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

Week Seven Waiver Report

Source: Fake Teams by AnthonyCalanni

Week Six Results

Kyle Kendrick - 14 IP, 4 ER, 12 hits, 10 Ks, WIN

A.J. Griffin - 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 hits, 2 walks, 4 Ks, LOSS

Jason Vargas - 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 10 hits, 2 walks, 7 Ks, ND

John Lackey - 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 hits, 1 walk, 8 Ks, LOSS

Jeff Locke - 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 hits, 3 walks, 3 Ks, ND

Zach McAllister - 13.2 IP, 2 ER, 13 hits, 4 walks, 9 Ks, WIN

The Streamer Report: Saturday's Starting Pitcher Targets

Source: Fake Teams by Ray Guilfoyle

The Streamer Report provides you with daily streaming starting pitcher selections everyday for those who like to stream starting pitchers in their fantasy leagues. The report will identify starting pitchers who are owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues, and who have a decent track record vs their opponent.

Before I get to Saturday's streamers, here is how my selections for Thursday's games fared:

John Lackey vs Twins - 7 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 ER, BB, 8 K, L

Bartolo Colon vs Indians - 4 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, L

Closing Time: Meeting Oswaldo Arcia, accepting Heath Bell

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The Twins weren't expected to be a decent ballclub in 2013. Vegas projected them for 68.5 wins, the basement of the AL Central. Target Field remains a draw and Joe Mauer still has that winning smile, but there wasn't much else going on here, at least on paper.

Oswaldo Arcia wasn't supposed to be in the 2013 mix, either. Although the young outfielder was highly regarded on prospect boards, most considered his ETA to be 2014. Arcia had just 69 games of Double-A experience on his resume prior to the new

Closing Time: Meet Oswaldo Arcia

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The Twins weren't expected to be a decent ballclub in 2013. Vegas projected them for 68.5 wins, the basement of the AL Central. Target Field remains a draw and Joe Mauer still has that winning smile, but there wasn't much else going on here, at least on paper.

Oswaldo Arcia wasn't supposed to be in the 2013 mix, either. Although the young outfielder was highly regarded on prospect boards, most considered his ETA to be 2014. Arcia had just 69 games of Double-A experience on his resume prior to the new season.

As we meander towards the Ides of May, Arcia and the Twins have a good thing

Draft Day Challenge, May 9

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

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. I’ll be giving you some insight into the mind of The Oracle as I will give you some of my best plays for the day – even if I’m willing to admit that daily games are a

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

Lackey goes six strong in return to Red Sox - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey held the Astros to one earned run over six innings Sunday in a 6-1 Red Sox victory.

Lackey (biceps) could be activated Sunday - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey (biceps) could be activated from the disabled list to start Sunday against the Astros.

Lackey could be back with Red Sox April 27 - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey (biceps) could join the Red Sox after just one rehab start, according to manager John Farrell.

Lackey (biceps) on track for rehab start Mon. - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey (biceps) is on track to make a minor league rehab start Monday with Double-A Portland.

Lackey (biceps) to resume throwing Tuesday - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey (biceps) will resume throwing Tuesday.

Lackey (biceps) will resume throwing Tuesday - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey (biceps) will resume throwing Tuesday.

John Lackey: Lands On DL

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

John Lackey: Lackey, who landed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday, experienced tightness in his right biceps after making 15 throws Tuesday, WEEI.com reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

John Lackey: (Biceps) Lands on DL

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

John Lackey: Lackey was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, the Boston Herald reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Red Sox place Lackey (bicep) on 15-day DL - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Red Sox placed RHP John Lackey on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 7, with a right bicep strain.

MRI on Lackey's arm shows no major damage - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino said Monday that an MRI on John Lackey's right arm showed no structural damge.

John Lackey: (Biceps) MRI On Tap

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

John Lackey: Lackey (biceps) will undergo an MRI examination Sunday, the Boston Herald's Scott Lauber reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

John Lackey will undergo MRI on arm Sunday - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey will undergo an MRI on his injured right arm Sunday morning in Boston.

John Lackey leaves game with arm injury - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

John Lackey left Saturday's game against the Blue Jays with an apparent arm injury.

John Lackey: Saturday Start on Tap

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

John Lackey: Lackey (elbow) will start Saturday's preseason game against Tampa Bay, Comcast SportsNet New England reports. The plan calls for Lackey to throw two innings or 35 pitches. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Pressing Questions: The Boston Red Sox

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The 2011 Red Sox crash landed in the final frames; chicken and beer seldom break anyone's fall. The 2012 Olde Town Team was a beat-the-traffic special, dead in the water before high tide.

Last year's messy results speak for themselves. Boston finished dead last in the AL East (69-93), its first basement tape since 1992. The offense didn't score (734 runs, worst showing in two decades), the pitchers couldn't get people out (4.72 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 190 homers allowed), and too many players couldn't stay healthy. If you came to Fenway Park in the summer, you were there for the park, the atmosphere or the opponent. (I attended one game and spent three innings in the concession area talking Fantasy Football with my buddy Cuozzo.

John Lackey (elbow) could return this season - John Lackey | BOS

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine hasn't ruled out the possibility that John Lackey (elbow) could pitch in a game before the season is over.

John Lackey (P-BOS)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

John Lackey criticized by Red Sox writer for ‘double fisting’ beers after Boston loss (Big League Stew). That a Boston Red Sox player dared to enjoy an oat soda or two in this post fried chicke-and-beer saga world is not a surprise. That injured pitcher John Lackey was the one whose beer drinking was spotlighted does not come as a shock, either. What is a surprise is that it took all the way until mid-August for a Red Sox media member to attempt a controversial spin on consumption in the postgame clubhouse. Here's Joe Haggerty of Comcast Sports Net New England , following Boston's 5-3 loss in Cleveland on Thursday night: Lackey was so busted up after the latest defeat that he was strutting around the clubhouse with a can of Bud

Closing Time: Replacing Jacoby Ellsbury; waiting on Adam Wainwright

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

We've already lived through and killed off The Curse of the Bambino. But for 2012, the Red Sox have to deal with The Curse of the Andino. It could be a long season on Yawkey Way. Forget playoff contention; this could easily be a team that stumbles around in third or fourth place.

Sorry, Jacoby Ellsbury owners. You're caught in the collateral damage here. We'll try to help you get through it.

You remember how Boston's season ended in 2011, a September choke job for the ages punctuated by a bunch of losses to Buck Showalter's plucky Orioles. Robert Andino was the signature

Closing Time: Sorting through Jacoby Ellsbury fill-ins; be patient with Adam Wainwright

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

We've already lived through and killed off The Curse of the Bambino. But for 2012, the Red Sox have to deal with The Curse of the Andino. It could be a long season on Yawkey Way. Forget playoff contention; this could easily be a team that stumbles around in third or fourth place.

Sorry, Jacoby Ellsbury owners. You're caught in the collateral damage here. We'll try to help you get through it.

You remember how Boston's season ended in 2011, a September choke job for the ages punctuated by a bunch of losses to Buck Showalter's plucky Orioles. Robert Andino was the signature

Closing Time: Looking for Jacoby Ellsbury fill-ins

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

We've already lived through and killed off The Curse of the Bambino. But for 2012, the Red Sox have to deal with The Curse of the Andino. It could be a long season on Yawkey Way.

Sorry, Jacoby Ellsbury fantasy owner. You're caught in the collateral damage here. We'll try to help you get through it.

You remember how Boston's season ended in 2011, a September choke job for the ages punctuated by a bunch of losses to Buck Showalter's plucky Orioles. Robert Andino was the signature player for Baltimore's

Closing Time: Jacoby Ellsbury is latest Boston casualty

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

We've already lived through and killed off The Curse of the Bambino. But for 2012, the Red Sox have to deal with The Curse of the Andino. It could be a long season on Yawkey Way.

Sorry, Jacoby Ellsbury fantasy owner. You're caught in the collateral damage here. We'll try to help you get through it.

You remember how Boston's season ended in 2011, a September choke job for the ages punctuated by a bunch of losses to Buck Showalter's plucky Orioles. Robert Andino was the signature player for Baltimore's late-season run, a nondescript, high-energy infielder who was yapping constantly during the final series of the year. He had the game-wining hit in Game 162, a soft liner to that eluded the grasp of

Worst Fielders in Baseball

Source: Fantasy Baseball Dugout by ballparkbob34

E6: Yuniesky Betancourt is baseball's worst fielder

Earlier, we listed the best defensive players in baseball, according to Bill James’ Runs Saved analysis.  Today, we look at the other side–the worst fielders in baseball.

James’s analysis looks at the worst fielders at each position, according to runs given up compared to the average fielder at the position.  This is a compilation of statistics for the past three years.

Baseball’s Worst Defensive

Pressing Questions: The Boston Red Sox

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The collapse of the 2011 Red Sox is a well-documented story, so I won't waste a lot of words with the intro. The season started with one vision and it ended with fried chicken, along with a 6-18 nightmare in September. The Olde Towne Team somehow found a way to blow a nine-game wild-card lead in the final month. No playoff baseball in The Hub.

A handful of big names jetted out of town immediately after the season. Closer Jonathan Papelbon cashed in with the Phillies, GM Theo Epstein hooked up with the Cubs, and manager Terry Francona made a beeline for the ESPN broadcast booth. Francona's dugout

Happy Thanksgiving - and Obligatory MLB Poll

Source: Fake Teams by Michael Barr

A hearty Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the RotoHardball staff. We wish you full bellies and great memories with your family and friends.

Here's hoping among the many things you are thankful for includes a league championship!

Poll Which MLB Player Has the Most to be Thankful For (2012 Salary)? Vernon Wells ($26m)
Carlos Lee ($19m)
Alfonso Soriano ($19m)
Carlos Zambrano ($19m)
Barry Zito ($19m)
Jason Bay ($18.1m)
John Lackey ($15.9m)

  8 votes | Results

John Lackey: Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

John Lackey: Lackey will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his pitching elbow, Gordon Edes of ESPN reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Opening Time: Nothing much to stream on Monday

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

It's a curious slate coming our way Monday; there are plenty of fantasy-useful starters heading to the mound, but just about every worthwhile play is someone that's owned in the majority of Yahoo! leagues. In other words, it's a solid slate for name-brand arms, but it's not a friendly card for the streamers.

Probable Pitchers for Monday, Sept. 26
1. Cliff Lee (at Atl): Philly could use shot of confidence
2. Doug Fister (Cle): A machine since trade (7 wins, 2.02, 0.90, silly K/BB numbers)
3. Jaime Garcia (at Hou):