Fantasy Baseball Sleepers-Picks

[CuseFan10]

My baseball knowledge is just fine, and I will agree to disagree here I guess. A ground out can actually be less productive than a strikeout in many cases(especially for a slow runner like Dunn) because of the chances for a double play. With 2 strikes, do you really want Adam Dunn(or any power hitter) to be up there trying to slap the ball on the ground to "move a runner?" I doubt any intelligent baseball mind would be yelling at Adam, "Alright, 2-strike swing here Adam, move him over." It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever. If a guy leads off the inning with a K it is the exact same as him flying out to the LF or grounding to the 2nd baseman. Sac flies are not something any team will rely on to score runs, either. No player has a high enough number of them in any season to make it worth while to try to fly out. And how does a strikeout kill a rally any quicker than a fly ball or a ground out? That line didn't make any sense. But, then again, I'm also a guy that doesn't support bunting players to 2nd base. Adam Dunn had one of the highest rc/27 of any player in the National League last year for chrissakes. But I guess we'd all rather have Juan Pierre. He doesn't strike out, but he has a horrible OBP. But hey, he'll put the ball in play and get out a bunch.
I guess it's an old school vs. new school thing.

Disagreement is fine, man. I don't agree with anything you are saying with regard to Dunn, not your general argument, and it's cool. Adam Dunn is not slow either for the record. He stole 19 bases one year and could easily steal 10-15 a year if he wanted to. It's also not an old school vs new school thing (I'm not old and neither are you), you just happened to pick out a player that I feel is pretty worthless in real life major baseball when you encompass his entire game. If I'm playing the Reds I'm begging for Dunn to be up there in a big spot instead of Griffey or Phillips or a guy like Votto eventually. 40 hr's a year and never more than 106 rbi's impleis to me that it's easier for my pitcher to beat him 8 times out of 10 then it is for him to beat me - especially in a big spot.


Oh and if he's so valuable in real life then why haven't the Reds exteneded his contract or resigned him yet? Because they are going to let him walk most likely because for all his attributes he has just as many faults and you don't pay a guy like that $80 for 5 years.
Anyway, best of luck!!! Nice usage of 'chrissakes' too haha :thumbs:

[Silver & Black]

Seriously S & B!?!?!?!? According to what? That could be the most ridiculous statement ever written on this entire message board (unless you're assuming Pujols elbow sidelines him for months). :thumbs:

Cuse - this was done with tongue in cheek. I agree Sexson is a Dog, but his numbers will be better than last year. Flip side, I've seen and heard reports that the only way Pujols elbow gets better is with surgery and 8 month min down time. If the Redbirds are as bad as I believe they'll be, he could get shut down around the All Star break. And even if he does hang in there for the year, who's going to protect him in the Cardinal lineup Glaus.

Bottom line, I'll have to pass on taking Pujols.. I'll leave that risk for someone else to worry about.

[NittanyLions94]

Not sure I like your tone, haha j/k... If you have to ask that question than I've already won this "argument". I'm not going to insult your baseball intelligence because we have a long history and I know you know your stuff, but In baseball there are things called 'productive outs', and a strikeout is most certainly not one of them. Like I said previously, nothing kills a rally quicker than a strikeout (other than a DP obviously). Yea, Dunn and Cust can have a .900+ OPS because they walk a bunch, but with less than 2 outs they can't move a runner from second to third to saves their lives. Top that off with Adam 'Donkey' Dunn's absolutely inability to play even remotely helpful defense and he's not a player I'd ever want o nmy baseball team. Reasonable minds can differ though, I understand.

:thumbs:

My baseball knowledge is just fine, and I will agree to disagree here I guess. A ground out can actually be less productive than a strikeout in many cases(especially for a slow runner like Dunn) because of the chances for a double play. With 2 strikes, do you really want Adam Dunn(or any power hitter) to be up there trying to slap the ball on the ground to "move a runner?" I doubt any intelligent baseball mind would be yelling at Adam, "Alright, 2-strike swing here Adam, move him over." It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever. If a guy leads off the inning with a K it is the exact same as him flying out to the LF or grounding to the 2nd baseman. Sac flies are not something any team will rely on to score runs, either. No player has a high enough number of them in any season to make it worth while to try to fly out. And how does a strikeout kill a rally any quicker than a fly ball or a ground out? That line didn't make any sense. But, then again, I'm also a guy that doesn't support bunting players to 2nd base. Adam Dunn had one of the highest rc/27 of any player in the National League last year for chrissakes. But I guess we'd all rather have Juan Pierre. He doesn't strike out, but he has a horrible OBP. But hey, he'll put the ball in play and get out a bunch.
I guess it's an old school vs. new school thing.

[CuseFan10]

I just prefer to use stats that actually matter and can tell me if a player is useful or not. Batting average not being one of them. And what is the difference if a guy strikes out, grounds out, or pops out? I'd love to know.

Not sure I like your tone, haha j/k... If you have to ask that question than I've already won this "argument". I'm not going to insult your baseball intelligence because we have a long history and I know you know your stuff, but In baseball there are things called 'productive outs', and a strikeout is most certainly not one of them. Like I said previously, nothing kills a rally quicker than a strikeout (other than a DP obviously). Yea, Dunn and Cust can have a .900+ OPS because they walk a bunch(btw let's see Cust do it for a full season - he hit like .093 in September when pitcher's adjusted), but with less than 2 outs they can't move a runner from second to third to saves their lives. Top that off with Adam 'Donkey' Dunn's absolutely inability to play even remotely helpful defense, and he's not a player I'd ever want on my baseball team. Reasonable minds can differ though, I understand.

:thumbs:

[NittanyLions94]

I know he's DH'ing this year but he played 56 games in the OF last year and Dunn plays nearly every game in the OF. Dunn gives up more runs than any position player on Earth. So he drives in 100 runs, he also probably gives back 30 to 40 runs with his horrendous defense. Are you like a Moneyball, Billy Beane type guy Nitts? OBP and HR's are that matter?

Jack Cust struck out 164 times in 385 at bats (or thereabouts). That's ridiculous. He's a home run, a walk, or a rally killer. Not my type of player personally, and to boot he's incapable of playing any position on defense and a steroid abuser.... Simply not a fan.

I just prefer to use stats that actually matter and can tell me if a player is useful or not. Batting average not being one of them. And what is the difference if a guy strikes out, grounds out, or pops out? I'd love to know.

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Talk about your horrible defence....I can't believe the Jays are leaning at starting Shannon Stewart in left instead of Reed Johnson this year....he's going to be a nightmare out there, and Johnson was gold glove caliber. Just for an extra 10-15 points of BA. Dumb.

[CuseFan10]

If your worst season over the last 4 years consisted of 40 HRs, 92 RBIs, 112 BBs, and a .855 OPS then you can be horrible on my real life team any time. I was referring to strikeouts being overrated in real life and not fantasy, too. And it will be hard for Jack Cust to hurt the A'a defensively as the DH :dunno:

I know he's DH'ing this year but he played 56 games in the OF last year and Dunn plays nearly every game in the OF. Dunn gives up more runs than any position player on Earth. So he drives in 100 runs, he also probably gives back 30 to 40 runs with his horrendous defense. Are you like a Moneyball, Billy Beane type guy Nitts? OBP and HR's are that matter?

Jack Cust struck out 164 times in 385 at bats (or thereabouts). That's ridiculous. He's a home run, a walk, or a rally killer. Not my type of player personally, and to boot he's incapable of playing any position on defense and a steroid abuser.... Simply not a fan.

[NittanyLions94]

If your worst season over the last 4 years consisted of 40 HRs, 92 RBIs, 112 BBs, and a .855 OPS then you can be horrible on my real life team any time. I was referring to strikeouts being overrated in real life and not fantasy, too. And it will be hard for Jack Cust to hurt the A'a defensively as the DH :dunno:

[CuseFan10]

Calling Adam Dunn a horrible regular player is just wrong, and maybe the most wrong thing I've ever seen on this board.

I agree that Adam Dunn is a horrible player. Hitting 40 hr's a year doesn't make one a good baseball player. He is quite possibly the worst defensive outfielder in baseball and hurts his team dramatically in the field. Jack Cust is the same way.

Strikeouts I was referring too more in terms of real life, not fantasy.

[NittanyLions94]

i agree so long as he is still productive in terms of runs produced (rbi's +runs). K's are irrelevant in fantasy in all honesty. Adam Dunn Strikes out 400 times a year and is a horrible regular player, IMO, but he gets 40/100/60+ and has a high OPS and that's all that matters and is a good fantasy player. He's also probably the last guy that i would want up in a big situation as a REDS fan as he whiffs constantly in those AB's...but who gives a **** if he produces for fantasy. Same thing with Cust so long as he has good numbers, he can whiff 8,000 times if he wants. How you make an out in fantasy matters not.

Calling Adam Dunn a horrible regular player is just wrong, and maybe the most wrong thing I've ever seen on this board.

[FlyersFan]

He can strike out all he wants if he OPS's .900+. Not to get into a stat-head debate, but strikeouts are overrated IMO.

i agree so long as he is still productive in terms of runs produced (rbi's +runs). K's are irrelevant in fantasy in all honesty. Adam Dunn Strikes out 400 times a year and is a horrible regular player, IMO, but he gets 40/100/60+ and has a high OPS and that's all that matters and is a good fantasy player. He's also probably the last guy that i would want up in a big situation as a REDS fan as he whiffs constantly in those AB's...but who gives a **** if he produces for fantasy. Same thing with Cust so long as he has good numbers, he can whiff 8,000 times if he wants. How you make an out in fantasy matters not.

[NittanyLions94]

Will break he strikeout record this year if he stays healthy.

Lastings Milledge and "good attitude" :laughing: Good riddance to Lastings.

He can strike out all he wants if he OPS's .900+. Not to get into a stat-head debate, but strikeouts are overrated IMO.

[CuseFan10]

Billy Butler will have a monster year would be mine.

[CuseFan10]

1st - Richie Sexson - Sea - you'll get him after the 20th round, and this year he'll produce better power numbers than Pujols

Seriously S & B!?!?!?!? According to what? That could be the most ridiculous statement ever written on this entire message board (unless you're assuming Pujols elbow sidelines him for months). Best thing I've read on Sexson to date is this:

"At least two people in every room will think he can't be as bad as he was last year, but oh yes, he can"

and

"39 HR's and 121 RBI in 05, 34 HR and 107 RBI in 06, and 21 HR and 63 RBI in 07. OBP dropped from .368 to .338 to .295 over the same spread, yet oddly Sexson's whiffs also dropped 167 to 154 to 100. Meaning: he jus tcan't hit like he used."

Pujols will go .320, 40, 120 and Sexson will go .250, 25, 80. The two are not comparable.

:thumbs:

[CuseFan10]

OF - Jack Cust -

Will break he strikeout record this year if he stays healthy.

Lastings Milledge and "good attitude" :laughing: Good riddance to Lastings.