Fantasy MLB Week 7 pickups: Matt McLain, Mark Vientos, Jorge Soler | Circling the Bases (FULL SHOW)

Introduction

In this section, the hosts introduce themselves and welcome the audience to the latest edition of Circling the Bases. They also mention that they will be discussing waiver wire recommendations for various league formats.

Host Introductions

• DJ Short and Scott Pianowski introduce themselves as hosts of Circling the Bases.

• They thank viewers for joining them on Twitch and acknowledge those listening in podcast form or watching later on YouTube.

Viewer Feedback

• The hosts share feedback from a listener named Tim who enjoys the podcast but suggests they should disagree more often.

• Scott acknowledges Tim's point but emphasizes that he enjoys working with DJ in a positive environment.

Open to Feedback

In this section, the hosts encourage listeners to provide feedback on their show and discuss how they approach recommending players off waivers.

Listener Feedback

• The hosts invite listeners to send feedback via email or social media.

• They emphasize that they are open to all thoughtful feedback.

Approaching Waiver Recommendations

• The hosts discuss how picking up a player off waivers involves dropping another player, so it's important to consider both sides of the decision.

• They note that it's easy to put out a list of recommended players but there is more decision-making involved than just listing names.

Playing Too Conservatively

In this section, Scott shares his philosophy on adding and dropping players in fantasy baseball leagues.

Adding and Dropping Players

• Scott advises not being too conservative when adding or dropping players.

• He compares it to poker, where you're supposed to get caught bluffing sometimes if you're not taking enough risks.

Mistakes Happen

In this section, the speaker talks about how even managers make mistakes and sometimes bench players who end up performing well.

Benching Players

• Managers are not perfect and can make mistakes.

• Cal Raleigh was benched despite hitting two home runs at Fenway Park.

• Isaac Paredes was also benched after hitting two home runs in a game.

Waiver Wire Wednesday

In this section, the speaker talks about their waiver wire show and gives advice on picking up players for fantasy baseball.

Matt McLean

• The speaker recommends picking up Matt McLean, a top prospect shortstop for the Reds.

• McLean has been performing well in Triple-A with 12 homers and 10 steals.

• He is batting second in the lineup and should be owned everywhere.

• The Reds have other talented players like Ellie Deli Cruz and Christian Encarnacion Strand.

MLB Leadoff on Peacock

In this section, the speaker promotes MLB Leadoff on Peacock and talks about upcoming games.

Yankees vs. Reds

• The Yankees will be playing against the Reds in Cincinnati on Sunday morning.

• Viewers can watch live games all season long on Peacock.

• The Reds have a talented infield core coming up with Spencer Steer showing potential at times.

• Alexis Diaz has been one of the right answers in the bullpen for them.

• Aaron Judge is back from injury and hitting home runs again.

The Hot Hand: Does It Exist?

In this section, the speakers discuss the concept of the "hot hand" in sports and whether it actually exists. They also talk about the difficulty of quantifying psychological factors like confidence.

The Hot Hand

• There are differing opinions on whether the hot hand exists or not.

• Even if it's hard to quantify, there is likely a psychological benefit to being on a hot streak.

• Confidence plays a big role in performance, but it's difficult to measure with numbers.

Psychological Factors

• Defining and measuring psychological factors like confidence can be challenging.

• Confidence can be shaken by negative experiences, such as getting into a car accident.

• Some people may struggle with pressure and deadlines due to psychological factors.

Future Research

• Someday, researchers may be able to identify the brain chemistry that makes some athletes better than others under stress.

• Mental health is an important factor for athletes and should be recognized as such.

Overall, this section discusses the idea of the "hot hand" in sports and how difficult it is to quantify psychological factors like confidence. The speakers suggest that future research may help us better understand these factors and their impact on athletic performance.

The Hot Hand Theory and the Mets' Shake Up

In this section, the speakers discuss the hot hand theory in basketball and how it can be applied to other sports. They also talk about the Mets' recent struggles and their decision to call up Mark Vientos from AAA.

The Hot Hand Theory

• The hot hand theory suggests that if a player is performing well, they are more likely to continue performing well.

• If a basketball player makes several three-point shots in a row, for example, they are more likely to make their next shot as well.

• However, this does not mean that players should take contested shots or try to do things outside of their abilities.

The Mets' Shake Up

• The Mets have been struggling recently, with a record of 6-16 in their last 22 games.

• They have called up Mark Vientos from AAA, where he has been performing exceptionally well.

• Vientos has hit 333 with 13 home runs and an OPS of 1104 over 38 games in AAA this season.

• He has played 150 games in AAA overall and has hit .294 with 40 home runs and 113 RBIs during that time.

• Vientos has been hitting both righties and lefties well this season, with a batting average of .327 against right-handers and .357 against lefties.

• His strikeout rate has also improved significantly compared to last year's performance in AAA.

• The Mets have struggled at the DH spot this season, ranking low in OPS out of their DH position.

• Daniel Vogelbach is currently the main DH for the team but hasn't been producing much power-wise.

• If Vientos performs well initially, he could potentially take over the DH spot from Vogelbach.

• Vientos is currently available in 95% of Yahoo leagues and could be a good option for deeper mixed leagues.

Mickey Moniak's Performance in AAA

In this section, the speakers discuss Mickey Moniak's performance in AAA and his potential future with the Phillies.

Mickey Moniak's Performance

• Mickey Moniak was the first overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft out of high school.

• He has been playing well in AAA recently, but it is unclear what his future holds with the Phillies.

• The speakers joke that he won't be as good as Mickey Mantle but also won't be as bad as Mickey Mouse.

• No further information is provided about Moniak's recent performance or potential future with the Phillies.

Late Round Pickups

In this section, the speaker discusses some late-round pickups for fantasy baseball.

Players to Consider

• Alex Cobb - The speaker suggests picking up Alex Cobb, who has shown potential with two home runs in three games.

• Mickey Moniak and Nick Senzel - The speaker mentions these players as top picks from the 2016 draft who have yet to show much promise.

• Will Smith - Despite being a late pick, Smith has been performing well and is currently an All-Star.

• Dane Dunning - The speaker recommends keeping an eye on Dunning due to his pedigree and potential success in the Rangers rotation.

• Jorge Soler - The speaker suggests considering Soler as a pickup due to his recent performance with five home runs in 11 games.

Jorge Soler's Recent Performance

In this section, the speaker discusses Jorge Soler's recent performance and why he may be a good pickup for fantasy baseball.

Key Points

• Over his last 11 games, Soler has hit five home runs and 12 RBIs while maintaining a high contact rate.

• While not expecting much help in batting average, Soler hits the ball extremely hard and has shown consistent power.

Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch

In this section, the speakers discuss several fantasy baseball players that they believe are worth watching.

Solaire and Zuna

• Solaire played a third of the year with the Braves in 2021 and hit 14 home runs. He was an interesting pickup for the Marlins last year.

• Although Solaire's slash was ugly, he still hit 13 home runs in 72 games last year. He already has 10 in 40 games this year.

• Marcelo Zuna is another player that the Braves kicked the tires on. His seasonal numbers won't look good, but over the last three or four weeks, he has had great power numbers and a playable average. He may be under-rostered at the moment.

Jake Fraley

• Jake Fraley is only rostered in 37% of leagues despite playing well for Cincinnati with 17 home runs and nine stolen bases in 106 games.

• Fraley should be rostered in two-thirds shallow leagues and maybe even more.

• Don't let him slip through the cracks of your leagues because he's still unrostered in Yahoo.

Reds Hitters

• The Reds have many players who make sense on mixed league rosters due to their hitting environment.

• The rotation has not been great, but Alex Wood is available in 91% of Yahoo leagues going into Wednesday. He could perform well at least in the short term.

Conclusion

The speakers provide several players to watch, including Solaire, Zuna, Fraley, and Reds hitters. They also discuss Alex Wood's potential as a pitcher.

Lead All He Needed to Do is Get One More Round

In this section, the speaker discusses the decision to pull a pitcher and how it may be influenced by analytics. They also talk about Alex Wood's windup and delivery, as well as the Giants' defensive strategy.

Pulling Pitchers

• The speaker questions the decision to pull a pitcher before they face one more hitter.

• They wonder if the Giants are heavily influenced by analytics in their decisions.

• The speaker believes that the Giants will have a quick hook on Alex Wood due to his pitch count and injury history.

Alex Wood

• The speaker likes Alex Wood's pitching style but is nervous about his pitch count and potential for injury.

• They suggest letting him finish the fifth inning or waiting until someone gets on base before pulling him.

• The speaker mentions that some people speculate that new rules may be leading to an increase in injuries among pitchers.

Investing in Pitchers on Good Teams

In this section, the speaker talks about investing in pitchers on good teams and gives examples of two pitchers he has picked up recently.

Dean Kramer

• The speaker recommends picking up Dean Kramer, who had a mid-threes ERA last year for Baltimore.

• Despite not being a strikeout guy, Kramer has been performing well over his last six starts with five wins and an ERA of 3.34.

• The speaker believes Baltimore is a team worth investing in.

Alec Manoa

• The speaker suggests benching Alec Manoa and waiting for a good start or two before trading him.

• They mention that Toronto's park was expected to be hitter-friendly but hasn't been so far.

Conclusion

In this section, the speaker concludes their discussion on investing in pitchers and talks about their nervousness regarding drafting Toronto's staff this year.

• The speaker feels justified in their nervousness as Robbie Ray and Nate Pearson haven't performed well.

• They express concern about drafting pitchers from teams with hitter-friendly parks.

• The speaker mentions that they are looking forward to seeing how things play out over the course of the season.

Royce Lewis: A Prospect Stash

In this section, the speaker talks about Royce Lewis, a former number one overall pick in 2017. The speaker discusses his talent and potential, as well as his recent injury and rehab progress.

Royce Lewis's Talent and Potential

• Royce Lewis is a former number one overall pick with immense talent.

• He has been plagued by injuries, including a second ACL reconstruction on his right knee last June.

• Despite this setback, he has shown great promise in his recent rehab games with three steals through three games and a homerun in AAA on Tuesday night.

• He played shortstop and third base since returning to action in the minors but will most likely play third base for the Twins when he gets called up to the majors.

• The Twins are expected to keep him in the minors until he is fully ready to return.

Speculating on Royce Lewis

• The speaker suggests dropping fringy players like Jack Sawinski for speculation on Royce Lewis.

• When he comes up, he is expected to have multi-position eligibility and provide power and speed with huge upside potential.

• Brent Rooker is another first-round pick who was blocked from playing time but could be worth speculating on.

Other Players from 2017 Draft Class

• The speaker briefly mentions other players from the 2017 draft class who have had varying degrees of success so far.

• Jake Burger of the White Sox is an interesting name who has had a good start to the season.

• The speaker expresses surprise that Burger is only rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues despite his slugging percentage of 680.

Condiments and Fantasy Baseball Condiments and Fantasy Baseball

In this section, the speakers discuss their favorite condiments and a potential fantasy baseball pick-up.

Favorite Condiments

• The speakers discuss their favorite condiments, including bacon, caramelized onions, ketchup (without mustard), honey mustard, Dijon mustard, and ranch.

• The speakers talk about how they have started to use less ketchup as they have gotten older. Mustard is the go-to condiment in one of the speaker's houses.

• One of the speakers mentions that he loves honey mustard with french fries. They also mention doing a draft of condiments on a former Yahoo show.

Fantasy Baseball Pick-Up

• One of the speakers recommends Nick Anderson as a potential fantasy baseball pick-up for saves. He has great strikeout and walk numbers and pitches for one of the best teams in baseball.

• The speaker also mentions Carlos Carrasco as a potential pick-up coming back from injury. He has a good track record despite being available in 82% of Yahoo leagues.

• Matthew Liberator is another potential pick-up mentioned by the speaker. He is coming up to pitch against the Brewers and could potentially earn a rotation spot regardless of extra rest given to other pitchers.

Mets Pitchers: Past and Present

In this section, the speakers discuss their favorite Mets pitchers of all time and provide insights into some current Mets pitchers.

Favorite Mets Pitchers

• The speakers discuss their favorite Mets pitchers of all time.

• One speaker mentions Dwight Gooden and Jacob deGrom as his two favorites, while the other speaker chooses David Cone.

• The second speaker explains that he became a fan of David Cone during his time with the Mets before being traded to the Blue Jays. He also praises Cone's pitching style and knowledge of analytics.

Current Mets Pitchers

• One speaker discusses a current Mets pitcher who has shown improvement in velocity and performance this year.

• The speakers briefly mention other current Mets pitchers such as Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman.

Other Notable Mets Pitchers

• The speakers briefly mention other notable past Mets pitchers such as Tom Seaver, John Franco, Rick Reed, and Ron Darling.

• One speaker shares a personal anecdote about Rick Reed from an AOL chat where he learned that Reed's nickname was "Reader."

Follow on Twitter

In this section, the speakers provide their Twitter handles for listeners to follow.

• Scott's Twitter handle is @Scott_pianowski.

• DJ Short's Twitter handle is @DJShort.