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Jan20_25 BHQ chat
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Brent Hershey
12:00
Hey all! Welcome back to chat season; should be able to have these at this time (Monday noons) for .. the foreseeable future! I recognize some names in the questions submitted, but always looking for new ones as well. From the number of questions in the queue already, I can tell ya'll are ready to talk baseball, so let's get to it!
schmoz
12:05
Will Colt Keith go 15/15 0.270?
Brent Hershey
12:05
Think the BA/HR is a reasonable expectation, and that there's more upside present there. I don't see 15 SB right now -- while his speed metrics are solid, DET didn't give him a lot of running opps in 2024. 8-10 SB is a more likely outcome. Love the pending 1B/2B eligibility, though.
Peter
12:08
What is Coby Mayo's role this year?
Brent Hershey
12:08
Mashing at Triple-A to start; early-season callup that goes into the COR infield/DH mix when an opportunity presents itself (injury, etc). Wish BAL would just out-and-out commit to him as a COR IF/DH starter from the get-go, but not convinced. Maybe if he rakes in spring training?
Yolo
12:15
Brent! You've been missed, man! To prove it, I'm going to ask you TWO questions this round.

1) Luis Rengifo. Is this guy underrated or what? Assuming health (always dangerous), are you pro-Rengifo?

2) Will Flaherty ever sign? Any concerns this results in a Mongomery/Snell situation from last year?
Brent Hershey
12:15
Thank, Yolo! Good to be back.

  1. Yes, agree that he's been underrated a bit in these early drafts. I expect some nice BA and SB numbers specifically; another multi-position plus; hoping that the wrist has healed.
  2. Yes; I'd look for him to come off the board here very soon esp with Roki off the board. JF is really the best SP left and I think all would like to avoid that JoMo/Snell situation.
Mr. Cards Fanatic
12:19
Welcome back baseball fam! Hope you're doing well, Brent.

I'm in a bit of a "rebuild" mode in my league and am tempted to acquire Jordan Walker cheaply. It seems like my team is going to let the young guys play. Post-hype no-brainer?

I also was able to draft Wetherholt. Do you think there's a chance he sees the bigs around mid-season?

Thanks for the help!!
Brent Hershey
12:19
This is probably time to grab Walker cheaply if you're so inclined, and a rebuilding fantasy team is a good fit IMO. I do believe Cards will give him some rope this year.

Feel like Wetherholt is a 2025 long-shot. Like the keeper/dynasty value, but he only played in Low-A after being drafted, so it would be a four-level jump for him to see MLB time in 2025. MAYBE late in the season, if he's crushed at a couple levels, but with STL having several young players they want to take a look at on the MLB roster, I'd think they take their relative time with JJW.
schmoz
12:21
Best offensive fantasy player on A's 2025?
Brent Hershey
12:21
Good question; more options that you might think. Give me Butler, b/c of the crazy power/speed combo that was backed up with hard-hit metrics. Rooker and Langeliers close behind.
Talisker
12:22
Thanks for starting these early! AL only, standard rotis. Well balanced keepers but can only keep one of Josh Lowe, $15, or Parker Meadows, $13. Also, is Pepiot worth keeping at $5 in light of the Rays playing in Steinbrenner Field?
Brent Hershey
12:22
Think I'd lean Meadows, as feel like playing time is more secure. CF defense likely to keep him in lineup most days. Yes to Pepiot at $5 -- I hear the concern re: stadium, but feel like that price is too good to pass up.
Jud
12:26
Hey hey all! Brent ... welcome back!

Let's talk Charlie Condon. A lot of folks are down on him after his brief debut last year. How are you feeling about the future Coors 3B/OF??
Brent Hershey
12:26
Count me among those having some concerns. The swing and miss and chase rate was so pronounced in his debut. I'd still consider if you're in a deep keeper/dynasty, but would not be targeting/reaching for him. Coors isn't a cure-all, unfortunately.
Broken Bat
12:28
Both Slaton of RedSox and Weaver of Yankees seemingly are high leverage, potential closers. They both have guys coming off injuries in front of them as closers. Who between Weaver and Slaton has best opportunity to close if teams baby their closers. Seems like RedSox have stable full of late inning guys now,
Brent Hershey
12:28
I'm leaning Slaten (esp if the Sox don't add any more relievers), partially because Williams is going to have a ton of rope and I'm not overly concerned about his back. Not sure I'd be targeting either depending on league size, etc, but if you're just looking for saves, I'd prefer Slaten's shot right now to Weaver's.
will
12:33
Welcome back Brent! Thank you! Chandler Simpson or Enrique Bradfield long term 4x4 AL only
Brent Hershey
12:33
Simpson -- partially because he's closer to MLB; partially b/c I think the SB upside is higher. Bradfield has the defensive edge, though. Very close.
Phil
12:36
It's obviously a close call, but in two years which Nats pitcher would you rather own in roto, Jarlin Susana or Travis Sykora?  Is it a simple case of Susana being the higher risk AND the highest reward, hence a coin toss leaning in his direction?
Brent Hershey
12:36
I would tend to agree with your point (slight lean to Susana), as chasing the upside should always do a lot of work in these decisions. So easy, though, to vision a world where Sykora has a longer and then more effective MLB career. Both players' 2025 seasons will be important, in terms of can they followup their mini-breakouts from 2024?
Guest
12:39
Does looking for variances between last year's final ERA stats and BBHQ's 2025 xERA projections make sense, instead of using this year's ERA projections?
Brent Hershey
12:39
Some, but I think a better comparison is last year's ERA / xERA differences. What you propose will have some of the skills-over-roles stuff baked in, but projecting xERA for the season to come has wide error bars.
DeepLeft
12:45
AL-only 10TM 5x5, OB not BA. I have the fourth Farm pick and wouldn’t mind an infielder other than 1B—good there, or pitcher, playing for ’26 or ’27. 
The first two available in the league, Walcott and Bazzana will be gone, then the picks are Noah and Campbell. Looks great, but I read Roundtable Part 2, and I’ve always been risk adverse. Should I worry about the big lefty or flash, camp is a small sample? Or should I play it safe and drop down the list for either Hagan or Rainer, who may better fit with my timetable?
Brent Hershey
12:45
I'd take Campbell fairly easily in your case. Hitters>pitchers when things are near-equal; still some reliever risk with Schultz; there are some super-high evals on Campbell from the non-fantasy world—and his skillset could fit at any number of positions. Even if Campbell doesn't make the club out of spring, he'll get 2025 time and be set up well for your 26/27 'window.' Hagan/Rainer just getting started, so more risk b/c of MLB proximity.
Dave
12:48
my friend Will speaks very highly of your expertise, so i thought id try a question. the automated strike zone. they are using a ghost runner for ties so that shoots the human element. Will says you will have a take so please , id like to  hear it.
Brent Hershey
12:48
Have to see it fully in MLB play, but I've been impressed with challenge system for balls/strikes that they've tested in the minors. Not a fan of the ghost runner at all, not so much that it takes out the human element, but that there's a separate rule to decide the game in extras that's different from regular play.
Guest
12:50
McClanahan or Alcantara, who makes the bigger comeback for fantasy purposes? McClanahan seems to be going higher in mock drafts by several rounds but has more injury history. #confusedbymcclanahangoinghigher
Brent Hershey
12:50
I'm with you; I'm taking Alcantara first. Knowing that he had velocity back by end of 2024 season, and the fact that it's just 1 TJS for him rather than McClan's 2, makes me feel better about a Sandy gamble over McClan
Broken Bat
12:56
the next CBA.. the smartest group of Professional Sports Teams Owners are the folks at NFL IMO. They are successfully put a cap on spending ceiling and impacted guaranteed future years contracts. They in effect lean more on paying for actual player performance, than MLB, NBA etc. Does MLB have the actual liquidity collectively to gamble a complete shutdown for a year? Owners are in position to tell fans they agree the cost to be a fan are to high. Thoughts?
Brent Hershey
12:56
Not sure that all 30 owners have ability to lose a whole season (and at that point, who says it's just ONE season?) over this. And I think you overestimating folks who are griping about the "fan cost". Merchandise sales, advertising, overall MLB revenue would say that part of the game has never been healthier (which the owners benefit from, of course). This is not to say that the next CBA discussion is going to be easy, but the MLB players union continues to be one of the strongest in sports, too.
Bryan
12:59
Please rank these endgame SPs for a 12 tm H2H cats league: Weathers, Detmers, Zebby Matthews, Ben Brown, Cantillo, Festa, Herz, Birdsong, Gasser
Brent Hershey
12:59
This is from a mix of talent and MLB opportunity, with 2025 only in mind:
Weathers, Detmers, Herz, Festa, Brown, Matthews, Cantillo, Birdsong, Gasser. Detmers could be #1 if you're able to replace him easily. Best raw talent here, but so far unable to put it together.
Tree
1:00
Pick the SB king out of the following late round OFs; Crow Armstrong, Robles, P Meadows, Jake McCarthy
Brent Hershey
1:00
Robles if the only thing you care about is an SB number. PCA could get close to Robles' SBs, and give you much more in the other categories. Meadows/McCarthy a step down from those two.
Bob
1:03
Jackson Merrill + Jackson Chourio looking fully priced in early ADP and auctions. Do you see either being worth cost of acquisition this year?
Brent Hershey
1:03
I think Chourio has a better shot at a first-round return; so am OK with him currently going ahead of Merrill. Both though, are priced well, in terms of what they've shown (results and underlying skills) and where they could get to by the end of 2025. Not risk-free, but both went through entire MLB season with adequate skills support of their output.
Guest
1:03
Does Soderstorm get everyday ABs?
Brent Hershey
1:03
Close to it in 2025, yes.
Broken Bat
1:04
Rank in order please Anthony of RedSox, Woods of Nats, Merrill of Padres, Chourio of Brewers, Langford of Rangers for next 3 years. Assume same salary.
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