MojoJojo

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/2014/09/23/the-smartest-mlb-teams/ They describe it as: A look at the “strength” of the relationship between spending and winning across leagues.

In a keeper league I was offered Chone Figgins for Clayton Kershaw.

Thanks everyone for the insightful comments. That's a good point. I should remember that but somehow I never do. ::I know, right. I had the 10th pick and thought he'd be there. He wasn't:: I'm on the fence with Quentin, as well. If I keep another pitcher or Atkins, it'll be to replace Quentin. OF is by position +1 anywhere, so 4 OF but 3 have to be in position. I'm pretty sold on Kemp. If it comes down to Kemp or Quentin, Kemp's my choice. It would be sad to lose Geo, but I think I can do well enough at C even if I don't get him back. Agree on the Upton OBP. His high walks really help. That was just about the only bright spot with him last season. Well, that and the 44 steals. I was assuming that if I didn't hold on to Philips, I wouldn't be thrilled about the 2B options. But not seeing him on your list made me check it out more closely. Utley, Pedroia, Kinsler, Roberts, Uggla, Cano are being kept. But that's going to leave Alexei Ramirez, DeRosa, Jose Lopez. Might be some better options available than I thought. I hadn't even considered dropping Philips, but perhaps I should think about it. This draft just needs to happen already. We still have two more weeks before keepers need to be set. With that much time to wait, I'm going to talk myself into keeping Elijah Dukes before it's over.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate it. I agree on a lot of the pitchers. The only one I don't think I'll be able to get back if I want to is Billingsley. I hate to take a risk on losing Scherzer and Kershaw (I lost Lincecum that way last year) but it looks like they're going after the 12th round in a lot of drafts so I should be able to target them there if I want to. The only other C being kept as of now are Martin, McCann, and Doumit so I think I should be OK giving up Soto even if I don't get him back (although I do plan to try to get him back). I'm sold on Fielder, Philips, Kemp, and Liriano. Not so sure about Upton. What do you think are the chances of getting the 2007 version vs. the 2008 version? I'm not as worried about Holliday as I am about guys coming back from injuries (Upton, Quentin). I think the current list (until I change my mind again) is Fielder, Holliday, Kemp, Liriano, Philips, Quentin, Upton I also have Garrett Atkins and Stephen Drew. Think they should bump any of those guys?

I'm in a 12 team H2H league with standard 5x5 categories plus OBP for hitters and K/BB for pitchers. I can keep any seven players and there aren't any restrictions or rules about keepers. Everyone just keeps 7 and then the draft is from the remaining pool. I have more than 7 guys I'm considering. I have my ideas about narrowing it down, but I would appreciate any comments. Thanks. Erik Bedard Chad Billingsley Joba Chamberlain Prince Fielder Rich Harden Matt Holliday Scott Kazmir Matt Kemp Clayton Kershaw Francisco Liriano Brandon Phillips Carlos Quentin Max Scherzer Geovany Soto B.J. Upton Carlos Zambrano

I live in Denver and go to at least the Cubs games every year. I've done day-of tickets for Rockies/Cubs in the past and they've always been available. The post World Series attendance bump didn't last very long last season and it's rare for there to be a sellout. They do have higher ticket prices for Cubs games though and parking rates are the highest of the season at the lots around the stadium. Expect more Cubs fans than Rockies fans. There's a bar near the stadium (Blake Street Tavern) that advertises itself as "Wrigley Field West" when the Cubs are in town. That might be a fun stop if you want to have a drink with some fellow Cubs fans before the game or celebrate after. Be happy to answer any questions or try to help you out any way I can. Hope you have a great trip.

Salon has an interview with Carlos Gomez today: http://www.salon.com/sports/daily/feature/2008/07/01/scout/index.html Gomez has done analysis of the mechanics of swings and throwing motions for The Hardball Times. Here is his breakdown of Mark Prior's throwing motion http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/breaking-down-the-broken-down-a-video-analysis-of-mark-prior/. (Yeah, I just went Mark Prior.) He has also historically been a big Moneyball and sabermetrics guy; he's a self-described "mechanics and stats geek". Gomez recently became a scout for the Diamondbacks. In the interview he talks about how his player evaluations have changed now that he is a scout. There's some interesting stuff on how he looks at sabermetrics and stats differently now. It's a good read regardless of your own position in the debate.

I did do that deal. It does leave me a little thin at closer, but the scoring includes holds as well as saves so I'll be ok filling in some late relief guys with high strikeouts who have a chance to move into a closer role. There are also some saves to be had on the wire. It's a 12 team keeper H2H with 7 keepers per team. After the trade, I have: Soto ©, Jackson (1B), Phillips (2B), Atkins (3B), Drew (SS), Holliday (LF), BJ Upton (CF), Fukudome (RF), Quentin (OF), Escobar (MI), Fielder (CI), Kemp (OF), Damon (Bench) SP: Bedard, Zambrano, Kazmir, Harden, Eveland, Billingsley, Olsen, Slowey, Scherzer, Wellemeyer, Liriano, Kershaw RP: Percival, Devine, Aquilino Lopez DL: Smoltz, Pedro Martinez I also have an empty roster slot at the moment after trading 3 players for 2.

Got Bedard off the table. New deal is: I give up: Jose Reyes Johnny Cueto Billy Wagner I receive: Carlos Zambrano Scott Kazmir

Thanks for the input and debate. It's valuable to see how you guys think about it. I've been going back and forth for a lot of the same reasons. Some other considerations: - The league has goofy scoring which includes categories for bb, k, obp, slg. Fielding is also included, so errors and fielding% factor in too. - Pitching categories include avg against, obp against, k/9, and k/bb. - My team is currently 1st in batting and 4th in pitching (3rd overall). I agree with Cro Magnon that 70+ steals, 110+ runs, and 10+ hr from your ss isn't something you just give away. I also agree with The Logan that I would probably get more balanced production across the board from my other options at ss. In the final analysis, I'm willing to trade Reyes. I think it's Bedard who is holding me back. The scoring values high strikeout/low walk pitchers. It's H2H so accumulation isn't important. Winning steals by 10 every week isn't any better than winning by 1. Same goes for strikeouts. But more strikeouts contribute to multiple stats for pitchers (avg, obp, k/9, k/bb). There's nothing analogous for hitters - steals are just steals. Not to devalue what Reyes brings to the table, but in this league the premium is on quality starting pitching (the leader has the best pitching team and is 7th in overall batting). That's why I said my first reaction was to jump on it. I guess I need to try to talk him into a pitcher other than Bedard. -- edit to clarify: There's nothing analogous for Reyes's strengths - steals are just steals. (And for that matter, runs are just runs.)

H2H/Keeper...I have received an offer I wanted to run by the experts. I give up: - Jose Reyes - Erik Bedard I receive: - Carlos Zambrano - Scott Kazmir My initial reaction is to jump on it before the guy changes his mind. Yunel Escobar or Stephen Drew would fill in my SS slot. Is there anything I'm missing here? Thanks.

Troy Renck, Rockies beat writer, was on sports talk radio in Denver this morning and Spilborghs was a major topic. During the discussion, he mentioned that at the winter meetings "Lou Piniella would have given his right arm to have Spilborghs come and be the everyday centerfielder for the Cubs." Unfortunately, he didn't mention any Cubs players that may have been discussed as part of a trade. Still, I thought it was a somewhat interesting postscript to this question.