Jeff Zimmerman’s Fantasy Baseball Chat

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m writing a retrospect on this unique fantasy baseball season to use for future reference. It’ll be on how leagues & owners should change their approach and setup based on this year’s many constraints. If you have anything to add, just let me know especially those in keeper or dynasty formats since I’m not in any.

$11 Worth of Taco Bell: Another chat? What did I do wrong?

Jeff Zimmerman: Nothing. I’d rather not have to spend a weekend night babysitting those sweating their FAAB choices. At least for another 6 months

jake: drop Wilmer Flores for Nate Lowe in a league with 10 weekly transactions?

Jeff Zimmerman: Maybe. I think Lowe > Flores but the extra games might push Flores higher.

jake: Sorry about repeat question but I forgot to include 1 guy: Mitch Keller, Tanner Houck, or Joe Musgrove?

Jeff Zimmerman: Musgrove. It’s a CLE match up, but on Sat when they might be resting players and Carrasco might not throw much.

Scotty: Keeper league with 5 IL spots, is verlander worth holding on to even though he might not be able to pitch until 2022?

Jeff Zimmerman: No. He may never pitch again

Jeff Zimmerman: Possibly add him during next season’s draft

jake: Nick Anderson gets over/under 0.5 more saves this week

Jeff Zimmerman: No idea. Probably under since it’s the Rays

Scoops McClatchy: What do you think of Jake Cronenworth? His Statcast numbers are pretty meaty. Sure his babip is a bit high but all that red in Statcast seems like he can be a 110 wRC+ type of hitter playing all over the diamond?

Jeff Zimmerman: He reminds me of DJL

Jeff Zimmerman: Boring but useful profile. I night target him as a late 2B fill in

Jeff Zimmerman: Once I start looking at ADP, he might be a nice target

Biscuit: There is no way the Rays cannot start next season with Lowe at 1B right?

Jeff Zimmerman: I think he’s a platoon bat

Jeff Zimmerman: He’s only hitting .154/.267/.154 vs LHP this season

Jeff Zimmerman: It’s a 47% K% on his career

BlueBirds: Hi. Thanks for the chat!  Do you think Toronto stays in house for the closer spot next year

Jeff Zimmerman: Don’t know. I could see them add a veteran arm to close. It’s not the best bullpen so any depth would help.

Bo Sox: What is the likelyhood that Benintendi is done as a fantasy asset?

Jeff Zimmerman: He’s a mess right now. I think he’ll be drafted around McCutchen next season.

Pat’s Bat: I’m the commish of a H2H dynasty league on Yahoo.  We drafted before the shutdown in late March and decided just to roll with the draft we had done.  In the end the season ran pretty much the same, shorter season but no upsets and normal playoffs.  I added 2 extra IL slots (7 total) that proved to be unnecessary.  Dynasty leagues that stayed the course probably had a better year than those that made a bunch of rule changes or switched to redraft.

Enlightening Round: I haven’t seen him pitch yet, how does Akin look to you?

Jeff Zimmerman: I like what I see and there aren’t many decent choices this week. The Orioles will go with him to see what they got.

DC: Does Crichton hold onto the closer role for AZ next year?

Jeff Zimmerman: Arizona has been tough to guess but they need to bring in a few arms. I’m guessing one will close.

Jefferson: Is there still hope for Cole Tucker? I never want to judge a prospect off a couple hundred PAs, but he has shown absolutely nothing to provide confidence for improvement

Jeff Zimmerman: There are so many other hitters to gamble on right now. Tejada is Texas for one.

Enlightening Round: Is Josh Fuentes worth grabbing as a dirt cheap keeper in a 12 teamer?

Jeff Zimmerman: No, I think the Rockies will give Murphy another shot

Jeff Zimmerman: Don’t waste a keeper on Fuentes. Just draft him late next year.

Brad: Marco Gonzales has been very good.  He is throwing slower, allowing more flyballs and doesn’t have a huge increase in swinging strike rate.  But his K rate has gone up and his BB rate has gone down.  Are you a believer?

Jeff Zimmerman: And he is walking no-one <—–Key

Jeff Zimmerman: Yes if he keeps the Maddux walk rate going.

D: Is Jared Walsh the starting 1B next year? What do you think is a reasonable expectation of offensive performance in a regular season if he is?

Jeff Zimmerman: Such a tough question. Pujols and Ohtani stand in the way.

Jeff Zimmerman: I wonder if the Angels push Walsh to the OF

Jeff Zimmerman: He deserves to play over Pujols, but not until Pujols hangs it up.

Bubic Plague: B.Keller vs Tigers or Dunning vs Cubs?

Jeff Zimmerman: Keller but I really like both with few options this week.

Jazz Chisholm: Am I breaking out this week?

Jeff Zimmerman: It takes more than a week to breakout

Guest: Curious on your thoughts about Jared Walsh.  Should we view him as Aquino 2.0 next year, or Olson 2.0 going into next year.

Jeff Zimmerman: The key is how did pitchers adjust to him and how he performed. I wish it was a few weeks more to get information.

Bill: Any strategy adjustments to consider for championship week with it being the last week in the season? Do rotations get wonky as teams setup postseason rotation? Do teams trying to clinch adjust rotations? etc

Jeff Zimmerman: Follow the the …

Jeff Zimmerman: eight NL teams who are still in the playoff battle: https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds/fg/lg

Jeff Zimmerman: Those teams will be trotting out their best to get to the postseason.

Matthew King: Jeff – for a midweek FAAB, any early insights on team’s sit/resting strategies for those that have clinched?

Jeff Zimmerman: See above

Jeff Zimmerman: Also, grab those Tigers and Cardinals for the possible double header next Monday

Bob: Do you trust Ian Anderson vs MIA and Kim vs MIL?  League counts QS, IP and K/9.  Don’t need blow up to tarnish ERA and Whip.

Jeff Zimmerman: If you are worried about WHIP don’t. I am starting him in a few spots where I need volume and hoping the starts are OK

Dim: Is Dane Dunning for real? Is he close to a top 100 keeper? His minor league stats seem to back it up

Jeff Zimmerman: He been great. I’m not sure top-100 but he’ll go around where Max Fried and Lamet went this season.

Angelus Novus: In a H2H format where starters tend to have inflated value, how would you rank these possible keepers: Lamet in the 9th, Sixto in the 25th, WSmith in the 16th, Mountcastle in the 25th, Dom Smith in the 25th. Thanks!

Jeff Zimmerman: Sixto, Lamet, Mount, W Smith, D Smith. The Smith’s are close

Jolly Roger: Should I make Polanco walk the plank off my fantasy ship or should I accept some sort of major turnaround next year?

Jeff Zimmerman: Which one?

Big trade: Good morning!

Wondering your thoughts on an offer of Luis Robert and Freddie Freeman for my Albies and Matt Olson. If not, do you see a trade for Robert you’d rather offer?

14 team, keep 22, 6×6 H2H dynasty. My team – you’ll see there are 28 below and 6 of them will have to be cut:

C Smith
1B Olson
2B Albies
3B Arenado
SS Bregman
IF Lux
OF Yelich, Tucker, Gallo, D. Smith
Util Y Alvarez, C Frazier, J Adell

Bench Cronenworth, J Rodriguez, Kelenic, D Carlson, R Lewis, Luciano, Abrams

P Bauer, Snell, Clevinger, Paddack, Urias, Gore, Paxton, Pearson

Thanks Jeff!

Jeff Zimmerman: I think Robert >= Albies and Freeman >>>> Olson.

Jeff Zimmerman: Make the trade

ABC: Starting Sonny Gray tonight in his first start off the IL?

Jeff Zimmerman: It comes down to the other option.

The Artful Dodger: Im guessing Puig’s value has not increased any, thoughts on him being a top 30-40 OF next year in Fantasy?

Jeff Zimmerman: He needs to sign somewhere. He’s not going to be happy since it’ll be one year and less than expected.

Moose Mariner: If Mitch Haniger was on your Fantasy team what would you expect in 2021?

Jeff Zimmerman: For him to get some extreme injury.

PB&Js: Any news on Nelson Cruz? Have a hard sit/start decision on him in a weekly league and would love some advice.

Jeff Zimmerman: See if he is in the lineup tonight. He’s an easy swap with anyone since he’s in the DH position.

Hobbs: The next Luke Voit is???

Jeff Zimmerman: A player that a time effective gave away. How about Edward Olivares

Moose_Bolton: Do you have a particularly hot take on any players after this weird, short season?

Jeff Zimmerman: Ignore the hitters, believe in the pitchers

Robin the Body Ventura: Is Nick Madrigal worth targeting in OBP leagues on the assumption he’ll eventually steal a few bases?

Jeff Zimmerman: Maybe … I’m not a fan at all.

Justin: Please tell me Wander Franco plays 3B in the majors. Kris Bryant is killing me and I have Tatis Jr and Lux in MI

Jeff Zimmerman: Nope, he’s just around for the postseason.

Jake: Is Adalberto Mondesi useful at all? I know he has 20 steals but I cannot fathom spending a high draft pick on a guy with a 243 OBP

Jeff Zimmerman: His risk involves him not adding any real life baseball value.

Jeff Zimmerman: He has a .557 OPS

Jeff Zimmerman: It’s the second lowest among qualified hitters: https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y…

Don Juan: I’m in the finals. Are you rooting for me?

Jeff Zimmerman: Sure

Pat’s Bat: Will Buster Posey have value in one catcher leagues next year?

Jeff Zimmerman: I like him as a late dart. He had a year to get healthy. He provides some AVG support. If he busts, grab someone else.

lucie: pick 3 for this week, movable categories are avg, RBI, Steals. JBJ, Kepler, Winker, Vogelbach, Cronenworth, Rojas

Jeff Zimmerman: Rojas …. Winker, JBJ, Kepler, Crone, Volgy

Pete: Rowdy Tellez was flashing some middle of the order potential, and hitting the ball real hard. Would you hold onto him in a dynasty format?

Jeff Zimmerman: No, not even close in a Dynasty

Justin: …what I meant was, please tell me Wander Franco’s future position moving forward will be 3B and not SS or 2B

Jeff Zimmerman: I think it’ll be 2B or 3B

Jeff Zimmerman: with Adames there

Robin the Body Ventura: How do you watch the final Sunday when your leagues are still in play?

Jeff Zimmerman: At home alone. No one wants/needs to be around me.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’ll be a nervous wreck. I have first wrapped up in a few leagues but several will come down to the wire. It’ll be a few thousand dollar swings.

Jeff Zimmerman: I can’t wait

Robin the Body Ventura: Most lukewarm take?

Jeff Zimmerman: Don’t follow any pitching advice until the NL DH gets resolved

Justin: What is the probability of fans being able to attend Instructs in AZ this October? (I’m typically 1 of 8 people there anyway so it’s easy to social distance)

Jeff Zimmerman: Good as long as they spread out and “act” like scouts/team employees

Dayton Moore Porno Stash: 2021 Royals closer?

Jeff Zimmerman: Nice name

Jeff Zimmerman: Soria

Jeb Bush: Love the intensity but watching a tight playoff race for your favorite team and also high stakes leagues when your in the lead is about as stressed as I want to be. Good luck to everyone this week!

Fonzie says “Aaaaaaaaa’s”: Is it time to give up on Hansel Robles as closer?  Ha ha just trolling the five remaining Angels fans

Jeff Zimmerman: I was all in but the Velo dropped and people needed to move on

Jeb Bush: Final week of baseball is an emotional roller coster.

Guest: Thoughts on Kevin Gausman going forward into next year?

Jeff Zimmerman: I think he’ll get over valued but I’m interested.  He’s good It’ll come down to cost

Guest: Are you in line to win any leagues this year?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m in the running in over half of them. It’s been great year. I just need to finish strong

Jake: Soria is on the A’s

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m trolling Royals fans

Diamond(back)s are Forever: Is Josh Rojas an everyday player next year?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not sure but if he keeps up what he’s doing, he will be

Bobby: HR/AVG are very tight in my roto league. At this point, am I better rolling out my best HR hitters like Matt Olson or paying attention to recent trends and HR/9 for opposing pitchers and playing someone like Miguel Rojas?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d go power first to get the homers and then switch to AVG. If daily league, play those matchups.

Big Joey: Championship week here. I have Gary but should I drop him for Kirk? Thanks!

Jeff Zimmerman: Gary is useless at this point.

RMR: What do you make of Moncada and Laureano going into next year?  Moncada just hasn’t seemed healthy all year between COVID recovery and a bunch of leg issues and Laureano has improved his plate discipline, but he’s stopped running and the BABIP and pop have evaporated.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m going to look into those who got COVID and see if the production dropped (didn’t with Freeman).

Jeff Zimmerman: Both deserve deep dives to see what was going on.

Sonny: In two dynasty leagues, both H2H. Each took a separate track. 1) Froze rosters and did a one year redraft roto league. Basic, limited engagement but the 2nd draft was fun.

RMR: What does Cronenworth’s HR/SB numbers look like over a full season?  Love the bat, but feel like he’ll be kind of underwhelming on the whole especially since it looks like they like him hitting further down the lineup.

Jeff Zimmerman: He seems to be an accumulator.

Roger: Are Maeda and Plesac top 15 SPs going into next year?

Jeff Zimmerman: No idea but there seems to back a nice second to third tier of pitcher I trust. I might go back to waiting on starters.

Jeff Zimmerman: That’s it for this week. I’m not 100% sure when I’ll have my next chat with the postseason going on.

Jeff Zimmerman: Bye.