Posted By:Bretsky on July 31, 2014

Football time is fast approaching. Get set for your 2014 fantasy football draft with our Wide Receiver positional rankings. Here’s a fresh look at how we see things shaking out in standard scoring formats and we’ll continue to provide weekly updates as the preseason progresses. 

2014 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

2104 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Posted By:Bretsky on July 31, 2014

Football time is fast approaching. Get set for your 2014 fantasy football draft with our Tight End positional rankings. Here’s a fresh look at how we see things shaking out in standard scoring formats and we’ll continue to provide weekly updates as the preseason progresses. 

2014 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

2104 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Posted By:Bretsky on July 30, 2014

Wayne Bretsky and Mark Kaplan weigh in on the latest happenings around baseball, including the approaching trade deadline, a red hot catcher and some prospect bats who have hit an adjustment period. The boys shift through the most added bats on the waiver wire to find some gens and close the show by dipping into the mailbag to analyze some trades from the listeners.

Hit up the guys on Twitter @BretskyBall and @DaTrueGuru to join in on the action!

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Box Score Baseball Podcast – Trade Winds Blowing

News and Notes

• Jake Peavy to the Giants
• Rumors surrounding John Lester
• James Paxton to return Saturday
• Everth Cabrera activated from the DL

The Good, the Bad and the Upside

• Good: Carlos Santana
• Bad: Pitiful prospects
• Upside: Dallas Keuchel

The Fixer

• Bretsky makes some trades while keeping his eye on the prize

Waiver Wire

• Josh Harrison
• Chris Carter
• Lucas Duda
• Josh Rutledge
• John Jaso
• Chase Headley

Mailbag!

The Box Score Baseball Podcast theme is written and performed by William “Wild Bill” Hitchcock

Posted By:Bretsky on July 23, 2014

Wayne Bretsky and Mark Kaplan weigh in on the latest happenings around baseball, talking about Troy Tulowitzki’s injured hip (yes, it is attached to his body), Jimmy Rollins’ recent surge (homer alert!), and Cliff Lee’s disappointing return to action. The boys marvel at San Diego dealing Chase Headley to the Yankees and comment on some streaking hitters to help your fantasy team. Finally, the guys dip into the mailbag to analyze some trades from the listeners.

Hit up the guys on Twitter @BretskyBall and @DaTrueGuru to join in on the action!

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Box Score Baseball Podcast – Sell Low with San Diego

News and Notes

• Troy Tulowitzki to the disabled list
• Darwin Barney DFA’d to keep Arismendy Alcantara around
• Chase Headley to the Yankees
• Trade Rumblings: David Price, Alex Rios, Steve Cishek, Joaquin Benoit

The Good, the Bad and the Upside

• Good: Jimmy Rollins,
• Bad: Cliff Lee
• Upside: Josh Rutledge

Buy/Sell/Hold

• Chris Coghlan
• Kolten Wong
• Jason Kipnis
• Chris Johnson
• Austin Jackson

Waiver Wire

• Yusmiero Petit
• Trevor Bauer
• Danny Salazar
• Jose Quintana
• Jacod deGrom
• Odrsamer Despaigne
• Marcus Stroman

Mailbag!

The Box Score Baseball Podcast theme is written and performed by William “Wild Bill” Hitchcock

Posted By:Bretsky on July 18, 2014

It’s time to re-up the rankings heading into the second half. This week, we’re taking a trip around the diamond and ranking each position for rest of season fantasy value. As always 5×5 rotisserie scoring is assumed.

2014 Rest of Season Shortstop Rankings

Posted By:Bretsky on July 18, 2014

It’s time to re-up the rankings heading into the second half. This week, we’re taking a trip around the diamond and ranking each position for rest of season fantasy value. As always 5×5 rotisserie scoring is assumed.

2014 Rest of Season Third Base Rankings

Posted By:Bretsky on July 17, 2014

Wayne Bretsky and Mark Kaplan take some time during the All-Star break to look back at what we’ve learned and prepare for the stretch run. The guys provide their thoughts on a couple of the season’s first half breakouts and busts while also pondering the current trade value of Clayton Kershaw. the boys also take a dip into the mail bag to answer some questions from the listeners.

Hit up the guys on Twitter @BretskyBall and @DaTrueGuru to join in on the action!

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»Download on iTunes

Box Score Baseball Podcast – Give Me a Break

News and Notes

• Catcher update: Carlos Ruiz, Evan Gattis, A.J. Pierzinski
• Joey Votto out “weeks” not “months”
• Jean Segura’s uncertain status
• Bronson Arroyo undergoes Tommy John  surgery

The Good, the Bad and the Upside – All-Star Edition

• Good: Miguel Cabrera
• Bad: Giancarlo Stanton
• Upside: Arismendy Alcantara

First Half Wrap

• Breakouts we are buying: Michael Brantley, Todd Frazier
• Breakouts we are selling: Dee Gordon
• Busts we are buying: Alex Rios, Chris Davis, Jason Kipnis
• Busts we are selling: Bryce Harper, Jean Segura

Mailbag!

The Box Score Baseball Podcast theme is written and performed by William “Wild Bill” Hitchcock

Posted By:Bretsky on June 26, 2014

Wayne Bretsky and Mark Kaplan discuss all the latest happening around the MLB. Bretsky gives Mark his due after a head-to-head beatdown. Carlos Santana heats up, Tim Lincecum suts it down and J.D. Martinez continues to hit. The boys play a quick game of Buy/Sell/Hold and also open up the mailbag to help out some listeners.

Hit up the guys on Twitter @BretskyBall and @DaTrueGuru to join in on the action!

»Listen

»Download on iTunes

Box Score Baseball Podcast – Sizzling Santana

News and Notes

• Joe Smith regains the closer role in Anaheim
• Derek Dietrich returns to the bigs
• Clay Buccholz is activated
• J.J. Hardy finally goes deep

The Good, the Bad and the Upside

• Good: Carlos Santana turns up the heat
• Bad: The Padres can’t handle Timmy
• Upside: J.D. Martinez

The Fixer

• Trading for today

Waiver Wire

• Jake Arrieta
• Alex Wood
• Drew Smyly

Buy/Sell/Hold

• Josh Donaldson
• Shin-Soo Choo
• Alex Rios
• Matt Adams
• Gregory Polanco
• Kyle Seager

Mailbag!

The Box Score Baseball Podcast theme is written and performed by William “Wild Bill” Hitchcock

Posted By:Bretsky on June 20, 2014

Wayne Bretsky and Mark Kaplan return after a two week layoff to chat baseball. The boys discuss their current matchup in the Box Score Baseball League of Champions and looking at the latest news and notes around the league. Bretsky and Mark provide all the reasoning you need to snag some non-closing relief pitchers to boost you roto sqaud, provide a couple of names to pluck off the wire and hit the mailbag to answer questions from the listeners.

Hit up the guys on Twitter @BretskyBall and @DaTrueGuru to join in on the action!

»Listen

»Download on iTunes

Box Score Baseball Podcast – CarGone

News and Notes

• Adam Wainwright to return, Michael Wacha skipped, Carlos Martinez gets another start
• Clay Buccholz tosses a strong rehab outing
• The Kansas City Royals are on fire

The Good, the Bad and the Upside

• Good: Clayton Kershaw dominates
• Bad: Max Scherzer gets blasted
• Upside: Anthony Rendon

The Fixer – You Gotta Relieve

• The case to use relievers
• Top names available on the wire
• Selling Dustin Pedroia

Waiver Wire

• Rougned Odor
• Josh Rutledge
• Stephen Drew
• Tommy La Stella

Mailbag!

The Box Score Baseball Podcast theme is written and performed by William “Wild Bill” Hitchcock

Posted By:Bretsky on June 6, 2014

For much of the 2014 season, the Colorado Rockies have been a force to be reckoned with, ranking tops in the National League in runs per game, home runs extra base hits and just about every other offensive category you will find. Still the team took a big blow when placing oft-injured stud, Carlos Gonzalez on the disabled list with a finger injury. His timetable is unknown, but not all is lost for fantasy owners as a number of outfield bats have emerged on the wire in recent weeks.

With our top spot this week, you need look no further than the Rockies outfield to find 22%-owned Corey Dickerson. Batting .340/.389/.639 appearing in 40 games this season, Dickerson is bringing some serious thump to the Colorado lineup, piling up 14 extra-base in less than 100 at-bats with 18 runs scored, 17 RBI and three steals.

Dickerson was never a major threat on the basepaths, topping out at 16 stolen bases im 127 minor league games in 2012, but he did show enough pop to matter. He belted 32 home runs in 2011 at and another 22 in 2012, posting back to back minor league season with 60+ extra-base hits.

During his first stint in the big leagues, Dickerson struggled to perform against left-handed pitching and down the road a platoon with lefty-mashed Drew Stubbs is certainly in play, but Dickerson has reached base in five of his 12 pate appearances against southpaws this season and could earn a longer look. Dickerson is a must-add in all league with the potential to be difference maker in that lineup and park. He’s already been one of the most added players this week, but over 75% of you out their still have a shot to invest.

Each week we’ll provide a position-by-position roundup of the top talent on the wire. To qualify, players must have an ownership rate below 50% in standard 12-team Yahoo leagues. For our deeper formats, we’ll also throw out names with under 15% ownership. Check out last week’s list to find a number of other options who may still be out there on the waiver wire.

Working The Waiver Wire

Catcher

Wilson Ramos (46%): Don’t look now, but Ramos is finally capturing so of his stretch-run magic from last season, batting .313 over the past couple of weeks.

First Base

Adam Lind (40%): Piping hot, Lind has posted six multi-hit efforts in his last 10 games, batting .389 with eight runs in that time.

Chris Carter (20%): Now that Astros lineup doesn’t look so bad anymore does it? Carter is bringing the pop and if you can see past the strikeouts, there’s 30-homer upside here.

Kendrys Morales (21%): Following Thursday’s amateur draft, Morales should ink a deal rather swiftly. He posted a tasty .275/.329/.357 slash while averaging 26 home runs and 86 RBI per 162 games over the past two seasons.

Yonder Alonso (5%): Digging a bit deeper, give Alonso a look. The average is always steady and he’s showing some more punch this season, coming off a May in which he knocked six doubles and four home runs in 86 at-bats.

Middle Infield

Kolten Wong (25%): Continues to get on base and run, Wong is a useful piece.

Jonathan Villar (37%): He’s gotta be benched right now, but the juice is enticing enough to stash.

Gordon Beckham (11%): Yeah, that Gordon Beckham… hey, he’s hitting!

Jace Peterson (0%): He’s got major speed upside and could very well haev a starting gig if Jedd Gyorko is forced to the DL with his plantar fasciitis.

Third Base

Casey McGehee (26%): Though McGehee can’t hit the ball over the fence, he certainly seems to be able to put it in play and drive in runs.

David Freese (18%): Batting .277 over the past couple of weeks, you could certainly do worse.

Outfield

Josh Willingham (29%): Always an underrated bat, Willingham has gone 11-for-32 with four long balls since returning from the DL and is an even better play in OBP leagues.

Michael Saunders (12%): Blessed with a great power/speed combo, Suanders is streaking right now, batting .324 in his last 10 with a couple of home runs, six runs scored and 10 RBI.

Starters

Bartolo Colon (29%): The fat-man is rolling with a 1.96 ERA and 1.04 WHIP i his last 18.2 innings pitched.

Drew Hutchison (31%): Coming off an impressive start against the Tigers, Hutch is showing nice resilience after a coupe of poor outings and we know the strikeout upside is there.

Eddie Butler (13%): Avoid Bultler in his MLB debut on Friday, but there’s plenty of talent here to stash him on your bench and see what happens.

Closer Carnage

It will be a constant race to the wire to go mining for saves, here’s how we see it.

Go get ’em: Chad Qualls (35%), Hector Rondon (48%), Ronald Bellisario (19%)

Keep an eye on: Rex Borthers (26%), Jeurys Familia (10%), Adam Ottaviano (10%), Joba Chamberlain (15%)