I’m joining the Fantasy Baseball Roundtable tonight at 9:0 PM ET: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fantasy-baseball-roundtable/2012/05/03/the-fantasy-baseball-roundtable-show. We’ll talk Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra, Mike Aviles, Ryan Zimmerman, Jason Heyward, Yu Darvish, Tim Lincecum, roto, fantasy baseball and much more!
Posts Tagged ‘Tim Lincecum’
30 Apr
Baseball Daily Digest Radio with @JoelHenard & Me (and two awesome guests) at 700 ET
Baseball Daily Digest Radio with Joel Henard and me at 7:00 ET: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefantasyinsiders/2012/04/30/baseball-daily-digest-radio-with-joel-henard-and-albert-lang. We’ll be joined by Jeff Mans from Fantasy Alarm/Sirius XM Fantasy and David Laurila of Fangraphs.
We’ll will talk Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Jake Peavy, Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra, Matt Thornton, Jon Lester, Paul Konerko, David Phelps, Drew Smyly, Chad Billingsley, Anthony Bass, Chris Davis, Tim Lincecum, Frank Francisco, Ian Kennedy, Delmon Young, Andy Dirks, Edwin Encarnacion, Nelson Cruz, Brandon Morrow, Johnny Cueto, Brandon Allen, Brian Matusz, roto, fantasy baseball and much more!
6 Apr
2012 Fantasy Baseball Pitch or Ditch for Friday, April 6, 2012 for @FP911
2012 Fantasy Baseball Pitch or Ditch for Friday, April 6, 2012 for Fantasy Pros 911: http://fp911.com/2012-fantasy-baseball-pitch-or-ditch-for-friday-april-6-2012/, an article that discusses all of the starting pitching roto and fantasy baseball options for today and which should be started and avoided.
24 Jan
Baseball Daily Digest Radio featuring myself and Joel Henard from 1.23
Baseball Daily Digest Radio with Joel Henard and Albert Lang from January 23. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefantasyinsiders/2012/01/24/baseball-daily-digest-radio-with-joel-henard-and-albert-lang
We’ll talk: Ryan Braun, Roto, Fantasy Baseball, Gary Carter, Maro Scutaro, the Red Sox, Nick Markakis, Manny Ramirez, Tim Lincecum, Carlos Pena, Fausto Carmona, Michael Morse, Ryan theriot, Yu Darvish, Prince Fielder, Edwin jackson, Roy Oswalt, BJ Upton, Desmond Jennings, Michael Pineda, Dan Uggla, jason Kipnis, Brandon Phillips, Mike Moustakas, Aramis Ramirez, Mike Trout and more!
29 Jul
h2h Corner ~ I’m a Believer: August Edition
Welcome to this month’s “I’m a Believer” column. Yes, I got the name from a Monkees’ song. And yes, I like the song. Did you know that Neil Diamond wrote it, as well as many other songs by the Monkees? Isn’t Neil Diamond cool (Red Sox fans)?
Like the song teaches us, this column attempts to be a fun, quick read, mostly focused on what performances we can/can’t believe in.
Without further ado, I’m a believer that:
If you need speed, Emilio Bonifacio makes an interesting add in deep leagues.
Jonathan Broxton, Francisco Rodriguez and Brad Lidge have been three of the worst relievers over the last month. With Lidge actually being the most valuable of the trio. Go figure.
The best thing about summer that isn’t sports or bikini related is Big Brother. I like big boobed chemist sounds like Maria from Celebrity Apprentice. Agree? Also I feel like Matt is a less nerdy version of Ronnie. He is playing way too hard this early. The brigade will be picked apart when Enzo turns on Hayden because of Kristen. The winner: Lane. I think he is sneaky smart. Also Britney is very pretty/bitchy.
Jered Weaver is a dream weaver.
As I mentioned last month, the Astros have, at least one intriguing young player in Chris Johnson. The Astros should trade anyone they can to get young cheap pieces for, including Brett Myers.
This is the easiest column to write. It’s lazy, like you and me.
I still don’t buy Adrian Beltre’s production (.358 BAbip). Just an FYI: his average has gone down from .349 to .333 over the last month. During the last 28 days his BAbip was .265. That is closer to his career total of .294.
“Ed will win Hell’s Kitchen.” Boy was I wrong with that one. My girlfriend thought Holli a few weeks ago. She might be right.
The minute I give up on Cole Hamels he starts to dominate again.
I thought I was crazy when I said Billy Wagner could strike out 100 batters this year. Well he has 61 Ks already.
You never should draft a catcher high. Your top 5 fantasy catchers on the year: Joe Mauer, Miguel Olivo, Brian McCann, Mike Napoli, and John Buck. Three were afterthoughts on draft day. Buster Posey has been the number one fantasy player over the last month.
I will own James Shields all year – I will never give up on him.
Rickie Weeks is one of the best kept fantasy secrets – a top five second baseman. He is Dan Uggla with a little speed and better average.
I still find it hard to trust Josh Hamilton. Let’s call it a hunch.
I’ve tried to write negative things about Alex Rios, but I can’t find any facts to support those negative views. In short, he’ll continue to be the rock star I thought he was a few years ago.
Ricky Nolasco is back: 49 Ks over his last 40 IPs with a sub 1.00 WHIP
I’ll still take Albert Pujols as the top first basemen next year, even if he finishes behind Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto and Ryan Howard this year.
Robinson Cano, depending on how much you paid/where you drafted him, could be a very nice keeper next year. I’ll go ahead and call him the next fantasy Chase Utley (he doesn’t have Utley’s glove or base running acumen).
I stand by July’s statement: “Dan Haren, notwithstanding his regular second half swoons, makes an interesting buy. If he is traded, we could see an uptick in performance.”
While he hasn’t been exceptional, Mark Teixeira is looking at 35+ HRs and a top 30 ranking at the end of the year.
Ranking Alex Rodriguez in 2011 will be very interesting. Evan Longoria (on pace for a near 30-30 season with over 100 runs and RBIs), Kevin Youkilis and David Wright seem to have left him behind. Is he a third rounder?
Justin Upton has brought his average up to .280. He’ll have a monster rest of the year.
It really shouldn’t be a shock that Derek Jeter (in a semi-unlucky/down year) is the second best fantasy shortstop. At some point, we have to just believe.
Tim Lincecum’s 2010 is exactly why you don’t draft a pitcher in the first round. You never know what can happen. Another reason? The top five pitchers this year: Adam Wainwright, Josh Johnson, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Ubaldo Jimenez. The next five Mat Latos, Jon Lester, Jered Weaver, Carl Pavano and Felix Hernandez. That’s crazy preseason fluctuation.
That said, people are overreacting to Lincecum’s swoon. I’d have no problem buying him. I certainly see him as a top 15 pitcher going forward.
Elvis Andrus has a just enough Chone Figgins in him to scare me a tiny bit.
Vicente Padilla has been downright nasty over his last 34 IPs. He won’t continue to be this good.
Next year I am only drafting Rangers outfielders. If Nelson Cruz could stay healthy, he might challenge for top 10 status.
People are always happy when they draft Torii Hunter. There he sits in the top 50 again this year above the likes of Hollywood Matt Kemp, Phenom Justin Upton, and lefty-masher Jayson Werth.
Ryan Dempster is the most underrated fantasy pitcher. Teammate Ted Lilly isn’t too far behind.
I’m surprised Andrew McCutchen barely sneaks into the top 100 and that his numbers are marginally better than Andres Torres. I like Torres, he has been a godsend in an NL-only league where I finally traded Jason Bay and dropped Nate McLouth. By the way, Jose Tabata should be owned a lot more.
Speaking of speedy Pirates, Nyjer Morgan is starting to get on base and not get caught stealing.
Jim Thome benefits the most from Justin Morneau’s concussion.
I’m looking good for saying Alfredo Simon would end up with “the most saves of anyone who is SP-eligible.”
FB101’s 411: Stick to your guns. Don’t stop believing.
All stats as of July 28.
29 May
h2h Corner ~ Katy Perry (Hot ‘N’ Cold) All-Stars
Players get hot and cold over a seven-day period, it’s as sure as the samples are small.
That is why Katy created the Hot ‘N’ Cold All-stars.
As most of you know, Katy Perry is set to wed funny man Russell Brand. Oh you didn’t know that? Well consider this your schooling for the day.
Well, Mr. Brand has some demands on his future wife, most notably that she learn how to cook. As Maria-Mercedes Lara points out, what does Mr. Brand expect when he marries a woman who is known for her rack and a song about girl-on-girl action?
This leads me to school of fantasy/Katy point #II. What do you really expect from one-week wonders? The worst thing you can do in fantasy baseball is make a rash reaction. This isn’t fantasy football where you might as well flip a coin on a decision. There are trends, historical barometers, and of course sample sizes.
And, as I wrote, that’s why Katy created this weekly All-star list. Now, if only she can learn to cook.
‘Cause you’re hot…you’re yes…you’re in…you’re up
Edwin Encarnacion – While Edwin has been stroking it (a vague Russell Brand reference!) since he came off the DL, he has been even better over the last seven days: .368 average, five HRs and 10 RBIs. I did a piece specifically on the amazing Blue Jays offense which talked about Encarnacion a good deal. It’s safe to say I like the streaky third baseman. The only concern is what happens when Travis Snider comes back. He could lose some playing time, but not if he continues to hit like this. I’m adding him in most competitive leagues.
Mike Sweeney – Apparently someone should have complained to the press about Ken Griffey sleeping in the clubhouse sooner. Since that happened, Sweeney(Todd) has been on a tear. Over the last seven days, he hit .600(!) and added three HRs. Unlike Encarnacion, I’m not buying Sweeney. He has a .500 BAbip over the last seven days and a .381 BAbip over the last 14. He’ll come crashing back to earth.
Laynce Nix – Apparently, I’m not as well read as I thought as I told people to pick up Laynce Nix last week, yet he is still just one percent owned in Yahoo! leagues. He has made a repeat entrance on KP’s All-Stars thanks to blasting two HRs and batting .333 over the last seven days. Playing time remains an issue, but he is a solid add in deep leagues and NL-only.
Mark Kotsay – Mark Kotsay, DH, should be the only evidence you need of why the White Sox are stinking up the joint. However, Kotsay has come to life lately. Over the last seven days, he hit two HRs and batted .308. He has been better over the last month as well (four HRs and a .254 AVG). He has a pretty low BAbip (.188) this year compared to his career (.298), so he is actually a good buy in deeper and NL-only leagues.
Orlando Cabrera – Cabrera had himself a healthy last seven days (.333 AVG and three SBs). He is getting back to what makes him a useful middle infielder – the steals. On the season he has seven, so 20 should be no problem. He also (typically) hits atop a pretty potent NL line-up, so the runs could be there. I’d be scooping him up in 12-team leagues and deeper.
Adam Rosales – I don’t know how to pronounce his last name, but I bet it’s purty. What I do know is that he had a pretty last seven days (six runs and a .389 AVG). He qualifies at every infield position except shortstop (but has started there once) and makes a very good AL-only add. He is capable of providing a good average, but not much else. Still, that’s not useless.
Luke Hochevar – I don’t know what to do with Hochevar. He doesn’t get to pitch against the Royals and he has a 4.95 ERA, but he throws gems from time to time. Over the last seven days, he threw eight innings and posted a 2.25 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. I still don’t trust him as anything more than a match-ups play in an AL-only league, but he does have the pedigree to be a useful fantasy starter. Right now, keep your eye on him in mixed leagues.
Trevor Cahill – Cahill is the kind of pitcher I tend to shy away from as he doesn’t strike anyone out (just 17 Ks in 35.1 IPs). However, I think he has pitched himself into being useful in 10-team leagues. Last week he went 12.2 IPs, got two wins, struck out seven and posted a 1.42 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He is sporting a pretty favorable BAbip (.213 on the season, .063 over the last seven days and .186 over the last 14), so don’t go out and trade the farm for him. But, I still think he’ll be useful in most mixed leagues.
Then you’re cold…then you’re no…then you’re out…then you’re down
John Lackey – Man, John Lackey must be happy with his contract, but he can’t be a fan of that division. Over his last two starts (against Tampa and Philadelphia), he pitched 11.1 IPs, and only struck out four batters. What’s worse? He posted a 4.76 ERA and 2.03 WHIP. That ERA actually brought his season’s ERA down! At this point, you need to manage Lackey carefully. Run him out there against the weak hitting squads (Cleveland, Kansas City, Oakland, Baltimore), but avoid the rest of the AL East. I’d also think about sitting him at home (his career ERA at Fenway = 5.67)
Wade Davis – Davis is coming off a 3.2 inning outing last week, in which posted a 12.27 ERA and 2.73 WHIP. For the season, he has a usable 4.01 ERA, but his WHIP is 1.48. Like with any pitcher, let alone a youngster, there will be rough patches. However, Tampa is in it to win it and hot prospect Jeremy Hellickson is killing it in the minors. Davis might not be long for the rotation. You can’t drop him, but trading him might be a good idea.
Tim Lincecum – This is the first time Lincecum (the man who launched a thousand fantasy baseball team names) made Katy’s All-stars. It also kind of speaks for why I won’t draft pitching early. Lincecum’s week was horrific as he lasted just 4.2 innings and posted an 11.57 ERA and 2.36 WHIP. Sure, this is probably a blip on the radar (although there is mention of blisters), but it goes to show that you can’t always trust a pitcher.
Brett Gardner – Gardner came crashing back to earth (in AVG/OBP terms) over the last week (.125 AVG). His inflated BAbip from earlier in the season primed him for a bit of a fall at some point in May. Still, I don’t think you have to worry about him. His average will likely come down to the .270 range, but he’ll continue to steal bases and score runs. Great job drafting him, I’m disappointed I believed in Nyjer Morgan as much as I did.
Carlos Lee – Is Carlos Lee droppable in a 10-team league? That’s a question I was asked recently. I don’t think it’s crazy, either, given the amount of outfield depth in most free agent pools. I certainly don’t think a lot of people would use a waiver priority on him were he to be cut. His last week did no favors (.211 AVG and just three RBIs). Still, he has been better over the last month (.212 AVG and five HRs). In addition, he has been pretty unlucky (.201 BAbip on the season and .179 over the last 28 days compared to a career .288 BAbip). Basically, you can drop him in a league with lots of outfield waiver talent (but don’t forget about him). I think Carlos Lee will pick it up over the balance of the year –I certainly wouldn’t be cutting him or selling low in NL-only leagues.
All stats as of May 28.
FB101’s 411: Be sure you know how to judge a hot streak. Edwin Encarnacion, Trevor Cahill and Orlando Cabrera make good adds. Keep your eye on Nix, Kotsay, Rosales and Hochevar. You are allowed to sort of give up on John Lackey and Carlos Lee.
h2h Corner 