The last backstop with positive value – OK, basically, he was a zero, but we’re looking at the bright side, here – in 2014, according to the Zach Sanders end-of-season catcher rankings, is none other than Tyler Flowers. That finish of 16^th among those whose primary responsibilities came behind the plate – so, excluding Carlos Santana and Joe Mauer – made him a viable option for those in two-C mixed leagues all season.

No rational person would have predicted that the Chicago White Sox’s squatter would continue to produce like he did in March/April: .354/.398/.415 in 88 plate appearances. He struck out 35.2% of the time that month and registered a .560 BABIP. The starting surge came without much in the way of extra-base hits, as the .061 ISO that month demonstrated. If Flowers wasn’t going to hit any bombs, what good was he? Some serious regression was on its way, and it was probably going to include a rest-of-the-way batting average of about .150.

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When you examine at end-of-season rankings, some players stand out more than others against the backdrop of their rotisserie-successful peers. But a lot happens in the course of a year. It’s unfair to dismiss the accomplishments of players as something … less than fluke but more than breakthrough … without some thorough investigation.

Some players finally realize their potential and have built a foundation of skills (including the “health skill”) on which their new performance baselines can rest. But others haven’t. And that’s usually reflected in their outcomes the following season. It happens to some players unexpectedly, but some are easy to see coming.

More than a handful of players stick out right away as candidates for that kind of result next year. Too many things went their way, and I wouldn’t expect so many to go in their favor once again. We’ve discussed these players in the podcast at one time or another. Sometimes I think that such players are obvious, but there’s always a proponent or buyer.

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It took a special kind of player to be, on the whole, a useless regular position player in mixed fantasy baseball leagues of 10 or 12 teams in 2014. Offense is down. One’s offense is downright offensive against that backdrop when he manages to accrue 600 plate appearances and put up numbers that earn negative dollars.

Many players made a run at the honor of being unworthy of a roster spot for the duration of the season in standard mixed leagues. A dozen in all accumulated 500 or more PAs and returned negative value. Andrelton Simmons came up a couple of dozen PAs short of 600. But in the end, only two players reached the 600-PA plateau and were still bums, according to the Zach Sanders’ end-of-season rankings due to hit RotoGraphs shelves in the next week. Keep your eyes peeled.

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Episode 172

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

Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix, in the first offseason edition, with an emphasis on keeper decisions, discuss:

Alex Rodriguez, Tanner Roark, Jon Lester, James Shields, Sonny Gray, Derek Norris, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler, Brandon Moss, Madison Bumgarner, Edinson Volquez, Gerrit Cole, Starling Marte, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, and a listener’s keeper dilemma that involves Max Scherzer, Dee Gordon, Cole, Mookie Betts, Carlos Carrasco, and Travis d’Arnaud.

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What is most valuable in any category depends on how “valuable” is defined. It’s one of those things that has criteria which would seem to lend neutrality to the determination of what is “most,” and yet there is really no defining, objective attribute that completely defuses subjectivity. Consensus must do. What is most valuable, then, is a poll of popular opinion, informally. Formally, it’s a ballot of popular opinion among those considered most credible or deemed most qualified to opine. There’s, potentially, a whole other debate.

According to the indubitable Wikipedia, Paul Cezanne’s “The Card Players” might be the most valuable painting, having been sold for the greatest amount of money, adjusted for inflation, in history. Many works may never see the auction floor, of course, making them, essentially, priceless. One of those types is Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” which is supposed to have the greatest insurance value on record.

I don’t know art, but I know what I like. You saw that coming.

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Episode 171

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

Jason Collette and Nicholas Minnix wrap up the regular season by talking:

Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter; Ryan Braun’s upcoming thumb procedure and 2015 value; and AL and NL fantasy MVPs by position.

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

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Episode 170

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

Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix on, among other topics:

Mark Buehrle’s impressive run of 14 straight 200-inning seasons; Justin Verlander; the Tampa Bay Rays’ bullpen for 2015; a request about certain keep-10 keepers for a listener’s squad in his 12-team mixed league; and, in efforts to squeeze value from the season’s final few days, streamers who interest us, beginning on Friday.

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The Texas Rangers could have begun to plan for 2015 before the 2014 campaign was even two months old, given the widely documented rash of injuries that they incurred. Of course, openings always means opportunities, and the organization displayed a willingness to be surprised this year in an effort to discover pieces that might help them next year and beyond.

I’m usually more interested in checking out the starting pitchers who get those opportunities. Eno Sarris touched on the exciting Lisalverto Bonilla a few days ago. Nick Martinez received a down-and-dirty evaluation from Jeff Zimmerman last month. I’ve been wanting to take a look at a couple of other arms that Texas rolled out this year. I’m now off one and more on the other than when I started.

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To stream pitchers is to play with fire, but at this time of year, you may find yourself in a situation in which you have to do it. You may be burned, but you could torch your competition, too.

Some streaming options stand out more than others. I didn’t necessarily pick the best of the best. Instead, I offered some of these barely owned if owned at all prospect types who possess some serious talent and therefore nice upside for those in very deep leagues who are hoping to be a little lucky.

Good luck to fantasy baseball players in these final few days – particularly the ones who read FanGraphs.

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Episode 169

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is now live! That makes two in a row.

Eno Sarris and Nicholas Minnix on, among other topics:

Sandy Alderson and the direction of the New York Mets; Frank Wren and the direction of the Atlanta Braves; Edinson Volquez; Dan Haren; all the pitchers who’ve just been shut down; Hisashi Iwakuma; David Price; and, with those points as segues, the streamers from the next few days who interest us most, beginning on Tuesday.

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