Prime-Time Props — Thursday Night Football, Week 1
Prop God
Get into the groove as I take you on a stadium tour across the fantasy baseball realm! It is my hope that you will find this article both entertaining and informative. Don’t forget about our stellar season-long fantasy baseball coverage at FTN Fantasy. Save a couple bones with my promo code MJGOVIER when you sign up so you can get access to outstanding pieces like Matty Davis’ Weekly Hitter Planner. Also, I’ve started a weekly video compliment to this article. Each week a new episode will be live at 6 p.m. ET every Saturday on the FTN Network YouTube channel. Take advantage of the live chat in real-time to ask questions related to this week’s article or for questions you have for the following week’s action.
It is my ultimate goal for you to absorb and apply winning fantasy baseball wisdom from each edition of Groovin’ with Govier. It’s similar to when Neo was offered the blue or the red pill. If you continue reading this, you take the plunge to find out how far my fantasy baseball analysis can take you. Every Tuesday we’re Gettin’ It Too Short style in search of the ultimate … a league championship! Now, with the greatest 4th of July moments in MLB history as inspiration, it’s time for the Independence Day edition of Groovin’ with Govier!
How Can You Not Be Romantic About Baseball?
Flawless Victory?
Domingo Germán’s perfecto last week against the Oakland A’s was another classic example of why perfect games are celebrated, unique performances executed by flawed athletes. The list of 24 perfect games speaks for itself. In particular, I’d like to focus on a specific flawless performance from 2012 (which featured the last three perfect games prior to Germán’s outing), which I feel accurately reflects what Domingo Germán did June 28 in Oakland. Does Philip Humber jog any memories? Humber’s perfecto was quite similar to Germán’s, which makes that connection itself perfect! Both pitchers struck out 9 hitters. Each of their opponents was inferior competition to the teams on each pitcher’s side (though I will admit that Oakland may take the cake historically in the end). Humber faced Seattle, who was falling on hard times, with a 38-year-old Ichiro hitting .261 that season. The Mariners only had one hitter (Kyle Seager) who cracked 20 homers in 2012. As for Oakland, they are by far the worst team in MLB according to team batting average. The Milwaukee Brewers are hitting a paltry .229 as a team. They’re the second-worst team in batting average next to Oakland, and the Brew Crew are eight points better than the dead-last A’s. For further similarities, Germán only needed 99 pitches to become No. 24 on the list of flawless performances by flawed humans (redundant). Humber casually threw 96 pitches against Seattle. Both pitchers accomplished their feats on the road in ballparks that would both be described as pitcher-friendly in the moment of time each performance occurred.
So why make the comparison between Humber and Germán? Well, it’s not about the opportunity to bash a Yankee just for the hell of it. The Yankees’ performance as a team this season and really since the turn of the century in comparison to the 20th century speaks for itself. The real reason I’m making a point of comparing these two pitchers is to reveal the rather ho-hum career that Germán has and will likely conclude with by the time he leaves the game. Humber pitched in MLB from 2006 to 2013 with a fluky outlier season in 2011 with the White Sox where he sustained a 3.75 ERA (3.58 FIP) over 163 innings being the highlight of his career outside of his perfect game in 2012. Humber quietly came into the game, then he quietly left it a year after achieving baseball immortality. Germán has certainly made more waves with his stuff from a strikeout perspective (9.22 career K/9) than Humber ever did, but he could still be on the same track as Humber. A career 4.40 ERA (4.01 SIERA) for Domingo bests Humber’s, which is 5.31 (4.28 SIERA). Yet, Humber’s 2011 is similar to Germáns 2019 when the Yankee righty was able to accrue an absurd 18-4 record in 143 IP. That’s by far the most innings the Yankees have gotten out of their starter in any season. 2023 is the season that could eclipse 2019 for German from an innings standpoint as he already has thrown 81.1 IP.
Germán will be 31 August 4. Similar to Humber, Germán’s perfect game may come in the twilight of his MLB career. Even with a perfect game, Mr. Perfect is still mostly a streamer in fantasy baseball. Depending on team context, he could be rostered in 14-teamers and deeper. Yet, he’s still rostered in 51% of Yahoo leagues. That’s no surprise. Long time fantasy baseball managers know all about this common phenomenon with Yankee players. It’s no secret. It’s a similar concept that is common in my H2H home league (shout-out BYB!). Our league is roughly comprised of either Detroit Tigers loyalists or Chicago Cubs fans. The same Yankee principle applies. The prices and roster percentages get jacked up a bit on Cubs and Tigers in my home league. Maybe some White Sox too, but we all can’t stand them equally. Germán might be an example of a Yankee player getting more notoriety just for wearing those damn pinstripes.
“You know why the Yankees always win, Frank?”
“Because they have Mickey Mantle?”
“Nah, it’s ‘cause the other teams can’t stop staring at those damn pinstripes.”
There’s more meat on this bone still as it would be a disservice to ignore Germán’s decisions as a professional ballplayer in MLB. Germán’s actions in The Show reveal repeated deceptive tactics and a lack of accountability. That’s just during the 2023 season alone! Germán’s sneaky actions April 15 at Yankee Stadium sent Twins manager Rocco Baldelli into a rage and got him booted from a game that Germán was allowed to stay in while he struck out 11 Twins with gunk all over his hands (the umpire crew run by crew chief James Hoye were absolutely at fault for knowingly allowing Germán to stay in the game). About a month later, May 16, in Toronto, Germán was ejected after finally being properly busted for using the sticky-icky spider-tack stuff on his hands (not that sticky-icky). Hoye, (the same crew chief who allowed Germán to stay in the game a month prior against Minnesota despite obvious evidence Germán had a sticky presence on his hands) the crew chief for the umpire crew who rightfully threw Germán out of that game at the Rogers Centre, said German’s hand was the “stickiest I’ve ever felt” and that the substance on Germán’s hand was “definitely not rosin.” Then MLB handed down a 10-game suspension for Germán, which is basically a two-game absence because he pitches every five days. Still not satisfied? Well, this was not Germán’s first career suspension. The first suspension came after a regretful event in 2019 when the Yankee hurler allegedly slapped his girlfriend during a violent episode at a special party thrown by former Yankee CC Sabathia. It’s definitely worth noting that Germánwas drunk that night. He created quite a chaotic setting of fear that apparently required intervention from another Yankee and his wife to protect the woman who was attacked. This one awful night would cost Germán 81 games as he was suspended for part of 2019 and the entire reduced 60-game pandemic season of 2020.
Before I conclude, I want to offer up some understanding. Some perspective. Everybody deserves a chance to make amends. To start fresh. I’m sure there are a litany of exceptions that could be brought to my attention. That’s not the point here, though. Domingo Germán, myself and everybody on this plane of existence deserves the opportunity to start anew. Harmful actions during a prolonged period of mistake after mistake from our past should not serve as a Scarlet Letter for the rest of our living days inside of our minds and out. For the uninitiated, it’s no secret that I was addicted to opioids for most of my 30s, from about 2012 to 2018. Being in that state of mind encouraged me to simultaneously make choices that hurt people I didn’t know at all and loved a great deal all the same. Even if it was dope sickness that drove me to irrational acts of selfishness, I still had to be accountable for my actions in the final analysis. I will never ask anybody to excuse or forget my behavior. All I ask is for people to be tolerant of two possibilities. First, that others kindly spare their patience long enough to understand that I was truly sorry for the pain my actions had caused to people I crushed with my choices while I was running and gunning on the streets. Secondly, to be given another chance to explore this world with a genuine, honest curiosity which in time provides a return to an endless loop of fallibility which flourishes freely to allow for mistakes. I humbly asked to exist as a human being again like I had prior to the addiction. Giving the gift of tolerance through forgiveness to someone despite their blatant disregard resulting in troubling remains of haggard mental wounds brings about an immeasurable peace of mind. To be given the grace to make more mistakes with the hope that this time, armed with the wisdom of chaos, my nightmare would actually become my greatest attribute. I am no better than Domingo Germán, but I do think it’s fair to ask if he is willing to be accountable for his actions.
Pointless Act
It’s important to find time for levity in each day we inhabit this planet. If we can do so with brevity, then we have completed the levity/brevity/regularity trifecta for the day! So let me introduce this week’s most innocuous transaction as found on MLB’s own website. Get ready to be shocked!
Screenshots
Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels
This was a strange moment Monday night. Mike Trout took a swing on a foul ball in the eighth inning. He immediately stepped across home plate looking frustrated while shaking his hand. He left the game after that. More will be revealed on this Tuesday. The Angels have a weird off day Sunday, starting their ASB a day early. It’s possible Trout takes the rest of the week off to prepare for the post-ASB charge. Again, it’s all about what we learn from this late-Monday-night development Tuesday. Stay tuned.
Eduardo Rodriguez/Tarik Skubal/Riley Greene/Akil Baddoo, Detroit Tigers
Detroit is getting healthy at the right time! Tarik Skubal will make his season debut on the bump for the Fourth of July, just as I stated in this article seven days ago. Then Eduardo Rodriguez will follow him Wednesday in his return from the pulley finger injury. Both pitchers are a must add to all fantasy baseball leagues. Next up is outfielder Riley Greene, who has kicked off his rehab effort in Toledo. Greene’s fibula issue was no joke, so expect him to rehab through the ASB in preparation for a return to the lineup in the first game back after the break. Then there is Akil Baddoo, who started his rehab late last week. It’s possible he can give it a go with the Tigers before Sunday comes. I’m much more bullish on the two pitchers than the two hitters, though Riley Greene still has the chance to be a legit OF piece in all formats. Also, SP Alex Faedo is currently on a rehab stint. Someone to keep an eye on as well.
Oscar Colás, OF, Chicago White Sox
The Pale Hose are giving the Cuban-born Oscar Colás another go-around in The Show after his first opportunity when he made the Opening Day roster out of spring training. Colás had two multi-hit games in his first three starts when he debuted back at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, he only cranked a single dong before he was demoted at the end of April after 84 PA. Colás then went down to AAA, where he smoked 9 bombs with a .293/.358/.508 triple slash over 212 PA. Chicago’s Triple-A park in Charlotte is known as a homer-happy haven, but Colás is a talented outfielder who blasted 4 of those 9 homers on the road. Remember that April was hell on earth for the White Sox, but Colás isn’t the one to blame for it. Colás is a definite add in 12-teamers and deeper.
Josh Naylor, 1B, Cleveland Guardians
I have been so pleased with Josh Naylor this year. I only wish I had more shares of him, but I got sniped too many times in drafts. Anyways, Naylor is going to have further testing done on his right wrist. It’s a problem that has been an on and off issue for Naylor for lately. Yet, he’s hitting .300 with 60 RBIs and 10 dongs. He’s becoming one of my favorite players in baseball. I’m not sweating this wrist issue because he’s been producing with it already. I think this is again related to the impending ASB. Everybody is trying to maximize coverage for recovery for their players while exploiting the timeline of the break.
Alek Manoah, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
How about this guy? I must say, the hate Alek Manoah has received from people on Twitter was short-sighted and bogus. The dude has been going through some personal challenges that any human being should be allowed to process. I understand ripping players who make millions of dollars when they don’t perform. MLB Is generally a merit-based place for the most part. That’s why they’re professionals. Yet, there are exceptions. Manoah has a pass from me because I have talked to some people who know him. All I can say is be patient with him. He is not physically hurt. His start this past Sunday clearly showed that. Manoah will be back in the bigs eventually. I am absolutely all in on his return to MLB. And not just a return, but a return to his 2022 form!
Brandon Lowe, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays
Brandon Lowe is going to be activated for Tuesday’s series against the Phillies. As I mentioned here before, I used to love Lowe, but now I am paranoid about his ability to stay on the field with his back issue. His power at second is a plus. Lowe also has more value in OBP leagues because of his batter’s eye. Yet, I need to see it to believe it first.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., OF, Miami Marlins
Back again so soon? Seriously, are any fantasy managers surprised? The oblique ended up getting him right after returning from the IL. I admit I thought the toe would bring him down again, but either way Jazz Chisholm Jr. is not to be trusted over the course of the season. In a way, the toe may have been his undoing. It’s a classic injury trope in sports, but it holds water. Overcompensating for one injury will most likely lead to another. It may be unfair to say that Chisholm’s body is just not holding up when he wasn’t healthy to begin with. That’s a shame too because he’s a lot of fun in real life! If someone still believes in his talent, package him in a trade if possible. Now.
Carlos Rodón, SP, New York Yankees
Get ready, because here he comes! All signs are pointing to Friday for Carlos Rodón to make his season debut for the Bronx Bombers against the Chicago Cubs. There are many people who thought Rodón would miss the entire season. Nope! He will at least pitch Friday. Then the ASB will happen to give Rodón plenty of time to prep for his next start out the gate after the break. I am pro-Rodón. When I say that, I mean that I am not worried about him staying healthy for the rest of 2023. He’s going to give fantasy managers about 75 innings of excellent baseball this year!
Jose Miranda, 1B/3B, Minnesota Twins
I did not expect Jose Miranda back this soon, but it’s another stunner. Royce Lewis was lost to the IL because of an oblique injury, which could keep him out for about six weeks, so here Miranda is. So far Miranda is 0-4 in two games. He didn’t wow me while he was down in AAA during his demotion. Miranda had a 73 wRC+ in 181 PA while playing in St. Paul. I loved Miranda coming into 2023, but I have definitely changed my tune.
Aroldis Chapman, RP, Texas Rangers
Will Smith just blew his first save since May 5 Monday against Houston. Welcome to Texas, Aroldis! It’s going to take some time before Aroldis Chapman gets the closer gig, even with Smith blowing it Monday. Bruce Bochy has a real team on his hands that has relied on Smith consistently, and Smith has been rock solid this year. Yes, Aroldis is a more powerful pitcher, but Smith has been a savvy closer thatwho Bochy has relied on in the past with the Giants prior to this. Chapman is insurance. Fantasy baseball managers banking on Chapman taking this job need to slow their roll. For now.
Darick Hall, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies reinstated Darick Hall last Sunday against the Nats, and he went 1-4 in his return. Kody Clemens went back down to AAA, so it’s Hall’s world now. I don’t have a strong desire to be in business with Hall, but he does have a solid power stroke who is most useful in OBP leagues because of his ability to draw a walk. Though I admit he hasn’t shown that ability at the MLB level yet. Hall is worth adding in 14-teamers and deeper.
Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago Cubs
Classic Nick Madrigal — just when he is putting the ball in play consistently and getting on base, he tweaks his right hammy. He was having a good game too when he was pulled in the fourth inning Monday night. Why can’t we have nice Nick Madrigal things? The Cubs are clawing their way to the front of the NL Central. They still have work to do. If Madrigal can be available for them by resting from now through the ASB, they will rest him. I’m off Madrigal now after making a few Madrigal adds of my own last weekend. Sigh…
Michael Soroka, SP, Atlanta Braves
Round two! Fight! Michael Soroka’s second chance with Atlanta for 2023 commenced last Friday with an excellent outing against the Marlins. Soroka secured the win while going six strong with 7 K’s. It was a massive boost to his confidence after literal years of injuries and delays. Now Soroka will go again Wednesday in the city of the Rock Hall of Fame against the Guardians. It feels like Soroka finally has broken through and can now be a part of this special Atlanta team rest of season.
Logan O’Hoppe, C, Los Angeles Angels
How about this news? It’s still optimistic, but word is Logan O’Hoppe and the Angels think they can beat the original six-month timeline on his torn labrum. If it can be closer to four, then O’Hoppe is capable of returning in late August. Keep an eye on this because this could also have a lot to do with how the Angels are faring a month from now in the standings.
Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
This injury has been covered in detail, but I wanted to make sure it was in the rotation this week, because Shane McClanahan is an extremely important player. After waiting eight days to make his next start after leaving the first one early, it didn’t work out. Back tightness was an issue for fellow teammate Zach Eflin earlier this year. He went on the IL and then got back to business. I would not be worried about McClanahan going forward. He will be his old self post ASB.
Mike Yastrzemski, OF, San Francisco Giants
Man, time is a fickle thing! I swear I just wrote up a positive blurb about Yaz Part Two crushing dongs, then he hit the IL the next day. Now he is back instantly going 1-3 in his return Monday night in a 6-5 loss to Seattle. Mike Yastrzemski is a serviceable OF who is more of a streamer for his hot streaks than anything else.
Bryce Miller, SP, Seattle Mariners
Blisters are annoying. Just ask MacKenzie Gore. Bryce Miller has his innings preserved ever so slightly by missing his next start. Then the All-Star break gives way to more time before Miller comes back. This will absolutely be a minimum stay on the IL for Miller unless this is a manipulation by the Mariners. We’ll know when the time comes for Miller to return.
JJ Bleday, OF, Oakland Athletics
Just wanted everybody to be aware that JJ Bleday has played fairly well at the plate over the last week or so. He’s made some timely hits with runners in scoring position driving in 8 while scoring 6 times over his last eight appearances. In deeper leagues he’s worth a possible add just to see if he continues to perform against Detroit and Boston this week.
