 Derek Norris Progress Notes on Three Eastern League (AA) Sticks
Derek Norris, C, Washington Nationals
The fall from grace of Derek Norris over the past two seasons has been painful to monitor. Following the 2009 season he was widely rated amongst the top prospects in the sport, but 2010 provided nothing but setbacks. Norris broke the Hamate bone in his left hand (by all accounts an injury that saps power for a full year) and was struck in the head by a 96 MPH fastball. While his numbers took a massive nosedive, his futility levels have reached an all-time low through 64 games this year. His first taste of AA ball has resulted in a .196 average with seven doubles, 12 HR (.407 SLG) and only 29 RBI. The lack of square contact has been frightening: .218 BABIP, .143 versus left-handed pitching and .169 with RISP. The Nationals believed they had corrected a weight shift flaw in his stride, but no consistent progress has been evident. Despite his struggles, the 22-year old remains a potential superstar in the eyes of many because of his sublime patience and hand-eye coordination. He's drawn 46 walks in 204 at bats (18%) and his OBP of .352 is tremendous given his struggles collecting base hits. It's quite possible that he's become patient to a fault, however, allowing too many fat pitches go by and putting himself behind the eight ball with regularity. A more aggressive approach from the struggling backstop would be a breath of fresh air. An ETA is difficult to project until his mental/mechanical issues are straightened out.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Perhaps the Red Sox farm system isn't bereft of top-level talent after all. Middlebrooks, who was a recent participant in the All-Star Futures Game, is quickly emerging as a legitimate high ceiling prospect. In his first season in the AA Eastern League he's batting .314 with 18 doubles, 11 homers and 52 RBI. He's been particularly menacing in RISP situations where he's hitting .403 with a 1.067 OPS and driven in 40. The knock on the soon to be 23-year old has been pitch recognition and plate discipline. In 261 plate appearances this season he's drawn just 17 walks (6%) against 64 strikeouts (23%). This is not a new development for Middlebrooks who posted a 35:121 BB:K ratio in 2010. When he makes contact the result is screaming line drives (.378 BABIP), but there are simply too many swings and misses. Since arriving in the organization he's added 40 pounds to his frame (from 180 to 220), and the power development is clearly evident. Balls he was driving for doubles are now leaving the yard. While still a raw product in his fourth MiLB season, his bat speed and plate coverage are impossible to ignore. It's difficult to project when Boston will begin to infuse young talent onto their established roster, but he's opening eyes. Over his last ten games Middlebrooks is batting .381 with three HR and 15 RBI.
Jordany Valdespin, 2B/SS New York Mets
The 23-year old middle infield product out of the Dominican Republic is a classic case late bloomer. Originally signed by New York to fill out a Dominican Summer League roster in 2007, Valdespin is now thriving in his fifth minor league campaign. He's obliterating previous statistical highs in the AA Eastern League, batting .294 with 11 HR (14 total in previous four seasons), 40 RBI (previous high of 41 in 2010) and 29 stolen bases (previous high of 17 in '10). His body has matured significantly and his raw energy on the diamond is slowly being channeled in the proper avenues. However, Valdespin remains a free swinger (17 BB:55 K) and needs to slow the game down on the bases and in the field. He's been caught stealing 11 times and has committed an unacceptable 24 errors at shortstop for Binghamton. Criticisms aside, it's hard to argue with his .330 batting clip in June and .333 in July. He's flat raking right now. Valdespin is a likely September call up for the Mets, and will undoubtedly get a long look next spring at SS or 2B (depending on team's decision on Jose Reyes). *He's broken team rules in the past, making a number of enemies in the prior regime. Those attitude issues appear to be behind him.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MiLB, The Farm Report, AA, AAA, Adam Ganeles, Jordany Valdesin, Will Middlebrooks, Derek Norris(February 24, 2011 - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
 Daniel Hudson (see credits below) Daniel Hudson took matters into his own hands in earning his tenth victory on Sunday afternoon. He pitched a complete game on 113 pitches, allowing one run, five hits and issuing zero BB. Hudson wasn't done there, however, going 2/3 at the dish with a HR and three rib eye steaks. Dinner is served.
Brett Gardner picked up his third 3-hit game in four days, scoring three runs and stealing his 25th and 26th bases. After a .194 April, he's above .300 for the third consecutive month.
It took him long enough, but Hanley Ramirez appears to FINALLY be hitting his stride. Ramirez picked up another two hits, blasted his 9th homer and swiped his 16th bag in the Marlins 7-5 triumph. He's driven in 11 runs over the past nine games and 41 total.
Gio Gonzalez rebounded from a poor outing at Texas (4 IP 7 R 3 ER) to shutout the Angels over seven, four-hit innings. The southpaw whiffed eight against two walks, and his 2.32 ERA speaks for itself. With any run support he'd have the peripherals of a legit ace.
Daniel Murphy went 2/3 with two runs and two BB in the series finale against Philadelphia, and has now hit in 19 of 21 games. He's batting .384 in July and .315 overall. Defense, you say?
Zack Cozart notched two hits, including his first major league HR, and scored two runs in the Reds 3-1 victory over St. Louis. The 25-year old has a .400 BA through 25 plate appearances. He came to the support of Homer Bailey who pitched 7 1/3 innings of three-hit one-run ball. Bailey isn't missing bats (4 K: 3 BB) or recording outs on the ground (9 FB outs), but for today his effort was more than sufficient.
Freddie Freeman's only hit was a critical one, a two-out walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Washington in comeback fashion. He also drew two walks on the afternoon. Freeman has driven in 13 runs in 13 July contests and looks supremely confident right now.
Hitting in the number three spot must appeal to Jeff Keppinger. He left the yard for a second straight game, going 3/5 with three runs and two RBI. Nevertheless, do not expect continued power output from the punching Judy second baseman.
Pirates’ batters struck out 16 times in an 11-inning victory over Houston. Five different hitters took the whiff multiple times, including four from Chase d'Arnaud who went 0/6. Wandy Rodriguez K'd 11 in 5 2/3 innings, but surrendered eight hits, three free passes and four ER. That’s one bizarre pitching line.
A hot Sunday in Baltimore=long balls. The Orioles and Indians combined to leave the park six times in the O's 8-3 win. The Birds have now won back-to-back games following their nine game stretch of futility.
Felipe Paulino can't buy a W for the Royals, but the K's keep coming. He struck out eight in seven innings at Minnesota, and now has 32 in his last 28 innings of work. Despite giving up a lot of hits, the hard thrower is beginning to harness his stuff and command the zone more effectively.
Mitch Moreland, who had been an 0'fer machine as of late, made his one knock count smacking a three-run dinger to account for the entirety of the Rangers offense. On June 16th he was hitting .300 on the button, and is now wallowing at .267. His overtly pull-happy approach is getting him in serious trouble. Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team(July 3, 2011 - Photo by Mark Hirsch/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, The Daily Fix
 CC Sabathia (see credits below) The two true oxen on the mound: CC Sabathia and James Shields. Both tossed complete games on Sunday, but the Yankees emerged with a 1-0 victory in a throwback-style pitcher's duel. Shields' eight innings of one run ball was bested by Sabathia's four hit, nine-strikeout gem. I suppose the big man wasn't pleased about his All-Star snub.
Andrew McCutchen drove in five runs on a three-run homer and two sacrifice flies, upping his season RBI tally to 54. He's taken a liking to the cleanup spot where his role as a run producer is well defined.
Cole Hamels pitched eight brilliant innings against rival Atlanta to earn his 11th victory. He allowed just a single run on three hits, walking two and whiffing six. His 0.93 WHIP and 2.32 ERA have him in contention for the Cy Young at the ASB.
Emilio Bonifacio went 3/3 with three runs and three SB on Sunday, extending his hit streak to 12 straight. He's raised his BA from .259 to .285 during the stretch, and is batting .326 with a .405 OBP out of the leadoff spot.
Jhoulys Chacin (7 IP, 1 R) and Jordan Zimmermann (6 1/3 IP, 0 R) tangled in a pitcher's duel of their own in the series finale, but neither could eclipse the 90-pitch plateau. 88-degree steamy conditions in Washington likely contributed to the shortened outings.
Apparently Adam Dunn's Friday night bomb wasn't the start of a hot streak. His BA stands at its lowest mark in three months, currently a spicy .160. Sorry, Ozzie.
Matt Harrison dazzled the A's over 7 2/3 shutout innings, striking out seven and walking only one. The left-hander has been awesome this year and deserves a better fate than his 7-7 record (3.04 ERA) dictates. He brings easy gas and is fearless pitching inside.
Darwin Barney racked up his 4th consecutive multi-hit game and is now batting .388 in July (following a .246 June). Still, his composite walk total of 10 is shockingly meager for a contact stick.
Justin Verlander. Enough said. Dan Haren and King Felix pitched gems. Both pitchers surrendered two runs but Haren's 8 2/3 innings gave him his 10th win of the year.
Francisco Cordero blew his third save opportunity in three chances on Sunday, allowing two hits and two runs in 2/3 of an inning. Prior to July 6th he had surrendered just two 9th inning leads all year. Is the new and improved Aroldis Chapman licking his chops?
Daniel Bard picked up his 21st hold, and hasn't allowed a run since May 23rd. He's slashed his ERA from 3.65 to 2.05 in those 18 appearances.
David Freese blasted his first long ball since April 12th, going 2/3 with three RBI against Zach Duke and Diamondbacks. The HR was to right field of course, as his natural power stroke is almost entirely the opposite way. He's batting .336 in 131 AB on the season.
Carlos Carrasco has returned to earth badly in his last two starts. His Sunday line of 3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER means he's given up 17 H and 11 ER in his last 7 innings of work. That run of five straight stellar starts is now a distant memory, as his ERA has ballooned to 4.28.Andre Ethier blasted hit his 8th and 9th homers of the year giving Ted Lilly the win over the Padres.
(July 9, 2011 - Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America) Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, The Daily Fix
 Rewarding Position Players By 2012-2013Wil Myers, RF Kansas City Royals
Despite being recognized as one of the top High School bats in the 2009 draft class, concerns over signability dropped Myers into the lap of Dayton Moore and the Royals in the third round. Less than two short years later, expectations for the 20-year old have reached cosmic proportions.
Following a promotion to the Advanced A CAR last season he hit .346 in 58 games, showing highly advanced strike zone IQ and plate discipline drawing 37 walks against 39 strikeouts.
2011 has proved to be a far more challenging year, in more ways than one. Myers undertook a position change from behind the plate to the outfield, a move up in class to AA, and suffered a staph infection in his knee that held him out for nearly a month (initial diagnosis was 7-10 days). All in all, his diminished statistical output of .287, three HR, 19 RBI and .410 SLG% is not difficult to explain.
He's remained patient in his approach accepting 25 free passes, but his K total of 48 is a bit startling for a hitter of his caliber. However, it's important to keep in mind his lack of game experience, particularly against supreme competition. Myers is renowned for his lightning quick hands and has legit power potential within his 6'3 205 frame. He's an excellent athlete as well, with speed not foreign to his skill package (12 SB in 2010).
To label him a fast track bat would be a large understatement. *Named to the U.S. Futures roster in late June.
Anthony Gose, CF Toronto Blue Jays
Originally a 2nd round selection by Philadelphia in 2008, Gose was first dealt to Houston in the Roy Oswalt package before finally ending up in Toronto for Brett Wallace.
The Jays were enthralled by his athletic gifts, and it's not hard to see why. With that said, whether those tools can transfer to higher levels of baseball competition has yet to be determined.
He's currently batting .261 in the AA Eastern League, with nine HR and 38 RBI. This is the first time he's displayed pop of this magnitude, leaving the park only nine times in his first 2+ minor league seasons. In fact, he's blasted four homers in his last six games alone.
What Gose has never failed to exhibit is speed, swiping 76 bags in 2009 (SAL), 45 last season (FSL) and already 39 in 49 attempts in 2011. The CS figures are exorbitant (32 CS in 2010) as his instincts on the basepaths are very much a work in progress, but his game wrecking wheels are undeniable.
Discipline and willingness to work counts are on the incline with 36 BB, but contact, or lack thereof, continues to haunt him. He needs to utilize his athleticism from the left side of the dish and take a "defensive" approach when behind in the counts (.327 BABIP).
Gose has been shuffled around the batting order, starting the season in the leadoff spot, then to the 3-hole and now in the second spot. If his power continues to develop, and his feel from the game clicks in, we're looking at a potential fantasy freak.
Unless you're still a believer in Travis Snider, there is no CF competition on the current roster or down on the farm.
Nolan Arenado, 3B Colorado Rockies
Another Futures Game participant, Arenado has been torching CAL (Advanced A) pitching at a sublime pace. He finished June at a .358 clip, and in 13 games since the All-Star break he's batting .431 with four HR and 24 RBI. Not too shabby, especially given his .272 start in April and May. Suffice it to say he's found his comfort zone at the dish.
Overall he's sporting a .308/10/66 split, with 20 doubles and a 23:30 BB:K ratio. Last year in the SAL he drove in 65 runs all season and walked just 19 times.
The 20-year old looks the part at the plate, displaying a balanced, aggressive swing with excellent hand-eye coordination and contact skills. Arenado is a line drive machine already, and long ball projection is becoming increasingly apparent. He's still not overly inclined to accept a free pass, but he's showing improvement in that regard.
Defensively, there is no way to sugarcoat his liabilities. He possesses underwhelming (at best) agility, and his lack of a true position will hold back his accelerated ascent to the majors.
Despite his struggles, however, Arenado is still far and away the Rockies top corner infield prospect, and for all intents and purposes, he is "the guy". He can rake=all sins forgiven.Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MiLB, The Farm Report, AA, AAA, Adam Ganeles
 Kevin Correia Kevin Correia with 11 wins prior to the ASB? On the Pirates? This must be the bizarro world. Nevertheless, he limited the Nationals to two runs over six innings, striking out six and walking one.
The deadly duo of Melky Cabrera and Eric Hosmer combined for eight hits, three HR, nine RBI and five runs scored against Jason Hammel, Matt Belisle and Clayton Mortensen. The Royals put together a 21-hit barrage and scored 16 runs.
Brennan Boesch hit his 22nd double and 12th homer in a win over the Giants. He's batting .393 since June 1st.
Carlos Gonzalez homered and drove in six runs on Sunday, but put a serious scare in his owners when he was carted off the field after crashing into the centerfield fence. Preliminary X-rays revealed a right wrist contusion. Breath easy.
Eric Thames and Rajai Davis weren't impressed by Cliff Lee's scoreless streak. Thames extended his hitting streak to nine games with two hits and HR. Davis picked up three hits (double, triple) and swiped three bases (21). Lee allowed three dingers in the eighth inning alone.
Josh Beckett struck out only a single batter in his last start, and decided to take his vengeance on the Astros. He whiffed 11 over eight one-run innings, lowering his WHIP to 0.91 in the process.
The Indians Lonnie Chisenhall has hit in all five games since being recalled on June 27th.
Forget Zach Britton's arm, he looks like a natural at the plate. He went 2/3 with a HR and two runs scored against Brandon Beachy, upping his season's average to .625. His swing is legit.
Nick Markakis appears primed to start a new hit streak, going 5/5 with a run, RBI and SB (eight hits last two games). The bottom of the O's order was inept as usual, providing him limited opportunities to knock in runs.
Johnny Damon drove in four runs from the leadoff spot, notching a double and triple amongst his three base hits. After a 4/4 Saturday, he's raised his BA .15 points in two days.
Rodrigo Lopez mesmerized the White Sox bats over seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and throwing 75 easy pitches. In his two prior starts this year he allowed ten runs (seven ER) and 18 hits in 9 1/3 IP.
It's safe to say former 1st round pick Blake Beavan wasn't in awe during his first major league start. The 6'7 Mariners right-hander held down the "dangerous" Padre bats, allowing three hits and one run over seven innings.Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com.
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!(July 2, 2011 - Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, The Daily Fix
 Collin Cowgill (see credits below) THE FARM REPORT - WEEK 13
Collin Cowgill, RF Arizona
The 25-year old Cowgill has toyed with PCL pitching in the season's opening three months. He's batting .363 (.406 in June) with 12 HR, 52 RBI and a 1.015 OPS, in large part a result of working himself into more hitters counts (39 BB:44 K). When ahead in the count he's hitting a ridiculous .463 with a .605 OBP. On the basepaths his efficiency speaks for itself, swiping 24 bags in 26 opportunities.
The former Kentucky product has displayed tremendous improvement at each advanced level, cultivating an all-fields approach with contact rates (specifically line drives) on the incline. Despite the absence of top end physical tools (5'9 185), Cowgill has put it all together thus far in 2011.
In the last calendar month he has a cycle and 17-game hitting streak under his belt. His accolades are difficult to ignore, leading Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers to classify him as a potential promotion alternative in July come the All-Star Break. Arizona has been trying to ship out Gerardo Parra for quite some time. Expect to see Cowgill roaming the spacious Chase Field gaps before too long.
Jason Kipnis, 2B Cleveland
With Lonnie Chisenhall and Cord Phelps receiving big league calls, is Kipnis next in line?
The 2009 2nd round pick is putting up his typical steady numbers in the International League, hitting .292 with nine HR and 44 RBI (.307/16/74 between High-A and AA last year). He's stolen a perfect 10/10 bases, drawn 36 BB (55 K), has posted a .302 mark against LHP and is producing with ducks on the pond at a .304 clip.
Kipnis is a "baseball player", plain and simple. He doesn't possess a single breathtaking tool, but the statistics are always present and his teams don't win games by accident.
His plate discipline continues to progress with experience, and he's always been a natural line drive hitter with a compact stroke and good pop for a middle infield spot.
He's far from an elite athlete at second base, however, which could be holding back his rise to the show. With that said, Orlando Cabrera is wallowing in futility, and Cord Phelps is behind Kipnis on the Indians food chain long (and possibly short) term.
Yonder Alonso, LF Cincinnati
The Cuba native and Miami University alum can finally see a crack of light at the end of the tunnel. His relocation to left field means the ever-large shadow of Joey Votto no longer holds the key to his future. If he can perform adequately defensively in the outfield, his advanced bat will earn him a shot at everyday at bats.
In 22 MLB AB's last season he hit .207, striking out ten times against zero BB. Obviously those figures are not encouraging, but that sample size is hardly worth making a fuss about.
The 7th overall selection in 2008 is having a stellar first half in the INT, hitting .306 with nine HR and 42 RBI. Perhaps more importantly, Alonso is finally showing signs of life against left-handed pitching, batting .300 with four long balls in 90 plate appearances.
He's a mechanically sound, smart hitter, but it would be a pleasant sign to see him turn on the baseball with authority more frequently. Standing at 6'2 240, he should be leaving the park not just accumulating doubles. His slugging percentages have left something to be desired along his MiLB journey, as it seems he's sacrificing power for BA.
Reds Manager Dusty Baker claims the team is not interested in infusing young talent just yet, even in the face of limited LF production. If that's the truly case, Alonso's name will surface once again as trade bait for a premium stick. He's not far off, that much is for certain.Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!(February 20, 2011 - Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MiLB, The Farm Report, AA, AAA, Adam Ganeles, Collin Cowgill, Jason Kipnis, Yonder Alonso
 Clayton Kershaw (see credits below) In the pitching matchup of the day, Clayton Kershaw squared off against Jered Weaver. On any other day, Weaver’s 7 innings of 1 run ball would spell a W-I-N, but when your opponent throws a complete game and strikeouts 11 for the 2nd game in a row, your chances are greatly decreased. Weaver got the no-decision, while Kershaw improved to 8-3 and now leads the league with 128 K’s.Ricky Romero has deserved a better W/L fate all season, and he took matters into his own hands at St. Louis. The left-hander tossed a complete game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out five. He's now 7-7 on the year with a 2.74 ERA. Romero induced 13 ground ball outs. One sign of a great pitcher is bounce-back-ability. Madison Bumgarner easily had one of the worst outings ever earlier in the week against Minnesota (.1 IP, 8ER) but against Cleveland he pitched seven strong innings, allowing 1 run and striking out 11. Talk about a 180!
Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 16 games, picking up three knocks and two rib-eye steaks for good measure (and his sixth SB). He's raking at a .391 clip during the run (27/69), albeit, he's driven in a run in just four of the games and 19 of the hits are singles.
Johnny Peralta continued his under the radar offensive proliferation in the series finale versus Arizona. He finished 3/4 with a HR, two RBI and two runs scored, pushing his season totals to a stellar .308/12/45.
The Rays 3 & 4 hitters had a field day versus J.A. Happ and the Astros bullpen. Evan Longoria went 4/6 with two HR, five RBI and three runs, while BJ Upton went 2/4 with four RBI and homered for the third consecutive game. That's a start, but their .253 and .228 respective batting averages still leave much to be desired.
Ty Wigginton left the yard twice against Ivan Nova, and now has five HR in his last four games and 11 in 196 total plate appearances. Ian Stewart, who?
Juan Nicasio no-hit the Yanks through 4 innings, but the Pinstripes scored 3 in the 5th led by a 2-run bomb by Nick The Swish. Swisher has really come around in June, hitting .315 and 6 jacks.
David Hernandez entered Sunday with a 2.50 ERA, a figure that skyrocket to 3.50 after nine innings were completed. He failed to record an out on 15 pitches (six strikes), allowing three hits, a BB and four ER. He's been awesome, but the tendency to implode remains.
Jimmy Rollins has found hits difficult to come by in June (.221), but he busted out against Josh Outman and the A's with a 4/4 afternoon and two runs scored. Ironically, he entered the game batting just .213 against LHP. It was only his second three or more hit performance this season.
Ryan Howard stole his first base of 2011 and the 11th of his career. It was his first attempt as well. If you need speed, look to snatch him up before he turns on the proverbial jets.
After hitting nine homers on Saturday, the Reds and Orioles added five more bombs on Sunday. It's summer time, and the ball is flying out of Camden. Prior to this series Derrek Lee hadn't left the yard since May 8th, but he hit two HR in the three game set.
Ryan Braun is on pace to shatter his previous season-high of 20 SB, swiping his 17th in 21 opportunities on Sunday. He connected on his 16th homer as well, and drove home his 58 and 59th runs. Braun's been slightly overshadowed by Prince Fielder's revitalization, but he's having another monster year (minus the flair).
Jeff Francoeur recorded his first multi-hit game since June 8th, going 3/4 with his 46th RBI. April must seem like season's ago for the power-armed right fielder.
Jose Tabata left Sunday’s game on a cart after beating out a 1st inning single. The injury is apparently to his left quadriceps, and did not have the look of a short term sidelining. (June 8, 2011 - Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America) Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com.
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!
Tags: Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, The Daily Fix
 Brad Peacock THE FARM REPORT - WEEK 12
Brad Peacock, RH SP Washington
With a sparse track record of success entering this season, including an 18-34 W/L split over the last three seasons, the 2011 Brad Peacock has officially reached "lights out" status.
The 23-year old, a former 41st round pick in 2006, has already been named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week twice. His stats definitely spark the imaginative juices: 8-2, 2.46 ERA, 50 hits allowed in 80 1/3 innings, 108:17 K:BB ratio (12.1 per nine) and .179 BAA. He's whiffed at least six in every start (high of 14).
Apparently an added element on deception in his delivery has been the primary cause of his buoyed fortunes, improving command and adding velocity to his fastball. His 1.36 K/BB last year has soared to a mind-boggling 6.35 figure this season.
Peacock throws a 4-seam fastball in the 92-95 range, a plus knuckle-curve and a developing 2-seam heater. His change is there for scouting report fodder only at this stage. His delivery looks far from max-effort, utilizing a strong lower body (abbreviated leg kick) and quick arm action.
Peacock entered the season as an afterthought working in long relief, but has transformed himself into inevitable promotion material in 11 starts. If you’re seeking pitching aid in deeper leagues, it wouldn't be a bad bet to snatch him up now and avoid the bidding war. Those K totals are Brandon Beachy-esque.
Dellin Betances, RH SP NY Yankees
Standing at 6'8 260 pounds with an electric arm, Betances has many a batter shaking in his cleats entering the box.
An unfortunate checklist of elbow problems have halted his rise up the ranks, but outside of a blister issue his 2011 has been injury-free.
After dominating the FSL in 2010 (8-1, 2.11 ERA) he's continued to up the ante in his first taste of AA ball. In 12 game starts he's pitching to a 2.61 ERA, allowing 41 hits in 58 2/3 innings (.186 BAA) while striking out 67. When he's not missing bats, he's getting ground balls, sporting a 1.34 GO/AO ratio and .245 BABIP.
Betances has bared down considerably with runners in scoring position, yielding a feeble .181 BAA in clutch situations and stranding 74.2% of runners.
The downside: he's yet to pitch beyond six innings in any start, and his command continues to be hit or miss with 31 BB. His mechanics are herky jerky with a handful of moving parts, including a head jerk just prior to release. From a "stuff" perspective, he's essentially a two-pitch guy with a 4-seamer in the mid to upper 90's (high as 98) and a sharp, downer curve.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman hinted that he wouldn't be opposed to using Betances out of the bullpen, and there have been rumors he could inhabit the role Joba took on in 2007.
He's clearly being treated with kid gloves in terms of workload, so I'm not sure why'd the organization would disrupt the course of another young arm. To be determined.
Casey Kelly, RH SP San Diego
It's fair to say Kelly, 21, hasn't lived up to the advanced hype. Yet.
The former High School shortstop had a rough go in the Eastern League last season, finishing up with a 5.31 ERA and .307 BAA (118 hits in 95 IP). Through 15 Texas League starts in 2011 he's been much sharper, but still quite hittable. He's 6-2 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.69 GO/AO ratio (1.43 last year), however, he's still surrendered 92 hits in 82 1/3 innings and opposing batters are squaring him up at a .283 clip. Kelly is striking out a pedestrian 6.89 per nine innings, made even less attractive given his .323 BABIP number. While these saber numbers are not encouraging, what do they really mean?
The strengths of Kelly are not necessarily recordable by stats, especially given his lack of experience. What he does have is: pitchability, advanced command and mound intelligence. Kelly's delivery is effortless, looking like he's casually soft tossing in warmups. The life on his fastball continues to develop, reaching up to 92-94 consistently this season, in addition to seasoned secondary offerings in a curve and change.
Overall, he's extremely projectable, and his potential far exceeds what he's displayed up to this point. Another centerpiece prospect in the A-Gon deal, Peter Gammons has reported that Kelly will join the Padres rotation imminently. There is no proof to support to contradict this claim from organizational brass. It doesn't appear that he's ready for the leap, but perhaps a bump in competition will serve to motivate and unlock a level he's yet to reach.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MiLB, The Farm Report, AA, AAA, Adam Ganeles, Brad Peacock, Dellin Betances, Casey Kelley
 Albert Pujols (credits below) Preliminary evaluations on Albert Pujols' wrist revealed a sprain. Further tests will be conducted tomorrow. I'll let someone else hit you with the panic attack reaction. Let's see what the results bring..
Justin Verlander owns interleague play. In fact, Justin Verlander owns everybody. The most dominant pitcher in the game threw a complete game, allowing one-run on four-hits. He pitched to contact today with only 5 K's, issuing a grand total of ZERO free passes. Verlander's 0.85 WHIP is frightening.
Andrew McCutchen finished the weekend series against Cleveland 0-13 with a BB. Given that tidbit, it's not surprise the Pirates were swept away. Apparently he hasn't officially "seen the light" just yet.
Jeff Karstens pitched seven more innings of strong baseball, allowing five-hits and one ER in a no-decision effort. His high-80's heater doesn't impress, but his 1.08 WHIP and 2.54 ERA can't be ignored. He hasn't allowed more than three ER in a start since April 17th. No, I really can't explain it.. but his walk total of 14 is a significant factor.
Vernon Wells picked up three hits and a dinger in four at bats at Citi Field. He's now above the Mendoza line at .202. Feel free to applaud voraciously.
Tyler Chatwood's K:BB rate of 43:42 is staggeringly poor. The 21-year old is a bulldog though, and finds a way to limit the damage (3.84 ERA).
It was kind of Yovani Gallardo to give his team a chance in the Fenway Park finale. He allowed six first inning runs (only three were earned, but his error opened the floodgates) and eight total runs in three unacceptable innings of work. Gallardo throws in too many absolute clunkers to be considered a true rotation ace.
James Shields has made two starts against the Marlins in the last calendar month: 18 innings, seven hits, zero ER and 23 strikeouts. That's pretty decent. Granted the fish can't win a game, but they have some bats in that lineup.
BJ Upton has 18 stolen bases. Imagine if he ever got on base (.218 BA, .300 OBP).
Alcides Escobar has eight multi-hit games in his last nine (18/33). He added to the hit parade on Sunday with two hits and his first homer of the year. With his speed, any offensive production makes him an interesting commodity at SS.
Yo, Danny Duffy -- striking out nine is pretty sweet, but can you last more than 3 2/3 innings? No doubt the dude has great stuff; now it's time to learn pitch economy.
Remember all that mumbo jumbo about Jeff Karstens? Well, the same can be applied to Jason Vargas, who tossed a complete game shutout masterpiece against the Phillies. He threw 120 pitches, surrendered just three singles and struck out six, all despite having no "stuff" to speak of. He's not afraid to throw inside, that much I'll give him.
Dioner Navarro entered Sunday's game in a 2-30 June funk, but picked up two knocks including the GW homer in the 8th inning. With Rod Barajas headed to the DL, Navarro and his .175 BA will see regular playing time behind the plate.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team.
(June 18, 2011 - Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images North America)Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, The Daily Fix, Albert Pujols Injury, Jeff Karstens, Jason Vargas, James Shields, Justin Verlander
 Mike Trout (credits below) Mike Trout, CF LA Angels
Still three months short of 20, Trout and his legit five tools continue to tear through AA. In a 57-game sample he's batting .330 with eight homers and 22 RBI, including a .422 mark in June and four consecutive multi-hit games. His plate discipline continues to excel, drawing 33 walks (.434 OBP) against 43 strikeouts. And of course, he's utilizing his wheels out of the leadoff spot at every opportunity, swiping 23 bags (56 last season) and legging out eight triples.
At 6'1 200 with broad shoulders, advancements in the power number are expected, but at this point that's simply not his approach. He's focused on solid contact, and arguing with the results is an exercise in futility.
Manager Mike Scioscia proclaims that Trout is not a major league option in the short term, however, that could change drastically if Peter Bourjos keeps swinging at air. The recently named Texas League All-Star will be playing in the show at some point in 2011. Matt Dominguez, 3B Florida Marlins
Dominguez was given every chance to win the 3B job in spring training, but failed to distinguish himself at the plate.
After recovering from a fractured elbow (six weeks), he once again appears on the brink of a promotion. His overall statistics in the PCL don't jump off the page (.253, four HR and 21 RBI), but he's picked up the pace in June hitting .325 following a .186 May.
He hasn't proven himself to be a consistent average hitter at any level and his K rates have been exorbitant (24.7% 2009, 19% 2010). However, he has displayed a willingness to draw a free pass, work counts and hit from behind the eight ball.
The soon to be 22-year old is a low-risk commodity, with gold glove capabilities at the hot corner and high baseball intelligence. With the Marlins needing an infusion of new blood, look for Dominguez to be playing everyday in Florida imminently.
Xavier Avery, CF Baltimore Orioles
Switching gears from two polished products to the abundantly raw Avery. The 21-year old outfielder's game is centered around speed, speed and more speed. He's stolen 20 bases, but his work in progress instincts have led to ten CS.
His first full season in AA (fourth overall in MiLB) has been a struggle at the dish. He's sporting just a .255 BA and .313 OBP out of the leadoff spot, while striking out 67 times (26.8%). Avery's BABIP is a stout .352, but he simply doesn't put the ball in play, which is inexcusable for a left-handed hitter with long strides. He's failing to put his greatest asset to use.
Last season's combined RBI total of 66 is a distant memory, batting a dismal .182 with RISP and driving in only seven runs. The potential to become a top of the order disruptor is significant for Avery, but his plan of attack needs to change.Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!
(February 20, 2011 - Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MiLB, The Farm Report, AA, AAA, Adam Ganeles, Mike Trout, Matt Dominguez, Xavier Avery
|
RSS Feed