Live Chat 3:00 Today
This upcoming week features the All-Star break and there will be no two-start pitchers. Instead, I want to take this opportunity to try out something new here at RotoGraphs – a live chat.
To the best of my knowledge, this has not been done before at the site and we do not have special software for a regular chat. Instead, submit your questions as comments below and I will answer them in the same spot. Anything baseball related is fair game, from fantasy questions, to managerial queries to historical comparisons and a million other topics.
I will be here starting at 3 PM Eastern time and will stay at least 30 minutes, more if it proves fun. You can submit questions at any time but I will not answer before 3:00. As always, thanks for reading and I look forward to the chat.
There goes the end of my workday. See you at 3.
My question… top five trade targets you expect to have big (-ger than expected) second halves.
Thanks, see you around 3.
I put Berkman on the top of the list.
Markakis has done well in the second half before as has Oswalt. Someone mentioned recently that Randy Winn does well in the second half. I think Aubrey Huff, too
How would you rank these guys in 5×5 roto for the second half:
Hitters:
Furcal
Andrus
Ian Stewart
Ianetta
Magglio
Hermida
Fred Lewis
Pitchers:
Felipe Paulino
Brett Anderson
Chad Gaudin
JA Happ
Smoltz
I know I can look at the ZIPS ROS, but it obviously doesn’t always tell the whole story. Thanks
I’m a big Iannetta fan.
I think Furcal will do better, too. Think I pimped Ian Stewart while back.
I’m rooting for Smoltz but he needs to show a little more. Gaudin has a lot of potential.
You ready to conceed the Daniel Murphy Wager?
no.
Which contender needs to win the Halladay sweepstakes the most? As a Phillies fan I’d love to see us trade for him, especially considering how our starting pitching has completely fallen apart this year.
I don’t think Doc gets traded.
The Phillies seem a logical destination – they need pitching, can afford his contract and they have minor league guys to trade.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see a dark horse candidate from any Central Division club. He could make a difference in either race.
Two questions:
1. Do you what’s wrong with Jason Giambi this year? I feel there’s no way McAfee and 1 year regression can do this to what was one of the better bats last season.
2. With Jim Tracy as manager, will Chris Iannetta be getting more regular playing time?
Giambi is 38 and seems to have trouble catching up to the fastball.
Iannetta was injured – I think that had as much to do with PT as anything else in the first half.
Thanks Brian…follow up, if you have time: did Giambi’s bat speed/reflexes really slow down that much in one year? I don’t think there is any statistic that measures bat speed yet, is there? Hit f/x probably has too many variables to help draw a correlation…
Second, has Iannetta been injured since the beginning of the year? I remember even at the beginning, he would play maybe only 6-7/10 games.
How would you rank these risky OFs for the rest of the season: Sizemore, Soriano, Bruce, and Hamilton.
If everyone’s healthy…
Sizemore, Hamilton, Soriano, Bruce.
pick one for the rest of the season paul konerko or brett gardner?
At OF i got C. Lee, Curtis G., R. Ibanez
and at 1B i got Berkman and Mark Reynolds
I like Konerko better than Gardner but I’m not sure you want to ditch either of those other guys at 1B right now. Maybe Reynolds in a month or so…
I’m looking for some second base help…who are some players to target in a trade in the second half? I’m using Jose Lopez right now in a 10 category h2h.
Not a fan of H2H
This is hard question to answer. Target everyone and make your best deal. Guys like Zobrist and Barmes make the position deeper than it was at the start of the year.
Is Ron Washington the new Clint Hurdle? Starting Andruw Jones and D. Murphy regularly over Nelson Cruz? Is Cruz the anti-Jason Marquis – a fantasy darling but real-life underachiever?
I think part of this is Cruz has a hurt back. Not sure about underachiever with 20 HR in early July.
Is Youkilis in a slump, or just not all that good?
slump
Questions on two slumping guys who’ve shown signs of life I just traded for- BJ Upton and Tulo. BJ’s going to run, but will he bat .280 or have an ISO of .150+ for the rest of the season? And can Tulo cut down on the Ks and produce from a prime spot in the Rockies’ lineup?
(FYI: here is the trade in question: I gave up Hanley, Carlos Pena, Michael Bourn, Joba, and Edwin Jackson for Tulo, Pujols, BJ Upton, Aaron Harang, and James Shields.)
I think BJ can meet your ISO and it wouldn’t shock me on the AVG. I expect Tulo to come thru in 2nd half.
Cards get Halladay
Jays get Wallace, Todd, Kozma, and Boggs/Mortensen.
As a Cards fan, I’d pull the trigger on this one.
Will Mozeliak? Would J.P., or is he gonna get a better deal from someone (Philly)?
I don’t know enough about the prospects to really answer this question but my first instinct is to question whether the Blue Jays would do it. They may be looking for some Major League talent in the deal back.
Why do people continue to think I’m awesome? Will I even be a Type A FA?
3 straight seasons over .320 AVG makes an impression on people. Better question is why your ADP was so high once you left Coors.
Will Daniel Shlereth be the Diamondback’s closer next season?
Probably not on Opening Day
Does Sergio Romo have a shot at closing in SF soon?
A couple of BS for Wilson but otherwise his numbers are all better than last year when he kept the job all season.
No question here – Just wanted to say that this is one of the greatest websites I have ever visited and I hope you guys keep up the great work. Thanks so much!
Thanks for reading!
Will Nolasco or Contreras keep it up? I could replace Cliff Lee with either or Hanson (very shallow league).
Nolasco will keep it up. Contreras….ehh, can’t say much without looking closer.
Hanson seems risky to me. I know his BB numbers are improving but I’m not convinced. I like Nolasco too, as long as his arm stays attached.
I’ve been shopping Adam Jones hard in a 10 team mixed league, but haven’t gotten much of anything…mostly looking for pitching?
What should I expect in return (not a keeper league)
Sometimes it’s tough to get good value for an OF in shallow league, especially one with as little track record as Jones. Are there no good pitching candidates on waiver wire?
Two questions:
1) What kind of number would you expect Pedro Martinez to put up in Citizen’s Bank Ballpark? Do you think he has enough left in the tank to be a worthwhile pickup in fantasy leagues?
2) Do you think Lastings Milledge will blossom in Pittsburgh or is he a bust?
I think people over-estimate how much of a hitter’s park CBP is. But the real question is what Pedro has left. Heard a report that he’s topping out at 85, which would be a problem. Pedro needs to be consistently in hi 80s to be effective.
I was high on LM coming into season but he’s not a leadoff hitter and he’s probably not a CF, either. He needs to play a corner and bat 6th or 7th. Pittsburgh may be an ideal situation for him with McCutchen to leadoff and play CF.
do you think chris davis will be back up this year or is smoak the guy coming up
Wouldn’t surprise me to see both although I think Davis has to do more to earn his way back at this point.
5×5 keeper league – Who would consider keeping out of this list?
R. Martin
D. Lee
Utley
Rollins
R. Zimmerman
Braun
Sizemore
N. Cruz
C. Quentin
F. Hernandez
J. Lester
E. Jackson
AJ Burnett
M. Garza
No salary considerations?
Utley, Braun, Sizemore, Felix and Lester
Do you like Sizemore enough to trade a stud SP (e.g., Haren, Vazquez, Verlander) for him?
Generally speaking, no. But it certainly could make sense depending on other factors.
Can Oliver Perez make a triumphant return to fantasy relevence?
I think Perez’ upside is bottom of rotation guy in a 12-team mixed league. He’s going to do what he always does – have some dominant and some hideous starts. Got away with 7 BB in 5 IP WED which won’t happen too often.
What type of closers are on the same level as Joakim Soria. Im thinking of trying to tade for him BUT NOT SURE HOW TO VALUE HIM FOR REST OF YEAR
I’m a big Soria fan if he’s healthy. Think of him as one of the top closers in the game if the health reports look good.
How will a trade to Philadelphia impact Roy Halladay’s fantasy numbers?
He’s already one of the best pitchers in the game and a move to Philly gets him away from DH and to weak hitting SP instead. But similar move didn’t work out too well for Johan’s K numbers last year.
I’ve gor Sandoval (C eligible) and Posada, but a badly slumping OF. Ideally, I’d like to move one or the other for a good OF (HRs, RBIs, SBs are needed). Thoughts on reasonable targets?
Seems too risky to deal Sandoval and hope for healthy days for Posada.
Please god let philly get halladay, and I think jason brunlett has naked pics of ruben amaro jr, There cant be any other reason he keeps getting at bats Right Brian?
It’s only 84 PA but man it’s tough to see an OPS that low. Brings us back to the deadball 60s!
Will Carlos Pena hit over .240 this year?
I think that’s a reasonable place for the Under/Over line. Pre-season projections had him in the .250 range but RoS ZiPS pegs him at .245
I say he finishes below .240 for the year.
Jay Bruce owner. I just wanted some sympathy…
Can he hit .250 or so w/ power over the 2nd half?
My sympathies.
I think .250 is the very top range. Power will be there but PT will be an issue
Cody Ross or Rios for the rest of the year?
What’s the deal with Carlos Marmol this year? He went from a top 10 reliever in 2008 to a guy walking as many as he’s K’d. Has he just lost command of his pitches, or is there something deeper going on here?
Anyone who knows this answer should immediately contact Lou Piniella
Allow me to thow in 2 cents. I think part of the blame needs to go to Larry Rothschild – quick, name 1 pitcher who has gotten better for the Cubs since he’s been P coach? How about worse? I don’t think Larry has the understanding that Duncan or Cooper have of how to pitch more effectively – as long as the Ks keep coming and the ERA is reasonable, then what needs to improve? How about BBs, lower pitch counts, pitching to (appropriate) contact?
The other part is Marmol himself. I think he’s lost it a little between the ears and can’t figure it out on his own. His stuff is still good but he tries to make the perfect pitch on the outside corner when all he needs to do is put it close with the slider/fastball combo. I think it’s just typical up/down RP stuff – one year good, one year bad.
Can you name some good under the radar OFs?
No one but his fantasy owners have appreciated Shin-Soo Choo.
Juan Rivera is having a very nice year with very little fanfare.
Josh Willingham has hit very well lately.
Think you have to go Ross. Although Rios hit for zero power in the first half and then turned it around last year.
This is cool too:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/sports/baseball/10cameras.html?_r=4
Did Jason Frasor just become a setup man with Downs off the DL?
Downs is the guy – only question is when he starts getting 99% of the chances.
Joba has not been very useful, lately. Do oyu trust him for 2009 in a nonkeeper league?
Joba’s interesting. Everyone is disappointed in him because expectations were so unbelievably high. He’s a league-average or better starter. That’s pretty good for a 23-year old.
which outfielder would you hold onto for the rest of the year. corey hart, or nelson cruz
I’m not a big Hart fan so I say Cruz. I don’t think the PT issues are that big a deal
Trade Brandon Phillips or Ian Kinsler (or neither)?
I need starting pitching.
OK – I feel bad – this just popped up. But last one.
I would trade either of these guys in the right deal. I’d prefer to keep Kinsler but then you have the injury risk…
Well, I think I got everyone. Thanks for all of the questions and LMK if you liked this and if so I’ll try to do it again. Bye
liked it.
you should use coveritlive next time. easy to use and easy to read.
Hey Brian,
From observational analysis, to use of sites like this and baseball prospectus, I notice there may be no more overrated defender in MLB right now than Jacoby Ellsbury. Obviously as a Sox fan, this is a bit distressing. What’s your opinion; think his low UZR and FRAA are a result of adjusting to Fenway, bad luck, small sample, or is he just a corner OF that looks like a CF?
I doubt the Red Sox will market him since they just traded away Crisp to let him play everyday.