[MUSIC] >> Happy Cuckoo Mote Friday and welcome in. >> Top fantasy baseball today on March 20th. I am Frank Samphold joined by Scott White. Today on the show, the players we keep drafting and fading at each position. I will mention players along the way who are dealing with injuries, expected to gain position eligibility just as a reminder. Obviously, this is the biggest draft weekend heading into next week when we've got opening day. So, want to make sure that you're up to date on everything ahead of your fantasy baseball drafts. We will also announce who is in the listener leagues a little bit later on. >> Mm-hm. >> Mm-hm. >> That sounds exciting. >> That's right. >> I would be exciting if I applied for the listener leagues. I wouldn't be exciting. I would be excited. We're off to a great start here, getting verb tenses wrong. >> You know what's got, let's just keep things going. Let's just bring the mood down before we pick everybody back up. >> Oh. >> And get some bad news out of the way. >> Oh. >> The other shoe has finally dropped. Trey, your savage, will open the season on the 15-day I.L. Due to a right shoulder impingement, John Schneider said your savage came to spring training with the injury, which explains the slow buildup. The Blue Jays don't expect him to stop throwing, but he needs more time to get ready for the season, which is so annoying and frustrating, I kind of wish that baseball teams were obligated to tell us what was going on. Clearly they knew about this dating back to early to mid-February. That's why they brought in some pictures and stuff, signed Mac Sherser, and they just never told anyone. So it's kind of annoying from a fantasy perspective, but how far did you lower Trey, a savage in your rankings? >> I moved to that side of my top 50, which was about 20 spots. So a significant drop, but not like bearing. I'm not like what I did with Joe Musgrove, for instance, because he is pitching. It sounds like he's fine now. He showed up with an injury, obviously, in that set him back, but he's pitching now, and just needs some time to build up. That kind of explains all the weirdness going on there. I kind of, in a way, feel a little better. Obviously, I don't want to draft you a savage as high as I was yesterday. But I feel a little bit reassured knowing what's going on with him, and not just, well, what's the plan here, Blue Jays? What are you doing with this guy who was a star in the postseason, and everybody recognizes how it's a lot upside. And by the way, through a pretty good number of innings last year, now we get it. Now it makes sense. And somebody actually pointed this out to me on Twitter, so I won't treat it as a novel idea. And in some ways, you could make the argument that this is preferable, being able to stash him in an IEL spot, rather than just having to wait for him to get stretched out to a usable number of innings, having him occupy a bench spot all that time. There is added risk, obviously, because he could suffer a setback or whatever. But you're getting, that's baked into the discount. You're getting a savage much lower today than you were yesterday. And you have the ability to stash him in an IEL spot. And the timeline for him actually, mattering to your fantasy team may not have changed that much. So with your savage, well, multiple people hurt your savage Shane Bieber and Jose Boreos all out. It looks like, obviously, we have the top two, Gosman Dylan Seas, the back end of that rotation, Cody Ponds, Mechscherzer, and Eric Lauer, he you're heading into opening day, any deep league interest in Eric Lauer, who actually pitched pretty well last year. I'd have to be a pretty deep league, more interest in Scherzer, for sure, sir. Cody Ponds look terrific on Thursday for whatever that's worth. One hit the Yankees over five and two thirds innings, 11 whiffs on six, I'm sorry, 13 whiffs on 65 pitches, six on the fastball. You know, I love seeing whiffs on the fastball, 18 inches of induced vertical break on that. I think Cody Ponds is going to be a real one. Yeah. I hate being that guy's guy and say, oh, well, did you look at what he was facing? Yeah, it was a bad Yankee lineup, but it was still impressive. And he has to pitch well the entire spring. So I don't want to poo poo it too much, but he was facing a bad one. I did look at it. So one of us needs to look at it. Yeah, I am trying to pay more attention to that now because it's, it's something we should know if someone dominates, right? Like, are they facing a terrible lineup? I'm sorry, it was definitely, definitely the beat team he was facing. He has looked good all spring for whatever that's worth. And I do like him as a sleeper too. So yeah, yeah, all right, continuing on, we got more bad news. Francisco Alvarez left Thursday's game with back tightness. Carlos Mendoza said it was precautionary and added that Alvarez would have continued playing if it was the regular season. Alvarez is not scheduled to play on Friday. Scott, are you planning to lower Francisco Alvarez at all? Not based on this news. No, I have him toward the back end of catchers, of the good catchers anyway. And I can't imagine dropping him behind JT Real Muto, for instance, when it doesn't seem like his availability, Alvarez's availability isn't jeopardy. So I'd rather him not have tweaked his back, but it doesn't sound like a big deal as of now. Okay. So you would take all of Moreno, Bassayo, Carter Jensen ahead of us. That was true all along, though. Okay. Yeah. What about like Alejandro Kirk? I have Alvarez ahead of Kirk, but I just think Kirk, and it's not the first time we talked about this, I just think Kirk is being overdrafted. Okay. Quite a bit. All right. I'll continue on here. Zach Wheeler will pitch in a minor league game on Monday. He's expected to throw 40 pitches. And of course, Scott, we won't be able to get stack cast data because it is a minor league game, but obviously it is a really, really good step here for Wheeler. We'll see how he does. And if we can get any reports on what the velocity looks like and obviously how he bounces back, but much like we said with Garacol yesterday, who only threw 10 pitches, this is a good step for Zach Wheeler actually getting back on the mound and in game action. It is a good step. I am anxious to see what he looks like. Maybe he'll be fine. And all the people who made the early investment in him, I thought it was, I thought they were being a little too sanguine. I'll use that word again. People like when I use that word. So use it again. I thought there were being a little too sanguine about Wheeler's chances of being back to Zach Wheeler from this procedure that doesn't have much of a track record and certain variants of this procedure certainly haven't been great for future outcomes. So we'll see what he looks like. Zach Wheeler. Maybe I'll have a chance to move him up my rankings if I come away impressed. Grace and Rodriguez is dealing with dead arm and his availability for the start of the season is in question as of now. Ross the resource still has him in the rotation, but we're not sure it's just kind of up in the air right now. They also have Jack Kohana what's in there, which is not very exciting, but you know what? It's got the angels kind of have some pitching prospects that I'm interested to see at some point this season. I don't know when it will be, but someone like George Klossin or like Samuel Aldigeri who had a really good start in the WBC where he got a bunch of whiffs. I'm at least mildly interested to see what those guys can do. I don't know if it would be on opening day or in that rotation, but they're like very deeply names and I just have my eye on to see what happens. Yeah, they are interesting. Aldigeri has been up before and I don't know that there's huge upside there. We have seen instances of him missing a lot of bats. Klossin, I think also at one point seem to have huge upside kind of took a step back in his first year with the angels organization last year, but that doesn't mean he's lost caused by any means. And yeah, at some point, some point there's a good chance they're going to have to use both of them this year. Any chance you're still using like a last round pick on Grayson Rodriguez or would you either shoot up for upside somewhere else like someone that isn't dealing with dead arm, you know? I moved him down in my rankings, but not to the point where there's absolutely no way to take Grayson Rodriguez. I slid him behind. I had a pretty high to begin with, but I slid him behind Cody Ponds and Jack Leiter, Cody Sanga, Jacob Lopez, who I like a lot, but I'd probably draft Grayson Rodriguez in the same range as like Mick Abel or Andrew Painter, guys who I definitely intrigued with the upside, but don't feel confident in what they're going to provide for me. And hope it is just dead arm for him. Yeah. We had a couple of surprises in terms of players getting option to the miners at I don't think we expected, but Bryce Eldridge option to triple a roster resource has Will Brennan as a strong side DH platooning with Jarar and Karnas Yone. They also have Louis Mato's on their bench. So they said,
did they want to get Bryce Eldridge every day at bats in the minors? I don't know why they couldn't just do that in the majors, but I mean, they left the DH bot open for him. But we have been in more recent weeks. We had been hearing whispers that maybe they would do this. He was up at the end of last year. So I felt like, okay, they thought he was ready then they left a spot open for him. Seems pretty clear that the plan is to have Eldridge on the roster. I know the subject of defense was raised and him needing to improve that. Him needed to improve his base running. I don't know if that's just excuse making. In any case, they're going to need him at some point sooner than later. So I, we're going to go through the players. We've drafted the most this year. He is on that list for me. I have been three leagues. They're all on the deeper end. Believe me, my, are they all 15 teamers? They're out there. One's a 12 team, Roto League. They're all Roto leagues. They're all leagues that go pretty deep into the player pool deep enough that I think he's worth stashing. I'm going to come out with the top prospects to stash in fantasy and he'll be on that list for sure because I don't think it'll be long. You know, strikeouts are always going to be an issue for him. I think that's kind of why I've been downer on him relative to most prospect rankers. He's six foot seven and had strikeout issues in the minors. I just think that's going to continue. So if that's what they're waiting on, stop striking out Bryce Eldridge, well, keep dreaming. I don't think that's going to happen. But the power is huge and obviously the upside is huge and they have an e-d for him that I think he's still going to feel sooner than later. Next up Logan Henderson also option to triple a and I think that makes it pretty likely that Brandon Sprote is in the rotation sky. And I am very interested because his velocity has been up this spring. He's throwing a new cutter and really just kind of love taking a shot on any brewers pitcher. They do so great with their pitching development. So I think Brandon Sprote kind of enters that last round draft picked territory, you know, with guys like Mick Abel and Grayson Rodriguez and other names that we've been talking right louder and guys like that. I think Brandon Sprote is in that mix now. Yeah, he's in the discussion. I haven't behind all of them. I did move him up some. I don't think he's going to be a big strikeout pitcher in the majors. And, you know, maybe the addition of the cutter could change that. It hasn't been, let me see what a swinging strike rate has been this spring. We've seen a big jump in that because I think that would even tell more than 12 line numbers. 12.9 percent. That's pretty good. Yeah. Obviously a small sample. He was more of a weak contact guy, especially last year in the minors and has had trouble throwing strikes. But, you know, new organization, they've clearly worked on some things with him. Maybe they can unlock some new upside. I just think somebody like Mick Abel, for instance, I've seen more reason for enthusiasm for him this spring than for Sprote. Jorickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after the appeal of his 162 game. PED suspension was denied. So that's pretty much what we expected would happen there with Jorickson Profar. Carlos Estevez's Velocir remains way down. He pitched on Wednesday night. He averaged 89 miles per hour on his fastball last year, 95.9 miles per hour in the regular season. So, and usually he builds up slowly. But man, he should be higher than 89 miles per hour by now. So it is, it's pretty scary. People are kind of treating him radioactively. I know that's a term you like to mention in draft Scott. And I just did that. Tout Wars Champions League 12 team headhead categories. I drafted him, which is gross. I never thought I would draft him this all season. Round 17. He went. Yeah. He went after Riley O'Brien and after Robert Garcia and after Kirby Yates. It's like, all right. At that point, I'll take a shot. If he's horrible to start the year, it's round 17. I'll just drop him. Yeah. I mean, that's so late. I need him to fall behind a number of pictures who tend to go behind him. For instance, I mean, he still tends to go ahead of like Dennis Santana. And certainly Sir Anthony Dominguez and Ryan Walker. Guys who I feel confident are firm in that role. They may not be the best closers, but they're firmly closers. I think Carlos Estevez is at the back of that group for me. Yeah. But when you're dropping behind Riley O'Brien and Kirby Yates, I mean, those guys might not get five saves this year. They might, but they there's a good chance they won't. And I think I think at that point, you, your better hope is in Carlos Estevez figuring it out or just the extra adrenaline. He's able to throw a hard or whatever, whatever excuse you want to make. I think that's a better hope than just gambling on this guy who himself is not very good. Like Kirby Yates might not be very good. Also, managing to claim the front that the top role in a closer committee. Taylor Wolves will open the season on the aisle with a strain to write oblique, which opens the door for Carson Williams to be there starting shortstop. It's got any deeply gongers in the Carson Williams. I mean, I left him out of my top 100 prospects. That's how little faith I have in him as a hitter. He definitely has power. But when we talk about Bryce Eldridge's strike out issues, Carson Williams are about as bad as it gets. Yeah. So I think it have to be a pretty deep league. All right. The Rangers have indicated that Evan Carter will face a decent number of lefties this season. Josiah Gray was option two AAA, which means the nationals rotation will be Cade Cavali, Miles Michaelis, Foster Griffin, Jake Irvin and Zach Latel to start the season. And Hayden Bird song will undergo Tommy John surgery next week. Before we hit our first breaks, Scott, the time has come to announce the listener leagues. First and foremost, I just want to thank each and every person who sent something in. If you emailed it in, I saw it. My entire Wednesday, I went through nearly 300 emails. And I need to to whittle that down to just 22 that I was going to put into these leagues here. So we got a bunch of submissions. And I do appreciate all of them. And I did see it. Like if you sent it in, I saw it and I do appreciate it. It's obviously really tough to just like narrow it down. And again, it's so thoughtful and creative, the things that we receive. So it does put things in perspective for me as the host. When you read about what people are going through and stuff and how the podcast helps them get through some of the things that are happening in real life. So really, really do appreciate all those submissions that were sent in up first. And I do want to apologize for any mispronunciations here. It's just like, I'm sure I'm going to get some stuff wrong here. Up first, we have the four the people league shout out to Heath Cummings. This is a 16 team head to head categories league. Some guy named, I don't know, Scott Whitty. He won the league last year. Hmm. Scott Whitty. Yeah. Yeah. Who is that guy? That guy. I don't know. He sounds like a good guy, though. Yeah. Sounds like one I want to talk to maybe take advice from. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Scott won the league last year. 16 team head to head categories. We're drafting this Sunday, March 22nd at 8 p.m. Eastern time. I know, I know I told you nine Scott, but the Sunday draft will be at 8 p.m. Eastern time. One quick wrinkle with this is that Bernie fantasy basketball fans out there. Josh Lloyd, the host of the locked on fantasy basketball podcast is also in this league. He hit me up. We go back a little bit and, you know, we've been friends for a while in the industry and he wanted to be in a fantasy baseball league. So we put him in and Chris and myself are sharing a team. So he didn't take a spot away from a listener. He basically just took one of our spots. Team crank is back, baby. Me and Chris sharing a team. It should be fun. And. What ranks? Yes. Here are the 13 who have made it. Again, four of the people league, 16 teams drafting this Sunday. Spencer Clark, Cody Wiggins, Brandon Wallace, Brett, Brilante, Otto gets Justin sample, Corey Tate, Jonathan Greenstein, Greenstein, Lucas Brunner, Josh Gertz, Jake Burlow, Tony Melton, and Madeline Bezgrove. Bezgrove. If you heard your name, email me, Frank dot
[email protected]. Next, we have our 12 team head head points listener league. This will be drafting Monday, the next night, March 23rd, 9 PM Eastern time. So one hour later, this one will be live streamed. So it had to be a little bit later for us here. So again, 9 PM Eastern time Monday. Here are the nine who made it. Pedro or T's, Stephen David Martin, uh, Stephen Carlisle or Stephen Carlisle, Steve Kergenti, Jorginti, I'm sorry. Tim Gloria, uh, Mark McKinnis, Kenny Butchram, Butchram, Jonathan, butchery, Jonathan Yarberry and Joe Parker. So congrats to everyone who has made it. If you heard your name, reach out again, email Frank dot
[email protected]. If I don't hear from you by Friday afternoon, I will reach out because it's a pretty quick turnaround. I got to get everybody in these leagues by Sunday and Monday. So, uh, let's take our first break. When we return, the players we keep drafting and fading here on fantasy baseball today. Welcome back in fantasy baseball today. The
players we keep drafting and fading. And let's just start off with the pitchers. We'll do starting pitchers and relievers, then we'll get to the hitters. Give you a quick reminder of those who are starting the season on the IEL. That will include Blake Snell, Zach Wheeler, Carlos Sordon, Gare Cole, Trey Savage, Joe Musgrove, Shane Bieber, Bryce Miller. Those we know who are missing extended time, also on the IEL, Hunter Green, Spencer Schwellembach, Corbin Burns, Justin Steele. Steele could be back in like May or June. Jared Jones and Quinn Priester. We, and we think this name is starting on the IEL. We're not sure yet, but Merrill Kelly. It sounded like he said he's gonna start on the IEL. He just needs a little bit more time to get built up. So Scott, let's start with some of the high-end starting pitchers that you keep drafting. Who you got? I organized my list by the number of shares I have. So I'm gonna have to bounce around a little bit to do it your way. And I did this like by the book. I actually went through the 11 teams I've put together so far and counted the number of times I have each player on my team. The most is five. The most is five out of 11. So less than half, which is, I don't think it's especially common. People tend to have their guys that they like to draft over and over again. I have made a point though over the past couple years to emphasize cost over any particular player. And I've written about this a lot. Cost over any particular player, we talked about it in the auction leagues especially because I don't think I have the same evaluative advantage that I used to have when it comes to competing against other industry folks. So I just want to, I want to take the players who happen to get passed over the most times. And so I think you see more diversity across my teams because of that. It's not always the same players, but there are some players who tend to slip a lot. And so I tend to be more invested in them this year. So getting back to your question, probably the most, the high end starting pitcher, the highest end starting pitcher that I am widely invested in is from Bervalt Des with four shares. And I'll go ahead and I'll go ahead and include a sus Luzardo here too. I only have three shares of Luzardo, but they're similar in that. It was obvious from as far back as November that I'm going to have a lot of these guys because they were two pitchers who genuinely, I was ahead of the consensus on from Bervalt Des historically we draft them as a top 15 starting pitcher. And yet he's being drafted more in the 20 to 25 range. I don't think anything's changed for him. I understand the ERA was a little higher last year. He lost the curveball for a while. He tends to lose the curveball every year, but he happened to lose it for a long stretch in the second half which inflated the ERA. His venue has changed. Scott, we should mention that. I mean, yeah, he's a new team, new venue. I think that only helps. Yeah, I like it in Detroit, but in terms of how good he is, I did not, I don't see clear evidence of decline at all. So I wanted to treat him the same way. I find as somebody who tends to go light on pitching early from Bervalt Des is kind of a bargain ace or sometimes even number two for me. And Luzardo is the same thing. Luzardo, I think people recognize he broke out last year, but the ERA was still approaching for. The whip was over 1.2. And so I don't think people want to call him an ace yet they recognize normally an ERA and whip that high wouldn't be drafted so high. He had the 15 wins, he had more than 200 strikeouts. So I think people see, okay, like Luzardo, this is, we need to draft him higher than we've ever drafted him before. But I don't think they're accounting for, at least not accounting enough for those two games in a May beginning of June, I believe they were back-to-back starts where he was tipping his pitches. It was very clear he was tipping his pitches. It was widely reported. He talked about it, the organization talked about it. He obviously fixed it because he was great thereafter. But if you take just those two starts away, the ERA drops to 303, the whip to 111, to go with 10.6 K per nine. Another reason why I think this is more legitimately the Luzardo, who Luzardo was last year, 303 ERA without those two starts. His fit on the year was 290. So the way, so the ways we estimate what ERA should be, it was closer, the Luzardo without those two starts dipping, the pitches was closer to those numbers than the one, the full season one we caught. - Mm-hmm. And look, he was so good last year at the Phillies that they gave him a five year 135 million dollar extension. Like that is a lot of money for a guy who is dealt with a lot of arm injuries in his career. So the Phillies have confidence in Luzardo. I think we should as well. Scout, when you said Framber Valdez, I started smiling because he is also my most drafted starting pitcher. At least on the high end, I have him on five teams. It does help that on the one team we shared together, we also got Bratiz. So I was drafting him like a lot of a van diagram. A lot of the early kind of drafted holds that I did. People were letting him slip too far because he was a free agent. And so I just kept scooping him up a lot of times as my SP2. I think maybe even as my SP3 on one team. So yeah, Framber Valdez, I have on five teams this year. Garrett Crochet, I have on three. I had a few teams where I was drafting at the turn in a 12 team league. And he was the last of the top three starting pitchers and have mentioned a lot this all season that I am open to drafting one of those top three, especially if they make it to the turn. So Garrett Crochet, I haven't been three league so far. Two others that are ranked side of my top 10. Christopher Sanchez and Chris Sale, I have on at least two teams right now. And typically I do like to diversify the high end starting pitchers, the ones that I draft as like a top 12 to 15 starter. I don't want those on too many teams just because obviously pitcher injuries are real and they have been very often. So I do like to diversify up top if I can at starting pitcher. For Amber Valdez, I was getting a little bit later as my two. So I don't mind having a lot of him. And he doesn't have a higher floor in terms of the innings he provides and things like that. So yeah, those are the four that have been, I have drafted on multiple teams so far. Mid to low end starting pitchers, Scott, that you keep winding up with the ones that you've drafted the most. Who do you have there? Well, should I mention some others on the higher end? Or we pass that. Dylan C's, I have Dylan C's on three teams, which is kind of surprising because I I feel like he's kind of dangerous to draft in Roto, given how much his ERA and whip can waver from year to year. And the bad years, I mean, he could destroy you. But I found, I don't know, there. There've just been a couple instances where he did slip 20, 30 spots beyond where he normally goes. And that is the kind of value that I am trying not to just poo poo at this point in my career because I don't think I am that much smarter than the consensus to, you know, I think to get ahead, I have to be capitalizing on values like that instead of just saying, "I don't really like cease." I think it's a better way to go about it. So, cease, I have three shares of him. Okay, some middle end guys that I am invested in, Nick Pavetta, surprisingly, I have three shares of him, even though he was on my bus list, Brandon Woodruff, I have three shares of him, including the team we share, and we can talk about how his outing looked here on Thursday. On the middle end, I don't think I have any others on the middle end. The players I'm most, the players I have the most shares of, generally speaking, are on the lower end, which makes sense, right? Like, your high end, your middle end guys are determined largely by where you're picking, but at the late rounds, you are going to tend to gravitate toward the guys more because there's a flattening in terms of where they should be drafted. So, it's more just your gut instinct, your evaluation of players. So, anyway, on the middle end, it's just those two that I have three shares of. Brandon Woodruff and I forgot the other one. Brandon Woodruff and Nick Pavetta. Well, you can talk about a start now, Scott. Brandon Woodruff, who on Thursday, three innings, four hits, three runs, one walk, four strikeouts, two homers allowed, and the velocity was down a little bit here. Well, and it was especially down in the fourth inning, where he. that's where he got knocked around, really. He said it was just part of the buildup process. He didn't seem worried. He's not sure he's going to be ready for opening day, but they've been saying that for a while now. He seemed happy with the outing. For now, I guess I'm going to take his word for it. I think we're seeing him start to slip a little bit in drafts again. His ADP has been a roller coaster because when he didn't have a clear timeline,
He seemed like he was going too late, and then he started pitching in spring games. Everybody thought, "Oh, okay, I guess he's back." We started to see him value. I think more in the way I drafted him or the way I ranked him originally. But now here that there are these questions about his availability for the start of the season, I think we're seeing Woodruff start to slide a little bit. I'm fine taking him at face value. You don't take Brandon Woodruff thinking he's going to make 30 starts because he's basically never been that guy. But I saw enough last year to think he is still an ace when he is healthy. If he misses a couple starts at the beginning of the year, that's fine. He was going to miss some at some point. The ADP over the past week for Woodruff is 154.4. He is going just after Rasmussen and Rogers, Trevor Rogers that is, and just ahead of Gavin Williams and Bubba Chandler. Again, that was Brandon Woodruff. Mid to low end starting pitchers that I keep drafting. And show to you, Minaga, I've talked a lot about him. Velocity has been up this spring. Kind of that weird whip help in the middle of a draft that you just normally can't find that. And I do think there's some upside here with that velocity being up. Nick Ladolo. I now have him on three teams took him in that Tauwurst Champions League as well as my SP three. The pitcher I love this year, obviously excited to get him Chris Boobitch. Someone we talked about all offseason. Scott also got him in that Tauwurst draft here on Thursday night. Took him in a bunch of early drafting holds when nobody knew what was going on with his shoulder and stuff like that. So I was happy to scoop up that value. Merrill Kelly just kind of boring. I know he's dealing with the back injury now. He's slipping a little bit further even because of that and happy to take him and wait, you know, the minimum I L until he's built up and typically good ratios for where he goes and pitches for a solid debax team. I thought it was low end though because he's on my list too, Merrill Kelly. I have three shares of him. I'm doing mid to low end. Scott I'm mentioning all them now and then I'll throw it back to you. And then two other low end names, Jacob Lopez. I was drafting a lot earlier in the offseason just because I liked what he did out of the stretch and obviously now he's getting a little bit more hype. But even where he's going over the past week, which is 367, that sounds too late. But I see him go pretty much in every draft now and I agree with that. I think that should happen for Jacob Lopez. Chad Patrick, who is someone I like a lot, who had a solid rookie season locked into the brewer's rotation, introduced a slurve late in the season and got a lot more strikeouts down the stretch with that pitch. So I do like Chad Patrick very late in drafts as well. I'll throw back to you Scott for some of those low end starting pitchers that you keep drafting. So the one I've drafted most is Jacob Lopez. I have four shares of him across the 11 leagues and his 28 years old was never considered much of a prospect but always ran very high strikeout rates in the miners to 11 first minor of the career, 11.4 Kpern. And he came up last year, actually came up a couple years ago, but got an extended look last year and showed that same strikeout ability because he has an unorthodox left handed delivery, an unusual fastball shape. It's just a very difficult pitch for players to handle, even though he doesn't throw a very hard. So his final 13 healthy starts last year, I say healthy because he had a very ugly start at the end of the year where he was not healthy and it ended in season. But his final 13 healthy starts. Jacob Lopez had a 217 ERA and even one whip and 10.8 Kpern. And he looked phenomenal, delayed by injury this spring, but his most recent start was outstanding. And you can get him his 80 piece in March 12th is outside the 350 outside the top 350. You can get him at the end of drafts. So I love the value there of Jacob Lopez. I wish I had more than four shares. Honestly, let's see who else here we have scroll down. Kodai Senga. I got kind of lucky on this one because I ended up with him in a couple of leagues early on just because it was like it was an auction where his dollar amount was so low that I couldn't help but jump in and then I kind of thought, man, I wish I hadn't used a spot on Kodai Senga. But the draft just ran out of pictures I cared about and so I was like, I guess I'm going to take Kodai Senga. I backed into taking him in a couple of leagues. But now it looks great because the loss he's up this spring with the remade delivery. My third share of him was a more intentional pick of Kodai Senga because I'm excited about what we're seeing. Carl Kelly, as you say, just a great stabilizer in a road league. He's going to give you, especially those deep redder leagues, like 15 teamers that run out of pictures worth using, he's going to give you a ton of innings. I've got to get over the injury first but seems like that's going to happen in short order. He's going to give you a ton of innings without hurting your ERA and web. And I think that's very valuable in those formats. I am heavily invested in Noah Cameron and Sean Monaya. I think most of the investment in both happened before we got deep into spring training. The velocity's been down for both. But I'm not entirely without hope. Like I'm not going to sit here and today and say I'm not going to draft Sean Monaya or Noah Cameron again. But for less than I would have before, I'm probably, I may have been on the ahead of the consensus originally before their velocity readings came out and now maybe I'm more inline with consensus on those two. Cameron I think is a pretty popular fade because his fit and X ERA were both over four last year, even though he had the 299 ERA. If you look at the way his change up game steam over the course of the year, it was running with rates 45, 50% the last three months. His secondary pitches are really good. I have questions about the fastballs, but his secondary is good. Yeah. So don't like the way he's looked the spring with the velocity being down in anything. He can't afford to give up much there. But it is spring. And so I think if everybody else passes on Noah Cameron, I'd still give him a shot in deeper leagues. Nick Abel, three shares of him. He has obviously been a spring riser and I was able to capitalize that on that before his price rose too much. That was price hasn't risen that much. ADP since March 12th. That's over the last week, basically about 330. So still plenty affordable. There is Nick Abel. Mm hmm. I did have a quick list of just pictures. I wish I had more of so far and I have three drafts left. So I still have some opportunities here to grab some. But Kyle Bradish, Cam Schliitler, Ryan Peppio, Tatsu Yemi, Mike Burrows, Braxton Ashcraft and Kodai Senga. Those are all pictures I like quite a bit. Yeah, yeah, I just don't have enough of them yet. So I'm hoping these last couple drafts I could get a few of those. Yeah. I have three drafts also. So it's not a complete list. I imagine Michael Burrows could join the list of being on three or more of my teams before it's all said and done. I just moved him up in my rankings, the second big jump of the spring to ensure to give me a better chance of drafting him. That's probably the only picture who's like that. I'm really surprised I don't have more shares of Shane Smith because I think I've been talking about more than just about anybody. But I never seem to get him at what I think is an appropriate price. So maybe not. I do have a couple of shares of grant homes. Maybe I'll get one more of those. I have like three of grant homes. I don't know how that happened, but he goes so late in like some of these drafting holds and stuff. I got him in an only league, too, where, you know, he might not stay healthy, but while he is, he might get a ton of strikeouts. So I'm a right taking the shot very late on him. I have a couple shares of Nicola Dolo. So I could easily grab him in a third league. I added him to breakouts 2.0. But two of those drafts are with you two of my three remaining drafts. So maybe not. I have a share of Matthew Boyd, who I've grown to like Cody Ponce. Another mention for him. Couple shares of him on the really low end. I have ret louder. But that's getting that's getting pretty deep. All right. We do have to move infinitely faster for every other category we talk about, but I think we will because obviously starting pictures are very important. So we were going to spend a lot of time on that always. What about these starting pictures that you keep fading Scott? I mean, again, we've talked about this a lot this off season, but a quick reminder on those starting pictures you keep fading in drafts. I would say Spencer Strider is on that list when it's the appropriate time to take him. I'm just not going to Edward Cabrera. I already felt that way about Edward Cabrera. I thought there was too much ratio risks there. I'd have to be trailing in strikeouts by quite a bit to be willing to risk by ratios for Edward Cabrera. And that goes double now with the way things have gone from the spring. It's not just that he's struggled. It's that he seems to have gotten away from what allowed him to have a career best season last year, which was fading the four seamer for the sinker and talking about it. It was talking about one, he'd throw more four seamer's, which come on, man.
Edward Cabrera is a pretty easy fade for me. I've begun to fade Tanner by be a little bit. I just finally had to move him down my rankings. Not for any good reason, I just wish he'd had a better spring. There's reason for skepticism already, I suppose. Image Ian, I've started to fade him just because I question if the Dodgers are gonna really give him full run. Anyone else, I have been fading. I mean Logan Webb, I don't throw the take him in a point's league, but he tends to get elevated there because he's such an innings eater. I feel like if you're taking Logan Webb in a category that you're probably taking him as your ace, maybe your number two. And the kind of hole he's gonna put you in a whip for that cost just isn't, that's just not how I want to put together my pitching staff. So I would say Logan Webb, so I don't have to chase whip, which is difficult to do with somebody. You'd have to fall two or three rounds for me to take him probably. Yep, I agree with that call. I have Logan Webb here on this list, Freddie Peralta as well. He just, the price comparatively to last year, he's up like 40 or 50 picks and I don't really see fundamentally a different pitcher there with Freddie Peralta. Yuri Perez, I mean, this is one that could just blow up in my face, but I usually like to get one of those, just one of those kind of young up side starting pitchers and I'd rather make that pick with like, Cam Schletler a little bit later on or like a Boba Chandler. I just think Yuri Perez being so much elevated compared to some of those names. It's just, I never find myself drafting him. And then Sonny Gray, who talks a lot more proven than those others and that's why he gets elevated. I have more confidence in Yuri Perez step taking the step forward of becoming an ace this year than certainly anyone who debuted last year, like Cam Schletler. As much as I like Schletler, got a couple shares of him myself. I get that. I just personally have some concerns with Yuri Perez in terms of like the control he still walks quite a bit and he gives up a lot of barrels and flyballs and you know, it's just like, if you give up hard contact in the air while walking people like those can be multi run homers. So I just, I, yes, it's not gonna be me, but it definitely could blow up in my face. Sonny Gray, we've talked a lot about, it's just his ADP is like a top 30 starting pitcher on fantasy pros. I haven't club closer to like SP 50. Three names and I pretty much just will not draft is Spencer Shredder, Tyler Glass now and Blake Snell. And two names that I just, I have a hard time pressing draft on Nick Pavella. It's like, I'm expecting regression and he kind of had this arm fatigue thing in spring. And then Zach Wheeler because he's like, he's getting pumped up. And look, he could come back and be himself, but like his range of outcomes is, we haven't seen him pitch yet and he's still being elevated. So it's Zach Wheeler is what I have not been able to get there on either. So those are the names that I've been fading at starting pitcher. I share a lot of those by the way. I will, I will mention, I think you fading Nick Pavella and others fading Nick Pavella is why I have three shares of Nick Pavella because he's one of those pitchers who tends to go two rounds later than he quote, or quote, should. And I'm not so confident in any bus pick that I'm willing to pass up that kind of value at this point, especially in Pavella's case. I think no matter what direction his strike out rate, his ERA goes, the whip's gonna be good. And so I think he's gonna be useful in in roto leagues, which is where I tend to draft him. Less he's just hurt, but that goes for any pitcher. All right, let's take our final break. When we return, we've got to talk about every other position we'll do that right after this. Scott, how long will this podcast be? I have no idea. I don't know. I mean, we just did the biggest position. Some of these guys I may not even have answers for. Some of these positions. All right, well, we'll keep things moving here. Let's talk about relief pitchers. The ones that we keep drafting, you could go ahead and you could just go up and down the position, Scott. If you want to give me closers, like solidified closures, you keep drafting, maybe some spec guys and sparps in point league. All three categories there of reliever. Okay. So there is only one reliever that I've drafted more than two times. That is on more than two of my teams. Moctrafts don't count. And that's the player I've drafted most of all. Seranth and he Dominguez, I've talked about it a ton. I think he's going 50 spots later than any other locked in closer. And that seems like an easy call to me. Happy to take Seranth and he Dominguez as my second. Always third would be even better. And again, that's the only one I've drafted more than twice. Now, I think the way things are trending, I'm probably going to draft Jeff Hoffman in three or more leagues. I have them in two already. People seem to be fading him. I'm moving them up. He, I looked at his pitch selection in the spring start. He did just what he said he was going to do. Throw on that slider closer to 60% of the time. I'm in for him. Rice Eleglaseus, another one others are fading. And I, I think he's fine. I got a couple shares of him. See, spark. I would say Cody Ponds unless, unless his cost just surges this weekend. It's still in the 260 range right now ADP. And I think that's fine for the upside he's shown. So I'm probably going to end up more invested in him. And I already am. I do draft a lot of Ryan Nelson, but actually not had to head point sliggs. I, Ryan Nelson shares are more roto because I think he's a, I think he's a true whip standout. He's shown that for the last year and a half. And that's valuable to get as late as Ryan Nelson tends to go off the board. The closures that I have on at least two teams so far have Edwin Diaz, David Bednar, Rice Eleglaseus, Insurantity, Dominguez. So I, I guess these are leagues we're not playing against each other's cap because how many shares of Dominguez? I have three, I think, I think him and Bednar probably, I think are the two closures I have on at least three teams. I thought I was the Dominguez guy. Maybe I like the price. The Dominguez guy than you. Yeah, but you're kind of, and there's no overlap. We didn't get Dominguez on that shared team. So yeah, okay, we did we know we didn't we took only Janssen instead. Oh, right. Yeah, we have a glaci. We do have a glacius on that team. So that is that's one of the shared ones. Yeah, glacius. I mean, I get it. Some people are scared about Robert Suarez being there, but a glacius has done it for so long and he finished the season so strong. So I'm going to be mo I'm always every year going to be most invested in the closures that people are scared of for what I think are a rational reason, which is a glacius Hoffman and Dominguez. I guess I don't know what makes Dominguez any less. Yep. Certain than Dennis Santana or certainly Ryan Walker. The spec closures, the ones that were speculating on I have multiple shares of Kirby Yates, Riley O'Brien, Clayton Beater and Chris Martin. I mean, Chris Martin's a real deep league name, but those other three, you know, as your third closer in a road, or league, something like that, uh, sparps. I have Anthony Kay on a few teams. So I mean, he's a real late round name coming back from Japan and different pitch mix now of velocities up a little bit locked into the white socks rotation. So my lead interested to see what he could do with that opportunity. Some names that I wish I had more of so far, Daniel Polencia, Griffin Jax, Abner Arebe, and then on the sparps side, it's Cody Ponds and Braxton Ashcraft. Any quick mentions there? I shouldn't have said irrational reasons why people are fading a glacius and Hoffman. I think they're rational reasons. They're just weak. Okay. That's a better word. Relief pitchers that we keep fading. Scott, I'll start us off here. A roll this Chapman. He's, you know, older now and he's coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Kenny maintain that control. I have questions. Devon Williams. I mean, this is just anecdotal. I don't know if he could pitch in a big market. And that is just like me being so close to the situation last year on the Yankees. And another one that could make me look foolish. I mean, his underlying numbers were still great last year. I finished very strong. Totally recognize that with Devon Williams. But I want to be a little bit more pick and choosy about the closures that I take. If I have like any inkling, I'm just going to stay away. And that's how I feel about Ryan Helsley too. It's just, you know, what he did last year with tipping the pitches and with the mats, he was just awful. I think there's some injury risk there too. So Chapman, Williams, Helsley, fading those three and obviously Carlos Sestaves, unless he goes in round 17. Scott, which relievers are you fading? So I'm just the opposite. Like I want to get my saves as cheaply as I possibly can. So I am not going to be that choosy. I'll take whichever, whichever everyone else passes out. The one exception might be Carlos Sestaves, who even over the last week is going about 130th, we've gotten into our concerns about him. No way I'd draft him anywhere close to that high. I might draft him ahead of Sir Anthony Dominguez at this point. I'm kind of with you on Ryan Helsley, but it's never an issue. Somebody always takes Helsley before that tear is anywhere close to depleted. Yep. Some names that I've just had trouble pressing draft on. Josh Hader, just the injuries he's been dealing with. I know how dominant he is when he's healthy. But the shoulder to end last year shows up and now has the biceps. Just kind of worries me a little bit. And then Pete Fairbanks. I think there's a really good chance that he's traded at the deadline. I saw a report the other day that there are some situations they could use him before the next day.
thinning as well. So Pete Fairbanks in that tier with like Kenley Janssen and Pagan and Polencia. I have them at the bottom of that tier right now. So he's someone that I just have not been drafting. Let's get into the hitters that we keep on drafting and fading here. Scott, we will start with catchers. Remind people of some injuries here. Kyle Teal has a hamstring. He's likely back in late April. Gabriel Moreno has forearm soreness. He's hopeful for opening day. Sean Murphy is rehabbing offseason hip surgery. He's out until May or June. Anybody who is gaining eligibility, Ivan Herrera is the hopeful. We think eventually, maybe it's April, maybe it's May that he gains catcher eligibility. Scott, who are the catchers that you keep on drafting? There's only one I have three or more shares of and it's a player I love, Carter Janssen. It's good to be invested in one of your valentines because so often it turns out that I'm not, but I am heavily invested in Janssen, you know, the Kyle Schorber like exit velocities and both the majors and the minors. I think he's going to be a full-time. He was down the stretch last year him and Salvador Perez trading off catcher and DH. I think the broils will continue with that arrangement. I imagine just the way things are trending. I'm going to be even more invested in Samuel Pasayo. Probably get probably grabbed me in a couple more leagues. He did home or twice on Thursday here and so maybe that's going to elevate his stock for the weekend, but I find in Mox recently, I've been getting Samuel Pasayo pretty easily. A couple shares of Gabriel Marreno. I like him as a second catcher. Victor Karatini and deep two catcher leagues. He's kind of my go-to second choice because just because he's going to play so much for the twins, I think, is their primary DH. I've gone Cal Raleigh in a couple leagues. Not scared to do that. Even as deep as catcher is. But for the most part, I'm treating catcher like I am relief pitcher. It's deep enough that there's so many options I like there. I'm happy to take just the best that everybody leaves for me. Yeah, it's the same for me. There are a lot of catchers that I have on multiple teams so far just because it's, you know, who falls to what part of the draft? I have catchers at all different parts of the draft that I like to draft because there's so many intriguing options this year. So number one catchers, I have on multiple teams, Shay Langaleers, Augustine Ramirez, Will Smith, Yiner Diaz, fine with the cost on all those guys. As a second catcher, Alejandro Kirk. I know a lot of people fade him. I know Scott that you guys typically fade him, but sometimes he slips a little bit too far as a batting average hell. Someone that could hit 15 home runs still going to hit in the middle of that lineup. So I don't mind him as a catcher too. Don't want him as my catcher one though. And then Tyler Stevenson and some of those deeper leagues. I know last year the strikeouts were up, but he was also playing through injuries and things like that. Entering a contract year, exit velocities were still really good. I don't mind Tyler Stevenson as a as a not even a deeper league, but like in a 12 team league is my second catcher. If I wait, I'm fine with Tyler Stevenson. Did you have anything there on Kirk? Sound like you want to top in just everything Kirk does well. I think Gabriel Moreno does a little better and the ceiling might be higher and he goes later. So I that's the main reason I'm fading Kirk. Yeah, there just there are some drafts where Kirk goes later than Gabriel Moreno. Yeah, I'm sure there are names that I wish I had more of Ben Rice. It's just like the prices. Yeah, everybody wants Ben Rice. It's hard to get him. I have Ben Rice in one league and it's to play first base in an A alone because I had only filled my two. I'd already filled my two catcher spots. I only have him in one league and it was a draft I did back in November and the whole the whole reason I joined was so that I can get Ben Rice before his price got out of control because I knew it was going to happen. Salvador Perez is someone I still do want more of. I just I love the the wall is coming in a little bit. I like that lineup. I think he's still rock solid. Drake Baldwin. I actually drafted on that. Tatt was team tonight. So happy I was able to get him there. Francisco Alvarez was a name I had on this list but now dealing with that back injury. So we'll see. I like a big deal. I like all the catchers. What about the name? I wish I'm surprised I don't have any Adley Rushman because I'm pretty optimistic about Adley and I come very close to taking him on a couple of leagues just hasn't worked out yet. Interestingly enough, catchers that we keep on fading. I have him as the name here that I just have not been able to press draft on is Adley Rushman because there are so many other catchers that I like and I just have questions about who is Adley Rushman at this point in his career and just some mild concerns about playing time. I think he's mostly going to be an everyday player but if he gets off to a slow start and Samuel Bussiah was just tearing the cover off the ball. Is there a chance that Rushman starts to lose playing time? Yeah, I think there's a chance. It might not be the most likely as outcome but I think there's a chance. And then Cal Raleigh in the second round. I'm just not going to pay the cost for Cal Raleigh in round two. Scott, who are some catchers that you are that you keep fading? Will Smith. I think playing time is going to remain an issue and I think in terms of percentages, he gave us close to his best outcome last year and Alejandro Kirk. Don't have a ton of interest in Yiner D. has either. I think I think there are higher upside players that go in the same range and I also question playing time for him. Not that he's not their number one catcher but how much is going to sit for number two? Let's move over to first base and we'll talk about the names that we keep on drafting. Don't think we have any big injuries here. Scott, if anything comes to mind that you're thinking that you remember about a first base injury just let me know but I scroll. I went through. I didn't see anything names who will gain first base eligibility Jorge Palanco. Luis Garcia Jr. I believe is going to play first base for the nationals. Moona Taka Moracami already has first base on CBS but on other outlets like Yahoo and NFBC. He's third base and he will gain first base eligibility. So keep that in mind. And he doesn't have them at both already. He might honestly. And then the last name I had here was Bryce Eldridge but I guess that will happen later on in season. Who are the first baseman that you keep drafting? Scott, the first baseman I keep drafting. Let's see if I have three or more shares of any one. No, I do not. And I was surprised about that because I feel like I keep drafting Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman and maybe it's Mox. I was going to say those are the Mox drafts and then you're going to look up at like once the season starts and realize why don't I have these? I have two shares of each Olson and Freeman. I think one is the same team. I drafted them together. But I get very easily end up with three of these drafts coming up because that's the range of first baseman. I like to draft from and I think within that tier I like those guys more than the consensus. Both of them. Josh Naylor. I'm surprised I'm not more invested in him. Only one share. But I could see that changing moving ahead. I do have a couple shares of Jonathan, Aronda. No surprise there. Couple shares. Do I have a couple shares of South Stewart? I guess they do. I drafted them once and I think I kept them once. I counted my keepers here. Yeah, that's it. I think anyone else who I imagine I'm going to be invested in probably not Bryce Harper, Rafael Devers again, just because I prefer Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman to them respectively. The first baseman that I have on multiple teams already, Rafael Devers is one of them. He just falls a little bit too far in drafts. I like the same range as you do Scott, the Olson, Harper, you know, Devers tier. A lot of times Devers is like the last one to go in that tier. So I have you to get him South Stewart. The hitter. I love I have him on multiple teams already again, just drafted him here on Thursday night again. Alex Burleson as someone with first base and out field eligibility. I like him more in leagues as a corner infielder. I think it's a higher batting average, just a high floor player 270, 20 home murders, solid counting stats there for Burleson. And did you say home burgers home burgers? Is that what it sounded like? What what I don't know. 20 homeers. Home burgers. Yeah. Yeah, go for some home burgers right now. Yeah. Cheese home burgers and home fries. Yes. Yes. Josh Bell. I was actually had a quick. What is your favorite way to consume potato? Scott? This is something I like to ask people because obviously there are so many different ways. Oh, what's your favorite? I mean, I don't think I could choose against the French fry. I mean, it's peak. It's perfection. It's Tater tots, man. Tater tots to me are amazing, man. A nice golden brown crispy tot. Oh, nothing better. Yeah, I don't I don't totally get the Tater tot hype. I just I don't know that I like the shredded potato more than a fluffy potato, you know, you get that that shredded effect inside the the crispy outside. I'm not saying it's not tasty. It's plenty tasty, but I mean, oh, I love it. The perfect fry is so is leagues ahead of the best Tater tot I could have. I would disagree with that, but I do love fries too. I mean, they're both awesome, but I do prefer tots. Josh Bell. I have in multiple draft and holds as just kind of a boring, very deep name who's going to hit like 250 with 20 home runs names that I wish I had more of Michael Bush and Jonathan Aronda. I do like those two quite a bit as well. What about the first baseman that we are fading Scott, the ones that I'm not really going to draft unless they fall are Vlad Jr. Nick.
and Pete O'Onza, I just don't love that, like round two draft cost. And I haven't been able to press draft on Freddie Freeman. I know he's someone that you like a lot. I do. I worry a little bit about the age and the strikeouts coming up a little bit last season. You know, people forget he was coming back from ankle surgery early last season and was gutting it out when he talked about sitting more often than he actually did to manage that injury. You look at what he did over the final two months, the strikeout dropped to the normal range. She hit, I think, 14 of his 24 homers. He improved his home run pace and dropped his strikeout reconsiderably as the season went on. So I think he's still Freddie Freeman. And what I like about, you know, you talked about taking devers, I feel like most of those first baseman will be active help in batting average. And Freddie Freeman and Josh Naylor especially. So devers is the one I most worried will not. Olsen could be Harper could be Freeman and Naylor, especially devers probably not. I hear that, but devers also could hit the most home runs of that group. Yes, he could. I just tend not to be as worried about that at that point in the draft. First baseman, I'm fading. I'm with you on Nick Kurtz and Vlad Guerrero and Peter Lonzo. I don't, I want to draft any at cost. They slide four picks. I'm probably taking them. But that really seems to happen. Is that anyone else I'm fading? No, no interest in Minotacama or Kami really, but the cost is so low that I can't quibble about it too much. Yeah, that's about it. Let's move over to second base. We'll start with injuries here. Jackson Holiday has the Hame bone. He's expected to start the season on the IL. But don't they kill Miss too much time? Tommy Edmund is on the IL recovering from ankle surgery. Names who will gain second base eligibility. Luis Arise. So he'll be first and second. JJ Weatherholz. He'll be shortstop and second. And Josh Smith. He'll be gaining second base eligibility with every other infield position. Outside of catcher. But it'll be first, second, third and shortstop there. So for those who play in deeper leagues, pretty interesting name there with Josh Smith. Scott, who are some second baseman you keep on drafting? Believe it or not, no second baseman and three or more leagues either. And it's funny because I mentioned to my kids that I was writing this article yesterday. And the first name they said that I'm most invested in is Bryce Tarrang. But they're wrong. I only have two shares of Bryce Tarrang in leagues that count. I think there's a good chance that changes this weekend. I'll grab them in one of those three leagues at least. It feels like you draft him in every draft we die now. But I guess they're all mock drafts. A bunch of mocks, I guess. Yeah. And I also have two shares of out two VAY. But I think both are to play in out the outfield and a 5L fielder league curiously enough. Yeah, I mean, I honestly, I feel like I've been the most vocal proponent of Aussie Albees this entire preseason, having drafted him in a single league. I don't think I've drafted him in a single mock even. It just never, it's never happened. I'm drafting too many Bryce Tarrang in the mocks. Yep, yep. And then in real, in the leagues that count, I don't know, it just hasn't happened. Branded loud too. I feel like the value's incredible there, but it just hasn't happened. Yep. The second baseman that I have on multiple teams, Bryce and Stott, five teams already. He says, a lot of these roado leagues where I purposely go in knowing that I have to wait at least at one position. I have to be quote unquote weaker at one position. Second base is just usually that position that I wind up waiting at. And Bryce and Stott is just someone boring 12 to 15 homers, 250 batting average, 25 plus theals. Kind of a set it and forget it. Wish he played against lefties, probably not going to, but he's just rock solid. And someone that, you know, I usually need speed at that point in the draft. And so I wind up with a lot of Bryce and Stott. Do have Aussie Albees and Marcus Semi in on two different teams already. Again, mostly waiting at second base, but there were drafts where Albees felt like outside the top 150, especially in those NFBC drafts. So scoop them up there. Marcus Semi in kind of like that last resort. Second base, and I wound up with a few times. In draft and hold, I do have three shares of Andres Hemenes as a middle infielders slash bench, you know, second baseman. Just someone that can give you some, you know, 20, 25 steals this season. He was playing through injury last year. So hoping that he gets back to running now that he's healthy again. And wish I had more of Luke Keishel. This was a really good exercise to do earlier in the day. Scott, I made this run down early on Thursday. So ahead of the Towers draft, I knew all the players that I wanted more shares of, and I drafted all of them in that draft. So it was a really, it was a really good exercise to do. And I'm happy I did it because I drafted Luke Keishel as well in that one. So I was happy to do that. That's kind of amazing, actually. I don't know if it was actually all of them, but it was most of them. The ones that I wanted to draft it. That was an auction, right? I go and do an auction. No, is that 12 team head to head categories daily lineup? Stay track. Oh, that's even more impressive then. Yeah. Yeah, just kind of worked out that way. You're a very lucky man. What about the second baseman we keep fading? Scott, who do you, who do you avoid at second base? Nico Horner, too big of a power hit for his release. You have to draft him. I mean, now I don't think I'd be willing to pay the premium for Matt McLean with the way he's been surging up draft boards. And say Don Rafael is probably my biggest fate of all. I don't think there's anybody at second base that will wreck your fantasy team. There's no ADP that stands out to me as overly egregious. Have not been able to press the draft button on say Don Rafael like you Scott. And if you want to just close your ears, take out your headphones, go for a walk, Scott. Bryce Tarang, I just, I haven't been able to do it. I just, I don't know how much of last year is sustainable. It was nice to see that when he showed up to spring, he hit two, two 400 foot home runs right away. But I'm just kind of left figuring out like, who is the real Bryce Tarang? Like, what are we getting this season? And I haven't been able to completely lock that in. So, I mean, for me, the downside case looks a lot like Nico Horner. He doesn't go that far ahead of Horner. But you know, the upside case is like a second round or 2040 guy. Yeah, I get it. But it's just like the fourth round. I guess I'm always just trying to do something else in the fourth round of drafts, whether it's starting pitcher or maybe for one of those first base men, like a dever, someone like that. Let's slide over to third base. And we'll start with injuries here. Jose Ramirez has been dealing with left shoulder inflammation. But he returned to the lineup here on Thursday. I was supposed to look up what he did. And let's see if we can figure that out in real time. Let's see. They won six to five. Jose Ramirez went one for four and he hit a home run. So that's pretty good news for Jose Ramirez. Dora Westberg has a partially torn UCL in his elbow. He won't be back until May at the earliest, but could be a lot longer than that. Names who will gain third base eligibility. Boba, but set remember that on draft day. If you need, I have exploited it to the fullest already. He's among my most drafted players. If you need that third baseman, just don't forget he's going to gain that eligibility early on base and for road, a league's batting average. Like the point where you're talking around seven round eight range, both of those needs are very difficult to fill in a road, a league at the point where Bershek goes and he fills in both or at least he eventually will third base. And Brendan Donovan will also gain third base eligibility. Scott, who are the third baseman that you keep on drafting? Well, for counting, Boba, shit. Got three shares of him. And I probably should have been looking through this list while you were talking. I have three shares of Max Muncie. I think people are riding off Max Muncie, 969 OPS from April 30th on. That's when he started wearing the glasses. Max Muncie of the Dodgers. Oh, it's good Dodgers. Yes. True, he'll probably sit against some left handers, but in a lot of those games, once they get to the bullpen, he's going to be coming off the bench. I think he is, I think it's silly how he's going. Surprisingly, only two shares of Esauk Parade is as high. I'm like 80 picks ahead of consensus on him. And I imagine I'll get him at least one of those drafts this weekend. I get the way mock drafts have been going recently. I could see Alec Bohm joining this group as a nice, in a roto Lee corner infield batting average stabilizer. Pretty late. Yep. Alec Bohm is actually a name that I have on three teams already. I think I got him as a corner in one and then a third basement in the other two where I just kind of waited and missed out on everybody else. One of them. Kazuma Okamoto still going way too late. Yep. Michael Garcia. I have on three teams. Michael Garcia. Excuse me. He was close to the hitter. I love the season. I am really, really impressed with what Michael Garcia did last season. And I think that he can actually take another step forward this year. So like him a lot, Kazuma Okamoto, I have him on three teams already just saw today that he had another bad at ball, 107.7 miles power. It was like 405 feet just miss being a home run as well. Right. To right center too. That. Yep. It did not look off the bat. Like it was going to go that far. And he's gonna be right in the middle of that blue jays line up to so yeah, I do like him
a lot. And then Matt Chapman, I've talked about him as a, if you miss out on everyone else, just kind of boring fallback option, 25 homers, 10 to 15 steals, 240 batting average, you know he's going to play every day because he's an awesome defender. So those are the names I've been drafting a lot. One that I wish I had more of, and I hope I get him on at least one team this weekend or before draft season wraps up is Austin Riley, just because the off chance that he bounces back, maybe he does run a little bit. Off chance. There's an off chance. God, I mean, you know, there's a chance, not just an off chance. There's a good chance. Thank you. I do want to get him on at least one team before everything wraps up here. Who are the third baseman that you have been fading? I don't think I have any Riley either. I've been pushing Riley and all these on everyone else and not taking them myself. Who is I say not as I do? Okay, Alex Breggman for the first time in his career. I am down on him. Relatives to the consensus. I've always been a big Breggman and backer, but I don't think it's going to go as well. It regly field, not a good venue for him. No, Elvin Marte with the playing time concerns coming up. Roy Slueis, I just, I did end up taking him in one league, but I can't get excited about him. Oh, come on, Scott. I can't do it. That's about it. I'd third base. You can't afford to be that picky. Yeah. I am never tempted to take Breggman in a categories league, but I am okay with it in a points league. Sure. That's fair. No thanks on Noelvin Marte, third base or outfield. It's just question marks about playing time. Pretty streaky player as well. And one of the things I did you do. Do it do you mention barger? No, I guess I should mention barger. I have no interest in him at cost. I don't think he's going to play enough and I'm not convinced he's that good. I like barger. So I'm actually okay with where he goes. But it's a no on Noelvin Marte, no Elvin Marte. And then haven't been able to press draft on this name, which I really just might regret it and it might blow up in my face. I get it. I get what can happen. Let's talk about short stops and we will start with the injuries here. Lendor is working his way back from that hammy bone injury. I think he'll be ready for opening day. He has been playing in some spring game so far. Jeremy Pena has a fracture on the tip of one of his fingers. He's supposed to swing a bat with both hands this weekend. He's progressing still a chance. He's ready for opening day as well. We're still waiting to see on the prospects here. We expect JJ Weatherhold will be up. Connor Griffin and Kevin McGonagall. We still don't know. I think it's more likely McGonagall is up. Then Connor Griffin at this point. They could all be up. We just don't know yet. I think we'll probably find out in the next couple days. Who are the short stops that you keep drafting? Herald O'Pardomo. I don't think that will surprise anybody who's been listening for the entire preseason. I've come up with a guideline for players who have surprising years and everybody wants to fade them the next year because where did that come from? If they're being drafted at a point where they could deliver 80% of the previous year's production and it will still be a good value, go ahead and take them. So that's where I stand on Cal Raleigh when I'm fine taking him and round two and Herald O'Pardomo. That would certainly apply to him where he tends to go round five, round six when he performed like a second round or last year. I just love the way he finished the season. We kept waiting for him to fade and he just got better, much better actually. Connor Griffin, I have three shares of him that I think that's trending toward being a stash. I always got him at a discount though and I'm happy to stash him for around the 160th pick. Those are the only ones I have three or more shares. I've got a couple shares in Mookey bets. I guess Boba Shett, we could count him. Yeah. All right, the short stops that I have on multiple teams. Shortstop to me is a lot like catcher where I just love the position so much that I find myself kind of bouncing all over the place and diversifying just because I want to get lots of shares of different short stops this season. But I do have Gunner Henderson on two teams. I have Ellie Delecruz on two teams. I have Corey Seeger on two teams. Happy with the cost totally fine with that on all three of those. As middle infielders, I have Xander Bogart's on three. Just kind of a boring veteran 15 15 guy. I think the batting average actually will be helpful to 60 to 270 there on Bogart's and Naseem Nunez in some deeper leagues as a middle infielder. I saw a report today that we don't know if he's going to be an everyday player, but he's got legitimate speed. He's a really good defender. I think it's two seasons with 50 plus deals in the minors there for Naseem Nunez. So Jose Copeiro and Naseem Nunez both. I feel like if you have to resort to them for steals, you done messed up your steals because they're going to be really bad for everything else. Yeah, that's fair. I don't know that I'm relying on him for steals. It's just like a bench option. You can play. As a bench guy who might have, you know, whatever 30 or 40 steel season out of nowhere, names that I wish I had more of tray turner and boba shed. I only have one of each, but I do like both quite a bit. Who are some short stops that you keep on fading? I keep fading. Trevor story. I think he is my clearest bus pick. Same. Everybody's just forgotten the injury risk all of a sudden. That's the only one I'm actively fading. I mean, I'm not thrilled to draft Willie Adama's or Jacob Wilson, but if they meet my need at the time, I'll do it. Yeah, everyone else is pretty low end. Not not a lot of fading happening here. So I agree with you wholeheartedly on Trevor story. And again, Scott, like if you want to just go stretch the legs, like I think this would be a good time to go do that. Adama. It's for Adama. Yeah, I'm not buying the career year. I understand the cost is nowhere close to where he actually finished last season. I just don't see enough in the underlying numbers to explain what happened. I think he gets to be serviceable, but I just don't want to buy coming off that career year with Harald O. Prado Mo. Let's wrap things up here with the outfield and some injuries. Sayas Suzuki has a spring PCL. We are not sure if he's going to be ready for opening day. We should learn that this weekend. Lawrence Butler has been slowly working his way back from offseason knee surgery. He did return to spring games this week. Lars Newbar had offseason heel surgery. Lorde Scoreal coming back from a torn ACL. Both of those expected to start the season on the aisle. And those who are gaining outfield eligibility, I have Jordan Lawler and Luis on Helikunia. You till only names. Let's watch here. I rank them in the order that I think they're most likely to gain outfield eligibility. And I have it. Yelich, you're on Alvarez Kyle Schwarber. Would you agree with that? Scott in that order of gaining outfield. Yelich Alvarez. Yeah, Schwarber. Yeah. Yeah, I think so. Okay. Who are some of the let's start on the high end Scott and any high end outfielders that you've been drafting on multiple teams so far. The my most drafted outfielder with four shares is Pete Crow Armstrong. I am a difference. A year makes Scotty. I may be the most notorious Crow Armstrong detractor in all the land. And now I have four shares of him. And this is less about favoritism kind of what I was getting at earlier on the show. It's less about I like Pete Crow Armstrong than just I've often found that he is the perfect fit or he or I get him at a discount because others are scared off by him. The perfect fit would be if it's a road O league. And really I'm only talking about road or categories leagues no interest in Pete Crow Armstrong really and points leagues unless it says steep discount. But in a road O league round three I don't have any steals yet. I don't have an outfield or yet. I probably should take Pete Crow Armstrong, right? And like I said in auctions I was getting him for six to eight dollars less than he's projected to go. I'm happy to do that because I only know so much. Yeah that's high end. Any other high end guys that I have three or more shares of could we put E and half maybe he's closer to high end than low end is that fine. Just the perfect third outfielder in my mind. Second outfielder if I'm really in the soup. Great. He's not going to be a stud but bankable numbers especially home runs RBI. If you're willing to absorb a little loss of batting average there, very safe. He and half to to fill that third outfield spot before you get into the the the flood gates open on the speculative plays at the position. I guess I I have two shares of Cody Ballinger. He's probably my favorite outfielder to draft. I wish I had drafted a more love him in like round six as a cheap first outfielder. And I will well yeah you just said high end guys so I'll stop there. Yeah the high end outfielder's I have on multiple teams Kyle Tucker. We've talked a lot about this offseason skyward the NFBC ADP is a lot of times you know 14 15 16 we all have him ranked as a top eight or nine players. So I've just wound up with a bunch of Kyle Tucker Jackson trio someone I like a lot this year in the second round Cody Bellinger I have on three different teams as well either as a second or if you wait a little bit grab him as you
your first outfielder in round five or six. I'm good with that. And Wonsoto I have on two teams. So don't normally like to have multiple shares of a first round hitter, just because I like to diversify those early rounds, but here we go. I've got three Kyle Tucker and two Wonsoto. So I hope it works out with those guys. I don't have any first round hitter on two teams. And that wasn't intentional. It's just worked out that way. Yep. On the mid to low end, it's got who are some outfielers to keep drafting there? Well, I already mentioned the in half who's more mid in, I guess. Yep. I am drafting late in five outfielder leagues. I don't think you need to bother with these guys in three outfielder leagues, but late in five outfielder leagues, the rookies, Carson Benj, Justin Crawford, even like Chase De Lauder. I think Benj is the only one I have in three or more leagues. What about Owen Casey? Owen Casey, sure. I, as my fourth fifth outfielder in those kinds of leagues, I think I'd much rather gamble on them. Because at the point, they're still going that, they're still going late. The alternative outfielder in that range are part-timers who I'm not confident are good anyway. So I might as well shoot my shot with the rookies. Hope they make the team. Hope they live up to their potential right away. And that's what I've been doing. All right. So mid to low end outfielder is that I keep drafting as well. E and half also on this list, Scott Brian Reynolds. To me, both of them just boring third outfielder's. I think it's a bounce back season for Brian Reynolds. South Freelik, I like the cost. He goes later than Stephen Kwan. Gives you a nice little batting average, 20 steel kind of boost there at a totally fine cost where he goes in drafts. Josh Low, no surprise. I still think he could be like a 15, 25 guy if he's healthy. Jarcarlo Stanton, a lot of times I feel like I need power late. So then I take a shot on Stanton. It's, I don't know how many games he's going to play, but it'll probably deliver a 30 home run pace, not 30 actual home runs. Harrison, Peter, boring five outfielder, 15, 15 guy with you on Ben's, Justin Crawford. I like those guys. And Jake McCarthy. I have a lot of Jake McCarthy. So hope he has an everyday role with the Rockies leading off. Maybe it's a 280 hitting 10 Homer, 25 to 30 steel season here from Jake McCarthy. I am surprised. I'm not more invested in Dalton Varsho. Do I? I don't, I think I must have him just in one, I hope I haven't been at least one league. I banged the drum too loudly for Dalton Varsho because I priced him out of my range, I guess he looks so good this frame to me. He looks. I have no shares of Caglione, which I hate. I just got one in Towers. I, I feel like at this point, you're going to have to reach so much to get him. Let's see what round I took him in that one. I think it was maybe round 12. To be clear, I hate that I don't have any shares of Caglione, not I hate Caglione. 13, 13.8 Scott, that's 12 team league. That feels okay for Caglione. Yeah, what number does that come out to? That's probably right, probably right around where, maybe a little blow where I rank him actually. I think he did well there. I've come so close to drafting, Dalton Lyle. It's so close. So many times it's the right round. I nailed the round to take him, but just somebody grabs him before me. And that's a shame because I like him. I think he's late batting average help, especially, but that won't be all he can droop it's in. How feel there's I wish I had more of again, you just can't get everybody that you want. It's just not the way that you know, drafts work. You get a lot of the players you want. You can't get all of them. Wyatt Langford, Roman Anthony, Joe Adele, Caglione and Varsho. Those are the five that I wish at this point that I have had. I have more of those alphillers who are some of the names that you keep on fading, Scottie. James Wood. Same. Yeah, I'll definitely p-crow Armstrong over wood because at least he's going to give you steals, right? I'm not confident would will and I worry about the strikers in the second half. I don't know that it's fading Roman Anthony. He just goes early. Then I take earlier than I take him. I don't know if that's true fade. Be happy to take him. Just little too early. Riley Green. Riley Green, I think his profile now really depends on him hitting a ton of home runs and he doesn't have a long history of doing that. Doesn't really have the exit velocities to back that up either. O'Neill Cruz, I mean, I know I've put on a happy face relative to you and Chris, but I don't want to complete batting average drain and there's not much interest in points because he strikes out so much. Yeah. The names that I'm openly fading, I'm with you on Riley Green. Bucks thing. It's just now he's a top 80 pick in the coming off the year where he finally stayed healthy and it was only like 124 games. Sue, it's not like he played the entire season. I get how talented he is. It doesn't feel good fading Bucks in, but he's a- Oh, I should have said Jackson Merrill. Like that's the most obvious one. Bucks in his one that I keep fading. O'Neill Cruz as well. Noel V. Marte, Mike Trout. I just never find myself drafting Mike Trout. Two names I just haven't been able to press draft on this season. Scott is Luis Robert. I am mildly intrigued just bounce back to see what he could do in a better situation with the Metz, but lots of injury risk with him. And Jacob Marcy, man, it's like he came up. He was so good in August and then he was so bad in September. I think he has an intriguing skill set. I think he's gonna run. He'll get on base, but it's, you know, the batting average in the minors is like 230 or 240, something like that. So it's Robert and Marcy, just two names I haven't really been able to get behind this season. Alright, we made it. Scott, we're gonna wrap there. For Scott, I am Frank. Thanks as always for tuning into Fantasy Baseball today. Please make sure to follow and leave a five-star rating on Apple or Spotify. And we will be back again tomorrow with a mail-back. Bye-bye. [MUSIC] Paramount podcasts.
PodcastTranscript AI