Daily Joust – Wk 11: Did We Learn Anything?
June 18th, 2012 | by Ray Flowers |
On Monday each week I take a look at the fantasy baseball game breaking down players who have produced noteworthy performances of late – not just positive outings mind you, but I’ll also delve into some of the players that have been sucking wind of late.
To get your daily fantasy baseball fix make sure you head over to DailyJoust.com to set your salary cap club.
GAINERS OF THE WEEK
Jake Arrieta (+43, $212,000 in DailyJoust Salary)
Arrieta dominated the Pirates in his last outing (1 ER in 7 IP) reminding everyone just how good he can be. Of course, the previous start his evil twin came out as he allowed 11 hits and nine runs in just four innings against the Phillies. He pitches in the toughest division in baseball (AL East), and consistency has always eluded him, but this is a young fella that does own a big arm (8.33 K/9, 3.13 K/BB this season).
Craig Gentry (+14, $91K)
Josh Hamilton is dealing with a nasty flu bug, and Nelson Cruz is seemingly always hurt somewhere, so Gentry has been generating a lot of excitement offensively this season in limited playing time. Craig has hit an uber impressive .349 while stealing nine bags in just 109 at-bats, and he has been raking it the past two weeks hitting .484 over his last 31 at-bats. Leonys Martin was called up which could eat into the playing time of Gentry, but he still makes a fine AL-only target.
Mike Minor (+30, $238K)
He’s finally found his game. In his last two starts Minor has allowed a total of two runs to drop his ERA by nearly a run to 6.01. Still, he walked six batters in those two outings signaling that everything isn’t totally “fixed” with his game. His skills far outpace that ERA and his WHIP (1.42) so buying low here certainly makes sense as the Braves have decided to return Kris Medlen to the pen to allow Minor and Randall Delgado to continue to start.
Alexei Ramirez (+17, $77K)
You’re killing me smalls. After improving to .245 with 18 RBI in May, June has been more of the same blah for Alexei as he has hit .212 with a .462 OPS in 52 at-bats. The only thing keeping him in the lineup at this point is his history of success cause he certainly hasn’t merited full time at-bats given his sickly .527 OPS through 64 games.
Jonathan Sanchez ($37, $207K)
A 2-start pitcher this week (HOU, STL) the enigma that is Sanchez continues to vex. In his return from injury he held the Brewers to one run in five innings and walking two batters has to been as an improvement for a guy who has issued 24 free passes in 30.1 innings. He’s not to the point where you can trust him – obviously – but if he goes out and looks solid this week it would be a great time to pounce.
LOSERS OF THE WEEK
Jose Altuve (-11, $91K)
After hitting .283 in May he’s upped that mark back to .317 in June, which just so happens to match his year mark. His speed is allowing him to leg out a few more hits than I expected, but it’s a long season. Given that he’s no power hitter, and that he doesn’t really draw walks either, he’s going to have to keep that average up or he’ll also see his steal total fall do to a lack of times on base to attempt a theft (his OBP is just .359 despite that .317 batting average).
Jose Bautista (-16, $118K)
Flashing the power bat that has produced 40 homers, 100 RBI and 100 runs the past two years, Bautista is on pace to reach all of those marks yet again in 2012 (19 homers, 47 RBI, 42 runs scored in 66 games). However, like I’ve said about 97 times over the past two years, Bautista is NOT a .300 hitter, not even close. Batting .230 on the year, I’ll write it again – in a career that began in 2004 Jose Bautista has finished a season with a batting average over .265 one time – once. It’s an open question if he will make it two times this year.
J.A. Happ (-38, $155K)
Bombed in his last start (8 ER in 3.1 innings against Giants), Happ is sporting a 5.33 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. Consider me shocked (if you could see my face right now you’d understand that I’m not shocked in the least – the guy just isn’t that good a pitcher). NL-only leaguers have had the benefit of Happ’s 76 KS in 72.2 innings, but even in that setup you’re paying a high price for some punchouts (as you can tell over at Fleaflicker, most people are doing the right thing an avoiding Happ).
Derek Lowe (-16, $181K)
If you had said back in March that on June 19th Lowe would have seven victories an a 3.78 ERA I’d have said he would have exceeded all expectations. However, he’s seen his ERA go from 2.15 to that 3.78 mark in his last four outings, though that could hardly be a shock for a guy who has only two more Ks than walks (28 Ks, 26 BBs) in 78.2 innings. Lowe is a middling innings eater who should only be used in certain matchups — and that K-rate is vomit inducing at 3.20 per nine.
DAILY CONTEST
Today you can sign up for the King Arthur’s $50 Free Roll on DailyJoust. No entry free is required to get a chance to play the game and earn your free chance to take home part of the $50 prize pool. All games that start at 7:05 PM EDT or later are open to add players to your daily fantasy baseball squad. So get over to DailyJoust, put together your one day lineup, and get ready to win some free $.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Alexei Ramirez, Craig Gentry, Derek Lowe, J.A. Happ, Jake Arrieta, Jonathan Sanchez, Jose Altuve, Jose Bautista, Mike Minor
By Mark on Jun 18, 2012
Ray – Help! I need to drop one of these guys in a 12 team 5×5 non-keeper since Carlos Lee is now off of the DL. Which one of these would you drop? Thanks!
Carlos Lee
Plouffe
LaRoche
Hosmer
By Ray Flowers on Jun 18, 2012
Mark – I dont think you can drop any of these guys in a 12 tm. I certainly wouldn’t. All have plenty of trade value and could bring something nice in a deal. If you are intent on dropping one, why not double up – meaning sell two guys in a 2-for-1 deal?
By Mark on Jun 18, 2012
Ray – Unfortunately our commissioner changed the rules mid-stream (since he was losing)and I can no longer do any trades. He’s getting crushed in this league with only 35.5 points (last place), with your help I’m in first with 94.5. I still need to drop someone. Should I flip a coin? I’m leaning towards Plouffe since he’s doesn’t have a long term track record.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 18, 2012
Mark – Changing rules midstream is so bush lg…
With the way Plouffe is hitting right now, even in your lg, I can’t suggest dropping him. If I had to drop a guy it would be LaRoche or Lee. Lee gives you an option at two spots, which might be the deciding factor.
By Steve on Jun 18, 2012
Mark,
What did the other owners say about the Commish’s bush lg actions? That’s one league you might want to unconsider next year unless the league is easy money???
By donna on Jun 18, 2012
Ray- Should I drop Billy Butler for Colby Rasmus? I made the trade and now have Tex at first, just need a utility guy in a 10 tm H2H
I should also say I could drop Carlos Quinten instead of Butler.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 18, 2012
Donna – Please tell me you didn’t ask me if you should drop a guy who is on pace to hit .300 with 30 homers and 95 RBIs. I don’t mean to be rude, but how could you consider dropping Butler? Just don’t get how that makes any sense. Rasmus at his best matches HR/RBI of Butler, and he’ll never hit .300.
Also cant tell you to drop a guy who his hitting .404 with six homers and 13 RBI in 16 games. Obviously Quentin cant keep this up, but you trade him well before you dump him.
By Nick on Jun 19, 2012
I’m in a 16 team, 5×5 h2h league. I have four closers – Motte, Soriano, Cook and Bell. My catcher is Geovany Soto. I was offered either Jesus Montero or Weiters for Motte. Would you make the trade and if so, who do you prefer?
Thanks.
By Sean on Jun 19, 2012
Ray
What do I do with Cameron Maybin? Been waiting for him to come around.
By Jonathan on Jun 19, 2012
Ray,
An owner recently dropped Anibal Sanchez on waivers after he hit a rough patch over the last few starts and I am considering putting a claim in for him. My current staff is Strasburg, Gallardo, John Lester, Josh Johnson, Matt Moore, the injured Brandon Morrow and a stashed Trevor Bauer. In your opinion should I sit tight with what I have or make a move dropping maybe Lester, Morrow or Bauer for him? It’s a 10 team 5×5 that uses k/9 instead of k’s. Sanchez’s k/9 for the season looks great, but it is down over the last few starts.
Thanks!
By Joe M on Jun 19, 2012
Hey Ray
Curious about your thoughts on Tim Collins and Cameron Maybin
We play with holds and I can use some since Jansen and Chapman took over the closer roles, I’m currently left with Romo and Pestano.
Thinking about dumping Maybin and picking up Collins.
Do you think these are numbers Collins can keep up?
Thank You
Joe
By Regina on Jun 19, 2012
Hi Ray,
In a 12 team 1 catcher roto league, I have both Yadier Molina and Buster Posey. I need another quality starter…looking for K’s. Which catcher would you offer, looking for what level of pitcher? I’m in first place so not sure who will trade with me anyway, but looking to try.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 19, 2012
Nick – So you’re in a 16 tm lg that only starts 1 catcher?
Soto is back, but he’s nowhere near those other two for sure.
Add Wieters who is on pace to match his power numbers from last season, even with an even pace from week to week getting there.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 19, 2012
Sean – Perception is a -itch sometimes.
Maybin 2011: 9 HR, 40 RBI, 82 runs, 40 SB
2012 pace: 7 HR, 50 RBI, 73 runs, 33 SB
Not a hell of a lot of difference. Given that he’s hitting only .207, his production has actually been pretty impressive. A career .317 BABIP, .331 last year, is way down at .251 this year. No way it finishes that low. I wouldn’t be shocked if he still hit .250 this year.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 19, 2012
Jonathan – The only guy I would drop is Bauer. REALLY hard to sit on a guy in a 10 tm lg. However, reports suggest that a call up could be right around the corner as the club is looking to deal Saunders, so doesn’t make a ton of sense to ditch Bauer now. Still, you have to add Sanchez. If making the move with only hurlers, Bauer is the one that goes.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 19, 2012
Joe M – Just answered a question about Maybin. Here it is again –
Maybin 2011: 9 HR, 40 RBI, 82 runs, 40 SB
2012 pace: 7 HR, 50 RBI, 73 runs, 33 SB
Not a hell of a lot of difference. Given that he’s hitting only .207, his production has actually been pretty impressive. A career .317 BABIP, .331 last year, is way down at .251 this year. No way it finishes that low. I wouldn’t be shocked if he still hit .250 this year.
I dont know about your OF or your team depth, but I dont think Maybin should be on waivers.
As for Collins, the K/9 will come down a bit, but not a lot. The key is the walks. His walk rate is HALF of what it was last year. Can he keep that up when the innings increase? Also, note he has only five holds.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 19, 2012
Regina – I can’t answer this question. I have no idea what value people place on players. I might think Player A is a top-10, you might think top-20, someone else top-30.
I would move whichever catcher brings you the most in return. Both should be top-10, potentially higher of course, ROTW.
As for what you should get… catchers values are greatly reduced cause you only play one instead of two which drastically reduces their value on the market. I’d try for a top-25 type arm.