Fantasy Baseball Live – October 22, 2023 @ 3pm

Segment 1 – Review of NLCS and ALCS
1.D-Backs vs. Phillies
a.The Phillies take a 3-2 lead and look to be the superior team. I would think the edge goes to the Phillies.
b.Ketel Marte has been great in the post season and was great in the regular season. His 2023 season compares more to his 2019 season, when he hit 32 home runs. But, in between, not so good. Who is Ketel Marte?
c.Seriously, would you have thought that Harper would ever go higher in a draft than Mike Trout? He appears to be aging better than Trout.
d.Recap: who wins the series?

2.Rangers vs. Astros
a.The Rangers have the Astros just where they want them, as every road team has won each game.
b.How much has Jordan Montgomery helped his fantasy stock next season? What do you think about these small sample sizes? Randy Arozerna became a star in the 2020 playoffs, but there are many players who were just hot for two weeks.
c.Who wins this series?

Segments 2 and 3 – NL East Fantasy Questions
1.Atlanta Braves
a.Vaughn Grissom hit .330 in Triple-A but can’t crack the Braves lineups. In early NFBC drafts, he’s the 45th second baseman off the board. Is there any chance he gets enough playing time to warrant a pick in a draft?
b.Sean Murphy hit .306 with 17 home runs in the first half. In the second half he hit a dreadful .159 with four home runs. However, he’s the fifth catcher off the board. The splits were not there in 2022. Worthy of a Top 5 catcher off the board?
c.Bryce Elder posted a decent ERA at 3.81 but only stuckout 128 in 31 starts (6.6 K/9). His xERA is 4.55. He’s a sinker/change-up pitcher and usually sinker pitchers pitch more to contact. He’s the 138th pitcher off the board, so he’s going as a number 6 or so starter. Any interest?
d.Give me a sleeper in the organization (minor and majors)

2.Miami Marlins
a.I continue to be a Josh Bell apologist. He has above-average exit velos, makes league average contact with good on-base skills. Yet, he’s just ok. Last year, he hit 22 home runs with 74 RBIs. Fine, but will he ever get close to the 37 home runs he popped in 2019, or is he just a 20ish, 75ish type of player?
b.As you know, I love Eury Perez. The arsenal is off the charts, and baseballsavant suggest #1 starter stuff. Why am I struggling with him going as the #14 starter off the board? Will he pitch enough innings to warrant that? Isn’t there a huge risk for him to be your #1 starter? Help?
i.We will also look at other pitchers around where he is going to see if there are others we might take.
c.Jesus Sanchez – Stat line for 2024 – AB, HR, RBI, BA
d.Give me a sleeper in the organization (minor and majors)

3.New York Mets
a.I guess we need to start with Tim McLeod, GM. If you were GM of the Mets, what three moves would you make in the off-season?
b.Dan Voglebach will be on or off the opening day roster? Warning: I have Mets friends who listen to this podcast, and the wrong answer could be painful to them and then ultimately to me (when I hear the complaints).
c.Starlin Marte ranked in the 83 percentile in sprint speed in 2021, 68th in 2022, and 44th last season. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in Advanced Statistics to see that this is not a good trend. Over/under 25 stolen bases. He had 24 last season.
d.Stat lines for these two kids
i.Brett Baty – AB, HR, BA
ii.Ronny Mauricio – AB, HR, SB, BA
e.Give me a sleeper in the organization (minor and majors)

4.Philadelphia Phillies
a.Are you comfortable taking Bryce Harper as a first-round pick (top of the second?
i.Seriously, would you have thought that Harper would ever go higher in a draft than Mike Trout? He appears to be aging better than Trout.
b.The working theory in fantasy circles is that Craig Kimbrell will move on and that Orion Kerkering will be the closer. What say you?
c.He might have only won three games, but Christopher Sanchez was very good last season. He pitched to a 3.44 ERA (3.77 xERA). He’s a sinker pitcher with a plus change-up and will never be a huge strikeout guy, but what do you think of him as a number four starter? He’s going as the 94th pitcher off the board (or 65 to 70th starter).
d.Give me a sleeper in the organization (minor and majors)

5.Washington Nationals
a.CJ Abrams will finish the 2024 season as a Top ____________ fantasy shortstop.
b.Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey or someone else will be the closer for the Nationals?
c.James Wood (#137) or Dylan Crew (#114). Who would you rather draft as a spec pick?
d.McKenzie Gore – stat line for 2024. IP, wins, ERA, K’s
e.Give me a sleeper in the organization (minor and majors)

. Close