Paul Sporer’s Chat – April 28th, 2021

Paul Sporer: Gotta keep it to about 30 min today so let’s roll!!

confused fantasy player: Is it time to sell low on Kyle Hendricks?

Paul Sporer: It’s 2 great and 2 bad starts, I’m not selling

aaron boone demoted to AAA: where do you get your ideas from?

Paul Sporer: To write about? All sorts of different places. Just persuing leaderboards, watching games, seeing some stat on Quick Pitch that spurs me to look deeper… just consumption of baseball stuff in general. I keep a notes app file of ideas that pop into my head randomly. Sometimes, though, I stare at a blank Word doc for an hour-plus

Glad Vlad is on my team: Are you a believer in Civale?

Paul Sporer: Yes, absolutely. One of my favorite targets at SP the last 2 years

Nate: Hey Paul, encouraged by Plesac’s start Monday? Is he back on track?

Paul Sporer: Another guy where it helps to dig into the gamelog. Merked Detroit twice, got merked by the White Sox twice – one of which was REALLY bad – and then a gem v. MIN. I think he’s fine. I finished draft season w/him at SP38 and that seems fine still

April Stug Bus: Is this the robles we know: soft hitting guy who walks more? or can he be the next tommy pham

Paul Sporer: Any sort of Phamian shift would require a lot more pop. Maybe he develops some power in his late-20s, but for now, he’s a soft hitting base stealer

King of K: Suarez looks totally lost. Do you have any hope he turns it around?

Fernando Tatis-Buck Jr.: will daza play everyday for rockies?

Paul Sporer: He doesn’t look great right now, but we’re still in the zone where 2-3 big games completely shifts a slow start into a good one. CJ Cron went from .627 OPS to .825 in 3 gms. Then dipped back to .790 w/an 0-3 before again spiking on the power of one game as he moved to .870 the next day going 2-3 w/a HR. He’s a 1-off example but hardly unique. Bottom line, I’m not sweating Suarez just yet

Ace: Do you like what you’ve seen from Mccullers so far?

Paul Sporer: Yes. BB are up a bit, but love seeing the slider add diversity to his arsenal. Really want him to stay healthy and put up a full season

Johnny5Alive: In NL only, Tauchman going to play enough to be worth FAAB money? if yes, how much?

Paul Sporer: I’m not sure where he carves out full time burn, so I’d only do single digits

Robbie Ray: Robbie Ray had 9 K’s zero walks last outing. He also had a great spring training. Has he turned the corner?

Paul Sporer: The walk-free game brought him down to 5.1 per 9 on the year. He is who he’s always been IMO

Guest: Any new SP rankings coming out?

Paul Sporer: Justin and I will both be updating our Patreon rankings this wknd and then I’ll have mine up on FG later next week

Billy: Is Jordan Ludlow someone that needs our attention?

Paul Sporer: Luplow merits monitoring if he can keep this pop up vR as he usually struggles against them

Jax: Are you optimistic about Maeda?

Paul Sporer: Very. Seems he just a bit off. Nothing in his profile screams trouble and we’ve heard nothing about health issues so I’m definitely open to trading FOR him

Greg: What’s your current ranking in Main Event and TGFBI?

Paul Sporer: 3 and 7 in my lgs

Jason: Think Higgy plays enough+hits well enough to be relevant in 12+ team single catcher leagues? Normally I’d think no way but the Yankees seem to get the most out of their fringe hitters.

Paul Sporer: Ahhh it’s gonna be tough to justify him as a top 12 C unless he just overtakes Sanchez. He is moving into 2-C league viability, though

Hey now: Baddoo: cut or hold

Paul Sporer: Probably cut in most formats

Hey now: When is Varsho getting the call up?

Paul Sporer: No idea. The prospect folks barely have a good idea when guys will get the call bc things change and we just can’t map it out perfectly since it’s a team’s whim. Not trying to roast you or anything, just kinda putting this out there as a blanket statement. I know we’re all eager for prospects to come up, but I have no idea when anyone will get called

CT: Are you sticking with your bold prediction for Lourdes Gurriel? Slow start again, but the xwOBA looks promising paired with a real unlucky BABIP

Paul Sporer: Def need more than a month to jump off a player I like this much. I’m not really concerned about bold predictions coming through but I’m staying in on Gurriel Jr. and picking him up where cut

Dubs: Believe in paddack? If not, any trade targets to pursue?

Paul Sporer: Kinda is who he is… a volatile 2-pitch guy who still needs a breaker that moves horizontally in the zone to really hit the next level. Never considered him at the draft table this year as I think his upside is limted

bobsyouruncle: Do you buy Garrett Richards‘ cold weather explanation after last night’s dominant performance?

Paul Sporer: What did he say? That it warming up a bit helped him? I have no reason not to believe that. Cold weather is the f’n worst and I barely like existing in it let alone trying to play baseball

Eck’s quick cheese: Thoughts on Clase as the closer with Karinchak also dominant?

Paul Sporer: They have been clear about wanting Karinchak in the fireman’s role. Clase looks like the closer.

BringBackDeSpanielHair: Vlad Jr. just ended all hopes of buying low, ever again.

Paul Sporer: Not sure you ever could, tbh, bc anyone who drafted him had to be bought in to pay the high price. Love seeing what he’s doing so far

I Used to be Mel Clarke: Is Givens the next man up in Colorado?

Paul Sporer: Does it matter?

Paul Sporer: Not trying to be flippant, but you don’t want in on the situation anyway. That said, yes, I’d say he is

Eric: Thoughts on Kiriloff’s start so far?  Seems to be smoking the ball, but just been unlucky

Paul Sporer: You nailed it.

Vader: The Royals look for real to me. Do they bring up Witt at some point?

Paul Sporer: Probably depends how he does in the minors, tbh. KC had some darkhorse appeal coming into the season and that was assuming they’d have Mondesi/Witt as their double play combo… they’re doing well with nothing from those 2 so imagine if they do get both of em on the roster soon

Soft tossing righty: Super deep league most likely for saves: Chatwood, Thielbar, Fry

Paul Sporer: I’d probably go Thielbar

Cobb salad: Start Cobb tonight?

Paul Sporer: If you can’t start someone v. Texas, they shouldn’t be rostered

Will: 12-team league suggested strategy for Triston McKenzie? BB/9 is sitting north of … 7.00! He is not going deep in games, really not usable at all. Cut or hold?

Paul Sporer: Not averse to cutting at all. 12-teamers almost certainly have appealing arms on the wire worth considering over him

Red Sox Fanatic: Might Arozarena be starting to turn a corner, or do the below-the-surface stats still worry you too much?

Paul Sporer: I know he’s running a crazy high BABIP, but I’m not too worried about. I think things will balance out a bit as we go with the BABIP definitely coming down, but also his Ks dipping and walks rising. Still very much in on him

Soft tossing righty: Which future stud catcher are you stashing for this season, if you had to stash a future stud catcher?

Paul Sporer: Adley

Scott: Montgomery or Kluber ROS?

Paul Sporer: Montgomery

JT: Should I drop Hiura for McNeil or Didi in 12team 5x5roto?

Paul Sporer: For who?

Paul Sporer: Justin Turner is OUT OF HIS MIND right now… 6th HR just now

Matt: What’s up with Sonny Gray?

Paul Sporer: Whattya mean? He started late due to injury and has like 10 innings

Soft tossing righty: Is there any chance Odor is useful?

Paul Sporer: I really doubt it

Bobby: Is Charlie Blackmon done?  Even Colorado air doesn’t seem to be helping him this year.

Paul Sporer: Plate skills still strong and a .192 BABIP seems to be doing a lot of the suppression on his numbers. I’m not giving up yet

turnipcart: What’s wrong with Mancini right now?

Paul Sporer: Well he spent a year recovering from colon cancer… but honestly he’s fine. He’s been essentially average despite a .233 BABIP

Paul Sporer: OK y’all, I have to bounce early today, but we’ll back to an hour (or more) next week. Thanks so much for coming out! Follow me on Twitter (@sporer), Twitch (sporer), and Instagram (p_sporer). I’ll be streaming on Twitch late tonight after trivia (starting around 10:30-11 CT) and you can definitely come by and ask questions about fantasy there. Have a good one, y’all!