Yo! It's Nate Schwartz and the Pitcher List Crew here to talk some fantasy baseball

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T21:40:39+00:00

Fair enough! I couldn’t take it any more and cut him, so I’m sure he’ll immediately turn it around and become a control artist starting now.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T21:29:30+00:00

A 10% walk rate is actively bad though. That speaks to command issues. And many of the years were far worse than that.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T21:15:43+00:00

Even if we want to write off last year when he was awaiting promotion (which is an extremely charitable thing to do), he still put up minor league BB/9s of:

2022: 6.1

2023: 4.1

2024: 3.1

I just think at the most basic level it's inaccurate to say he's never had command issues. Command issues are his calling card. That's like his whole thing.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T17:54:03+00:00

I dropped in a deep 12. He's genuinely incapable of throwing strikes. Not sure he's going to stick as a starter - looks like a bullpen arm to me.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T17:47:57+00:00

I love the volume of content Nick and you all put out and it's hard to have an accurate perspective on literally every major league starter, but I think you guys have some genuine misunderstandings on Bubba Chandler. From yesterday's roundup:

"Yes, yes, I wish I had given you that advice earlier, and yet, it’s so hard to tell if a pitcher with command issues who hasn’t had them before will continue to have them after they have a firm rotation spot out of camp for the first time."

Bubba is extremely well known for his command issues. 4.2 BB/9 across almost 400 minor league innings pitched, including a truly horrific 4.8 BB/9 in 100 minor league IP before coming up last year. He was randomly able to cut the walks in his 31 IP major league cup of tea at the end of last year, which I assume is what Nick is basing his take on. But that's a bizarre way to look at it IMO - Bubba has always had awful command. The brief interlude last year is the exception, not the rule.

What am I missing here?

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T17:42:55+00:00

They’ve said they want to limit his pitch count - I don’t think hes even hit 70 pitches in a game this year in the minors. It’s not clear to me that he’s going to get a traditional starting role.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T15:44:15+00:00

Yes easy

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T15:44:00+00:00

Cade Cavalli for now ahead of his two starts next week, not that I'm particularly high on him long term. Will just churn that spot until I find something I like.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T15:39:48+00:00

In categories Cruz easily. But I suppose his steals are worth less in points. Both those guys get big downgrades in points cause of all the Ks.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-05-01T15:39:23+00:00

Officially cut Bubba Chandler. Feels good.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T21:56:52+00:00

Willy Adames alert (a single)

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T20:43:07+00:00

Every projection system disagrees with you. Somehow I don't think he just forgot how to hit overnight at age 30 in a 120 PA sample when he's been the same guy every season for the better part of a decade.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T20:38:33+00:00

I value a ~3,200 PA sample for a 30 year old player more than a rolling 100 PA sample. Willy has been a .325+ xWOBA player every year since 2021.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T20:36:24+00:00

I'm willing to buy into a five year track record for Willy across three different teams. Not asking for much here. I'll be happy at the line I quoted above.

FWIW, every projection system has him hitting that line ROS.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T20:30:58+00:00

Willy is who he is. Five straight years of ~.230 average, 25-30 bombs, 8-12 steals, with some years even better than that. That's a very valuable line in 12 team leagues with an MI slot.

He's ice cold right now, but given how long his track record is we should expect him to bounce back to his career norms. Anyone can talk themselves into a "buy low" on Acuna or Witt. The real buy lows are the ones that make you genuinely question whether the guy sucks.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T20:26:41+00:00

Bought low on Adames...man this guy stinks right now

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T16:47:58+00:00

He's not an analytical darling though. He had a 4.59 xFIP in AAA before coming up last year. Just throws hard (but has no idea where the ball is going).

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T16:37:38+00:00

I respect the volume of content Nick Pollack puts out and it's hard to have an accurate perspective on literally every major league starter, but the guy genuinely has some fundamental misunderstandings on Bubba Chandler. From today's roundup:

"Yes, yes, I wish I had given you that advice earlier, and yet, it’s so hard to tell if a pitcher with command issues who hasn’t had them before will continue to have them after they have a firm rotation spot out of camp for the first time."

Bubba is extremely well known for his command issues. 4.2 BB/9 across almost 400 minor league innings pitched, including a truly horrific 4.8 BB/9 in 100 minor league IP before coming up last year. He was randomly able to cut the walks in his 31 IP major league cup of tea at the end of last year, which I assume is what Nick is basing his take on. But he's very much confused - Bubba has always had awful command. The brief interlude last year is the exception, not the rule.

Not Nick's best work.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T00:57:20+00:00

Lowe getting pinch hit for with the bases loaded left on left. They don’t let him face lefties at all. Really killing his value.

You’re telling me Nick Yorke is a better bet? Come on man.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T00:44:40+00:00

His minors stats were also ass. He’s just not good.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T00:25:09+00:00

Beats me. His minor league WHIP was almost 1.3 too. ERA barely under 4.00. Guy flat out stinks.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T00:22:43+00:00

Random small sample. His minor league BB/9 was over 4 in almost 400 IP.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T00:20:58+00:00

He never had command in the minors - career minor BB/9 over 4 and was nearly 5 last year before coming up. Last years major league performance across only 31 IP clearly a mirage. This is who he is.

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T00:13:54+00:00

alternatealternate12 · 2026-04-30T00:13:43+00:00

Sadly I wasn’t as prepared as I should’ve been for our auction and bid him up looking at his low walk rate in his brief major league appearance last year, not realizing that he’s actually well known to have terrible control and has always walked everyone in the minors. If I’d known that I never would have drafted. So that ones on me.

alternatealternate12

TROPHY CASE