2140 - Fantasy Baseball Questions of the National League Central - a podcast by Rich Wilson

Fantasy Baseball Live – November 5, 2023 – 3 pm, ET

Segment 1 – News and Notes
1.The Rangers win the World Series in five games. Final thoughts on the series.
2.The series had the lowest ratings in history – down 23% from 2022. In 2016, Hou vs. LAD, each game averaged 18.9 million viewers. This year, it was less than half at 9.1 M.
a.You can argue that the Rangers and D-Backs don’t have National appeal, but viewership is declining. The last four WS are the four lowest-rated series in history.
b.Is this just the way it is? So far, it hasn’t affected TV rights, but is this coming?
c.What about the Padres having to take a loan out to make payroll?
3.The White Sox did not pick up Tim Anderson’s option. No surprise here as he slashed .245/.286/.296 with one home run. You can make the argument that he was the worst full-time regular in the big leagues.
a.Statcast shows nothing good. Poor average exit velo and hard-hit rate. He’s lost his speed, now ranking 46% in the league. 23% K-Rate and of course, he still never walks.
b.Does he get a job? If so, is there any value here?
4.We have our first trade of the off-season as the Tigers acquired Mark Canha from the Brewers for RHP, Blake Holub
a.The Tigers truly do not see Akil Baddoo as a full-time regular. Thoughts on the deal for the Tigers?
b.We will talk about the Brewers implications in the next segment

Segment 2 and 3 - Fantasy Baseball Questions of the NL Central
1.Chicago Cubs
a.Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) – Stat line for the season: AB, HR, SB, and BA
b.Christopher Morel hit 26 home runs in only 107 games. He also struck out 31% of the time. Few hit the ball harder than he does (92nd percentile in hard-hit rates), but he’s going as the 51st outfielder off the board. Is he someone you are interested in as your number-four outfielder?
c.Javier Assad got 10 starts last season and overall pitched to a 3.09 ERA. He’s a sinker ball pitcher without a true out-pitch, but he avoided hard contact and was pretty good. He’s going as an afterthought in drafts – pick 436 (round 30). Any interest?
d.Give me a sleeper in the organization (Minor and/or Major)

2.Cincinnati Reds
a.Elly De La Cruz – Stat line for the season: AB, HR, SB, and BA.
b.TJ Friedl hit 18 home runs and stole 27 bags. Are you buying this? Early drafts are saying people do as he’s going as the 30th outfielder off the board.
c.Hunter Greene is going as the 45th pitcher off the board (29th starter). That makes him a number two starter. Any interest in drafts?
i.He will be a number ___________ pitcher at the end of the season.
d.Will the Reds make the playoffs?
e.Give me a sleeper in the organization (Minor and/or Major)

3.Milwaukee Brewers
a.With the trade of Mark Canha, the Brewers appear to be clearing the decks for their young outfielders. Assuming health, who will be in the starting outfield at the end of the season
b.Jackson Chourio – Stat line for 2024 – AB, HR, SB, and BA.
i.90 AB, 5 HR, 11 SB, .255 AVG.
c.Brice Turang wasn’t very good last season. He slashed .218/.285/.300 but did have 26 stolen bases. He also had a .268 BABIP. Statcast shows a light-hitting second baseman as he has one of the poorest hard-hit rates in the league, but he only struck out 21% of the time and always him the minor leagues. Finally, he’s going as the 40th second baseman off the board. Is there value here in Draft and Hold Leagues? Would you take him in a one-year league?
d.Give me a sleeper in the organization (Minor and/or Major)

4.Pittsburgh Pirates
a.Oneil Cruz – stat line for 2024 – AB, HR, SB, and BA.
b.I still like Ke’Byran Hayes. He hits the ball hard, has solid speed, and makes excellent contact - ok, he never walks. But, he added loft to his swing in 2023 and I think he’s poised for a breakout. Am I on another planet here? He’s going as the 20th third baseman off the board.
c.Which of the kids we discussed last week is starting games for Pittsburgh in the second half in 2024?
d.The Pirates win _________________ ballgames in 2024.
e.Give me a sleeper in the organization (Minor and/or Major)

5.St. Louis Cardinals
a.Maysn Winn – Stat line in 2024 – AB, HR, SB, and BA
b.Jordan Walker over/under 25 HRs in 2024
c.Miles Mikolos's sinker wasn’t sinking, and he got crushed. He ranked in the bottom 15% in the league in giving up hard hits. He doesn’t throw hard and doesn’t strike out anyone, but of course, the Cardinals have him signed for two more years.
i.That said, he has an ADP of 420, so he’s nearly free. Would you take a gamble on him in one-year leagues or is he better left in the draft queue?
d.The Cardinals finish ahead or behind the Pirates in 2024 in the standings
e.Give me a sleeper in the organization (Minor and/or Major)


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