Episode 136

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix get hyped for #USMNT today before they discuss Jake Arrieta’s short- and long-term value; Sergio Romo and the Giants’ other options at closer; a bit more on the White Sox’s mess at closer; Neftali Feliz, Joakim Soria and how likely RPs are to be traded in general; Salvador Perez, by request; Domingo Santana; Oscar Taveras; Mookie Betts; and the demoted Jonathan Villar, new SS Marwin Gonzalez and the exciting Carlos Correa.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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Today is kind of a big day for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team. I’m excited. I haven’t really done the chant thing yet, but that’s mostly because I watched their group-stage matches in my home, where for some reason I’d feel more uncomfortable doing it.

I categorized the catchers for this month by USMNT’s all-time leaders in clean sheets. (That’s “shutouts,” which are registered by goalkeepers, for the uninitiated.) The Yanks could use one of those today versus Belgium. I doubt that they’ll be so fortunate, but I expect them to exhibit considerably more promise in the attacking third than they did against zee Germans.

The more clean sheets, the higher the netminder. No subjective hierarchy here. Just like my catcher tiers. Wink wink. You’re welcome to compare to last month’s.

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Episode 135

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! FanGraphs’ own Jeff Zimmerman joins Nicholas Minnix to discuss the removal of Sergio Romo from the Giants’ closer role; the White Sox’s mess at closer; Ernesto Frieri and Jason Grilli; Taijuan Walker; Archie Bradley; Alex Colome; Dallas Beeler; the arrival of Mookie Betts; Alberto Callaspo; Didi Gregorius; the return of Bryce Harper; and Danny Santana’s chances to remain a fantasy contributor.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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Episode 134

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix discuss Taijuan Walker and Erasmo Ramirez; Marco Gonzales; Zack Wheeler; James Shields; Ian Kennedy; Matt Shoemaker; Trevor Rosenthal; Joe Smith and Ernesto Frieri; and J.D. Martinez.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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If you were fantasy baseball’s “King for a Day” or “Queen for a Day,” then what would you do? Just imagine: The entire community must bow to your will. All commissioners are at your command.

I may have opened Pandora’s Box here. We might gain some serious insight into the makeup of some of our fellow readers who are bold enough to comment, particularly if the filter is off.

Last week, I expressed my dissatisfaction with the wins category in our fake baseball games. I wondered aloud if something beyond quality starts or wins plus quality starts, something like a modified version of Pure Quality Starts or Game Score, would do, even if it meant changing other categories to accommodate. I’m hopeful but not blind to the likelihood that something with a binary result like quality starts is most suitable for the standard game.

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Two different places on the fantasy baseball spectrum, right here. Not much to say besides that before we get to the players, so … let’s get to the players.

P Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles

Ownership: CBS 32% | Yahoo! 6% | ESPN 0.1%

Fantasy owners haven’t forgotten about him just because he’s been rehabbing from June surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. It seems as if there’s a good chance that, when Bundy is ready for major league activation, he joins his club’s bullpen, either initially or eventually, and not its rotation. But hey, rotisserie and head-to-head managers have to seek talent, the attribute likeliest to make a difference for them in their league’s standings.

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Episode 133

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix discuss Ronald Belisario; the Cubs’ closer situation; Matt Cain; pitching peripherals and pitch type info; Carlos Martinez; Odrisamer Despaigne; Todd Frazier; the Braves’ lineup; Travis d’Arnaud and, briefly, catchers in general; and a few other digressions, either in detail or in brief.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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Is Wilin Rosario the high-upside player he seemed to be a couple of years ago (and appeared to remain coming into this season)? Is he just on the wrong side of some bad platoon splits these days (and perhaps screwed for eternity)?

A reader asked questions like these in a comment on a recent podcast, and we discussed them in a subsequent pod. I think the reader did well to get at the heart of the matter. (I added the “screwed for eternity” part.)

The player has a lot potential value because he has a lot of power, even if it’s not reflected in his home run total. The batting average (.245) this season has been disappointing, naturally. Brett Talley’s survey of “The Best Fantasy Hitters of the Past Calendar Year” doesn’t do enough to console 2014 Rosario owners, especially those in redrafters or those who’ve experienced only these last nearly three months.

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Episode 132

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Special guest Fred Zinkie of MLB.com joins Nicholas Minnix to discuss Mark Melancon, the Angels’ mess in the bullpen as well as their ditching of Raul Ibanez, Alex Wood into the rotation, the Cardinals’ rotation with multiple injuries and an opportunity for Carlos Martinez, other starting pitchers with great talent but not yet a clearly defined role, a Dan Straily checkup, Joe Panik, the Royals’ 3B situation, Travis d’Arnaud, Josh Harrison, injuries to important position players such as Brett Lawrie, and more.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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Episode 131

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix discuss Clayton Kershaw‘s no-no, Matt Holliday’s decline in power, Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel, Jake Arrieta, Alfredo Simon, Danny Duffy, Kyle Gibson, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez, Kevin Gausman, Yohan Pino as placeholder for Alex Meyer and Trevor May, and Anthony DeSclafani.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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