Welcome to the August 18th 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 August 17th games. Enjoy them. You can even respond with your own thoughts on Twitter @EllisCan2.
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Daily Musings
- 'Tatis Tattoo Parlor’ - daily tattooing by Fernando Tatis (42 hits above 95 MPH). Customer of the year: Rawlings (11).
- Has anyone else noticed how commonplace it is for a player to hit two HR in a game? Nine players did it yesterday.
- Yes, you’re allowed to be frustrated that Gio Gonzalez was one out short of getting a Win. But if you started him, aren’t you happy w/ 10 K.
- Ian Happ sitting in the fifth spot. (Fourth long ball)
- Brad Miller provided two souvenirs. What? You didn’t know he was still playing?
- 14 innings and how many zeros did I get from all my Cubs/Cardinals? Please don’t make me count.
- Luke Voit (seven) has two tickets to paradise. Don’t worry, his bags are packed as he’ll take a quick respite as a reward.
- Trea Turner finally opens it up on the straightaway. First SB.
- Juan Soto (seven HR) has the flair to do the moonwalk to first on a home run trot.
- It was not his Swanson(g), but Dansby had a 3-for-6 day with walkout HR (three) would be a nice send-off.
- Robinson Cano (four) gets ‘em from the left & C-MASH Pete Alonso (five) smack ‘em from the right. Four HR night.
- It’s not all SB, Jonathan Villar embellishes with a second Oooh-La-La.
- Randal Grichuk carrying a .357 Magnum (AVG) around recently. three HR & seven RBI in the last seven days.
- Somebody catch him, he’s falling. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. batting sixth does not make me happy.
- Step back Cavan Biggio busting out. Power, lowered his strikeout rate (21%, and his .234 AVG be where it ends.
- Life w/Blue Jays doesn’t mean you stop getting wins. Hyun-Jin Ryu w/ second W.
- Hunter Dozier walks into a gas station. He orders a brisket with Mac-n-cheese and a big ‘ol sweet tea. Rubys BBQ makes it look like a Combo Meal!! (second HR/first SB).
- Face it. No one can stop Nelson Cruz. Two-fer makes it eight.
- Tell me you did not start Matthew Boyd (4 IP, 3 ER). At least lie to me. Were the nine K worth it?
- How many White Sox players can we get into the top three rounds in 2021? Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert? I wouldn’t be surprised.
- Zach Davies and San Diego go better together. 3rd Win. 3.25 ERA (2.87 FIP).
- I’m feeling a little Brandon Bielak (3-0, 1.69 ERA) tenderness starting to build. Wait, what? 4.48 FIP? Ouch. 4.8% K-BB? Ugh.
- David Peralta update. 2 HR, 17 RBI, .337 AVG. 61% owned. (Insert GIF here of me banging my head against the wall).
- Eduardo Escobar, feeling terrible about a 2 HR & .200 AVG, offers a SB olive branch.
- Attention all customers. All of our late-model Robbie Grossman’s are still 79% available. Four HR, four SB, and a .300 AVG. Get yours today.
- Zac Gallen is so dreamy. 7 IP, 1 ER, 8 K.
- Brothers don’t shake hands, brothers gotta hug…and hit homers. Kyle (four) & Corey (six) Seager enjoy fine dining. Kyle gets the Combo Meal (third SB).
- Mookie Betts checks his tracker and hits a routine long ball (nine) to catch up to Mike Trout. Trout doesn’t like clinginess so he jumps to 10.
- Dear Ross Stripling owners, I apologize for recommending him as a start vs SEA. What was I thinking? Three IP, six ER.
- Endgame
- Andrew Miller (two). Giovanny Gallegos got the W so all are happy; well, except John Gant owners.
- Jeremy Jeffress (two). Rowan Wick participated in the first game. No Craig Kimbrel.
- Aroldis Chapman allows 1 ER, 2 K.
- Daniel Hudson implodes. 0.2 IP, 4 ER. Anibal Sanchez sees his hard-earned W slip through his fingers.
- Franklyn Kilome (one). Do not run & grab him.
- Anthony Bass dropped in the eighth. O Romano? Romano? Wherefore art thou Jordan Romano? Because I need a little save love.
- Blake Taylor (one)
- Kenley Jansen (seven)
- Trevor Gott. Nope no save. 0.2, 2 ER.
- Ty Buttrey gets a W.
- Kirby Yates done for the year? Ouch. Well, all the Drew Pomeranz you can handle.
- Have a great Tuesday. Today can be the day you've always wanted it to be. First step = movement. Now. Stop procrastinating & get things done. Accomplishments (however small) lead to better feelings of success. You deserve success in your life. Get it.
- No Fear, Just Fantasy.