Jeff Passan hits with another tear jerker, though this one is really only happy news and a fun read for fantasy fans. Even before I started playing roto one of my stated goals in life was to some day own a big league team. That seemed the only way to get into the business. But then, as now, it turned out that there are other paths, as my friends Keith Law, Tony Blengino and Ron Shandler have demonstrated. For me, ownership is still probably the best route, but you might find another way. If you’re interested.
Roto
Judge: Fantasy leagues allowed to use MLB player names, stats – MLB – Yahoo! Sports
My opinion is that this will was the rational conclusion, and it will also prove to be the best one for the fantasy sports business and the leagues, too. MLB has plenty to sell beyond the stats and names, and they will benefit because the grass roots development of leagues and games won’t be squelched before they start.
Ask Rotoman This Week
This week, why there can be more to a trade than the players involved, learning something about 12 offensive categories, using BABIP, Component ERA and Defense Independent Component ERA to find buy-low pitchers. Plus chatter about the Rockies pitchers, Justin Verlander, Stephen Drew and Chris Denorfia. With lovely charts. Really lovely.
Should be: The Indispensible Baseball Musings
DAVID PINTO WROTE: “Update: Jason Marquis is allowed to take a beating for the second time this year. He gives up two hits in the sixth before he comes out of the game. Just to finish his night off, the bullpen allows the runner they inherited from Jason to score. He’s charged with 12 runs. He allowed 14 against the White Sox earlier this season. Almost 30% of the runs Marquis allowed this year came in those two games.”
Pinto has created a baseball news site with fantasy relevance, excellent data tools, and it’s all free. Unless you do the right thing and pony up some cash, if you feel the way I do. I sent money last year and I’m not bragging, it wasn’t really enough. So I’m sending more this year.
Highly recommended.
As for Marquis, he’s killing me. Or Tony LaRussa is. I’d been riding the matchups the last couple of weeks (since the last time he was left in to take a beating) and it’s worked out well, so I didn’t see the spot to dump him. Mercy.
Midseason Fantasy Prices
As usual, my midseason fantasy prices (single and mixed leagues) are up at mlb.com. Even if you don’t play by the exact rules you can make use of them by comparing the preseason prices (guesses) and the actual thing. Most surprising to me is just how valueless Dontrelle Willis’s season has been so far, but pitching prices swing wildly when they run hot or cold.
Taking One for the Team
MLB – St. Louis Cardinals/Chicago White Sox Box Score Wednesday June 21, 2006 – Yahoo! Sports
That’s what Jason Marquis is doing tonight, dragging down my Tout Wars NL pitching staff, which went into tonight with the second best ERA and Ratio in the league. Amazingly, after 12 runs in four innings I’ve still got 12 points in both categories, though the margin of error is significantly smaller now.
Games played streak ends after Matsui breaks wrist
One of the reasons I went after Hideki Matsui this year in the American Dream League (AL only) is because he’s been so consistent. Reliable. No more. Which got me thinking about a couple of attempts to gauge reliability that have surfaced in recent years.
One of these is Sig Mejdal’s Injury Projections. Mejdal list percentages of chance for players to get hurt. His Top 10 Hitters Most Likely to Get Hurt (published last November) was: Griffey (just getting off DL), Jordan (not yet), Cliff Floyd (playing like it), Gary Sheffield (on DL), Rondell White (playing like it), Sammy Sosa (retired), Reggie Sanders (gets off DL tomorrow), Jose Valentin (29 AB so far), Alomar Jr (back spasms and shoulder pain because he could’t play every fifth day), Geoff Jenkins (okay so far).
On the pitching side: Kerry Wood (like fish in a barrel), Orlando Hernandez (DL), Wade Miller (DL), Carl Pavano (DL), Jaret Wright (only 16 IP so far), Oscar Villareal (healthy), Randy Wolf (DL, out for season), Matt Mantei (DL), Rudy Seanez (ineffective, but pitching), Brad Penny (sharp).
That’s a lot of hits so far, but I’m not sure how useful that is.
Ron Shandler gave Matsui an 88 reliability score, on a scale of 100, reflecting his consistent performance and health over the past three years. Ken Griffey, on the other hand, scored a 7. Nomar? 22. All will have spent time on the DL this spring.
Ask Rotoman
The new one is out, offering a choice of Westbrook, Pineiro, or Robertson, a medical breakdown of Billy Wagner’s finger, a look at pitcher for hitter (and vice versa) trades, as well as chatter about D-Trane and Tyler Walker (or is it Walker Tyler?).
Do the Right Thing
MLB – Atlanta Braves/Philadelphia Phillies Box Score Wednesday May 3, 2006 – Yahoo! Sports
For the second night this week Rheal Cormier got the win in relief for the Phillies. This bothers me because last week in the Tout Wars claims I did the wrong thing and listed Elizardo Ramirez ahead of Cormier on my sheet. My thinking had something to do with Ramirez’s good game at Washington earlier in the week, but despite his good control the chances of Ramirez having ongoing success are pretty small because he can’t dominate hitters at all. At his best, with the Reds’ juggernaut behind him, he gets a win or two with passable qualitatives. Meanwhile, a reliable middle reliever like Cormier isn’t going to hurt you, and in a week like this one may help a lot. A reminder why it’s better to play safe, rather than try to catch lightning in a bottle.
Ask Rotoman Again
Major League Baseball : Fantasy
The new one is out, with some advice if you lost Derrek Lee, thoughts about trading Carlos Beltran, an evaluation of just how good Chris Shelton is, and a survey of the best young pitchers, this year and next.