Roto Riteup: April 13, 2013
Per usual, when the author is presented the ability to defer words to N*Sync, he enthusiastically does so. My god, the memories…
On today’s agenda:
1. What to make of Justin Masterson
2. Justin Maxwell’s hitting streak
3. Riding Daniel Murphy’s hot hand
4. Jose Reyes‘ latest injury
5. C.C. Sabathia’s great start, and lingering velocity questions
What to make of Justin Masterson
Masterson’s complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox yesterday was the latest dominant start for him this season. Of course, Masterson’s current 0.41 ERA is unsustainable, but the question is just how far will he regress? It is no secret that left-handed hitters tend to crush Masterson, as his splits are quite pronounced. He does an excellent job of holding fellow right handers to a .276 wOBA, but a .349 wOBA against verses left-handed hitters is tough to pitch around. Excluding yesterday’s start, Masterson is holding lefties to a .194 wOBA this season. As much as we’d all like to believe in Masterson again, there just isn’t a significant change in his pitch selection or repertoire that would indicate a real improvement His SwStr% isn’t anything special and his .196 BABIP and 0 home runs allowed isn’t going to last forever. If you grabbed Masterson after his first start, I’d look to sell high right now. Bubbles tend to burst and BABIP is a fickle mistress.
Justin Maxwell’s hitting streak
Justin Maxwell has now recorded a hit in eight straight games. Yesterday marked his first home run of the season, but he does have two triples and two doubles on the year too. As long as you don’t play in a league that counts strikeouts as a negative, Maxwell’s potential to go 15-15 make him a decent waiver wire grab to replace an injured player.
Riding Daniel Murphy’s hot hand
Given the chance, the author would have guessed that Daniel Murphy is at least 30 years old. It just seems as though he has been around for forever. Indeed, this is Murphy’s fifth season in the majors and it seems to be shaping up nicely. Still just 28, Murphy is a career .292 hitter and has been hitting in the two-hole for most of the season. He might not be a fantasy cornerstone, but Murphy rates a solid choice for those of you in head-to-head leagues as his average is quite good. His 1B/2B/CI/MI eligibility makes for solid lineup flexibility too. Murphy has already powered two home runs as well as five doubles and a triple, so this may the year that he hits more fly balls than grounders and really boosts his offensive (read: fantasy) value to the next level.
Jose Reyes‘ latest injury
A certain present author predicted Jose Reyes to hit 20 triples and win the AL MVP this season. After just 10 games, it appears that will absolutely not be the case. After being carted off of the field with an ankle injury, Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthropoulos announced that he expects Reyes to miss anywhere from one to three months. If you’re scrambling for a replacement, Jean Segura or Brendan Ryan are viable fantasy options. In very deep leagues, Marwin Gonzalez and Zack Cozart are both useful, albeit not ideal, fantasy shortstops.
C.C. Sabathia’s latest start
The reader may consider finding fault in an eight inning, one run allowed game nit picky, however once again Sabathia’s four-seam fastball averaged just 90 mph. While he clearly got the desired results, the process seems to still be shaky. He didn’t allow a walk and did fan nine Orioles hitters. Velocity tends to come on later in the season, so for now feel free to start Sabathia as usual. His early struggles seem to be a random and isolated event. Start him with confidence again.
You can catch David spouting off about baseball, soccer, esports and other things by following him on twitter, @davidwiers.
Jean Segura and Cozart equated Fantasy-wise with brendan ryan and marwin gonzalez is sheer lunacy.
I reworded it, thanks.
Who’d you rather as a replacement in an OPS league: Rutledge, Segura, Scutaro, Jhonny Peralta?
I like Segura the best. The OPS will be reasonably close, but his steals push him to the top.
My roster has Greinke, Reyes, and Cespedes, so the last two days have been enough to give me ulcers.
/pours one out for the lost fantasy season…10 games into the year.
I also have Lawrie and Hanley Ramirez.
This seems to be the worst case scenario for a risky roster you compiled. Hanley and Greinke were already hurting to start the year and Reyes and Cespedes aren’t the staples of health. Tough that it all happened so fast..
Kobe Bryant is my best closer 🙁
I think I could get a team of pitchers collectively with better average than this team, and a team of hitters that could pitch better.
Brian – Don’t feel bad! I’ve got 4 DL guys right now. My team batting average is hovering near the mendoza line and might be below it. All I see is – (0-4), (0-5), (0-3, walk), etc. I spend 5 picks on pitching in top ten rounds and my WHIP is 1.5 with an abysmal ERA as well. It’s a horrific start, but believe it or not it actually could get worse. Can’t wait!
In 5×5, I have Rutledge as my SS – do I let it be or pick up Segura or a recently dropped Aybar? Thanks!
Could roll with Rutledge at home and Segura when Rutledge is on the road? That’d probably be the best combo.
Justin Maxwell has two triples AND two triples, nice!
He’s *that* fast.
Middle infield position is getting difficult to fill. How does Alexi Casilla equate to your recent recommendations?
Well, Casilla does offer some steals…and absolutely nothing beyond that. He’d be buried in my MI rankings.
Yesterday I started Masterson, Shelby Miller, Scherzer and Patrick Corbin, soo at least for this week m pitching is stellar (I also have Wainwright and Cueto throwing today) I’m trying to get the manager that owns Grienke totake a starter off my hands and I’m having trouble finding a match. I’m assuming Masterson should be the odd man out? Whatwould you consider in a fair trade? I need CI and OPS.
Are you looking one-for-one?
Masterson went largely undrafted in standard 5×5 leagues, so you’d have to build the case that he “figured it all out” even when I don’t think he has. Masterson has been the most valuable pitcher in 5×5 thus far, but a realistic player to grab for him is Todd Frazier. Aim for a top 200 player with a sneaky good OPS.
I tried 1-for-1 with me sending Haren (whom I have benched for both starts) for Moustakas in a classic one early undererformer for another scenario but he declined. (It would have been a coup if I poked out though as his k rate is down, walks are up and he looks like a BABIP victim so far) I have Chase Headly returning soon so I’m not in panic mode yet.
I read posts all of the time that really make me wonder if these guys play in something like 6 team mixed leagues .How can you have 5 or 6 viable free agent options available every time a guy gets hurt ?
If you’re knowledgeable about 1/6, you’ll be able, by power of analogous thinking, to be knowledgable about 6/6. And if you find one of the 5/6 players on your free agent list, you’ll know he’s like that 1/6 guy that you know about.
whoa.
I think a lot of folks are playing in teams with 4-6 teams in them. I’m in a 15 teamer and its rough sledding. Imagine a 15 teamer with 4 guys DL’ed. Yeah; I’m looking at players like Josh Donaldson to bring thunder to this roster, which I think he actually could. Guys got some pop! But these guys would laugh at a pickup like that I bet!
I am looking for an of in a fairly deep 12 team h2h categories league. I’m pretty deep at MI and RP.
I’m currently considering two offers:
1)Get Kemp for Rollins or Zobrist and league.
Or
2) Get Kemp and Keppinger for League, Gattis, Segura, and C. Hart.
I think I get the better of both deals. Leaning towards the second as Hart is DLed for another month, Segura is only a part time player for me (also have A. Escobar) and V. Martinez.
Any opinions welcomed and appreciated!
Sorry own V. Martinez
Kemp for Rollins and League. Then laugh all the way to the championship. In H2H formats I usually punt saves anyways.
Thanks for the prompt reply.
Any particular reason you favor the first deal over the second?
I’m just not a Keppinger fan. What he gives you in a trade is something you should probably be able to find on the waiver wire.
I prefer the second deal, Hart will likely not produce much due to DL time, you own V-Mart at catcher and I really like Rollins this year.
Thoughts on the Boston closer situation after Saturday’s events? Hanrahan pulled for Uehara in the 9th; Bailey had pitched the 8th. Who is the player to own going forward?
Bailey pitched the 8th because he is the setup guy anyway. I’ve been thinking for years Uehara should get a shot to close but never does. Hanrahan will get a chance to right the ship though so don’t get too excited.
Bailey has experience and that seems to matter to managers. Is he the ideal candidate to close? I don’t know, but I would grab him if he is available.
Would you drop Peralta or Porcello for Fiers or Worley in a H2H points league? Thanks
That’s Willie Peralta, I assume?
No and no. Worley is just bad, really awful…he’ll be sent down soon enough.
Fiers is decent, but Peralta to me, has much more upside thanks to his K/BB potential.
Okay, thanks for the help. In an unrelated question, there is someone I am looking to pick up in Ottoneu, and I have Romero at $1. Should I drop him or hold him in case he regains his form?
I prefer Fiers to Peralta or Worley, personally. I have an irrational love of Fiers, though.
Cingrani? When does he replace Leake?
I think he’ll be replacing Cueto, actually. Pitching is violent, man. So many injuries.
Garret Richards looks like an interesting look for back of your rotation.
Richards’ (apparent) hatred of the strikeout make me pass on him.
Heck, ya’ll should go Quentin or “viking” on the banker cult. I think we all direct our energy on the wrong things. Look, Carlos, charge the illegal scum bankers that F**ked most of us in broad daylight. Not Greinke!
Cool (off topic) Story Bro.
Drop Carlos Gomez for J. Maxwell?
is it still to early to give up on Gomez and grab the same 5×5 potential (give or take a few steals) in a Houston Astro?
I wouldn’t drop Gomez, no. I don’t know if he’ll repeat the power, but the steals alone for Gomez outweigh Maxwell.
To answer your question: it is too early to give up on everywhere not named Johan Santana this year.
Not 2012 anymore… “Roto Riteup: April 13, 2012”
Not meaning to be a gramma Nazi, but I almost didn’t click on the article because I thought it was old.
*grammar… lol
Nevermind, you fixed it.
Thinking of dropping Bonifacio for Murphy… Should I do that now since Bonifacio will surely get SS eligibility???
I have Aaron Hill and Howie Kendrick already at 2nd… And Castro and Segura for SS… Thin at 1st though with only Rizzo…
10-man head-to head daily mixed league… 26 category… 13/13…
So, Murphy or Bonifacio for rest of season as a backup utility???
Personally, I’m thinking Bonifacio puts up something like .260 average with 5 HR and around 35 sb… Murphy I think will hit .295 with 12 HR and 10 sb… Obviously, Bonifacio’s SBs would tip the scale in many leagues, but in our league which counts hits, singles, doubles, triples,OPS, among other and all standard categories… The extra 30 points Murphy brings in average over the course of a season adds up big time…
I prefer Bonifacio over Murphy, based on the steals that Bonifacio brings. If this is going to be your backup MI, then Bonifacio’s ability to play all over (already two starts in the OF and one appearance at SS) make him even more valuable.