Answers to fantasy baseball questions (and much more) since 1996
Rotoman I’m not sure why Robb Nen didn’t get into the Guide. Maybe it was the multiple surgeries he’s had since he last pitched when it counted. Which is why a comment like the following would have been appropriate:
Rotator cuff surgery last spring means he should be throwing again by the start of training camp, but it’s unlikely he’ll be pitching (note the distinction) until well into the season. And that’s only if he stays healthy, hardly a sure thing.
I happen to be in Italy, and wasn’t planning on posting while I was away, but this deal has rocked the Colosseum. Given how much money Mr. Hicks is swallowing, it’s hard to fault the Yankees on the deal, but clearly it is mind blowing.
The fascinating thing to look at is the way contracts signed a few years ago (ARod, Mike Hampton) have become the vehicles of complex arrangements that shift money around. This sort of arbitrage (I believe the term applies) finds value in odd places, and thus affords the Yankees the opportunity of having the game’s best player at a very fair price, while also saving the Rangers dough.
Fantasy wise, it’s hard to see how this matters at all, unless Mike Young gets beat out of playing time or confidence. For a more thorough appraisal of the secondary effects, please wait until I get my head out of the salumeria.
Prego.
You asked for it you got it. Here are big files listing player prices by category. Or sometimes by two categories or more. I didn’t include it in the magazine this year, but a number of people asked for it.
Unfortunately the files are substantial, about 1.5 Mb. That’s because I saved the excel files as html and then the computer crashed before I could also save as a spreadsheet. I hate when that happens.
Hope this helps.
ESPN.com – MLB – Brewers pitcher sought in Dominican shooting
In the Guide we say of Luis Martinez: “Definitely someone to keep an eye on. ”
The DR police certainly agree.
If you’ve been wondering about my projection for Jason Lane in the Guide, here is a thread and something approximating an explanation. When I figure out more about what happened I’ll post on the Magazine page here at askrotoman.com.
Yahoo! News – Bush Names Panelists in Iraq Intel Probe
The key quote here is: “Some prewar intelligence assessments by America and other nations about Iraq’s weapon stockpiles have not been confirmed,” Bush said in the White House briefing room. “We are determined to figure out why.”
Do you think the president invaded Iraq because the CIA and DIA overestimated Iraqi military capabilities?
We should remember that the UN Arms Investigors, who Saddam Hussein let into the country, said there were no weapons.
And that our own intelligence services said there was no immediate threat.
Is the president really determined? I have my opinion, but let’s see what happens.
ESPN.com – MLB – Neyer: Don’t bank on Pudge
Rob does what’s necessary, pointing out the way catchers decline as they get older and more weary and injured. As long as he’s catching there’s no reason to think Pudge will be an exception.
There is reason to think that Pudge knows he’s not going to maintain his offensive skills while catching. Before last season he was quoted saying a position change was in his future. His return to the AL opens the door to spending time behind the plate yet getting plenty of AB as DH, all while working on another position.
That may well extend his career some, get him more AB than he would if he were in the NL, and earn his fantasy owners a few extra bucks on the year.
(One thing Rob didn’t mention was the ballpark context. FWIW, Comerica and Pro Player had similar profiles last year. Neither is much good for a hitter, and with the changes the Tigers made last year Detroit’s home park may be the more hospitable for hitters.
First Tadano, and now a ballplayer who took his wife’s name after they had a baby (take that, patriarchy!) is going back to his birth name. The masculinity police are machting schnell.
ESPN.com – MLB – Indians minor leaguer: Gay porn role a ‘mistake’:
“Through an interpreter, Tadano added: ‘I’m not gay. I’d like to clear that fact up right now.'”
So, is the fact that he’s gay, or that he’s not gay?
I don’t care. When I think about it (and while reading this story) I hope that his arm is good enough to overcome the prejudice. If he really was a beaten down lad who had to resort to homosexual prostitution to pay for his schooling, who are we to judge?
Yet I find myself suspecting that he is gay and is denying it because it is expedient.
If that’s true it’s hard to blame him.
The Fantasy Baseball Guide 2004 is out. I’m struggling to update the site via the newly acquired Dreamweaver and it isn’t happening. So I upload the cover here. You should be able to find it at Wal-Mart (we do not endorse their employment practices, but they sell a lot of magazines), and better newsstands and grocery stores from coast to coast. The big criticism so far this year has been the omission of the by-category rankings (with dollar values).
I left it out because the publisher thought it was filler and I thought it was fun but not crucial. No problem. The listings will be posted here soon.
As always, send comments to peter@askrotoman.com. I appreciate them even when they make me grumpy.