Closing Time: Tyler Colvin says hello; Gerrit Cole wins his debut; the unstoppable Bartolo Colon

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Everyone loves a good post-hype story, especially when it comes from Coors Field. Tyler Colvin, come on down.

Colvin doesn't turn 28 until September, but he's already had numerous sweeping turns to his career. The first-round pick made good with the Cubs in 2010 (20 homers in 395 at-bats) but a fluke neck injury wiped out his 2011 season and paved his way to Colorado. Colvin did his best to break out last year (.290, 18 homers in 452 at-bats) despite the whims of Jim Tracy, and we had some fun with the story in the middle of the summer.

But this is the maddening Rockies, of course - sometimes it seems like they don't have a plan. Colvin had a cold spring and the club decided to push him back,

Closing Time: Tyler Colvin says hello; Gerrit Cole wins his debut

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Everyone loves a good post-hype story, especially when it comes in Colorado. Tyler Colvin, come on down.

Colvin doesn't turn 28 until September, but he's already had numerous sweeping turns to his career. The first-round pick made good with the Cubs in 2010 (20 homers in 395 at-bats) but a fluke neck injury wiped out his 2011 season and paved his way to Colorado. Colvin did his best to break out last year (.290, 18 homers in 452 at-bats) despite the whims of Jim Tracy, and we had some fun with the story in the middle of the summer.

But this is the maddening Rockies, of course - sometimes it seems like they don't have a plan. Colvin had a cold spring and the club decided to push him back, sending

Fantasy Baseball – FAAB Report, Wk.11

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

Another week, another seven days of frustration. Injuries continue to pound my teams, and a lack of movement in the trade market is starting to get to me now (experts are very hard to deal with. I must have send out 25 trade offers the past week – only one was accepted though there might be an AL LABR deal in the works for next week).

FOR MORE ON COLE, CINGRANI & MYERS see – Rounding the

Shuffle Up: Max Scherzer makes the leap

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Alright, gamers, this is the one Shuffle Up that matters the most. If you could consistently figure out the fickle sighs and signs of these sirens, everything else would be a breeze.

Our goal is to rank all the roto-relevant starting pitchers for the rest of 2013, thinking 5x5 value in a mixed league. The prices are used for comparison tools; don't worry about the numbers in a vacuum. Players at the same cost are considered even.

I'll add commentary later today and I welcome your intelligent disagreement. Win the debate, win the rank. But remember to support your dissent, and never forget the golden rule of roto: a player doesn't gain (or lose) 15-20 percent of bonus value simply because you're

Draft Day Challenge, May 14

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

 

BaseballGuys.com has partnered with DraftDay.com to give all my wonderful followers the chance to play the game on a daily basis. On Tuesday and Thursday’s here at the site, every week, I’ll be giving you some insight into the mind of The Oracle as I will give you

Complete SP Rankings: Week 7

Source: Fake Teams by Brian Creagh

Be sure to follow me on Twitter for additional fantasy info (@BrianCreagh)

Rank

Player

First Opponent

Location

Second Opponent

Location

Last Week's Ranking

1

Clayton Kershaw

Dan Haren

LAD

6

2

Matt Harvey

Edwin Jackson

@CHC

7

3

Stephen Strasburg

Edinson Volquez

@SD

2

4

Yu Darvish

Justin

Closing Time: Andrew Bailey is dinged up again

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The Boston bullpen was tidy and orderly just a few days ago. Joel Hanrahan was fresh off the disabled list but headed for a non-closing role; Andrew Bailey's electric start to the season (1.46 ERA, 20 strikeouts in 12.1 innings) couldn't be ignored.

But just when Hanrahan seemed out of the picture, he's pulled back into the mix.

Hanrahan worked the ninth inning of Thursday's win at Toronto, dodging one hit and securing his fourth handshake. The surging Red Sox are off to a dazzling 20-8 start, a whopping 10.5 games ahead of the star-crossed Blue Jays. Hanrahan's season numbers are messy (9.45 ERA, five walks, four strikeouts), though he has just one blown save in his five

Shuffle Up: The Tony Cingrani Problem

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Alright, gamers, settle in and let's get to work. Of all the baseball shuffles, this is the one that really matters: the starting pitcher shuffle. The fickle men of the mound are sure to define our season, for good or for bad.

We're trying to gauge everyone's 5x5 value going forward - everything to this point is merely an audition. We're only playing for 2013 here, and we're assuming a mixed-league environment. Don't worry about what the prices mean in a vacuum - they're only tools to compare the players with one another. Players at the same price tag are considered even.

I'll add comments as the night goes along, and I reserve the right to make rank changes over that time frame. Your intelligent

Draft Day Challenge, May 2

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

Daily baseball is all the rage in the fantasy sports world, so I will be covering the game a couple of times a week here at BaseballGuys.com. To that end, I’ve partnered with DraftDay.com to give all my wonderful followers, that’s you, the chance to play the

Closing Time: Jean Segura earns the promotion; Edward Mujica marks his territory

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Now that we're three weeks and change into the new season, it's only natural to look back at March rankings with some pangs of regret. That's what I'm doing with Milwaukee shortstop Jean Segura.

I wasn't too keen on Segura's fantasy prospects for one simple reason: I expected the Brewers to bury the kid in the order, and that figured to wipe out the running opportunities. There's a logical disincentive to the running game in the bottom National League positions, given how the pitchers will bunt in most situations under two outs.

Segura did start the year batting eighth in the lineup but it didn't last long: he was promoted to the No. 2 slot in the second series of the year. And he's proven to be a

Closing Time: Dan Haren bottoms out

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

I'm out of new excuses, how about you? When do things get better for Dan Haren?

The veteran righty was terrible in 2012, largely blamed on injury problems. Okay, that's understandable. Haren threw batting practice in spring training last month (6.39 ERA, seven homers over 25.1 innings), but hey, those games don't count.

When Haren dished up four taters in Cincinnati two weeks back, the apologists shrugged - the Reds are a strong ball club and their ballpark plays cozy on most nights. Haren was mediocre in his second turn (5 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 5 K), though he picked up a win.

And then came Tuesday's start against Miami, another step backwards. On paper, it was a delightful matchup: a start

Haren rocked again as Nationals fall to Miami - Dan Haren | WAS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Dan Haren allowed seven runs -- three earned -- in 4 1/3 innings Tuesday as the Nationals fell to the Marlins.

Closing Time: Dodgers and Padres have a brawl, Zack Greinke pays the price

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The Dodgers won the game. The Padres probably won the fight. And now fantasy owners are left to pick up the pieces.

The two So-Cal clubs were playing a nondescript 2-1 game in the bottom of the sixth Thursday night when everything exploded. Zack Greinke hit Carlos Quentin with a 3-2 pitch and Quentin took exception, charging the mound. Greinke busted his collarbone in in the ensuing melee and could miss 6-8 weeks. Quentin was ejected

Draft Day Challenge, April 11

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

Daily baseball is all the rage in the fantasy sports world, so I will be covering the game a couple of times a week here at BaseballGuys.com. To that end, I’ve partnered with DraftDay.com to give all my wonderful followers, that’s you, the chance to play the game on a daily basis. On Tuesday and Thursday’s here at the site, every week, I’ll be giving you some insight into the mind of The

Closing Time: Dan Haren throws batting practice

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Let's say this for Dan Haren, he faced the music. He sat in front of his locker, handled the questions, gave thoughtful answers. He said he felt good on the mound in his season debut.

Imagine how the Reds must have felt.

Cincinnati clocked four homers off Haren (six in all) in a 15-0 beat down Friday evening. Haren's always been gopher-prone, even in his salad days, but I don't see how anyone can be particularly optimistic about him right now. Haren's injury-plagued 2012 season came out to a 4.33 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 176.2 messy innings, and he was hit hard during

Mostly MLB Notes: A 2013 Season Preview

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

Editor’s note: I wanted to get this posted much earlier, but I had my first kid recently (well, technically my wife had her), so that’s my excuse for the delay.

National League East

1. Washington Nationals
2. Atlanta Braves (WILD CARD)
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. New York Mets
5. Miami Marlins

Comments/Fantasy Predictions: Both Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are top-15 fantasy players, while Dan Haren is a top-25 starting pitcher. Ryan Zimmerman proves to be a better pick than Evan Longoria, while Drew

Fantasy Baseball 2013: The Hate List

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

OK, so maybe "hate" isn't exactly the right word here. I'm fairly sure that no member of the Yahoo! fantasy staff actively hates anyone on the list below (except maybe Evans, with Hosmer. Something's up there). In fact, you might actually be able to field a middle-of-the-pack public league fantasy team from the names below. We're not discussing terrible players here.

But the draft-day price tags? Yup, those we hate. Here's a roster full of guys we're not buying...

[Baseball 2013 from Yahoo! Fantasy Sports: Join a league

Shuffle Up, Starting Pitchers: Exhuming McCarthy

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Alright, amigos, let's get to the prices on the mound. Here's how I rank the Top 90 arms or so for the 2013 season, 5x5.

Players at the same prices are considered even. Don't worry about the numbers in an isolated sense; what matters is how the players relate to one another. I reserve the right to tweak the list as the evening goes along. Win the debate, win the rank.

And remember the golden rule: a player doesn't gain 15-20 percent of bonus value simply because you roster him.

I'm sure there's more to the preamble but it's not coming to mind right now. I'll add commentary after the US and Mexico are done on the pitch. Make the jump, jumper.

$33 Clayton Kershaw
$32 Justin Verlander
$30

2013 Livin’ The Fantasy Draft

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

And the fantasy baseball drafts just keep on coming… Kay Adams and I hosted the Livin’ the Fantasy Draft for SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM87). The league consisted of myself, Kay, Kyle Elfrink, two producers (Drew Phelps and Phil Backert), and six listeners (one was unable to make it). That means we had a shallow 11 team, mixed league draft that we took part in. I had the #2 selection in the draft, and here is how my

The Value of Relief Pitching

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

 

I recently detailed how my team turned out in KFFL’s K -BAD League. As a review of that club will show, I waited in pitching and assembled what I believe to be a strong group of starting pitchers –

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,

K-BAD – 2013: Part III, BBGuys Team

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

The fellas over over at KFFL.com have a fantasy baseball league nicknamed K-BAD, for Baseball Analysis Draft, and for the 5th straight year I’m honored to have been asked to participate (the proceeding link takes you to an analysis by every participant on the league). In Part III of this three part review I’ll break down how my squad turned out.

C:

K-BAD – 2013: Part II, Rounds 15-28

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

Dan Haren' or find free 'dan haren' pictures via Wylio" href="http://www.wylio.com/credits/flickr/5971660680"> The peeps over over at KFFL.com have a fantasy baseball league nicknamed K-BAD, for Baseball Analysis Draft, and for the 5th straight year I’m honored to have been asked to participate (to see how others in the league constructed their clubs, click on the link above). In Part II of this three part series I will review selections made in rounds 15-28.

Pressing Questions: Los Angeles Angels

Source: Roto Arcade by Brandon Funston

This week, we continue 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...

For the second consecutive year, the Angels landed the offseason's biggest free agent prize. In signing slugger Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols, the team has committed over $220 million over the next five years. Clearly the Angels were undeterred by the Vernon wells experience – who'll make nearly $50 million over the next two seasons while riding the pine. Like their geographical neighbors, the Dodgers, money

Under the Greydar: Ross Detwiler

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

The Washington Nationals pitching rotation includes names such as Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Dan Haren. So who are we going to talk about today? Survey says: Ross Detwiler!

The post Under the Greydar: Ross Detwiler appeared first on Fantasy Baseball Blog at Razzball.com.

Edwin Jackson (P-CHC)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Pressing Questions: The Washington Nationals (Roto Arcade). The Nationals finished with both the best record (98-64) and run differential (+137) in baseball last year, and they did so while playing in a division that featured a Braves team that won 94 games. The Phillies disappointed greatly, but they were hardly a doormat either, so it wasn’t like they were beating up on a particularly weak NL East division. Washington led the National League with a 3.33 ERA and also scored the fifth most runs in the Senior Circuit, finishing second in homers despite playing in a home venue that ranked neutral in Park Factors. Their season had to be viewed as a huge success, although it ended in extreme disappointment, as they were bounced in the Wild

Dan Haren (P-WSH)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Pressing Questions: The Washington Nationals (Roto Arcade) - The Nationals finished with both the best record (98-64) and run differential (+137) in baseball last year, and they did so while playing in a division that featured a Braves team that won 94 games. The Phillies disappointed greatly, but they were hardly a doormat either, so it wasn’t like they were beating up on a particularly weak NL East division. Washington led the National League with a 3.33 ERA and also scored the fifth most runs in the Senior Circuit, finishing second in homers despite playing in a home venue that ranked neutral in Park Factors. Their season had to be viewed as a huge success, although it ended in extreme disappointment, as they were bounced in the

Pressing Questions: The Washington Nationals

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

The Nationals finished with both the best record (98-64) and run differential (+137) in baseball last year, and they did so while playing in a division that featured a Braves team that won 94 games. The Phillies disappointed greatly, but they were hardly a doormat either, so it wasn’t like they were beating up on a particularly weak NL East division. Washington led the National League with a 3.33 ERA and also scored the fifth most runs in the Senior Circuit, finishing second in homers despite playing in a home venue that ranked neutral in Park Factors. Their season had to be viewed as a huge success, although it ended in extreme disappointment, as they were bounced in the Wild Card round as the No. 1 seed thanks to blowing a

Dan Haren: (Hip) Passes Physical, Officially A National

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Dan Haren: Haren (hip) has passed his physical and his one-year deal with the Nationals is now official, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Haren passes physical, Nats deal is official - Dan Haren | WAS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Nationals signed RHP Dan Haren to a one-year, $13 million contract.

Winter Meetings Wrap Up

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

There were plenty of big names thrown around town, chief among them Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke, but in the end there were no earth shattering moves at the Baseball Winter Meetings. There were a handful of moves involving useful players however, so let’s take a moment to wrap up the meetings, and the week, by looking at some of that movement.

Joe Blanton, who I’ll have a write up on in the coming days, signed a two year, $15 million

Player Profile: Dan Haren

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

Dan Haren' or find free 'dan haren' pictures via Wylio" href="http://www.wylio.com/credits/flickr/6154865728">

Dan Haren is through as an effective big league hurler. That’s what you will hear from many who assess his failures in the 2012 season. I for one am not ready to throw Mr. Haren under the bus without analyzing his efforts in detail to see if he was indeed just as bad last season as some seem to think he was, or if there is still something that this dart throwing righty still has to offer in the fantasy game.

From 2005-2011 Dan Haren threw at least 215 innings each season, and

Dan Haren: Agrees with Nats

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Dan Haren: Haren has agreed to a one-year deal with the Nationals, MLB.com has confirmed. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Nats, Haren agree on one-year, $13M deal - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Nationals and Dan Haren have agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract, pending a physical.

Olney: Dan Haren dealing with hip injury - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the physical concern teams have with Dan Haren is not a bad back, but rather a bad hip.

Dan Haren (P-FA)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Padres | Going after Dan Haren. The San Diego Padres are interested in free-agent SP Dan Haren (Angels), though Haren may ... Source: http://www.kffl.com

Padres showing interest in Haren, Marcum - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that the Padres remain interested in signing Dan Haren, but "it's going to be a wait and see game."

Breaking Down the Cincinnati Reds' Starting Rotation for 2013

Source: Fake Teams by Alex Kantecki

On the last edition of Breaking Down the Staffs, I took a look at the Cubs' starting rotation for 2013. In the post, I closed with the following:

As of this writing, I'm hearing the Cubs are in the mix for Dan Haren, who the Angels are aggressively trying to trade before the end of the day. Needless to say, Haren would fit nicely on a team that needs starting pitching. In a down year, Haren went 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA, 4.00

Carlos Marmol: Deal For Haren Appears To Be Dead

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Carlos Marmol: The supposed deal that had Marmol going to the Angels in exchange for Dan Haren appears to be dead and the Angels have now officially declined Haren's option, making him a free agent, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Angels decline 2013 option on Dan Haren - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Angels declined RHP Dan Haren's $15.5 million option for 2013.

Dan Haren: Trade Appears To Be Off, Now Free Agent

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Dan Haren: The Haren for Carlos Marmol deal appears to be off, and multiple sources, such as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, are now reporting Haren is officially a free agent after the Angels officially declined his option. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Report: Haren-for-Marmol trade not happening - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

According to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, the Dan Haren-for-Carlos Marmol deal between the Angels and Cubs is not happening.

Report:Marmol agreed to waive no-trade clause - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

According to sources, Carlos Mamol agreed to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Angels in a potential Dan Haren deal, but the Cubs pulled the deal off the table.

Source: Haren for Marmol trade not happening - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

According to a Cubs' source, the Dan Haren for Carlos Marmol deal is not happening.

Dan Haren: Close To Being Traded To Cubs

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Dan Haren: The Angels are close to trading Haren to the Cubs for Carlos Marmol, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Dan Haren-for-Carlos Marmol trade not done - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Dan Haren for Carlos Marmol trade is not yet done.

Dan Haren: Traded to the Cubs

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Dan Haren: Haren was traded to the Cubs for Carlos Marmol on Friday, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Report: Marmol dealt to Angels for Dan Haren - Carlos Marmol | CHC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

According to reports, the Angels have acquired Carlos Marmol from the Cubs in exchange for Dan Haren.

Report: Cubs acquire Dan Haren for Marmol - Dan Haren | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

According to reports, the Cubs acquired have acquired Dan Haren in exchange for Carlos Marmol.

Fantasy Baseball Thoughts: David Wright, Josh Hamilton, Dan Haren and Others

Source: Fake Teams by Ray Guilfoyle

The Hot Stove season is about to get into full gear and one of the big names available is Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. Hamilton is coming off his best power season at the plate, hitting .285-.354-.577 with 43 HRs, 103 runs, 128 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. While he saw his ISO improve from .238 to a career high .292, his strikeout rate jumped from 17.3% to 25.5%. There have been plenty of articles written about his risk due to his checkered past, and that he is injury prone. What surprises me is that the baseball beat writers and national media seem to think that he will only get a 4-5 year deal this