Around the Horn: April 21, 2011
April 21st, 2011 | by Ray Flowers |(1) Ryan Braun signs massive contract extension.
(2) Logan Morrison likely headed to the DL with a foot injury.
(3) Gordon Beckham, Brent Morel really struggling.
(4) Ryan Zimmerman (abdominal strain) unlikely to return next Tuesday.
(5) Brandon Morrow off DL – will start Saturday.
(6) Bartolo Colon looks good in first start.
(7) Willie Bloomquist starting to slow.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Bortolo Colon, Brandon Morrow, Brent Morel, Gordon Beckham, Logan Morrison, Mark Teahen, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman, Willie Bloomquist
By Rob on Apr 21, 2011
Hi Ray,
Who would you slot in for Morrison in the UTIL spot: Vlad, Boesch, Kubel, Adam Jones, Cuddyer, Seth Smith or Chone?
Side note: would you drop Peralta for Chone?
Thanks! (H2H points, 10 team, mixed)
By Ray Flowers on Apr 21, 2011
Rob – Seth Smith is blowing up right now. Tough not to have him active.
I would not drop peralta, but adding chone is a really good idea for his speed and positional flexibility.
By dw on Apr 21, 2011
Ray! Help! Morneau, Rasmus, Garza for Cruz & Butler? Thanks!
By Ray Flowers on Apr 21, 2011
DW – Jump all over that.
I’ve never been a fan of Morneau going 30-100 this year with the concussion. Now the flu for 5 days? Yikes. Rasmus like a lot, could go 20/20, though his average is variable. Garza, solid/stable.
Cruz will be elite if he gets 550 ABs. Butler so much safer than Morneau right now I dont even know how you could compare the two.
Give me Cruz and Butler.
By ritch goldstein on Apr 22, 2011
Hi Ray. You where a big help with my last trade queation. Sroren for Britton. I made the trade and it has helped me out.
Quick question for today. I have four starters going today, in my league we can only start 3 per day. My four are Lester, Chacin, D. Hollend, and Micheal Pineda. Which three would you start today ? Which one would you sit ? I need to lock in by 2. Thanks for you advice_ Ritch
By EQ on Apr 22, 2011
Hello Ray
Clayton Kershaw for Jed Lowrie? I have Verlander, Carpender, Drabek, Burnett, D.Hudson, Stauffer, and Loshe
Thanks!
By Ray Flowers on Apr 22, 2011
EQ – I really, REALLY hope that you are kidding. If you trade Kershaw, one of the top-10 starters in the game for a guy who just got a starting job a week ago, well not to be harsh, but stick to fantasy football. You’d be getting robbed blind.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 22, 2011
Ritch – I really dislike predicting daily starts. It’s frought with danger. There is no way to know how anyone will do if you look just at one matchup. Did the guy have a fight with his wife? Was he unable to sleep last night? Did his uncle end up in the hospital? Know what I mean?
Best advice is to go with the pitchers with the best skills, and those who appear to be on a good streak.
Always go Lester.
I guess I’d bench holland.
By Chad on Apr 22, 2011
Ray – I’m starting Pineda against OAK but would you also start Gallardo who has been struggling lately against HOU.
By Carl on Apr 22, 2011
Ray- should I trade Alex Gordon for Carlos Santana? I’m rotating Ruiz/Napoli at catcher currently. I would have Wright at 3b, and Zimmerman/Cuddyer at CI.
By ritch Goldstein on Apr 22, 2011
Thanks Ray that is just what I did. I sat Holland
Today and started Lester,
Pinada, and Chacin.
Also what is up with Mat Latos ? I have him and now have to treat him as a match up guy ? What do you think ? – Ritch
By Ray Flowers on Apr 22, 2011
Carl – Ruiz/Napoli should give you great numbers if you only start one guy. I’d prefer Santana over Gordon straight up, but there is no reason to have three catchers if you only start one. If you add Santana, use the other two roster spots to help out in other spots.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 22, 2011
Chad- I’d still star Gallardo. He isn’t always consistent from start to start, but the Astros aren’t a very good offensive club. Like I wrote previously though…
I really dislike predicting daily starts. It’s frought with danger. There is no way to know how anyone will do if you look just at one matchup. Did the guy have a fight with his wife? Was he unable to sleep last night? Did his uncle end up in the hospital? Know what I mean?
By Ray Flowers on Apr 22, 2011
Rich – For my thoughts on Mat Latos see:http://baseballguys.com/2011/04/22/around-the-horn-april-22-2011/
By EQ on Apr 22, 2011
Thanks for the advise Ray! I must have had a major brain fart. I just rejected the trade. Thanks for all your advise and knowledge. It really helped me last year and this year, so far. Keep up the awesome job! Hopefully next time I’ll have a better question!
EQ
By GaryT on Apr 22, 2011
Hi Ray,
Would you accept Prince Fielder for Ubaldo Jimenez in a trade? I’m in a 10 team, 5×5, non keeper league, I have Billy Butler at 1st and Aubrey Huff at CI. My other SP’s are DeLaRosa, Colby Lewis, Nolasco, Romero, Ervin Santana, Garza, Derek Holland, Lilly, McClellan and Chris Young. I need some HR power but have a few under achievers there with Stanton and CarGo…just got Jason Bay off the IR. What do you think about the trade?
By Ray Flowers on Apr 23, 2011
GaryT – There is no doubt that straight up Fielder is the player I would want – without questions. Problem is, he is obviously your ace. If you moved him you’d have to count on Young, McLellan, Holland – that’s a lot of risk, especially if Lewis doesn’t come around.
Still, if you need power, there are likely to be few better than Fielder. I’d make the deal, and then see about boosting the pitching.
By Cliff on Apr 23, 2011
Hi Ray.
What do you think of me trading Uggla,Swisher,Buchholz for Ubaldo or Price. I have espinosa and sizemore to fill in besides having granderson,stubbs and choo as my regular of’s?
By DonnaT on Apr 23, 2011
Ray- I am currently struggling with Jay Bruce in my outfield. We have Seth Smith and Jayson Worth as free agents. Should I drop Travis Hafner(my utility) for either of them and sit Bruce till he possibly heats up? I can plug in Jed Lowrie for my DH.
By Ray Flowers on Apr 23, 2011
Cliff – you’d clearly be making a major move on the hill with this. Buchh. I dont love, I’ve spoken about that many times. It seems like you only start 3 OFs, so giving up swisher isn’t the end of the world. Hard to lose Uggla, that guy is a monster despite the slow start. I say you’re giving up one elite player to get back two that could be just that on the hill, so go ahead and do the deal.
By Cliff on Apr 23, 2011
Ray-Thanks for the feedback but I am only getting one of the pitchers back, either Price or Ubaldo. It is a 3 for 1 trade. Too much to give up? Even between Ubaldo and Price?