Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next day. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD chart August 10.pdf    

    

CORY’S PICKS

SATURDAY

Matusz @
Sonnanstine

Porcello @
Jackson

Vargas @
Talbot

Hughes @
O’Sullivan

Cahill @
Duensing

Lester @
Lewis

Cecil @ Big Erv – Big Erv
: Angels :: Dice-K : Red Sox

Zambrano @
Carpenter

Latos @
Bumgarner – awesome
matchup

Kennedy @ Marquis -
Kennedy OK for deeper leagues and chasing wins/K’s

Maholm @
Figueroa

West @
Leake

Lilly @
Lowe

Halladay @
TBD

Narveson @
Rogers

 

SUNDAY

King
Felix @
Masterson

Arrieta @
Hellickson

Galarraga @ F. Garcia
- Big Chief a pure wins-case, little upside though

Burnett @
Bannister

Mazzaro @
Slowey – conservatives might bench Slowey but I like the
matchup

Dice-K @ Wilson – not
much faith in continued success from either

Romero @
Haren

An.
Sanchez @
TBD

Padilla @
Minor

Enright @
Strasburg

Karstens @
Norris

Dempster @ Lohse – Dempster a
little shaky lately but has upside

Parra @
Jimenez

LeBlanc @
Lincecum – If you took
Lincecum in the 2^nd/3^rd round, you better start him
here!

Kendrick @ Pelfrey -
not sold on Pelfrey’s “return” yet

 

MONDAY

French @
Bergesen – Bergesen on a roll, and great matchup

Scherzer @
Vazquez

Lee @
Price – top of the Cy
Young ballot on display here

Marcum @
Anderson

Volstad @
McDonald

Billingsley @
Jurrjens

Correia @
Gorzelanny

Niese @ Happ – both
OK for deeper leagues but I’m leery

 

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next day. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD chart August 10.pdf                                            

SIANO’S PICKS

Pauley @
Carmona

Guthrie @
Shields

Beckett @
Hunter

Bonderman @
Buehrle

Moseley
@
Davies

Gonzalez @
Pavano *Gonzalez is very risky here but brings big
K’s. I’m very on the fence.

Rzepczynski @
Kazmir

Saunders @
Lannan

Johnson @ Volquez *Which Volquez shows up? You know? I
don’t.

Hamels @ Dickey *Dickey a high risk medium
reward.

Kuroda @ T.
Hudson

Ohlendorf @
Myers *Myers has been just
wow.

Diamond @
Westbrook

Gallardo @ De La
Rosa

Richard @ J.
Sanchez

***Cory says “Some
disagreements here! Ditch Carmona and Shields, both awful in the 2nd half. Pitch
Guthrie vs. erratic Rays. He’s having an awesome 2nd half. Only pitch Buehrle if
chasing wins and can risk the ratios. Not loving DLR or Richard, but I’ll get
on board with Siano for now.”

Hey guys,

Below you’ll find the updated Pitch or Ditch category chart:

PoD chart August 10.pdf                                            

Even though there are only 25 pitchers listed as DTM, I strongly advise everyone to choose their PoDers carefully. Now is not the time to risk losing a significant number of points in ERA and WHIP as it’ll become more and more difficult to repair the damage as the end of the season draws near. Don’t waste valuable innings on mediocre pitchers facing less than ideal matchups.

A reminder as to how the chart works:

We’ve
divided all the starting
pitchers in the Majors into four groups:
Aces, Pitch or Ditch graduates, Pitch or Ditch guys and DTM’s (players
you shouldn’t even think about starting right now). Keep in mind that these
classifications are geared towards 12-team mixed leagues and are of
course subject to change as the season progresses. We’ll be posting
updated versions every two weeks.

Some of these decisions were very tough so let us know what you think. All opinions are welcome.

-Zach

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next day. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD
chart July 23.pdf

CORY’S PICKS

Lackey @ Mills – I don’t trust Lackey anymore.
Millwood @ J.Gomez
Liriano @ Floyd
Sabathia @ Chen
Hammel @ J. Santana – Hammel had a nice run but has cooled lately
Lopez @ Wolf
Wells @ Cain – Still a believer in Wells
Duke @ Garland – OK on Garland at home vs. Pirates
Nolasco @ Livan – Still a believer in Nolasco
Kershaw @ Blanton

***Siano says “Agreed. Lackey still has AL-only value but he’s risky in mixed leagues. The Mariners and A’s would be nice but alas he went to the beast.”

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next day. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD
chart July 23.pdf

CORY’S PICKS

Garza @ Verlander
Greinke @ Weaver
Braden @ French
Bergesen @ Tomlin – Bergesen worth a gamble for those desperate in deeper leagues
Buchholz @ Marcum
Vazquez @ Lee – tough matchup for Vazquez, who’s struggled since the All-Star break
Slowey @ Danks - Slowey too erratic to trust, especially on the road
Wainwright @ Arroyo
Hanson @ Wandy – glad to see Wandy back!
Volstad @ Olsen
Billingsley @ Oswalt
Francis @ Niese – both are toss-ups but this is the time of the year for conservatism
D. Hudson @ Bush
McDonald @ Correia – I wouldn’t start McDonald yet but he’s worth tracking
Gorzelanny @ Zito

***Siano says “I’m gonna roll the dice on McDonald because he can get Ks and it’s the Padres lineup. Agree with the rest.”

 

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next guy. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD
chart July 23.pdf

CORY’S PICKS

Arrieta @
Masterson

W. Davis @
Scherzer – I’d start Davis here if I knew he was healthy and going to
pitch

Dice-K @ Romero -
Dice-K is trying to earn my trust back

Burnett
@
Wilson – If Wilson can’t handle the A’s and M’s how will he handle the
Yankees?

Baker @ F.
Garcia

Bullington @
Haren

Anderson @ King
Felix

An. Sanchez @
Strasburg

Padilla @
Kendrick

Jimenez @
Pelfrey

J.
Garcia @ Cueto – Is
the clock winding down on Garcia?

Jurrjens @
Happ

Enright @ Parra – Gotta ride
Enright ’til he goes Ely on us

Karstens @
LeBlanc

Dempster @
Lincecum – Dempster in a rough patch, let’s call time
out

***Zach says “@ TEX is a brutal matchup for the erratic Burnett…I’m passing. I’ll give Dempster a shot @SF. After all, he is coming off a strong outing vs. the Brewers and the Giants lineup is far from imposing. Agree on rest.”

 

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next guy. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD
chart July 23.pdf

SIANO’S PICKS

SATURDAY

Shields @ Litsch

Lackey @ Sabathia - Very tough call on Lackey but
he’s a gamer. Watch with one eye closed

Harden @ G. Gonzalez - Both guys are a decent
gamble

TBD @ Bonderman

Floyd @ Millwood

Pavano @ Carmona - Unreal

Chen @ Vargas

Volquez @ Wells – This could be 2-1 or 20-19…I’ll split
difference and say 10-9.5

De La Rosa @ Ohlendorf

J. Santana @ Hamels - Johan it’s the first inning
duck!

Myers @ Wolf

Cain @ T. Hudson

Westbrook @ Johnson

Richard @ Lopez – Richard has been living too much on the
edge

Livan @ Kuroda - Livan’s last 3 road starts have
been pretty good

ZACH’S PICKS

SUNDAY

Bell @
Porcello

Duensing @
Huff

Niemann @
Morrow – Tough test for Morrow but he’s been dominant at home (3.25 ERA)

Buehrle @
Guthrie – Buehrle 3 ER or fewer in 9 of his last 10 starts…Guthrie 6 ER combined over last 4 starts

Lewis @
Cahill

Bannister @
TBD

Beckett @
Burnett – Both risky but Beckett at least has a shot at pitching well…Burnett DTM right now

TBD @ An.
Sanchez – Anibal tough to figure out but he’s a lot better at home than on the road

TBD @
Maholm

Dickey @
Halladay - We’re still waiting for Dickey to implode…maybe it just won’t happen

J. Sanchez @
Lowe

Wright @
Gallardo

Wood @
Diamond

Latos @
Saundo – Saundo red-hot

Marquis @
Lilly

 

MONDAY

 

Lester @
Moseley

Jackson @
Matusz – Edwin too erratic to trust vs. any opponent

Price @
Galarraga

Davies @ Big
Erv – Erv should bounce back here

Mazzaro @
Fister – Love the matchup for Fister

Carpenter @
Leake – I’m off the Leake bandwagon for now

Minor @
Norris

Kennedy @
Narveson – Pitch Kennedy if you have to but I’ll stay away

Zambrano @
Bumgarner - Welcome back Big Z! Time to earn back our trust

 

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next guy. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD
chart July 23.pdf

ZACH’S PICKS

Danks @ Bergesen
Liriano @ Gomez
Weaver @ Verlander
Buchholz @ Vazquez – Normally I’d ditch on Vazquez here but BOS lineup now a shell of what it was on opening day
Garza @ Cecil – Cecil on quite a roll
Lee @ Braden – Braden coming off best start since perfecto but this is a tough matchup
Greinke @ French
Arroyo @ Gorzelanny – Bronson always boom or bust but take a look at his season numbers and you would be pleasantly surprised
Hammel @ Duke – Hammel inconsistent lately but hard to say ditch here
Wainwright @ Nolasco – Anyone notice that Mr. Nolasco is 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over his last nine starts?
Zito @ Hanson
Niese @ Blanton – Roll the dice on Niese vs. Howard-less Phils…Blanton a lot better lately but I need to see more
Wandy @ Bush – The 411 congratulates on Wandy for resurrecting his season
Garland @ D. Hudson – Garland terrible on the road…pitch on Hudson only if you’re brave
Lannan @ Kershaw

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next guy. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD
chart July 23.pdf

CORY’S PICKS

Slowey @ W. Davis – Davis heating up, Slowey struggles on the road
F. Garcia @ Scherzer
Haren @ Arrieta
Tomlin @ Dice-K – Dice-K not particularly trustworthy, but it’s the Indians
Hunter @ King Felix
Francis @ McDonald – Keep an eye on McDonald in deeper leagues
Oswalt @ Volstad
Lincecum @ Jurrjens
Detwiler @ Enright – The D-backs’ version of John Ely (April/May version) will keep rolling
Correia @ Billingsley – Even though Dodgers can’t score, Correia is awful on the road

Pitch
or Ditch is a strategy for (ideally) daily mixed leagues in which you
pick up
starters on a day-to-day basis based on how well they are pitching and
their
upcoming matchups, then cut them in favor of new guys the next guy. The
concept
is that the shallower the league, the more quality starting pitching is
available on the free agent wire, so rather than drafting expensive
starters,
it’s better to build a strong offense and bullpen and let the free agent
wire
populate your starting staff during the season. As a bonus, a handful of
“PoD”
guys emerge each year as worth keeping all year long, like Jair Jurrjens
last
year or Cliff Lee in ’08.
__________________________________________________________________________________

PoD
chart July 23.pdf

CORY’S PICKS

Marcum @ Hughes – HR-prone Hughes at home vs. homer-happy Jays? Proceed with caution in shallower leagues
O’Sullivan @ Anderson
Big Erv @ Matusz
Jackson @ Galarraga
Masterson @ Lester
Baker @ Price
Wilson @ Fister
Cueto @ Karstens
Parra @ Dempster – Dempster really struggling lately, not an automatic pitch here
Bumgarner @ Jimenez
Pelfrey @ Medlen – Leash is getting shorter on Medlen
Kendrick @ An. Sanchez
Happ @ Carpenter
Stammen @ Kennedy
LeBlanc @ Padilla