RotoGraphs Audio: The Sleeper and the Bust 5/14/13
Episode 12
Today’s episode of The Sleeper and the Bust stars yours truly and features RotoGraphs editor Eno Sarris. We discuss the updated consensus rankings at catcher and shortstop and answered our first Twitter question.
Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @mikepodhorzer or @enosarris on Twitter and tweet us any fantasy questions you have that we may answer on our next episode.
You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the feed.
Approximately 44 min of joyous analysis.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Mike Podhorzer is the founder of ProjectingX IQ, an advanced fantasy baseball analytics platform that transforms projection data and in-season performance signals into actionable intelligence. He is the 2015 Fantasy Sports Writers Association Baseball Writer of the Year and three-time Tout Wars champion. He is the author of the eBook Projecting X 2.0: How to Forecast Baseball Player Performance, which teaches you how to project players yourself. Follow Mike on X@MikePodhorzer and contact him via email.
Great show, guys. Was wondering if you are going to make this podcast available via the Stitcher app?
Never heard of the app, but checked out the site and it seems like a no brainer. Running it by the powers that be and will hopefully get it on the platform.
Guys, I love the podcast. My favorite fantasy talk, hands down. I love that you go in depth on players and often emphasize different ways to look at them (i.e. the Chris Davis batting average discussion in this one) and the problems that age gives in evaluating players (like Konerko). I learn when I listen. Just one thing–in the Jesus Montero discussion, you guys overlooked that it’s going to be hard to win at-bats back when he’s playing twice a week. But otherwise everything awesome. Thanks!
Regarding the Hosmer discussion – isn’t the problem with converting SBs directly into HRs in terms of value that SBs are a standalone stat, whereas every time hits a HR he helps you in Runs, RBIs, HRs and AVG?
No, this is the exact same thing that was brought up with Cuddyer when I mentioned him in some preseason article. We’re just talking about overall value, not how his other stats might change if he traded steals for homers. A steal is around the same value as two homers. So 15-15 isn’t that different from 30-0, yet 30-0 likely has much more perceived value, especially if it’s from a first baseman.
I just think you might want to think of a different way to phrase it.
Maybe you bring up two fictional hitters where all else is equal (I’m using SB as worth 2 HRs in terms of z-score as you say in the podcast). Hitter A has a lot of power but doesn’t steal any bases and hits 6th in the lineup (and say scores 80 R because he draws a lot of walks).
Hitter B doesn’t hit for much power but can steal some bases. He hits 2nd in his AL lineup because he’s a veteran who has hit there for years (and people would complain if they moved him down).
Hitter A: 30 HR, 0 SB, 80 R, 80 RBI, .260 BA
Hitter B: 10 HR, 10 SB, 80 R, 80 RBI, .260 BA
These players have equal standard 5×5 value.