Catcher's Corner

Sami (Believe_Sami) and Eric (@SamskiNYC) welcome Sara Sanchez (@BCB_Sara) to sort through all the madness of the first three days of MLB transactions after the end of the lockout. 

All music is produced by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (new album available on Spotify)

Rundown

- Fernando Tatis fractures his wrist. Where can you draft him?

- Ronald Acuña won't be back until May and won’t play the OF until late May. Where can you draft him?

- Chris Sale has a stress fracture in his rib. Is he injury-prone?

- Seyia Suzuki signed with the Cubs. What should we expect? Are the Cubs not trading Willson Contreras?

- Kris Bryant to Rockies. How high can you draft him now? Who goes to the bench?

- Kyle Schwarber to the Phillies. Why Sara thinks he's going to have a HUGE year. 

- Garrett Whitlock will be in a “modern SP role” but is that useful to you?

- How does this help Matt Barnes and - maybe - Jake Diekman?

- Aaron Ashby is being stretched out as a starter. How high can you draft him?

- The Yankees re-signed Anthony Rizzo but is he the same player?

- What the Cubs' signing of Andrelton Simmons does for their pitching staff. What happens to Nico Hoerner?

- Why Blake Treinen might not be as safe as we thought. 

Our Fantasy Gainers from the early moves:

Alex Colome, Hunter Greene, Nick Senzel, Josh Harrison, Jose Miranda, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Our Fantasy Fallers from the early moves: 

Jesse Winker, Gio Urshela, Gary Sanchez, Luke Voit, Dylan Moore/Abraham Toro, Julio Rodriguez, Adbert Alzolay

Eric (@SamskiNYC) and Sami (@believe_Sami) attempt to tackle the current ADP of the top 15 relief pitchers, so they call in the experts. In this joint podcast, they are joined by Aaron Pags (@FantasyTriage) and Nate Marcum (@natemarcum) of Reliever Recon, who give you everything you need to know about the upper tier of relievers and where you can find your value.

(4:30)

Discuss Mark Appel Tweet on the current state of the Minor Leagues: https://twitter.com/markappel26/status/1493693618988720137

(17:30)

Is Raisel alone in the tier below Hendrick and Hader? (RP3)

Why is Ryan Pressly potentially a better option at his price?

(27:30)

Is Emmanuel Clase or Edwin Diaz the safer option?

(38:15)

Should we be worried about Aroldis Chapman?

(45:30)

Why does Kenley Jansen belong in the tiers above?

Why it might be best to get Kenley and avoid Jordan Romano, Will Smith, and Giovanny Gallegos

(54:00)

Should we just avoid the pitchers in the tier above to take Craig Kimbrel?

(58:00)

Why is Corey Knebel not as enticing as he was at the ADP before he signed with Philadelphia?

Why is Mark Melanconis being drafted way too high?

Is Camilo Doval actually the closer in San Francisco?

(1:09)

Should we be OK strategizing to plan and handcuff saves?

Can we safely roster players who are not “primary closers”?

Eric and Sami continue their breakdown of pitchers and catchers going at similar ADP in order to help identify who might be a target or fade at their current value. 

All music in this episode is from Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger, whose music can be found on Spotify

Timestamps

(6:15) Catcher’s Report

Tyler Stephenson (Catcher 6 - ADP133 )

Keibert Ruiz (Catcher 7 - ADP 142)

Pitcher’s Report

(19:30) - Robby Ray (SP 13 - ADP 47)

(28:30) - Freddy Peralta (SP 14 - ADP 52)

(38:45) -  Chris Sale (SP 15 - ADP 54)

(44:30) - Logan Webb (SP 16 - ADP 63)

Sami and Eric continue their ADP breakdown, looking at pitchers and catchers who have a similar ADP in drafts from January 1st to present and discussing where they stand on those current trends. 

All music in this episode is created by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (whose music - and new album - can be found on Spotify)

(6:30) Catcher’s Report

Would you draft Willson Contreras over Daulton Varsho and/  or Yasmani Grandal?

(15:00) Reliever ADP Trends

Are you taking either Josh Hader (ADP 31) or Liam Hendricks (ADP 32) where they’re being drafted and, if not, where are you getting your RP1? Can you win without taking an early RP?

(22:45) Pitcher’s Report

A breakdown of each of the following pitchers and discuss where they should be taken in drafts. Is the current order the right order?

Shane Bieber (SP ADP 8)

Julio Urias (SP ADP 9)

Sandy Alcantara (SP ADP 10)

Aaron Nola (SP ADP 11)

Lucas Giolito (SP ADP 12)

Eric and Sami start of Season 2 by talking about the lockout and Eric's first draft of the year. Then they introduce a new offseason segment called Pitcher's and Catcher's Report where they analyze a few pitchers and catchers all going around the same place in drafts to help you decide which player might be the better fit for your team.

All music is made by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger, whose music can be found on Spotify. 

Timestamps

(8:30): Catcher’s Report

Daulton Varsho (C ADP 4)

Yasmani Grandal (C ADP 5)

(19:30): Pitcher’s Report

Walker Buehler (SP ADP 3)

Max Scherzer (SP ADP 4)

Brandon Woodruff (SP ADP 5)

Zack Wheeler (SP ADP 6)

Jacob deGrom (SP ADP 7)

(50:30): Which Pitchers Would We Take?

Eric and Sami sit down with Justin Mason to recap the wildcard games and discuss the upcoming Division Series'. Then they dive into the end-of-season awards for fantasy, focusing on some players who let them down but also some guys who they are excited to buy into for the 2022 season. Then, Justin ends with some advice for all fantasy managers on how to best use their time during the offseason as your prepare for 2022. 

All music on the show is from Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (available on Spotify)

Timestamps

3:00 - Wildcard game debrief and discuss upcoming Division Series’

10:30 - End of Season Fantasy Awards

11:00 - Biggest Surprise - Hitter

16:00 - Biggest Surprise - Pitcher

22:45 - Biggest Disappointment - Hitter

29:30 - Biggest Disappointment - Pitcher

36:45 - Veteran Bounceback You’re Buying for 2022 - Pitcher

40:15 - Veteran Bounceback You’re Buying for 2022 - Hitter

43:15 - Player You’re Avoiding in 2022

46:00 - Rookie/Younger Player You’re Buying for 2022 - Hitter/Pitter

50:30 - Justin discusses the best way to use the “offseason” to optimize your success for 2022

Eric and Sami talk to Rotoballer writer Frank Ammirante about some players currently on late season hot stretches or currently providing value in specific categories for the playoffs and end of year standings climb. The big question of the day: is the recent run of production for real?

(All music in this episode is from Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger)

Timestamps

5:30 - Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

8:30 - Lorenzo Cain

12:30 - Ian Happ

15:30 - Andrew Benintendi

21:00 - Anthony Alford

24:30 - Frank Schwindel

31:30 - Jeimer Candelario

34:15 - Lane Thomas

39:30 - Leody Tavares and DJ Peters

44:45 -   Bobby Dalbec

47:50 - Calling Pitches: Waiver Wire Targets We’re Each Intrigued By

Eric: Seth Beer

Sami: Yoshi Tsutsugo, Joe Ryan

Frank: Jesus Sanchez, Randal Grichuk

Eric (@SamskiNYC) chats with Carlos Marcano (@camarcano) about his pitching index leaderboard (speX) and how it can help us to identify some ars to buy and sell for the final month of the season. Then, they each give their favorite under-rostered starting pitching for the remainder of the year. 

All music in this episode is from Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (music can be found on Spotify)

Timestamps

3:50 - Carlos explains his ranking system (speX), how it was created, and how it can be a useful tool in finding under-rostered pitchers.

9:00 - How should the average player be using a system like this to make decisions? Which pitchers did it unearth before the beginning of this season?

12:00 - A speX test case with Charlie Morton

SP Adds: Played Spex is high on and people should think of adding

15:45  - Glen Otto

20:00 - Aaron Ashby

24:00 - Kyle Freeland

29:15 -  Blake Snell

33:00 - Bailey Ober

SP Drops: Played Spex is low on and people should think of dropping

37:45 - Edward Cabrera → why so low?

41:45 - Cole Irvin

45:15 - Yusei Kikuchi

47:20 -  Zach Thompson

51:30 - Kyle Gibson

Calling Pitches: One SP (rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues) we’re each adding for the final month

55:30 Eric → Carlos Hernandez

58:00 Carlos → Tanner Houck

Eric and Sami talk to Eric Cross (@EricCross04) about which prospects fantasy managers should be stashing him hopes of September call-ups, then dove into some prospects who could have starting jobs at the outset of 2022 and could be strong keeper assets to have on your bench now. 

All music in this episode is from Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (music can be found on Spotify)

Timestamps

Prospect Stashes in redraft leagues: Guys who could come up and have an impact in September. 

(7:45) - Edward Cabrera

(12:55) Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo

(16:30) Would You Rather: Nate Pearson vs Hunter Greene

(19:15) Shane Baz

(24:00) Glenn Otto

(27:00) McKenzie Gore

(30:00) Fresh Promotions - Jose Barrero and Kevin Smith

(33:10) Josh Lowe and Vidal Brujan

(37:15) Jose Miranda

(40:15) Josh Jung

(42:15) Tanner Houck sidebar

Sneaky keeper (not dynasty) pickups: Guys who could have starting jobs by the beginning of 2022. Should teams out of contention be grabbing and holding - just in case?

(44:00) Outfielders - Garrett Mitchell, Alek Thomas, Brennan Davis, and Khalil Lee

(49:00) Infielders - Pedro Leon, Royce Lewis, Oneil Cruz, Jeter Downs

(55:45) Pitchers - Emerson Hancock, Cade Cavalli, Max Meyer, Matthew Liberatore