Author Archive

Seeking Alternatives to Wins

Enjoys long walks at more appropriate places in his fantasy baseball league’s standings. Must love dogs. (I do like me some Diane Lane, one of the more underrated Hollywood beauties of her time, in my opinion.)

This is kind of like the personals section of your local Craigslist, minus the creep or latent possibility of disease, death or need for a restraining order. There’s also practically a 0% chance that this entry ends up as a prompt for a category on the hilarious Comedy Central program “@midnight.”

I’m tired of wins. Not just because the stat has quote-unquote screwed me out of a rotisserie league title, although I’m sure it has at one time or another. Not just because of all the good arguments for why it’s a terrible statistic for individual pitchers. Not just because I’m tired of hearing people complain about why it’s a terrible statistic for individual pitchers. I’m over that stuff, for the most part. I’m just tired. And kind of bored.

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Relative Waiver Wire: Jeff Locke, Jesus Montero

If you play in a fantasy baseball league made up of family members, then there may well be no need to invest in either of these players. If, however, you play in a deep mixed league, you might want to consider the first of these entries. It’s even possible that the second one will play in one, eventually, but let’s not get that far ahead of the curve just yet.

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RotoGraphs Audio: The Sleeper and the Bust 06/17/2014

Episode 130

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix discuss the Rays’ bullpen, Andrew Heaney, the Rockies’ rotation now that Juan Nicasio has been demoted, the Red Sox’s rotation with Felix Doubront and Clay Buchholz nearing returns but two youngsters pitching well, Jake Marisnick, and more, including a couple of requests: Wilin Rosario and Albert Pujols.

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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A Major League Maturation of Derek Norris

The Oakland Athletics indirectly piqued the interest of astute fantasy owners – and Mike Podhorzer – with the preseason news that they planned to slot John Jaso at DH regularly in order to help him to maintain his health. Naturally, this carried other implications, the primary of which is that right-handed-hitting catcher Derek Norris appeared to be in line for a spike in playing time.

The A’s seemed to dash hopes of fantasy owners in deep leagues, but only briefly. By the end of spring training, they’d elected to go with Daric Barton at first base and to relegate Brandon Moss to DH. That arrangement meant more time behind the plate for Jaso and less time for Norris, period, initially. Barton failed to impress at the dish after less than a month and a half, so he and his plus mitt were designated for assignment. Thus, the excitement about Norris was on again.

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RotoGraphs Audio: The Sleeper and the Bust 06/15/2014

Episode 129

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Special guest Larry Schechter, author of “Winning Fantasy Baseball,” joins Nicholas Minnix to discuss Sergio Romo, the Rays’ bullpen, the Cubs’ bullpen, Jesse Hahn, Vance Worley, the effect of Miguel Gonzalez’s return on Kevin Gausman, Oscar Taveras, Eugenio Suarez, Gio Gonzalez’s return, Shane Victorino’s return, left field for the Red Sox, Jeff Samardzija, and the Royals’ offense.

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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RotoGraphs Audio: The Sleeper and the Bust 06/12/2014

Episode 128

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix discuss, by request, Marcell Ozuna; Alex Wood; Danny Duffy; Mookie Betts; Joc Pederson; Jay Bruce; George Springer; Marco Estrada; and Carlos Gonzalez, Michael Cuddyer and the Colorado Rockies’ outfield. Other topics of interest covered: Justin Verlander, the Seattle Mariners’ shuffled roster that now includes Jesus Montero is up, Adam Wainwright, Wilson Ramos and Francisco Liriano.

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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Joe Mauer, sans Dry Scalp, in Midst of Dry Spell

Some fantasy pundits – including a few at RotoGraphs – and owners were optimistic about the fortunes of Joe Mauer entering this season, in large part because the Minnesota Twins were moving him away from catcher permanently. Although his brand of statistical output is mediocre for a first baseman, the catcher eligibility he retains could make him one of the more valuable rotisserie commodities in this transition year.

Mauer’s apologists – such as yours truly – were confident of his chance to avoid injury as long as he manned a less stressful position. His rough first two-plus months of the 2014 campaign seem to have done little to tarnish the RotoGraphs group’s and my hopes, though.

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Mixed Waiver Wire: Rougned Odor, Danny Espinosa

I must have a thing for second. I finished there in Mixed Tout Wars in both 2011 and 2012. I was runner-up in AL LABR in 2013. I placed there on multiple occasions in my dynasty football league – although I won that once, barely. More often than not, I get the girl because, if she feels like lovin’ me, if she gets the notion … you guessed it. I just haven’t mustered what it takes to seal the deal, on a number of occasions. Which seems odd, because I like mustard.

I don’t have a thing for second basemen, though. It’s just a coincidence that both of my recs this week play that position. I’m not trying to horn in on another of Scott Strandberg’s territoriesagain. But damn if it ain’t the second time I done so.

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RotoGraphs Audio: The Sleeper and the Bust 06/10/2014

Episode 127

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix discuss Grant Balfour and the Rays’ bullpen, the Orioles’ bullpen, Joe Nathan, Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago, Eddie Butler and Tyler Matzek, Kevin Gausman, the much anticipated call-up of Gregory Polanco, a touch on Kendrys Morales, Manny Machado, and requested topics Carlos Gonzalez and Brett Lawrie, with more requested subjects coming in the next episode.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us any fantasy questions you have so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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RotoGraphs Audio: The Sleeper and the Bust 06/08/2014

Episode 126

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! Thank you to special guest Derek Carty of Fantasy Insiders for joining Nicholas Minnix to discuss Kevin Gausman, Tony Cingrani and Mat Latos, the Rockies’ rotation with Jordan Lyles hitting the disabled list, the Orioles’ bullpen, the Indians’ bullpen, Travis d’Arnaud, Eugenio Suarez, Kendrys Morales to the Twins, Max Scherzer, Didi Gregorius, Gerrit Cole, Mitch Moreland, Matt Adams and the Cardinals’ pending roster crunch, and Nick Swisher.

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us any fantasy questions you have so that we may answer them on our next episode.

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