Author Archive

Beat the Shift Podcast – Pitch Clock Episode w/ Andy Andres

The Pitch Clock Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guest: Andy Andres

Strategy Section

  • Large free agent pitcher signings
  • Who has more risk – Justin Verlander or Jacob deGrom?
  • 185+ IP Pitchers
  • Do we need to take an ace starting pitcher in drafts?
  • Will streaming be a poor in-season strategy in 2023?

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Beat the Shift Podcast – LIVE from First Pitch Arizona w/ Tristan Cockcroft & Derek Carty

The Beat the Shift Podcast – LIVE from First Pitch Arizona Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guests: Tristan Cockcroft & Derek Carty

2023 Projections

  • How will projections handle the new MLB rule changes?
    • Hits due to banning the shift
    • Stolen Bases
    • Balanced Schedule
  • Will fantasy players overreact to the changes?
  • How did 2022 projections handle the universal DH?

Injury Guru’s Trivia of the Week

Strategy Section

  • What makes a risky player?
    • Can we determine / quantify player risk?
      • ATC Parameter Risk
  • Should we be avoiding risk more in drafts, particularly in the early rounds?
  • Should risk be looked at on the (fantasy) team aggregate level, or only on an individual player basis?
  • Corner Infielders in 2022 – Where was the value?
    • Where will the value be for corner infielders in 2023?

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Beat the Shift Podcast – End of Season Wrap-Up Episode w/ Ian Kahn

The End of Season Wrap-Up Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guest: Ian Kahn

Most memorable moment of the season

Fantasy MVPs

  • Drafted Hitters
  • Undrafted Hitters
  • Drafted Starting Pitchers
  • Undrafted Starting Pitchers
  • Relief Pitchers

Strategy Section

  • Which is more important – the draft, or in-season play?
  • Should we be avoiding risk more in drafts, particularly in the early rounds?
  • Lessons learned in 2022
    • What was the optimal closer strategy in 2022? Will it change in 2023?
    • What were some waiver wire strategy lessons learned from 2022?
    • Was the market premium for speed justified in 2022?
    • Were catchers worth taking early in drafts? Will they be worth taking early in 2023?
    • Was starting pitching worth buying early in drafts in 2022? Where should we look to purchase pitching in 2023?
  • Who are some potential “Spencer Strider” type candidtates for 2023?

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Beat the Shift Podcast – 2022 Home Stretch Episode

The 2022 Home Stretch Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Baseball Section

Strategy Section

  • Last two weeks FAAB
    • Leagues restricting the picking up of already dropped players
  • Making sure your roster has backups at every position
  • 2022 differences
    • Ending the season mid-week
    • Smaller September rosters
    • Upcoming IL stints in the final week
  • Know your league settings

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Beat the Shift Podcast – Trading Ethics Episode

The Trading Ethics Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Strategy Section

  • The ethics of making late season trades
    • Trading in redraft leagues late in the season – trades between a top team to a middle/bottom team
  • What should a team well out of the money be compelled to do down the stretch, and what should they not be allowed to do (if any)?
  • The Mathematics of a Fair Fantasy Sports Trade (article linked)
    • Making a team “better” – is it a higher points total potential, or a higher probability of winning / cashing in a league?
  • Measures that we can take to prevent late season ethics issues, and still keep engagement
    • Changing trade rules
    • Adding engagement deterrents
    • Penalties for bottom finishers

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Beat the Shift Podcast – Reflection Episode w/ Patrick Davitt

The Reflection Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guest: Patrick Davitt

Strategy Section

  • Successful fantasy strategies in 2022
    • Spread the risk at auctions
    • Not overpaying for stolen bases
    • Find the hotspots
    • Staying away from higher risk players at the top
    • The aggregation of small value gains
  • Kevin Gausman’s high BABIP
  • What was the ideal closer strategy in 2022?
  • Unsuccessful fantasy strategies in 2022
    • Pocket Aces
    • Taking on too much injury draft capital
  • What can we do better in 2023?
    • Not relying on closers from the waiver wire
    • More stars & scrubs in mixed leagues
    • Waiver Wire
      • Not bidding too high
      • Being more patient
  • How to handle starting pitchers late in season with poor upcoming matchups
  • Activating starting pitchers immediately upon return from injury

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Beat the Shift Podcast – Draft Strategy Look Back Episode w/ Justin Mason

The Draft Strategy Look Back Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guest: Justin Mason

TGFBI Update

  • What we can learn from the top teams
  • Draft success versus superior in-season play

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Beat the Shift Podcast – Mets & LABR Update Episode w/ Adam Ronis

The Mets & LABR Update Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guest: Adam Ronis

Softball Team

New York Mets

  • Thoughts on deadline acquisitions
  • Mets postseason bullpen
  • Mets consistency
  • Jacob deGrom rest of season
  • Injury Guru’s Trivia of the Week
  • How many wins will the Mets accumulate in 2022?

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Beat the Shift Podcast – Trade Deadline Roundup Episode w/ Steve Gardner

The Trade Deadline Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guest: Steve Gardner

MLB Trade Deadline

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Beat the Shift Podcast – Injury Returnee Episode

The Injury Returnee Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Strategy Section

  • Should you immediately insert injury returnees into your active fantasy lineups?
    • Hitters vs. Pitchers

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