Breakfast with the Beats – Details, episodes & analysis

Fantasy Baseball Beat

Curt covers the Milwaukee Brewers at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and his work can be found at: https://www.jsonline.com/staff/2648119001/curt-hogg/

Players discussed: 

Devin Williams (before the trade), Trevor Megill, Christian Yelich, Brandon Woodruff, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Logan Henderson, Garrett Mitchell.....and more.

Then the guys go over three picks within the top 100 that they dislike, which go into the first round.

Finally, how do you pronounce repertoire?

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The Fantasy Baseball Beat

Look Who's Trending!

The guys are back with a banger, discussing all things baseball-related.

1. Who do they prefer rest-of-season: Jacob deGrom or Hunter Brown
2. Beat Writer Breakdown:
   1. What's wrong with Aaron Nola?
   2. What should the Mets do with their pitching? Players discussed
      1. Frankie Montas Jr.
      2. Paul Blackburn
      3. Sean Manaea
3. Playing Time Trends that you need to know about. Players discussed
   1. Drake Baldwin
   2. Sean Murphy
   3. Josh Smith
   4. Trent Grisham
   5. Ben Rice
   6. Paul Goldschmidt
   7. Giancarlo Stanton
   8. Trey Sweeney
   9. Andy Pages
4. Mike is here to talk bullpens. Players discussed
   1. Jeff Hoffman
   2. Luke Jackson
   3. Robert Garcia
   4. Shawn Armstrong
   5. Camilo Doval
   6. Ryan Walker
   7. Randy Rodríguez
   8. Ryan Pressly
   9. Porter Hodge
5. Finally, our Mental Health moment, where we discuss Cognitive Distortions and how these irrational thoughts can overtake our livelihood.

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Mike and Dave (and possibly Chris) are back with another episode of The Fantasy Baseball Beat. In this edition, the guys discuss:

Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox situation at first base

Their best free agent pickups this season in fantasy

Is this Javier Báez resurgance for real?

Can Gavin Lux carve out and maintain a role on the Reds?

Then, they look through Eno Sarris and his ten early-season trends that warrant attention. From his list, the guys discuss:

The Dodgers' pitching woes

What to expect from Michael Toglia and the Rockies going forward.

The disappointment that is known as Yusei Kikuchi

Finally, the guys have their Mental Health Moment and discuss the ways that they spoil themselves when warranted.

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Fantasy Baseball Beat

The guys review their current draft picks with Nathan Grimm

Mike, Dave, and Chris go over the most actionable news out of Spring Training:

• Spencer Strider looks healthy
• Ronald Acuña Jr. looks to be taking things slowly
• Ben Rice looks to be in line for additional playing time.

Nathan Grimm joins the show, and Colt Keith is the topic of discussion on how we assess rookies and second-year players in their earliest seasons.  

Nathan takes a moment to roast the guys in a way that encapsulates their qualities and characteristics perfectly. 

Then we take a look at Mike's GLARF draft. Players discussed:

• Mookie Betts
• Zack Wheeler
• Rafael Devers
• James Wood
• Robert Suarez
• Luis Rengifo
• Drew Rasmussen
• Griffin Jax
• Justin Verlander
• Charlie Morton
• Andrew Benintendi
• MJ Melendez

Dave gives an update on Brayan Bello's health before giving his risk assessment grade.

Nathan's SLARF team is examined as well. Players discussed:

• Francisco Lindor
• Bryce Harper
• Jacob deGrom
• Blake Snell
• Ryan Walker
• Tanner Scott
• Dylan Crews
• Josh Lowe
• Jonathan Aranda
• Joc Pederson
• Ke’Bryan Hayes
• Spencer Horwitz

We answer an important listener question about stacking players from the same team.

Finally, it's time for the Mental Health Minute.

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Fantasy Baseball Beat

The guys talk with Jake Rill from mlb.com about the Orioles

Jake Rill joins the gang from Spring Training to talk about the Baltimore Orioles in 2025. Topics include:

• Jake's start in the business
• What can we expect out of Adley Rutschman this year after a disappointing second half last year?
• What does the recovery process of Félix Bautista look like?
• Are Seranthony Domínguez and Andrew Kittredge viable options behind him?
• How healthy is Grayson Rodriguez, and can he take a step forward?
• How many at-bats can we expect out of Coby Mayo?
• Is Jackson Holliday ready to break out?
• Are Chayce McDermott, Cade Povich, and Brandon Young ready for the season?
• What's it like covering a superstar like Gunnar Henderson?
• How does Jake rank various Baltimore athletes and staples?

Afterward, the guys discuss their favorite Baltimore Orioles at their costs:

• Jackson Holliday
• Jordan Westburg
• Seranthomy Dominuguez

The guys talk about pitchers they love:

• Yusei Kikuchi
• Jeff Hoffman
• Logan Webb
• David Bednar
• Spencer Schwellenbach
• Jhoan Duran

The guys then finish off the episode with a listener question and the Mental Health Minute.

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Fantasy Baseball Beat

The guys discuss the hitters that they love.

The boys are back and go position by position to discuss the hitters that they love the most.

Catcher

• Gabriel Moreno
• Ivan Herrera
• Shea Langeliers

First Base

• Nathaniel Lowe
• Cody Bellinger
• Paul Goldschmidt

Second Base

• Jonathan India
• Brandon Lowe
• Jordan Westburg

Shortstop

• Jeremy Pena
• Bo Bichette
• Francisco Lindor

Third Base

• Luis Rengifo
• Isaac Paredes
• Matt Chapman

Outfield

• Jung Hoo Lee
• Ian Happ
• Dylan Crews

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Fantasy Baseball Beat

The guys discuss ballpark changes and tendencies, players changing teams, and bullpen decisions.

After some behind the curtain details are discussed, four ballparks are discussed:

1. Sutter Health Park - The Athletics
   1. What can we expect offensively in the new ballpark?
   2. What were the minor-league tendencies there?
   3. Should we expect a big change?
   4. Are we in on Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker?
2. Camden Yards - Baltimore Orioles
   1. What is the most important thing fantasy owners should know about this change?
   2. Which hitters should receive a boost?
   3. How much do we like Tyler O'Neill, Ryan Mountcastle, and Jordan Westburg?
   4. What is Mike's strategy at first base and shortstop?
3. Steinbrenner Stadium - Tampa Bay Rays
   1. What differences can we expect with this ballpark compared to Tropicana Field?
   2. Will we see more offense?
   3. Does Dave like or love Jonathan Aranda?
4. T-Mobile Park - Seattle Mariners
   1. Why is this ballpark such a difficult place to hit?
   2. Who else knew about their umbrella roof?
   3. What will your draft strategy be when assessing Mariners hitters and pitchers?

The guys look at hitters changing ballparks:

1. Jake Burger
2. Michael Conforto
3. Paul Goldschmidt
4. Gleyber Torres
5. Kyle Tucker

Mike talks about bullpens:

1. What does the Carlos Estévez signing mean for Lucas Erceg?
2. Is Andrés Muñoz an elite closer?
3. How undervalued are David Bednar and Trevor Megill?
4. Has Chris discovered a new closer that nobody else knows?

Mental Health Minute - What are your favorite ballparks?

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Fantasy Baseball Beat

First, the guys talk with Laura Albanese about the Mets:

• What's the latest on Pete Alonso and how important is he to the Mets?
• What happens if they don't bring back Alonso?
• What does the lineup currently look like?
• Thoughts on the rotation, specifically with Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill
• Is Sean Manaea an ace?
• How good is Edwin Diaz, and who is next in line?
• Who within their Minor League organization can surprise us in 2024?

Then Laura plays Over/Under with the following players in mind:

• Tylor Megill
• Jose Siri
• Starling Marte
• Brandon Nimmo
• Brett Baty

Finally, Laura gives us her prediction on what new trend may surface in 2025 within Major League Baseball....and it's a great one!

Afterwards, the guys discuss Christopher's latest Twitter battle regarding the draft price of Mark Vientos. They also reflect on the latest on the injury to Brandon Nimmo and forecast his season.

Dave's Injury History and Risk pieces are used as a way to discuss surprising injuries at catcher, first base, and second base, specifically talking about:

• Willson Contreras
• Luis Arraez
• Luis Rengifo
• Ozzie Albies
• Brandon Lowe
• Ryan Mountcastle
• Joey Bart

Finally, as always, there's the Mental Health Minute.

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Fantasy Baseball Beat

Talking Kansas City Royals and assessing injury risk

Jaylon Thompson from The Kansas City Star visits the guys to talk about the Royals:

• What does the back end of the rotation look like with Kris Bubic, Alec Marsh, Kyle Wright, Daniel Lynch IV, and Noah Cameron all fighting for their own spot?
• What can we expect from the outfield with Hunter Renfroe, MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel, Dairon Blanco, and Nelson Velázquez trying to stake their claim to play?
• Is Maikel Garcia ready to bounce back in 2025?
• How big of an impact will the trade for Jonathan India make on the construction of this lineup?
• Who does Jaylon Thompson like in the minor leagues?
• Is Jac Caglianone the real-deal?
• How good is Bobby Witt Jr.?
• Jaylon offers a VERY bold prediction that is well-received by the crew.

Dave McDonald joins the show and gives some very helpful tips and tricks for how to construct a roster and explains so by assessing all of the different risks involved when playing fantasy baseball.

Both Dave McDonald and Dave Funnell give their risk ratings on:

• Garrett Crochet
• Grayson Rodriguez
• Luis Robert Jr.
• Jazz Chisholm Jr.
• Tommy Edman

Mike digs deep to discuss Jeff Hoffman, Robert Suarez, and Ryan Walker, before the rest of the guys discuss the latest injury news on Hoffman.

Sean Burke is addressed, leading Chris to do something that he never thought he would do.

Finally, the Mental Health Minute brings about familiar names from our past, but just how old is Dave Funnell's player?

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Fantasy Baseball Beat

Jack Sommers from Sports Illustrated visits the show to talk all things Diamondbacks:

• Corbin Burnes signing
• Zac Gallen as a trade candidate
• Who could be the odd man out of the rotation?
• Arizona gets a new pitching coach
• Is Corbin Carroll a first-rounder?
• A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez or the field: making sense of the Diamondbacks bullpen
• Playing Over/Under on playing time
• What's the outlook for Adrian Del Castillo?
• Who is Jack's favorite player to cover?

 Mike gives his two cents on the Arizona bullpen.

Early ADP Discussion: Which players do the guys not like being drafted in between the 100 - 200 pick range?

• Zach Neto
• Bryan Woo
• Brice Turang
• Alexis Díaz
• Ben Joyce
• Luis Gil

Dave goes over the offseason and futures of three injured pitchers:

• Shane McClanahan
• Robbie Ray
• Spencer Strider

Mental Health Minute

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