Jeff Zimmerman Fantasy Baseball Chat

2:59
Larry: If you ran a H2H league how would you handle a 60 game season

3:01
Jeff Zimmerman: I’d move the league to overall points or roto. If you must go H2H, just the top 2 make the playoffs.

3:01
thelaundry: Jay Jaffe ran down some NL DH candidates today. Are there any NL bats fringe-y enough to be available in deeper mixed leagues (14+) worth stashing?

3:02
Jeff Zimmerman: The fringy guys are still fringy. They weren’t playing for a reason.

3:02
Jeff Zimmerman: I’m more interested in clearer playing time pictures like Edman in StL.

3:03
Jeff Zimmerman: The player most likely to shoot up is Puig once he can sign.

3:03
Guest: My league is going to switch to Roto for this shortened season, what would be a good innings limit to set?

3:03
Jeff Zimmerman: Normally they are set to 900

3:04
Jeff Zimmerman: They are planning for 37% of a season

3:04
Jeff Zimmerman: some starters will have short leash keeping innings down

3:05
Jeff Zimmerman: 250 to 300 is my best guess

3:05
Jefferson: Now with the season is (probably) actually starting up, are you going to be considering reports and metrics from spring training V1? Or does that all go out that the window in favor of spring training V2 information?

3:05
Jeff Zimmerman: I’ll take some v1 notes and want to check up on some pitchers with new pitches I never got to see.

3:06
Jeff Zimmerman: But I will be grinding the hell out of v2 news especially for playing time.

3:06
moe bigs: Absolutely love your “Mining the News” articles! For the next month, is there anything major you’re going to be on the lookout for in terms of team news/notes?

3:07
Jeff Zimmerman: I’m going to especially grind on coaches to see what are their rotation plans, especially with the short season.

3:08
Jeff Zimmerman: One interesting change I’m hearing is that BBWAA members may be able to join any remote press conference, so more direct questions could be asked.

3:09
Jeff Zimmerman: But access to players will be extremely limited

3:09
Martin: Who’s hitting .400 this year?

3:10
Jeff Zimmerman: No one. I think the extreme numbers being floated around will not happen. Teams will be using their bullpens more and offense will pay.

3:10
Martin: Any change in strategy when switching from H2H to Roto in a short season? It feels like there would be less impact.

3:11
Jeff Zimmerman: I played two short season NFBC leagues last year and keep some FAAB for the last two weeks. You’ll know what you need to move up and can concentrate your resources there.

3:12
Don Juan: If a player gets tested positive for Covid but is asymptomatic, should they be banned from playing?  Why? If they should be, do you think a team might lose like half their players at some point?

3:12
Jeff Zimmerman: I’ll let MLB and the players make this call and I will adjust my strategy accordingly.

3:13
30 in 30: Playing in a 12 team keeper league where you can keep your final (30th round) pick. What type of player do you think I should target? I was thinking about a player like Carter Kieboom, Monte Harrison, who could have some impact this year and next. Any recommendations?

3:14
Jeff Zimmerman: I’d go for a failed prospect and hope to hit on a Soler or Giolito

3:14
Bigtimetimmyjim: Who do you see as the biggest beneficiary of a 60 game season?

3:16
Jeff Zimmerman: I need to see the schedule and see how far out the games are. Elite catchers could move up. Also, I think top end starters are going to gold. Teams are going to throw them every 5 days to maximize their value. I know others are fading SP … not here.

3:16
Guest: I really feel sick for the fantasy baseball industry folks whose business/livelihood is being so negatively affected by this. What do you think the long-term impact will be?

3:17
Jeff Zimmerman: Simply shitty

3:17
Jeff Zimmerman: The industry needs these two months so there is something to talk about during the offseason.

3:18
Guest: Hey Jeff, In a 16-team, keeper league with a fairly deep bench… For a 60-game season, do you sit on Wander Franco all year to reap the rewards next year?

3:19
Jeff Zimmerman: I think you play it as it goes. If he is a difference maker, start him. I have my doubts he makes it to the majors this year.

3:19
RMR: Carlos carrasco probably one of the guys who ends up sitting out the year for health reasons?  Any other names that jump to mind as candidates?

3:20
Jeff Zimmerman: I could see several coaches bow out.

3:20
Jeff Zimmerman: I’m sure there are some players who have family members with pre-existing conditions and don’t want to spread it to them.

3:21
JoeG: Daily 6×6 Roto 12 Teams :7 bench spots ; I want to carry two bats . The best two :Arraez ,Chavis, Dubon, Grichuk ?

3:21
Jeff Zimmerman: Grichuck is the easy one

3:22
Jeff Zimmerman: I like the upside of Chavis and Dubon, but both have playing time concerns. I’d follow each in STv2 and see who may play more.

3:22
JoeG: Good afternoon; What do you think of Civale , Cease & Urquidy in the short season ?  Also, do you think C.Burnes could be a huge “long man” spot starter” in the shorten season. Doesn’t seem Mil has a great rotation.

3:23
Jeff Zimmerman: I like the pitchers who have listed.

3:24
Jeff Zimmerman: I found it

3:25
Jeff Zimmerman: I’m interested in IP/S for pitchers. Limited ramp up time and short leashes, I want pitcher who could get that valuable Win.

3:25
Jeff Zimmerman: Of these four, Civale goes the longest

3:27
Jeff Zimmerman: I’m a little higher on Civale because be Carrasco’s replacement.

3:27
Jeff Zimmerman: My normal request for additional questions. Fire away.

3:27
Adam: How do you handle the potential of a cancelled season for fantasy?  Already planning to switch from H2H to Roto, but feels like I should have a contingency for what’s going to happen if this thing only makes it, say, 30 games.  Better to crown a champ no matter how short it is, or just hit the reset button and regroup for ’21?

3:28
Jeff Zimmerman: Depends on if there is money involved. Just crown the champ if no money. Maybe prorate the prize and put the rest for next year’s entry.

3:29
Adam: Keeper decisions were locked in by March 1 for our league… should we reopen given the long layoff and short season, or just leave them alone?

3:30
Jeff Zimmerman: I’d push to reopen them. The rules have changed with the NL DH and possibly others like rookie eligibility.

3:30
Chuckie: Gore gets a chance to pitch this year, or do they put him in shrink wrap for 2020?

3:31
Jeff Zimmerman: I think we will know soon. The first clue is if he is one of the minor leaguers added

3:31
Tom: Favorite hitters ADP 100 to 300 and favorite pitchers ADP 100 to 300. thanks.

3:32
Jeff Zimmerman: All of them

3:33
Jeff Zimmerman: There are so many talent players in this group 7th round guys. I mean, Correa is still on the board. So is Fried.

3:33
Adam: Do low-end closers get a boost since you only need them to hold the job for 2 months instead of 6?

3:34
Jeff Zimmerman: I’ve been thinking about how I might approach closers.

3:35
Jeff Zimmerman: I think there are three ways. Go all in with 3 or more and try to dominate ratios and Saves. Use Greikes and Hendricks to keep the ratios in check and meet IP limits.

3:36
Jeff Zimmerman: Bottom feed like crazy with one possible late anchor and a few dart throws.

3:37
Jeff Zimmerman: Completely ignore them and try to differentiate your team in the other other categories. Maybe have a couple non-closers to help with ratios.

3:37
Adam: How (if at all) does the short season change your approach to trading?

3:38
Jeff Zimmerman: I might be quicker to dump a category if it’s not going to happen. ex. If one of my 2 closers gets hurt, I’m not waiting for him to come back or get another one. Trade him if possible and move up in the other categories.

3:38
Peppercorn: Are extreme strategies more or less likely to be used, and then more or less likely to be successful?

3:41
Jeff Zimmerman: I think they have to be used. Teams need to try to differentiate themselves as quick as possible. Strategies, dump/ignore AVG, ERA, WHIP or completely dump Wins, K’s, Saves, or SB.

3:41
Jeff Zimmerman: If I’m drafting near the back end of the first round, I might drop SB and load up on the Arenado’s of the world

3:41
Joe: The owners ended up winning this, somehow, which is just about the most 2020 thing.

3:42
Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not sure anyone won in the long run. Just a complete mess.

3:43
Jeff Zimmerman: I’m out of questions. I’ll give people a minute to ask or I’m out of here.

3:46
Jeff Zimmerman: Well, that’s it for today. I’ll see everyone next week.





Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

Comments are closed.