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Mar29 2021 Chat
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Brent Hershey
12:02
Hey all! Great time of the year, as it's now mere HOURS until the season starts! Lotsa questions in the queue already, which I'll get to. Just regular reminder that a brief detail of league configurations -- # of teams, roto or other categories, keeper or not -- helps me give a better answer. Let's go!
Eddie B
12:02
Do you think that Yoelqui Cespedes may get called up at some point this year to play the OF in Chicago?
Brent Hershey
12:02
I don't, even with the Eloy injury. More likely they go outside the org to upgrade that position if they still need help there mid-season.
Hedley LaMarr
12:04
I had to scramble for a starting pitcher late in my AL only and grabbed Arihara at the minimum bid because he was the highest ranked starter left. PLEASE tell me some great things about him. lol
Brent Hershey
12:04
Not sure this is great ... but in an AL only, in this wacky year, his track record overseas says that he could give you plenty of league-average innings. Limited upside, yes, but not as risky as some there.
Buster
12:06
Should we be concerned about Kohei Arihara troubles adjusting to a smaller ball?  I never heard of this being an issue from other former Japanese league pitchers.
Brent Hershey
12:06
Eh, not something that I'd put too much consideration into. Keeping expectations modest for any pitching coming over from Japan is the key here; in a sense those types of adjustments is what goes into not getting too gaga over a pitcher like Arihara.
Uncle pecos
12:08
Saves went for way too much in my draft. But I picked up Cisnero, so I'm all set right? right?
Brent Hershey
12:08
As long as you are able to move on from him easily and be focused on your free agent pool. Saves always appear on free agent lists; this year will be no different -- and actually one way to play it (not pay up during the draft; trust yourself to find them in-season)
Dan G
12:15
I'd be curious to know your bust choices for hitter and pitcher.  Also, maybe guys being drafted way earlier than what their ADP should be.  Thanks.
Brent Hershey
12:15
Pick a young starter who's got hyped skills, draft helium but will have innings limits or a fuzzy role. Dustin May, Spencer Howard, even Jesus Luzardo to an extent. Think these are in jeopardy of being over-drafted, b/c the likelihood of 180 IP is slim. Hitter: Luis Robert. He needs to prove to me that his second month from 2020 is a blip --- and given his problems w/ breaking stuff in the minors, I'm not ready to go there. Could be he adjusts and becomes phenomenal HR/SB guy this season, but his 3d round ADP is way too high for me this year.
TC
12:21
Mixed league, 12 team Is this the year to go all in on hitting? Allocate over $200 (of $260) on hitting? (Well that's what I did anyway... and I wound up a staff of (Ryu, Marquez, Montgomery, Manaea, Lopez - w/ relievers Romano, Hand, Hendricks and Scott - a couple were cheap keepers)... thoughts?
Brent Hershey
12:21
I think this is viable in many leagues, given that we're so unsure of things on the pitching side -- innings limits, potential injuries, etc. Seems like on a whole, hitters could be LESS affected by 2020's craziness.
Rich
12:23
Hi Brent. I have the third pick in a 5X5 league with OBP instead of AVG. I think Acuna and Betts will go first and second, respectively. I was planning to take Soto, who says he wants to steal more bases this year, over Trout, who doesn’t run much anymore. But I’m thinking of pivoting to Trout due to Soto’s sore calf. What would you do?
Brent Hershey
12:23
Think I'd still stick w/ Soto and hope the the soreness is just minor. But the difference at that point is not huge in an OBP league.
Hoyasaxa
12:26
16 team mixed auction with keepers- keeping DeGrom at 49 and Hader at 16 (and 6 hitters and 3 minors, among them karinchak and Devin Williams) with 260 total budget - so, with 65 spent locked already on pitching and we use 10 active pitching slots, how much more to spend on pitching at auction, broadly speaking - aim for 90 to 100 total spend or 25-35 for these 8 open pitching slots. Thanks!
Brent Hershey
12:26
With those anchors, I'd really try to be frugal the for the rest of the staff; so 25 if possible. Make those late decisions based on protecting ERA/WHIP if possible, even if the rest of your starters are not sexy. Manea, even Quintana types, maybe?
NL-daydreamer
12:28
I've got Pavin Smith, Jorge Mateo, Yonathan Daza on my bench in a 5x5 NL-only (10 team). There is usually very little hitting available on waivers. Which of these three, if any, finds a route to 50% PT? Do you care for any of these names this season?
Brent Hershey
12:28
50% PT is a pretty high bar for each of these. Smith prob best given his team situation and positional flexility. Obv like Mateo's speed, but can't see much PT opps for him in SD.
Mark
12:31
Thanks again for the chats, Brent.  Scoresheet owner here, NL only league.  Is Matt Moore worth a pick up?  Has he changed something during the spring that has improved his command, or have what we seen purely the "small sample size" effect?
Brent Hershey
12:31
I think if he's a 5th-6th starter for you, that he's an OK choice in an NL-only Scoresheet lg. Had a nice year overseas — that included better command -- so his spring is not out of nowhere. I expect at some point he'll get hurt, but has a chance to be lg average until then.
Matt
12:37
In a 10 team league 5x5, except we use OBP, and then pitching is IP, Sv, K/9, ERA, and WHIP. Am I right to think that, especially this year, I should push pitching harder than normal, especially early to lock in some measure of control/floor over IP and the THREE ratio categories?
Brent Hershey
12:37
I'm split on this -- on the one hand, you can and that  makes sense for the reasons you state. OTOH you could be susceptible to overspending on guys who are perhaps more likely to get injured or have innings limits. So I think it's picking your spots (targets).
Trader Bob
12:39
Do you think Chris Rodriguez will get much high-leverage play in the Angels pen or is he just going to pitch long relief?
Brent Hershey
12:39
Best case, he starts in long relief and works his way into high leverage situations by later in the year. Sure looks like a reliever's delivery to me, and there's some excitement there about long-term possibilities at the back end of that bullpen.
Craig
12:40
I took a shot on McKenzie Gore as my final backup (we draft 8 SPs, start 5).  What do you think a realistic ETA is for him?  I really don't want to carry him too long since I like to mix and match my starters based on matchups and 2-start weeks (we are a weekly league, not daily).  Thanks!
Brent Hershey
12:40
I'd think mid-season at the earliest. Obv wowed at points this spring, but some duds in there, too. Given that he's only had 21 innings above A-ball, I think the Pads want to see him dominate AA or AAA first.
Jo Mama
12:42
What's going on with Puig? Ive heard no rumors at all. Does anyone know if he has any interest in playing because he'd make an intriguing reserve pick.
Brent Hershey
12:42
The sexual assault charges likely have a lot to do with this. Don't think he's worth the risk until after Rd 30 or so.
Graham
12:44
Which players are you monitoring over the next few weeks or should be on a FAAB radar in shallower roto leagues?
Brent Hershey
12:44
Guys that have popped up in spring training include SEA OF Taylor Trammell, SF SP Logan Webb, CIN IF Jonathan India.
Yasiel Puig
12:45
How desperate does a fantasy team need to be to draft me at this point?  23rd round?  38th?
Guest
12:48
I was surprised that Daulton Varsho was sent down among other recent cuts especially given many experts in recent auctions like LABR has him at a $12. Do you see him coming up and contributing to the  Diamondbacks? What type of numbers to you see from him in 2021? Do you value him as high as $12 in an auction league?
Brent Hershey
12:48
I confess I was a rider on the Varsho train this spring early on, and just replaced him last night in TGFBI. I think he still comes up at some point and plays, and will be intriguing b/c of his CA eligibility ... but he looked mostly overmatched as March progressed. Do not think he's worth $12 at this point; just becomes another minor leaguer to monitor at this point. Maybe you stash him on reserve if you have adequate bench room.
Guest
12:52
DAULTON JEFFERIES-I don't see much on this kid but he is putting up tremendous Spring training numbers-Is he real? Do you see him staying in the Oakland rotation all year? Might make a nice $1 end gamer selection.
Brent Hershey
12:52
An end-gamer, yes ... but I'm wary for much more than that. The pre-2020 scouting reports were more of a middle-rotation ceiling than a star level guy. Had a great spring, yes -- but still will be battling for a job once Fiers gets back.
PriceIsRight
12:56
Hi Brent,...Context and then a question.  I have six starting pitchers...three are studs (Giolito, Glasnow and Hyu) I know I'll always start and ride the ups and downs (hopefully mostly ups). ..........I have a crush on one (Musgrove) who I plan to always start but we'll see. ..............My other two (Elieser Hernandez and John Means) I definitely like enough to have bought at the auction, but finally my question: .........Do you or listeners to this podcast try to limit your back-end SP's starts to games against weaker offensive teams, or do you always just take your chances? .......Another way to ask this is : As long as I'm willing to feel the pain of them pitching a 16 K no-hitter from my bench, when I stupidly didn't start them, is it wise to sit my 5th and 6th Starting Pitchers against powerhouse offences?
Brent Hershey
12:56
All depends on what your other options are, in terms of who would replace them. In this case, there's some additional upside with Means and Elieser, but especially when Means faces TOR or NYY, I think you look hard at sitting him for now until he shows enough otherwise. But yes, playing the matchups to some degree is probably a good strategy if you're able to.
jason
12:58
Is it possible that Tanner Rainey takes advantage of his opportunity in April and leads the team in saves at year end?
Brent Hershey
12:58
Yes, need to make sure he's 100% healthy, but given Hand's 2020 struggles and how Rainey looked last year, he seems like he could fit that role (though Hudson is still there, too).
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