Friends with Fantasy Benefits | Baseball

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

Episode 841 - News and FAAB

Host- Justin Mason 
Co-Host- Ray Kuhn 

Watch the pod on youtube: https://youtube.com/live/5Qfl8G8SzUU?feature=share


News

• Lane Thomas to the IL
  • James Wood looming?
• Brayan Bello to the IL
• Blake Snell to the IL
• Jordan Walker optioned
• Cody Bellinger to the IL

Topics

• FAAB Prep
  • Pete Crow Armstrong
  • Bryan De La Cruz
  • Mitchell Parker
  • Keaton Winn
  • Heston Kjerstad
  • Luis Garcia Jr. 
  • Reed Garrett
  • Jake Irvin
  • Jason Adam
  • Hector Neris/Mark Leiter Jr. 
  • Albert Suarez
  • Matt Mervis

Episode 840 Part 2 - Closer Chaos and Prospects

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

Closer Chaos

• • Tampa Bay - Jason Adam? Committee?
  • Colorado - who cares
  • Milwaukee - Payamps looks like the guy
  • Chicago Cubs - Neris? Leiter? Committee? Ben Brown?
  • Minnesota - committee until Duran is back
  • Philadelphia - Alvarado/Hoffman
  • David Bednar Struggling
  • Josh Hader Struggling
  • Arizona - Will Sewald reclaim the job?
  • BOS - Kenley velo back up a bit, struck out the side last time

Next Prospect to get the Call?

• • Junior Caminero - 2HR/1SB/.267/26%K in 7 games, on fast track
  • Joey Loperfido - 10HR/2SB/.260/34%K
  • Orelvis Martinez - 6HR/.333/21%K
  • Paul Skenes - 0ERA/0.71WHIP/57%K/8.5%BB
  • Coby Mayo - 7HR/3SB/.344/29%K
  • Kyle Manzardo - 4HR/.308/17% K
  • Christian Scott - 3.77ERA/0.91 WHIP/46%K/5.4%BB
  • James Wood - 2HR/5SB/.306/23% K
  • Cade Povich - 0.83ERA/0.74WHIP/42%K/11.5%BB

EARTH

• GLARF CRUSHING
  • 3 in top 8 overall including #2 and #3 overall (Aaron, Lucas, Sara)
• SCARF 2nd
• WHARF 3rd
• BARF 8th
• TARF in LAST
• Teams that talked a lot of smack saying they were gonna beat GLARF: 
  • CERF 7th
  • BARF 8th
  • TARF 11th (last)
• Frank 1st overall

Episode 840 Part 1 - Are You a Believer

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

• Recent MLB News
  • Frankie Montas to the IL with a forearm contusion
  • Pete Fairbanks to the IL with a nerve issue
  • Wade Miley to the IL with elbow inflammation
  • Louie Varland optioned
  • Max Kepler returns
  • Heston Kjerstad called up (Mountcastle going to IL?)
  • Merrill Kelly headed to IL
  • Manoah with a good start in minors - Yariel headed to pen
  • Taijuan Walker returning this weekend? Turnbull headed to pen
  • Hendricks keeps rotation spot over Ben Brown (limit IP?)
  • Albies returning Friday already?!
  • JD Martinez could be up Friday
  • Matt Brash going on rehab, should be back soon - closing option?
  • Bradish and Woo on rehab, returning soon
  • COL has 4 games in Coors then 2 in Mexico vs HOU - offensive explosion incoming?

• Are you a believer?
  • Jordan Westburg
  • Colton Cowser
  • Blake Perkins
  • Jesse Winker
  • Michael Busch
  • Amed Rosario
  • Wilyer Abreu
  • Miguel Sano
  • Luis Garcia
  • Davis Schneider
  • Gabriel Arias
  • Ranger Suarez
  • Mitchell Parker
  • Jake Irvin
  • Ryan Weathers
  • Brady Singer
  • Jose Soriano