Practicing Real Life Fantasy Patience

Practicing Real Life Fantasy Patience

Kenny Rogers (the country music singer, not the former MLB pitcher) once cautioned “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.” And while the vocalist was surely not referencing fantasy baseball, there is wisdom in that notion for all of us fictitious owners who wager in trades or on the wire.

Last week, my impetuous nature got the best of me as I dropped Jesus Luzardo for a guy named Andy Pages. The young Dodgers OF won me over with a combined minute of videos (here’s one) and a .908 MiLB OPS, so I decided to part ways with the Luzardo King—whom I’ve owned previously, been disappointed by, and he owns a 6+ ERA Start this season. I recalled that famed baseball writer Eno Sarris mentioned there wasn’t much difference between his good season (2023) and his previous bad season. I thought maybe the unrosterable Luzardo returned so I bailed. Then he tossed a QS against the Cubs, and I felt my first tinge of waiver regret this fantasy season.

From week one, my outfield has featured Teoscar The Grouch, Wyatt Langford, Jackson Merrill, and Evan Carter — the first three have been a consistent piece of my lineup all season, and Evan Carter has not. Evan Flow (thank you, Pearl Jam) started the season 0-15, and then I read an article about his lack of hard hits, plus he can’t hit lefties — so I figured I should get out while his name and last season’s buzz still carried weight. Over the weekend, I traded him for Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga. Will this deal prove valuable in the long term? Maybe. But the day I made the deal, Carter went 2-4, scored two runs, and hit a dinger. I figured he knew I moved him, and this was his way of giving me the finger on the way out.

I remember when Gunnar Henderson rode the struggle bus for much of the first half last season before turning it on to finish with a .814 OPS and AL Rookie of The Year honors. I tried to trade for him then, but half-heartedly and mostly trying to deal a question mark (Dylan Cease) for a younger question mark with upside. As a Jackson Holliday owner, I keep reminding myself of Henderson’s first half and tell myself to be patient. “Don’t trade him for a middle reliever.” I repeat. And so far, I’ve listened. Similarly, I’m giving Blake Snell time to figure it out. I remember what he did in the second half of last season when I snagged him off the wire in a 14-team league. He earned my patience.

Today, Luzardo is on another team, and I’m left to wonder if he’ll cruise to his 2023 3.58 ERA, 10+ K/9, and 17 QS ways. I hope not. I probably shouldn’t have dropped him for an unknown outfielder, but have you seen this guy belt homers? It’s violent. He swings out of his helmet like Bartolo Colon. Guessing is part of the game, I suppose, but my impatience got the best of me last week, and it likely will again at some point soon — maybe even tomorrow. It’s all part of the fun.

For all you gamblers out there (like those thinking about adding high risk, high reward pitcher Taj Bradley), I wish you good luck in figuring out when to hold, fold, walk away and run this coming week.

Some Thoughts On The Wire

Luis Garcia Jr. 
Washington Nationals 2B
LGJ is hitting cleanup for the Nats and yes, I know they’re not very good, but he can offer value at 2B just based on his spot in the lineup and the Nats aggressiveness on the base paths this season.

Brenton Doyle
Colorado Rockies OF
According to The Athletic, he has 90th percentile exit velocity and over 10 pulled fly balls/line drives. A good recipe at Coors Field — which is where the Rockies will be for the next week. This is fun.

Casey Mize 
Detroit Tigers SP
I keep an eye on pitchers who hurl on a good pitching team. The Tigers are a good pitching team this season. Mize has the pedigree —1st overall pick in 2018—and is healthy. He might not be a SP1 or 2 on any fantasy team ever but it looks like he can be a serviceable option — plus he currently has the league’s best defense behind him.

Keaton Winn
San Francisco Giants SP
Another guy who supports my Surrounding Staff Theory is Keaton Winn. The Giants have a good rotation, he throws 96, has good movement, his last two starts have been excellent (including last night), and he’s reportedly finding a feel for a split-finger that could boost his K/9.

Andrew Abbott
Cincinnati Reds SP
As a rookie Abbott started 21 games and held his own with a 3.87 ERA. He’s made the jump all real fans and fantasy fans hope for from talented sophomores. With a 2.70 ERA and a 6.6 K/9 he’s another guy who won’t anchor your rotation, but you can add him and start him each week without cringing.

Emerson Hancock
Seattle Mariners SP
Ranked 31^st in the Pitcher’s List Top 100 Prospect Ranking, Hancock has a 2.25 ERA in the last two weeks and two Quality Starts. Don’t count on him for a high K/9 but he's a respected prospect pitching well on a team that knows how to develop pitchers.

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