Roto Riteup: June 11, 2013
Today is the second day of e3, the Electronics Entertainment Expo, where video game nerds see the previews and trailers for upcoming consoles, games, and apps. The only convention the present author has any desire to attend is BlizzCon. Unfortunately this year is sold out…perhaps next time.
On today’s agenda:
1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s hot hitting
2. The return of Peter Bourjos
3. Dilemma, thy name is Adam Dunn
4. Rickie Weeks is heating up
Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s hot hitting
After hitting a dismal .232/.321/.435 in April, Jarrod Saltalamacchia went bonkers in May and continued his hitting spree into June. His seasonal line now sits at a robust .281/.346/.520. Salty’s .400 BABIP is going to come down, but while he is being matched up against right-handed starters, he will continue to post solid numbers. If any position is going to be platooned, catcher makes the most sense. Catchers have the most physically demanding job for position players and need time off. If that time off happens to coincide with a game against a lefty starter, all the better. Salty is free to own in over 50% of CBS formats, 70% of Yahoo! leagues, and 90% of ESPN leagues.
The return of Peter Bourjos
It shouldn’t be a surprise to the present author touting Bourjos. Along with Andrew Cashner — who happens to be starting to today — Bourjos was a preseason favorite. Bourjos didn’t miss a beat upon yesterday’s return, as he finished his day 2-for-4. Hopefully his speed shines through in the coming weeks and months as Bourjos’ .322 batting average is sure to come back down to earth. The upside is that Bourjos is joining a lineup that should be hitting and scoring runs, even though he’ll be hitting low in the lineup. With Mike Trout hitting behind him — Bourjos will likely continue to hit ninth — Bourjos should score a good amount of runs. He should be owned in much more than his current 30% CBS, 7% Yahoo!, and 3% ESPN rates.
Dilemma, thy name is Adam Dunn
Just because Adam Dunn is hitting .181 doesn’t mean that he can’t give your fantasy team a boost. Dunn now has 16 home runs and is up to 37 RBI’s. If handcuffed with one — okay, probably two — high average hitters, Dunn’s poor rate stats are largely negated and his counting numbers give you a shot in the arm. Dunn is probably a best fit in weekly leagues, as his power makes him capable of having a four home run week without absolutely crushing your ratios for a full season. When at home for most of the week or in favorable parks, Dunn makes for a great stream option. He is owned in just 29% of ESPN leagues and less than 60% of CBS and Yahoo! formats.
Rickie Weeks is heating up
It is amazing what a few weeks, not to mention some BABIP, can do to a seasonal line. In the pas two weeks Weeks has a .394 on-base percentage and a .333 batting average. With Scooter Gennett scuffling at the plate — albeit in just 16 PA’s — Weeks seems to have cemented his starting job. Weeks was in the lineup yesterday, even though the Milwaukee Brewers were facing a right-hander in Ricky Nolasco. Weeks should be a “buy” in just about every league. You may not even have to trade for him, as he is available in 35% of CBS, 54% of Yahoo!, and 66% of ESPN leagues.
Reminder
Gerrit Cole is set to make his MLB debut this evening. Make sure to watch it because baseball is awesome and to stream him if you can, because Cole is also awesome.
You can catch David spouting off about baseball, soccer, esports and other things by following him on twitter, @davidwiers.
Good Riteup
Oh, you! I wish a zerg would have WCS just to see grack stream and be mannered for 4+ hours. I never watch his stream, but I would have tuned in for that.
I know what a zerg is, but the rest of that sentence was gibberish to me
http://youtu.be/nQIapOiXT9A?t=55m39s
I love this show. There is swearing though, so, yeah. Use discretion.
Love the amount of ‘awesomes’ in Cole’s description without him throwing a MLB pitch. Will definitely watch and already picked him up.
Cole makes it easy to describe him!
Are you really recommending pitching Cole tonight, or just sounded good? Giants don’t strike out, and he just hasn’t been very great at AAA. For innings cap league, play it safe, or you think he’ll pitch very well?
I think he’s worth a stream start.
Speaking of E3, did anyone watch the Xbox One Reveal conference last month? One of the worst things I’ve ever seen in my life.
Anyway, can anyone rank these guys ROS — Grandal, Mesoraco, J Castro, Salty
Yep, just brutal. Reddit is going bonkers over that and that PS4 will be so comparatively cheap. I for one am excited for the new Battlefront game and Tom Clancy’s The Division. Both should be amazing.
I’m excited for Battlefront myself but The Division could be a flop with DICE behind it.
I might sound like a fanboy but what is Microsoft doing? For people to play games you’ll definitely need a wireless connection and kinect and be connected to MS servers. Not to mention it’s $100 over the PS4 and it wont play used games.
I haven’t played a Tom Clancy game since Vegas, but man, that game was hella fun. As much crap as EA (deservedly) gets, they still churn out their share of solid games. I have *huge* expectations for Battlefront though, so I’ll probably be disappointed.
Yeah, the console wars are over. Congrats Sony. You win. Did you see the video of their “how used games work on PS4?” It’s amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6eOa812mYA
Their smiles just absolutely slay me.
Haha thanks it brought a smile on my face during my lunch at work
“…baseball is awesome”
that’s the exact line i use to talk people into playing fantasy baseball…”come on, baseball is awesome”
You talk people into fantasy baseball and you read RotoGraphs? That is such an unfair advantage! Not my articles of course, but other people’s stuff here is amazing.
ZiPS and Streamer RoS projections for Bourjos seem low for runs and stolen bases. Would you say he’s a better option for streaming runs and stolen bases than someone like Drew Stubbs or Rajai Davis?
Bourjos’ speed hasn’t fully translated from the minors the majors. He has a 50 and two 30 stolen base seasons in the minors, but only has one 20 steal season in the show. Hopefully this is the year that everything clicks for him, he’s still just 26.
For straight steals, Stubbs and Davis are probably a better bet right now, but Bourjos has the potential to outpace them both in other categories.
Dave, were you able to dig anything up on Rutledge. He’s tearing up Colorado Springs, but the important thing….zero E’s! Up soon???
Not much, other than Colorado Springs is a hitter’s heaven and BABIP is a fickle mistress.
Is RA Dicky even rosterable at this point?
For sure. You can’t drop him, just let bench him for now. Definitely frustrating to see him struggle like though though.
trade question. Was offered Andrew Toles and Allen Webster for Yordana Ventura. Does anyone have any thoughts as to which way I should go. Been wrestling with this for a few days
Toles is in A-ball and Webster isn’t that good. Stick with Ventura. He’s closer to the majaors or better than either option you’d be getting.
Thank you! Any ideas on an approximate return I could get for ventura? Hypothetically, where is he right now on current prospect ranks if you were to rank him? Thanks for your time!
Prospect rankings is way above my head. You should talk to Al Skorupa, JD, Hulet, etc. They’ll know at least 100 times more about the minors, projecting a player, body development, things like that than I will. I don’t feel totally comfortable giving advice on rankings of minor leaguers, mostly because I’m not expert in that area.
alright, sounds good.
Drop the DL’d gyorko for weeks? DL spot is already taken
Yep, I would.
Just want to say it’s great you take the time to answer everybody’s questions/comments/grievances David. We don’t always agree, but it’s no coincidence your pieces are frequently the most commented upon and I’m guessing get some of the most pageviews.
Debating about baseball is almost as fun as watching baseball! And if we all agreed, could you imagine how boring and awful drafts would be? Quote-unquote sleepers would be going in the 10th round just to beat everyone else to the sleeper pick, and thus lose their sleeper value anyways.
Thanks for reading,and I hope you and others keep calling me out if you disagree.
Hey Dave!
Couple weeks ago you gave me advice on Papi’s trade value. Fotunately, you gave me a great idea of his value; unfortunately I couldn’t find any takers.
I woke this morning to an offer: my Fielder for his Bumgarner. I feel like I’m on the losing end here. Thinking of countering w Ortiz for Burnett. He needs a 1B in the worst way. My staff is Scherzer, Harvey, Latos, Ryu, Teheran, Fernandez, Johnson. I also have Goldy to take my starting 1B slot. Any thought would be much appreciated.
Also is your last name pronounced “Weers” or “Wires?” I don’t like when my inner monologue mispronounces things.
Haha, Wiers – Weers. It’s from an old Dutch named. Apparently my family dropped the “ma” part from Wiersma long ago.
I would not do Fielder for Bumgarner. Ortiz for Burnett is closer, but I still don’t trust Burnett, not more than I trust Ortiz. You have the all the advantage in the world. You don’t NEED to trade. He does. If the names are right, he’ll come back. I’d be totally happy to sit on your hitters and pitchers.
Thanks bud. I’m sitting pretty in 3rd in my H2H league and I feel like I can go to war against anyone. I also have Wheeler stashed, so I might sit. Or try to swing a 2 for 2 and upgrade elsewhere. Thanks and best of luck in your leagues!
Ooh, with Wheeler waiting in the wings, you don’t need to make a move for anyone. I’d sit tight and let the season play out. Your team seems loaded enough that you should get a healthy amount of trade offers.
mike zunino. discuss.
I know I’m intrigued. I’m platooning Gattis and Pierzynski(sp) in one league, thinking of making a move for Zunino.
Fantasy dilemmas…
He’s good. I’ll be mentioning him in tomorrow’s RR!
Dunn actually has 19 homers, not 16.
This was written on the 11. He had 16 homers then.