Post Memorial Day Updates
Hello and Welcome to Hoff's Hot Takes. We are going to do a deep dive into the last month or so of the league. Hope everybody had a good Memorial Day. I also hope you are nice and bored at work right now, because there is going to be tons of fire coming out of this version of the Takes. So much stats and info your head may explode. Please make sure you are not alone when reading, ya know, for safety sakes. We break down the 30 HR, 30 2B, 30 SB club near the end, and it is pretty damn interesting. Stay tuned. Today's Takes are brought to you by Taco Bell, Being Bored at Work, and the all new Super Mario Brothers Movie. We are just going to go right into breaking down everyone's teams -> Note : 3 best players are the ones who have the highest score on the Player Rater. 3 best according to fantasy pros is their rest of season ranks.
Alex Berry
Overall: 37-47-12
Record in May: 27-15-6
Last Week: Won vs. Micah 9-3-0
Matchup This Week: Currently winning 5-2-5 against Kloss as of Tuesday afternoon
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Wander Franco, Nick Castellanos, and Logan Gilbert
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Wander Franco (20), Trae Turner (23), and Fernando Tatis Jr (26)
Notes: Don't look now - Alex is on a roll. He had the third-best team throughout the month of May record wise. I see him cruising into the 5 seed in the playoffs later this summer. Always have been a Shane Bieber fan, and he is tossing gems again this season. A test against the number one team in the league is awaiting this week. I would like to see AlBerr fight tough and pull out a win to keep his momentum going. Wander Franco is a stud. Alex faces Kloss, Joe, and Brey this week and next two, but then his schedule eases up. If he can get through here, look for a huge late season push in July. The only player that is in the top 10 of a hitting category for Alex is Wander Franco in steals.
Alex Kurgan
Overall : 36-47-13
Record in May : 20-20-8
Last Week: Won 6-3-3 against Jordan Hoffmann
Matchup This Week: Currently down 2-5-5 to Mike Berrones as of Noon Tuesday
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Matt Olson, Max Muncy, and Mookie Betts
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Matt Olson (10), Max Muncy (58), and Max Fried (99)
Notes: He has tied more than anyone in the league, and in May was exactly .500. You know my rule about writing about ties. Let's move on... Just Kidding, we would not do that to the lovable 'Topes! Man, ATL catchers are mashing this season, Travid D'Arnaud is killing it as well for the Braves. Correa and Abreu have to step it up - Jose started this weekend by getting his first HR. It is still good to see Charlie Blackmon and his long hair putting up numbies. If he gets Fried and Rodon back into the rotation, maybe we can start moving up the standings when the temps start getting warm.
Bill Brey
Overall : 54-35-7
Record in May : 24-20-4
Last Week: Won vs. Mike Berrons 8-3-1
Matchup This Week: Currently beating Joe Gaza 5-0-7 as of Tuesday AM.
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Marcus Semien, Cedric Mullins, and Adolis Garcia
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Marcus Simien (6), Vlad Guerrero Jr. (8), and Adolis Garcia (22)
Notes: I see this team as the Anti-Berrones - a deep team that does not have a ton of guys stand out, but everybody chips in. Gurriel Jr., and Soler are starting to heat up this month, so if they get hot he could improve just a bit too. Volpe is contributing in SB, but not much else. He got a little pop to him. Could see him being a keeper because he was picked in like the 2nd to last round. Needs Jazz and Duran to come off the IL to get back in there as well. I could see a final four of Kloss, Star, Joe, and Brey if he stays consistent. His three Yankee starting pitchers have combined for 106 innings and an ERA of 2.90.
Joe Gaza
Overall : 51-39-6
Record in May : 32-14-2
Last Week: Beat Nolan 7-4-1
Matchup This Week: Currently Losing 0-5-7 to Bill Brey as of Tuesday AM
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Yandy Diaz, Paul Goldschmidt, and Joe Ryan
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Paul Goldschmidt (12), Kyle Tucker (14), Johnathon India (36)
Notes: Joe has a tie in there but has dominated his other 3 matchups this month. He has not lost in a very long time, and he has inched into Final 4 territory for me... Joe has 8 guys who are top 5 at their position, which seems pretty bonkers to me. Alex Lange + Joe Ryan = 83 IP and an ERA of about 2. He has two potential 35 save guys on his roster, and his hitters are pretty good. Joe gets extra points for having two guys named Will Smith on his team. Joe has Ian Happ in the top 5 in walks, and Johnathon India in top 5 in runs. Joe has no other player in the top 10 in any major hitting category. I think his hitters wake up now that the weather has turned, and he zooms. Championship aspirations incoming for Joe.
Jordan Hoffmann
Overall: 26-61-9
Record in May: 12-32-4
Last Week: Lost 3-6-3 to Kurgan
Matchup This Week: Currently Losing 0-7-5 to Star as of Tuesday AM.
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Ronald Acuna, Framber Valdez, and Alexis Diaz
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Ronald Acuna (1) , Nolan Arenado (32) , and Ryan Mountcastle (44)
Notes: It has been a tough reentry for Jordan into the Dirty Diez. I do not think Wild Thing is that bad, but we are getting pretty unlucky. 4 of the last 5 matchups Jordan has had 7 wins going into the weekend, and has zero wins to show for it I believe. We are offically selling the squad, and looking for picks and youngings to keep me moving next season. Acuna, Framber, Scwarber, Arenado, Diaz, Morton, and more for sale. Come and grab them. Xander Bogarts has underpreformed a bit, and Jordan has Schwarber and Gunnar Henderson batting uner .200. Acuna's current per 162 pace this season - 144 runs, 210 hits, 45 doubles, 33 HR, and 66 SB on 75 attempts while batting over .280. Tony Golsilin - 30 IP and an ERA under 2.
Micah Yarborough
Overall: 40-49-7
Record in May: 20-25-3
Last Week: Lost to Alex berry 3-9-0
Matchup This Week: Currently up 7-1-4 on Nolan as of Tuesday afternoon
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Marcus Stroman, Corbin Carroll, and Anthony Rizzo
3 Best Players for the Rest of the Season According to Fantasy Pros: Bobby Witt Jr. (19), Manny Machado (35), and Corbin Burnes (59)
Notes: Bobby Witt is a cool player. I tried to pry him away from Micah in the offseason to no avail. He is going to push the 30/30/30 club maybe. Corbin Carroll is also going to be pushing it. Adley Ruschman : 0 SB, but 41 walks already. Speed aint there, but boy his eye sure is. Emmanuel Clase already has 17 saves, on pace for about 50. Micah has some horses in the pen, but needs a few long hurlers to get to them. Stroman already has 10 QS, and a WHIP under 1. Lets see if Bobby Miller can stay up for the Dodgers. Micah is last or second to last in Runs, HR, RBI, and WHIP.
Mike Berrones
Overall : 44-47-5
Record in May : 15-30-3
Last Week: Lost 3-8-1 to Bill Brey
Matchup This Week: Currently Winning 5-2-5 against Alex Kurgan as of Tuesday AM.
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Freddie Freeman, Aaron Judge, Bo Bichette
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Aaron Judge, Freddie Freeman, and Bo Bichette (2,3,4 overall)
Notes: I think the month of May has shown us who Miggy's team really is. Top heavy is a word that could be used. I believe the fantasy term for it is "Studs and Duds". I will give him a pass because his team is in and out of the medical facility more than an 80 year old on dialysis. O'Niel Cruz, Jacob DeGrom, Stanton, Cron, Estrada, and Vinny Velasquiz are all on the IL. Bo Bichette is inching towards the "Aint no Joke" area on average (TM Micah Yarbs) with a BA of .338. He is also on pace for 30 doubles, 30 HR, and like 115 RBI. Josh Hader and Shane McClanahan combined for 86 IP and an ERA of like 1.75. Stablize the health, have the pitchers hold on, get a free agent or young guy off the waiver wire to build depth, and Mike can be there in the final 4.
Mike Kloss
Overall: 62-26-8
Record in May : 29-15-4
Last Week: Victory over Ryan Starcevich 8-4-0
Matchup This Week: Currently Losing 2-5-5 to Alex Berry
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Josh Lowe, Yordan Alvarez, and Nathan Eovaldi
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Yordan Alvarez (5), Jose Ramirez (11), and Austin Riley (27)
Notes: Hoff's Hot Takes preseason favorite, and we are not switching it up here in this publication. Spencer Strider is scary, and his combo of that high 90s gas and his slider are deadly. Josh Lowe is chasing 30/30/30, and Nico Horner is just staying hot. The man has Christopher Morel, who is shooting flames out of his bat when he swings as well. Guys got the good Cubs. Sonny Gray, Nathan Eovaldi, and Eduardo Rodriguez have combined for 200 IP, 10 wins, and an ERA of 2.25. Hell even his IL guys are 25 innings combined with an ERA of like .96. Get this guy in the title game already. Camilo Doval and Logan Webb combined for 100 IP and an ERA of 2.00. I could keep going with these random stats. Like this team. Maybe trade for Framber and Acuna for a high pick and just waltz to some money?
Nolan Weick
Overall: 38-51-7
Record in May: 12-32-4
Last Week: Lost 4-7-1 to Joe Gaza
Matchup This Week: Currently Losing 1-4-7 to Micah
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Randy Arozarena, Pete Alonzo, and Felix Bautista
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Randy Arozarena (13), Rafael Devers (17), and Luis Robert (28)
Notes: With a couple good outings with superb control, Felix Bautista may end the season with more saves than walks, which is kinda cool. Nolan has team Gray on his pitching staff - John and Josiah Gray have a combined 120 innings and a 2.80 ERA. I like Bailey Ober, I saw him pitch awhile ago on MLB network and enjoy his stuff. Pete Alonso is on pace for 60 HR and 120 RBI. Geraldo Peradomo is good too - Nolan has something going here, I just am not quite sure what it is. Tyler Wells for the O's has over 60 innings pitched and a WHIP of .80
Ryan Starcevich
Overall : 53-39-4
Record in May : 26-21-1
Last Week: Lost 4-8 to Mike Kloss
Matchup This Week: Currently beating Jordan 7-0-5 as of Tuesday midday.
3 Best Players According to the Player Rater: Sean Murphy, Mike Trout, and Juan Soto
3 Best Players for Rest of Season According to Fantasy Pros: Julio Rodriguez (9), Mike Trout (15), and Juan Soto (18)
Notes: Ryan started 9 games over .500 in March/April, and only 5 games over in May. Is this random, or is a regression to the mean? Star has 7 players at the top 5 of their position. Sean Murphy has an OPS of almost .1000, and has been huge for him. Julio is on pace to be a 30/30/30 guy (a stat I made up last Takes consisting of 30 HR, 30 doubles, and 30 SB. I am going to do some research and at the end of the article, I am going to layout the greats 30/30/30 seasons) Duran and Cano, closers for Star from MIN and BAL, have a combined 11 saves, 50 IP, and a 1.08 ERA. That good? He has 7 guys on his staff with an ERA of 3.00 or better, and that does not include the two starters on the IL with a combined 90 innings and a 2.60 ERA. This staff is nasty, and if it holds up, is a huge reason I see him in the Final 4.
30/30/30 seasons since 1990 - A season where a batter gets 30 doubles, 30 HR, and 30 SB
Alfonso Soriano (4x), Barry Bonds (3x), Vlad Guerrero (2x), Bobby Abreu (2x), Ron Gant (2x), Ryan Braun (2x), Ian Kinsler (2x), Jimmy Rollins (2007 MVP year), 2021 Cerdic Mullins, Larry Walker (1997 MVP year), 1996 Dante Bichette, 2004 Carlos Beltran, 1996 Barry Larkin, 1996 Ellis Burks, 1999 Jeff Bagwell, 2011 Matt Kemp (Missed 40/40 by 1 HR), Mookie Betts (2018 MVP year), 1998 A-Rod (40/40 and batted .310. 9th in MVP that season somehow!), 2008 Grady Seizmore, 2007 David Wright, 2008 Hanley Ramirez, 1997 Raul Mondesi, 2018 Jose Ramirez, and 2011 Jacoby Ellsbury
Note - Mike Trout has 0 30/30/30 seasons, but if you lower it to 29/29/29, he has 5!..... Christian Yelich in his MVP season missed 30/30/30 by a double... Soriano having more than Bonds is pretty wild...Only 7 guys have done 30/30/30 in multiple seasons since 1990.
Random Stats - Spencer Strider is the best player in the MLB at getting swings and misses. Strider has induced 238 swings and misses this season. Shane McClanahan and Luis Castillo are tied for 2nd with 175... On 5/27, road teams outscored home teams 114-49. That is the biggest run differential by road teams for a single day since 7/30/1890. Road teams also went 13-2 in those 15 contests... On 5/27 Bobby Witt had 4 XBH, 2HR, 5RBI, and a steal. That is only the 48th time in MLB history that those numbers have been reached. Bobby Witt is the only guy to have his team lose a game during that performance, so teams are now 47-1... Christopher Morel hit a homer in 5 straight games batting in 5 different lineup positions. He is the only person to do that in MLB history.
Hoff's Hot Takes Power Rankings - Kloss, Star, Joe, Brey, Mike, Alex Berry
Playoff Standings - Kloss, Star, Brey, Joe, Mike, Alex Berry
Link to the Hoff's Hot Takes Playlist -> https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aWbKnJS5FZNXsUWbxEMXr?si=b0373ad2ce064e74<br>