Q&A: A Different Perspective

Does anyone else in fantasy baseball cause more headaches
than this guy?
(photo courtesy of Mike McCann's Field of Fotos)

Josh C

(Editor's note: Josh was kind enough to answer a few, select fantasy baseball questions from this past week.  You may know Josh as our resident Sacramento Kings' fan and is one of my biggest fantasy sports' rival, most notably defeating my baseball team in our league's 2012 championship game.  He brings a different view on what he thinks makes for a successful fantasy baseball season).

QUESTION #1: "Need OF help and I have to choose between Coco Crisp, Jayson Werth, and Melky Cabrera.  Who would you choose?"

Of course, Crisp and Werth are currently injured at the moment so Melky Cabrera is the default answer.  However, if all three are healthy, I would definitely have Werth as my third choice.  So it boils down between Cabrera and Crisp and what kind of OF your team is looking for.  In terms of pop, Melky has a slight advantage, but Crisp is clearly the better base stealer.  However, if you're looking for batting average, Cabrera is your man as I highly doubt that Crisp can continue to hit over .280.  Plus Cabrera is hitting in a better lineup than Crisp.  Toronto is struggling now, but when they turn things around, I want to have Cabrera in my lineup so he can reap the benefits and starts helping my team.

QUESTION #2: "Is Kyle Kendrick for real?"

Depends on your definition of "real."  Is he as good as the numbers he's putting up?  No, but he's one of those guys that you "power stream" (meaning you play them against everyone except the "power" lineups).  I say he can finish the year with 12-14 wins, 3.34 ERA, WHIP of 1.19, and approximately 140 strikeouts.  Not too shabby.

QUESTION #3: "I'm a B.J. Upton owner.  Now what?"  (I too have B.J. Upton on my current squad--Ed)

Huge fan of Justin Upton, but never been a fan of B.J.  That being said, he can still contribute in all the major categories, except batting average and I still figure that he can hit around .240.  Without doing the math, for him to have a "spike" from his current average of .138 to .240 means he's going to have a hot stretch at some point to get there.  I think the fact that Justin is there with him this season is going to help him out of this slump.  I wouldn't drop just yet and would continue to keep riding him in my bench until I see a glimmer of hope (if you insist that I should continue to practice patience...--Ed).

QUESTION #4: "Would you trade Giancarlo Stanton for Matt Holliday?"

Even if assuming that Stanton is healthy and Holiday can continue to be a durable player at his advanced age, I think I would still have to say 'yes' on this one.  I don't believe Holliday is as good of a player as Stanton, but I was already doubting Stanton entering this season (and even long before I realized just how bad this Miami Marlins' lineup would be).  His statements about how he felt about the organization after their fire sale in the offseason made me wonder how a guy with a fire inside like that is going to do when his team is the worst in the league and he doesn't have anybody in the lineup to protect him.  The current results have answered all of my questions.  Nobody is pitching to him, but then again, he's not walking that much either.  That tells me that he's getting frustrated at not being pitched to and swinging at pitches he wouldn't swing at in the past.  

I think the homeruns will come eventually this year, however (I'd take the over on 27), but not sure any of the other peripherals or counting stats will come around in 2013.  Conversely, it's very hard to count out a guy when he has uber talent.  

QUESTION #5: "Jim Henderson or Jim Johnson?"

I really want to say Henderson here, but I actually prefer him from a skills standpoint (I don't know about you, but I like my closers to be able to fan the side).  However, for some reason, the Milwaukee Brewers love Axford.  I just have this feeling that if Axford continues pitching well like he has been of late (although he took the loss yesterday against the Pirates--Ed), that they are going to give him another shot (or turn it into some sort of "platoon"/"closer by committee"). 

I have to go with Jim Johnson on this one because of the current solidity of his role. 

QUESTION #6: "Lorenzo Cain or Starlin Marte?"

I like both of these guys, but Marte still hacks a little too much for me to completely believe in his average.  He's going to steal more bases, but I think Cain has more ability to be a multi-way guy.  Slight advantage to Cain.

More MLB content is available here.  

Fantasy baseball content is available here.   

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #25-21

Source (Mike McCann's Field of Fotos): Zack Wheeler and
Matt Harvey will forever be connected to one another.  

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.

25. Wily Peralta--SP--Milwaukee Brewers

• 2012 Outlook: "Hard thrower and future workhorse. Might step in this year if the Big League team needs him."
• 2012 Achievements: Best Slider in the Brewers' System
• Conclusion: Started 5 games and accumulated 29 innings pitched for the Brewers last season. He pitched impressively, posting a 1.21 WHIP; 7.14 K/9; 3.41 BB/9; 7.44 H/9. As you can see, however, his walk rate is just a tad high. However, considering his miserable season at Triple-A (WHIP 1.58; 9.4 H/9; 4.8 BB/9, but did post a K/9 of 8.8), it's a wonder he pitched as well as he did for the Brew Crew last year. He pitched a lot better in 2011, but control and command problems were an issue that year as well.  Nevertheless, Peralta impressed enough in 2012 to compete for a starting rotation spot in 2013.

24. Zack Wheeler--SP--New York Mets

• 2012 Outlook: "True ace potential. To compete for spot in the Majors by 2013."
• 2012 Achievements: #1 Mets Prospect (Second Year in a Row) and System's Best Curveball; #2 Eastern League Prospect as well as the league's Best Breaking Pitch, Fastball, and Pitching Prospect.
• Conclusion: Wheeler posted a 12-8 record last year, along with an ERA of 3.26, 1.17 WHIP, 6.9 H/9, 3.6 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9.  Wheeler knows how to keep the ball on the ground and command helps with keeping the ball in the park. Despite his impressive season, the Mets will probably use the same map for Wheeler's ascension to the Majors that they had used on Matt Harvey in 2012. 

23. Hak-Ju Lee--SS--Tampa Rays

• 2012 Outlook: "The Shane Victorino of shortstops."
• 2012 Achievements: Played in Arizona Fall League; #3 Prospect in Tampa; #8 Prospect in Southern League.
• Conclusion: Lee is still 22 years-old. But people are concerned with his performance in Double-A. In 140 games and 648 Plate Appearances, Lee has posted the following: .249/.325/.351/.676, BB:K of .50, but did steal 42 bases. There's still hope that Lee's hitting prowess will click again, but it looks like his defense might be the key to getting to the Big Leagues. Has the edge to be the starting shortstop in Double-A once again in 2013.

22. Nick Franklin--SS--Seattle Mariners

• 2012 Outlook: "Disappointed in California League, but still possesses power/speed combination that makes him an intriguing call-up for 2012."
• 2012 Achievements: #5 Prospect in Mariners' system; #16 Prospect in Pacific Coast and #7 in Southern Leagues
• Conclusion: Franklin got off to a hot start in Double-A, but struggled considerably when he was moved up to Triple-A last season. Franklin's career Double-A numbers after 335 PA's look like this: .326/.392/.498/.890, 14 stolen bases, 6 homeruns, .54 BB:K. At Triple-A, after 296 PA's: .243/.310/.416/.725, 3 stolen bases, 7 homers, .35 BB:K. But just like Lee, Franklin is only 22 and might improve in his second season at Triple-A. 

21. Leonys Martin--OF--Texas Rangers

• 2012 Outlook: "Competing for CF spot in Big Leagues (2011). Strong batting eye and can steal bases, too."
• 2012 Achievements: #4 Prospect in Rangers' system; #17 Prospect in Pacific Coast League.
• Conclusion: Martin was able to garner 46 at bats for the Rangers last season where he posted pedestrian numbers. His Minor League numbers suggest that he's ready to contribute in the Majors, however. After 406 PA's at Triple-A: .318/.377/.483/.860, 12 homers, 19 stolen bases, and .56 BB:K. Martin is expected to be the lefty part of a platoon system at CF for the Rangers in 2013. 

Prospects #30-26 are available here. 

Prospects #20-16 are available here.

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #65-61

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.

65. Chris Archer--SP--Tampa Rays

• 2012 Outlook: "Command issues, but still has high ceiling."
• 2012 Achievements: #1 Prospect and Best Slider in Tampa Rays' system. #3 International League Prospect; Made 6 pitching appearances for Tampa Rays.
• Conclusion: Archer has the potential to strike out batters in bunches.  He also has done a great job in limiting hitters' contact rate against him, in both Major and Minor Leagues--also averaged a 1.24 WHIP in both leagues. His main issue is his control, which, along with high strikeout rate, followed him to the Majors. Despite the major overhaul in the Rays' pitching rotation, it is still unclear where Archer will fit with the Rays in 2013. 

64. Dellin Betances--P--New York Yankees

• 2012 Outlook: "Hard-throwing, 'strikeout artist.' Top of rotation stuff, but has control issues."
• 2012 Achievements: Participated in Arizona Fall League.
• Conclusion: Betances is a big fellow at 6'8", 260lbs so he might need a little more time to develop if you believe in the theory that big pitchers need more time in doing so.  As promised, he did post a high strikeout rate in the Minors, but also posted a high WHIP, BB/9, and H/9.  In his defense, Betances was placed on the 60-day Disabled List because of a shoulder injury in September so perhaps those numbers were affected by that. 

63. Johnny Hellweg--SP--Milwaukee Brewers

• 2012 Outlook: "Needs to keep control in check. High 90s fastball makes him future ace."
• 2012 Achievements: Participated in AFL, used mostly as a Relief Pitcher; #15 Prospect in Texas League.
• Conclusion: Hellweg was traded to the Brewers, along with Jean Segura, in the Zack Greinke trade that sent him to the Angels. He stands at 6'9", 210 lbs. It can be argued that his size, along with his hard stuff, might account for his high amount of groundballs (3.13 groundball/flyball in Double-A Huntsville (Brewers)). However, while with Double-A Arkansas (Angels), he had a mediocre K/9 and high BB/9 of 4.5). Once acquired by the Brewers, they had him coming out of the bullpen most of the time at Huntsville. Because lack of control, he won't be making the Big League club anytime soon unless they are desperate for bullpen help. 

62. Tyler Skaggs--SP--Arizona Diamondbacks

• 2012 Outlook: "Should make the Big League team by 2013. Ace pitching prospect in most farm systems."
• 2012 Achievements: Started 6 games for the Diamondbacks; #3 and #4 in both Southern and Pacific Coast Leagues, respectively; Best Breaking Pitch in both leagues.
• Conclusion: Despite making starts for the D'backs, reports showed he had decreased velocity on his pitches, which may have something to do with the mediocre stats he posted in the Majors. He did display good control in the Minors in 2012 (K:BB 3.14). Nevertheless, Arizona was so impressed by Skaggs' progress, that they went ahead and traded away #1 pitching prospect Trevor Bauer. The D'backs have a loaded starting rotation, but despite of the depth, and Skaggs' age (21), he will compete for a rotation spot in 2013. 

61. Jarrod Parker--SP--Oakland A's

• 2012 Outlook: "Most promising of the A's pitchers. Already underwent Tommy John Surgery."
• 2012 Achievements: Started 29 games (20 Quality Starts) for Oakland A's.
• Conclusion: After only 4 starts in Triple-A, Parker was called up by the big club performing outstandingly well for the surging A's. He still has issues with command and might be a "pitch to contact" pitcher, but there's no denying his skill. He might leave too many balls in the air, but clearly, he's in the perfect situation in Oakland. 

Prospects #70-66 can be read here.

Prospects #60-56 can be viewed here. 

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #75-71

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.

75. Jeurys Familia--SP--New York Mets

• 2012 Outlook: "Hard-thrower, but has control problems.  Might contribute in 2012."
• 2012 Achievements: #14 International League Prospect; Made 8 pitching appearances for the Mets last season.
• Conclusion: Familia's control problems did not get any better in the Minors last season, but after 28 starts, the Mets called him up anyway and placed him in their bullpen--he did not fare any better.  Despite the lack of results, many experts think he can be a closer, at best, for the Big League club and was reportedly going to pitch in the Dominican League as a reliever this fall. He will be competing to come out of the bullpen for the Mets in 2013.

74. Addison Reed--RP--Chicago White Sox

• 2012 Outlook: "Competing for Closer's role in 2012." 
• 2012 Achievements: Notched 29 saves for the White Sox
• Conclusion: Very surprisingly, Reed did indeed end up being the closer on the South Side of Chicago, even though there was wide speculation that the Sox would option him back to the Minors out of Spring Training and wasn't named the official closer until late May.  He only had 2 full seasons of Minor League ball, but quickly moved up the White Sox system, making 56 appearances. He posted a respectable strikeout rate in the Majors and proved to have good control.  However, he did prove to be hittable (9.79 H/9 in 68 big league appearances) and is proving to be a flyball pitcher who pitches in a small ballpark in Chicago. Despite the need to improve his command, Reed looks to have the edge to close for the White Sox in 2013. 

73. Deck McGuire--P--Toronto Blue Jays

• 2012 Outlook: "Might arrive mid-season. 'Safe,' but unspectacular."
• 2012 Achievements: N/A
• Conclusion: McGuire spent 2012 at Double-A, where he ended up having a disastrous season full of command and control issues and an inability to keep the ball in the park.  To top it off, his strikeout rate plummeted as well.  Clearly, he will need more time in Minors to fix his problems.

72. Taylor Green--2B--Milwaukee Brewers

• 2012 Outlook: "Lit up AAA (in 2011).  The next Ben Zobrist."
• 2012 Achievements: Played in Dominican League; Appeared in 103 at-bats for Brewers.
• Conclusion: After struggling in Triple-A (decreased power numbers, on-base%, and BB:K), the Brewers called him up for infield depth. Green posted ordinary numbers for the big league club and at 26 years-old, Green's time is running out. 

71. Starling Marte--OF--Pittsburgh Pirates

• 2012 Outlook: "Already fast with raw power. Needs to be more patient. Might join Big League Club in 2012.
• 2012 Achievements: Played in Dominican League; #2 Prospect in International League as well as Best Batting Prospect, Defensive OF, and Most Exciting Player in League.
• Conclusion: Marte played in 47 games for the Bucs last season and is expected to compete for LF spot in 2013. Marte has indeed displayed high contact rate and power potential in the last two seasons in the Minors, but has a lot of work to do in improving plate discipline.  Marte is also a decent base-stealer.

Prospects #80-76 can be viewed here.

Prospects #70-66 can be viewed here.

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #90-86

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.

90. Manny Banuelos--SP--New York Yankees

• 2012 Outlook: "21, hard thrower, but comes with control issues"
• 2012 Achievements: #8 Best Yankees' Prospect
• Conclusion: Banuelos only pitched in 24 innings last season which ultimately ended with him undergoing Tommy John Surgery in October and won't be back until 2014. Before he got hurt, Banuelos was said to have a good changeup, but was already having issues with control and command throughout his Minor League career.  He was becoming more hittable as he moved up in class as well.  

89. Jean Segura--SS--Milwaukee Brewers

• 2012 Outlook: "Great contact and adequate power.  Should make Majors by 2013."
• 2012 Achievements: #12 Prospect and Best Baserunner in Texas League. Played in Dominican League.
• Conclusion: Was involved in trade that sent Zack Greinke to the Angels.  Had Segura stayed in Anaheim, he probably would not have been called up in 2012.  But it only took Milwaukee 8 games in their farm system to call up the promising young shortstop. Despite looking overmatched in the Majors, the patience he displayed in the Minors streamlined fairly well in the Big Leagues. Segura's calling card is definitely his ability to get on base. He's expected to be the Brewers' starting SS in 2013.

88. Christian Yelich--OF--Miami Marlins

• 2012 Outlook: "Good gap power, but a couple of years away."
• 2012 Achievements: Made Arizona Fall League's Top Prospects' Team; #4 Prospect and Most Exciting Player in Florida State League.
• Conclusion: Standing at 6'4", but only 189 lbs, Yelich's baseball skills are not the only thing that he needs to develop. What he lacks in homerun production, he makes up for it in hitting doubles, but if he were to bulk up, those doubles could turn into homeruns, obviously. Could also improve his approach at the plate. Regardless, reports show that he probably won't make the Marlins until 2014, but with the Marlins seemingly willing to trade anybody under long-term contract on their roster, I wouldn't be surprised if Yelich makes the Big League club by summer of 2013. 

87. Jon Pettibone--SP--Philadelphia Phillies

• 2012 Outlook: "Throws hard with good command."
• 2012 Achievements: #19 Prospect in Eastern League; Was added to Phillies' 40-man roster in November
• Conclusion: Of all the Phillies pitching prospects, Pettibone was the closest to joining the Big League club, but not in 2012. His chances did not increase much for 2013. At 6'5", he has the size the Phillies are always looking for in their pitchers (i.e. Ryan Madson, Gavin Floyd, etc.). Has improved his K/9 since 2010, but high has only reached 6.8. What he lacks in "punch out power," he makes up for it in good command as evident by low walk rate and WHIP. Too soon to categorize Pettibone as a strikeout pitcher or a future "pitch to contact" hurler.

86. Matt Barnes--SP--Boston Red Sox

• 2012 Outlook: "Might move up very quickly through Minors, but not play in Majors in 2012."
• 2012 Achievements: #3 Carolina League Prospect; #3 Red Sox Prospect as well as having Best Fastball and Curveball in Red Sox farm system.
• Conclusion: Not to be confused with the NBA player.  After dominating Low-A, he struggled a bit in High-A ball.  Still was able to post great K:BB, K/9, and BB/9 rates. Aggressive style might be the reason why he became a bit more hittable in Hi-A as opposed to Lo-A (8.2 H/9 vs 4.0 H/9, respectively). Might spend another full year in the Minors in 2013. 

Prospects #95-91 can be viewed here.

Prospects #85-81 can be viewed here.

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #100-96

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.


100. Taylor Jungman--P--Milwaukee Brewers

• 2012 Outlook: "Future #2 in Starting Rotation."
• 2012 Achievements: 0.4 HR/9, along with ability to induce groundball outs, displayed ability to keep ball low in the strike zone.
• Conclusion: Pitched more to contact in Hi-A ball, which resulted in a very disappointing K/9 (5.82). Also, high hit rate shows lack of dominance and command. Clearly, will need more seasoning before the Brewers can consider calling him up.

99. Trevor May--P--Philadelphia Phillies

• 2012 Outlook: "Long-term prospect, led Minors in K/9 innings."
• 2012 Achievements: Was added to Phillies' 40-man roster and will be invited to 2013 Spring Training.
• Conclusion: Issues with control are very transparent, but young enough to fix those issues. Despite posting a respectable K/9, May struggled mightily in Double-A ball, especially with the long ball, despite a history of showing ability to keep the ball in the park. Unless he shows otherwise next season, May might prove to be a fly ball pitcher in the long run, which combined with a newfound struggle to limit home runs allowed, might prove to be fatal in Philly.  Will more than likely be optioned back to the Minors next March.

98. Josh Vitters--3B--Chicago Cubs

• 2012 Outlook: "At 22 now, progress has stalled, but young enough to continue to develop."
• 2012 Achievements: Was called up to the Majors
• Conclusion: Power and production, along with a terrible approach at the plate, has been a disappointment throughout his Minor League career.  So not surprising, he was completely overmatched in call-up to the Cubs last season. He is still young enough to turn things around, bu the Cubs, before Theo Epstein arrived, were not very fond of him to begin with and, just like Vitters' approach at the plate, are growing more impatient with him.

97. C.J. Cron--1B--Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

• 2012 Outlook: "Long-term player with legit power, but has moderate ceiling."
• 2012 Achievements: Rated #9 Prospect and Best Power Prospect in California League
• Conclusion: Cron had surgery to repair a tear in right shoulder, but at 22, he might be 2 years away from making Angels' roster at the soonest. Posted impressive power numbers and contact rate, but still needs to continue on improving plate approach and drawing more walks (.327 OBP% in High-A).

96. Andrelton Simmons--SS--Atlanta Braves

• 2012 Outlook: "Long-term prospect, but has high upside. Lacks power."
• 2012 Achievements: #6 Prospect and Rated Best Infield Arm in Southern League
• Conclusion: Simmons has shown a wonderful approach at the plate.  He's also capable of posting high contact rate despite lacking power, resulting in legit, high batting average. He has speed, but has a lot of learning to do in the art of stealing bases. He's also shown improvement in OBP% in every year in the Minors. All of this resulted in Simmons being able to hold his own in the Majors last year as skills that were developed in Minors, streamlined fairly well in the Big Leagues. 

Players #105-101 are available.

Players #95-91 is also available.

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #105-101

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.

105. Carlos Martinez--SP--St. Louis Cardinals

• 2012 Outlook: "Wild, but still has Ace potential. Long-term player"
• 2012 Achievements: Best fastball in Texas League; Named #6 best prospect in TL.
• Conclusion: Martinez's K/9 dropped when promoted to Double-A, but so did walk rate. Martinez also induced a lot of groundball outs last season.  Regardless, Martinez looks to spend another season in the minors next year.

104. Jed Bradley--SP--Milwaukee Brewers

• 2012 Outlook: "Solid lefty, might move through Minors quickly"
• 2012 Achievements: Struggled in Hi-A ball
• Conclusion: The big lefty posted pedestrian numbers last season and nothing really stood out in 2012. Turns out, Bradley does need a lot more time in the Minors than originally anticipated.

103. Matt Harvey--SP--New York Mets

• 2012 Outlook: "High upside--needs to work on secondary pitches."
• 2012 Achievements: #1 Prospect in International League and obviously the Best Pitching prospect in the league. Was impressive in call-up to Majors. 
• Conclusion: Also of note is that he posted high strikeout rates in Minors, but needs to control walk rate. Can also be hittable at times, but can control the long ball rate. Harvey's recipe for success is a high, 90s fastball that is complemented by his slider. High upside, along with positive results with the Mets last season, has the baseball world (more noticeably in Queens, New York) waiting in anticipation to see if he can garner a starting rotation spot for the Mets in 2013. 

102. Jake Odorizzi--SP--Kansas City Royals

• 2012 Outlook: "Struggled in Double-A, but still a good long-term prospect."
• 2012 Achievements: #11 best prospect in Pacific Coast League
• Conclusion: Equipped with a High 90s fastball and a good curveball, Odorizzi has the makings of a legit starting pitcher in the majors. He can be hittable at times and looks to be a flyball pitcher, but can keep the ball in the park. Struggled in the Majors last season, but Royals look to call him up sometime in 2013.

101. Dylan Bundy--SP--Baltimore Orioles

• 2012 Outlook: "Upside to be top prospect, but still few years away."
• 2012 Achievements: #1 Prospect in Carolina League also had Best Fastball in league; Best Curveball and Fastball in Orioles' system, per Baseball America; Best Fastball and Pitching Prospect in South Atlantic League. 
• Conclusion: Only 20 years-old, Bundy dominated Minors, for the most part. Showed impeccable control and command in A-Ball. Might be too soon to call up and Orioles don't seem to have an immediate need for him, but if Bundy keeps up the production, the O's will be hard-pressed to not give him a look in the Big Leagues.

Prospects 110-106 is available. 

Prospects 100-96 are reviewed here.