The sought-after "sleepers" aren’t the only players in your auction whose actual values are likely to exceed their purchase price. Plenty of established players are likely to step their game up – or down – a notch or two in ’98, but their prices won’t fully reflect that probability. Since most of you are heading…
Subject: Draft Question Date: Mon, 16 Mar 98 15:30:25 CST To: roto@baseballprospectus.com Keith, In a 4×4 NL only draft with 10 teams and 9 active pitchers. Does it make sense to draft only a few starters and many good relievers, like setup men. After the closers are gone and the stud SP, to me getting…
Starting Pitchers Florida Openings: #2-5 Candidates: Felix Heredia, Eric Ludwick, Rafael Medina, Kirt Ojala, Brian Meadows, assorted others There are a number of other guys who could theoretically end up in this rotation – Andy Larkin, Antonio Alfonseca, Mark Gardiner, etc. – but I’ve only listed the ones that seem to be more than longshots,…
Starting Pitchers Oakland Slots: #3-5 Candidates: Jimmy Haynes, Brad Rigby, Mike Oquist, Ariel Prieto, Willie Adams If it were my decision, this wouldn’t be so difficult. Adams doesn’t get to start until he gets his act together, and Oquist goes to long relief or to Edmonton to wait for the first injury or collapse. Of…
Surprises are what provide much of the drama of a baseball season. There are too many unknowns in baseball for there not to be surprises, so not even the best analysts can make predict every development in an upcoming season. Here we check in on players who did the unexpected during the 1997 season, and…
Continuing our joint around the majors, we look at NL hitters embroiled in battles for starting jobs this spring. Projected starting lineups follow. Catchers Team: Arizona Contenders: Kelly Stinnett, Jorge Fabregas Not a true decision, since Fabregas has pretty much got the job locked up. The problem is that he is simply horrible at the…
This week, we’ll take the first of four looks at major-league jobs that aren’t currently nailed down by one player. These positions offer opportunities for hedging (if you’ve got one contender, get the other), for speculating (bet on the underdog or the battle’s eventual loser), and for shunning risk entirely (avoiding the guys whose jobs…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Traded minor-league infielder Mike Bell to the New York Mets for minor-league pitcher Joe Lisio. [2/10] Since Mike Bell was blocked at third by Matt Williams until forever and doesn’t hit enough to play third in the majors anyway, the D-backs essentially gave up nothing to get a minor-league closer with perhaps a…
Subject: Keeper Quandary Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 09:22:16 -0800 To: roto@baseballprospectus.com What’s your opinion on Mike Sweeney? I’ve been high on him for 2-3 years, but he’s only shown flashes of his potential. Now, I’ve got to make a decision whether to sign him for one more year at 5$, or cut him loose…
Recently, someone asked the denizens of the fantasy baseball newsgroup to evaluate a list of probable keepers in an AL $260 4×4 league. The owner was limited to three freezes, and had two easy choices done. Among the possibilities for the third slot was Scott Erickson at the bargain price of $4. Several readers responded…
The Rule V draft is essentially a legal lottery that baseball GMs play. They get to buy a ticket (i.e., a player) in each round, and each ticket has roughly a one in a million shot of turning out to be worth its cost (i.e., a lost spot on the 25-man roster for a year)….
With all the focus on players who’ve moved due to expansion, trades, or free agent lunacy, some players whose roles have increased dramatically have received less attention. Here’s a quick review of several players whose ’98 values may rise due to all the recent activity. Mark Kotsay, Cliff Floyd, Todd Dunwoody (Florida of/1b types) If…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Traded third baseman Rob Sasser to the Texas Rangers to complete an earlier trade; traded pitcher Matt Perisho to the Texas Rangers for third baseman Mike Bell. [11/4] I don’t see any reason the Angels should think they can just give away starting pitchers. Getting Mike Bell – who is not a prospect…
Welcome to our six-part series on the upcoming expansion draft, and who the established teams should be protecting. We’ll be looking at every major league team and making our picks on who they should be protecting. Please note this isn’t a prediction on who they *will* be protecting. We’re sure the Angels will be protecting…
"You know, that strategy is usually the kiss of death." – a fellow LABR owner, to me about half of the way through the LABR-AL draft, on my youth-oriented squad. That ominous greeting made for a slightly despondent trip home after my first LABR auction, but time and a big comeback heal all wounds. Despite…
This week, Frank Catalanotto was kind enough to sit down for an interview with our own Keith Law. Here’s a brief transcript of the interview, and Frank’s entry from Baseball Prospectus ’97. Our thanks to Mr. Catalanotto for his patience and generosity. FRANK CATALANOTTO 2B 1974 Age 23 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP…