Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Ask the Experts chat transcript

April 13, 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!

Sean in St. Paul

Any take on Aaron Hill this year? H2H 12 team points league - current 2B is J Lopez.

Hi everyone! Thanks for joining me for my final chat session of the run. It's been real.

Sean in St. Paul - what more evidence do you need from Hill? If you're asking me if you should drop Jose Lopez for him, I'd say, well, they're about the same player. If you're asking whether you should add him for depth, the answer is a resounding "yes."

Sean in St. Paul

Good Morning Nick Could you give me some thoughts on some of these guys in a 12 team H2H points format... I have J Lopez at 2B and I grabbed F Lopez just before the season began because of his spring and his reported desire to run and his new venue... who do you think represents better value and would A Hill fit in this mix at all? Also JJ Hardy and C Guzman... Obviously Hardy represents power but he's so streaky as evidenced once again by his start to the season... plays 1 half every year! Thanks in advance Nick...

Sean - you're back! Haha, it's a great question. Felipe Lopez is considered a great asset by many fantasy players because, in many leagues, because of his multiposition eligibility.

Frankly, I've never thought much of that Lopez. I don't think he has the batting eye, and in Arizona, that facet certainly won't be improved. As I mentioned in the answer to your first question, I like Aaron Hill a lot this year; I'm disappointed I don't own him anywhere. If it's me, I'd rather have Hill than Felipe.

As for your SS spot, I'm not sure what you're asking, but you have J.J. Hardy as your power supply there. You let Cristian Guzman fill in during the cold spells or poor matchups, and then, after awhile, you plug Hardy in and ride the streak. There are always signs that he's about to go on one. Look for a 2-for-3 type day with two doubles, something of that nature.

Greg

Thoughts on Ricky Romero? He sure looked good during his first start. Is he worth rostering for this season?

Greg, I love those kinds of questions. Is he worth rostering? Of course, anyone who has a good start is worth rostering.

If your question is, Is he worth rostering over Player X? then I would say, who's Player X? How deep is your league?

Romero is an incredibly inspiring story. He overcame a lot to get to where he is, and he was a former first-rounder. Never count out anyone who has overcome a great deal of adversity to get to where he is, because he'll appreciate it more. Having said that, he's also going to take his lumps. He's a solid flier pickup in a deep mixed league or deeper, especially if you're desperate for an upside body.

There are several who fall into that category, though. I said to keep an eye on Kevin Millwood this year; turns out, two great starts. Kyle Davies shows signs of a breakout. Players like that pop up. They're all worth gambling on because it's like using your last pick on them and dumping the useless player you did grab with that pick.

Jason in Oakland

How do you see the A's outfield shaking out? How valuable for fantasy purposes will Jack Cust, Travis Buck, Ryan Sweeney and Rajai Davis be for this season?

Jason, you seem to have a dual interest in this answer.

I'd say not to expect much different from Cust or Davis. The former will hit 25-30 homers and strike out every time he doesn't go deep; the latter will steal 20 bases in 150-175 at-bats and do little else.

Buck is an effort player, almost like a poor man's Eric Byrnes, in my mind. I don't see him getting a ton of at-bats - no great upside, doesn't run or homer much, so the skill set isn't at the same level. Sweeney is a pretty similar player in terms of statistical output, but his ceiling is higher because he has room to grow and I think his batting eye, contact rate will continue to improve.

Aaron Cunningham is who I expect to have an impact here, be a player much like Sweeney, steadier in the batting average department with moderate power and speed (very moderate). I think with Cust and Jason Giambi in the lineup, the A's may welcome that. No one's PT here will make him a big-time fantasy contributor.

Jack

The Dodgers are saying that after just one start, McDonald is going back to the bullpen in favor of Eric Stults. Although Stults pitched well in his emergency start, he's never shown any consistency at the big league level before. Pick up Stults? Cut McDonald?

Jack, my understanding - per Joe Torre - is that McDonald is needed more because the Dodgers' bullpen has been pretty heavily taxed thus far. Now, that could be a nice way of saying it, so I won't jump to conclusions. Right now, the plan is start McDonald again this Sunday.

I'm in no rush to pick up Stults. I didn't even put in a bid in my NL league. He doesn't excite, and as for McDonald, I'd cut him in favor of a hotter pitcher in a deep mixed league, but I'd hold him if there's nothing out there.

John

The tragic loss of Adenhart has open a spot on my roster but struggling to decided how to fill it. In a 15 team mixed league so it's thin in SP. Anyway, thoughts on the following: 1. go sp (Millwood, Braden, Petit, Duke,,,) replacement - not sexy unless you have someone else to consider 2. Go with closer as Ryan is struggling (Rodney just got picked) - Downs or Aardsma 3. Backup IF (we use c,2b,ss,3b as if) - Posada, Hudson, Schumaker 4. Other - Swisher, Fowler Obviously, confused :) on my move. I'm not crazy about the SP's & might just take best available for trading purposes. See if you can help me sort this out. BTW 7x7 with OBA & Slugging

John, first, let's once again have a moment of silence for Nick Adenhart. Everything I'd ever read about the kid said that he was one of the good ones, a hard worker and a big heart. It's beyond sad - unjust - when any parent loses a child. It reminds us not to forget to tell those we care about that we do a little more often.

As for your pickup, you have some intriguing choices. As I mentioned in an earlier answer, I liked Kevin Millwood this year. He came to camp in great shape and with renewed focus. He's working with Mike Maddux. He's keeping the ball down. He has Texas' offense behind him. Plenty of reasons to take a shot.

If you want the reliever and are desperate for saves, David Aardsma is mildly intriguing because the M's show no desire to push Brandon Morrow to back-to-back days, understandably. Aardsma is obviously 1a. Great K ability from him, although his track record is one of inconsistency.

As for the hitters, I can't believe any of them aren't owned in a 15-team mixed league. Jorge Posada? Do you only start one catcher? Orlando Hudson? He has already swiped three bases and hits behind Rafael Furcal and in front of Manny Ramirez! Skip Schumaker? Well, he's a little more boring, but he'll have 2B eligibility soon and is the Cards' leadoff man.

As for Nick Swisher and Dexter Fowler, I love both of them this year. In my blog here - http://www.kffl.com/fantasy-sports-blog/2009/04/06/fantasy-baseball-predictions/ - from last week, I said Swisher would be the most valuable Yanks outfielder by the end of the year. Bold? Maybe only a little. Possible? Certainly.

Fowler is my NL Rookie of the Year. I think the Rockies wouldn't have kept him up if he wasn't going to play.

They're all good pickups. Tell me what your needs are, and I'll tell you that you already know the answer.

Jack

What do you think of Jesse Litsch..I am thinking of picking him up. Am I missing something or is he a pretty good sleeper?

Jack, Litsch is a decent sleeper in a deep mixed league. He has demonstrated outstanding control in his career. He also has a decent arsenal.

He doesn't have huge upside. Sure, pick him up in an AL league. He should be owned there already. Beyond that, he's a spot starter in mixed leagues until he shows more. He was occasionally that last season.

Eric

Are you prepared tp put Evan Longoria in the elite of all major league players..his start would certainly suggest as much?

Eric, the chat for Those Who Overreact to the First Week of Major League Action is down the hall, bro.

Seriously, you don't ask for much to put someone in the elite class, do you?

If this was Week 13 of the season and he used such a week to break out of a lengthy slump, would you still ask that question? Talk to me in a few months. Then, at the end of the year. Then, in three years.

Lonnie

Which two start pitchers do you like this week and are there any that you would shy away from?

Lonnie, dozens start twice this week. It depends on the depth of your league. I'll point you to a popular article we have at KFFL:

http://www.kffl.com/article.php/100933/515

to help you with your decision.

As for those on this list, I really like Zach Duke (he's a moderate breakout candidate in my mind, and the matchups are lined up well) and Mike Pelfrey (he has the arsenal to tame the likes of the Brewers; the Padres are surprising many, but it doesn't mean they're still not a good matchup yet.)

Fausto Carmona is a very intriguing one on that list in my mind, too, because he keeps the ball down.

Sam

I could use some added speed in my lineup...any thoughts on who to grab?

Sam, love the direction of the question, brother. Without any other info on your league, it's hard to say, though.

Nyjer Morgan is off to a hot start and is worth a (probable) short-term pickup. I have my eye on Asdrubal Cabrera, who has shown that he can hit OK at the big-league level but has yet to run. This year, he has already swiped two bases despite a poor start at the plate. I think that's a great sign, and he'll be a very sneaky addition.

Emmanuel Burriss - KFFL has been touting him all winter. If your league is shallow, he should still be owned. He'll hit for average and run.

jeremy

hi nicholas - any closer situations you are looking at?

Jeremy, I'm always looking at them. They all warrant looking at.

I picked up Chris Perez in a bunch of leagues. I suggest you do the same and stash him. I still believe Manny Corpas is the better man for the job in Colorado. Kevin Gregg worries me greatly in Chicago; I'd trade for Carlos Marmol if I owned Gregg, if I could.

Seattle is interesting, I don't expect Brandon Morrow to be at full speed for a couple of weeks or more. That makes David Aardsma intriguing.

Beyond that, what are you asking?

Peter

I know the season is less than a week old but what do you think are the big surprises so far?

Peter, there are no such thing as big surprises thus far.

The San Diego Padres' 5-2 start is only mildly surprising; they have a recent history of overachieving and some real heart down here in SoCal. The pitching will probably end up doing them in, but the bats may continue to surprise a little bit.

Fantasy wise, not much is surprising. I don't think anyone expected Emilo Bonifacio to get out of the gates like this, but his skills don't suggest that he'll keep it up. Adam Lind's incredibly hot start in the RBI department, perhaps. Jimmy Rollins' bad start is a little disappointing, but that'll change.

Tim Lincecum, Brandon Webb, Cole Hamels - nothing shocking. As I've said before, Kevin Millwood, not a surprise. One surprise to me personally is Aaron Harang's start - I thought he was done for a while. I may stand correct. Maybe.

phil

I'm going to have an open roster spot once Escobar goes on the DL. In a standard 12 team 5x5 league who do you like the most out of these players. Blalock, Hermida, Fontenot, T. Snider, or Ty Wiggington.

Phil, Kelvim Escobar is already on the DL. What are you waiting for?!

I like all of them. Do you need an outfielder, a corner man or a middle infielder? Mike Fontenot is a heady, solid player in the Cubs' lineup, so he's a great pickup at 2B.

Beyond that, the rest are fine additions to any bench, so it depends on your need. Hermida is a 15-15 guy and I like him to hit .280-plus this year. Snider should provide more power numbers but no speed. Ty Wigginton is good for 25 homers in Baltimore and provides some flexibility (depending on your eligibility rules). Hank Blalock is fine until he bites it. He's outstanding for his hot streaks.

I like Fontenot the most because of his position. After that, I'd say Blalock because of his potential impact in the power cats if he's healthy. Not especially more so than the others, though.

eric

I'm in a 12 team mixed league H2H league. Would you rather have Dye, Pence or Werth as your 3rd OF? Is there a significant difference between them? Thanks!

Eric, Jermaine Dye, Hunter Pence or Jayson Werth? They all make find third OFs. They're all pretty streak, too, which isn't great for head-to-head play.

Werth is the streakiest. He also runs the most. If that's your need or you can afford to swap him in and out, he's great.

Dye is the steadiest, in my mind. He also has the least upside given his age. If you need steady, he's your man. Believe he's in a contract year, too, although they have an option for next year.

Pence is headed for a big year, I think. .280-30-100 possibly. Having said that, Dye should be good for close to that anyway. Pence is streaky, too.

If I had injury concerns throughout my lineup, I'd prefer Dye. Otherwise, I can't be displeased with any of them.

Thank you all for joining me throughout Spring Training and the first week of the season for the chat sessions! It has been a blast, and I was happy to help you all to your league titles - well, at least build the foundation.

Stay Tuned for Jock Thompson, Baseball HQ, at 6 p.m. EST, 3 p.m. PST, and Tim Heaney, from KFFL, does his final chat Wednesday at 12 p.m. EST, 9 a.m. PST.

Good luck to all this season! Until next time....