Episode 850 - Developments and WERF
Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Dave McDonald


Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/ttUCIPifuMQ?feature=share

Recent MLB News

• • Nick Pivetta signs with SD
  • Kutter Crawford behind schedule w/ right knee tendinitis
  • Brayan Bello shut down for a few days w/ sore shoulder
  • Frankie Montas shut down 6-8 weeks w/ high grade lat strain
  • Phillies want JT Realmuto to have more days off at catcher
  • ARZ wants to give Lourdes Gurriel more days off
  • Stanton discomfort in both elbows
  • Trevor Megill delayed by mysterious undisclosed “minor health issues”
  • Jon Gray will start
  • Acuna says he’s going to take it easy on the basepaths
  • Devers refusing to move off 3B - what will BOS do with Bregman there too? Lots of talk they want Campbell to start at 2B, move Bregman over to 3B and have Devers play 1B/DH
  • Dodgers will have 5 man rotation prior to Ohtani’s return to the mound
  • Matt Shaw “day to day” with oblique issue
  • Mike Trout and Angels coming up with plan to keep him healthy - moving to RF and DHing more… apparently that’ll do the trick
  • Gavin Lux looking like a super utility player rather than a starter
  • The Tigers could let Kerry Carpenter face more left-handed pitchers

Offseason developments

• • CJ Abrams added 10 pounds of muscle, feels "faster, bigger, stronger." Showed up to camp early
  • Jordan Hicks added 14 pounds to prepare for a full season starters workload
  • Clay Holmes has a new "kick Changeup"
  • Cristopher Sanchez adding new pitch - cutter?
  • Jackson Jobe adds two pitches (curveball, sinker) as he looks to generate more swing-and-miss in two-strike counts.
  • Ryan Weathers lost 20 pounds
  • Adolis Garcia adjusted swing, healthy after knee injury that he played hurt through last year
  • Nick Lodolo came to camp in the Best Shape of His Life and healthy for the first time
  • Kevin Gausman is "sturdier" aka fatter
  • Alejandro Kirk best shape of his life and will be counted on to catch more than he ever has before
  • Trevor Rogers FB currently sitting 93 MPH (supposedly) - at 93 MPH he's MUCH more effective than 92 or lower
  • Kyle Harrison had velo dip last year, corrected issues with his delivery and says his velo is back where he wants it now
  • Jackson Holliday looking bigger/stronger
  • MJ Melendez swing/approach change
  • Francisco Alvarez revamped his swing
  • Miguel Vargas lost weight and went to the gym regularly this offseason - added 20 pounds of muscle
  • Max Meyer added a sweeper
  • Jacob Young "looking jacked"
  • Bryce Miller added a cutter (didn't really throw it last year)
  • Paul Skenes tinkering with adding 2-seam FB and cutter
  • Griffin Canning will throw less 4-seamers and more sinkers and secondaries
  • Eloy Jimenez lost 25-30 pounds this offseason
  • Webb added cutter in Sep and it was phenomenal
  • Elly de la Cruz tweaked batting stance to "help him cut down on strikeouts"
  • Colt Keith made offseason swing adjustments including a more prominent leg kick
  • Michael McGreevy added 15 pounds of muscle
  • Sal Frelick put on 25 pounds of muscle

NFBC Round by Round (Pick your favorite players and fades) 

• • Draft Champions ADP 2/ 3 - 2/17 (last 2 weeks, 10 Drafts)
  • Round 11 150-165
    1. Dave - Adolis / Alexis Diaz
    2. Justin - Luis Rengifo/Reynaldo Lopez
  • Round 12  165-180
    1. Dave - Eugenio / Rafaela-Stott
    2. Justin - Pfaadt/Lane Thomas
  • Round 13  180-195
    1. Dave - Goldschmidt / Jordan Romano
    2. Justin - Isaac Paredes/Gabriel Moreno
  • Round 14  195-210
    1. Dave - Spencer Arrighetti / Arraez-Gelof
    2. Justin - Kerry Carpenter/ Luis Arraez-Gelof
  • Round 15  210-225
    1. Dave - Soler / Sean Murphy
    2. Justin - Jake McCarthy/Sean Murphy

EARTH

• • WERF Draft - https://draft.shgn.com/nfc/public/dp/709/grid

Episode 849 - Worst Investments in Fantasy Baseball
Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Dave McDonald


Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/ttUCIPifuMQ?feature=share


Recent MLB News

• • Yoan Moncada to the Angels
  • Tommy Pham to the Pirates
  • Pete Alonso back to the Mets
  • Ben Gamel to the Astros
  • Harrison Bader to the Twins
  • Randall Grichuk to the Diamondbacks
  • Ramon Laureano to the Orioles
  • Strider could be back by late April
  • Javier Assad oblique
  • Nico Hoerner “won’t miss much time”
  • Jon Gray closer?

NFBC Round by Round (Pick your favorite players and fades) 

• • Round 6: 75-90
    • Dave - Luis Robert / Raleigh
    • Justin - Spencer Schwellenbach/Sasaki
  • Round 7: 90-105
    • Dave - Christian Walker / Josh Naylor
    • Justin - Marcus Semien/Max Fried
  • Round 8: 105-120
    • Dave - Jake Burger / Spencer Steer
    • Justin - Trevor Megill/The Rest of the Round lol
  • Round 9: 120-135
    • Dave - Luis Garcia / Kirby Yates
    • Justin - Shea Langeliers/Bryan Woo
  • Round 10: 135-150
    • Dave - JT Realmuto / Jasson Dominguez
    • Justin - David Bednar/Kodai Senga

Worst Investments in Fantasy Baseball

• SPs coming off TJ/internal brace
• SPs coming off 2nd TJ/internal brace
• SPs coming into the season injured (especially w/ arm injury)
• SPs who ended the season hurt w/ an arm injury (esp forearm/elbow)
• Hitters coming into the season injured
• Hitters coming off wrist/shoulder surgery (esp. Power hitters)
• Players coming off career years after finally staying healthy for the first time and now having to stay healthy to pay off draft cost
• Left-handed hitters who aren’t stars and struggled vs lefties (esp w. History of struggles vs lefties) like Gorman, Mullins, Lux
  • Stott
  • Cowser
• SB-only guys who aren’t good hitters
• SB assets who have a history of lower body injuries
• SB assets in early-mid 30s

EARTH

• TURF Draft

Episode 848 - We Are Back!
Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Dave McDonald

Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/ttUCIPifuMQ?feature=share

• Getting Ready for your drafts

• • How do you start your prep?
  • How important is ADP this early?
  • Do you mock draft or early draft?
  • KDS Approach
  • How do you approach the first five rounds of the draft?

• NFBC Round by Round (Pick your favorite players and fades) 
  • Round 1:
    1. Dave - Witt/Yordan
    2. Justin - JRam/Betts
  • Round 2
    1. Dave - Merrill/Jazz
    2. Justin - Trea Turner/Acuna Jr
  • Round 3
    1. Dave - Ketel/Devers
    2. Justin - George Kirby/Michael Harris II
  • Round 4
    1. Dave - King/Bautista
    2. Justin - Mason Miller/ Yanier Diaz
  • Round 5
    1. Dave - Butler/Cole
    2. Justin - Willson Contreras/Ozzie Albies

• EARTH
  • NERF Draft Recap

Episode 847 Closer Chaos and More!

Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Dave McDonald

Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/ttUCIPifuMQ?feature=share

1. Closer Chaos
   • Tampa: who closes w/ Fairbanks out? Looks like Manuel Rodriguez
     1. Uceta/Cleavinger other options
   • Detroit: recent usage looks like Foley
   • Arizona: Justin Martinez the guy? WIll Sewald get it back?
   • LA Dodgers: Kopech taking over? Committee?
   • Baltimore: Seranthony the man now? Will Kimbrel get it back?
   • KC: Erceg closer? Used in 7th yesterday, Schreiber closed today… will Harvey reclaim it when he returns?
   • Philly: Is Estevez the full-time closer or will others get opps as well?
   • Miami: Faucher is the guy
   • Colorado: Vodnik is the guy - finally bringing stability to Coors?
   • Cubs: Will Neris be shut down/not used to close games out before the end of the year due to his contract stipulations?
     1. Porter Hodge next in line?
   • White Sox: Does it even matter?

1. Main Event
   • My Main - 75th
   • Me and Tony’s Main - 14th
   • Justin’s Main - 256th
   • Almost every team in the top 15 has either Ohtani or Witt. One team (me) has JRam/Harper, another has Betts. Can you win the overall without Ohtani?
   • 1st place overall Clarke Olson running away with it - Snell was only dropped in 1 league and it was there and he got him. Fish dropped him. Jake celebrated Olson “wasting his money” on Snell

1. EARTH

• GLARF still CRUSHING (some things never change)
  • Highest point total of the season
  • Corrected the course after getting one person to be active
• CERF still in 2nd in cluster w/ NERF WHARF SLARF TURF all close
• SCARF coming up
• Barf werf tarf tanking
• Ian Swirka of SCARF 1st overall
• Justin 35th / Dave 109th
• Others in top 10
• Side Pit leaders
• 2025 Draft Weekend Dates

Episode 846- Back From The Dead!

Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Dave McDonald

Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/ttUCIPifuMQ?feature=share

1. Recent MLB News
   • Austin Riley done
   • Cobb to IL
   • Ketel to IL
   • Fairbanks to IL
   • Hayes to IL - played through herniated disc all season
   • HS Kim having MRI on shoulder today
   • Freddie Freeman getting CT Scan of his finger today
   • Jazz supposedly isn’t having surgery now and says he can return after a min IL stint - believe him?
   • Verlander back Wednesday
   • deGrom starting rehab assignment Thursday
   • Norby called up
   • Innings limits for Crochet, Skubal, Skenes?
   • Grant Holmes and Ryne Nelson out of the rotation?
     1. Reynaldo rehab start wasn’t great; IP limit?
     2. Nelson is their best SP right now - can’t last if they do send him to pen

1. How do you approach the end of the season?
   • Look ahead / Make schedules
   • Play by half weeks, use splits
   • September Call-Ups
   • Conserve FAAB especially for the last 2-3 weeks with how much changes

Episode 845- Back From Vacation!

Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Ray Kuhn 

Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/fhi5ojoC--Q?feature=share


News

• Alek Manoah leaves start with elbow issues
• Lars Nootbaar has an oblique injury
• Tyler O’Neill to the IL with a knee injury
• Edwin Diaz to the IL with a shoulder injury

Topics

• FAAB Prep
  • Mets closer job
    • Reed Garrett/Jake Diekman/Adam Ottavino
  • Nick Gonzales
  • Spencer Schwellenbach
  • Ben Brown
  • Matt Waldron
  • TJ Friedl Returns
  • Tylor Megill
  • Jose Miranda
  • Patrick Bailey
  • Cole Irvin
  • Mark Vient

Episode 844 - News and FAAB

Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Ray Kuhn 

Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/fhi5ojoC--Q?feature=share

News

• TJ Friedl hurt again
• Nick Lodolo to the IL
• Jung Hoo Lee separates his shoulder
• Rhys Hoskins to the IL

Topics

• FAAB Prep
  • Jalen Beeks
  • Abraham Toro
  • Davis Schneider 
  • Chris Paddack
  • Brent Rooker 
  • Max Kepler 
  • Alec Manoah
  • Trevor Williams
  • Eddie Rosario 
  • Jonathan Aranda 

Episode 843 - Injuries and FAAB

Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Ray Kuhn 

Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/IxneoqKkrIw?feature=share

News

• Willson Contreras breaks his arm
• Christian Encarncion Strand to the IL with a wrist fracture
• Dane Dunning to the IL with a shoulder injury
• Edward Cabrera to the IL with a shoulder injury 

Topics

• FAAB Prep
  • Paul Skenes
  • Christian Scott
  • Kyle Manzardo
  • Tyler Nevin
  • Taj Bradley
  • John Means
  • Hayden Wesneski
  • Johnny Deluca
  • Willi Castro
  • Wenceel Perez
  • Jon Singleton

Episode 842 Part 2 - Closer Chaos

Host: Justin Mason @JustinMasonFWFB
Co-Host: Dave McDonald @RunDMCD

1. Closer Chaos
   • Tampa Bay - Jason Adam? Committee?
   • Milwaukee - Megill looks like the guy but Payamps still likely to get some
   • Chicago Cubs - Neris closing but for how long? Leiter? Brown?
   • Minnesota - Duran HLR fireman, not straight closer
   • Philadelphia - Alvarado 70 / Hoffman 30
   • Arizona - Will Sewald reclaim the job? Back tomorrow
   • Baltimore - Kimbrel hurt? Cano might get opps
   • Chicago WS - Kopech closing for now, struggling, Brebbia/Leasure?
   • Detroit - Foley struggling, velo way down, might go back to Lange?
   • Miami - Scott can’t throw strikes, Maldonado used in closer spot in last 2 opps - Puk back soon too
   • LA Dodgers - With Phillips out, will they use Hudson or go committee?

 

1. EARTH

• GLARF still CRUSHING
  • 4 in top 15 overall
• CERF up to 2nd in cluster w/ SCARF WHARF SLARF all close
• NERF middling
• WERF up to 7th
• BARF down to 10th
• TARF still in LAST

Episode 842 Part 1 - What to Look For

Host: Justin Mason @JustinMasonFWFB
Co-Host: Dave McDonald @RunDMCD

1. Recent MLB News
   • Arraez traded to SD
   • Parker Meadows demoted to AAA
   • Buxton knee to IL
   • Musgrove elbow inflammation IL
   • Kwan hamstring IL
   • Langford hamstring IL
   • Lane Thomas knee IL
   • Trout knee IL - “should be back this season”
   • Evan Phillips hamstring IL
   • Yelich, Bellinger, Suzuki, Sano all getting close to returning later this week or next
   • Steele back, Ben Brown to bullpen, Wesneski staying in rotation for now
   • Woo, Garrett, Pivetta and Bello likely returning this week
   • Christian Scott, Mason Black, Jack Leiter, Jordan Beck, Joey Loperfido, Tyler Black, Kyle Manzardo, Bryan Ramos, PCA all up
   • Gasser coming up to start Friday?
   • Skenes not coming up this week?
   • Holliday, Mervis, Clase, Jordan Walker sent down

1. What to look for at this point in the season:
   • Pitchers
     1. SIERA not ERA
     2. WHIP will stabilize eventually but it’s too early
     3. Ks and BBs stabilize early, but SwStrk% is more telling for Ks early
     4. Check HR rate, BABIP and LOB% for luck
   • Hitters
     1. Check AVG vs xBA
     2. For AVG look at Contact% Z-Con% LD% BABIP HH% K% not AVG
     3. For power, look at EV50, Pull%, barrel%, FB%, HR/FB not HRs
   • Also look at historical results and compare how they’re doing in these stats vs historical trends
   • Have to be able to figure out what just looks like a hot streak and what’s sustainable legitimate growth
     1. Adell: K% and SwStrk% way down, barrel% and HH% way up, contact% way up, Z-Con% way up, BABIP normal

1. Don’t just look at results - look under the hood
   • Connor Wong vs Logan O’Hoppe
   • Wong: 98.9 EV50 (206) / HH: 33% / 6.7% barrel / xBA .248
   • O’Hoppe: 100.6 EV50 (100) / HH: 47% / 8.3% barrel / xBA .270
   • check HR/FB, BABIP