Roto Riteup: June 1, 2015
The author of today’s Roto Riteup will also have another piece up today on Chad Bettis that he recommends you check out with all your attention.
On today’s agenda:
1. Fun with arbitrary endpoints
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options
Fun with arbitrary endpoints
All stats are through Saturday and for the last 14 days.
Brian McCann: 43 PA, 4 HR, .314/.419/.686, .292 BABIP
Nolan Arenado: 57 PA, 4 HR, .275/.333/.549
Mookie Betts: 56 PA, .296/.321/.370, 5.4% K%
Billy Hamilton: 36 PA, .294/.286/.294, 8.3% K%, .313 BABIP
Various news and notes
Adrian Beltre was pulled from yesterday’s game after jamming his thumb sliding into second, and he’ll be forced to go on the DL. Adam Rosales will presumably take Beltre’s time at third, but he’s not rosterable.
Diamondbacks prospect Peter O’Brien is moving to the outfield from behind the plate. O’Brien has never been viewed as even an average defensive catcher, but there were some who thought he was serviceable enough to stick at the position while he’s still young. O’Brien’s path to the majors is a little more cloudy in the outfield thanks to Arizona’s depth at the position, but he’ll see some time in the majors at some point this year.
Jose Abreu should be back in the White Sox lineup tomorrow after aggravating a finger injury late last week.
Despite giving up back-to-back jacks in the second inning, Julio Teheran recorded a quality start yesterday. Don’t get all excited about Teheran turning the corner; his command was still pathetic.
Tim Beckham will need a DL stint after straining his hamstring. Beckham’s absence clears the way for Nick Franklin to take over the backup job in the Rays middle infield.
Justin Verlander says he feels good after making it through his rehab start despite allowing three earned in under three innings of work. Verlander touched 96, and while the Tigers will decide on next steps today or tomorrow, expect him to have at least one more rehab outing.
Streaming Pitcher Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.
A pitcher for today: Alex Colome at LAA (Garrett Richards)
Colome will have the platoon advantage, as Kole Calhoun is the only real LHH of note in the Angels lineup.
A pitcher for tomorrow: Marco Estrada at WAS (Max Scherzer)
I like getting Estrada away from Toronto and the DH. If Chris Heston (vPIT) is also available, he’s another nice option.
Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.
How does Billy Hamilton have a lower BA than OBP? If anyone could accomplish that, it would be Billy.
That means he has more sacrifice flies than walks/HBP during that period. Just what you want from your leadoff hitter.
Ah, I see they finally dropped him to 8/9, where he belongs as a hitter.
I have been offered Nori Aoki for Alex Guerrero in one of my leagues.The Uribe trade seemed to potentially open up some more AB’s for Guerrero, but Justin Turner seems to still pose a threat to his overall playing time at 3B and Puig coming back (hopefully) soon seems to wipe away his OF PT. I have been using Kang and Guerrero as my 3B since that spot is a black hole in this league, with the best Waiver fodder being Chase Headley. I do need some OF though with Dickerson being out, so Aoki would be of value to me as well. Is this a trade worth accepting on my part or is the power potential of Guerrero too much to give up?
It’s fair, I think Guerrero will see playing time regardless if he plays full time or not. I’d keep Guerrero, honestly, because I don’t think his kind of power is easily replaced.
I wouldn’t worry about Turner taking over full time, if Mattingly were smart, he’d not do that.
Need advice, wise fangraphians…
in a 5×5, which side do you like more?
Rizzo, Marte, Kershaw, Melancon, or Harper, Holliday, Scherzer, Wacha
Amazing blockbuster, if you and the other owner can pull it off. I think I like the Rizzo side by a hair, mainly because I believe Kershaw will turn it around.
In a standard redraft league,I agree with Feslen and Angus.
In a keeper league, there could be other factors in the equation.
Thanks guys… it is a keeper league. These are packages I am getting for Bryant and Syndergaard +… most of the players I’d get either can’t be kept or are at prices it wouldn’t have much value. Harper $35 might be an exception, but probably not tons of value going forward there. The Rizzo side is mostly cheap, expiring contracts, so it does give me some salary cap flexibility if I need to make other moves.
It definitely had a look of a keeper league trade.
If you add the salary flexibility and the fact that there probably isn’t a keeper in the bunch with contracts expiring, then the Rizzo side is the winner unless you are very short on SP’s. If SP’s are your bigger problem, then the Scherzer/Wacha deal may be more advantageous especially if it’s a deep league and a pitcher comparable to Wacha is unavailable on the FA list.
I certainly couldn’t offer an informed opinion without seeing your entire roster, knowing where you stand in all of the categories, etc.
You are clearly in a try to win now mode or are really, really deep with prospects if you are going to give up Bryant, Syndergaard +.
The former, and I don’t think its that close. Yes, Harper looks like a some kind of baseball folklore figure right now, and yes he’ll be very good the rest of the year barring injury, but he’ll cool off like anyone else. I would rather have Rizzo and Marte than Harper and Holliday. When you look at it like that, the rest is clear–Scherzer is excellent but Kershaw is the best. Gotta take Kershaw and Melancon over Scherzer and Wacha. What a blockbuster!
Wondering how people would rank these guys ROS: Hammel, Liriano, Cashner. I can choose any of them in a trade
On first thought I’d say Cashner>Liriano>Hammel, but after looking into it I’m wondering if I should flip that completely. Cashner is performing well largely based on the increased K%, but it’s not really supported by any increased whiffs on pitch fx. Only his curveball, which he has only thrown 13 of all year, has induced significantly more whiffs than usual. If his K% regresses back to his career norm, he becomes mediocre again plus an injury risk (though the fact that he has good numbers despite an inflated HR/FB% and BABIP is encouraging, I guess).
Liriano’s K% should come back to normal, which is still elite, but his BB% is slightly better than normal for him, despite no real support from the by-pitch plate discipline numbers. He basically repeats last year, I think, maybe does a bit better, which is perfectly fine.
Hammel’s increased K% might be supported by improvement in his changeup, which is generating a lot of whiffs, though he doesn’t use it often. His ERA matches his SIERA, which is great, and his career low BB% is supported by a career high F-Strike%, but the question is does that hold up or not.
Faced with a tempting trade offer. Would you trade Syndergaard to get Hamels? Or Syndergaard and Porcello for Hamels and Papelbum? It’s been exciting owning Thor and he looks like a legit beast, but between the 6 man rotation, innings limits, and possible rookie hiccups, I think Hamels is enough of a real upgrade to get over the emotional barrier.
Take Hamels. I own “Thor” in a bunch of leagues, but Hamels is too good of an offer to pass up. I would take Papelbon if you need the saves, I’m just not a big Porcello fan.