An example and strategy you can use to make players switches mid - week
- I recently dropped BAUTISTA and JOSH WILLINGHAM in favor of BRENNAN BOESCH (OF) and Aubrey Huff (1B,OF).
Note* WAS OF JOSH Willingham has been a good player for my team throughout the year. Picked him up both times Nelson Cruz has been on the DL I have frequently used him for a quick pickup when the Washington Nationals are hot and he has consecutive favorable matchups.
*Note* Bautista is leading the league in homeruns and it may have seemed like an odd move to drop the league leading home run hitter I did. At the time Bautista’s 0 for 23 and counting slump was to eerily similar to last years 0 for 21 drought. After which Baustista’s numbers never truly recovered. Bautista has not recovered yet this year either, I do however have faith in Bautista for the 2nd half of this year as well as several other Toronoto Blue Jays sluggers.
- I feel players with infield and outfield eligibility provide your team with greater flexibility and production potential. Remember this when looking for free agents to not replace an existing player in your lineup that may be in a slump, hold on to these players they will turn it around at some point this season and get their numbers. And if your are still holding on to them now, the all-star break is just around the corner and expect your slumping stars to turn it on shortly after. look to add free agents who not only can replace the slumping players but free agents who will also properly compliment the team for your current matchup. Remember there is three outfielder slots available.
For example, early this year I picked up Jose Bautista (3B,0F), Nelson Cruz had just gone on the DL list and A. Rodriguez was having a very slow start. Josh Willingham was on fire and the Nats were rolling along, as were the Toronoto Blue Jays who not only top their division but led the league in home runs by 15, behind Jose Bautista’s bat (Vernon Wells had not gotten hot at this point).
In that matchup, my team was behind in power numbers RBIS and HRS but leading in all pitching categories.
My bullpen was very strong. My focus is 4 core Winning-pitchers, a strikeout pitcher, and a young prospect which changes often as do callups. The remainder of the bullpen is filled with strictly closers.
When I moved Nelson Cruz into the DL slot and picked up red hot JOSE BAUTISTA, I didn’t have any faith in Bautista’s sustainability at this point but he was red hot, and I only needed him for 15days. Plus, the Blue Jays as a team were on fire so if Bautista were just to get on base he would likely be driven in.
That only helped with filling my Cruz spot though, Bautista’s pickup wasn’t able to additionally compliment my team until I dropped Texas Rangers young left-hander C.J. Wilson. Wilson gave me three solid starts to start the year only giving up 3 earned runs. My confidence resided in Texas’ ability to score runs and pad a wins for Wilson. In addition, the left hander had shown promise in the strikeout department. Wilson was not part of the core pitchers in my fantasy bullpen and only was there to compliment the core starters pitching statistics. So the decision to drop Wilson from my team was easy because he could be replaced by a comparable pitcher fairly quickly if needed.
Dropping Wilson allowed me to pick up Josh Willingham from the Washington Nationals at the beginning of May. Willingham played on my fantasy for two matchups while Nelson Cruz was on the DL. During that time he had three home runs, 9 RBIS, and 7 Runs. Also, picking up a Filler (OF for OF) and a compliment filler (3B,OF) to supplement A-Rods slow start. And it paid off.
By picking up Willingham(FILLER), dropping Wilson(prospect), picking up Jose Bautista(Infield/outfield) I patched a hole in my lineup and set my team up for a win. To make room for Cruz I dropped Willingham and returned Cruz to the starting lineup. Bautista continued to stay thereafter for a couple weeks until he entered a nasty slump. During which time the current matchup was calling for another starting pitcher. So with Bautista’s similar slump as last year I feared the worst, and I felt comfortable putting out on free agency on such a bad slump and no previous history of this kind of power. If he were to get hot, he would likely still be there. However, at the time it may have been better to trade Bautista but I needed to make a change right away and Doug Fister was sitting on free agency. So I used the same idea of complimenting to help my bullpen. Fister would likely drive down my ERA, WHIP, and give me the occasional win since he’s on the Seattle Mariners. Once again proved to be a great move as I lowered both categories and picked up wins in both on his next start.
**Shortly after, Fister, who is significantly better than a “prospect”, hit the DL list shortly after.
**UPDATE* FIster will be returning to the mound this Saturday for the red-hot Mariners who have just won their 6th straight game.
Being in the “prospect” slot made it easy to drop him from my team because my core pitchers had been set with Francisco Liriano, Mike Pelfrey, Phil Hughes and strikeout men Zach Grienke (used to be a win guy too) and Tommy Hanson (who is racking up wins in ATL but has had two blowup starts.
Plus Fister would not show up as a top ranked pitcher on the free agents list because he hadn’t recorded many wins. And I’m right as it stands today he is still on the free agents list in my fantasy league and I plan to pick him up today for Saturdays start. To make room for Fister I plan on dropping Trevor Cahill , young ace for the Oakland Athletics.
**Cahill has been strong in all of his latest outings, however, before Fister hit the DL had the league- leading WHIP (Walks plus Hits/ Innings Pitched) and sported strong ERA. With the Mariners getting hot I want Fister on the mound for my fantasy team. **
I use this three step process all the time to fix specific offensive categories where I am lacking. With so many closers on my team, every week I am guaranteed to win saves and WHIP, my core starters and strikeout man secure my Ks and give me a shot at ERA. (depending on closers week - They can post 1.0 inning ERAs in the double digits and record a save.)
When I realized I could afford to go one starter leaner in the bullpen, at the time I had two prospects, it made all the difference and gave me the ability to actually manage my team. So, I drop my single prospect who is only on the team to provide K’s and complimentary wins. If I lose the W category, oh well, on the bullpen side my team has now gone 4-1 and the holes in my lineup were filled.
Relief, handcuff, setup pitchers are useless. Immediately drop them from your team. No arguments are worthy of consideration, they do not offer you enough opportunities for contribution. They will not get you a Win or a Save. Closers compliment or drive down the key starters performances and the strikeout pitchers performances.
-Tips for closers:
- Winning or hot teams! They will give you more opportunities for saves
- Big Name or Big Investment, You do not want a Diamondbacks situation going on in your bullpen. ( Chad Quails, Aaraon Heilman, and now Sam Demel)
- If possible, pick up closers for your top 2 starting pitchers.
A (1B, 3B) or usually aren’t as beneficial as you would expect because these key positions for fantasy players.
The players you have drafted in your infield most likely are premier players. i.e. (1B Miguel Cabrera, 3B Alex Rodriguez) or( 1B Justin Morneau, 3B Adrian Beltre) These players don’t need any back up or even a full week to produce the numbers as your catcher.
Pick up free agents that will compliment some of the weaker links in your lineup. Many catchers don’t actually catch everyday and unless are batting as well as Jorge Posada they may not DH that day.
As far as 1B basemen goes I only suggest a C,1B like Buster Posey, C,1B Mike Napoli or 1B,OF Aubrey Huff. Huff has started 10+ games in both left and right while tagging on some outfield assists from right. In addition, Huffs durability is not an issue as he has missed only missed a handful of days this season. Reason being, will give you a 1st baseman that can fill in for your catcher on his off days and/or your starting first basemen when the matchup is unfavorable. An infield/outfield position means the player will be eligible in 6 different team slots (2 Utilities, 3OF, 1 Position) giving that player tremendous flexibility and adds value to your team.
*** Remember to keep making moves as you need to! Watch the matchup..*** Don't be afraid to use free agency!
