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Second to None: The Best Second Baseman, the Surprise, the Bust, and the Sleeper
Second to None!
The Best: Rickie Weeks, Brewers
After breaking out last season with 29 home runs, 112 runs, and 11 steals many baseball fans expected Rickie Weeks to take a small step back this season. I’m not really sure why expectations were so low.
The second overall pick of the 2003 draft is finally healthy and at 28 years old he should be in his prime. Plus, he is surrounded by sluggers such as Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Corey Hart, all who guarantee that Weeks will rack up plenty of runs. Weeks has managed to cut down on his strikeouts this season, while improving his batting average to .286. Considering the drastic difference in expectations, Weeks gets the edge as the best second baseman over Yankees star Robinson Cano.
The Surprise: Danny Espinosa, Nationals
Coming into the season, Danny Espinosa had been called the poor man’s version of Dan Uggla. While the expectations have been met with Espinosa blasting 15 home runs despite just a .238 average, it turns out that Espinosa has actually outperformed Uggla.
At 24 years old, Espinosa is a building block for the Nationals. The 2008 third round pick out of Long Beach State has also impressed with a keen ability to draw walks. Plus, something that he offers that Uggla never has is his speed on the base paths. Pretty soon, baseball fans will have to compare Espinosa to Rangers star second baseman Ian Kinsler.
The Bust: Dan Uggla, Braves
After belting 33 home runs with 105 RBI and a .287 last season, Dan Uggla was sought by several teams and ended up joining his long-time rival Atlanta Braves. As it turns out, Uggla is not done punishing the Braves. This time the damage is not a result of his power, but instead an unsuspecting power outage.
Sure, Uggla does have 12 home runs, which still ranks amongst the top second basemen. The problem is that his .178 average is more than 100 points off last year’s batting clip, as his home runs make up 22% of his total hits. There have been no signs of a let-up either, as Uggla hit just .179 in June.
The 2nd Half Sleeper: Howie Kendrick, Angels
Riding a nine-game hit streak, it looks like Howie Kendrick is on the verge of a bounce back season. After hitting just .279 last season, his average is up to .305 plus he has shown signs of power and speed. The good news is that Angels fans can expect even better for the second half of the season.
Kendrick missed some time in the first half due to a injury that forced him out of the lineup for two weeks and when he did return, Kendrick was hitless in his first ten at bats. Now that he is healthy, Kendrick should surpass his first half production culminating in what could be his best season so far.
What a Catch! Talking McCann, Avila, Mauer, and Ramos
What a Catch!
The Best: Brian McCann, Braves
One of the most consistent catchers over the last five seasons has been Braves backstop Brian McCann. Though McCann has never had 25 home runs or 100 RBI in a season, the Georgia native has been an iron man, avoiding serious injury while blasting 20-plus home runs in each of the last five seasons. Best yet, at just 27 years old, McCann is still young and in his prime.
The Surprise: Alex Avila, Tigers
When Victor Martinez was originally brought into Detroit, it was assumed that he was responsible for most of the Tigers catching duties. It turns out that Martinez is truly the team’s designated hitter, while Alex Avila is the team’s top catcher. Just 24 years old, Avila has evolved into a slugger with 10 home runs and 45 RBI this season.
The Bust: Joe Mauer, Twins
Injuries have certainly played a large role in the Twins disappointing season. The problem is that even though Mauer has returned to the field, he is still seeking the potent bat that won him an MVP award just a few years back. Mauer’s last home run came on September 15, 2010. He has now gone 72 at bats without a dinger this season and he boasts just seven RBI.
Mauer is hurt by several factors including a lack of protection in the batting order and he calls home to a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Though he should improve this season, he likely will struggle to live up to his expectations entering the season.
The 2nd Half Sleeper: Wilson Ramos, Nationals
While most catchers break down late into the season, Wilson Ramos should be able to avoid a great deal of the wear and tear. That’s because at 23 years old, Ramos work behind the plate has yet to take its toll, plus the Nationals originally split playing time between Ramos and Ivan Rodriguez. In other words, as the team looks to provide Ramos with the majority of the playing time going forward, he should be fresher because of the limited action to start the season. A power bat with impressive plate discipline, Ramos is a rising talent.
Three Fantasy Sleepers, and An Injury Report on Jeter, Santana, and Zimmerman
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, Red Sox
After a slow start to the season Jarrod Saltalamacchia is red-hot for the Red Sox. He is batting .400 this month with a home run, two doubles, and a triple. His season average is now a respectable .252 with five home runs. Remember, as bad as he was early in the season, Salty was once a mega prospect who was traded for Mark Teixiera. He may never reach that potential, but if he can hit .280 with 15 home runs in Boston, the run production will pile up. My only warning is that his defense is still not very good, so it will remain a platoon with Jason Varitek.
Charlie Blackmon, OF, Rockies
Lost in the rookie rush a few days ago was the call-up of Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon. A former second round pick out of Georgia Tech, the 24-year old has the highly sought combination of power and speed. He was hitting .337 in Colorado Springs with 10 home runs and 12 steals. With Dexter Fowler injured, Blackmon will enjoy a shot at playing everyday. If he contributes, look for him to become an everyday player, which means tons of fantasy value.
Carlos Carrasco, SP, Indians
Before the season began we asked Jay Levine from LetsgoTribe.com who was the top hurler on the staff and he surprised us with Carlos Carrasco. At first we questioned his call since Carrasco was just 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA through six starts into the season, but since then, Carrasco has gone 5-1 while lowering his ERA to 4.09. He has not allowed a run in either of his two starts while fanning season highs six and then seven batters. What was most impressive about his last win was that it came in Yankee Stadium against the hot-hotting Bombers. At just 24 years old, Carrasco is a great long-term investment.
Injuries-
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals
After more than a month on the DL, Ryan Zimmerman will be activated to play tonight. Zimmerman was batting .357 through eight games when he got hurt. His presence should help the entire lineup that has struggled to replace their third baseman as well as their injured first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Johan Santana, SP, Mets
The idea was for the Mets to simply be competitive for the next few weeks until David Wright, Ike Davis, and Johan Santana returned. Well it looks like Johan is not on the path to recovery as fast as we all thought. He has been dealing with soreness and now at the earliest, the Mets ace will not make it back until August. By then, a lot of his teammates could be traded.
Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
What does it mean that Derek Jeter is nearing 3,000 hits. Sure, he’s an all-time great, but he is also really old at 36-years old. Well age may have gotten the better of him this week as he strained his calf. This makes the guessing game even harder to play about when he will hit number 3,000. My guess is that because of his age the Yankees will be conservative and place him on the DL, though this could end up being just a day-to-day issue. My guess is that the New York media will keep you updated on his status.
Bloomberg Sports Waiver Report: Niese, Uehara, Norris, Villanueva, Venters
Koji Uehara, RP, OriolesHe may not have any saves so far this season, but Koji Uehara remains the most underrated reliever in baseball. Why? How about a 2.20 ERA and startling 0.80 WHIP? Throughout his career, Uehara boasts 138 K’s to just 23 walks, and the ratio is 35:6 this season. He doesn’t let anyone on base, which minimizes the damage. He won’t help in wiuns or saves, but in ERA, WHIP, and K’s, Uehara is a must add.
Jon Niese, SP, MetsEveryone is talking about Mets rookie Dillon Gee and his splendid 7-0 record, but the better pitcher in my mind is southpaw Jon Niese. Ignore the 5-5 record, Niese has won four of his last five decisions. Over his last five starts Niese has surrendered just five earned runs, cutting his ERA from 5.03 to just 3.51 this season. Niese also gets plenty of K’s, making a solid fantasy pickup.
Bud Norris, SP, AstrosIf in need of a short-term pickup, get to know Astros right-hander Bud Norris. Despite a 4-4 record, Norris is a strikeout artist who averages a K per inning. He also has won his last two starts and on Tuesday has a favorable match-up against the Pirates. Norris is a fine start at home, where his record is 12-8 with a 3.76 ERA.
Carlos Villanueva, SP/RP, Blue JaysA long-time middle reliever for the Brewers, Carlos Villanueva is enjoying a second crack at starting with the Blue Jays. The 27-year old veteran enters the week with a 4-0 record and 3.09 ERA. Most impressively, Villanueva boasts a 0.99 WHIP due to a .196 opposing average. I don’t view this success as long-term, but more a result of the opposition not being familiar with the long-time National Leaguer.
Jonny Venters, RP, BravesWhile I pointed to Koji Uehara as the most underrated reliever in baseball, the best one these days is Braves eighth inning option Jonny Venters. The southpaw dominated last season to the tune of a 1.95 ERA and 93 K’s in 83 innings. He has actually improved this season, allowing just two runs to score in 40.2 innings. He has recently enjoyed some save opportunities with Craig Kimbrell struggling. He is a must-add in deep leagues, though odds are he has already been taken.
Fantasy Baseball Caution: Worst Infielders: Butera, Loney, Figgins, Tejada, Lopez
The Worst Fantasy Infielders In Baseball
Catcher: Drew Butera, Twins (Rank 1094)
Called into action because of the Joe Mauer injury, Butera, a former firth round pick, hit just .197 last season. That is actually considered a career year for the 27-year-old backstop who is now batting .150 with one home run in 107 at bats.
First Base: James Loney, Dodgers (Rank 778)
It’s bad enough that Loney has never been able to hit with much power, but now that his average is down to .242 on the season after hitting just .267 last season, Loney is not tolerable.
Second Base: Chone Figgins, Mariners (Rank 945)
Rewarded with a long-term contract in Seattle, Figgins responded with a disappointing .259 average last season and just 62 runs scored. As bad as it was, a .286 average following the All-Star break made it look like an aberration. Not the case, as Figgins is hitting just .182 this season and is now batting eighth in the Mariners lineup.
Shortstop: Miguel Tejada, Giants (Rank 939)
Thinking that Miguel Tejada would be an improvement over Edgar Renteria, the Giants acquired the veteran shortstop. A .217 average with one home run and seven errors suggests this was not the best move.
Third base: Jose Lopez, Rockies (Rank 983)
Once considered a rising star, Jose Lopez blasted 25 home runs with 96 RBI in 2009. However, his inability to draw walks coupled with diminishing returns made Lopez expendable in his first season with the Rockies. He has officially been released with a .208 average in 125 at bats.
Major League Baseball Rookie Report: Lawrie, Gordon, Ackley, Rizzo, Jennings, and Weeks
The Rookie Report
Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers
This 23-year old shortstop may have been rushed a bit to the Majors because of the injury to Rafael Furcal. Gordon is by all means a speedster, who has swiped 50-plus bases in back-to-back seasons in the Minor Leagues.
His lack of power actually plays well at the pitcher-friendly Dodgers Stadium, where deep flies often die at the warning track. Gordon just has to prove that he can get on base and make the plays at shortstop. Gordon was batting .315 through 50 games before his call up to the Majors. If in need of speed, he’s an intriguing fantasy pickup.
Brett Lawrie, 2B/3B, Blue Jays
Lawrie is everything that Blue Jays fans could ever have dreamed of. Just 21 years old, this former first round pick is a British Columbia native who boasts all five tools, particularly power and speed. Though playing in the Las Vegas desert inflates his statistics a bit, you cannot ignore his 15 home runs, 49 RBI, and .354 batting clip through 52 games.
Lawrie was expected to be called up this week before a recent beaning set him back a week. There’s still a chance that Lawrie gets the call to man third base, a position that has become a black hole for the Blue Jays since Jose Bautista moved to the outfield.
Dustin Ackley, 2B
The second overall pick of the 2009 draft, Ackley has made some solid improvements in his second season in the Minor Leagues. There is not a particular statistic that jumps out at you when studying Ackley’s performance, but he is solid across the board.
He is an incredibly patient batter with some pop and speed. Ackley is also a middle infielder, and despite rumors of a move to the outfield, he is likely to man second base when he earns his call up to the Big Leagues.
Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Padres
Mired in last place, the Padres are certainly feeling the effects of letting Adrian Gonzalez go to the Red Sox. On the other hand, through the trade they acquired a monster bat that is tearing up the Minor Leagues and ready for a promotion to the Majors.
We’re talking about 21-year old first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who is currently batting .365 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI through just 52 games at Triple-A. The numbers are a bit surprising, considering Rizzo has never hit for average before, but at this point, the Padres can’t afford to let the Brad Hawpe/Jorge Cantu platoon continue at first base considering both veterans are batting less than .240 this season.
Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays
One of the most hyped prospects in all of baseball, Desmond Jennings may have been a bit overrated, considering people were talking about him as a sure-fire replacement of Carl Crawford as early as last season. The comparisons are understandable since both talents have a similar skill-set, but Crawford was an MVP caliber player while Jennings is just trying to get his career started.
In his first taste of the Majors last season Jennings hit just .190 with two steals in 17 games. The Rays deemed Jennings not ready to man left-field in the Major Leagues, so he is playing at the Triple-A level for a third year in a row. The good news is that Jennings has become more patient at the plate and is starting to drive the ball with more power. He has been far from dominant, but considering the Sam Fuld experiment is starting to go flat, Jennings would be an upgrade.
Jemile Weeks, 2B, A’s
If you missed out on acquiring Rickie Weeks for your fantasy team, you ought to get to know his younger brother Jemile Weeks. A first round pick out of Miami, Weeks is also a second baseman who will get to fill in for the injured Mark Ellis.
Weeks has yet to develop the power of his older brother, but he can supply Oakland with some much-needed offense. Through 44 games at Triple-A, Weeks boasts a .321 average with four triples and nine stolen bases. The big question now is whether Bob Geren will provide Weeks with some regular at bats, or if he’s merely an insurance option behind Scott Sizemore and Adam Rosales.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Report: Dillon Gee, Mitch Moreland, Allen Craig
Miguel Olivo, C, Mariners
A move to Seattle is usually enough to limit your fantasy production for power hitters, but not Miguel Olivo. The veteran backstop has blasted home runs in three straight games (all at home). He now boasts seven bombs on the season with 26 RBI, 26 runs, and even two steals. Olivo has been a model of consistency averaging greater than 16 home runs over the last five seasons. He’s a solid fantasy pick up.
Dillon Gee, SP, Mets
He’s been treated as a low potential prospect by the Mets over the last few years, a franchise often giving opportunities to Pat Mitsch over Dillon Gee, but this Gee knows how to pitch. The 25-year old has now made 16 appearances and the numbers are sensational: 8-2 record, 2.90 ERA, and a .209 average against. Gee is 6-0 this season and is a must-start at home where he is 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA. His next start will be this weekend at Pittsburgh.
Mitch Moreland, 1B, Rangers
Get to Know Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland. The 25-year old left-handed slugger is riding a six-game hit streak with two home runs over that stretch. Those six-games, by the way, have all come on the road, so this is a bit different than usual for a Rangers pick up. Moreland was supposed to be a platoon option for the Rangers, but his .313 average ad eight home runs are leading to extended action. Though he has struggled this season against southpaws, he may get some extra opportunities as the Rangers look to keep his bat in the lineup.
Josh Collmenter, SP, Diamondbacks
Similar to the Mets Dillon Gee, Diamondbacks hurler Josh Collmenter has shocked everyone with a stellar start to his Major League career after less than stellar results in the Minor Leagues. Through 43.1 innings, Collmenter is 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA and 0.67 WHIP. He hides the ball well in his delivery, which may explain how he has only surrendered runs in three of his 12 appearances this season. Similar to Gee, Collmenter’s next start will come against the Pirates, which makes him a solid pick-up this week.
Allen Craig, 2B, Cardinals
If you’re looking for a sleeper in the middle infield, I really like Cardinals 26-year old Allen Craig. He is the ultimate utility man and a heck of a bat. Through 106 at bats this season, Craig is batting .340 with four home runs, 23 RBI, and four steals. If this doesn’t sound sustainable to you, consider that in two seasons of Triple-A baseball, Craig hit .321 with 40 home runs and 164 RBI. He is a fine hitter and he’s finally getting his chance.
Hot Pickups On the Fantasy MLB Waiver Wire
Hot Pickups
Jake Peavy, SP, White Sox
In 22 career starts with the White Sox, Jake Peavy is now 11-6 with 123 K’s in 142 innings with a 3.93 ERA. Of course, before all the ankle injuries, Peavy was a legitimate ace, perhaps the elite pitcher in the game, peaking in 2007 with the Padres- 19-6, 240 K’s, and a 2.54 ERA. On Wednesday, Peavy went the distance for the White Sox allowing just 3 hits, no walks, and fanning 8. At just 30 years old, with a great track record, Peavy should be picked up in all fantasy leagues.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, Padres
Among the hottest hitters in baseball is Ryan Ludwick. He is riding a 7 game hit streak with four home runs, 13 RBI, and yet at the end of the day, his average sits at .227. Now I do think he is better than that, but Ludwick is just a career .264 hitter and playing in the cavernous Petco Park will not help his cause. I only see this as a hot streak, not the makings of a repeat of his 2008 campaign when he blasted 37 home runs with 113 RBI.
Matt Guerrier / Kenley Jansen
The Dodgers closer situation got a bit murkier when Vincente Padilla now is dealing with forearm stiffness and Matt Guerrier picked up the last save. I am still high on Kenley Jansen and think he’s the future closer, so he may be worth a pickup, but if you are looking for short-term, Guerrier has pitched well and could be well worth a flyer.
Bloomberg Sports’ Fantasy Baseball with MSG’s Tina Cervasio
Bloomberg Sports Anchor Rob Shaw goes one-on-one with MSG Network Sports Journalist Tina Cervacio. The topics range from Tina’s fantasy team, the Boston Red Sox, Brian Wilson, and some top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups. For more fantasy baseball insight visit BloombergSports.com for access to the Front Office product. For Knicks and Red Bulls news and insight follow Tina on Twitter at @MSGTina.
Bloomberg Sports Waiver Wire Report: Helton, Lucroy, Porcello, Salas, and Posada
Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies
The 36-year old first baseman is having a blast from the past with six home runs, 19 RBI, and a .325 average. He has 3 homers in the last four games and now is just two shy of last year’s total of eight home runs.
Jonathan Lucroy, C, Brewers
This 24-year old backstop is red-hot with a six game hit streak that includes 10 hits, 2 homers, and 9 RBI. He is now hitting .329 on the season. Lasts eason he hit just .256 with four homers, but this is a guy who once hit 20 homers in a season in the Minor Leagues.
Rick Porcello, SP, Tigers
At 22 years old, Porcello already has 27 wins under his belt, and he is currently riding three straight wins. Over his last 5 starts, Porcello has surrendered just 7 earned runs, and while he does not get many strikeouts, he has offered a solid 3.67 ERA.
Fernando Salas/ Mitchell Boggs
The Cardinal’s closer’s gig is back on the market after Eduardo Sanchez blew a few saves. There are two names to know right now. Fernando Salas is a 25-year old hurler who boasts a 1.15 ERA this season with three saves. He gets about a strikeout per inning, and the opposition is hitting .170 off him. Then there is Mitchell Boggs a 27-year old flame-thrower with a 19-4 strikeout to walk ratio this season. He also has three saves, but his ERA is up to 3.66 and he struggled when initially handed the job a few weeks back.
Jorge Posada, C, Yankees
As if a .165 batting average wasn’t enough to keep him humble, Jorge Posada then asked out of the lineup when he was slotted to hit ninth on a nationally televised Saturday game against the Red Sox. He regrets the decision, and he won’t be punished thanks to his tremendous career in pinstripes. However, it does bring greater attention to the Yankees DH slot. If he does not get his average north of .200 by the end of the week, he is bound to lose his job. He already sits against southpaws, as he hasn’t had a hit in 24 at bats against them this season. Posada actually hit .257 against southpaws last year with a .493 slugging percentage, which is higher than what he offered against right-handers, so the fact that he is now getting benched against southpaws looks more like an excuse to take him out of the lineup.
Bloomberg Sports 