Razzball Interview

What brought the popularity of baseball back after the 1994 strike?

The 1997 homerun chase and Cal Ripken’s longevity streaks had a lot to do with it, but one thing that rarely gets any credit is fantasy baseball. For myself beginning to play fantasy baseball definitely was a major factor in getting me back to the fanatic I am today.

This, like every, year I find myself in a number of fantasy baseball leagues and drive my wife crazy with the number of hours spent on those leagues (though I never hear her complain when the prize money comes in). So, it is with great pleasure that I bring to you an email interview I had with Grey from one of the premier fantasy baseball sites, Razzball.

First off, let's start by letting you explain (to those who may not know) the meaning behind Razzball?

Lots of times in the world of fantasy baseball, people take themselves too seriously. Razzball lives in the state of Irrelevance and doesn't care what anyone thinks of it. BTW, do these pants make me look fat?

You got C.C on your Razzball team? Can't do much worse than he is doing right now.

I wish I drafted CC on my Razzball team (http://razzball.com/my-team-sucks/). But I think if you were a time traveller arriving from the year 2010 and you told me CC would have a terrible April and mayonnaise slathered on your head prevented baldness. I'd still draft CC, only I would do it while wearing a helmet of mayo.


What would your philosophy be on a pitcher of C.C.'s caliber? Are you trying to buy low or are there too many signs to keep away? What are you looking for in a buy low: peripheral stats, track record, gut (your's not C.C.'s), all of the above? Give us some buy low names to target.

You have to look at a whole body of work, and with CC it's quite expansive. Seriously, if someone would trade me CC for a a third tier starter with upside (say Johnny Cueto or Edinson Volquez), I'd jump at that trade. As for other buy low guys, just look at their track record and who is not performing up to par thus far: Prince Fielder, Tulowitzski, Jimmy Rollins.


Obviously since this is a Cleveland Indians' blog you will be getting a heavy dose of Tribe questions. What is your take on the newly vacant closer position? Who is next in line if Betancourt continues his early struggles?

I covered this the other day (http://razzball.com/closer-look/), and I still feel more or less the same way. I think Betancourt is super-talented (compared to Borowski, he looks like Bob Gibson wrapped in a Sandy Koufax burrito), but I think this might get messier before it cleans itself up. I think Rafael Perez will get a handful of lefty situational saves, if not more. Also, I'd like to see what Kobayashi can do in a tight spot. Right now, the Tribe is using kid gloves with him.


Should Indians' fans (and fantasy fans) forget about the Travis Hafner from a couple years ago? Sure looks like we are going to see a repeat of last year's numbers (which weren't terrible but not anything like a couple years ago). Would you try to get as much as you could for him in fantasy?

Actually, way back in January, I predicted great things this year for Project-Donkey (http://razzball.com/top-twenty-1st-basemen-for-2008/). I've seen nothing thus far to think anything different. Ask me again in June and I might change my answer. Just don't ask me on June 24th, friend's getting married.

~~2&Fro note: As an Indians' fan shouldn't I be the one optimistic about Hafner?


Who you got; Grady Sizemore or Curtis Granderson?

The Ladies love Grady and so does Grey. Maybe it's because we share three letters in our first name. *thinks* Always been a big fan of F. Gary Gray's films, too. Weird!

~~2&Fro note: BTW, the genius that is Grey choose the Indians as the AL Pennant Winners and Grady as AL MVP. (http://razzball.com/beat-the-experts-contest-2008-preseason-picks/)


OK, I will get to some non-Tribe questions. With the Tigers appearing to have figured things out offensively, are you sitting all opposing pitchers against them? And in turn, are you playing all your offensive players against their terrible pitching?

I would start them against the Tigers. I don't believe in sitting my pitchers unless they are coming off back-to-back shellackings and they need to take a sit on the bench til they figure it out. Then that usually backfires and your pitcher throws a great game while on your bench. Yeah, now that I think about it, I don't think I'd bench even the hypothetical pitcher I just benched. Are you as confused by that answer as I am? Great! Also, I don't pick up hitters for one game (or one series) matchups. If a hitter is hot, I'll pick him up no matter who he is facing (obviously within reason, I'm not picking up hitters that are about to go to Petco to face Peavy).


Looking at your teams, who are the players that seem to be on all of them? For me, going into the season all my teams had Zach Grienke (looks great but where are the Ks), Dustin McGowan (also looked good thus far) and Carlos Pena (that average is going to be a killer).

I have Greinke on a bunch of teams. I also love Alexis Rios, Carlos Ruiz, Nick Markakis and Alex Gordon. I also loved Kelly Johnson and Shane Victorino coming into the season but didn't get them on any team because they ended up going too high for my taste. So far that has worked out fine for me.


I would like to thank you and hopefully we can do this again in the future. Before you leave give a couple guys off to hot start you are totally buying into and a couple you think are obvious mirages.

I liked Mike Jacobs going into the season and I don't see his hot start suddenly evaporating. He looks like a rich man's Adam Laroche and that, my friend, is some lukewarm praise, but praise nevertheless. Some other hot starts that I believe, Melky, Yunel, Corey Patterson and Wainwright.

Obvious mirages -- Kirsten Dunst's appeal, Mark Reynolds comes back to planet "I swing at every pitch" and cools off a bit and Aubrey Huff. Just because no list of crap is complete without Aubrey Huff and Kirsten Dunst.