4/22, Part 1: Modica Monday, Easter Weekend recap, prospect call-ups, and more...

us there. Enjoy the show and thanks for listening. You're listening to the Fantasy Sports Radio Network Fantasy Best Friends Forever. What's Up, Nobody? Welcome inside Studio thirty four Fodica Monday, here on the Fantasy Best Friends Forever, the Fantasy Sports Radio Network. Make Sussman. Takes him a little bit longer to get out of bed in this old age, takes him a long time to climb up the stairs and make it into the studio, so he'll be here eventually.

It was very eventful weekend in the baseball world. Obviously, we lose another first round pick in Aaron Judge, and we gained another one back. So you gotta give one up, you gotta sacrifice one to get one back. So we get Frankie Lindor back. Over the weekend but we lose Aaron Judge. It was a big waiver wire weekend because all these prospects get called up For me, and I'll throw this to you, Matt Modica of the Athletic at

CTN Baseball. To me, this was one of the hardest weekends in terms of FAT because there's a lot of really interesting prospects that got called up. But the thing is, I don't know how long they're gonna be up, how well they're gonna play. I mean that's always, you know, part of what we're trying to figure out, how well they're gonna play. But I just don't know how long some of these guys are gonna be up. So it was really really tough FAB weekend for me overall. How

was your your fab? How was your your Fantasy baseball weekend? What's going on? Madimo? Um, Happy Monday to you. First, let's start off that way. I was, you know, a tragic weekend, starting with the Friday afternoon late news of Jacob de Graham and you know m R. And then all of a sudden he's throwing the next day. You know,

that's that's just the Mets. But in terms of FAB, I really wanted Mike Sarokia where I didn't own him already, and in the leagues where he didn't, he was getting scooped up after the first week, and that's why I was acting accordingly in other leagues. But I did get him in two spots. Look the cold Tucker thing, I totally understand. I didn't bid over ninety nine dollars for him, and I would have liked to have owned him. But I was aggressive on Clint Frasier a couple of weeks ago.

And you know, I'm spending money in other places, so you gotta save some fab and you can't just get everybody. So I understand the aggressive nature and the wanting to get the speed that Tucker can possibly give you. You could possibly be in the minors in two weeks as well. I heard that about Clint Fraser, so I don't like, I really want to get on anybody. If they spent

three dars on him, I wouldn't have done it. I wish I would have gotten him an our main event that I think I only been fifty nine that when I was like the lowest one I had on him, and I would have wanted if I did my other eight bids, I would have wanted be in that league, and that was a mistake. Yeah, and I actually saw that the lowest bid four Cold Tucker over the weekend in the main events was actually in our league. It was. It was a seventy seven dollar bid, and I had

the backupout seventy three. So I was pretty sad about that, missing out on a Cold Tucker by four dollars. We'll get into the rest of these prospects, all the waiver wire stuff from the weekend with that, welcome in my buddy Greg Suspend, what up? Hey, Frank? How are you sorry? I'm doing all right. How's your weekend? It was okay, a lot of traveling this ken, a little trailing for the holidays this weekend. Yeah, eventful passover. I wouldn't say it was eventful, which is so I was lie on Friday,

Philly on Saturday, back in New York on Sunday. A lot, just a lot of trail. Well that's why he's so late. You know, it's one weekend. It's Do you have a good easter, Maddie, muh yeah. I had a pretty good easter, you know, nothing like truly eventful, but you know, baseball was on court on the Ten Commandment. Saturday night. I watched that everything. Oh we saw that. I was watching as well, Maddie. Yeah, that that movie is still in the the nineteen fifty six and it's still fantastic. Well, we're

totally all the same page we had it. It is long. I've never seen it in Commandments. I don't I've never seen. Do you know what it's about, Well, something something religious, I would guess, Greg, I don't know. It starts. I have no idea. What you know. The Ten Commandments are all right, there's a lot that I don't know. I mean, so it's it's about Moses, right, just you know, breaking away, going to Israel. Yeah, by the way, Moses Modica would be I like, you should name your kid Moses Modica.

I like that. That's biblical reference. I like that. I like the alliteration too. I'm with it. What was this Modica? I'm in soon, hopefully not too soon, unless unless you know that's in the plans for you, Matt. You know, I get I'm not dictating your life. But whatever happens happens. Yeah, do you look at me, I'm I don't know. Do you start thinking about like little Susman names too. I don't know. No, I hope not absolutely not, absolutely not.

I didn't sleep great last night, or that question is coming. Yeah, I'm sorry. Why was that? I was alright, I don't know it was. It was on and off. I just too many thoughts running through my head and it just didn't feel right. We're disappointed in Game of Thrones. No, I loved it. I loved the Game of Thrones last night, and I kind of flip flopped from it was amazing next it wasn't bad. It had some cool moments last night.

And you know, I don't want to talk about anything specific in case someone hasn't watched it yet, but um, I thought, you know, there were some cool moments. But and I know the fight, you know, the Battle of Winterfeld's coming next week. But I wanted to see some I wanted to see some action. I think I'm just getting a little a little greedy, little selfish greeky. Yeah, you know, I thought last week was was slar right, whatever, We're back, and it was like and last night was

last night. Just the banter was hysterical, Like I laughed out loud of a torment. I felt good for brand Um. It was great I loved it. I really did. What do you think Matt and Danny, He'll turned his coming. It's great. I was very happy for Area, you know. Yeah, that Brand's part was fantastic, fantastic overall. I thought it was one of their worst episodes. Too much cheesy like Week one. I was fine with except for that dragon ride that was like, you know, like out of a

high school, you know, movie or something like that. But you know, it's four more episodes. You're gonna be action packed. I love the series. I loved book, so I don't want to hate on it. It's interesting different perspectives because Matt, you know, Matt says he thought it was one of the worst episodes in Downstairs, Alex video producer said, I thought it was one of the top five episodes in the series. Yeah, it was an amazing episode. It really was.

I'm without, I'm more without. It's cool that you know, you find different want you guys are smoking down there, man, you know, so I don't know, we must be missing something. Yeah, I don't. I don't. I don't know, man. I'm excited. You know what's coming next week, It's gonna be it's gonna be. Yeah, it's gonna be a lot of fun. That was your fab How was your fab weekend? How was my fab weekend? My pit teams in disaster. I've lost everybody on the team, Like my entire team is hurt.

That sucks. I think I think you're suffering from some karma because you said that I didn't know how to play in the headset categories. Never, I'll never know that one. I'm in the first place understanding you're in twelve. Oh, I'm not last surprised. Yeah, I just looked at it before we came because you know, if you were in LA I was gonna blast you. So yeah, so that wasn't That wasn't so good. But you know, it's Mike Talkman's world and we're just living at it. And so

that's how I feel. That's the sockman. Seriously, fact was the guy because we lost outfielders everywhere, Frankly, multiple outfielders. We lost in all of our leagues, including the pit league for me, and I feel like everybody that the number one guy I kept trying to add was Mike Talkman and I'm i out of my mind, frank No, I don't think that you are. I will say it could be a potential short term Uh, you know, open up like the playing time that's opened up from it

might be short term again. And look, the cream rises to the top. That's what we talked about with Clint Fraser. And you know, Talkman's performing well. And you know, over the past week he had three homers and the Yankees play seven games. They're going on a road trip. They expect to get Standing back sooner rather than later. They're talking about, you know, him returning during this road trip at some point. But you know, once he returns, uh

to Talkman necessarily play every day. I think he will play every day for now until Stanton's back. And you know, you know what like an exposure to the Yankees line, but it's not like it was before, Like the Yankees lineup right, what does that mean? Not a good line? Triple A and and the thing like him, And you know I was you know, I had like five six

per cent bids on him. Nothing too crazy, But I think I think you should like him, like you know, three three or four career hitters in the minors and you know, hit twenty home runs last year across multiple levels, twelve stolen basis, so I think there's there's a little something there with Talkman is as long as he's gonna play every day for now. And the thing with Talkman is and more specifically Stanton, right, it's that he's he's

not a mac an all that soon. That's the issue, Like he's not fee well they're saying, brought this road trip. He should be back, except you don't believe it when you see it. There's like no optimism around the Yankees right now, and rightfully so no, But here's the thing, like he's not swinging or he hasn't hit live pitching yet, isn't thrown from the autfield yet, isn't there anything yet? He's hitting the ball off a tap Frank Yeah, I mean whatever, he could be a d H and kind

of he's not hitting live pitching yet. All right, I'm just saying like it's gonna be. He's gonna be. It's not like he's on the shelf for another month. Right, He's probably back with I'm glad, Matt, I'm glad. How does Jacob the grounds elbow? Well, you can't do that, and I expect it real quicker on Mike Cochman, I said out a street yesterday with a picture of an Iraq g and I said, I can't confirm, but I'm pretty confident this car. Whatever we'll take it, we'll take it.

Mike Talkingman, the guy I added everywhere, Frank, I don't believe I just said that. Yeah, look it was. It

was a tough weekend for for injuries. Again, we lose Austin Meadows this day you wake up on a Sunday morning, Austin Meadows in the I L, Aaron Judge on Saturday, and Starling Marte also lands in the I L. So we have a lot of high profile outfielders who were landing on the I L. And you know, in deeper leagues, fifteen teamers, you know, talking when someone who's out there again gonna play every day, when once they get back in Yankee Stadium, it should be all right, Like you know,

they play in San Francisco and uh Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over this next week. So it's something the greatest ballparks. But at least he's gonna play every day. Matt, did you have any bids in on Talkman or not interested? No? I really didn't bid on him him this week, and I get it in certain formats off like vlat Sadler put out a tweet today and it's it's really important for people, and you know, any kind of competitive lead its weekly. If you look at it weekly, that will

help you a lot. I mean, I always go with the understanding of by talent and it will win out in the long run. But like Howie Kendrick, this week was an excellent ed And when we talk about our league, that's the guy that I don't know how I had a ligoria over him this week. That was a mistake, but you know he's playing three games in Colorado, So you know, you gotta look at it in specific uh, in specific ways, and fab is difficult, but there are

ways to manage it and be very effective. Yeah, it's I saw last tweets well that it's a weekly at least in year leagues. Right, it's it's a weekly league, and you can't worry about the day to day that when the season's over or three two or three weeks on the line, things will kind of play themselves out how they're supposed to. Everyone kind of reverts to the mean and reversed to what they are, and you want

to be on top of that. And not necessarily worry about just this week or just these couple of days. And I think that's certainly a good way to look at it in weekly leagues. And that's why I don't like those leagues right because I can't. I can't help myself. I get very anty. It doesn't work for me. I want to drop everyone. I didn't even want to drop anyone yesterday. What do I want to drop? I wanted to drop Wade Miley, my guy, yeah, which surprised me

because he finally has a two star week. And you know, yeah, but we have so many open roster spots because again we had Meadows, we had Starley Marte, so you know, we have some open roster spots and put those guys in the I L and we have to pick up outfielders. What's up real quickly? On Orsten Meadows, who's he's been fantastic, I have to say, absolutely fantastic. But I treated out like an hour or two ago. Orston Meadows stats this season and Clint Fraser stats this season, and they're pretty

much identical with the only exception was the three stolen bases. Yeah, click Fraser has been awesome. I know that was your guy a couple of weeks ago when he came up you this is where you were spending heavy. This is the type of guy that you liked can help you throughout this season. And and Frank, we did it. In one of our leads. We spent what we needed to do to go out get Cliff Frasier. Uh and thanks

to him that we're kind of a float of the moment. Yeah, we spent twenty seven dollars out of a hundred dollar fab budget in the in g D D, which is a fifteen team mixed Rhodo. So yeah, we you know, we spent a decent jumpp there, But you know, feeling good about it now. Just and I tweeted this yesterday. I mean, if the Yankees find a way to screw this up, I don't think that they will. But once everyone comes back healthy, you know, is Aaron Boone gonna do an Aaron Boone thing? And we need you know,

Britt Gardner's leadership or whatever. No, no, we don't. You know that that ship has has sailed. I just want to make sure that Clint Fraser, I hope, so you know, I hope so I have I'm cautiously optimistic yeah, they look at this team and it's really not very good. I'm litt now excited. They were getting about Tyro Extrada bunting yesterday. This was a big spot. And it was a big spot. I was I was listening to I was listening to Sterling on the radio and it was like,

and you would you look at that? What a bunt? What a bunt? And Susan like, exactly need to do the kid. The kid got here yesterday. That kiddy got you last night, and what a bunt. And I was like, oh my god. I was surprise. I was actually watching it started an hour earlier whatever, but I was still watching that Yankees game over the met game because Paxson was just unbelievable. He was good, and the minute he stopped pitting, the minute they took him out, I stopped

watching it. And then I see the yankeeslusion. I was like, what happened here? You're like, this is the perfect perfect game. You watched Paxson go six shutout at twelve shot I counts, and the Yankees on the verge of losing. There's nothing else, Matt Modi. You can ask for amazing the window. I'm not.

I'm not gonna lot in general for your for your fandom. Obviously, um I mentioned I mentioned the Ground that the Ground story was like the most met story ever and like, obviously I haven't killing them for it, but it is literally the most met story ever where Jacob the Ground had the flu, and the flu turned into an elbow injury, which turned into an m R I, which turned into being placed on the I R, which turned into no, it doesn't need an m R I. We're just gonna

have them throw a couple of days in a row, which turned into maybe we should haven't get the m R I, which turned into gotten. The hell knows what's going on with Jacob the Ground? Yeah, new GM hab Brody van Wagen and still the same old bets. Huh. I don't know, it's just I don't I love the flu being like a precursor to like an elbow injury. It's insane. It's insane. You would think with the dubious medical history, they would be like ultrue conservative, how much

of gon MR get a course? Assume Mr the guy you just gave it a hundred fifty million dollars through and is you know your h you set a piece of your stamps just mr after you say he was a diagnosed the elbow injury. It's not like I wunna take a couple of days off. He was throwing the next day. Have you ever heard of an elbow barking? I have never heard. It's not good. Yeah, it doesn't

sound good to me either. So you know, you see the report that his elbow is barking on Friday, when you wake up Saturday, and all these pictures and videos of him, you know, throwing in the offield, Like, what is going on? What is the latest underground? Like what is the story? You might pick the end of the weeknd's returning on Sunday? What do you know? And that's the best? All right? Okay, take a break. We'll go over some of the other waivers stuff I say you

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like I watched The Night after Night. Three up, three down, three up, three down, three up, three down, three hits in a game. They're pathetic, Like they're a bad baseball team and they're always favorite It's just one of those teams like perception versus reality. Like I think they're gonna be a faid team this year. I was gonna get your take on that, because we want to attack certain teams and they've been awful like they I don't Seattle

started off well, they kind of cooled down. But as for the Angels third team, I'm gonna betting against lots, George, They're not that good. Saturday and Sunday, eleven am Eastern on the Fantasy Sports Network. On the popular podcast providers Fantasy Best Friends Forever. On the Fantasy Sports Radio Network, Frank Standford, Grace Sussman joined by Menimo, as we are each and every Monday, talk about the Weaver week that was help us set our lineups h for this week.

We mentioned Aaron Judge's interview Interview injury. Uh, Mike Talkman is probably gonna play every day now. Unbelievably enough, Yank's gonna do something. I don't know that is you mentioned Jacob D. Graham as well, Logan Morrison, Greg Obviously that's gonna be a plays Mike four. I don't know, you know, Oh god, this is such a joke. Alright. We mentioned Mike Siroca, that was your guy here if he was

wasn't owned. Let's move on from there, and let's let's kind of get more into Cold Tucker, Frank, because you said you've been seventy three dollars for him in your main event. He wound up going for seventy seven dollars and Tuckerer was or is I believe the Pasburgh or one of their top prospects gets called up play shortstop every day as their story shortstop went on the d L sixty d d L immediately Tucker homers in his first game on Saturday. What do we need to know

about Cold Tucker? Who is he? What's the prospect pedigree? What can he become? So? Cold Tucker is the fifth rank prospect in the Pirates organization according to MLB dot com, and he's an interesting player. He's a guy who has a lot of speed. Last year in Double A he stole five basses. A year before at Double A and High A ball in he's still forty seven bases greg and so far this year at Triple A he was hitting three thirty three with three homers and five stolen basses.

And he's he already hit a home run over the weekend, and we know that the way that the ball is flying out this year, Greg which his juice ball, there's a chance that he actually sees an uptick in power getting to the major league level. But we know that the speed is legit. He's not a prototypical leadoff man because he still strikes out quite a bit. He also

does walk a lot, So he's an interesting guy. I think, you know, you add him or speed, and you're you're just hoping, you know, whatever power you get along with that. And if act that he's let off over the weekend, uh, you know, with all the injuries to the Pirates, now with UH, with Starling Marte going down, you know, you're you're hoping that you can get a you know, let's say, to fifty to sixty batting average with some speed and the fact that he's gonna score runs because he's gonna

be at the top of the Pirates lineup. So that's why people were pretty aggressive with him. I should have been more aggressive. It's frustrating because in the Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational, I had an eighty three dollar bid and then in UH in the main event, I had seventy three because I had I had a you know, like fifty dollars less, so I went with seventy three. And you know, if I go with my eighty three dollar bid, I end up winning him. And I would have been

pretty pumped about that. But ultimately I saw him anywhere from you know, eighty two. There's some people like over two hundred dollars in our g s. He le he went for one. Um, I can't knock people. If you need speed and you need run scored, which are Harard categories to come by, you gotta be aggressive with him. What do you think of Cold Tucker? Matt? How excited to you about him? What he could bring to the table. I'm with Frank, you know you you're buying speed right now.

It's so hard to come by. Uh. You got guys like Trade Turner, who you know that was a top half in the first round that you invested on. So I mean I get it. Uh, And like everything else, I see the upside. There is downside if he does you know, if he doesn't hit, I know he let her off and hit the home run. But if he has you know, one of those weeks where it's just a bad week or two he could go back down.

So I wanted to be aggressive. I just wasn't going over a hundred dollars because, as we stated, I was aggressive on Frasier. I really wanted Sarroca, and that was the guy I had the big bit on. I think I had like one, you know, fifty or something like that on him, and I didn't win that one. And I don't know why I had a fifty nine bit on Tucker in this one when I had eighty nine ninety nine dollar bits everywhere else. That was an epic

fail on me. So I'm pretty pissed on my fab on in this Do you in particular do you get you said that you were most aggressive on Mike Saroka? Were you the runner up bid in our league? For one? Because he ended up going for you? Were the backup? I pretty much had Sarroka anywhere where he was available. Was one nine one league. I went one thirty five because I had to save a couple of hours in that one. I was trying to be as tight as

it possibly could. You know, it's basically almost a month in, We're not really even a full month in, and you know, Fabil is going and I think sometimes you have to spend on certain guys and you know, tighten up the budget for later on. Yeah, I think I think it makes sense. Yeah, that's why I feel like I should have been more aggressive on Cold Tucker. But you know,

I'm actually all right in the speed department. But this overall, you know, having a young, exciting prospect like that, you can plug him into your middle endfield and the upside that heat possesses. I probably should have been a little bit more aggressive. Ultimately, you know, I end up with a few guys here that I gotta plug into my lineup because I had Aaron Judge of my main event team, so I needed an outfielder and I had to make

some tougher decisions this week. Um, pick up a guy like Tommy Lostella because he's playing and he's hitting at home runs, which is just like crazy to talk about. But yeah, I actually should have picked him up. Tommy Lostella. Yeah, I mean I don't I don't know what he has like six home runs already, right, Matt, he actually has eight. You know, the two home run game yesterday. See the thing where I'm piste off. That is what Mustaka is.

Having the finger injury even though he's not going on the d L, I may need a second baseman, and I had Kendrick, I had David was Bote body, and I even had uh Tommy Lostella, and somehow, I don't know if I moved I must have moved Lo Gloria up or something, because they were all like sixteen dollar bids or something like that, and I got Longloria over those guys when I probably need that guy to fill in a second base if they do play some soccer's on the thing. So just a bad family for myself.

I actually liked the moves you made, Frank a lot. You got Danny Santana for about like thirty five, yeah, thirty two out of a thousand dollar budget, and there was no one else was bidding on him. He was he in other leagues. I saw him going for over a hundred and stuff. So that was a good move. Lostella is a good move for this week, especially with

the matchups and all that. And he's hot. You always want to ride the hot hand, So yeah, going with the greggy approach here, riding riding the way with Tommy Lostello. Put we've put Danny sand had a backup bids everywhere. Um, we got him in g S T. I think I got him in both my main event and the Great Fantasy Baseball batting second for the Rangers. He's got seven games this week. He has three stolen bases over the past week. It could just be a short term thing,

but once renetto Door returns. But you know, I didn't break the bank for him. You know, I spent about three percent of my budget. So I just wanted some stolen bases, and I need a I needed an outfold. They were plug in with Aaron Judge going down, as I mentioned, So you know, I that's that's the route I went down. I was. I was pretty aggressive on him this weekend. Say, you had an excellent fab weekend

in this league and I had a terrible one. You really have south or something I've never seen, like how we Kedrick I should at least had on his team. Uh, he's playing three games at course field or even like David Bote who's got nine games at second base, already's third base eligible. And I think he's gonna play a lot for this Cup team going forward. And they gave him some money. They like him, and I think he's

a pretty good hitter Modica. Were you surprised that, unless I'm missing something here, Michael Javis was not picked up in our main event league. Yeah, I was surprised because in a couple of my big leagues, my you know, uh high stage ones, he went for over two hundred dollars, which was even three hundred and one of them, let's uh, let's kill the music, Pamona, we would bring in ten minutes from that body, you know. Strange, but I was like that to change sor I don't know, like, come on,

we want to hear him, Matt talking about here. Yeah, I'm trying. I'm trying to hear more about this. Yeah, regarding Michaels, so, Chavis was one of the ones that was kind of referencing earlier on in the show that I wanted to pick him up, but well, hey, I have a ton of injuries on this main events heave,

so I couldn't afford to stash him. And uh, I actually like some of the guys that I'm already stashing, like I have Jimmy Nelson and Otani waiting to come back, So I didn't want to drop any of those guys. Javis was one of the hardest guys for me to figure out, because he's the top hitting prospect in the Red Sox organization, but I don't know if he's gonna play every day, Like is he going to be ample enough defensively to play second base. He's more of like

a first third baseman. So they're going down this Mustakis Ryan mcmon route with Javis, where I guess they're gonna try and play him at second base, But I just a don't know if he's going to play enough here to make a difference. How long is he gonna be up? So you know, Chavis for me was one of the

hardest guys to figure out. I did pick him up in a few locations, but it was very It's always interesting to see Greg from league to league how much he could go for it and then how little because he doesn't even get picked up in our main event. And then you were just talking about leagues where he went for over two hundred dollars, Matt, So ultimately, where

do you stand on Savis? Well, the one thing that I found to be concerned was when he was activated, and when he was called up, he spent the first two days on the bench, and then finally got to start yesterday, So I'm with you. I don't know if he's gonna start every day, and he could easily be backed down in a week or two. I was willing in most of my league's and I said, this is another indication why I felt so miserably in this fan one. It's a probably a case of just having too many leagues.

But uh, what you know, for twenty dollars thirty five dollars, yeah, I'm I'm I'm in on that. I'll take that shot. But two hundred dollars, I'm a guy that. I mean, I could see it for Cold Tucker because of the speed up side. You guys watch stolen forty four bases in forty six bases. I don't care that he hasn't played over he only played a few games of a double A. He's he has that track record, at least in the miners. So I you know, it is bewildering

and interesting. So we'll see that what goes for next weekend in our league if he's still on the league. Yeah, and especially if he has a big week. I mean, this is what we talk about being a week early rest, you know, you know, being week earlier rather than a

week late, Greg, But it's just the circumstances. In an NFBC league, you don't have an I L spot, so I have, I have Daniel Murphy, I have Aaron Judged now on on the I L. And you just have seven bench spots, so you have to uh, you know, you fill out your bench the way that you want to do it. But if you have a lot of guys that are on the I L. You know, I'm

waiting for Otani to come back. You know, some people might have cut baid on him, but he's expected to return in May, so I'm gonna hold on to him. Jimmy Nelson, I still have a lot of you know, faith in him, assuming that he comes back. You know, I've seen some video of him, uh playing in the minor leagues and looks like he's performing well. So I have a few guys that am already stasking. I just couldn't afford to take on another player to stash in Shavis.

But you know, I understand maybe a five six percent bid, but anyone over a hundred two hundred dollars, I think this is just people getting too excited about prospect pedigree here. Greg, Yeah, you know, I get that, and we're always excited about prospect pedigree. But I remember when I read you the note he was on Friday that he was getting called up your problems, that you were really excited about it.

But like Matt said, thinks you start to the first two games that he's on the roster, so it's you know, what, what are the what is the Red Sox actual plans for him? Why do they call him up and then not play him? And it's kind of a different situation because again, he's a corner and fielder. He could play third, he could play first, and now they're trying to force him to play second, which he did a little bit in the minor leagues this year. But he's not natural

second basement. So look, if they want to just put the best offense on the field that they possibly can, then sure he'll play. Because you know, he does have upside. I don't want to downplay that. I mean two years ago he had thirty one home runs with a two eighty two batting average between high A ball and double A. I think he has potentially, but I think he has upside. But the thing is, I really do have concerns about

whether or not he's gonna play. If he plays a lot this week and he's gonna go for a lot of money in our main event league next week, I think that it's worth picking up. It's worth not breaking the bank for. I'm not spending the two hundred bucks that that we just heard about, I'm spending. I would have spent it for him that was interested in him. If you have someone who's just on your bench, if not playing or doesn't have upside, then sure take a

shot on one of these. You know, a lot of prospects got called up this weekend very randomly to Cold Tucker. Michael Chavis gets called Tyro Estrada, And now I don't think tyro Strada's gonna play very much for the Yankees. But Brian Reynolds another one that we can get into who doesn't have the biggest prospect pedigrees. And you know, he's not one of these, uh one of these higher known names that people are talking about, but he is still a top ten prospect in the Pirates organization um.

And it seems like, at least until Gregory Polanco is back, a guy like Brian Reynolds is gonna play every day. And I don't really think that the Pirates owe anything to Monkey Cabrera. So if Brian Reynolds performs well, he had three hits yesterday, he could play every single day for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He brought up Bryan Reynolds last night. I don't know anything about Brian Reynolds. I all I knew that Plato does seem to be coming back very

very soon. Who is he? Why should we know about him? Alright? So, Brian Reynolds the top ten prospect in the Pirates organization. I believe he's number eight on MLB dot Com. Uh. He's hit three twelve in the minor leagues. He's a very high batting average. Uh, it kind of seems like he might be empty batting average. You're hoping that maybe some of the power comes with the juice ball here at the major league level. He had five home runs

in the minors this year. At Triple A. He was hitting three sixty seven, again three twelve career batting average in the minors, but has never hit more than ten home runs in the minors either. So he might just be an empty batting average guy. But I'm willing to learn and see if he developed more power with this juice ball here at the major league level. So I think I had a few, you know, three percent bids on him. I got him, uh in the Great Fantasy

Baseball Invitational. I believe we had a bid in g SC. I don't. I don't think we got him, though, Matt, were you interested in Brian Reynolds at all? Did you have any bids on him? I didn't get him, but I'll give a camp like the week before I picked up Bustin Dean, figuring that it's gonna be a long

term and getting everyday bats. He had a four or four game that first weekend and then he like struck out every other bat, so he got sent back down, which I don't understand what the malls you're doing with that. I mean, everybody, you got guys like grand your Sin and Neil Walker. Let these young kids play. But you know, for for like you're saying, and one percent, just to take a flyer if he has a good week, yeah it's great. If not, you you cut bait and you

you move on to the next guy. Yeah, sure, for for three percent, like whatever, it ultimately doesn't matter. I just I'd rather take a shot on there. Frank and you gave us some names last night as we were going through waivers, like Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez like another thing Seanan Brian Reynolds for what he could be long term, then those guys probably it's the unknown. It's the upside of a prospect, a young kid coming up. Whereas you know, we kind of know who Dexter Fowler

is at this point. Carlos can Zallas is. You know, he wasn't signed all the way up until basically the start of the season. Then he gets a minor league deal with the Indians. And I haven't really done much yet either. But you know Dexter Fowler, you know, while he doesn't have power and doesn't steel like he used to get like four hundred the past week, and it's cheap exposure to the Cardinals lineup. So I did pick

up a few shares of Dexter Fowler. I don't have huge expectations, Greg, but I think in a deeper league, given the injuries to the St. Louis Cardinals, at least he's gonna play every day. So that's what I'm looking at regarding Dexter Fowler. I get it. You need any injuries there for you, matt On Dexter Fowler. Oh, he's the guy that if if I had, you know, if I need if if I was just cutting somebody to cut and I need to pick somebody up, I had him was like a seventh conditional bid in a couple

of box or something like that. And I think that makes sense. I think that seventh conditional it's about right, uh, for a guy like Dexter Fowler. Um, after the break, I want to go get into the relievers um for this week, and I think I want kind of just hold to do that. UM. Some od our names though they got picked up, and I want to bring up now it's Jaredikough And we talked a little bit about

him last week. But Jared I cough get some of the rotation as Nick Povetto was sent down, pitched in Colorado and then next week, I believe, faces off against the Marlins and his only start. How interested are you met in Jared I cough. I's been a guy I've always liked. I would be interested. I'm still like, you know, the way Pavetta started, he deserved to be demoted. I think that was best for him. And you know he can figure it out. But yeah, I think, uh, I

co ups the guy to be interested. He's on a good team. Uh. The start yesterday was going well. I know, he started walking people and I think at the bottom of the sixth inning, I was actually listening to it on the radio. I was driving into Manhattan, and you know by that he should get some wins. You know, a good team. I think he's a good picture. I think he's great. I think he's a good picture. So

I think you should have interested him. Yeah, Greg, I highlighted up five single start pitchers this week that have really good matchups on my Patreon and I have them on the runnow so we can get into these guys at some point to see him now. Yeah, but yeah, jaredia cough was one of them because he faces Miami. You know, anytime I could get starting pitcher going up against the Marlins, it is in Citizens Bank Park, so it's not as good of a start as if it

were coming in Marlins Park. But he is one of these single start pitchers that I do like to speak with. A good matchup, Gregg. Okay, Jared jaredia CoV obviously gives the Marlins something. You want to consider targeting and one of the five pitchers that could be out there that Frank really likes. I think one star pitcher this week, we'll take a break. When we come back, we'll give you the relief picture rankings essentially for this week on

the Weaver Wire. From Seattle and Enno Alias to once again Hector Naris and Gave Kavler and Philadelphia whole lot more coming your way with Maddie mo on a Modica Monday, My fantasy best friends forever. The Fantasy Sports Network just ready to take you out to the ball game. Our experts and analysts are following the Boys of Summer through all one d and sixty two games of the two thousand nineteen MLB season with the best fantasy baseball analysis

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thousand seventeen World number one. Me personally, I keep my game face on me all the time, especially coming out of the bunker, leaving the range, or even leaving the boys. What's your story? Go to game face grooming dot com for all your athletic facial wipes and body cleansing. Kneed Fantasy sports today to two bombs list night, what was Trevor story? And one was a guy that I know you owned in a league and everyone was trying to trade to take him from you. Trade you form? Is

you on? Mancata hit? What the hell would I trade guy? The second I traded everybody, It's like, I'll give you what do you want from the whole reason I drafted him. I'm expecting this Saturday's eight am Eastern on the Fantasy Sports networking on your popular podcast providers Can't get enough Fantasy Football. Rhoto Experts has launched their NFL three Fantasy Football package, which includes the best math based seasonal projections

and rankings available anywhere on the Internet. Davis Madig and the Roto 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. Say 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 Rotto Experts dot com. Yeah, Matt, what are you doing to celebrate Earth Day? I'm going to the Mets game tonight,

Holly this afternoon. My wife scored some good uh some good seats yesterday, so I'm excited. Hopefully Steve Matt doesn't stuff for the same fate last time he faced the philip That is, I was supposed to be driving down to Philadelphia for that game with my partner, Andy Shaxton, and I was so happy. Something came up and he asked if we could, you know, do it next time around, And thankfully I got the only listen to that on

the radio and not watch it. Yes, thankfully. Well you might get it tonight, gonna We're gonna find out, mad Mill, But you know, solid matts up tonight. You know, Jake Arietta sweing Shrike Ray going down every single year. Greg, Let's keep getting it done. I know, I hear you is pitch tonight. I guess I I I yes, I'm listening. I understand. I'm just I actually recommended Arietta this week, and it was, you know, against all my beliefs, but I shaid, going forward, you really, you know, the Frank

said that the swinging stripe percentage is just abysmal. What you couldn't think you could get any worse than last year. But this year I'm taking six and the X fit is just you know, screaming at you be be afraid, be very afraid. So you know, so you're selling Jake Arietta. Look in at Team League. You know you're gonna roll them out there and stuff. But I'm just saying, you know, if it turns bad, I don't I don't think anybody's

gonna be surprised by that. There's just a lot of indicators saying, you know, I don't know if you can continue to succeed. All right, So Jake Arietta be very very nervous about him. Let's get in, gentlemen, to the relievers from this week, who you spent money on, who you stayed away from. I want to start in Seattle, because Frank, we own Anthony Swarzak, he's one of your guys. And do you think of what two savors last week?

The two staves last week? I know Seattle wanted a bit of a losing streak after that um, but it certainly seems like Scott Service feels very very comfortable with Ruenna's Elias in the ninth inning as well. How much would you have spent on Alias, Frank and what do you think these prospects are to be the closer at least for the near term. Look, if you were desperate fourth saves in a deeper league, I could see going

as high as like six seven per cent. But I don't think that Alias is going to be the guy that gets the bulk of the saves. Now, I could be wrong about that. I still have a lot of shares of Swarzak. My thing regarding the Mariners bullpen is there hasn't really been a rhyme of reason to the to the way that you know these guys have been deployed.

I know, you know Swarzak has pitched in some tough spots and like the eighth enning of games and Alias picked up two saves last week, and then sward Zak bounces back on Saturday and ends up picking up the save there, So, um, you know it could be just approach, or you know they'll they'll Swarzak in the tougher spots earlier in the game, and then you know they'll use Rowanius Alias in the knife. But you know, I saw leagues where people were pretty aggressive picking up a lie

because everyone's trying to find saves. And he goes for seventy seven dollars in my great Fantasy based momentational and then in our main event league that me and Matter in together, he goes for a hundred and sixty three and the runner up bid was thirty eight. So I'm probably closer to that thirty eight than I am the one sixty three, But I was I didn't really need saves, so I wasn't really in on the bidding for Alias, but I you know, if you needed it, I could

see going in times like six seven mat. This is one of those closers that you seem to want to avoid when it comes to it to fantasy baseball that just like seems like a fab drainer where you're gonna spend some money, get this guy. He'll save a game. Or to lose his job and then that'll be it. Yeah, I'm with Frankie. I would you know, maybe six to seven percent. I think you'll get some more saves. I think the thing here, I think it's kind of like

the Boston bullpen. Whish war Zack is the Matt Barnes and Brazier right now is the Romans Alias. So you know, I think Schwarzak's a better overall picture, though I do kind of I am warming up to Alias this season in this role. He seems to be getting somewhere better. Uh he doesn't, you know, he's I don't think he really was having a start of material and stuff like that.

And right now Seattle, you know when when they started twelve and two and you know, we're having a bad week until they h we're having a bad stretch until they ran into the Angels, who we just got awful. Yeah, they had lost six in a row between the Astros and the Indians, and then they're right, they run into the Angels. They end up winning three out of four. All three of those wins ended up being close games

that they needed to save. So you know, Swarzak picked up the win on Thursday, which but he came in in the eighth, I think he gave up a run and it was a tie game, and they took the lead in the ninth and then Ryno's alias picked up the save. So yeah, three close games and you know it was two out of three. Maybe that closer to what we see moving forward. Uh, Like it's a sixty percent Alias fort swarzag Uh. You know, I think the way that Matt broke it down, kind of comparing it

to the Red Sox bullpen um, it's fair. Although you know there's no there hasn't really been rhyme for reasons. So I guess we'll just you know, cross our fingers moving forward and and hoping that we get saved from both of them. Greg, Yeah, absolutely, And you just kind

of hope that things are going in your direction. That's always how you feel with Philadelphia, Frank, and I know how strongly you feel about Gabe Kapler and the situation in that bullpen where strengthing Domingian has continues to not really see Knight receive a ninth inning chances, and they've mostly gone to Hector Neiris, who certainly seems to be the favorable option right now for gave Kavler in that

ninth inning. How much do you trust Hector Neius? Not much, Greg, And it's not Hector Neis, it's how much do you trust Gabe Kapler? And it's Gabe Kapler is gonna do what Gabe Kapler wants to do. And you know, if, uh, if analytics say that to go to Hector Nearis in the ninth inning, or if he asked use Hector Narius

in a different spot in a game. We've already seen that multiple times this year where he was used earlier in the game, and you know, then he picked him a save early on, and oh, we thought Hector Nerris is the guy, and then what happens He's pitching, you know, in the seventh, eighth inning or whatever it might be, and then you know they go with someone else in the ninth. So, look, this is what the Phillies are gonna be for now, Yes, it looks like it's gonna

be Hector Narris. He's converted his past two save opportunities in a row. And then, you know, I've said this regardless of of sport, whether it's football or baseball, if you're giving an opportunity and you succeed in that opportunity, then you should be given more of the same opportunities. So that's kind of how I feel about Narras for now. But would it surprised me, you know, this time next week if we're talking about the Phillies with three save

opportunities this week and it went to three different guys. No, wouldn't surprise me one bit. Yeah, not, no question at all. All we can tell you is that Nearis seems to be pitching the best out of these guys at the moment, and of course a moment can change on a dime. How confident matter you and Hector Nerris, I mean, for now, I was really hoping he'd blow that shave up chat after the Universe the Mets. He threw that fastball right down the middle to Broxton and he swung and missed

to end the game. But you know, he's converted the two for two now on these last couple of opportunities. And it's frank point that I really don't seem to want to give so anythingy a opportunity right now. And I had to drop him in any leagues, I still owned him. But one thing I would say, keep an eye on if Robertson comes back and coming off this elbow injury, whatever it was, doesn't seem anything serious. Seems

like he could be back relatively soon. Maybe now they only want to use him for one inning and not like a multiple kind of thing, so he may get an opportunity upon return, you know, if everything works out where he's healthy and get be be given a chance to close. Yeah, it's it's a really good point when it comes to David Robertson, how quickly he can get back and unfil he limited anyway due to this injury. They'll just take it a little bit easier on him.

It's a very very good point of David Robertson was dropped anywhere. You know, maybe this is your opportunity to take a step. Yeah. I guess in twelve team leagues he might have been dropped fifteen teamers. Again, it depends how many injuries you have, how many guys you can hold onto at even time. But yeah, it's a good

point regarding David Robertson. And you know, when they signed him, I just wonder in their minds, what was the thought process like when they originally signed him, did they think he was going to be the closer. Did they think it was just gonna be you know, fifty him and Domingez or it was just just like the thought process all along, it was just Scape Capital is gonna all right, Well, you know, I'll mix it up. I'll do whoever has

the best matchups against these guys in the past. In the sending, I just wonder, like what the Phillies mindset was coming into this, because you know, we know that they had interest in Craig Kimberll too, and you know, Craig Kimberll was not signing with the Phillies unless he was told he was going to be the closer like he was, he was not gonna go there and be part of some all right, I'm gonna pitch in the him any kind of thing. Wherever Craig Kimberll goes, he's

going to be the closer. I wonder if that is part of the reason he didn't end up with the Phillies. Potentially. Potentially, So we keep hearing Kimberll mentioned with Atlanta, and yet everyday passes in Atlanta has not made a decision and sticking with a J Minter for now as they're closer despite their relief issues. So that's kind of the deal with the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves in it. Miami, Sergio Romo seems to be the guy right now, Frank

and disputing that. No, you're right right now is the is the main phrase there because you know, we've seen Sergio Romo for a while now, and you know barely touches ninety miles per hour and it uses a slider a ton and you know it gets killed by left handed hitters, but he do. He does have two saves on the year. I know everyone's kind of been flocking towards Nick Anderson as the guy there because he has like crazy strike out to walk crazy to start the year.

He's striking everyone out, so they're looking at Nick Anderson as potentially the next guy up. Is something were to happen to Romo, but threw steckand Rider has been terrible. Adam Connelly has been used, you know, in in certain matchups. Teyron Guerrero was actually the one that I was looking at before the season, great because it was a big duty. He throws like over a hundred miles per hour, but

struggles with command. He's kind of like your standard throws really hard, gets a lot of strikeouts, but it doesn't know where the ball is going half the time. So he was the name that I was looking at coming into a year as a dark horse. But it does seem like it's Sergio Romo's job for now. If he performs well, did they end up trading him? There are the Marlins, after all, they're not competing for this season. And at that point, is Nick Anderson the next man up? Uh?

You know, I would think it's it's probably him if something were to happen in real more if they trade him. And then you brought up Nick Anderson because man, I saw you tweeting quite a bit about Nick Anderson this morning and taking your stabs on him. What makes you so interested in him? Well? I think number one is is the strikeout upside. He's got a you know, like I mean the season, his last night opportunities, He's got a twenty strikeout, two walks u Uh, he gets multiple strikes,

he pitches. Uh. He's pitching an ending in all nine of his last appearances, and he's pretty much either struck out two or three batters and everyone except for one game, So you're gonna get a lot of strikeouts. I know he's getting up a homewer in the last two, but as Frank stated correctly, stacking rounder is just he's just atrocious. Romo is a guy that I think he could be used in several different spots. He's not a guy that

needs to get saves to build up his trade. Uh, he's uh make him sexy for a trade, which you know, teams know who Romo is. They're requiring Romo uh to be in a different role, not to be a closer or anything like that. So Andersen to me, even if he doesn't get the saves right now, it's gonna give you the strikeouts. And you know, if I got him for nine dollars, if he was named the closer this week, he'd go for you know three plus. Yeah, absolutely, Yeah,

that's a good point. Again, Rather be sooner rather than later when it comes to picking up some of these relievers. Many I wanted to ask you about Robert Stevenson. A lot of people have been talking about Stevenson with the Cincinnati Reds, and everyone's trying to always find, oh, well, the next Josh Hater, the next the next Andrew Miller. You know, Robert Stevenson, a former top pitching prospect for

the Reds. You're supposed to be a starting pitcher, kind of similar to Josh Hayter in that regard, does have the prospect pedigree and you know, being converted to a reliever this year. At least the velo is up across the boar. I know, the fastball is up about a mile and aout half, the sliders up two miles per hour. Is Robert Stevenson a guy that you can see maybe not picking up saves? Uh maybe if if Rice Elly Glaciers continues to struggle, but a guy that can at

least give you good ratios and strike out. Is he someone that can do that for you this season? I think so. I think he's got to be a person of interest in that Cincinnati bullpen along with a Mere Garrett. You know, those are two guys that you know, they said they wanted to use a Glaciers as a super reliever this year as well. So that's another way of look.

Stevenson was always somebody that I feel like we're talking to balking about this guy for at least five years, and he is not going to be a starting pitcher. I mean, I think that's pretty evident. I think he can't.

He can't excel, you know, that's what most relieves are failed starters, right And given the opportunity, if the velocity, you know, can get that uptick which we always see in the bullpen for for most cases, and he gets the secondary stuff, you know, when he gets a second you know, that second pitch that you know can really be effective, then he could be a he could be

able a weapon. Matt. Before we let you go in a couple of minutes with you and every single week on the Athletic you go over your favorite to start pitchers for the weeks, we wanted a chance to do that with you. I had a chance yesterday in my league to make a decision. I'm sure other people in twelve team leaves have this choice between Pablo Lopez and

Eric Swanson, which direction would you go? Swanson has a has has a nice schedule this week, So I do get it, Lopez that they believe that top of my head, the second start is at Philadelphia, correct. I'm just maybe I'm just a little rational because I think this kid is close to figuring it out and he's going to be a star. I'm really you know, I pushed all my future. If he was just stocking it was options, I'd be betting on the future. For Pablo Lopez, I'm

probably gonna roll with him. He doesn't walk anybody, which is really good, and he should get you some strikeouts and even in the game. I watched this patch week. Yeah, I'm I'm I'm really impressed. All right, So you's used Lopez over Swanson. Oh, which is actually what you told me yesterday too, frank Yes, precisely. I like Paublo Lopez a lot as well Eric Swanson at San Diego and

versus Texas. On paper to the matchups are better. But for Pablo Lopez does get Cleveland not not as good of a match up as it was a week ago because he didn't have Francisco. They didn't have Frankie Lindor in their lineup, and now they do, so the Indians lineup is gonna get better. I don't love Philly, but I agree that you're just you're trusting the stuff with Pavol Lopez took overall. I just think it's better than a guy like Eric Swan. All right, what two a

couple of other to start pitchers this week? Wait, Miley's facing Minnesota and Cleveland, Luke Weaver, Pittsburgh and Chicago. Luke Weaver. People are kind of jumping back on board here, Matt, No, I think you got to be impressed. The last two Star Games seventeen strikeouts to one walk. A couple of years ago, we were falling. Everybody was falling all over themselves with draft him in like the beginning to sticks around. Uh so you know, it's not like you didn't have

any pedigree or any attraction prior. So I'm a launch again right the hat hand, He's at Pittsburgh and I think home verge the Cubs. I'm in a right so in on a guy like Luke Weaver. You're Jerry Hellix down here. Huh. That's not somebody you're starting. No, I just I just wrote all the name ps. But I do like god alright, last one of the day, Matt. Are you starting in Boston and in Chicago? Are you running with the ball Spencer Turnbull? Baby? Look, I think

that ten. I like him, but I think that's ten strike at performance earlier, maybe everybody jumped their skis a little with the expectations. I stated, I really don't want to put him in versus Boston. I want that. I really do want that White Sox upside. So it's it's it's a game call for me. Uh. You know what, you only live once thrown in. He's running with a ball, that's right. That's why met Modica is allowed on every week. So he's a friend of the program because he's a

he's a supporter of Spencer Turnbull. Follow Madimo at CTM Baseball on Twitter, and of course read all of his work at the Athletic. He goes over the two Star Pictures uh every week. And you also a podcast now, right, Matt, Yes, every Sunday morning with Al Milk here nice Al and Matt back together again over on the Athletic podcasting uh every Sunday morning. So definitely check that out and read all of Matt's coverage over the Athletic. Matt, we appreciate

it time. We'll talk to you next week. Ye, thanks again, guys next week and Game of Thrones next Monday. We might have to spend the first hour of our one hour together. I don't care about breaking down the Battle of winter Fell. Yeah, I know. Someone asks us downstairs that we should be wearing black once all the deaths start coming. I have a feeling we're gonna get a few of those next monk. Oh yeah, rankings number one, Brand were two gray worms. And he starts planning in

future and he's got her for sure. Goodbye Brands to night. She's holding us to lift all right, to take a break. We're back with more BFFs.