Josh Hamilton: Drops To No. 7 Hole In Lineup

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Josh Hamilton: Hamilton will be dropped to the No. 7 hole Wednesday against the Mariners. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Mostly MLB Notes: Hyping Corey Kluber, loving Giancarlo Stanton and offering an apology

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

Corey Kluber is a former fourth round pick with a career 4.42 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in the minor leagues. He posted a 5.14 ERA and 1.49 WHIP as a rookie with Cleveland last season, although that did come with a 54:18 K:BB ratio over 63.0 innings. In 2013, he’s quietly become interesting. Over his last five starts (not including one in which he lasted just two innings thanks to a rain delay), Kluber has a 2.31 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with a 32:5 K:BB ratio over 35.0 innings. While Kluber’s last start came at home against a struggling Nationals team, the other four included @Tex, @NYY, @Bos and at home against Detroit, making the stretch all the more impressive. He has a lack of pedigree and is 27 years old, but if you

Shuffle Up: Wil Myers finally gets the call; two Cargos rule the world

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The outfield is the fun place to do some roto shopping, with something for every budget and discerning eye. And from a sheer volume perspective, it's the most important offensive position to negotiate. Let's dig into this expansive area.

What we're doing is ranking the players for expected 5x5 roto value the rest of the season. What's happened to this point is merely an audition. Don't worry about the prices in a vacuum; what really matters is how the commodities relate to one another on this list. Players at the same cost are considered even.

I reserve the right to tweak this list in the first 24 hours of debut, and I'll add comments shortly. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is most welcome, but be

RCL Update: June 11

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

That's a Shame (Bold Predictions) is the new overall leader after gaining in the standings for the sixth consecutive week, dropping the mauledbypandas team (Josh Hamilton's Fake Stache) down to second. Both teams drafted [player]Miguel Cabrera[/player] with the number 1 pick back in March. That's a Shame followed Miggy with [player]Adam Jones[/player] and [player]Jay Bruce[/player], and grabbed [player]Adam Wainwright[/player] in the fifth round for their first pitcher. [player]Everth Cabrera[/player] in the 19th has given great value, hitting .299 with 31 runs, 24 RBI, and 28 stolen bases. TAS almost took top team honors for the third time this

Head-to-Head Risers and Fallers for Week 11

Source: Fake Teams by Alex Kantecki

Risers

Carlos Quentin

The much maligned Padres outfielder may never be owned by anyone in the Zack Greinke fan club, but Quentin -- still available in 78% of Yahoo! leagues -- is proving his worth in points leagues since his slap on the wrist suspension a month ago. With 106 points in the Official Fake Teams Head-to-Head Points League, Quentin has proven more worthy than Josh Hamilton, Austin Jackson and Michael Morse. And he's done so with less playing time --

Ryan Harvey (OF-COL)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Cubs prospect Javier Baez hits four home runs, thanks fans at least 128 times on Twitter (Big League Stew) - Don't look for flying saucers in the shaky video, though you might find what looks like a UFO. It's probably the fourth home run of the game hit for Daytona on Monday night by Chicago Cubs top prospect Javier Baez, who tied a Class A Florida State record. Baez went 4 for 4 with seven RBIs, equaling a former Cubs prospect — Ryan Harvey — who was the first player in FSL history to hit four homers in the same game back in 2006. The Florida State League is 94 years old. By the count of SABR , it's the 129th time since 1889 that a professional player — including North America, Japan, Cuba and South America — hit at least four

Mostly MLB Notes: Falling For Francisco Liriano (yet again)

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

I really should know better than to write about (and recommend) Francisco Liriano, but I just can’t help myself. Since returning from injury (to his non-pitching arm), he has 47 strikeouts over 36.0 innings, having yet to allow a home run. His 3.50 BB/9 rate is shaky, but it’s also possible his career could be resurrected simply by moving to the National League. In fact, if you remove his one start against an AL team this year, Liriano would have a 0.87 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. That’s a small five-start sample, and he’s a candidate to break down with an injury or implode in performance at any time, but there’s also a lot to like here. Liriano’s average velocity on his slider (86.4 mph) is his highest since

Josh Hamilton: (Back) Starting Friday

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Josh Hamilton: Hamilton (back) is in the Angels' lineup Friday against the Astros, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Josh Hamilton (back) in lineup Friday as DH - Josh Hamilton | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Josh Hamilton (back) is in Friday's lineup as the designated hitter.

Josh Hamilton out with back spasms again - Josh Hamilton | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Josh Hamilton was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to back spasms.

Josh Hamilton: Back Spasms Crop Up Again

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Josh Hamilton: Hamilton was scratched from Thursday's lineup with back spasms. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Josh Hamilton: (Back) In Wednesday's Lineup

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Josh Hamilton: Hamilton (back) is in the Angels' lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Josh Hamilton (back) returns to Halos' lineup - Josh Hamilton | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Josh Hamilton (back) is in the Angels' starting lineup on Wednesday night against the Dodgers.

Josh Hamilton scratched due to back spasms - Josh Hamilton | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Josh Hamilton was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to back spasms.

Josh Hamilton: Scratched With Sore Back

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Josh Hamilton: Hamilton was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with a sore back, Angels broadcaster Victor Rojas reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Draft Day Challenge, May 23

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

The Fantasy Freak Show Podcast: Gronk talk, gaga for Goldy and selling Zim

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Over the course of roughly 45 days, it's stunning how different the fantasy landscape appears. Alleged franchise cornerstones Matt Kemp, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and R.A. Dickey, once thought to be indispensable, have underachieved. Meanwhile, afterthoughts Manny Machado, Starling Marte, Jean Segura and Shelby Miller, who were nothing more than late-round Hail Marys, are keeping many in contention.

On this week's insightful program, Brad Evans and Brandon Funston redrafted the season, fearlessly forecasting what slow/hot starts in Fantasyland will continue. Also on this week's

Freak Show Friday: Rebooting the mission at 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Over the course of roughly 45 days, it's stunning how different the fantasy landscape appears. Alleged franchise cornerstones Matt Kemp, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and R.A. Dickey, once thought to be indispensable, have underachieved. Meanwhile, afterthoughts Manny Machado, Starling Marte, Jean Segura and Shelby Miller, who were nothing more than late-round Hail Marys, are keeping many in contention.

On this week's insightful program, Brad Evans and Brandon Funston are redrafting the season, fearlessly forecasting what slow/hot starts in Fantasyland will continue. Also on this week's

Mostly MLB Notes: Albert Pujols’ decline, Carlos Santana’s emergence and examining David Price

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

We held a mid-season draft Monday, and I ended up taking Albert Pujols with the 19th pick. Judging by Yahoo’s updated rest of season rankings, I guess this could be considered something of a reach. I’m not necessarily going to argue against that, but it’s remarkable someone who was a unanimous top-three pick last year and was generally considered a top-10 pick this year is now a

Josh Hamilton: Will Start Tuesday

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Josh Hamilton: Hamilton (illness) is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

RCL Update: May 14

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

Mauledbypandas (Josh Hamilton's Fake Stache - Cracking The WHIP) is on top of the world for another week. "The only way that Member's Only jacket isn't hanging in my closet come October is if I get bored and move on to fantasy football," he was heard to exclaim this week. Of course, he's claiming he was misquoted. "Bl@#p*@g Vin! He'll write anything to boost readership." Meanwhile, the Ottoneu Bay Stormtroopers (RCL On PEDs) became the latest challenger, jumping from 9th to 2nd. The Troopers lead the RCL with 37 wins, but they are well ahead of the pace for Games Started. Check out the

Fantasy do-over: Auditing results from an in-season experts draft

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

At the risk of tearing down the entire "fantasy expert" scam, we begin today with an admission: Occasionally, fantasy gurus get stuff wrong.

It's rare, but it happens. Back in March, it's possible that some of us led you to believe Roy Halladay was salvageable and that Adam Dunn was not terrible at baseball. We apologize for these misunderstandings.

With six weeks of MLB data in the books, it's time to reassess the player pool. We've assembled a group of 10 experts for an in-season baseball draft. The league settings are fairly standard: 5x5, mixed player pool, CI & MI, head-to-head, weekly lineups. Nothing too exotic.

[You can still own Paul Goldschmidt! It's not too late! Sign-up today for

Josh Hamilton: Leaves With Light-Headedness

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Josh Hamilton: Hamilton left Monday night's game early with light-headedness, CBS's Scott Miller reports. He had a sinus issue and a respiratory infection. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Freak Show Friday: Sinning Angels, Ball bashing and mucho Machado

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Already 34 games into the fantasy baseball season, Southern California's supposed fearsome twosome of Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols have slowly crushed owner souls. Currently ranking No. 643 and No. 220 in Yahoo! Fantasy, the paltry pair have left their investors feeling jobbed.

Oakland's Adam Rosales can empathize.

On this week's investigative episode, fantasy sleuths Brad Evans and Scott Pianowski attempted to explain the Angels' ineptitude and decide edwhether buying low will lead to future riches. Also on this week's info-rich program, we partied shirtless with Rob Gronkowski, detailed the Montee Ball fascination, deciphered

Freak Show Friday: Fielding your questions at 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Already 34 games into the fantasy baseball season, Southern California's supposed fearsome twosome of Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols have slowly crushed owner souls. Currently ranking No. 643 and No. 220 in Yahoo! Fantasy, the paltry pair have left their investors feeling jobbed.

Oakland's Adam Rosales can empathize.

On this week's investigative episode, fantasy sleuths Brad Evans and Scott Pianowski will attempt to explain the Angels' ineptitude and decide whether buying low will lead to future riches. Also on this week's info-rich program, we'll party shirtless with Rob Gronkowski, detail the Montee Ball fascination, decipher

Baseball Daily Dose: California Love

Source: Rotoworld Baseball Articles

Nate Grimm wonders if this is the start of Josh Hamilton's resurgence, looks at Scott Kazmir's big day and checks in on Zack Greinke's progress in Friday's Daily Dose.

Shuffle Up: Carlos Gomez, the real deal

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When it comes to fake baseball, the outfield is where the fun is. The first couple of rounds will always include some of these stat-grabbing giants, and yet the waiver wire in an average mixer consistently offers something for the discerning shopper. Add it all up and there's a lot to digest.

The prices you see in this piece are roughly how I rank the roto-eligible outfielders going forward. What we've seen to this point is merely an audition; if you want a list of the top players to this point, there are plenty of places you can access that.

Don't obsess over the prices in a vacuum: what really matters is how the players relate to one another. Assume a 5x5 scoring format, as always, and players at the same price

Shuffle Up: Carlos Gomez, the read deal

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When it comes to fake baseball, the outfield is where the fun is. The first couple of rounds will always include some of these stat-grabbing giants, and yet the waiver wire in an average mixer consistently offers something for the discerning shopper. Add it all up and there's a lot to digest.

The prices you see in this piece are roughly how I rank the roto-eligible outfielders going forward. What we've seen to this point is merely an audition; if you want a list of the top players to this point, there are plenty of places you can access that.

Don't obsess over the prices in a vacuum: what really matters is how the players relate to one another. Assume a 5x5 scoring format, as always, and players at the same price

Closing Time: Juan Francisco making noise; Heath Bell saving games

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

When Juan Francisco hits 'em, they generally stay hit. That dude leaves no doubt.

Francisco drilled an eighth-inning grand slam over the right field wall in Cincinnati on Wednesday, blowing open the game. The homer was his fifth of the season, in 79 plate appearances — and most of them have been launched.

Remember this thing, off the upper-deck facade in Miami? And

RCL Update: May 7

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

Mauledbypandas (Josh Hamilton’s Fake Stache – Cracking The WHIP) has a little breathing room at the top after another great week from his hitters. Their 68 RBI led all teams, as 16 different hitters drove in runs. The Fake Stache now has 266 on the season, five more than second-best The Good The Vlad The Utley (Myrtle’s Acres), and 80 over the RCL-average.

The post RCL Update: May 7 appeared first on Fantasy Baseball Blog at Razzball.com.

Hitters with more extra-base hits than Josh Hamilton

Source: Fake Teams by Kenneth Arthur

The Angels signed Josh Hamilton away from the Rangers with much fanfare and speculation that LA's time was starting just as Texas' time was ending. Texas faced uncertainty in replacing hitters like Hamilton and Mike Napoli in the lineup, and rolling out guys that simply don't normally show that "MVP dominance" that a once-in-awhile player like Hamilton possesses.

Predicting baseball is dumb.

With Hamilton listed as the every day centerfielder for the

Fantasy Baseball Points Leagues: Josh Hamilton Coming Up Shorter Than a Midget on its Knees

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

Greeting all! Tis I again, Tehol Beddict, your loyal and humble servant, here to help you out with all of life's problems, and big problem many of you have right now is owning my boy Ham-bone AKA Josh Hamilton. The travesty that is the Angels 2013 season continues to baffle even baseball's greatest minds. "Did it baffle Tehol Beddict the Great?" you might ask your friends and family, and the answer would be no. It's well know that I hold the powers of Extrasensory perception (ESP to the laypersons), and one night while smoking mass quantities of peyote laced with the purest Colombian powders on God's beautiful earth, I had a vision. A vision of the Angels having an impotently insignificant season a la

Fantasy baseball Trade Tips: Sell B.J. Upton, hold Josh Hamilton

Source: SI.com

There are few things more disappointing than when your favorite hole-in-the-wall deli undergoes a change in management. Invariably, the new owners come in, clean the place up and try to offer some new menu items with most cost-efficient ingredients. While the food tastes fine, it's not the same as before -- you're looking for that certain flavor that the grilled chicken breast acquires after sitting in the deli case for nine hours. But still you go, time after disappointing time, hoping that the refurbished deli rediscovers its greasy mojo.

Bear or Bull: Harvey Two-Face

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

It just so happens that every player that I've covered so far, Edwin Encarnacion, RA Dickey, and Josh Hamilton all have nicknames. Well, Robert-Allen Dickey doesn't, but he has Dickeyface (look at this one too!), which is just as good. But Encarnacion has E5, Hamilton has Hambone, and even I have JW1. Now, the streak has been broken with the Bear/Bull spotlight directed upon Matt Harvey. With the way he's pitched so far, his nick status needs a change. I've heard of several that really

DraftKings – Doubling Down On Yuni B

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

Razzball Nation! DraftKings is back with another RAZZBALL EXCLUSIVE Play with Rudy [and Nick] contest going on this Friday.  Just like last week, there's a cap of only 40 entries (2 per person), and with an entry fee of only $5 and a chance to win $20,000 it's got more fantasy upside than Nick on the North Pole with a compass.  Wait what happens on the North Pole with a compass?  Nick, you live like a mile from there right? The winner gets entry into DraftKings huge $100,000 MLB Spring Fling were the top winner gets that large chunk of $20 grand cheddar.  You could cover like a million Packers fans' heads with that.  Spots 2-10 get $5 back so there's a

Mostly MLB Notes: Buying Matt Cain and examining what’s wrong with Eric Hosmer

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

Matt Cain entered this season having allowed 129 homers over 1,536.2 innings (0.76 HR/9). This year, he’s already served up nine home runs over 34.2 innings. Put differently, he’s allowed the same amount of long balls this month as he did all of the 2011 season, which spanned 221.2 innings. Cain has never had a season in which his HR/FB% was higher than 8.4. That number currently sits at 19.1% in 2013. While some could view this as regression hitting hard, Cain’s previous sample was too big to be written off as a fluke, and it’s worth pointing out just two of his six starts this year have come at home. Cain’s fastball velocity is down slightly in the early going (about 0.5 mph less compared to last

RCL Update: April 30

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

It is the end of April, so that must mean the Master Standings have arrived! Remember last season how embarrassed you were to finish 380th? Now that's in the top half of the field! Congratulations! Mauledbypandas (Josh Hamilton's Fake Stache - Cracking The WHIP) and Pops (Sin City Sinners - Modesto Nuts) are at the top of the heap with 105 points after four weeks of action.

The post RCL Update: April 30 appeared first on Fantasy Baseball Blog at Razzball.com.

Bear or Bull: Throw Me A Hambone

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

Surprised that I showed up with a post today? I'm sure most of you thought I was still writing my 30-page thesis on R.A. Dickey. What can I say? It was more a labor of love than anything else. And that doesn't mean I treat other players differently. In fact, if I had children, I would love all of them equally. Except Hunter, he's just so bad-ass cause he knows how to drive stick and already has a brown belt in taekwondo, all at the age of three. That's my number one seed son! Maybe I messed up by naming his sister Samardzija, because I dunno, ef her childhood I guess. But like I said, this post will not be

Over/Under: Earth, Wind and Mire, how smelly is Matt Kemp’s funk?

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.

What fading ‘star’ will yield more fantasy value come year’s end: Josh Hamilton or Matt Kemp?

Dalton – KEMP. I liked him far more entering the year, and at least he has an excuse for a slow start since he's coming off shoulder surgery. Kemp is also three years younger and isn't the one who left an extreme hitter's park.

Brandon – KEMP. If I was drafting today, I'd still take Kemp ahead of Hamilton. The difference is the speed factor, which remains a a key

Hamilton dropped to fifth in order Monday - Josh Hamilton | ANA

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Josh Hamilton was dropped to fifth in the order for Monday's game against the Rangers.

Worry Meter

Source: Fake Teams by AnthonyCalanni

It is officially worry time! I know that most fantasy owners are spazzing out about at least one member of their team, even though the season is only three weeks old. But, some things just aren't worth the fretting. I will break down, by team, the slow starters and rank how much I would worry about them when it comes to fantasy. Level One on the meter is the lowest amount of worry, while Level Ten is the highest amount.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Josh Hamilton
Worry Level 3 - Hamilton has not looked very good for his new club early in 2013. He has 2 home runs, but is batting under

Rankings Analysis: Week 3

Source: Fake Teams by Brian Creagh

Hitters

Studs Doing Their Thing

Robinson Cano (998)

Billy Butler (923)

Josh Hamilton (824)

Starlin Castro (508)

Nothing much of note with these guys. Slow starts hurt their Week 1 Rankings, but they have returned to form in Week 2. It looks like Hamilton put his slow start behind him faster than I anticipated and it's just in time as the

Fantasy Beat – Early Season Surprises

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

 

Justin Fensterman and Trevor Ray discuss some key players that have started off the season really hot, but tell you what you can really expect from them the rest of the season.

NBA: Streaming players for the fantasy playoffs?

MLB:

Fantasy Beat – End One Fantasy Season, Begin Another!

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

For all of you fantasy basketball players, Justin and Trevor talk about players that you can still find on your waiver wire who can help you win your fantasy basketball league. The guys also recap the first week of the 2013 MLB season and talked about which players came up huge. The guys make some serious predictions.

NBA: Carl Laundry, Derrick Favors, Kyle O’Quinn

MLB:

What to Make of Josh Hamilton

Source: Fake Teams by FantasyNinja8

Josh Hamilton is a polarizing figure in today's game and for good reason. Dubbed "The Natural" as a Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays' prospect, Hamilton was destined to be the next superstar in the game. Although it took a little longer than expected and didn't happen the way we all thought that it would, Hamilton is now one of the biggest superstars in the major leagues culminating in a 5 Year/$125 million contract to play on one of baseball's biggest stages with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Narrative aside, I've often times found myself to

Shuffle Up: Choose your sophomore, Mike Trout vs. Bryce Harper

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The outfield is the fun place to go shopping in fantasy baseball. Power, sure, you'll find it here. Plenty of guys run. A few players do everything. And the two most exciting young position players in the game happen to reside here, too. Everyone likes picking out their outfield.

The goal today is to rank all the mixed-league worthy outfielders going forward in 5x5 fantasy value, 2013 only. Don't read too much into the dollar values in a vacuum - they're merely used as a tool to compare players. And when commodities share the same price, they're considered even. (Players on the DL and minor-league prospects are not eligible for ranking.)

I reserve the right to tweak this list as the day goes along,

Fantasy Baseball: Top Outfielders – 1 To 15

Source: Fantasy Baseball Dugout by BeeZee

Whether you play fantasy baseball for free, or participate in a fantasy baseball money league, you need to find great outfielders. Here is our list of the top 15 picks:

1. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

Braun had over 30 HR, 100 RBI and a .300 BA for the fifth time each in six seasons, and also stole over 30 bases for the second straight year.

2. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Trout was one steal short of becoming the third player in MLB history to have 30 homers and 50 steals in a season. He also hit .326 and his 129 runs scored were

Empty Wallet: The All-Avoid Team, 2013

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The good cops have had their say, the optimistic spins are already out there. Today I'm here to play bad cop, throw some red ink around. Let's get ready for the Anti-Value team, the names to avoid.

There's a sneaky industry secret when it comes to target and avoid lists; the second group generally gets the short end of the stick. It's common for many a fantasy pundit to

Fantasy Baseball: All-Value team, 2013

Source: Roto Arcade by Brandon Funston

They say timing is everything. That might be giving "timing" a little bit too much credit. But at least in the case of fantasy baseball drafts, it's spot on. When 2013 comes to an end, you can count on this page to be top-heavy with players that not only had successful fantasy campaigns, but were also afterthoughts on draft day. With that in mind, here's an All-Value team for 2013 - again, it's all about the timing (ADP).

First Base - Chris Davis, Baltimore (Yahoo! ADP 160, Y! '12 rank 89): Players that can hit 30 home

Player Profile: Nelson Cruz

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

A forgotten player, that’s what we could call the Rangers’ Nelson Cruz. A power hitter that used to have speed, Cruz has lost his ability to steal bases due to continuing leg issues, and