Author Archive: Paul Sporer

Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – July 6th, 2018

This week’s transcript is below!

2:28

Paul Sporer: Hello everybody! Check out the new SP ranks – https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/july-starting-pitcher-rankings/ — and feel free to ask any questions about them (or anything else!)

2:29

Jack: Pick one RoS in a league that punishes HRs significantly: Godley or Samardzija.

2:29

Paul Sporer: I’ll go Godley because he’s actually shown a modicum of HR suppression recently (last yr)

2:29

Bruce: How are you feeling about car mart?? He had a stretch where he dropped 21 walks

2:31

Paul Sporer: Yes, that was right off the DL (and he mentioned trying to dial it down to protect himself shortly after returning), so I’m not as concerned as I might be if it was out of nowhere. He’s been better the last two times out and I think he’s feeling better.

2:31

Good Steve: What are you expecting from DeJong the rest of the way? Is he a top 10 SS option ROS?

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 571 – Yoenis Cespedes Can Participate in Crafts Again

7/5/18

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 19, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER19!

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00:59:05

The Tough Ranks in the Top 50

I recently updated my Starting Pitcher ranks for July and as always, there was some difficult arms to place. Here are some thoughts on the tougher ranks:

#19 Patrick Corbin – After a velo spike to start the seasons (), Corbin has been sitting 89-91 over the last two months which was jarring to see as a velo dip can portend trouble, but he’s posted a 3.50 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in that time with ERA indicators that like him even more (2.82 FIP). He has a 21% K-BB rate during these 12 starts and appears to be just fine with the lowered velo. Since he’s more two-seam/sinker, the lower velo might actually be an aid in terms of movement. I eventually left him in his top-20 spot because he hasn’t done anything to be removed.

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July Starting Pitcher Rankings

I can’t believe it’s already July. Pitching rotations across the league have experienced that unavoidable attrition that comes with the season, but that has created opportunities for some newcomers to shine. I think some of the toughest analysis in fantasy baseball is assessing those newcomers on the fly. We know it’s going to be a short sample prone to volatility, but are they this year’s version of 2017 Luis Castillo (3.12 ERA, 18% K-BB in 89 IP) or Sean Newcomb (1.48 ERA in first 4 starts; 5.23 in the 15 after that start). Interesting how the paths of those two guys diverged in 2018, by the way.

I think there are a lot of fun names to discuss as things really open up as early as 25 or so. I’ve got 124 guys ranked for July and then the injured guys on their own.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 570 – The LaLa Land Fireside Chat w/Nick Pollack

7/2/18

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 19, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER19!

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GET THE SLEEPER & THE BUST T-SHIRT FROM ROTOWEAR!

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00:34:00

The Hit List – July 1st

A quick look at some available bats at each position for the upcoming week. Check out Nick’s piece on available pitchers, too. I’m using the FantasyPros roster rates of 50% or lower as the threshold and including a 25% or lower option at each position, too.

CATCHER

John Hicks | DET, 39%, 7 games (4 vR, 3 vL) – A non-catching catcher with a full time role is enough to merit heavy consideration behind the dish these days. Hicks has made the most of his opportunity with a .284/.329/.446 line this year. He’s better against lefties on the year (.948 OPS), but none of the righties are particularly special: Kyle Hendricks, Yovani Gallardo, Bartolo Colon, and Austin Bibens-Dirkx.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 569 – The Third Time Through w/J&J

7/1/18

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 19, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER19!

Follow us on Twitter

GET THE SLEEPER & THE BUST T-SHIRT FROM ROTOWEAR!

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01:16:15

The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 568 –Buy High Pitchers

6/29/18

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 19, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER19!

Follow us on Twitter

GET THE SLEEPER & THE BUST T-SHIRT FROM ROTOWEAR!

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01:12:43

Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – June 29th, 2018

Transcript is below!

2:00

Paul Sporer: It’s Friday afternoon, time to talk some baseball!!

2:02

RJ: Kyle Tucker or Eloy Jimenez — better production (2018 only)??

2:03

Paul Sporer: I’ll go Tucker. He’s got the speed aspect and CWS might just leave Eloy down until a Sept. call up

2:03

BigTuna: How worried are you about Springer? 4 for his last 54

2:03

Paul Sporer: 0%?

2:03

David’s Peralta: What is going on with Tommy Pham? Are we still fans?

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The Hail Mary Hitters: SS, 3B, OF

Yesterday I started touring the diamond looking for low-cost assets capable of big second half performances well beyond their cost. These are guys who’ve shown the track record and/or skillset worth gambling on despite a brutal three months to open the 2018 season. Health is likely a major factor for many of the players on these two lists so part of the bet is that they’ll find some health and hit like we’re used to seeing. Here’s the rest of the infield and some outfielders:

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