Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – March 2nd, 2018

Paul Sporer: Poppin’ a quick 30 minute chat! Shorter questions have a better chance of being answered, let’s gooooo!!!

Buttz: Gotta go quick so you can watch that Twitch stream

Paul Sporer: ya damn right! and I had to hit the back doctor today so I’m on a tighter schedule

Twotimes: is ZiPS going to be available in the Auction Calc this year?

Paul Sporer: Yep, when it’s all released

Tom: Crazy to take two SP with my top two picks in a 5×5 OBP league? I pick eighth, seems to me ace caliber pitching is somewhat scarce here.

Paul Sporer: No, not crazy. Gotta go HAM on offense for a good while after, but it’s a workable strategy

Dusty: What’s the inside scoop on Wander Javier? Upside? Thanks!

Paul Sporer: TOO much upside.

RIco: $14 Price or $19 Contreras?

Paul Sporer: 2 C league, Contreras… 1 C, Price

Mike: Rank Kershaw, Scherzer, Sale, Kluber. Thanks!

Paul Sporer: https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/2018-top-100-starting-pitchers-janua…

Jay: When do you start paying attention to box scores for playing time purposes? And results, I guess, but not really?

Paul Sporer: I read notes stuff such as Rotowire, Rotoworld, and the great ones Jeff has been posting, for that stuff bc I don’t scan all the boxes

Paul Sporer: But they get somewhat usable in a couple weeks

Chuck: Best guess, when does Acuna come up?

Paul Sporer: April 29th

John: How would you approach 1B in an AL-only league this year? Drop top level coin on Abreu or Edwin, or pay half as much for a guy like Alonso or Smoak? Or go even lower and scoop Kendrys or Cron for cheap while spending your money on other positions?

Paul Sporer: If it’s an auction, I really gotta see what Abreu is running, but I’d be looking to scoop him. Maybe peep Miggy at a discount. I don’t think Smoak will be 1/2 of Abreu, but if he is, I’m 1000000% in on that. Even at 3/4th, I’m in

Toronto fan: What do you think of Grichuk? Projected slash line?

Paul Sporer: .250/.300/.480 —- out of options, though, so he’s gotta put up

VMart: Would you be so kind as to rank the following late round Catchers: Vasquez, Chirinos, Mejia, J. McCann.

Paul Sporer: Vaz, Chirinos, McCann, Mejia… does Mejia qual at C?

I Love Dongs: Based on inputting my $260 11-team AL-only league settings, the Fangraphs calculator has Stanton valued at $53. What’s the maximum you would pay for him at an auction?

Paul Sporer: The thing is every auction is different and you’re gonna know your room better than anyone else. I’d probably max around $48 or so, but then in the heat of the battle, I could see pushing $50

Don’t ShiNTS your pants: More egregious helium: Rhys Hoskins or Luis Castillo?

Paul Sporer: I’d say Hoskins. I understand insane pitcher helium a little more. Full disclosure – I’m in on Castillo, but even if you’d said Hoskins v. Weaver, my answer would’ve been the same and I’m not so keen on Weaver’s price

Dusty: Appreciate you checking in on me last week Paul.

Paul Sporer: I gotchu!

Steve: One of the unexpected trends I’ve discovered in my fantasy preparation this year is the love Shin-Soo Choo seems to be getting. I feel like none of my league mates see him as more of an aging outfielder on the downside of his career. Are you feeling the love? Should I be making him one of my targets?

Paul Sporer: I’ve been a Choo fan for the bulk of his career so I’m definitely still digging him as an OF5 or UT

Twotimes: fav mid late round 1B? Bird/Bell/Belt/Olson/Bour

Paul Sporer: Bird as long as the hype doesn’t get tooo bananas. Like Bell & Olson, too. Check yesterday’s pod for a full 1B breakdown

Gary: Albies or Fulmer same price. OBP, QS, keeper. Have Murphy at second already

Paul Sporer: Albies, gotta keep the hitter when it’s close

Craig : You aboard the Andujar hype train? expectations if he wins the job and get 450-500abs?

Paul Sporer: Ehh, it was derailed a bit with the Drury trade. Does he really have any substantial pop?

Wizard of Oz: I’m seriously falling for Willie Calhoun and Miguel Andujar, but I fear that others in my league will as well and their prices will go through the roof at our auction. As much as I want to own them, I cringe at the thought of having to pay $15+ to get either of them. Do I go with my head or my heart?

Paul Sporer: I looove Calhoun so I’m the worst guy to talk you outta that. As for Andujar, y’all gotta sell me on his pop bc I’m not seeing it right now

Slamboni: Better keep in a 10 tm AL only: Sale at $43 or Trout at $57? Could afford to keep both but makes things tight

Paul Sporer: I’d do the work to calculate the inflation and see how close Trout is to being properly priced. I think I prefer him, though

Andrew: 5×5 with OBP. Keep Lamb ($5/1 year) or Bird ($5/two years)?

Paul Sporer: Kind of a coin toss and I usually try to avoid years, but that’s more at higher costs. Even a bust Bird won’t kill you at $5 in either season, so go with him

Justin: What are your impressions of Ohtani?

Paul Sporer: Didn’t see today’s video yet, but heard it was electric.

Paul Sporer: https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/ranking-shohei-ohtani/

Big Tuna: Would you keep track M Chapman in 27th rd of OPS league over Albies in 17th? I’m also keeping Olson

Paul Sporer: Nah I’d keep Albies. I know it’s 10 rounds, but Albies’ upside is muuuch higher

Chad: Better year….Triggs, Suter, or Pivetta?

Paul Sporer: Kinda dig Pivetta

Cory: In a 10 teamer, need hitting, would you keep Greinke or Starling Marte; my staff includes Kluber, CMart, Chase Anderson, Paxton, Nola and Quintana

Paul Sporer: You need hitting and have plenty of pitching, gotta go Marte

Wilbury: 10-team NL-only league … keep two of $5 Castillo, $6 Weaver, $5 Dejong … what do you recommend?

Paul Sporer: I don’t love DeJong, but he can’t hurt you at this price so keep him and Castillo

Matt: Hey Paul, you making the drive to miller park this year when the Tigers come to town?

Paul Sporer: That’d be a bit of a drive from Austin

Anthony: Acuña HR, I mean…he’s a lock for Opening Day.

Paul Sporer: LOL. I think best case is the 2 weeks we saw with Bryant

Big Tuna: I got offered the 3rd spot in the draft for my 8th spot. 12 tm 27 round. Ahohld

Paul Sporer: If you like #3, take it. Map out the 2nd and 3rd rounds though, too, to make sure you’re comfortable with the potential picks there

Youth movement: Better stash this year – G.Torres, or F.Tatis?  I’d assume Torres gets first crack at bigs, but am I better off waiting out Tatis in a dynasty league?

Paul Sporer: Yeah Torres is much closer. I don’t see Tatis up this year

Sandy Ravage: H2H Pts pick a side:
A) Desmond, Carrasco, Gardner, Ariel Miranda
B) Myers, Jansen, Duffy, JBJ

Paul Sporer: Danny or Matt?

Paul Sporer: Side B if it’s Danny

Don’t ShiNTS your pants: Yahoo’s handling of Shohei Ohtani: Big Deal or No Big Deal? (Splitting him into a hitter and a pitcher)

Paul Sporer: Big deal? Not really. Annoying and not at all my favorite way, yes

Erik: Sale is the top SP in dynasty, right? Is there a case to be made for him as the top SP in redraft leagues as well? He’s the only guy under 30 out of the top four, and they all have pretty comparable recent resumes.

Paul Sporer: I can hear the dynasty thing and I wouldn’t beat ya up for taking him #1 in redraft, but I’m still going with the NLers then Sale,Kluber

LA Mike: Even though Barnes isn’t the top catcher in LA, isn’t he worth the add in a 20-team league?  I envision him getting some additional AB’s at 2B & DH (interleague)?

Paul Sporer: Oh for sure. I think he can get plenty of 2B PA

Bryan: Are you buying Stanton at what the projections say, or slightly less?

Paul Sporer: I’m closer to the fans 48/130

Ken: Listened to the pod, and my takeaway was that Turner vs. Shaw is close enough that I should keep a $5 Shaw over a $16 Turner. But would you keep a $5 Shaw over a $4 Moustakas? It’s a head-to-head category league with OBP/OPS. It also has small rosters (no CI spot), so I’m hesitant to double up at the same position.

Paul Sporer: yes and yes, keep Shaw!

Paul Sporer: OK guys, I had to go really short on ya here, but yall are owed a marathon so we will get that done veryyyy soon!! Follow me on Twitter @sporer, Snapchat at psporer and on Twitch at psporer24! I’ll be streaming tonight! Peaccceee!!

JDBeast: how’d the series go with Cal last night

Paul Sporer: I’m up 2-0…