MLB: The Final Friday
September 28th, 2012 | by Ray Flowers |
The Dodgers gave Andre Ethier a 5-year, $85 million deal signaling that he is one of the building blocks of their offense. Then we get this. Manager Don Mattingly said the following about Ethier’s inability to hit left-handed pitching. “I can say all day long that I think he’s capable of hitting against lefties, but if the numbers keep telling us that maybe he can’t, then we have to go a different route,” he said. I’m not going to disagree with Mattingly because he’s right. Ethier is hitting .214/.269/.319 against lefties this year, a terrible batting line. For his career, the numbers are only slightly better at .236/.295/.350. The truth is the Dodgers gave a platoon player an $85 million contract. Has a contract ever looked worse before it actually took effect?
Dexter Fowler may or may not start again this season even though x-rays of his left wrist came back negative. He played some defense Thursday, so he just might still get some work at the dish, but it’s no lock. It’s been an uneven ride for Fowler this year but it’s hard to complain when he’s hit .300 with 13 homers, 12 steals and 72 runs scored. Fowler has also gotten on base at an impressive .389 clip, and that .474 SLG ain’t too shabby either. He’s hit .315 against the lefties and .293 against the righties showing an ability to handle both thanks to his switch hitting, but his work away from Coors is still an issue. Dexter has hit .332 with a .984 OPS in home games but just .262 with a .720 OPS on the road, so that continues to be an issue to think about when setting your lineups next year.
Gio Gonzalez won his major league leading 21st game Thursday night. While that is a career best mark and highly impressive in it’s own right, there is this. If he doesn’t start again (he shouldn’t), he will end the year with 21 victories and 199.1 innings pitched. That is significant because it will make him the first hurler in big league to record 21 victories while throwing less than 200 innings. The first.
When $50,000 doesn’t go as far as it used to.
The best pitcher in baseball is Craig Kimbrel. Thanks to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution for pointing the following out: over his last 49 appearances Kimbrel has a 0.55 ERA, which is amazing. He’s posted a 0.46 WHIP which is stupendous. He struck out 92 batters leading to a 16.78 K/9 while walking just six batter leading to a 15.33 K/BB ratio. Folks, it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Dan Uggla has had the worst season of his impressive career. After 6-straight years of 27 homers, 82 RBIs and 84 runs scored, the longest streak in baseball history for a second sacker, he’s going to fall off the pace this season. Still, 19 homers, 77 RBIs and 85 runs scored are all solid marks. However, that .217 batting average is terrible, even for a fella who has hit .253 for his career. I can’t blame the Braves for being a bit weary but it should be noted that, in addition to the solid counting number production, that Uggla also has a .343 OBP which is an exact match for his career mark even with that career-low batting average thanks to a career best walk rate.
STRONG FINISHING KICK
(The Past Two Weeks)
.591 – The BABIP of Brandon Moss over his last 44 plate appearances. Chris Nelson is just behind at .550 followed by Joey Votto at .500.
.439 – The batting average of Justin Smoak who has also gone deep five times. He needs one homer for 20 homers for the season. Over at Fleaflicker it’s clear that no one is buying his hot couple of weeks.
.438 – Marco Scutaro’s batting average over his last 12 games during which time he’s also scored 12 runs while knocking in 11.
.417 – Ichiro Suzuki is finally hitting. Not just that, he’s running like it was the old days. He’s stolen seven bases the past two weeks, the same total as Everth Cabrera, the most in baseball.
6 – The league leading homer total of Miguel Cabrera who also leads the majors with 16 runs scored and 15 RBIs. The RBI total has also been matched by the Phillies’ Ryan Howard though he’s saddled his teams with a mere .188 batting average.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Andre Ethier, Brandon Moss, Chris Nelson, Craig Kimbrel, Dan Uggla, Dexter Fowler, Everth Cabrera, Gio Gonzalez, Ichiro Suzuki, Justin Smoak, Marco Scutaro, Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Howard
By Sean on Sep 28, 2012
Ray
3 guys for one spot. M. Bush, forte or Ridley. From what I hear, forte may be a go for Sunday. What do u suppose I do? Thanks for the help!
By Ray Flowers on Sep 28, 2012
Sean – Tough call. Bush likely to lose work to Forte. Their backfield not certain this week. Go Ridley. Should see his workload greatly increase over last week.
By randy on Sep 29, 2012
hi, out of maclin denarius moore andrew hawkins jothan stewart i need 2 players 1 at wr the other flex iam sure i will play maclin and moore but i do have a feeling that carolina will come out to play against atlanta and have itch on stewart but wondered what you thought.
also need 1 kicker between shayne graham and prater and 1 def between houst and giants———thanks for advice
By Ray Flowers on Sep 29, 2012
Randy – I’s start Maclin and Moore if its PPR. If now, Maclin, Stewart.
Stewart has gone like 9 games without more than 13 touches, so he just doesn’t get enough work.
Graham.
HOU
By randy on Sep 29, 2012
thank you
By JoeM on Sep 29, 2012
Hey Ray
In a tight match for championships h2h league
I’m up by 10 runs, 3 hr, and 6 RBI
I have goldschmidt at 1b right now who didn’t play for a second day and can’t afford to leave him there being d2d.
If he’s not in lineup tomorrow which one of these would u add as replacement?
Brandon Moss
Justin smoak
Or Brandon Belt
By Ray Flowers on Sep 29, 2012
JoeM- Smoak facing Millone, a lefty. Actually slightly better vs. lefties for his career. Also hits in 11 of 13 entering Sat including 4 HRs, 8 RBIs and 20 hits. He’d be my choice.
By JoeM on Sep 30, 2012
Thanks ray
I think my last 2 questions of the 2012 season
Of availible starters for the last game of the season my best 2 choices are playing each other. Who would you go with.
Huff or Floyd
I also picked up Jaime Garcia for tomorrow, do you like his start?
Thanks
Joe M
By Ray Flowers on Sep 30, 2012
JoeM – I’d go with Floyd. Trying to grab him myself in a couple of leagues.
Garcia is at home where he is always solid. Nothing not to like after allowing four runs his last three starts.
By Steve on Oct 1, 2012
Ray,
My team is 1-3 and I need help. I currently have Cruz, Hankerson, Colston, and Hawkins. while my RBs are Foster, Ben Tate, Benson, F-Jax, and Jacquizz.
I’m considering the following trade:
I give up Foster, Tate, and Hawkins
I get Reggie Bush, Turner, and Wayne
The other owner will still have AP and LeShoure at RB and Decker, Malcolm Floyd, Garcon, and Lance Moore at WR. What do you think? Should I do it or should I try to strengthen my WR group by adding Hartline or Andre Roberts from waivers?
Turner isn’t spectacular, but all he does is painfully produce. Plus, this deal would give me 4 solid RB situations while I can set-n-forget my WRs (Cruz, Colston, Wayne) week in, week out. Plus, I can still add Hartline and/or Roberts for depth while dropping Hankerson. What do you think? Btw, we start 2RB, 3WR, 1RWFlex in my 1/2 PPR league.
Thanks for your time, Ray!
By Ray Flowers on Oct 1, 2012
Steve – The best player in fantasy football might be Foster. Can’t give him up lightly. However, your team does have holes that could be addressed.
Bush and Turner are a better duo than Foster/Tate. Wayne is a better WR than Hawkins.
If you do the deal you end up with Bush/Turner/Fjax/Benson/Rodgers.
IF Fjax is fully healthy and getting 60 % of touches good news.
Your WR Cruz/Colston/Wayne, a very solid three someome.
I think this deal is one that will help you out given the uncertainty of the roles of Tate and Hawkins.
By Steve on Oct 1, 2012
THANKS, Ray! I’ll let you know the result.
By Steve on Oct 1, 2012
Ray,
Update on trade negotiations… They countered with Decker, Turner, and Reggie Bush for Foster and Cruz. I rejected and they countered with Foster for Bush/Turner. I’m going to sleep on it. It appears to be more than fair and you did say those two are better duo than foster/tate, but my greater need is at WR. I was hoping to snag either decker or Wayne, but then they wanted Cruz. I guess I can always try to deal one RB to get a better WR but not sure what I’ll get back and considering RBs are dropping like flies, it might be best to hold onto that depth. Plus, Hartline and Roberts are available on waivers.
So, do I do the Foster for Reggie Bush and Turner offer or reject and pick up Hartline or Roberts?
Thanks for the time and help, Ray. You won’t get anymore questions from me except updating you on the trade situation.
By Ray Flowers on Oct 1, 2012
Steve – If you think your greatest need is at WR, then why do a deal giving away your best player if you dont get back a WR? If you deal one and get two back, you will have to drop another player to add Hartline (you will already have to drop one to add the two). Saying Bush and Turner are a better duo than Foster/Tate does not mean that there is no doubt you should deal Foster to get Bush and Turner. I was merely commenting on the strength of the duo meaning that Turner and Bush are weekly plays, both of then, while only Foster is on your side (Tate is uber talented, but he has no weekly power if he’s a caddy. He might be the best handcuff in football, but it doesn’t matter if he’s only getting 8 touches a week). Remember, though it’s not Foster for Bush and Tate. Its Foster and whoever you have to drop to add the two players — and then you would have to drop another to add Hartline. Likely makes the deal much closer that at first blush.
By Steve on Oct 2, 2012
Again, thanks, Ray. That’s probably why I was hesitant on pulling the trigger. I could counter with Wayne and bush or turner for foster but think I’ll be a little more patient before dealing the #1 RB on fantasy.