2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

[Rhett]

The MLB thread is talking about real baseball, attending games in real-life and whatnot, so I figured a separate thread for fantasy nonsense is in order.

I have a keeper deadline at midnight tonight. I'm curious if anyone has any advice:

13 team 6x6 league (offense is standard with NetSB instead of SB and OPS as the extra category; pitching is standard with NetSV instead of SV and QS as the extra category). You can keep up to 6, with each keeper costing a pick at the front end of the draft. 2 teams were dissolved, and 2 teams are coming in as expansion teams. That means 11 teams will be have a number of keepers I am blind to until tomorrow, but that there will be at least 2 teams immediately drafting in round 1.

I'm definitely keepeing Albert Pujols, Matt Kemp, Andrew McCutchen, David Price & Ubaldo Jimenez. The question is what do I do for my potential sixth slot: keep Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler, B.J. Upton, or roll the dice and take the pick. I have the #10 of 13 slot in a serpentine draft, so the pick would technically be #69, but be valued between #69-78 based on how many keepers other teams have. If I keep a 6th player, my first pick will be #88.

 

[komey1]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

As much as I could end up keeping him, I would be concerned about Beltre. He has a history of not performing as well in non-contract years. Upton has not quite lived up to expectations but still good. However, I would take Kinsler. Kinsler gives you an edge over most of the teams at that position..

 

[komey1]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

My turn....

Blockbuster trade potential - 12 team 4x4 standard
I get: Victor Martinez (25), Swisher (18), Lowrie (2)
I lose: Beltre(20), Hamilton (23), Dice-K (12)

I wasn't looking to keep Dice-K, so getting anything for him is bonus to me. The player I'm trading with has Mauer and Carlos Santana so he can afford to give up VMart. Am I getting enough? Think I could get Teahan (11) in the deal - or is he not worth it.

 

[Rhett]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

My turn....

Blockbuster trade potential - 12 team 4x4 standard
I get: Victor Martinez (25), Swisher (18), Lowrie (2)
I lose: Beltre(20), Hamilton (23), Dice-K (12)

I wasn't looking to keep Dice-K, so getting anything for him is bonus to me. The player I'm trading with has Mauer and Carlos Santana so he can afford to give up VMart. Am I getting enough? Think I could get Teahan (11) in the deal - or is he not worth it.

I like Teahen, and he'll certainly get more PT than Lowrie. For all of the talk about C being shallow every year, 3B isn't as deep as it used to be. Right now, by giving up a 3B and Hamilton, you're paying a big premium for that C... especially to a guy so deep in the position he can barely use it all. I imagine he knows this and that's fueling his push to buy low on Beltre while he's banged up. I think that, if you like this deal, you should push your luck by asking for Teahen. I think he would take it.

I think you'd be the slight loser in this trade, but I understand the desire to cover yourself at C.

 

[komey1]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

He could always put the 3rd catcher at utility.

 

[Rhett]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

He could always put the 3rd catcher at utility.

Even with that kind of quality, you should be able to replace the production with a much cheaper 1B or OF in the UTIL slot. It's basically a waste of resources.

 

[komey1]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

Santana was part of the rookie draft, so he has him at $5.

What about Braden at $1?

Right now, my CI would be Kevin Kouzmanoff at $10

My potential keepers are:
Beltre $20
Kouzmanoff $10
Bourjos $22 (would lose a $50 deposit if I drop him)
Vlad Guerrero $19
Ryan Sweeney $4
Dan Haren $35 (same as Bourjos - $50 deposit)
Michael Wuertz $1
Brian Duensing $10

That league has a $50 deposit for FAABs over $10. I made some pushs in what turned out to be a futile bid to make the money.

 

[jmh]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

Do you mean a $50 real world deposit or a $50 fantasy deposit?

 

[komey1]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

Real world. The rule is there to help keep bids realistic.

Made this trade today.
NL 12 team 4x4
I get: Dan Uggla (26)
He gets: Arodys Vizcaino

I know it looks like a steal. The guy says he has too many keepers (He has a lot, not sure I would always keep some of his picks). I have a quite a few good cheap players so I have no problems taking on that salary and now have my miiddle set with Han-Ram (33), Weeks (19) and Uggla (26). He gets a farm player that he can keep for a player that he might not have kept.

 

[Rhett]

Re: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Helpline

Sorry for the delay komey. I just kept seeing that 50 dollar real life penalty for Bourjos and didn't know what to do with it. That's brutal. I really have opened this thread once a day since and couldn't muster a response.

Love Beltre at that price even if he has a production dip. 3B is shallow, so it would be almost impossible to spend $20 better. I wouldn't worry about keeping Kouz. I'm guessing he was replacement level insurance in case Beltre didn't make it last season? I had the same pair in both of my leagues.

I feel like both of your FAAB guys are big overpays, but you knew that, I'm gussing you'll keep both. Haren at 35 isn't too bad anyways, even with SPs so plentiful. Remember to trade him at the midway point. Bourjos, at least that takes care of most of your SBs. The BA has to improve too. Actually, the more I think about it, the more optimistic I am for you, even if I'd prefer a more proven mid-level OF for SBs myself (Davis, Morgan).

Vlad, hmmm. I think that's close to what he's going for in auctions. He's aging though, and won't count for anything but a Util or DH slot. You could either try to replace him with someone more flexible or try to get him for a couple dollars cheaper (crossing your fingers).

Wuertz for $1 is fine if your really like him, I suppose. If you wanted to see who was out there though, and still try to get him back for $1 is you don't see anyone better, you shouldn't have a problem.

I don't see Sweeney getting the PT to make him worth keeping. I really like the value of the whole OAK starting OF (Willingham, Crisp, DeJesus). I know part of their "value" is that others are staying away due to injuries, but I'd rather get a guy on the cheap because others are afraid of them getting injured than be the guy who prays for the injury because he got the backup cheap. He's the backup for a reason, lacks upside, and is probably sub-replacement level. Matsui takes the DH ABs. I just don't know when he'll produce.

Duensing I like, but $10 seems like a big overpay.

I love the Uggla trade. A prospect for a 2B with power is almost always a great trade. I kept Kinsler over him after 2009 and kick myself every time I read either of their names.