Brad Johnson Baseball Chat — 4/3/14

MLB:

Comment From Fantasy Guru
Brad!!!!! I need your fantasy guidance this afternoon!!! Should I start Yordano Ventura in Detroit? Over/Under an ERA of 3.50?

Brad Johnson: Because you have no time to decide, I’ll do this one early.

Yordano was on my short list, he projects to about 1.1 fewer innings than Anibal if you’re able to rework your roster.

Brad Johnson: I think Ventura will do fine. Detroit has terrible hitting conditions today, which works in his favor.

Brad Johnson: Ok my dog has finished pooping. We can start.

Comment From hooha
You are not Eno. Please explain

Brad Johnson: Eno is on a plane to Jamaica

Comment From Lenard
Lost Ramos and was offered Posey, Desmond, and Donaldson in return for Wright, Trumbo, and Gyorko. I can slide Brad Miller over to 2nd base, and also have Longoria, meaning Donaldson would be my utility player. Should I go for it?

Brad Johnson: Without more information about your league and roster, this looks solid.

Comment From the Average Sports Fan
Have you seen anything from the new managers that is worth keeping an eye on?

Brad Johnson: Ryne Sandberg has been pretty erratic with the lineup and even benched Rollins a game already. Jayson Nix has started two games. Crazy sauce for the first week of April if you ask me.

Brad Johnson: They might be trying to evaluate Nix since he wasn’t with the team this spring.

Comment From Matt
I’m looking for a Reyes replacement on waivers. Owings, Villar, Aybar, Jeter, Gordon, someone else?

Brad Johnson: Owings has the most upside. Had an mlb player tell me he’s Michael Young. He might be a couple years from there.

Comment From hooha
How many saves do you think LaTroy gets before he is pulled for brothers

Brad Johnson: I don’t actually think Hawkins will lose the job if he stays healthy. I know I’m in the minority with that opinion.

Comment From The Dude
So I’m keeping my brother’s dog for him tonight. What do you think I can get from him in return for putting up with the mutt?

Brad Johnson: Depends on the disposition. Anywhere from Alcides Escobar to Ivan Nova.

Comment From toot toot
I need holds, who are some likely holds guys I can stream?

Brad Johnson: Let’s see. Off the top of my head…

Doolittle
Melancon
Benoit
Torres
Siegrist
Wilson
Gregerson
Howell
Clippard
Bastardo
Delabar
Cecil

Need more?

Comment From William
What site do you recommend for wind conditions at ballparks? Sure, I can find the cardinal direction from any weather site, but is there any site that compares that to the orientation of the ballpark?

Brad Johnson: I don’t think you really can. Most stadiums reverse the wind direction due to their shape, but not all. I can’t seem to get my head around it personally.

Comment From kidzero
As a low cost option, how about Quintana (CWS) today?

Brad Johnson: Best pitcher on the board today if the weather lets him pitch.

Comment From Daniel B
How concerning is Sonny Gray’s lower velo ratings in first outing? Wait a few before panicking?

Brad Johnson: Yes, wait.

Comment From Daniel B
Do we see Addison Russell at all this season, and if so, when?

Brad Johnson: First we need to see if he hits well in Triple-!. Then it’s just a matter of the A’s deciding if they want to wait out Super Two. They might get tired of Sogard/Callaspo before then.

Brad Johnson: Or Lowrie might hit the DL. He’s only had one healthy-ish season now.

Comment From Mike
When does your Fanduel article get published? Games start in 30 minutes!

Brad Johnson: Should be up in 2 minutes. 12:15 every day.

Comment From Bert
Hey Brad. Mejia, Erasmo, Paxton. Choose 2 if we can assume all are healthy for a full season. I own Mejia and Erasmo, but after watching Paxton last night, I’m extremely tempted to pick him up.

Brad Johnson: Well the health assumption is a problem here. That’s the whole issue with Mejia. I like Paxton more than Erasmo at this point, but they’re all in the same “maybe something” bin for the moment.

Brad Johnson: And a quick note about yesterday’s games – I saw none of them.

Brad Johnson: We got about 10 minutes of drizzle here in AZ and our internet went out for 4 hours.

Comment From Ryan
you like Paxton or Skaggs more in 2014? I’m most likely going to need to ditch one by the end of April.

Brad Johnson: Paxton far and away.

Comment From John in Seattle
Going into an auction, do you think it’s more important to assign player values based on what you think they’re going to produce, or based on what you think others will value them at?

Brad Johnson: What they’ll produce. No question.

Brad Johnson: I don’t care even a little bit what other people think a player will do. The more and more unfamiliar you are with a player, the more you should trust other people’s valuations.

Comment From Jack
Pick one to pick up: E.Santana or Paxton

Brad Johnson: Urk that’s hard. Santana if you want a “stable” asset. Paxton if you want upside.

Brad Johnson: I’ll say this, I have Santana on several teams and passed on Paxton in all of my leagues. Doesn’t mean I’m right.

Comment From graham
DET game just called off! no yordano…

Brad Johnson: Woah, they weren’t even on the weather alert list.

Brad Johnson: Confirmed, that game is cancelled.

Brad Johnson: Timbo Lincecum apparently may miss with food poisoning. That’s in addition to Jordan Zimmermann missing with stomach flu. Crazy day. More cancellations possible.

Comment From Johnnie Walkoffs
I have 3 guys (J. Abreu, B. Butler, A. Rizzo) for two lineup spots, and plenty of depth behind them- which one would you look to move?

Brad Johnson: Shop Rizzo and Abreu, you might get an irrational price. Sell high and keep the depth if it’s not feeling very friendly.

Comment From The Dude
Most surprising early season statline thus far?

Brad Johnson: Cody Asche on his opening day by far.

Brad Johnson: Lee’s clunker #2
Kluber’s clunker #3

Brad Johnson: I have both of them on the same H2H team too. Somehow my ERA is only 3.50. #relievers

Comment From dbet
Mat Adams or Mark Teix? Are you concerned about the wrist?

Brad Johnson: Very worried about the wrist. I wrote during the offseason that I am completely hands off with Tex. At least until 2nd half.

Adams is tricky because I think Craig eventually gets pushed to 1B by Taveras. In the near term it’s not an issue.

Comment From gregory
How long do you think Gausman stays in AAA? Is he a starter or reliever when he gets called up?

Brad Johnson: They seem committed to starting him.

I’m falling way behind on these so I’m going to skip some. Sorry if I miss yours.

Comment From Cory
Brad, keeper draft this weekend and the FA pool is very weak. I pick 10th and with closers falling like flies, would it make sense to turn around “don’t pay for saves” and take Rosenthal or Robertson at 10, just to ensure I get a great closer (to go with my Holland), rather than hope and prey on guys like Reyes or Granderson?

Brad Johnson: I’d definitely take Rosenthal there. I’d have to weigh my options with Robertson.

Comment From Compton
If you want to win, how much time do you need to put into games like FanDuel? n00bie right here…

Brad Johnson: Good question. I put in about 30-45 minutes. That’s with a lot of knowledge crammed in my head and not counting the time I use to put together my column. It’s a big time sink.

Comment From Kev
oh god why did I draft Sabathia…

Brad Johnson: You didn’t ask me. I would have told you to take Travis Wood instead. That’s how I feel about Sabathia this year.

Comment From ST3
Did you see any of Wacha’s start yesterday? He seems to be throwing the curveball a lot more. Even threw it at least two times with a 3 ball count.

Brad Johnson: I missed the start, but he started doing that in the postseason. It’s a good thing.

Comment From Beaten with the Uggla Stick
Should I try and trade Aaron Hill if my Brad Miller has 2B eligibility? Have Bogaerts and E.Cab as SS…. suggestions??

Brad Johnson: Yes but if you can afford to wait, let one of them build extra value.

Comment From StoneyMAgoney
Closers are crazy. Is Parnell done for 2014? Your guess would be appreciated.

Brad Johnson: Probably. I don’t know much about MCL injuries. They’re uncommon.

Comment From Hideki Irabu
Addisson Russel, Miguel Sano, Greg Polanco, Jurickson Profar

Brad Johnson: This is a nice list of players.

Comment From John Stamos
I have to replace W. Ramos at C in a deep dynasty league. Current options are Russell Martin, Dioner Navarro, or Carlos Ruiz. Who would you take of the three?

Brad Johnson: Can you stream Ruiz and Martin? That’s what I’m doing in a couple leagues.

Comment From Hideki Irabu
Addison Russel, Miguel Sano, Greg Polanco, Profar. Who’s the most valuable in a keepers league?

Brad Johnson: Ah, here’s the full comment. I honestly couldn’t tell you. If it’s a minors bench and not affecting your mlb strategy, I’d say I still don’t know 🙂

Really, they’re all very similar in expected future value.

Comment From juan pierres mustache
detroit was called off because it’s drizzling now and supposed to rain more later. Do they often call games because of expected future weather?

Brad Johnson: It’s not common for future weather to get a game called. It helps that they’re in the same division. If it was an interleague game, they would have played.

Comment From StoneyMAgoney
Went to high school with a dude named Brad Johnson. Total stoner with a lazy eye who wore his hair short but somehow in his eyes. Creepiest and most fiendish laugh I have ever heard. Is that you?

Brad Johnson: I also went to high school with a guy named Brad Johnson. He was a year ahead of me and also played baseball. He was better than me until he blew out his elbow.

Comment From The Dude
My buddy snagged Scheppers a couple of hours before his start and had dropped him by the fourth inning. Is this the fantasy baseball version of a one-night stand?

Brad Johnson: Sounds like a NotGraphs post in the making.

Comment From Great Lake
How does a left fielder fielding a slow grounder by the 3rd base bag and starting a double play affect his uzr?

Brad Johnson: That’s a better question for MGL. Presumably the same as making any other “impossible” play.

Brad Johnson: If you go on the player pages, you’ll find Inside Edge fielding. That should show up there.

Comment From Keith
Jimmy rollins wasn’t benched. He was attending the birth of his son

Brad Johnson: Good point. What a dick.

Brad Johnson: (kidding)

Comment From Brock
Abreu/S. Gray/Venture too much to give up for C. Santana/Salazar? OPS league. THX!!!

Brad Johnson: Unless it’s Bobby Abreu, yes.

Comment From Great Lake
I was watching Morton to check his velo to see if it would be ok in a deep league. He was down, maxed at 93 after hitting 96 last year. Do you think he is more meh than good?

Brad Johnson: He’s never going to get many strikeouts, but he’s a useful guy for ground balls. I used him yesterday in DFS.

Brad Johnson: That roster didn’t make money, but it wasn’t his fault.

Brad Johnson: I flipped a coin between Wil Myers and Jose Bautista and picked Myers. Oops.

Comment From Jake
i have will venable and khris davis with only 1 of spot open who should i try to move?

Brad Johnson: Can you afford to platoon them? If not, I’d probably gamble on Davis. Fewer random off days.

Comment From Kev
I have Niese coming off the DL soon who do I drop to make room? Doubront, Eovaldi, E Ramirez or Hutchison? Or well I did draft Sabathia…

Brad Johnson: Eovaldi. He’s an upside play with his velocity but the total package isn’t there.

Brad Johnson: I wasn’t very impressed with Hutchison. He’s going to throw some clunkers if he continues to look the same.

Comment From zurzles
What tier pitcher would you give up for Abreu/Salazar?

Brad Johnson: For both? That’s going to be somebody like David Price. At least.

I’d need to know more about your league to be more specific.

Comment From Bench Question Keeper
Was impressed with Paxton last night. My Bench arms are Erasmo, Odorizzi, Jordan Taylor and Ventura. IYO, is Paxton worth dropping any of these guys for??

Brad Johnson: Paxton has higher upside than jordan and Odorizzi. I’d drop the latter.

Comment From Great Lake
Are the cubs the only team with an 0-2 pitcher?

Brad Johnson: According to this here leaderboard, Trevor Cahill has it covered – http://www.fangraphs.com/le…

Comment From Barry Bonds
What do you think of tony cingrani this year?

Brad Johnson: I like him about as much as Alex Wood, which is dodging the question a bit. He literally hides the ball with his glove. That allows his plus velocity to play up even more. I think he’ll be a little inconsistent but generally quite good.

Comment From Jimbo
Brad, Abreu or Vic Martinez? Keeper league change the answer?

Brad Johnson: Abreu, no.

Comment From The Dude
Bonifacio just got another hit. No one can get this guy out.

Brad Johnson: Ok I’m seeing a billion Bonifacio comments. This guy is a BABIP monster and that can swing both ways.

Let’s not forget John Buck. You can try to ride the wave and trade him in a week if you want.

Comment From Great Lake
Will replay every be used in a no-hope-for-overturning situation, just to get more time for a reliever to get loose?

Brad Johnson: Very likely. It’s an obvious exploit. Most relievers only need about 2 minutes, and the average replay seems to take about 90 seconds. An obvious one might take 60 seconds.

Comment From Andre
Drop Dan Straily for James Paxton ROS?

Brad Johnson: that’s very hard. It’s a coin flip.

Brad Johnson: Paxton has the greater variance profile.

Comment From Lewie
Isn’t Chris Owings’ total lack of BB% a bit of a red flag?

Brad Johnson: That’s why he’s Michael Young. He makes high quality contact even though he swings a ton. Good spray hitter. Will need time to develop into his own, so he’s not the best guy for 2014.

Comment From wes
Who’s your favorite hot-button young arm? Cashner, Salazar, Cole, Wacha, Gray. Maybe rank them?

Brad Johnson: Salazar/Gray, Cole, Wacha, Cashner. I go back and forth on the top spot.

Comment From The Dude
In a league with hitter strikeouts and drafted Aoki to help out. Now he’s fanning at a 30% rate. C’mon man.

Brad Johnson: Relax Lenny Dykstra. It’ll regress.

Comment From juan pierres mustache
Travis Wood v PHI or Mike Leake @NYM for a streamer tomorrow?

Brad Johnson: Wood. Leake’s not a bad choice either.

Comment From Joe
Rather stash Mike Zunino or Randell Delgado in a rebuild? Thanks!

Brad Johnson: Zunino. Much higher upside. Similar floor. Much easier to find pitchers like Delgado.

Comment From tom
In a 10-team mixed with 200 GS, QS, IP and K/9 as cats – how are you using your 4 bench spots? All pitchers since replacement level bats will always be available?

Brad Johnson: I’d be running all four as streamers. That’s a weird build.

Don’t skimp on the relievers, those are free innings in that format.

Comment From Streamer
How would you rank Tanner Scheppers, Felix Doubront, and Tanner Roark as back-end spot starters?

Brad Johnson: Doubront>>>>Roark>Scheppers

Brad Johnson: I’m not confident that Scheppers can go more than 4 or so innings effectively

Comment From Christian
Of the suddenly impressive Seattle bats, which should I sell high on and which should I keep?

Brad Johnson: Sell Smoak and Almonte, keep Miller. Don’t force the issue with Almonte, he should be solid enough in a deep league.

Comment From Jay29
You only included qualified pitchers in your leaderboard: Villanueva and Jim Johnson also have 2 losses.

Brad Johnson: That’s what I get for multi-tasking

Brad Johnson: http://www.fangraphs.com/le…

Comment From Jeff
2 Jim Johnson blowups = Cook at closer? If that gets announced, would you drop any of Soria, Santos or Lindstrom to get him?

Brad Johnson: I really don’t care for Soria. My colleagues like him so I won’t outright say to cut him. I think Johnson will keep the job.

Comment From ReplyMcGee
I see Kluber getting dropped in tons of leagues…way too early to bail on him, right…

Brad Johnson: Absolutely. Excellent buy low candidate. However, don’t use him until he shows his command is back. He could be injured I suppose.

Comment From BooJays
BONEFACE > GOINS

Brad Johnson: Duh.

Comment From Guest
In a keeper league without a minor league roster (24 man active roster), is it too much dead weight to carry Springer and Baez?

Brad Johnson: Yes, you might be able to trade one though. I dealt Polanco for Rodney in a similar scenario.

Comment From Mitch
If people think Bonifacio is legit they really don’t understand. But he is very exciting to watch as a Cubs fan

Brad Johnson: Bonifacio has always been fun to watch. I love those spark plug type guys, even when they really don’t contribute much in terms of WAR

Comment From Shwaggle
Which C to take if you had to….Navarro or Grandal?

Brad Johnson: Grandal I guess. I mean there’s a lot more upside but they project similarly for the next month or so while Grandal recovers/splits time.

Comment From tom
What do you look at in deciding between which of these young SPs who get off to good starts have the most staying power? I’m trying to roster those with best chances of breaking out (Erasmo, Eovaldi, Paxton, M Perez, Hutchison). And would you take T.Hudson over all of them?

Brad Johnson: No to the last question

Brad Johnson: I’m looking at velocity, how well they were spotting their pitchers (if I see the start), and overall stuff. In other words, I’m purely scouting at this point in the season.

Btw, Hutchison was not impressive looking. A bunch of crappy breaking balls and bad control.

Comment From Kev
Last night, Bo Porter pinch hit Carlos Corporan for Chris Carter against a righty. Why do so many managers only consider handedness when putting together matchups?

Brad Johnson: Keep in mind, the Astros are the Astros. They could be testing Corporan in situations to see if he’s worth rostering later. Or they could be over thinking.

Comment From Emilio Bonifacio
A single, a steal, and a run scored. Suck it Billy Hamilton!

Brad Johnson: I almost made a Hamilton quip earlier. Similar type of player.

Comment From Rick
Do you think June 2015 is a realistic big league ETA for Miguel Sano post-TJ surgery?

Brad Johnson: Nope. September would be my estimate.

Comment From Keith
Darvish/Billy Butler/De Aza for Price/Kyle Seager/Aoki in 14 team H2H league that counts OBP?

Brad Johnson: This one is tricksy. I’m tempted to say yes, De Aza already had his best game and has to chop playing time until someone gets hurt. Darvish’s injury isn’t major, but injuries can cascade.

Any other opinions from the audience?

Comment From The Dude
Least favorite category to include in your leagues?

Brad Johnson: Losses. Wins are already a fluky stat, adding losses makes it hard to roster any good pitcher on a bad team. Also kills my favorite strategy – streaming.

Comment From Mitch
Well Junior Lake is wearing the wrong jersey. He fits in well on this team

Brad Johnson: Haha, he does strike me as a bit of a clown.

Brad Johnson: Not more than Puig though.

Comment From juan pierres mustache
Care to expand on Soria? I have him in a league that counts saves/holds as a single category–would you prefer him over a holds guy like Farquhar?

Brad Johnson: Temporarily while he has the job. I think he’s a 3.50ERA/1.20 WHIP reliever. That’s pretty crappy if he gets a little bad luck and hits the 4.00/1.30 territory.

Comment From Eno! Wait, youre not Eno…
Carlos Gomez for 2 years/$11 or Puig 3/11 or 4/16… who do you prefer?

Brad Johnson: I’m very near sighted when it comes to keeper leagues. I absolutely love Gomez this year, though I’m annoyed he’s batting leadoff. Puig looks a lot like Josh Hamilton to me. Except nobody has found the spot where he closes his eyes and misses every time.

Brad Johnson: And I’m talking about the Josh Hamilton that hit over .300 with 50 bombs.

Brad Johnson: This is a very hard offer. I can’t tell you what to do without spending a lot of time on it. But I have to move along now…

Comment From The Dude
If you were trying to deal Smoak as a sell high for a pitcher, what range of pitcher would you go after?

Brad Johnson: Ivan Nova, Kluber, something like that.

Comment From Kyle
Who has better chances to have a rotation spot at Seattle in two years: Roenis Elias or Danny Hultzen?

Brad Johnson: I’ll say Elias just because he doesn’t have to come back from injury.

Comment From Guest
In a keeper league where I already have Bogaerts, Desmond, and Everth Cabrera, do I pick up Miller to serve as a utility guy? I’m shocked no one drafted him.

Brad Johnson: yes yes yes. Run there now.

Comment From Jake
I need a 2b do i trade for dee gordon??

Brad Johnson: um, I’d dabble with Donnie Murphy or Jeff Baker for now. Seriously.

Comment From Lewie
Thoughts on Dickey? Seems like an interesting buy low.

Brad Johnson: I like him well enough. Was a little surprised he clunked so badly.

Comment From John Stamos
So does that mean we can drop Sabathia in a 10-team?

Brad Johnson: You might be able to trade him for a tidbit. I’m also hyper aggressive with cuts, so maybe ask someone else first.

Comment From ReplyMcGee
when is the right time to jump for a prosepctive June call-up ie. Baez or Guerrero…

Brad Johnson: Depends on the player. Guerrero – the day he’s announced. Baez – as soon as your roster is stable enough that you can put a spot on ice. I’m assuming this is a keeper?

Comment From The Dude
I like the Price/Seager/Aoki side better. Darvish’s injury bothers me a bit and De Aza won’t get the ABs.

Brad Johnson: From the earlier trade question

Comment From Dirck
Can’t we all band together and banish saves as a category in all leagues ?

Brad Johnson: I like saves as a category!

Comment From TJ
You think Grady Sizemore is going to amount to anything this year or would i be better off dropping him for Bonifacio? And yes, this is a serious question.

Brad Johnson: hold Sizemore. Bonifacio’s already had his best games.

Comment From Shwaggle
Why are people scrambling to add Bastardo in all my leagues? Has Papelbon looked that bad?

Brad Johnson: I haven’t seen him yet personally. Bastardo is a good setup man though. A bit erratic.

Comment From RWG
Please rank the following for WW pick up tonight? Mejia, Hutchison, Niese, Hudson, Lohse, H.Alverz, Buehrle. Thanks!

Brad Johnson: Mejia, Lohse, Alverez, Hudson, Niese, Hutchison, Buehrle.

Buehrle isn’t rosterable. The rest are.

Comment From Guest
Dustin Ackley’s ceiling similar to 2013-Matt Carpenter?

Brad Johnson: Ceiling? Sure. But I’m not buying yet.

Comment From Dirck
Why did the Yankees erect a statue of Jeter between 2B and 3B in Yankee Stadium ? isn’t that illegal ?

Comment From Dan
Drop Middlebrooks for Smoak I have e5 and Seager for 3rd base?

Brad Johnson: I like Middlebrooks quite a bit more than Smoak RoS. But it helps that Smoak bats cleanup.

Brad Johnson: I’d hang onto the 3B depth personally although neither choice is terrible.

Comment From Will
Jose Abreu o/u 32 HR?

Brad Johnson: Under.

Brad Johnson: That’s just because it’s hard to hit a lot of major league home runs and it’s hard to stay healthy for 162 games. I think there’s upside for 40.

Comment From Jay29
MikeOlt!

Brad Johnson: I told the guy I consult to start him today. He didn’t (I did).

Brad Johnson: He just texted me to say that he was done tinkering with my picks 🙂

Comment From Barry Bonds
Thoughts on a kazmir breakout this year?

Brad Johnson: I’m down on Kazmir personally. I worry about regression and injury.

Comment From Dirck
I would question Bastardo’s parentage .

Brad Johnson: Certainly his ancestry is up in the air.

Comment From The Dude
Bonifacio with a double. Get on the bandwagon now. There’s still room!

Brad Johnson: grumble. Next.

Comment From Sean
I’m in a 10 team 6×5 H2H keeper. My worst batters are B Hamilton, and Revere with Ozuna my only depth player. My pitching is the best squad I’ve ever put together. Am I crazy to be rostering Palanco, Springer, AND Baez until June?

Brad Johnson: If Ozuna is the best guy you can get off the wire, maybe not. You’d probably be better off streaming one of those spots (or even Revere or Ozuna).

Comment From Guest
Does replay end the neighborhood play?

Brad Johnson: No there’s a specific rule about it. I’d have to reference the rule itself to be more specific. Since we’re nearing the end of this chat, I’ll leave it up to you

Comment From juan pierres mustache
bonifacio today: 1B, 2B, 2R, SB. is it possible that he’s doing this just to spite you?

Brad Johnson: Not just me, Dave Cameron, Jeff Sullivan, and anybody else with a fringe understanding of statistics.

Comment From Great Lake
What is Bonafacio’s trade value right now as an .850 hitter?

Brad Johnson: Assuming he continues to hit .850? Barry Bonds.

Comment From juan pierres mustache
“Roark” is the sound I imagine pterodactyls making

Brad Johnson: I always say GRWAAAA when mimicking any type of pterodon.

Comment From Great Lake
Do you think we will get good Hammel this year or medium hammel?

Brad Johnson: Medium Hammel. I watched him live on the 30th. He was medium. Which is better than bad Hammel.

Comment From Boof
Is it crazy to roster Chris Johnson at 3b? He’s hitting cleanup. I am trying to talk myself into it. I have no other options.

Brad Johnson: As long as he’s batting cleanup, not crazy at all.

Brad Johnson: Situation is important in fantasy. Even Casey McGehee is useful as a cleanup.

Comment From Captain Rules
Neighborhood play is one of the caveats to the challenge system… can’t be challenged

Comment From Guest
Some surprising starts from pitchers already; Harang, Hudson, Morton, Kendrick. How would you list them, along with B. Anderson Niese, Nicasio ROS in NL only league?

Brad Johnson: Harang and Kendrick definitely surprised me. I wanted to stack against both. I predict Hudson and Morton to do well and used both of them yesterday. So not surprised there.

Brad Johnson: Niese, Nicasio, Anderson in that NL only. When has Anderson ever pitched more than 5 games?

Brad Johnson: Morton, Hudson, Harang, Kendrick from the first list. I’m alone on Morton, I know.

Comment From The Stranger
Re: Sean – doesn’t it hurt less to roster minor-leaguers in a H2H league? As long as you can keep your head above water, you can make a run when they get called up and be in prime shape for the playoffs. Being middle of the pack in the early going doesn’t really hurt you, unlike roto or points.

Brad Johnson: good point, the head above water part being the critical component. Those prospects aren’t guaranteed to improve his roster.

Comment From Travis
Pick two: Bonifacio, Ruggiano, or EY Jr? (positions irrelevant)

Brad Johnson: Ruggiano and EY

Brad Johnson: Ok, last 10 minutes or so.

Comment From Dirck
Pope bonifacio (the 7th ,I think) was involved in the Cadaver Synod ,one of the most bizarre pieces of history of the Catholic Church

Brad Johnson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik…

Brad Johnson: History!

Comment From David
Re: Harang, Kendrick … I for one am amazed that even “awful” pitchers manage to throw a good game now and again. You’d think these guys were professionals or something… And since it’s the first of the season it MUST be predictive!

Brad Johnson: snark snark snark.

Comment From Gabe
I’m not sure of your allegiances, but in my ~15 years of being a Mets fan this is the most dispirited and depressing the fanbase has ever felt this close to the beginning of the season. Any chance that this Mets season will give me and my fellow fans something to not be depressed about?

Brad Johnson: I think the NL East is extremely terrible. That’s good news for Mets fans. The bad news is that they aren’t in a place where they can leverage that opportunity.

Comment From Pirates Hurdles
The caveat to the neighborhood play is they can challenge if the the throw draws the player off the bag as he turns the double play, like last night in the Bucs game. That allows challenges of area plays.

Comment From greg
Highest upside this season: Paxton, Perez, Erasmo, Ross, Eovaldi. Right order?

Brad Johnson: Paxton, Eovaldi, Erasmo, Perez, Ross

Eovaldi just need any secondary pitch to be a stud. So there’s a lot of upside. The mean/median/mode is between Perez and Ross.

Comment From Mets fan
Granderson got a hit! Granderson got a hit!

Brad Johnson: The Grandy Man Can

Comment From Tim
Dickerson.. rosterable in a 12 tm? Could be huge if he gets the starting gig to himself.

Brad Johnson: I don’t think that’ll happen. Stream him if it’s a same day moves league. Hold him if not.

Comment From TJ
Following up on Mr. Bonifacio: drop Austin Jackson or Billy Hamilton for him? Or is this 3 game sample causing me to overreact?

Brad Johnson: Facetious?

Brad Johnson: Don’t be crazy. However, I do think trading Hamilton and picking up Bonifacio is a viable strategy.

Comment From timmy
Pedro or Frazier in 10-team with OPS added?

Brad Johnson: Alvarez.

Comment From Norm
Is Archie Bradley worth keeping my head above water for? Do you see him being up before June?

Brad Johnson: I’m struggling with this same question. In my case, I have weak pitching that I need to supplement. If you have good pitchers, move along.

Comment From dave
You like Fields in HOU bullpen?

Brad Johnson: I don’t have a good read on him yet.

Last few questions.

Comment From David
Dropped Rajah Davis to grab Bonifacio. Because .. well … Davis has yet to see a lineup this year

Brad Johnson: That’s reasonable (for anyone else considering a move)

Comment From matt
You have Yordano and Kluber over that upside group from above, right?

Brad Johnson: The one starting with Paxton? Yeah.

Comment From Adrian
Any guesses where Samardzija will be traded to?

Brad Johnson: Texas or Anaheim. Depending on which or both are in the race.

Comment From Steve
More likely to happen: Billy Hamilton stops striking out and steals some bases, or Khris Davis stops striking out and hits some home runs?

Brad Johnson: Davis. Hamilton got sent home from Puerto Rico in part because he couldn’t touch breaking balls.

Comment From buzzer beater
Gallardo has been a solid QS-man last few years… okay #5 in QS over W league, right?

Brad Johnson: God he scares me. There’s upside if you have the balls for it. I don’t.

Brad Johnson: Nor do I have the patience. I’d cut him after one bad outing, which tells me I shouldn’t bother in the first place.

Brad Johnson: You have to know yourself in this game we play.

Brad Johnson: Ok one more question, two if they’re good.

Brad Johnson: You’all sent in clunkers, I’m disappointed! 🙂

Comment From buzzer beater
Grandyman – 260-25-80 reasonable?

Brad Johnson: Possible, but look lower. .240-25-75

Comment From guest
Should I go after Marte in a dynasty league?

Brad Johnson: Here we go, last one.

Brad Johnson: I think you’ll find the price exceeds his expected value at this time.

Brad Johnson: He’s a solid dynasty player, but his game has some problems.

Comment From Ryan
INSERT NAME HERE will be closing for the O’s on June 15th

Brad Johnson: Since you begged, I wish I could say Gausman.

Brad Johnson: I’m going to stick with Hunter I think.

Comment From Zorn
Keeper lg with no minor league spots..5×5 24 active 30 man rosters…Is Buxton worth tying up a spot if a guy like Abraham Almonte is near top option on wire?

Brad Johnson: Take Almonte in my opinion. Or try to find space for both?

I’m really done now, thanks for playing everyone!

Brad Johnson: As a parting note…

Comment From Guest
Bonafacio got out and it made me sag

Brad Johnson: Stay perky fellas.