Jason Grey

  (3:01 PM)

Hey folks, getting ready to head out to the Pioneer League on a scouting trip this weekend, because it's always a barnburner when Missoula and Ogden get together as you all know...let's get to it

Jeff (NY)

What is your outlook on Drew Stubbs?

Jason Grey

  (3:03 PM)

Only fantasy value will be in steals, and I still question if he can get on-base enough to use his wheels (not that that's ever stopped the Reds) - there's some September value with his speed if you're desperate in the category and can't get EY Jr.

Rick (Jax, FL)

What is the story with Justin Duchscherer? Is he worth storing in a DL spot this year?

Jason Grey

  (3:04 PM)

No, still out with "non-baseball related issues" and even if he does come back, it could wind up being in relief for the A's or another team so I don't see it worth holding the spot.

Hank (FL)

Mr. Grey! Everybody keeps telling me to drop Cantu for Barmes..I need to be convinced a bit more, care to help? Thanks!!

Jason Grey

  (3:05 PM)

Not going to argue with it, Barmes has heated up a bit at the right time to maybe prevent EY Jr. from stealing more at-bats when he's called up (although it actually would be a perfect platoon situation that would benefit both of them)

Phil (Phoenixville, PA)

Please rank these four for keeper league purposes: Joba, Scherzer, Blanton, Tillman

Jason Grey

  (3:06 PM)

Scherzer, Joba, Tillman, Blanton

scooter (chicago)

had an argument yesterday with a bunch of people. right now, today, would you consider josh johnson a top ten pitcher? not for the rest of the year, just up to this point

Jason Grey

  (3:07 PM)

Player Rater (which does have its flaws but works for our purposes) has him as the 9th best SP so far, so it's a plausible argument.

Ryan (Gtown)

I am the best, you are second best Jason.

Jason Grey

  (3:08 PM)

I'm not even that high.

Steve (VA)

What's going on with Morneau? Is he worth adding for the stretch run?

Jason Grey

  (3:10 PM)

How does the other person in your league feel about this? I mean, seriously, Morneau is capable of being added in your league?But in more general terms, it's really uncertain about Morneau because he has dizziness and an ear infection. Denard Span had some issues earlier in the year and came back fine. Absent other information I'm guessing Morneau will but he may be out a few more days.

dave (texas)

is upton goin to be activated this season. No point in rushing him i mean its not like the dbacks are playin for anything

Jason Grey

  (3:11 PM)

Last I checked he'll go on a minor league rehab assignment some time next week, so yeah, the plan is to have him back if he's 100 percent again.

Mat Latos (SD)

Time to cut bait?

Jason Grey

  (3:12 PM)

Even when he was called up I said he was likely a year away from good impact, and with his innings limited the rest of the way, it's probably time to look elsewhere in mixed leagues.

Mike (Philadelphia PA)

Are you buying Carlos Gonzalez for a September playoff push? It appears the Rocks play a lot of games at Coors the rest of the way.

Jason Grey

  (3:13 PM)

I had him on reserve in a 15-team mixed league for the past month and put him in my lineup last week, so yeah, I;m trying to ride the hot hand as well. Depends on the rest of your depth in 12 and 10 team formats.

rob (sc)

A.Cabrera,O.Hudson or Barmes rest of the year?

Jason Grey

  (3:13 PM)

Give me A-Cab.

Doug (NYC)

Which future HOFer are you more inclined to add...Pedro or Smoltz?

Jason Grey

  (3:14 PM)

Um, neither? If I had to - Smoltz.

Mike (Boston)

I know you're a baseball guy but....Has ESPN the Magazine's Fantasy Football Issue come out? I haven't seen it in stores.

Jason Grey

  (3:14 PM)

I do know it's out. See, I can do a football question! Woot!

scooter (chicago)

top 5 OF for next year? Braun number 1?

Jason Grey

  (3:16 PM)

Top of my head (probably missing someone) Braun, Crawford, Ellsbury, Kemp, Upton, with Braun #1...I wouldn't argue the order of the rest much.

john (mass)

Would you use ANY Indians SP over Tillman rest of year?

Jason Grey

  (3:17 PM)

No.

Barney (Sacramento, CA)

Carlos Gonzalez or Garrett Jones the rest of the way?

Jason Grey

  (3:17 PM)

C Gonz

Eric (Pittsburgh)

how do u feel about F. Carmona?

Jason Grey

  (3:17 PM)

I try not to.

Jason Grey

  (3:18 PM)

That was Justin Upton by the way, not B.J.

scooter (chicago)

Andrus a top 10 ss next year?

Jason Grey

  (3:18 PM)

Top 15 I can see - don't see Top 10 - it's become a fairly deep position

Fred (Burnaby)

Why is Ellsbury so high in your rankings? Couldn't you just take Bourn 10 rounds later?

Jason Grey

  (3:21 PM)

Bourn won't drop that far. Ellsbury has also been the No. 3 outfielder in terms of fantasy value this season so it's not a stretch. Coincidentally, Bourn is 8th. But yeah, if you sneak Bourn a couple of rounds later that's just smart play. You have to see how the draft plays out. I may rank Ellsbury as my fourth-best outfielder but may still look at several other positions first if my pick is up and I see both he and Bourn out there.

Jason Grey

  (3:22 PM)

If you can't see a question or answer- hit refresh - something to do with the new chat system.

Jason (Buffalo)

If I want to keep them, Matusz and Norris will be $8 next year. I thinking that I could probably get either for less at my draft. Do you agree?

Jason Grey

  (3:23 PM)

In a deep keeper league with reasonable inflation maybe not. Maybe a couple of bucks less at best. Depends on the size of the league etc. I know I generally wind up protecting the player if I have the spot and the most I can save is maybe a buck or two - I'd rather have the certainty going into the draft.

Phil (Phoenixville, PA)

As a scout, what do you see that is holding Dexter Fowler back? What sort of year do you see for him in '10?

Jason Grey

  (3:25 PM)

Fowler's hit .305 and slugged .488 since the break, so just experience. People forget he just started switch-hitting as a pro and is a natural right-handed hitter that already hits lefties well. Just more experience with that left-handed swing.

Mango (Chicago)

Sandoval a top 6 3B next year? think he is worth keeping in a 5 player keeper league?

Jason Grey

  (3:25 PM)

Top 10 and worth keeping

Holliday (STL)

Am I in your top 5 next year if the cards decide to keep me around Big Al?

Jason Grey

  (3:28 PM)

Top 10 - but that's also where it comes down to the dynamics of the draft. I may take a player lower on my list ahead of some more one-dimensional speed players if there's a lot of speed left, even if I think the speed player ultimately will have more value. it's about maximizing the value of my entire draft, so some game theory enters into it.

Tom (Boston)

Is Derek Holland a future ace or middle to back of the rotation pitcher?

Jason Grey

  (3:29 PM)

No. 2 starter

Steve (NYC)

Did you purposely leave Sizemore and Holliday off of your list?

Jason Grey

  (3:30 PM)

Yes, I'm not going to pay a vintage Sizemore price for him next year. If I miss out, fine. Would I let him go out of the top-10? No. 11-for-19 in steals is somewhat disconcerting. Perception won't let him slide enough to be a good buying opportunity next year.

Tom (Boston)

I didn't get an answer to my question on Derek Holland

Jason Grey

  (3:31 PM)

Again, hit refresh

Ted (The Cubicle)

Second basemen -- Kendrick, Ellis, or Felipe Lopez the rest of the way?

Jason Grey

  (3:33 PM)

Anyone notice how quietly productive Ellis has been lately? I had to make a choice between him and Howie in a deep mixed league and I chose Ellis because he's at least playing every day, as opposed to Howie who is getting a lot of days off. In the end, it's probably six of one and a half dozen of the other, and I will probably go back to Howie this week because his lineup gives him more runs and RBI opportunities.

Jon (Boston)

Any word on Philips from todays game? Would pretty much put my entire team on DL/Day to Day status..

Jason Grey

  (3:34 PM)

Just that it's soreness related to his being hit by a pitch this past weekend. X-rays were negative then, so it looks like he's day to day.

Rocky (Illinois)

Anything new on Carlos Beltran...drop him for N. Morgan????

Jason Grey

  (3:35 PM)

He's been increasing his workouts with the team this week, so that's a good sign...maybe September. If you really need steals, you could still do the drop, but I might sit tight and gamble.

brian (orlando)

Please rank for the rest of the season: Gordon Beckham, Everth Cabrera, Alcides Escobar, Ryan Theriot. Thanks very much!

Jason Grey

  (3:36 PM)

Beckham, Cabrera, Theriot, Escobar

jerry (san francisco)

jason can you help me out ? I've looked for news about cory hartand his return but i can't find a thing, my deadline is sunday!!help!!!

Jason Grey

  (3:38 PM)

I think when he had the appendectomy the feeling was he would miss all of August and hopefully be back in September - that's the last news I had.

Hurt locker (Oakland)

Pick one, rest of season, non-keeper: Oswalt, Baker, or Lilly?

Jason Grey

  (3:38 PM)

Lilly.

Mitch D (Harrisburg, PA)

Gallardo, Kershaw, Hamels, Lester- all keepers?

Jason Grey

  (3:38 PM)

Yes

James (Boston)

Someone dropped Inge in my league. I only have space for one catcher on my team, but is it worth dropping Martin for Inge?

Jason Grey

  (3:40 PM)

The knee injury still worries me, despite the homer today, and the average keeps falling. I probably still stick with Russ.

Gifford (Ocean NJ)

I Get:Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith I Give: Braylon Edwards Chris Johnson

Jason Grey

  (3:41 PM)

Does not compute.

Andy (Boston)

I'm a big McCutchen fan, but would you rather have Carlos Gonzalez down the stretch? Guy's on fire.

Jason Grey

  (3:42 PM)

I like adding Gonzalez if I have a question mark or some concerns about my last outfield spot, but dropping McCuctchen seems like trying too hard to play the hot hand, and sometimes you can out-smart yourself. I'd probably stick with McCutchen in this circumstance.

Goose (Chicago)

Jason, when will we see Hector Rondon and is he the #1 prospect in the Indians system right now?

Jason Grey

  (3:44 PM)

I wrote this week there's a chance that he doesn't get called up in September if the club wants to be careful about his inning, so I would guess he has a chance in early 2010. And that honor goes to Carlos Santana.

Grant (Chicago)

Who are some of the more under the radar Sept call ups we should still know about?

Jason Grey

  (3:45 PM)

Started looking at this the other day, and outside of prospect names people know about already, I didn't see a lot of fantasy value, it's likely to be a lot of extra arms and position player depth. Maybe guys like Brandon Allen, a returning Cameron Maybin, etc.

matt (iowa)

what's clay buchholz ceiling?

Jason Grey

  (3:46 PM)

No. 1 or No. 2 starter

Rodney (Shillington,Pa)

Jason, when someone asks if a player is a keeper, don't you need to know their salary to make that decision. Hamels is a keeper at $5 but not so much at $30.

Jason Grey

  (3:49 PM)

Of course, but the other key is to calculate expected inflation based on other keeper lists or your league's historical norms. For example. Player X projected draft value is $10 next season. You have him for $10, so you're leaning towards not keeping him, but given the amount of undervalued players teams are protecting, your projected inflation is 30% for the league, so now his projected draft value is $13-$14 and he becomes a consideration.

Bill (New Jersey)

Strasburg and Bumgarner for 2010?

Jason Grey

  (3:49 PM)

I'll take both, please.

Elton (Queens)

Longterm, Happ or Holland?

Jason Grey

  (3:50 PM)

Holland.

Todd (Pasadena)

From the box scores Posey looks like an allstar, does he have the baseball skills to stay behind the plate long term?

Jason Grey

  (3:50 PM)

Yes.

Ryan (Newark, NJ)

So Buchholz or #1 or #2-- Holland a #2? Who you got?

Jason Grey

  (3:50 PM)

I'll take Buchholz over Holland - better secondary stuff.

Daniel (NY)

Biggie or 2Pac?

Jason Grey

  (3:50 PM)

Rakim.

Sunny (NY)

Good afternoon Jason. Better keeper Kemp or J Upton? Thanks

Jason Grey

  (3:52 PM)

I'll take Upton...scary to think how young he is and that he hasn't peaked yet.

Chris (Toronto)

Jason Grey = goodness. Could you tell me your thoughts on David Price. Is it time to lower expectations for 2010? What kind of value do you see him having?

Jason Grey

  (3:55 PM)

The seeds are still there...and having gotten some of the bumps out of the way this season he can be a nice value play next year. He needs to work on his changeup more, and refine the slider into less of a chase pitch. I have no problems with the stuff, it's just taking him longer than everyone expected to show big league command, and his division does him no favors. I was as guilty as anyone.

Tom (NJ)

Really fast please. You buying Bartlett and/or Quentin next season?

Jason Grey

  (3:57 PM)

Quentin, yes, Bartlett not so much. I buy Bartlett for the rest of '09, strange as that may sound, but not next year.

Closer (Brooklyn)

Speaking of Price. any Chance he sneaks in saves in September?

Jason Grey

  (3:58 PM)

Is J.P. Howell doing a poor job?

Niels (The Bay)

Smoak or Brett Wallace?

Jason Grey

  (3:58 PM)

Smoak

RC (NY)

What is going on with Scott Richmond? He hasn't pitched much lately and there is no injury news or updates.

Jason Grey

  (4:00 PM)

He starts Saturday...the Jays are strecthing out some of their rookie hurlers and giving them more rest down the stretch, and the Jays have had a lot of off-days since Richmond came off the DL. His performances might wind up being the better for it.

edge (arizona)

millwood, baker or arroyo for the rest of 09?

Jason Grey

  (4:00 PM)

Baker.

Jason Grey

  (4:01 PM)

That's it for me today...off to see some high draft picks in their pro debuts. I'll be back next week. I appreciate all the interest, and I'm sorry I couldn't get to more. Thanks for taking the time.