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Ask the Experts chat transcript

April 6, 2009 @ 00:00:00

Twice a week, KFFL fantasy baseball experts Nicholas Minnix (Mondays, 12 p.m. EST, 9 a.m. PST) and Tim Heaney (Wednesdays, 12 p.m. EST, 9 a.m. PST) chat live with fantasy baseball players to answer their most pressing questions.

Go to the Ask the Experts Landing Page to access these exciting chats and have your questions answered by Heaney, Minnix and the rest of the best in the industry!

Eric

10 team AL only 5x5 keeper with an ungodly 59% inflation this year. I am already rostering Grady for $46 (I have Hamilton @ $14 to balance off the pricing) My question is should I be targeting a big money guy like Kinsler, Markakis, Rios, Granderson, and then fill in the blanks with the cheaper guys since the 10 team league leaves stronger depth, or a more balanced attack by pushing for the Abreus, Jose Lopez, Robinson Canos,and/or Kendry Morales of the world.

Thanks for joining us again, folks!

Eric, I'm always a proponent of the more balanced approach, the latter one that you described. Auctions always provide a golden opportunity to target undervalued players in every tier, much like you described in players like Bobby Abreu. Jose Lopez is not a bad option - some are high on him, but not an overwhelming percentage. Kendry Morales is a similar story.

Ian Kinsler and the like are bound to go for more inflationary prices. Good luck!

Jim

You think Josh Fields could flop, does this make Wilson Betemit a nice end game grab? Great power in the cell!!?

Jim, I certainly do think Josh Fields can flop. Betemit is a good end-game grab in deep AL formats, for sure.

I don't think the White Sox feel much obligation to Fields any longer, so whoever gets the job done will play. Fields needs to become more disciplined - or hit HRs frequently - to stay in the lineup. I'm sure they wouldn't be opposed to throwing Dayan Viciedo in there as soon as he showed he was ready.

It's whoever earns it, and Fields has a lot to prove. That said, they know what they have in Betemit, so he's not terribly exciting.

kyle

Does Jerry Blevins have any shot at closing if Devine is down for an extended period?

Kyle, there's enough evidence with Blevins to believe he'll be in the mix for a save chance here and there. He's very tough on lefties, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him step in in those situations.

The A's have a couple of options back there to turn that situation into a committee - we're always waiting on Santiago Casilla to make good, and they could even throw it to Michael Wuertz, so the theory goes....

Jerry

I was to grab Morales, Helton and T Cahill off the waivers list in a 5X5 Rotissere League. What are your thoughts on these players in bterms of value?

Jerry, all are worthy speculatory pickups. Todd Helton is the most obvious grab there - he had a great spring, and we've seen what he can do. He should have been drafted.

Kendry Morales is a fine addition to any bench. He also had an outstanding spring, and he's touted, so it'd be nice to have him on your bench in the midst of what could be his breakout.

Trevor Cahill is interesting, for sure, there's debate about which Oakland pitching prospect (Brett Anderson being the other) is better, but the right-hander is intriguing. I wouldn't expect a great deal there, though - such end-game pitchers are a dime a dozen. Pick him up if he interests you most, but don't feel tied to him.

Stan

have to draft a few replacement players for those going on the DL. I'm in a 12 team keeper league, 5x5 roto scoring. Can you rank the top 10 from the list below? Teahen Winn Morales Helton Ishikawa J. Fields Andy LaRoche DeJesus Hermida Greene Rowand Scott Fukudome Church D. Murphy (TX) J. Zimmerman Owings S. Marshall Gregg Blackburn E. Jackson Perkins Bush Wellemeyer Lohse Moyer Lannan Villanueva Kuo My current team: C Navarro, Snyder 1B Howard 2B Kinsler 3B Gordon SS Furcal MI Aviles CI Morneua OF Braun, Kemp, Granderson, Milledge, A. Jones U Adam LaRoche P Billingsley, C. Lee, Greinke, Baker, Scherzer, Kuroda, KRod, H. Bell, Percival Bench: Blanton, McGowan, G. Sanchez Minor bench: I. Stewart, Rasmus, Fowler, Brignac, Smoak I'll also be placing Sanchez on my minor league bench and will have to drop one of the above. Is Brignac the one to drop??

Stan, I'll point out some of my favorites or just those whom you should definitely seek.

First, Kevin Gregg should be owned. Get him. He's the closer for the Chicago Cubs.

Second, Carlos Villanueva is worth an investment for a similar reason. The Brewers are still trying to piece together a timetable for when he might return.

I know this is a keeper league, but does it really benefit you to hold players like Justin Smoak on your shallow reserve? Your roster seems limited.

Your pitching needs plenty of help. Dustin McGowan may now gone for the year. I'd speculate on many of the pitchers there: Micah Owings, Jordan Zimmermann, Sean Marshall, Nick Blackburn, Edwin Jackson.... probably in that order, for me. I'm a big Zimmermann fan.

Many unowned quality hitters, I don't see the need to hold a player like Smoak.

Jim

Hi, should I draft travis snider, because they just announced that he would be the opening day left-fielder.

Jim, he was expected to earn that roster spot. He could have been drafted either way.

It depends on the type of league. Deep mixed, he's worth a flier in the final third of the draft. In AL leagues, there's no way he shouldn't be drafted, a middle-range like pick for the tremendous upside (and risk, of course).

chris

I am in a mixed league 12 team H2H. I've been offered Youkilis and Jose Valverde for Markakis. My weakest position is 3B (I have Beltre & Gordon). We play 3 OF's a week, plus 1 player at U. My pool for 3 OF and 1 U spot is Sizemore, Markakis, BJ Upton, Dye, Helton, Werth, and the 3B I don't play. If I do this deal, my OF becomes Sizemore, Upton and Dye, and U is between Werth, Helton and Gordon/Beltre (whichever one I don't drop. I would get Valverde, and you can't have enough pitching. Would you do the trade? If so, who would you drop from Helton, Gordon or Beltre? Thanks! If I do the trade, I have to rely on an OF of Sizemore, Upton and Dye, and find a U from Helton, Werth and the 3B I don't drop.

Chris, sounds like you have a plethora of talent available at your disposal at all times. I would not complain about having Adrian Beltre and Alex Gordon as my weakest position.

Having said that, your outfield is pretty sick (as in good). I think B.J. Upton is overvalued this year, and Nick Markakis is nice to make your depth there stand out.

If pitching is as important as you believe it is, I'd say that the deal is more than fair. Jose Valverde is a virtual lock for fantasy production. I can't believe that you'd be forced to drop Beltre or Gordon, though.

phillip

i have a team which is solid in homeruns and ok i steals< i currently have Russell Martin at catcher and want to trade for Brian Mccann. IS this a good idea for me to do??

Phillip, if you're strong in home runs and just OK in steals, why would you trade a premier catcher who can steal a few bases for one who simply provides you with a little more power? I don't see the point.

David

What are your thoughts on Lastings Milledge? He was just dropped in my 10 team mixed league. Worth using my #1 WW position and dropping Cameron for him?

David, without knowing more, I'd say yes. He's a 20-20 threat this year without the real threat of a huge hit on your batting average like Mike Cameron is (.250 hitter). Milledge should hit around .280 and score some runs at the top of that improved Nationals lineup.

greg

after our auction of 23 players - which will take place this fri and sat- we have 17 rounds of reserves - who do you like in both al &nl who got sent down and not kept on the major league roster- but should be picked up quickly in the reserve rounds for future gains

Greg, that's a pretty long list. Brandon Wood comes to mind - he should get a chance this year, unlike those past.

Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland are expected to get the call, perhaps before the All-Star break, and both are high-ceiling prospect pitchers who are very intriguing.

Aaron Cunningham, with the Oakland Athletics, is one I'm sure you're familiar with. He's not more than an injury away from having an AL impact.

Seventeen rounds is a lot. Are there not specific players you have questions about?

Brian

jacobs kothman of kubel who to start at dh

Brian, this week or all year? Obviously, it changes, but I'm most intrigued by Jason Kubel to start out because of his great spring, see if he can carry that over.

Mike Jacobs is very streaky, so as soon he shows signs of going on a streak, you plug him in, wait it out for a couple of weeks and then bench him again.

Brent

I've been offered Kelvim Escobar for Kensin Kawakami. I'm torn. Thoughts? Thanks!

Brent, I'm not convinced that Kenshin Kawakami will have a large impact this year. He's like Hiroki Kuroda lite - last year's Kuroda. Solid pitcher, but nothing spectacular. He should get you double-digit wins rather easily, though.

I've been speculating on Escobar in many leagues, so I'd say do that. To me, Escobar's upside is much greater, even though the risk is much greater. You're not giving up a highly valuable commodity, so why not take a shot? There are always pitchers on the wire who can step in and do better that Kawakami - or more.

greg

In my 12 tm mixed non-keeper, Adam Lind was just dropped. I have David Murphy as my 5th/Bench OF. Would you drop David Murphy for Lind? David DeJesus is also available on the wire...thanks. Thanks.

Greg, you're talking six of one and half a dozen of the other. I'd rather own Lind because he'll play a little (maybe a lot) more than Murphy. I also am a fan of Lind and think he'll have a solid breakout campaign.

DeJesus is always a solid addition. He does several things adequately. I'd be tempted to take a shot on Lind, and if you become impatient, then pick up DeJesus. I wouldn't use a waiver priority on any of them in what sounds like a very shallow league.

craig

5x5 12 team I have Headley as my 3B and have been offered Beltre and F. Franscisco for Nolasco. My other p are Santana Webb Lowe, Wolf ,K. Wood and Soria. Would you make the trade?

Craig, that's a good offer, and I'd be tempted. I love Adrian Beltre - very undervalued in some circles this year. He'll hit 25 homers, drive in 80 and he's in a contract year. What's not to like? He could do better than that.

We at KFFL are also projecting solid growth for Chase Headley this year, so he's a solid bench player.

You already have two closers, and you only have four other starters. My question is: Is your league that shallow? Do you not have more starters? Or, are relievers that much more valuable (low innings limit, head-to-head league?). I'm assuming that's Johan Santana.

I'd do that deal because it'd upgrade me at 3B and give me another solid closer for a pitcher who is a mild injury risk and I already have a good rotation. However, I'm not sure how much this handicaps your club in the other pitching roto cats. It doesn't sound very deep, this league. Are there plenty of good starters on the wire? If so, I'd say that's a no-brainer.

Chris

Who would you rather have David Murphy or Pie in a 10 team AL keeper league. I drafted Murphy at a steal of a price but Pie was not drfated and i was thinking of putting in a FA bid this week. I am looking to compete this year so i am thinking the smart move is to hold on to Murphy. I could use more speed (projected 5th in steals) but Murphys counting stats should be solid in that lineup. Any thoughts?

Chris, I'd rather have Murphy than Felix Pie. I know Pie is supposed to have a ton of promise and the Orioles are expected to give him plenty of time this year, but I don't see enough in his skills to believe he has a long-term future in the bigs. I view him as another Corey Patterson.

Murphy doesn't have a terribly high ceiling, but he's expected to get plenty of at-bats, too. He'll probably sit against lefties, as he is today. The Orioles have a couple of young outfielders (most notably Nolan Reimold) in the system who are also viewed as long-term solutions. Pie is on a trial run, and I don't expect him to pass it.

Chris

I need a pitcher to replace smoltz. How would you ranke this list group? Rafael Perez, Ryan Perry, JP Howell, Pavano, Jose Contreras. I like Perry do to his saves upside and this is a keeper league but think Perez or Howell is the safest pick. Pavano and Contreras are interesting as it would be nice to have a 6th starter but not necessary as my front five Garza, Meche, Slowey, Greinke, Wakefield are pretty solid. Ok maybe not Wake but i needed wins.

Chris, you are exactly correct: Rafael Perez and J.P. Howell are the safer picks, solid to good LIMA pitchers. Carl Pavano and Jose Contreras (more so Pavavo) are worth speculation in AL leagues, but I'd go with one of the relievers first.

As you said, though, Ryan Perry has intriguing upside. That's a tough call. I'm a Ryan Perry fan, and I wouldn't expect him to last long on your wire for the same reason you said. In your keeper format, I'd look to stash him first and wait for another opp to grab one of the two (or similar) pitchers to aid you when you have another chance to add an arm.

Don't forget about Cody Satterwhite, another fireballer who could be a factor in Detroit's bullpen down the road.

Doggie

What do you think about Fowler? I need speed. Is he a 5 tool player? Who would you rather have Fowler or Spillborough? Thanks. I've sbmitted 2 questions previously and have not gotten a response back.

Doggie, I'm if you haven't seen your questions answered. I assure we answer all that we can, as they come in, but please be patient with us. Our chats are set to feed us the questions in an orderly fashion, and they are all important to us!

Dexter Fowler is very intriguing. I'd rather have Ryan Spilborghs right now, but if I could own both, I probably would. I'd expect Fowler to eventually get PT at the expense of Seth Smith, not Spilborghs.

Fowler is a five-tooler, for sure, although don't look for the power so soon. He should steal a few bases, though. Listen, the Rockies didn't add their top prospect to the roster just so he could ride the pine. He'll play, at least enough to justify having him up. He could be a starter by midseason.

Thanks to everyone for joining me again this week! Good luck to you all this season, it'll be another exciting one. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint - unless you're in H2H, then it's a series of sprints with no breaks.

Stay tuned for Jock Thompson from Baseball HQ - looks like he'll be on at 5:30 EST, 2:30 PST. I'll be here again next week - Monday, noon EST, 9 a.m. PST. Until then, take 'em deep!