We're close to wrapping up week six of the fantasy baseball season. Teams are beginning to form an identity in head-to-head leagues and the roto standings are starting to show a little stability. Is it time to start paying attention to the league statistics? Were you doing so already? Are you ignoring them until we get deeper into the season? Because we've only played against half (or fewer) of the teams in head-to-head leagues, we'll restrict this question to rotisserie leagues. When do you start paying attention to and caring about the league stats/standings?
We're rolling without the introductory theme today. We're using the Sarah Plain and Tall title and diving straight into the recap. Same rules apply: we're talking about the lesser-owned players in fantasy baseball and closing it up with a little MLB bullpen news. Meet me after the jump.
Breaking news: Jorge Posada has asked out of the lineup for Saturday's game after being informed he was due to bat ninth.
Not breaking news: Jorge Posada is an asshole.
Keep in mind that I am a die-hard Yankee fan, but I'm not one of those blindly loyal dudes that supports every player in pinstripes no matter what. I wanted Don Mattingly out when his decline started and I'll be the first to tell you that Derek Jeter blows these days. My annoyance with Posada really began in 2000, when his routine "routine ground balls" during the playoffs did nothing to dispel the notion that he was a "clutch" hitter (he has a .241/.349/.381 career line in the post-season). But my real disdain for Posada started when Joe Girardi was made manager. I was all about Girardi replacing Joe Torre (who, in my opinion, is one of the most overrated managers ever), but Posada was not pleased with the move according to insiders. Posada took it a step further in 2009 when he was openly critical of Girardi opting to pair Jose Molina with A.J. Burnett in the post-season. Burnett went on to pitch well in pivotal Game Twos of the ALCS and World Series, making Posada look like an idiot. Posada continued his "I know more than everyone else" tour this offseason by insisting he could still catch a full season, even though it was clear to everyone with a pair of eyes that his defense behind the plate had deteriorated to well-below average level.
Now he's "insulted" that Girardi has told him to bat ninth and retirement rumors are swirling. As of this writing, the Yanks are locked up with the Red Sox in an AL East battle, with Posada reportedly set to make some sort of announcement or address to the media after the contest. Here's hoping the large-legged freak realizes the error of his ways, or hangs up his cleats.
From a fantasy perspective, Posada has looked terrible. He's hitting .165 and while his BABIP sits at .164, it's for a good reason. Posada owns a terrible 11.4 LD% and 48.1 GB%; both career-worst marks. I still believe that if he plays for the remainder of the season, he'll still finish as a top 12 fantasy backstop since he can still hit for power (six of his 18 hits are HRs) and should presumably pick up his BA as the season wears on. That being said, he would still be a terrible BA contributor and would essentially be (at best) a two category asset (HR and RBI).
If he chooses to retire, the fantasy owner in me will be a bit upset that I'm losing a starting backstop in Million Dollar Sleeper's Blog Wars, but the Yankee fan in me will be happy to see this cantankerous old man walk away in a disgraceful manner befitting his arrogant demeanor. Fuck Jorge Posada.
The Top 100 baseball rankings are overdue for an update. They haven't received a fresh coat of paint since the season started. My god, someone named Hanley Ramirez is atop those rankings. How awful. I'm hoping to post a fresh set of ranks by Monday morning. I don't need your help, but I am interested in your opinion nonetheless. Who is your number one? If we (snake) drafted today, who would be atop your rankings?
A gang of socs from Arizona messed up Padilla-boy. He almost died on he mound. Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels
I own a few shares of Vicente Padilla so you'll have to forgive me while I root for the old man. How could you not cheer for the greaser who does his thing on the wrong side of town? Downtown L.A. can be rough, especially when you have Rob Lowe trying to keep you down. I know nothing stays golden, but I still want him to succeed. Vicente had a tough time tonight and needed a little help from a friend. While I try to figure out if Kenley Jansen is Two-Bit or Dallas, let's do a quick recap of what the lesser-owned players did on Friday with a little bullpen news to boot.
Thanks J, you're the only one who still believes in me. Photo Credit: David Shank
Well,well,well, time sure does go by fast. The MLB season is already over a month old. I know, this comes as a shock to most of you, heck I remember it like it was yesterday when I was going over my cheat sheets and drafting my teams. The season is well underway though, and as such, the stats and situations of certain players need to now be taken more seriously. Some hot starts and early slumps are now starting to dissolve, while others remain. The goal today is to highlight some of the continuing struggles and surprises of the young season. Let’s dig in shall we:
As recently as two weeks ago on Starbonell Station, I believed in Edinson Volquez. Now I don’t believe in nothing no more. Yeah he’s getting a lot more grounders (56.9 GB%), inducing weak contact (14.7 LD% and 28.4 FB%), and missing bats (11.0 Swinging Strike%), but when you throw up a damn 7.02 BB/9, bad things happen. Making matters worse are his issues with the long ball, as he’s surrendered seven HRs to date and is posting a Pujols-esque 21.2 HR/FB. Sure that number figures to correct itself, but it is hard to be optimistic about Volquez. It’s a shame too, if homeboy could just figure out how to cut the BB/9 to four, he’d be a hell of a lot more useful to us. Unfortunately, his game is like riding your mom’s cooch: everyone gets a free pass.
Eric Hosmer hit his first major league Home Run on Wednesday night. Through 14 At Bats the Royals highly touted prospect owns a .250 AVG with the one HR, a SB, 3 Runs and 3 RBI. Keith publicly displayed his affection for the Wizard of Hos', but Starbonell and I thought he was more man behind the curtain than all powerful being when discussing his fantasy potential on Starbonell Station. The question is: will Hosmer's trade value be any higher than it is right now or is this just the beginning to a prosperous 2011 season? The yellow brick road has a fork in it and you have to choose which way you are heading. Are you selling Hosmer for a cab ride to the emerald city or are you throwing shit at the wall with those crazy monkeys and hoping Hosmer sticks? Your call.
Alexi Ogando may have been the luckiest Pitcher in baseball during March/April Photo Cred: Mike LaChance
Only four Starting Pitchers posted a Batting Average of Balls In Play of .250 or better during the 2010 baseball season. Those four were Trevor Cahill, Bronson Arroyo, Ted Lilly and Tim Hudson and all four limited Line Drive damage (BABIP and LD% usually go hand-in-hand). The BABIP numbers they put up in 2010 represented career bests so I wouldn't expect them to repeat those performances. Through the first month of 2011, we had 23 Starting Pitchers who registered a BABIP of .250 or better. We can pretty much say all these Pitchers have experienced some luck in one form or another, but some have enjoyed more luck than others. Let's take a look at this group of potential Sell High candidates.
Over the last week or so we’ve had injury news surface regarding three of fantasy baseball more volatile closers: Jonathan Broxton, Brandon Lyon and David Aardsma. I know what you’re thinking, these guys all suck, who cares if they’re injured, I already dropped them before they got hurt because I’m a fantasy baseball wizard and dominate my 8 team public league! Well I care, as do folks who play competitive fantasy baseball, and as the resident PT for the SoR, it’s my duty to please that injured booty, even if that booty is big and nasty like Jonathan Broxton’s.
