Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – August 12th, 2020

Paul Sporer: Welcome everyon, thank you for coming out!!

Doug: You would definitely trade Kyle Lewis for Xander Bogaerts in fantasy, right?

Paul Sporer: 10000000000%

snid: Hansel Robles getting that velocity back? Worth a pickup in a 12 tm dynasty.

Paul Sporer: Ehhhh, maybe if you’re DESPERATE for saves, but I’m not trying to get into that situation right now

Jake: Gausman for real???  How do you see Votto doing ROS ??

Paul Sporer: Yes, I think there is some legitimacy to Gausman with the velo up and splitter cookin. Nice home park helps, too. If he continues to limit HRs, he’s an all-formats guys somewhat easily

Paul Sporer: I think Votto’s pop is back to a solid degree – still more CI than starting 1B – and it seems certain that his AVG will return, too, just by virtue of the .182 BABIP getting back toward the mean

Harry Lime: Can Austin Slater continue like he has ROS?

Paul Sporer: I was just noticing him yesterday on my boxscore Twitch stream (twitch.tv/sporer) and really came away impressed. He’s going to be in 10 Tidbits so I’ll have to look further, but he’s playing, running, and hitting for some pop. Take a look if you need a bt

Paul Sporer: bat*

ScottTINSTAAPP: What are we doing with Luke Weaver in 15 team NFBC? Hold and bench? Not sure what we are going to learn today with a start at Coors…

Paul Sporer: Cryinggggg, jeez he’s a mess right now. And ya, it’s hard to think we’ll get any real takeaways in Coors. The inconsistency pitch-to-pitch let alone inning-to-inning are tough to watch. He’s really struggling to iron himself out right now

Dave: Is Grisham a hold in standard 12 team mixed, or would you drop him for, say, a Texas OF (Choo/ Calhoun) heading into Coors?

Paul Sporer: I’m still holding Grisham right now. They don’t have many lefties coming up and he’s still hitting pretty well against righties

Not Jake Cronenworth: Sell high or hold on Lamet?

Paul Sporer: I was pretty suspect of him coming in as a two pitch pitcher (one pitch if you REALLY think about) and his issues with lefties, but he’s dominating them and making me look silly start to start. While I can admit I wasn’t huge on him, I’m still inclined to consider selling him because of the major returns I think I could get, especially if you’re trading to one of his believers

Guest: Rosenthal looks really good again so far. Think he can be closer beyond this year?

Paul Sporer: I hope so, I’ve always been a fan. The most encouraging aspect is definitely the walk rate (or lack thereof as he hasn’t walked a batter in 8 IP). We see RPs rise from the ashes like this and have a great second act so I definitely think there’s viability for Rosy

Guest: Kyle Lewis is a top ___ OF the next 3 years?

Paul Sporer: 60

Peter: Traded my Kyle Lewis for his McCullers and Lux 3 days ago? Who wins? When will Lux be up?

Paul Sporer: Wow, the Kyle Lewis market is hotttttttttt. I love that deal for you. Hard to say when Lux is up without injury as I’m not sure where he’d play but it seems like the second we think a guy is never coming up, he’s up the next day. So just be patient for now

Peter: Nick Solak or McCutch ROS?

Paul Sporer: I’m still going Cutch, but I do like Solak quite a bit

Not Jake Cronenworth: Am I not the 2B rest of season?

Paul Sporer: I think Cronenworth is slated to take that job. He will likely still mix in elsewhere and Profar will get some starts at 2B, but Cronenworth has to play regularly right now

Evan: What do course of action (if any) do you recommend with Matt Boyd in a dynasty points league?

Paul Sporer: This one could be blown open big time as he’s already allowed 3 and if he does end up getting lit, I think it’s  a firm sit for a while

Wander Franco: Will I play this year?

Paul Sporer: I don’t think so, no

Harry Lime: Kyle Freeland is this an illusion or 2018?

Paul Sporer: Mostly illusions. Entirely too much contact and too many homers to survive w/that homepark. Maybe spot start on the road where you see fit, but I can’t put him as any kind of regular starter

ScottTINSTAAPP: Cristian Javier or Patrick Sandoval ROS?

Paul Sporer: Gimme Sandoval by a shred

Guest: Do you think Dobnak is close to being the next Mark Buehrle, or is this just a blip?

Paul Sporer: Buehrle is a good level for the expectations. The amount of contact will breed some volatility but for roto folks who can afford to worry about bottom line instead of game-to-game like H2H, he’s a good play

Paul Sporer: Boyd merked, damn.

Quarantino Martinez: Had 3 blown saves last night: Bass, Presley, and Sulser. Gotta keep them all right? Al only.

Paul Sporer: Yeah, really tough run there, but keep em all

KCC26: Does the John Means velocity uptick mean anything to you?

Paul Sporer: Yeah, I’m pretty keen on Means’ talent. I’m just nervous about the bevy of tough matchups you get in the East

Guest: Cronenworth or Votto as an AVG helper 1B?

Paul Sporer: Still gonna lean Votto. His AVG will even out

Robert: Are you selling high on Bundy or buying that his new pitch selection carries consistent success?

Paul Sporer: I’m a Bundy believer so I’m sticking with my shares of him. There are tangible changes, he’s always had talent, and I’m in

Vidal Brujan: Will I play this year?  I’ve got some serious speed

Paul Sporer: More likely than Franco this year as Brujan is on the 40-man already

PB&Js: Do you prefer Austin Slater or Christian walker as a CI replacement?

Paul Sporer: I’m not out on Walker, but gimme Slater w/the power-speed

Spencer Turnbull: Good idea to pick me up if available?

Paul Sporer: Yes, in virtually any format

Brian: Blake Snell is a top ____ pitcher in dynasty leagues

Paul Sporer: 25

Chris: How worried should I be about acuna? Quickly trade or just hold steady?

Paul Sporer: Only trade at completely full price. Not a shred of a discount coming on him

John: Is K Lewis a sell-high in a redraft?  Trade him for Severino (BLT) or Nola (SEA)?  2 catcher league

Paul Sporer: Yes on sell-high, but those Cs aren’t selling high, so no to both deals

Fone Chiggins: Is Casey Mize worth holding at this point? Tigers keep racking up the Ws which makes it seem more realistic to call him up, but Cron’s (probably serious) injury doesn’t help.

Paul Sporer: Run it another week, especially after another Boyd mega dud

Jesus Aguilar: I’m back

Paul Sporer: Agreed. Maybe not be peak 2018, but quite viable in all formats

Dinger: Are you buying Freeland or Senzatela?

Paul Sporer: Nope, not as anything more than a streamer on the road

Captain Feathersword: Is Tyler Chatwood legit?  Someone dropped him after his blow up in KC…

Paul Sporer: I was just doing my mea culpa on him and then he gets rocked. But I’m not going to revert 100% back to thinking he’s toast. He has greatly improved the walk rate and it’s allowing him to showcase the stuff we always knew he had so I’m inclined to scoop him on that panic drop

Bee: What’s up with Garver? (and will he come around?)

Paul Sporer: Just nothing falling and he’s K’ing a ton. He’ll come around some, but 2019 was a clear career year

Jerry Gallo: Does Joey Gallo get a long-term deal or is he more likely to be traded before he hits free agency?

Paul Sporer: I could really see them inking him to a long deal in Texas

Matt: Kyle Seaver resurgence?!

Paul Sporer: Yessss and I’m so fn here for it. Big Seags fan. He surged last August and then dipped back in Sept. (mostly w/AVG, pop was still there) and he’s lighting it up again. All formats guy for sure

Vader: Anybody not up yet who you think might actually have an impact?

Paul Sporer: Lots of guys, tbh, bc it doesn’t have to be a mega prospect to make an impact. To name a couple: Mackenzie Gore, any of the Tigers 3: Manning/Mize/Skubal, Carlson, Hayes, and Jesus Sanchez

Raloh Kiner-Falefa: Is my grandson going to continue to provide AVG and SB ROS? Must start C yet?

Paul Sporer: In 2 C leagues for sure. With the SBs, his 1-C viability definitely goes up depending on who you have and what you need. Love me some non-catching catchers

Jerry Gallo: Could Andrew Vaughn be up soon for the White Sox?

Paul Sporer: With Encarnacion and Abreu back and looking healthy after scares from each, I don’t see Vaughn up just yet

Jazz: Is Vlad Jr losing some of his Dynasty luster?

Paul Sporer: Yes, but only to the degree that he’s not worth drafting in the 1st round anymore. I’m more inclined to go 2nd or 3rd round in dynasty at this point. He’s still been just above average in 572 PA of work (102 wRC+)

Sean: Kevin Gausman is teasing in a few starts, you buying?

Paul Sporer: See the earlier Gausman question above!

Sean: Any hope for Boyd to return to early 2019 form?

Paul Sporer: A shred, but I’m not waiting around to find out right now. I’m cutting him in mixers

Joe: The Orioles are above .500 a quarter of the way through. Just FYI.

Paul Sporer: As are DET & MIA, the 2020 hellscape knows no bounds

Jack: You a fan of gurriel jr? 3 runs and 3 rbi is tough to swallow for a hitter occupying the 3-5 hole

Paul Sporer: It’s tough, but I’m still riding it out. I’m a big fan and he’s essentially toting an average line (99 wRC+)

Cris: What is there to do with Clevinger and Plesac? 8tm roto

Paul Sporer: Gotta sit tight, especialllllyyyy on ClevDog. I’m inclined to try and Plesac, too, but if things get too crowded and you have to move on, I get it

Daniel Bard’s Biggest Fan: Is Mahle legit? That heater spin rate is nuts!

Paul Sporer: I think he is in that he can maintain a mid-3.00s ERA or better the rest of the way

Zaccy: Paxton or Gallen in a dynasty?

Paul Sporer: Zac Gallen

Jazz: Does Avila deserve more heat for not trading Boyd & Fulmer when they each had value?

Paul Sporer: I cry seeing reports that Baez or Bregman were available for Fulmer. It’s hard to trade developed pitching that looks like it could be part of a future run

Small Ball(s): How much more leash do the Marlins give Monte Harrison before pulling the plug?

Paul Sporer: Maybe a week before he starts losing time

Anonymous: i don’t have any shares, but why were articles about fantasy owners cutting Vlad Jr. making the rounds last week? clickbait?

Paul Sporer: ’twas I https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/hitters-available-under-40-cuttable-at-6…

Bauer: Am I back in your top ten SP?

Paul Sporer: Pretty close. New SP ranks either late this week or early next

Peter: my franmil for his may?

Paul Sporer: Totally fair

Joe: Speaking of the Orioles, Hanser Alberto legit, semi-legit, not legit?

Paul Sporer: Semi-legit as he’s hitting righties this year! I like him as a batting average asset for sure

Paul Sporer: OK y’all, I gotta get going! Thanks so much for coming out! Follow me on Twitter (@sporer), Twitch (sporer), and Instagram (p_sporer). I’ll be streaming on Twitch later today and you can definitely come by and ask questions about fantasy there. Have a good one, y’all!