Roto Riteup: March 28, 2018
The Roto Riteup believes that honesty is the best policy.
“I ain’t getting this one, boys.”@mookiebetts with the live play-by-play. pic.twitter.com/F10eL0dzkX
— MLB (@MLB) March 27, 2018
On the Agenda:
1. Things That Make You Want to Puk
2. Closer Chaos
3. Various News and Notes
Things That Make You Want to Puk
After numerous reports inferring something was wrong with A’s top pitching prospect A.J. Puk, it was reported that he will get Tommy John Surgery after speaking with Dr. James Andrews. This ends the season before it began for the Puk. He should be reserved in all keeper/dynasty leagues, but dropped in all redraft formats.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, doctors removed a “coin sized calcium deposit” from the right ankle of Gregory Bird. No word on whether Bird will deposit that deposit.
Closer Chaos
Torey Lovullo named Brad Boxberger the Diamondbacks closer on Tuesday. According to Lovullo, Archie Bradley was in discussion for the role, but the Diamondbacks view him as more valuable in multi-inning stints. In spite of giving up a few too many homers last season, Boxberger was very good in a setup role for the Tampa Bay Rays last season. If the humidor in Arizona can help quell those home runs that plagued him last year, he could be in for a big season in the desert.
According to Alex Pavlovic, Mark Melancon still is “feeling something” in his pitching arm. It appears that he may have to start the season on the disabled list. If he is out, Sam Dyson figures to start with the closer’s role, but he has looked really awful so far this spring. Hunter Strickland is a dark horse for saves with the better skills and stuff.
Various News and Notes
There was a scary moment for fantasy owners when Jose Ramirez was forced to leave Tuesday’s game with a lacerated finger. He was quick to update his status for us on twitter though:
I’m ok.
— Jose Ramirez (@MrLapara) March 27, 2018
Ryan McMahon has made the 25-man roster for Opening Day for the Rockies. The 23-year-old rookie was fantastic in spring training and will likely start the year in a strong side platoon at first base. There was some thoughts that the signing of Carlos Gonzalez could push McMahon back to AAA, but it appears that Ramiel Tapia and David Dahl were the casualties. That being said, McMahon will be on a short leash considering the depth that the Rockies now have on offense, but the upside is huge.
Justin is the co-host on The Sleeper and The Bust Podcast and writes for Rotographs covering the Roto Riteup as well as other periodic articles. In addition to his work at Rotographs, Justin is the lead fantasy writer/analyst and co-owner for FriendswithFantasyBenefits.com, and the owner of The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational. He is also a certified addiction treatment counselor. Follow Justin on Twitter @JustinMasonFWFB.
Bringing relief to the worried Jose owner masses in the early morning. Thanks for putting me at ease. Went to bed terrified, much better now.
Any feelings on Jordan Hicks? Will he slide into that closer role ahead of Leone, or will the Cards build him up a little first? Or, “it’s Matheny so who knows?”
I like Hicks and the Cardinals appear to as well. However, I’d expect they’d keep him in less stressful situations for the time being, maybe an NL only play right now.
I was gonna say that Hicks isn’t gonna get called up anytime soon, but now I see that he’s, improbably, on the OD roster. It’s insane that they are adding him based solely on his 4 inning outing the other day. He’s got electric stuff, though.
The Cards’ bullpen will be pure chaos for those of us looking for saves. There’s a chance Leone locks the role down early, but Maddux has recently talked about a more saber-focused approach to bullpen use, so maybe Leone gets used in key situations outside of the 9th. I think Norris, Tuivailala, and Lyons are all going to get a couple of saves apiece, so try to avoid the STL pen.
Do you imagine that McMahon is used exclusively at 1b? Any chance he earns 2b/3b eligibility in more generous formats as the year goes on?
I can’t imagine he logs much time if at all at 2nd or 3rd.
Hey Justin, where do you see this: “likely start the year in a strong side platoon at first base” … everything I read out of CO says Desi still gets the majority of the time at 1B for now. Not that I think that and playing CarGo vs. LHP is smart, but that’s what most seem to be saying is the plan for now. Hope you’re right, since I think it’d actually be worst case for him to sit five days a week (as opposed to being FT in AAA). I mean, he’ll obviously play some, and performance/injury could open things up quick, but however much I like him, I don’t like someone who needs experience sitting around most of the week.
I can’t imagine they’d be keeping him up to sit him. I think they will be creative with Desmond and the outfielders to open up enough playing time for McMahon.
Thanks for the quick reply…
I watched him after his Sept call-up last year and couldn’t believe he got almost no starts. He would do a rare pinch hit. They better make a place for him in the starting lineup…
I look forward to your updates each morning, keep them coming!
For some reason, I don’t feel Strickland will get a chance to close games even though he should. Maybe the Giants do the three-guy situational saves (Dyson, Watson, Strickalnd) based on match-ups until Melancon is ready? (Ala Baltimore).
What a mess.
Strickland is a long term play. Dyson and Watson likely start with the role
If something looks doomed to fail, the Giants will probably stick with it for an extra month…
Given the subheadline, that was not the family guy gif I expected…
Yeah… I think the other one may have gotten me in trouble.
Hate to see Puk go down.