» Chad Tracy

If your fantasy leagues have waiver wire/free agent addition restrictions like all my leagues do, there is a strategy I like to attend to, and I’ll give you the reasoning. Most of my league-mates make fun of me for picking up an infinite amount of players as soon as possible and only having 5/10 additions allowed left by the season’s end. In a standard 12 team 5×5 Rotisserie League, we started off with 100 waiver moves allowed. This turned into 75, 60, and then 50. So I’ll focus on 50 free agency moves allowed. I think a good strategy is to use 75% (~37 free agents) of your waiver limit (if needed of course) in the first 2 months (even during or after the first month) of the season. I think you get a fantastic idea of how players are doing and what players have become and will stay hot ala Carlos Quentin and Nate McLouth (for ¾ of the season at least) in 2008. Most likely you won’t need to spend 75% of your free agent additions by this time, but I say don’t be scared wasting many of your additions by this point. Obviously, you should save 10-15% (~5-7 additions) of your waiver additions for the end of the season contingent on what statistics you may need, and this still allows you 10-15% (~5-7 additions) when you have certain player/positions go to the DL. If you think about it, most players that readily help a team won’t be there by season’s end other than top prospects called up to help a team (David Price in 2008) – I never said waste your waiver order on all these free agents. Make sure if you drafted last and you have the number 1 waiver spot, you save that for when a David Price-Type player in 2009 does become available (Tommy Hanson of the Braves if he lands a Starting/Closing Role) or an Evan Longoria-Type position player (Matt Wieters/Catcher from the O’s if he somehow is still available on your waiver-wire) becomes available.

By using this strategy, you could have added free agents Mark Reynolds/3b, Carlos Quentin/of, Nate Mclouth/of, Alexei Ramirez/mi, and Evan Longoria/3b in 2008. Once a few starters get some innings under their belts and you’re hopefully looking at their whip and k/bb ratio, you could have landed Cliff Lee, Edinson Volquez, Kevin Slowey, and Scott Baker, or even Liriano by season’s end if you were quick enough. These guys helped in almost every pitching category. There’s still 2/3 category pitchers you could have had like Jamie Moyer (wins-16, era, whip) and Mile Pelfrey (wins-13, era) as well.

Here is the following team that could have been drafted either very late or not at all and some potential 2009 breakout candidates per position:

The 2008 All Fantasy Undrafted/Late-Drafted Fantasy Team (& 2009 Potentials):

It’s a been a while since I’ve written, yet again. I’m working a on a few (8) mid-scale projects and barely have time to think.

Peh…

Anyhoo, DBACKS BABY!

First off, I’d like to make a shout out to Felipe Lopez: Way to help Puerto Rico kick the crap out of the USA (I’m an American. I Love the USA Baseball WBC team, but when a DBack is on the opposing team and hitting well, things change for me).

Focusing more on the team, now, it seems as if the Dbacks are looking decent right now. Chad Tracy apparently isn’t having any knee issues, which is GOOD. He’s been hurting for a while, it seems, but being able to be agile and run around without pain is a great step for him… and his trade value.

TRADE VALUE?! Say What?!

Like I’ve stated before, the DBacks are a little bloated when it comes to players that should be playing. Eric Byrnes was out most of last year with injury which helped alleviate issues with playing time. Now that he’s coming back, however, the issue lingers. How should this problem be solved?

Trade Chad Tracy.

Chad Tracy Doesn't Even Look Like he wants to be in AZ. Solution: TRADE HIM.

I know, I know, he’s a decent player and I like him. But looking into the best interests of the team, we need a BETTER CLOSER.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Back in December 2007, Arizona traded Jose Valverde to the Astros for Juan Gutierrez, Chad Qualls, and Chris Burke. And who got the better deal? At the beginning of last season, with Qualls throwing lights out, I thought we did. But no, Qualls tanked, Burke SUCKED (don’t try to tell me otherwise), and Gutierrez has yet to make an appearance in the Majors. Valverde had how many saves last year? Try 44. Brandon Lyon was no where near that.  The ability to win close games was a huge trait in the 2007 season, and he was a huge part. Who cares if it was a money issue; when he came in, fans were excited. He has an intensity that exists in two or three pitchers in the Majors. Arizona claimed it was a money issue (he wanted a bigger contract, which he should get), wanting nothing to do with it. I give them props for “wanting to believe,” but, like the X-Files I Want to Believe movie, it was absolute garbage. Trading Tracy for a respectable closer or any big minor league bat (throw Qualls in the deal) might make me feel better.

Until then, I’ll just be bitter and do my homework for class.