MLB Seasonal Articles
Short Season: Pitfalls of Average Risk
The league batting average last season was .252. Players are more concerned with launch angle, doing damage with those batted balls, and frankly, getting on base than they are at producing base hits. This piece will talk about the new approach that so many possess, in a season with less than 162 games played. Let’s Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
2020 Player Profile: Jose Quintana
For years, Jose Quintana has been one of my guys. He has never been great, but he’s been a solid, go to innings eater. The last couple of years the innings, and success, have started to slip away to the point that he was just a guy last season. Is there any reason to think Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Post-Hype Sleepers in 2020: AL
As we try to refocus on the 2020 baseball campaign, we thought it would be a good time to reconsider some of those players that might have slipped through the cracks. We’ve termed those players, for the sake of this piece, as Post-Hype Sleepers (I hate the term sleeper, but using it in this context Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Ray’s Rundown 6/2: Roster Construction in the Covid Era
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 6/2: Roster Construction in the Covid Era Ray Flowers lays out the baseline for rosters in fantasy leagues – with a potential new twist for games played. He then dives into how the MLB situation could impact the fantasy game. What happens if a player test positive for Covid-19? Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Short Season: Pitfalls of Pitcher Walk Rates
The season will be shorter in 2020. Whether it’s 114 games, 100 games, 82 games or 80, the simple and obvious truth is that we will not be playing a full slate of games this season. As such, we need to reassess players and the skills they possess relative to the schedule. The topic in Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Does the Expanded Playoffs Impact Fantasy?
We don’t know exactly what the playoffs schedule will look like as I write this article, but we have a pretty darn good idea. It sure seems like Major League Baseball is intent – on the owners and players side – to extend the number of teams that qualify for the playoffs (the Players proposal Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Ray’s Rundown 5/31: NFBC/ADP, Team Bullpens & Race of Champions
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 5/31: NFBC/ADP, Team Bullpens & Race of Champions Ray Flowers takes a look at the NFBC ADP board for the month of May. Are there any surprises as to how the participants there are handling the early rounds of the draft? Ray will also discuss the idea of whether Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Ray’s Rundown 5/30: Injuries, First Base & Weather
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 5/30: Injuries, First Base & Weather Injuries in 2020 baseball will be huge as a companion to a written article, Ray Flowers discusses how we should view the whole injury situation this season. A poll was run asking who the best option at first base was between Cron/Gurriel/Hosmer/Santana. Ray Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
The Role of Injuries in 2020
The injured list will move from 10 games to 15 this season, something that I detailed in New Rules in 2020. That situation alone will have an impact on squads in the coming season. Moving further down the rabbit hole, we need to consider how to view players who have missed a good deal of Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Secondary Average, A Review
Recently, I dusted off The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract (I also have the original from 1985 sitting on my shelf). Bill has a tremendous amount of depth in the massive work, with random side stories that I find fascinating even if they don’t deal directly with the topic at hand. There was a Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Ray’s Rundown 5/28:Economics of Baseball & Military Movies
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 5/28:Economics of Baseball & Military Movies Major League Baseball released their plan to pay the players precious little in 2020. Ray Flowers reacts to the proposal with his thoughts and touches on the state of the game. Ray then breaks down his top-10 military movies a few days after Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Handling FAAB in a Shortened Season
At some point in the not-too-distant future, our lives should be somewhat back to normal. Namely, baseball on the television and fantasy rosters to manage. From the time the world (and baseball) shut down in mid-March until Opening Day 2020 hopefully in early July, it will feel like eons have passed. But by the second Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Should We Be Using Team Bullpens in 2020?
The 2020 MLB season is going to be different. I think we’ve all accepted that as our truth, and therefore running fantasy baseball leagues like we always have might be a mistake. As such, there has never been a more applicable time for us to consider stepping out of our comfort zone to try new Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Ray’s Rundown 5/26: Player News, Polls & MLB
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 5/26: Player News, Polls & MLB There will be a new offer by the owners Tuesday in order to strike a financial deal that works for both sides to allow play to begin in 2020. James Paxton trying to pick up spin rate. Kris Bryant is using technology to stay sharp. Aaron Judge (rib) still Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Using Bulk Relievers in 2020
In article written a few days back, I listed the reasons why one should strongly consider avoiding taking starting pitchers early in a fantasy draft (Why Avoid Starting Pitching Early?). I get it, you’ve already drafted and you don’t care or cannot take advantage of the advice so it doesn’t matter. Even if that is Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Games Played Qualifications in 2021
We have rules in place for positional qualifications in baseball. Some leagues use this number, others that number, but we all have a number. Ray Flowers will talk about the traditional setup and how we will need to adjust those levels in 2021. I’m a stickler for the rules. You probably all know that by now…
Ray’s Rundown 5/24: Pitcher to Build Around?
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 5/24: Pitcher to Build Around? Ray Flowers wanted to know, if you could build your staff around one pitcher – Clevinger, Flaherty, Paddack, or Snell – who would you choose? The winner of that battle then had to take on Buehler. Finally, the winner of that matchup squared off Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Ray’s Rundown 5/23: Reviewing It All
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 5/23: Reviewing It All As we approach the end of May and the starting point of the 2020 baseball season, Ray Flowers thought it would be a good idea to go back and review everything that has transpired to this point. No, not all the off the field stuff, Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
2020 Player Profile: Caleb Smith
It only seems like I’ve profiled every Marlins’ starter. OK, I have reviewed Sandy Alcantara (Player Profile), Pablo Lopez (Player Profile), Jordan Yamamoto (Player Profile) and now Caleb Smith. This guy, Mr. Smith, is likely the best strikeout option of the bunch. However, after an up and down 2019 effort, it’s unclear if he has Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
2020 Player Profile: Dallas Keuchel
A former Cy Young winner and elite ground ball getter, Dallas Keuchel is now a member of the White Sox after signing a 3-year, $55 million season. Can the lefty still bring the mail? Is he above average? Is he an innings eater? We will explore. 34 years old Bats/Throws: Left/Left Height/Weight: 6’5”, 215 lbs. Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
2020 Player Profile: Cesar Hernandez
For years, Cesar Hernandez was a nice little player who would steal and help you out in the batting average category. The last couple of years, as he approaches 30 years of age, his power has grown but the average has dropped. Last season, he lost some steals too. He joins a new team this Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
Ray’s Rundown 5/21: Fanlink Sports, Tommy John & Veterans
Elite Fantasy Network · Ray’s Rundown 5/21: Fanlink Sports, Tommy John & Veterans Ray Flowers takes a look at FanlinkSports and what the free site has to offer to everyone. Rich Hill & Jordan Hicks closing in on returns from elbow surgery. Tommy John surgery in 2020 carries an ominous sidenote. Manny Ramirez wants to Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
2020 Player Profile: Joey Votto
Joey Votto’s days of being a star are over. He may not even have enough left to offer unless you are in an extremely deep mixed league. However, there still might be a few places that it would be wise to avoid simply dismissing the once great offensive performer. 36 years old Bats/Throws: Left/Right Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.
2020 Player Profile: John Means
John Means had a 3.60 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last season over 155 innings, and he was a lifesaver as a result to many who added him off the waiver-wire to replace a struggling or injured arm. What will the second-year arm do now as a follow up for the Orioles? 27 years old Bats/Throws: Read More! You need a subscription to access this content. Choose from the following: VIP Memberships – Seasonal Annual Season-long content, draft guide, rankings, podcasts, and Discord access. $109.99 VIP Memberships – VIP Monthly Includes all plans: Seasonal, Daily, and Betting, plus exclusive tools and Discord. $99.99 NFL Memberships – NFL (All-In) $499.99 Already a member? Sign in.