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FANTASY BASEBALL: This week’s Pickups- Bank on Blanks + ‘Relief’ is on the way!

Posted by fantasyfurnace on June 14, 2013
Posted in: MLB. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 5 comments

Ironically, most of this week’s waiver wire pickups all play on relatively poor teams who are either in last place or hovering just above it. All this proves is that it really doesn’t matter where an owner gets his players from as long as they perform. This week all of our pickups are owned in 25% or less in most leagues so for most of you, they should be available…

1. Kyle Banks-1B,OF-Padres- 25% owned- With more playing time now at 1B as Yonder Alonso and Cameron Maybin continue to linger  on the DL, the oft-injured Blanks is getting to show his offensive arsenal on a daily basis. Through 43 games in total this season, Blanks has 8 home runs, 22 RNIs, 7 doubles and is batting a respectable .285. The once highly touted 6′ 6″ Blanks whose height brings back shades of Dave Winfield, is someone to consider grabbing at least for the short term while we wait to see what will happen when the Pods are back to full strength.

#88 Kyle BLanks, if he continues to light it up, could squeeze his way into a starting gig even after Yonder Alonso returns.

#88 Kyle Blanks, if he continues to light it up, could squeeze his way into a starting gig even after Yonder Alonso returns. Photo: AP

2. Nick Franklin-2B,SS Mariners- 25% owned- This former 1st round pick of the Mariners was called up last month, and had his major league debut on May 27th. Although just a small sample, Franklin has played in just 16 games and has posted a .300 average over his 50 at bats. He also has stolen a couple of bases and homered twice as he does posses some power as well as speed. Playing two infield positions will be an asset for your team should you find yourself in need of a MI in deeper leagues.

3. Dillon Gee-SP-Mets- 10% owned- Trying his best to stay in  the rotation once Mets top prospect Zach Wheeler is called up next week, Gee has turned his season around. Over his last three games, all wins, Gee has posted a 1.29 ERA along with a 19K/3BB ratio while allowing just three earned runs in 21 innings. Clearly the favorite to stay over Jeremy Hefner, Gee has been dealing with flexor tendonitis and if he can manage to control the pain and still pitch as well as he has of late, then he is safe to pick up in most leagues.

#35 Dillon Gee seems to be the favorite to remain on the Mets roster after Zach Wheeler is called up. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

#35 Dillon Gee seems to be the favorite to remain on the Mets roster after Zach Wheeler is called up. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

4. Jordan Lyles-SP-Astros- 3% owned- We know that it may be difficult for owners out there to pick up an Astro pitcher, but before you scoff at the opportunity, consider this; Lyles struck out 10 Mariners on Wednesday through seven scoreless innings; his career high. In his last six starts, Lyles has given up 8 earned runs. He has a 3-1 record on baseball’s worst team and, unfortunately, pitched one horrific game ( 8 earned runs to the Texas Rangers on May 12th). All his other starts were quality ones. Still not convinced? How about a 41K/16BB ratio. You could do worse in N.L. only and deeper leagues.

“Relief is on the way”

5. Alex Torres-RP-Rays- 1% owned- The Tampa Bay bullpen leaves a lot to be desired. Their closer Fernando Rodney has an ERA hovering just below 5.00 (4.94),  Kyle Farnsworth 6.11, Jake McGee 5.76, and Cesar Ramos 4.15. If a team can get to the Rays pen then they have a good shot of knocking them around. Joel Peralta with his 1.72 ERA has been effective but no other reliever save for Alex Torres has been ‘light’s out”. In seven appearances he hasn’t given up a run; earned or unearned, hence his 0.00 ERA. Torres is also sporting a pristine 19K/3BB ratio which is darned near perfect. The 25 year old who was called up on May 15th is just someone to take a flier on and watch. His stuff is too good not to.

6. Joaquin Benoit-RP-Tigers- 23% owned- We think that Benoit, the next in line for closing duties in Detroit behind Jose Valverde, is an excellent pickup in all mixed leagues as he is just 1-2 blown saves away from being handed the gig. Valverde, in just his last six games, has given up 5 home runs, two blown saves, and has watched his ERA soar from 0.75 on May 27th to an inflated 4.15! On the other hand Benoit picked up his third save of the season last Sunday and has 8 Holds, 1 Win, and 3 Saves on this year’s resume. Benoit’s 33K/9BB rate ain’t too bad either. He is currently carrying a 1.04 WHIP; his 2nd lowest in 12 years. Surprisingly available in too many leagues.

#53 RP Joaquin Benoit is the heir-apparent for the closing role in Detroit especially if Jose Valverde continues to falter. Photo: Getty Images

#53 RP Joaquin Benoit is the heir-apparent for the closing role in Detroit, which could come sooner rather than later if Jose Valverde continues to falter. Photo: Getty Images

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MLB: Three ‘Sleepers and Keepers’ have been emerging this season…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on June 9, 2013
Posted in: MLB. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 2 comments

The baseball season is now unbelievably 1/3 over. Three of our “Sleepers to watch” from our list of hitters named in our March 2, 2013 article have already shown that they were chosen carefully. Those three were Kyle Seager, Anthony Rizzo, and Allen Craig. However there are three others-two rookies and one sophomore- that are already enjoying ‘sleeper-like’ seasons that only a few pundits that we are aware of picked at all. Here they are…

1. Jean Segura-SS-Brewers- 93% owned- This 23 year old, now in his second year in the majors,  played in an unimpressive 46 games last season, his first in the bigs. He had no home runs and 14 RBIs in 151 at bats while batting a pedestrian .264. You can see why not many touted Segura as a potential ‘sleeper’ candidate before the season began. His numbers so far, which are superb, are also helping fantasy owners get a leg up on some of their competition.

#9 Brewers SS Jean Segura has not batted less than .333 at any point this season through 61 games. Photo: Getty Images

#9 Brewers SS Jean Segura has not batted less than .333 at any point this season through 61 games. Photo: Getty Images

In Yahoo! Leagues, for example, Segura is the 2nd highest ranked shortstop in all of baseball, trailing only All-Star Troy Tulowitzki. The undrafted Dominican is on pace to hit 22 home runs, score 92 runs, knock in 68, and steal about 42 bases. Segura is someone that those in keeper leagues have already grabbed, and with good reason; he plays at one of the weakest fantasy positions in baseball.

2. Jedd Gyorko-2B,3B-Padres-64% owned- A second round pick of the San Diego Padres out of West Virginia in the 2010 draft, Gyorko not only has a terrific start to the season under his belt, but has been on fire over the past couple of weeks. Gyorko has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games with 3 homers and 9 RBIs. His keeper status is also helped by the 24 year olds multi-positional status. How is he faring thus far in fantasy leagues? Currently he is ranked 12th in Yahoo! Leagues among 3B and 10th among 2B. In both cases, Gyorko is just one place behind one of our sleeper picks, Kyle Seager.

Gyorko is also third in hitting (.284) among National League rookies with 100+ at bats. He is second in home runs (8) and RBI (25).

3. Yasiel Puig-OF-Dodgers-83% owned- Puig, pronounced like ‘intrigue’, was just called up by the Dodgers a week ago and has only a small sampling to show, but as we tweeted back on June 2nd, Puig “should be on all fantasy owner’s radar.” We knew he was exceptional when we watched him in Spring Training as he posted a .517 batting average. With nowhere on the club to put him, he began the season in Double-A Chattanooga until Andre Ethier went on the DL and the Dodgers found themselves in last place in the N.L. West.

#66 Top prospect Yasiel Puig launches one of his four homers in the first week in the big leagues. Photo by USA Today Sports

#66 Top prospect OF Yasiel Puig launches one of his four homers in just his first week in the big leagues. Photo by USA Today Sports

The Cuban defector had signed a seven-year $42 million contract with L.A. in 2012 and it was just a matter of time before he would be called up. Some are saying that his promotion could save manager Don Mattingly’s job with the Dodgers as last place is the ‘last place’ that the team’s owners expect their club to be in.

At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Puig was once called the “fastest player in Cuban baseball.” Batting over .400, Puig already has shown that the potential that the Dodgers paid highly for will be coming to fruition, as the probable future All-Star has hit 4 home runs with 10 RBIs in just his first 19 at bats! A sleeper candidate, should these kinds of numbers continue, Puig should also be in all keeper leagues (and more than likely already is…)

Two ways to get PED’s out of MLB…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on June 6, 2013
Posted in: MLB. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 9 comments

When is enough, enough? The Performance Enhancement Drug issue is like a strain of the Flu…it has become impossible to go more than a season without news popping up about another strain. The two are also similar because although there are ways to control them to some degree, there has been no cure to date.

Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez are two of those implicated in the Biogenesis scandal who are facing possible suspension. Photo: GettyImages

Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez are two of those implicated in the Biogenesis scandal who are facing possible suspension. Photo: GettyImages

All the while, “the game” continues to be tarnished while fans become more and more cynical. Any news about a player having an ‘unusally good season’ emotes fears that he is probably “taking something”.

The innocence that baseball once enjoyed has all but vanished. Ball players used to be highly regarded heroes to a generation once upon a time. Over the past two decades they have, instead, turned into businessmen with obscenely inflated contracts, many of which at some point will probably be accused of or punished for ingesting or getting injected with some sort of illegal substance.

So the question continues to be raised again and again…How does MLB attempt to put an end to this travesty that PED’s and its widespread use has created?

There are two ways to cut down and hopefully cut out PED’s from baseball. We’re not saying that they’re unique nor will they fully deter users-to-be from obstaining permanently, however it could (and should) greatly minimize its usuage. It might sound ‘Polyanna-ish’ in its approach, but since nothing else has worked why not implement these two new rules?

1. Automatic exclusion from the Hall of Fame- It’s quite simple really. If taking PED’s are “illegal” then MLB needs to enforce it with the same passion they have when someone is caught gambling on baseball while playing or coaching. Let baseball come down on players with the same verocity and determination that confronted a certain Hall of Famer; Pete Rose.

If you asked 100 fans who they thought should be in the Hall, Rose or A-Rod how many of you would seriously think that the majority would select A-Rod, the Poster Boy for PED’s?

Alex Rodriguez always seems to be in every discussion & scandal evolving around illegal substances.

Alex Rodriguez always seems to be in every discussion & scandal evolving around illegal substances.

This rule would do nothing for those players who do not aspire to make the Hall or for those who are not even All-Star material. When I saw that one of the names on the list of players allegedly involved with the Biogenesis scandal was recently sent down catcher Jesus Montero, I found myself scratching my head. Players like that are probably never going to see the Hall of Fame unless they take a vacation to Cooperstown.

2. If you are caught, you face suspension-without pay-  The best place to punish someone for breaking the rules of the game is their wallet. If faced with suspension without pay that could make a player be more mindful of the consequences before they take that injection..And I would increase the amount of games that a player can be suspended. Again, simple. First offense? 162 game suspension without pay. Second time offenders? Banned for life.

Too harsh? Well then how is it amicable and fair for Pete Rose to continue on his suspension which is now in its 24th year when he was a first-time offender at the time he was caught gambling on baseball? If gambling on the sport is illegal and the use of PEDs are illegal as well, why should the punishments be different? Pete Rose lied about his offense? Well didn’t Sammy Sosa, Mark McQuire, Rafael Palmeiro, and Roger Clemens lie as well? Enough is enough…

Pete Rose shown here 3 years ago in a pre-game ceremony has now been banished from baseball for almost a quarter century. Photo: associatedpress

Pete Rose shown here 3 years ago in a pre-game ceremony has now been banished from baseball for almost a quarter century. Photo: associatedpress