3/22, Part 1: Starting Pitching with Pitchers List

You're listening to the Fantasy Sports Radio Network. Fantasy Best Friends Forever. M Do do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do do do doo? Yeah? Oh, this is the Fantasy Best Friends Forever here on the Fantasy Sports already a network alongside for Frankie Stample, I am Greg Susman. Frank's about reggae t G I f happy Friday. It is a happy Friday Franky for Greg Susman. Tirps our marching on Greg, Sure our baby sure ours to the dismay of my bracket. And you, Frank and

you what about me? Oh m, you I think you're saying you were also not happy? Why not? Because you rooted against me heavily. I mean it didn't really matter. I don't care that much about Belmont. Now now he doesn't care about Belmont. This is unbelievable. Look at this guy. One was ready to buy a bruined sweatshirt yesterday. Now I don't really care about Belmont. Well, yeah, they want

to be a million bucks. Sure, Greg Brackett would have been billion bucks he wasn't Warren Buffetts and everything else? School last night for you? You all right? Billy Joel was fun. That was last night. Yeah, it's a crazy day yesterday. Man, I mean, like like Survivor, I lost everything, which is great. Um, that's okay, marilynd once what I gonna do it? Billy Joel was great. Bavonio appreciate this. John Fogerty came out in the middle of Billy Joel concert.

That was awesome. Do you you know who John is? No way right? Do you can play some John Fogerty really some CCR bovona that would be very helpful. Um. Yes, that was awesome And literally in the middle of the show. Every I my good friend John Fogerty, Oh my god, that's awesome. So it was a great I and Frank I have to tell you they went to bed after Syracuse lost last night sing a song that this John Fogerty fortunate son, what fortunate son? It's um. I'm trying

to figure out if I know what you know? You really heard this person's name before made for the band Oh that Red one Blue I do. I'm not just saying that the videos at you just heard me Billy Joel last night. It's the ants I wore as I wore song anyway, I have to tell you that it wasn't bed after the Syracuse came last night about midnight ish or so and listen to me. It took me strangely long time to get home, but finally got home, I watch the end of the Syracuse game, I went

to bed. I have not slept as well in I can't tell you how long. No, I did not wake up to my long one off, and I woke up so refreshed as a wow. I think you had this warning if you drink last night, had a cold beers had had a cold home, But it wasn't like. I woke up feeling right like I had a beer here um to celebrate, and then I had a beer at the concert. That was it just col just too and I slept. I had a weird dream that intersected wrestling

with Game of Thrones, which is kind of cool. Like some of these wrestlers were like down, but like their eyes were like it was like frozen and they blew like the night the Yeah, yeah, it's like it was awesome. I woke up. So I woke up. This wasn't dreaming about work. I woke up feeling incredibly like refreshed and

I ready to go. And I had to say, like, it's not normally how I feel on Monday's Like on Monday I wake up, I'm like, all right, I'm ready for the week, and then by Tuesday Wednesday, it's like a disaster. Today I woke up feeling great. Of course, I woke up to a text message from Vona saying water was everything and everything was broken. That wasn't great. Um sorry, yeah, yeah, it's basically the window popped open because the ball the wind last night and all the

rain came on everything on the remote side. Everything was down this morning. First I'm hearing about this, Frank, your life seems to be good. Um, come in, put my head down, do my job. Leave is happy to be here exactly, So so I walked in. Carl fixed everything, and I decided that I'm gonna I'm sticking to my word by pizza for everybody for lunch. After we're done. There were records and videos. They're gonna go out and watch college basketball and it's gonna be a great day. Yeah.

I don't really care as much about college basketball, but I'm as long as you're happy, I'm happy. But now now you're happy. That now that's straight. So tomorrow at twelve ten, when Maryland plays L s U O M, whill you be ready for because you don't have it. You You don't have LS you and your bracket either. I'll be ready for you. Greg, Frank you here, Frank you can you can? You can clip that out, save and

play whatever you want. Please do. Let's go terps. When I tell you they get the expend sixteen, they are home, I guess Michigan State. What else is the spot you want to be in? Absolutely, normally I told you that, I told you this. Normally I bitch about the bracket. I will I bitch and I moan and I complain that they got screening the a screwed up draw and listen, I'm annoyed that they're in Duke side, of course, but playing d C not get screwed. It didn't. I'm very

excited again, Greg, as long as you're happy. That's not true pollocks here, isn't it? I think so? Having guys high, I'm sorry you hear all that you have any college relation or anything regarding brackets that you want to get off your chest before we act. My sister went to Michigan, so I'm a I'm a huge Michigan fani. Let's do it. Yeah, we're gonna win this year. This is it, we finally

got it, has more swag than anyone else. Everything's great, Honestly, I kind of want Eggy to die, but that's okay. Oh no, come on, man, I hate that guy. I really really really hate that guy. You know some prestigious college. I went to Brandeis University, so we're not really a D one school and we actually don't have a football team, so pretty easy to refer Michigan. Yeah, that's fair, to be honest, Greg, I've never heard of it. Right, it's Nelson Figueroa. He went there. I it's ten miles due

west of Boston. Oh, it's not like it's I don't really consider like Harvard or like you of Boston College, and brandis is all right, that's fair, that's fair. What's going on well a little bit worse because in my college is just all right now. I like brand No, I like Branda. I'm saying, it's not like I don't. They don't like my passing around. I'm having fun, you know, I'm great. Frank. I was really good to see you at at Towers last week. It was a lot of fun.

It's not great to see me, n I saw you well. I talked to Frank a lot. You just you gave me the handshake and you went away busy. I think they do. And I understand that Peters doesn't. He doesn't want to chat. I went over to Fully's and we were chatting it up. We got to guarding Chris Archer talking about some other pictures as well. So but it was a great time here on Friday at spring creening is kind of coming to a head here Greg. We can so there's a little there's there's more things sorted out.

So I thought it was a good time to get Nick Cone talk about and do you want to I do want a quick on the day before we get in a pocket. I honestly desperately needed this to be have a draft Sunday. We're gonna do the draft lottery coming up an hour to um. But I definitely needed to talk to you today, Nick, because Frank came in here this morning. He's like, hey, like I gives Nick's ideas and what I wanted to talk about? Like you have any ideas, Frank? I have not looked at bat

baseball three days, like college basketball, so focused. So who you talking about? Like? Are you kidding me? Right now? This is what you think my head is at. So thank god you are on this program to help me get back. I need it, man, I need it. So um. Big story command of yesterday to me is the news regarding Corey Kennebell and he has a something with the UCL. It doesn't seem fully torn, seems partially torn. They don't know that it's Tommy John but it's not great up

and that means Knable's hurt. That means Jeremy Jeffers is hurt. And Craig Counsel came out and said, yeah, we can't use Josh had the same way that we've been using him, which means we maybe look at Josh Hayter as a closer unless Gregg Kimberll gets signed by Milwaukee, a lot of question marks, Frank, when it comes to Milwaukee will then Yeah. I mean it started with Jeffers a couple

of weeks ago. Now Corey Kinnable. I was starting to move Knable up my draft board because once Jeffers goes down it seemed like there was a clearer path and I think a DP kind of reflected that as well, with Cannable moving up the draft board a little bit. But now with this issue, look, I can't even touch, uh, you know, or think about drafting Corey Kinnable. It doesn't sound good with this UCL issue. They've been talking to

Craig Kimberl will see what happens there. But as of now, like if the season started today and they're in the same opportunity, I think it's going to Josh Hayder. So you know, I'll kind of throw this back your way, Greg and we'll get nixed thoughts in it as well. Josh Hayter, what are the closer? And we knew going in that he was, I mean he would he would be one of the top of three relievers drafted off the board at least it might be. I agree, you

could go ahead and chat. You could lock up that Josh Hayter was something beady closer all season long and get you your fifty saves or whatnot. He would be the top of the lead off the board, top three. I completely agree with you. Now, if they signed Kimbroll, it's not a disaster because Hayter is gonna be a hater, but you probably won't steal many saves as he would have with a Connabel with the Jefferies in the back

end of the bullpen. With Kimberal, Nick, you have to believe that Kimberal's the guy hater is gonna have his role, which is fine, but it's kind of submithed as a middle innings guy. Yeah. No, I agree with all of this. I really firmly believe kimber will go to the Brewers. It doesn't It makes the most sense in the world. Kimberro has often said that he doesn't want to sit out. He wants to play this year. He'll take a one year deal. If the Brewers want off from that, he'll

take it. He just wants to get going. It's a week away from the season. I I guarantee you they were talking last week. They're just finalizing the contra right now. Kimberrell, I would say, plus chance, he's he's closing for the Brewers. So if you want to take the chance on Hater now with the Knebel news, that's fair. I would be very surprised if he actually does turn into that night

in the Guy. Now. There is one thing that is very interesting to me that ties into all of this is Council came out and said the starting rotation for the Brewers, it's not what we expected. Chase Anderson is out, we have Corbyn Burns in there, we Brandon Woodriffin there, we have peral to all these high upside guys are in there. And it's a little surprising given that Jefferson kannebl are out. They could use Carpet Purtins in that

bullpen really badly. So that even to me points a little more that they have faith that Craig Kimberle is going to be signing with the Brewers and meaning that Hater is going to be that fireman guy again. It's not gonna be just like last year because they don't have as many options as well, So they can't just instantly just go cool, We'll go Hater and everything else will be fine. They have to be a little bit

more selective. But I still I still expect Hater not to be the de fact that closed or in Milwaukee and to be more of that fireman for the entire season. Let's get into the rotation with Milwaukee a little bit here where Corvin Burns in the rotation, Brandon Woodruff in the rotation. I've been kind of on random Woodrofe until he got kind of she lacked in his last start. Um, Brandon Woodrifs the one that interests me the most. What

do you know about him? And is their fantasy relevance here? Sure, he's definitely someone I would take a flyer on in a twelve team or why not? I would say, if I had to give a comp to Woodruffe, it's not a good one. You're not gonna hear good comps from me today. Brandon Woodriff compares to Vents of Alaska's for me because it's a lot of fastballs and that's how he gets the strikeouts. But the secondary stuff is lacking. There isn't a big wid pitch there. It's just really

too and they don't really impress me. How Woodroffe is going to succeed is with good fastball command on a given day. I don't actually believe that Woodriff has the best basketball command, and that makes me inherently a little skeptical of a long season uh of success for Woodroff. I think it's gonna be a bit of what I call it cherry bomb, where they can be super sweet or blow up in your face a lot like his

teammate Freddy Peralta. So actually, out of those rotation guys, would your facing the one I'm targeting, I think Corborn Burns has the best chance of turning into a starter you can trust for the entirety of the year if the Brewers actually are sold on him staying in the rotation, if they don't go after Kimber, I want to be surprised if Burns is the one that falls out to be a reliever once Nelson returns. Let me, actually, before I kind of bounce off of what you said about

Corby Burren, you mentioned Jimmy Nelson. I need to kind of jump on that. Freaking I got a bit of a heated debate yesterday and it was in regards to Jimmy Nelson, and it kind of led to Jimmy Nelson versus Drew palmeran's conversation and listen, I'd try to Jimmy Nelson that rookie year. I was really excited about him back in I guess, yeah, obviously he was much better in seventeen. Missed all of last year eighteen, not starting this season in the rotation. He's building up our strength

and whatnot in twenty nineteen. I'm trying to temp from expectations were Gimmy, yes, you wanted a flyer on him, Absolutely no issue. But this is a guy we have that seen pitch consistently. Of course, in a year and a half, it gets a lot to ask for to assume he's just gonna be Jimmy Nelson again. The same with Jimmy Nelson. We saw Frank is a little bit more optimistic when it comes to Nelson. What say you, Yeah,

it's I keep going back and forth a bit. I think early in the off season and we were all really excited about it because he missed the entirety of two eighteen and we thought he'd be pitching then alright, fine, then take off the entire season. You should be all ready to go and back to normal by the time spring training hits and the verular season. And that's not really what we've seen. Uh. It sounds like he'll need till the middle of April, maybe a little bit later

than that, to return into the rotation. He just pitched yesterday, I believe was four innings abound, fifty seven pitches. My memory serves me right where he was touching well, he was sitting ninety four last year with that sinker. That does give me a little bit hesitation. He's obviously still ramping up a little bit, so that could get better. I'm a little hesitant. I mean, the guy killed it with his curveball, had that consistent sinker that was cruising

for him. I mean, this was a very very bad pitch for him in two thousand sixteen, turned it around, was a very positive one for in two thousand seventeen. I'm hesitant to invest in him. The one benefit you do get getting Nelson is that he will be on the i L entering the year, and there are very few good i L spots early in the season. I would say Andrew Heaney is a decent one that you can just stash in that because he'll be back in

two three weeks. That's easy saying with Nelson, I don't want to go for the guys that are going to be out until the middle of July or something like that, like Dinelson Lamett. I think that's just a kind of a waste because you will have to go through those aisle spots during the year. So I like Nelson in that respect. I don't expect two seventeen again. At the same time, I can see a three seven ear ay

with a twenty three K rates. Maybe it would obviously upside for more, but I think he can help you when he is pitching. It's just not the massive impact that we thought we'd be getting this late in drafts. That also becoming one of those d L guys as well. So whatever he can use there that he could be at sixt eight weeks. That's what I heard. Yeah, and I did. I didn't think I made that up, did I. I haven't seen anything yet. I was looking into it

last night. The last thing that I saw was they weren't gonna be able to figure it out until they get back from Tokyo. Maybe making Maybe I'm making that up, but I didn't see I didn't see an official timetable we get from mad Olson. That would be terrible because I have him everywhere. It was very excited about him. Uh. If I were ranking the brewers starting pitchers here, I would just I would go to me, it's Jimmy Nelson, would druff. I think it's close between Burns and Freddy Peralta.

But I do think like once Jimmy Nelson comes back into the rotation, someone's probably gonna get booted here, right Nick, Because as of right now, they have Zach Davies in there, they have Corbin Burns, they have Freddy Peralta. Freddie Peralta, Um, you know made some noise last year, remember that starting in Colorado where he just kind of wowed everyone. But he throws his fastball like seventy eight percent at a time, so kind of reads me a little bit there. Who

do you think it's the boom real quick? If when Jimmy Nilson, Jimmy Nelson comes back, if I had to guess, it probably would be Peralta. Concerning he is someone that is really good or really bad, it could be Zach Davies, though, don't forget that he can be pretty meodoca on his own. When we come back, Nigga, answer the question of who do you want right now, Drew Palmerans or Jimmy Nelson, and well go often to these other pets that we're

here a little bit about that's guaranteed themselves. Rotations, the spots stick around more on the way right after this. Daily rodo dot Com learned from the game's best DFS players. We don't just give you advice. We play every day, all major sports, all year round. We never stopped industry leading DFS tools and custom projections, and now the Daily rodo dot Com Optimizer in minutes build an optimized line up for cash games and tourneys. Learned from the game's

best DBS players joined Daily roado dot com. The following ad contain shocking material. Listener discretion is advised. Is someone in your family playing a dangerous game of Russian Roulette? Over forty three thousand people die a year from drug overdose. A hundred and twenty people a day, five people every hour, one person every twelve minutes. Eight thousand people die every year from alcohol abuse. Over two hundred and forty people a day, ten an hour, one person every six minutes,

somebody you know. Maybe next learn how to help someone you love get away from the drugs, alcohol and bad influences. With the f m l A, people can take a leave of absence from their job and still keep it. Call now and learn how we can help you. Eight six six four eight four nine six two one eight six six four eight four nine six two one. That's eight six six four eight four ninety six one. There is Area's calling the shots. Eli Manning was in the bottom third of the NFL even when he was not

crushured inefficiency rating. He couldn't throw the ball down the field anymore. We could go on and on and on about Eli Manning. And I like Eli Manning, I truly do. But Eli Manning is no longer elite if he ever was, to be truthful, But Eli Manning, it's just not that dude. Week days a pm to eleven pm Eastern on the Fantasy Sports networking on your popular podcast providers about piation, Well Well Well Phil, back with you, Fantasy best Friends Forever.

Fantasy Sports Radio Network, Greg Sausman, Frank stamfle Nick Pollock with you here on a Friday last Friday before the final weekend, Oh, Fantasy Baseball and drafts. A whole lot going on with you right now. So Nick, before we continue on to ask the question right this second, who would you rather have Jew Palmer Ends or Jimmy Nelson. What's your answer, Jimmy Nelson Jr. Palmer Rands, especially for a twelve teamer, I feel is he needs to show me a lot more secondary pitch. And how about you're

showing you that he's healthy rather than the one that's well. Now, I think he's healthy. I think he's healthy. Last year he was averaging about the eighty nine and change on his fastbay has already been in spring training. That's essentially where he has been for the other years of his career. So I think he's healthy again. He he got past that dead arm thing, but yeah, it could you know, it could show up again. He could hit the d

L later on as his elbow bothers him again. But honestly, for the price that you're playing with Drew palmer Rands, that's fine as long as you get some production right now from him. Well, Jimmy Nelson has the upside and actually being a good starter through the year I think we expect more production out of the adit from him. Jaw Palmer, you're chasing that three three ear ray or so that he used to have. But I always came with a ton of regression. It was always a really

short ips as things. We started about five and five point five, which is really low. You want to get close to six for that. So I don't really see the ceiling for for Palmerce being too high, while Nelson obviously has a super high ceiling. Wow, which is who would have thought Greg? Exactly what I said yesterday. I mean, this is why I brought up I knew, I knew he helped me out with Jimmy Nelson versu Drew Palmers.

But my main point was the upside. It's just I know he hasn't pitched since seen but what he did that year, I mean in terms of the swings and missus that he got, the strikeouts, he improved across the board, kept the walks down. That's really the biggest issue for Jimmy Nelson in the past, I think has been the walks. So he limited the walks two years ago. He got groundballs in a fifty percent clip. Everything was great. En Look, we'll see what, you know, how close he can come

to getting back to that form. I think it might take a little bit of time, but I'm obciously optimistic when it comes to Jimmy Nelson. I think he has the tools. He's just you know, he's still gotta get stretched out a little bit and extended spring training here. I think we see him in the middle of April.

And if I had to choose who gets booted from THEA like, I don't think Zach Davies, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's gone, But you know, he can actually give them more innings or at least that's what I would expect than a guy like Freddy Peralta. So yeah, probably between those two Freddie Peralta and uh and Zach Davies,

I think one gets booted. Once Jimmy knows Urban Burns was it was a big time prospect for them though, Greg and yes, definitely has a cool name like Baron Corbyn is a wrestler obviously in w W E very similar names here orban Burns back, so I could have could have cool name theory here. Last year he regressed in the minor leagues. Corbon Burns that is. But in years past, I mean right around strikeout, Ranning gets a lot of groundballs. The numbers were spectacular in the miners.

So I do have some interest in Corbin Burns. But again, kind of piggybacking off what Nick said, it wouldn't surprise me if he bounces between rotation in the bullpen. It seems like there's just so many of those those pictures this year, Greg, Between you know, Alex Reyes and Huio You're ryo Is, I think there's a lot of pictures that are going to bounce back and forth between bullpens and starting rotation, if not the minor leagues as well

as a starting rotation as well as some of these guys. Nick, do you subscribe to my cool name of theory that players in particularly prospects get hype because they have cool names. Oh that's Graham. Never heard that before. But I think that's awesome. I'm all, I'm all for silly theories like that. Um that, you know, maybe it does work because they have a baseball name and that's a baseball family. Then.

But but but the the idea of Cortan Burns having a lot of success, Actually I can buy into the fiftcent overall swings strike ery as a reliever last year, which is great. That's really high. Just to give a reference point, that's what you see in sures are in sale as starters. It's harder to have a higher one obviously as a starter than reliever. But that falls to twelve percent. That's still well about average, and that's rooted

in a slider that is absolutely filthy. I have a thing called the money Pitches where you have oh swing zone zone rates and plus swing strike right on the pitch. Essentially, he's getting strikes off the plates, he's skating strikes on the plate, and he's getting guys missing a lot. Corbin Burns is way past all of that. I was swing zone right twenty five percent swing strike right on that slider. They threw about two hundred times last year. That's awesome

to have that in his back pocket. While I was pumping with his his fastball, I really think that this is the kind of guy that can take that leap and be a consistent arm for you. This is what we've seen from a lot of guys, and he can also go to the innings too. He threw over a hundred and I think it was like a hundred ten last year, but that includes being a reliever, which is more strenuous innings than as a starter. So I think he can really get pushed in the hundred fifty innings

at the starter this year. I'm in. I really think if you're gonna go for upside, especially in a twelve teamer, you want to go after Carbon Burns, go with the guy with the best pitch, the one that has the most overwhelming swing strike right, because that's what constitute aces often, swing strike rates is what you want to go after. Go with Burns, Burns over wood Druff too, Nick, Yes, yes, Woodruff,

Okay there you sure, sure, sure, sure, all right? Um continuing almost some of the big time news, Paul gold Schmitt size its extension with the Cardinals is gonna stay there for the next five years. One thirty four. I think I saw it was the number. Um so gold Schmidt and we kind of predicted this would happened. St. Louis locks these guys up traditionally, and they were able to do that now with a Paul gold Schmidt. So good stuff for the Cardinals, and it was important because

they traded a lot away to get him. Luke Weaver comes to mind Carson Kelly as well, former top prospects for the Cardinals in order to get Paul gold Schmidt uh in St. Louis and ultimately locked up. Now I bring up Luke Weaver because he's one of these guys that's going late in draft. So that that I'm just wondering, Nick, are you enter out on a guy like Luke Weaver. Weaver is an intrigue in one. Again, I always have

the reference point for twelve teamers. I don't think that he's someone that you need to go after in your draft necessarily. I think there are a lot of intriguing guys later on that I think of a higher ceiling than Luke Weaver. But here's someone that's looking for quality starts. He actually might be a really sneaky ad for that concern that the Diamondbacks are gonna let their starters go. Same with his buddy Meryl Kelly over there. They're gonna

go six innings often because that bullpen isn't great. They just neither started to go deep. It's not like they need to micromanage every single game in Arizona? Are we sure? Are we sure of that? Because it's always been talking

too Archie Bradley. We talked to Brad Ziegler about this Archie Bradley being and that Josh Hater role, letting Greg Holland or Harno close it out and have Archie Bradley and probably somebody else in that bullpen pitch multiple innings, uh, potentially earlier in games that they don't want to use their starters even a game. So I don't know if that's true. Oh sorry, I thought, I'm just I don't know.

I thought I was ready for freak. No, I'm honestly, honestly, I don't think that that that's gonna be the case with Luke Weaver. Luke Weaver has the ability to go deeper into games without walking a ton of batters. So so essentially that means the sixth thing arrives and he's not at ninety five pitches or so, he's gonna most likely be around. And yeah, that's that's totally fair that Archie Bradley could be that fireman roll. I I don't

anticipate them being this super micro manager of being. I mean generally, when you when you have a guy going like five point five a lot, that means that they have like three leavers that they're going to be going to cool. You have Archie Bradley for this one and that one, and then you have a guy after that and then this and that's how you finish your game. I really do see Luke Weaver having an above average

amount of quality starts in Arizona because of this. He's also not one of those guys that I see as what I said before as a cherry bomb, which means he's not gonna have a ton of blow ups, but don't really also see him having a lot of zero and one on a run of games. He's gonna be having around the two, three, four a lot. Uh. It really does come down to that third pitch of cutters

and change ups, which starting I change ups, curveballs. What is going to be the pitch that takes over Because the fastball changeup domination is good for Weaver, he really needs to get back to that being his foundation, but he doesn't have a third pitch to get strikes when one of those two aren't working. From that's really gonna be looking forward with Weaver. I don't think there's a ton of upside, but I think he's a solid Flora guy.

To go after in deeper leagues. That's what you said, Frank, right, that he just needs to find that third pitch again because the first two really good. It's the third one that is kind of holding him back. And then you're

right on that's a good job. Yeah. That's why I wasn't really invested in Luke Weaver last year, a guy who was being drafted as a top thirty thirty five starting pitcher in seen because I looked at well last year, Ineen, I looked at his seventeen when he kind of broke out, and you know, he used the fastball he used to change up a lot and it was red and butter for him. But again, needs to work on that curveball.

And you know, we've read an article from the Athletic Graig about how he you know, he purchased one of these machines that helps him with his spin rate on his curveball. He's you know, consciously trying to develop that pitch. So we'll see what happens here heading into the season. But at least he knows that he needs that third

pitch and he needs to develop it. I also thought that the swinging strike rates that he has posted in his career didn't really add up to the you know, over ten case per nine that he posted, So I was I was pretty out on his draft price last year, but now you're getting him, you know, as one of your last round picks. I I still do think that he is a picture that has upside. So we'll see how it works out. If I end up with him as one of my bench pictures, I'm perfectly fine with that. Okay, Ye,

I'm okay with that as well. Let's continue on here, and I want to get to where should I go next rank? Is there any specifically you know what? Here's what I'll do. We mentioned St. Louis with Paul Goldschman, and that brings up one of the other cool theory guys, Dakoda Hudson, where who he seems to have earned a rotation spot. Dakoda Hudson has a little bit of hype surrounding him going into the spring. Then came down to the spring earning this job inside the rotation. Should twelve

team leaguers or mixed leaguers be drafting Dakoda Hudson. I don't really see why. I mean, I understand that he is a fit the rotation spot guy in a winning ball club. Okay, but this this is something I'm shifted on over the past four years or so. I don't love extreme groundball guys. I think I tweeted out the top ten groundball guys with at least a hundred innings last year, and at the top of it was Marcus Stroman.

You saw no one in the top thirty. Inside of that, you saw guys like Dylan Covey, you saw Dallas Kikel who didn't really have a strong year. You saw other names that you just don't want to be associated with. And to see a massive sinkle baller at this point without a high swinging strike rate in the minors. He had a ten point five percent mark last year in two thousand eighteen in triple A. That's a hundred eleven innings.

That was his highest since a plus ball. I don't really see something that is going to really push the needle for you in in twelve teamers, and there's no reason to go after a guy that were You're just going from maybe a three seven year ray, maybe a one twenty whip that's what you're hoping for from Dakota Hudson. There are so many other options that you can go for those ratios with much higher strike edibility. I mean he hasn't eighteen point five percent was that strikeout range

as an eight team. That's the highest against since a plus ball of nine innings in two as in sixteen. So this is not a strikeout guy. This is a guy trying to get a lot of groundballs babbing and go against him. And this can be just batter ratios often that don't help you with strikeouts and something the salvage. They're not my kind of guy that you should be chasing the end of twelve teamers. We were talking about pictures and certain guys that that are hurt and coming back,

like Jimmy Nelson and Drew Palmer as well. One guy that always seems to be hurt is rich Hill. He was expected to start opening day for Clayton Kershaw uh and or for Walker Bueller and the problem is, well he hurt too. Rich Hill not going to be starting opening day as he has a sore left knee. Sky blue Grass is green. I mean, your name is Greg Susan. These are all facts. We all knew that at some point rich Hill was going to get hurt. It wasn't a blister, wasn't an arm, It's a sore left knee.

Or literally earlier today it was Dave Roberts said. Roberts said, Hey, our first two games are gonna started by Rich Hill and Jon Jon Rio and and now it won't be started by by Rich Hill, just just Hans Jon Rio. So any Dodger that you were thinking, oh, will he make the rotation? Will he not? I I'm not sure what are we gonna do. They're all gonna be in there.

You'reous stripling, They're all there. Man. Yeah. Look when it comes to Rich Hill, I know a lot of people get excited about him what he could do on a per star basis, on a per ending basis, which makes him better for rotistory leagues in my opinion, then for points leagues. But you know he's always going to be hurt at some point. Really the cap on him. His upside is because he's constantly moving in and out of

the rotation because the injuries, whether their phantom aisle stins, whatever. Uh, this is the way the Dodgers are gonna use them. I believe it's I believe it's you Nick Pollack who coined the term dodgeritis. The rich Hill already dealing with dodgeritis here. Um I me coming in, I felt, you know, the ceiling is a dty Ennings. Maybe Max, it could be really good in those endings, But I don't have shares of rich Hill just because I don't ever want

to deal with this headache. I know how good he is and how good he could be on a per star basis, but Nick me personally, I don't own any shares of rich Hill, and I probably won't over the weekend, Frank, because I have said exactly what you just said. I think I had him at fifty nine in my initial rankings for the year, just because I just didn't want

to deal with it. You know, you're when you own a fantasy league through the year, we don't often take into an account what it's like dealing with a player having rich Hill, where you just maybe it's a weekly league and you have to decide is Rachel going to get that start is he not? I don't know. That's a lot of value to me. There's something to be said about it. Cool, I I feel confident in this guy. Cool,

I don't feel confident in that guy. And Rachel you just don't know what you're gonna get in a given weeks. You're gonna start this time, is he not? Dave Roberts won't say word until the day of. It's in predibly frustrating. I just don't want anything to do with it. And Richill isn't a player that I'm gonna lose my league if I don't get the quote value for him. I don't. I can just let someone else do that, And there's so many other players that can go for so it's

an easy decision for me. I don't touch rich Hill. It's it's of course he has a sore because he's rich Hill, and that's how that's how it is. But does rich Hill having that store Nye and we talked about Dodgers last time You're on make you a little bit more interested in a rush stripling type? Well, I I always likes yeah, probably, Like you know point when when you ask a question, great, you should probably, I don't know what I was like, I don't want you

guys were locking eyes. It was a nice moment I wanted you to have. That's fairly. I think everyone likes the Dodger pictures, the ones that you know, look they might bounce between the rotation, but you know, as Modifie likes to call it, a magical mound out there in l A. It seems like, you know, every picture they put on that mound turns into gold, kind similar to what the Houston Ashroods are able to do. But on the first star basis, look hingin ryou Ross, Stripling, Kenton Mada.

I think they're all gonna be really good, even Julio your eyes when they give them a shot. And my college they're all going much later than rich Hill. So it's like, why would you take Ridge Hill when you can take you know, similar talented pictures who are all kind of in the same boat and you get them later on. So really, when it comes to me and Dodgers starting pictures, I'll just take the one that's going the latest in draft Greg because I really don't see

a lot of difference between these guys. Nick, you can now talk what do you think about the rotation? It's funny, I'm actually doing the the legacy League. That is that the I have six leagues of the pitchless staff leagues that's all relegation, and so the top league we called the Legacy League, and I just drafted Kenta Maida after Ross Stripling and after Richill because exactly that, let's just I'll just take the last one. I knew it wouldn't

have to take Rachell. But I'm actually a little bit out on Ross Stripling because if the Robberts has said he is the fifth starter as opposed to the fourth and kent to my ADA is higher up than Strippling right now. And keep mind, yes, this knee is annoying for for Richill, I don't think he's gonna be out for a month. It'll probably be out for like two weeks or something and get his start and clan Kershaw supposed to be back mid April, late April. Ross Stripling

could be out of a job soon. Um yes, then us waves at a fan and he's injured too. But you know, that just keeps me on, just keeps me on edge for Ross Stripling, and I want to go after my ADA. I think in least in the beginning with Arius, it's very interesting. I guess you can only expect a hundred fifty innings. I think you're saying, Frank, or maybe it was you Greg, that there are a lot of these guys like your Whitley and your Paddock

and your it was Losardo in there. But we have a lot of these young guys and we don't know when they're going to get their opportunities, but we do expect a hundred fifty for them. I think Arius is very neglected in that in draft, so I think he's actually a solid value if you want to deal with it. Um, it's just a question of how the towners are going to use them early and if you can kind of

roll with them or not. We have a lot more to get to you with Nick Pollock, and not that long to do it, in about twenty minutes or show. So when we come back, I want to get Frank versus Nick for once and I can see know the sidelines in this Chris Kay, so that should be fun. And then a couple of other late round guys that are on my team that I hope Nick likes. So we'll find out about that in the next twenty minutes.

Here the Fantasy best Friends Forever, The Fantasy Sports Network is hitting you from all angles with the best fantasy sports and betting analysis. You can catch the latest programming on so many platforms there's no way you'll miss out

on any of the award winning programming. We pump out every single debt and you can listen through the F T S Y Radio app, I Heart Radio, tune in Radio, Stitcher, download our podcast through iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Audio Boom, and you can watch select programming on the F and T s Y YouTube channel or the Fantasy Sports Network, your only source for fantasy sports and wagering anytime and

anywhere more. Sala two thousand and fifteen, two thousands and sixteen European Long Drive Tour Champion two thousand seventeen, World number one. Me personally, I keep my game face on me all the time, especially coming out with the bucker leaving the range or you're leaving the pors. What's your story? Go to game fatis rooming dot com from all your athletic facial wipes and body cleansing needs. Scout Fantasy Sports is definitely good news him and his UH, one of

the top prospects, is crushed in the minor leagues. People very excited for him, and he's generally been going in the eighth ninth round of draft. So if you you might have gotten a little bit of a discount over the last day or so. Now that's not gonna happen. I think you'll see the price rise because I would expect him to begin the year with the White Sox week days to the four pm Easter and on the Fantasy Sports Network and on your popular podcast providers can't

get enough fantasy football. Rhoto Experts has launched their NFL Fantasy Football Package, which includes the best math based seasonal projections and rankings available anywhere on the Internet, and Davis Madig and the Rhoto Experts are providing dynasty season long betting, best ball and NFL Draft content every day of the year to give you an edge regardless of what type

of fantasy football you play. Save temper cent at roto Experts dot com with the promo code V and T s Y. It's the NFL three Fantasy Football package only at Rhoto Experts dot Com. Joined the Experts live on the air every day by calling in at April four at six seven nine to join the Fantasy Sports Network Back with you on the Fantasy Best Friends Forever Fantasy Sports Radio Network. I keep it tangling myself. You're doing

over there, I see it. You are very tangled underneath there too, all right, or you could just disconnect yourself and do it in the middle of the show. Greg, you're doing You're you're doing a great job to the fantasy best friends forever here on the Fantasy Sports Network. You heard Greg tease it up before the break, So I'll just set that up here while he's he's doing his thing over there. I want to talk to you about Chris Archer. I thought we had a pretty cool

conversation about this at Folies. I've never been a Chris Archer guy, so I can pretty much see why you don't like drafting him for Fantasy Baseball purposes. But I will say this about Chris Archer. In years past, you had to use a fourth fifth round price tag for him. Now you're getting anywhere from the eighth to tenth round range as your SP three. A lot of the times, you know normally he end up with him as your SP one or your SP two. So I like the

price tag that we're getting on Archer now. And I just think at that point in the draft, you're not gonna find many pictures who could potentially give you two and thirty strikeouts, And that's the number that I'm looking at because before last season. The three years prior, he went two endings pitched in each of those three seasons from and at least two thirty three strikeouts and each one of those seasons, I understood why people liked him.

But now you get him as your SP three rather than in years past when your SP one and SP two, So it gets a lot of swinging strike rate, the oh swing. The chase rate was a career high last year. And I know you were watching yesterday, Nick, I know that there was some video, there were some gifts on Twitter yesterday revolving Chris Archer and this changeup. So let's see what he can do with that, how he builds off that. Now I will give your piece as to

why you you avoid for Chris Archer. Um, you can talk about that third pitch a little bit as well. He's never really been able to develop it and have success. So where is yours name? Well? All right, the biggest argument I have against drafting Chris Archer is the fact that Robbie Ray is going at the same price, and Robbie Ray, if you really want to go after strikeouts, he's just clearly the better option. Uh, Chris Archers at

restraight years of a four plus ear ray. Even in his injured season last year, Uh, Robbie Ray still gave you a sub four ear ray. And he obviously has the ceiling of what he did in twousand seventeen with a to eight ninety earra In that season, he had two d eighteen strikeouts in both two thousand and sixteen two and seventeen. You have to think he's gonna get at least a hundred sixty innings this year, which would

constitute another two hundred plus strikeout. You here, And the thing I hate about Archer is, yeah, we saw that change up yesterday. That's nice. He actually had a couple of games last year when that changeup was good. But that's not a pitch that's good. I don't believe that all of a sudden, now he has a change up and it's great and he's gonna throw plus at the time. I just don't buy that. So I if I don't buy that, then I don't really see a clear path

for Archer to be much better than he was last year. Sure, he doesn't have to be a four three one ear a guy. He could be a three nine. He could be around there. He could be a one one thirty whip. That's fine. I don't think he has any room hearing like three fifty year ray or so would he strike outs and stuff? I just do not see that happening. This changeup is it really has to take a massive leap to get there, and I just don't go by that. Chris Archer all of a sudden has this new pitch

and he's going to be incredible. Like I want to get your thoughts um specifically here on Archer, but there are a lot of pictures like this. John Gray comes to mind as well, where see the peripherals and there's so much better than the E R A. And this was my argument for not drafting Archer last year because

he's in the fourth and fifth round. Is at some point when you see three years in a row of the E r A over four and the fIF and the X fit are you know well below you know four his ex fit last year three five nine, the year before three three five, It's like, at some point is this is the player that Chris Archer is Like, he's just a four E R A guy And we could throw the peripherals out the window because we now have three years of data in a row of Chris

Archer being this picture with an e r A over four. I think he has the talent to be a picture, you know, to pitch to a three seven ear a, but he hasn't done it since he hasn't had an ear A below four. So how do you you know, how did you break that down with with guys like you know, three years in a row. Now we have a large enough sample size, it's more of a trend that Archer is gonna give you an EARRA over four.

So the question is what is dictating that trend? Why about what Archer brings the table dictates that he should have this separation. It's actually pretty simple. It's the same thing with John Gray two is that Chris Chris Archer doesn't have elite fastball command. He just doesn't. He's not one of those guys that's gonna go up and into a guy and then also go down in a way and mess around and time of his zom this fastball.

He just isn't. That's not what he does well. So this is why you're gonna see an elevated babbit from elevator hit per nine from him. Why he has a home umber five ball rate about four for three straight years because he has as a fastball that when guys are dead locked on it and they're not swinging at that slider off the plate, that they're going to be able to hit because he just doesn't have the precision to put it where he wants and the ability just

stay on the edges. This is something I think is always problem with Archer, and guess what, it's also a problem for John Gray, which is really bad when you're in Corps and a lot of those flyballs will go out more so than any other park. Uh, it's it's John Great. The whole John Gray situation is actually like exactly as I talked about with Richel, just even worse, where I do not want to trust John Gray at all. There's no point in the season I will think, oh, hey,

I can trust John Gray. Now, this is wonderful, everything's great now that I will not get to that point. I just so I have him, like in seventy five or so in mind, because it could be so bad for you, tam so detrimental, and even if he does well, you still will have hesitation and not get a proper value on the trade market for him. Anyway, So you have to still inherently take that risk even if he does do well out of the gates. But I mean with with Chris Archer, he's not going to get better

with that fast. But I don't really see him taking a leap there, and the changeup isn't enough for me to save him. I mean, I love strike Gray. He's gonna get strikeouts, but at what cost. He's not gonna go six and seven innings often. He's more of a five and change kind of guy. It's just not for me. It's not the kind of guy I want to go for. For me. I hated John Guy a lot last year. I was on that camp obviously, and then Frank and Floria basically talked me into him at one point and

I picked him up. He was good, he was I was I was the one with me screaming at Floria saying we don't play in X fIF leagues now. So he was kind of good for like a month and then like it all went to hell. So now, just just getting back to Archer, I just think, look, if you're geting him as XP three, I think you have enough of a buffer with your aces hopefully that you know they'll they'll contribute enough in the r A and whip where you can kind of swallow whatever Arch is

gonna give you. I still think he has the ability to be a you know you mentioned at three seven, three eight e r A, which doesn't completely kill you. But if he can give you those two stricouts that he did for the three years prior before last season, I think that there's a lot of value in that. Greg. So here's two. Here's the Chris Archer, the veloping that

third pickupping it works out this year. Um, I do have a lot of exposure to him, but look, maybe it's just one of those things where I need to be burned by him one season first before I before I jump off, Because again, I've never owned Chris Archer. This is the first time that I'm jumping in, so it's also the first time you've convinced me. It's my first time jumping on Chris Archer as well, and so

so if he sucks, you're gonna kill me. Oh yes, Now. Now, the one more point I will make is that I said Robbie Ray is going at thirty one, Archer's at thirty two. Well guess who's at thirty three, it's you, Darvish, who also has the same kind of strikeout ability as these guys. Yes, I know about Archer's innings and him going two hundred a decent amount has a higher chance necessarily to have a volume of strikeouts. But man, if you want to talk about guy having upside with strikeout potential,

it's you, Darvish. Even with the blister thing, he's staring a bullpen today and he should be fine for the most part, maybe like missing one or two starts to start the that's about it. I think that he can be a much better value as your SP three than Chris Archer at the same price. Nick, I know you didn't really prepare for this, but I'll just throw throw your r I think you don't have a fair answer

to this for me. In my you know, mid twenties to mid thirties ranking, there's a lot of pictures that are similar to this that we're talking about that could be They could have they have high upside, but they could be very volatile. I want to ask you who's your favorite in this range? To me in my rankings, I have a sto Miles Mikolas Chris Archer to Naka, first Shaw, Savorina if you want to throw them in the mix. But Robbie Ray, you Darvish just talked about

a lot of these players. Who's the one guy from that group that has a lot of upside, very volatile that you're targeting most. So first of all, we're acknowledging that zach Whiler is way above this correct. Yeah, I have Zachler ranked it. I haven't ranked sixteen. I don't know. I yes, that's I did too. I think I do now because of sevrena following. Yeah, that's that's what's that's what's up Wheeler. I pulled him all the way up

the board in the NFBC main event. Actually nick I took him in the early fourth round at like pick forty nine. So basically putting my money where my mouth is, I got him as my spe toho, I am. I'm in on that. Miles Mikolass is my favorite one there. I think the biggest question that people have is sure he's gonna be a good low walk out, which means that whip will be good. But what about those strikeouts? I actually think hisself speaks to having more strikeouts this season.

It's a filthy slider. He's throwing ninety five as well, and he is a guy that actually has good command oftentimes at bats end A bit too early with him because he is a little too zone friendly with that slider and a curveball as well. I think he just makes a small tweak there. I think he's going to recognize it. My my biggest guest is that actually has a slight struggle at some point and then he has a shift away from it because it's like, all right, fine,

this isn't working anymore. I need to do something different, and then that's actually going to be very successful. I think he can be a three three year a guy with a one fifteen whip and a twenty three k rader. So I love that. I think Mikolass is going to please a lot of owners at the price he's going for. You know what, it reminds me a lot of Nick And I don't know if you've ever kind of seen this comp with him. I've always been a Michael Fulmer guy.

I know everything that's going on with him, he's dealing with it. Looks like he's gonna have Tommy John. But looking at Michael Fumer's numbers, I always thought that they could be better than what they were because he and he has a slider, right, so I always thought the numbers could be better than they were. I kind of see some comparisons here with michel Las two because you know seventeen former has pretty good command and Michelas has

even better command. Fumer and gets gets a lot of groundballs as well, so you kind of see I always thought that Michael Fumer should be better than the numbers that he gave us. It's a joke here at Picture List.

I mean I even when the when the news came out that he's probably gonna get Tommy John, he said, up, all right, I guess I have to lower Michael Falmer to the seventies now because it's such a joke that, like, I love Mike Michael Phmer more than anyone, and I really do feel that a healthy Fomer does dictate a top thirty, top forty starter, especially when still that change up again. Uh. The one thing I will say about Michael List above Falmer is he does have more offerings

that he trusts. Falmer has always danced around being a hard fat us ball and slider and the changeup was go in and out a bit Michael list with three pitches that curb off for strikes, slider doing everything, fastball around the zone. Those three themselves do more and provide more depth for a variety for make Loss go deeper into games. And then he also does have a split change that isn't bad either and can induce whifts on

its own. It's just not as consistent because it's a split change, and splitters overall are the most inconsistent pitch of any type in the majors. So I understand why he put down the back burner. That's a really good decision by him. But yeah, I do see that comparison. I really do think that Mike Loss, like I've been saying about Falmer, could take that strikeout jump as well.

That's your position. I gotta get some. I gotta get some Miko Lost shared basically based on that analysis from just for the I don't have any shares of mikol Loss. Just for the record, I should Chris Archer over Miles mik Loss because of you. Let me be very clear, you should ask me for my rankings. Great, because I have Miko Loss ranked higher than Chris Archer. Well, if

you would have just asked me. I would have told you take why I bought it on Chris Archer because you told me I like Archer, Yes, but I have Miko Loss ranked higher. So if you would have just asked me what told you? I don't want to ask. You were busy ignoring me in our other draft. Let me ask you. Can't you take Archer over someone else? I like too? I think you took him over Baber right, No, yes I did, and her mom mar oh yeah, I mean again Marquez below. I don't want to deal with it.

There are a lot of pictures in that range. How do you How do you feel about beaver Nick? Because I haven't really asked you about him, and I mean, the helium is reaching new heights when it comes to Biber. I saw Settler tweeting out that you know he might crack the top one picks in NFBC Main Event drafts this weekend over in Vegas. So where are you at on Biber? Well? I blame you no Saris for that, because I think he put him at twenty four and

his athletic ranking you have a twenty one. I might be crazy, all right, All right, this is this is how I feel about Beaver. He has one really good pitch that's a slider. He's changed up. I think overperformed a little bit, but it could be a very good number two. I know we love the Caper walk stuff. I hate the fact that he his fastball command is is okay and he gives in so much. Um. I always mess up the stat but essentially half of Bieber's games where he had two walks or more last year

were zero and runs. That's rate when he walked at least two batters. When he walked under two batters, he only had one out of thirteen starts with zero and runs. I think Bieber needs to nibble more. I think he needs to be a little more, a little less predictable with that heater, because I mean, that's why you have that massive babbit, because he would just throw these meatballs in the zone and it's not a hard fastball. It's all like it's like mid up or nineties. Here we're

talking like ninety two. And in typical Indians fashion, that he doesn't have a great fastball. So I don't think that his secondary stuff is like Michael Clevinger's. It's not like Bowers or Carrascoes or Clubber's. He really has one of his slider and that's great. The changeup. I think it needs him to do a lot of work if it's going to be the same fastball and hopefully walks for batters. If he's walking more batters. I know that's crazy to say, but if he walks more, this could

turn out well. There's just a lot of work for me for him to do, and that, for me is making me not interested. I do have him over guys like Tyler Glass now. There was a fun debate with me and Sport earlier on the preseason about that. I've now way out on Tyler Glass now, but I have him around like the late thirties or so. That's how I feel. I think there is opportunity, but it's expecting a lot of growth for Beaver to get there. All right, Nick, I hope you enjoyed your time here on the show

because you will never be definitely now, I'm just kidding. Look, I think it's all fair points. I agree. I think he can't live in the zone as much. That's why you see the hard hit rate as high as it was last year. The bad bit very high obviously, but he gets a decent amount of swings and misses, so I'm hoping he builds off that. And I really just buy into the organization with the with the Cleveland Indians.

I know that they don't have Biggie Callaway anymore, but I mean, this is an organization that is known for breeding starting pictures from you know, Clueber to Carrasco obviously Bower, what happened last year? Levinger, what happened last year? I don't know if I'm just buying into that narrative maybe too much here, but I just trust that the Cleveland Indians know how to develop these guys, and I really do think that he's going to take that next step.

So that's that's why I'm as high as a mr is probably the worst of that lot, by the way, as far as it's raw talent, to be fair, I have two minutes now officially have a lot more pictures beside Shane Bieber, and there's Archer on this list. There we go, let's do it, Let's do it. Rapid fire, rapid fire. Here we go. Aaron Sanchez interrut I'm slightly intoelve Teamer. Don't take the risk now see how he shows up too many groundballs and not enough swing strikes.

Damn it. Zack Efflin in or out. I'm intrigued. He needs to develop a third pitch more, but the fastball slider itself should make him at the very least worthy for good mouse streams early on, not the worst late round. Pick Michael Paneda in or out, same kind of thing. I don't really see a ceiling of being super high, but late on to pick fine, he's gonna be a cherry bomb. He's gonna be really great some games and then just completely kill you. Others favorite Morland starting picture. Ah, man,

it's it's probably Pablo Lopez. I think he has the highest ceiling of the group. It really just depends on who gets the rotation spots. Trevor Richards is Jeremy Hellickson, So I'm a little bit a little bit worried there. It's an elite change up with a bad fastball, and Caleb Smith actually has a lot of raw talent in there. I think both Pabol Lopez and Caleb Smith are both really good ads if they both have rotation spots. Matt Strong, I love him. He's my He's been my guy since

like two thus seventeen. I'm getting him everywhere you have to get out from him. Has been on this for like, look up this guy on the Royals, Matt, I want to get breakdown about him. Right on the Royals, I was like, all right, this is what if he starts? Because Jason Hamill kicked him out the last minute to be in the rotation. It sucked. Final question, Matt Shoemaker

inter out, I'm out. I think he's too inconsistent. It's a flit change and he's just worse than he used to be when he had those excellent runs in Toronto. Is not a good place to pitch, Nick Paula, thanks so much for joining us. Man has been blast. It's been great to hear you think be here. Thanks so much for having again pitch your list, and he don't over to pitch your list for all your pitching needs and more ventures up next