Roto-Rx

If your question was not answered this time, you can go directly to the source @ https://www.roto-rx.com/ where Dr. Roto will answer all your Fantasy Baseball and Football questions.

The Doctor is in...

Question #1: When I’m comparing Ben Zobrist to other players, what position do I compare him at to get a gauge for his relative worth? – East Hampton, NY

Hampton: Zobrist should be considered a 2B if you have to give him a position, considering he played the most there last year. Remember, his true value lies in his versatility.

Question #2: Now that the regular season is over, who are your MVP and CY award winners? Does Dr. Roto get an actual vote? – Jose, Ramapo, NJ

Jose: No, Dr. Roto does not get an actual vote...hopefully, he will soon. My MVP's are: Albert Pujols in the NL and Mark Teixeira in the AL. Cy Young will go to Zack Greinke in the AL and Chris Carpenter in the NL.

Question #3: Do you think that Hideki Matsui will have a full time gig in MLB next year of will he go back to Japan? – Roy, Bowling Green, MO

Roy: The only place you'll be seeing Matusi next year will be in Yankee Stadium (so long as they want him). If he is not a Yankee, he will go back to Japan.

Question #4: Did the post season problems of Joe Nathan this year affect your outlook for him for next year’s fantasy season? – Felix, Bethel, CT

Felix: Joe Nathan's struggles in the post-season have not deterred Dr. Roto from him at all. In fact, I would use it to my advantage. When his name comes up at your auction next year, you should clear your throat and say, "Nice job in the playoffs". This should drop his value 3-5 dollars in the room and you get a steal.

Question #5: Would you protect Michael Cuddyer for $12 next year? He qualifies at two spots in my league. – Salvatore, San Mateo, CA

Salvatore: I think I would. He had over 30 HR and looked sharp for most of the year. He is always undervalued to boot. Keep him.

The Doctor is out...

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Good Looking and Brain Dead?

Earlier this month the NY Times ran a piece on new safer batting helmets that Rawlings was introducing that could withstand the impact of a 100-m.p.h. fastball, according to Rawlings and an independent testing organization. Most other models, when hit flush by a ball, are compromised at speeds in excess of 70 m.p.h.

Here were some player quotes about the helmet:

Jeff Francoeur, “No, I am absolutely not wearing that, I could care less what they say, I’m not wearing it. There’s got to be a way to have a more protective helmet without all that padding. It’s brutal. We’re going to look like a bunch of clowns out there.”

Nomar Garciaparra, “I want a helmet that’s comfortable and that doesn’t look bad.”

Mark Teixeira, “That would make me feel as if I were wearing a football helmet in the batter’s box. The one I’ve used for my entire career is fine.”

David Wright, “If it provides more protection, then I’m all for it. I’m not worried about style or looking good out there. I’m worried about keeping my melon protected.”

Shortly after Wright gave that quote he was hit in the head by a Matt Cain pitch and had to go on the 15 day DL. (Interesting that he was the only player the NY Times reporter could find that said that he would wear it)

Wright came back from the DL yesterday, and he did in fact have one of those odd looking helmets on. I see a lot of people on the internet making fun of him today (yes he does look a bit like Kazoo.)

Make fun of him if you wish, but this is his brain he’s protecting. Take one in the head like he did, and (if you got a second chance) you would probably wear one too. I hope Francoeur, Garciaparra, and Teixeira never have to find out for themselves. - Paul Leume

Paul Leume is a MLB columnist from Montreal, Canada. Paul, a one-time beat writer covering the Montreal Expos for the Montreal Gazette is a proud grandfather of 3 girls and now spends his time offering his thoughts and prospective on Major League Baseball on a variety of blogs and websites throughout Al Gore’s internet.

Joba Rules 3.0 - What a joke

What is it with these Joba Rules? This is Major League Baseball, not a recreational Little League where you can’t throw on consecutive days or more than three innings in a game.

3 innings and 35 pitches and out of the game! Are you kidding me? I am surprised that they let the kid play Guitar Hero, lest he might hurt himself!

If you are going to make it so that Joba Chamberlain can only throw 35 pitches then he should be in the bull-pen and he can pitch the 7th and 8th innings. Phil Hughes gets the starter spot and that’s it.

What’s the point on being a starting pitcher if you can only go 3 innings? The Yankee’s have the best record in baseball in spite of themselves.

Joba may turn out to be a wonderful starting pitcher, something that was worth the wait. But he’s a young healthy strong young man and if he’s got all this talent and upside they are wasting it.

Exactly what are they waiting for? If he pitches for 15 years and has an exceptional 10 years, what’s the problem with those 10 years being his 1st 10 years?

Either Joba has a condition or injury that has yet to be disclosed, one that will find out that he somewhere down the road, or they Yankees are just morons.

What if he gets hit by a car? What if he falls down the steps? There are 50 bazillion combinations and permutations of things that can happen to a person that would prevent him from being a successful MLB pitcher. The Yankees are at risk of having a pitcher on their roster for 3 years that they claim can be one of the very best in baseball, yet never have given him the opportunity to do that. Jerks.

And how the hell am I gonna get any stats from the guy? He can pitch 3 perfect innings and I can’t even get a win! Gee Wiz!

Has there ever been a pitcher more coddled and babied by a manager and front office than Joba Chamberlain?

When he first came up, the initial "Joba Rules" were developed, mostly to protect Joba from Joe Torre, who made a habit of overusing relief pitchers. That version of the rules prevented Torre from using Joba until his arm fell off, as he had done previously with Scott Proctor, Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon, Tanyon Sturtze and others who didn't have nearly the talent Joba had.

Those rules made sense, because Torre was, and is, an idiot when it comes to managing a bullpen.

Version 2.0 of the Joba Rules began last season in the form of an overall innings limit. When arm trouble prevented him from reaching their innings goal, 2.0 carried into the 2009 season.

Now, with Joba closing in on the presumed limit, we've been introduced to the latest set of guidelines to protect him, which apparently include removing him from a game after three innings and 35 pitches.

P.S. - Does anybody in Boston still want to talk about how Mark Teixeira isn't worth the money? - Peter Costa

Pete is a serious Rotisserie participant playing the same league with the same guys for 17 years. Not only has Peter never finished in the money; he’s finished last 13 times and no higher than 10th (in a league with 14 guys). Join us in following Peter’s trials, tribulations and frustrations, as he attempts to navigate his way out of the basement in 2009.

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