In-N-Out Week 18

It's funny how quickly a year can change things. As we all know this past offseason was the first filled with Keeper decisions. For the majority of us decisions were made based on the long term value of players. For many the decision of keeper or non-keeper was determined not by a players value for 2013 but for 2014,2015,or beyond. Many as owners felt these players will be my core for years to come. Take Walls Of Jericho for instance coming into the season his keepers were Carlos Gonzalez, Giancarlo Stanton, Starlin Castro, Ryan Zimmerman, and Allen Craig. Due to the skimming of two keepers because of Rules Changes, Landon already had a decision to make for the 2014 season. Still I find it safe to say that Bowe liked the possibility of a foundation built from a combination of Craig, CarGo, Stanton, and Castro. Or take the PED's for example who had to feel pretty good about two First Round talents in McCutchen and Braun, Jay Bruce, Arlodis Chapman, and Hanley Ramirez. It figured to be tough to trim that list down to three. Then 2013 happened. For the PED's Braun took himself out of consideration with a little steroid scandal. Ramirez has had trouble staying healthy. Bruce has still been good but that expected next step still hasn't took place. For the Walls, Castro has hit just that and Stanton's long term ability to stay healthy must be in question. All these question marks moving forward isn't even considering perhaps the biggest factor in keeper decision, the 2013 draft class. Using the Walls for example. Not only do they have to debate amongst the returning 5 but players such as Harvey in the 11th Rd now have to be factored in. I took an early look at the best Non-Keeper selections by Round. All I can tell you is that plenty of owners are going to have to think long and hard over the Winter and that the 2014 Baseball Season will very likely be filled with plenty of regret for some.

1. Billy Butler- Marshall Maniacs. Had to choose one from each round of course. His youth advantage over Gonzalez gives him the edge.
2. Jacoby Elllsbury- Scrote Mashers. Already has a Top 10 Season in him and as long as he's healthy his SB totals make him a lock for a Top 30 player.
3. Austin Jackson- BCFP. Rather pedestrian Round in all honesty. Good AVG track record and Run production totals make him the option.
4. Yu Darvish-Maniacs. Yaldier Molina is tough to pass up here but Darvish's K totals will give him a ADP or a round earlier.
5. Jason Kipnis- HGH+. Perhaps no team has more decisions from the 2013 class. Top 50 player at a otherwise weaker position.
6. Madison Bumgarner- HGH+. Certainly a Fantasy Ace and 6th Round is value for an Ace.
7. Eric Hosmer-BCFP. Pence may be the better play here yet I went with Hosmer because of youth and growth potential.
8. Craig Kimbrel-HGH+. I don't take closers this early but the top option will have a ADP of a 6th Rounder.
9. Paul Goldschmidt-HGH+. No brainer decision here.
10. Chris Davis-Maniacs. Chris Davis will never have another season such as this. Be that as it may your going to turn a profit regardless.
11. Matt Harvey- Walls. No brainer as well it would seem.
12. Manny Machado-9irons. The glowing light of a otherwise terrible season. GRC3 likely hasn't noticed.
13. Carlos Gomez-Scrote. Heavy Round of talent as D.Brown and Jean Segura will also likely be kept. Top 30 player.
14. Michael Cuddyer-Scrote. Hard to argue with this value.
15. Alejandra De Aza- Walls. Doesn't have the same ring to it as say Harvey.
16. Lance Lynn-Scrote. Not huge upside here but maybe a little value. Nathan, Minor, and G. Holland also make sense depending on the situation.
17. Jim Johnson-HGH+. Not the most dominate of closers but if SV is what you crave hard to go against him.
18. Addison Reed-Scrote. Not one of the stronger rounds but a solid closer with age on his side.
19. Will Myers-41129ers. Nothing Butch likes more than a young 20 something with a bright future.
20. Jurickson Profar-41129ers. Ditto.
21. Gerrit Cole-Scrote. Another one of the weaker rounds but a young pitcher for a man who wears Pirates Undies may be too much to pass.
22. Hiroki Kuroda-Scrote. Excellent season by a seasoned and consistent SP option.
23. Shelby Miller-Emanski. Given the potential for injury of young SP it's really hard to keep. This type of value makes it hard not to.
24. NA- No Keeper Eligible Players From This Round.
25. Derek Holland-Stars. Another Lackluster round but Holland seems to have somewhat turned a corner this season.
26. Michael Brantley-41129ers. Ditto regarding the lackluster selections. Brantley would produce a 4-5 Round value here to some.
27. Kyle Lohse-Stars. Okay so perhaps I'm grasping for straws but like Brantley you may have some value here.
28. Mitch Moreland-Stars. If you believe in the Davis comp, Moreland would be a bust out performer within the next two seasons.
29. NA- No Keeper eligible players
30. Evereth Cabrerra-Stars. While this seasons keeper stock in the late rounds pale in comparison to last year, Cabrera could win SB weekly. (UPDATE: On Tuesday morning Cabrerra and the potential value was dropped in favor of Todd Frazier and a $1 of FAAB. At least we know he's alive and it's good to see he still cares.)

So there you have it. Some more food for thought for those perhaps looking to snag a potential keeper value before the deadline. September 1st to remind everyone.


Game Recaps

BCFP 10 vs. Emanski 0. After a recent 13-21 stretch, this one-sided victory is exactly what the BCFP needed. With the victim being one of the teams nipping at the heel made it all that much better. The victory widens the gap between the BCFP and on the couch for the playoffs to 14 Games. For Emanski the loss naturally loosens his hold on the playoffs, closing his lead to within two games from the "there's always next year crowd.".

Topps: HR-BCFP 12, SV-BCFP 9
O'Pee Chee: SB-BCFP/Emanski 3, K/9-Emanski 5.88
MVP: Jackson .371/2/9/2/0/1.192


Scrote Mashers 6 vs. Seal Team 41129ers 5. I love fantasy sports. You don't need a degree in psychology to pick it up, simply spend 5 minutes with me in any social setting. While I enjoy the game under any format and with any group, the 64/60 is and always will be my love. It's not the format, it's not the scoring settings, it's the people that make it what it is. It's about my brother who I love dearly. It's about my nephew who means the world to me. It's about a group of guys I have called my best friends dating all the way back to grade school, guys that have been there during the good and during the bad. It's about the new friends. It's about the McClungs. It's about laughing and cutting it up. It's about smacktalk, verbal assaults, I'm better than you, your terrible, my teams the greatest, your team blows. Most importantly it's a avenue used to ensure that from this day forward there is always something that can keep us together. Nothing within the 64/60 was more depressing than looking at this matchup and not seeing the usual textbook on "how to smacktalk in fantasy" (These two are masters of the trade). I really hate to bring real world issues into this made for laughs and giggles page but perhaps looking at it in black and white can make a difference. No matter how much history with each other, people don't always have the same point of view. Just because there's not a mutual agreement doesn't mean the line in the sand has been crossed. Life is rarely decided by absolutes. This boxscore was a reminder of how quickly relationships can change for some and that what is now may not always be in the future. I sure hope in the very near future that the issues that have caused this friction can be addressed. It really is a shame when so many years of good fun is discarded over nothing more than a difference of opinion.

Topps: RBI-41129ers 49, AVG-41129ers .306, WHIP-Scrote 1.04
O'Pee Chee: AVG-Scrote .237, OPS-Scrote .650, SV-41129ers 0
MVP: A. Jones .571/2/7/8/1/1.470


Free Hat 11 vs. 9irons 1. Three straight and 4 of 5 has the Free Hat's where they deserve to be. I typically don't have a routing interest in other teams outside of the BCFP. With that said, given the BCFP's offensive struggles it's been really hard to embrace my own as the team to beat. For those detecting weakness, don't be foolish, It'll be there when needed. The Hats have been the best all around team all season and I like seeing success when it's deserved. The 9irons loss makes it 7 in a row and has dropped them all the way to the bottom of the standings. The Takeover is dancing in the streets.

Topps: NA
O'Pee Chee: HR-9irons 4, SB-9irons 3
MVP: Cabrera .429/4/7/11/0/1.444


Takeover 9 vs. Maniacs 3. Times couldn't be better for the Takeover. Recently returned from some Company Paid Off-Road rally in Reno. Expecting father of a son around the Holidays, and as he noted in recent conversation, a permanent DD over the course of the upcoming football season. Got to respect those who see the big picture. I'm sure it's also one of his many recent fortunes that the Takeover no longer appear at the rock bottom of the standings. I've said all along I felt this team had some talent. Holland will be the first to raise his hand and say "I f'd this up." While you can't turn back the hands of time, he did refocus his attention to the goal of not finishing last. Given his recent activity and the fact that the 9irons are currently boarding windows this goal could easily become reality over the final month of the season. For a team fighting for their playoff lives losses to the Takeover are a little more painful to swallow. Losing to the tune of a 7.27ERA and 1.85 WHIP does likely make it a little easier to chalk it up to the bad week. Due to lopsided losses throughout the league the Maniacs managed to stay in the 7th spot, a mere 2 games out.

Topps: Runs-Takeover 57
O'Pee Chee: K-Maniacs 40, ERA-Maniacs 7.27, WHIP-Maniacs 1.85, QS-Maniacs 2
MVP: Andrus .321/1/7/5/5/.902


HGH+ Factory 8 vs. Walls Of Jericho 3. On the field I don't know if there was collectively a more depressing mathcup than these two. Both came into the matchup as playoff teams with visions of a 64/60 Championship. Heading into the matchup both required sunglasses when looking ahead to September, coming out of this a flashlight will be required. Let's start with HGH who was hit the hardest. Doumit, Kendrick, and Rasmus DL'd. Sure not exactly murderers row but try finding a quality C and MI option on the Wire. Truth be told the HGH was able to recover well, as should be expected given the name, with Kipnis slotted in at 2B and Ramirez now a MI. Yet the C issue doesn't have a remedy. While I don't automatically consider loosing Rasmus as a major concern, the dudes put together a fine season projecting toward 25HR or so and a 150 Run/RBI total with a .273 AVG. In honesty the aforementioned injuries, while concerning, are nothing more than a week in the life of fantasy baseball. David Wright potentially out for the season is a game changer. Not only do you have to attempt to replace him from another limited player pool but you also have to re-enact in your head all the times David Wright had been brought up in trade negotiations. The most recent being just two to three days before he goes down. Not only that but your likely dealing with a 24-Man roster from this point forward because given the 3rd or 4th Rd value of Wright he is at the very least a keeper decision, if not a lock. Similar script for the Walls in terms of losing start player. After battling the day-to- day status of CarGo for nearly a week he was finally placed on the DL last week. Much like Wright it's looking like CarGo could be shutdown for the year as well, at the very least he could return likely zapped of that expected CarGo power. Anytime a hitter who jacks 30 bombs annually refers to himself as a slap hitter that can't be good. Unlike the HGH+, the Walls aren't built to mask a loss such as CarGo. Like so many contending teams within the 64/60 this season the offense leaves a lot to be desired. As if losing CarGo wasn't enough recent struggles have to be a concern as well. 3 straight losses and a 10-24 mark in them has moved Walls from the top spot to 4th 13 games ahead of the 6th spot. Injury to Parnell and recent struggles Frieri have made the closer heavy approach much more risky. Combine those issues with the recent ineffectiveness of Samardzija and that once lock on ERA and WHIP is anything but. Both teams will make the playoffs, neither team will be a pushover, but without a doubt no teams fortunes were as adversely affected as these two in Week 18.

Topps: ERA-HGH+ 2.60
O'Pee Chee: HR-Walls 4, RBI-Walls 28, SB-Walls 3
MVP: Kershaw 2QS 13K 1.93/.93/8.36


BCPEDophiles 10 vs. B'Ville Stars 1. So quickly ones fortunes can change in this weekly battle toward the playoffs. Last week I got the shovel ready and began the process. This week I'm wiping the dirt off and putting the task on hold. One lopsided victory over the Wake Me Up When Zach Frazier hits the wire B'Ville Stars has the PED's back in business. A mere 4.5 games from the 6th spot. With the Takeover this week and three teams ahead of him in the standings to close out the season the proverbial ball is in Bopp's court. Bopp's taking a little beach vacation this week, likely using this time to primp himself up and re-tool for one final playoff push. Early in the week Bopp agreed to finish off the 64/60 Year by participating in the upcoming football season. I'm beginning to wonder if he really does anticipate hanging it up or if he just yearns for the attention I give him while begging.

Topps: SB-PED's 16, OPS-PED's .849, K-Stars 91, K/9-PED's 8.52, QS-PED/Stars 8
O'Pee Chee: Runs-Stars 32, SV-Stars 0
MVP: Strasburg 2QS 19K 1.13/.69/10.69




Power Rankings

Rank Offense Pitching Total

1. Free Hat 59.5 51.5 111
2. Scrote 70 23.5 93.5
3. HGH+ 45 45 90
4. Walls 36 46.5 82.5
4. Maniacs 38 44.5 82.5
6. BCFP 24 53.5 77.5
7. Stars 41 35 76
8. T.E.D. 27 48.5 75.5
9. PED 22.5 43 65.5
10. 41129ers 37 27.5 64.5
11. 9irons 29.5 34 63.5
12. Takeover 37.5 15 52.5


Pickup Of The Week

Logan Morrison-BCFP. Okay so maybe this selection was more name driven than substance. Morrison's for the most part have been kind to me throughout my life. My first childhood crush was my babysitter Misty. And later in life a small little bundle of fire with the IQ of 140 would remind me daily as to why he is the dumbest damn smart person I know. So for whatever reason I tend to give LoMo a pass. His projected 162 game pace of .274/9/77/68 isn't plus, the surrounding talent is terrible, so finding difference making numbers could be problematic. I'll go with Morrison for no other reason than the potential upside. He's a guy who could hit you 3HR within a week or 8-10 over a month.

Head Scratcher Of The Week

BCFP drop Jason Grilli. All indications are Grilli will return this season. Early projections are calling for a late August return but I'm expecting early September. Given his dominance in the position throughout the season one would expect at some point the Closers gig should return to him. Should all this pan out Grilli would return to be a Top 5 Closer during the playoff run. While all this is speculative I thought for sure someone would use a $1 of FAAB on the potential of Grilli. Thus making me regret the addition of Kelly in an attempt to win one more stat in a lopsided affair. Kelly pitched poorly, yet Grilli much to my surprise has still yet to be picked up. Perhaps the real head scratcher should be, "Why is Jason Grilli still in the Free Agent pool.

* Just a reminder to all, the Lethal Lottery video will be recorded at some point late Saturday Evening. I will put the video up on this page no later than Sunday midday. Once again draft is Saturday the 31st at 7PM. All scoring and roster settings can be found on the league page. I believe everything matches last season.