21 Responses to “Living the Fantasy League”

1. By joel on Mar 24, 2011

   ray, I’m a new XM listener, love your show and call in on the drive home sometimes (Joel from Connecticut). I have the 8th pick in a 12 team 6×6 H2H league. The guy withthe #1 pick just made me this offer: he’s taking Pujols. If Adrien Gonzalez is still available at 8, he’d trade me Pujols and his 12th round pick(133) for AGonz and my 6th rounder (65). What do you think?

2. By Ray Flowers on Mar 24, 2011

   Joel-
   glad you found us on the radio.

   I’d much prefer Pujols to AGone, by a ton.

   I’d see if I could change the picks.

   Get him to take your 7th for his 10th or something like that.
   Big difference between 6th and 12th value.

3. By Dave on Mar 24, 2011

   Love the show Ray. 5×5, 12 team keeper league. Roster 2 at each infield, 5 OF, 5 SP, 5 RP. We keep 10, I have 1 at each IF, 3 OF and 2 SP. At #2 pick I have these options: J. Upton (assuming will be gone at #1), Rollins, A. Ramirez (SS), Andrus, A. Ramirez (3B), Alvarez, Sandoval, Stubbs, Rasmus, and BJ Upton. Mid Infield is thin, who to pick???
   Thanks!

4. By joel on Mar 24, 2011

   Thanks for the quick response! I’m new to FBB and have my draft Sunday. i have another Q that I was gonna call about tonight, but will pose it here: my league requires 9 active pitchers, 3 starters, 3 relievers and 3 of either. the categories are whip, era, wins, Ks, saves and homers allowed. I’m trying to value relievers correctly, and see “never pay for saves” all over the place. However, with respect to someone like a Mariano, wouldnt he also be HUGELY valuable to my era, whip and HRs allowed totals as well? If he has a whip of under 1 and an era under 2, along with 35 saves and very few homers allowed, wouldn’t he be the anchor of my pitching staff? And isn’t he as much of a safe bet as halladay? in general, does this format lend itself to taking an unimpeachable closer in the first 6 rounds?

5. By Eric on Mar 24, 2011

   Ray your very close to the Giants team what is your best guess for the closer role if Wilson is not ready Romo, Casilla or Lopez or an unnamed one?

6. By Matt on Mar 24, 2011

   Ray, First you snake all my guys right before I pick and then you shortchange me on the writeup. Hmmmm…conspiracy? LOL

7. By Jeff-LivinSouthernComfort on Mar 24, 2011

   Nice breakdown Ray! Keep up the good work here @baseballguy.com so I can smoke you in this league.

8. By Ray Flowers on Mar 24, 2011

   Dave – here are my thoughts given your statement that you are week in IF.

   Rollins, Alexei Ramirez, Upton, Aramis, Alvarez.

9. By Ray Flowers on Mar 24, 2011

   Eric-

   Giants will likely go with Romo with Wilson out. However, they could easily mix and match.

10. By Ray Flowers on Mar 24, 2011

    Joel – Value of RPs
    Homers Allowed is a dumb category.

    Don’t pay for saves = spending a lot on closer early. You can get good arms late if you target the right skills.

    You are right. Gregerson, Madson, Adams last year would have given you numbers very close to Cliff Lee.

    Still, I wouldn’t reach too early for a closer. Rivera is a lock for saves, but his age is a concern, as is his K/9 rate which plummeted. I’d much rather prefer you take a shot on Soria or Bell if you want to go early.

11. By Jeffster on Mar 24, 2011

    Czars and LivinSouthernComfort look like the teams to beat IMHO. Looks like Kay took Ray’s Matt Kemp bounce back year to heart!

12. By Dave on Mar 24, 2011

    Ray,

    Quick follow up question to my 5×5, 12 team keeper league. If my keepers at IF were Santana, A-Gon, Uggla, Drew, Prado would your ranking be the same for the below?

    Rollins, Alexei, BJ, Aramis, Alvarez, Stubbs?

    Sorry, should have clarified a bet better. Rollins scares me a little, but he may still be the best bet.

13. By Sean on Mar 24, 2011

    Great stuff Ray. I have a 6×6 (ops/qs), snake draft with 5 keepers. I’m keeping Votto, CarGo, R. Zimmerman and Kinsler. For my 5th, I have Ethier, Stanton or Josh Johnson. Where would you lean?

14. By Ray Flowers on Mar 24, 2011

    I’d say take Ethier. His OPS will likely surpass that of Stanton who will be weighed down by all the strikeouts.

15. By Tim Elliott on Mar 25, 2011

    Ray, I am in a 10 team, 5×5, h2h keeper league (12 players). I have won this the last 2 yrs and only kept 10 guys. This means I get 2 picks before the main draft starts. I will be picking 3 & 5 in the supplemental picks. My question is there are 4 main players I have my eye on: K. Morales, B. Zobrist, C. Utley, and B. Gardner. Since I will have room next year to keep 2 additional players, who do you think I should target out of those 4? I’m leaning Morales & Gardner???? Thanks!

16. By Frank on Mar 25, 2011

    Hey Ray,

    I really have bought into your philosophy of targeting skills and not roles for relievers. I am in a 6×6 league that uses holds as a category and last year drafted Kuo, Bard and Feliz on that theory and it paid off! This year I am looking at Kenley Jansen, Jordan Walden, Scott Mathieson and Ernesto Frieri as under the radar (Jansen and Walden not really under the radar) holds guys with great skills who will be around late. Any thoughts?

    Thanks,
    Frank

17. By Ray Flowers on Mar 25, 2011

    Frank-

    Its a great plan to follow with MR’s. Jansen I love. Hasn’t been pitching long, but that is a huge arm, and Walden is a good bet too – who trusts Rodney?

    Others – Masset, Farnsworth, Peralta, Downs, Saito, Bentancourt.

18. By Ray Flowers on Mar 25, 2011

    Tim-
    I have no idea when Morales will be back to full strength, and even when he is, how long will it take him to get back into baseball shape (his swing etc.)? Its a keeper league so you are obviously playing for more than this season, but honestly, given the position he plays, I think I’d still lean toward keeping Utley.

    Love Zobrist and his multi position elig.
    Gardner works the count, and runs like crazy. If he hits #1 in Yankees order, huge season in store.

    I’d go Zobrist and Utley – but that’s just me.

19. By Bill on Mar 25, 2011

    Ray,
    I am in a 12 team keeper auction league. Our draft is this weekend. I already have H.Pence, A.Ethier and C. Young on my roster. I am thinking on bidding on M.Kemp. If I don’t get him, who do you think would produce similiar stats?? Would you please list a few players. Thanks for your help. I really enjoy reading your blog. They are very informative.

20. By Jeff - NNJ on Mar 27, 2011

    There is a donation link at the top of the home page for those who are interested. I wasn’t aware of it until today; I donated to all of the hard work that Ray has put into the free analysis on the site. Thanks again Ray for all of your hard work.

21. By Ray Flowers on Mar 27, 2011

    Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated your donation was.