Shuffle Up: Manny Machado, ahead of schedule

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Here are your Shuffle Up corners for the month of May. Dig into them, think about them, disagree with them. I'll be back with commentary later tonight.

Normal rules apply, of course. We're trying to project 5x5 value to come; what's happened to this point is an audition, not a mandate. Players at the same price are considered even. Don't worry about the prices in a vacuum - what matters is how the players relate to one another. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is always welcome.

Please remember the golden rule of shuffling: a player doesn't gain (or lose) 15-20 percent of value simply because he's on your roster.

Courtesy injury ranks are at the bottom. I won't debate those (I'm generally not as

Over/Under: Is there a new Gold standard in fantasy?

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on 10 intriguing over/unders this week.

Corner Infield conundrum. Pick one from this point forward: Albert Pujols, Paul Goldschmidt, Chris Davis or Anthony Rizzo

Scott – GOLDSCHMIDT, Jerry, Goldschmidt. It pains me to have him on zero teams. (Check that: I have Goldschmidt in one hybrid league that doesn't count home runs. Boy is that league fun.)

Andy – GOLDSCHMIDT, easy. This one doesn't seem like much of a contest. He's an all-category contributor. If Price were in here, we would have had something to

Cubs finalize 7-year, $41M deal with 1B Rizzo - Anthony Rizzo | CHC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Cubs signed 1B Anthony Rizzo to a seven-year, $41 million extension with club options for 2020 and 2021.

Cubs, Anthony Rizzo agree to $41M extension - Anthony Rizzo | CHC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Cubs have signed Anthony Rizzo to a seven-year, $41 million extension.

Cubs sign Anthony Rizzo to $41M extension - Anthony Rizzo | CHC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Cubs have signed Anthony Rizzo to a seven-year, $41 million extension.

Roto Roundup: Anibal Sanchez, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Kendrick and Others

Source: Fake Teams by Ray Guilfoyle

Before I get into the Roto Roundup, I wanted to let you know that if you ever have questions, feel free to post them in the comments section of the daily Roto Roundup or any other article posted by the other Fake Teams writers. Someone will answer your question, so please do not hesitate to ask any question you may have.

Now onto the Roundup, where some starting pitchers dominated on Friday night, but none more than Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez.

Anibal Sanchez Strikes out 17

The Tigers signed Anibal Sanchez to an $80 million contract in the offseason, and some wondered whether

Closing Time: Straight Cashner, homey

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The mere numbers in the box score might not sound like much. Lots of pitchers work six tidy innings allowing just one run, especially in Petco Park. To get the full perspective of how Andrew Cashner is regarded, we need other elements: a little video, and some post-game comments.

Roll the tape first, have a look at

Rizzo homers twice to lead Cubs over Marlins - Anthony Rizzo | CHC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Anthony Rizzo swatted a pair of two-run homers on Friday, powering the Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the Marlins.

Mostly MLB Notes: Max Scherzer and Bryce Harper making the leap

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

Max Scherzer has a ridiculous 30 Ks over 19.0 innings this season, as he’s become baseball’s premier strikeout pitcher. He finished second to Justin Verlander in the category last year, recording only eight fewer strikeouts in 50.2 fewer innings thanks to a major league leading 11.08 K/9 rate. Scherzer dealt with some shoulder issues late last season, and while cleaned up, his delivery remains somewhat violent, but he sure appears healthy now. Scherzer has allowed a 20.5 LD%, but with so few groundballs (35.9 GB%), his .385 BABIP looks especially unlucky. In fact, among the 15 starters with the lowest groundball rates this season (Scherzer’s is the 11th lowest), only two others have a

Shuffle Up: Michael Cuddyer gets his groove back

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Today's ranking assignment takes us down on the corner, the first basemen and the third basemen. Settle in, settlers.

What you'll see below are prices for most of the Yahoo-eligible cornermen going forward. There are a few rules here: if you're in the minors or on the DL, you don't make this list. Too variable in worth, league to league. If you're catcher-eligible, you don't make the list – everyone's probably going to use you at catcher anyway. Don't obsess over the actual dollar amounts – what matters is how the players relate to one another. When players are at the same number, they're considered even.

The games to this point are merely an audition. We're trying to figure out who's worth the

Fantasy baseball pitching report: Samardzija looks like an ace

Source: SI.com

Even before Matt Garza was placed on the disabled list to start the season, Jeff Samardzija was the Cubs' true ace. After his breakout 2012 season, Samardzija became the face of the starting rotation, and he earned key player status in Chicago -- alongside Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo -- as the Cubs continue to work their way back toward contending status. It was only a matter of time before Samardzija was named the Opening Day starter. On Monday, he showed why he deserves to be atop this rotation.

First things first

Source: Fake Teams by Daniel Kelley

If you're like me, you're hearing a lot about first base being a deep position this year. If you're like me, you also need to watch less TV and lose 30 pounds, but those points are less germane to the rest of this piece, so let's stick with the thing about first base.

In theory, this means that you can hold off on first basemen, grab a lower-tier guy like Freddie Freeman or Anthony Rizzo, and focus your early-draft attentions on Troy Tulowitzki, Dustin

Over/Under: Young Cubs Rizzo, Castro are bears worth feeding

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on nine intriguing over/unders entering spring training.

Eric Hosmer, who failed miserably to cash in on his spring success last year, home runs 19.5

Brandon – OVER. I definitely think Hos will rebound from a forgettable '12, and he's having a strong spring, but I doubt he ever gets too far above this number. It's just not his profile. I'm putting him down for 22 HRs for next year, and for the many years that follow.

Andy – OVER, but not by much. Hosmer is probably too much of a line-drive/ground-ball

Fantasy Baseball 2013: First Base Primer

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

First base has always been a power position, dating back to the days when your great-great-grandfather owned Dan Brouthers* in his 4X4 league down at the Elks Lodge.

Last year, 27 different major league players reached the 30-homer plateau, and nine of them had first base eligibility. Eighteen hitters drove in at least 100 runs, and seven were first basemen. The average top-20 player at this position in 2012 delivered 80 runs, 28 homers and 95 RBIs while hitting .288. If you somehow fail to pile up power stats at first — not easy to do, but possible — then hopefully you'll invest in Bautista, Stanton, Cabrera or some other elite power

ADP Say What: Bryce Harper, Jered Weaver, Ian Desmond

Source: Fake Teams by Alex Kantecki

In the last (and first) edition of ADP Say What, I wrote that Paul Goldschmidt, Allen Craig and Anthony Rizzo were all being drafted too early according to their Mock Draft Central ADPs. And since I wrote that article almost two weeks ago, all three have climbed up the ADP ladder. Go figure.

Goldschmidt is now top 20. Craig is now better than Hanley Ramirez. And Rizzo is still better than

Mostly MLB Notes: Dan Haren bouncing back, avoiding Mark Trumbo and Ryan Zimmerman over Evan Longoria

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

Battling through hip and back injuries, Dan Haren posted a 4.33 ERA last season that was his worst since 2004 - his second year in the league. His average fastball velocity dropped to a career low 88.5 mph, and lingering questions regarding his health left him without many suitors during the offseason when he was a free agent. Ultimately, he signed with the Nationals on a one-year, $13 million deal. While not cheap, it was a bit surprising someone with his track record couldn’t fetch a multi-year deal, but he passed his physical and will have every incentive to prove he’s healthy in 2013. Haren is just one season removed from posting a 5.8:1 K:BB ratio (which was second best in baseball) with a 1.02 WHIP,

ADP Say What: Paul Goldschmidt, Allen Craig and Anthony Rizzo

Source: Fake Teams by Alex Kantecki

Mock season is underway, which means you'll be seeing a lot of Average Draft Position (ADP) articles in the coming weeks. ADP is an important pre-draft tool, but it's not a perfect measure by any means. ADP is flawed -- it's skewed toward the default rankings of the website you're using. Yesterday, new Fake Teams' writer Brian Creagh had an in-depth look at the variance of player rankings across different sites, which helps illustrate my point.

I check ADP regularly, mostly at MockDraftCentral.com, which updates its ADP daily. If you already know what site you're drafting on, it's probably a good idea to check out that

Burning questions: Is Anthony Rizzo an elite first baseman?

Source: SI.com

One thing we'll strive to do here on Burning Questions is highlight a guy we feel is due for a breakout and try to value him appropriately, both at his position and in the entire fantasy baseball universe. We'll take our first crack at that today with Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

2013 Rankings: First Basemen

Source: Fantasy Baseball 365

Next up in the positional rankings is first base. The position offers a lot of offensive talent, young and old. Players will be drafted out of this player pool to fill more than first base, they'll also fill corner infield spots and utility positions as well. 

Rank First Name Last Name Organization 1 Albert Pujols Angels 2 Joey Votto Reds 3 Prince Fielder Tigers 4 Edwin Encarnacion Blue

Promising Returns

Source: SI.com

One thing we'll strive to do here on Burning Questions is highlight a guy we feel is due for a breakout and try to value him appropriately, both at his position and in the entire fantasy baseball universe. We'll take our first crack at that today with Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

The Fantasy Freak Show Podcast: National Anthem insight, Super picks and rising Rizzo

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Overpriced chicken wings, barley pops, good friends and random side bets you never intend on paying – that folks, is what the Super Bowl is all about.

On this week's cash money program, Scott Pianowski and Brad Evans will reveled their picks for XLVII, spun their favorite Vegas prop bets, talked up Anthony Rizzo and Jeff Samardzija, explained why Norichika Aoki is no one-year wonder and is Andrew McCutchen overrated? We unveiled our stance.

LISTEN TO

Freak Show Friday: Guaranteeing Super Bowl ‘locks’ at 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Overpriced chicken wings, barley pops, good friends and random side bets you never intend on paying – that folks, is what the Super Bowl is all about.

On this week's cash money program, Scott Pianowski and Brad Evans will revel their picks for XLVII, spin their favorite Vegas prop bets, predict where Reggie Bush could wind up this off-season, explain why Lamar Miller is sleeping on South Beach and unveil their sleepers and busts from around the NL Central. Anthony Rizzo, anyone?

Questions? Random, senseless comments? Here's how YOU can join

2013 Minor League Preview: Chicago Cubs

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America 2012 (14) | 2011 (16) | 2010 (14) | 2009 (27) | 2008 (18) 2012 Affiliate Records MLB: [61-101] NL Central AAA: [53-87] Pacific Coast League – Iowa AA: [72-68] Southern League – Tennessee A+: [59-74] Florida State League – Daytona A: [63-75] Midwest League – Peoria (Kane County beginning 2013) A(ss): [37-39] Northwest League -- Boise Arizona Fall League Players — Mesa Solar Sox Dae-Eun Rhee (RHP); Kevin Rhoderick (RHP); Nick Struck (RHP); Tony Zych (RHP); Logan Watkins (2B); Rubi Silva (OF); Matt Szczur (OF) Graduated Prospects Anthony Rizzo (1B); Steve Clevenger (C); Welington Castillo

Ryan Searle (P-CHC)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Rizzo formally named to Italyand#39;s roster in Classic - First baseman Anthony Rizzo headlines a short list of Cubs players who will participate in the World Baseball Classic. Rizzo will play for Team Italy, while pitcher Ryan Searle will play for Australia and prospect Yao-Lin Wang and former Minor Leaguer Hung-Wen Chen will pitch for Chinese Taipei. Source: http://mlb.mlb.com

Pressing Questions: The Chicago Cubs

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

This week, we begin our usual series of MLB fantasy previews, wherein we consider 5-6 key questions surrounding each team. Baseball is coming, gamers. Pitchers and catchers report next month. Fantasy owners report immediately...

The year ahead will be the 115th consecutive season in which the Chicago Cubs fail to win the World Series, thus extending the most remarkable streak of non-achievement in the history of American sports anything. If you came to this preview looking for false hope, Cubs fan ... well, sorry. This team, on paper, looks pretty bad. Chicago was one of only three squads to post a sub-.400 winning percentage last

2013 Cubs Projections: Rizzo, Barney, DeJesus

Source: Fantasy Baseball 365

Our 2013 Cubs projections continue with a young up-and-coming first baseman, a defensive minded second baseman and a solid veteran outfielder.

Anthony Rizzo 2013 Age: 23 - Splits: Struggles vs LHP 2013 Projection: 596 AB, .283/.346/.488. 27 HR, 91 RBI, 86 R, 6 SB Notes: Rizzo's ceiling will be determined by one thing: how he hits left-handed pitching. He crushes righties (.508 SLG last season), but struggles mightily against lefties (.356 SLG). Unless he shows big improvement vs. left-handed pitching, we'll have to hold back on projecting a top-tier 1B status.   Upside: .300/.365 with 30+ HRs and 100+ RBI Downside: .265/.333 with ~20 HR and ~80

Anthony Rizzo: Here Comes the Power

Source: Fake Teams by Paul Rice

Jed Hoyer's guy couldn't have found the more ideal situation. One year after it looked like Anthony Rizzo was destined to be the latest victim of Petco Park, he had the good fortune to be shipped over to a much friendlier home park in an offseason trade. He now looks like one of the top up-an-coming power hitters at first base, all thanks to Hoyer's persistence. After shredding AAA for a year and a half, Rizzo was called up to the Windy City in June to take over as the Cubs' starting first baseman. In a relatively weak crop of National League first basemen, it could simply be a matter of time before he finds himself near the top of fantasy rankings.

Rizzo's

OPS Fantasy Leagues: 2012 First Basemen Review

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Here is a look at the value of first basemen over the past season in OPS fantasy leagues. This is not meant to be a ranking so much as adding a lens to illustrate their relative value with OPS as a component. They are listed from highest to lowest OPS. Note that I only included players with at least 300 plate appearances in 2012.

The Top Ten

Joey Votto – His .337/.474/.567 line is insane and his 1.041 OPS was a career high. I’ve continued to be impressed with his incredibly increasing walk rate: 12.9% in 2009, 14.0% in 2010, 15.3% in 2011, and 19.8% in 2012. I expect him to continue to remain an elite OPS player and potentially league leader in OBP.

Edwin

Anthony Rizzo: Ready to Breakout in 2013?

Source: Fake Teams by Ray Guilfoyle

Back in 2011, Anthony Rizzo was in the middle of tearing up the Pacific Coast League to the tune of .331-.404-.652 with 34 doubles, 26 HRs, 64 runs and 101 RBI in 356 at bats. As the season grew longer, and Rizzo's power on display on a nightly basis, the hype on RIzzo was too much for Padres GM Jed Hoyer , and he eventually called up Rizzo in early June. Rizzo was the centerpiece of the huge trade that sent All star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox , so you

One HR, Two HR, Reddick, Bluedick

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

The .245 AVG is going to look ugly next March but 31 HRs and 80+ R/RBI has been nirvana for anyone (like Rudy) who plucked Josh Reddick off free agency in shallow leagues this year.  The power is real and, unlike the last A’s power hitter (Jack Cust), he is an above average fielder.   So the A’s now have 2/3 of a phallic OF foundation with Reddick and Yoenis.  Where is Lance Johnson Jr or Dick Pole Jr when you need them?  For 2013, I imagine the only flavor missing from his Chick-o-Stick is average, i.e., it may never be anything to write home about.  But if you’re writing home about Reddick’s average, you need new material.  Here’s hoping he doesn’t become Ryan Ludwick Part II.  Ryan Ludwick, “I

Royals Aim To Odorizzi Their Stinky Season

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

The Royals called up Jake Odorizzi, which means nothing really for this year.  He will start next weekend vs. the Indians, and that could be a spot start in some fantasy leagues, but this is more for 2013.  Or, since it’s the Royals, this is Moore for 2013.  In order to be protected from a Rule 5 draft, the Royals had to call him up.  I don’t think this means we see Odorizzi in the rotation to start next year, but he’ll be in the mix for the last spot.  Knowing the Royals, they’ll find someone like Randy Wolf or Carl Pavano for that last spot.  Jeremy Guthrie’s run with the Royals this year is the worst thing that could’ve happened for Royals fans.  Now ownership can get another half-dead veteran

Anthony Rizzo (shoulder) back in lineup Fri. - Anthony Rizzo | CHC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Anthony Rizzo is back in the Cubs' lineup Friday.

Harvey Milks 10 Ks

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

The Mets went into their minor league system and pulled a giant rabbit out of their hat with Matt Harvey.  *terrible Jimmy Stewart impression*  Mr. Potter, I knew a Harvey once.    Back in 1955, see, and Danny Kaye asked me to sneak this guy named Harvey out of his bedroom at 2 AM.  Nice fella, that Harvey.  He told me a story that involved Ethel Merman and ping pong balls.  Good, salt of the earth guy, that Harvey.  So, yesterday, Harvey went five innings and 10 Ks.  Tomorrow, the world!  Or just icing his arm and joking around with Ruben Tejada.  One of those.   I’m a big fan of Harvey, but he only has one more start this year (you would’ve owned him yesterday if you followed the