I like the pocket ace idea with Skubal/Skenes. You might start a run on pitching as your league-mates start sweating their own rotations after seeing you snag both of those guys. When they do that, you swerve the other way and start snatching up the value hitters they leave behind. If it plays out right, you could wind up with a pretty damn good offense behind those two stud aces. I'm hoping to try that a couple times this season, if I get the opportunity.
The argument about drafting the exciting rookies or the old boring players who will actually win you a league, I get that. It's a conundrum, for sure, do we want to win our leagues or do we want to have fun lol? Ideally both, but sometimes it feels like we are having to choose one or the other.
Kelly mentioned Esteury Ruiz and I believe that guy has some untapped power potential. Oakland coaches were raving about adjustments he made last season and how he was getting more loft and driving the ball better and we were just starting to see that power spike, before he got hurt and the rest was history. If they are playing in a minor league park this season and he plays everyday, I can see 15-20 homers coming from him, along with 50-60 steal upside. Pretty damn good I would say and he'll be free. The BA will be the one drag of owning him and, I'm hoping even that won't be absolutely atrocious. I like him this season, along with the rest of the A's hitters. *EDIT: Ruiz is a late round steal for me (pun most certainly intended lol)
Aram Leighton had a great article at Just Baseball about Corbin Carroll when he was at his worst last season. His analysis of Carroll's struggles to that point persuaded me to trade for him. I highly recommend reading that article.
How many starting pitchers do you need to draft within first 12 picks to have a sick pitching staff and not need to hunt through trade or waiver wire ?
One of the big advantages of ROTO is that you can really wait on pitching and see if there are some surprises that you can pick up after the first month or two of the season. You get to manage your starts and can backload them for the second half of the season, after things shake out a little. I always wait on SP, I actually draft a high end RP/Closer before I draft any SP's and I like to take some experienced guys that may be coming back from injury, like Sonny Gray last year. I got Gerrit Cole fairly cheap, although he wasn't as good as hoped but he wasn't a train wreck either. I did pick up Paul Skenes and started him every start once he came up. Waiting on SP allows you to beef up your position players, which play every day, while SP's start once every five days on average. Look at how many really good pitchers were surprises last year.
i play at Fantrax, non-category, H2H points. at #1, I will take Ohtani. With drafting about 8 teams, it is unlikely that I will draft 1st more than once. If I draft 12th and last, I will take Skubal and Skenes back-to-back. Yeah, its a bummer to not get a hitter until end of 3rd round, but starting pitching is the main thing in that format. And I MIGHT take another starter at #37, such as Crochet or Imanaga. There are plenty of good hitters in rounds 5-12
Depends on the format. In a daily league where you can play him both ways, he's the clear 1st pick when healthy. Problem is, I don't think he'll stay healthy.
The problem is that they didn't play enough during 2024 to earn position eligibility, so they are given the position they played in 2023, by default. Ohtani played all of 2024 as a DH only, so it makes perfect sense that he would enter 2025 as DH-only, since he never pitched in 2024.
I don't think Ohtani Is going to have the season everybody thinks he's going to have if he's pitching too. Last year he could just focus on hitting, if I get the number one pick I'm taking Witt. Just my opinion...🙂
It's a technicality, being that he played all of 2024, just not as a pitcher. They have to actually PLAY at a position in order to carry over eligibility the following season.
Why would you bash joey p? He was amazing. The whole staff at FantasyPros is i’ve won a lot of fantasy leagues because of Welsh and Joey P. Welsh knows his prospects like nobody else.
Thank you Chris and Kelly!
There needs to be a pistol YT baseball league. No matter what video I watch, pistol was here.
@ lol I’m semi retired more time. Good luck to you Adam!
@pistolrx9313 me too! Good luck. Still would do a pistol league. Prestigious title right there.
@ lol Thank you Adam have a great day!
I like the pocket ace idea with Skubal/Skenes. You might start a run on pitching as your league-mates start sweating their own rotations after seeing you snag both of those guys. When they do that, you swerve the other way and start snatching up the value hitters they leave behind. If it plays out right, you could wind up with a pretty damn good offense behind those two stud aces. I'm hoping to try that a couple times this season, if I get the opportunity.
Great job on the video. You both covered interesting topics with honest answers. Can't wait for Opening Day 2025.
Thanks for tuning in - we're getting closer every day!
Strider was #1 last year How did that work out ?
May have worked out great, if he didn't get hurt. Unfortunately, none of us can project that.
The argument about drafting the exciting rookies or the old boring players who will actually win you a league, I get that. It's a conundrum, for sure, do we want to win our leagues or do we want to have fun lol? Ideally both, but sometimes it feels like we are having to choose one or the other.
Good questions and analysis
Thanks for tuning in!
Mason Miller is THE dude at RP this season. Beyond him, I'll wait and find saves on the wire like always.
Kelly mentioned Esteury Ruiz and I believe that guy has some untapped power potential. Oakland coaches were raving about adjustments he made last season and how he was getting more loft and driving the ball better and we were just starting to see that power spike, before he got hurt and the rest was history. If they are playing in a minor league park this season and he plays everyday, I can see 15-20 homers coming from him, along with 50-60 steal upside. Pretty damn good I would say and he'll be free. The BA will be the one drag of owning him and, I'm hoping even that won't be absolutely atrocious. I like him this season, along with the rest of the A's hitters.
*EDIT: Ruiz is a late round steal for me (pun most certainly intended lol)
I think that Joey Estes is a deep sleeper. A bulldog on the mound. Pitched some really strong games last year. Think the Ks will come.
Wonky Penguin needs more air time. She is a gem and I love her insight.
She's got a great dry sense of humor and is often spot-on with her takes.
Aram Leighton had a great article at Just Baseball about Corbin Carroll when he was at his worst last season. His analysis of Carroll's struggles to that point persuaded me to trade for him. I highly recommend reading that article.
Will check it out!
The rookies and 2nd year players you were being cautious about drafting, where do you move them in say a 3 yr keeper league?
I had Skubal,wheeler and traded for snell in a h2h format and won the league
How many starting pitchers do you need to draft within first 12 picks to have a sick pitching staff and not need to hunt through trade or waiver wire ?
I'd say 4, but treasure hunting the waiver wire is always part of the fun for me personally.
I think Quality stolen bases is really SB that turn into Runs.
One of the big advantages of ROTO is that you can really wait on pitching and see if there are some surprises that you can pick up after the first month or two of the season. You get to manage your starts and can backload them for the second half of the season, after things shake out a little. I always wait on SP, I actually draft a high end RP/Closer before I draft any SP's and I like to take some experienced guys that may be coming back from injury, like Sonny Gray last year.
I got Gerrit Cole fairly cheap, although he wasn't as good as hoped but he wasn't a train wreck either. I did pick up Paul Skenes and started him every start once he came up. Waiting on SP allows you to beef up your position players, which play every day, while SP's start once every five days on average. Look at how many really good pitchers were surprises last year.
Great insight, thanks for sharing that!
That works for points as well , last year Crochet and KIng off waivers early for the K's. The year before a few great pitching guys came off waivers.
Sounds lame AF
I agree with the Penguin , Skubal.
i play at Fantrax, non-category, H2H points. at #1, I will take Ohtani. With drafting about 8 teams, it is unlikely that I will draft 1st more than once. If I draft 12th and last, I will take Skubal and Skenes back-to-back. Yeah, its a bummer to not get a hitter until end of 3rd round, but starting pitching is the main thing in that format. And I MIGHT take another starter at #37, such as Crochet or Imanaga. There are plenty of good hitters in rounds 5-12
You talked about rookies/young guys and never mentioned Junior Cam...
I can’t take ohtani #1 with him needing to pitch
Depends on the format. In a daily league where you can play him both ways, he's the clear 1st pick when healthy.
Problem is, I don't think he'll stay healthy.
@ obviously if it counts as a pitcher and hitter he is the number one pick no brainer. I’m talking about him as a hitter
If Ohtani isn't eligible as a fantasy pitcher to start the season, neither should McLanahan, Alcantara, etc. It sounds silly.
Fair!
The problem is that they didn't play enough during 2024 to earn position eligibility, so they are given the position they played in 2023, by default. Ohtani played all of 2024 as a DH only, so it makes perfect sense that he would enter 2025 as DH-only, since he never pitched in 2024.
I don't think Ohtani Is going to have the season everybody thinks he's going to have if he's pitching too. Last year he could just focus on hitting, if I get the number one pick I'm taking Witt. Just my opinion...🙂
Wouldn't be a terrible pick!
So dumb is they take away his pitching eligibility
Agreed
It's a technicality, being that he played all of 2024, just not as a pitcher. They have to actually PLAY at a position in order to carry over eligibility the following season.
Are you twins?
She’s 20x better than Joey P. That guy was the worst.
Why would you bash joey p? He was amazing. The whole staff at FantasyPros is i’ve won a lot of fantasy leagues because of Welsh and Joey P. Welsh knows his prospects like nobody else.
Be nice, I like Joey P and the rest of these guys.