Fantasy Baseball: Who’s Hot & Cold

HOT

Peter Bourjos (LAA)
Even though he continues to bounce around the Angels’ batting order, Bourjos has caught fire as of late. In the past week, he has scorched along at a 14-for-28 (.483) clip and added 7 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI and 2 SB into the mix for an all-around fantasy effort.

Mitch Moreland (TEX)
After homering just once in a span of 26 games, Moreland connected for 3 HR in 3 games this past week. With eligibility at 1B and OF, he may be worth a look if he is available in your fantasy league.

Angel Pagan (NYM)
He’s been hot ever since taking over the leadoff spot from the injured Jose Reyes on August 9th and this past week was no exception. Pagan has swiped 3 bases while going 13-for-28 (.464 AVG) during that time. With Reyes likely out for the season, Pagan could be a nice fantasy choice down the stretch.

COLD

Yunel Escobar (TOR)
Although he has put together a very nice season for himself as the Blue Jays unlikely leadoff hitter, Escobar has struggled recently. He has hit only .069 (2-for-29) over the past 7 days and manager John Farrell gave him the day off on August 21 to collect himself. Let’s hope it works.

Andre Ethier (LAD)
Luckily, Ethier padded his starts with an early season 30-game hitting streak as he has gone cold recently. Battling through a toe injury, Ethier has managed a mere 2-for-his-last-20 for a .100 average the past 7 days.

Vernon Wells (LAA)
The poor production continues from the overpaid Angels outfielder. Wells has managed just 2 hits spanning 20 at bats in the past week to maintain an offensively-challenged August. This month, Wells has himself a .145 AVG with 1 HR and 5 RBI. There is a word for this type of season: ugly.

---

Chris McBrien is a baseball writer for numerous websites and may be found at Dear Mr. Fantasy. He may also be followed on Twitter @cmcbrien.

Fantasy Baseball: Good & Bad Utility Players

For many fantasy baseball leagues, the month of September is considered the ‘playoffs’ (the viability of this can be addressed in a separate article). As you head into the playoffs, one issue to contend with is the fact that many major league teams will be looking to give their veterans some rest as well as calling up some young prospects from the farm team. More often than not, when these veterans are given a day off, your fantasy team is left with a hole in the line up. One tactic for combating this issue is to add a player or two to your roster to give you some versatility. If you add a player with multiple position eligibility for example, you will be better prepared to plug the holes in your line up as they arise. Since many of the players with multiple position eligibility are utility players, they can often be obtained ‘on the cheap’. Tread with caution however, as there are also certain utility players that may in fact see less playing time down the stretch. Some players worth discussing include (Note: position eligibility may vary according to your league rules and regulations):

1B/2B/3B Adam Kennedy (SEA) — BAD
At first glance, Kennedy looks like a player you may want to roster for your stretch drive. You may want to think again, however. Although he does have multiple position eligibility around the infield which looks enticing enough, Seattle is a team far out of contention and will undoubtedly be looking to use playing time for the evaluation of their young talent. Kennedy will most likely be on the outside looking in.

1B/LF/RF Lucas Duda (NYM)– GOOD
With Ike Davis out with injury, Duda is the everyday first baseman for the Mets and as a young player, will be given every opportunity to prove his worth the rest of the way. It also doesn’t hurt that he hits out of the cleanup spot. Sure, the Mets are no offensive power house, but hitting 4th on any major league club has its advantages to be sure.

2B/3B/SS/LF Jamey Carroll (LAD) — GOOD
Although he offers no power (0 HR in 2011), Carroll will bring a little bit of speed to your fantasy roster (10 SB). He has hit consistently in both halves of the season and is equally effective against either RHP or LHP. If you are looking for big numbers in any category, you can look elsewhere. However, if a serviceable fill-in player is what you need, Carroll’s your man.

1B/2B/3B/LF Ty Wigginton (COL) — BAD
Long sought after for his multiple position eligibility, moving to Coors Field only increased interest Wigginton. However, his value has declined markedly in 2011. Sure, he has clubbed 14 HR but only 1 has come since the All Star break (to go along with 7 RBI, 2 SB and a .253 AVG in that span). Unlike past seasons, don’t go hard after Ty as he simply will not deliver help to your fantasy team down the stretch.

1B/2B/3B/RF Michael Cuddyer (MIN) — GOOD
Out since August 10th with a neck injury, Cuddyer is due back any day now and could be a good pickup for your playoff run. In addition, because of the injury, he may be available on the cheap as well.

1B/RF Garrett Jones (PIT) — GOOD
Although not a superstar, Jones has 20 HR power and a touch of speed. He has hit out of both the number 2 spot as well as 6th in the Pirates batting order and has brought a little something to both. He has been particularly effective in August hitting .313 with 4 HR and 2 SB.

Landing a key player with multiple position eligibility for your playoff stretch drive may be just the boost you need, especially once the ultra-competitive playoff fantasy baseball games of September begin.

---

Chris McBrien is a baseball writer for numerous websites and may be found at Dear Mr. Fantasy. He may also be followed on Twitter @cmcbrien.

(VIDEO) Crazy Triple Play During Minor League Baseball Game

No outs, runners on first and second. The batter hits a towering fly ball into center field. The center fielder goes back to make the catch, bobbles it off his glove, then off the top of his head yet he somehow secures the catch. He rifles it to the second baseman who tags second base for the second out. The throw to the first baseman clinches the triple play as he tags first base for the final out of the inning. That’s right. An 8-4-3 triple play.

Thanks to WOWT-TV for the coverage of this Omaha Storm Chasers vs. Nashville Sounds game.

---

Follow Matt on Twitter and Facebook for all his baseball and Fantasy sports updates! For every update here at The Dugout Doctors, follow our official Twitter account @DugoutDoctors.

Team-by-Team Analysis of National League Rookies

Check out Andrew’s recap of the American League rookies here.

This entry is the second in a series highlighting the best rookies of 2011 who are most likely to have a major impact on their team in 2012. The National League is covered here, and much like the junior circuit, they have a number of excellent young players who could make quite a mark on their respective teams in 2012.

Arizona Diamondbacks – 1B Paul Goldschmidt

Arizona has maintained their status as a young, up and coming team now for several seasons. Other than closer J.J. Putz, every significant player on the team is 30 or younger, and there have been a number of youngsters arriving on the scene, including right-handed slugger Goldschmidt.

The Diamondbacks offense has some nice pieces like Justin Upton, Stephen Drew, and Chris Young, but first base has been a position that has been lacking. Enter Goldschmidt, who hit 30 home runs in a half season in the minors, and owner of a 1.026 career minor league OPS. He will strike out a lot, but will also hit a ton of home runs, and has the ability to hit for pretty good average as well. He has already hit a couple of monster shots at the major league level over the past couple of weeks, and could very possibly be the lynchpin of the Arizona lineup in 2012.

Atlanta Braves – 1B Freddie Freeman

With Chipper Jones nearing the end of his illustrious career, the Braves need a leader to take his place, both on the field and in the lineup. Jason Heyward is still going to be a star, but has not taken off in the way that many predicted. That leaves Freeman as the likeliest choice to assume the role next year.

Freeman is an excellent defensive first baseman, who was expected to be nothing more than a placeholder with the bat this year. Instead he is on pace to end the season with a .300 batting average and 20 home runs. Having already proven himself, it will be important for Freeman to at least repeat his performance in 2012, so the Braves can allow Heyward to continue to grow, and they don’t have to worry if Jones can stave off Father Time.

Chicago Cubs – OF Tony Campana

It may not be a sexy pick, but Campana is the current Cubs rookie most likely to impact their 2012 season. Many believe that he is currently the fastest man in baseball, and that sort of tool can be a game changer in and of itself.

At a diminutive 5’8″, Campana never hit a minor league home run, but averaged close to a stolen base every two games. The Cubs don’t have another player like him on the roster, and he offers a great deal of versatility. He may not start in Chicago next year, but is a good bet to see plenty of time off the bench as an extra outfielder, pinch runner, and defensive replacement. His specific skill set should be very important to the Cubs as they seek to rise out of perpetual mediocrity.

Cincinnati Reds – 1B/OF Yonder Alonso

Alonso is obviously not going to be playing much first base in Cincinnati with the presence of last year’s MVP Joey Votto. However, he could give the team good value if he can transition to a corner outfield spot. The left-handed hitting Alonso has the tools to produce a high average, and is still developing his power. The Reds can afford to let him take some time to get used to the majors this year, because it looks like he may be counted on as a starter in 2012.

Colorado Rockies – SP Juan Nicasio

This pick is clouded with the recent horrific broken neck injury suffered by Nicasio. However, prior to that he had done enough to cement his spot in the 2012 Rockies rotation. The right-hander emerged from the minors this year to have a surprisingly effective rookie season. It remains to be seen if and when he will resume baseball activities, but if he is able to come back next year, he could be an important piece to the pitching staff, especially now that Ubaldo Jimenez was traded.

Florida Marlins – RP Steve Cishek

For a team as young as the Marlins, it is surprising that they have not relied on a number of impact rookies this season. Cishek, a lanky right-handed reliever, has been their best rookie in 2011. He is exceptional at nothing, but has produced solid results out of the bullpen. This will give the Marlins one less thing to think about in 2012, as they have a number of other holes that are dire need of being filled.

Houston Astros – OF J.D. Martinez

I have always liked Martinez, who flew under the radar of many prospect evaluators, despite putting up excellent minor league numbers, including a .342 career batting average.

Now that Houston has traded or sold away just about everything that wasn’t nailed down, they are in major rebuilding mode. In particular, their offense is in shambles, resembling something you might expect at Triple-A. This is a great opportunity for Martinez. A right-handed hitter, he has some pop, in addition to his ability to hit for average. Playing in a bandbox like Minutemaid Park will also help him, as he is a prime candidate to shoulder the Astros offense in 2012.

Los Angeles Dodgers – RP Josh Lindblom

Although he was only recently called up, the right-handed Lindblom has pitched well out of the Los Angeles bullpen. The financial woes of the Dodgers could lead to them jettisoning some of their higher paid talent in the off-season, and one area that could be trimmed in the bullpen. If that happens, Lindblom could step up and assume a late inning role. He has not had any experience as a closer, but has the stuff to be an effective set-up man.

Milwaukee Brewers – ???

Like their counterparts, the Texas Rangers, the Brewers have not had any rookies who have made significant contributions to their team this year. In what is likely to be Prince Fielder’s final season in a Milwaukee uniform, the Brewers went with a group of veterans in an effort to make a push for the playoffs. Unlike Texas, the Milwaukee farm system is not quite so fully stocked with talent, so it remains to be seen who the next rookie contributor will be for them.

New York Mets – RP Pedro Beato

Most people outside of the New York area would be hard pressed to pick Beato out of a lineup, but he has become quite familiar to Mets fans this season with his steady work out of the bullpen.

Originally a first round pick of the Orioles, Beato was taken by New York this past offseason in the Rule 5 draft, and has been a pleasant surprise. He has had some up and down months, but overall has been one of the more consistent members of the Mets bullpen. With New York having a recent tradition of being thin in the pitching department, Beato will be counted upon to match or exceed his rookie season, in 2012.

Philadelphia Phillies – SP Vance Worley

There has been much ballyhoo about the celebrated Phillie starting rotation of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, and Oswalt. However, Worley, who has manned the fifth spot for much of the season, has pitched just as well as his better known counterparts, in his rookie season.

The stocky right-hander was a third round pick in 2008, but never gave any sign in the minors that he would be as effective as he has been thus far. If he can roll over his success to 2012, he would give Philadelphia an All-Star possibility in every spot of their rotation. Worley taking the next step would also mean that opposing teams would not be able to have any days off against the Phillies, and make them even harder to beat, which is difficult to fathom given their status as World Series front runners.

Pittsburgh Pirates – C Michael McKenry

To be clear, McKenry is never going to be a star, but he has the ability to be an average major league catcher, and that is good enough for many teams. McKenry has never been considered a top-flight prospect, but appeared in the national spotlight earlier this year for being involved in the most controversial play of the 2011 season.

Pittsburgh already has Ryan Doumit at catcher, but they could choose to trade him, or move him to another position. McKenry’s value comes more from his defensive skills, but he has kept his batting average in the vicinity of .250-.260 so far this season. McKenry has shown that the Pirates can feel comfortable handing him a starting job in 2012, and see what he can do with fulltime at bats.

San Diego Padres – Cory Luebke

The Padres, always operating on a shoestring budget, seem to have finally found another frontline pitcher to pair in the rotation with Mat Latos. The left-handed Luebke started the season in the bullpen, but since moving to the starting rotation in late June, has been a revelation. He has averaged better than a strikeout per inning on the year, and seems to have gotten better as the season has gone on. For the Padres to compete in the tight-knit NL West, they will need to have good starting pitching, and Luebke should help provide that in 2012.

San Francisco Giants – 1B/OF Brandon Belt

The handling of Belt at the major league level this year should be considered criminal. Despite having a weak offense, that was made all the less intimidating when Buster Posey suffered a season ending injury, the Giants have bounced Belt up and down from the minors all year.

Belt is a .343 career hitter in the minors, with good power, but because of his inability to get regular playing time in the majors, has yet to produce consistently with the Giants. That should change in 2012, as the Giants have let go of antiques like Pat Burrell, and will look to Belt to start and help transform their offense.

St. Louis Cardinals – RP Lance Lynn

Selected in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft, Lynn was a starter in the minors, but has pitched well out of the Cardinal bullpen since making his debut in June. Possessing four average pitches, he has racked up a lot of strikeouts despite lacking a true out pitch.

Unfortunately Lynn was recently place on the disabled list, but it is with a minor injury. It remains to be seen if the Cardinals will use him in the bullpen or the starting rotation in 2012, but it seems to be a foregone conclusion that he will be on the team in some capacity.

Washington Nationals – C Wilson Ramos

Much of the attention lavished on the Nationals early in the season was because of their mega expenditure on Jayson Werth during free agency — and how he subsequently has not come close to living up to his contract. One of the least appreciated and minimally paid Nats is Ramos, who has made big strides this season, and should be the undisputed starter in 2012.

Ramos came over to Washington last year in a trade from Minnesota. He has shared the position with Jesus Flores, but has received the lion’s share of playing time. Flores seems to do everything well, but not great. He can play some defense, hit a little, and is capable of some power. That is all the Nats will need next year, as they have not had a starting catcher hit double digits in home runs since Brian Schneider hit 10 in 2005.

Much like the American League, the National League has an interesting crop of rookies in 2011. Many of them have come out of nowhere or exceeded previous expectations. Due to their production, their teams will look for them to take another step forward season.

---

Andrew Martin appreciates and writes about all aspects of baseball and its history at his blog, The Baseball Historian. You can also follow him on Twitter at @RedSoxFanNum1.

Fantasy Baseball: Buy Low Players

In fantasy baseball, everyone is looking for the latest and greatest ‘buy low’ baseball player who will help put their team over the edge. This type of gambling is an integral part of fantasy baseball (along with the odd friendly wager, of course) and can often be the difference at this time of the year.
In fact, as you gear up for the playoffs (often the month of September for many fantasy baseball leagues), there are a few players to consider gambling on as a potential ‘buy low’ fantasy baseball player that may be going up in value.

Jason Kipnis (CLE)
Kipnis wasn’t supposed to arrive in Cleveland until 2012 but a resurgent Tribe (complete with an unlikely playoff push) required Kipnis to come up to the big league team to help. And help he did. He spent his first 18 games in the majors hitting .279/.347/.603 with 6 HR and 22 RBI, eye-popping numbers for a middle infielder. He plays the game with a gusto that manager Manny Acta likes, so expect him to quickly recover from his strained oblique and get back in the line up soon.

Frank Francisco (TOR)
Francisco has bounced in and out of the closer’s role in Toronto all season long. A recent emergency appendectomy for incumbent Jon Rauch has opened the door for Francisco once again. His season ERA sits at 4.17 but he has pitched very well since losing the job to Rauch. He should hold the role for at least a month and if he pitches well, even longer.

Bobby Parnell (NYM)
Now that Jason Isringhausen got his 300th save, when the Mets enter the 9th inning with a lead (as rare as that may be) belongs to Parnell. This is his audition for the closer’s role in 2012. If he can harness the command of his fastball and slider, he’s in.

Javy Guerra (LAD)
Guerra is settling in nicely as the Dodgers closer having given up only 3 hits over his last 10 outings. He has also posted 6 saves in that stretch as well. There is little stopping him from winding up the season collecting the majority of saves in Los Angeles.

Lucas Duda (NYM)
Duda will play first base with Ike Davis out for the season but he also qualifies at RF in several fantasy leagues giving him some added value to your roster. On first look, his split stats are a little alarming (.333 at home, .243 on the road), but he has hit 4 of his 5 HR away from Citi Field. He is also hitting in the middle of the order out of the cleanup spot behind David Wright.

Delmon Young (DET)
Sure, he was brutal with the Twins this year but a change of scenery often makes a world of difference. Getting the chance to hit in the heart of the Tigers line up may be just what the doctor ordered for Young. Don’t forget, this is a player who hit 21 HR with 112 RBI in 2010 and is only 25 years old.

Mike Carp (SEA)
Currently riding a 16-game hitting streak, Carp is fitting in nicely in the major leagues. He has also hit in 22 of his 24 games since being recalled from the minors. While he was at Triple-A, he was also hitting very well, so this is nothing new. His 17 RBI in August is tied for the AL lead in that category. He is playing for a major league job in 2012 so ride the wave while he is raking right now.

Keep an eye on these potential blue chip bargains. You better act soon, however, as their fantasy stock is quickly on the rise.

---

Chris McBrien is a baseball writer for numerous websites and may be found at Dear Mr. Fantasy. He may also be followed on Twitter @cmcbrien.

Puerto Rico & Baseball: Two Decades After the Draft

We’re getting closer to that magical time when MLB and the MLBPA will once again meet to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. There are any number of issues the two sides could (and should) address, but one of the most persistent is the issue of a worldwide draft. It’s a pretty divisive issue, and there are good arguments both for and against it. Taking a look at the evolution of the Puerto Rican amateur player market over the last 20 years demonstrates both sides of the argument.

The amateur player draft was instituted in 1965 as a cost-containment measure in response to the escalating signing bonuses of professional baseball players. Around the same time major league teams began to realize that strong Latin American baseball talent provided an effective, inexpensive way to boost their rosters. It didn’t take long for the sky-rocketing signing bonuses to crop up in these Latin American markets, and in 1989 MLB responded by expanding the Rule 4 Draft to include Puerto Rico.

In theory, adding Puerto Rico to the draft was the right move. After all, the draft had served its intended purpose with respect to players in the United States and Canada. However, Puerto Rico is a unique market, and a procedure that works for one country cannot necessarily be effectively applied in boilerplate fashion to another. While the US and Canada have an established system of organized amateur baseball through high school and independent leagues, Puerto Rico does not. Before 1989 this was not a problem because Puerto Rican prospects were able to develop their game in baseball academies. Once Puerto Rico became subject to the draft these academies were prohibited, and most prospects were restricted to playing only on the weekends in amateur leagues. As you can imagine, 20 years of competing against American and Canadian players with better access to coaches, training, and facilities has put the Puerto Rican prospects at a significant disadvantage, and in 2009 the number of Puerto Rican players in MLB hit a 24-year low. Even more troubling is the fact that MLB has failed to take action despite the requests of the Department of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico for MLB to either alter the current draft policy to once again exclude Puerto Rico, or to aid the government in establishing baseball academies.

As the Puerto Rican player market dried up, teams switched their focus to the Dominican Republic and its plethora of talented prospects. And following MLB’s recent regulations in the DR, the market has once again shifted – this time to Venezuela, which remains unregulated, and where corruption and abusive agents run wild. The reason behind all this corruption? You guessed it – sky-rocketing signing bonuses for Venezuelan prospects. Would a worldwide draft help curb the abusive practices of money-hungry, unethical agents and protect the teenage prospects? It would certainly help. But if not instituted correctly, a worldwide draft could severely hinder player development in countries that do not have organized high school baseball systems, and the struggles that the Puerto Rican market has gone through could play out on the global stage.

So where does that leave us? Every fan knows MLB has some serious problems it needs to work on. Obviously this post just scratches the surface of the realities in the Latin American amateur player market, but it demonstrates that when we break MLB’s large problems down, we find they are composed of many smaller problems, none of which have clear cut answers. Many things need to change, not the least of which are the culture and status quo of the business operations in MLB. But in an increasingly globalized world, where regulatory organizations like the Olympic Movement have existed for decades, there is no excuse for not responding to the corruption and abusive practices that take place in unregulated amateur baseball markets. It is time for MLB to step up to the plate and institute real change in the right way. The teams deserve it, the fans deserve it, and most importantly, the teenage prospects who dream of one day playing in the major leagues deserve it.

---

Robbie is the author of The Baseblawg and you can follow her on Twitter @clarkbar213.

Jim Thome Hits 600th Home Run (video)

Quietly and graciously, Jim Thome hit his 600th career home run on Monday, August 15. He joins Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630), Alex Rodriguez (626 and counting) and Sammy Sosa (609) as the elite members of the 600 Home Run Club.

Congratulations to Thome.

---

Follow Matt on Twitter and Facebook for all his baseball and Fantasy sports updates! For every update here at The Dugout Doctors, follow our official Twitter account @DugoutDoctors.

Fantasy Baseball: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

HOT

J.J. Hardy (BAL)
The Baltimore shortstop has been able to avoid major injury this season and has been riding some serious hot streaks. He has gone 10-for-26 with 6 R, 4 HR, 10 RBI over the past week. His 23 HR in 2011 leave him just 3 shy of his career high from 2007.

Jose Constanza (ATL)
The upstart rookie continues to rob former phenom Jason Heyward of playing time in the Braves outfield equation. Constanza is on a tear recently with 7 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI and 3 SB over the past 7 days.

Melky Cabrera (KC)
It only seems like Cabrera has been in the major leagues forever. However, he is only 27 years old and has really settled into the Royals’ starting line up. He has already set career highs in HR and SB and with 3 more RBI, he will match his career high from 2007. He has also been on a torrid streak as of late hitting a scorching .500 (12-for-24).

NOT

Denard Span (MIN)
Since returning after two months on the shelf from a concussion, Span is considering shutting it down for the rest of the season. He has been particularly futile offensively with a scant single over his last 19 at-bats.

Howie Kendrick (LAA)
After an incredible first half of 2011, Kendrick has struggled recently at the plate. Yet to collect an RBI in August, he has hit a mere 2-for-20 with 1 R over the past 7 days.

B.J. Upton (TB)
Unlike his brother, Justin, the long drought continues for the elder Upton in Tampa Bay. Sure to lose some playing time at some point if his offensive woes continue, B.J.’s bat is running cold at .136 (3-for-22) over the past week.

---

Chris McBrien is a baseball writer for numerous websites and may be found at Dear Mr. Fantasy. He may also be followed on Twitter @cmcbrien.

Team-by-Team Analysis of American League Rookies

Check out Andrew’s recap of the National League rookies here.

Sadly, the 2011 baseball season is hurtling towards its regular season conclusion. This season has seen a number of young players playing in their rookie campaigns. These rookies have had varying degrees of success, and many of them will be looked upon to become even more significant contributors in 2012. Their development may have a major impact on the success of their respective teams next year.

Just about every team has one rookie who could be a major part of their squad next year. I will break down one rookie from each American League team who I believe has the potential to have the greatest impact on their team in 2012. I will explore the National League candidates in a future entry.

Baltimore Orioles – SP Zach Britton

Britton started out of the gate like a champion, but saw his results diminish as the season has progressed. He has struggled with injuries of late, and is currently on the 15 day disabled list.

The Orioles sorely need one of their young pitchers to step up and take the lead position in their rotation. Brian Matusz looks like a major question mark right now, so the next obvious candidate is the lefty Britton. He has an impressive arsenal of pitches, highlighted by his sinker, and is a good bet to take a major leap in production next season, if he can get healthy.

Boston Red Sox – OF Josh Reddick

Although he came within nine at bats last season of no longer being considered a rookie in 2011, but Reddick survived as my pick for Boston. The veteran Red Sox have given little playing time to any rookies this season, and while that essentially makes Reddick the default choice; I also believe that he is a player to watch for 2012.

J.D. Drew and his inflated contract and monotone expressions will undoubtedly not be resigned after this year, leaving a hole in right field. Boston may choose to pursue a free agent, and they also have another exciting young player in Ryan Kalish who has proven he can play as well. However, Reddick may end up being the choice. He has shown a much better batting eye this season, and at worst should expect to be a significant bench contributor next year.

Chicago White Sox – RP Chris Sale

The lanky lefty drew the ire of skipper Ozzie Guillen, at the beginning of the year, for not being able to hold down the closer job. Since then, Sale has been dominant as a set-up man. He has averaged better than a strikeout an inning for the season, and has an ERA of 1.08 since June 1st. He should be a vital member of the Chicago bullpen once again in 2012, whether it is as their 8th inning man, or trying the closer position again if Sergio Santos falls out of favor.

Cleveland Indians – 2B Jason Kipnis

Cleveland manager Manny Acta recently called Kipnis a “dirtbag,” but he meant it in the best possible way. Kipnis is a one of those players who fills up a stat sheet and invariably has a dirty uniform by the end of every game. He started his major league career with a bang, including having one stretch where he homered in four straight games. The Indians offense is slowly starting to rebuild, and Kipnis figures to be a big part of that, with Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera.

Detroit Tigers – RP Al Alburquerque

Prior to his recent concussion that forced him on to the disabled list; the right-handed Alburquerque had been one of the most underappreciated rookies in all of baseball. He seemingly came out of nowhere to be an important cog in the Detroit bullpen. His ability to get strikeouts (57 in 37 innings this season) makes him an excellent tool to bring into a game with men on base. Assuming he bounces back from his injury, Alburquerque should be part of the 2012 bullpen, an area where no team can ever have enough good arms.

Kansas City Royals – RP Aaron Crow

Most people probably expected I would give this spot to Eric Hosmer. I have no doubts that Hosmer will have an excellent season in 2012, but I feel that Crow could prove to be even more valuable. He has anchored a shaky Kansas City bullpen this year, serving as the setup man for Joakim Soria.

Soria has regressed noticeably from his All Star days, and with his high salary, is a candidate to be pitching elsewhere next year. If that were to happen, Crow would be the natural choice to step into the closer role. Regardless, on a team that has been bereft of good, solid pitching for years, Crow will have a prominent role in some form.

Los Angeles Angels – SP Tyler Chatwood

At the age of 21, Chatwood is one of the youngest players in the major leagues this year. He has been simply ordinary as a starter, but since he pitches at the end of the rotation, it is hard to expect any better from the youngster. It is encouraging to see how Chatwood has held his own all season, and there is nothing that should prevent him from being even better in 2012. With Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana already in place, Chatwood can continue to take his time to develop his final polish, and round out the Angel rotation.

Minnesota Twins – OF Ben Revere

Baseball insiders projected Revere as a plus defensive outfielder, with good speed, and slap hitting ability. He has shown exactly that since being summoned by the Twins earlier this season. Revere will likely be the Twins’ fourth outfielder in 2012, but has shown the ability to be a starter if he is needed to step into the role.

Revere’s skill set is similar to that of incumbent centerfielder Denard Span, but he still has a ways to develop at the major league level. The cost-conscious Twins will likely appreciate having a cheap talent like Revere around that they can plug into the lineup whenever the need arises.

New York Yankees – SP Ivan Nova

Nova may exceed the innings limit to be considered a rookie this year, but I am going to call him one anyways. He is close enough to qualifying that I am going to make an exception.

The winning ways of the Yankees often obscures the black hole that has been the back end of their starting rotation for the last several years. Nova was regarded as a good prospect, but I am sure the success he has enjoyed in 2011 has surprised even his most ardent supporters. With 11 wins thus far, he is clearly the team’s second best pitcher after C.C. Sabathia, and makes the least amount of money.

Nova will be given a rotation spot next year, and if he continues to develop, he could have a huge year. The Yankees offense is so good that most nights if Yankee starters allow three or four runs or less, they have a good chance of earning a win. Barring a significant pick-up in the offseason, Nova might enter 2012 with as high as the number two spot in the rotation.

Oakland Athletics – RP Fautino De Los Santos

The bullpen has been the most consistent aspect of recent Oakland teams. While they have had an anemic offense, and a young starting rotation, their relievers have consistently been viewed amongst the best in the game. This year the A’s have added another weapon to that arsenal. De Los Santos is a fire-balling right-hander who was traded to Oakland along with Gio Gonzalez in 2008.

Although De Los Santos does struggle with his control, he is also capable of prodigious strikeout numbers. His emergence in the pen will either give the A’s one more option to use in 2012, or perhaps allow them to trade one of their more established relievers for a bat.

Seattle Mariners – 2B Dustin Ackley

The Mariners’ offense has been weak for the past few years. Ichiro has been about the only dependable contributor, though even that has changed this season. Ackley has been on the lips of most Mariners fans since he was taken as the second overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft, as a savior to turn the team’s offensive woes around.

Ackley’s bat has always been his most indisputable tool, but it was only this past year that his defensive position was finally set as second base. Since coming up to Seattle in mid-June, Ackley has hovered around the .300 mark, and shown good pop. If the Mariners want to turn things around, they will need Ackley to continue to develop and become a long term anchor of their offense.

Tampa Bay Rays – OF Desmond Jennings

The Rays have played well in 2011, but are not at the same level they were the past few seasons. Budgetary constraints led to the team saying goodbye to team leaders like Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford. Fortunately, the Rays have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball, and have moved quickly to plug their holes with fresh talent.

Jennings is the most recent addition fresh off the farm. He is an outfielder who languished for what seemed to be forever in the minors, before finally getting called up last month. Jennings does a little of everything, from solid defense, to stolen bases, to surprising pop in his bat. He should be a clear cut starter in 2012, and is capable of putting up Crawford-esque numbers.

Texas Rangers – ???

Although I can’t come up with a single Rangers 2011 rookie who I believe will have an impact in 2012, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Rangers have a solid veteran team that is currently in first place. In particular, their lineup is flush with good veteran talent. Perhaps 2012 is when they will start incorporating some rookies and infusing a little more youth on to their roster.

Toronto Blue Jays – 3B Brett Lawrie

It seemed that the baseball world waited a long time for Lawrie to get called up this year. He was poised to come up in June, but a fractured bone in his hand pushed that back to August.

If his numbers in the minor leagues, and his first couple of weeks in the majors are any indication, Lawrie is going to be an offensive monster. The deep lineup that Toronto has will allow Lawrie to hit towards the bottom if the team feels it is necessary to work him in gradually. His defense continues to need work, but his bat is too good for Toronto to keep down. His enthusiastic grand slam indicates that his infectious emotion will also fit in well with the Blue Jays team.

While there is still baseball to be played in 2011, it never hurts to look ahead to the next year when trying to figure out how each team’s roster will fill out. As you can see, there has been a good crop of rookies this year, and most teams are planning on at least one of them playing an integral role in 2012.

---

Andrew Martin appreciates and writes about all aspects of baseball and its history at his blog, The Baseball Historian. You can also follow him on Twitter at @RedSoxFanNum1.

Fantasy Baseball: Rookie Middle Infielders

There was a time when fantasy baseball success in your middle infield spots meant using veteran players. That rule certainly does not hold true in the 2011 season. Remember the days when an established player was an asset at second base or shortstop? It wasn’t long ago when having Derek Jeter, Chase Utley or Miguel Tejada meant fantasy success up the middle of your infield.

Coming into the 2010 season, the middle infield spots looked to be shallow at best. However, with a series of injuries to key players such as Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Rickie Weeks and Brian Roberts, the shortstop and second base positions have gotten a lot thinner as the 2011 season has wore on. This has opened the door to a series of young players to make their mark in the major leagues. As it stands now, rather than turning to veterans you need to seriously consider some of these rookies for fantasy baseball success in the middle infield spots on your fantasy roster:

Dustin Ackley (SEA)
Chone Figgins was moved to third base to start the season but Ackley didn’t get the job at second base out of spring training. However, after Jack Wilson and Adam Kennedy failed to capitalize on their opportunities, Ackley got the call on June 17th. He proceeded to hit a home run in his second game in a big league uniform and hasn’t looked back since, posting a .293 AVG with 5 HR and 23 RBI in his first 45 games in the bigs. Although he wasn’t expected to make the Mariners until 2012, Ackley is here and is here to stay.

Dee Gordon (LAD)
After bouncing between the Dodgers and Triple-A, Gordon found himself recalled after the Rafael Furcal trade opened the door for him at shortstop. Currently on the 15-day DL with a shoulder contusion, Gordon should be a good source of stolen bases in September for your fantasy playoffs.

Jason Kipnis (CLE)
The idea was to leave Kipnis in Triple-A until 2012. After all, why rush a top prospect to the big leagues and waste a year of service time when the big club had no hope of contending, right? Funny thing, the Indians found themselves a contender in the AL Central and decided to bring Kipnis up. The trade of Orlando Cabrera opened up playing time and Kipnis took off. In 18 GP, he has hit 6 HR with 11 RBI and 2 SB to go with a slash line of .284/.351/.612. Red-hot in August, Kipnis is worth a shot for sure.

Jose Altuve (HOU)
If the Astros were looking for a boost to their line up, they certainly received one in the diminutive Altuve. Generously listed as 5’7”, and brought up from Double-A where he was tearing up the minors, the 21-year-old second baseman was probably rushed to the big leagues. Don’t let that stop you from riding a hot average of .346 while it lasts. He may prove to be over-matched at the major league level (especially when it comes to hitting for power) but he provides an intriguing option at a shallow position.

Johnny Giavotella (KC)
After a nice showing in Triple-A (in a good hitters league), the 24-year old shortstop was promoted and hit a home run off Detroit’s Max Scherzer in his 3rd big league game. A potentially potent hitter at a very weak position may not be enough to earn Giavotella the type of playing time to make him a valuable fantasy player. The reason? His lack of range defensively will, if nothing else,cost him playing time late in games as he is pulled for more the defensively skilled Chris Getz. Be cautiously optimistic.

Jemile Weeks (OAK)
If you need a nice boost in the speed department, Weeks may just be an option. Do not expect power from the Oakland second bagger and be aware that he has hit .250 against LHP this season (57 points lower than his mark against RHP).

Some of these young players might just be the ‘heroes’ your fantasy baseball team needs up the middle. And who knows? Before long, they may end up being as well-known as their veteran counterparts.

---

Chris McBrien is a baseball writer for numerous websites and may be found at Dear Mr. Fantasy. He may also be followed on Twitter @cmcbrien.

« Previous Page — Next Page »