25 Responses to “The Fantasy Beat: Jeff Erickson of Rotowire.com”

1. By david on May 5, 2012

   in the interest of full disclosure, could you please post the players from your teams, at least the way they looked after the draft? i get the feeling many fantasy sports “analysts” are not 100% honest about their opinions because it affect their ability to trade or pick up players.. i mean if you are up or down on a player, how do we know you are practicing what you preach??
   -uncertain in utah

2. By Ray Flowers on May 5, 2012

   All my rankings were available in the Draft Guide this preseason.
   http://baseballguys.com/category/2012-fantasy-draft-guide/

   Second. Many of my drafts were held live on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio so everyone had the chance to listen to me do many drafts live (FSTA, LABR NL, TOUT and Two Hosts Leagues for the channel were all carried live).

   Third, I’ve written up many of the drafts that I’ve done on the site. Here are a few of them.

   LABR NL: http://baseballguys.com/2012/03/06/labr-an-experts-take/

   TOUT: http://baseballguys.com/2012/03/26/tout-wars-a-review/

   K-BAD: http://baseballguys.com/2010/03/23/k-bad-part-iii/

   HOST LG: http://baseballguys.com/2012/03/29/siriusxm-hosts-league-draft/
   
   FSTA: http://baseballguys.com/2012/01/23/part-iii-vegas-and-the-fsta-draft/

   Fourth, I give my opinions on players three hours a day on SiriusXm Fantasy Sports Radio. If I wasn’t being 100 percent honest all the time it would be obvious.

   Some experts might fudge a bit, but my teams are ALL out there for everyone to view. There’s no fudging with me – I’m always honest about how I evaluate players.

3. By Cliff Prince on May 7, 2012

   Hey Ray
   how can anyone not love to watch Bryce Harper play baseball and call themselves a baseball fan?

4. By Brian on May 7, 2012

   I am a frustrated owner. I am in a 12 team H2H 6×5. We added OPS for the sixth. I am wondering if I should worry with this team. This is my team. Santana, Pujols, Kendrick,Beltre,Escobar,Swisher,McCutchen, Boesch,Campana,Jennings,Alvarez,DL Gardner. Drop someone to pick up Renyolds, Walker.
   Pitchers are McCarthy,Milone,Scherzer,Lester,Strasburg,Bumgarner,Morrow,Holland,G. Gonzalez. Rp are Jansen,Thorton,Aceves,Robertson. I am 0-3-1 so far but have been close each week. Just your expert knowledge is all I need. Whatcha think about this 0-3-1 team. Still to early to start panicking?

5. By Steve on May 7, 2012

   Ray,

   I pulled off two trades netting me Chris Sale and Billy Butler in my AL-Only league (Jacoby, Kendrys, A.Henderson, Delmon, Murphy for Span, Sale, Butler, Viciedo). However, I got stumped on the waiver wire and lost out on Jeannar Gomez. This is my roster now (and I’m thin on SPs… even more so with the announcement of Sale to closer):

   AJ, Tex, Kelly, Lawrie, Kipnis, Dunn, Grandy, Damon, Dyson, Reddick, Butler starting on offense with Span and Viciedo on the bench.

   Would you start SPAN over Dyson, Reddick, or Damon? If so, which one?

   As for pitching, I have Beckett, Frieri, Tim Collins, Derek Holland, Nathan, Niemann, Sale, and Strop with Hochevar, Walden, and Downs on the bench.

   Downs or Walden may go into starting role once I hear more info on Downs, but for now, I’m going with the fireballer Frieri who strikes out 40% of batters he faces. The SPs on the wire include Pavano, Paulino, Beavan, Millwodd, and Tommy Hunter. Nothing to run home to. The only ones I can consider would be Seattle’s SUPER TRIO of Hultzen (dropped), Walker, and Paxton.

   Which one do you think will make the Show first?

   Another option is to wait out my closer situation and figure out what is wrong with Downs. Once that is settled, I can offer one for trade to see what is the best SP I can get. Your thoughts?

   Thanks for all your time and opinions, Ray. Love the show and the website!

   Steve in Arlington, MA

6. By Steve on May 7, 2012

   Ray,

   I was offered Gavin Floyd for Chris Sale. See my roster above. What do you think?

   I also have an offer on the table: Sale/Viciedo for Romero (I get)

   Should I pull the trigger on Sale for Floyd, wait for Romero offer, or hold until more info on Downs?

7. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

   Cliff Prince – I have only two issues with Bryce Harper. (1) The no glare running down his face makes him look like a WWE wrestler. Tacky as all hell. (2) The crappy ass haircut which, again, is tacky as hell. Other than that, dude is good to go.

8. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

   Brian – First off, this is why H2H lgs suck. You have a solid team, but you don’t get rewarded for it. A guy like Pujols is KILLING you every week. I’d still bet he has strong numbers overall. In a roto league Pujols would be a strong contributor for you. In a h2h setup you’ve literally lost four times cause he has been so bad.

   Now that Robertson is likely to get 9th inning work, hopefully you can move on from Aceves.
   In a 12 tm h2h lg, I’d drop Campana for Reynolds.

9. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

   Steve – Damon isn’t exciting to me, gotta see how he looks for a bit. I’d start Span over him.

   I’d add Paulino and drop Hochevar. Paulino has an impressive arm.

   No idea who gets called up first. Think DBacks – Skaggs and Bauer are the top-2 arms, but they weren’t called up first. With youngsters it’s always a crapshoot.

10. By KevinB on May 7, 2012

    @Ray, I just listened to the Fantasy Beat and they touched on Carlos Marmol and his value.

    I have noticed that Marmol is on the WW in several of my leagues so what is your take on Marmol? Is he worth the risk in a 10-team 7×7 league that features holds and in a regular 12-team 5×5 league?

11. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Steve – Pass on the Floyd offer. I’d take the second one, for Romero. However, your bullpen is pretty bad. You can’t afford to trade Sale, who is set to close. You just dont have enough bullpen help.

12. By Craig D on May 7, 2012

    Ray,

    Would you trade away Alfredo Aceves OR Kenley Jansen at this point in the season?

    I have a guy who wants one of them and is willing to trade me Eric Hosmer.

    I’m leaning Aceves – Guerra is imploding and I trust Jansen over Aceves. But Aceves has looked strong lately.

    Thanks,
    Craig

13. By Steve on May 7, 2012

    Thanks, Ray! I was on the fence with Gavin and like the Romero offer better. I initially offered Sale/Niemann for any 2 from Scherzer, Floyd, and Parker. Owner countered with the Floyd offer. As of this, still have not heard from Romero owner who also has CC, Hellickson, Moore, Nova, Humber, Lowe, and Phelps at SP. His closer is Cordero. I’m hoping he bites. Again, THANKS for the advice!

14. By Tyler on May 7, 2012

    Hey Ray, just wondering who you take between Jesus and Miguel Montero at catcher ROS. I would have to give up Logan Morrison or Mike Trout in order to secure the services of Jesus Montero. (re-draft league)

    Tyler

15. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Kevin B- I’d be adding Marmol if he is floating out there on the waiver-wire. I addressed the situation here:

    http://www.rotoinfo.com/blog/fantasy-baseball-the-on-deck-circle-%E2%80%93-the-9th-inning-05042012.html

16. By Mike on May 7, 2012

    Ray- I would be giving Ichiro for David Price? What’s your thoughts?

17. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Craig D – I’m not a fan of Aceves, that’s well documented. If you could convince some moron, and I’m sorry to call the guy a moron but he is, to give you Hosmer for Aceves… then in the words of every person who is going to read this …

    CAN I GET IN YOUR LEAGUE?

18. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Tyler – If it’s a redraft league, I wouldn’t push super hard to get Jesus Montero, not if you already have Miguel. If you start two catchers that would be a mighty impressive duo, but if just one you should be fine with Miguel.

19. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Mike – If you can give up Ichiro to get David Price, do it immediately. Ichiro is still a solid contributor, but price is on the cusp of being truly elite.

20. By Alan on May 7, 2012

    Ray, I would be giving Cliff Lee for Carlos Gonzalez in a 12 team roto? What’s your thoughts?

21. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Alan – Lee for CarGo, I say go for it. Lee should be fine, but he is coming back from injury which is a wee worry. Even if he was healthy, I’d still prefer CarGo. Fair deal for both sides.

22. By Ryan on May 7, 2012

    Ray, NL only league: what is your opinion of Taylor Green of the Brewers and Tyler Greene of the Cardinals? Just lost Werth so looking for other hitting options out there (and there aren’t many).

23. By Bobby on May 7, 2012

    Hello Ray.

    My offense sucks see Pujols,Phillips,ETC….

    I am last in R,HR,RB,AVG In your draft guide you had Nelson Cruz over Shin Soo Choo they both look lost at the plate who do you like better?

    thank you

    Bobby

    bobby

24. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Ryan – Green should see plenty of time at first. Ishikawa is no great shakes. Greene probably going to play against lefties, but that may be it for now. I’d go with Green and hope that the Brewers don’t make a deal to add someone.

25. By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2012

    Bobby – I just wrote about Cruz today… didn’t you see it?
    http://baseballguys.com/2012/05/07/daily-joust-wk-5-did-we-learn-anything/

    Choo should rebound. Too good not to. I do worry though about him hitting the bench marks I thought he could this year.

    At this point, I’d still go Cruz.