54 Responses to “Pointing Out the Obvious”

1. By JB on Jun 13, 2011

   Ray: I was listening, though I asked the same question last Thursday before searching the site. I picked him up just in time Saturday morning. Thanks.

   Now what about Dillon Gee? Is he for real or bound for a fall? I’d have to dump a SP since my fellow owners seem completely uninterested in taking any of my guys. Other than Baker I have Stauffer, Cahill, Tomlin, Bud Norris and Colon.

2. By Mark Q on Jun 13, 2011

   I could use some help with some choices in a very shallow H2H league, in which the object is stil the same: put the best players available on your team and keep them from the other team owners.
   I own David Wright, Matt Holliday, and Hanley Ramirez. We only have 2 DL spots so I will need to decide to drop a player or 2 as these guys get ready to return. I have Rollins in at SS who I just picked up in a trade (once he recovered) and have had Jamey Carroll plugged in at 3B. I also recently acquired Cano for 2B but still have Utley (Haven’t got a bite yet).
   I would like to add Ryan Zimmerman until Wright is back (Moustakas is also available at this time). The other Zimmermann, Jordan, is also out there as well as Morse.
   My line up is C: Montero {FA: Wieters, Avila}
   1B: A.Gonzalez, P.Konerko
   2B: Cano, Utley
   3B: Wright (DL), Carroll {FA: Zimmerman, Moustakas, Sandoval}
   SS: Hanley (DL), Rollins
   OF: Holliday (DL), Stubbs, Choo, Werth, Stanton {FA: Morse}
   My worst pitchers are Latos, & Daniel Hudson and available FAs are Zimmermann, Nolasco, & Oswalt.
   Thanks for your help!

3. By ty on Jun 13, 2011

   Ray,

   Can i get your take on a trade question. Giving up Bautista for Ricky Weeks and Lester.

4. By Brian on Jun 13, 2011

   Your thoughts on a trade than went down in my league.
   Lincecum, Chipper and C. Gomez for Oswalt, Weeks and M Young.
   When I first saw it I thought it looked lopsided.

5. By wesley on Jun 13, 2011

   im in 9th place in a 10 team roto league. i was offered Crawford and holliday for bj. Upton and Kemp. Whats you think?

6. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

   JB – Gee is average in walks, strikeouts. Not much upside given those numbers. Does a solid job keeping ball on ground, but that’s really all that gets me excited.

   However, dump Tomlin immediately for Gee. Tomlin is, simply, not good.

7. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

   Ty – Bautista has slowed the last two weeks, as he should. He’s never hit .270 in his career, so even if he blows that away this year, that average is still coming way down.

   Weeks is an injury risk, three seasons under 100, three over 100 games, but when healthy he is a force.
   Lester is a stud. Wins, solid ratios, tons of K’s.

   I don’t have an issue with this deal.

8. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

   Mark Q – Drop Carroll immediately. He has no business in this group.
   Morse = hitting .342 with eight homers, 25 RBI the last three weeks. Should have jumped on him a couple weeks back. Still, you have to add Zimmerman first.

   This league is so shallow, your basically dropping all-stars to add other all-stars.

   You can find all my rankings here – http://baseballguys.com/2011/06/03/rotw-rankings-pitchers/

9. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

   Brian – Lincecum is an ace, Chipper just filler.

   Oswalt isn’t Lincecum, but he’s a solid SP #2. Gomez has speed but that’s it.
   Weeks is a stud at second base. Young is a top-10 3B.

   This is an awful deal, just terrible. I hate to say veto a deal as long as their is no collusion, but this one should be vetoed, it’s totally lopsided.

10. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Wesley – Check out my rankings for OFs. I clearly like this deal for you.
    http://baseballguys.com/2011/05/30/rotw-rankings-hitters/

11. By Alan on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray,
    I have James Shields pitching against Boston tonight. Should I start him or sit him?

    Thanks

12. By Rob on Jun 14, 2011

    Hi Ray,

    I really need a points producer (10 team H2H points) in my catcher and MI positions. My pitching staff is really deep and I’ve been offered Avila, Y. Escobar and Kuroda (getting) for Shields and Gallardo (giving). I think this is too much but I’m really struggling at C and MI (both positions currently vacant). This guy also has Mauer and Uggla.

    If I countered with receiving Mauer, Uggla and Kuroda, giving Gallardo and Shields, would you do that? The guy only wants those two arms (tried offering Cahill/Kennedy + one of the two but he didn’t buy).

    I’d still have these SP: Hamels, Scherzer, Wandy, Gio, Cahill, Nolasco, Kennedy (and Kuroda if traded).

    Do you think Mauer can keep it together for the rest of the season and how much of an upgrade is a healthy Mauer from Avila (notice they’re #3 and #4 on you ROTW)? Do you like any of the above mentioned trades?

13. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Alan – I really dislike making single game calls. Too much white noise. I’d would sit Shields tonight though. Bad matchup for Shields.

14. By Mark from Chicago on Jun 14, 2011

    HI Ray, is there a link to the FSTA draft results from last night’s football draft? Thanks.

    Also, 5×5, 10 team-mixed league, non-keeper: Is it a good time to buy low on Chris Carpenter? fellow league owner wants Valverde for Carpenter straight up and I can give up a closer. Also, is it time to dump Casey Mcghee? I can pick up Valencia or Chipper in my league. Thanks again for the great content and advice!

15. By Jim on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray, Which Oakland As’s starter? Outman, Moscosco or Godfrey?
    Enjoy SF!
    Jim

16. By Brian on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray, wondering if you can help me out? Just lost Napoli. I picked up Olivo. Someone in my league offered me his Avila for my Bedard. I like Avila, but not sure the upgrade to him is worth Bedard. My other SPs are CC, Hanson, Billingsley, Ubaldo, Zimmermann, Chacin, Nolasco, Volquez and Beachy. My league is a 10 team 5×5 that uses OBP. And we have an innings cap.

    Thanks.

17. By Chad on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray- What’s your take on Pence the rest of the year? I have a guy that needs a SS and he wants Castro for Pence.

18. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Rob – If the guy already has Mauer who is about to come back, and you only start one catcher, don’t let him hold you hostage for Avila. I would not do this deal, you’re giving up two studs on the hill and not getting a stud in return.

    I like the talent a lot with Mauer and Uggla, but I still think you are giving up too much. Uggla continues to struggle, and it’s tough to know what to expect from Mauer. It’s a huge risk for me to add Mauer and depend on him. He was only as high as he was in my ROTW rankings because catchers just aren’t very good.

19. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Chad – Re: Pence — did you read the article above? It gives my thoughts on him. Bad move to get only Castro for him.

20. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Brian – Bedard can’t be looked at as a 30 start guy. He’s been really good, as he always is when healthy. At some point he’s likely to get hurt. Still, he’s been pretty darn good this year, so I’d like to get more for him. Problem though with 10 team leagues, there are so many good arms on waivers every week that it’s pretty hard to sell a guy like bedard at 100% value when you can grab a similar arm off waivers. You can do this deal if you need the help at catcher since you can always find arms.

21. By Chad on Jun 14, 2011

    Thanks Ray. I didn’t see Pence’s name until after I hit the submit button.

22. By Keith on Jun 14, 2011

    Hey Ray,

    Love the Sirius XM show in the afternoon…

    Have a quick question that I can use your opinion on:

    With Sandoval coming off the DL I need to drop someone. I am thinking either Andres Torres or Jed Lowrie. I don’t have another backup at 2B or SS and my only other backup at OF is Desmond Jennings who can’t seem to replace Sam Fuld. What do you think?

    Keith

23. By Jim on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray,
    2 to choose from,need 1 starter, 1 reliever:
    Starter: Wakefield, Cobb, Harrison
    Reliver:Dumatrait, Crain or Janssen

    Thanks,
    Jim

24. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Keith – Glad you like the show… we certainly have fun doing it.

    Jennings isn’t even in the bigs yet, and Ruggiano is hitting well of late, so the Rays are likely in no rush to add Jennings.

    Given that, you have to drop the injured Lowrie who has hit .226 his last 32 games.

25. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Jim – Yuck all around. j/k

    Go with Crain as RP. I don’t know if he will get any save chances, but Santos is struggling so it’s possible.
    On hill, Cobb will be demoted for Niemann when healthy.
    Wakefield has a great offense.
    Harrison has horrible K/BB.

    Take shot on Wakefield.

26. By Craig N on Jun 14, 2011

    AL Only Auction Keeper…..Should I trade Brantley (keeper $), Gio Gonzalez (very cheap) and Mathis for Granderson Weiters and K Gregg???

27. By Craig N on Jun 14, 2011

    Brantley $6 1st yr of 3 yrs
    Gio $6 first yr of 3 yrs
    Mathis- throw in
    for

    Granderson, Weiters and K Gregg (non are keeper prices, trust me)
    ““““““““

    In my NL Only keeper auction I was offered
    T Wood $5 1st yr for Denorfia $1 1st year

    Would you do this one?

    Thanks

28. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Craig N – Gregg isn’t going to keep his role all year. Granderson should regress a bit, but he’s elite OF in an AL only league. Wieters is a strong option behind the dish.

    Brantley has a solid future ahead of him, and at a great price.
    I dont know how much $ go up year to year, but if you can keep Gio Gonzalez at $6 for next two years, that looks great.

    If you are in it for the long run, this deal seems to get you two players at great value. If Wieters/Granderso/Gregg all go back in the pot, you have to ask yourself — are you trying to build a winner, or trying to win this year?

    I’d take Wood. Denorfia is the kind of guy that eventually gets traded, and if its to the AL, you’re out of luck.

29. By Chad on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray- I need help for my bench. Is Ruggiano worth picking up and dropping Morgan since Morgan is still splitting time?

30. By Mark from Chicago on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray, I think you may have accidentally skipped my question or since the Cubs are so bad this year, I don’t qualify to get the question answered…

31. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Chad – Ruggiano is likely only a short term fix. When he starts to struggle, the team is likely to call up Jennings to eat the playing time.

32. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Mark from CHI – here is the link to the NFL FSTA draft from San Fran.
    https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AshQB-qKioHldFRrbF85MXo2VjZFV3BRaDRHd1NVLUE&authkey=CNSH3fcL#gid=0

    Yes. As I’ve been saying for a month now, Carpenter is pitching better than the results.
    See – http://baseballguys.com/2011/05/12/buy-or-sell-nl-version/

    Without knowing who your closers are… I’d do the deal to get Carpenter if you need a starter.

    McGehee – just not that great. http://baseballguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ROTW-HIT-May30-2011-BBGuys5.pdf
    I ranked him 13th, so you dont have to hold him in a 10 team league. However, I had chipper 14 and valencia 20, so you aren’t doing anything than just mixing it up if you make a move.

33. By Joel on Jun 14, 2011

    Ray:

    just got a huge offer in my 12 team 6×6 h2h league.

    I would give Prince Fielder and Ervin Santana, and get Ryan Howard, Victorino and Trevor Cahill. I don’t really want to give up Fielder, but I sense they’re about to start pitching around him regularly with no cover for him in Mcgahee (intentional walk yesterday). What do u think? I’m slightly leaning twds it. THANKS!!

34. By Ray Flowers on Jun 14, 2011

    Joel – Fielder/Er.Santana for Howard/Victorino/Cahill

    I’m not a huge fan of Cahill, but he’s solid. Santana might be better, but its close.

    I’m not sure why Victorino is getting no love from people. He’s a borderline elite OF.

    Fielder is the better 1B option, but Victorino more than makes up for that.

35. By Craig N on Jun 14, 2011

    I have a deal offered in Nl only, salaries roughly equal….Denorfia goes for Stauffer….should I do it?

36. By Johnny T on Jun 15, 2011

    Hey Ray, who do you like better as a callup and for results this year…Ackley or Lawrie?

37. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Craig N – In an NL only setup, five me the hurler in Stauffer. Denorfia only has value playing every day since he doesn’t have a skill set that excites.

38. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Johny T – For my thoughts on Ackley and Lawrie, see http://baseballguys.com/2011/06/01/the-prospect-trinity/

    At this point, with the injury to Lawrie and Ackley likely up next week…

39. By Randy on Jun 15, 2011

    Ray,

    I know you’re not a Genie, but who do you predict will be moved at the deadline? I’ve heard rumors of H. Bell because of their record. I have Bell (yikes) any validity to these rumors?

40. By Fred on Jun 15, 2011

    Ray,

    I have reviewed your ROTW Rankings for SP and was curious if you would move up Ubaldo based upon his last 3 outings, or was this the Ubaldo you ranked in the mid-30′s?

    Also, how do you see Carlos Carrasco performing ROTW and who would be some comparable SP’s?

    Thanks!

41. By Michael on Jun 15, 2011

    I have Neftali, K-Rod, and Brian Wilson as my closers right now. Soria, however, is still sitting on the waiver wire after being dropped in my league. So, should I drop Neftali for Soria?

42. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Randy – I don’t have a magic lamp, and worse yet, there is no genie here to grant me any wishes. I’ll need to look into why that is.

    Bell could be dealt. I’d have to assume if he was he’d still end up with another team that would ask him to close though. It’s certainly a bit risky if you own him though cause there is always a chance that he ends up in setup role. Something to think about for sure since he will be a free agent next year.

43. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Fred – lots of folks have been asking me about Carrasco, so I decided to write about him.
    http://baseballguys.com/2011/06/15/what-goes-up-must-come-down

    Ubaldo isn’t moving up my rankings based on three good starts, not with 20 mediocre ones before that. He really hasn’t been very good since the All Star break last year, so I need to see more consistency from him before I move him up.

44. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Michael – I don’t think, despite his struggles, that Feliz is losing his job. Who would the Rangers turn to? There really isn’t a backup option, and the club is committed to the flame thrower. You can add Soria for sure, it would be a good idea in fact, but I wouldn’t drop Feliz to do it.

45. By Mike on Jun 15, 2011

    Hi Ray

    Thoughts on Jon Rauch, holding the closers role in Toronto. Have a chance to grab him for B Boesch. Worth the gamble ? We start five outfielders. I have hamilton, McCutchen, Stubbs, Joyce, Tori Hunter and Delmon young and can also play Zobrist in the outfield. I also use one of the outfielders or yunel Escobar in utility spot.
    Thoughts
    Thanks
    Mike

46. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Mike – There are a bunch of arms in TOR that could close. Rauch is a solid arm who could hold on as the “closer”, but they keep switching their plans there. That leads me to look at the skills as my guide. Rauch doesn’t have great ones. His K/BB is average, and he gives up too many fly balls leading to a lot of homers. I wouldn’t trust him.

    I’m not a huge fan of Boesch though. You clearly don’t need him with your depth.

    I’d rather take a shot on 20 saves the rest of the way than a .275-15-40 line from an outfielder.

47. By Mike on Jun 15, 2011

    Thanks Ray
    I agree, only concern i had was if i trade Boesch i will be limited to one offensive bench player becasue i have Wright and Napoli on the DL, i am also carrying alot of pitching and i can’t get anything off the waiver wire till july 14th when second half FAB dollars are given. Its crazy becaue Pitching in our league is at a premium. even though its a ten team league our benches go ten deep so some teams carry five or six offensive bench players. I still think Rauch is worth the gamble. I am trying to pull Bell from him but he is asking for a solid run producer and sb guy and all my speed is high end players in Reyes, McCutchen and Stubbs. I suppose i can offer Joyce for bell, but i am a Joyce believer. i have been watching him and he is learning to hang tough vs lefties. I think he is starting to figure it out. I do have three closers plus Venters and like a fool held onto Broxton. Thoughts on joyce for heath Bell. or roll the die on Rauch.
    thanks Ray, i respect your opinion
    Mike

48. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Mike – Joyce is going to continue to come back to earth. That hit rate of his is still insanely high.

    Venters starting to get saves… a great reliever regardless.
    Broxton could still yet get saves in LA, no one knows how that situation is gonna play out.

49. By Dan S on Jun 15, 2011

    Ray,
    Took your advice and didn’t trade reyes for cruz. I parted with ACab instead…for zobrist and Salas, sent him Latos as well. 6×6 head to head, including hits and HR given up. had A. Hill as my other 2b. only had soria and marmol at closer, D.Hudson, A.Sanchez, J.Sanchez, Zimmerman, S.Baker (per your suggestion), Chacin, Danks at pitcher. Good deal or what?? Again, love the drive.

50. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Dan S – So you traded Asdrubal Cabrera and Latos for Zobrst/Salas?
    That the deal?

    Latos or Salas? Tough to go against Latos who has pitched better of late. Salas has been great. Can he keep it up?

    Fair deal for you.

51. By brad on Jun 15, 2011

    thinking of trading rolen for magehee
    what do you think

52. By Ray Flowers on Jun 15, 2011

    Brad – With Rolen hot the last week, might as well try to ride him for now.Both he and McG aren’t any great shakes. I’d still be worried about Rolen, but at least he’s producing right now (6 RBI, in 4 games).

53. By david on Jun 16, 2011

    hi, ray. this is a trade question and a strategy question. double whammy.
    i’m in a 12 team mixed 6×6 league (6th categories are K’s for batters and losses for pitchers). the league is weekly head-to-head and we change our line-ups daily to get a win, loss, or tie in each cateogory.
    the strategy question: does a player have greater value if he can almost guarantee that you will win one category each week? here’s the case in point, or rather the trade question: ben zobrist for michael bourn? as i already have ellsbury, if i get bourn in my line-up i’m virtually guaranteed to win SB’s each week. runs and avg and K’s are even. but it’s a step back in two categories, HR’s and RBI’s, but my line-up is strong in those. does locking up SB’s make this trade doable?

54. By Ray Flowers on Jun 16, 2011

    David – I dont like head to head leagues. Reason being, questions like this come into play. You should have a scoring system that rewards the most productive players, not one that gives points to someone who figures a way around a scoring system.

    That said steals, just like saves, are the most unpredictable cats in the fantasy game. Adding Bourn is a fine move, he’s going to be more productive from a fantasy perspective this year than Zobrist, but what happens if Bourn steals one base in a week? If he’s got zero homers and one RBI – it’s a totally wasted week. There will be times when he will steal four bases and you’d look great, but there is no way to predict steals, and they often come in bunches.

    So in the end, where ROTW you’d look great in steals, I don’t know if adding him in your scenario would be the best deal.