MARDI GRAS MADNESS: South Jersey Strong Arms

Felipe M

We continue on our reviews for our fantasy baseball league, Mardi Gras Madness.  Please take some time to read about the Houston Steelers. 

Last, but definitely not least is our defending champion and a big time Phillies' fan--and Dallas Cowboys' fan.  What?

CENTRAL DIVISION--So. Jersey Strong Arms (it must be a Jersey thang)

BATTING LINEUP

Like: You can tell this guy is a Phillies’ fan: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins are starting on the team’s infield.  Whether they can take it back to 2008 is another question, but lucky for them, they won’t be doing it on their own as Buster Posey, Andrew McCutchen and Yoenis Cespedes can provide plenty of offense as well.  

2013 Hitting Projections
Player	Team	Pos	BB/K	AB/K	AB/HR	OBP	SLG	OPS	SB
Yoenis Cespedes	Oakland	LF/CF	0.45	5.05	22.03	0.345	0.482	0.827	16
Buster Posey	San Francisco	C/1B	0.70	5.77	23.61	0.390	0.510	0.900	2
Andrew McCutchen	Pittsburgh	CF	0.64	4.77	22.53	0.380	0.500	0.880	23
Ben Revere	Philadelphia	CF/RF	0.58	10.08	571.33	0.329	0.334	0.663	42
Michael Morse	Seattle	LF/RF	0.24	4.00	21.42	0.326	0.468	0.794	1
Will Middlebrooks	Boston	3B	0.17	3.67	20.80	0.304	0.463	0.767	8

Dislike: I might be too harsh on Will Middlebrooks, but even though he provided a spark for teams last year and showed off his power, he still had plenty of holes in his swing and terrible approach at the plate.  He needs to improve on that aspect of this game is this team expects to repeat as Champions.  And as a Michael Morse owner last season, I understand he was hurt, but that still doesn’t excuse his hacking style at the plate.  And Ben Revere should not be a DH in a fantasy lineup. 

Look Out For: This team has both Billy Hamilton and Jurickson Profar on the same club.  I’m not even sure if both players will be called up this season, but certainly a very interesting strategy to have two players playing in the same position.  Then again, the Reds have been talking about moving Hamilton to the OF and the Rangers have played with the idea of moving their veteran infielders move around just so they can make room for Profar.

Bench: Revere and Carlos Gomez will probably, but questionably be alternating the DH spot.  Gomez has good counting stats, but a disastrous approach at the plate.  Chase Headley can probably become the permanent DH/3B when he gets back from injury.

PITCHING

Like: The Philly theme continues with Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee anchoring the pitching staff.  In support of these two are mixes of young and veteran pitchers with more question marks to their game than anything.  So I will list the ones that have a better chance of succeeding here (not to guarantee that they will, but given the options, I’m speaking in relative terms): Alex Cobb is supposed to bust out this season and was impressive in the spring, especially when you talk about his K/9; Alexi Ogando is a promising pitcher with good, projected numbers.  However, he did struggle this spring, but was able to post impressive strikeout totals; Marco Estrada pitched pretty well in the spring and his projections show that he might be in line for a big year.

2013 Pitching Projections
Player	Team	K/BB	K/9	BB/9	H/9	WHIP	HR/9
Alexi Ogando	Texas	3.23	8.14	2.52	8.14	1.18	1.09
Alex Cobb	Tampa	2.13	6.80	3.19	8.48	1.30	0.78
Marco Estrada	Milwaukee	3.55	8.85	2.49	8.51	1.22	1.22

Dislike: There’s a lot of pitchers I don’t like on this team, but the worst of the bunch is Edinson Volquez.  Volquez had a bad spring and he still continues to give up too many walks (a problem he still has since his days with the Reds.  I wrote about this issue when reviewing the Padres’ pitching staff).  Another Opening Day starter I don’t like is Bud Norris who not only is supposed to be on a bad team that may not provide the run support he needs, he also has issues with walks and is projected to have a terrible WHIP.  To Norris’ credit, he did get the win for the Astros on Sunday night.    Jorge de la Rosa is a 32 year-old recovering from Tommy John surgery.  He shouldn’t be on anybody’s team.  Kyle Kendrick is another pitcher who should have been left on waivers as well. 

Bullpen: Amazingly enough, this team has no closers on the squad.

Look Out For: James McDonald seems to slowly, but surely be climbing up the pitchers’ list and distance himself from the Volquezes and Norrises of the world.  He can provide good strikeout numbers and if he cuts back on the walks, he might provide much needed production on this team.  Shaun Marcum is injured once again, but when he’s healthy, he can be productive.  Might be the pitcher to add some quality depth on this team.  Speaking of injury, Chad Billingsley is on the club as well and beginning the year on the DL.  He’s done a good job cutting back on the walks and is actually better off as a back of the rotation guy than as an integral part of any pitching staff (like he was projected to be when he was coming up with the Dodgers).

PREDICTION: Despite having all of these pitchers on the team, they really don’t have much depth.  Remember, quantity does not necessarily mean quality.  They have the potential to surprise people by potentially having a great 5-man combo in their pitching staff, but which of these other quizzical pitchers will step up and have a breakthrough season?  They are also a big bat away from having a complete lineup.  If they can’t make a trade to improve their offense, then they’ll have to depend on a few hitters who have very limited skills at the plate.  Injured 3B Headley might be that player, but he too comes with plenty of issues as well.  Too many ifs and question marks on this team to project them as a playoff team, therefore another title seems to be out of reach.  

Check out the rest of the Mardi Gras Madness teams.

More fantasy baseball is available here. 

MAKING THE PITCH: Houston Astros

Updated #Astros projection after RHP Jordan Lyles and RHP John Ely optioned to minors. mlbdepthcharts.com/2012/02/housto…
— Jason Martinez (@mlbdepthcharts) March 20, 2013

Felipe M

We take a look at the projected starting rotations and closer situations of every MLB team.  Of course, this will come from a fantasy perspective.  All cited stats are based on 2013 projections.  

To see our preview of the Tampa Rays, click here.

Now let's take a look (unfortunately) on the Houston Astros:

2013 PITCHING PROJECTIONS
Player	K/BB	K/9	BB/9	H/9	WHIP	HR/A
Bud Norris	2.49	8.75	3.52	8.70	1.36	1.11
Erik Bedard	2.25	8.28	3.67	8.21	1.32	1.01
Lucas Harrell	1.66	6.14	3.69	8.68	1.37	0.69

It's funny to mention Jordan Lyles as he was penciled in as the #4 starter earlier in the spring.  It's worth monitoring him because of his potential, but his numbers are somewhere in between mediocre and adequate.  He was projected to post a 1.36 WHIP so perhaps getting optioned to the Minors wasn't a bad thing.  

But trying to figure out this team is absolutely frustrating.  Their offense is terrible and their pitching staff is slightly better--that's not saying much.  Lucas Harrell is supposed to be the #2 pitcher.  At one point in the spring, he was actually competing for the #1 role!  Following Harrell is Phil Humber.  Humber's numbers were so bad, that I decided to keep him away from my Pitchers' Big Board.  I don't care that he's pitched a perfect game, I don't want him anywhere near my team.  That goes for Harrell as well.  For the sake of balance, both Humber and Harrell have pitched pretty well this spring.  So perhaps there's some hope for these guys; it won't happen on my team.    

Also not listed is closer, Jose Veras.  Aside from having to fend off other relievers (like prospect Jarred Cosart), Veras' career and projected numbers were so terrible, that I decided to not place his name on the "big board."  He has issues with control and high WHIP, but on the bright side, he can rack up the K's.  Proceed with caution.  

Barring setback or something unforeseen, Erik Bedard's expected to make #Houston #Astros' 25-man roster. #MLB
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) March 22, 2013

It is amazing that there was enough competition for Erik Bedard to not be named to the starting rotation until this week.  He is penciled in as the #4 starter.  He does come with baggage, however: injury history, decreased production, age, etc.  Nevertheless, his projection shows that he still can be an adequate, fantasy pitcher.  Currently, he's ranked between Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco on our "Big Board."  A deep sleeper if he can stay healthy and find a way to drop his walk rate.  

And yes, there's still an open competition for the #5 slot.  Brad Peacock has the pedigree and the spring numbers to best his opponent, Alex White. Somehow, Peacock worked his way from a predictable trip back to the Minors, to being on the verge of starting the year with the Big League club.  Unfortunately, he's projected to have issues with walks and finish with a WHIP of 1.40.  

Finally, Bud Norris is the opening day starter.  Besides the K/9, his numbers are not very impressive.  I have him stuck between soft-tossers, Jeremy Guthrie and Ross Detwiler.  

More MLB content is available here.