Paul Sporer Rotographs Chat – August 25th, 2016

Paul Sporer: Yo yo yooooo

Paul Sporer: (is that the car from the Entourage opening w/the roof on it?)

Tom From London: On the next podcast when you say a .230 hitter… could you say ‘Dentist’s favourite average’?

Tom From London: Two Thirty… Tooth Hurty

Paul Sporer: I already want to end the chat

Ombudsman: hi

Paul Sporer: hi

Gavin: Time for the best chat going! Awesome.

Paul Sporer: Thanks, Gavin!!

Tom From London: Has King Felix regained his crown?

Paul Sporer: Not sure I’d go that far, but he’s pitching well of late. Maybe the elevated walks (4.4 in last five) is an adjustment to not giving in and instead attacking the next hitter

ChatzMcGee: I’m sorry for asking this, but I need advice! Keep two (cuz the other one is Mike Trout) for three years: Votto, Carpenter, Arrietta, Dahl, Archer, Urias or Cargo? Again, apologies.

Paul Sporer: Why are you apologizing? I’ll say Votto and Dahl

Joe: Start Paxton tonight v. White Sox?

Paul Sporer: Ya, I think that’s the kind of start where if you can’t use him, you should move on.

Gavin: Given that you and Kastava can call bombs bohms after some girl from college’s boyfriend, I say Tom from London’s suggestion has merit.

Paul Sporer: Fair, lol

Gavin: This isn’t really a question. I need to win my keep six h2h home league after two years of finishing first after the reg. season and washing out when it really mattered. I traded Xander for Villar, Desmond and Hill as well as Stanton for Myers and D. Duffy (there are draft picks in both of those deals but whatever) to further that goal. Jason’s cool stat about Desmond aside, wish me some god damn luck.

Paul Sporer: Desmond got off the schnide (sp?) last night! Good luck, I like those deals.

Pepitone: You buying what you’ve seen of Carlos Rodon lately?

Paul Sporer: Ya, I really like Rodon. I thought we’d see a bigger step this year, but I’m glad we’re at least seeing progress. He’s definitely advancing, even if the results don’t show major steps. Still very bullish going forward

Beltran: A little slumpy or a waste of a roster spot ROS?

Paul Sporer: Cold snap. if you look at his monthly OPS, it looks like August is the down month, but he had a .917 OPS before this six game 0-fer streak. Not worried.

dave in slc: nl only keeper league which would you rather have next yr Javy Baez at 5 or Vince V at 9?

Paul Sporer: Baez

Mark: $8 Abreu for next year or $1 Josh Bell for the next 3?

Paul Sporer: Abreu for sure

dave in slc: NL only keeper likely out of it but this is the first week we are allowed to bid on Hill, how much do you throw at him in hopes of helping this year but more importantly as a poss keeper next?

Paul Sporer: I don’t really see him as a great keeper given his age & injury issues. I’d stay south of $15.

ChatzMcGee: Lomg list of players for keepers felt obnoxious.

Paul Sporer: No, you’re fine!

Bart: Keep Gary Sanchez or Carlos Carrasco for 2017, other keepers are Harper, Cespedes, Villar and Freeman?

Paul Sporer: So no cost associated w/keepers? Just your best 5? Man, it’s tough to keep Sanchez as a top-5 guy already. It’s been 80 PA.

Sreeb: Is it time to cut Max Kepler in 12 team leagues? Been really bad lately.

Paul Sporer: Still getting knocks, just no power in his last 19. I understand moving on, but keep a close eye bc you may want him back again in a little

Dave: Any injury risk factors or other things you’re seeing after deGrom’s been bombed out in his last two starts?

Paul Sporer: I’ll have to ask Eno. I didn’t see any of yesterday’s start

BLess: need keeper advice – 12 team mixed auction, $360 budget – 30 player roster. Are Giles and Josh Bell keeper worthy at $10 each? Bell can be kept for 2 years.

Paul Sporer: Ya, I think they could be kept in that format. Definitely betting on the come w/Bell, but he’s done nothing but hit as a minor leaguer

Goober : keep 7 12 tm h2h: Altuve, Encarnacion, Story, Murphy, Mookie, Marte, Darvish, Lester Greinke. Just don’t know who to throw back….

Paul Sporer: I’d toss back Lester & Greinke

Minty: At some point can we start calling him BeNES, or is that too cheesy?

Paul Sporer: Isn’t it BenintenDL right now? 🙁

Boop: Do we ever pitch James Shields again?

Paul Sporer: Not if your goal is winning

Gucci Bob: What should I drink poolside tonight beer or vodka tonics?

Paul Sporer: Beer

OC: Miguel, altherr, and park vs. brinson, Aiken, reed, oneil. Which side, deep league dynasty

Paul Sporer: I prefer side A. Looooottttsss of risk in side B.

Joe: Props to Gavin for going for it. God speed brother.

Tom From London: Do you think Chris Davis gets above the Dentist’s favourite line by the end of season? How many HR does he end up with?

Paul Sporer: .233/38

OddBall Herrera: Abreu seems like a bit of a trap as a long term keeper, doesn’t he? Multi-year downward trend…about to hit 30…how many more years of top 5 1B do you think he has in him (if any?)

Paul Sporer: It’s only one year and $8, though.

Paul Sporer: And let’s not pretend he has sucked. He’s fallen short of lofty expectations, but should be around 25-95-.280

Reggie: How much shit do you think mike trout gets for that mlbnetwork commercial of his mom showing off his things?

Paul Sporer: LOL

Paul Sporer: Probably some, but Bryce Harper would get so much more just for being Bryce

Zach: 10 team H2H points league. Was offered Trea Turner for my Robbie Ray. I’m deep at pitching and in need of an outfielder. Fair deal?

Paul Sporer: Definitely, I like that for you

OddBall Herrera: Oh, I wasn’t arguing with you about the previous response – I was actually asking about Abreu long term

Paul Sporer: No problem. I just thought you were asking for further explanation

Beep: 18-team H2H points league, keeping only 6, is Machado a second round keeper?

Paul Sporer: He’s a 1st round keeper tbh, so ya 2nd work

Paul Sporer: s

JB: 12 team h2h, 5 keep – Lamb, C. Seager, Rizzo, Mazara, G. Sanchez, Scherzer, Harvey, Betances?

Paul Sporer: Seager, Rizzo, Lamb, Scherzer… that last spot is tough. I feel like most H2H shortchange closers or else I’d probably say Betances. I’d probably lean Maz personally. Still a month-plus of time to shape that, though

JD15: does benintendi’s injury have any effect on Moncada?

Paul Sporer: It could, I just don’t have a feel for when they’re going to look to him, if at all this year

JD15: When is Kershaw eligible to come off DL? When can we realistically expect him to?

Paul Sporer: Saturday IIRC. If he’s pitching, I expect excellence. He’s given us no reason to expect otherwise

John: Hey Paul, love your stuff. I’m begrudgingly shifting some of my focus to football, any websites youd recommend that go as in depth with their analysis as fangraphs does for baseball?

Paul Sporer: Thanks, John! I haven’t really dove in on football yet, to be honest

Dumpster Fiers: Sonny Gray a top 40 SP next year?

Paul Sporer: With health, he’ll challenge for it

Paul Sporer: BRB, gotta take Charlotte (my dog) out

FGM: Burgos screwed me last night. Why oh why did I trust that situation?!!! Really a question for myself I guess.

Paul Sporer: We all get into relationships w/closers that we shouldn’t

Marty: Do you prefer to roster a swiss army knife type with multi-eligibility (Duffy or Peraza etc.) that can slot in anywhere or a really good RP with SP eligibility (Iglesias etc.)? 16 team H2H 6×6 keeper league with holds. THANKS!

Paul Sporer: Usually the Swiss Army Knife

Paul Sporer: I just love that flexibility on offense

Gavin: Last 30 days: Dozier is the Bohm King and Yasmany is his Prince. What is life?

Paul Sporer: Small samples are fun! Dozier has at least done this kind of thing before, but Tomas?!?!

dave in slc: youre a tigers guy..what do you think of Norris as a keeper? I have him at a buck in my AL only. He has looked decent since coming back right?

Paul Sporer: Ya, buck in AL only is the perfect keep situation for him

RP: 10 team, h2h, saves and holds cats. Have one spot for a RP (with SP eligibility) to plug in when I don’t have a real SP going. Raisel Iglesias or Joe Blanton? Thanks Paul. Great stuff, pod and chats.

Paul Sporer: Raisel for me!

Bork: I think I took a wrong turn somewhere.

Paul Sporer: Albuquerque probably

KCRoyals: I own Pence & Kemp in my OF but am eyeing Duvall, Altherr & Hernan Perez on waivers. Keep my guys or go with the wire ROS? 10 team H2H redraft

Paul Sporer: I’m keeping Pence, but I’d flip Kemp for your favorite of that trio and kinda play hot hand a week or two at a time the rest of the way

dave in slc: NL only Keeper have j fernandez at 17. Pitching seems to be easier to identify in drafts but he is obviously a stud. Would you trade him for any of Seager $25, Pollock $14 or Piscotty $10?

Paul Sporer: I’d trade him for Seager

Bart: 12 team H2H league, Kole Calhoun is on waivers. Would he be worth a pickup (hopefully he’ll have a better September) and drop Alex Dickerson?

Paul Sporer: I wonder if Calhoun is nursing a nagging injury. 2 down months after a solid start. I think I might stick w/Dickerson

JD15: What’s your take on JBJ? 2nd half he’s 221/292/407 83 wrc+, walks down, K’s up, less hard contact. Feels like forever ago that he was raking…

Paul Sporer: Just a chilly August, tbh. He closed July w/an .859 OPS in 16 games after the break.

Bartolo’s Spam: Love the podcast. I’m a teacher with a 50 minute commute. You guys are company for the ride. On the podcast, you and Collette hinted at begin doing homework for next year. Would you mind sharing one guy from either side of the ball, that we should begin paying more attention? Thanks

Paul Sporer: Thanks so much! Aaron Altherr, Tyler Anderson

Harry Caray’s Ghost: Mazara and Giolito for Marte in a keep-forever league? The Marte side needs some help in SB and AVG to make a run at the title, the Mazara+Giolito side is obviously looking toward the future.

Paul Sporer: That’s a good deal on both sides given that the needs align so cleanly

Dumpster Fiers: Better SS option next year, Duffy or Arcia?

Paul Sporer: Duffy for me

Joey: Benintendi 🙁

Paul Sporer: I know :((

Joey: Stroman a top 40 dynasty league pitcher?

Paul Sporer: I can certainly see it. Turned it around starting in July: 3.02 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 64 Ks in 59.7 IP

Bart: Better keeper for next season, Story or Schwarber. Story is on my DL, Schwarber is on waivers.

Paul Sporer: Story, sucks to see both hurt

Sculpin: What is the cool stat about Desmond??

Paul Sporer: It wasn’t cool. It was that he had 0 XBH since the break or something

Paul Sporer: Oh, it was August

Paul Sporer: 0 XBH in August before yesterday’s bomb pop

Clint: Still trying to recover from loss of Stanton, 12 team mixer, who do you like out of Grichuk, Morales and Dickerson?

Paul Sporer: Grichy gonna give you a chance to cover that power

Choo Choo: When are the Marlins going to put Ramos back in the 9th so I can move on from Rodney? Another load the bases save last night.

Paul Sporer: I can see it happening soon

mookie best: Re: Advanced football stats: I’m not sure of anything like fangraphs on the (fantasy) player level, but Pro Football Focus does really great team-level stuff

Paul Sporer: As does Football Outsiders

Follow up: Following up on KCRoyals question about OF’s (Pence, Kemp, Duvall, Altherr, Perez). Where does Piscotty factor among them?

Paul Sporer: Tops for me.

mookie best: If I can keep 3 players next year, is it ridiculous to keep 3 OF if their price is right? Don’t need to make this decision til next year but that’s what it’s looking like

Paul Sporer: No, not necessarily. Keep the talent. Is it a 5 OF setup?

Bullpen Reports: I know it’s not your bailiwick, but Bullpen Reports have been lagging. (Not a complaint, just an observation.) I’d love to work on them. Is the FG roster expanding this September? How does a guy get his cup of coffee?

Paul Sporer: Msg me on twitter, we’ll see what’s up!

Dumpster Fiers: Follow-up on Gray. Better keeper, Choo or Sonny Gray? Or neither. Deep league rosters 400 players

Paul Sporer: Gah, that’s tough. I think I’d lean Gray. I think Choo will be one of those guys whose good when he plays, but battles injuries throughout the next couple of years

Toki: What are your thoughts on Mallex Smith with the Braves next year? Is he worth a keeper in a 10 team keep 20? I have a feeling he’ll end up at the bottom of the order with Inciarte leading off and Swanson in 2 hole.

Paul Sporer: I actually like Smith as a potential SB option this year so keeping with my annual theme of being a year early, he’ll probably dominate next year

Gavin: And I think it’s “schneid”!

Paul Sporer: I typed that initially and it felt wrong, but I knew mine wasn’t correct

Borkey and Pess: Better ROS J. Paxton or S. Wright in a QS league?

Paul Sporer: Paxton for me

Gavin: Having had just traded for Dezzie I felt real cool when Jason dropped that in the Pod.

Paul Sporer: Hahaha, well it’s time for him to take back off for the rest of the year!

Kyle: 12 team h2h, keep 3 forever. With Correa and Machado as my first two keepers, who should be the last out of Cutch, Sano, Dahl, Bregman, T. Turner, Abreu?

Paul Sporer: Lots of interesting options. I think it’s down to Sano-Dahl-Bregman. I’m probably going Dahl, but I can hear cases for the other 2, especially Sano w/that pop. I love a really talented player in Coors, though

Urban Shocker: Had Bregman at $1 for 2 more years after this and just traded him for King Felix and Pollock (both can’t be kept)for stretch run. Good deal or will I regret?

Paul Sporer: If you win, you won’t regret it even if Bregman explodes

Scuba Steve: Drop Alex Gordon for Teoscar in a dynasty roto 6×6 league with k’s counting negatively?

Paul Sporer: Gordon actually on track in August, stay the course

Urban Shocker: What do you think of AJ Pollock rest of the way?

Paul Sporer: Like a 115 or so kind of OPS+ player w/some pop & speed. So not quite his studly self from last year, but still contributing for sure

Leites: What do you think of the upside for Chance Adams?

Paul Sporer: I honestly don’t know who that is

Paul Sporer: Mad good numbers and he went to school in Texas… stud

Paul Sporer: 🙂

Paul Sporer: From what I very briefly read, the key will be holding up to a SP’s workload, otherwise he should be a dope RP

Borkey and Pess: Do you think Thornburg keeps the Closer job through ’16 and ’17?

Paul Sporer: I think Knebel gets a real shot at it

Ombudsman: Sano or Kemp ROS? 10-tm league, standard scoring with OPS as extra category

Paul Sporer: Sano

Vic Romano: 10th and final keeper in a 12 team keep forever format – Contreras, Braun, or Darvish? Contreras would be the 4th Cub, along with Bryant/Rizzo/Russell, which might be too many guys from a single team. Braun would be a bench bat and is taking a lot of random days off to rest his old body which doesn’t bode well for the future, and Darvish would be my 3rd SP and has all the health questionmarks a guy can have.

Paul Sporer: I’m not too worried about many on the same team, espec. a v good team. Braun is a bench bat even w/as good as he’s been this year? He feels too good to pass on, even at the elevated age

Deep deep deep: What’s your strategy for deep leagues (18-20 teams) with keepers. Usually by the 12th round (halfway) in my draft, I’m picking up garbage scraps.

Paul Sporer: Usually in leagues that deep, I’m trying to focus on playing time and hope something breaks through. A lot of time it’s just PT that spurs a breakout, as opposed to a big skills change

Paul Sporer: Ryan Zimmerman’s wife’s shirt is everything

Larry David : Paul who are you keeping next year in a points league – Gary Sanchez or Sal Perez? Catcher has been a shit show this year but I figure I can cash in fairly well on one of these 2 guys. Thx.

Paul Sporer: I get that Sanchez is absolutely dominating right now, but we’re still talking 80 PA. I’ve never been super enamored w/Sal Perez, but he’s still the pick for me right now.

Men @ Bork: Would you rather trade away Gomez or Thornburg in a keep forever Saves and Holds league?

Paul Sporer: Jeanmar? If so, then him

Paul Sporer: Hey y’all, I think we’re gonna go ahead and wrap up. I’ve gotta get some writing done and every question in the queue got answered!

Ombudsman: You the man Paul, thanks!

Paul Sporer: Thanks so much for hanging out, y’all. Maybe we’ll go for a marathon September Call-up Chat next week. But I know football is creeping

Paul Sporer: Byeeeeeeee