Mostly MLB Notes: Talking Cespedes and a look around the league
Yoenis Cespedes seemingly played over his head after getting traded to the Mets last season, but he currently sports an even better OPS (.947) this year compared to last with New York. The 30-year-old is on pace to finish with 37 homers and 93 RBI despite playing in a home park that’s typically killed power for right-handed batters. Cespedes has a line of .382/.521/.709 against lefties this season, making him a must start in DFS whenever he faces southpaws (he also has a 13:16 K:BB ratio). There have been some serious problems (mainly pitcher injuries) with the Mets this season, but Cespedes hasn’t been one of them.
Here’s the latest “East Coast Offense” podcast, talking Las Vegas and the Stopa $11K fantasy football auction.
Here’s a pretty funny old man strength prank at Muscle Beach.
He’s no Ali G, but this Jiminy Glick interview with Jerry Seinfeld is pretty funny.
Quick Hits: The Giants somehow have both the best record in baseball and also the most blown saves, including this recent balk-off…Lance McCullers has an ugly 1.64 WHIP, but he’s 22 years old with 80 strikeouts over 62.1 innings. He’s a tick away from improved control to being a star…The problem with Alex Gordon’s career low .653 OPS is that his usually strong defense has also graded as just average this year…Nick Hundley had a .957 OPS at home vs. a .630 on the road last season, which makes sense considering he plays in Coors Field. He’s at .684 at home and .883 on the road this season…The Braves have hit 56 home runs this year. Chris Young has allowed 26 over 61.0 innings…I bet on Stephen Strasburg to win the Cy Young (at 14/1) before the season, so I must brag now (before he serves his second DL stint) that he’s 13-0 (a stat the voters will care about)…Brandon McCarthy remains an injury risk, but he looks fully healthy now, owning a 0.75 WHIP through his first three starts, with 22 Ks over 16.0 innings, and he’s available in nearly 50 percent of Yahoo leagues.
Headlines of the Week: Cab Driver Returns $187,000 In Cash Left In The Back Seat…Someone In VIP On Gronk’s Party Ship Left Pile Of Poop With $20 Bill…Man Tries To Smuggle Himself Inside His Own Suitcase…Woman Who Was Driving While Praying With Her Eyes Closed Hits House…Man Accused Of Illegally Owning Human Brain, Using Embalming Fluid To Get High...Artist Sued For $5M Over Painting He Insists He Didn’t Paint.
Quick Hits Part Deux: If a draft were held today, I’d make Mookie Betts my No. 1 pick…Nolan Arenado has 21 RBI over 12 games versus the Giants this season (they have the fifth best ERA)…Zack Cozart is a shortstop available in 65 percent of Yahoo leagues who’s on pace to finish with 25 homers and 88 runs scored…Elvis Andrus has remained a disappointment, but he’s cheap in DFS and has a .992 OPS against lefties this year…Ryan Dull has held batters to an MLB low .194 OBP. His last name is ironic…Over his last seven starts, Matt Shoemaker has a 2.35 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 51 strikeouts over 46.0 innings…Alex Bregman and Andrew Benintendi are two prospects fantasy owners in deep leagues must own now. Ryon Healy is worth an add too…Over the past calendar year, Dee Gordon has played just 82 games yet still ranks fifth in MLB with 31 steals. Make sure he’s somehow not unowned in your league with his suspension coming to an end.
Police Blotter: Couple Arrested For Assaulting Each Other With Pizza Rolls…Suspect Busted With 107 Stolen Sea Turtle Eggs…Enraged Son Calls Police After Father Burns His ‘Prized’ Cannabis Plants…Escaped Inmate Orders Beer, Asks Bar Owner To Call Cops…Sheriff Challenges Road Rage Woman To Knit Her Way Out Of Prison…Man Covers Face With Toilet Paper Before Robbing Store…Stripper Arrested For Arson After DNA Found On Potato Stuck In Tail Pipe.
This magician is pretty legit.
Here’s someone dead lifting a world record 1,102 pounds.
Song of the Week: Stars – Dead Hearts
Longread of the Week: The Tamir Rice Story: How To Make A Police Shooting Disappear
Quick Hits Part Tres: Over his last 98 at bats, Tyler Naquin has nine homers and three steals with a 1.116 OPS. He’s owned in 13 percent of Yahoo leagues…Over his last 10 starts, Gio Gonzalez has a 7.20 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP…Over the last 21 games, Maikel Franco is hitting .354/.424/.695 with seven homers, 18 runs scored and 21 RBI…The Padres are the highest scoring team in the National League since June 1…Here’s Billy Hamilton scoring from second on a passed ball. And here he is creating more havoc (and winning a game) on the base baths…Drew Smyly had a 2.72 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP over his first six starts this season. He has a 7.27 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP over 11 starts since. Smyly, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi have all been massive disappointments for the Rays and their fantasy owners alike…It was a good move by the Red Sox, but their trade for Drew Pomeranz obviously hurts his fantasy value, even if he’ll now receive better run support. The move from Petco Park to the AL East is as dramatic as it gets.
