ESPN

Brendan Roberts

  (3:02 PM)

Good afternoon, everyone! Already mid-May ... let's get to your questions.

Rob(myrtle beach)

Hey BR, do you drop Chipper or put him on the block? And his value?Thanks.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:03 PM)

Yup, Chipper banged up again. Sounds like he's going to get a cortisone shot on his elbow, which will sideline him for three days. (The guy probably now has more than 20 percent cortisone in his veins by now, huh?) Yeah, I would deal; he still has a lot of name value. BUT I'd wait for him to get back and have a few good games before doing it.

Sean (Detroit, MI)

Better pickup - Kershaw or Wolf?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:04 PM)

As well as Wolf has pitched, definitely Kershaw.

Johnny, Harlem

Did anyone see Jimmy Rollins sucking THIS much before the season began? I'd trade him for a bag of bats and a bucket of seeds if I could...

Brendan Roberts

  (3:06 PM)

Or maybe just the bucket ... Everything pointed to Rollins actually having a big season, even better than 2008. And why he has struggled is anybody's guess. He's healthy (as far as we know), he's still in his relative prime ... he might not bounce back to finish with that big season everyone predicted, but clearly his best days this season are ahead of him. And considering he plays a position that's not terribly deep, I think now would be a good time to have him. Still 20-something weeks left in the season.

Concerned Clevelend Man

WHY WOULD WE CALL UP LAPORTA TO BENCH HIM! ANY WAY WE CAN GET THAT YEAR OF ARBITRATION BACK? OR ARE WE STUCK? UGH

Brendan Roberts

  (3:08 PM)

And why are we YELLING?! Ha, ha. I'm not quite sure why LaPorta has only 13 at-bats or something like that, but the more I keep thinking about it, maybe throwing him into the fire wasn't smart either. Maybe this is a true cup of coffee to show him what he needs to work on, then send him back down to work on him. That's all I can figure, and why I have doubts as to whether he'll really any mixed value this season.

Glenn (Providence)

With Rumors swirling that Ishikawa could be (should be) gettting benched and Sandoval moving to first, that leaves 3B open, Buster Olney said it would be Uribe shifting over, but dosent Dallas McPherson or Jesus Guzman deserve a shot? Putting in mediocre players like Uribe in their lineup since Barry left is why their line up is always soooooooooo booooooooooring.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:11 PM)

The Giants offense is getting better, but I think it unofficially is last in "time of possession," if you know what I mean. They go up and swing the bat, and have tendencies for quick half-innings. Anyway, McPherson and Guzman do make more sense offensively, but this is a team built around its pitching rotation, and defense comes first. Uribe isn't great at 3B, but he probably has more range than the other two. That's why Olney is predicting that way, and I really can't argue with it.

Jon E.

It really irritates me when managers are pulling pitchers around the 100 pitch mark. They are professional athletes and they should be able to last more than 100. We are babying our pitchers like little league kids. I understand franchises invest a lot in pitching, but they did that in the past too...allowing them to throw at least over 150 and within 4 days of rest...why are mangers pulling pitchers prematurely?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:15 PM)

A very valid argument, Jon, and I love discussions like this. ... Managers pull pitchers at that mark not only to baby pitchers and keep them from injuries (which are more susceptible at the point of fatigue) but also because many pitchers are simply less effective at a certain pitch mark. It's like me running the marathon. Sure, the lady down the street can run 20 miles without walking, and I maybe used to be able to run 10-15, but I'm no condition to run 26 miles right now. In essence, most pitchers these days aren't made to throw 120 pitches, so it's not in their best interest to do that. They're trained to throw 100 maximum-effort pitches, and managers know that.

steve(Pittsburgh)

BROB:What gives with Sizemore and Peralta? Any positve signs for these two Indians?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:17 PM)

Well, Peralta is starting to hit now, so definite positive signs there, and Sizemore still is seeing a lot of pitches and getting on base, just some of his balls (including a homer that was robbed last week) aren't falling in. It just has been kind of a snowball effect in Cleveland, something I expect to turn around soon.

Tim (MD)

Adam Jones for Dan Haren. I was ready to do this trade but ESPN writers seem to think hes going to keep this up. Pull the trigger?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:19 PM)

Which guy is going to keep this up? Both have been awesome. I don't think Jones is, though. There's nothing in his profile that suggests anything more than an average batting-average candidate, and Tristan Cockcroft's BABIP analysis proved he has been getting mighty lucky. I see him coming back to earth.

JB (Detroit)

Tiger fan here... Brendan, did you happen to see Granderson's game saving catch the other day. Wow. Anyways, whats up with Jeremy Bonderman? Will he come back soon and at what level? Thanks.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:21 PM)

Honestly, I can't see Bonderman coming back and having success again as a starter. He just has too much wear on his arm from a young age -- thank you, Tigers! -- and starts to develop problems once he hits the point of fatigue. Kinda reminds me of Kerry Wood. I see him eventually ending up in the bullpen, even though that plan isn't in the works yet. I guess what I'm saying is I don't think he'll help you as a starter.

Dan NYC

I have Furcal and Hardy. S.Drew is availible should I pick him up?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:22 PM)

Boy, talk about a triumvirate there. Yeah, I'd pick him up, but I'd try to have all three players. If you have to drop one, I'd probably say Hardy.

Dave (Denver_

Should I be patient with C Ray or open up his roster spot? At this point I just don't see him taking over the closer role - am I missing something?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:24 PM)

I think you keep him. He has not pitched well, primarily because he has struggled to find the feel and locate his pitches. But his stuff is back, and Trembley fired a warning shot about a week ago when he "reopened" the closer job. Sherrill has managed to keep it, but in doing so, Trembley has shortened the leash, so Ray is one step closer. Unless this is a shallow league or you have no bench, I'd keep him around.

Gary (la)

Who has more value at SS for the rest of the season: Asdrubal Cabrera or Tulowitzki?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:25 PM)

Yeah, so easy to say Asdrubal here while looking at Tulo, but I think Tulo will outvalue him at the end of the season. He just has too much power upside.

David (Louisville, KY)

What to do with Cameron Maybin? I know he has a lot of talent but will it translate? I know player develop at different rates...but it looks like that Upton guys has started figuring things out!

Brendan Roberts

  (3:27 PM)

Yeah, how 'bout that Justin Upton! In a keeper league, you keep Maybin, of course, but if you're asking whether I think he figures it out this year, I'd say no. He is simply overmatched by big-league pitching, especially offspeed stuff, and it shows in his amazing high K totals. Heck, he might not even figure it out next season. He's still very raw.

Matt (Duluth)

Is Orlando Hudson going to steal any more bases? What does he finish the year with?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:31 PM)

Yeah, it's been pretty much a dry spell for him since Week 2. I just have never viewed O-Dog as a base-stealer. The only guy who did is Joe Torre, who views anybody with moderate speed as a base-stealer. I think his four steals early were in response to that, and the fact that O-Dog was hitting like .370. When a player is posting a .450 OBP, he's going to have a lot of chances to steal; now that Hudson has cooled down, those are going away.

Jake (NY)

What do you think about ARod for the rest of the year? Best 3B?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:32 PM)

I dunno if I'd go so far as to say best third baseman ... aw hell, yes I will! Even over David Wright. A-Rod for Prez! OK, kidding, but I do think he's vintage A-Rod from here on out.

Sam (Evansville, IN)

What happens to Phil Hughes?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:33 PM)

I think Hughes gets sent back to the minors when Wang returns, which was the plan all along. Wang likely will return late next week or so.

Chris (Norman, OK)

Its Finals week, I have 2 tomorrow, and all I can do is look at fantasy baseball! Here's my question: I have Matt Laporta, Tommy Hanson, and David Price each wasting a bench spot in a 12 team mixed league. Should I drop any of them to pick up a Scott Baker type pitcher? Thanks!

Brendan Roberts

  (3:36 PM)

A-squared plus B-squared = c-squared (or is times A times B ...). Believe it or not, I would drop LaPorta. I think the other two will be up within the next six weeks, and have immediate value. LaPorta clearly won't have immediate value, and he does tend to struggle a bit when jumped to a new level. And always good to have starting pitcher available on the bench to rotate in and out.

Josh Johnson (Florida)

Am I better this year for fantasy teams than Roy Halladay?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:37 PM)

No way, but Johnson has the stuff to continue to dominate. His start is the real deal, and the only question I have is whether he can maintain his effectiveness once he gets to that point of fatigue after about 185 innings. We know Roy can, but can Josh?

Nolan Reimold (Baltimore)

Tell people to pick me up. I'm better than Matt Wieters folks

Brendan Roberts

  (3:38 PM)

Um, OK. Not sure I believe you, but I do know Nolan can hit the ball.

Ryan (Dayton, OH)

Brendan, I have Raffy Furcal at short and "the riot" at my middle infield slot (10 team mixed league). troy tulowitzki just got dropped, do you see his slow start continuing or does he play back to his past form this year?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:39 PM)

I think Tulo will hit some homers, but really, "past form" is just five months in, what, 2007? The other eight-plus months of Tulo's career has been pretty underwhelming, enough such that I won't advise you to pick him up here.

Ralph (Chattanooga)

Have Smoltz on DL and Brandon Webb on bench in standard ESPN league with only one DL spot. What do you forsee each being able to put up going forward. Thanks!

Brendan Roberts

  (3:42 PM)

Boy, tough to keep Smoltzie in a standard league with few bench spots. I think now that Arizona has taken the cautious approach to Webb and is slowly working him back, he'll be fine once he returns. So he still has value and should be kept. But Smoltz still has so many question marks. He's set to return in June, but it seems he has hit a bit of a snag (which required a follow-up visit with James Andrews) in his rehab, and raises questions in my mind of how effective he'll be when he returns. Also, makes me wonder whether they'll bring him back as a reliever for awhile before easing him into the rotation.

Nick (Johnstown PA)

Should I keep holding onto Dan Uggla

Brendan Roberts

  (3:45 PM)

Uggla is a streaky player, which is why a) fantasy owners don't like him; and b) why his typical hot starts are usually downplayed. His average looks awful, but Uggla still is quietly on pace for 20 homers and 96 RBIs. This is the worst you can expect from him, and I highly doubt you'll find a second baseman/middle infielder with that kind of upside. I think you keep him.

Mike (Boston)

Kouzmanoff is killing me. Is he really this bad? I'd hate to have to trade for a better option, but I'm losing hope that he will produce ANYTHING at this point.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:47 PM)

This is what Kouzmanoff is all about. He's gawdawful for the first six to eight weeks of the season every year. In fact, I was looking the other day, and I think he's actually doing BETTER this year than in past years. I suppose that's a good sign. There has been some rumblings about the Padres looking at a few prospects in the outfield and moving Headley to 3B, but that's nowhere close to happening, and I couldn't see it anyway. Kouz is just a maddeningly slow starter, that's all.

Brett (Myrtle Beach, SC)

Who would you rather have going forward the remainder of the season...Alexei Ramirez or Stephen Drew?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:49 PM)

Wow, that's a tough one. I hate to think of this as name association, but with Drew already having spent time on the DL, I guess I say Alexei. He has been bad, but is still young, healthy and has all-around upside. Now the thought of Drew's injury enters my mind enough to swing it to Alexei.

Nick (Virginia)

Is now a good time to try and trade Bedard for someone a little less injury-prone. Which pitchers would you target in a trade?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:52 PM)

It's not something I've thought about, but now that you mention it, yeah, I could see now as being a good time to trade Bedard. I think he'll continue to pitch well, but I'm not sure he's a 180-200 inning pitcher, and there is certainly a risk there. So yeah, I can endorse trading him if you get a good player back. But not a SP. That's kinda counterproductive, and I think you can get more from him from an owner who is hitter-heavy and really needs a good SP. In fact, that goes for about all my deals; I like trading for other positions so there are more variables.

Rodney Dangerfield

No respect! Can a man get a question answered here? What's the deal with Kazmir?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:55 PM)

Kazmir's stuff is there, but he's been wild and inefficient, which makes me wonder if he's hiding an injury. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt, though, and I'd recommend you keep him. Worth noting is two of his seven starts came against Boston, one against the Yankees, and another against a better-than-you-realize O's offense.

ONE MORE LAST TRY

Traded Victor for ellsbury after an ESPN expert told me he would take Victor "beyond a doubt"...i have weiters and am in need of steals..was it really that bad??

Brendan Roberts

  (3:56 PM)

Well, if the deal is done, then you wring your hands and move on. But I do happen to like Ellsbury more, especially in your case. Next!

Dan Akroyd

Candygram! S Baker or T Cahill for next week and beyond?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:57 PM)

Definitely Baker.

PLEASE answer Chad (Cleveland)

I have Mike Cameron and Beltre sitting on my bench... Trading Dunn and Cruz for Matt Kemp a good move if I need some speed? Cant believe Dunn keeps this up...

Brendan Roberts

  (3:58 PM)

Yeah, I think Dunn is headed for about an oh-fer week coming up soon here. No way he's even close to a .300 hitter. That said, I think you can get a throw-in in that deal.

Mike

Send Justin Upton away for Nolasco If you have the depth in the field?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:59 PM)

Nope, I keep Upton there. He has figured it out, and it seems maybe that 30-homer season some projected is not so far-fetched. Meanwhile, I wouldn't count on Nolasco turning it around until he actually shows signs of doing so. One more question ...

Mark (TN)

I'm frustrated with Papi and really could use flexibility at the UTIL spot. Trade hime for Uggla or Atkins?

Brendan Roberts

  (4:01 PM)

Yeah, I feel your frustration. Not having flexibility out of that UTIL spot is a killer, as I have Thome in a number of leagues. Grrr. Really, I don't think Papi will turn it around. I don't. I probably wouldn't trade him for Uggla right now, but I probably would Atkins, and Papi has the name value that you might get a throw-in option, too.

Brendan Roberts

  (4:02 PM)

And that'll do it for this week. I'll be back next week. Note that we're also working hard on football right now and are ramping up early. Yup, it's about that time!