Jeff Zimmerman Fantasy Baseball Chat

Jeff Zimmerman: Good afternoon everyone

Bob: You think f Mejia ever lives up to expectations? What does that look like, a 30 homer, .300 ba season? Thanks!

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t think you’re even in the right ballpark.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m think a career season of 20 HR and .275 AVG but most of the time he’s in the .250 AVG and 12 HR.

Kim Wexler’s T-shirt: Rank the Royals starters (Duffy, Junis, Keller, Montgomery).  Assuming a 90-100 game season, are any of the pitching prospect worth picking up in re-draft leagues?

Jeff Zimmerman: We are going for a high difficulty question to start with.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d draft them Monty, Keller ….. Junis, Duffy

Jeff Zimmerman: Monty was decent with the Royals last year after making some arsenal changes. Keller was good for about half the season last year.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not sure Junis or Duffy had a good start.

Kim Wexler’s T-shirt: Favorite closers in the bottom third ADP?

Jeff Zimmerman: Magill for sure

Jeff Zimmerman: Kennedy

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not a fan of the bottom third. I want the bottom 5%. Most of these end-of-game closers are complete dart throws and I’m just going to bottom feed on the last remaining scraps.

Pat’s Bat: I am the commisioner of a dynasty league.  Teams can keep players for three years, or up to five years by signing extensions.  My question is this:  if there is no baseball this season, do I advance contracts a year or freeze everything in place?  On the one hand, auction will be pretty boring in 2021 if everyone is holding onto their players and no contracts expire.  On the other hand, owners might be disappointed to not get to play with the teams they have assembled and some teams will lose players they traded for without ever getting any stats, a la the Dodgers with Betts.

Jeff Zimmerman: If not games, don’t move contracts forward. Fantasy baseball is supposed to fun.

Jeff Zimmerman: Now one other option could be to figure out some way to drop players and have a supplemental draft

Jeff Zimmerman: A ton could change and those should be accounted for before the first FAAB/WW period

Kim Wexler’s T-shirt: Favorite league setup?

Jeff Zimmerman: Weekly FAAB, Weekly lineups

Jeff Zimmerman: Any league with those, take the top spot.

Jeff Zimmerman: As for Roto vs Points vs H2H, let me know the format any I’ll play. I do like deeper leagues (15 teams or more) but a limit should be at 20. No players on the WW.

Kim Wexler’s T-shirt: What is the German word for when you see that your starter was scratched just before first pitch and your lineup locked in the half second between the time you opened it and hit replace?

Jeff Zimmerman: All of them

Martin: Can you grade this offense in a 16 team 6×6 (w/OPS) league?  

1. Danny Jansen Tor – C   
2. Josh Bell Pit – 1B    
3. Mike Moustakas Cin – 2B,3B   
4. Manny Machado SD – 3B,SS
5. Eugenio Suárez Cin – 3B
6. Christian Yelich Mil – OF
7. Tommy Pham SD – OF   
8. Ryan Braun Mil – OF   
9. Rhys Hoskins Phi – 1B   
10. Justin Turner LAD – 3B   
11. Renato Núñez Bal – 1B,3B   
12. Kevin Cron Ari – 1B

Jeff Zimmerman: With so vagueness, I’m going to consult my magic 8 ball…

Jeff Zimmerman: “You may rely on it”

Jeet: Hi Jeff – In your ADP article the other day you mentioned that you have Amed Rosario ranked around 132.  Curious how you would rank Rosario comparing with  Edman and Danny Santana?  I’m hoping to be to be draft one or two of these guys for a roto league that has triples (and ops) as categories.  Thanks!

Jeff Zimmerman: Right now, Rosario, Santana, and Edman

Jeff Zimmerman: All that is because I don’t trust the playing time situations of Edman and Santana

Jeff Zimmerman: If they were to each get the same number of PA’s, the order would be reversed.

The Gyorko Store Called: If you had to do a draft with no electronics, just pen, paper, and a cheat sheet ripped out of the magazine of your choice, how well do you think you would do (relative to one with electronics)?

Jeff Zimmerman: I usually don’t use a computer. Only two sites are up, the draft software and Rotowire for breaking news

Jeff Zimmerman: Now, my paper list if computer generated but by the march drafts, I been through the pool too many times to need much help.

The Gyorko Store Called: Which hitters get overrated and underrated in OBP leagues?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’ve found owner don’t spend the time to do the AVG to OBP ranking conversion.

Jeff Zimmerman: Just find the players will high OBP’s compared to their AVG and target them.

Jeff Zimmerman: Do your work with catchers. Some have nice OBP’s but other owners treat them them the same.

G Money: Does Knebel get the closer job at beginning of season if he’s healthy?

Jeff Zimmerman: Not immeditately

Jeff Zimmerman: I think the team will want to see three good outings before trusting him with the role.

Jeff Zimmerman: That said, he could be good for a sneaky 10-15 Saves when Hader needs to rest.

The Gyorko Store Called: When you bottom feed on closers, do you make a point of picking up a stud non-closer reliever to balance out WHIP/ERA?

Jeff Zimmerman: If I pick up a non-closer, he’s going to be good like Pagan in San Diego or several in St. Louis.

Jaffa: Would you rather use a “minors” (u-26) keeper spot on Austin Riley or a second tier prospect like Alek T, Oneil Cruz, Larnach, Groshans, Downs?

Jeff Zimmerman: If you can, go with Riley, see how he performs. If he stinks, I’m guessing one of the second tier guys will be their.

The Gyorko Store Called: Is CJ Cron getting overrated?

Jeff Zimmerman: I think he’s way underrated. I’d rather have him than about half the 1B and he’s going for nothing.

karl h.: who do you think will hit the most HRs as NL DH

Jeff Zimmerman: It’s going to be someone who already has a job like Schwarber but fits into the DH role.

Wes: Would you call-up a super-good young player (eg Bichette, Vlad, Hiura) for an 80-gm season (say) if it meant losing them as a “free” minors keeper for 2021 and having to spend one of five regular keeper spots on them? Variance so go for it? Could also replace the open minors spot with a prospect

Jeff Zimmerman: If at Bichette, Vlad, and Hiura level, bring them in. They’re near 5th round value. Unless you don’t want to play this season and need to start prepping for football.

Dave: I think the applicable German word to answer the earlier question is scheisse (pronounced shy-zuh).  😉

Jeff Zimmerman: It would be just one.

Sutton: Head to Head standard 5×5 league with second pick of the draft. Can keep for 2 years.  Trout, Acuna and Yelich all available.  Please rank in order of preference.  Thx.

Jeff Zimmerman: This is based off the H2H format and I’ll go with Trout, Yelich, and Acuna.

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t trust stolen bases in a H2H format and just ignore them.

Jeff Zimmerman: Bank the other four categories from Trout and Yelich

The Gyorko Store Called: Is Jesus Luzardo starting to go too early?

Jeff Zimmerman: He’s been going too early for months. He’s talented but has not been able to go deep into games.

Bob: Who are some sleeper holds guys I should be targeting later in drafts? Thanks!

Jeff Zimmerman: I have a Holds league and after some research for The Process, I just go down the pitchers with the lowest projected ERAs:

Jeff Zimmerman: https://www.fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&type=fang…

Jeff Zimmerman: Teams are going to use them for Holds and possibly Saves.

Dave: What’s your thoughts on ERC for current performance as opposed to FIP or SIERA?

Jeff Zimmerman: To show what a pitcher has done, FIP and ERC are about the same. SIERA makes assumptions and those assumptions got eaten alive with the juiced ball

Jeff Zimmerman: With all the ERA estimators (hell I have my own, pERA), owners need to ask what they want from it and use that version.

Devil Ray Jay Johnson: Voit before or after CJ Cron?

Jeff Zimmerman: Cron for me. I just don’t like Voit’s playing time situation in NY. If he struggles any bit, their are several other players who can step in at first. There is no one in Detroit pushing Cron

Devil Ray Jay Johnson: Will Brendan McKay start from the get go?

Jeff Zimmerman: McKay is interesting. I think he’s best for 2-3 innings. The questions is how will Tampa use those 2-3 innings.

Jeff Zimmerman: If starting, he has little value.

Jeff Zimmerman: If he the piggy-backs with a second starter, he could vulture a ton of Wins.

Bob: What about Julio urias re the going too early question?

Jeff Zimmerman: He’s going too early for me. When Ross Stripling and he were throwing back-to-back last season, the key was to find who was going second. If Urias and his limited innings per start, he might not get needed wins.

Devil Ray Jay Johnson: Yonny Chirinos or Ryan Yarbrough?

Jeff Zimmerman: It’s close but I’ll go with Yarbrough

Hello: In a 5×5 league where each owner gets to keep 5 guys, and there is no limit on how long a player can be kept. Next season I will have to decide between keeping Goldschmidt or Luis Robert. Who do you think I should keep? I also have Judge and Harper in the OF

Jeff Zimmerman: Hopefully you get a season to evaluate Roberts. Also, there is the possibility you could have someone else pop.

Devil Ray Jay Johnson: If healthy when things resume, is Piscotty worth picking up?

Jeff Zimmerman: I believe so, but don’t put a ton of resources into him. He could be on the bench in a week.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’ll wait a couple of minutes to see if any more question get asked or I’ll shut down the chat.

Devil Ray Jay Johnson: Which player will you refuse to take even when he slips into value range?

Jeff Zimmerman: If he’s a value to me, then the range is fine. I’ve made it clear I think Alonso is a fifth rounder. I’m never close to rostering him but if he fell to the fifth round, I’d roster him.

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t have a will not draft list.

Jeff Zimmerman: That said, who groups of players may go to the list in the draft. If i’m hurting for SB, I might not be considering power only outfielders late in the draft.

Dayton Moore Talking Head: When do the Royals make the playoffs again?

Jeff Zimmerman: 5-years at best. There is one building block on the team. they need 10 or so.

Dayton Moore Talking Head: What’s for dinner?

Jeff Zimmerman: Rice and beans and beer.

Jeff Zimmerman: And that looks like the end of the chat. Bye.