Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox - Yesterday's Recap

Welcome to the Wednesday, July 31st edition of Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox.

Discussing baseball is as fun as the game itself. It has a way of bringing people together to share different opinions about the sport we all love. A similar action can be done with fantasy baseball where we not only discuss topics but also look to improve our teams as well as the teams of our fellow fantasy baseball enthusiasts. Everyone has their own perspectives which are not to be cast off as frivolous. They should be used as a method of expanding our own knowledge.

In this article, I review the previous day's boxscores and provide my opinion on a variety of topics. Some will be random, some will be fun, and some will be stat-driven. It's a soapbox so I may rant from time to time as well. So without any further delay, below are my thoughts on July 31st. Enjoy them. You can even respond with your own thoughts on Twitter @EllisCan2.

Daily Musings

• Yasiel Puig took on the whole Pirates team back in April. Upon finding out he was traded to Cleveland, he made sure to get one last rematch in before shipping off.
• Trevor Bauer to the Reds. Not a time to have one of his career-worst fly ball(39%) and HR/FB(14%) rates.
• With Yasiel Puig departing. I guess the Reds are confident in Josh VanMeter’s skills. More playing time ahead. Phillip Ervin will play more too.
• Don’t tell anyone, but Benny’s Beard has magical powers. Andrew Benintendi w/three-straight games w/rainbows(11) over the wall. The Fifth-Spot Savior rehabilitates another soul.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. w/400ft missile. The O’s enjoy contributing to the happiness of the youth. 84% owned?! Seriously?! Make sure you’re not slacking.
• All the hype for Dinelson Lamet, 5.09ERA(4.18FIP) in return. Two-pitch guy. 20.4%K-BB is nice.
• Competitors outbid me for Drew Smyly last weekend. Why? 7IP, 0ER, 5K. ChiSox next. Oh, SF again after that. Close you’re mouth, you’re salivating’ excessively.
• Juan Soto(19th HR), you’re not the only one that are launching cowhide pigeons over walls” ~ Trea Turner(nine)
• Who is ready to admit they would have bet against Josh Donaldson to potential to reach 30HR in 2019?
• Known-walker Rhys Hoskins w/23rd HR. His 17.1%BB ranks third in majors behind Mike Trout & Alex Bregman.
• Hector Neris w/19SV. 3.74ERA(4.12FIP). You don’t care; a SV is a SV.
• Austin Riley who?! Adam Duvall w/two HR(three in last four games) 90.3mph avg exit velo. Ender Inciarte 3-for-5 w/four R+RBI, fifth SB.
• YES!! Confirmation Bias!  We said it way back in 2015. Archie Bradley is the ARI closer. We were right all along. (Bradley got 1st SV Tuesday.  Doesn’t hurt to see what happens, just don’t bet the farm.)
• Carson Kelly does it again. 14th HR. We reminded you yesterday he was good. Only 11% owned. Hmmm.
• Jake Odorizzi trounces competition for 12th SV. Who knew? (Yes, we know you did.) *Tap*Tap* What? “He was facing Miami.” I don’t care! Aren’t they a professional team? Yes! Count it!
• Byron Buxton comes off IL, launches 10th HR to go w/13SB, .260AVG. Still kinda sexy.
• Travis d’Arnaud in two-hole = HR. Wow. He’s feeling frisky. 7HR, 21RBI, .322AVG last 15 days.
• Nathaniel Lowe started vs. a lefty and it all worked out. 2-for-5. AVG now at .306. Needs to stay in the lineup.
• Joe Musgrove w/a win. Mark it down. 6IP, 2ER, 4K. Brewers next. So much for a rhythm.
• Corey Dickerson doubles his season total w/two HR. .317AVG but providing little else.
• 14-win club. Currently, holds two(Stephen Strasburg & Verlander). Justin Verlander dominated the Indians. 7IP, 0ER, 13K. Hopefully, the Indians don’t take frustrations out on Jose Urquidy tonight.
• Good thing for 29 stolen bases. Mallex Smith is pointless otherwise (.237AVG).
• Danny Santana is doing a Gallo impersonation. 7HR, 18RBI, .397AVG last 15 days. Four more games at home to enjoy. Work on that 68% ownership.
• THOR rises from the ashes. Noah Syndergaard w/7IP, 0ER, 11K. *Excuse me, it was the White Sox* Go away kid, ya bother me. I have zero interest in your blithering and blathering about non-essentials.
• Michael Conforto heating up. A no-doubt, without question TATER! (21)
• It’s sad when you see Edwin Diaz blow a save & you shrug your shoulders. Yeah, he did it again.
• RUT! (turtleditch! Some of you know what I’m talking about) Jose Abreu finds himself face down in one. 1HR, 6RBI, .194AVG last 15 days. Somebody throw him a rope.
• One day break & Paul Goldschmidt is back at it. 25th love letter to Cardinal fans.
• Tommy Edman doubles SB total w/two on Tuesday.
• Daniel Hudson & Joe Biagini letting in runs again. Not a boost of confidence. Not many options around though.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bat starting to cook. One Grand Slam coming up! 2HR, 12RBI, .357AVG last week. Reunited w/left side mate, Bo Bichette. Happiness = better play. Still trying to buy low?
• Given a seven-run lead, Julio Urias couldn’t make it out of the third inning. Second Coors victim. Hyun-Jin Ryu, come on down.
• Seriously? Kyle Freehand is 16% owned?! Even his 4.91ERA(5.14FIP) & 1.41WHIP away from Coors is tragic.
• THUNDER!!! Matt Olson w/ a Monster Jam! 22nd HR.
• Khris Davis is very streaky. Is 17th HR the start of something special? 90% owned means he’s available somewhere.
• Liam Hendriks blows another save. Blake Treinen walks in with ‘I Need A Hero’ suddenly playing in the background. He’ll get his job back. 77% owned.
• Griffin Canning transformed back to the good Canning. 6IP, 0ER, 1BB, 7K. Unfortunately, improved CLE next.
• Ramon Laureano w/shin issues(IL). Great production while it lasted. @TGFBI team continues to crumble.
• Side note: Dear NFBC, A snowflake or delicate flower icon next to appropriate player’s names would help me greatly in the 2020 draft.
• Have a great Wednesday. Take the time to talk to someone new today.
• No Fear, Just Fantasy.

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