Every other day, for the next two weeks, I will be posting a comparison between the top players at each position. This way, you will be educated enough to make that trade, or reject that one from the guy that's been badgering you. To start, we'll begin with Geovany Soto and Russell Martin.
Last season, Russell Martin took Major League Baseball's fantasy owners by storm. He slowly made his away above the top two from a few years ago, Joe Mauer and Victor Martinez. It's really hard to turn the 25-year-old catcher down that had 87 runs, 19 home runs, and 87 RBIs last season. On top of that, he also had 21 stolen bases and a batting average of .293. This year, Martin is on pace to do a small step worse than last year, but still top tier numbers for a catcher.
You'd think with all this, Martin would be the number one hands down, right? Soto says, "NO!" The Chicago Cubs have powered their way towards the top of the NL Central on the backs of their two rookies, Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto. The 25-year-old Soto is currently playing his fist full year in the majors and is Major League Baseball's best hitting catcher. He currently has 14 runs, 5 home runs, 23 RBIs, and is batting .333. According to that, he is on pace for (roughly) 70 runs, 25 home runs, and 100+ RBIs! Soto also set a Cubs rookie record with 20 RBIs in April. Who would not want that out of their catcher. Even last year, when Soto only played in 18 games, he still put up very impressive numbers (12 runs, 8 RBIs, .389 AVG).
By looking at these numbers, you still might not know which one to trust more. However, let's take a look at another group of numbers. In 2007, in AAA, Soto played in 110 games. In those games, he had 75 runs, 26 home runs, 109 RBIs, and had a batting average of .353. His OPS that season was 1.076! Russell Martin, however, never had the standout minor league numbers as Soto.
An extra note on Russell Martin: Joe Torre has been playing Martin at third base, his original minor league position, including two consecutive starts at third. Keep this in mind, as he could be fantasy eligible at third and catcher next season.
With all this information shown, my vote goes to Geovany Soto. Use the poll to the right to vote on who you think gets the nod between Russell Martin and Geovany Soto. Also, remember to check back again to see our next comparison at first base.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Voice of Youth
Major League Baseball is packed with young stars. The game's heroes are getting younger year by year. With many people in either keeper or franchise leagues, this article is devoted to my "Under age 25 team."
C-Russell Martin (LAD)
1B-Prince Fielder (MIL)
2B-Ian Kinsler (TEX)
SS-Hanley Ramirez (FLA)
3B-Miguel Cabrera (DET)
OF-Ryan Braun (MIL)
OF-Grady Sizemore (CLE)
OF-B.J. Upton (TB)
P-Felix Hernandez (SEA)
Any of these key players will help any manager stay in touch with the youth movement in baseball and get the edge in your keeper or franchise leagues.
C-Russell Martin (LAD)
1B-Prince Fielder (MIL)
2B-Ian Kinsler (TEX)
SS-Hanley Ramirez (FLA)
3B-Miguel Cabrera (DET)
OF-Ryan Braun (MIL)
OF-Grady Sizemore (CLE)
OF-B.J. Upton (TB)
P-Felix Hernandez (SEA)
Any of these key players will help any manager stay in touch with the youth movement in baseball and get the edge in your keeper or franchise leagues.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Prospect Propaganda
Top prospects to keep an eye on.
1. Jay Bruce (OF-CIN) - With 21 RBIs in 26 games, this kid can produce. He has 6 steals and 5 home runs, so he's a solid player. His main weakness, which is the main reason that he is not up right now is the fact that he has struck out 25 times! That's 1 per game! The Reds don't want to rush him into the majors and make the same mistake they did with Wily Mo Pena.
2. Clayton Kershaw (LHP-LAD-AA) - Remember all the hype about Missouri's Max Scherzer? Take a small step up and you get Clayton Kershaw. In 5 games started this year, he has a 0-3 record, but an ERA of 1.40. He has 31 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. The 20-year-old is full of potential and could be in the big leagues by the end of the year.
3. Homer Bailey (RHP-CIN) - He's had one bad start this year, but he settled down and has a 2.29 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. It's just a matter of time before Bailey makes his way back to the Reds rotation.
4. Ian Stewart (3B-COL) - Stewart can get on base, and when he does, he'll score. In 25 games played, he has 23 runs and 21 RBIs. He does have a contact problem. He's struck out 27 times. Once he has a better feel of the strikezone, Stewart will get called up.
1. Jay Bruce (OF-CIN) - With 21 RBIs in 26 games, this kid can produce. He has 6 steals and 5 home runs, so he's a solid player. His main weakness, which is the main reason that he is not up right now is the fact that he has struck out 25 times! That's 1 per game! The Reds don't want to rush him into the majors and make the same mistake they did with Wily Mo Pena.
2. Clayton Kershaw (LHP-LAD-AA) - Remember all the hype about Missouri's Max Scherzer? Take a small step up and you get Clayton Kershaw. In 5 games started this year, he has a 0-3 record, but an ERA of 1.40. He has 31 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. The 20-year-old is full of potential and could be in the big leagues by the end of the year.
3. Homer Bailey (RHP-CIN) - He's had one bad start this year, but he settled down and has a 2.29 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. It's just a matter of time before Bailey makes his way back to the Reds rotation.
4. Ian Stewart (3B-COL) - Stewart can get on base, and when he does, he'll score. In 25 games played, he has 23 runs and 21 RBIs. He does have a contact problem. He's struck out 27 times. Once he has a better feel of the strikezone, Stewart will get called up.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Top 5 Pitchers to Stay Away From
Each year as the season begins, certain players, who are usually under the radar, have great starts, and it gets fantasy managers to wonder. This will hopefully keep you from trading your entire offense for a bust.
1. Rich Harden (OAK) - Harden has some of the best stuff of any pitcher in baseball, but no player crushes fantasy hopes like Rich Harden. His only full year was 2004. Injuries have plagued his career each of the last four years (including 2008). Harden is almost guaranteed to give you an ERA under 4.00 and more strikeouts than innings pitched, but he will not leave this list until
he proves that he can stay healthy.
2. Ben Sheets (MIL) - Although Sheets has yet to have a bad season in his 7-year career, he's only been healthy all year three times. In his past three years, he was limited to 22 starts, 17 starts, and 24 starts. He's got really good stuff, but don't be surprised when the injury bug hits him again.
3. Ervin Santana (LAA) - Although Santana is off to a great start, he seems to follow a pattern. Santana's pattern is inconsistency. Just when you think he's finally settled in to playing well, he'll have numerous rough starts in a row. Santana, who debuted in 2005, has a career ERA of 4.72, and he's coming off a rough season in 2007 where he posted an ERA of 5.76 and averaged giving up one home run in each of his starts.
4. Cliff Lee (CLE) - Cliff Lee is by far the most impressive pitcher in baseball this season. He has given up one earned run in 31.2 innings pitched. However, Lee has a tendency to start of well, and then settle in to his normal 4.00+ ERA. Lee's ERA has been increasing for the past three years, and last year, in a season that plagued Lee with injury, he posted a 6.29 ERA.
5. Johnny Cueto (CIN) - In the rookie's first two starts, he gave up three runs in 13.1 innings, and he struck out 18. Since then, he's had four starts, struck out only 15, walked eight, compared to zero in his first two starts, and his ERA has risen to 5.40. Cueto throws hard, but that's all he does. He'll have to do something to change his flat pitches because hitters have caught on.
1. Rich Harden (OAK) - Harden has some of the best stuff of any pitcher in baseball, but no player crushes fantasy hopes like Rich Harden. His only full year was 2004. Injuries have plagued his career each of the last four years (including 2008). Harden is almost guaranteed to give you an ERA under 4.00 and more strikeouts than innings pitched, but he will not leave this list until
he proves that he can stay healthy.
2. Ben Sheets (MIL) - Although Sheets has yet to have a bad season in his 7-year career, he's only been healthy all year three times. In his past three years, he was limited to 22 starts, 17 starts, and 24 starts. He's got really good stuff, but don't be surprised when the injury bug hits him again.
3. Ervin Santana (LAA) - Although Santana is off to a great start, he seems to follow a pattern. Santana's pattern is inconsistency. Just when you think he's finally settled in to playing well, he'll have numerous rough starts in a row. Santana, who debuted in 2005, has a career ERA of 4.72, and he's coming off a rough season in 2007 where he posted an ERA of 5.76 and averaged giving up one home run in each of his starts.
4. Cliff Lee (CLE) - Cliff Lee is by far the most impressive pitcher in baseball this season. He has given up one earned run in 31.2 innings pitched. However, Lee has a tendency to start of well, and then settle in to his normal 4.00+ ERA. Lee's ERA has been increasing for the past three years, and last year, in a season that plagued Lee with injury, he posted a 6.29 ERA.
5. Johnny Cueto (CIN) - In the rookie's first two starts, he gave up three runs in 13.1 innings, and he struck out 18. Since then, he's had four starts, struck out only 15, walked eight, compared to zero in his first two starts, and his ERA has risen to 5.40. Cueto throws hard, but that's all he does. He'll have to do something to change his flat pitches because hitters have caught on.
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