Answers to fantasy baseball questions (and much more) since 1996
Rotoman Cubs not any closer to acquiring a closer
I really don’t want to flog this much more, but the Chicago Sun-Times reports today that the Cubs have sent a scout to watch Antonio Alfonseca. A deal probably won’t happen but there is clearly enough concern amonst the Chicago front office that Farnsworth and Fassero shouldn’t be considered sure things.
Rotoman:
Since there are only a handful of reliable closers in AL-only drafts, their value is going to sky-rocket. How much is too much to pay for Rivera, Folke, and Koch?
Any closers-in-waiting that you recommend a $1 flyer on this year?
I think it’s questionable that because they may be more reliable, the few known closers will go for more money. In fact, I think they’ll go for less money. Here’s why:
While relievers do help a roto team’s ERA and Ratio, their limited innings mute that effect. Much of a closer’s value is derived from his saves. When there are a lot of similarly valued relievers, it is easy to identify who is going to collect all the saves, and it behooves all the teams in a roto league to compete for them. Thus, closer prices are high.
When only a few closers can be identified, it is possible to identify where only a small percentage of saves are going to come from. Yet everyone knows that there will be a lot of saves generated in the major leagues this year. It then makes sense to go after less established relievers, who can be bought cheaply, and reserve resources for other categories. Thus, closer prices drop.
That doesn’t make it wrong to go after Rivera or Foulke, but to spend real resources to acquire them could prove crippling later.
As for the cheap guys, I like Luis Rivera, Jorge Julio, Travis Phelps, Bob File, Bob Howry, Steve Karsay, Lou Pote, Arthur Rhodes, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Chad Bradford, Luis Vizcaino, John Rocker (who won’t be that cheap). With the exception of Rocker, these guys are all attractive, yet shouldn’t go for more than a few bucks.
A new column was posted yesterday, with answers to questions about Curt Schilling, contraction, Jeff Shaw and Holds.
Dean Palmer has felt a twinge in his shoulder. This is the sort of news that may not mean much for the original prognosis for his return to playing third base (mid season/August) but probably means a lot for his return to the hot corner by opening day.
ESPN.com: MLB – Cubs eye Shaw after losing Gordon for three months
I’ve gotten a lot of mail about this story. Shaw had said he was only interested in playing in Ohio, but Chicago isn’t that far away. Clearly the Cubs aren’t satisfied trusting their pen to Farnsworth and Fassero. If Shaw manages to avoid this employment opportunity, expect the Cubs’ search to focus farther south. Could the six-fingered groper, Antonio Alfonseca, be available?
Baseball HQ – First Pitch Forums
This weekend are the Tout Wars drafts, which are being held on Saturday (AL) and Sunday (NL) at noon at the Meadowlands Quality in Lyndhurst, NJ.
Also, Saturday night, Ron Shandler is hosting an experts event. I won’t be there because I live near enough that I’m not staying at the hotel, and far enough that I don’t want to make the drive twice. But it sounds like a lively and helpful event. There is a description at the link above. If you sign up please tell Ron Rotoman sent you.
My buddy Jack Barth, my former partner in the once awesome but now defunct Bar-K Loungers in the now defunct Tiffany League, is putting together a television series in the UK about extreme Japanese culture. He asks “Have you or any of your hi-level baseball pals heard any oddball/compelling stories about Japanese baseball? Eg. Something displaying a Samurai spirit, Offbeat personal stories, Oh, I don�t know� Thanks.”
I don’t much about Japanese baseball, but if you want to post any good ones in the comments section here I’ll make sure Jack reads them. And if they truly display the Samurai spirit, maybe we’ll all learn something from them.
Hi Rotodude,
I’m in a 5×5 mixed keeper league with 7 returning teams and 3 expansion teams. We are entering the our first season where we are able to sign players for long term contracts. In order to determine his salary we multiple $5 by the length of the contract, then add that number to his current salary. My question involves penalties for cutting a player mid contract. We are not quite sure of a fair penalty but we agree that there should be one. Do you have any ideas?
Different leagues have different penalties. I’ve only played in leagues that force you to eat the contract, and frankly I think that’s the way to go, especially in mixed leagues. After all, that’s what happens to big league teams.
In single league setups, there probably should be a provision for refunding the remaining dough if a player is traded out of the league. But otherwise, I say, tough luck.
[If you have an opinion or idea, please leave a comment by clicking the link just below.]
Rotoman: Is Sean Burroughs the real deal at third,and if not will Hank Blalock make an impact for the Rangers this year? Thanks.
This isn’t an either/or question.
Burroughs should perform at a major league level right away. It has become a canard that “his Power Will Come,” though this year some are saying it’s due this year. I don’t see that. He should help a fantasy team’s batting average and may steal and jack a few, but he won’t be a fantasy stud.
Blalock already has the power, but is slated to spend at least part of this year in Triple-A, a level he hasn’t yet dominated. Maybe he will right away and get promoted right away, but chances are he won’t really be a factor until 2003.
Either of these answers, or both of them, could be right or wrong, absolutely or by degree.
Rotoman: I’m bummin’ at second base. Would you take Hairston or Grudzulanik?
First of all, you can’t take someone whose name you can’t spell. So, before this becomes a proper question repeat after me: G-r-u-d-z-i-e-l-a-n-e-k.
Last year Grudz earned $9 while Hairston earned $11. Hairston’s edge comes from his steals, 29 of them to be exact. The only reason the edge isn’t bigger is because his batting average stunk.
I’m no fan of these guys either, but if forced to choose I’d take Hairston, because if he raises his AVG to .270 he’ll be waaaay more valuable.
Not that I’m saying that’s going to happen.