Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:01 PM)

Hey gang... thanks for stopping by. As always, all subjects are fair game, so let's get to it.

Mac (South Bend)

Holland, Niese, McCarthy pick 2 ROS

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:03 PM)

Sorry - lining up questions. I really like McCarthy... would probably go Holland over Niese despite Holland's last 2 starts. Close, though...

dale wolfe (houston, tx)

i traded yonis cespedes for matt moore did i win?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:04 PM)

I think so. Think Cespedes avg will ultimately hurt too much

Matt (Seattle)

Traded Pujols to get Halladay, will I love it come the all-star break?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:05 PM)

No. Mentioned this in my article coming out today - Halladay's fastball velocity is down - it's a concern - and in general, I'd always rather have the hitter than the pitcher.

Brian (New Jersey)

League Ethics Question: CJ Wilson dropped and I was the first to pick him up..now everyone is in an uproar and the commish is threatening to lock my team. What do you do in this situation?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:08 PM)

Fail to see the problem based on what you've written. Obviously a dumb move to drop him but if he was and it wasn't an accident, then he's fair game and he's yours. IF the guy who dropped did immeadiately say "HEY, MADE A MISTAKE" - said it before others started complaining - then you give him back. It DOES happen. But absent that, stick to your guns. You did nothing illegal and the commish is being weak and weaselly by threating you for playing.

Joe (MI)

What's the most random sport you've played fantasy in?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:10 PM)

Sport? I've doen some NASCAR and once checked out Fantasy Fishing, but... the year of the last NBA lock-out (not this years), my longimte NBA keeper league decided to play fantasy hockey even though none of us knew anything about fantasy hockey. Especially me - I grew up in Texas - I know almost nothing about NHL. SO that was most random for ME.

Barney Fife (Mayberry)

James McDonald of the Buccos. Please discuss...

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:13 PM)

Like him a lot. This is what I wrote in my pre-season 100 Facts column:41. James McDonald's first four starts in 2011: 19 IP, 10.13 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 5.7 BB/9.42. McDonald's last 27 starts: 152 IP, 3.49 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 3.9 BB/9. That's useful in NL-only leagues.He's cut down on the walks (still not ideal but better) and the home runs. Not sure he's THIS good but obviously, since I pimped him in preseason, I think it's legit.

John (NJ)

Thoughts on Ubaldo? Will he turn it around?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:15 PM)

No.Velocity is down, K's are down, he's just not making people miss like he did before...

Steve (IL)

TMR, seems like it used to be that there was at least one chat per day during fantasy season and often two, but that lately the chat schedule has been more sparse, in favor of things like video chats, podcasts, etc. Just my two cents, but the chats are the single most value piece of fantasy writing on the site, and many of us can't do video and Pods at work. Thanks for all your work.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:19 PM)

Hi Steve: I'll pass the feedback along. None of it is my decision - I just shwo up and do what they tell me - but I will say that this was a bit of a weird week because we were doing our fantasy football rankings meetings, which involves everyone for the better part of two days... and that the podcasts, video chats and other things we do are popular as well so it's a matter of balancing resources and folks. But I'll pass along. Seems like we should have at least one a day.

Jason (Nashville, TN)

Several league mates have been trying to steal Reyes from me. What do you think his value is moving forward and what should I expect in return to give him up? So far Alceides Escobar has been the better of my two shortstops.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:19 PM)

Look at his career numbers. Reyes traditionally a slow starter. Not concerned. Good buy low. Stay put

Mike (Boston)

Thoughts on Kevin Youkilis and Will Middlebrooks?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:21 PM)

All depends on how quickly Youk can get back. I like Middlebrooks, just not sure where he plays if not at 3B...

joe (philly)

where does Cam Newton rank for you for next FF season? is he even in the conversation for first overall pick?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:24 PM)

He's not. Look at his passing totals over the second half. Teams started taking the deep stuff away. The reason he was a fantasy monster last year was the rushing yards and rushing TD's. Hard to count on the rushing scores, especially with DeAngelo, Stewart and Tolbert there...I have him as a top 6 QB and inside my top 35 or so... haven't redone my ranks yet post NFL Draft. Soon I will.

Dave (NY)

Any reason you have been writing a lot less TMR? .. Miss your stuff..

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:27 PM)

Appreciate the kind words. I don't think I have been. Been writing once a week for baseball for a long time. Went to once a week (down from two) last football season because I was doing so much television and other things and there's only so many hours in the day. But honestly, I like writing a little less. I've been really happy overall with my stuff this last year - having a little more time to write has helped that I think.

Steve (Det)

Pretty slow today with your answers, go to bed late last night?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:28 PM)

Honestly, it's trying to find questions. One or two guys will submit the same question a hundred times filling up the screen and I refuse to answer those on principle.

Dave (Chicago)

This is why you shouldn't jump the gun and declare J Hamilton a top 5 player after one hot 2 week period! Thoughts on Bauer when/if he comes up? And ETA? Thanks as always

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:31 PM)

The reverse is true as well though, right? Can't declare anyone anything in that short a sample size. But stand by him ending up with a magical season...Health will always be an issue with Josh but he's just day to day...As for Bauer, he's walking way too many in the minors. Think it's a while before he's up

Dave (Denver)

Drop Cordero or Balfour for Cishek?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:32 PM)

I wouldn't. Bell has a long leash and I'm not convinced Cishek would be the guy permanently if they demoted Bell.

Football Crazy (!!!!)

Keep Ray Rice in 1st or Andre Johnson in 2nd?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:32 PM)

Rice

Alex (Toronto)

Do you think Vance Worley is legit, approaching the Wandy line? or still just a spot starter?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:38 PM)

Sorry gang... having trouble with the chat interface

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:41 PM)

Ok. Closed out of IE and am now in FireFox. Will see if that helps. Answer to Worley question:

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:42 PM)

I do think Worley is somewhat legit. Definitely getting lucky with his LOB% but of 32 of Worley's K's this year - 21 of them have been looking - among best in baseball.

Dan (San Jose)

Hello...is it me you're looking for?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:43 PM)

maybe...

Terry (Rochester)

Best young 3rd baseman: Davis, Moustakas, Lawrie?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:43 PM)

Lawrie. But Davis is also legit - he's no longer a strikeout machine

Cooper (Buffalo)

Who will have more value this year? Jhoulys Chacin or Francisco Liriano? Don't need either to help me right now, but I'm prepared to wait for one of them to figure it out.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:45 PM)

I'll say Liriano since he's at least in the majors at the moment and has actually been dominant at MLB level. Chancin is more potential and flashes of it. But good to hear - patience will help you if you're determined on one of those 2

Brendan (Boston)

Any other big time prospects on the verge of coming up, like Middlebrooks, to keep an eye out for?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:49 PM)

Well, they just called up Conor Gillespie to take the place of Panda. Hitting .362 in the minors (PCL, but still. .362). Not an elite prospect but can hit for average with a little pop. As for others - hard to say. Garrett Richards is pitching really well in Triple A right now for the Angels...Leonys Martin for Texas might be another soon to come up guy...

Boomer (Seattle, Wa)

Pedro Alvarez...buying?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:49 PM)

A little. He'll never hit for average but power is for real.

JWR (USA)

Any chance that you will be appearing in any more episodes of The League? Its a great show.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:53 PM)

We've talked about it. They are writing the next season now and they told me they got a great reaction from their fans to my appearance and they are'd like to do it if they can come up with an idea that works for the show and that my Disney bosses will approve. Not a day goes by someone doesn't mention that show to me - so I hope so. Great show obviously and I loved doing it. We'll see.

Rob (Philly)

Zobrist is off to a slow start. He the type of player that'll come around? I was looking for something close to last years production from him.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:53 PM)

Not worries about Zobrist

Jim (Connecticut)

You mentioned Ubaldo's velocity is down. When a pitcher becomes plagued with that issue, what do you do with them? Hope for the best? or Drop of Waiver Shame?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:54 PM)

Depends on the pitcher. In Ubaldo's case, he should be owned in only the deepest of leagues. Would drop in ESPN standard mix.

Francisco (Mexico)

Given the shallowness of the decent RB crop, how many of them would you pick in the first round of a 12 team PPR league?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:56 PM)

Six. It gets ugly quick...

Mike (NY)

Do either Stanton or Pujols crack the 30 HR barrier this year?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:58 PM)

Yes. Stanton has 3 home runs total in April in his career. He'll be fine. Slow starter. And Pujols should be fine once he adjusts to new park, league, pitchers etc

Justin (Los Angeles)

Is Campana worth a pick up in a 10 team mix league?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:58 PM)

Yes

Dan (Concord, NH)

Has there ever been any discussion of doing one podcast a week for deeper leagues? One week, there's one entire podcast for AL only. The next week, one entire podcast for NL only. Etc etc. Has that been talked about? Thanks for chatting, dude!

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:00 PM)

Not really. It's just not our audience. The majority of people who play on ESPN play in ten team mix leagues and that's who we are gearing the advice to. 10 and 12 team mix leagues - both roto and h2h - are by far the most popular in the industry... we do try to throw some deeper league stuff in there every show...

John (NY)

Marmol just blew another save...if there is a change there who is the next closer?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:02 PM)

Well, Kerry Wood just came off the DL, so maybe him or Dolis... nothing is ideal there.

Tarr (Orlando)

Think Miles Austin could be a Top 5 WR this year?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:02 PM)

Could? Yes. But I have him outside top 10

Rob (Philly)

can you set up a webcam to watch you freak out as you struggle with the chat interface?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:04 PM)

Next week, you bet. Ok gang. I'm out of time. New column is up, so check that out. In the meantime, I'll try to answer more questions on Twitter (www.twitter.com/MatthewBerryTMR) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MatthewJBerry)