NFBC Message Boards

One of the most fascinating strategies in fantasy baseball is, choosing which pitchers to play each week. We have ALL been through the nightmare weeks where we start a borderline starter because he has a 2-start week against supposedly easy opponents vs. starting the superior pitcher, who has 1 start vs. a solid hitting team (For example, Francisco Liriano vs LAD, this past week) I cant tell you how many times I have chosen the wrong option, in my years of fantasy baseball, but I have done both options and lost many times with each.

Then, there is the guy like Erik Bedard and Scott Feldman. Guys that are pitching well and finally I decide to start them on a 2-start week and they get bombed. Of course, benching Barolo Colon, who pitches 7 innings of no run baseball.

So this week is another dilemma. Do I start Jordan Zimmerman, who has a 2-start week? He has not looked sharp over his part few starts, but matchups with Philly and SD look intriguing. Or do I start Wily Peralta vs the (apparently) good matchup against Minn or Danny Duffy with the 2-start week vs STL and NYY?

Another fun thing to look at is, how teams are perceived year to year... Last year, if your pitcher was starting vs Miami, they were automatic. This year, not so much. Then again, last year, if your pitcher was starting vs Cleveland or Philly, they were on your bench, this year, that is a pretty good matchup. Who are the most surprising hitting (and non-hitting) teams this year, besides Miami? And please don't bring up the Mets.. Their hitting sucks every year, no need to rub it in.

Miami is second in the National League in scoring runs.

The team that may be over rated offensively this year is the Cincinnati Reds. Injuries and under performance have them 29th of 30 teams in scoring runs.
Jay Bruce weighs more than his average.
He has more stolen bases than homers.
His rbi matches that of Lyle Overbay.
The Reds best hitter, at the moment, is Devin Mesoraco.

The Royals and Cardinals have played 57 and 56 games, yet between them, they only have 54 homers.
A Missouri power outage.
They have a four game home and home series this week. Should be interesting....

We used to think about Oakland's spacious ball park when throwing a pitcher against the A's. Now, we think about that softball style lineup they have.

Joe Maddon is looking less and less of a genius this year. Tampa has a lineup that is easily navigated by most pitchers. Especially when Jerry Sands hits cleanup.

The Pirates who blew the pennant out of spring training look beatable each night. For some reason, Ike Davis hits fourth for them. Nobody, including Ike, knows why.

With Teixeira and Beltran out of the lineup, the Yankees most powerful lefties are McCann, KJohnson, and Solarte.
Unless counting Ellsbury or Gardner...I don't.

If somebody had commented during the off season that the Orioles would have a player in June with more homers than Chris Davis, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters combined, you'd have thought them bonkers.
But, Nelson Cruz does.
11 players have hit a homer for the Orioles.
11 players for the Rockies have at least nine extra base hits.....without the designated hitter in their league.


FWIW, I would start Zimmerman. No matter the opposition.