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We will be compiling a list of your questions from our e-mailbag and posting the responses on Wednesdays.

Wednesday April 27, 2011

Q:  Fantasy (and real) question: who’s the best bet this year: Jurrjens, Pineda, or Masterson? Thanks! From B.E.F., DC

MLB reports:  Great question…especially mixing in the fantasy baseball and reality.  While these two spheres are sometimes contradictory, when it comes to pitchers, they are often the same.  A pitcher who does well for a fantasy team is likely the same pitcher you will want for your real-life team.  Based on this year’s needs, my pick is Jurrjens.  Simple matter is that he is still 25 but has been around for a while, so he has the experience.  After an injury plagued 2010, he has come back strong this year (although delayed).  Jurrjens has the strongest offense out of the bunch with the Braves (which has been inconsistent out of the gate but strongest bet).  Also Jurrjens is based in the NL which is better for pitchers and has the strongest bullpen out of the three, so wins will be easier to come by. 

Masterson, while a personal favorite of mine is the third pick.  He is currently pitching over his head and will come back down to earth with the rest of the Indians squad.  Masterson also usually walks too many guys (1.50 WHIP in 2010) and I do not trust him just yet.  The smoke and mirror show will be over soon…believe it.  Pineda is the darling of the bunch and while a future fantasy ace, is 22 in his first season.  On a weak Mariners squad, run support and bullpen efficiency will be hard to come by.  Pineda will also be on a strict pitch count and as he goes through the league a few more times, expect hitters to get a better handle on him.  For the surest results, go with Jurrjens.  He carries the most injury risk but the securest and most likely results this year.

Q:  Fantasy question: Gio Gonzalez or Phil Humber as last SP in 10 team H2H? Gio has had last two bad nights against LAA and BOS. Humber=Almost No-Hit.  From Richard, Roanoke

MLB reports:  Richard…Richard…Richard.  Philip Humber is 28, a Tommy John survivor and a prospect that has never panned out.  He has had a nice little stretch for the ChiSox, but the sample size is too small.  Gio at 25 is blossoming into a fantasy ace on a young Oakland pitching squad.  Gonzalez has the track record of development and has already been solid with 2 wins and a 2.70 ERA.  If the question is for a roster spot, you know my answer:  Gonzalez, without thinking .  If you own both and need to know who to play, then go with Gonzalez and make Humber pitch well for 3-5 more starts before inserting him.  Always go with the proven guy over the shaky flavor of the month.  Gonzalez by a landslide.

Q:  Did you see Zack Britton dominate the Red Sox tonight? 1st O’s rookie to win 4 games in April.  Simply Filthy. From Matt, Charm City

MLB reports:  Not bad for a 3rd round pick in 2006.  Britton has been brilliant to start the year, almost unhittable to go along with his 4 wins and 2.84 ERA.  The whole complexion of the Orioles changed when Showalter took over and they are only going to go up.  This is the only division in baseball where every team will finish with a record of .500 or better.  The Orioles have some really talented young pitchers and none is brighter than Britton.  Continue to dance up in Charm City, the sky is the limit for this talented hurler. 

Q: How much do I hate baseball after benching Ian *(&(^*^ Kennedy against Cliff Lee and the Phillies today? From Tim, Huntsville

MLB reports:  First of all, you cannot hate baseball.  That is impossible.  What you are saying, you are saying out of anger.  I will take that into account and let you off the hook.  This time.  But seriously, there is no worse feeling in fantasy baseball than having a player put up a monster game while sitting on your bench and you do not get the stats.  Or is there?  How about when a player lays an egg and digs you into a hole?  That is actually worse.  You did the right thing Tim.  If you had other options, you were smart by sitting Kennedy against Lee and the Phillies.  Its called playing the percentages.  Cliff Lee was more than likely going to get the win and with the Phillies strong offense, there was a high chance of Ian Kennedy getting smacked around.  But that is not how it turned out at the end…but that is ok.  Kennedy had a 3.80 ERA last year and still has a 4.02 ERA this year.  He pitches to a low WHIP by giving up few hits but he walks many guys.  On a Diamondbacks team that will struggle for runs and wins for their pitchers, Kennedy will be flip-flopping out of your lineup all year.  Don’t sweat it…be happy he wasn’t in there destroying your pitching stats.  It’s a long fantasy season.  One strong pitching performance never made or broke a team.  Keep playing the percentages, as everything will even out at the end.

Q:  Hey how are things tonight for you? Fantasy question. Morrow or Scherzer for rest of season? From Shane, Tampa

MLB reports:  Doing really well, thanks for asking Shane.  You picked two of my favorite pitchers to compare, well done.  Plus pitchers on two of my top picked teams, which is even better.  Scherzer is 4-0 with a 3.19 ERA this year.  He strikes out a lot of hitters but tend to have a WHIP on the higher side, in this case 1.484 in 2011.  Morrow can be almost unhittable when he is on and had the 178 strikeouts last year.  The answer is Scherzer and it is not even close.  Scherzer pitches for a stronger contender in a pitcher’s park.  Scherzer has stronger experience and health record.  Morrow is a constant injury concern and is always a tweak away from the DL.  While both pitchers can be dreadful when off, Morrow pitches in a home run hitters haven called the Rogers Centre.  Both have great run support and good pens behind them.  But Morrow has to pitch against the AL East all season and while the Royals and Indians have been hot, they will prove to be the inferior teams in the long run.  Scherzer is a strong bet at 15-18 wins and continue his development in Detroit.  Morrow is a great pitcher, but too much of a risk.  Scherzer…done deal.

Q:  Your thoughts on Peter Bourjos? Thinking of adding him as back-up for that broad Delmon Young and when/if Jerry Sands struggles too much.  From Maury, Boston.

MLB reports:  Sands will have his share of struggles, no question.  He is young and playing in a pitcher’s park.  That being said, Sands also has the most support with Ethier and Kemp hitting around him.  Delmon Young is not a pick of mine and despite his strong numbers last year, I still see him as a player that will never develop into a superstar.  Young has no patience at the plate and I believe his hack and slash ways will catch up with him.  That being said, I am not too high on Bourjos either.  His numbers last year were simply brutal and I simply do not see an upside.  If you have room on your bench though, definitely grab Bourjos as his 4 triples and 2 home runs would look good in any fantasy lineup right now.  Bourjos and Young packed together could prove to be really good trade bait for any fantasy novice in your league.  Try to acquire Alex Gordon immediately if you can, the window on him is closing fast for the few fantasy owners out there that may try to sell “high” on him, not understanding that his run is for real.  But if you can’t pull off that move, play out Bourjos and Sands and try to keep Young stapled to your bench unless he starts to get hot at the plate.  Sands is the guy I would most trust out of the three and I would continue to search for steadier solutions for the rest of the season to avoid any more stress.

Q:  There have been so many catchers that have retired and went on to become great managers. Out of the current catchers and ones who have retired the last few years, who do you think will become a manager one day and be great?  From Larry (#1 Fan)

MLB reports:  Great question from a great fan.  You are right, catchers tend to make the best managers and coaches based on their experience and knowledge of the game.  From Joe Girardi, Tony Pena, Larry Parrish, Mike Scoscia…the list goes on…and on.  Dave Duncan is an interesting case as he is one of the few non-pitchers who is a pitching coaches, as a former catcher.  It makes sense that a catcher that would know best to run a pitching squad, so its surprising more teams don’t go that way.

There are many great managers on the horizon.  Some that come to my mind are Jason Varitek, Jason Kendall, John Buck, Gregg Zaun, Gary Carter, Mike Lieberthal, Mike LaValliere, Mike Matheny, Jason LaRue and Craig Biggio (started as a catcher).  When I think of a good manager, I think of a player that had a good grasp of the game, played hard, knows the fundamentals and was a leader on and off the field.  All of these catchers have strong abilities and are solid picks for me to return to the dugout one day as a manager.  Varitek, Zaun and LaRue really stick out to me as guys that were leaders and gave everything they had on the field.  While capable of taking on any roles in baseball (Zaun is currently a broadcaster for the Jays), I could see all three becoming managers in some form one day.  With the amount of knowledge they have to give, I believe that future teams will greatly benefit from instruction and leadership from any of the aforementioned individuals.  A great question Larry, thank you for sharing.

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