Spring Training Breakdown: Hitters
Halfway through Spring Training it is time for The Bevacqua Files' "First Annual Mid-Point of Spring Training Superficial Analysis of Players Who Are Playing Well."
Should this blog continue as planned for multiple seasons, this feature will become as synonomous with March 15th as Thanksgiving is with November 24th.
The point of this feature is to take a look at which players are dominating the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in some of the categories used for scoring in this fantasy league. Today, we start with hitters and look at four of the ten hitting categories: 2B, 3B, BB, and HR.
Keep in mind as you analyze these numbers that they have little or nothing to do with how these players will perform once the season begins April 2.
Doubles (2B)
1. Doug Mientkiewicz (KC) - 6
2. Josh Barfield (SD) - 5
3. Angel Chavez (SF) - 5
4. Luis A. Gonzalez (Col) - 5
5. Brandon Inge (Det) - 5
6. Scott McClain (Oak) - 5
7. Joe McEwing (KC) - 5
A quick glance at these numbers says two things: (1) Angel Chavez is officially on my draft board; and (2) Kansas City is going to win the AL Central. One interesting point to note is that McEwing is a friend of the owner of this league's Team Italy, and is therefore officially one of the Bevacqua Files' favorite players. It remains to be seen, however, if that will translate to joining the roster of any team on draft day. But in all seriousness, only Inge and maybe Gonzalez are potential draftees in the league, though if Barfield continues to knock the cover off the ball he may rate a late round pick by a certain 'Drino fan who is writing this sentence.
Triples (3B)
1. Felix Pie (ChC) - 3
2. Jeff DaVanon (Ari) - 2
3. J.D. Drew (LAD) - 2
4. Choo Freeman (Col) - 2
5. Bill Hall (Mil) - 2
6. Howie Kendrick (LAA) - 2
7. M. Maier (KC) - 2
8. Kerry Robinson (KC) - 2
Two things jump out at me when looking at this list: (1) the Cubs did right by 86ing Corey Patterson; and (2) Kansas City is going to win the AL Central. Seriously, I've always liked Kerry Robinson. In 2004, in 92 ABs for the 'Drinos, he batted .293 with 11 bags and scored 20 runs. The man, when he gets on base, gets around and gets in. I like that in a baseball player. It comforts me. What doesn't comfort me, as a 'Drino fan at least, is the potential for J.D. Drew to stay healthy and put together a stellar season. People forget that the Dodgers had the early lead in the NL West last season before injuries shattered their ice-cold hearts. With Drew, Nomar, Furcal, Gagne, and Penny, they have the potential to place quite a few players on fantasy rosters, and, perhaps sneak out a Division Championship. Damnit.
Walks (BB)
1. Jeff DaVanon (Ari) - 11
2. Brady Clark (Mil) - 9
3. Marlon Anderson (WSH) - 8
4. Ryan Church (WSH) - 8
5. Jeremy Hermida (Fla) - 8
6. Jim Thome (CWS) - 8
An intriguing list. Put aside the fact that DaVanon and Anderson, barring injuries, likely won't play a significant fantasy role, the others on this list are all potential mid-round picks that could explode. Starting from the bottom, Thome is an obvious question mark, probably a safer bet than Bonds to last the season, but no guarantees. If healthy, and hitting in Comiskey, he could be back to his old Peoria, Illinois beast ways. Hermida, in my mind, is wholly legit. Though young, since this is a 10-keeper league he might be worth grabbing now and holding onto until he matures to full beastdom. Church is in that 27-28 year old prime. He plays at RFK, but should improve his 2005 numbers. And finally, Brady Clark is a legitimate sneaky-star that may or may not fall to later rounds. The Brewer lineup should also pack some more punch this year so his R and RBI will likely increase.
Bombs (HR)
1. Ryan Howard (Phi) - 8
2. Edwin Encarnacion (Cin) - 6
3. Ian Stewart (Col) - 5
4. Jeff Baker (Col) - 4
5. Eric Chavez (Oak) - 4
6. Chris Duncan (StL) - 4
7. M. Jones (NYY) - 4
8. R. Mulhern (Cle) - 4
9. Phil Nevin (Tex) - 4
Howard has been the story of the Spring, and the player whose performance might best indicate a true breakout fantasy season. If he continues this pace over the next week, I could see someone taking him in the first round of the draft next Friday. Baseball pundits are all waiting for the Ian Stewart-era in Colorado, though apparently that may be on hold in lieu of the Jeff Baker-era. And finally, Nevin ... beast.
Incidentally, Bonds ranks tenth in the league right now with 3 home runs ... in 9 at-bats.
Should this blog continue as planned for multiple seasons, this feature will become as synonomous with March 15th as Thanksgiving is with November 24th.
The point of this feature is to take a look at which players are dominating the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in some of the categories used for scoring in this fantasy league. Today, we start with hitters and look at four of the ten hitting categories: 2B, 3B, BB, and HR.
Keep in mind as you analyze these numbers that they have little or nothing to do with how these players will perform once the season begins April 2.
Doubles (2B)
1. Doug Mientkiewicz (KC) - 6
2. Josh Barfield (SD) - 5
3. Angel Chavez (SF) - 5
4. Luis A. Gonzalez (Col) - 5
5. Brandon Inge (Det) - 5
6. Scott McClain (Oak) - 5
7. Joe McEwing (KC) - 5
A quick glance at these numbers says two things: (1) Angel Chavez is officially on my draft board; and (2) Kansas City is going to win the AL Central. One interesting point to note is that McEwing is a friend of the owner of this league's Team Italy, and is therefore officially one of the Bevacqua Files' favorite players. It remains to be seen, however, if that will translate to joining the roster of any team on draft day. But in all seriousness, only Inge and maybe Gonzalez are potential draftees in the league, though if Barfield continues to knock the cover off the ball he may rate a late round pick by a certain 'Drino fan who is writing this sentence.
Triples (3B)
1. Felix Pie (ChC) - 3
2. Jeff DaVanon (Ari) - 2
3. J.D. Drew (LAD) - 2
4. Choo Freeman (Col) - 2
5. Bill Hall (Mil) - 2
6. Howie Kendrick (LAA) - 2
7. M. Maier (KC) - 2
8. Kerry Robinson (KC) - 2
Two things jump out at me when looking at this list: (1) the Cubs did right by 86ing Corey Patterson; and (2) Kansas City is going to win the AL Central. Seriously, I've always liked Kerry Robinson. In 2004, in 92 ABs for the 'Drinos, he batted .293 with 11 bags and scored 20 runs. The man, when he gets on base, gets around and gets in. I like that in a baseball player. It comforts me. What doesn't comfort me, as a 'Drino fan at least, is the potential for J.D. Drew to stay healthy and put together a stellar season. People forget that the Dodgers had the early lead in the NL West last season before injuries shattered their ice-cold hearts. With Drew, Nomar, Furcal, Gagne, and Penny, they have the potential to place quite a few players on fantasy rosters, and, perhaps sneak out a Division Championship. Damnit.
Walks (BB)
1. Jeff DaVanon (Ari) - 11
2. Brady Clark (Mil) - 9
3. Marlon Anderson (WSH) - 8
4. Ryan Church (WSH) - 8
5. Jeremy Hermida (Fla) - 8
6. Jim Thome (CWS) - 8
An intriguing list. Put aside the fact that DaVanon and Anderson, barring injuries, likely won't play a significant fantasy role, the others on this list are all potential mid-round picks that could explode. Starting from the bottom, Thome is an obvious question mark, probably a safer bet than Bonds to last the season, but no guarantees. If healthy, and hitting in Comiskey, he could be back to his old Peoria, Illinois beast ways. Hermida, in my mind, is wholly legit. Though young, since this is a 10-keeper league he might be worth grabbing now and holding onto until he matures to full beastdom. Church is in that 27-28 year old prime. He plays at RFK, but should improve his 2005 numbers. And finally, Brady Clark is a legitimate sneaky-star that may or may not fall to later rounds. The Brewer lineup should also pack some more punch this year so his R and RBI will likely increase.
Bombs (HR)
1. Ryan Howard (Phi) - 8
2. Edwin Encarnacion (Cin) - 6
3. Ian Stewart (Col) - 5
4. Jeff Baker (Col) - 4
5. Eric Chavez (Oak) - 4
6. Chris Duncan (StL) - 4
7. M. Jones (NYY) - 4
8. R. Mulhern (Cle) - 4
9. Phil Nevin (Tex) - 4
Howard has been the story of the Spring, and the player whose performance might best indicate a true breakout fantasy season. If he continues this pace over the next week, I could see someone taking him in the first round of the draft next Friday. Baseball pundits are all waiting for the Ian Stewart-era in Colorado, though apparently that may be on hold in lieu of the Jeff Baker-era. And finally, Nevin ... beast.
Incidentally, Bonds ranks tenth in the league right now with 3 home runs ... in 9 at-bats.
posted by Ryan at 6:23 PM
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