Roto Riteup: May 12, 2015
Yesterday marked the 10 year anniversary of the Leeroy Jenkins video. While not a WoW player myself (shocking, I know) this video was inescapable back in the day.
On today’s agenda:
1. Time to buy Adam Eaton
2. Maikel Franco watch
3. Streaming Pitching Options
Time to buy Adam Eaton
Okay, so I’ve been saying that since 2012, but really, now is the time. Eaton was hitting .195 entering yesterday’s game, though a .235 BABIP — 90 points below his career average — was partially to blame. Eaton hasn’t been dropped in the Chicago White Sox lineup just yet and rewarded his manager’s faith in him with a four hit performance yesterday. He still has just one steal on the year, but only had two at this point last year, though an injury forced him to miss two weeks in early May. Hitting leadoff for a powerful lineup in a hitter friendly park should be a recipe for success for the 26-year-old and while extra-base hits aren’t his forte, Eaton should provide enough rate stats, runs and steals to be useful in almost any league going forward. He is currently available in 65 percent of Yahoo! and CBS formats and over 80 percent of ESPN leagues.
Maikel Franco watch
Most of yesterday’s prospect news came in the form of Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa getting promoted to Triple-A, but don’t overlook Franco. The Phillies third base prospect could get the call this weekend as Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly predicts, especially given Cody Asche being sent down to Triple-A to work on his outfield defense. Franco is sporting a .336/.359/.520 line in Triple-A, however a .394 BABIP is helping prop up his weak on-base skills. Our own Kiley McDaniel had Franco rated as the no. 2 prospect in the Phillies system and no. 38 overall entering this season, praising his bat speed and power. Franco cracked 31 dingers in 2013 and 16 last season so the power is there and should be played up in his future home park of Citizens Bank. He’s worth a look in NL-only redraft leagues but the 22-year-old will be hard pressed to provide a ton of fantasy value in standard mixed leagues this season. His power and bat speed make him worth stashing in keeper or dynasty formats, but if you play in an OBP league, be careful. Franco isn’t one to work a base on balls too often as he owns a 6.1 percent BB% in his combined minor league career.
Streaming Pitching Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.
A pitcher for today: Nathan Eovaldi at TB (Chris Archer)
To date, the Rays have hit a tick below average against right-handers. Home runs have hurt in him the early going but the pitcher friendly Tropicana should help keep the ball in the yard for Eovaldi. He’s available in 35 percent of CBS formats and over 75 percent of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues.
A pitcher for tomorrow: Carlos Frias vs MIA (Jarred Cosart)
The Marlins have scuffled when facing righties thus far and Frias will look to exploit their sixth highest strikeout rate. Frias can be streamed in more than 55 percent of CBS leagues as well as more than 90 percent ESPN and Yahoo! leagues.
You can catch David spouting off about baseball, soccer, esports and other things by following him on twitter, @davidwiers.
Speaking of buying/buying in on some players, which journeymen, veteran starting pitcher off to surprising fantasy starts are you buying in on? Between Chris Young, Colby Lewis and Ubaldo Jimenez can any of these pitchers prove worthy of owning over the long haul of the season or no?
Young’s microscopic .105 BABIP is really driving his success. He has improved his swinging strike rate and thus his K%, likely due to the increased slider rate, but his extreme fly ball tendencies are going to lead to more home runs.
I’d be slightly more inclined to buy on Lewis, but I don’t love his profile still. As a fly ball pitcher in a tough park, he’ll be prone to the long ball and his 0.60 HR/9 is less than half his career norm.
Ubaldo is someone I’m legitimately keeping my eye on as his walk rate has improved as has his F-Strike% and Zone%. His .220 BABIP won’t last forever either, but if he can continue to keep the walks under control, he could become a stream option for me.
Ok I know this is really off topic but I didn’t know where else to post this. But in my somewhat shallow bench league with only two DL spots Im carrying 3 catchers with 2 of them, Wieters and TDA on the DL with Gattis as my starter. I personally think this is way too many catchers so how would you/anyone rank them ROS and if I should drop any now or just hang on to them for the time being. Thanks!
Gattis, TDA, Wieters.
I usually only carry one catcher unless they are like Vogt or Santana and carry dual position eligibility.
Gattis seems to have his power stroke back. TDA looked like a breakout guy until the finger injury, which scares me a bit for when he comes back. That said TDA is making quick progress from the latest updates.
Wieters is the closest to Waiver Wire fodder at this point. The O’s have been tight lipped about his status other than continuing to push his return date back further and further.
If you don’t need the DL spots I would keep them stashed and see how it plays out, but if you do need the DL spots for your other players I think Wieters is the most droppable in shallower leagues.
Thanks man, thats about what i thought too. I drafted wieters and took TDA to be a filler for when wieters came back but TDA was killing it before he got hurt. Then someone got disappointed with Gattis’ slow start and I jumped all over that.
The whole wieters and his no time table and no real updates (just caught here and there) make me a little uneasy. I wanted to drop one and take a chance on Kang, especially now that hes getting more playing time but i think im going to give it another week and see how it all plays out. Thanks again man appreciate it
I guess I would look at Kang vs. Wieters as do you need catching depth or do you need someone who can potentially give you some power at MI spot. If you need MI help, I might jump on Kang before someone else in your league does and drop Wieters.
I am nervous that TDA’s finger injury could slow his hot bat down, so he’s not money in the bank just yet. That said, at least with him we know he is making consistent progress in the rehab of his injury. We know very little about Wieters at this point, other than he was supposed to be back in May, got pushed back to June and now about half way through May we havent heard much about Wieters progress which makes even June no sure thing.
Personally I would throw Wieters out to other owners, especially someone who needs Catcher help and see if you can’t get something in return for him.
Yeah being in a heavy pirate fan league especially, my fear is he will be scooped up sooner rather than later, especially because we get to keep 2 FAs as a keeper for next year and he could be a good candidate if he keeps this up and the pirates move walker at the end of the year.
But i agree i think im going to try and see what wieters value is at this point and see if i can get anything of value for him
I agree with Mike W, Gattis, d’Arnaud, Wieters.
David, would you drop Coco Crisp for Franco in a 12 team mixed roto or stick with Crisp for now? Thanks!
I think it depends what your team needs more, power at a CI spot or the speed/runs scored ability of Crisp. I would probably lean towards Crisp in a total vacuum since the Oakland lineup has been surprisingly good and as long as Coco can stay healthy he should chip in a decent number of steals to go along with a not terrible Average and potentially a bunch of runs at the top of that line up.
Franco is worth a flier if you need power at a CI spot, but I think his lack of plate discipline could make it tough sledding to start out at the Majors. Now that I wrote that, watch him hit 2 bombs in his first game or something….
Nice, and who do you like between Zobrist and Crisp? Thanks for the quick reply!
I would still lean Zobrist, mostly for his SS eligibility. Zobrist is getting older and coming off a knee injury could sap some of his power and speed, but let’s face it, SS is such a fantasy black hole this year that it doesnt take much to be relevant in mixed leagues at that spot right now.
No, in a vacuum I like Crisp more.
Who has a better year Kang or Franco?
Kang, assuming he continues to get regular AB’s at SS or 3B. Kang’s power at SS will help owners more than Franco will at a deeper 3B. Plus, Kang just hits in a significantly better line up which should allow for some more run production.
I like Franco as a prospect, at least in terms of his power potential, but 3B is just deeper than SS which elevates Kang.
I’ll go with Kang. Similar power, better OBP and is SS eligible in a year where shortstop is pretty terrible.
Preston Tucker should be picked up ? He’s on my bench, but i’m not sure he’ll have an impact
I like MiLB walk rates, but I don’t know if he’ll see enough regular playing time. I’d probably let him go and carry an extra SP.
Dave: another deep league question (16 teams, points wOBA and FIP oriented though not as heavily as in Ottoneu): It looks like Drew Smyly is done for the season. I’ve already picked up Colome and Frias per your instructions.
I still have a slot open as I’ve dropped Justin Turner now that he’s back from Colorado.
Should I add McAllister? The way he’s been pitching lately it seems like only a matter of time before he moves up the holds pecking order. And given how Cody Allen is performing so far, not inconceivable he gets some save opportunities.
He’s been dominant out of the pen, no doubt, but I’m not sure if he’s the next guy after Allen.
Our bullpen guys have both Shaw and Atchison ahead of McAllister, but I think Shaw is the most likely option. Not even a week ago Franco said he thinks McAlliser is a starting pitcher: http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/122976196/zach-mcallister-thriving-in-bullpen-role-for-cleveland-indians
If you saves in Cleveland, go with Shaw.
Would you like to consult with Jeff Sullivan on the potency of the white sox lineup? Are you expecting some improvement that he isn’t? And how much of a factor does this have on Eaton’s value? Thanks
Hitting in front of Abreu (.389 proj wOBA), LaRoche (.339) and Melky (.334) is plenty strong for fantasy purposes.
Sullivan is much smarter than myself, but his article focused on overall WAR with defense being a significant factor. While the current 25th ranked wRC+ isn’t pretty, I expect more runs as the weather warms up.
Looking for some quick advice from David or anyone else!
I got offered Alex Wood + either Boxberger or Cecil for my Tyson Ross or Scott Kazmir.
I think I should jump on this, but should I go for Boxberger or Cecil? (FYI, I have Jake McGee on my DL.) And should I deal Ross or Kazmir?
Thanks!
Move Kazmir and take Boxberger imo.
Thanks! I was thinking the same thing.
What is a fair player comp for Reddick ROS? I’m in a points league so OBP carries strong value and was offered Soler straight up. What comp. players should I target or worth hanging onto?
I’d take Soler straight up. Career walk rate difference isn’t that significant, 0.7 percent in Reddick’s favor. He has more raw power but a tougher park and Soler has better splits, albeit in a pretty small sample size.
Why is Franco’s speed praised if he has only 9 sbs in 13 attempt in 2000+ abs in the minors?
Bat speed, not foot speed. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.