Author Archive

8 Watchlist Guys: Vol. 13

Most platforms have a feature where you can click something by the player’s name to put them on a virtual watchlist. It is smart to use this feature before the season starts because once it starts you be sorting by stats and you could miss out on someone you really want about to get a new role because you sorted by PA and he just didn’t show very high.

Willy Adames stayed hot with another big week, hitting .308/.455/.692 including 3 HR and 10 RBIs since his inclusion in last week’s Watchlist.

SHALLOW LEAGUES (mixed leagues – 10 or fewer teams)

Austin Hays | OF, BAL

Hays has had a huge platoon split this year with a 1.013 OPS vL and just a .604 vR but it hasn’t always been like this as his career marks are .793/.721, respectively. He is surging of late with an .892 OPS and 3 HR in his last 50 PA. I always love having Baltimore bats in the summer, especially when they are at home and the ball is flying at Camden Yards. If you are bought in on the lefty/righty thing (though you really shouldn’t give it too much credence) he does have 3 southpaws in the first 4 games next week.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 948 – Turner’s Huge Day, Urias Surging

7/1/21

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live. Support the show by subscribing to our Patreon!!

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INJURIES/TRANSACTION NEWS

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Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – June 30th, 2021

Transcript is live!

1:13

Paul Sporer: Hello everyone! Thanks for coming out, let’s chat!

1:13

Greg: Why has Blake Snell been so bad this year?

1:14

Paul Sporer: His command has been particularly problematic and a .329 BABIP is exacerbating the issues

1:14

Kole Calhoun: What’s my value ROS?

1:14

Paul Sporer: Decent power OF worthy of consideration in 12+ teamers with 5 OF

1:15

Greg: Do you regret putting Vlad at #14 in your 1B rankings (behind absolute studs like Dom Smith, Alec Bohm, Moose)? You said “Not out on potential studification, but why buy this high on pure spec at a position like 1B?” Seems like everyone forgot that Vlad is only 22 is players improve.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 947 – Trade Season Begins and Hiura Returns

6/29/21

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live. Support the show by subscribing to our Patreon!!

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  • Join our Patreon
  • Game of the Week Watch Party

INJURIES/TRANSACTION NEWS

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On the Radar: Vol. 1

Over the course of the season, I have a lot of topics that pop into my head to either write about or discuss on the podcast and as such, they are incorporated into those mediums. Sometimes I think of things that just aren’t deep enough for their own article and maybe don’t even fit well on a particular pod.

This article, which I plan to run the rest of the year if it is met well, plans to address those topics. It’ll be a handful of smaller topics that I couldn’t fit into any other article or podcast during the week. Sometimes it might be 2-3 sentences, other times it will be 2-3 paragraphs and it can range from a particular player to an interesting stat that I think is worthy of at least some attention.

An Ascending Angel

Taylor Ward first got my attention way back in 2018 when he came up in mid-August as a non-catching catcher meaning he had catcher eligibility but wasn’t slated to play there in the majors. It was carryover from his 2017 minor league eligibility and some outlets left him there despite only playing 3B in 2018, even in the minors. I scooped him in a couple leagues and thought I struck gold when he had hits in four of his first five games.

Sick confirmation bias, Paul.

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10 Watchlist Guys: Vol. 13

Most platforms have a feature where you can click something by the player’s name to put them on a virtual watchlist. It is smart to use this feature before the season starts because once it starts you be sorting by stats and you could miss out on someone you really want about to get a new role because you sorted by PA and he just didn’t show very high.

Ross Stripling has played himself into an all formats arm with a 2.29 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in his last 35.3 innings with 36 strikeouts.

SHALLOW LEAGUES (mixed leagues – 10 or fewer teams)

Willy Adames | SS, MIL

By now you have probably heard about Adames’ massive home/road split with Tampa Bay and how badly he needed to get out of that situation. He hit .217/.275/.341 in 622 PA at the Trop while hitting .296/.366/.501 on the road in 694 PA. In his short sample with the Brewers, he has already cut his strikeout rate by 11 points to 25% while pushing his wRC+ from 75 to 119. If he continues to rake, he could move up the lineup as well.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 945 – Fireside Chat: Under the Radar Arms

6/24/21

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live. Support the show by subscribing to our Patreon!!

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FIRESIDE CHAT

As usual, don’t hesitate to tweet us or comment with fantasy questions.

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Approximately 46 minutes of joyous analysis.


Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – June 23rd, 2021

Transcript is live!

2:38

Paul Sporer: Hello! Thanks for coming through. It’ll be a tight timeframe today ahead of our Discord Watch Party for Patreon folks. We’re watching Ohtani v. Gausman!!

2:38

ScottTINSTAAPP: Just wanted to take a moment and appreciate how sweet everyday Rake Cronenworth is!

2:38

Paul Sporer: He is so good! Huuuuge fan

2:39

Paul Sporer: For anyone interested in joining the Patreon to get in the Discord: patreon.com/thesleeperandthebust

2:41

Dodgerbleu: Paul please help with Snell! He’s ha a couple of decent starts recently, and inevitably someone in my league throws me an offer. I rebuf, encouraged by the start he just had. Then he goes back to being terrible. Today I got a Sims for Snell offer. I know I could’ve gotten more numerous times this season, but his value just keeps cratering and I could use some saves. Think that smells fair? In general, would you hold or sell low?

2:43

Paul Sporer: I feel like I’d want someone more locked in for saves, though I understand that might not be available. It’s a doable deal

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 944 – Wandering No Longer: Here Comes Franco!

6/22/21

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live. Support the show by subscribing to our Patreon!!

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PATREON

  • Join our Patreon
  • Game of the Week Watch Party (2:31)

INJURIES/TRANSACTION NEWS

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10 Watchlist Guys: Vol. 12

Most platforms have a feature where you can click something by the player’s name to put them on a virtual watchlist. It is smart to use this feature before the season starts because once it starts you be sorting by stats and you could miss out on someone you really want about to get a new role because you sorted by PA and he just didn’t show very high.

Bruce Zimmermann was one out away from a quality start his last time out and he has a 4.25 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 31 Ks in his last 29.7 IP, but now he is on the IL with biceps tendinitis.

SHALLOW LEAGUES (mixed leagues – 10 or fewer teams)

Dylan Moore | 2B/OF, SEA

Moore was a popular power-speed pick this draft season after a 2020 breakthrough that saw him hit 8 homers and steal 12 bases in 159 PA. After hitting just .168/.270/.353 in the first 41 games of 2021, he suffered a calf strain that put him on the IL. He recovered and tore it up in three games on a rehab assignment (1.500 OPS, 1 HR/1 SB in 12 PA) before rejoining the Mariners.

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