Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – April 6th, 2018

Paul Sporer: Hello, everyone!! Welcome to the chat!

Senta: Patrick Corbin a 10-team hold (as opposed to stream) now?   If so, any of these players you’d drop to add him?:  Yonder, Brach, Kingery.  Thanks!

Paul Sporer: Ya I think we gotta hold him in all formats. Corbin is throwing his slider a TON and getting big results (42% K, 18% SwStr). It won’t stay this great, but he’s also not a fluke

Big Tuna: Is Chase Anderson’s velo drop concerning?

Paul Sporer: A little in that I was going to be watching his velo early on anyway just to see if he held the ’17 gains

SiscoKid: What kind of upside to Newcomb and Gohara have?

Paul Sporer: Long-term, it’s pretty nice for both with Gohara having a higher ceiling IMO as he just doesn’t have the command and control issues of Newk

Lars: You buying the Tim Anderson hype train?

Paul Sporer: A bit, ya. I mentioned in the 2B/SS preview podcast that he was someone I was keeping an eye on after learning a bit more. I didn’t have him for so much power (relatively speaking). I thought he was like 5-7 HRs for some reason. Hit 17 last yr, has 3 already. The speed is unquestioned. Still worry about the plate skills, but there is no reason for CWS not to give him tons of time and just see what they’ve got

fun guy: duffy, e. rod, junis, boyd,kennedy, gibson, estrada ROY please eank thanks

Paul Sporer: Haven’t really changed anything off the March SPs ranks yet. New SP list in May from me, btw

Paul Sporer: https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/march-composite-rankings-starting-pi…

Pablo: Need to replace Knebel – but even as a Brewer fan I’m clueless as to who is going to replace him. Could be Jeffress, Barnes, or Albers… any rumors that you are hearing?

Paul Sporer: No, same guys as you. Hader is staying in the fireman role (which is smart). I’d bet on Albers first then Jeffress… then I’d vomit

Big Tuna: Nick Pollack’s last report on Wacha stated that he’d drop him in 15 tm leagues. How worried are you?

Paul Sporer: Not *that* worried after one start. He was drafted at a level where you’re always keeping a close eye on him (meaning you should be closely monitoring any pitcher drafted outside of the top 150 picks or so)

Daniel: My league has BA and OPS.  Should I even bother playing Hamilton over Fowler or Margot?  He’s had a pretty depressing first week.

Paul Sporer: Ya I think OPS really pushes him to the bench right now. If he catches fire and you need the SBs, maybe put him back in, but he’s just such a bad hitter

Andre: Is

Paul Sporer: Yes

Jeff: Hey Paul!  Roto – OBP and QS instead of AVG and W.  Charlie Morton for Chris Taylor?  And is Ryan McMahon worth holding this year in a 12 team?

Paul Sporer: Fair deal for sure. I lean Taylor. McMahon is a tough hold in 12 tm. He’s not getting the PT early on and I’m more apt to churn & burn in a 12-teamer. Maybe the PT opens up in May and he starts raking, but by then you’ve put 2-3 batters through that spot and hopefully someone worth holding

Andre: Is Acuna coming up in 10

Paul Sporer: You’re getting closer to a question

Slapshot: How would you rank these guys as a waiver pickup in a 10 team 5×5 roto league?  Corbin, Manaea, and Odorizzi?

Paul Sporer: As you’ve listed them

Closing Time: In a 12 tm, 9 P slot league, there was a lot of value in draft and waivers and I wound up with Giles, Neris, Morrow, Kela, Box. How many would you hold and which guys would you try to deal to SV needy teams?

Paul Sporer: You really only need 3 max. And Giles/Morrow are likely to have the most juice in the market

YOAT: This is going to be a silly suggestion, but when Ohtani is pitching his live stat line on FG is his hitting line, not his pitching line. For baseball nerds who want to know what his FIP is in real time, this is awful. Help me with my problem. Also, what’s the best way to leave my rent free situation in my mother’s basement.

Paul Sporer: Is it really *awful*? That seems like hyperbole 🙂 At any rate, I believe Ohtani is confounding sites and I know Dave is working to make it as smooth as possible to view Ohtani’s stats and get what you need, but keep in mind this is uncharted territory

Andre: is Acuna coming up in 10 day? Projections when he is up?

Paul Sporer: Not 100% sure when he’s coming up. If he gets Kris Bryant‘d, it should be soon. 15 HR/25 SB projection if he’s up in April

Closing Time: Which players are you trying to see if you can buy from possible antsy owners or over-reactors?

Paul Sporer: Jose Ramirez, Gary Sanchez, Trevor Story, Luis Castillo, Garrett Richards, James Paxton. Almost none will come at a MAJOR discount, but I’d gladly pay market

Ms. Happ: Kevin Pillar or Kevin Kiermaier?

Paul Sporer: Kiermaier

Bill: How are you feeling about Snell? One bad game or same as it always was?

Paul Sporer: Bad start in a tough matchup. He’s going to have bad ones even if he does fully breakout this year. Not sweating it

yojiveself: is CarGo staying up late and eating Burger King again?  very slow start!!

Paul Sporer: He wasn’t exactly awesome last year, either.

Bob Villar: With starters outings getting shorter and shorter and wins being a total crapshoot and horrible judge of performance, any recs for leagues replacing QS or W’s?

Paul Sporer: It’s tough!! straight up IP gives nothing to the quality of said innings so that’s not viable. I really don’t know the alternative. Chat, any thoughts?

Desperate, confused Marlins fan: You can replace W’s with QS’

Paul Sporer: But look at his question, he’s saying that starts are getting shorter and curbing QS, too

Paul Sporer: Need something cumulative apart from W and QS

CJ: My league has used TB allowed, not perfect but its something

Paul Sporer: Ooh that’s pretty interesting

Aaron: Junk W’s/QS’s and implement a high minimum IP, and problem solved.  You need a lot of quality innings.

Paul Sporer: So ppl can’t just stack RPs

Walt: Replace with IP/G? Then it penalizes relievers while making the few elite starters even more valuable.

Paul Sporer: Also interesting

Reggie: Projections like Trevor Story but my confidence in him is waning. What is you outlook on him?

Paul Sporer: You gotta at least wait for a homestand, my dude. That’s why we draft Rockies!

kuff6: WTF are the rockies doing with McMahon?

Paul Sporer: Not playing him 🙁

Rhys Hoskins: Why you no like me?  I’m on pace for 50+ steals…speedy Rhys.

Paul Sporer: LOL. It’s never been about dislike. It’s allll about the cost. Didn’t want to pay his price, but definitely like the talent. The 2 SB have been a nice bonus

Ken: Walker Buehler worth stashing in 12-team redrafts?

Paul Sporer: Would need SUPER deep benches

Jake Junis Priest: Imagine if I never met the broski’s!

Paul Sporer: turn the O2 into the O3, dawg

Paul Sporer:

John Olerud: Shallow (10- or 12-team mixed) roto. Cole Hamels as fifth or sixth starter, or opt for more upside guys like Flaherty, Gohara, Folty, Junis, etc?

Paul Sporer: Liking Junis. Gohara and Flaherty would be in the picture with a role. I’m not ready to cook Hamels, btw. Hamels/Junis is close

andrew: Ottoneu Fangraphs Pts, should I trade Bregman ($10) straight up for Moncada ($12)? Also have Donaldson, Rendon, Senzel rostered to cover 3B. Thanks

Paul Sporer: No, I think you’re paying $2 extra for the worse player

Mike: Whats up Paul! 12 team points league. Would you rather own Brandon Drury or Bradley Zimmer? My OF is pretty stacked with JDM, Judge, Pollock, Polanco, Conforto. 2B/3B I have Moncada and  Chapman

Paul Sporer: I think Drury makes more sense with your setup

Tom : Thoughts on Pivetta dominating the Marlins yesterday? Yes, the Marlins are bad, but they have faced Darvish, Quintana, Sale, and Sale thus far and no one has made them look as uncomfortable as Pivetta did yesterday afternoon.

Paul Sporer: Pivetta’s got some legit stuff to be a streamer in shallower leagues and hold in deeper, but we gotta see if he keeps the ball in the yard regularly this year. Marlins just aren’t a credible HR threat

Doug: How tightly would you hold onto Buxton in a league that doesn’t value SBs?

Paul Sporer: At least a couple more weeks absent any other useful context

Bill: What about game score for starters to replace QS?

Paul Sporer: Like average Game Score? The thing is, can all … or even any … site handle that?

Paul Sporer: But I like it as an idea in principle

Tommybones: Do you ever sit Jon Gray? Maybe against big lineups at home? Or roll with the stuff?

Paul Sporer: Rarely for me, but I’ve never had him in a 10-team league where I think that kinda of curating is the edge as opposed to setting & forgetting

MikeZ: Too soon to drop Longoria or Chris Davis in a 12 team 5×5 with no bench? I can pick up Matt Davidson/Matt Chapman

Paul Sporer: I’m a big Matt Chapman fan so I’d probably drop Davis for him as I was drafting Chap ahead of Davis anyway

Last place =(: What’s your take on Colin Moran? What’s the upside?

Steve: Are you buying Colin Moran and/or Brandon Drury’s swing changes making them potential breakout third basemen?

Paul Sporer: I do think Moran’s swing changes last year are viable. He had a major power spike and looks different in his approach. .265/25 HR from Moran is possible. Drury was someone I was scooping up last yr to modest returns, but I’m sticking with him w/the move to NYY. Prefer Moran over Drury, but both have mid-20s pop

Gest: I was able to watch Price’s recent start, and he didn’t seem to be getting any chases – especially after the first time through, are you worried he only put up two good starts or do you consider him to be back baby?

Paul Sporer: I’m not declaring victory after 2 starts by any stretch, but I’m pleased w/the results. Didn’t get as many chases, but they chased a ton in the debut (he’s faced TB both times) so I’m sure they were on him more yesterday by comparison. Pretty happy w/the start and would take him from anyone trying to “sell high”

Jim: Hi Thanks for this.  Do Lucchesi, Mahle or Triggs have any full season value?

Paul Sporer: I like Mahle. Intrigued by Triggs (gonna dive deeper next week in a Sporer Report), but think Lucchesi is smoke & mirrors

Moelicious: Why doesn’t Hendricks ever throw a change until the second time through the order and a curve until the third time through the order? I can’t believe he can get away with nothing but 87mph fastballs the first couple of innings.

Paul Sporer: Command ftw! As Bartolo Colon proves year after year, location can be everything on a given night. Hendricks has more to turn to when the fastball command is off which is why he’s better than Colon at this pt

Slamboni: Side A or side B 10 tm AL only roto with QS and Sv+Hlds
A: Jacob Faria, Eduardo Escobar
B: Derek Fisher, Hanley Ramirez, Nate Jones

Paul Sporer: Fair deal for sure. I lean toward B a little bc I’m a Hanley homer (skills are always there, it’s all about his health)

guy: Shane Greene dropped in my 12 team league…..worth the add?

Paul Sporer: If you need some saves

Peter: I’ve read a few reports of Panik’s change in approach. He’s a confusing player, showing a high avg floor and flashing some other goods, but what do you make of him?

Paul Sporer: I’ve always been a fan as late batting avg is tough to find and I think he’s a true talent .300 hitter. I’m not really buying into a power surge if only bc his home park really puts a cramp on anything beyond a 13-15 HR upside

DB: Thoughts on cutting Greg Bird shares in NFBC 12 team leagues?  I’m getting close given there are no DL slots.

Paul Sporer: And that’s fair. That’s the really tough part of NFBC. I don’t think it’s out of bounds at all

Gabby: Rich Hill or Alex Wood ROS? QS league

Paul Sporer: Is there a difference? Not just being glib, but they’re so similar save the age difference

manaea: sell high and try to flip manaea or are you holding?

Paul Sporer: I’m holding in most cases. Not sure you’d get something that much higher than what you paid at draft. Maybe like a Fulmer? Morton? And at that point, are they really that different in overall upside?

Nelson: Over under 20HR total for Joe Panik this year?

Paul Sporer: under

Corky: I know it’s too early… but Zimmer is off to a slow start.  Is he droppable in a 12 team H2H league?

Paul Sporer: Yes, as I assume he was drafted in the latter portion of your roster and you have to be willing to churn a few spots or you’re going to miss on all the early breakouts

Paul Sporer: Of course with a burn & churn method, you will have misses. Don’t dwell on them. Keep moving forward

Tim: 12 team keeper: Roster Betances, or pick up another reliever more likely to sniff saves and not hit the mascot.

Paul Sporer: Ya his value in 12 tm isn’t great

Slapshot: Are you all in on Conforto after his promising first game back in the lineup yesterday?

Paul Sporer: No, not at all. I was skeptical coming in because of the health and I’ll take my L on that bc I was expecting a full month out, but I don’t think one game puts us free and clear to dive headfirst into this

Hans Gruber: Ppl are raving about Jose MArtinez.. can he really be that great with that crazy foot tap situation?

Paul Sporer: The numbers play

Chippy: You had Mikolas slightly in front of Junis and Reynaldo in your last SP rankings. Still favor Miles?

Paul Sporer: Ya I think I’d go Mikolas, Junis, Reynaldo still. Liking all 3

Dan Vogelbach: this chat is slower than me getting down the first base line

Paul Sporer: Cool.

Jo-Bu: Alex Wood was throwing slow last outing.  You selling?

Paul Sporer: I never bought.

Paul Sporer: How fast is a chat supposed to be? lol. You want a bunch of one word, no explanation answers? That’s not what this is.

Anthony: Faria or Skaggs as a 5th starter?

Paul Sporer: Faria

Moltar: How has Brandon Morrow only faced one single batter all season???

Paul Sporer: That is correct!

JD15: Is Nimmo destined to be on the bench the rest of the year?? Why isn’t Bruce at 1B an option?

Paul Sporer: it’s only April 6th! opportunities will open up for Nimmo. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting right now. Any production they get from him is almost literally free as he’s making the lg min. from NY

Pete: What type of pitcher would you target for Jose Martinez?

Paul Sporer: A good one. These questions are impossible bc centering on one guy doesn’t really help. It’s better to give some names you’re targeting and then I can give thoughts on that

WormsleyCommonGang: Brad Hand has me concerned.

Paul Sporer: Me too and I was a big believer. But he’s still getting swinging strikes and chases. It’s still all of 2 bad outings and I think they’ll give him time to figure it ut

Paul Sporer: out*

Manga: Is Taillon’s huge strikeout total a fluke or is he doing something differently this year? Never struck me (no pun intended) as a high K/9 guy.

Paul Sporer: It’s only 1 outing so we don’t know yet. But I covered him here: https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/sporer-report-issue-1/

Toss: Do you think Aaron Sanchez’s 2016 8% walk rate will be his career best? I love his stuff but he doesn’t seem to be harnessing it and that was a concern on him early in his career.

Paul Sporer: May well be, yes, for the reason you state. Stuff is almost TOO nasty in terms of harnessing it so when hitters lay off, walks will be there

Andre: Sorry Paul. My cell phone keeps closing me out of the chat!!

Paul Sporer: No problem! I was just teasing, I hope you took it as fun 🙂

VardyParty: Any concerns with Yelich’s oblique? Think he’ll start stealing?

Paul Sporer: A little. I’m always nervous about obliques so I’m keeping a very close eye

CT: Paul, we’re a week into the season. My team is decimated by injury. Saying my pitching is atrocious is a severe understatement — my K leader is Edwin Diaz. Do you think packaging Trout this early would be wise to shore up pitching, maybe get a plus OF as well in return? Or do I play the waiver game and hope a gem appears to help out?

Paul Sporer: Don’t move Trout yet. Play the wire, let’s get 2-3 more weeks before we start selling off Trout

dilemna: conforto off the dl means i have to drop someone…  t walker, giolito or mikolas or chatwood?  12 team mixed.

Paul Sporer: Really close group so you probably go for personal preference. I think I have Mikolas rated lowest.

Tupac: Is it time for us as people to start making some changes, like the way we eat, we live, and the way we treat each other?

Paul Sporer: You see the old way wasn’t workin
So it’s on us to do what we gotta do to survive

Erik: Boxberger for Bour? I have four closers (14-team league) and crappy corner guys, and he has Bour on his bench with just one closer. Is that fair value or should I go for Kyle Seager instead, possibly with one of my better closers?

Paul Sporer: Dig it!

Hi: Should I hold onto Nick Pivetta in a 12 teamer? Was just streaming, but he looked good

Paul Sporer: Next 2 starts are v. CIN and at ATL so I’m down to hold!

Evan: Do you think injury is the only way Flaherty is back up and in the rotation? Are you holding in 12-team?

Paul Sporer: For now injury is the avenue and I’d probably move on in 12 teamers

tacopocket: i punted middle infield and now i’m left with scraps.  Do you think almedys can be solid?  I’m currently playing walker.

Paul Sporer: He was pretty dope in ’16. Not a ton of difference between him and Neil Walker, though, so you gotta go with your favorite

Moelicious: Please remind me why I thought it was safer to draft Rizzo over Freeman…

Paul Sporer: Haha, it’s v early. I’m sure lineup context made you think it was safer but otherwise they’re the same. Freef is on one so far

Dan: Worried about Teheran and his dropping velocity- thinking about dropping him for Harvey. What do you think?

Paul Sporer: In 10 and 12 teamers, yes

Got: Reduce QS requirments to 5 innings

Paul Sporer: Can’t. It’s 6 IP/3 ER. That’s coded into using the stat on sites

bryce: my donaldson and manaea for his jose ramirez and conforto-is that a fair trade?

Paul Sporer: Hmmmm, it’ll be tough to get it done after Conforto beasted right off the DL but it’s not unfair

zurzles: Best replacement for crappy W/QS stat I’ve come up with is “# of starts reaching a certain GameScore” (i forget what a good gamescore is, 60?) still sucks, but that category type is always going to suck at least a little

Paul Sporer: 60 is pretty good, ya

Paul Sporer: BTW, for those just joining, we’ve been discussing alternatives to QS and W since fewer guys seem to be going even 6 already this season and merking QS left & right

Moelicious: How does a venue change help Story when he strikes out or flies out every at bat?

Paul Sporer: He’s striking out at his normal rate

Manga: Re: QS v. W: a few years ago our league switched from W and K to IP, QS, and K/9 (in addition to keeping ERA and WHIP). We like it because it continues to reward mileage but also high quality innings with the extra ratio stat and QS.

Paul Sporer: Nice

3 Ben Sheets to the Wind: Is The Show worth it this year? Like would I feel like I’m playing a sim baseball game or are the animations and glitches make it not fun?

Paul Sporer: I’m really enjoying it. There are some weak animations from time to time, but nothing game-breaking for me.

Paul Sporer: Speaking of MLB The Show, I’m doing a 12-hour stream tonight at twitch.tv/psporer24 starting around 6 PM CT

North Side Nihilist: What does turn an 02 to an 03 mean? That’s one part I always get stuck in my head but no idea what it means.

Paul Sporer: I have no idea, lol, but yes it burrows in my head, too

Paul Sporer: And I sometimes change the numbers when singing it to myself bc I’m cool and unweird

Aaron: Someone in my league overreacted and dropped Richards.  Whom to drop, Maeda or Taillon?  Thanks.

Paul Sporer: Damn, that’s wild. I’d drop Maeda for him

Guest: tehju\tho

Guest: ‘

Paul Sporer: Agreed

MarlinsGuy: Follow up: What about giving Albies for Darvish plus Mazara in a 12 team, 10 player keep forever dynasty?

Paul Sporer: You know I love Albies, but that’d be pretty enticing

zach: i had a dream last night that i made a shitty trade offer for Ohtani, the guy rejected it and told the whole league about it, and the league put me on blast…i dont have a question

Paul Sporer: That’ll teach you to dream-offer bullshit trades!

Jazzhead: Fantrax does have Game Score as a scoring category

Paul Sporer: That’s bc Fantrax is fire!

Dan: Any concerns with Billy H?  Will he steal 50 bags? 60?

Paul Sporer: Tons of concerns bc he’s a terrible hitter

Guest: Minter or Bradley?

Paul Sporer: Bradley

Jake Junis Priest: thought it was funny hearing you talk about conversion experiences/ epiphanies while on the road, given your namesake

Paul Sporer: looool

Jake: Is Matt Harvey a thing again? Or do you think the 92-93 mph fastball is what he is now?

Paul Sporer: Ya, maybe he adds a tick, but days of sitting 95 are in the rear view. That said, he can win at 92-93 when the slider’s working. Would like to see the change or curve bounce back

Charles: Traded Stanton, Corbin and Lester for Betts, Eaton and Castillo. How did I do?

Paul Sporer: Dig it!

Jeff: Tyler Skaggs as a sell high?

Paul Sporer: Can you, though? You can sell him, but are you really gonna sell high and get some flashy return?

Steve: Can Fulmer finish as a top 20sp?  Is he that kind of talent?

Paul Sporer: He has the talent, but the Ks need to come for that kind of ceilig

cam: Are 5 innings starters and multi-inning bullpen arms the future of baseball?

Paul Sporer: They’re they NOW of baseball

Sporer’s rebuild project: I’ve acquired cheaply many of your post-hype guys to try and rebuild quickly in a  keep forever dynasty: tapia, deshields, cowart, goodwin, mondesi, polanco. Will it work?

Paul Sporer: Freakin The Dentist is already hurt and Polanco got popped so that’s off to a rough start, lol. The Royals re-signing Alcides didn’t help Mondesi, either

The Old Buccaneer: Does Gregory Polanco put it together and finish as a top 15 OF?

Paul Sporer: That is my hope https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/paul-sporers-bold-predictions-for-20…

Erli: Kiermaier, car-go, pillar, zimmer or JBJ in 10 team H2H? Only need to pick one of them

Paul Sporer: Kiermaier

Hate us cuz Yoenis: Someone dropped Kiermaier in my 14-team category league…how hard should I go after him on waivers?

Paul Sporer: Relatively hard I’d say (TWSS)

Willie: Devon Travis can’t be this bad can he?

Paul Sporer: I mean it’s 21 PA, so no, but is he THAT good? He NEVER stays healthy, either

Hans not Gruber: Also I am dyslexic, and I keep mixing up J-Mart and J-Ram. yes they are both on my team. Also my girlfriend says we look alike. Hey look, a blue car!

Paul Sporer: LOL. You and your gf look alike? Interesting…

Tom: If Story is K’ing at his normal rate and he wasn’t very good last year, what is the hope?

Paul Sporer: He popped 27 HR in 97 games w/the same skills in ’16

Paul Sporer: (3 pts higher K% from ’16 to ’17… negligible)

The Old Buccaneer: Correa and Severino too much to give up for Kershaw or Scherzer?

Paul Sporer: Yes, I’d say so

E: In or out on Matt Davidson making some real changes and being valuable?

Paul Sporer: What changes, though? He’s an 0-for-4 w/3 Ks from a 29% K rate. And 2 of em from a 34% mark. He K’d 3+ times in a gm 19x last yr. Also had a 5 HR in 6 gm stretch – https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=davidma02&t=b&ye…

Paul Sporer: We’re a long way from a different Davidson

Tim The Tool Man Taylor: Worried about Paul Goldschmidt at all? Talk about a not so fast (out the gate)…..

Paul Sporer: I don’t think so, Tim

Scott: Grade the trade: Gattis + Bundy for Gary Sanchez

Paul Sporer: Need league context

Reynaldo Lopez: After a strong first start, am I smart to take a flyer on?

Paul Sporer: League context drives how aggressive you should be, but here’s some further thoughts on him https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/sporer-report-issue-2/

Russell: How cooked does Danny Duffy look? Looking awful today, after not looking good to start the year.

Paul Sporer: Nothing encouraging through 2 starts. Can reserve, but I’m not sure I’m flat cutting yet

Niko: What’s your projection for when Willie Calhoun gets called up? Kris Bryant‘ed? And stat projection if he does get called then? Thanks!

Paul Sporer: Early-May. Are you asking what Kris Bryant‘d is or if Calhoun will be Bryant’d? Being Bryant’d is being held down like 2 wks to ensure the extra yr of service time.

Paul Sporer: I think he’s a .270-20 HR guy for 5 months

OddBall Herrera: So this suddenly became relevant yesterday – is Robles a must own in redraft leagues if an outfield spot were to suddenly open up for him?  I’m not really buying him as a 2018 difference maker (or even maybe 2019)

Paul Sporer: Not must-own in 10- and 12-teamers. Goodwin will get the chance on a short-term basis. A long term injury could bring Robles up

Paper Boy: Drop Wacha for Folty or Triggs? Or wait a bit on Wacha to see if his velocity normalizes?

Paul Sporer: I’m waiting

Paul Sporer: It’d be Triggs over Folty for me, btw

David: Was offered Khris Davis and Justin Upton for Trout in an OPS 12 team league. Thoughts?

Paul Sporer: Easy no for me

The Dentist Hype Train: 🙁

Paul Sporer: So sad. Love DeShields and he finally gets the full time gig… then wham-o, injury

Erli: slow start for Morrison, Kiermaier and Piscotty. Which of them are you worried about the most?

Paul Sporer: The real answer is none as it’s been a week and 4-5 good gms next week COMPLETELY changes things. I realize we can’t just say wait-wait-wait on everything early on, but we have to acknowledge that 6 games is *nothing* in the context of a season and just bc these are the first 6 gms doesn’t give them more weight or point to any inherent troubles just bc the numbers are bad.

Paul Sporer: This is why I stress that churning your last 2 spots in 10 and 12 teamers *will* burn you at times bc you’ll cut a LoMo for Davidson and they’ll go opposite ways immediately, but that’s why you just keep churning.  You either commit to patience with your guys or churn and take on the risk of jumping off too soon but also having a better shot to find this year’s Justin Smoak or whomever

The Old Buccaneer: Sporer chats are some of the best chats.

Paul Sporer: Ty ty, I really appreciate that!

Mike: Whats the best way to go about getting better cards/players on Diamond Dynasty? Was always just a RTTS player, never really got into DD much until this year

Paul Sporer: Play Conquest first. It’s v. the CPU and gets you some nice cards. After you get some cards, try the Event, too (it ends on the 10th, though, so time is ticking there). Ppl have been getting 9 and 12 wins with some regularity which gets you a gold at 9 and diamond at 12

Daniel: Is Bour for Kingery an overpay?

Paul Sporer: No, not if you’re a Kingery believer

Mr. Nor’easter: 4 innings of bullpen make endgames drag on and on … bad for the fans

Paul Sporer: Completely fair. Pitching changes can really lengthen games.

Paul Sporer: I like the mound visit limitations and I think policing length of replay would help a lot. Can’t say you only get X changes bc then you’re putting players at risk, but I agree it can be tedious and annoying af

Daniel: Do you not prefer OOTP to The Show?

Paul Sporer: Don’t have a preference. I get different things from both. OOTP is a full on sim managing an entire organization and The Show is on field play. Pretty into both of em

Moltar: Yo shouts to fantrax tho. We got proxy FAAB bids (ebay style, you only pay as much as the next highest bid was) this season which is pretty great. Gonna have to ask my commish about game score in the offseason.

Paul Sporer: They’re really good. And their service is so sharp. If you have things you want, they do all they can to accommodate and quickly, too.

Podcastfan: Supe fun would be Meg Rowley on the podcast I bet, make it happen!

Paul Sporer: I’m just gonna pretend this is Meg under an fake handle lol

PaperBoi: Drop Wacha in favor of someone like Folty or Triggs? Or hold to see if the velo recovers??

Paul Sporer: Boooo repeat question asker boooooooo

Joe: Lester change your mind at all yesterday?

Paul Sporer: Nah, he’s gonna have some great starts. You can’t put up a full season 4.33 (his ERA last yr) without em, but I think he’s pretty blah overall

Teamwins: New stat for pitchers: team wins start.

Paul Sporer: ya that could work. we already rely on pens and lineups anyway, why not just go all the way

Erli: Can Julio Teheran bounce back? new ballpark and worse command year by year

Paul Sporer: He’s not THIS bad, but he’s pretty meh so I’m fine moving on in 10 and 12-teamers for sure. Not even an auto-hold in 15-teamers (and this is from a one-time big back of Teheran)

o’HOOLIGAN’S: Trade Raisel Iglesias for Luis Castillo in 12-tm roto 5×5, even if my other closers are Soria and Kela? Thinking I can get saves later on this season with trades.

Paul Sporer: yes I’d do that

Turgid: Wait, I don’t understand this Twitch thing. You’re going to play baseball video games from 6pm to 6am and people are going to watch you play???? That’s a thing?

Paul Sporer: “and what’s with these people on my lawn? GET OFF MY LAWN!!”

Paul Sporer: How is it different than coming in here and asking questions and reading my answers to other people’s questions? With Twitch you get the added bonus of hearing my annoying voice, seeing my dumb face, and watching some MLB The Show action!

Henry Rowengartner: Quintana for Benintendi fair? 12 teamer H2H Points.

Paul Sporer: Si!

Slamboni: Paul quick I need trade help! AL only, Faria and Matt Chapman for Hanley, Betances and Miggy! (and should I ask for Hanley or Derek Fisher or Soler)?

Paul Sporer: Totally fair. I lean side B

E: We are a long way from a different Davidson but us fantasy baseballers don’t have time to wait! Over-react season is in full swing

Paul Sporer: No, I get that you have to react quicker these days. But you buy Davidson acknowledging that nothing is really different at this pt. Goes back to the point about churning and losing sometimes

DDS: When Calhoun comes up, do I lose playing time returning from injury?

Paul Sporer: No, I don’t think DeShields loses his time to injury

99: MVP 05 compared to The Show?

Paul Sporer: C’mon. MVP 05 was amazing, but it’s 13 yrs old. Every iteration of The Show on PS4 murders MVP by a lot. The nostalgia is great and the game was ELITE, but we’ve advanced a ton

mike: Any insight on K Jansen’s situation???

Paul Sporer: Nothing really different than what we’re all seeing. It’s a wait and see situation. I’m not selling low

Matt W: Jordan Montgomery is the best SP name on my wire. Should I pick him up?

Paul Sporer: Depends who you’re cutting and league size, but I’m a huge fan so the answer is probably yes

Turgid: Can you hear me now?

Paul Sporer: 🙂

Paul Sporer: Just roasting you a bit on the Twitch thing bc it’s just the generic reaction of someone who’s obviously never watched it. It’s certainly not for everybody, but I will say that I’ve had several ppl come to a stream from my Twitter having never seen one and now they’re regular viewers

E: Are you going to drink a Monster or a Red Bull during your live stream?

Paul Sporer: Me? Drink Red Bull… no way 😉

Paul Sporer: OK yall, I gotta roll!

Paul Sporer: Thanks so much for coming out!

Paul Sporer: As mentioned, I will be streaming tonight on Twitch starting at 6 PM CT (http://twitch.tv/psporer24). You can also follow me on Twitter (@sporer) and Snapchat (psporer). I’ll talk to yall next week!!

The Old Buccaneer: Pitching two perfect games in MVP 05 is the pinnacle of my gaming achievements. The fact one of those games was with Jon Rauch (the other was Smoltz) makes it even better.

Paul Sporer: I threw a no-no with Verlander on stream last year and it was so fun!

Paul Sporer: OK bye for real!