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Five Draft Tips to Remember

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February 9, 2017

I know that clown PUNKxsutawney Phil – that’s right, I’m swinging on a groundhog – saw his shadow which allegedly yields six more weeks of winter (the dumbest season), but we shan’t be deterred by that as baseball season is here. Well, fantasy baseball prep season is here which is just as good. We are less than a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting around the league which officially kicks things off in earnest and before you know it, you’ll be in your draft room making the big decisions that will shape your season.

Here are a few tips to remember as you prepare and then enter your draft:

YOU CAN’T WIN OR LOSE YOUR DRAFT IN THE FIRST ROUND

I fully understand the excitement of the draft order reveal and subsequent first round. I’m not here to say that the first round flat out doesn’t matter, but it doesn’t matter as much as we like to think. The top 15 players at the end of the season are never the top 15 drafted that March, not even close.

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Early ADP Thoughts – Relief Pitcher Pt. 1

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February 7, 2017

This is our last position in the ADP previews, though I’m breaking it up into two parts (top 20 here and then the rest). Relief is especially interesting on the fantasy landscape because fantasy managers have such varied approaches. Some swear by locking up a superstar in the early rounds.

Hell, some swear by double-tapping studs if they have a pick on one of the ends, especially in a format like the NFBC that bars trading. Others gladly draft the crusty, unspectacular guys who just rack up saves regardless of their skills and ratios. Then there’s the group that refuses to expend many resources on closers and focus either bottom of the barrel, closers-in-waiting, or in most cases both.

I lean toward the high end. I have no issues spending an early pick on a superstar closer because of how much they can help in strikeouts and even the ratios. Nabbing someone who can pop a triple-digit strikeout total allows you some leeway on your starters, too. Like I said earlier, today we’ll focus on the first 20 closers (and some of their handcuffs) and then I’ll dive in on the low-end closers and hidden gems to cap off the series.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 424 – Rays Corner… All Episode!

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February 6, 2017

2/5/17

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

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 Leading Off: Question of the Day (1:50)

Strategy Section: Team-by-Team Breakdowns

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Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – February 3rd, 2017

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February 3, 2017

Chat transcript is below!

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 423 – Martinez Extended; Twins Breakdown

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February 2, 2017

2/2/17

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

HUGE UPS TO AZIZ OF WESTEROS HISTORY FOR CLEANING UP THE OUT-OF-SYNC AUDIO ON THIS ONE. Btw, if you like Game of Thrones, I’m pretty sure that’s what Aziz’s handle refers to (I don’t watch the show) and he has a site and pod related to the show!

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 Leading Off: Question of the Day (3:40)

Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles/Game Play

Strategy Section: Team-by-Team Breakdowns

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Andrew Benintendi and Recent #1 Prospects

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February 1, 2017

This past weekend saw the release of MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects, including a show on MLB Network highlighting the Top 50. Andrew Benintendi was named their #1 overall prospect, a fact that’s sure raise his price some in the draft market, especially after Keith Law ranked him the same last week. Back in December, our own Trey Baughn gave him the top spot in his fantasy prospects list and CBS slotted him 2nd in a similar list focusing on fantasy impact.

I’m a little torn on Benintendi for 2017. On the one hand, he’s an advanced college bat who blitzed through the minors in 151 games and acquitted himself very well in a 34-game sample at the majors. On the other, he’s going into his age-22 season with a whopping 118 PA under his belt and that first six-month grind has a way of punching players in the face at some – or multiple points – throughout the season. But then back on the first hand, we know from Jeff Zimmerman that aging curves are moving up so maybe Benintendi is ready to be an impact bat already.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 422 – The Al Melchior Debut!

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January 31, 2017

1/31/17

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

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 Leading Off: Question of the Day (3:40)

Strategy Section: Team-by-Team Breakdowns

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Early ADP Thoughts – Starting Pitcher, Part II

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January 31, 2017

Today’s ADP piece is looking at the SPs beyond the top 50. This is where you can win leagues. Let me emphasize “can” because leagues are rarely won or lost at the draft table alone. After all, there’s a reason we play out the six months of the season and don’t just go off a projection set. Usually a good 40-50% of many rosters turn over every year, at least in mixed leagues in the 10-15 team range.

Even if there are only 6-7 player slots turned over out of a 23-man roster (which is 25-30% turnover), there will still be many players moving in and out those slots. The point is that you shouldn’t get too precious about your draft picks in the mid-to-late rounds because a lot of them aren’t going to be on your roster very long anyway. Pitchers in particular have huge variance year-to-year so take your guys in this part of the draft.

Previous Editions:

STARTING PITCHER (click here for ADP list)

  • Jeff Samardzija (pick 196) might not have bounced back as well as some of us expected, but he shaved over a run off his ERA and further showed himself as one of the few workhorses left in the market.

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 421 – Hell’s Angels

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January 29, 2017

1/29/17

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

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 Leading Off: Question of the Day (3:40)

Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles/Game Play

Strategy Section: Team-by-Team Breakdowns

  • Los Angeles Angels
    • Who earns the most SVs on this team? (25:40)
    • Betting on Matt Shoemaker (65th SP) or Garrett Richards (69th)? (28:30)
    • Does Ben Revere bounce back? (34:33)
    • Favorite Target: Revere for both
    • Stayaway: the entire team besides Trout?
    • Off-the-Radar: Tyler Skaggs (42:44)
    • Impact Prospects? (lol)

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 420 – Mr. Solo Dolo

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January 28, 2017

I called it episode 421 by accident, my bad!

1/28/17

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

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 Leading Off: Question of the Day (1:10)

Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles/Game Play

Strategy Section: Team-by-Team Breakdowns

  • Pittsburgh Pirates (22:00)
    • Which of the three OF do you want most? (23:000)
    • What’s a full Josh Bell season look like? (31:00)
    • Does Tony Watson hold the CL role? (34:50)
    • Favorite Target: Ivan Nova (41:00)
    • Stayaway: Starling Marte (44:20)
    • Off-the-Radar: Alen Hanson (45:00)
    • Impact Prospects: Bell, Hanson (49:00)

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