Take 10 with Tim – April 19, 2024 – 8 am ET
1.    We had two big prospects get the call and make their MLB Debut.  Are you interested in either player?
a.    Andy Pages
i.    Does he get full-time at-bats?  If so, what does the outfield in LAD look like?
b.    Jack Leiter
i.    He was a little shaky on his first start against a Quad-4 lineup.
2.    The Red Sox pitching duo of Kutter Crawford (21.1 IP, 0.42 ERA, 10 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 0 wins) and Tanner Houck (26.2 IP, 1.35 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 0.68 BB/9 3 wins), have been terrific.  Are you buying their starts?
3.    What one or two players that you drafted that you wish you would have left for someone else?
4.    Who is your early personal MVP on your teams.  A guy you believed in and took earlier than others?
5.    We have passed the 10% mark on the season.  What advice do you have for fantasy managers
a.    Managers who are doing well.
b.    Managers who are struggling.
6.    Over-Under game
a.    Mike Trout – 35 home runs (currently has 8)
b.    Mike Trout – 15 stolen bases (5)
c.    Brice Turang – 40 steals (9)
d.    CJ Abrams – 25/25 (5 and 3) – Has he become a Top 5 SS (drafted 9th).  Witt, Gunnar, Abrams??
e.    Jordan Westburg – 25/15 (4 and 2)
f.    Jared Jones – 200 strikeouts (32 K’s in 23 innings)
g.    Reid Detmers – 200 strikoeuts (30 K’s in 22.2 innings)
h.    Kyle Finnegan – 30 saves (7 currently) – Who would have thunk it!
7.    Esteury Ruiz.  He got the call – hit a pitch hit home run the day of the call.  Two days later, he hit another one (a bomb that went 412 feet and left the bat at 109.8 MPH).  He also stole a base.
a.    What’s going on here?
b.    Why does their field manager, Kotsay, not seem excited for the kid?
8.    Did you hear the interview with Peter Fairbanks?  If not, here it is.  Rich Wilson on X: "Kind of hard not to like Peter Fairbanks after this." / X (twitter.com)
a.    So refreshing to hear a player say that he sucks.
b.    Ok, are you worried?  Who should fantasy managers be picking up in case he really does suck?
9.    What hitter are you targeting for this weekend’s FAAB?
10.    What pitcher are you targeting for this weekend’s FAAB?

The following players are discussed:
1. Joey Loperfido (Hou)
2. Andy Pages (LAD)
3. Abimelec Ortiz (Tex)
4. Luke Keaschell (Min)
5. Lazaro Montes (Sea)
6. Santiago Suarez (TB)

Fantasy Baseball Live – April 14, 2024

Segment 1 – Review Weekend Games
Additional Questions and Observations
1.Holliday has been struggling and over his first three games he’s 0 for 11 with seven strikeouts. Please ease the nerves of Holliday’s fantasy managers.
2.Talk about struggling, Maikel Garcia has been struggling. Do you think he’ll be dropped from the top of the lineup? Demoted??
3.Yariel Rodriguez started Saturday’s game and looked great. 3.2 IP 1 ER, 6K.
a.Kevin Gausman continues to struggle. At least his velo was back. He’s got NY this week. Do you sit him?
4.Bobby Miller hits the IL with shoulder inflammation. Of course, he did.
5.Ronel Blanco gave up a run. I didn’t think this was allowed…
6.Your call on MacKenzie Gore continues to look really good. He was great on Saturday. Granted it was against the A’s, but the stuff looks great. Is he starting to put it together?
7.Talk about great. How about Nick Lodolo’s first outing of the season? In 5.2 IP, he gave up one hit and struck out 10! Holy Moly. Can this guy stay healthy?

Segment 2 – Waiver Wire

Segment 3 – Closer Report

Close

Take 10 with Tim – April 12, 2024 at 8 am ET
1.    Jackson Holliday gets the call.  Kind of makes you wonder why he didn’t just go North with the team?
a.    Stat line for 2024 – HR, SB, BA

2.    Four hitters off to hot starts – Should we be buying into this?
a.    Tyler O’Neill (ADP=221) - .343/.489/.857, 6 HR, 10K/8BB
b.    Ryan McMahon (223) – .383/.464/.553, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 12K/8BB
c.    Alex Kiriloff (356) – .324/.385/.647, 1 HR, 5K/3BB
d.    Dominic Canzone (486) – .233/.303/.567, 3 HR

3.    Four pitchers off to hot starts – Should we be buying into this?
a.    Tanner Houck (393) – 12 IP, 2 wins, 0.00 ERA, 17K/2BB
b.    Brady Singer (428) – 13.1 IP, 1 win, 0.68 ERA, 14K/2BB
c.    Cody Bradford (483) – 19.1 IP, 3 wins, 1.40 ERA, 17K/2BB
d.    Paul Blackburn (486) – 13 IP, 1 win, 0.00 ERA, only a 4.85 K/9

4.    Five hitters off to slow starts – Should we be worried?
a.    Ronald Acuna (1) - .256/.383/.308, 0 HR, 4 SB, 13K/7BB
b.    Julio Rodriguez (3) - .196/.255/.216, 0 HR, 2 SB, 18K/3BB
c.    Nolan Jones (49) - .157/.246/.235, 0 HR, 1 SB, 23K/4BB, 40% K-Rate
d.    Paul Goldschmidt (76) - .182/.294/.250, 0 HR, 0 SB, 16K/6BB
e.    Henry Davis (234) - .156/.293/.219, 0 HR, 0 SB, 12K/6BB

5.    Five pitchers off to slow starts – Should we be worried?
a.    Luis Castillo (32) – 15.2 IP, 0 wins, 6.89 ERA, ERA, 18K/4BB
b.    George Kirby (39) – 14.1 IP, 1 win, 8.16 ERA, 13K/2BB
c.    Jesus Luzardo (86) – 15 IP, 0 wins, 7.20 ERA, 17K/9BB
d.    Zach Eflin (83) – 17 IP, 1 win, 6.35 ERA, 15K/2BB
e.    Joe Musgrove (106) – 18.1 IP, 1 win, 6.87 ERA, 17K/7BB

6.    I decided not to start Ryan Weathers against the Yankees, and of course, he pitched well and got the win.  I like him, but the strand rate is pretty high as he’s walking too many.  What should fantasy managers think for the season?  Stat line: ERA, WHIP, Ks and Wins

7.    Dylan Cease is off to a strong start.  How are you feeling about him the rest of the way?  Is he more the pitcher of 2022 or 2023?

8.    I was going to ask if Dylan Cease is a sell-high guy.  Let me ask you this?  Is there such a thing as a sell-high pitcher anymore?  You can argue with pitching as thin as it is, why would you sell anyone?  What’s your thinking on this long-held fantasy adage?

9.    Which one hitter will you be targeting in this weekend’s FAAB?

10.    Which one pitcher will you be targeting in this weekend’s FAAB?

The following players were discussed:
1. Heston Kjerstad (Bal)
2. Agustin Ramirez (NYY)
3. Cam Collier (Cin)
4. Rayne Doncon (Min)
5. Yariel Rodriguez (Tor)
6. Chase Dollander (Col)

Rich and Tim discuss Major League Baseball's pitching crisis

Segment 2 – Review of this weekend’s games



Segment 3 – Waiver Wire



Segment 4 – Closer Report

Take 10 with Tim – April 5, 2024

1.Five hitters with hot starts – Which ones are you buying?
a.Maikel Garcia - .280, 3 HR, 7 RBI,1 SB, 7K/1BB.
b.Michael Conforto - .391, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7K/2BB.
c.Jarren Duran - .393, 0 HR, 6 SB, 6K/2BB
d.Brice Turang - .438, 0 HR, 6 SB, 5K/1BB
e.Luis Campusano - .400, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1K/0BB
f.Jeremy Pena - .400, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3K/1BB

2.Five pitchers with hot starts – Which ones are you buying?
a.Shane Bieber – 12 IP, 10 hits, 0 ER, 20K/1BB
b.Garrett Crochet – 13 IP, 8 hits, 2 ER, 16K/1BB
c.Nick Pivetta – 11 IP, 8 hits, 1 ER, 13K/1BB
d.Aarron Civale – 12 IP, 8 hits, 2 ER, 14K/2BB
e.Clay Holmes – 4.1 IP, 3 runs, 0 ER, 2 HB, 1K/0BB, 3 saves (leads the league)

3.Four disappointing starts from hitters – Which ones concern you?
a.Evan Carter – 0 for 15, 1 SB, 2K/6BB
b.Anthony Rendon – 0 for 19, 5K/1BB
c.Ramon Urias – 0 for 13, 1K/1BB – Jackson Holliday is hitting .400 with 2 HRs
d.Kris Bryant – 1 for 19, 10K/2BB


4.Three disappointing starts from pitchers – Which ones concern you?
a.Mitch Keller – 2 starts, 6.55 ERA, 8K/4BB
b.Michael King – 2 games, 6.14 ERA, 11K/10BB
c.AJ Puk – 2 starts, 9.00 ERA, 6K/9BB


5.The Yankees, Tigers and Angels are leading their respective divisions after the first week in the American League. The Braves, Pirates, and Dodgers in the National League.
a.I don’t think anyone is buying the Angels, but what about the Pirates and Tigers?

6.We had a no-hitter from some guy named Ronel Blanco. What’s your take here? Will he be a target this weekend for you? How much are you will to spend?


7.The Pirates acquired Joey Bart after the Giants placed him on waivers.
a.Bart has just not developed. Did this surprise you?
b.Does this concern you that Henry Davis will lose playing time?

8.Were you surprised that the A’s sent down Esteury Ruiz? Both the manager and GM were adamant that they wanted him to be selective at the plate.

9.What hitter will you be targeting for this weekend’s FAAB?

10.What pitcher will you be targeting for this weekend’s FAAB?

The following players are discussed:

1. Shota Imanaga (CHC)

2. Jackson Chourio (Mil)

3. Braden Shewmake (CHW)

4. Kyle Harrison (SF)

5. Jared Jones (Pit)

6. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)

7. Paul Skenes (Pit)

8. Owen Caissie (CHC)

9. Junior Caminero (TB)

10. Jackson Holliday (Bal)

11. Connor Norby (Bal)

12. Jack Leiter (Tex)

13. Carson Whisenhunt (SF)

14. Quinn Priester (Pit)

15. Joey Loperfido (Hou)

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Notes:
Segment 1 – Review games of the weekend
Additional Notes
1.Phew – Yamamoto had a better game on Saturday.
2.Oswaldo Cabrera is off to a strong start.
3.Mookie Betts is also off to a strong start.
4.Brice Turang and CJ Abrams are leading the league in three stolen bases.
5.The Yankees have taken three straight from the Astros

Segment 2 – News and Notes
1.Royce Lewis is out with a quad injury and will be re-evaluated in a month. They promoted Austin Martin, but I assume Willi Castro gets the at-bats. Is there enough playing time for you to recommend Martin?
a.Is Royce Lewis the next Byron Buxton? Tons of talent but just can’t stay healthy/
2.Sean Murphy made it through seven innings before injuring his LAT and will be out for a while. I assume Travis D’Arnaud is the guy?
3.Justin Steele is hitting the IL, and the Cubs are promoting Ben Brown. A lot of people are excited about this. Are you?
4.Can we conclude that Esteury Ruiz is a platoon outfielder…and on the wrong side?
5.Jackson Holliday went 3 for 4 and missed the cycle by a triple. Three balls were hit over 100 MPH. He did make an error, though, so I guess the Orioles are right—he needs more time in the minor leagues.

Segment 3 – Waiver Wire

Segment 4 – Closer Report