Baseball Prospect Watchers

With Pujols and Fielder leaving for the AL and a lot of unproven youth there is a massive void of power hitting 1B that almost needs to be filled by someone. This year we could see a lot of new faces at 1B looking to be the future stars of the league. Yonder Alonso is basically cemented at 1B for the Padres and although I typically run from Padres players like they can give me an STD just looking at their stats online for some reason I am not as scared for Yonder. I like his plate approach a lot and I think he can hit .300 there with some pop to boot. Will he be a classic 30 or 40HR guy at 1B? Well definitely not 40 but there is a chance for 30 it just wont be until around 2014. That part is big but it is also mental if he can focus on driving the ball he will find the gaps and take some deep. Mat Gamel is another former prospect now getting a chance to shine. He has mashed AAA and now gets a shot to play at 1B with Fielder gone. He too could be a surprise to fill the 1B power gap. He doesn't nearly have the plate discipline like Alonso but he has a smaller park with an ability to go big. Anthony Rizzo is another candidate to make a difference at 1B soon. He may start 2012 in AAA but I can't see them keeping him down there for too long. He is a great combination of power and defense. Rizzo will take advantage of his new house that is practically built for his plate approach. Paul Goldschmidt is another guy that could make us forget all the power the NL has lost. Goldschmidt is a classic low-end prospect that moved up the ranks by simply crushing the ball at will. He has a massive power load and he might have the best odds of the young guys to hit 40HR in a season. He may do it with a .240 avg but he could do it. Brandon Belt was hyped to the gils last season with HBO and his giant rise through the prospect sheets. He had a rough rookie season. I think the expectations and attention were a bit too much but this kid can still be special. He seems to project more like a Mark Grace type than a true power beast but that can be very valuable in fantasy too. I think he was overdrafted in a lot of leagues last year. He will be almost off the radar for 2012. He could be a solid late rounder in all league formats. Finally Matt Adams is another guy that may get a peek. True Berkman will be holding the fort for 2012 but Adams could make an impression. He wont make anyone forget Pujols but there is some serious pop there. Adams hit 32HR's last season in AA and could show up sometime in 2012 to spell Berkman who is up there in age. Adams is not projected to be the next elite hitter at 1B but he is opening eyes with his bat and moving up the prospect ranks in a similar fashion to Goldschmidt.

Category: Fantasy Baseball

The first nine Dodger prospects are all pitchers. The tenth is an outfielder/first basemen. Here they are listed from one to ten:


1. Zach Lee, Pitcher, 9 wins 6 losses 3.47 ERA 91 strikeouts 109 innings pitched in (A) Great Lakes 

2. Allen Webster, Pitcher, 6 wins 3 losses 5.04 ERA 73 strikeouts 91 innings pitched in (AA) Chattanooga 

3. Chris Withrow, Pitcher, 6 wins 6 losses 4.20 ERA 130 strikeouts 128.2 innings pitched in (AA) Chattanooga 

4. Ethan Martin, Pitcher, 5 wins 3 losses 4.02 ERA 43 strikeouts 40.1 innings pitched in (AA) Chattanooga

5. Nathan Eovaldi, Pitcher, 1 win 2 losses 3.63 ERA 23 strikeouts 34.2 innings pitched in (MLB) Los Angeles 

6. Angel Sanchez, Pitcher, 8 wins 4 losses 2.82 ERA 84 strikeouts 99 innings pitched in (A) Great Lakes 

7. Aaron Miller, Pitcher, 3 wins 2 losses 3.97 ERA 30 strikeouts 34 innings pitched in (A+) Rancho Cucamonga 

8. Garrett Gould, Pitcher, 11 wins 6 losses 2.40 ERA 104 strikeouts 123.2 innings pitched in (A) Great Lakes 

9. Shawn Tolleson, Pitcher, 4 wins 2 losses 1.62 ERA 55 strikeouts 44.1 innings pitched in (AA) Chattanooga 

10. Scott Van Slyke, Outfield/First Base, .348 Batting Average 45 Doubles 4 Triples 20 Home Runs 92 RBI's 457 at bats in (AA) Chattanooga  

 
  
                 

Category: MLB

Ok so I have Logan Morrison who despite tweeting too much still managed to get 23 long balls and 72 RBI's in 462 AB's last season. Heyward was an absolute train wreck his sophmore season but has the more hyped upside. Now I have them both in an NL Only league for $5 each and its signing time. Which of the two players would you sign through 2014? Heyward or LoMo? Keep in mind I am in an NL only league so their potential value is higher than mixed.

The way the league works I can keep either one or both at the following prices:

$5 for one more season (2012)
$10 thru 2013
$15 thru 2014

I am not considering $20 with either player. Too long term a deal. I have only signed two players to $20 for 4 additional years and that was Ryan Braun and Ryan Howard and both worked out great but they also showed me a lot before signing time arrived. We draft minor leaguers for $5 which is why I have these guys so cheap. Last year the highest valued player in our league was Pujols for $56.  

Category: Fantasy Baseball

There seem to be a decent amount of bats log jammed in the Reds system. Nothing Jay Bruce level but there is nothing to say that one of these guys couldn't make an impact for 2012 on the left side of the diamond. With Rolen's age and injury history he is a ticking bomb for a replacement at some point which leaves some competiton for the hot corner. Todd Frazier was brought into the majors as a SS but simply didn't have the range to stick which is unfortunate because of the hellish offensive numbers they are currently producing at that position with Janish and Renteria. Frazier has been working hard at the hot corner this year and his offensive numbers so far this season suggest he is ready to take the next step in his career. Juan Francisco is the top compeition as the 3B man of the reds future with massive power and back to back Dominican MVP awards in the winter. Baker has already been heard as to give Francisco a shot but he is one of the weakest defenders in the Reds organization. LF is another area of interest with Gomes inconsistency. This could be a 3 way race consisting of Chris Heisey , Todd Frazier , and Yonder Alonso. Heisy is currently working hard to win the position and the others are more hyped prospects just looking for an opportunity. I think Frazier is a good guy to eye because of his position diversity. Alonso is a wide body with a very good bat but its real iffy if he can be good enough defensively to stick in LF. The Reds maybe better off simply dealing Alonso who is a natural 1B by trade and in no way will steal Joey Votto's position. It will be interesting to see how the cards fall and it will be worth watching these competitions because all of these guys will likely fall under the buy low scenario and all have interesting offensive potential in one of the best offensive parks.

Category: Fantasy Baseball

With Belt's new plate approach he raked last season and is making massive waves and shooting up the prospect charts. Singleton was a guy people seemed to like early and could turn into a raw power machine. Which of the two NL 1st Baseman will be the real deal?

Category: MLB