A fine extra-day-off to you all…unless you have to pull the “work on a holiday” thing. Props to you for sure. Either way, thanks for reading and for all of the comments in the previous weeks.

I mentioned this last week, but I want to camp on this topic for a second. The number-one purpose of a team’s minor league farm system is to develop future talent, we all know that. However, there is a extra fringe benefit that having lower-level teams provide, and that is a place for their injured MLB guys to go down and get some valuable game experience before their official return back to the show. You can “simulate games” all you want, but that extra kick of adrenaline that comes from real competition is something practice can’t provide. For the majority of the season, it’s a regular thing to send a guy down to the minors for a game or tow or three. Now we are the point in the year where most minor leagues begin playoffs today or tomorrow, and it is a little much sometimes for a minor league manager fighting for a title to be expected to throw a random guy from the big-league team into their mix for one game.

Which leaves really the fall instructional leagues as a team’s only viable option for rehab assignments for their players at this point in the season. Made up mainly of AA-and-below level players, and even then, doesn’t start for about another 2 weeks. This “black hole” of games is definitely something to be factored into how fast/slow a team decides to bring an injured player back, or to shut him down altogether.

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Episode 231 – I Believe You Mean Wrigley Field North

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

In this episode, Dylan Higgins and Matthew Dewoskin discuss Labor Day baseball, Dylan’s dumb mistake from last Friday, another Ubaldo Jimenez day, not worrying about Chad Bettis’ splits, Raul Alcantara, Jose Berrios, Drew Pomeranz returning to San Diego, and Matt Shoemaker’s unfortunate injury.

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Today is the last weekend for four months without NFL football, and this Roto Riteup author welcomes the distraction from baseball.

On the agenda:
1. Starters getting pushed
2. Various News and Notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options

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MY AUDIO IMPROVES GREATLY AROUND 42:00

9/2/16

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

Follow us on Twitter

• @sporer
• @enosarris
• @jasoncollette
• @paulkastava

Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles/Game Play

• Reynaldo Lopez (7:30)
• Marcell Ozuna (30:40)
• Addison Russell (36:00)
• Yasiel Puig (41:40)
• Gary Sanchez (46:10)

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Earlier this week, I presented my top 100 starters for the rest of the season. Apart from not slotting two of the game’s biggest talents (including the very best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw), I’m happy with the list. I gave a quick thought or two about each as well, but today I want to highlight three (plus a quick honorable mention) who are lower on the list, but could make a big September impact.

Let’s actually start with the Honorable Mention.

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Chat starts around 2:45 PM central

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I trade a lot. Like Justin, I am also a trade-aholic.  So once the Ottoneu trade deadline has ended my feelings are mixed. There is slight disappointment; I will readily admit that fantasy baseball is a little less fun (for me at least) if I don’t have the ability to make trades. I also feel relieved. After sending out offers constantly since our March draft, I would be lying if I said exhaustion didn’t catch up with me. Not feeling compelled to check trades is a nice change. Baseball is still here after all. I am happy. Leading up to the Ottoneu trade deadline (August 31) I tried to cover how you should prepare for next year (if selling) or how you could stock up for the stretch run if buying. Today, I want to take some time to talk about how you can use September to bolster your chances of clinching the championship, or of improving your odds for 2017. Read the rest of this entry »

The calendar has flipped to September, and in roto leagues, that means many gamers are rapidly approaching innings pitched limits for the season. If you’re up against the innings limit but in the mix to gain some points in the strikeout category, every inning and punch out is of the utmost importance. The good news for those gamers is that there are low-owned relievers who are capable of helping immensely. A quartet of relievers listed below are owned in under 5% of most leagues across the industry. Missing the cut were higher owned relievers such as Shawn Kelley, Jason Grilli and Hector Neris. That trio was owned in more than 10% of leagues across the three major fantasy baseball providers. Read the rest of this entry »

Episode 230 – The ODC vs. The DLC

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

In this episode, Dylan Higgins and Matthew Dewoskin discuss crazy September baseball, a battle of exploitable lefties in Coors, Rougned Odor’s “troublesome” walk rate, Carlos Rodon’s hot streak, the return of Alex Cobb, Yoan Moncada being called up, Matt waiting to be able to drop the mic on a Jeremy Hazelbaker pick, Dylan Bundy cooling off, not buying on Clayton Richard, and the American League MVP.

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Joey Wendle and JaCoby Jones: The other callups

Most of the current prospect buzz is on Yoan Moncada with our own Eric Longenhagan covering him in detail. Besides Moncada, a couple light hitting shortstops have gotten the call, the Athletics’ Joey Wendle and the Tigers’ JaCoby Jones. Let me start my examination with Wendle.

Wendle’s call to fame is that he was the main piece the A’s got for trading away Brandon Moss. Let me start with some comps to his 2016 prospect grades given by MLB.com.

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