MARDI GRAS MADNESS: Beer Belly Mashers

Felipe M

I continue to review our league's fantasy baseball team.  Up next is a long time nemesis and the only person I wish "bad luck" for the 2013 season.

But first, take a look at team Texas Sooner's loaded squad if you haven't all ready. 

EAST DIVISION--BEER BELLY MASHERS (out of Kansas City)

BATTING LINEUP

Like: You know your team is in trouble when Dustin Pedroia might be your best power hitter.  No disrespect to Paul Goldschmidt or Andre Ethier, but Pedroia has the track record as a complete hitter, especially with power.  And that’s not saying much.  I’m a fan of Jon Jay’s as his high on-base% makes him useable in fantasy leagues.  I also believe in Eric Hosmer to turn his career around and become the hitter everybody thought he could be, but time is running out for the guy.  Andrelton Simmons is expected to struggle, but if he can streamline the things that made him a successful hitter in the Minors, he can definitely hold his own in the Majors and become a productive player in fantasy leagues.

Dislike: Juan Pierre as a LF is just so wrong.  I’m skeptical of Salvador Perez and I think he could prove to be a bust, but most fantasy “experts” like his prospects for 2013.  I actually liked Matt Carpenter coming into the draft because he would eventually qualify at 2B.  But as a starting 3B?  I’m not buying that.  Dexter Fowler as a DH is giving the frustrating player too much respect.  Even Ethier, as the sole power hitter in the OF is disastrous. 

Look Out For: Wil Myers was picked as the #1 prospect in baseball by many publications.  Whether he plays this season or not is pretty doubtful, but at this point, he’s probably not available in a majority of leagues.  Oscar Taveras finished as the #1 prospect on this site.  Many publications believe he could be the 

1^st prospect to be called up for the Cardinals.

2013 Hitting Projections
Player	Team	Pos	BB/K	AB/K	AB/HR	OBP	SLG	OPS	SB
Salvador Perez	Kansas City	C	0.35	8.58	35.00	0.327	0.435	0.762	0
Eric Hosmer	Kansas City	1B	0.56	6.01	28.87	0.340	0.437	0.777	15
Andrelton Simmons	Atlanta	SS	0.57	8.69	70.27	0.331	0.400	0.731	13
Dexter Fowler	Colorado	CF	0.54	3.69	41.71	0.367	0.445	0.812	15
Paul Goldschmidt	Arizona	1B	0.44	3.59	22.30	0.352	0.482	0.834	13

PITCHING

Like: Unlike their hitting, pitching is where this team will survive in 2013.  Just look at the names: Josh Beckett, Gio Gonzalez, Zack Greinke, Matt Harvey, CC Sabathia, Jeremy Hellickson and even Dan Haren provides the team with a loaded pitching staff.

Dislike: After viewing their lineup, I’m left wondering if it was really necessary to add Jarrod Parker and Wandy Rodriguez to the team.  

Bullpen: Not a good strategy of acquiring shaky closers like Greg Holland, Tom Wilhelmsen, and Jason Grilli when their lineup is so weak and lacking depth.

2013 Pitching Projections
Player	Team	K/BB	K/9	BB/9	H/9	WHIP	HR/A
Jason Grilli	Pittsburgh	2.72	9.87	3.63	6.68	1.15	1.02
Greg Holland	Kansas City	2.60	10.17	3.91	6.52	1.16	0.52
Tom Wilhelmsen	Seattle	2.03	7.73	3.80	7.10	1.21	0.76
Wandy Rodriguez	Pittsburgh	2.47	6.99	2.83	9.64	1.39	0.87
Jarrod Parker	Oakland	2.32	7.73	3.33	8.44	1.31	0.80

Look Out For: I've mentioned Harvey already, but it’s worth noting again that he is definitely a key figure in the Mets’ future and did an admirable job late in 2012.  There’s lots of promise with this kid. 

PREDICTION: Typical Beer Belly team as he’s always a powerhouse in terms of pitching and usually does a great job in complementing that strength with formidable hitters.  Unfortunately, this year, the team is too unbalanced as even this serviceable lineup will not be enough to help this team reach for a championship in 2013.  This team definitely personifies the definition of greed and in the end, it might cost them.

More fantasy baseball is available here.

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #60-56

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.

60. Robbie Erlin--SP--San Diego Padres

• 2012 Outlook: "Smooth delivery, works both sides of plate with efficiency."
• 2012 Achievements: Pitched in Arizona Fall League
• Conclusion: Erlin missed 3 months due to elbow tendinitis, but reports show that he may not be too far away from making Padres' roster. At 22, he's displayed amazing control. He even impressed while pitching in AFL. There's a small concern that he might be a flyball pitcher, but we'll see how he bounces back in 2013. 

59. Travis d'Arnaud--C--New York Mets

• 2012 Outlook: "Better than J.P. Arencibia, but will have to wait."
• 2012 Achievements: #1 Prospect, Best Hitter for Average, and Best Power Hitter in Toronto Blue Jays' farm system; #2 Prospect in Pacific Coast League.
• Conclusion: d'Arnaud was traded to the New York Mets along with John Buck for R.A. Dickey and Josh Thole. Very likely that he will begin 2013 in the Minors. His season abruptly ended in June when he tore PCL ligament in knee. Before the injury, the young catcher was posting an increase in batting average, on-base%, SLG%, and OPS. Despite his slim chances of breaking with the Mets out of Spring Training, he will most likely take over catching duties for the Mets, eventually, in 2013.

58. Zach Lee--SP--Los Angeles Dodgers

• 2012 Outlook: "Future top of the rotation starter, but won't compete for Big League team until 2013."
• 2012 Achievements: #5 and #13 Prospect in both California and Southern Leagues, respectively.
• Conclusion: The Dodgers are so fully loaded at pitching (both rotation and bullpen) that it is highly probable that Lee will begin season in the Minors in '13. His control was as good as advertised in 2012, posting 2.4 BB/9 and 3.22 K:BB. He does have a H/9 of 9.0 in Minor League career. Should be interesting to see if that number decreases a bit next season.

57. Anthony Gose--OF--Toronto Blue Jays

• 2012 Outlook: "Progressed in Minors and is still 'blazing' fast."
• 2012 Achievements: #8 Prospect in California League as well as Best Baserunner and Defensive OF; Appeared in 166 at bats for the Blue Jays
• Conclusion: Gose's speed was on full display with the Jays in 2012, snatching 15 stolen bases. Unfortunately, Gose struggled mightily with big league pitching as well. He posted a BB/K of .29 (compared to .49 in Triple-A). Gose might have to start 2013 in Minors. 

56. Wil Myers--OF--Tampa Rays

• 2012 Outlook: "Struggled in Double-A, but had good Arizona Fall League (2011). Sharp batting eye might mean turnaround."
• 2012 Achievements: Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year; #1 Prospect, Best Hitter for Average, and Power Hitter in Royals' farm system; #3 and #1 Texas and Pacific Coast League Prospect, respectively; Best Power Hitter in PCL. 
• Conclusion: The Royals used Myers as trade-bait to acquire an established Starting Pitcher, which they accomplished when they acquired James Shields. Myers has also been repeatedly been compared to former Braves' great, Dale Murphy (needs to be inducted into Cooperstown already!). Myers destroyed Minor League pitching, posting Slash Lines of .314/.387/.600/.987. His .44 BB/K could use improvement, but Myers looks to be the real deal.  

Prospects #65-61 can be reviewed here.

Prospects #55-51 can be reviewed here.