, what it would take for Matt to buy White Sox season tickets, and Matt’s big fantasy football victory.

Read the rest of this entry »