AJ Mass

  (2:59 PM)

Hey gang - time for our Wednesday chat - not just limited to football. We can tackle some early baseball questions and even some Bracketology too... We've got an hour - let's go.

John (Texas)

What do you think about Jose Reyes? Is he a #1 overall pick?

AJ Mass

  (3:01 PM)

Certainly the steals totals are hard to resist. But #1 overall? No. Definitely worth consideration towards the tail end of the first round, but A-Rod has to go first.

Jon (Boston)

Any concerns about Utley? He DID break his wrist near the end of last season.

AJ Mass

  (3:04 PM)

But he came back from injury and didn't seem to have any ill effects. I like Utley. I personally consider him a 3rd rounder, but I wouldn't factor injuries into the mix.

John(NY)

IF Moss leaves NE..who is your #1 rated wr going into next season?

AJ Mass

  (3:06 PM)

What is this... the John show? I don't think he goes anywhere, but if he does, a lot will depend on who his QB is. He's still right up there with TO as 1 and 1A in my book.

brian (ND)

what is the best way to do pickups? I would like to start a waiver priority system but don't know how. What are your thoughts?

AJ Mass

  (3:08 PM)

We looking ahead to baseball? The worst-to-first always is a crowd pleaser. Last place team in the standings gets first dibs. Even for leagues that use a FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) and does blind bidding for pickups... they usually use worst-to-first as a tie-breaker.

Brad(NM)

AJ, I'm wondering for next year's football season..if Moss resigns with New England, does that push Brady to the #1 pick or should that stay with somebody like LT..or maybe AP now?

AJ Mass

  (3:10 PM)

In the past I've always felt that the first round should be RBs across the board, but the NFL has changed. Even teams with a stud like AP are using two-headed RBs. (Think Taylor/MJD and Jones/MB3). With the numbers that Peyton put up a few years back and Brady this year... I think it is time to consider the top QBs in the mix. Not necessarily #1 overall, but definitely in the 1st Round.

Craig ( PA)

Wow AJ! Reyes at the END of the first round? He's certainly a top 5 guy. And to say Utley, considering position scarcity, is a 3rd rounder? That's crazy, he's easily a first rounder.

AJ Mass

  (3:15 PM)

My top 5 are A-Rod, J-Roll, Hanley, Wright and B Phillips. I'm going to go with the 30-30 guys before I take guys who don't help in all 5 categories. Reyes power numbers lower him in my book, and Utley's steals totals hurt him.

Dan (RI)

You said BRACKETOLOGY, so what do you think of the URI Rams?

AJ Mass

  (3:17 PM)

Obviously it is early, but the A-10 is so strong that the Rams have a chance to make the dance with a 9 win effort. I think right now Dayton, Me Mass and the X-Men are also in very good shape with the Dukes needing to step it up to have a chance. 4 A-10's not out of the question.

Mike (Fresno)

How many teams does the Pac-10 get into the tourney?

AJ Mass

  (3:19 PM)

UCLA and Wazzou get in. Zona's schedule would require a huge collapse to not go as well. I think you then have 4 teams fighting for 2 spots in ASU, Stanford, Cal and the Ducks. Sun Devils can get a huge lift if they take the Cats.

Brian McNamee (NY)

What do you want me to do?

AJ Mass

  (3:20 PM)

Someone needs to tell the truth about this whole thing.

Bobby

Draft strategy question. When choosing two even rated players, will you opt to the one on a stronger team in hopes of more runs/rbi? If so, which offenses are you sticking with and avoiding?

AJ Mass

  (3:23 PM)

An RBI counts the same if it comes in Yankee Stadium or in Pro Player Park or whatever it is they call it these days. With two even players, I go with the guy who is less likely to lose his job if things go poorly. In many cases, that's actually the "weaker" team since they have fewer bench options and more time to be patient. But I hear there's a team in Detroit that might win a few games this season.

Addam (SLC)

AJ, what do you project for Ryan Braun this year, and what round is adequate draft value. I won't lie, he won me two leagues last year and I've developed serious man crush...

AJ Mass

  (3:25 PM)

I don't like to project numbers too much. I'm of the Dennis Green school of drafting ballplayers. You are who we think you are. Because of all the man-crushes out there, in order to get Braun, you'll likely need to grab him early 2nd Round. As far as I am concerned, draft value is a stat you can only truly figure out in the off-season.

Craig ( PA)

AJ, While I have no problem with your top 4, you have Brandon Philips at 5th overall but Utley in the 3rd round? Utley will hit 20-30 points higher, with higher upside in homers IMO, more RBI's, more runs, and 15-20 less steals. So likely better in other 4 categories but 15-20 less steals drops Utley two rounds below him?

AJ Mass

  (3:28 PM)

And that's why we play the game, Craig. I think Phillips has a few more HR and the RBI/runs totals balance out. The difference in steals is worth two rounds to me - especially in a MLB world where it is half as easy to grab a 20 steal guy as it is to grab a 20 HR guy.

Mike (Albany, NY)

Hey AJ, thanks for taking my question. In a 3 Keeper Auction League, I have LJ & AP for $5, so they are locks. Who should be my 3rd? (CAL. Johnson $23, B. Marshall $5, C. Palmer $35 or M. Turner $5?)

AJ Mass

  (3:29 PM)

I'd wait and see where Turner lands. As a backup he's not worth $5, but as a starter, he would be. Palmer's price tag is too high as is Megas. I'd go Marshall if things don't change.

Stella (Branson)

Is the dropoff so big at catcher that I need to take V-Mart very early?

AJ Mass

  (3:33 PM)

I think it's a huge game of chicken most leagues will be playing at backstop. There's V-Mart and Russell Martin, and then a significant dropoff to then say, McCann and Posada and Varitek. How early do you bite? Tough to say. One of those "you have to feel the room" type of thing.

Mike (SoCal)

Why did somebody think that the name of the leader of the evil Decepticons from Transformers would be a good nickname for Calvin Johnson?

AJ Mass

  (3:34 PM)

I'm still trying to figure out why somebody thought Michael Bay would be a good director for a non-animated version of a lame Voltron-ripoff cartoon.

Jon (Boston)

Where then, would you rank Pujols?

AJ Mass

  (3:37 PM)

I'm going to come right out and confess that I don't want Pujols on my team this year. Not that I think he's going to drop off the planet, but I just don't see the lineup around him to have a superstar season. Rolen, Duncan and Ankiel? Are they going to protect him? I don't see it. He's still a Top 50 hitter, but not Top 10 for me.

Jake (VA Beach)

ACTUALLY, Transformers date back to the 70's while Voltron was '84 to start. Plus, Voltron are animals, not vehicles. Get it right here, AJ!

AJ Mass

  (3:40 PM)

I'll stand by IMDB's tale of both cartoons coming out in 1984. However, there were 2 versions of Voltron. One with the power lions and one with a bunch of spaceship pieces.

Joe

I think people should be aware that you are ranking based on 5 X 5 Roto, or Head to Head, where steals hold more value than in other leagues, such as points leagues, where steals aren't important enough to change player values as much as you are.

AJ Mass

  (3:42 PM)

Joe, I am actually using a hybrid of 4X4 and 5X5 ratings, but your comment on points leagues only holds true depending on your scoring system, no? If I'm in a league where steals ARE more valuable than HRs, that factors in, right?

Frank

As a Red Sox fan who doesn't have the numbers in front of me, I don't think Varitek should be mentioned with the upper tier of catchers. Your thoughts?

AJ Mass

  (3:43 PM)

As I said, the upper tier of catchers goes two deep. After that, Varitek is in the next cluster of 5 or 6.

Shawn (MN)

AJ, I'm already keeping Utley, Wright, Teix, & Vlad. I need to keep 2 more out of Tejada, Konerko, Byrnes, Hart, Sheff, Haren, Lincecum, & Papelbon, help me pick 2. Thanks!

AJ Mass

  (3:45 PM)

I like Byrnes and I'd keep Haren to give my staff a foundation.

Elias - CT

How did you get this job? You must know someone or just be a tool. Almost all your answers are suspect and you are by far the worst person running a chat for ESPN. The advice you give to people will either confuse them or cause them to fall in their fantasy standings. I can't stand when I go to a chat and see your name there!!

AJ Mass

  (3:46 PM)

And yet, Elias, here you are.

Tom (Malvern)

Better keeper in a ppr league- J. Fargas, L. Jordan, B. Edwards or T. Holt?

AJ Mass

  (3:47 PM)

I'm holding onto Braylon Edwards for dear life.

Jamaal (Mount Laurel, NJ)

Am I missing something? You see Utley as a 3rd rounder! Isn't he the best fantasy 2B in the game? How does that warrant a 3rd round pick when 2B is thin...

AJ Mass

  (3:52 PM)

Because I'm not going to let positional scarcity change my picks in a vaccuum. I value OFs who can give me 30-30 over Utley, who last year was a 22-9 guy. If I can get a Kelly Johnson at 16-9 far later on, I'm willing to take that hit.

John Johny Johnson

better year next season...TO, Colston or Braylon

AJ Mass

  (3:54 PM)

Let's see how far TO goes this year. With him it is always about motivation and it's hard to say how much he'll have if they somehow manage to win it all.

Marsh (St. Louis)

My buddy thinks Pujols is comparitively one of the top 10 players of all-time, what do you think?

AJ Mass

  (3:57 PM)

I think it's nearly impossible to compare eras anymore. Certainly he's put up a phenomenal start to his career... but compare his numbers to Mickey Mantle and maybe you'll agree with me that I can foresee a dip for Pujols this season and not be labelled insane.

AJ Mass

  (3:58 PM)

Time for only a few more.

Chase (Holland)

Get Shawn outa here! he already asked that same question this morning!! Granderson > Sizemore in 08? yay or nay

AJ Mass

  (4:00 PM)

It's pretty darn close. I'm going to say nay. I don't know if Curtis will run as much with the added bats in that lineup.

Dave (NH)

Better value..Cano as a 5th rounder or Kinsler as an 11th rounder? Keeper league, slim pickings at 2b.

AJ Mass

  (4:03 PM)

I'd say Kinsler is a far better value at 11. Cano at 5th round is a bit too high. And that'll do it folks. Glad to be able to chat with you all. We'll do it again real soon.