Mostly MLB Notes: Smyly, Maeda and a look around the league
Drew Smyly has a history of shoulder problems, but it’s clear he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. He currently sports a 2.51 ERA and a microscopic 0.73 WHIP with a 33:5 K:BB ratio over 28.2 innings. He’s done this while pitching against tough competition and never throwing more than 105 pitches while going deep into games. Smyly has a .200 BABIP, but his FIP (2.75) suggests he’s the real deal, and he also sports a ridiculous 15.3 SwStr%. It’s not easy to sport such a strong ERA with a relatively normal HR/FB% (9.4) and LOB% (73.0). He had a 1.17 WHIP last year, and this season’s fastball velocity (and cutter) has never been higher since his rookie campaign. Smyly should be considered a top-20 starter moving forward, with the only concern being his health (he won’t show up on the ranks as such since Sunday marked his first win of the year).
This prank calling into a place “sick” in which you don’t work is pretty funny.
“What should I do? Stay in the car?” Probably not.
Is this the worst buzzer-beater of all-time?
He’ll be more susceptible once teams get more film on him, but Kenta Maeda now has Coors Field on his resume, and he’s currently given up one run over 25.1 innings during his stint in major league baseball. He owns a 0.87 WHIP and a .189 BAA, so few if any pitchers have been better in 2016. Obviously telling you he’ll regress would be insulting, but with an 11.9 SwStr% and pitching in the N.L. West for the Dodgers (who currently have the best defense in baseball, strong run support and a dominant closer), there’s plenty of reason to expect Maeda to be a top-20 fantasy starter moving forward.
I’m having a tough time deciding which show is my favorite of the year so far between “Better Call Saul” or “The People Vs. O.J. Simpson.” I’m leaning toward the former. Thoughts?
The Age Of New Materials – Is The Future Now?
20 Most Expensive Foods In The World – And Where To Get Them.
Quick Hits: Here would be my top-five picks if a fantasy draft were held today: 1) Bryce Harper 2) Clayton Kershaw 3) Mike Trout 4) Manny Machado 5) Noah Syndergaard…The big worry about Freddie Freeman entering the year was his lineup limiting his RBI and runs scored, not him sitting at .177/.311/.258 three weeks into the year. Others off to horrifically slow (and surprising) starts include Miguel Cabrera (.206/.296/.302) and Joey Votto (.206/.295/.309). Alex Rodriguez is also sitting at .145/.242/.273…Mat Latos, on the other hand, sports a 0.74 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP over four starts despite a 13:7 K:BB ratio over 24.1 innings while now pitching for the White Sox. You don’t need me to tell you he’s an obvious sell-high candidate…If there’s someone who’s somehow worried about Jose Fernandez in your league, go make an offer for him now…So what’s up with Juan Nicasio?…What’s up with Melvin Upton Jr.? The latter is suddenly the much more desirable player to own.
Headlines of the Week: Rich Fans Bid Thousands On Bag Of Air From Kobe Bryant’s Final Game…Innocent Man Ends Up Pals With Crooked Cop That Framed Him…Mummified Sailor Found On Ghost Vessel…Man Claiming To Be From The Future Steals Food From Arby’s.
Quick Hits Part Deux: Anthony Rizzo is on pace to bat .203 with 68 homers, 119 runs, 179 RBI and nine steals…Blake Snell sure looked legit. He’ll be a must-add as soon as he’s given the full-time opportunity. If only the Rays could ever produce a pitching prospect or two (please don’t worry about Chris Archer)…Here’s my latest MLB Stock Watch in which I recommend grabbing Jarrod Dyson, Drew Pomeranz and Mike Moustakas and treated Christian Yelich highly despite his inability to hit homers…Here’s Yasiel Puig making one of the best throws you’ll ever see…It also marked the third homer the new wall in right field in Coors Field that’s robbed Trevor Story (who’s right-handed) of a home run this season…Here’s Puig making another great catch…Rich Hill is now up to 65 strikeouts over his past 48 innings. He’s officially an interesting option after how he finished last year.
Police Blotter: McDonald’s Customer Accused Of Putting Soda In Water Cup Charged With Robbery…Workers Got Their Bonuses In Meth At Minnesota Auto Body Shop…Man Throws Steaks From Texas Walmart, Then Throws Them Out Of Car Window As He Leads Authorities On High-Speed Chase…Burglars Stopped By 80-Year-Old With A Gun.
Song of the Week: Elliot Smith – King’s Crossing
Longread of the Week: How An Internet Mapping Glitch Turned A Random Kansas Farm Into A Digital Hell
Quick Hits Part Tres: Michael Pineda has continued his assault on K:BB, producing a 9:1 ratio while allowing seven runs over five innings Sunday…Here’s Clayton Kershaw throwing an eephus pitch…Here’s Chicago turning possibly the craziest triple play you’ll ever see…Here’s Jacoby Ellsbury straight stealing home…Coco Crisp remains injury prone but also still has plenty of fantasy upside (he has two homers and four steals over 47 at bats this year). He’s owned in two percent of Yahoo leagues right now. He’s owned in every league in which I play, which makes far more sense…Nathan Eovaldi has somehow posted a 6.11 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP combined with a 22:3 K:BB ratio over 17.2 innings. Of course, he’s also allowed four homers too, so it’s not like it’s all bad luck, and he’s stuck pitching in the A.L. East in Yankee Stadium as a RHP. But Eovaldi currently owns a 25.0 K-BB% that would’ve ranked No. 4 in all of baseball last year. He also has a 10.1 SwStr%. Please go grab him if for some reason he’s available in your league.
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