IN EXILE: Replacing Troy Tulowitzki

Felipe M

Once again, superstar shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki is out for an extended period of time with an injury (rib, 4-6 weeks).  Unlike our review of available left fielders to replace Ryan Braun, the depth of available shortstops is extremely thin.  However, there are always gems to be found in free agency and with luck and good scouting, you may be able to hold weather this storm and find a respectable replacement.  

(All stats are as of Thursday, June 13, 2013):

SHORTSTOPS' Performance in Last 21 Days
Player	Owned	ABs	HR	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
Zack Cosart	49%	75	1	3	19	0	0.293	0.329	0.427
Derek Dietrich	15%	74	5	4	16	0	0.203	0.263	0.446
Stephen Drew	39%	70	2	8	24	1	0.229	0.304	0.400
Yunel Escobar	43%	67	1	7	7	0	0.328	0.387	0.418
Nick Franklin	61%	50	2	8	10	2	0.300	0.397	0.520
Didi Gregorius	55%	71	1	7	16	0	0.254	0.342	0.352
Jayson Nix	8%	60	0	4	16	7	0.300	0.344	0.350
Omar Quintanilla	5%	48	2	3	11	0	0.271	0.314	0.479
Josh Rutledge	50%	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Right off the bat, Josh Rutledge's ownership rate has gone up as it will be very likely that he will be called up to replace the ailing Tulowitzki.  He is currently in the middle of a hot streak in Triple-A.  Many experts believe that Rutledge can streamline that success to the Big Leagues.  Not a fan of Rutledge, but before he was demoted, he did display an improving BB:K and despite his impatient approach and woeful on-base%, he still has good contact skills  to rack up the counting stats (5 homeruns, 5 stolen bases).  So if you believe that Rutledge is the hot bat your team is looking for in these dire times, by all means, have at him before it's too late.

The player that you should probably grab without hesitation is Nick Franklin.  After disappointing in Triple-A last season, Franklin has shown, once again, his knack to bounce back.  Surprisingly, his skills have streamlined better than expected in the Majors.  The pop is on full display, his line drive power (5 doubles) is apparent, his base stealing ability is latent, and his plate discipline is amazing, even for a rookie.  You see why Franklin has been a top prospect in the Seattle Mariners' organization now?  

Another rookie making waves is Didi Gregorius.  He's shown a decent approach, some pop, good contact and on-base skills.  He may not be as explosive as Rutledge and Franklin (on potential alone), but despite being a rookie, he might be a steady choice of a replacement.

Zack Cosart is having a heck of a week, especially after padding his stats against the Chicago Cubs.  What Cosart lacks in plate discipline, contact and on-base skills, he more than makes up for it in pop (on pace to hit 14 homeruns this season).  Cosart is one of those "get him while he's hot; cut him when he's not" type of player.

Most likely, the player that might be the "safest" add is Yunel Escobar.  After being exiled from Toronto and struggling with a year-to-date batting average of .244, Escobar has been heating up in the last 3 weeks as the 2009 version has been evident in that time span.  I'd be reluctant with Escobar because the Tampa Rays have plenty of depth to replace him and if he begins to struggle, they won't hesitate to replace him.  But if Escobar continues to display the plate discipline, gets on base, can show more pop in his bat, and make great contact with the ball, he might be the darkhorse in terms of long-term solution out of this bunch.

Stephen Drew is once again relevant in fantasy circles as his decent pop makes him an intriguing choice if you're looking for some power out of the position.  However, Drew has a history of injuries and the approach makes him a "peak and valley" player.  Too inconsistent for my taste.  

Speaking of pop, Derek Dietrich (who kind of looks like actor Diedrich Bader), has been making headlines with 5 of his 6 homeruns coming in the last 3 weeks.  Unfortunately, Dietrich is sort of a free-swinger and offers very little of everything else.

Jayson Nix is getting regular time with the New York Yankees, as they await the return of Derek Jeter.  Nix has a bad approach at the plate and subpar contact skills.  In the last 3 weeks, however, he's been finding ways to get on base.  When he's aboard, he's been able to rack up 7 of his 9 stolen bases in that span.  So if you're looking to pad your stolen base department, Nix is probably your temporary solution.

Finally, Omar Quintanilla has been getting plenty of playing time with the other New York team--the Mets.  Outside of having adequate ability to put the ball in play, Quintanilla offers very little of anything else as a fantasy player.  The high slugging percentage is a product of the 2 homeruns he's hit all season.  He's on pace to hit 5 for the rest of the year.  Best to avoid.  

More fantasy baseball content is available.  

BRAGGING RIGHTS 2013: Mediocre Season in the Works

Felipe M

It's been awhile since I wrote an update on my fantasy baseball team, the Black Hole Army.  I already explained the rules of the league at the beginning of the year, but quickly recapitulate, it's a Head2Head, Fantasy Point, Weekly Keeper League.  The name of the league is Mardi Gras Madness.

After getting off to a blazing start, winning 4 out of the first 5 games of the season, I've dropped 3 out of the last 4 games.  This has me with a 5-4 record although I'm very fortunate that I still have a winning record considering I own the 2nd to last worst record in terms of fantasy points.  So I could easily be 0-9.  The season is still young as only one team is really running away from the pack with an 8-1 record, team Balls Out.  All other teams, at worst, are only 2 games behind the wildcard standings.  That's definitely something to celebrate.  

The following is a what my team looked liked at the beginning of the season:

• Green=Keeper Player
• Yellow=Drafted Player
• White=Waiver Pickup

Week 1
Pos	Player
C	Carlos Santana
1B	Edwin Encarnacion
2B	Ian Kinsler
SS	Danny Espinosa
3B	Martin Prado
LF	Ryan Braun
CF	B.J. Upton
RF	Allen Craig
DH	Jay Bruce
P	A.J. Griffin
P	Tim Hudson
P	Tommy Milone
P	Andy Pettitte
P	J.J. Putz
P	Huston Street
P	Jordan Zimmermann
2B/3B	Jedd Gyorko
CF/LF	Desmond Jennings
P	Mitchell Boggs
P	Gavin Floyd
P	Brandon McCarthy
P	Rick Porcello
DL	Jason Motte
Minors	Chris Archer
Minors	N/A

At the last moment, I had decided to cut Ricky Nolasco to pick up Rick Porcello as the latter was pitching very well in spring training and Nolasco looked like a bust coming into the season.  Also, had to pick up Mitchell Boggs to replace the injured Jason Motte.  A great idea at the time, Boggs was terrible as the St. Louis Cardinals' closer.  Chris Archer was on my team last season and when I saw that he would not make the Tampa Rays' 25-man roster, I decided to insert him in my Minor League slot thinking that he had the inside track to be called up first to the Big League club.  Of course, Jake Odorrizi would be the first prospect to get a crack at the Rays' rotation when ace pitcher, David Price went down with an injury.  

This is what the team looks like now entering the current week:

Week 10
Pos	Player
C	Carlos Santana
1B	Edwin Encarnacion
2B	Jedd Gyorko
SS	Jed Lowrie
3B	Martin Prado
LF	Ryan Braun
CF	Desmond Jennings
RF	Allen Craig
DH	Josh Willingham
P	Andrew Cashner
P	Corey Kluber
P	Tommy Milone
P	Andy Pettitte
P	David Phelps
P	Dan Straily
P	Jordan Zimmermann
3B	Nolan Arenado
SS	Didi Gregorius
CF	Angel Pagan
RF	Jay Bruce
DL	Ian Kinsler
P	Shaun Marcum
P	Ricky Nolasco
Minors	Trevor Bauer
Minors	Taijuan Walker

Josh Willingham was a player I had on my team last season and he was one of the biggest reasons I had made it all the way to the championship game in 2012.  Was hoping I could reacquire him on draft night, but that didn't come to fruition.  Then an owner, surprisingly enough, dropped him and after Willingham had cleared waivers, I added him to my roster with much haste.  In his last 53 at bats, he's hit 5 homers and driven in 11 RBI.  Not bad for a waiver pickup.

I had been paying special attention to Jed Lowrie for the last 2-3 seasons but injuries and lack of opportunity has always been major hurdles.  This spring, Lowrie was in tight competition for the starting shortstop spot in Oakland.  Had he been given the job before the day of my draft, I would have picked him up as my starting SS.  But Oakland waited until the last moment to pencil him in as the starter.  Many people are down on Lowrie due to his lack of counting stats and power, but he's been getting on base and making great contact with the ball.  That's really all you can ask for from your waiver pickups.  

However, this is a points league and getting on base is only step 1 of the process.  What you do on the basepaths is how owners rack up points.  Lowrie had been battling foot problems that may or may not have caused him to slump in the last 2-3 weeks or so.  Not one to give up on Lowrie, but knowing I had to have a backup plan, I was pleasantly surprised that no one had picked up Arizona D'backs' SS, Didi Gregorius. Gregorius was one of the players that Arizona acquired for uber-prospect, Trevor Bauer. 

Bauer, was cut in week 1 or 2 of the season as the Cleveland Indians decided to call him up for a spot start.  The owner decided to cut him not wanting to risk having an "illegal lineup."  Well, that's when I decided to swoop in and use my high waiver priority to pick up Bauer.  Hopefully, he'll be ready to go for the stretch run of the season when I will need his high upside to carry me to the wildcard berth.  

The other prospect I had recently signed was Taijuan Walker as I had given up on Archer thinking that the Rays might only call him up for bullpen duties.  Walker may not be called up this season, but his potential makes him a great, long-term player.  Also, the league has done a great job in stockpiling on the best prospects in the game right now so considering that the pickings were slim, I'm content with having Walker on my club.  

The injury to Ian Kinsler was unfortunate, but came at a time where #41 ranked prospect, Jedd Gyorko was finally figuring out how to be a Big League hitter.  #6 Prospect, Nolan Arenado was picked up as a backup plan to the struggling Martin Prado.  Both have been disappointing, but I'm holding out hope that both will play to their full capabilities sooner rather than later.  

Gyorko's teammate, Andrew Cashner was somebody I had high hopes for in 2013.  But injuries in the spring forced the San Diego Padres to start him out in the bullpen, therefore, making him a bad pickup on draft day.  As soon as he was named to the starting rotation, I immediately picked him up.  The lack of strikeouts has been a disappointment, but can't argue with his good control.  Another long-term project on the team.  

Another Padres' pitcher, Huston Street was dropped recently due to injury.  I picked up Dan Straily as he's pitched very well in his last 3 starts.  Also trying to make up for the fact that I had dropped his teammate, A.J. Griffin, perhaps a bit too prematurely.  

It's been that kind of season as I have been forced to play musical chairs with my pitching staff.  It was something I knew I had to do coming into the 2013 season, but it's been a lot worse than I had anticipated.  The frustration has not only come from players I picked up as long-term solutions to my staff fizzling out in their starts immediately after I had added them to my roster, but also from guys I was counting on on draft day.  Most notably, Tim Hudson, after showing signs of brilliance at the beginning of the year, I finally had to cut him loose as he was getting lit up way too many times for my taste.  I'm really hoping that Corey Kluber and David Phelps can continue to pitch like they did before week 9.  Both pitchers combined to score ZERO points in the last game.  Also betting on the fact that oft-injured Shaun Marcum can continue to get strong and healthier with each start that he makes.  You will also notice that I went ahead and reacquired Nolasco.

Finally, I can talk about my team without warning everybody about the great peril that is B.J. Upton.  There is a reason why I drafted Jennings alongside Upton.  Both players can prove to be explosive, especially in a points' league, but both come with poor plate approach, especially Upton.  Sure enough, Upton does terribly.  Upton is so bad, he's still a free agent player in my league.  Currently, Upton is owned in 71% of CBS leagues.  He was owned by 99% of the leagues in week 1.  That's a lot of drops.  He was replaced by somebody I should have drafted to be my starting CF in the first place, Angel Pagan.  His patience and contact skills make him an ideal, prototypical centerfielder in fantasy baseball.  Injuries, unfortunately, have been a nuisance however.  When healthy, Pagan has been a steady player on my team.

I'm not sure what the future holds for me this season.  I saw this season as one where I would not only have to rebuild, but stay competitive in a division that was there for the taking.  The Division may be out of reach now, but the wildcard is still there if I want it.  I have no excuses however.  I know my pitching staff is terrible, but I will continue to aggressively pursue pitchers to fill out my starting rotation on a permanent basis--not just spot starts.  My batting lineup, on the other hand, are full of players that I had targeted on draft day and are now on my team.  They're slumping right now, but the reason I acquired them was because their plate discipline would help extinguish slumps in a fast manner.  If anything, their approach would at least help them get on base, therefore, help these players score runs or steal bases.  So far, the plan looks like it has backfired, but I will continue to go to battle with these guys.  I'm encouraged to see Gyorko develop into the hitter I thought he could be in his rookie year and I'm hoping guys like Arenado, Lowrie, and Prado can follow suit.  

Feel free to share your fantasy baseball experience in 2013 in the comments' section.

More fantasy baseball content is available.