Fantasy Baseball Cafe Forums

by **nyr199435** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:36 pm

I really like Beachy's upside, so this isn't a knee-jerk reaction after last night, but I'm playing the team that's nipping at my heels for 2nd place in our league, and the first two teams get a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Needless to say, I really want to beat him and could use a spot-start win (got one with Ogando last night actually). But with the quality of some of the FA pitchers, the guy I drop him for could end up taking over his spot permanently. Here's the situation:

One-year league, 8 teams, H2H points
C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Rickie Weeks
3B: Kevin Youkilis
SS: Derek Jeter
OF: Jose Bautista
OF: Justin Upton
OF: Mike Stanton
Util: Freddie Freeman
Util: Ian Kinsler
Bench: Jay Bruce (should've started him today dammit)

SP: Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, Matt Cain, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeremy Hellickson, Brandon Beachy, Cory Luebke
RP: Mariano Rivera, Drew Storen, Huston Street, Neftali Feliz, Carlos Marmol
DL: Stephen Strasburg, Johan Santana

I have a lot of closers because a save is worth as many points as a win in our league, so they can be more valuable than a starter in any given week. The logical choice on the FA would be Soria, but I really don't need any more RP's. I'm leaning toward Vogelsong. Here are the FA pitchers (interesting ones bolded):
Joakim Soria
Alexi Ogando (dropped him this morning, so on waivers until the 23rd)
Francisco Liriano
Kyle Farnsworth
Fernando Salas
Matt Garza
Ryan Vogelsong (pitching Saturday, having a beastly year)
Ryan Dempster (pitching tonight)
Jonny Venters
Madison Bumgarner (loads of potential, turning it around this season, but probably won't pitch again this week)
Antonio Bastardo

So what I'm thinking of doing is dropping Beachy and adding Vogelsong for the spot-start Saturday, and then either keeping Vogelsong or parting with him for Ogando/Bumgarner permanently. Or I could hope Beachy is still there after Vogelsong pitches and then pick him back up. What would you do? Thanks, and post a link so I can comment on yours!!

by **converge241** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:39 pm

Sounds like your wire is full enough to possibly get Beachy back so go ahead and stream Vogelsong..Done be shocked if Beachy does get stolen I like him arguably better than all the others..i think youll survive the loss though with those options out there. Good luck in the matchup!

by **mpieco** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:43 pm

If would actually looking into dropping the following three players:

Hellickson
Beachy
Luebke

In an 8-team league, I just don't think they should be rostered.

The two names I would add almost instantaneously are Vogelsong and Garza. Garza's last two starts have been absolutely filthy, but because of a god-awful bullpen, he didn't get a W in either of those starts (I think 7 scoreless innings against the marlins, and 8 scoreless innings against Philly).

Last slot, I'm adding Bumgarner, but it's up to you. The lost slot could be a "streamer" slot.

I know some people might be surprised by the Hellickson suggestion, but especially if it's a redraft league, I see no problem dropping him in an 8-team league with THOSE free agents. Ultimately, it's your decision.