Anyone else here think it’s utterly mind-blowing that Mike Trout, a 20-year old rookie that spent all of the first four weeks of the baseball season in the minor leagues, is now the top-rated player in fantasy baseball?! I think the game needs more players like this to rejuvenate interest in the sport. Before anyone knows it, he may have the American League MVP wrapped up before he’s allowed to legally drink.
On another note, what is everyone else’s top “waiver wire” picks for the rest of the year? I’ll throw out a few names.
Hitters – Salvador Perez, Justin Ruggiano
Pitchers – Michael Fiers, Marco Estrada, Ben Sheets
Mike Trout is unbelievable! He and Bryce Harper actually make me stop flipping channels if they are on TV–first time there has been a player like that in awhile.
I don’t have much to add on the fantasy baseball front. I didn’t know Numi had such detailed knowledge! Impressive, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Ben Sheets’ comeback is amazing, though. I’d pick him up just because he’s a gamer.
Thanks DonDraper! Great to hear from you and thanks for the kind words.
Unfortunately I waited too long on Ben Sheets, and after his second start with six innings of shut-out work, the second place team (I’m in the lead) grabbed him before I could. Bummer!
Please keep me in the loop if you come up with any good fantasy picks, because the second and third place teams are gaining on me!
There’s a difference in best fantasy baseball player and what a GM values the most, in fantasy baseball stolen bases and HR’s are equally weighted where as on the free agent market teams are willing to pay much more for HR’s.
Mike Trout is pretty unreal, he hit something like .220 in mabye 200 AB’s last year- so we’ll see if his average cools off. He’s hitting a ton of line drives lately though, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Keep an eye on Dan Straily- if he gets called up or a spot start, he leads the minor leagues in k’s.
Other than picking up prospects, you’ll have to “give-up to get”. Or trade for slumping players, by this time of year there isn’t much you can do. Oh, Peter Boujos maybe be traded and get everyday playing time, he could provide runs and SB’s.
Good thoughts, Systematic. Can I ask you, DonDraper and anyone else that’s interested to critique my team? I’m wondering if there are any moves I need to make right now, or if I should just stand pat. I’m definitely more trade-happy than most people in the league, but sometimes it’s better to do nothing. This is a 12-team, 6x6 head-to-head league that counts all the standard categories, as well as OBP and quality starts. I rank in the top 3 across all major categories except batting average and OBP, where around #5-6. No innings limit.
C: Buster Posey 1B: Albert Pujols 2B: Ian Kinsler SS: Hanley Ramirez 3B: Will Middlebrooks OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Mike Trout, Allen Craig Util: Paul Goldschmidt, B.J. Upton Bench: Lance Berkman, Trevor Plouffe SP’s: Stephen Strasburg, Cole Hamels, Jake Peavy, James McDonald, Adam Wainwright, Marco Estrada, Michael Fiers RP’s: Aroldis Chapman, Ernesto Frieri, Jason Motte, Ryan Cook Potential waiver wire picks: Justin Ruggiano, Anthony Rizzo, Salvador Perez, Cody Ross, Roy Oswalt, Jarrod Parker
I think you’re actually looking pretty good considering Pujols, Kinsler, & Hanley aren’t doing as well as what could be expected. Frieri and Cook are great players that you probably got for nothing (off waivers). You’re pitching looks pretty solid.
I’d only trade if you think you can pass a few guys in a packed catagory. For Example, if you’re killing it in HR’s and there are 5 guys within 20 stolen bases from eachother you get more marginal points by trading HR’s for players that can steal bases.
ERA and avg have so many data points that its hard to raise or lower them substantially. I really don’t like messing with things much, I think there are more errors of commision than omission in things like this. Especially if your already in 1st place.
Saw Trout play in single-A ball two years ago and he was head and shoulders above everyone out there, though his power has progressed much better than anyone could have expected. Spring training and minor league games are great avenues to catch those sleepers, it’s almost more fun than catching the big league games.
FYI, no promisies but the kid I mentioned got called up. He leasds all minor leaguers in k’s… so he’s likely better than anythng else you’ll pick up oon waivers
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has confirmed that the A’s are promoting Dan Straily.
Jeff Fletcher of Bay Bridge Baseball was first to catch wind of the call-up. Straily, a 23-year-old right-hander, has posted a dominant 2.60 ERA and racked up 175 strikeouts in 138 1/3 innings this season between Double-A and Triple-A. He could hold significant fantasy value down the stretch if the A’s put him in their rotation
Thanks mate, I’ll definitely keep an eye out on Strailly. The strikeout ratio is eye-popping.
Since I last posted my roster, I cut out all my bench hitters so among the pitchers I might cut, it would either be Greg Holland (I also have Jason Motte, Aroldis Chapman, Ernesto Frieri and Ryan Cook), or one of my pitchers (either Matt Harvey or A.J. Griffin). Anyone you think I should cut for Strailly? I’m thinking I don’t need five closers but all those guys have value. Maybe I should try to trade one of them + a hitter and upgrade one of my hitters in a 2-for-1 deal.
Straily and Griffin are pretty comperable… I think Griffin is a little more polished but Straily is supposed to have better stuff. Its a coin flip. Straily is starting tomo vs Toronto. Griffin is likely to lose his rotation spot when Brett Anderson and Brandon MaCarthy come back (both have been on rehad assignments). Which means Straily may not be starting for long either.
Yeah, if you have a lot of depth on the bench I’d try to go 2-1 or 3-1 for someone that you you can play everyday.
That’s good information, Systematic. Do you think they would really demote A.J. Griffin though? I mean, I guess a six-man rotation doesn’t seem that likely but he has been so good this year. When are McCarthy and Anderson back? I think Griffin is better than at least one of those guys, but that’s just me.
Anderson and MaCarthy are “tenured”, if you will… Griffin and Straily both probably get demoted when they come back.
Rotoworld.com’s MLB page is a good site for fantasy baseball news. I dont even play fantasy baseball, just a fan. I played one year and it took over my life.
Hey Systematic (and others) – since the last time I posted here, I made a huge trade where I gave up Cole Hamels, Jason Motte, Will Middlebrooks and B.J. Upton for Ryan Braun, Chipper Jones and Sergio Romo. Luckily for me, the trade went through the day that Middlebrooks broke his wrist and went out for the season, not to mention that acquiring Braun has basically given me the best outfield I’ve ever had on a fantasy team. It was hard to give up a marquee starting pitcher such as Cole Hamels, but getting a hitter such as Braun made me feel like it was worth it since there are still some OK spot-starting pitchers on the waiver wire.
Below is my current roster. Since this is a head to head league, I’m curious to hear what you think would have to go wrong with my team in order for me NOT to win my league. I’m thinking my hitting is as good as they’ll get, but maybe I just have to be selective about picking up some starting pitching if needed. I’ll likely lose Strasburg for the championships since he’ll get shut down, but Adam Wainwright has come back and has looked really good and I’ve picked up a bunch of rookies that have been awesome so far (Brett Anderson, Kris Medlen, Matt Harvey). May need to drop James McDonald or Mike Fiers if they look like they’re wearing down. What do you think? Any reason for me to make any add/drops right now, or just stand pat and wait to see what things look like as I approach the playoffs? Thanks in advance for your advice.
HITTERS: C - Buster Posey 1B - Albert Pujols 2B - Ian Kinsler 3B - Chipper Jones SS - Hanley Ramirez OF - Ryan Braun, Mike Trout, Carlos Gonzalez Util - Paul Goldschmidt, Allen Craig Bench - Ian Desmond (SS) PITCHERS: SP - Jake Peavy SP - Adam Wainwright SP - Stephen Strasburg SP - Kris Medlen SP - Matt Harvey SP - Brett Anderson SP - James McDonald SP - Mike Fiers RP - Aroldis Chapman RP - Ernesto Frieri RP - Greg Holland RP - Dale Thayer DL - Huston Street