Scott Engel

  (11:01 AM)

Good morning everyone! Welcome to the Friday fantasy sports chat! Be glad to take your questions on offseason football, NASCAR and baseball today.

Brad (Denver)

Who do you prefer at the 2B/SS slot from now until October, Theriot or L. Castillo

Scott Engel

  (11:03 AM)

Theriot -I don't think Castillo can still keep the current pace in steals and Theriot should certainly outperform him

Steve (SF)

the obvious question: is it time to drop liriano in a shallow 10 team mixed league? thanks for your advice in advance.

Scott Engel

  (11:04 AM)

You have to be patient with him obviously, and I think it's too early to drop him. He needs time to rebound from the surgery

CJB - MI

Smoltz - sell high? Will he stay healthy?

Scott Engel

  (11:05 AM)

You know what risk factor you are getting with Smoltz, but he really helps you when he is healthy, so only movd him if you have a surplus of pitching

Pat(Rochester, NY)

Should I trade Cliff Lee while he's hot? Or should I ride him a bit further and see what I can get from him?

Scott Engel

  (11:06 AM)

I would continue to ride him if you don;t have great pitching overall, but if he is a luxury for you, I would sell high

Hurricane Jeff (Byesville, OH)

Hey Scott, it's me, Hurricane. I hate interleague play with a passion. I know it's a month away, but it just eats me up inside. I know it increases ticket sales, but it takes away the magic of the all-star game and world series. I say take away interleague and use those 18 games to play division rivals.

Scott Engel

  (11:08 AM)

I disagree - and it will not happen - I love those Subway Series games every year and interleague is great for the fans.

Matt (toronto)

Hey Scott. Are you drinking the Andy Sonnanstine Kool-Aid? Thats two good outings in a row. Is this James Shields round 2?

Scott Engel

  (11:09 AM)

Not buying in just yet - I think when the league sees more of him there are going to be some rough spots

BJ (Carmel, NY)

What up Scott? What rookie WR do you see making the biggest impact in his rookie season? Sweed to the Titans?

Scott Engel

  (11:11 AM)

I like Sweed but he's not the top WR on by board and we also have to wait and see where guys end up. I like Malcolm Kelly myself

Scott (NY)

Drop Gorzelanny for Cook?

Scott Engel

  (11:12 AM)

I would hold onto Gorzelanny for a little longer and would drop someone else to get Cook on the roster if you want him

Brian (Denver)

Hey Scott, Would you give up your 1st and 4th rounder to move up to #1 and aquire the great Adrian Peterson?

Scott Engel

  (11:13 AM)

No - as much as I like Peterson you can still get a very good pick with that first-rounder

MJ, Ohio

Hey Scott, I've played in a fantasy football league for a number of years with some friends from college, and we want to make it a keeper league. What's the best way to go about it? (Rules, format, etc.)?

Scott Engel

  (11:15 AM)

The most important thing is that you CANNOT use last year's rosters as a basis, players drafted this season are the first eligible class. Two to three keepers per team, and you sacarifice the round you drafted the player in the following season and all players have three-year contracts before going back into the player pool

David (Frisco, Texas)

Hi Scott. Would you rather have Ownings or Maine? Ownings sure does seem like a sell-high guy right now. Is he going to turn into something more?

Scott Engel

  (11:16 AM)

I am not sold on Owings yet and I think Maine has lready marked himself as a more established pitcher

Tonnsen (Greenville)

Nate McLouth coming back to earth?

Scott Engel

  (11:17 AM)

You can't expect him to stay hot all year long, plus pitchers are adjusting to him. He'll adjust himself and be fine overall.

Brendan (Boston)

Is Tom Brady worthy of a #1 pick this year?

Scott Engel

  (11:19 AM)

I would take him in the top three with Moss returning, but with so much uncertainty at RB overall, Tomlinson is a better No. 1 overall pick at RB to me

David (Frisco, Texas)

Hey Scott! Cueto, Volquez, Blanton, and Bucholz are all free agents in my league. I'm always in the market for good pitchers and wonder who out of this list looks most appealing? Thanks.

Scott Engel

  (11:20 AM)

It's gotta be Cueto, and I would get Volquez too if I could.

Scott - Philly

I have Lidge, Wood and Putz. Can play only 2. I'm suffering with Weeks BA at 2B and have been offered Roberts for Putz. Is this a good deal for me?

Scott Engel

  (11:21 AM)

I would stay patient with Weeks and would not deal Putz - you aren't getting proper return for him while he is hurt

Bill: Michigan

A little help I have been offered Oswalt for Francoeur in a head to head league, Thanks for the help.

Scott Engel

  (11:22 AM)

It all depends on your needs - if you really need starting pitching badly and have good OF depth, it makes sense.

Greg (Hell, MI)

I don't want to degrade my pitching staff in an attempt to upgrade my offense, but I'm thinking about giving up Smoltz & Adrian Gonzalez for Prince Fielder & Javier Vazquez because I like reducing injury risk... Should I make this trade considering these factors? I would still have Johan as my ace...

Scott Engel

  (11:24 AM)

I would do it to get Fielder if you can get him, and that is what would sway me to make the deal if the other guy goes for it

Boom (STL)

Who would you rather have at MI - Jeff Keppinger or Felipe Lopez?

Scott Engel

  (11:25 AM)

Wow, I really like Keppinger, but I believe Lopez will slightly outperform him in the long run

Deion and Bo (does it matter?)

Football--You Lose the round he was drafted in. 2 QB League. Best keeper-Westbrook (2), Big Ben (6), or Russel (21)? Baseball-Traded Wolf and got back Sherrill. Good trade?

Scott Engel

  (11:27 AM)

I would keep the underrated Roethlisberger in that format - I am not big on Wolf, so I won't sya naything bad about that deal

Davis Gorick: Harrow Ontario

3B controversy who should i try and trade Miguel Cabrera, adrian Beltre, or David Wright? I figure one of the last two but i want to know your perspective.

Scott Engel

  (11:28 AM)

I think it is clearly Beltre - I would not want to break up a combo of Cabrera and Wright if I had both

Jeremy (New Orleans)

10 team PPR league 6 points for TD (Passing and rushing). Isn't Westbrook worthy of #2 overall pick behind LDT??

Scott Engel

  (11:30 AM)

In a PPR format I can certainly endorse that - otherwise I would take him fifth in a regular scoring system

Erik (ATL)

Scott, I just dropped Lirano is a 12 team roto that counts HRA. I picked up Volquez. Ease my feeling that I made a smart move.

Scott Engel

  (11:32 AM)

I certainly cannot question picking up Volquez in any format - and maybe you can add Liriano again later on.

DH (Michigan)

Should i move Lincucum while he's pitching fairly well, or continue to ride him out?? I've been offered Tejada straight up for him.

Scott Engel

  (11:33 AM)

I would keep Lincecum - I am a big believer in him and think he is going to post fine numbers all year long

Erik (ATL)

Scott, who do like to take the pole this weekend?

Scott Engel

  (11:34 AM)

I would not be surprised to see Newman or Gilliland take it, but I think Gordon and Earnhardt are the best bets to win.

Matt, Raleigh

Michael Turner or Reggie Bush in a standard 12 team keeper league?

Scott Engel

  (11:35 AM)

Turner - I think he will be more dependable than Bush in terms of consistency

Ruby (Seattle)

Konerko--slow starter or decliner? Votto--the real deal?

Scott Engel

  (11:36 AM)

I'm not ready to give up on Konerko just yet - and I am a full believer in Votto.

Nick (NY)

Utley for Webb and Lincecum?

Scott Engel

  (11:37 AM)

I would do that if you really need the pitching and can replace Utley with a solid guy.

Fred-O (StL)

I've got a utility problem, Who do I play in my 1 spot there, Weeks, Dye, or Connor Jackson?? Thanks Scott

Scott Engel

  (11:39 AM)

I would go with Jackson for the most solid production overall for the full season

Ethan (SF)

Scott - 12-team 3-player keeper league where QB's get 6/td + yardage bonuses...I have SJax & Lynch set, but need one out of Cutler, B. Edwards, T. Henry, B. Marshall...thoughts?

Scott Engel

  (11:40 AM)

Edwards is th eone that really jumps out at me from your grouping - he has become an elite fantasy WR

Brendan (Boston)

Is a rotation of Hamels, C. Young, D. Lowe and Owings enough to make the playoffs?

Scott Engel

  (11:41 AM)

I think it's clear you need to acquire a real solid ace there

Spyder (CA)

Keeper League question.....I can keep one. L.T. or Brady?

Scott Engel

  (11:42 AM)

I would keep Tomlinson - superstar RB, proven, and gives you peace of mind at what is now a shaky position

James, CA

Do i have on to CC Sabathia and hope he turned the corner after his last start, or try to move him?

Scott Engel

  (11:44 AM)

You won't likely get the proper return for him right now and I believe you should be patient with him, anyway

Jack (Chicago)

What do you think about a rotation of McGowan, Marcum, BIllingsley and Wellemeyer? hahaha, that really is my rotation, I just think it makes more sense to be very strong in a bunch of categories and really weak in a couple than be spread out, esp in H2H. Thoughts?

Scott Engel

  (11:46 AM)

Anything can happen in head to head and you can get away with a staff like that more in such a format, but I think you are just trying to convince yourself and me that your staff is fully set, which it is not

Mark (Birmingham, AL)

Top 5 RBs at this point?

Scott Engel

  (11:47 AM)

Tomlinson, Peterson, Addai, Westbrook, Steven Jackson

Dave (Orlando)

Need to activate Kazmir soon, and I am pursuing trade options to clear up a roster spot for him. I love having plenty of closers for ratio/inning/save purposes, so I am trying to wheel and deal one of them between Putz, F. Cordero, Fuentes, Isringhausen, and Valverde...if unable to trade, would you rather drop one of the names mentioned above, or an SP between Marcum and Rich Hill

Scott Engel

  (11:48 AM)

I don;t think you will have much trouble dealing one of those guys - you just have to make sure you target the right trade partner in your league

Eric (Fort Collins CO)

I need a rotation anchor. Trade Rios for Webb? I have pretty good hitting.

Scott Engel

  (11:50 AM)

I don't know if Rios can get Webb for you - be prepared for the other owner to ask for more or one of your elite players

Michael (Portland, ME)

What's up with Austin Kearns below the Mendoza Line? Should I drop him in an NL only league to make room for Alou, or trade one of them?

Scott Engel

  (11:51 AM)

You won;t get much for either one right now, and Alou is a big risk, so you have to ride it out with Kearns

Seth (NYC)

Is Andruw Jones really this bad?

Scott Engel

  (11:52 AM)

Not quite, but I don't see a major swing in production - I believe he is certainly on the decline

Big Bear (Parts Unknown)

Hey Scott! Who do you like better as a closer for the season: Fuentes or Betancourt? Thanks!

Scott Engel

  (11:53 AM)

Fuentes is proven and has a good shot of keeping the job, and I don't fully trust Betancourt

Tim (NYC)

Fuentes or Gagne?

Scott Engel

  (11:54 AM)

Fuentes for sure - he has done the job before and Gagne scares the heck outta me

Jim (East Hartford, CT)

I have both Yovani Gallardo, Milw SP and Scott Olson, Fla SP in my lineup and they face each other tonight. If I keep both in the lineup, I stand to make no ground. Which pitcher do you think has the best chance at a win tonight?

Scott Engel

  (11:56 AM)

I would start both - one of them has a real shot at notching a win and if the game produces only five or six runs between th etwo teams, you don't hurt yourself and increase your odds of securing that win

Gahiji (Bahston)

Trevor Hoffman is he going to turn it around or should i be looking to deal him?

Scott Engel

  (11:58 AM)

I don't think you will get much in return for him right now, and I'm not too confident that he will be anything more than erratic the rest of the year

Matt (Atlanta)

Qualls or Pena for RP in AZ?

Scott Engel

  (11:59 AM)

I think Pena would get the first shot - he has the better stuff, but we will have to wait and see how he handles the pressure

matt (dc)

Im getting killed by pitchers who are walking a ton. does it make sense to pick up a good low walk guy (like baker or pettitte) and bench mcgowan/carmona until their control comes around?

Scott Engel

  (12:00 PM)

I can certainly see that, it's smart thinking to help your WHIP without cutting anyone

Grant (New York)

Is this trade fair: A-Rod for Jake Peavy or Matt Holliday

Scott Engel

  (12:02 PM)

I would not give up th ebest player in fantasy basbeall unless you are absolutely desperate to fill a major need. Thanks a lot everyone!