RotoNomics

Gearing up for 2009!

2009-03-12T11:05:00.002-04:00

As fantasy players gear up for the 2009 seasons, they can also use their sports knowledge to pad their pockets through Sports Betting. The Wall Street Journal estimates that 100 million Americans wager close to $100 billion on sporting events each year. What are you missing out on? Here are a few tips:

The First Step – Find a Place To Wager

Online Betting has revolutionized the way sports fans watch sports and has made it extremely easy to earn revenue online. Find a website and start earning profit immediately!

The Second Step – Manage Your Money

Many novice betters don’t even think about money management. Success in online betting is determined by your ability to manage your money!

The Last Step – Make Your Wager

You now have the knowledge you need to make your bet. Football Betting is a great place to start. Make your wager and start earning now!

It’s that easy! Get out there and earn some money! But, before you start, here are some terms you should know:

Betting Straight Up - Winning straight-up means simply winning on the scoreboard without any regard to the point spread. Betting straight-up would be to take a side or a team and bet on them to win outright.

ATS or “Against the Spread,” – Betting with a point spread or line instead of on the straight-up result. Taking points on an underdog or giving points on a favorite.

Side – Like betting straight-up, a side bet is a wager on a particular team, or side to win a contest.

Betting the totals/over/under - The line on a given contest, representing the combined number of points/goals scored by the two teams; see over/under. Betting the over/under is a bet on whether the combined total of the points or goals scored by the two teams will exceed or be less than a specified number.

Half time total – Betting on a team or total in the first half of the game only.

With these terms and advice, you’re on your way to lining your pockets with extra cash!

Temporary Hiatus

2008-10-08T14:45:00.002-04:00

Dear MLB Front Office Rotonomic's readers,

As you may have noticed, Rotonomics will be taking a temporary hiatus at the conclusion of this season. The blog will return to normal activity soon. Please stay with us during this short break and be sure to continue reading the other weekly columns at MLB Front Office.

If you have suggestions for content you would like to see covered when Rotonomics comes back, please leave those in the comments section.

From the front office to your office,

Brad Stewart
Executive Editor - MLB Front Office

The Day in Review

2008-09-09T00:42:00.002-04:00

It was an excellent weekend of football. I'm transitioning - part of being from Pittsburgh is you're usually done with baseball well before September.

Injury News

Remember when we were freaking out in spring training about Pujols' elbow? Well, he's looking pretty seriously at Tommy John surgery. The Cards aren't out of it but without their big hitter they're not in the race - if you own him, root for a string of Cardinal victories so he puts off the surgery a bit longer.
BJ Upton is day-to-day with a sore quad.

Notable Performances

Aubrey Huff and Adam Jones had matching 4 RBI nights, including a homer for each, as Baltimore put up 14 against Cleveland.
Gary Sheffield had 2 HR and 5 RBI and Miguel Cabrera hit another HR as his torrid pace continued last night; Detroit dropped 14 on Oakland.
The Angels only scored 12 against the Yanks, led by Vlad's 3-RBI night, and dropped their magic number to 2 games.
Edinson Volquez struck out 10 in only 5 2/3 innings. Any thoughts on him heading into next year?
Jimmy Rollins stole 3 bases, bringing his total for the year to 41.
Jon Lester won his 14th, striking out 9 in 7 2/3 shutout innings. Tim Lincecum was a little better, striking out 9 in 8 1/3 innings, though he did allow 2 R (1 earned).

And in my favorite story of the day, Houston pinch hitter Mark Saccomanno hit the first major league pitch he saw into the bleachers for a HR. Seinfeld fans, I am not making that name up. That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

2008-09-07T23:17:00.003-04:00

No comment (Kerry Wood).

Injury News:

Billy Wagner is likely out for the remainder of the season. Hopefully you weren't counting on him.
McClouth is day-to-day after getting cut above the eye.

Notable Performances:

Chris Young took a complete game into the eighth, but ended up settling for the complete game after one of the two hits he gave up went over the fence. He should be valued highly next season, but hope that your league lends you a post-injury discount.
Max Scherzer struck out eleven in just five innings.
Carlos Delgado hit two homers, bringing his unlikely total to 33. Jose Lopez also launched two.
Cliff Lee won his 21st, striking out five over seven innings of one-run ball.

That's what you need to know about the day.

Strategic Spot Starters: Early Edition

2008-09-07T17:01:00.003-04:00

Hopefully today is early enough for those of you in weekly leagues to stack your lineups for the week. I'm a bit annoyed that I got back to my dorm just in time to see the Cubs blow a save in the ninth, but at least I have Reggie Bush and Michael Turner going for the first time this week. Anyway, let's see who's available...

Monday: Joe Blanton is yet to play Florida this season, and with how bad the fish have been as of late, he's worth a look. Later in the week he plays Milwaukee, and I'd probably shy away from that matchup given its in Philadelphia. Another guy in a similar situation is Greg Maddux, who I like at Petco on Monday but would not start at Coors later in the week. The third is Dave Bush, who gets Cinci at home but then goes to Philly. The Brewers might not even pitch him away from Miller Park due to his road woes. Garrett Olsen is a risky start against Cleveland, but as a two-start starter he's going to see Minnesota later on.

Tuesday: Nick Blackburn should be owned, but he gets KC and later on Baltimore. Vicente Padilla is probably available, and he sees Seattle at Safeco and then Oakland in Oakland.

Wednesday: Derek Lowe with Petco behind him is a great start, since I can't even name the entire Padres lineup. Kevin Slowey gets KC, who he's dominated to the tune of a 1.23 ERA.

Thursday: There's one guy, but I don't usually mention him because he's a FA in only the shallowest leagues: Ublado Jimenez at Atlanta. Other than that I can't recommend anything.

The Day in Review

2008-09-07T00:39:00.002-04:00

The Cubs win the Cubs win! Granted I wish it would have been 11-to-1 instead of 14-9, but I'll take a three-homer night from Soriano anytime. I had to change my whole outfit in order to wear his jersey as an homage...

Injury News:

Ben Sheets isn't hurt. I'll explain why later.
Joe Crede will be out the rest of the year. It's likely Fields will see regular time at third, so play him in deep leagues. That said, if Crede was your third basemen, you probably aren't paying attention anymore.

Notable Performances:

Jack Cust had two homers and is quietly having a decent season (27 homers).
Brandon Webb is stuck at nineteen wins, and his loss today allowed the Dodgers to take over the West. Billingsley was the winner of the decision, and struck out nine over 6.1 innings.
Ben Sheets threw a complete-game shutout of the Padres, while Roy Oswalt threw a one-hitter against the Rockies in Colorado.
Shaun Marcum struck out seven Rays and gave up zero runs. If he is unowned, pick him up because his schedule gets easier.
Elijah Dukes had two homers as the Nats beat the Braves.

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

2008-09-05T23:51:00.002-04:00

I don't really have anything witty to start you guys off with tonight, so here are the facts...

Injury News

Carlos Quentin had wrist surgery Monday and is probably finished for the season, at least fantasy-wise.
Takashi Saito is trying to come back September 12; if you held him this long, maybe you'll get some cheap stats in the championship.

Notable Performances

Alex Rios hit 2 HR and drove in 3 for Toronto, helping Roy Halladay get a win as part of a 7-strikeout night.
Brett Myers struck 10 in 8 shutout innings for Philadelphia, I wish he had been this good all season.
Joey Votto hit a 3-run HR and Jay Bruce a grand slam for the Reds tonight, so I guess Zach's wrong about Cincinnati's future.
Mike Lowell helped Josh Beckett's return with a 4-RBI night.
CC Sabathia struck out 9 tonight, but didn't get a complete game for Milwaukee.
Justin Morneau hit a grand slam, strengthening his bid for a second-half MVP.

This looks to me like a solid round-up of the day in baseball - That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

2008-09-05T00:39:00.002-04:00

It appears the only way the Cubs are going to gain any space in the Central is by not playing at all. I guess I'll take it. By the way I've been reading Moneyball, and for those who haven't had the opportunity yet it's a great read that I'd really recommend.

Injury News:

Zambrano will take a week off to let the inflammation in his rotator cuff subside. I really think the Cubs are going to be cautious with their ace, so I wouldn't count on the one week timetable suggested on Rotoworld.

Notable Performances:

Votto and Bruce both had solo shots, giving a glimpse of the future of the Reds (yes, even the fact that no one was on for those dingers). With Phillips, Encarnacion, Votto, and Bruce around to belt the ball, Dusty Baker just needs some good ol' fashioned OBP to clog the basepaths.
I don't like to exaggerate Torii Hunter's talent (he does it enough himself) but his twentieth homer calls into question why he's valued so much lower than guys such as Beltran, Hart, Markakis, or Pence. Some of those guys went after him last year, but considering how little hype he gets, I think he will be a steal next season.
Jesse Litsch threw a complete game shutout, so hopefully you spot started him. Wells had his sixteenth homer in an abbreviated season, so add him to the list of toolsy guys who are never spoken about.
Prince Fielder stole a base. That makes three on the season. I want to see it.

That's what you need to know about the day.

Strategic Spot Starters: Weekend Edition

2008-09-04T20:06:00.002-04:00

A little late in the day for this one, but I'll make it up to you with a Sunday edition for next week. Hopefully everyone's playoff dreams are going well, and I'm holding out for Zambrano's health and the Cubs' success.

Friday: Lowe gets Arizona, and since it's in Dodgers Stadium I think the underrated future "great pickup" will give the Dodgers a game in the NL West. Andy Sonnanstine at Toronto is the only other add of interest, though he's mostly a desperation pick up.

Saturday: Oakland and Baltimore have a double-header, so I think the best add you can make is picking up a hitter from either team. Guthrie facing them in the second game of the series is a nice opportunity for their "ace" to do service to the title. He will be facing Duchscherer, who might be a bit rusty after his DL stint.

Sunday: Greg Maddux is clutch, and while he isn't a safe bet, I think he will hold the Diamondbacks to three runs or less. Manny Parra is starting to wear down, but a home game against the Padres should give him a nice start amongst a rough couple weeks.

The Day in Review

2008-09-04T01:41:00.002-04:00

Today's biggest news was administrative: CC Sabathia was denied an appeal that would've turned his recent shutout into a no-hitter, and A-Rod was the target of the first ever instant replay of a home run.

Injury News

None, really. Carlos Zambrano is having his arm checked out and Rich Harden is getting some extra time off for the Cubs, but there have been no specifics given for either player. The Cubs don't quite have the playoffs locked up and this is strange if neither player is injured.

Notable Performances

Ryan Church drove in 4 tonight for the Mets, en route to a 9-2 victory over the Brewers.
Mark Teixeira and Placido Polanco each had 3 hits and 3 RBI for the Angels and Tigers, respectively. Miguel Cabrera did not hit a homer, ending his streak at 3 straight games. He's no Marcus Thames.
Did I mention A-Rod drove in 4 runs? Bobby Abreu also stole 2 bases tonight for the Yanks.
Edinson Volquez struck out 13 Pirates in 7 innings, but somehow managed to give up 4 ER in a tough loss. Nate McLouth stole 2 bases, bringing his season total to only 17 - there's a surprise, if you can remember preseason predictions for the guy you would expect that number to be much higher.
Ryan Howard added a pair of HR and 4 RBI, but Philly still managed to lose 9-7 to Washington.
Randy Wolf threw a nice CG shutout of the Cubs - I'm sure Zach is upset. But at least Milwaukee lost...

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

2008-09-03T00:36:00.002-04:00

Tonight was certainly a night for offense - I'll try to hit the biggest performances but there were definitely a lot of runs scored.

Injury News

Salty has been shut down for the remainder of the season in Texas. Those waiting for him to produce big numbers have to hold off for at least another year.
Joba is back, but pitching from the bullpen a la Chris Carpenter.
Troy Percival is back and should close out a few more games by season's end for Tampa. He's been on and off the DL but a solid fantasy closer when healthy.

Notable Performances

Miguel Cabrera homered for the third straight night - timing really well with my label of him as a disappointment.
Speaking of my previous post, V-Mart finally hit his first home run tonight for Cleveland.
Torii Hunter had a great stat line tonight: 3-for-4, a run, 3 RBI, and a stolen base in a victory for the Angels.
Dustin Pedroia drove in 5 and Big Papi threw in another 4 as Boston defeated Baltimore.
Kelly Johnson paced Atlanta, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBI and 2 R. Mike Jacobs had a nice night for Florida in the loss, going 2-for-4 with a HR, 2 R and 2 RBI. Do you see him as Adrian Gonzalez (production goes unnoticed and he flies under the radar) or Carlos Pena (owners consistently overpay for him) going into next year?
Zack Greinke gets a kudos for his first win since early August, an 8-strikeout, 7-inning performance.

Plenty of info here, I'm off to bed. That's what you need to know about the day.

For Next Year...

2008-09-02T09:14:00.003-04:00

I know the season isn't quite over, but at this point "who's hot" or "who's not" probably isn't going to matter, in the sense that you can't make trades based upon it. You're going with your studs at this point and that's the reason they were drafted.

I'd like to talk this week about some reflections on drafts. The end of the year is a good time to look back at your draft results and find the mistakes you made. Today's mistake:

OVERPAYING FOR CATCHERS

This is a mistake emphasized by the fact that the best fantasy catcher has been sleeper Geovany Soto of the Cubs. However, I'd like to point out that of the first six catchers taken, only two really provided solid returns on their investment. Here's how it shakes down.

Victor Martinez: Stuck at zero home runs, V-Mart has not been the consistent source of power that many expected him to be. And although his injury was the biggest factor, catching is the most physically demanding position a hitter can play, and they should be expected to have more injuries than other players. If you took him in the third round, I doubt you're playing for a championship this month.

Russell Martin: This is the hardest guy to analyze. I say that he's still a bust, because you should be disappointed that it doesn't look like he'll reach any of 20/20/100/100. In the third round, which is where he generally went, you should expect three of those categories to be fulfilled. If someone wants to argue position scarcity, I'll listen, but I still think that his stats confirm the fact that he was simply drafted too early in most formats. And yes, I own him in one of my leagues.

Brian McCann: Atlanta's catcher is having a fine season, providing a .295 average to go with 23 HR so far. His ADP was lower than the top 2 players, and he's definitely lived up to his billing. This probably means he is cursed for next season, but if you drafted McCann this year, you were highly rewarded.

Joe Mauer: Minnesota's golden boy has provided a .320 average, which is a nice boost for his owners. He isn't a power hitter, by any means (8 HR this year), but if you consider catcher a position you're trying to fill simply with mediocrity, then Mauer exceeds expectations. He has provided good value this season.

Jorge Posada: We said all off-season that if there was one catcher not to take, Posada was your man. He had a career year last year, and some owner in many leagues was going to pay for last year's numbers in this year's draft. Lo and behold, he struggled this season with injuries and never was the same. Posada in 2008 is the perfect example of a reason you might as well grab a catcher late and play the waiver wire - if you drafted him earlier, you still ended up doing the exact same thing.

Kenji Johjima: Enough said. It's been an awful year for him.

These are the first six catchers taken, and I'd say only McCann and Mauer have earned their draft position. If you're into big risks, it's worth trying for big-time production out of your catcher, but the 5 guys taken immediately after V-Mart were: Justin Morneau, CC Sabathia, Eric Byrnes, Jonathan Papelbon, and Brian Roberts. 4 of the 5 would be fantastic guys to have on your team this year, and to me, they emphasize the fact that too many fantasy owners will always be overpaying for catchers.

The Day in Review

2008-09-02T00:03:00.002-04:00

I want to just note that Stephen Drew and Adrian Beltre both hit for the cycle today, which is really amazing. You will likely never hear of that happening again on the same day, the last time was eighty-eight years ago and I doubt many octogenarians are reading the blog...

Injury News:

Ben Sheets left his game with a groin strain. He's day-to-day, but with Sheets you have to be concerned.

Notable Performances:

Cliff Lee won his twentieth in style, going the distance and giving up nill.
Verlander got rocked, but you shouldn't be starting him against the Yankees. The schedule looks up from this point forward.
Johan Santana pitched six innings of two-run ball, striking out ten. Of course he wasn't involved in the decision. The dearth of wins is going to deflate his value next year, and I'm bullish on a second-round ace.
Willy Taveras stole three bags, bringing him to 65. How far will he take this? If he's set with a starting gig next year, he will be the new "Juan Pierre", though eighty bags and sixty is a big difference in roto leagues.
Josh Johnson--8 K's. He's got nastier stuff since undergoing Tommy John.
Oswalt pitched into the ninth, giving up zero runs against the Cubs.

That's what you need to know about the day.

Strategic Spot Starters: Playoff Edition

2008-09-01T18:07:00.002-04:00

Who here is in their league's playoffs? In standard rotisserie leagues, thing are probably decided (and I prefer it that way). Those of you in head-to-head leagues are probably looking for any way possible to get that competitive edge. Here are a few ideas, through Thursday...

Tuesday: Jon Lester against the O's should get the nod. Other than that, you are looking at some high-risk, high-reward options in Gio Gonzalez (@KC) and Clayton Kershaw (SD). The latter is worth grabbing right off the bat.

Wendesday: Lots of options for the middle of the week, so if you powered through on the strength of your offense (and a weak pitching staff) you might win a game you shouldn't. Joe Blanton (@WAS), Hiroki Kuroda (SD), and Nick Blackburn (@TOR) are some low risk options that should get the win. In a lesser tier, Dave Bush (NYM), Dana Eveland (@KC), and Brian Bannister (OAK) are decent options, with Bannister and Bush pitching much better in their respective stadiums. I'll try to track the bunch of them, but an ERA in the first three should be around 3.00, and the second tier around 4.00.

Thursday: Kevin Slowey and Jesse Litsch face eachother, and I'm not above starting both to have a good chance at getting the win. Jeff Suppan is probably the better bet, pitching with Safeco behind him, but of course his upside is limited when it comes to K's.

The Day in Review

2008-09-01T00:28:00.002-04:00

Want the definition of a great trade? CC Sabathia has started 11 games for Milwaukee since they picked him up at the beginning of July; the team has won 10 of those 11 games. Tonight, he added another complete game shutout, giving up only an infield single to Pittsburgh.

Injury News

Carlos Zambrano had a start skipped because of a tired arm. It's too soon for Chicago to be gearing up for the playoffs, but you know they have big picture in mind when handling their young stud. I see this as precautionary.

Notable Performances

I love this stat from RotoWorld - it's been 12 years since a single pitcher beat the Yankees four times in a season. Tonight, Roy Halladay matched Chuck Finley's 1996 season by defeating the Bombers again.
Joey Votto, a name we haven't touted in a long while, had a nice 4-for-4, 4 RBI night (there's a mouthful!). Bronson Arroyo won it and added a stolen base - I'm sure this is somehow notable.
Adrian Beltre had 2 HR and 3 RBI for Seattle in a victory against Cleveland.
Kevin Millwood didn't make it three consecutive complete games, but he struck out 7 in 6 2/3 and got a win. I'm looking for an explanation for his recent run of success; I'll pay top dollar.
Jake Peavy pitched like Jake Peavy, with 13 strikeouts in 8 innings en route to a victory over Colorado. Jeff Francis also pitched like I expected him to this season (7 innings, 6 hits, 6 Ks, 1 ER).

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

2008-08-31T00:02:00.003-04:00

Well, the Cubs lost a game in the Central, so I get to lament them by posting briefly.

Injury News:

Kevin Gregg will sit out at least a week, possibly to clear his head, but definitely due to a knee injury that is slow to heal.

Notable Performances:

Brett Myers pitched well out of jams (but not well otherwise, giving up eleven hits) to continue his hot second half. I've been looking reasons to drop him but he's been too good to ignore.
Randy Winn had two homers in what is turning out to be a surprisingly good season.
Billy Butler had two homers, though I wonder at what point all that potential is going to help in normal-sized fantasy leagues.
Chipper Jones went 2-5, raising his average to .259. Pujols, not to be beaten, went 4-4, and is up to .362.
Matt Kemp stole a base and hit a homer, but it was Manny Ramirez who stole the show, blasting two as the Dodgers made up a game in the West.

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

2008-08-30T00:53:00.002-04:00

A lot of info in yesterday's post, hopefully a few of you guys are taking something out of it.

Injury News

Josh Beckett Watch: The Boston ace's tests all came back clean, but he's still been placed on the DL. However, it's been 12 days since he appeared in a game, so the DL stint could simply be 3 days for a little roster flexibility.
Returns: Justin Upton is back for Arizona, Victor Martinez has finally returned for Cleveland, and it's rumored that Chris Carpenter will finish this year as a reliever for St. Louis.

Notable Performances

Dice-K gave up only 2 hits and struck out 7 in 8 innings against Chicago. J-Bay and Youkilis added 3 RBI apiece.
Tom Gorzelanny re-appeared in Pittsburgh, but a Ryan Braun 3-run HR in the first made him the loser. I will be watching him to see if he'll be own-able next season.
AJ Burnett threw an 8-inning complete game against New York. I just read some interesting stuff on his season over at FJM.
Carlos Beltran hit a late grand slam for the Mets, part of a 5-RBI night. With one more stolen base, he'll be 20/20 this year.
Edwin Encarnacion continued the 5-RBI nights, driving in 5 runs of Barry Zito and the SF Giants.
Garrett Atkins threw in another 5-RBI night, helping Aaron Cook win his 16th game this season.

Finally, K-Rod is at 52 saves on the year. Bobby Thigpen... here we come? That's what you need to know about the day.

The Overrated

2008-08-29T09:24:00.000-04:00

So, I know this is a little later than I had anticipated, but here are my top "overrated" players from this season.

SP: I'm going to start where everyone started this off-season when discussing pitchers: Johan Santana of the New York Mets. Santana has been a very good pitcher this year, with an ERA of 2.64 and 153 strikeouts. But he hasn't been the fantasy force most expected, and he only has 12 wins (the Mets offense hasn't exactly done him any favors). Pitchers simply don't belong in the middle of the first round, no matter how good. Santana owners have learned that lesson the hard way this year.

SP: I wanted to call out Brett Myers, who I don't think should be owned in 90% of ESPN standard leagues, but he's been good lately and I understand people stocking up for the playoffs. Pedro Martinez gets the honor in his stead. His ERA this year is over 5.00 and his WHIP is approaching 1.50. His best days are clearly behind him and he is somehow still owned in over half of ESPN standard leagues.

SP: What's in a name? A lot, if you're Cleveland's Fausto Carmona. I assume that his name is the biggest reason he's still owned in 90% of ESPN standard leagues. WHIP of 1.60? Come on. It's not like Cleveland is winning a bunch of games and so you're trading peripherals for wins and strikeouts. He has fallen with his team and I'm sure the injury hurt a lot, but he definitely belongs in a list of the overrated.

RP: I'm not big on drafting any closers early, but I had to laugh when I saw Jose Valverde heading into this season as the 8th overall closer taken. I understand that not every closer can be lights out, but his numbers two years ago were absolutely atrocious. The biggest reason he was valuable last year was the quantity of saves he accumulated, but his move to Houston didn't put him in a position to improve upon those numbers. I definitely want no part of Jose Valverde on any of my fantasy teams.

RP: How Todd Jones was drafted ahead of Brad Lidge & Joakim Soria is a complete mystery to me. Detroit has been doing its best to replace Jones for years, and with Rodney and Zumaya it seems to have the suitors lined up. Jones offers saves only; while most closers help with strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, he really can't be counted on in any category. I know he's been injured, but I look at Jones as a very overrated fantasy closer.

C: I have a tie here, between Victor Martinez and Jorge Posada. I don't know how much of Martinez's homerless season can be explained away by his injury, but the guy was going too high regardless of how he performed this season. He is at best a 4-cat player (who will never steal a base) and isn't dominant enough in any one category to merit picks in the third round. I know he plays at a tough position, but I'm never an advocate of drafting catchers early because it means you'll have a weak player at another position. I tried to call out Posada heading into this year. Age is simply a fact of life most catchers cannot overcome, and Posada was no exception to the rule. Injuries took their toll on a guy whose ADP in ESPN leagues was 93.7. Honorable mention here goes to Kenji Johjima, who has also been awful this season.

1B: Gotta be Tampa's Carlos Pena. I picked up the guy off of waivers recently and he's been hot, but his ADP was six points ahead of Derrek Lee in ESPN. That's unbelievable to me. When you look at Pena's track record, the only thing he has done consistently is bounce around. It's reasonable to expect him to provide power, but putting him ahead of D-Lee was nonsense. It involved too much risk and left him no ceiling; i.e., the best he could do was live up to that draft position.

2B: Zach will definitely laugh at me for this, but I think the most overrated second baseman in fantasy has to be LA's Howie Kendrick. I love his potential and I think his high average is so valuable - it allows you to play someone like Ryan Howard at first or Adam Dunn in your outfield without worrying about having a team batting average of .225. Nonetheless, in 84 games this season, he has only 35 R, 39 RBI, and 11 SB. If you double those numbers and call that full season production, he offers you only 70 runs and 80 RBI. An average above .300 and 20 steals sounds great from your second baseman, but with those numbers he needs to be a 100-run player. Until he reaches that threshold, he is overrated.

3B: I don't think Zach and I have given enough publicity to our disdain for Miguel Cabrera this season, but he definitely tops my list of overrated third basemen. He does have 100 RBI, but he's scored only 65 runs. His .291 average and 28 home runs are middle-of-the-road numbers. Basically, that means he's been a three-category producer this year. Not everyone can be a 5-cat stud, but if you're consistenly taken in the middle of the first round, you should produce consistently in four categories and be dominant in one. A-Rod, H-Ram, Sizemore and Soriano are 5-cat studs; Fielder, Howard, and others ensure that you'll have plenty of HRs. Cabrera doesn't belong in either category and doesn't belong in the first round of fantasy drafts.

SS: I can't pick on the injured Troy Tulowitzki, and I think I'm going to have to call out Jimmy Rollins here. The Phillie shortstop was placed in a category with Reyes and H-Ram when he really didn't quite belong, and that's shown this year. He missed time for injury, which might account for his unexciting HR/RBI/R totals, but his .260 average can't be explained away by time off. His numbers had been rising since 2003, but he has had a decline across the board this year. It could be an aberration or he could be getting old, but I think consistent 30/30 production is more than we can expect from J-Rol, and he's going to be overrated heading into next year.

OF: I've been saying for a long time that Carl Crawford is not a first-round fantasy talent, and I think after this season people will finally believe it. He has been taken in the first round largely on the potential that his power will develop, and he will tack 20-25 HR onto a .300+ average and 40 or more steals. It would be great if it happened, but drafting first round picks based on potential is never a sound strategy.

OF: Bobby Abreu was a little overrated going into this season, in my opinion. He was going ahead of Corey Hart and Matt Kemp consistently; I look to both of them as five-category producers with more potential for a big season than Abreu. He was also going ahead of Adam Dunn - whatever negatives you want to say about Dunn, he provides a big boost in HR, RBI, and R. The days of big power are in Abreu's past, and while he's still a safe bet for production from a second OF, Kemp and Hart have proven they were worth the risk and belonged ahead of him.

OF: Time for the annual stat-geek rant about LA's Juan Pierre, one of the most overrated players in the history of all of baseball. I used to defend him as a consistent source of steals, but his total of 25 RBI is simply pathetic. The fact that he's scored only 40 runs is also a joke. It doesn't matter how many bases you steal; if you can't contribute in any other category, you are too one-dimensional to be a fantasy outfielder. LA shouldn't even be playing him with the other guys they have.

Please cut me some slack on Rollins, I know he's been hot lately. Still, I think he was drafted expecting another season with 30 HR, and that was never a realistic possibility. Who are your most overrated, and where am I wrong today?

The Day in Review

2008-08-29T00:17:00.002-04:00

Exhausted after my first day of classes, so I'm going to skip right to it.

Injury News:

Howie Kendrick is back on the DL with a strained left hamstring, and really deserves that "oft-injured" tag.
Josh Beckett will miss a start, and visit the famous Dr. James Andrews. News will surface on his playoff value hopefully.

Notable Performances:

Ty Wigginton had two homers, helping the Astros beat the Reds. Both were off of Harang, who otherwise pitched decently.

That's all you need to know about the day.

Strategic Spot Starters: Weekend Edition

2008-08-28T13:42:00.002-04:00

Hey all, I figured I'd take a break from playing fantasy baseball and write about it for awhile. Apparently that's a sin of mine, but I digress. I wanted to say I appreciate all the feedback we got when we asked for everyone's opinions, and repeat that because this blog is more rewarding than some activities, I continue it. I would rather avoid the politics of whether or not calling out professional writers, especially those writers who have promoted your site, is an appropriate action. Instead I will provide you with an article, then yell at Pete because he owes you guys an article or two.

Friday: Kevin Slowey at Oakland should provide a nice bounce. Dave Bush at Pittsburgh should go well, since the Pirates are fielding a minor league team right now (and it's the right thing to do, so they need to keep this in mind when they decide to bench Steven Pearce and Andy LaRoche in favor of Jason Michaels and Doug Mientkiewicz. Kyle Lohse has a sub 3.50 ERA against Houston, and while the team can put up powerful numbers, he's playing for the better team.

Saturday: Ubaldo Jimenez at San Diego is probably the start of the weekend. He's absolutely dominated them when the teams have faced, sporting 34 K's in 30 innings. Andy Sonnanstine against Baltimore is an option in deeper leagues, as he held them to one run over eight in their last meeting. Jeff Suppan and Darrell Rasner are both likely to earn a win, though the peripherals will only be average and the strikeouts leave something to be desired.

Sunday: For those teams not making the playoffs, this might be your last opportunity to throw a relevant pitcher in. Tim Wakefield against the Sox (you figure out which) and Greg Smith against Minnesota are okay options. Derek Lowe at Arizona and Scott Olsen against the Mets aren't great options, but why not?

The Day in Review

2008-08-28T00:14:00.002-04:00

The Pirates and Pedro Alvarez are off to a great start!

Injury News

Zach warned me the biggest problem with Josh Hamilton heading into this season was his health. Now the Ranger stud is out with an abcessed tooth and needs a root canal.

Notable Performances

I'll start the way Rotoworld does - nice four-hit complete game, Josh Johnson.
Jason Bay and Dustin Pedroia had 4 RBI apiece in a Boston rout of the Yankees.
Jimmy "I'm making up for lost time" Rollins stole two more bases tonight for Philadelphia.
We'll finish off our brief review of the night with Tim Lincecum hitting double-digit strikeouts. Again.

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

2008-08-27T02:49:00.003-04:00

Hell of a Cubs game tonight, and I'm sure glad I left after four hours of intense baseball as a happy man. But elsewhere in the league?

Injury News:

J.D. Drew will hit the DL, so the Red Sox went out and acquired Mark Kotsay. Not sure if Kotsay or Coco Crisp will benefit over the stint.
Jeremy Accardo is out for the season, but has been awful thus far for fantasy purposes.

Notable Performances:

Ben Francisco had two of the Indians four homers as Cliff Lee went on to win his nineteenth game of the season.
John Lackey, Derek Lowe, and Bronson Arroyo each had complete games, though Lowe couldn't get the run support he needed to earn the victory. Arroyo fought past a ten strikeout performance by Wandy Rodriguez.
Johnny Damon had two homeruns, but it wasn't enough to power past the defending World Champs.
Jimmy Rollins had three steals and is up to thirty-one on the season. He also homered, but it was only his nineth.

That's what you need to know about the day.

Vote For Greco

2008-08-26T20:16:00.001-04:00

A good friend of MLBFOs, Paul Greco, has been selected as a finalist in MLB's Rookie Reporter Showdown 2008, sponsored by Gillette! We'd like to offer our congratulations to Paul and urge you to go vote for him.

Greco, a resident of San Antonio, will be featured in ads during MLB games aired in the Houston area, but you can see his video online by visiting HERE.

And while you're visiting http://www.mlb.com/GilletteReporter, be sure to lend your support to Paul by voting for him - and you might win a great prize - a trip to the World Series!

Voting is already open, and closes September 14. Congratulations, Paul!

The Day in Review

2008-08-25T23:35:00.003-04:00

Okay, readers, campus internet and I are finally agreeing and therefore I will be back to regular posts. I know you've missed me.

Injury News

John Maine has hit the DL for the NY Mets. It sounds like he will need surgery at some point but the team is trying to put it off and possibly use him to shore up their bullpen for the remainder of the season. As far as major fantasy contributions, though, he's done.
Alex Gordon has a torn quad and there's no reason to expect him back this year.

Notable Performances

The ChiSox were making up a game from April and Ken Griffey Jr had the chance to pinch-hit; unfortunately, he did not hit a HR and render his 600th HR meaningless.
Kosuke Fukudome drove in 4 for the Cubs - Zach, who attended the game, had to be thrilled.
Mike Pelfrey threw his 2nd straight complete game and Carlos Delgado hit a pair of three-run homers to support him.
Brett Myers: 7 scoreless, 8 strikeouts. Where was he all season?
Milton Bradley had 3 RBI and Josh Hamilton upped his total to 116 as Texas defeated KC.

That's what you need to know about the day.

Strategic Spot Starters: Week Edition

2008-08-25T10:11:00.003-04:00

At least in my ESPN league, this is the last week of regular seeding. The top three make the playoffs, and if memory serves me, I've clinched the top spot and a first round bye. For those of you less fortunate, this may be the most important week of your season, so consider these options carefully and opt for a no-holds-barred approach with regard to pickups.

Monday: My only "^" is Gil Meche, and he faces the Rangers which is a no go. However, after perusing the days probable's, Jeff Francis is a good bet provided he is unowned against San Fran. That's about it though.

Tuesday: Derek Lowe at Washington and Scott Olsen at Atlanta are a pair of those guys I consider among my "extended roster". Lowe is one of the best spot starts of the week, posting a gem the last time he faced the Nats (8 IP, 0 ER, 8 K). Most of the other pitchers getting the nod are up against tough offenses, though Greg Smith has a career 2.70 ERA against the Angels and last time they faced the young lefty went the distance, surrendering only one run.

Wednesday: Greg Maddux has a career 2.44 ERA against Washington, which is absolutely meaningly considering the last time they faced was 2005, and I doubt more than two players on the roster are the same. Still, they represent a marginal pitcher vs. anemic offense that is always worth considering. Considering it is the only worthwhile start of the day, I like the pick.

Thursday: Clayton Kershaw is the final Dodgers' starter I'd spot, as he shut them down over six innings a few outings ago. Nick Blackburn went eight innings the last time he faced Oakland, giving up three runs. Not the worst line, but its likely to improve when he faces them at home where his ERA has been more than a point and a half better. Dana Eveland is on the other end of that match, and looked sharp in his first return post-demotion if you want to hedge your bets.