MARDI GRAS MADNESS: Houston Steelers

Felipe M

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

Next up is yet another team that hails from the largest state in the continental U.S.

WEST DIVISION--Houston Steelers (guessing from Houston, TX)

BATTING LINEUP

Like: Joey Votto is one of my personal favorite players.  I traded Votto to this team a few years ago for Ian Kinsler as I was looking for somebody at 2B to replace Chase Utley.  Tough trade to perform, but one that I felt I needed to do (I guessed it worked since I was the league runner-up last season).  One of the most dangerous hitters in the Majors, he is truly a fun player to watch at the plate.  And most of you know, by now, that Evan Longoria is one of my favorite players at 3B. Both Votto and Longoria will have to carry this team on offense for the majority of 2013.

Dislike: Josh Rutledge should not be starting in any Big League ballclub.  Don’t be fooled by most “experts” who declared his 2012 campaign as a “breakout year.”  Terrible plate discipline and a .306 on-base% does not make for a formidable fantasy player. And as much as I like Josh Reddick’s tenacity as a player, he is simply not a starting OF in fantasy right now.  The same can be said about Hunter Pence, who depends more on luck and hustle than actual skill.  Finally, Dayan Viciedo has the tools to be a really good hitter in the Majors, but outside of power, he has shown very little of anything else.  He’s had a really good spring so far, but it remains to be seen if he can streamline that success into the regular season.  Viciedo should be given a wait-and-see approach instead of being this team’s starting DH.  

2013 Hitting Projections
Player	Team	Pos	BB/K	AB/K	AB/HR	OBP	SLG	OPS	SB
Josh Reddick	Oakland	RF	0.38	4.38	22.60	0.314	0.458	0.773	8
Hunter Pence	San Francisco	RF	0.41	4.74	28.50	0.330	0.436	0.767	8
Dayan Viciedo	White Sox	LF	0.28	4.49	22.19	0.321	0.451	0.772	1

Look Out For: Reports out of Spring Training are mostly positive for Wilin Rosario, who needed to show improvements in his swing and defense coming into this season.  If his improvements are legit, he can be a real steal at the position.  Time is running out for Dustin Ackley, who at one point in his young career was bestowed as the next Chase Utley at his position.  Clearly, it’s a make or break year for Ackley as he’s had very little success during his time in the Majors. And as down as I was about Lorenzo Cain during the offseason, he had a very successful spring where he was putting a pounding on the ball.  Cain has been hyped up since making it to the Royals.  If Cain can live up to that hype, this team is looking pretty good for 2013.

Bench: There is no bench to speak of as the Steelers have overstocked on pitching.

PITCHING

Like: I’m a huge fan of Yu Darvish as I thought he should have been given the privilege to start Opening Day this season.  Also on the staff is Clayton Kershaw. Another lefty on the staff is Jonathon Niese who is the Mets’ #1 starter.  And if Yovani Gallardo can continue to drop his BB/9, then this team is looking like an intimidating foursome.  That’s not all, however: Jaime Garcia, Shelby Miller, Hyun-Jin Ryu provides this squad with good depth as well.

Dislike: Just not a big fan of Trevor Cahill as his pitch-to-contact style is marred by a high WHIP.  Instead of wasting a roster spot for Cahill, the team could’ve added depth to their batting lineup.

Bullpen: He was ready to start the season after the WBC, but Fernando Rodney does have a few concerns, mainly the 10^th worst BB/9 among closers.  But when he has everything working properly, he can be near unhittable in the 9^th inning.  Also coming out of the bullpen is Aroldis Chapman and his 100mph fastball. 

2013 Pitching Projections
Player	Team	K/BB	K/9	BB/9	H/9	WHIP	HR/9
Jon Niese	Mets	3.63	6.65	1.83	9.21	1.23	0.81
Yovani Gallardo	Milwaukee	2.90	9.18	3.16	7.93	1.23	1.11
Juan Nicasio	Colorado	3.24	8.13	2.51	8.62	1.24	1.15
Jose Quintana	White Sox	1.90	5.79	3.05	9.47	1.39	1.00

Look Out For: There’s a few candidates that make the list here: TylerSkaggs is part of a trio of young, pitching prospects that will be forever linked to each other (Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole are the other pitchers).  In stunning fashion, Jose Fernandez did indeed make the Big League club as the Marlins, because of injuries, had no choice, but to add him to the rotation.  Fernandez is the top prospect in the organization, per Baseball Prospectus.  Shelby Miller belongs on this list of young hurlers as well, but I’m really high on Miller’s ability.  

Also worth watching is Juan Nicasio as many think that he’ll be able to pitch like he did in 2011—if not, better.  Finally, Jose Quintana may not be the pitcher who we think he is as many publications are really high on this SP.  Quintana, projected to be a mediocre pitcher in 2013, has impressed many with his spring performance and have cited his minor league numbers as a sign of hope. 

PREDICTION: The pitching might be good enough to help this team make a playoff push, but the lack of depth in their batting lineup might be this team’s ultimate doom in 2013.  I just don’t understand the need to stockpile with 13 pitchers when it looks like 9 or 10 pitchers would suffice.  They are depending on too many gambles on offense and that’s just not the way to build a winner.

More fantasy baseball is available here. 

Check out the rest of the Mardi Gras Madness teams here. 

CATCH!: 2013 Early Pre-Rankings--1B

So that's what an "off" year by Albert Pujols looks like?
(photo courtesy of Mike McCann's Field of Fotos)

Felipe M

Feel free to view our Catchers' list as we get ready for the 2013 baseball season, with a special emphasis put in place for fantasy baseball.  Will try to be more succinct as it seems that every player who can lift up a bat qualifies at 1B.  

GREEN=Currently on my keeper team. 

TOP TIER

1. Albert Pujols: It's Albert Pujols!  Next!

2. Joey Votto: I'm a huge fan of Votto's and believe that he will return to form in 2013.

3. Prince Fielder: After much worry about Fielder playing in a bigger park, he only experienced the slightest of slight decrease in production.  The only thing one should be concern about him is his weight and even then, he has proven time and time again that it's really a non-issue.

4. Buster Posey: Yes, I believe he's that good!

5. Billy Butler: Many publications believe that Butler has finally broken out.  I'm still leery of him, but for now, he's top 5. And yes, he did play in 20 games at 1B, avoiding the "DH-only" stigma.

6. Adrian Gonzalez: He's due for a bounce back year as he returns for a full season in the NL and is out of the toxic environment in Boston.  

7. Edwin Encarnacion: It is very strange to see Encarnacion on this list as I'm used to correlating the name to 3B.  But this season, he only qualifies at this position and his breakout year last season places him in the top 10.  The Toronto Blue Jays have caught lightning, twice!  Once with Jose Bautista and now Encarnacion.

8. Allen Craig: Just like Encarnacion, Craig came out of nowhere to inhabit the 1B position for the St. Louis Cardinals. He did play well in very limited time in 2011, but the Cards, out of desperation, put him in the lineup and found themselves a legit power-hitter.  He's already gotten the endorsement of teammates, such as Matt Holliday, referring to him as an "elite hitter."

SECOND TIER

9. Paul Goldschmidt:  He showed last year that not only does he have potential to hit for power, but can steal bases as well.  However, he needs to prove himself before we can bump him to the Top Tier.

10. Joe Mauer: What did we say about all of these players qualifying at 1B?  Great contact rate and high on-base%, along with a respectable SLG% places him in the top 10.  Clearly, the position is undergoing massive changes.

11. Paul Konerko: He can still bash, especially in his home park, but Konerko is a candidate to dip in the standings as age is finally starting to catch-up to the "Captain."

12. Mark Trumbo: Not a big fan of Trumbo (not a fan of any player that comes out of the Angels' system apparently--sans Mike Trout). But if we're just talking about pure power, this is your guy.

13. Mark Teixeira: Many publications seem to have grown weary of his slow starts, but last year, he never got it going.  He's 32, but still plays at Yankee Stadium.  I don't see why he cannot return to 30 HRs, 90 RBIs.

14. Freddie Freeman: I really like this kid.  He's only 23, but he has already shown enough flashes of potential to overlook his low batting average.  

15. Ryan Howard: I want to believe that Howard can bounce back this season as he has worked hard this offseason to be back in elite status as a power-hitting 1B. However, Howard is now 33 years-old and other players have leap-frogged ahead of him.  His OPS has been dropping since 2009 and that was before the Achilles injury sustained in the 2011 playoffs.  

16. Mike Napoli: In case you didn't know, Napoli qualifies at catcher...

17. Eric Hosmer: Very disappointed 2012 for the promising, young 1B.  Major emphasis on the word "young," as he's only 23.  The K.C. Royals will continue to be patient with him and he's really solid playing the 1B position so he will continue to get at bats as he tries to figure things out at the plate.

THIRD TIER

The rest of the field:

• Carlos Santana
• Ike Davis
• Nick Swisher
• Todd Frazier
• Adam LaRoche
• Anthony Rizzo
• Corey Hart
• Michael Cuddyer
• Kendry Morales
• Michael Young
• Chris Davis
• Kevin Youkilis
• Yonder Alonso

Other players to keep an eye on:

• Chris Carter
• Mark Reynolds
• Justin Morneau
• Lance Berkman
• Adam Dunn
• Matt Adams

More MLB content is available here. 

View our 2B fantasy list, here.