Wednesday 16 May 2012

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Sunday 13 May 2012

May 14th - 20th Hitters Outlook

Streaking Hitters Going into May 14th- 20th
I endorsed Ryan Doumit and Yonder Alonso early this week, and they haven’t come close to slowing down. Doumit has been as good as any Fantasy Cacther and Alonso has been a top First Base option this past week. Now, it is only fair to note that I leaned against Josh Reddick and he has not slowed down either, but I do believe that pitchers will figure him out and his impact will be limited in the future. If you own Reddick, I’d be selling high, while I feel that it is a sign of things to come for Doumit and Alonso.


Here are some other candidates to consider adding.

Allen Craig - If he isn’t gone in your league add him right now. He may have to fight for playing time here and there, but he also has some position flexibility and he is a professional hitter who cannot stay out of the lineup long. He is surrounded with injury prone players in St. Louis so there will be plenty of at bats to keep his hungry bat feed. He was along with Doumit and Alonso for me a few days ago but I assumed he was being snatched up across the board already. Two Steps: 1. Click Add 2. Sit Back and Enjoy.

Danny Esponisa - Until Friday Danny Esp hadn’t knocked in a run since the 2nd game of the season, and has looked lost for most of the year. His struggles really date back to the second half of last season, but suddenly he has three homers in his past two games, and might be ready to get back to the power-speed game we saw this time last season. It is a risky because he fans with the best of them, but his value is at an all time low, and he has shown he is a legit fantasy starter in the past. Roll the dice if are weak at 2nd or have bench options.

Andy Dirks - Dirks is battling a sore hammy right now, but that doesn’t seem to be slowing him down. He has been batting in the two hole lately and that means that he has some huge bats behind him. With Austin Jackson looking better than ever in front of him, it is a great situation for Andy. Add him, but just beware that he might fight for some playing time here and there. No risk here though, add Dirks for OF help.

Paul Goldschmidt - It has been a disappointing start to the season for the young slugger, but the signs are there that he is almost ready to kick the funk and get some solid production going. Gibson has been patient with him in the desert and hopefully down the stretch he’ll be a must start option. I would buy low on Goldschmidt across the board, as long as you have some bench space to afford the luxury to wait on him until he fully gets going. He is hitting above .300 in May - and has actually doubled his .193 Batting Average from April.

Sean Rodriguez - Sean has a 12 game hitting streak going, and although his numbers aren’t startling along the way, he is going to play, and depending on league settings has 2B, SS and now 3B status. Rodriguez was a hyped sleeper a few years back out of Spring Training and has been red hot at times in the past. He is a nice bench option - similar to once red hot, now cooling Mike Aviles. Rodriguez batted second last night and is settling into a nice groove.

Brandon Inge - We have seen this hot streak from Inge in the past, he was the joke of Fantasy Baseball just two weeks ago as a Tiger, but how things can change. Inge is a veteran who has some position eligibility, with the third baggers out thus far this season he might be a valuable pick up. Inge went 0 for last night, and today he faces Verlander - yikes - so there are reasons to keep tabs on him before clicking add. Inge might flop again, but right now he is as hot as anyone in baseball.

 

Position Outlook

Catcher

Red Hot:
Ryan Doumit - Most points of any Catcher over the last 7 games in standard CBS Fantasy Leagues.

Sleeper: Jonathan Lucroy - he is hot and has some favourable matchups this week. Yesterday he was in the 2 hole and we know who hits 3rd. Roll with Lucroy and his 9 game hit streak.

Bust: Joe Mauer - he is a must start right? If you have another option roll with it. He is ice cold and faces some good pitching this week. Ending the week with Gallardo and Greinke on the road isn’t mouth watering.

 

First Base

Red Hot:
Adam Dunn - 3 bombs this week, too bad no one is on base ahead of him.

Sleeper: Adam Lind - 7 home games on the schedule against mediocre pitching. Everyone else in Toronto is getting it going, so why not Adam Lind. First base isn’t as deep as it once was, so give Lind a shot if you’re in a coin flip situation.

Bust: Bryan Lehair - I am going to pass, Lohse, Westbrook, Hallady, Worley and Peavy. He has slowed down and my Cubbies are a mess offensively. I hope I’m wrong though.

 

Second Base

Red Hot:
Dustin Peoria - 9 RBIs, 7 runs and a .487 OBP. He is even hotter than Robinson Cano.

Sleeper: Gordon Beckham - Has he finally shred his year plus slump? He has found his way into the number 2 spot in the lineup and should be a sound post hype sleeper and buy low candidate. I have always liked Beckham.

Bust: Aaron Hill - It was fun while it lasted, Hill is streaky and is cool right now. He is generally a good hitter against lefties, and he faces at least 4 of them. In fact, I’d start even cooler Ryan Roberts at 2nd over Hill this week. The clincher is the ‘Backs 7 road games this week.

Third Base

Red Hot:
Jose Bautista - Sorry David Wright, but Joey Batts has 3 bombs in two games and is going to explode at the Rogers Center on this home stand.

Sleeper: Wilson Betemit - He faces some tough arms this week, but he has been heating up and with Reynolds on the shelf he isn’t going to miss any playing time. Wieters is in front of him and the Orioles are playing great baseball. Betemit should continue to raise his batting average this week.

Bust: Pedro Alvarez - He has one hit this week. I’m not chasing his hot streaks again. I wish he could figure it out, but he clearly cannot. Alvarez stuck out 9 times in 19 at bats. He was the waiver wire gold two weeks ago from a lot of experts, but I’ve been there and done that. I passed then, he is just too streaky.

Short Stop

Red Hot:
JJ Hardy - 4 round trippers, 3 doubles and a .387 batting average over the past week.

Sleeper: Jhonny Peralta - April was a tough month, but Jhonny has started to get things ticking at the plate and Jake Peavy is the only pitching matchup that is worrisome. It should be open season for the Tigers` offense and Peralta is getting it going just in time.

Bust: Jed Lowrie - He has really slowed down and he hasn’t had success against any of the pitchers he is set to face this week. Everyone in Houston was overachieving, but it is funky town now. Take a wait and see approach with Lowrie over the next few weeks, or sell high if you can.

Outfield

Red Hot:
Josh Hamilton and Carlos Beltran - Who has the smoother swing? Combined 14 Home Runs with 28 RBIs, and 16 runs scored in the past week. Which one gets hurt first? Impressive numbers.

Red Hot: Andrew McCutchen - This week he has 3 home runs and a .588 Batting Average. Just imagine what he could accomplish with some lineup protection. Cutchs Crew are going bonkers.

Sleeper: Austin Jackson - He is nearing must start territory, and the Tigers have great pitching matchups this week. Jackson has 24 runs scored this year and has got on base at a .429 rate over the past week, with a dinger and stolen base.

Sleeper: Melky Cabrera - Melky has brought his Batting Average up almost 50 points in the past 10 days. As the Giants number 3 hitter he has 18 hits, batting to the tune of .429 in just 10 games. Melky is highly under rated and is getting it done in the heart of the lineup.

Bust: Bryce Harper - The kid has one hit in his last 4 games and is due for a day off to collect himself and come back swinging. I don’t like the 7 home games and he faces some crafty underrated pitchers this week. I like to see the youngsters do well, but right now he is a bench option only.

Bust: J.D. Martinez - Like ’Stros brother Jed, the future is looking sad in Houston. Martinez has been a huge bust since jumping out of the gate, and has gone from being dropped down in the batting order to not even starting the past two games. The days off should help the youngster, but I’d take a wait and see approach from here on out.