Fantasy Baseball Cafe » Articles http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com Free site dedicated to all fantasy baseball enthusiasts, featuring forums, strategy advice, player rankings, cheat sheets, sleepers and humor, all in a friendly cafe atmosphere. Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:00:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 © webmaster@fantasybaseballcafe.com () webmaster@fantasybaseballcafe.com() Fantasy Sports 1440 Free site dedicated to all fantasy baseball enthusiasts, featuring forums, strategy advice, player rankings, cheat sheets, sleepers and humor, all in a friendly cafe atmosphere. webmaster@fantasybaseballcafe.com No no http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/content/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg Fantasy Baseball Cafe http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com 144 144 Weekend Waiver Wire, Week 11 http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_waiver11.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_waiver11.php#comments Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:00:19 +0000 Chris Routledge http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_waiver11.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/?feed=rss2&p=10443 0 Bottom of the 9th: Dodgers Make the Right Move http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90613.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90613.php#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:29:26 +0000 R.J. White http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90613.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/?feed=rss2&p=10440 0 Weekend Waiver Wire, Week 10 http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_waiver10.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_waiver10.php#comments Sat, 08 Jun 2013 13:45:30 +0000 Chris Routledge http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_waiver10.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/?feed=rss2&p=10411 0 Bottom of the 9th: Interim NL Closers http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90605.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90605.php#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:45:33 +0000 R.J. White http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90605.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/?feed=rss2&p=10408 0 Bottom of the 9th: Future AL Closers? http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90529.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90529.php#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 16:25:32 +0000 R.J. White http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2013/tips_bot90529.php http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/?feed=rss2&p=10401 2

Weekend Waiver Wire, Week 11

(by Chris Routledge) posted on June 15, 2013

 Mark Appel. Kris Bryant. Jonathan Gray: The first three names off the board in this year’s draft. Chances are that all of them will be significant contributors on fantasy rosters in years to come (although there is no guarantee, of course — just ask any Padres fan about Matt Bush). But will any of them be the biggest fantasy contributors of the class of ‘13? Maybe, but it’s much more likely that it will be someone else, maybe even someone from way down the list. To take an example: James Shields is not going to be a Hall-of-Famer, but he has produced exceptional fantasy value relative to where Tampa Bay drafted him (Round 16 in 2000). Value is everywhere to be found, if you know where to look — even in the dredges of the waiver wire! [More]

Bottom of the 9th: Dodgers Make the Right Move

(by R.J. White)

 This week in closer news, the Dodgers made what very well may have been the easiest switch in the history of bullpen decisions, removing Brandon League from the closing gig in favor of Kenley Jansen. We’ve been high on Jansen for a while, as a promotion to full-time closer long seemed inevitable, based both on his talent and League’s bad performance. We’ve called Jansen an immediate top-10 RP once giving closing duties, even potentially a top five guy. He’s that good. [More]

Weekend Waiver Wire, Week 10

(by Chris Routledge)

 We begin this week’s waiver column with an apology for the absence of a column last weekend. I could go off into a spiel about how I was too busy, that life took over, and so on, but the truth is that I couldn’t face the prospect of trying to write another article on the computer that time forgot. But thankfully, we are back home now, so it’s time to hit the waiver wire again, beginning with a review of week 8’s picks. [More]

Bottom of the 9th: Interim NL Closers

(by R.J. White)

 Take a look at the guys who are currently closing for NL teams. About half of them aren’t the relievers fantasy owners drafted in March looking for saves. Heck, in some cases some of the guys in this current crop of closers weren’t even on their teams in March. It makes for an ever-changing dynamic in fantasy leagues, one that causes many owners to live by the adage, “Don’t pay for saves.” Today, I’ll rank 15 interim and potential interim closers in the National League by order of “rosterability” in standard 5×5 roto leagues at this moment. Feel free to disagree with my rankings in the comments. [More]

Sleeper Watch

(by brentameyer)

 Raise your hand if you love drafting a second catcher. Yeah, I doubt there was many hands up there. It’s like going to a old relatives house when you’re young. “Mom, do we have to? I will be good the rest of the day and even clean my room!” [More] - 2 comments

Sleeper Watch

(by brentameyer)

 Now there can be a lot of overacting in the first few games of a new season, guys jumping at someone for a huge first game or wanting to cut some of their sleepers cause they are off to a 0-for-10 start. If you really like someone heading into the season, why give up right away to jump on someone else’s boat? Now I am huge believer in drafting lots of hitting. In most drafts, I always take at least four hitters before I take my first pitcher. I know it might not be the greatest thing to do, but it works for me. Then I always try to find some solid starters in the middle and late rounds to put together the best staff I can. Here are some of the guys I think can help this year who may still be out there in your leagues. [More] - 1 comments

Sleeper Watch

(by R.J. White)

 When looking for potential breakouts at the outfield position, it’s wise to focus on players that can provide value in both the power and speed numbers while possessing upside in either runs or RBI. For our group of sleepers, I’ve identified three youngsters that could very well hit double-digit home runs and top 30 steals. Two of them could be leading off for their respective teams, and the other, while expected to be his team’s No. 9 hitter, will get the benefit of hitting in front of possibly the best top four in baseball. [More] - 8 comments

Sleeper Watch

(by R.J. White)

 For our sleepers at third base, we’re bringing you one 2012 semi-breakout player who could take the next step this season, one “post-hype” sleeper for whom the term may as well have been invented, and one completely off-the-radar player that should even qualify as a sleeper in mono-league formats. On to the hot corner. [More]

Top 50 Countdown: June 12, 2013

(by James Dee)

 It’s June now, and time for another Top 50 Countdown. We had some stars drop down the list, and superstar youths rapidly rise up the ranks. We have some exciting new players, and some veterans who won’t go away. All in all, there is an incredible variety of players on the list, and keeping track of their progress should be exciting during this hot summer. Everyone please enjoy the Countdown and feel free to comment here or in the threads created. [More]

Top 50 Countdown: April 30, 2013

(by James Dee)

 It’s a new year in baseball and time to roll out a new Top 50 Countdown. This time around we had three other rankers beside myself, and opinions were across the board. We have some new faces, some old ones, and some guys that are really going to raise some eyebrows. Let the debates begin! [More] - 4 comments

2013 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

(by R.J. White)

 Pitchers and catchers report in just a few days, and in the wake of the Jed Lowrie trade and Chris Carpenter news, I’m providing an update to my first set of rankings, published in early January. It’s important to note that we don’t know at this point what fallout there will be (if any) from the Biogenesis investigation, and I haven’t altered my rankings with regards to that situation. I can see bypassing Ryan Braun at No. 1 overall if you think this report could affect his playing time even slightly, but I don’t think it’ll happen, so I’ve kept him atop the rankings. [More] - 25 comments

2013 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Early January Edition

(by R.J. White)

 Here is the first set of rankings from me for 2013. Fair warning: I didn’t consult any existing sets of rankings, so there’s a chance several things you’re about to see are way off the consensus. That could be good, but it could also be bad — I may have blinders on where certain players are concerned. Things that look weird to me right off the bat: Albert Pujols third at his position, Brian McCann not ranked as a top-12 catcher, Adrian Gonzalez in the outfield rankings, Jered Weaver and Roy Halladay outside the top-15 at SP, and last, but certainly not least, Jason Grilli as a top-10 closer. Skewer me for those things, and more, in the comments section below. [More] - 29 comments

Cafe Pod Week 11: Suspension Tension?

(by R.J. White)

 This week, Josh Shepardson and I talk about the implications of the new twist in the Biogenesis investigation and whether or not those in H2H leagues should be selling the pertinent players in anticipation of suspensions. But that’s not all. [More]

Cafe Pod Week 10: A Franklin Bash

(by R.J. White)

 This week, Josh Shepardson of Baseball Prospectus joins me to answer Cafe questions, name waiver claims, discuss rookies and prospects, forecast spot-starters, dissect players returning from injury and examine bullpens, but first, Nick Franklin turned a hot start in the minors to a starting job in the majors. Does he have what it takes to stick with the Mariners all year, and is he a useful fantasy commodity to own? [More]

Cafe Pod Week 9: Don’t Like Ike

(by R.J. White)

 This week’s Cafe Pod is full of more than an hour of fantasy advice, starting with what to do with the struggling Ike Davis. We answer nine fantasy questions in the Cafe lineup before guessing each other’s waiver claims this week. Future Rookies includes Kevin Gausman, Michael Wacha, Tyler Skaggs and more. We find a plethora of spot-start options in Your 7-Day Forecast. Plenty of Yankees are on their way back in the Injury Report. Five bullpens are under the microscope in the Bottom of the 9th, and I have a progressive idea for what to do with the closer position. Finally, we wrap it up with a look at the dominance of Chris Davis. It’s an extra-long episode of the Cafe Pod, but what else do you have to do on Memorial Day? [More]

Cafe Pod Week 8: It’s Profar Time

(by R.J. White)

 In this week’s Cafe Pod, Josh and I discuss prospects Jurickson Profar and Jake Odorizzi joining their major-league teams. We also answer Draft, Trade, Keeper, Waiver questions from the Cafe forums, play “Name That Waiver Claim,” pick some spot-starters worthy of your attention (and a few worth holding on to), talk about the returns of Matt Garza and others, figure out if two of last year’s top closers are in trouble, pick the best young pitcher in baseball and more. [More] Fantasy Baseball Cafe
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Fantasy Baseball 2013 Magazine

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We hope you'll enjoy this site and make us your first choice for free tips, updates, discussion, and maybe even a bit of humor during the 2013 fantasy baseball season. Whether you're the commissioner of a long-running roto keeper league or looking for rankings for your very first draft, Fantasy Baseball Cafe will provide you with all the information you're looking for.

At the Fantasy Baseball Cafe, you'll find features such as Cheat Sheets, weekly Sleepers, Articles from an outstanding lineup of baseball writers, Links to other fantasy baseball resources, free games such as Pick3, Lucky Ladders, Matchup Meltdown and Trivia Time Trial, and a whole lot more. Above all, we look forward to seeing you in our Fantasy Baseball Forums for talk about everything from the latest updates to rules issues.

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Bottom of the 9th: Future AL Closers?

(by R.J. White)

 Injuries and ineffectiveness have swept through the bullpens of the major leagues, so much so we had to discuss five bullpens in this week’s Cafe Pod. All the uncertainty around the league has led to a host of potential closers emerging (as they tend to do every season). Who are worth your fantasy attention? [More] - 2 comments

Cafe Pod Week 7: Roy Halladay, Hall of Famer?

(by R.J. White)

 In this week’s Cafe Pod, Josh and I talk about whether Roy Halladay is a Hall of Famer without throwing another pitch. We also answer Cafe user questions, quiz each other on prospective waiver claims, examine a few rookie pitchers and middle-infield prospect Nick Franklin, pick out some fantasy spot-starters for Week 7, look at the situations impacted by the returns of Jason Heyward, Curtis Granderson, Neil Walker and Zack Greinke, check out the Angels, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Cubs and Dodgers bullpens and finally guess whether the Los Angeles area will have playoff baseball in 2013. [More] - 1 comments

Sleeper Watch

(by R.J. White)

 Shortstop has been a dire position to find talent in recent years, with many fringe-level fantasy starters serving as black holes once the top-tier guys were off the board. This year, three players new to fantasy rankings this year could establish themselves as top-15 players at the shortstop position rather quickly. All three have taken very different paths to playing time with their respective major-league clubs. Let’s meet them now. [More] - 1 comments

Top 50 Countdown: August 16, 2012

(by James Dee)

 With only six weeks left on the season, trade deadlines are here and playoff runs are being launched. The Countdown is here just in time to help you pull off that final big deal to put you over the edge. This Countdown was easily the most difficult to put together because the five submitted lists varied greatly on almost all of the players. It only goes to show that despite players generally settling in to their season norms, you can always count on fantasy baseball to create chaos. The rankers this time included Dannahan, JFG, WaCougMBS, SaltyDog and NikkiSixx. These guys put a lot of work into these lists, and as always, they have done a great job making this Countdown worthwhile project. Well done all around, fellas. [More] - 6 comments

Bottom of the 9th: Dodgers Make the Right Move
This week in closer news, the Dodgers made what very well may have been the easiest switch in the history of bullpen decisions, removing Brandon League from the closing gig in favo... [More]

Weekend Waiver Wire, Week 10
We begin this week's waiver column with an apology for the absence of a column last weekend. I could go off into a spiel about how I was too busy, that life took over, and so on, b... [More]

Cafe Poll
Who's your 3B pick?
David Wright
Evan Longoria
Adrian Beltre
Hanley Ramirez
Ryan Zimmerman



View results

View older polls
 
Bottom of the 9th: Interim NL Closers
Take a look at the guys who are currently closing for NL teams. About half of them aren't the relievers fantasy owners drafted in March looking for saves. Heck, in some cases some ... [More]

Bottom of the 9th: Future AL Closers?
Injuries and ineffectiveness have swept through the bullpens of the major leagues, so much so we had to discuss five bullpens in this week's Cafe Pod. All the uncertainty around th... [More]
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