Jeff Zimmerman Fantasy Baseball Chat

Jeff Zimmerman: Hi everyone.

Joe: Assuming Carlos Rodon and Michael Fulmer are both healthy, which of the two would you prefer? Thanks!

Jeff Zimmerman: Simply, I think the Sox will Win more games.

AKA22: Do you think Josh James wins the 5th spot in the Astros rotation still? Does the shorter season make you like him any more (or less)?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not sure how to approach him without the schedule.

Jeff Zimmerman: Teams could need 6 starters.

Jeff Zimmerman: Also, he could be going 4 IP with another starter going the other 4 IP.

Jeff Zimmerman: He’s sort of big gamble right now but I understand why people are interested with his talent.

Jackelder: I see no love for Kolten Wong and not much more for Tommy Edman in most projections.  My leagues are 12 teams, one traditional scoring, one w OBP not BA, and one Otto classic 4X4.  Am I being a dope here, or are these guys interchangeable parts on a fairly good team?

Jeff Zimmerman: The issue with Edman is playing time, especially in a weekly lineups league.

Jeff Zimmerman: There is a chance he only plays 3-4 a week.

Jeff Zimmerman: With Wong, I’m not sure he’s a good player.

Jeff Zimmerman: He has Roto value with his 24 steals, but he was almost unplayable in the 1H with a .703 OPS and .244 AVG. These were inline with his 2018 stats

Jeff Zimmerman: A 2H .896 OPS saved him

Peppercorn: Thanks for chatting…I am going to start a dynasty league. Should I wait until we know when there will be games again, or does holding the draft now add a fun twist, and help us fill the void in a meaningful way?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d hold off until you are for sure games will be played

Jeff Zimmerman: Don’t draft and then wait a year.

Jeff Zimmerman: Now, you can draft now and if there are no games, redraft next year.

Don Juan: If there is a truncated season, do you think that will lead to stud pitchers pitching deeper into games, or do you think starters in general will pitch less innings per start, as bullpennning takes over? Trying to figure out what happens to starting pitcher usage in a short season…

Jeff Zimmerman: I think the guys that can go long will so the bullpen can be used with the weaker starters.

Joe: Since we’re all bored, and maybe this is better for an article, what would an all time fantasy first round look like?

Jeff Zimmerman: Too much for right now, but some of Rickey’s steals could be a major difference maker

Chucky: Are Segura and Kieboom decent speculative grabs for their possible position eligibility at both 2B and 3B respectively?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m big on Segura. I have him about everywhere as a late add.

Jeff Zimmerman: The extra flexibility is just a bonus

Don Juan: Can you believe Mark Buerhle fell 1.1 innings short of 200 innings for 15 straight years?

Jeff Zimmerman: He was an innings eater.

metsindc: Can you give a Wander Franco comp?

Jeff Zimmerman: Yelich

Jeff Zimmerman: Franco can and should be a five-category contributor but is lacking in power.

Jeff Zimmerman: Since he plays SS, maybe Lindor.

Don Juan: My league has never done FAAB. Does that mean that you only have one opportunity to pick up free agents each week? If your 3B gets injured mid week, do you need to place like 4 different bids for 3B to make sure you get one?

Jeff Zimmerman: That is how my leagues work and sometimes I put in eight if I think the demand will be high.

Jeff Zimmerman: Most of players will be for min bids. Taking a zero for the week is devastating. Some leagues like the NFBC allow for mid-week subs.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m running a little low on questions, so feel free to ask away.

Plus Hands: Any general draft tips for redraft only leagues?

Jeff Zimmerman: I try when possible to work backwards from where I think I can get the best deals

Jeff Zimmerman: This year, I try my hardest to stay away from OF and SS early on.

Jeff Zimmerman: There are several guys I like late at each position, so why block them

Joe: Alright, back to my all time first round: Would Bonds’s 73 homer season, Rickey’s 130 steal season, or Ruth’s 60 homer, .354 average year go number 1? Or someone else?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not sure because it would matter is the other players were going with homer-only hitters or more balanced players.

Jeff Zimmerman: With the stats know, it would be interesting after the first picks to see the player type taken by teams to move up the most.

Jeff Zimmerman: There would be a ton of in-draft game theory.

couth: Interesting that Joe asked this. Just had a friend work on a list since 1980: http://www.fantasywayback.com/ It suggests Walker’s ’97 season was the best but that was within its own season.

Jeff Zimmerman: The Walker season is crazy good.

Jeff Zimmerman: 49 HR 33 SB 143 Runs 130 RBI .366 AVG

Jeff Zimmerman: Over 270 Runs+RBI is crazy good

Joe: You guys should do it, and also invite me.

Jeff Zimmerman: It should be a slow draft so people can adjust on the fly.

$11 Worth of Taco Bell: Thoughts on Griffin Canning for cheap in deep only standard leagues?

Jeff Zimmerman: Only as a bench arm and be ready to quickly find a replacement.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d have no desire to rely on him since there is a decent chance he needs TJS

E: 1930 Hack Wilson – 56 HRs, 146 Rs, 191 RBIs, .356 avg

Joe: Slow draft and only one instance of a player can be drafted (so no 1921 Ruth and 1927 Ruth drafted).

Jeff Zimmerman: That sounds like it would work

Kim Wexler’s T-shirt: No way you can completely punt saves (or another category) in a shortened season, right?

Jeff Zimmerman: Nice name

Jeff Zimmerman: I think punting Steals can be an option this season.

Jeff Zimmerman: Let me grab a link

Jeff Zimmerman: https://onroto.com/baseball/toutmixed

Jeff Zimmerman: Scott dump Steals and ended up second last year.

Jeff Zimmerman: Bret won and was 4th in them

Jeff Zimmerman: People are pushing up horrible SB threats and a ton of regular hitters are cheap.

Jeff Zimmerman: Scott dump again and I’m projected for the second lowest total

Jeff Zimmerman: We are Projected to finish first and second

$11 Worth of Taco Bell: Which pitcher sparks the most joy just from watching video?

Jeff Zimmerman: Pedro. Jose Fernandez

JJ: What do you think of Austin Adams in the Seattle bullpen? Is he worth picking up given the uncertainty in that bullpen?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’ve been grabbing Moreno in draft-and-holds.

Jeff Zimmerman: That said, I liked some of Magill’s late season changes and didn’t mind gambling on him.

Kim Wexler’s T-shirt: Any hope for Kikuchi?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m willing to let him ride the bench for a week or two until I get a read on his talent but will quickly move on.

E: Is Charley Radbourn’s 59 Wins in 1884 hindered by his weak 5.85 k/9?

E: 1.38 ERA over 678 innings though

Jeff Zimmerman: K/9 is not a stat so the overall K’s would be awesome.

Jeff Zimmerman: I do think the league would should pick players from a reasonable time frame. Maybe 162 game schedule or post integration.

Christian Colón for Men: Who is the last closer in each league you would be willing to roster voluntarily?

Jeff Zimmerman: My standards are low

Jeff Zimmerman: Magill in the AL

Jeff Zimmerman: Kintzler in the NL

Jeff Zimmerman: I have no problems grinding for Saves.

Joe: I think I’m going with 1921 Ruth. .378, 59 homers, 171 RBI, 177 runs, 17 steals

Jeff Zimmerman: It’s a decent season.

E: Agree, if you don’t set a time frame the most dominant players will be pitchers from the 1800s throwing sub 2.5 ERAs over 600 innings winning 40+ games

Jeff Zimmerman: Those stats are fun but would be out of whack.

Joe: Missed that. Yeah, 162 game season/post integration seems more than reasonable.

Jeff Zimmerman: Getting the 20’s Yankees in would be fun

Nick: Keeper question for a 12-team H2H league. Currently keeping the following: Clevinger (5th), Castillo (6th), Eugenio Suarez (11th), and Yordan Alvarez (15th). Debating between Julio Urias (21st) and Jo Adell (15th), both who seem likely to get a big bump by the shortened season. Preference between the two?

Jeff Zimmerman: If you are trying to win, Urias. I like Adell long term but I’m not sure he’ll hit the ground running this year.

Jeff Zimmerman: Again, I running low on questions.

Christian Colón for Men: If you give any active player a nickname and make it stick, what would it be?

Jeff Zimmerman: I think any player who misses time for domestic violence gets labeled Shitbag #1. The next, Shitbag #2.

E: I think it would be really hard to include pitchers in a draft like this. If you normalize their innings it de-values the low k/9 guys too much. Pitchers were still throwing 300+ innings as recently as the 70’s

Jeff Zimmerman: But the extra innings helps the K numbers and their low rates in WHIP and ERA would really carry a team.

Jeff Zimmerman: That’s it for this week and I’ll be back next week. Hopefully a path to baseball is in place.