JotCast | Justin Mason Baseball Chat

Justin Mason Baseball Chat

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Justin

9:22

I've been thinking about this question a bit lately... In a fantasy baseball competition with 12-15 friends, do you think most of us have a tendency to play it too safe? I feel like the instinct for many of us is to diversify every "risky guy" we take with 1-2 safe guys. Assuming one's goal is to *win*, i'm wondering if I need to lean more into risk. If we take a bunch of "Safe" with our risk, i'm wondering if we're just dooming ourselves to finish in 4th every time.

Justin Mason

9:25

I think it really depends on the format. In a 12 team league, I am much more likely to take the risks because of the inherent value of the waiver wire. In a 15 team league, I am much more likely to play it safe because finding players on the wire that can be difference makers is much more difficult. That being said, there is nothing wrong with chasing upside that has risk as long as you do not compound it. The biggest mistake a lot of people make is they fill their team with risk. I prefer to start my draft with safer players and then as the draft goes on I am willing to take on more risk because I am ok with dropping that risky player because of the lower cost associated with him.

RAH

9:25

Not much news on Max Scherzer. Assuming he isn't forced into retirement from lack of interest, would you take Scherzer over Charlie Morton in a deep dynasty?

Justin Mason

9:25

I take Morton in Baltimore unless

Scherzer signs in a great spot

Colton

9:25

Any recommendations you have for best ball leagues? Joined a couple over the weekend and was drafting for volume mostly but I think I'm missing on some upside

Justin Mason

9:27

In best ball, you want volume, but you need to mix in a good amount of upside. This is where I take those injury risk players because you aren't having to replace them through the wire. Just make sure you draft at least a few accumulators to replace them. So for instance, if I am drafting 3 1B, I want one guy I can pencil in easily for 600 PAs and then one guy I think has massive upside.

I’ll Keep it With Mine

9:28

Hi! AL Only, 10 team, $260, OBP, 2C league, just for this year – can you give me a favorite and runner-up? Yainer Diaz $1, Crochet $7, Royce Lewis $1, Gerrit Cole $15, Gunner $28, J-Rod 26, Witt $32, Mason Miller $12, Vladito $35

Justin Mason

9:29

A $1 Diaz is hard to pass up in a 2C AL Only. Runner up is probably Crochet at $7

Pumpsie Green

9:29

How do you see Steinbrenner Field playing? The dimensions are the same as Yankee Stadium, but the outfield is not protected by upper tiers.

Justin Mason

9:29

I think it is going to be a hitter's haven, but I am waiting to see what the data from people smarter than me say.

9:30

Do you have any advice on how to handle a league where DH is its own position? It's a new thing for my roto 10-team NL only auction league, and I'm having trouble figuring out how to reallocate budget for it (it replaces the fifth OF spot).

Justin Mason

9:31

I highly recommend using Tanner Bell's Smart Fantasy Baseball software. It is affordable and will really dial this in for you better than I would be able to.

Keeper Q

9:31

Hi Justin. Last keeper in an AL Only, 10 team, $260, OBP, 2C league: Austin Wells $10 Ben Joyce $10 Bryce Miller $17 Vladito $35 Wyatt Langford $29. Thanks!

Justin Mason

9:31

Vlad

9:31

In a 12 team 5x5, would you rather have $1 Luis Garcia Jr or $27 Gunnar Henderson as a keeper, all else being equal?

Justin Mason

9:32

Gunnar

buffy, the umpire slayer

9:32

Reading an earlier, can I assume that you are pretty much a best available drafter? Is best available your going in strategy, understanding that there are times to reach a little?

Justin Mason

9:33

Yes, typically I am a best player available drafter. I do keep an eye on category and positional drop off, but I typically enter a draft taking the best five players available according to my projections in the first five rounds.

Carson

9:33

Are you worried at all about Nimmo reading the reports about his plantar not healing as quickly as anticipated?

Justin Mason

9:34

I hadn't seen that report, but now I am lol

I will definitely be looking at it today

Luke S

9:34

12 team points league, keep five each year. Keeping Freeman, Yordan, Wheeler, and Ragans. For the 5th spot need to pick 1 between Schwarber/Seager/Langford/James Wood/Michael King

Justin Mason

9:34

Seager

Joe

9:35

Hey Justin, 12 team Roto, 5 OFs,CI, MI, and dedicated DH. Going into draft with a chance to get skubal, Wheeler, Turner, Marte and Freeman. With Keepers I have the top SS, elite OF and Top 2 1B Along with top 20 pitcher and Alcantara coming back from TJ. Is it the smart play to go pitcher despite never really wanting to go pitcher early

Justin Mason

9:35

With your current keepers, I would go pitching here

Carson

9:36

Just traded Jake McCarthy + Thomas Harrington for Yandy Diaz in a 12 team 40 man roster dynasty league, and need some cheap steals to make up the deficit. Who are some guys that could make that up for me worth targeting? (Think post 300 ADP)

Justin Mason

9:37

Post 300: Jacob Young, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Jonny DeLuca, David Hamilton

Nomar

9:38

I have to have my keepers posted this week and I need to know if Austin Riley has recovered from his season ending injury. Any news?

Justin Mason

9:38

He should be, but I haven't seen anything either way.

Daro

9:38

Hello, are you drafting Rasmussen as a SP? or will TB keep him in the pen?

Justin Mason

9:38

I hope they keep him in the pen, but I likely won't draft him either way.

Keeper Q

9:39

Football comment, but did anyone else watching the Bills keep going for the tush push even though the Chiefs kept defending it get shades of Bart saying “Good old rock, nothing beats rock."

Justin Mason

9:39

lmao! Point awarded

Red Foreman

9:39

I “traded the farm” in order to win my league but it has left me with not many good keeper options. How crazy/stupid would it be to keep M. Miller $8, D Williams $7 and E Diaz $8? 12 team/roto league/keep 5.

Justin Mason

9:39

I don't mind it if it the best values. You could always trade one.

Guest

9:39

Colby Mayo - High K rate, Colt Keith - questionable power, who would you take in a keeper league considering defense as well

Justin Mason

9:39

Colt Keith

larry

9:39

Do you think Bubba Chandler is a good hold or go with a establish starter like Grant Holmes? I play Yahoo H2H Cat.