My passion for fantasy baseball began to grow in 1992. After Sid Bream slid (allegedly) safely into home, sending my Pirates into a decades' long run of futility, I went into a deep-middle school depression. I couldn't even play kickball for months. I also was left without a relevant MLB team to cheer. Over the years, I naturally gravitated towards the fantasy game. And while taking statistics courses in Texas as I worked on my PhD, I lost my mind for statistical applications to baseball, and have no desire to get it back. I've competed in all types of formats and find myself intrigued by spotting value, especially when it comes to prospects and up-and-coming major leaguers. There's nothing quite like signing Craig Kimbrel and Mike Trout the year before they rose to superstardom, and watching your buy-low investments soar in value.
Jayson Werth (OF-WAS): Werth (shoulder) returned to the lineup with a bang, as the ailing veteran went 2 for 4 and hit his 1st homer of the season. Before the game, Werth told reporters from the Washington Post that the...
Adrian Beltre (3B-TEX): The Rangers erupted for 11 runs against the Astros, and Adrian Beltre played a pivotal part in the process, going 3 for 5 with 2 runs. While the surface numbers aren't pretty--.236/.282/.382--and have many screaming age decline,...
Austin Hedges (C-SD): Reports out of San Diego project that the Padres will call up Austin Hedges on Monday for part time duties to occasionally spell Derek Norris. While his bat has always lagged behind his prowess behind the...
Devon Travis (2B-TOR): Devon Travis (ribs) returned to the lineup with a vengeance, as the rookie hit his 4th homer of the year and stole his 1st base to lead the Jays' humbling of Ubaldo Jimenez. You have to love...
Wil Myers (OF-SD): Remember me, he said sardonically to a baseball world focused on the hype surrounding Kris Bryant. The he, in this case, is none other than Wil Myers, a forgotten former top prospect who hit a game-winning 3-run...
Kris Bryant (3B-CHC): It's official: the Cubs are calling up Kris Bryant today, thus beginning a new era in the windy city. He only posted a 1.042 OPS in 7 AAA games with 3 homers to start the season, actually...
With opening night rapidly approaching, the pictures with positional battles and injury concerns are slowly but surely growing more lucid. Devon Travis (2B-TOR): The Blue Jays officially named Devon Travis as their starting 2B on Tuesday. And the crowd goes...
Archie Bradley and As The Diamonbacks' Rotation Turns A day after general manager Dave Stewart declared that Bradley wasn't "Major League Ready," the former top pitching prospect tossed 4 solid innings, allowing 2 unearned runs on 5 hits while striking...
A frequent topic on the Fantistics Insider Baseball Show on Sirius XM Fantasy this spring--besides my love for Mookie Betts--has been the type of contact a batter makes. Knowing if linedrives, groundballs, and flyballs are being hit and at what...
Pittsburgh Pirates: Should We Be "Jung Ho" About Kang? There is "zero intent" to start Jung Ho Kang in the minors. This is according to Pirates' General Manager Neil Huntington, who shared his thoughts about the KBO shortstop adjusting to...
With the candles burning out from the Valentine's Day festivities (for me, it was because my power went out) and catchers and pitchers soon to be reporting to camp, we know that drafting season is about to accelerate. In other...
Carlos Carrasco (SP-CLE): Despite taking the loss Carlos Carrasco continued to dominate the opposition, as he struck out 10 Rays and allowed only 1 earned run on 4 hits and 3 walks across 7 and 2/3 innings. Carrasco now has...
A.J. Pollock (OF-ARI): Pollock went 1 for 4 and stole his 14th base. His season line now sits at .307/.353/.512. He makes for an intriguing breakout pick for 2015, and depending on where the ADP's move, could end up being...
Steve Pearce (1B-BAL): Pearce hit his 17th homer of what has been a tremendous season for the veteran slugger. Even though the O's fell to the Yankees, they have to feel at ease even after losing Chris Davis for the...
Jean Segura (SS-MIL): Jean Segura is quietly putting some things together to close 2014, as the beleaguered speedster went 1 for 3 with 2 runs and a stolen base. It's tough not to look at the disappointing numbers across the...
Danny Salazar (SP-CLE): Salazar followed Miguel Gonzalez with his own CGSO, shutting down the Tigers in allowing 8 hits and striking out 9. Impressively, the frequently wild Salazar didn't walk a single batter in the effort as he outshined Justin...
Aaron Sanchez (RP-TOR): tossed two scoreless innings of his own to pick up his first career save as the Jays bypassed Casey Janssen. A closer controversy could be brewing north of the border. After showing flashes of dominance in the...
Zack Wheeler (SP-NYM): While Julio Teheran grabbed most of the headlines with his quality start and win, Zack Wheeler tossed yet another quality start of his own, allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks and adding 7...
Ken Giles (RP-PHI): Ken Giles struck out the side in the 8th and picked up his 3rd win of the season. The man who many have dubbed as the closer of the future for the Phillies has now posted a...
Tommy Medica (1B/OF-SD): Tommy Medica went 2 for 5 with 1 run and 1 RBI to spark the Padres to victory. Those scouts and evaluators who worried about his long swing looked at his power numbers in the minors--19 in...
J.P. Arencibia (C/1B-TEX): J.P. Arencibia hit his 4th homer of the season to provide the lone spark for the punchless Rangers offense. With Geovany Soto likely out for a month, look for Arencibia to see regular playing time. Arencibia is...
Ian Kennedy (SP-SD): Ian Kennedy picked up his 8th win after tossing another quality start, this time against the lowly Cubs lineup. He allowed 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 5 walks while adding 6 strikeouts. Many have raised...
Michael Brantley (OF-CLE): In the middle of his breakout season, Michael Brantley logged a 2-for-4, 1-run, 2-RBI night to lead the Tribe over the Yankees. Brantley now has a .911 OPS and a .398 wOBA to go with 14 homers,...
Jean Segura (SS-MIL): Jean Segura continued his 2014 struggles with another 0-for-4 night. There are a number of ways to capture Segura's ineptitude at the plate, but the fact that his wOBA has plummeted 74 points from last season says...
Rick Porcello (SP-DET): Rick Porcello showed the upside that has teased us all for years, tossing a complete-game shutout against the Rangers. He allowed only 3 hits and 3 walks and added 6 strikeouts in the 115-pitch effort to pick...
Tim Lincecum (SP-SF): Tim Lincecum no-hit the Padres yet again, striking out 6 and walking 1 in an incredibly masterful 113-pitch outing to pick up his 6th win of the season. While Lincecum can be maddening to own with his...
Brock Holt (3B/OF-BOS): Brock Holt continued his impressive 2014 campaign with a 2 for 4, 2 RBI night to lead Jon Lester and the Red Sox over the Indians. Holt has posted a .336/.373/.466 line through 32 games with 17...
Tanner Roark (SP-WAS): Tanner Roark tossed 6 strong innings and, thanks in large part to Jayson Werth, picked up the win against Matt Cain and the Giants. Roark allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits (0 walks) and added 4...
Xander Bogaerts (SS-BOS): Xander Bogaerts continues to heat up at the plate. The Aruban sensation went 3 for 5 with 1 run and 1 RBI to lead the Red Sox to their 4th straight victory. He has pushed his season...
Tommy LaStella (2B-ATL): Tommy LaStella made his Major League Debut for the Braves and was one of the lone bright spots against John Lackey, lacing 2 singles in 4 AB's. After the struggles with Dan Uggla and Tyler Pastornicky, the...
Zach Britton (RP-BAL): Zach Britton pitched a 1-2-3 9th on Thursday to pick up his first career save. Even though Tommy Hunter warmed in the pen, Buck Showalter let Britton finish the job against two right-handed batters, a significant sign...
Domonic Brown (OF-PHI): Garrett Richards shut down Domonic Brown and the Phillies' bats. Brown has looked awful at the plate this year, and after the 0-for-4, 2 k performance last night, his season line now sits at .221/.282/.294. Interestingly, Brown...
Grant Balfour (RP-TB): Grant Balfour rebounded to post 2 saves in the doubleheader against Boston. Despite the 2-save special, I'm concerned. He allowed 3 more baserunners in the outings, and now has allowed 18 in 12 and 1/3 innings. He...
Tony Cingrani (SP-CIN): The Cubs chased Tony Cingrani after 4 innings. The lefty allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings, striking out only 2. While his velocity was down yesterday, the lefty said he...
Phil Hughes (SP-MIN): Phil Hughes tossed 7 strong innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits. The unpredictable veteran struck out 6 Tigers without walking a single one to pick up his 2nd win of the season. His ERA of...
Chris Colabello (1B-MIN): Chris Colabello had himself quite the doubleheader against the Blue Jays, going 5 for 7 with 1 run, 4 RBI, and 1 BB to push his season line to .357/.410/.571. Stories have emerged about Colabello's adjustments during...