The Daily Grind: Gauche Personal Update

This column is usually named after section one. The other sections are always the same. Except for the one that keeps changing.

AGENDA

1. Personal Update
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. Hitters to Use
5. SaberSim Says…
6. TDG Invitational Returns!

1. Personal Update

People actually email me to ask about my men’s league performances. And since I’m self-allowed to write about anything in section one, I’ll update you here. I’ve missed most of the season with an undiagnosed elbow something. It’s incredibly frustrating since I implemented a number of popular major league trends into my hitting and pitching. You know, for research purposes. I probably won’t pitch again this year, but I am recovered enough to DH and pinch hit.

Yesterday, I received my second plate appearance in what can only be described as an ugly at bat. I took a ball inside that was then called for a strike. The next pitch was a nice mashable fastball on the outer half. I, uh, overemphasized the leg kick. By the time my foot was down, the ball was crossing the plate. I took a feeble check swing. This was followed by me fouling off an inside pitch, then a would-be ball high. I finally singled up the middle on a hard ground ball. The pitch was ankle high. I credit the new mechanics for me getting any juice on the pitch. I later scored a meaningless run in our 6-3 victory.

My current stat line now includes: 2 PA, 1 1B, 1 BB, 1 R, 100% hard contact, 100% up the middle contact, 100% GB. We’re off next weekend for the holiday. Hopefully some fly balls are in my future in two weeks.

2. Weather Reports

Uh oh. Only nine games are four are threatened by weather. At this point, Philadelphia and Baltimore should see their rain pass by 9:00pm at the latest. They’ll probably play. Atlanta is a coin flip. They have storms in the forecast. Anyone familiar with the area knows it’s beset by patchy storm cells all summer. The Yankees game is the most likely to take a soaking. If they wait long enough, it’ll clear up. They may prefer a doubleheader later in the four game series.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Main Slate: Zack Greinke headlines a surprisingly deep pitching pool. After all, there are only nine game, but I count only six pitchers I wouldn’t touch for any reason. And I expect one of them to pitch well.

As for Greinke, his stat sheet doesn’t align with his latest resurgence. His velocity is down. Although a small increase in slider rate has helped him induce more whiffs, he’s also allowing more hard contact than ever before (at least since 2007). I smell regression. Who really buys his 10.18 K/9? Seriously, does anybody think he’ll continue to strike out over a batter per inning?

Gerrit Cole is one of my favorite targets for stolen bases, but he also has this nasty tendency of pitching well. He’s pitched six or seven solid innings in every start since his Opening Day clunker – eight consecutive quality starts. The stuff sometimes looks like the best in the business.

Michael Pineda versus Jason Vargas figures to attract a lot of DFS owners. Pineda still scares me. He’s got that minus cutter and elite slider. I boldly predict he finishes the season above a 4.50 ERA. There are meltdowns in his future. Vargas could be an over-popular attempt to find a contrarian pick. The Yankees disassembled him last week.

In the bargain realm, J.C. Ramirez is the guy I want. Sure, I poo-pooed him earlier this year. His skill set is much like a poor man’s Pineda – lots of plus breaking balls and a minus sinker. The Rays make for a scary assignment – they’re the second best offense against right-handed pitchers.

Stack Targets:  Josh Tomlin, Kyle Gibson, Jeff Hoffman, Ty Blach, Ubaldo Jimenez, Brad Peacock (3 IP start?)

4. Hitters to Use

I have a feeling Tommy Joseph will go yard tonight. Perhaps it’s because he’s a fly ball hitter versus a (currently) bad ground ball pitcher. Oh right, that’s not a feeling, it’s math.

Gimme all the right-handed Cubs versus Blach. Especially if the wind is blowing out. The real battle is Ian Happ or Javier Baez at second base.

Jake Lamb is wombo bombo.

Great American Ballpark should fuel a few Indians. Scott Feldman’s pitch-to-contact tendencies may help Bradley Zimmer. I’m more interested in Francisco Lindor, but who isn’t. I frequently to see him talked about as the first pick in a hypothetical major league franchise draft.

You’re go for Trout. I repeat, you’re go for Trout.

5. SaberSim Says…

Pineda, Grinke, Cole, Jake Odorizzi, and Jerad Eickhoff are SaberSim’s favorites. Excuse me if I don’t want any part of Eickhoff versus the Rockies. Top hitters include Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, and Buster Posey. No, this list is not position adjusted. SaberSim really likes Posey at Wrigley Field.

6. The Daily Grind Invitational

Mhindy snatched the aegis of victory last Friday. Alex Wood, Jake Lamb, and Chris Taylor combined for 122.6 of 174.2 points. Great work! It’s always great to see a new user win a contest too. Although I prefer winning myself. It’s been awhile… Anywho, leaderboard.

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve done FanDuel on Monday. So let’s do the Duel.