All Articles
[FREE] BHQ Publisher and Founder RON SHANDLER discusses draft strategy and tactics, some "Draft Radar" batters and pitchers, and answers reader questions about Logan Morrison and others...
Mar 16 2012 4:42pm
Mar 16 2012 4:42pm
Concerns over the health of Scott Baker's (RHP, MIN) right elbow surfaced again this week, as the pitcher was taken off his scheduled Thursday appearance. He had trouble getting loose in his previous start on March 10, and subsequently surrendered six runs on six hits in 1.1 IP. His velocity, normally around 91 mph, dropped to 83-86 in that outing.
Mar 16 2012 12:05am
Mar 16 2012 12:05am
Coming off of an MVP season in which he took his team to the World Series in 2010, there were questions about whether Josh Hamilton (OF, TEX) could stay healthy long enough to produce a solid encore performance. Despite missing six weeks early in the season with a shoulder injury, the answer was a resounding yes.
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Teams that win fantasy titles often have players on their rosters that deliver more value than either their draft round or their auction price would predict. Often these are players who have breakouts in one or more scoring categories that weren't anticipated. Three players who exceeded expectations in SBs last year were Emilio Bonafacio (SS, MIA), Jason Bourgeois (OF, HOU), and Ben Revere (OF, MIN). We can target players in drafts who have a possibility of returning significant profit in the SB category by developing a profile of players who have had a SB breakout in the past.
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
We run into trouble every year when we ground future expectations in past realities. If we look at each season as a blank slate, we immediately open up more possibilities.
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
Right out of the starting gate, draft and hold leagues, such as the 50-round draft/no pickups format offered through the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC), present some interesting strategic choices. Because draft and hold leagues do not allow for in-season transactions, such as add/drops or trades, getting off on the right foot is essential.
Mar 16 2012 12:01am
Mar 16 2012 12:01am
Salvador Perez (C, KC) will need surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee sustained during warm-ups Tuesday. There has been no announcement about how much time he'll miss, but it seems almost certain that Brayan Pena (C, KC) will open the season as the Royals starting catcher. Does Pena have any skills that might make him useful on a fantasy roster? Here is what he's shown us in his past two full seasons in the majors.
Mar 15 2012 12:03am
Mar 15 2012 12:03am
At certain times last year, James McDonald (RHP, PIT) pitched like a budding ace—the kind of arm that led him to be considered a very solid prospect in the Dodgers organization. But he also saw the wheels come off all too often during starts. Two-thirds of his nine losses were PQS-0 outings. At 27, he should be in his prime. Is there a step up coming, or has he plateaued?
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
[FREE] Unlike their keystone counterparts, the shortstop group has more than their share of injury situations. You have top of the chart types in Reyes, Ramirez and Tulowitzki, a veteran like Furcal and up-and-comer Drew who had a gruesome ankle injury last season. Tread carefully with this group.
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
David Wright (3B, NYM) received an anti-inflammatory injection in his ribcage, as well as an MRI, which showed no significant damage to the area. He could resume baseball activities later this week, and is still expected to be ready for Opening Day, but it certainly appears to be a situation to watch closely in the meantime.
Mar 14 2012 1:03am
Mar 14 2012 1:03am
It sucks to get old – just ask Alex Rodriguez (3B, NYY), who turns 37 this summer. Rodriguez’s aches and pains have included hip surgery in 2009, groin and calf issues in 2010, and oblique tightness, a torn meniscus in his knee, and a sore thumb last year. Those injuries have taken a toll on his bottom line.
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
[FREE] BHQ Publisher and Founder RON SHANDLER discusses draft strategy and tactics, some "Draft Radar" batters and pitchers, and answers reader questions about Logan Morrison and others...
Mar 16 2012 4:42pm
Mar 16 2012 4:42pm
Concerns over the health of Scott Baker's (RHP, MIN) right elbow surfaced again this week, as the pitcher was taken off his scheduled Thursday appearance. He had trouble getting loose in his previous start on March 10, and subsequently surrendered six runs on six hits in 1.1 IP. His velocity, normally around 91 mph, dropped to 83-86 in that outing.
Mar 16 2012 12:05am
Mar 16 2012 12:05am
Coming off of an MVP season in which he took his team to the World Series in 2010, there were questions about whether Josh Hamilton (OF, TEX) could stay healthy long enough to produce a solid encore performance. Despite missing six weeks early in the season with a shoulder injury, the answer was a resounding yes.
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Teams that win fantasy titles often have players on their rosters that deliver more value than either their draft round or their auction price would predict. Often these are players who have breakouts in one or more scoring categories that weren't anticipated. Three players who exceeded expectations in SBs last year were Emilio Bonafacio (SS, MIA), Jason Bourgeois (OF, HOU), and Ben Revere (OF, MIN). We can target players in drafts who have a possibility of returning significant profit in the SB category by developing a profile of players who have had a SB breakout in the past.
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
We run into trouble every year when we ground future expectations in past realities. If we look at each season as a blank slate, we immediately open up more possibilities.
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
Mar 16 2012 12:02am
Right out of the starting gate, draft and hold leagues, such as the 50-round draft/no pickups format offered through the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC), present some interesting strategic choices. Because draft and hold leagues do not allow for in-season transactions, such as add/drops or trades, getting off on the right foot is essential.
Mar 16 2012 12:01am
Mar 16 2012 12:01am
Salvador Perez (C, KC) will need surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee sustained during warm-ups Tuesday. There has been no announcement about how much time he'll miss, but it seems almost certain that Brayan Pena (C, KC) will open the season as the Royals starting catcher. Does Pena have any skills that might make him useful on a fantasy roster? Here is what he's shown us in his past two full seasons in the majors.
Mar 15 2012 12:03am
Mar 15 2012 12:03am
At certain times last year, James McDonald (RHP, PIT) pitched like a budding ace—the kind of arm that led him to be considered a very solid prospect in the Dodgers organization. But he also saw the wheels come off all too often during starts. Two-thirds of his nine losses were PQS-0 outings. At 27, he should be in his prime. Is there a step up coming, or has he plateaued?
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
[FREE] Unlike their keystone counterparts, the shortstop group has more than their share of injury situations. You have top of the chart types in Reyes, Ramirez and Tulowitzki, a veteran like Furcal and up-and-comer Drew who had a gruesome ankle injury last season. Tread carefully with this group.
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
David Wright (3B, NYM) received an anti-inflammatory injection in his ribcage, as well as an MRI, which showed no significant damage to the area. He could resume baseball activities later this week, and is still expected to be ready for Opening Day, but it certainly appears to be a situation to watch closely in the meantime.
Mar 14 2012 1:03am
Mar 14 2012 1:03am
It sucks to get old – just ask Alex Rodriguez (3B, NYY), who turns 37 this summer. Rodriguez’s aches and pains have included hip surgery in 2009, groin and calf issues in 2010, and oblique tightness, a torn meniscus in his knee, and a sore thumb last year. Those injuries have taken a toll on his bottom line.
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
