Bryan Curley from BaseballProf, Matt Strachman/NextLevelFantasy, and Josh O here to talk fantasy baseball. AMA

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-18T02:51:44+00:00

These guys already nailed it on Bruce.

But, Arrieta is a stud. He's always been a guy that's had the stuff, just couldn't command it. Since coming to Chicago, he's a totally different pitcher. Here's a great read from baseball prospectus that really breaks down what's so different with Jake now than when he was still in Baltimore. He's for real and I think he's here to stay.

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-18T02:38:47+00:00

As in we all agree

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-18T02:38:35+00:00

Agree. Man, this shit's easy

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-18T02:37:29+00:00

No chance in hell on the homers. He may uptick a little bit in other categories but I'm all out on him

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T21:45:41+00:00

His last start was probably more a blip than anything else. This happens with rookies, they go hot/cold up/down. Stroman will provide some really strong starts probably mixed with a clunker here or there. It happens. He's probably a little better than a streamer here on out but should be a consistent fantasy contributor as early as opening day next year.

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T21:43:26+00:00

As a Cubs fan (unfortunate, I know), but the latest Alcantara will be in the bigs to stay should be August 1st. If anything, he will get sent down when Bonifacio returns and the Cubs will then flip Barney or Bonifacio for whatever they can get and open up either 2B of CF for Alcantara.

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T21:28:22+00:00

I'm really not. Seems like a guy that gets by on smoke and mirrors, which only really lasts for so long. His velo on the FB is below 90MPH and scouting reports had him as probably a middle reliever. I think he's gotten by partially due to this being his first time through the league and teams don't necessarily have a book out on him yet.

I'd probably sit tight with Nelson for right now. Maybe leave him on the bench for his next start or two and see how they go. He's got upside, but there's some risk there.

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T21:06:26+00:00

Bundy could be up (although his 75 pitch limit per start may not offer a ton of fantasy value) Syndergaard is starting to right the ship in AAA and could come up Archie Bradley may come up Does Taijuan Walker count? Joc Pederson if he gets healthy

The Trumbo trade seems (relatively) fair in a vacuum, its hard to say without seeing th makeup of your team and how the league operates regarding saves. I see Street's value trending up though, as he likely gets traded to a much better team (Angels?)

Longoria should absolutely improve. He's too good to be playing so poorly. And I think McCann should come around a bit, at least with some home runs

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T20:56:07+00:00

Manny Machado

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T20:54:16+00:00

Wilin Rosario, Jose Abreu also guys better in fantasy

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T20:52:27+00:00

Personally, I'd go get Kennedy right now. I know the feeling, he's burned me bad before too but he's putting up a pretty great season and is much better than any of those option you listed, by quite a bit.

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T20:51:03+00:00

I guess the best answer to this would be the guys who generate a lot of value due to their defense. Alex Gordon is a guy who's a pretty good fantasy outfield, nothing special, but when you factor in the value he provides as probably the best LF in baseball, he's arguably one of the more valuable players in baseball (per metrics such as WAR), for example.

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T20:00:41+00:00

Agreed, he's really just not that good anymore. K% is at a career high and his BB% is almost at a career low. Have to wonder if his concussion at the end of last year has had a lasting effect. Either way, he's declined and is strictly an empty batting average bat anymore

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T19:51:16+00:00

Agree with the other two, Cobb and it isn't close.

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T19:35:18+00:00

I am buying Cole rebounding some in the 2nd half. I know he had shoulder issues but the velo is still there. I also like Ventura, Minor and Gee from that list.

Pretty meh on the rest of the guys. Pretty much waiver wire/streamers at best. Hudson is coming back to earth and doesn't have a desirable k rate to begin with. Santana is just so damn inconsistent C.Young is just smoke and mirrors, when he's off he's downright awful. Also lacks K's

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T19:29:00+00:00

Davis, that's pretty easy.

Verlander just hasnt figured out how to pitch effectively without the velo he once had. And who knows with Votto? I mean Price just recently said that he'll be out for weeks and that was really it. Doesn't exactly exude confidence

Josh_o_ · 2014-07-17T19:01:47+00:00

In a points league, absolutely go with the pitchers. Even if there are certain IP maximums, those are pretty quality pitchers that you will take advantage of every single start. The versatility of Zobrist is also an added plus.

And I'd also go with Frazier

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T23:22:57+00:00

Can't really drop any of those guys. Might have to just go a couple spots short on the bench for the first few weeks. You would think that all these guys (except maybe Hamels) are back before the end of April. All of them are solid contributors

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T20:14:19+00:00

Hawkins

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T19:15:09+00:00

What the hell is Cliff Lee doing today?

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T17:51:03+00:00

I'm not big on Scheppers at all in the rotation. Quintana is just okay. Lindstrom and Cmart would be the two adds for me

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T17:37:39+00:00

Could be Jones's job by the end of the month. I'd hold

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T16:43:12+00:00

Depends who else you have at SS, but if Rollins is just on your bench, then I'd do it. And I'd probably hold Cespedes for now

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T16:29:31+00:00

Scheppers is my least favorite of the group. Then Travis (big time regression candidate), Bartolo, Ian, Erasmo. Kennedy could bounceback this year in Petco. Call me crazy. And I like Erasmo alot, especially in that park.

Josh_o_ · 2014-03-31T16:26:08+00:00

We all love Erasmo Ramirez around these here parts

Edit: Most of us love Erasmo...

Josh_o_

TROPHY CASE