(1) Why you should be looking to add Tim Lincecum.
(2) Why you should be looking to add Josh Johnson.
(3) Chris Young (shoulder) less than a week away from a return to action?
(4) Vance Worley to DL with elbow issues.
(5) Two hot catchers – A.J. Ellis and Jonathan Lucroy.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: A.J. Ellis, Chris Young, Jonathan Lucroy, Josh Johnson, Kyle Kendrick, Tim Lincecum, Vance Worley
The FSWA winner of the Best Baseball Series of 2011, BaseballGuys.com is the only source you will need for your fantasy baseball knowledge. OK, you might need other sources, but BaseballGuys.com should be on your daily list of must reads for the insights an analysis it provides on the world of baseball.
The co-host of The Drive on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87: M-F at 5-8 PM EDT), Ray has spent years squirreled away studying the inner workings of the fantasy game to the detriment of his personal life. Specializing in baseball, football and hockey, some consider him an expert in all three. Ray's work can also be found as feature writer for: Fantasy Alarm, Rotoinfo, Rotowire and Sports Illustrated.
You can contact Ray through e-mail at fantasyfandom@yahoo(dot)com or on Twitter.
By Mike on May 16, 2012
three quick hits…deep 16-team H2H-Points League, (SB=3pts, CS=-1pt, SO=-1pt, BB=1pt, 1B=1pt, 2B=1pt, etc.)
(1) AJ Ellis or Salty?
(2) Bernadina, Blanco or Heisey?
(3) Dozier or Seager (for SS)?
Thanks
By Joe M on May 16, 2012
Great videos man.. Thank you.
Got Josh Johnson on both my teams and as long as he stays healthy im sold on him. Ended up getting Haren off the waivers the other day, happy the league didnt see him dropped or someone else would have grabbed him.
Almost dealt for worley last week, happy now my offer was rejected.
Really trying to buy low on Lincecum, but no one in either league i’m in want to sell him low.
Again, great videos and insight, Much Appreciated.
By Ryan on May 16, 2012
NL only league: drop Bogusevic to pick up Ishikawa? Is it safe to drop Freddy Sanchez now that we hear he is getting an epidural for his back? Thanks.
By Ray Flowers on May 16, 2012
Mike – Give me Ellis. Benradina. Seager
By Ray Flowers on May 16, 2012
Joe M – Glad you like the videos amigo.
Sounds like you made some good moves my man. Best of luck to you.
By Ray Flowers on May 16, 2012
Ryan – I have no idea on Freddy Sanchez. Hard to give up on him in an NL only lg of course, but there seems to be no end to his injuries. I’d try to hold.
I would think Bogusevic and Ishikawa will be close ROTW. I’d let my positional needs dictate it. Ishikawa has been hot of late, but he’s really not a very good hitter.
By Jim on May 16, 2012
Awesome new webcam, Ray! You don’t look like E.T. anymore.
Wait, Katherine McPhee is here… (“Hey, yeah, his name is Ray. You want his number?”)
Dude, make sure your phone is charged.
By Ray Flowers on May 16, 2012
Jim – One of the best posts in the Comment section — ever.
By Jeff on May 16, 2012
I inquired earlier this season about lincecum and the owner said no. I’d like to get him for the reasons you stated in your video. What would be considered buy low on him? Should I offer someone like Peavy?
My current starting pitchers in a 12 team H2H Categories are:
Jake Peavy
Jaime Garcia
Josh Johnson
Neftali Feliz
Dan Haren
Daniel Bard
Jake Arietta
James McDonald
Also, are 8 starting pitchers too many? This league has a few weird categories like Pickoffs, GIDP, K/9 and Relief Wins so I thought having more pitchers would be smart.
I also have closers Thayer, Nathan, D-Rob and H Rodriguez for saves and Chapman and Venters for K/9 and Relief Wins.
For hitting all my starters are pretty much locked in except I’ve been alternating Zimmerman and Middlebrooks at 3b and then rotating my 5 outfielders into the 3 starting spots. I’ve been choosing between Ichiro, Schafer, BJ Upton, Victorino and Bryce Harper and it never fails that whichever two OF and one 3b that I bench always outplay the guys I start.
All that said, I feel like just cutting bait with all my extra hitters, picking up extra pitchers and just hoping for the best, because it is so frustrating constantly starting the wrong guys.
What is the right move? There is not great pitchers available, but some serviceable ones like A Bass, J Blanton, T. Milone as well as relievers like Ogando and Lincoln.
I’m a bit confused with fantasy baseball, I can get to the playoffs but never win. Its definitely much more challenging than Fantasy Football, which I excel at.
I should add there are 8 hitting categories and 13 pitching categories, so being that its H2H category, I could ultimately go 21 wins and 0 losses each week.
I’m currently in 6th place with 45 wins, 42 losses, and 39 ties…13 games back of 1st place.
Through 6 matchups I’ve won the majority of the hitting categories except runs I’m 3 wins 3 losses and stolen bases I’m 1 win, 2 losses, 3 ties.
Pitching I’m 2-3-1 in wins, 3-2-1 in saves and 3-3 in K’s. In ERA and WHIP I’m 1 win 5 losses. So even though I haven’t been cycling starting pitchers like some guys in the league, I’m still losing ERA and WHIP. I almost feel like if I farm starters I could at least win the counting categories the majority of the time.
As evident by my lengthy post, I’m sooo confused as what to do.
Thanks Ray….. Wheres those Kay bikini pics?
By Matt K on May 16, 2012
Ray, what is your thought on how Barry Zito will do against his former team? I just picked him up because pitchers usually do well against their former teams, but I’m not sure if I should start him.
By Matt w on May 17, 2012
Hey Ray, I recently proposed these trades to teams, tell me what you think: giving Matt Moore and detwiler for Strasburg and the other one is giving Tim Hudson for Chris Capuano. Thanks
By Ray Flowers on May 17, 2012
Matt K – I don’t buy into stuff like anecdotal information very much. Zito will have success or failure based upon the team he is facing, not because he pitched for them five years ago. He’s not as valuable as his ratios show of course, so it can only go down from here (awful K/BB).
By Ray Flowers on May 17, 2012
Matt W – “giving Matt Moore and detwiler for Strasburg and the other one is giving Tim Hudson for Chris Capuano.”
Moore for Detwiler to get Strasburg is good for you. Can’t think it will be accepted.
Hudson for Capuano — fine too. Capuano has looked great, but with his injury filled history there are always concerns.
By Ray Flowers on May 17, 2012
Jeff – You win the record for longest post ever.
I can answer what your problem is succinctly – don’t play H2H. You can do everything right, spend all kinds of time and research trying to figure it out, but ultimately H2H is random luck to a certain respect. A 30 save guy might have 3 saves in a week, he might go 9 days without a save. Ryan Braun could suck for two weeks like he did to start this season, and then take off over the next four. He’s a top-20 player right now… but you’re TEAM BRAUN would be 4-2 cause he sucked at the start. Does that make any sense? Of course not, but that’s what happens with H2H.
I’d recommend reading this : http://baseballguys.com/2011/09/21/mailbag-september-21-2011/
Bard/Arrieta have little value right now in 12 teamers.
Oh, and there is NO way to predict wins, and your certainly not going to be able to predict them on a weekly basis.