Around the Horn: April8, 2011
April 8th, 2011 | by Ray Flowers |(1) How imminent are the injury returns of Zack Greinke, Jake Peavy and Domonic Brown?
(2) Are the Red Sox in panic mode already? It seems like they might be.
(3) How good is Starlin Castro at just 21 years old?
(4) How out of control is Derek Lowe? Is he “breaking out?”
(5) Can Willie Bloomquist continue his torrid pace?
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Carl Crawford, Derek Lowe, Domonic Brown, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jake Peavy, Red Sox, sample size, Starlin Castro, Willie Bloomquist, Zack Greinke
By Paul on Apr 9, 2011
Willy “freaking” Bloomquest… love that one…lol
I would love to see him keep up this pace all year, only because I like to see how big of a contract he could get next year.
Those major league baseball teams are crazy!
By billy g on Apr 9, 2011
Any thoughts on best replacement for Manny (most likely my UTIL spot)? Best available FAs in a 12 team, H2H, OBP league w/ K’s as penalty:
Tabata
Francisco
Ike Davis
Milton Bradley
Moreland
Thanks!
By Ray Flowers on Apr 9, 2011
Billy G – Best fantasy value out of that group is Tabata. Question though – do you need speed or power? If you haev to go power, take Davis, but the guy that interests me most is Tabata.
By billy g on Apr 9, 2011
Much appreciated. It is a weekly lineup league so I lost a lot of ABs b/c of rain outs, Stanton and Manny being sooo Manny. I should be ok w/ power from my bench and could use Tabata’s speed/OBP combo. Thx.
By Jim on Apr 9, 2011
Leave my son alone. Why you calling him Willie?
-Mrs. Flippin Bloomquist
By Eric on Apr 9, 2011
Ray in a 8X8 20 team mixed league with BB,K and TB being the extra stats is Will Venable a player you would want on your team. Someone has dropped him and i am looking for some R and a few SB but he looks so bad at the plate. What do you think?
By Jim on Apr 9, 2011
Ray, I needed a stopgap second baseman in a deep 5X5 roto league, and dropped Theriot to grab Wilson Valdez out of a thin pool — figuring he’ll be getting decent PT until Utley returns. By that time, my pitchers should show enough that I’ll be able to trade for a real player at second, but meantime, what do you think of Valdez?
Thanks.
By Joel on Apr 10, 2011
Ray, when the wire opens up tomorrow morning, am I taking Iannetta or russel martin to be my full time C? 6×6 h2h league, with ops as the 6th category. THANKS!!
By Matt on Apr 10, 2011
Ray – hopefully you survived all your “dates” this weekend – what do you make of the closer situation in St Louis? Franklin blew his 3rd save last night – who is next in line? Motte? Boggs? No one seems to be stepping up. Who would you target to get saves in St Louis?
By Ray Flowers on Apr 10, 2011
Sorry Mrs. Bloomquist – just trying to keep it real. Your son stinks… j/k
By Ray Flowers on Apr 10, 2011
Eric- Venable strikes out too much and rarely walks, but in a 20 team league the upside in the steals catgegory is worth it. No one you pick up is going to fill eight categories in a league that deep.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 10, 2011
Valdez is in line for a big fall after this hot start. BIG fall. His line drive rate is 32 percent, career 20. His BABIP .409, career .278.
He has no power, little speed, not much plate control. He’s hot now, but as soon as the worm turns get out quick.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 10, 2011
Joel – I’d still take Iannetta. Martin continues to impress me, but I still want to see more out of him than 10 games. Need to see him handle the rigors of the position before committing to him after years of struggle.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 10, 2011
Matt- Still working on them, 50 percent down…
Franklin isn’t very good. If you listen to show or read my stuff you know that.
Motte would appear to be first in line, but he has struggled too. If they team made a move right now I wouldn’t be shocked if it was Boggs who got the call. Boggs gets grounders, but he really doesn’t profile as a great closing option either.
By billy g on Apr 10, 2011
Ray, new one for you: Someone dropped Hughes in my league. I know all the talk is velocity down doom and gloom right now, but the guy will get his W’s with that offense no? Drop Stauffer (2 start pitcher this week) for Hughes?
By wesley on Apr 10, 2011
Would you drop lackey for narveson, harrison, happ or holland ?
By Chad on Apr 10, 2011
Ray- I received a trade proposal where I would get Cuddyer for Callaspo. I just picked Callaspo off the waiver but the guy is not happy with Cuddyer. Is this worth the trade?
By Ray Flowers on Apr 10, 2011
Wesley- All four of the hurlers you mentioned aren’t the pitcher that Lackey is. However, its understandable to talk about dumping Lackey at his point. I’m gonna hold on though. Narveson has been really good since the ASB last year but he doesn’t have the history. Holland is young and exciting – but tough home park. Happ – I have no idea how he keeps succeeding. Everyone loves harrison, but just like with Lackey, I’m going to let two outings sway all my thoughts.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 10, 2011
Chad – Totally. BEST case with Callaspo is probably .300-10-70. Cuddyer at worst likely .275-18-75. Toss in multi position elig, and the fact that Cuddyer is also likely to score 20 or more runs, and it’s an easy call to favor Cuddyer.
By Regina on Apr 11, 2011
Ray, HELP! 12 team 5×5 roto league, very small bench (3) and 1 DL spot. Innings cap 1400. I have Greinke on DL, other starters are Haren,Colby Lewis, Beachy, Pineda. Narveson, Matt Harrison, Guthrie, and Masterson. Which to switch out? Dump Beachy and Pineda and take ??
By Ray Flowers on Apr 11, 2011
Regina – I’m not sure what your question is here. Can you restate it?
By Regina on Apr 11, 2011
Sorry, don’t know where one of the pieces of that post went! Narveson,Guthrie, Harrison Masterson are available. That should make more sense!
By Mark on Apr 11, 2011
Hi Ray! I have Jose Lopez, Casey Mcghee and Edwin Encarnacion on my roster..are you drinking the EE kool-aid on Edwin’s value this year or is it safe to dump him as I already have 2 other 3Bs and I also believe Lopez in Colorado could put up some great #s in the thin air. Thinking of picking up a few Reds pitchers for this week @ San Diego and EE would be the cut. Thanks again for the advice, your website is my MVP.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 11, 2011
Regina – really, really small bench means you are likely going to have to rotate hurlers to get to that IP limit in your league. From what I can tell, and still not clear on your question, you have Greinke/Haren/Lewis/Beachy/Pineda as your starters. If that is the case, I’d drop beachy – I wouldn’t want two rookies in my rotation. I’d take a shot on Narveson or Masterson to pick up the slack.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 11, 2011
Mark – EE will hit 30 homers one year if he can stay healthy. However, he’s yet to do it, and is a butcher in the field. I’d still prefer him over Lopez though. Lopez can’t get on base, is a total hacker, and doesn’t have the power of EE, not even close. If he gets 600 PAs he’ll be fine, but if he doesn’t, it won’t be good.
Glad that my site is your MVP!
By Regina on Apr 11, 2011
Thanks Ray! Sorry for the confusion.