Another week, another seven days of frustration. Injuries continue to pound my teams, and a lack of movement in the trade market is starting to get to me now (experts are very hard to deal with. I must have send out 25 trade offers the past week – only one was accepted though there might be an AL LABR deal in the works for next week).
FOR MORE ON COLE, CINGRANI & MYERS SEE- Rounding the Bases: Cole, Cingrani & Myers.
FOR MY THOUGHTS ON PUIG LISTEN HERE.
TOUT WARS (15 team mixed): Yes, my team has woefully underperformed, but I keep fighting the good fight. This weeks moves... I dropped Eric Young who continues to get playing time but just isn't performing. I tried to get Mr. Blanks but was greatly outspent (my bid was $7). So, I ended up with two start Jacob Turner ($2) to bolster my staff. I also added Eric Stults to help out the staff for $5 as I released Joe Smith. Stults has posted a 3.53 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the year, and if you haven't noticed he's been on a hell of a run the last three weeks – 2.54 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 21 Ks versus two walks over 28.1 innings.Notable bids: Kyle Blanks ($21), Gerrit Cole ($9), Hector Santiago ($5), Travis Hafner ($3).
LABR (12 team, AL-only): Didn't make a single move this week. I keep trying to trade Jacoby Ellsbury for an elite arm, or Nate McLouth for an established one, but I'm having a hard time finding a taker. I'm in third place overall after a second place finish last year, so I'm hungry, but finding that right fit, with the experts, is always tough (hopefully Michael Pineda, who is on my reserve list, will come through). I lead the league with 91 steals, and according to Larry Schechter I'm on pace to set an all-time record for steals (no one else is within 39 steals). Gotta make a move.Notable bids: Dallas Keuchel ($3), Pedro Ciriaco ($3), Ryan Flaherty ($3), Jose Alvarez ($3)
FSTA (13 team mixed): Fricken Hanley Ramirez just can't get over the hump, and it's killing me. I went $221 for Yasiel Puig, an aggressive bid for me, but I was more than doubled there. I was outbid on Kyle Blanks ($37). I ended up with Daniel Descalso ($11) who qualifies at second, short and third base. He's hitting .413 with 14 RBIs and 12 runs scored the past 19 games. Jared Burton was cast adrift. I also added Dylan Axelrod ($7) at the cost of Edinson Volquez. Dylan has two starts against the Blue Jays and Astros.Notable bids: Yasiel Puig ($521), Anthony Rendon ($103), Kyle Blanks ($85), Kyle Lohse ($21), Chad Gaudin ($17).
To see how others are evaluating players don’t forget to go to Fleaflicker.com where you can check out the owned percentages of all your favorite players.
SIRIUSXM EXPERTS (12 team mixed): Ubaldo Jimenez ($1) is in, Edinson Volquez is out. Why do I want to punch myself in the face? J.J. Putz, the still injured one, disappears for David Robertson an elite setup arm who could dominate as a closer if anything happened to 430 year old Mariano Rivera. The big move of the week was my $4 add of... Eric Hosmer (Will Venable went bye-bye). Hosmer is hitting .367 in June, but he has only one bomb on the year. Still, he's got the talent to go on a nice, extended run. I hope. Notable bids: Yasiel Puig ($52), Luke Gregerson ($5), Scott Van Slyke ($4), Mike Leake ($3), Bartolo Colon ($3).
SIRIUSXM LISTENER LG (11 team mixed): This is the only league with an open waiver-wire. With too many injured players, and no end in sight, I dropped Brandon Morrow for Yan Gomes since my catcher duo isn't exactly strong (Wellington Castillo is my second). Trying to work the waiver-wire to boost the offense.
K-BAD (12 team mixed): Big news... a trade. I need help on the hill and I had Domonic Brown, you know that pretty solid slugger of the Phillies, to offer up. After sifting through a few blah deals, I settled on one that I think is a big boost (note: dealing in experts leagues is awfully tough. Most think Brown can't keep this up, and most continue to have faith in pitchers that they drafted early in the year even if they've been struggling in a big way to this point of the season). I was able to add Matt Cain in the deal. Looking at his pitching line, and I keep pointing this out when folks ask, the only real difference this season has been his HR/9 mark, and one would think that number should continue to shrink. I made two other moves. I dropped Kevin Gausman for Stults ($17), and I let go Dan Haren – who was replaced by Cain – so I could add Will Middlebrooks. Kevin Youkilis and Hanley Ramirez continue to be in and out of the lineup, so I needed to bolster my CI spot.Notable bids: Gerrit Cole ($224), Rick Porcello ($75), Tyler Colvin ($50), Kyle Blanks ($44), Carlos Quentin ($37), Mike Leake ($22).
FANBALL (13 team mixed): Second place last year, 12 out of 13 this year. Ugh. Big winner this week was Yunel Escobar ($3) as I lost Asdrubal Cabrera to the DL. Eric Stults ($2) makes another appearance at the cost of J.J. Putz.Notable bids: Nolan Arenado ($6), Rick Porcello ($4), Kyle Blanks ($3), Erasmo Ramirez ($1)
By Ray Flowers