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Random Thoughts
Mar 8th, 2009 by winabango
Today I would like to provide some of my thoughts on a few things that I read about over the past few days. Spring Training is in full effect, and I am getting excited about actual games beginning soon. I may be one of the few people, but I am excited about the World Baseball Classic. It might be just because they are real games, or maybe I like scouting out some of the key players for this season. Either way, It is baseball, and that makes it great. Besides… where else can you see playoff intensity in March? If you don’t believe me, then you did not see the game between USA and Canada yesterday afternoon. Here are some things that I have found over the past week or so…
Alex Rodriguez’s hip injury has dominated the Fantasy Baseball Story lines. So here is what everyone else is saying:
- Razzball states:”…A-Rod goes from a precarious number one overall to a tentative 2nd rounder and a very confident 3rd rounder.” “Think of A-Rod as Longoria last year or Braun two years ago, only you know more what to expect from A-Rod.”
- Fantasy Hurler says: “Don’t draft A-Rod. Not in the first round. Not in the second. Not in the third, fourth or fifth. Not at all. I promise that you can win a fantasy championship this year without trying to get A-Rod for a steal late in the third round.”
- RotoSavants thinks: “… that this clearly effects his fantasy status, possibly out of the first round even if he doesn’t get surgery. If he does end up getting surgery, I think it’ll be hard for him to get even 20HR so be very careful.” and “I cannot suggest drafting A-Rod anywhere near the first 5 rounds at this point. Since someone will always take him early though you shouldn’t have him on your team this year.”
- DL Informer states: “For what it is worth, I am not going to be drafting A-Rod in the first round. Given this news, I probably would not draft him unless he drops to the third round or later (which probably won’t happen)…”
- FantasyPros911 says: “He most likely is not a top-five pick but I would be quite comfortable anywhere after that. If I am picking six through 12, I am almost drooling at the potential of him dropping to me.”
I was not planning on drafting A-Rod this season, because I pick too late in the two drafts where I could get him, and he is a protected keeper in the other. My issue, is not deciding on when to draft A-Rod, but how high will my tier one targets now go? Do Miguel Cabrera and Ryan Braun become unavailable for the 8th pick in the first round?
Here is something else that I saw…
…a prediction that Kevin Slowey will pitch better than Carlos Zambrano and Cliff Lee in 2009. I can agree with that. Why not say the same thing about Scott Baker though? He may not have the same K/BB ratio as Slowey, but he does post a better K/9 rate. I may be the only one who thinks Slowey and Baker are very similar.
For those who have holds in a league…
First of all, let’s get the proper theory in place… Holds are just as valuable as saves. The only difference is that there are more players who can acquire them. So why not draft for them? I think that you should draft possible closers to start the season, and then aggressively work the waiver wire throughout the season. Here is an article that is the best write-up that I have seen regarding middle relievers.
- What have you guys been seeing over the past week?
As someone who has A Rod in his main keeper league, I know now I’ll have to target a replacement 3B early in the draft (at least he acted quickly to elect surgery instead of waiting until the season began). I’m thinking Encarnacion as a later pick, or depending on eligibility, Pablo Sandoval. Don’t think that Chris Davis will fall to me, but would snatch him up in a heartbeat if he does.
As far as Twins starters, I like both Slowey and Baker, but would take Slowey about two rounds earlier than Baker (although my Projections sheet ranks Baker as 10 slots higher than Slowey). Either one is a find SP3 on your roster.
Regarding holds, I have always liked the fact that this category opens up so much more of the pitching universe and makes middle relievers and setup guys that much more valuable. All the leagues that I act as commissioner on have holds as a 6th pitching stat category ( I usually add OPS as the 6th hitting category).