Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – June 9th, 2017

Paul Sporer: Hey hey!! Let’s talk baseball!!!

hscer: are saves free

Paul Sporer: huh?

Steve: Rank ROS: Odubel, Mallex, Maybin, Pham

Paul Sporer: Not sure of Maybin’s health or I’d like him more. I’ll go Odubel, Pham, Maybin, Mallex

Bregman: Brian McCann just dropped in my league for Avila. 12 team obp roto 1c league. Drop contreras for McCann? Thanks.

Paul Sporer: Sure, that works

Doc: Drafted Villar and Broxton to provide SBs in a 12 tm OBP league, but their combined streakiness is killing me. Would you drop Broxton for Fowler, Pillar, or Grossman in that format?

Paul Sporer: for Pillar, sure

John: drop cotton (keepable) for jimmy nelson (not keepable) in a 12 team keeper league?

Paul Sporer: Ya, I’d focus on the now. I still like Cotton long-term, but not sure he’s super keepable in a 12-team anyway

Dungeon Master: You like Teheran as a buy low?

Paul Sporer: I don’t think so, Tim. There are enough warts across the profile that have me thinking something is wrong

Big Tuna: You’ve backed Wacha and Waino before; are you concerned? Who would you rather have ROS or would you rather take a guy like J. Montgomery?

Paul Sporer: Waino was a big Jason reco, but I don’t think he’s deterred after one start. I’d go Wacha, Monty, Waino

Jay: Are you sticking with Maeda in a 12 team H2H mixed with his current performance and whatever role he may or may not have going forward?

Paul Sporer: Borderline

Paul Sporer: It’s one of those where he should probably be on a team in a 12-teamer, but only one that has been killed by SP injuries

hscer: in trades. are saves free?

Paul Sporer: Still have no idea wha that means

Chris: Who are you grabbing for saves in Pitt? I have Watson, Rivero and just grabbed Nicasio because of what everyone was saying about them being cheap and avoiding giving Rivero saves.

Paul Sporer: you’ve got the right guys. I love Rivero

Big Tuna: Is Mallex a must roster in all mixed leagues?

Paul Sporer: Eh, I don’t think MUST roster

Rouse: Dynasty points league, you keep 8; Benintendi for Dickerson, Raisel Iglesias and Manaea. Which side do you like?

Paul Sporer: Side B

Sam: Have had Mitch Haniger on DL. Need to clear a spot for him with an already strong OF. Expectations ROS?

Paul Sporer: .850 OPS w/solid pop & chip-in speed

New layout: I dont like change 🙁

Paul Sporer: I think it looks great personally and I’m often reluctant to change, too

boss: melky, c Taylor, renfroe or someone else as 5th outfielder in 10 team h2h?

Bregman: Could mallex be game changer in steals cat in roto?

Paul Sporer: He has incredible speed, but needs to get on base consistently like most of these rabbits

Guest: Start Ervin Santana against the Giants tonight? He got bombed in his last start

Paul Sporer: Ya if you can’t start him v. the anemic Giants, just cut him

Wally the Green Monster: Thoughts on A. Nola ROS?

Paul Sporer: He’s so frustrating, don’t really know what to expect start-to-start and his health casts a cloud over all of it. If I could be guaranteed a measure of health, I quite like him, but without such a guarantee, I value him as a high-3.00s, low-4.00s kind of guy

Azizal: Overall are RP innings up (and SP innings down) that you know of? (and if you could suggest where such a stat could be looked up, that’d be grrrrreat)

Paul Sporer: You could go here and run some numbers http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&…

Paul Sporer: actually i made it a bit easier w/the league stats and I added Start IP and Relief IP http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&…

Big Tuna: Some Fangraphs writers have suggested selling Stanton because of is typical health concerns. Do you back this play?

Paul Sporer: I don’t have Stanton so I haven’t really paid full attention to his season

‘Member Berrios: Mallex or Maybin ROS, need steals…

Paul Sporer: Great handle, lol ohhhhhh I just realized the KK injury is spurring all the Mallex questions

Paul Sporer: I’d still lean Maybin right now

Tommy: Hey Paul. Top-notch audio on yesterday’s pod with Eno. I’m a Villar owner, H2H categories league. Fortunately was able to scoop Elvis Andrus a few weeks back. Andus’ production at this point is basically what I hoped for out of Villar–and then some. Safe to drop Villar to free up a roster spot? Or do you take Villar over Andrus ROS?

Paul Sporer: Thank you! I think we finally have the issue resolved

Paul Sporer: Can you try to move Villar for SOMETHING? I know he’s been rough, but still 14 SB and 6 HR

Paul Sporer: BTW yall, gotta be a quick chat today (until about 3:30 CT). Have to finish my piece and run some errands at places that close at 6 PM

Rouse: What do you think of Sean Manaea? Is he pitcher you are looking to add right now?

Paul Sporer: Absolutely. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/three-american-leagues-arms-to-buy/

Guest: Rank these outfielders ROS: Kemp, Holliday, Trumbo

Paul Sporer: I think you just did!

Hannah Hochevar: Any interest in any of these ALOnly WW pitchers? Buck Farmer, C Bergman, Gaviglio, Alex Meyer, Mejia, Hammel… or am I better off with a long reliever? Thanks!

Paul Sporer: Farmer is very interesting. Big gains in swing and miss while also cutting his BB% sharply in Triple-A and now the majors. Like him best of the bunch for sure. Don’t buy the two Ms at all, Meyer still walks the yard, and Mejia & Hammel are meh. Hammel has been better of late, but still too many blowups

Pops: 12 team roto – ok to drop Maeda and Pederson for saves specs (Nicasio and/or Neshek) or Biagini?

Paul Sporer: Ya I’m OK with that. They can both be cut in 12 tm

Pres: Would you trade Gallo for Bregman in a dynasty league?

Paul Sporer: I would, yes

Steve: Thoughts on Luke Weaver in a 5×5 roto league for this year?

Paul Sporer: Love Weaver. Think he can make a real impact this year. He’s crushing at Triple-A

Dallas: Starting pitching is awful. Do hesitate moving a big offensive piece for arm given the overall dumpster fire SP has been?

Paul Sporer: If I can get an ace, I’m going for it … within reason, but I know they cost a lot

Mike: Should I be looking to trade Abreu, Thames or Khris Davis for pitching help? Same for Jake Lamb and Beltre??

Paul Sporer: If you need pitching help, yep

SP depth: Can you rank Hoffman, Snell, J Ross and Biagini?

Paul Sporer: Ross, Biagini, Hoffman, Snell

Paul Sporer: BTW, Watson officially out – http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/539095/pirates-remove-tony-wats…

Big Tuna: Andrelton or Motter as a MI option in an OPS league?

Paul Sporer: Andrelton

Larry: Will the real Joe Ross please step forward?

Paul Sporer: He’s a 24-year old, there will be growing pains

Hobbs: Any worries about Degrom? He’s been bad last two times out.

Paul Sporer: Definitely. Big spikes in BB & HR are concerning

Winston: Drop Cesar Hernandez for Castellanos in 5×5 h2h? Cesar isn’t stealing any bases recently and Casty looks like he is starting to get things going.

Paul Sporer: Ya I can get behind that. Castellanos has been striking the ball well all year. I think there is at least some bad luck in his numbers and hopefully he’s starting to come out of it

Big Tuna: Howie Kendrick has been sneaky good. Do we care in fantasy leagues?

Paul Sporer: He’s riding a .420 BABIP, but I think he’s viable if you need AVG help. He should hit .285 or so rest of way w/chip-ins in HR/SB

Josh: Thoughts on Keon Broxton? I know he is streaky and can get hot, but with Brinson in the minors is he going to keep his starting job?

Paul Sporer: The horrific plate skills (he’s not even walking now) yield insane lows and it might just be more trouble than it’s worth

CT: Hey Paul. I’m thinking about shipping off M. Carpenter, C. Gonzalez, or K. Schwarber to bolster my depleted pitching staff. Who of these three should I build a trade around (or, who would I be most okay parting ways with ROS)? Carp’s backup is Bellinger; other OFs are A. Jones and D. Dahl.

Paul Sporer: You’re really selling low on all three, so you have to find the believer to get a big return. Schwarber probably the best chance to strike it big given how wildly overrated he is by so many

Anthony: So, who’s the add…Nicasio or Rivero?

Paul Sporer: I don’t really know. I love Rivero and while he is a lefty, that shouldn’t hurt him from consideration on this tm since they have other lefties

Moltar: ROS Guerra or Godley?

Paul Sporer: Ooh two sneaky names I like. I’ll lean Guerra barely

New Deck Chairs : I have Teheran, Leake, Quintana, Nola, Cobb, and DeGrom. Is there any hope for me? I had such high hopes

Paul Sporer: Man oh man, the vagaries of pitching. I see why you’d be feeling good about that setup. I do have serious concerns on Teheran and deGrom, but I think you have to hold tight rn

Robbie Ray: How come no one loves me?

Paul Sporer: What? Tons of people love you. I’m less enamored with you bc you’re terrible at home, so you basically have to maintain a sub-1.00 ERA on the road to stay this hot

Boss Man: My scherzer for his mccullers + degrom?

Paul Sporer: Keep Scherzer. As much as I love McCullers, I’d keep Scherzer

Marco: would you trade fulmer straight up for degrom, 12 team keeper h2h points league. Trying to win this year

Paul Sporer: I would not

Paul Sporer: I’d want a better discount on deGrom to buy low

cj: its boring winning, and not having to make pick ups or trades.

Paul Sporer: No it’s not!

Paul Sporer: And even winning, you have to stay attentive to the team. There’s no way EVERYONE is performing at peak and you have zero injuries

Matt: Sit someone next week: Manaea (NYY), Nola (ARZ), Stroman (CHW), Freeland (SF, @PIT)

Paul Sporer: Freeland

Bob: Felix Hernandez and Jon Gray are both available. Are they worth rostering ROS?

Paul Sporer: Really depends on league type. I’d be more inclined to go for the Gray stash

Michael Brand: Can we expect this recent SB production from Trea Turner to continue for the whole season?

Paul Sporer: He stole 33 in 73 gms last yr. Dude is a base-stealing stud and this is why I still valued him in the first despite expecting the power to dip.

Motter: You buying into T Motter as a decent Util guy?

Paul Sporer: He has some AVG upside given his tiny BABIP and he does get SB and HR, so ya it’s OK

Moltar: my DL is now overstuffed with Keuchel going down and I need another starter. Do I drop Bregman or Rodon? Lots of good hitters on the wire, pitching is barren.

Paul Sporer: Seems like your’e leaning toward Bregman as the cut

Paul Sporer: Can you try a 2-for-1 to free up a spot? I had to cut a talented bat like that. 10 tm lg?

Cepted: Better buy low target: Verlander or Degrom?

Paul Sporer: Probably still deGrom. I may have been a little over-reactionary in some deGrom answers earlier. Still not trading Fulmer for him, but admittedly some of that is my Fulmer love

Zach: Which of these pitchers do you see turning the corner: Gerrit Cole, Jose Quintana, Rick Porcello?

Paul Sporer: Quintana. He’s closest to his normal level. Cole looks lost. And Porcello stole a Cy Young. He’s a high-3.00s, low-4.00s guy

hscer: I’m getting bombarded with trade offers from people who want my saves. But the proposed returns are making me wonder: are saves free?

Paul Sporer: WHAT

Paul Sporer: THE

Paul Sporer: HELL

Paul Sporer: DOES

Paul Sporer: THAT

Paul Sporer: MEAN???????

Edwin: Where do you think these SPs would wind up on your pitching ranks: Buck Farmer, Baggiani, Peacock? Are any “US” worthy? Has Sabathia’s resurgence earned an upgrade?

Paul Sporer: None are US yet. Biagini is the closest.

Brutus Beefcake: Which C would you rather have RoS (please order)? Contreras, Ramos or Murphy?

Paul Sporer: Wilson, Willson, Murph

Chris: So would you hold onto both Rivero and Nicasio? I hate having all three, but I am hoping that tonight they have a save opp and we find out who the new man is. I LOVE Rivero, but it sounds like they are going to try and keep his arbitration price down by not giving him saves.

Paul Sporer: Get rid of Watson. If you’re worried about Rivero, then keep Nicasio

Pikup Androppov: I could use some saves in a 14 team roto keeper and have limited options. Does Yadier Alvarez and Wandy Peralta for Raisel Iglesias sound like fair deal to you? Or Alvarez and Kahnle for Knebel?

Paul Sporer: I like getting Raisel

Matt: Re Wacha – only bad in his last 3 – 2 against LAD and one that had a meltdown after a defensive miscue. Still hope for him?

Paul Sporer: Ya three straight duds, but had a similar lull last yr before reeling off 2 months of a 3.75 ERA and then the shoulder flared up. I’ve always been one of the bigger Wacha fans

Big Tuna: Worried about Fulmer after two bad starts against two bad offenses? Was offered Story and Peacock in a 12 tm OPS where I need a MIF.

Paul Sporer: I think it’s just too much micromanagement to try and react start-to-start. He went 7 against CWS despite giving up 5 ER so I don’t really consider that a bad start. If you can still give the team 7, you weren’t off on that day

Paul Sporer: He got nickel & dimed yesterday and had one bad inning v. LAA

Paul Sporer: I’d love to catch someone overreacting to that and get Fulmer rn

Michael Brand: Is Tanaka a buy low target?

Paul Sporer: He is a true buy low candidate. It looks awful and it’s tough to buy. Too often we see buy low analysis for guys that have an underlying factor or three that makes it easy to buy them and maybe their surface ERA is just ugly. Those aren’t really buy lows bc most ppl see the same stuff. With Tanaka, it’s ugly, but it’s also SUPER cheap so unless he’s flat out hurt, I can see buying low

Razor Ramon: Which side you got? Carlos Santana, Manaea & Maeda for E. Encarnacion, J. Montgomery & Pomeranz.

Paul Sporer: Side B

Brutus Beefcake: Why do you think Maddon bats strikeout machine Ian Happ leadoff? What do you make of Happ?

Paul Sporer: He regularly puts guys in leadoff to jumpstart ’em

Paul Sporer: I like Happ, but as you say he strikes out too much

Paul Sporer: If he can get it down to a manageable level, he can hit .260 with plus PWR rest of way

Paul Sporer: but if he keeps striking out at this clip, he’ll be sent out

bonk 2.no: Should the pirates have given Wade LeBlanc a chance to start?

Paul Sporer: Nah

Scooby: Thanks for the chat, Paul! What do you think about Zunino? I read he’s been working with Edgar Martinez and has a different approach. Recently, the results look pretty good. Worth a shot in a 12-team mixer?

Paul Sporer: No problem! Catcher is so bad that I can see someone needing to pick him up, but it won’t be me. He’s fanning 40% of the time. Every hot streak he has, ppl look for reasons to buy in and he’s just not any different

Kyle: Leury Garcia is starting at 2B tonight for WSox, chances he plays the keystone consistently?

Paul Sporer: Did Yolmer Sanchez get hurt? They’ve both been surprisingly solid, so it seems like a one-off

Rake of Lamb: You taking Realmuto or Contreras ROS?

Paul Sporer: Realmuto

Don’t Breg,man: In trades, are stolen bases $4?

Paul Sporer: LOL

Rake of Lamb: How do you view Thames now that hes gone cold AF?

Paul Sporer: Still pretty hyped on him. He’s coming of the funk which we all knew he’d have after the blistering April. I’d still buy

Brett Gardner: Is anything I’m doing real?

Paul Sporer: Nope, just a buncha fake homers

El Tigre: Can you rank these 3 left-handed CI: Duda, Gallo, and Adams

Paul Sporer: Adams, Duda, Gallo

Me: My Jimmy Nelson and Franco for his Matt Carpenter. What says you?

Paul Sporer: Pass

Guest: Manaea or Bundy ROS and long term?

Paul Sporer: Manaea

Bert: What is fair return for Miggy in a keeper league?

Paul Sporer: That’s really for you to determine, tbh. These questions are legitimately impossible bc every league is a different market

Bert: Bregman for Samardzjia? Need pitching help

Paul Sporer: Dig it

TP for my Byung Ho: Are you drinking the Jimmy Nelson Might be an Ace Koolaide?

Paul Sporer: An ACE?! Nah

Paul Sporer: He’ll be in my NL Arms to Buy, but not as an Ace

Bobby: Is Mark Reynolds suddenly a top tier 1B?

Paul Sporer: no

Dumbledore: I asked you a bunch of good questions and you didn’t answer a single one. I would curse this site but the new format has already done a good job of that.

Paul Sporer: LOL, you mad

Paul Sporer: I can’t possibly answer the entire queue in an hour. Hell, I can’t even do it when we go four hours. I don’t see anything from Dumbledore in the queue.

El Tigre: How viable is Tom Murphy when he debuts this year? Does he have top 15 catcher potential?

Paul Sporer: Yes. I was geeked on him before the injury. Anyone in Coors has a shot to really go off and C sucks this year

Jason Not-Collette: My staff is in shambles, G. Cole has my nuts in a twist. What are we doing here? Do you think he can return to form? He was throwing gas last night but it must have been flat as shit.

Paul Sporer: He’s so frustrating bc he has all the tools and yet he’s so underwhelming. I think you have to stay the course, but I totally being annoyed

kyle: if saves are free than you don’t get anything in return for them, he’s saying his trade offers make him feel that no one values saves

hscer: What does the trade market for closers/saves generally look like in your leagues?

Paul Sporer: Ah OK. Still a weird af to phrase it, but I find saves to be valuable in virtually all of my leagues

Balancedman178: How do we get questions answered if we are new?

Paul Sporer: There is no hierarchy

Duke: Greetings and salutations, best minor league ” stash” pitcher not up yet?

Paul Sporer: Luke Weaver

Free Saves: What kind of PT/produciton do you see Wilson Ramos getting when he gets back?

Paul Sporer: Think he DHs a good bit to get that bat in there. Not sure on production bc it was such a severe injury, but I’d take a shot on him where available

Bern: 12 team dynasty. I traded my Rizzo for Sale. I’m feeling great right?

Paul Sporer: I dunno are you feeling great? 🙂

Paul Sporer: But ya, that’s a helluva deal

Eldridge Cleaver: Puig is still on pace for 45ish SB+HR…that is pretty good, right? Any chance he’s a little under rated right now? Also, can you have diminishing returns on a marginal save in a system where saves are free?

Paul Sporer: I think there is some upside w/Puig’s AVG. Solid plate skills and batted ball profile yielding only a .255 BABIP

Matt: Is Andrelton Simmons actually learning how to hit, or just in a “hot” streak?

Paul Sporer: I think he’s learning to hit. Some stance alterations, too, as he’s trying to emulate Trout which is never a bad idea

kyle: will a humidor at chase field make robbie ray elite?

Paul Sporer: I don’t know why it’d have this overwhelming effect in AZ when it’s been minimal impact in COL

Brendan: Moustakas is elite now? Castellanos will never be? Bird is better than both?

Paul Sporer: No…. to all of it?

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Adam Ottavino or Latroy Hawkin’s boy Tommy Kahnle for holds/saves ROS?

Paul Sporer: Kahnle

AL Cy Young Voting: #1 Chris Sale
#2 ___?

Paul Sporer: Don’t be so sure that Keuchel isn’t 1 for a lot of folks

Randy: Someone cut Randall Grichuk in my league – worth speculative add?

Paul Sporer: Depends on league size

Familybro: David price or jimmy nelson ROS?

Paul Sporer: Still Price

hscer: Anyway I didn’t expect my sarcasm to turn into a big mystery and now everyone thinks I’m a raving lunatic. or is that knows?

Paul Sporer: I didn’t see how it was sarcasm. It was just confusing, I’m sorry

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Start Rich Hill tonight?

Paul Sporer: I think if you’re gonna deal with the ups and downs of him, you have to start all the time. You don’t get enough starts to be choosy

Shark Week: Is Jeff Samardzija’s K-BB % sustainable? Does it make him an ace?

Paul Sporer: Walk rate running a little hot. But no, it doesn’t make him an ace anymore than Pineda’s makes him one

Darth V: Is Luke Weaver worth an add in a re-draft?

Paul Sporer: Depends how many teams

Chin Music: I have Matz coming back tomorrow. Start him? And who do I drop between Hand/Rosenthal? Thanks!

Paul Sporer: Tough cut! I would start him and cut Hand. I think Hand could get dealt to be a setup somewhere while Rosy should already have the 9th in StL

Ontilt1377: drop Jarrod Dyson for Mallex?

Paul Sporer: Nah, they’re not all that different so keep the proven guy

Paul Sporer: OK yall, I gotta get going

Paul Sporer: Thanks so much for coming out!! We’ll get a marathon session going within the next 2 weeks! Follow me on Twitter @sporer if you have other questions, on Snapchat at psporer, and on Twitch at twitch.tv/psporer24 where i stream MLB The Show & InGame Fantasy Baseball!

Paul Sporer: Have a great weekend!!!