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Mar21_2025 BHQ Chat
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Ray Murphy
10:03
It's the last Friday of the offseason! Big draft weekend coming, and we're ready for it with today's content barrage on the site... Stephen Nickrand and Doug Dennis with the spring wrapups for SPs and Bullpens. Always a favorite content day on our calendar. Let's get to the questions....
Rick
10:05
Evan Carter was a top prospect who was great during Texas's  run to WS. Last year hurt, performed poorly, and was shut down. If he is healthy, can't he end up being a top 30 outfielder? Is it fairly certain he's considered a platoon player or is it too soon to say that. Splits were terrible, but really a short sample size.
Ray Murphy
10:05
Can he "end up a top 30 OF"? I think his ceiling is still probably that high, but prob too much to ask this year. I'd settle for him re-establishing health and returning some positive value. Platoon question is part of that... he needs to get back to hitting righties, then we can worry about whether he can hit lefties. Still a long term asset, but I'm not chasing too hard this year.
Springfield Isotopes
10:07
I'm in an NL only 5x5. Has anyone made a "punting BA" strategy work? It's the most unpredictable of the batting stats and if you dont worry about it and go after the Jose Siri's,  Rhys Hoskins, Matt Chapman types in theory you could build nice totals in the other O categories. Do you think this is a workable strategy?
Ray Murphy
10:07
Viable in NL-only I think, yes. Trick is that you want to really hammer playing time, so that even if you're behind in BA you're getting so many PAs from Siri/Hoskins types that you're still doing well in the offensive counting stats. The problem there becomes that playing time, even with bad BA, isn't necessarily cheap, so you might not be saving that much $ while punting BA, compared to how much you save by (for instance) punting Saves.
Vincente
10:09
Happy Friday, Ray!

I'm curious to know if you're in on Birdsong after his impressive Spring.
Ray Murphy
10:09
He's done everything you could ask to win that #5 spot, but it still may not be enough. One way or the other you would assume he's in that rotation soon, though... and yeah, I'm interested. SF still a good place to speculate on pitchers.
gordon sumner
10:12
It seems Christopher Sanchez is on a lot of breakout AND overrated lists across the industry. Why do you think there's such a difference of opinion on him?  Thank you for all you do.
Ray Murphy
10:12
Like Birdsong above, another dazzling spring. Difference being Sanchez already established himself last year. I think some of the helium is due to spring attrition of other pitchers (Cole, Kirby, Jones....) pushing him up the draft board, plus the spring performance. Philly does a good job keeping their pitchers healthy too, for what that's worth. I'm not necessarily buying at current prices, but I can see the justification.
jerry P
10:13
Good morning...who gets the most starts this year L Roupp, Q Preister or R Fitts       ....would any of those be worth rostering in a 15 teamer as your 6th SP       Thank You
Ray Murphy
10:13
Brent and I took a late shot at Fitts in a draft the other night. He seems to be #4 in Boston to start the season, and enough questions in that rotation that he could stick for a while. Yet another guy opening eyes with upgraded stuff this spring; he's pretty clearly ahead of Priester in Boston right now.
Stratford Nicos
10:14
Ray - Please rank & rate my SP for a 12 team mixed keeper starting 5. The time is nigh, the ball is mere days away. Thanks!
D'oh!~ 'm guessing you need my SP lineup.
Crochet, Pivetta, Bibee, Br Miller, F Valdez, Pepiot, G Holmes
Ray Murphy
10:14
Basically ADP order for me: Crochet, Framber, Bibee, Miller, Pivetta, Pepiot, Holmes. Nobody I'm avoiding in that group.
Don Dringus
10:17
Has Emmanuel Rodriguez's injury past been fluke or fact?
Ray Murphy
10:17
I'm the wrong guy to ask here... I'm aware of the injury history (alluded to in the MIN org report) but don't know enough about the specifics. Certainly hate to see that trend in someone so young, but sometimes guys can break that trend. Sorry, not much more I can say with confidence...
will
10:18
Thank you Ray.AL only 4x4 keeper auction. keep or drop these 5 players please Melendez$5. Andujar $1,R Blanco$1 B Francis$3 Kikuchi$1 Appreciate your input thank you!
Ray Murphy
10:18
I'd drop Melendez, keep the rest.
james rockford
10:19
Top 2-3 #6 SPs (non LAD) in NL?  and in AL?  thank you!
Ray Murphy
10:19
See my post at the top of the chat. Nickrand's two articles today are perfect for this...
Krane's Pool
10:21
Ray, 15 team 5x5 roto - BHQ seems to be the high water mark for Jeffrey Springs as compared to other sites/rankings. Any perspective on why you are so out front?
Ray Murphy
10:21
I don't pay much attention to other sources at this time of year, so can't verify that's true. But in general, tons of variables with Springs... from his own health to the new park in Sacramento and how that will play. Our pIP total of 133 doesn't seem overly aggressive for a guy who seems to be starting the year healthy, but then again that would also match his career high from 2022. In short, not hard to understand why there would be a lot of variance on him, and well, someone has to be out front in that scenario.
Buff
10:22
NL only 11 team roto keeper, last spot, Brett Baty or Pavin Smith?
Ray Murphy
10:22
Tough one. Pavin has the higher floor/more paths to semi-regular PT, I think.
Skip
10:24
Auction strategy question; You’re in a 10 team roto league that only cuts 140 players into the hitter pool. How many $1 players are you rostering in your offensive lineup?
Ray Murphy
10:24
Assuming you also have normal/weekly or daily access to free agent pool, I would gladly roster at least five $1 hitters. Go stars/scrubs to the extreme, buy a core you love at almost any price and then just churn the lower end of your roster to death.
Beano
10:25
Who closes in Miami, Cincinnati & Pittsburgh?
Ray Murphy
10:25
Miami... does it matter/no idea.

Cincy... talked to PD about this on today's BHQ Radio, Doug Dennis was also on, so lots of Reds pen discussion there. Santillan has the best skills, but could be Barlow out of the gate since he's having best spring and that's all Francona has seen of these guys.

Pitt... I assume it settles on Bednar, just because I don't see any of the alternatives as a real threat.
Beano
10:27
NL 10 team 5 x 5. What are your thoughts on BATY?
Ray Murphy
10:27
Mentioned him above w/r/t Pavin Smith.... I'm interested in Baty: there was real prospect pedigree there, he seemed to figure some things out late last year in AAA, and now there's an opportunity at 2B. Thing is, I don't know if the glove works at 2B, and Mets have a lot of options there. Trade might still be best thing for him.
james rockford
10:28
NMartinez v. MBoyd?  which is better?
Ray Murphy
10:28
Boyd when healthy. How often will that be? <shrug emoji>
james rockford
10:29
Is ERod over the hill?  or a decent dark horse this year?
Ray Murphy
10:29
I've always been a fan, back to his Boston days. Lots has gone wrong physically in recent years, but also nothing catastrophic. Decent end-gamer for this year.
Don Dringus
10:30
any reason to worry long term about Kirby?
Ray Murphy
10:30
I don't think so. He's been so durable, this current situation continues to sound minor (just inflammation, nothing structural so far). Another shoe could drop at any time, but so far I see this as more of a buy-at-discount opportunity than a cross-off-your-board situation.
james rockford
10:31
Lawler v. RAnthony for 2025?
Ray Murphy
10:31
Could go either way for sure, but I think we have to be more confident about Anthony getting the opportunity first. Lawler certainly could kick the door down, but he's going to have to go to AAA and make the case first. (The Perdomo extension really changed my view on Lawler there....)
Dog Fister
10:33
what are the odds Langaliers improves his avg with smaller foul territory in Sacramento?
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