Articles by "Baseball"
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts

at 8:57 PM 0
(C)cbssports
The MLB All-Star Game is less than a week away and all 30 teams in Major League Baseball have crossed the halfway point of their seasons. Fantasy baseball owners have meaningful samples to judge the talent pool on for the 2019 season and are entering the stretch run thinking about how to better their roster for the postseason. It's probably too late to nab breakout stars like Pirates first baseman Josh Bell or White Sox starter Lucas Giolito for a reasonable price on the trade market, but there are plenty of other exciting possibilities out there just waiting to climb the 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings in the second half. Of course, identifying those players you want to target via trade in the second half can be an enormous challenge, which is why Ariel Cohen's 2019 Fantasy baseball trade chart and evaluator is here to help. Its Fantasy baseball rankings 2019 help you understand how to value potential trade prospects and makes sure you come out on the winning end of any deal you make.


Cohen is the creator of the ATC (Average Total Cost) Projection System. He was a finalist for two FSWA Awards in 2018 -- Baseball Article of the Year and Baseball Writer of the Year. Cohen and his Fantasy partner, Reuven Guy, have used the ATC system projections to finish in the money in NFBC, RTSports, Tout Wars and other national leagues, racking up plenty of division titles.
This trade evaluator tool is extremely user-friendly. You simply download an Excel file and input the players you are giving away and receiving. The tool will then give you a value. "C" is an even deal; anything above is a win for you, and anything below is a loss. You can only access this must-have tool at SportsLine. 
In this week's 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings and trade chart, we can tell you that Cohen's MLB projections are fading Indians closer Brad Hand. The 29-year-old left-hander owns a solid 2.23 ERA with 23 saves and 54 strikeouts over 36.1 innings for the year, but he's had issues in recent outings.
Hand got lit up for five earned runs against the Royals and took a loss last week. He has now given up multiple hits in four of his last six outings after giving up multiple hits in just two of his first 32 appearances. That one battering at the hands of the Royals took his ERA from 1.05 all the way to 2.36 and it might be time to sell high on Hand.
Another player on the move this week: Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin. The 29-year-old lefty signed a massive six-year, $140 million contract in free agency to form a dynamic one-two punch with Max Scherzer, and they've finally been living up to that in June.
Corbin is 7-5 on the season with a 3.55 ERA that is down from 4.11 after three straight starts where he gave up one earned run over seven innings while striking out seven or more. He's moved up from No. 50 to inside the top 15 in the latest head-to-head rankings.
The evaluator is also fading a starting pitcher who fell from inside the top 10 to outside of the top 20 in the last week. Additionally, it has updated the value of players dealing with injuries like Noah Syndergaard (hamstring) and Cole Hamels(oblique). Getting the right value for players like these could be the difference between winning a title or going home with nothing.
Read more »

at 9:41 AM 0

(c)cbssports

If you play in a dynasty league, you know all trades must be made with great care. A wrong decision now could change the course of your team for years to come.

So generally, it's wise to reserve judgment when a player is doing something vastly out of the ordinary. That's true for any format, of course, but the stakes are much lower when you can fall back on "better luck next year."
By now, though, I'm willing to assume a degree of permanence for these changes and would be open to making bold moves considering. 


In case you missed the dynasty update for the quarter-way point in the season, you can find it here. Now for how things stand midway through 2019 ...

Players who have gained the most value in dynasty

Ketel Marte, 2B/SS/OF, Diamondbacks


Marte was billed as more of an Ender Inciarte type coming up through the Mariners system, and even those who noticed his power increase over the final four months of last season couldn't have imagined he'd be on a near 40-homer pace midway through 2019. He may well be the top second baseman in Fantasy now, particularly with Jose Altuve continuing to flounder, and if you need another reminder of just how far he's come, allow me to point out that I passed him over for Andrelton Simmonslate in my Tout Wars draft this spring. Sweet.

Lucas Giolito, SP, White Sox


Lucas Giolito has stumbled a bit recently, but my conviction here comes with a recognition that his breakthrough goes beyond just the numbers. His stuff is genuinely better this year — the fastball harder and the slider and changeup more effective — which has him nestled among the elite in terms of swinging strike rate. It shouldn't be so surprising given his former status as the game's top pitching prospect, but boy did his career begin poorly — to the point he could have been one of the biggest dynasty fallers at this time a year ago.

Brandon Woodruff, SP/RP, Brewers


A former minor-league strikeout leader (2016), Woodruff was always thought to have upside, but the fact the Brewers, a team whose biggest need over the past couple years has been pitching, couldn't find a rotation spot for him until his age-26 season had many a Fantasy player jumping ship well beforehand. Not only has Woodruff been dominant the past two months — particularly with regard to his fastball, a genuine bat-misser that sits around 97 mph and touches triple-digits — but also efficient, rarely logging 100 pitches despite regularly throwing seven-plus innings. After facing him, Bryce Harper said Woodruff resembled an early-on Matt Harvey, and the comparison seems apt.

Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox


After he failed to live up to the considerable hype last year, believers in Devers could only point to his elite pedigree as reason for hope this year, which might have been concerning if not for the fact player development often works that way. Simply because he debuted at such a young age, Devers saw his stock fall in dynasty leagues, and in retrospect, we should all be ashamed of ourselves for doubting a hitter once billed as the next Adrian Beltre just because he didn't deliver on it at age 21.

Max Kepler, OF, Twins


Kepler was a contact-over-power guy, sort of like Nick Markakis, when he first broke into the league and could have carved out a fine career for himself that way. But he didn't want to get left behind in an era when everybody who's anybody hits home runs and, to that end, made changes to his swing to elevate the ball more last year. Sort of like Josh Bell, though, it took a year for him to get comfortable enough with the changes to see an effect, and as with Bell, the Statcast data mostly supports the production.

Prospects who have gained the most value in dynasty

Cristian Pache, OF, Braves

Double-A: .297 BA (290 AB), 11 HR, 6 3B, 21 2B, .878 OPS, 25 BB, 71 K
Prospect publications that tend to emphasize skills over results already rated Pache fairly high, trusting that his athleticism so evident on the defensive end would eventually translate to the dish. It seems to be happening now — and in a way that's reminiscent of Ronald Acuna. By that, I mean it's applied across the board, his jump in power over the past month coinciding with a drop in strikeout rate and accelerating the 20-year-old's path to the majors.

Grayson Rodriguez, SP, Orioles

A-: 7-2, 2.18 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 62 IP, 16 BB, 84 K
Though obviously still a long way from the majors, Rodriguez has distinguished himself from other projectable teenage arms by overpowering hitters with an impressive fastball-curveball combo. He's still learning to maximize his 6-foot-5 frame in terms of getting better extension and making more efficient use of his lower half, but if he's already this dominant this early in his development, it's an encouraging indicator of what his ceiling might be.

Deivi Garcia, SP, Yankees

A+/AA: 4-5, 3.01 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 68 2/3 IP, 33 BB, 114 K
Any discussion of Garcia has to begin with his minor league-leading 14.9 K/9, which he owes both to his high-rpm curveball and his conviction to using it to its full effect. He recently had a two-start stretch in which he allowed one hit and recorded 24 strikeouts, so the biggest concern for him now might be if his 5-foot-9 frame will allow him to start over the long haul.

Isan Diaz, 2B, Marlins

Triple-A: .295 BA (281 AB), 18 HR, .951 OPS, 32 BB, 69 K
Though considered a prospect of some note when he went from Brewers to the Diamondbacks in a Jean Segura trade a few years back, Diaz had lost much of his luster by the time the Brewers tossed him in the Christian Yelich deal. Clearly, though, he's tapping into that forgotten potential now, and while you might attribute the power boost to the new baseballs being used at Triple-A, the improved contact rate is the bigger development for what now looks to be the Marlins second baseman of the (very near) future

Logan Gilbert, SP, Mariners

A-/A+: 5-2, 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 73 IP, 15 BB, 94 K
A bout with mono last summer kept the Mariners' first-round pick from debuting until this year, but Gilbert is off and running now, propelled by a lively fastball, plus control and two developing breaking balls. He's a bit like Trevor Bauer in that he constantly strives to improve himself through better understanding biomechanics, technology and data — a trait that prompted Mariners pitching coordinator Max Weiner to tell The Athletic, "You would be a fool to bet against him."


Read more »

at 10:18 AM 0
(C) cbssports 

After tough seasons in 2018, both have an OPS of .830 or higher and have shot up the 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings. Now, Anderson will head to the injured list with an ankle issue, while Moncada was hit in the knee by a Chris Sale slider on Wednesday and is being monitored. With few viable Fantasy baseball waiver wire options available, pulling off a trade might be the key to surviving without either player. And Ariel Cohen's 2019 Fantasy baseball trade chart and evaluator are designed to make sure you wind up on the winning side of any deal you make. It can help you make up for the loss of Anderson, Moncada, or any other player suffering from an injury.

Cohen is the creator of the ATC (Average Total Cost) Projection System. He was a finalist for two FSWA Awards in 2018 -- Baseball Article of the Year and Baseball Writer of the Year. Cohen and his Fantasy partner, Reuven Guy, have used the ATC system projections to finish in the money in NFBC, RTSports, Tout Wars and other national leagues, racking up plenty of division titles.
This trade evaluator tool is extremely user-friendly. You simply download an Excel file and input the players you are giving away and receiving. The tool will then give you a value. "C" is an even deal; anything above is a win for you, and anything below is a loss. You can only access this must-have tool at SportsLine. 
In this week's 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings and trade chart, we can tell you that Cohen's MLB projections are fading Cubs pitcher Cole Hamels. Since joining the Cubs last summer, Hamels has had a career revival and posted an impressive 2.92 ERA in the 2019 season.
However, Hamels has been benefitting from a slightly low BABIP of .280 and a HR/FB rate that has dropped to 10.8 percent from 17.5 percent last season. As more balls put in play start finding holes and the weather in Chicago warms up to send more of those out of the park, Hamels is due for regression. He's also headed to the injured list with an oblique injury, much to the dismay of owners and Cubs fans everywhere. Hamels has dropped from No. 38 to No. 93 in the head-to-head 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings as a result.
Another player on the move this week: Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray. For years, Colorado had pitching problems created by an inability to compete for top-line talent in free agency thanks to what Coors Field would do to their numbers. However, Colorado has started to combat the inflated run totals in the Mile High City with homegrown talent. 
Gray has a style that battles the thin air in Denver with a 48.8 percent groundball rate. Plus, his high-octane fastball-slider combo has been overwhelming opposing hitters to the tune of 9.62 K/9. That's why he has moved up from No. 130 to inside the top 70 in the latest head-to-head Fantasy baseball trade rankings. Gray is a target for anyone looking for pitching help in the second half of the season.
The evaluator is also extremely high on a starting pitcher who is back from injury. He surged from outside the top 80 last week into the top 55 of the head-to-head rankings. Additionally, it has updated the value of players dealing with injuries like Giancarlo Stanton (knee) and Jordan Hicks (elbow). Getting the right value for players like these could be the difference between winning a title or going home with 
(C) cbssports 

Read more »

at 8:53 AM 0



The New York Yankees and Fantasy baseball owners everywhere breathed a sigh of relief last Friday as outfielder Aaron Judge returned from the injured list. He is 2-for-10 since his return with an RBI and a walk, but will continue being integral to the Yankees' success and a staple near the top of 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings. Judge hit an astonishing 52 home runs on his way to Rookie of the Year honors two seasons ago, but has been bogged down by injuries since, missing more than 100 games the past two seasons. However, for those of you that aren't lucky enough to have a reliable slugger in your lineup this week, scouring the 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings to find trade possibilities might be your best shot of improving your roster. You always want to extract maximum value out of any deal, which is why you'll want to use Ariel Cohen's 2019 Fantasy baseball trade chart and evaluator on SportsLine before you make any deals.
Cohen is the creator of the ATC (Average Total Cost) Projection System. He was a finalist for two FSWA Awards in 2018 -- Baseball Article of the Year and Baseball Writer of the Year. Cohen and his Fantasy partner, Reuven Guy, have used the ATC system projections to finish in the money in NFBC, RTSports, Tout Wars and other national leagues, racking up plenty of division titles.
This trade evaluator tool is extremely user-friendly. You simply download an Excel file and input the players you are giving away and receiving. The tool will then give you a value. "C" is an even deal; anything above is a win for you, and anything below is a loss. You can only access this must-have tool at SportsLine. 
In this week's 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings and trade chart, we can tell you that Cohen's MLB projections are fading Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola. It's been a rough season for Nola, as evidenced by his 4.55 ERA. And just when it looked like he might be turning the corner with four wins and three quality outings during a five-start span in May, he lost his touch by giving up 14 earned runs in his next three trips to the hill.
Nola's swinging strike rate is down to 9 percent from 13 percent last year, which is why the model has dropped him from No. 23 in head-to-head 2019 Fantasy baseball rankings two weeks ago all the way to No. 67.
Read more »

at 11:05 AM 0
The Miami Marlins made various prominent exchanges the winter before last. They sent out then-ruling MVP Giancarlo Stanton; presently ruling MVP Christian Yelich; and other arranged pieces of shifting worth, as Marcell Ozuna and Dee Gordon. Go figure, at that point, that the exchange that has satisfied the most for the Fish didn't include any of the previously mentioned. Truth be told, their most productive arrangement did exclude a solitary player with plentiful major association experience.



At the time, the most remarkable part of the Marlins' exchange with the New York Yankees on Nov. 20, 2017, was that it denoted the first between Derek Jeter and his old group. The points of interest - Miami conveyed Mike King and universal reward pool cash and got Caleb Smith and Garrett Cooper - were significant just as in the cash could profit New York's quest for Shohei Ohtani. Something else, who minded?

Under two years after the fact, Smith gets himself fourth in the majors in strikeout rate, sandwiched between Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer. Keep in mind, this is a similar Smith who had been chosen in the past offseason's Rule 5 draft. How has he struck out in excess of 33% of the players he has confronted this season, and in excess of a quarter going back to 2018?

We should begin by tending to the example estimate glaring issue at hand: It's valid that Smith has tossed only 106 innings since joining the Marlins. Be that as it may, it's difficult to counterfeit this sort of bat-missing capacity. Moreover, Smith has relentlessly punched out in excess of a hitter for each inning this season over his five begins. His different numbers are sparkly, as well: a 2.17 ERA, in excess of five strikeouts for each walk, only 17 hits permitted in 29 innings, etc.

Concerning how Smith does what he does, it's a little unexpected. Regularly, strikeout compilers include world class stuff. That can mean a hot fastball, yet it can likewise mean unmistakably top-rack secondaries: an awful slider, a trapdoor changeup, whatever. Despite the fact that Smith has a whiff rate surpassing 25 percent on every one of his pitches, he doesn't have that sort of explicitly great collection.

Rather Smith appears to profit by a blend of unobtrusive components, starting with a misleading conveyance that empowers him to shield the ball from the hitter. Wed that with a rising radiator - he positions ninth in turn rate among the 48 pitchers with 200 or more fastballs this season - and his penchant for raising, and the pitch must play quicker than its 93 mph normal, per Statcast.

At the point when Smith swings to his optional contributions, he has two options: a slider he'll use against lefties and righties alike, and a high-turn changeup that checks in around 10 mph slower. The slider is outwardly progressively amazing, as the change comes up short on the development of colleague's Trevor Richards' cambio and depends more on reverse-pivot.

Once more, it's not the sort of weapons store donned by a Gerrit Cole or a Max Scherzer. In any case, most pitchers don't have crude stuff on that dimension at any rate. What Smith has is a combination of pitches and traits that function admirably for him. Heading forward, his ERA is going to rise - on the grounds that c'mon - yet he ought to stay equipped for missing bats. Thusly, any reasonable person would agree that Jeter's first exchange with the Yankees has transformed into an out of the blue huge success.
Read more »
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)