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This is the worst four days of every year for fantasy folks.
The All-Star game has not done anything for me since baseball started interleague play. When baseball did that, it meshed all the teams together. The dividing line, gone. Teams only separated on paper.
Once, playing for pride in their league, now, let's be honest, the players play for themselves.
That all said, there is a All-Star item that tickled me. It concerns Mike Trout's first at bat in his four All Star appearances...

2012- Single
2013- Double
2014- Triple
2015- Home Run

I play fantasy golf as a sidelight during the baseball season. These four days are the only time where I put REAL thought and study into the coming weekend of play. Thanks to the break, I have the time.
What a great time to be a fan of both of these sports.
Trout and Bryce Harper dominating baseball at such a young age and Jordan Spieth doing the same on the PGA.
Spieth is a little like Mike Trout in that he does everything well.
Tiger Woods dominated by being a long hitter and clutch short player.
Spieth is not as long, but has every facet of the game in hand. A great short game and every bit as clutch as Tiger.
See? A whole paragraph about golf. THAT is what this stupid break does to fantasy enthusiasts!
Help.

I feel like I should be drafting a team. Too much time on my hands!
Ok, so let's predict who would go in the first round if we were to draft today....

1 Mike Trout
He has done nothing to lose his pedestal status. I do believe that his reign at number one in almost every league will not be as strong this coming year though because...

2 Bryce Harper
The kids just love him. Would I take Harper before Trout?
No way.
But I know there will be some that will.

3 Paul Goldschmidt
Goldy just keeps on being Gold. Without Trout in the game, he would probably split number one status with Harper.
A first baseman that does all that he does is Goldy.

4 Max Scherzer
The National League has been berry, berry good for Scherzer. He is surpassing Clayton Kershaw as the pitcher to have for 2016.

5 Giancarlo Stanton
On his way to a 50 homer season before he got hurt. There were thoughts that he may not be the same after getting hit in the face with a pitch. Those thoughts are alleviated.

6 Miguel Cabrera
Like Stanton, he proved what he could do before getting hurt

7 Todd Frazier
Frazier will lose 1B staus for next year. His drafters won't care. The guy hits and hits and runs a little too.

8 Josh Donaldson
The switch from Oakland's venue to Toronto and the switch from Oakland's lineup to Toronto's has done nothing but be fantasy goodness for his owners.

9 Clayton Kershaw
Fantasy players don't forget. Kershaw has dominated in the past. There will be a lot of folks thinking he will do so again.

10 Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen was thought to be a top three player by some. I don't think so. Still, he is a player that a good fantasy team can be built around.

11 Chris Sale
Three pitchers in the first round?
Yes.
None named Felix?
Yes.
Big time pitchers get more scarce each year. Sale has shown critics that he can be thin, throw like he'll get hurt, and maintain health while being damned hard to hit.

12 This is where it gets tough. I believe that the 12-25 players will go in the first rounds in some drafts and the second round in others. Here are the interchangeable players

Adam Jones
George Springer
Starling Marte
Felix Hernandez
Anthony Rizzo
Kris Bryant
Jose Altuve
Dee Gordon
Brian Dozier
Manny Machado
Buster Posey
Nolan Arenado
Zack Greinke
Troy Tulowitzki
Prince Fielder

And now that I put those names out there, I really can't wait to draft again!
The PreMature is only about two months away, yoo hoo!


The only good thing about these four days is that two of them are gone!
How long can one really think about golf fer crissakes?
Help.
I could make some prank calls.
Make a call to the largest corporation in town and call in sick.
Make a call to McDonalds asking for reservations for dinner.
Nah. Those calls are never satisfying. I never get to see the face on the other side of the phone, only the voice.
Help.

Looking at current standings is like looking at front runners for the Presidential race.
And these four days off is like actually listening to the folks running for President.
THAT, that is bored.
Donald Trump would be pissed that I compare him to a Latin.
He is the Yasiel Puig of America.
Each having an ego that is only exceeded by their sense of entitlement.
Omigosh! So bored that I brought up politicians.
Help.

I haven't seen Hannah or her horse in two days.
'Hannah and her Horse', ohhh, I just realized how much that sounds like the title to a porn movie.
I even miss the Viagra commercials. Showing beautifully aged women talking about what is happening below our belts, then showing them in slow motion with a wind fan in the area.
My luck being as it is, I'd get the Viagra and not have the aging beauty or get the aging beauty, but not have the Viagra.
I also miss the commercials for Viagra's compettion.
You know, the one where the aging couple is at a football game, give each other a high five, and look like they want to do it right there. Then, a voice over explains how 'we don't want to miss THOSE moments'.
Yeah, right. Oh, those horny 50-somethings!
If all it took was high fiving at a football game to get them going, high school kids would see more than just parents in the stands.
Help.

Now, I'm seeing commercials that 'regular' people see.
If I send $19.99 to somebody, I can help a kid in a foreign country with flies on her head.
If I send $19.99 to somebody, I can help aging veterans who didn't get a fair shake.
If I send $19.99 to somebody, I can save starved and beaten animals.
What a load of crap!
If I send $19.99 to somebody, will they take off those overbearing and obviously scammy commercials?
Help.

Two more days to go......
Help.

DOUGHBOYS wrote: I feel like I should be drafting a team. Too much time on my hands!
Ok, so let's predict who would go in the first round if we were to draft today....

1 Mike Trout
He has done nothing to lose his pedestal status. I do believe that his reign at number one in almost every league will not be as strong this coming year though because...

2 Bryce Harper
The kids just love him. Would I take Harper before Trout?
No way.
But I know there will be some that will.

3 Paul Goldschmidt
Goldy just keeps on being Gold. Without Trout in the game, he would probably split number one status with Harper.
A first baseman that does all that he does is Goldy.

4 Max Scherzer
The National League has been berry, berry good for Scherzer. He is surpassing Clayton Kershaw as the pitcher to have for 2016.

5 Giancarlo Stanton
On his way to a 50 homer season before he got hurt. There were thoughts that he may not be the same after getting hit in the face with a pitch. Those thoughts are alleviated.

6 Miguel Cabrera
Like Stanton, he proved what he could do before getting hurt

7 Todd Frazier
Frazier will lose 1B staus for next year. His drafters won't care. The guy hits and hits and runs a little too.

8 Josh Donaldson
The switch from Oakland's venue to Toronto and the switch from Oakland's lineup to Toronto's has done nothing but be fantasy goodness for his owners.

9 Clayton Kershaw
Fantasy players don't forget. Kershaw has dominated in the past. There will be a lot of folks thinking he will do so again.

10 Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen was thought to be a top three player by some. I don't think so. Still, he is a player that a good fantasy team can be built around.

11 Chris Sale
Three pitchers in the first round?
Yes.
None named Felix?
Yes.
Big time pitchers get more scarce each year. Sale has shown critics that he can be thin, throw like he'll get hurt, and maintain health while being damned hard to hit.

12 This is where it gets tough. I believe that the 12-25 players will go in the first rounds in some drafts and the second round in others. Here are the interchangeable players

Adam Jones
George Springer
Starling Marte
Felix Hernandez
Anthony Rizzo
Kris Bryant
Jose Altuve
Dee Gordon
Brian Dozier
Manny Machado
Buster Posey
Nolan Arenado
Zack Greinke
Troy Tulowitzki
Prince Fielder

First, awesome post, Dan. Had me laughing out loud at work.

Second, no, you are not the only one. On Monday, I thought, Ahhhhh, nice to have a short break from the marathon-like grind of season-long fantasy baseball. By yesterday, however, I was ready to start watching some real games (real as in counting for fantasy purposes, not something less important to me, like the location of the seventh game of the World Series). Pathetic, I know, but the All-Star game does not do much for me. (Sadly, but truthfully, I enjoyed the Home Run Contest more than the All-Star Game this year.) Now, I'm annoyed that we have today and tomorrow off. This is longer than in past years, right? Seems like Thursday being an off-day is new, but maybe I have that wrong. Anyway, I confess that I'm itching to dive back in. In fact, I'm annoyed that half the teams have yet to announce their starting pitchers for the weekend. If they at least did that, I could start setting my line-ups for my way-too-many teams as something to hold me over until Friday.

Third, it's fun to start thinking about next year already. My quick take in response to your list:

1. Trout - agree

2. Harper - I think I would knock him down a little bit; still not sure I totally trust him yet (but I'm getting there); might be as high as #3 for me (wish I found him more "rootable" but I still think he's a bit of an ass)

3. Goldschmidt - I think he would be #2 for me - honestly, with him running more and Trout running less, it might be a closer call than many would think, but Trout still has the edge (especially if he gets some lineup help next year)

4. Scherzer - this is personal, but I don't ever see myself taking a pitcher in the first half of the first round (second half of first round would be a stretch for me; not saying some don't warrant it, but I'm really used to having a bat first). Notwithstanding this season, I think Kershaw still would be first SP for me, but I'd have Scherzer second as of now.

5. Stanton - he'd probably be in the 4-8 range for me. Impressed that he was hitting for average before he got hurt and steals a few bags. Love the power, hate the lineup and stadium and wonder whether health will always be a question.

6. M. Cabrera - the guy still hits, but now is he an injury risk going forward? I had him in the 2-4 range this past year, but he'd be more like 6-10 range next year, I think.

7. Frazier - Seems a little high to me. I don't trust the high average, and if the Reds are sellers, what is the lineup going to look like next year? Probably my #2 3B at the moment, although Arenado and Machado are close.

8. Donaldson - I'd put him over Frazier. For some reason, I find making that call easier than it probably should be. Love his game, love the lineup, love the stadium, etc. He might be in the 5-7 range for me now, but that might be a tad aggressive.

9. Kershaw - I still have him as my #1 SP despite taking a step back this season (which probably was inevitable). This is about the earliest I think an SP should go, but I may be in the minority on that one.

10. McCutchen - I'm heavily invested in him this year, so I may be biased, but this seems too low. He had a crappy April and probably was hurt more than he let on. Has had a really strong May, June and July so far. Very strong production in BA, R and RBI, and solid production in HR (maybe 22-26 when all is said and done). The real uncertainty is whether he can get back to being a 15-20 SB guy, or if he is just not going to run much now due to prior leg injuries. In my mind, if he can be around 20 SB, he's a top four pick and a true five-category player. Alright, biased stump speech done.

11. Sale - This might be a tad high for me, but I agree that Sale has entered the discussion with Kershaw and Scherzer for first round consideration. I have a fear that despite his skinny frame and delivery, he will be fantasy gold until the one year I break down and draft him, and then it's hello Dr. Andrews!

Of the other guys you mention, I think the ones I currently like best for first round consideration are: Arenado, Rizzo and Marte and Machado. I think, like every year, there will be a pretty fair amount of turnover between the top 3-4 rounds in 2015 and those rounds in 2016.

For me, four really interesting things to watch for in 2016 drafting are:

1. Where do some of these young rookies slot in?
2. Starting pitching is so strong, and there are a number of pitchers that are safer and more dominant than hitters, but that group of aces is so large that it will be interesting to see how early they go. My definition of "top Aces" probably now would include Kershaw, Scherzer, Sale, Hernandez, Fernandez, Greinke, Cole, Cueto, Harvey, deGrom, Bumgarner, Price, Gray, Arrieta?, Kluber? (may be forgetting some), plus the next tier is looking quite large to me at the moment.
3. Do some of the top closers take a step back in terms of drafting position? I think they should based on how this year has played out so far, but we'll see.
4. I used to absolutely hate third base. Now - hello, Donaldson, Frazier, Arenado, Machado, Bryant, along with some very intriguing second-tier candidates. The position has been reborn!

Mike

Bronx Yankees wrote: First, awesome post, Dan. Had me laughing out loud at work.

Second, no, you are not the only one. On Monday, I thought, Ahhhhh, nice to have a short break from the marathon-like grind of season-long fantasy baseball. By yesterday, however, I was ready to start watching some real games (real as in counting for fantasy purposes, not something less important to me, like the location of the seventh game of the World Series). Pathetic, I know, but the All-Star game does not do much for me. (Sadly, but truthfully, I enjoyed the Home Run Contest more than the All-Star Game this year.) Now, I'm annoyed that we have today and tomorrow off. This is longer than in past years, right? Seems like Thursday being an off-day is new, but maybe I have that wrong. Anyway, I confess that I'm itching to dive back in. In fact, I'm annoyed that half the teams have yet to announce their starting pitchers for the weekend. If they at least did that, I could start setting my line-ups for my way-too-many teams as something to hold me over until Friday.

Third, it's fun to start thinking about next year already. My quick take in response to your list:

1. Trout - agree

2. Harper - I think I would knock him down a little bit; still not sure I totally trust him yet (but I'm getting there); might be as high as #3 for me (wish I found him more "rootable" but I still think he's a bit of an ass)

3. Goldschmidt - I think he would be #2 for me - honestly, with him running more and Trout running less, it might be a closer call than many would think, but Trout still has the edge (especially if he gets some lineup help next year)

4. Scherzer - this is personal, but I don't ever see myself taking a pitcher in the first half of the first round (second half of first round would be a stretch for me; not saying some don't warrant it, but I'm really used to having a bat first). Notwithstanding this season, I think Kershaw still would be first SP for me, but I'd have Scherzer second as of now.

5. Stanton - he'd probably be in the 4-8 range for me. Impressed that he was hitting for average before he got hurt and steals a few bags. Love the power, hate the lineup and stadium and wonder whether health will always be a question.

6. M. Cabrera - the guy still hits, but now is he an injury risk going forward? I had him in the 2-4 range this past year, but he'd be more like 6-10 range next year, I think.

7. Frazier - Seems a little high to me. I don't trust the high average, and if the Reds are sellers, what is the lineup going to look like next year? Probably my #2 3B at the moment, although Arenado and Machado are close.

8. Donaldson - I'd put him over Frazier. For some reason, I find making that call easier than it probably should be. Love his game, love the lineup, love the stadium, etc. He might be in the 5-7 range for me now, but that might be a tad aggressive.

9. Kershaw - I still have him as my #1 SP despite taking a step back this season (which probably was inevitable). This is about the earliest I think an SP should go, but I may be in the minority on that one.

10. McCutchen - I'm heavily invested in him this year, so I may be biased, but this seems too low. He had a crappy April and probably was hurt more than he let on. Has had a really strong May, June and July so far. Very strong production in BA, R and RBI, and solid production in HR (maybe 22-26 when all is said and done). The real uncertainty is whether he can get back to being a 15-20 SB guy, or if he is just not going to run much now due to prior leg injuries. In my mind, if he can be around 20 SB, he's a top four pick and a true five-category player. Alright, biased stump speech done.

11. Sale - This might be a tad high for me, but I agree that Sale has entered the discussion with Kershaw and Scherzer for first round consideration. I have a fear that despite his skinny frame and delivery, he will be fantasy gold until the one year I break down and draft him, and then it's hello Dr. Andrews!

Of the other guys you mention, I think the ones I currently like best for first round consideration are: Arenado, Rizzo and Marte and Machado. I think, like every year, there will be a pretty fair amount of turnover between the top 3-4 rounds in 2015 and those rounds in 2016.

For me, four really interesting things to watch for in 2016 drafting are:

1. Where do some of these young rookies slot in?
2. Starting pitching is so strong, and there are a number of pitchers that are safer and more dominant than hitters, but that group of aces is so large that it will be interesting to see how early they go. My definition of "top Aces" probably now would include Kershaw, Scherzer, Sale, Hernandez, Fernandez, Greinke, Cole, Cueto, Harvey, deGrom, Bumgarner, Price, Gray, Arrieta?, Kluber? (may be forgetting some), plus the next tier is looking quite large to me at the moment.
3. Do some of the top closers take a step back in terms of drafting position? I think they should based on how this year has played out so far, but we'll see.
4. I used to absolutely hate third base. Now - hello, Donaldson, Frazier, Arenado, Machado, Bryant, along with some very intriguing second-tier candidates. The position has been reborn!

Mike

1. Where do some of these young rookies slot in?

Bryant will go highest of those rookies. He probably has the least likely chance of seeing the Minors again.
Correa, Lindor, Gallo, Buxton, Sano, Travis, Pederson, Duffy, Tomas, Franco, Bour, Taylor...there are a lot of them.
All have shown flashes of what we're looking for. Some, I believe have been overhyped, some will probably follow Gallo back to the minors.
For next year, I see this group being taken any where from the third round to the 15th.

2. Starting pitching is so strong, and there are a number of pitchers that are safer and more dominant than hitters, but that group of aces is so large that it will be interesting to see how early they go. My definition of "top Aces" probably now would include Kershaw, Scherzer, Sale, Hernandez, Fernandez, Greinke, Cole, Cueto, Harvey, deGrom, Bumgarner, Price, Gray, Arrieta?, Kluber? (may be forgetting some), plus the next tier is looking quite large to me at the moment.

Does Greinke and Cueto end up in good places?

15 names mentioned, 15 teams drafting. Some teams will have Aceholes.

What do we do with Matz? McCullers? Wheeler? Wainwright? Rodon?

We dock pitchers for throwing for poor teams or pitching in hitting parks, right?
Next year, I'm docking Mets pitchers and players for being on a fantasy unfriendly franchise.

3. Do some of the top closers take a step back in terms of drafting position? I think they should based on how this year has played out so far, but we'll see.

I brought this up in an earlier post. Craig Kimbrel seems to have lost 'it'.
He still throws hard, but he looks damed hittable instead of damned intimidating.
And what good is Chapman if near the bottom in Saves?
It's a big question mark.
I believe that Closers will be waited on longer than in past years. If only for the reason that the turnover remains so high.

4. I used to absolutely hate third base. Now - hello, Donaldson, Frazier, Arenado, Machado, Bryant, along with some very intriguing second-tier candidates. The position has been reborn!

So agree!
A few years ago, Shortstops had a re-birth of stars. Now, third basemen, QUALITY third basemen are flourishing.
In the mean time, shortstops are just plain sad.
Tulo still leads all shortstops and for all his past power glories at Coors, he is looking like a judy.
Loose hips, sink fantasy ships.
I believe any team trading for him and giving up top prospects, would be fools.
All the 'cool kids' from last years top 10 rounds like Andrus, Al Ramirez, Desmond, Santana, Rollins, and Castro have all turned out to be cigarette smoking hoods designed to screw fantasy teams.
The oppo of third base.

Top 11 will go 1st round in most leagues next year, and I agree with most of the rest for 1st/2nd round consideration. Here are some other players that will draw consideration in the 2nd round:

Albert Pujols
Jose Bautista
Carlos Gomez
Mookie Betts
Joey Votto
Edwin Encarnaction
Carlos Correa
Hanley Ramirez
Corey Kluber
Madison Bumgarner
Jose Fernandez

This might be the most top shelf talent we've had in a long time -- and a really nice mix of older and younger players.

agreed with all of the posts!
is it friday yet?

i may have to join a ff dc just to give me something to do(shivers at the thought)

OK Dan- since you mentioned a call to McDonalds as a way to kill some time, I had to post this classic bit from way back:

Don Imus - 1200 Hamburgers to go - it was done live on the radio to a hapless employee....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy5sjOKCYwk

You wish you were hung like Hannah's horse Dorito Boy