This week's results featured a lot of bidding on Nomar Mazara, Kevin Jepsen, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Grilli. Commentary will be light this week.
*Reminder - the week starts at 11:00 a.m. this week with the Patriots Day game at Boston. Set your lineups early.
NFBC Main Event
| Team | Player | Bid | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Blvd. | Kevin Jepsen (MR) | 181 | 153 |
| CC's Desperados | Aledmys Diaz (SS) | 67 | 30 |
| Money 2 | Jason Grilli (MR) | 66 | 15 |
| Ninja squirrel | Tony Wolters (C) | 41 | 23 |
| Ninja squirrel | Dae-Ho Lee (1B) | 38 | |
| Doctor Who | Yunel Escobar (3B) | 37 | 16 |
| Strike Force ME | Kike Hernandez (2B) | 31 | 28 |
| Money 2 | John Jaso (1B) | 26 | 16 |
| CC's Desperados | Marlon Byrd (RF) | 26 | |
| El Scorchos Main | Jake Peavy (SP) | 25 | |
| Canadian Beavers | Chad Bettis (SP) | 19 | 7 |
| HARRY CRUMB | J.J. Hardy (SS) | 18 | 16 |
| Ozville Flying Monkeys | Trevor May (MR) | 14 | 1 |
| Rock Me Amadeus? | Jhoulys Chacin (SP) | 11 | |
| Canadian Beavers | Logan Verrett (MR) | 10 | |
| Ozville Flying Monkeys | Felipe Rivero (MR) | 8 | |
| Doctor Who | Rafael Ortega (CF) | 8 | |
| Ninja squirrel | Robbie Erlin (SP) | 7 | |
| Money 2 | A.J. Ellis (C) | 7 | |
| Canadian Beavers | Ryan Raburn (LF) | 2 | |
| El Scorchos Main | Tony Zych (MR) | 1 | |
| El Scorchos Main | Jose Ramirez (LF) | 1 | |
| Team Keikoan | Dioner Navarro (C) | 1 |
Because I spent big last week on Nomar Mazara, my bids weren't as aggressive this week on a class of players that I'm not entirely sold on. I put in a "keep them honest" bid on Kevin Jepsen, which finished second surprisingly enough. I guess I achieved my stated purpose.
Peavy has two home starts this week, albeit one against Arizona, and the other at home against the Marlins (and Jose Fernandez). Nonetheless, I'm buying into the team, the catcher and the possible run support against Archie Bradley for the first start. Zych is a stash for a week or two until I find another SP I would prefer to roster, or until he works himself into a more important role. Ramirez qualifies at 2B/SS/OF, and surely was a better use of a roster spot than Eduardo Escobar, who has sat the last two games.
NFBC Online (Beat Jeff Erickson 1)
| Team | Player | Bid | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffey2016 | Nomar Mazara (RF) | 576 | 388 |
| Team Meller | Trevor May (MR) | 122 | |
| Team Duncan | Kevin Jepsen (MR) | 121 | 75 |
| Water on mars | Jeremy Hazelbaker (CF) | 111 | 13 |
| Team Meller | Koji Uehara (MR) | 62 | |
| Griffey2016 | Nick Ahmed (SS) | 55 | 7 |
| Sack & Chip I | Christian Vazquez (C) | 13 | |
| Something Something Wheel | Chase Anderson (SP) | 11 | |
| THEHAZELCHARLIES - TUES 8 | Aledmys Diaz (SS) | 7 | |
| the dirty pearls | Leonys Martin (CF) | 6 | 4 |
| Had to be MOO | Brandon Moss (RF) | 5 | 3 |
| THEHAZELCHARLIES - TUES 8 | Kike Hernandez (2B) | 3 | 3 |
| Something Something Wheel | Brad Miller (SS) | 3 | |
| THEHAZELCHARLIES - TUES 8 | Kevin Gausman (MR) | 1 | |
| Sack & Chip I | Logan Verrett (MR) | 1 | |
| Sack & Chip I | Omar Infante (2B) | 1 | |
| Something Something Wheel | Tony Wolters (C) | 1 |
And you can see why I was glad to get Mazara last week in the Main, before his price spiraled out of control. I found it interesting that May cost more than Jepsen in this league yet went unopposed - such are the vagaries of the 12-team league vs. the 15-team league.
Anderson has two starts this week against the Twins and Phillies. I wasn't terribly high on him entering the season, but the Brewers obviously were targeting him in the Jean Segura trade (no, Aaron Hill wasn't the highlight of the package), he's pitched reasonably well so far and his two opponents are about as good as you can get this side of Atlanta. Miller is off to a rough start, but I value him more than Alexei Ramirez, who I cut. And Wolters is a direct temporary replacement for Todd Hundley. He might end up stinking, but he's got three stolen bases and the Rockies play in Cincinnati (vs. Dan Straily, Alfredo Simon and then a real pitcher in Raisel Iglesias) and then three games in Coors against Dodgers pitchers not named Kershaw.
NFBC Online (Beat Jeff Erickson and Vlad Sedler)
| Team | Player | Bid | Runner-Up |
| The Summer Of George OLC 2 | Nomar Mazara (RF) | 657 | 357 |
| Miserable Bastards | Mallex Smith (CF) | 140 | |
| ScorchedGut | Kevin Jepsen (MR) | 129 | 119 |
| Miserable Bastards | Drew Pomeranz (SP) | 111 | |
| Jobu's Heroes | Trea Turner (SS) | 101 | 19 |
| Captiva Fox | Josh Tomlin (SP) | 44 | |
| Jobu's Heroes | Joe Mauer (1B) | 39 | |
| Royale with Cheese | Kike Hernandez (2B) | 37 | |
| Mad Russians | Eduardo Rodriguez (SP) | 9 | |
| ScorchedGut | Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) | 8 | |
| ScorchedGut | Jeremy Hazelbaker (CF) | 6 | 1 |
| Paps Playboys | J.J. Hardy (SS) | 1 | |
| Paps Playboys | Chase Anderson (SP) | 1 | |
| Paps Playboys | Rajai Davis (CF) | 1 |
Vlad and I needed to get a third closer after whiffing on Atlanta and Toronto in the draft. Even though I have my reservations about Jepsen's skills, as Chris Liss likes to say, "... possession is 9/10th's of the law...." I don't think Glen Perkins is going to come back quickly - he's had durability issues the last two year, has lost some velocity and dealt with shoulder problems earlier in his career. If Jepsen can get us 5-7 saves while Perkins is out, I'll be perfectly happy. Salty steps in for Hundley, and then maybe for Travis d'Arnaud if his injury ends up being significant. Hazelbaker is basically a stash - what if the Cardinals have once again conjured up a useful player out of thin air? Would you be that surprised at this point?
Mixed LABR
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Aledmys Diaz awarded to Mastersball for $13.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Aledmys Diaz: $2, $2, $2.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Jarrod Saltalamacchia awarded to Rotowire for $12.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Jarrod Saltalamacchia: $1, $6.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Mallex Smith awarded to Fangraphs for $9.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Mallex Smith: $2, $2, $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Mat Latos awarded to Fantasy Alarm for $8.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Mat Latos: $1, $1, $1, $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Jhoulys Chacin awarded to FNTSY for $7.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Jhoulys Chacin: $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Christian Vazquez awarded to Razzball for $5.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Christian Vazquez: $1, $5, $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Eduardo Nunez awarded to RotoExperts for $4.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Enrique Hernandez awarded to USA TODAY Fantasy for $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Enrique Hernandez: $1, $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Jose Ramirez awarded to USA TODAY Fantasy for $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: John Jaso awarded to Rotowire for $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for John Jaso: $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Ross Stripling awarded to RotoExperts for $2.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Ross Stripling: $1, $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Adonis Garcia awarded to RotoExperts for $2.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Matt Wisler awarded to USA TODAY Fantasy for $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Brandon Maurer awarded to Razzball for $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Tony Wolters awarded to Baseball HQ for $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: J.J. Hardy awarded to @TheFantasyFix for $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Preston Tucker awarded to MLB.com for $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Chad Bettis awarded to MLB.com for $1.
Salty, Yes! I get the risks involved with drafting Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but he has legitimate power and a path for playing time in a good lineup for the next month. Is it that farfetched that he keeps playing frequently even James McCann returns? Jaso will fill in for Byung-ho Park for me this week - the Twins have five games in NL ballparks this week, and I think that his chances to start will be what gives. Even if Trevor Plouffe has to sit, I don't see either Park or Joe Mauer moving to the OF (with Miguel Sano going to 3B). The following week, the Pirates have four games in Coors Field, so this is likely a two-week move.
FSTA
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Domingo Santana awarded to FNTSY for $350.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Domingo Santana: $37, $75, $55, $100, $35, $6.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Kevin Jepsen awarded to Stats Inc/NFBC for $252.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Kevin Jepsen: $55, $211, $65, $47, $16.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Jarrod Saltalamacchia awarded to RotoWire for $112.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Jarrod Saltalamacchia: $1, $31, $30, $42.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Adonis Garcia awarded to FNTSY for $110.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Adonis Garcia: $1.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Lucas Giolito awarded to FNTSY for $65.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Chase Anderson awarded to Colton & The Wolfman for $32.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Nick Markakis awarded to Dr. Roto for $30.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Drew Pomeranz awarded to Fantasy Alarm for $29.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Drew Pomeranz: $5, $8.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Eduardo Escobar awarded to RonShandler.com for $21.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Tony Wolters awarded to MastersBall for $19.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Tony Wolters: $2, $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Kris Medlen awarded to Dr. Roto for $16.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Kris Medlen: $11, $8.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Matt Wisler awarded to Fantistics for $12.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Christian Vazquez awarded to USA TODAY Sports for $12.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Christian Vazquez: $5.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Brandon Moss awarded to USA TODAY Sports for $10.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Brandon Moss: $5.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: J.A. Happ awarded to Godfather Of Fantasy Sports for $5.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: J.J. Hardy awarded to Baseball HQ for $4.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Cameron Rupp awarded to MastersBall for $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Cameron Rupp: $1, $2.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Trevor Brown awarded to RonShandler.com for $3.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Failed bids for Trevor Brown: $2.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Brett Nicholas awarded to Godfather Of Fantasy Sports for $2.
Mon Apr 18 12:05 AM ET: Aledmys Diaz awarded to Godfather Of Fantasy Sports for $2.
AL Tout Wars
Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton: rel EKratz Hou, pur CVazquez Bos 151
Rob Leibowitz: dis MMinor KC, pur JTazawa Bos 0
Chris Liss: res ABenintendi Bos, pur OArcia Min 113
Chris Liss: rel ZMcAllister Cle, pur RDull Oak 5
Larry Schechter: res JSmith LAA, pur MLowe Det 2
Jason Collette: rel DFarquhar TB, pur DHutchison Tor 12
Jason Collette: rel FSalas LAA, pur TMotter TB 5
Jason Collette: dis DNava LAA, pur RoPerez Cle 3
Mike Podhorzer: res BSwihart Bos, pur BNicholas Tex 12
Mike Podhorzer: res MGivens Bal, pur DavMurphy Min 2
Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton: res JSmoak Tor, pur ENunez Min 22
Rob Leibowitz: dis JMcCann Det, pur ARomine NYY 0
I thought about going after Oswaldo Arcia, given that he might be the one that benefits if Trevor Plouffe has to sit, but I declined to go aggressively. That possibly could be a mistake - it wasn't that long ago that he drafted for a reasonable sticker price. The big bid on Christian Vazquez caught me by surprise. Then again, I never foresaw the Red Sox sending Blake Swihart down despite him having a .391 OBP. But defense matters, and by most accounts Swihart has really struggled in that department.
RotoWire Staff Keeper League
| East Coast Bias: Pick up Gordon Beckham ($4), drop Hank Conger |
| East Coast Bias: Pick up Chad Bettis ($2), drop Brett Oberholtzer (Casale Industries: $1) (Schin Kickers: $1) (Schin Kickers: $1) |
| Shoe and Liss' Dynasty: Pick up Curt Casali ($2), drop Dioner Navarro |
| Shoe and Liss' Dynasty: Pick up Jhoulys Chacin ($1), drop Chris Heston (Schin Kickers: $1 -- higher in standings) (Schin Kickers: $1 -- higher in standings) (Casale Industries: $1 -- higher in standings) (Factory of Sadness: $1 -- didn't reach bid) |
| Factory of Sadness: Pick up Coco Crisp ($12), drop Zach Davies (High-A West Madison: $1) |
| Diamond Dogs: Pick up Chris Devenski ($1), drop Liam Hendriks |
| Frozen Ropes: Pick up Ryan Dull ($6), drop Jeff Locke (Shoe and Liss' Dynasty: $1) (Shoe and Liss' Dynasty: $1) (Diamond Dogs: $1) |
| High-A West Madison: Pick up Reymond Fuentes ($1), drop Cedric Hunter |
| Kingdome Forever: Pick up Omar Infante ($6), drop Darwin Barney |
| Wakanda Panthers: Pick up Kevin Jepsen ($34), drop Dalier Hinojosa (Factory of Sadness: $28) (Tuffy's Goats: $26) (Frozen Ropes: $22) (Shoe and Liss' Dynasty: $13) (Erickson: $13) (Diamond Dogs: $12) (Schin Kickers: $8) |
| Kingdome Forever: Pick up Colby Lewis ($6), drop David Murphy (High-A West Madison: $2) |
| Schin Kickers: Pick up Brett Nicholas ($1), drop Wade Miley (Schin Kickers: $1) |
| High-A West Madison: Pick up Ricky Nolasco ($1), drop Kirk Nieuwenhuis |
| Tuffy's Goats: Pick up A.J. Pierzynski ($3), drop R.A. Dickey |
| Erickson: Pick up Nolan Reimold ($1), drop Jose Reyes (East Coast Bias: $3 -- didn't reach bid, obvi) |
| Erickson: Pick up Dan Straily ($5), drop Alfredo Simon |
| Frozen Ropes: Pick up Tony Wolters ($6), drop Juan Uribe (Anderson: $2) (Erickson: $1) |
| Casale Industries: Pick up Mike Wright ($1), drop Dustin Ackley |
Just as Every Sperm is Sacred, every closer has crazy value in an 18-team league. I didn't come close to Jepsen here. Picking up Reimold is just applying to bleach to that roster spot that Reyes occupied. Straily is a flier. And yeah, I once owned Alfredo Simon. Shame on me.