I think both you and jfranco are correct, I'm trying to weigh the importance of the sooner performance of Pomeranz or Wheeler. When do you think Wheeler could be called up? Hefner has to get worse for Wheeler to come or Marcum to get hurt?

This is a little bit more in tune with the stashing articles, but I'm considering picking up Pomeranz or Z Wheeler prior to a call up. Which might be the better pitcher?

I know that these articles need to appeal to a broad audience, but there's not a single one of these guys available in my NL only, 12 team league. I know you've said you're trying to capture NL players for mixed leagues, but since this is about the NL, there should be more lesser owned players for NL only leagues. I know CBS has many more single league players than the others, so could you look for free agents with under 20% CBS ownership, say?

nice proof-reading. "where" not "were" holy crap I did it twice #dontwant

I am not some AJ Ellis apologist, but I didn't see that either of those were his fault. For the Greinke one, he set up outside, the ball came inside. For the Kershaw one, Kershaw missed to the exact opposite side of were Ellis was set up. I understand what you're saying about stabbing, but what way was Ellis supposed to get to those pitches that were pitched to the opposite side of were he was set up?

For NL-only leagues, what kind of bid would you put in for Henderson if you're save desperate?

I'm an idiot. 12 team, NL only, 6 keepers. No salary, straight keepers. Yeah, I'm leaning away from Headley big time. In the last two years I've lost Prince, Pujols and Morse, so I've been leaning heavier to offense, more than I normally do anyway.

I'm not seeing a reason to save Motte in my NL only, 5x5, 12 team keeper league. Not only are most of my league mates not keeping closers much anymore, but this article confirms my thought that saves can be found. Thoughts?

There's no way Puig sticks on the ML roster, right? Only if he was ensured regular at bats? And same thing with Arenado?

I just want to complain about one thing or offer criticism. I don't have Twitter. I don't like it. I understand that it can have value in general, but I'm not signing up for it. So for you to say, just hit us up on Twitter, is worthless to me, and possibly others. To be blunt, if we pay for a BP subscription, why should I have to use some other platform in order to communicate with BP authors? And no, Twitter is not the same thing as shooting you guys an email, which is technically another platform. The difference is that it's a safe assumption that EVERYONE has an email account, but not everybody has a Twitter account.

Will there be another update before my draft on the 31st? Also, how does Headley's injury affect his value now?

so he'd be above Werth and Soriano?

I'm sure it's unreasonable to ask for NL only lists, but normally I would just use these combined lists and then parse out the NL guys. But for Revere's writeup, you say that he would be much higher on an NL-only list. Why is that? How would the order switch up if this were NL only?

Arizona has plenty of issues, as do just about every other place. I just don't like painting with a broad brush and acting like there aren't bike-riding vegans or anarchist in a place with a major public university is myopic. Actually, your article seems to paint AZ in a very positive manner. Yeah there is some lack of bike lanes, but there are also some just fantastic trail riding within the city limits of most every town in the Valley. http://www.phxtraildude.com/ The only times I've ever gotten annoyed on BP is when the authors have been generalist and just look at things in broad manner. So I'm not attacking, just still love some of the good things about the Valley and do recognize that AZ has issues.

So what was so onerous about AZ? As someone that grew up there, I'm biased, but you didn't make much of an argument of the worthlessness of AZ aside from Arpaio. People drive stupid big trucks all over (there are two giant Infiniti SUV's in my neighborhood driven by women that are probably 5'2") and the gun thing is overblown.

Vogelsong, Vogelsong

You forgot to mention my NL only keeper league that has lost him, Pujols and Prince in the last two years. Hopefully, Justin Upton is next. /yes this is a self-serving comment //negative rate away

Ryan Vogelsong, James McDonald

I just love that Loria et al are MLB owners, but Mark Cuban is deemed by them to be distasteful. What a bunch of a-holes.

Part of it was stupid, I don't like the Dodgers, aside from Vin.

I have to say that adding Dan Evans has been a big positive. I was hesitant at first, but I really like his insights coming from a high front office position.

Don't ever sleep on Culver's. However, you didn't see their whole repertoire if you passed on the custard. That's a 7 right there.

Am I nuts, or have the majority of these shortstops all been hurt this year, with the exception of Castro and Jeter?

In regards to Taveras, is he so potentially good that the Cards could move guys like Holliday or Jay to open up time for him? With guys like Freese, Craig, etc, don't they need to make some moves anyway?

I don't want to give the whole name, but a friend of my wife named her daughter a name that when said quickly, her first and last name sounded like "No Respect". I begged my wife to tell her. She wouldn't and won't.

Ummm, so are you endorsing Fernando Martinez or not? "...from Fernando’s production either, which, aside from a three-run homer Tuesday, has been dismal."

I know, I know. I held on through the trade deadline in case Soriano was dealt, but I'm done.

I'm short on steals in my 12 team, NL only league, but it's time to give up on Tony Campana, right?

Kudos for a Quicksand song, used to just love those guys.

I am not a Sox fan but live in Chicago and hear Hawk a lot. I don't understand the amount of vitriol towards him. Ok he's a homer, who cares? He's not on national TV, he's the Sox broadcaster, should he be completely dispassionate? Oh wait, it's ok if it's Duane Kuiper but not Hawk? I don't get it.

I fail to see how that was a problem. You can buy Saturday night until the grocery store closes, I think. I recall many times hitting the Fiesta after work on Saturdays late to grab some beers. Oddly enough, Fiesta had a great beer selection in 1997.

Moreso, we need video of his triple and that stolen base he had last week.

Medford used to have one high school that is now the site of South Medford High. However, the new high school, North Medford took the name Black Tornado with them. My dad is still very angry that the "rich kids" got to take his beloved nickname.

Sorry, meant corner infielder. I thought I'd read a few times that Paredes would be better off at SS with his bat.

Is Paredes really a middle-infielder though? Not arguing, just curious. This good of a trade never would have happened with Ed at the helm, by the way.

I'm guessing it's a case of the grass is always greener. Are you sure that Dominguez isn't better than Paredes though? Also, seems like the Astros have had some success with undersized starting pitchers, I like the potential of Rasmussen.

Hasn't the entire Rockies' defense been horrific this year? I have no clue at all, but is there something environmental or something that is leading to terrible defense compared to last year?

KG, we went to the Kane County/Cedar Rapids game on Saturday, and the Zooperstars are there for the kids. My 5 year old thinks those things are the funniest things around. Oh look, they dance all funny, ha ha. Look, they pulled off the "umpire's" pants and he's in his underwear. So hilarious. And don't get my daughter started on Birdzerk, Babyzerk and whatever other 'zerks there are. Also ridiculously hilarious to her. Actually, taking a kid to a minor league is so much more enjoyable for them than a major league game.

He played center? Why? I thought he was an average at best left fielder? Ok, I kind of really need to know what happened to Jaff.

I have wondered about that as well. How can he not be fundamentally sound or just be an athlete learning to play baseball? Has he not been around it his whole life?

Last year, it was Jaff Decker. What happened Jaff? Please hit again. I still haven't found a guy yet, but Hamilton and Gyorko are up there.

I've never understood how Stephen Strasburg went from settling for SDSU to being uber-stud. I know there was a big increase in velocity, but is there more to it?

I'll say one thing, on that called third strike, Molina dropping his knee is genius. It was a changeup with movement, Molina knows it's up in the zone. Dropping you knee is showing that the pitch is moving, wow, it's moving so much that you the catcher, that called the pitch and has caught Rodney before, thought it had so much movement downward that it's fooling you even. That's my high school catcher take on it.

As an owner of Berkman and Carpenter in a 12 team NL-only league, I kind of need to hang on to Carpenter all year as insurance? Allen Craig is probably the right answer, but I would have to trade for him.

I miss Jaff Decker.

It's incredibly distracting to me. That's my only issue with this. I find my eyes darting to the sides while I'm reading. I think it's the massive switch from blank space to almost now half the page is an ad.

I admit that I don't much read your articles as there are many inside jokes and references I don't get (#legend, Patricia, etc.) I am definitely in the camp of more like this, but I understand that you have your own style. My feeling is that if there were more articles of this format, then the other articles that I skim through, might actually turn into actual reads. Does that make sense?

Bleacher Report. Umm, that seems like a step down, I thought Bleacher Report was kind known as a joke, kind of the antithesis of BP. But what do I know. Good luck.

Bud Norris for $0 in NL only leagues? That seems, low.

You are the writer of the article, I'm asking you to back your statement up. Who are their peers? From the early 90's, that is a vast sample size. I wouldn't compare Pavement to Smashing Pumpkins or Stone Temple Pilots (yes I picked them on purpose). How are they not playing their instruments? Because they don't showcase the virtuosity of a Satriani? Playing chords with drop D tuning, is that playing out of tune? I've always seen BP as being the leader in opening your mind to baseball and finding more than meets the eye, that maybe what you're seeing is not the way it is. By bashing on Pavement, you take the opposite tack, you're saying that what you think is music and how you define it, that's what music is and should be and anyone that likes Pavement is wrong. Isn't that the type of thing that Jaffe has fought against with his JAWS scores and many other BP related examples? I think Bob Dylan singing sounds like caterwauling; however, it seems I'm in the minority with that opinion. I don't think it warrants bemoaning his accomplishments because it doesn't fit what I like. My lord, there are two (2!) No Doubt albums on that list and a Hole album that Kurt Cobain wrote. Rail about that.

So you listened to one Pavement album and hated it. You state that they lack "basic musicianship". What? Who are their peers that you're comparing them to? If you don't understand how Pavement's lo-fi or DIY method of music making in the early 90's is a response to the over-produced, over-masturbatory excess of late 80's rock, then you should probably stick to Warrant and Bon Jovi.

And of course, I complain about it, and for this article, the new comments are highlighted. Same browser and all of that.

I also have a bit of a complaint. It used to be if I read an article and the comments, the next time I went to that article and there were new comments, they would be highlighted. Why did that go away?

I'd love to believe you about your fellow Hall of Fame voters, but when you have voters like Murray Chass that base their decisions on how long the dinner will be, it's hard to believe that they take it seriously.

Nice John. I like the sound of the direction you're going to take. I must admit that the scout's view portion is one of my favorite things on BP. It's like a Goldstein article but about veterans.

This is probably premature, but as an owner in an NL only keeper league of both Prince Fielder and Morse, what happens to Morse's value if Prince signs in Washington? Nothing as Morse will be in left?

I know it's fashionable to rip on Bowden, but given the multiple needs that he spelled out for the Brewers, of which only the bullpen arms can come cheaply, it doesn't make sense to "pony up" for Prince. You can't upgrade all those areas and keep Prince.

I don't think Bowden's that far off on this. They should try to get a rotation upgrade for the back end, but there's nothing bold about that. Staying pat is bold? I know it's fun to rip on Bowden, but this one is not worth it.

Not worried about some BABIP luck? Wasn't his ERA beyond his underlying stats? Obviously that's my worry as I'm keeping Cliff Lee and either Kennedy or Strasburg.

Ian Kennedy?

Don't underrate Ocean Water at Sonic. I find it much more thirst quenching than Cherry-Limeade.

Can BP hire Will?

KG, I was just about to ask about Decker and here he is! But what happened? That's one serious slump, can it even be called a slump? The OBP and slugging look ok, but what happened? K's?

Fair enough, thanks for the response. Sometimes I over think things.

Dodgers bullpen. Padilla's on my DL, but am not a fan of the pitcher, at all. Does it make sense to pick up Guerra and cut Padilla simply because Guerra's numbers, apart from saves, should be better?

To be honest Steven, I don't understand how you have "a helpless feeling to not be able to address" departures/comments/whatever. You are the editor of this website, you can comment anytime you want, whether it's an article or in comments. Who's stopping you? Yourself?

I agree, if you're legally not able to comment, then just say that. But to not say anything after saying that you would, is bad form.

To be clear about my own comment, it's not about that they need to "consult(ed) with me". It's about these announcement's being inserted into articles. This always leads to lots of questions, hand-wringing, etc. Wouldn't it be more efficient to just have an editor's note giving some further information at the same time? Or before? Not "later today or first thing tomorrow". I'm not threatening to never subscribe again or anything. These announcements take the form of federal government proclamations, "just trust us". Ok, how about some info then?

A hint is appropriate/sufficient?

Good luck to you Marc. On a sidenote, why when authors leave, is it reported as an aside in an article? Why can't the powers that be make an announcement and let us, the subscribers, know what's going on? Will anything change with fantasy coverage? Will it be diminished? Did management find it to not be worth it? What?

Beat me to it. The Mets definitely waited too long to trade Seaver in 1997. Great article Neil.

Again though, the Pirates have been horrific for years now, do you really think there's a lower level for them? Cam Bonifay and Littlefield weren't the bottom?

But, Hanrahan is their most trade-able asset. Isn't he also signed through 2013 or so? Won't they be able to get a respectable haul for him, isn't that worth it more than the repercussions? Haven't the Pirates already alienated the fan base to an extent and therefore, how much worse could it get? Not arguing, just curious.

Take it easy, Champ. Why don't you sit this next one out, stop talking for a while.

Not arguing, but is it a lock that Gordon can't go back to 3B?

I might be an idiot for not seeing it, but what does the * denote?

Agree it's not relevant, but it's been bothering me. Didn't seem like emailing was appropriate.

Does anyone else have a hard time reading text when there aren't spaces after periods? Having grown up with spaces, it makes reading maddening.

Nothing on Corey Patterson? I assume he's the full-time centerfielder with Rajai out?

Congrats. But on a selfish level, the one constant on this site, for me, has been you. In particular, the Transaction Analysis. It has been the major reason that I subscribe to BP, along with the coverage of the minor leagues. As my subscription to BP is up in 2 days, this news gives me pause. I've handled, or at least justified, the leaving of some of my other favorite writers on this site (Carroll, Sheehan, et al.), but I'm not sure this news I can justify. Will there be transaction analysis on a consistent basis? Or will it be sporadic? This just leaves me with many questions that I apparently can't even put into words. I guess I must be looking for assurances. I've not loved the direction the site has taken. For me, it's been the narrative of baseball combined with statistical analysis that I've enjoyed, not statistical analysis with some narrative included that's engaged me. With your departure, this seems to have tipped the scales far more to pure statistical analysis, a minus for this subscriber.

To jump on, yes, please add VORP.

You took my question! It's Neyer isn't it? That'd be great.

Can you remind me what a "heavy" fastball means? Thanks.

I'll never forget the first time I heard Santo on the radio when I moved to Chicago. I think they were playing the Cardinals, but it doesn't matter. Santo went on for 15 minutes about when he was a player on a road trip, this same pigeon followed them from Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. Somehow this pigeon was the reason for his slump. Meanwhile, Pat keeps calling the game and commenting enough to keep Santo going. It had no relation to the game and of course there was no way that there was really one pigeon that followed them on this road trip. It was the most confusing 15 minutes of a baseball game I've ever heard. The next day I switched to WGN and Santo still mentioned the pigeon. If he wasn't such a genuinely nice person, I would have hated everything about his story as some insincere story to waste time. But it was just Santo being Santo.

I'm not one to nitpick, but it does seem contradictory to say that Pujols carried the Cards all year, but then have Matt Holliday as 5th in the MVP race.

As did I. Either way, very odd.

granted I was out of town for a few days, but when did they say this?

Has BP said anything about what's going on with Will? Being left in the dark is not a good way to treat your customers.

No, if at all possible, keep it up. These are fantastic.

Going to the Cougars game on Monday, anybody I need to pay attention to?

to expand, at what point is he a better choice to be called up over Steve Pearce?

Why was Troncosco listed in the table but then no mention made of him in the text?

Wow, you actually said something non-negative about the Brewers.

Not sure where to ask this, but looks like the Astros are going to call Bud Norris soon. Any updates on him? Thanks.

Not to pile on, but of the remaining writers, Matt was my favorite, I'm not super pleased that it ended due to a radio interview.

Really, the Brewers rotation is "craptastic"? I get that they're hurting, but that seems a bit much.

I was afraid you'd throw a Coutlangus joke in there, thank you for refraining.

Not David's issue, but yeah, those are some boring, Nuke LaLoche (sp) responses.

I love Transaction Analysis, please keep it up. Doesn't have to be you Christina, but it's a major factor in my love for BP.

That's a good point, I was thinking the same thing as I read this. The Idol contestants I picked were one's that wrote well, that was important to me. Which is why I love Christina's posts, always excellent. Please, please, please more transaction analysis.

I loved this interview, easily one of the best that has been on BP.

New Unfiltered authors, now with more exclamation points!!!

I agree, I was not aware of the presence of this until recently. Just seems odd.

Have to agree, it's conflicting.

Under "Fantasy" and then "Team Depth Charts"

I am too, but the last 2 albums have been very, very good. Just some maturation, they couldn\'t play \"Evol\" type stuff anymore.

I\'d be interested in a Chicago feed.

Great article. However, I choose to believe it\'s because Jeff Kent got hurt.