(1) Drew Stubbs is a fantasy ace.
(2) Jose Valverde right elbow tenderness.
(3) Bobby Jenks has ulner neruitis.
(4) In my By the Numbers piece today, I gave a bunch of interesting numbers. Here is a review of a few including history possibly being set by Mat Latos, Dan Uggla and Carlos Pena.
(5) Carlos Gonzalez on fire – but poor on the road this season.
By Ray Flowers
(1) Josh Hamilton out of lineup with knee injury.
(2) Alex Rodriguez likely to return on Sunday.
(3) Ray’s call up Jeremy Hellickson and Desmond Jennings.
(4) Ian Kinsler (groin), Lance Berkman (knee) back off DL.
(5) Yovani Gallardo says he is OK despite awful results.
(6) Jason Kendall needs shoulder surgery.
By Ray Flowers
Did you know that I’m tall (6’3″)? Did you know that I wear size 13 shoes? Did you know that I have a rule that I don’t get up before the sun? I know that isn’t the type of did you know that you were planning to read, so before I lull you into a semi-comatose state with more mundane “Ray facts” let’s get to the meat of this piece.
Mike Napoli leads all catchers with 20 homers. Only 12 of those bombs have come as a catcher, eight have come as a first basemen, but you get the point. Moreover, the 20 homers from a catcher eligible player are more than the combined total of Buster Posey (nine) and Joe Mauer (eight) who are hitting a combined .335.
Albert Pujols is pushing for the NL Triple Crown with a .319 average (third – Joey Votto leads the league at .323), 33 homers (first) and 92 RBI (first). He’s also second in the league in OPS at 1.013 (two percentage points behind Votto). But did you know… Albert Pujols also leads all first basemen in the game with 12 steals. And he’s having a down season?
There isn’t a single second basemen, who qualifies for the batting title, who has an OBP of .400 as Robinson Cano has a .390 mark. Can also leads the position with a .326 batting average, a .568 SLG, a .958 OPS, 35 doubles and 87 RBI. Yeah, Cano has been pretty good, which is kinda like saying that Adrianna Lima is hot.
Casey McGehee has been insanely good given his draft day cost. McGehee has hit 20 homers this season which just so happens to be one less than Alex Rodriguez. Moreover, McGehee has more homers than a litany of fantasy stars at the hot corner; Michael Young (19), Kevin Youkilis (19), David Wright (19), Aramis Ramirez (19) and Evan Longoria (18). Casey’s total of 82 RBI is also more than Wright (81), Mark Reynolds (71), Young (70), Ryan Zimmerman (70).
Yunieksy Betancourt has more RBI (61) than any shortstop in the American League. Read that again to make sure you’ve got it. For that matter, any idea who leads NL shortstops in RBI? In another minor miracle, it’s Juan Uribe (66). Let’s keep building on the craziness. I haven’t even mentioned the man who leads all shortstops in RBI – Alex Gonzalez who has 70. He had 50 as a member of the Blue Jays and 20 as a member of the Braves.
Brennan Boesch hit .342 with 12 homers and a .990 OPS in 65 games before the All-Star break. Since that point he has played 37 games and he his hit a sickly .145 with two homers and a .429 OPS. Think about that. He has literally been less than half the player he was in the first half.
Juan Pierre has 49 steals leaving him one short of a fifth season of at least 50 thefts. Since he began his career in 2000, there are only two men that can rival that level of production. Jose Reyes has four 50-steal seasons in that time whereas Carl Crawford has five 50-steal efforts. Mr. Crawford needs nine more steals this season to push his career mark to six 50-steal seasons.
The Giants’ Andres Torres is having a special season. Amongst players who qualify as a right fielder, Torres is sixth in OPS (.866), sixth in OBP (.370) and seventh in SLG (.499). Torres also has scored 71 runs – one more than Justin Upton – and his total of 23 steals makes him one of only five qualifiers at the position with at least 20 (Ichiro Suzuki, Angel Pagan, Will Venable and Ben Zobrist).
Everyone has been talking about Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright, Ubaldo Jimenez and Josh Johnson, but has anyone noticed who is leading the AL in ERA this season with a 2.26 mark? The answer is none other than Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox. Clay hasn’t given up an earned run in his last three starts, and five times in his last nine trips to the hill he has emerged unscathed. Not bad for a guy who entered the year with a grand total of 36 games under his belt.
Not many have taken notice, but Neftali Feliz is about to make history. After tossing a total of 31 innings last season, Neftali still qualifies for the AL Rookie of the Year award. If that isn’t cool enough, how about the fact that he is a mere seven saves from setting an all-time rookie record. The current mark is 37 held by Kaz Sasaki. Of course, Sasaki was 32 years old when he came to the States after a career of success in Japan, so that number really shouldn’t count – at least in this scribes book.
By Ray Flowers
(1) David DeJesus out for the year with injured thumb.
(2) It’s true, Brian Roberts is back.
(3) Carl Crawford returns to the starting lineup.
(4) Justin Masterson could be shut down in September.
(5) Rangers could get Rich Harden and Derek Holland back soon.
(6) J.A. Happ to return to Phillies because of injury to Jamie Moyer.
(7) The Royals have recalled Alex Gordon. Should you care? Read Five Questions to find out (there is also more in that piece about Roberts return and what to do with Happ).
By Ray Flowers
(1) Clayton Kershaw suspended, then appeals suspension.
(2) Brett Myers, 20 starts, 20 outings of at least six innings.
(3) Jose Bautista, David DeJesus, Jayson Werth, Prince Fielder, Jorge Cantu, Adam LaRoche rumors heating up.
(4) Mets looking to bolster bullpen.
(5) Pedro Martinez will not pitch in 2010.
(6) Scott Sizemore to play third base for Tigers.
(7) Carl Crawford doesn’t wear a cup.
By Ray Flowers
(1) Carlos Zambrano goes bonkers in dugout is suspended.
(2) Jair Jurrjens likely to return to the rotation next Wednesday.
(3) Carlos Beltran back by Monday?
(4) Carl Crawford’s shoulder still bothering him.
(5) Aramis Ramirez back from thumb injury.
(6) Jake Peavy coming on strong.
(7) A big announcement coming on Monday.
By Ray Flowers
In my last two posts, I discussed the team I rostered in the K-BAD experts league. In Part III of my review, I’ll give my thoughts on how the draft played out after quickly running through my final few selections.
Note: If you want to read my review of picks 1-10, click on the link to K-BAD: Part I.
If you want to read my review of picks 11-28, click on the link to K-BAD: Part II.
ROUND 21: Matt Thornton, RP, White Sox
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
I may not have saves in abundance, but Thornton and my last pick, Ryan Madson, give me arguably two most talented setup men in the game.
ROUND 22: Chris Young, OF, Diamondbacks
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
Once upon a time he went 30/25. Hell, it was just the other day really (2007). If he comes through in ’09 he could be a cheap, vastly underrated, 20/20 option.
ROUND 23: Elijah Dukes, OF, Nationals
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
Seems refocused knowing his career might be on the line. Too bad the Nationals didn’t buy it as they let him go. This is what happens when you do a draft far in advance of any meaningful games.
ROUND 24: Delmon Young, OF, Twins
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
My third straight young outfielder. All three have a ton of potential, and each could be a terrific fifth outfield option this year.
ROUND 25: Rod Barajas, C, Mets
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
This late you can throw a dart. Hopefully Rod will hit 15 long balls and bat .250. If he does, I’ll be ecstatic. If not, I’ll hit the waiver-wire.
ROUND 26: Brandon Lyon, RP, Astros
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
There were certainly better relievers still available, but being that I’m weak in saves I had to take a chance on this inferior relief option.
ROUND 27: Casey Blake
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
He has no upside, but I had him as 15th best third basemen so no harm in taking him this late. See Breaking Down: Casey Blake.
ROUND 28: Brett Myers, SP, Astros
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
Not a bad last pick. Seriously. If he can control the homers, in tough park for pitchers, he could return 15th round value.
Here is my team (number is round selected).
C Russell Martin 11
C Rod Barajas 25
1B Miguel Cabrera 1
2B Brian Roberts 3
3B Casey Blake 27
SS Miguel Tejada 9
MI Dan Uggla 6
CI Lance Berkman 5
OF Carl Crawford 2
OF Ichiro Suzuki 4
OF Andrew McCutchen 7
OF Ryan Ludwick 15
OF Chris Young 22
UT David Ortiz 18
P Yovani Gallardo 8
P Scott Baker 10
P James Shields 12
P Trevor Hoffman 13
P Ryan Dempster 14
P Brad Lidge 17
P Aaron Harang 19
P Ryan Madson 20
P Matt Thornton 21
Bench Rafael Furcal 16
Bench Elijah Dukes 23
Bench Delmon Young 24
Bench Brandon Lyon 26
Bench Brett Myers 28
Team Review:
* I already have my fingers crossed. When the draft took place Roberts, Berkman and Martin where totally healthy, and Dukes still had a big league job. So are the breaks of the game.
* Blake in the 27th round was a nice grab, and I’ll have Tejada as an option at the hot corner as well once season gets underway.
* Crawford and Ichiro are a dynamic duo in the OF. If McCutchen does what many expect, that is one potentially fantastic threesome. The group is light on power though, so I added Ludwick who should be a fine 5th hitter for the Cardinals. My final outfield spot will go to one of two men who could be a terrific 5th option – D. Young, C. Young (Dukes hosed me).
* My offense might be a bit light on pop but you can’t have everything when picking against astute owners in an experts league.
* My staff has as good a 5-some of hurlers as any in the league: Gallardo, Baker, Shields, Dempster and Harang. Not a “superstar” amongst them, but that is a fantastic group of arms.
* My bullpen is thin. Every time I went to grab a closer someone else did. In fact, I had only one closer heading into the 17th round. At the end of the round I had two (gulp with Lidge), but another team had three and one grabbed a 4th in 18th. Closers went way too early in this league if you ask me. I didn’t want to roster a flunky just cause they were going, so I ended up passing and grabbed two of the best set up men in the game in Madson and Thornton. In the 26th round I then grabbed Lyon who could be the full-time closer in Houston, a part time option, or a total failure. Still, in the 26th, it was a risk worth taking.
* My staff is really strong top to bottom. I’ll need some help in the saves category, hopefully I’ll be able to snag one of those guys off waivers since there are always at least a handful of guys who emerge, but I should be sitting pretty in wins, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.
Random Thoughts:
* Surprised to see these power arms not drafted: Luke Gregerson, Daniel Bard, Mike Adams, C.J. Wilson and George Sherrill.
* No one took the steady Andy Pettitte, or last year’s ground ball star Joel Pineiro.
* Three Cubs outfielders were left on waivers: Xavier Nady, Kosuke Fukudome and Marlon Byrd.
* Youngsters Carlos Gomez and Cameron Maybin also went teamless. Each offers some upside and should have been rostered in my opinion.
* At second, Kelly Johnson and Mark Ellis are free agents. I would be shocked if both don’t end up as top-20 options at second, and both have a chance to sneak into the top-15.
* No one bought into Russell Branyan repeating his effort from last season now that he is with the Indians, so he was left undrafted. Across the diamond, here are a few of the third basemen that went undrafted as well: Mark Teahen, Mike Lowell, Brandon Inge, Juan Uribe and Adam Kennedy.
I’ll keep you posted throughout the year as to how my team stacks up. Let’s just hope there aren’t more injuries prior to the season starting – there is nothing more frustrating that losing because your guys are on the shelf.
By Ray Flowers
For the second straight year, I was invited to play in an expert’s league by the folks over at KFFL. Nicknamed K-Bad, for Baseball Analysis Draft, the league pits 11 of the top minds in the game against one flunky (that would be me). I thought I would give my analysis of the team I was able to roster in the 12-team, 5×5 mixed league with 28 rounds (I had the ninth pick in the draft).
Note: If you want to read all the participants comments on why they chose the players they did, click on the link to K-BAD Draft (this draft was completed two weeks ago).
ROUND 1 – Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
It came down to the power of Fielder, the speed of Crawford, and the all-around excellence of Cabrera. Ultimately I went for the most well rounded option in Cabrera. He is working on 6-straight years of hitting at least .292-26-103 (Teixeira has five), and the difference between Cabrera and everyone else at the position not named Albert Pujols is his batting average which sits at .311 in his brief career.
ROUND 2: Carl Crawford, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
Jacoby Ellsbury or Carl Crawford? Both are top-15 picks in my mind, so I was happy to have the choice here. Ultimately I went with Crawford who has a more well-rounded game. Plus, he is playing for a huge new contract. I was tempted to take David Wright here as well since top shelf third basemen will be gone by my next pick, but I didn’t want to pass up on the 50+ steals.
ROUND 3: Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
I targeted three players. Grady Sizemore went right before I was up, so my choice was between Ichiro and Brain Roberts. I wanted to go with Ichiro, but given that Roberts was the last second baseman available in the top tier, I decided to go for the second sacker. If this league did not include a middle infield position I would have taken Ichiro, but it does so I wanted to make sure I had some strength up the middle.
ROUND 4: Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Seattle Mariners
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
Sometimes, things just work out for you. I considered taking Ichiro with my 3rd round pick but passed. He was still available here, so I jumped. I’m a little low on pop right now with Ichiro, C. Crawford and B. Roberts, but add M. Cabrera to that mix and I’ve got a .300+ average and 100 steals locked up already. I can afford to target some power guys with lower averages, guys like Dunn and Uggla, thanks to this start.
ROUND 5: Lance Berkman, 1B, Houston Astros
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
I had to decide – did I want to add the more valuable Shane Victorino, or Berkman? Why did I go with Lance? Position scarcity. First basemen go quick this year, and third base isn’t deep, so I wanted to get Berkman to fill my CI spot so that I wouldn’t end up with some flunky there. Plus, I think Berkman rebounds and reaches his 3-year averages of .289-29-96 with 94 runs. His knee surgery happened well after this draft occurred. Oh well.
ROUND 6: Dan Uggla, 2B, Florida Marlins
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
As suggested in my 4th round comment, this was a guy I was going to target since I built up my batting average early on. He owns a career .257 batting average, but Uggla is the only 2B in history to have 4-straight years of 27 HR, 88 RBI and 84 runs.
ROUND 7: Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
Took a bit of a chance here, though the potential was too enticing to pass on. He could struggle and basically repeat last season (.286-12-54-75-22), or he could breakout, hit 20 homers, steal 30 bases, score 100 runs and be a top-10 outfielder in ’10.
ROUND 8: Yovani Gallardo, SP, Brewers
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
My most agonizing selection. It’s not that I doubt Gallardo, I don’t (he could be a be a top-10 option this year), I just couldn’t decide if I wanted to take my first pitcher or continue stockpiling a dynamic offense. I guess common sense won out.
ROUND 9: Miguel Tejada, SS/3B, Baltimore Orioles
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
Why take this no upside guy at this point? Position flexibility. Shortstops were getting really thin, and though Yunel Escobar has more upward room for growth, Tejada will offer 3B eligibility in-season, and that was enough to sway me his way with this boring pick.
ROUND 10: Scott Baker, SP, Minnesota Twins
TEAM: BaseballGuys.com
I really wanted to add a fourth outfielder, but I kept looking at the starting pitchers that were left and I ended up realizing that if I didn’t take one here, I would like be shut out on the few remaining arms I had in my top-25.
By Ray Flowers
(1) Carl Crawford is no longer negotiating with Rays meaning this is almost assuredly his last season with the club.
(2) Octavio Dotel and Joel Hanrahan receive positive news in regards to their injuries
(3) Adam Dunn working on defense at 1B for Nationals.
(4) Alfonso Soriano reporting that his knee is improving.
(5) Brad Lidge throwing – showing improvement. Still hopes to make opening day.
(6) Francisco Liriano has Twins excited with the return of his “stuff.”
(7) Jose Batista to bat leadoff for Blue Jays – uh oh.
By Ray Flowers
The outfield is the land of multi-category producing titans. The 2009 season was no different, though some of the men that were expected to provide those efforts failed to do so. In what follows I will discuss my top-10 list from the 2009 Fanball Annual Guide that was on newsstands prior to the start of the 2009 season, and briefly hit on how each players season turned out.
To read previous positional reviews click on the following link:
1. Grady Sizemore
2. Carlos Beltran
3. Josh Hamilton
4. Ryan Braun
5. Ichiro Suzuki
6. Carl Crawford
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Matt Holliday
9. Alex Rios
10. B.J. Upton
Sizemore was derailed by injury, chiefly a strained elbow that required surgery (he also had hernia surgery). His performance simply killed teams that drafted him in the first round (.248-18-64-73-13) with all his 5×5 numbers being five year lows as he appeared in a mere 106 games.
Beltran has a lost season like so many other Mets. The chief injury was a bone bruise in his leg, more specifically his knee. As a result he appeared in just 81 games though he was exceedingly effective in his half season of work hitting a robust .325 with 10 homers, 48 RBI, 50 runs and 11 steals. Clearly he was on pace for a special season, but alas, injuries ruined his effort.
Hamilton had a bummer of a season that he kicked off with a wild bender during spring training that was kept under wraps (as a recovering addict, this was especially damaging news). I never thought he would repeat the 130 RBI, but I thought the 30-HR pop was certainly legit. Injuries limited him to just 89 games as he hit 10 homers with 54 RBI and a .741 OPS, only .160 points below his 2008 mark. Has a ton to prove in ’10.
Braun was a flat out stud and seems certain to be a top-5 selection in 2010 in almost every draft. Not only did he lead the NL with 203 hits, Braun also socked 32 long balls, drove in 114 runs, hit .320 and stole 20 bases. Not many have a legit shot at hitting .333 while going 20/20.
Suzuki started slowly due to injury, but you would never have known it if you looked at his final numbers that included 225 hits and a .352 average. Amazingly, the sorry Mariners only knocked him in 88 times on the year, and his steal total of 26 was actually a career worst, though no one should complain when you hit .352.
Crawford was an outright beast hitting .305 with 15 homers, 68 RBI, 96 runs and a career best 60-steals. Only one AL player bettered that steals total – Jacoby Ellsbury with 70, and he scored two less runs, hit only eight homers, and batted four points lower at .301.
Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for performance enhancing drugs, and with that his season was a bust. At the time of his suspension he was doing his best Albert Pujols impersonation hitting .355 with a 1.156 OPS through 36 games, but he returned to his a mere .255 with only 10 homers and 34 RBI in 68 games.
Holliday was, as I wrote prior to the start of last season in the aforementioned magazine, terrific. “He won’t be the Coors version of Holliday, but he should still be near the elite.” Compare his 2008 performance in Coors (.321-25-88-107-28) to his 2009 work in Oakland and St. Louis (.313-24-109-94-14). Seems like I hit this one out of the park.
Rios was an unmitigated disaster. Simply atrocious. Though he nearly went 20/20 (17 homers, 24 steals), he hit a paltry .247 with only 17 homers and 71 RBI. After his trade to the White Sox he apparently forgot how to play baseball as 41 games in Chicago netted a .199 average, nine RBI and 11 runs scored. Pathetic.
B.J. was the wrong Upton to place on the list. B.J. floundered to a .241 average with 11 homers, 55 RBI, 79 runs and 42 steals, while younger brother Justin simply tore it up in the desert on his way to hitting .300 with 26 homers, 86 RBI, 84 runs and 20 steals.
By Ray Flowers
The FSWA winner of the Best Baseball Series of 2011, BaseballGuys.com is the only source you will need for your fantasy baseball knowledge. OK, you might need other sources, but BaseballGuys.com should be on your daily list of must reads for the insights an analysis it provides on the world of baseball.
The co-host of The Drive on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87: M-F at 5-8 PM EDT), Ray has spent years squirreled away studying the inner workings of the fantasy game to the detriment of his personal life. Specializing in baseball, football and hockey, some consider him an expert in all three. Ray's work can also be found as feature writer for: Fantasy Alarm, Rotoinfo, Rotowire and Sports Illustrated.
You can contact Ray through e-mail at fantasyfandom@yahoo(dot)com or on Twitter.
