In case the reader was expecting Zach Sanders, he was kind enough to cover the weekend Roto Riteup in exchange for today. This isn’t just a random curveball to keep you on your toes. The reason is one of the present author’s best friends is getting married this weekend. Congratulations Andy and Melissa!

On today’s agenda:
1. Unexpected RBIs from Jonathan Lucroy
2. Jake Odorizzi is called up
3. Thoughts on Mike Zunino
4. Pablo Sandoval to the disabled list
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Today is the second day of e3, the Electronics Entertainment Expo, where video game nerds see the previews and trailers for upcoming consoles, games, and apps. The only convention the present author has any desire to attend is BlizzCon. Unfortunately this year is sold out…perhaps next time.

On today’s agenda:
1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s hot hitting
2. The return of Peter Bourjos
3. Dilemma, thy name is Adam Dunn
4. Rickie Weeks is heating up
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Today’s Roto Riteup can help you go the distance in your fantasy leagues. Side note: Hercules was recently added to the Netflix instant queue. So go watch it. It’s grand.

On today’s agenda:
1. David Price and the Tampa Bay rotation
2. Make a move for Wil Myers
3. The return of Logan Morrison
4. Gerrit Cole to debut Tuesday
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When consuming sunflower seeds one should always, always crack the shell, eat the seed, then spit out the shell. People who eat the shell frighten me with their primitive ways.

On today’s agenda
1. Salvador Perez’s value
2. A potential return date for Giancarlo Stanton
3 . Tony Cingrani should start Tuesday
4. Musings on two of yesterday’s starts
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Being the StarCraft fan (read: nerd) that the present author is, the onus of informing the masses about the ongoing World Championship Series Finals falls upon these narrow shoulders. Check out arguably the best StarCraft II players in the world as they compete for their share of the $150,000 prize pool. If you have any free time this weekend, please take some of it and watch any one of free available HD streams.

On today’s agenda:
1. Will Middlebrooks‘ uncertain future
2. Daniel Descalso’s hot streak
3. Assorted roster moves
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With a lot shifting in the American League outfield, let’s get down to business. But this time it isn’t to defeat the Huns.

Tier One
Mike Trout
Chris Davis

For all the struggles that the Los Angeles Angels have been experiencing, it is hard to find any fault with Mike Trout. He already has double digit steals and home runs as well as a 149 wRC+. The surprise here is Chris Davis, of course. with 20(!) home runs already and a reduced strikeout, plus an increased walk rate, it is hard to find any real faults in his approach or his numbers. Davis’ year to date is certainly impressive, however he can’t keep up this pace forever, right? We’ll see, but given what he has done — and more importantly what he projects to end the season with — has earned him a spot in the top tier.
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A happy birthday to Darin Erstad. The present author will fondly remember the Fire Joe Morgan glossary description of you. The funny thing is, looking back at Erstad’s career, his stats read much better than one would have guessed. Also of note, happy birthday to Bar Refaeli. No explanation necessary.

On today’s agenda:
1. The Los Angeles Dodgers outfield
2. The early bird gets the Wheeler
3. A shake up in Milwaukee
4. Joe Blanton shows up
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By the time you read this, the first season of the World Championship Series for the Korean region, also known as GSL, will have been played. If anyone has any interest in StarCraft II, the present author urges you to check it out. Become an eSports while reading baseball nerd articles!

On today’s agenda:
1. Stephen Strasburg exits after two innings
2. A couple two home run days
3. The Empire Strikes Back
4. Keep the faith in Shaun Marcum
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Today’s Roto Riteup was written while listening to The College Dropout. This album in general — and Kanye West specifically — led the present author to sport popped collar(s) for the second half of junior year and all of senior year. Yes, on occasion there were multiple collars popped simultaneously. There are pictures of this currently circulating the internet. Comment away.

On today’s agenda:
1. Michael Wacha’s debut
2. Atlanta Braves call up Alex Wood
3. Matt Kemp to the disabled list
4. Is it Chris Archer time?
5. The (probable) return of Josh Reddick
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Just over 50 games into the season — and about 200 plate appearances in — we have a little bit more information to judge our players on. One of the key statistics that tends to stabilize around the 200 PA mark is BB%. We’ll call today the all optimistic or all bullish version. Next Wednesday will feature the updated tier rankings, but perhaps two weeks time will bring us an all bearish write up.
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