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Fantasy Baseball Live Chat Marathon (3/25)
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AvatarBrendan Tuma
2:55
I'm expecting Vaughn to make the Opening Day roster. So I'll say a tie between Kirilloff/Kelenic. I expect both to be up right when service time considerations pass. I actually wrote about rookies here, which published today: https://www.fantasypros.com/2021/03/top-20-rookies-2021-fantasy-baseba...
Guest
2:55
Do you Still Kelenic or Vaughn (WhiteSox) make the opening day roster?
AvatarBrendan Tuma
2:55
I think Vaughn makes the Opening Day roster yeah. He's playing LF tomorrow (Friday). Kelenic I think we'll have to wait a few weeks
guest
2:56
Who are some of the top early-season pickups you expect to be in line to earn saves sooner than later?
AvatarBrendan Tuma
2:56
Assuming we aren't talking "obvious" guys like Amir Garrett, Will Smith, Jordan Romano - I'll say I'm stashing Nick Wittgren where I can (Cleveland). Lots of smoke around him getting save chances.
DanP
2:57
All of you guys are awesome!!! Thanks for doing this live chat,,
AvatarBrendan Tuma
2:57
Thank YOU for participating
John
2:57
Which N.L. closers are most likely to lose their jobs by June?
AvatarBrendan Tuma
2:57
Richard Rodriguez feels like a decent bet to be traded from the Pirates this year. Not confident in Anthony Bass of Marlins. Who knows when it comes to Daniel Bard / Joakim Soria
Guest
2:58
In a keeper league. Keepers are Bellinger, Starling Marte, Cruz, and McNeil. I don't feel great about these keepers. Any advise on how to start my draft and recover? Thanks.
AvatarBrendan Tuma
2:58
Spend the entire year "rebuilding" in order to set yourself up for a 2-4 year run starting in 2022. Keep Bellinger. Every other move you make this year should be at the expense of 2021. Aggressive rebuilds woo!
Guest
2:58
Who do you think will contend with Mondesi in steals this year?
AvatarBrendan Tuma
2:59
Aside from the obvious Trea Turner, I'd expect Luis Robert. Then some deep sleeper targets are Andres Gimenez and Taylor Trammell
Slice
2:59
Eloy Jimenez's injury sucks.  All injuries suck.  Which guys have more subtle, lingering injuries causing you to fade them?  Nothing worse than an injured roster.
AvatarBrendan Tuma
3:00
Yeah in my drafts leading up to Opening Day I'm just not touching any injured guys - Eloy, Springer, Gallen, Cookie. Nick Anderson might have something going on. Pomeranz too. Just don't want to deal with it
3:02
Okay everyone that concludes my hour! I'll be back at 6 PM EST - can't wait!!!
Mario Mergola
3:02
Hey everyone, Mario here. Brendan's a tough act to follow, but let's start knocking out these questions...
Chris
3:02
Does Altuve bounce back?
Mario Mergola
3:03
Yes, but it's relative. His numbers were impossibly bad in 2020 (a .219 average for a career .311 hitter!). It's hard to expect he gets all the way back to his form, but "bounce back"? Yea.
Guest
3:04
Very pitcher heavy auction league.  Have Darvish and Nola very cheap as keepers.  Would you pay a lot of DeGrom to round out a strong rotation?
Mario Mergola
3:04
Definitely. Few SP can match what deGrom has done in a given season. He's been dominating for long enough now that he's worth the risk before the eventual demise. Especially if you have built-in savings, spend here.
Chris
3:04
Pete Alonso 40hrs, yes or no?
Mario Mergola
3:05
Going to say no. He's got the power (obviously), but 40 HRs is a beast of a milestone Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have a combined three 40-HR seasons. It's not easy.
Michael C
3:06
Hey Mario!  I am pick 12- in a H2H Roto league.  Is it crazy to reach for a Bauer or Giolito type to ensure I get pitching?  Or should I take the 2 hitters and hope for the best!  Thanks in advance!
Mario Mergola
3:07
I love draft strategy questions, so keep these coming. Quite frankly, if you don't get a pitcher at the very end of round 1/start of round 2, you're in a tough spot. That drives any idea of "value" for me. So I'd take the SP even if you call it a reach today. You'll probably regret passing on one if you see 5-6 start going off the draft board before your next pick.
Steven
3:07
Hi Mario. Is this the year Joey Gallo finally puts it all together? What are your thoughts/expectations for him?
Mario Mergola
3:08
You're talking to one of the biggest Gallo believers from years ago, so I share your pain in waiting for him. Honest answer? I don't think so. We all love the power, but there's a limit to what BA we can stomach. 4-year span of: .209, .206, .253., and .181. One of those is not like the other... he's probably going to sink BA too much.
Chris
3:09
Who are some guys that you love in obp formats?
Mario Mergola
3:10
OBP leagues make someone like Freddie Freeman a must own. Bryce Harper jumps up the list. Another guy? Alex Bregman, which is big considering how much he is discounted in standard formats. A nice inexpensive option might be Brandon Nimmo.
Dustino
3:10
Who ends up with the most saves in Cleveland this year?
Mario Mergola
3:11
Don't we have to say James Karinchak? I know his job isn't secure, per se, but he's clearly talented enough and, unless we hear otherwise, he's the guy.
Cooper
3:11
I'm at the turn of a 12 man league with picks 12/13 I'm going to go best pitcher and best hitter available.  Is it worth taking a second SP at the 36/37 turn or should I go with a second and third hitter?
Mario Mergola
3:12
I do a million mock drafts (this isn't just a cheap plug, I really do like FantasyPros' Draft Simulator because it's quick), and this year, I am finding that I can survive without going SP in that 3/4 round. It's risky, of course, and feel out how the rest of your league is reacting to it, but I don't think it's necessary like I would have said in most years.
cool 1
Steven
3:12
What are you expectations for Ian Anderson and Sixto Sanchez?
Mario Mergola
3:13
This feels so much more dangerous in a 162-game season than last year's 60-game sprint. I love both of them, but we have to cap their innings. Period. If you can accept 100 innings as I nice, round number, then plan your team accordingly.
Daniel
3:14
Where do you come out on the great 2021 debate of loading up on pitchers early or letting others do that and instead loading up on hitters?
Mario Mergola
3:14
As I wrote above, I'm usually all-in on stacking pitchers. I'm breaking away from that in 2021. Yes, get the guys you like and the ones you expect to really soar, but do not draft SP because you feel like you have to fill those spots right now. There are plenty of late options.
Ryan C.
3:15
H2H keeper, need my keeper pitcher. Options are Strarburg 8th, Carrasco 13th, Morton 12th, Hand 10th, Berrios 7th
Mario Mergola
3:16
Strasburg is simply a risk-reward play. If you can handle the fact that he will almost certainly hit the IL at one point, he's my answer. I personally love Berrios, but I couldn't keep him over Strasburg for their prices.
Mike
3:16
Hey Mario - need someone to replace Eloy. I play in a shallow league - who to add? Haniger, Solak, Segura, Winker, Aaron Hicks
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