$$Gekko Saturday Chat$$

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:29 am

One question I am really curious about and this is for most of the top players.....

Which websites do you frequent during the year for prep, for news, etc? (BHQ is one obviously, do you also check out Prospectus? Any others?)

What books or mags are a must for you in draft prep?

Glenn

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:33 am

Originally posted by Damage Inc:

What are your thoughts on Geovany Soto and Russel Martin this year? Soto - i might give him a shot at making my team, but likely not where is current adp is...10th round. look to acquire a round or two later.

Martin - IF you need sb out of your catcher, martin is a guy you want to target. IF you need hr, wait 10 rounds and select any of 5 guys who can pop more hr than martin. another thing, Torre plays games with his lineup. if martin is hitting in the bottom, i'll probably issue a SELL order on him.

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:36 am

Originally posted by Glenneration X:

Which websites do you frequent during the year for prep, for news, etc? (BHQ is one obviously, do you also check out Prospectus? Any others?)

I only use two "baseball" sites:

1. BBHQ - Forums are valuable because everyone wants to be the first person to post "new" news. Since I can't be everywhere all the time, I need worker bees to collect "news" for me. The BBHQ posters are my worker bees or as some may say.."my staff"

2. Rotoworld - If I want a quick down and dirty summary of recent news. Don't read the analysis though.

[ February 13, 2010, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Gekko ]

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:38 am

Originally posted by Glenneration X:

What books or mags are a must for you in draft prep?

Can't make it through winter without the Baseball Forecaster. Last year I bought Baseball Prospectus, but I thought it was HORRIBLE, esp their projections.

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:43 am

Originally posted by Damage Inc:

And...

What are your thoughts on Geovany Soto and Russel Martin this year? remember martin's best years were the result of 540 and 553 at bats. i don't see him getting those totals playing in the NL. closer to 500 makes sense.

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:46 am

DAMN! I haven't gotten any projections done since the chat started. Keep filling up the Q if you have more questions. I'll be back at 3pm. Now it's back to the war room...

The RoundTrippers · Post by **The RoundTrippers** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:59 am

if you would stop watching "faceoff" on the tv you could get some work done!!

TOXIC ASSETS · Post by **TOXIC ASSETS** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:05 am

Hey GG

Since we are both in slow draft 7...

How about a friendly "beer" wager on higher finish in our league.

Since we are both in eastern PA, how about after the season, we'll meet for some beers and the lower place finisher will buy drinks for the higher place finisher in our league. Maybe somplace equal distance for both of us (Lancaster??) Might be a lot of fun and maybe we can even get a few others from our area to join us.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:21 am

How much do you think the rules change of allowing batter swaps each Friday will...

a) impact the value of top closers (as you need not waste bench spots on closers in waiting)

b) imapact the value of multi-positional batters

Foo Dog · Post by **Foo Dog** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:26 am

Jason Hammel? I know he pitches at Coors but he is a ground baller. His age with just enough experience and with the consistency he showed from the get to the go last year and the improvements all along his line. That said I'm not talking middle of my staff but at the very back end and at the end of the draft. Now I read something from one of the best and most respected Fantasy experts that just hammers him. Am I wrong? Is he a bum? What say you? Thank you

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:29 am

Can you see Roy Halladay being a 22+ game winner with sub 2.80 era and sub 1.15 whip and over 200K now that he is in a division with the Braves, Mets, Marlins and Nationals as opposed to the Rays, Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees?

Even at his age, don't you salivate at what his numbers can be in the NL!!!

Having that Philly run support!

Looking over win totals...it's like a cliff!

Only 12 pitchers in all of MLB baseball had over 15 wins. (in 2009) That's not even one per team (15 team league) Wouldn't stashing TWO of these 17-20 win pitcher types create a large advantage in the wins category? Halladay type early and Carpenter-Johan type later?

Just out of curiosity, it looks like 2009 was a weird year for 16+ win SP's, as there were only 12, whereas there were 19 in 2006, 17 in 2007, and 21 in 2008.

Oh...and Halladay is a career .079 hitter. (3/38)

[ February 13, 2010, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: sportsbettingman ]

rockitsauce · Post by **rockitsauce** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:01 am

Holliday was still a free agent when the 1st magazine draft was held. He was the last pick of the 2nd rd.

Now that he's re-signed w/ the Cards, (hitting behind best hitter in baseball) how far would you estimate he climbs?

As an A, he's shown to be worth much less, as a Card, he may be just as good as Braun....a rd later, perhaps?

off topic....Avatar or District 9 ?

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:11 am

i'm back...

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:13 am

Originally posted by The RoundTrippers:

if you would stop watching "faceoff" on the tv you could get some work done!!

how about you watch THIS!!!

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:16 am

Originally posted by TOXIC ASSETS:

Hey GG

Since we are both in slow draft 7...

How about a friendly "beer" wager on higher finish in our league.

Since we are both in eastern PA, how about after the season, we'll meet for some beers and the lower place finisher will buy drinks for the higher place finisher in our league. Maybe somplace equal distance for both of us (Lancaster??) Might be a lot of fun and maybe we can even get a few others from our area to join us. i wish i had my pitching projections done for that draft. my staff could use a revamping.

hell, i wouldn't mind getting together with some baseball fans. let me think about that one.

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:20 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

How much do you think the rules change of allowing batter swaps each Friday will...

a) impact the value of top closers (as you need not waste bench spots on closers in waiting)

b) imapact the value of multi-positional batters top closers? as long as you get two legit closers, i really don't care if they are the "top". in fact, i like a few of the "non top" better!

if you are forced into playing the "closer in watiting game" you are correct, your bench won't be as effective as they could be this year.

multi-positional - they always have value, but the key is you need a capable person to plug in your lineup for the guy you are taking out. ie if you are plugging in zobrist to the OF for Fukadome and you are plugging in trash at 2b, you aren't gaining anything.

Purple Helmets · Post by **Purple Helmets** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:21 am

Originally posted by Gekko:

quote:Originally posted by Damage Inc:

Who will you take greater pride in beating this year? Childs, Jupinka or Shandler? i just want MY money. Ya, it's mine this year. The Road to the 100K Goes Through Gekkoville!

[/QUOTE]Last year I stopped to use the bathroom at a truck stop in Gekkoville on the way to finishing 2nd overall. I thought I was going to hit the finish line in 1st but I didn't have enough gas to make it over Mount Hinkelman.

Hoosier · Post by **Hoosier** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:24 am

Gekko,

Just curious on your take on catchers. Early, middle or late? For example, where would you take McCann, Iannetta and Laird? Are you at a significant advantage getting catchers early or at a disadvantage taking late??

Hoosier

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:25 am

Originally posted by uncle charlie:

Jason Hammel? I know he pitches at Coors but he is a ground baller. His age with just enough experience and with the consistency he showed from the get to the go last year and the improvements all along his line. That said I'm not talking middle of my staff but at the very back end and at the end of the draft. Now I read something from one of the best and most respected Fantasy experts that just hammers him. Am I wrong? Is he a bum? What say you? Thank you nice road splits (away from coors). if you are looking for a decent K pitcher to play matchups, you could do worse. IF his walk rate remains low, i'd issue him a buy rating. for now, i'd accumulate at the right price.

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:26 am

Originally posted by uncle charlie:

Now I read something from one of the best and most respected Fantasy experts that just hammers him. most respected Fantasy expert??

i'm the only real expert you need to listen to. :rolleyes:

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:28 am

Originally posted by Purple Helmets:

Last year I stopped to use the bathroom at a truck stop in Gekkoville on the way to finishing 2nd overall. I thought I was going to hit the finish line in 1st but I didn't have enough gas to make it over Mount Hinkelman.

last year Gekkoville started out as heaven and by midseason was, well, you know...

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:35 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Can you see Roy Halladay being a 22+ game winner with sub 2.80 era and sub 1.15 whip and over 200K now that he is in a division with the Braves, Mets, Marlins and Nationals as opposed to the Rays, Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees?

Even at his age, don't you salivate at what his numbers can be in the NL!!!

Having that Philly run support!

looks good on paper lance, but we know how those things usually turn out. i NEVER project a pitcher to have more than 20 wins. NEVER. wins are very fickle. look at corey feldman last year for the rangers. 17 wins in only 189 innings!?!?!?

now look at cole hamels. only 10 wins in 193 innings?!?!?!?

i'll put halladay in the high teens and feel comfortable about that decision. one point to note is that the jays could just keep marching halladay out there inning after inning. in the NL, halladay will get fewer inning pitched due to being replaced for pinch hitters toward the end of the game. could cost him 20 innings (and K's) over the course of the season.

in addition, with lidge a little iffy and madson unproven in a closer role, don't be surprised if the phillies bullpen give away 2 or 3 halladay wins this year.

if you draft halladay, do so with 17-18 wins in mind. anything else is gravy

[ February 13, 2010, 02:40 PM: Message edited by: Gekko ]

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:39 am

Originally posted by Hoosier:

Gekko,

Just curious on your take on catchers. Early, middle or late? For example, where would you take McCann, Iannetta and Laird? Are you at a significant advantage getting catchers early or at a disadvantage taking late??

Hoosier i was a huge mccann fan last year. had him on multiple teams. unfortunately his eyes were a problem for him and it got worse in the 2nd half (notice contact rate). i think he'd make a decent buy at the end of the 3rd or a stronger buy in the 4th. now if he's at a 90% contact rate in spring training, i may move him up some.

Iannetta - had him on multiple teams last year too! feels like a reunion tour! i'd buy him in the early/mid teens

and Laird is a bottom feeded, late 20's

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:42 am

Originally posted by Hoosier:

Are you at a significant advantage getting catchers early or at a disadvantage taking late??

it all depends on your game plan. i can draft mauer in the first and still beat all the teams in my league. if u can get a bargain with a good catcher, i'd take them. if not, wait it out. there are decent ones available at the end (there are also traps as well

)

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:42 am

Originally posted by Gekko:

DAMN! I haven't gotten any projections done since the chat started. Keep filling up the Q if you have more questions. I'll be back at 3pm. Now it's back to the war room...

Hmmmmmm, looks like you have extra chairs, is that for the staff who performs your dirty work?