YMM Fantasy Baseball Preview: Second Basemen

Now that 2010 is here, the fantasy baseball season is right around the corner.  Your Mother’s Mustache will be previewing each position in preparation for your draft day.  All rankings are based on a points system which values overall player productivity, or OPS (On-base Plus Slugging).  Because if you’re still playing in a roto league, you probably also have a “Members Only” jacket hanging in your closet.

1. Chase Utley (PHI)- At the age of 31, Utley’s best days are probably behind him.  But that shouldn’t make you think twice about making him the first second baseman taken off the board on draft day.  He is the definition of consistency, and has averaged 29 home runs and 101 RBIs over the last 5 seasons, all while hitting .300.  He’ll once again bat in front of Ryan Howard, guaranteeing he’ll see plenty of fastballs to hit.  Expect another All Star caliber year from the slugging second baseman.

2. Dustin Pedroia (BOS)-When you look at his stat line, nothing really stands out.  Even in his MVP year in 2008, Pedroia only managed to hit 17 home runs and 83 RBIs.  But he walks almost twice as much as he strikes out, and his ability to stay healthy and hit for a high average atop the Red Sox dangerous lineup makes him a solid choice on draft day. 

3. Ian Kinsler (TEX)- You’d figure the only legitimate 30/30 candidate on this list would be the best second baseman available on draft day, but you’d be wrong.  While Kinsler’s speed and power numbers are off the charts for the position, his inability to stay healthy or show consistency with the bat make him a risky early round pick.  I’m still willing to bet that he can produce a batting average closer to his 2008 numbers than his 2009 numbers though.  3000 years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Ian Kinsler, you’re Goddamn right I’m living in the past.

4. Brian Roberts (BAL)-The player who scored the 4th most points among second basemen last year fittingly settles right in to our 4th spot on the list.  Brian Roberts may no longer post a .300 batting average, but .283 is nothing to scoff at when it comes with 110 runs, 16 homers, 79 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.  Baltimore’s lineup should continue to improve this year with the emergence of Adam Jones and Matt Wieters, so Roberts might actually see an increase in his run production, even at the age of 32.

5. Ben Zobrist (TB)-Last year’s version of Nate McLouth, Ben Zobrist emerged from anonimity at the age of 28 to post the best OPS (.948) at the position.  If his track record wasn’t so short, he’d be much higher on this list.  Still, the Rays traded away starting second baseman Akinori Iwamura during the offseason to make room for Zobrist in the lineup, so they’re clearly drinking the Kool Aid too.  He may not match his .300 batting average from last season, but he should still post a high enough slugging and on base percentage to end the year as one of the position’s top players.

6. Robinson Cano (NYY)-Let me start by saying that I despise Robinson Cano, so this ranking may seem a bit low to some.  He’s a “me first” type of player, and if he actually put in the work he could contend for a batting title every year.  But because he relies solely on talent alone and refuses to work counts and lay off the garbage pitches, he usually pops out in RBI situations.  That means that you can only count on him for runs and batting average.  You’re better off saving your 5th round pick and getting similar production from Alberto Callaspo 6 rounds later.

7. Aaron Hill (TOR)-Another ranking that may surprise people, Aaron Hill broke out last season and led all second baseman with 36 home runs.  What most owners don’t realize is that he hit those 36 home runs in a whopping 724 plate appearances, the most in his 5 year career.  Hill has hit the disabled list and missed significant playing time in all but 2 of his pro seasons, and unless he gets a similar number of opportunities this year, you should expect his stats to regress from last year’s numbers.

8. Brandon Phillips (CIN)- A lock to put up another 20/20 season, Brandon Phillips is only held back by his sorry on base percentage and sub par batting average.  Still, batting cleanup for the Reds will give him plenty of RBI opportunities, and most owners would be very happy with a 10th round pick driving in 100 runs at a weak position.  If you miss out on one of the elite options on draft day, Brandon Phillips is an excellent value pick. 

9. Jose Lopez (SEA)-Not to be confused with the crappier Felipe Lopez, Jose Lopez continued to progress last season, improving on his career highs while hitting 25 homeruns and driving in 96 runs for the Mariners.  At the age of 26, there’s still plenty of room for improvement, and with the addition of Chone Figgins at the top of the lineup, he should see his RBI chances increase batting out of the 3 hole for Seattle.  His potential makes him another excellent value pick in this year’s draft.

10. Alberto Callaspo (KC)-The arrival of Chris Getz in Kansas City puts Callaspo’s playing time in jeopardy, but it’s tough to bench a player who hit .300 for the second consecutive season.  His 1:1 strikeout to walk ratio proves the average is legit, and he actually flashed some power last season in a full time role.  The peripherals lend comparisons to Dustin Pedroia, and if Callaspo played in a stronger lineup he could post similar numbers.  His late round draft price makes him well worth a look.

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Dubbs, January 22nd 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Philadelphia Philthy

hair

I didn’t want to bring this up during the World Series just in case the baseball Gods would frown upon the bashing of Chase Utley.  But now that the Yankees have officially won, I would like to ask the question that was on everyone’s mind throughout the World Series.  No, not whether or not George Steinbrenner has a cup to catch his drool.  The question of “what the hell did Chase Utley have in his hair?!?”.  Now  I’m a Yankee fan, but even I think the clean shaven, above the ears, prim and proper android look they require can be a bit much.  With this being said, I would like to point that Utley crossed the imaginary line between homeless man and star athlete.  I don’t know if you were going for some extra protection in the form of a crusty hair helmet, or maybe you were trying to spark an anti-showering revolution and used the Fox cameras to spread your evil message.  We may never know what you were thinking, but now that the World Series is over, you can go back to greasing muffin pans and keeping car engines running at optimal viscosity.

Go Yankees.

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Shamus O'Cabbage, November 6th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Theeeeeeeeee Yankees Win!!!!!

yankeewin

Well just as we thought, the Yanks wrapped it up last night and brought the World Series title back to the Bronx.  So many guys came up huge throughout the playoffs that I don’t even know where to begin.  I’m tired as shit and a little delirious still from last night, but I still wanted to give some props.

- Alex Rodriguez was sensational throughout the entire post season.   He came through in the clutch time after time, series after series, and  finally earned his Yankee pinstripes in the eyes of the fans.  I’m not sure the Yankees would’ve made it to the World Series without the offense he provided.  A-Rod was a new man this season, with a seemingly newfound love for the game, as well as a newfound approach in dealing with the media.  He finally got a taste of what’s it like to be a World Series champion and I couldn’t be happier for the guy. 

 - Andy Pettitte pitched the series clinching game in every round of the playoffs this year, all while becoming the all time wins leader in post season history.  Andy was simply awesome this postseason.  He came up big in every single spot we needed him to, and showed why he was arguably the most crucial part to our pitching staff.  I really hope Andy comes back and plays one more year.

 -Mariano Rivera was clutch.  Nothing new there.  Mo pitch 5 2/3 innings in the World Series, not surrendering a run and picking up two saves in the process.  Mo was also the only closer this postseason not to blow a save for his team.  You all heard Mo say last night he wants to pitch another 5 years, and as crazy as that sounds I really hope it’s true.

 -Hideki Matsui is the 2009 World Series MVP, and deservedly so.  Sadly, this was most likely Matsui’s last game as a member of the New York Yankees.  But Matsui went out as a Yankee just as he came in, and that’s coming through in a huge way.  Matsui really did deserve the MVP, hitting .615 this World Series with 3 HR’s and 8 RBI’s.  If this really was Matsui’s last game in the Bronx, he will be sorely missed.

 -The Captain is all you have to say.  As always, Derek Jeter was consistent throughout these playoffs and the World Series.  I just hope this World Series showed some of the haters out there that Derek Jeter really does deserve all of the praise and accolades that he has received throughout his career.  This guy is a leader and a champion in every sense of the word.  If anyone out there still hates, they can go fuck themselves.

 -Johnny Damon is yet another guy who may not be returning for the 2010 season, although at this point it looks like he’ll be back for one more year.  I really hope we do bring Johnny back, because after a season plagued with injuries in 2008, Johnny finally got healthy and proved he is still one of the better hitters in the game.  I don’t care how shitty an arm he has, I want him back in left next year.

 -Joba Chamberlain went from being one of the most feared relievers in baseball to being a very average and hittable starter.  This post season we saw Joba go back to the pen (where he belongs) and as a result he started to show signs of his old self.  Joba pitched great in relief last night, and even though he gave up a HR out of the pen in game 4, I still think that’s the best I’ve seen him throw all year.  I don’t know what would’ve happened if Joba didn’t step up since Phil Hughes suddenly became very hittable this post season.  Let’s hope the Yanks do the right thing and keep Joba in the bullpen next year.

 -Well it’s safe to say that the two biggest pitching acquisitions of the off-season in CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett paid off in a huge way.  CC pitched great throughout the playoffs despite not getting a win in either of his 2 World Series starts.  If it was not for Sabathia and his freakish durability, things probably would not have gone so smoothly.  A.J. Burnett did have a terrible start on short rest in game 5, but we can easily let that slide after the gem he pitched in game 2 of the World Series. His performance prevented the Yankees from digging themselves into an insurmountable 0-2 hole.  And even at their worst, both of these guys are better than our options from the past few years.  They were worth every single penny.

 -Damaso Marte retired the last 11 batters he faced this postseason, and was a key lefty specialist out of the pen.  He has been a player often overlooked since we acquired him from the Pirates via trade last year, but an important player none the less.  Marte has always been a highly touted lefted handed reliever,  but was yet to live up to the hype until this post season.  We may not have been able to win this title without some of his key outs in tight spots.

 -And finally, Joe Girardi.  World Series champion manager Joe Girardi.  Everybody, including myself, doubted him from day one.  And after the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in 12 years in his first season as manager, he was on thin ice going into this season.  Even after the year we had, people still questioned Girardi.  They scrutinized every in-game move, especially how he handle the pitching staff and choosing to elect only 3 days rest for CC in the playoffs.  But now Joe is a vindicated World Series champion, and we are all glad he stuck with his gut and managed with his heart.  Girardi was able to bring this team the camaraderie that they have been desperately seeking for the past 9 years, and because of this the Yankees are World Series champions for the 27th time.  Congratulations.

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KRM, November 5th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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#27 Happens Tonight

pedro-martinez

Tonight’s the night people so I hope you’re ready.  After almost a decade of failure the New York Yankees will finally get back where they belong tonight, bringing their 27th championship to the Bronx.  Am I the only one who kind of feels bad for Mike Mussina?

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TitsMcGee, November 4th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , ,
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Is it time to worry about Phil Hughes?

Hughes kneels behind the mound during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series last night.

Hughes kneels behind the mound during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series last night.

Lets face it, so far this post season Phil Hughes has looked nothing like the pitcher who struck out 96 batters in 86 innings this season while allowing only 68 hits.  After walking the only two batters he faced last night things seemed to be going from bad to worse right in front of our eyes.  I don’t want to jump to conclusions here but I am honestly worried about this kid right now.  I just cannot see Hughes getting big outs right now, when he steps onto the mound it seems like an impossible task for him to get anybody out.  I don’t think I’m speaking to soon by saying I would rather see Joba in this spots rights now.  Lets hope the kid can get his shit together.

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KRM, October 29th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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Yankees vs. Phillies World Series Preview

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The New York Yankees begin their quest for a 27th world title tonight against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies.  Your Mother’s Mustache breaks down all of the match ups for you.

Catcher: Jorge Posada vs. Carlos Ruiz-Jorge Posada has made the most of his postseason at bats considering Jose Molina has become AJ Burnett’s personal catcher.  In 31 plate appearances, Posada has 2 home runs and is slugging .484.  Carlos Ruiz has even better numbers this postseason, batting .346 with a home run and 7 RBIs.    While Posada has the clear edge in playoff experience, Ruiz is the better defender and the hotter bat right now.  Oh yeah, and he can actually count to 3.  Edge: Phillies

First Base: Mark Teixeira vs. Ryan Howard-Mark Teixeira has had a rough postseason at the plate thus far, batting a measly .205 with only 5 RBIs out of the three hole.  But his offensive numbers don’t tell the whole story.  His defense at first base changes games, and where his bat has failed his glove has excelled.  On the other side, Ryan Howard is on a tear right now, and has been the Phillies MVP through the first 2 rounds.  He is batting .355 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI for the defending World Series Champs.  His defense is vastly improved this year, and he is the second most dangerous bat in this series.  Edge: Phillies

Second Base: Robinson Cano vs. Chase Utley- These two players have very similar skill sets.  Both can hit for average and power, and both provide outstanding defense at the second base position.  Utley has hit .3o3 so far this postseason, but Cano has driven in 3 more runs.  This is the closest call in these match ups, but I’ll take Utley because he always seems to come through in the big spots.  Edge: Phillies

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez vs. Pedro Feliz-  My, how a year can change everything.  The former postseason punching bag must think it’s May, because Arod has carried the Yankees offense through the first two rounds.  He’s been the definition of clutch, coming through with 3 game tying hits in the late innings, all while batting .438 with 5 home runs and 12 RBIs.  He has been the Yankees Most Valuable Player this postseason, and if they win it all this year, no one will remember the man who was demoted to 8th in the lineup against the Tigers just 3 years ago.  Pedro Feliz is… well, Pedro Feliz.  Enough said.  Edge: Yankees

Shortstop: Derek Jeter vs. Jimmy Rollins-  There’s a reason why the Yankees have been to the playoffs 13 times since Derek Jeter became the everyday shortstop.  He makes clutch plays when the game is on the line.  The captain is hitting .297 with 3 home runs, 5 RBIs and 9 runs out of the lead off spot.  His range isn’t what it used to be, but any team would be more than happy to have him manning their shortstop position.  Jimmy Rollins is a strong defender, but offensively is a mere shell of his former MVP self.  Let’s be honest, he would need to be batting .600 with 25 home runs this postseason to even have a chance to win this match up anyway.  Edge: Yankees

Left Field: Johnny Damon vs. Raul Ibanez-Both players have been disappointments in the playoffs after coming off very strong regular season campaigns.  Raul Ibanez does have 9 RBIs for the Fightin’ Phils, but his .226 batting average leads me to believe that his run production has more to do with hitting behind Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth than anything else.  Johnny Damon is only batting .238 with a .273 on base percentage out of the two hole.  He’s going to have to get on base in front of the big bats with more regularity if the Yanks want to keep pace with Philadelphia’s high powered offense.  Ibanez’s defense give him the edge in this match up.  Edge: Phillies

Center Field: Melky Cabrera vs. Shane Victorino- The Flyin’ Hawaiian is hitting .361 with 3 home runs, 7 RBIs, 8 runs and 2 stolen bases.  To top it all off, he is a gold glove center fielder.  Melky Cabrera is not.  Edge: Phillies

Right Field: Nick Swisher vs. Jayson Werth- Nick Swisher has had an abysmal postseason.  He is batting .125, and his defense is questionable at best.  But Swisher’s real value this season has been his ability to keep the clubhouse atmosphere loose, taking pressure off of the team’s superstars.  Jayson Werth is just another potent cog in the Phillies lineup.  He is slugging .813 this postseason.  Yes, .813.  I don’t care if Swisher is giving Arod blow jobs before each game, there’s just no way to compete with that.  Edge: Phillies

Designated Hitter: Hideki Matsui vs. Matt Stairs-Hideki Matsui may not be able to play the field anymore, but he sure as shit can still swing a bat.  Godzilla is coming off of a regular season in which he hit 28 home runs with 90 RBIs, all while batting a respectable .274.  Matt Stairs has 2 postseason hits in his 17 year career.  Even with Matsui struggling through the first 2 rounds, he is the clear cut favorite in this match up.  Edge: Yankees

Starting Pitching: CC Sabathia/AJ Burnett/Andy Pettitte vs. Cliff Lee/Pedro Martinez/Cole Hamels- CC is 3-0 this postseason and has 20 strikeouts and a 1.19 ERA through 23 innings.  He has been the Yankees best pitcher, regularly pitching on short rest.  Burnett started this postseason strong with a 2.19 ERA through his first 2 starts, but got bombed in his last appearance in game 5 against the Angels.  He can’t afford to have an off day against the Phillies lineup.  Andy Pettitte is old reliable, and gives his team a chance to win every time he takes the mound in the playoffs.  His 2.37 ERA is impressive, and the Yankees will need him to come up big and neutralize the Phillies left handers.  Cliff Lee is the only pitcher who might be having a better playoff run than Sabathia.  Through 24 innings, he has a 0.74 ERA and 2 wins.  Just remember that this has come against NL hitting, and his career numbers against AL hitters are not nearly as impressive.  In a strange twist of fate, old Yankee nemesis Pedro Martinez gets the nod in game 2.  In his last and only postseason appearance this year, he pitched 7 shutout innings.  Cole Hamels has continued his disappointing season, putting up a 6.75  ERA in 15 innings through the first 2 rounds.  The Yankees starters are stronger from top to bottom, and when you have CC pitching a shutout every 3rd start it’s tough to lose.  Edge: Yankees

Bullpen: Mariano Rivera vs. Brad Lidge-Mariano Rivera is the best relief pitcher in the history of the game.  At the age of 40, he continues to dominate the competition with just one pitch.  Armando Benitez could be his set up man and New York would still have the edge in this match up.  Edge: Yankees

Manager: Joe Girardi vs. Charlie Manuel-  Joe Girardi has a tendency to over manage game situations, but his team is so talented that they can overcome any mistakes he makes.  Charlie Manuel gets the most out of his players, and already has a World Series title on his resume.  Edge: Phillies

Prediction: 

 

Yankees in 6.

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Dubbs, October 28th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Dodgers vs. Phillies NLCS Preview

Philadelphia-Phillies-at-Washington-Nationals

The NLCS begins Thursday, October 15th as the Phillies travel to LA to take on the Dodgers.  Your Mother’s Mustache breaks down what promises to be a great series.

Catcher: Russell Martin vs. Carlos Ruiz- Believe it or not, Carlos Ruiz had the better NLDS out of these two players, batting a solid .308.  Russell Martin continued his disappointing season, mustering only 1 hit in the entire series.  At that pace, he’ll be lucky to tally 2 hits in the NLCS.  Edge: Phillies

First Base: James Loney vs. Ryan Howard- James Loney’s NLDS was a microcosm of his season: a disappointing average with absolutely no power.  Ryan Howard is the polar opposite.  He may not have hit any homeruns in the Phillies opening series, but he slugged .563 and drove in 6 runs batting cleanup for the defending champs.  His defense is vastly improved this season, and he is the clear cut favorite in this matchup.  Edge: Phillies

Second Base: Ronnie Belliard vs. Chase Utley- After taking over the second base duties for Orlando Hudson at the end of the season, Ronnie Belliard had the type of production you’d expect from an average second baseman.  Chase Utley, on the other hand, is not your average second baseman.  After another outstanding regular season, he hit .421 with a ridiculous .520 OBP during the NLDS.  Another clear cut favorite in this matchup.  Edge: Phillies

Third Base: Casey Blake vs. Pedro Feliz- The story of Casey Blake’s contribution to the team can’t be told by stats alone.  Although he hit a respectable .273 during the first round, his leadership and defense are what really make him a valuable commodity.  Pedro Feliz is also a strong fielder, but he has never quite lived up to his offensive potential.  The intangibles give Blake a slight edge.  Edge: Dodgers

Shortstop: Rafael Furcal vs. Jimmy Rollins- Rafael Furcal had a great NLDS, batting .500 while driving in 2 runs and scoring 2 runs.  Dodger fans shouldn’t get too excited just yet though.  He has a poor postseason history, and in 8 playoff appearances he has only batted over .258 twice.  Unfortunately, Jimmy Rollins has suffered the same fate in postseason play, albeit with a much smaller sample size.  In 3 playoff appearances, including this year, Rollins has never batted over .263.  Defensively, Rollins has a slight edge, but I’ll go with the hotter player right now.  Edge: Dodgers

Left Field: Manny Ramirez vs. Raul Ibanez- Manny was just being Manny in the NLDS, batting a healthy .308 and slugging .538.  After ending the regular season in a slump, his bat came to life against some great Cardinals pitching, proving he is still one of the best hitters in the game, roids or not.  Raul Ibanez has always been a solid player, but Citizen’s Bank Park has really given his numbers a boost this year.  He batted .308 against the Rockies in the first round, but also added 5 RBIs and 2 runs.  Ibanez is clearly a better defender than Manny, but it’s tough to pick against one of the greatest hitters of all time.  Plus, I’m pretty sure Manny already has a couple of rings to back it up.  Edge: Dodgers

Center Field: Matt Kemp vs. Shane Victorino- In his only previous postseason appearance, Matt Kemp struggled and hit only .250.  This year has been even worse so far, as he batted a measily .143 and struck out at an alarming rate against the Cardinals.  Shane Victorino on the other hand had a great series against the Rockies.  He filled up the stat line to the tune of .353, 1 homer, 1 RBI, 4 runs and a stolen base.  These guys are pretty close defensively, but Victorino has a Gold Glove in his trophy case and has played well in big postseason games before.  Edge: Phillies

Right Field: Andre Ethier vs. Jayson Werth-The two hottest players in this postseason both play right field for their respective teams.  Andre Ethier has hit .500 to go along with 2 homeruns, 3 RBIs and 5 runs, while Jayson Werth has hit .357 with 2 homeruns, 4 RBIs and 5 runs.  Any team would gladly take either player’s production in their lineups, making this the closest call in all of our matchups.  Edge: Push

Starting Pitching: Randy Wolf/Clayton Kershaw/Vincente Padilla/Chad Billingsley vs. Cliff Lee/Cole Hamels/Joe Blanton/J.A. Happ-Clayton Kershaw is clearly the Dodgers best pitcher going into this series, and has earned the nod to start game 1.  Randy Wolf had a rough start in game 1 of the NLDS, only lasting 3.2 innings while walking 5 and giving up 2 earned runs.  Vincente Padilla was a nice surprise, shutting out the Cardinals potent offense in game 3.  Chad Billingsley returns to the rotation for this series.  Even after struggling for most of the second half of the regular season, I’m sure any team would be glad to plug a guy of his caliber into the 4th spot.  Cliff Lee has proven to be the best aquisition this season.  In two postseason games, he’s pitched 16 innings with a 1.10 ERA while striking out 10 batters.  Cole Hamels up and down season continued in the playoffs.  Hes striking out a batter an inning this postseason, but is also allowing earned runs at the same rate.  J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton split the third game start for the Phillies, pitching a combined 5.2 innings while allowing 4 earned runs.  Cliff Lee is the best pitcher in this series, but the Dodgers have a slightly better overall rotation.  Edge: Dodgers

Bullpen: Jonathon Broxton vs. Brad Lidge-Lidge turned his miserable season around against the Rockies, saving 2 games for the Phillies.  He still walks too many batters, which may ultimately cost the Phillies a chance to repeat this year.  The rest of their bullpen is hit or miss, so you really don’t know what you’re gonna get.  Jonathon Broxton saved a game for LA in the NLDS, and pitched well in 3.2 innings.  The Dodgers bullpen is clearly one of their strong points, with Weaver and Sherill each recording a victory against the Cardinals.  This one isn’t even close.  Edge: Dodgers

Managers: Joe Torre vs. Charlie Manuel- Charlie Manuel is a very good manager.  Joe Torre is one of the greatest managers of all time.  I think we can all agree who you want on the bench in the big game.  Edge: Dodgers

Prediction: This promises to be a great series.  The Phillies big bats will need to carry them if they want to have a chance to advance to the World Series for the second year in a row.  Joe Torre always seems to get the most out of his players, and he knows what it takes to win the big games.  If pitching wins championships, then the Dodgers clearly have the edge.  Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have Manny Ramirez in your lineup.  Prediction: Dodgers in 6

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Dubbs, October 15th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Rockies vs. Phillies NLDS Preview

Does the 2009 version of the Phillies have what it takes to defend their title?

Does the 2009 version of the Phillies have what it takes to defend their World Series title?

 

The Philadelphia Phillies (93-69) set out to defend their World Series title beginning with the NL Wild Card winning Colorado Rockies (92-70).  The last time the two teams met in the post season was in the 2007 NLDS, when the Rockies swept Philadelphia on their way to becoming National League Champs.  It’s a playoff rematch between the NL’s last two pennant winners and should be a great series.  Here’s how they break down: 

Regular Season Series:  Phillies won 4-2 

Catcher:  Yorvit Torrealba vs. Carlos Ruiz

Yorvit Torrealba has assumed the everyday catcher role for the Rockies due to the year long struggles of young Chris Ianetta.  He was also the Rockies starting catcher during their remarkable run to the World Series back in 2007.  Torrealba handles the Rockies pitching staff very well, but he is not a good defender behind the plate, throwing out a mere 14 percent of base runners in 2009.  He did manage to hit for a career high .291 average this season in 213 at-bats, including an outstanding .477 mark with runners in scoring position.  Ianetta could be used as a defensive replacement late in games and will likely get some starts in this series as well.  Carlos Ruiz split time much of this season with back up catchers, Chris Coste and Paul Bako.  His offensive numbers were far from spectacular (.255 BA, 9 HR, 43 RBI), but Ruiz offers something that most MLB catchers don’t offer and that is a good eye at the plate.  He walked 47 times this season compared to only 39 strikeouts.  His OBP (.355) is 100 points higher than his batting average, which will suit him well against a quality Rockies pitching staff.  Ruiz is a decent defender behind the plate throwing out 27 percent of would-be basestealers.

Edge: Even

First Base: Todd Helton vs. Ryan Howard-

Todd Helton, the Rockies all-time leader in nearly every offensive category, returns to the post-season for only the 2nd time in his storied 13 year career.  Helton’s power numbers have tailed off over the past 3 seasons, but not at the expense of his batting average.  He hit .325 this season, making it 11 out of 13 seasons that he has hit over the .300 mark.  Ryan Howard continued his assault on Major League pitchers in 2009, putting together another MVP caliber season.  He became only the 4th player in MLB history to put up 4 consecutive seasons with at least 45 HR and 130 RBI, joining the likes of Babe Ruth (7), Sammy Sosa (4) and Ken Griffey Jr. (4).  Howard is as dangerous a hitter as there is in the game today, but the Rockies do have left handed options out of the bullpen (Franklin Morales, Joe Beimel) that they’ll use to match up with him (.207 BA against lefties).

Edge: Phillies

Second Base: Clint Barmes vs. Chase Utley –

Clint Barmes enters this series coming off 4 consecutive multi-hit games (9 for 14).  He is an extremely streaky hitter with a lot of pop (23 HR), but his low batting average (.245) and 4/1 KK./BB ratio offer little to be desired.  Barmes, who used to play shortstop for the Rockies, didn’t have a great season at second base committing 13 errors.  Chase Utley is the best second basemen in the National League.  He had another great season in 2009, despite his numbers being down across the board (.292/33 HR/104 RBI in ’08 compared with .282/31 HR/93 RBI in ’09).  Utley did steal a career high 23 bases this season, so expect him to be active on the base paths in this series against the defensively challenged Yorvit Torrealba.

Edge: Phillies

Third Base: Ian Stewart vs. Pedro Feliz-

Ian Stewart is one of two Rockies players who have severe deficiencies when it comes to hitting left handed pitching.  He hit just .178 with 5 HRs vs. LHP, as compared with .244 and 20 HRs against RHP.  The kid’s got a ton of potential, but he’s still a bit raw this season to be counted on game in and game out.  Garret Atkins will start at 3B against lefties, but is the weaker defensive player of the two.  Pedro Feliz quite frankly is not a very good hitter.  He doesn’t walk enough (.308 OBP), he doesn’t hit for a very high average (.265) and he doesn’t have good power (12 HRs).  The Phillies keep throwing him out there mainly for his defense, but Feliz wasn’t great in the field either committing 15 errors on the year.

Edge: Even

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki vs. Jimmy Rollins 

Troy Tulowitzki bounced back from a disappointing and injury riddled 2008 campaign with a career season in 2009.  He hit .297 with 32 HR, 92 RBI and 20 SB, doing most of his damage after the All-Star break.  Tulo is a solid defensive shortstop, committing only 9 errors on the season.  He has hit in 9 of his last 10 games entering the post season and has 6 multi-hit performances during that span.  Jimmy Rollins rebounded in the last 2 months of the season to make his numbers look respectable.  He batted just .250, which is his lowest average since 2002 (.245).  His 21 HR and 77 RBI were up from last season, but his 31 stolen bases were his lowest output since 2004.  Rollins is a slick fielding shortstop who had a gold glove caliber season in 2009 (6 errors). 

Slight Edge:  Rockies

Left Field:  Carlos Gonzalez/Seth Smith vs. Raul Ibanez

Edge:   The Rockies have five outfielders that have started at least 70 games this season.  Since Jim Tracy took over as manager, he has used a platoon in left field with left handed hitters, Carlos Gonzalez and Seth Smith, and right handed hitter, Ryan Spillborghs.  Gonzalez and Smith are both above-average defenders who hit for a decent average, and will see the majority of the at-bats in this series.  Raul Ibanez is making only the second post season appearance of his 14 year career and first since 2000 when he was with the Mariners.  He was arguably the best offensive player in baseball in the first half of the season, but reverted back to the norm in the second half following a groin injury that landed him on the DL for several weeks.  Still, Ibanez had a fantastic season, hitting .272 with 34 HR and 93 RBI.

Edge:  Phillies

Center Field:  Dexter Fowler vs. Shane Victorino

Rookie prospect Dexter Fowler showed signs of promise in 2009, but overall he didn’t have a particularly strong season.  He was an everday player at times, but also shared time in CF with Carlos Gonzalez.  Fowler is a definite threat with his speed, stealing 27 bases on the year.  He can also cover tons of ground in the outfield.  Shane Victorino ended 2009 on quite a cold streak, but he had another solid season overall.  He hit .292 with 10 HR, 62 RBI and 25 SB.  Victorino has a low strikeout rate (71 K’s in 620 AB), making him a perfect fit for the Phillies in the #2 hole.

Edge: Phillies

Right Field: Brad Hawpe vs. Jayson Werth 

Brad Hawpe came out of the gate firing this year and looked like he was on his way to a career season.  But he struggled mightily at times in the 2nd half and finished with numbers on par with his career averages (.285, 23 HR, 86 RBI).  Hawpe is the 2nd of the Rockies hitters who struggles against lefties, but unlike Stewart, Hawpe will play regardless of the match up.  In contrary to Hawpe, Jayson Werth started out hot and stayed hot in 2009.  He set career highs in homers (36) and RBI (99) and finally earned a spot on the team as an everday player.  Werth also stole 20 bases for the second consecutive season.

Edge: Phillies

Starting Pitching:  Ubaldo Jimenez/Aaron Cook/Jorge De La Rosa/Jason Marquis vs. Cliff Lee/Cole Hamels/J.A. Happ/Joe Blanton

The Rockies starting pitching staff doesn’t get quite get the respect they deserve.  Ubaldo Jimenez figured out how to control his tantalizing fastball and developed into a front of the rotation ace for the Rockies.  He finished 15-12 with 198 strikeouts in 218 innings pitched.  Aaron Cook is making his way back from a late season injury.  He will start Game 2 of this series and will need to get his sinker working, especially if the Rockies find themselves down 1-0.  Jorge De La Rosa had an excellent 2nd half of the season, with 12 wins after the All-Star break to lead the majors.  But a groin injury suffered this past weekend will leave him out of the NLDS, which is a huge blow to the Rockies chances of pulling off an upset of the Phils.  Jason Marquis, who tailed off tremendously after a solid first half of the season, will likely get the start in his place.  Cliff Lee came over to Philadelphia at the trade deadline and proceeded to go 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his first 5 starts.  He did struggle in his next 7 starts to the tune of a 2-4 record and 6.13 ERA, but it’s scary knowing the Phillies won the whole thing last year and they didn’t even have this quality left handed ace.  Cole Hamels regressed in 2009, going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA.  But he still has ace type stuff and all the potential of putting the Rockies away in game 2.  J.A. Happ had a very impressive rookie season.  He was 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA.  There was a lot of talk that Charlie Manuel could use him out of the bullpen, but it’s been announced that he will start game 3.  If the series goes to a game 4 and the Phillies choose not to go Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton could get the nod.  Blanton was 12-8 on the season with a 4.05 ERA. 

Edge:  Phillies

Bullpen: Huston Street vs. Ryan Madson/Brad Lidge

For most of the season, Huston Street was a top of the line closer for the Rockies after coming over in the Matt Holliday trade with the A’s.  He had 35 saves and struck out 70 batters in just 61.7 innings.  The Rockies will use Franklin Morales, Rafael Betancourt, Joe Beimel, Jason Hammel and even Jose Contreras out of the bullpen in this series as well.  The Phillies bullpen struggles have been well documented over the past few months.  After a perfect 2008 season in which he converted 41 of 41 save chances and sported a 1.95 ERA, Brad Lidge fell apart in 2009, blowing 11 saves in 42 chances with an ERA above 7.00!  Ryan Madson has been a platoon closer with Lidge in the last month or so and the Phillies are likely to continue with that plan in this series.  They have one of the weaker bullpens of all the playoff teams, especially with injuries to J.C. Romero and Chan Ho Park.

Edge: Rockies

Manager: Jim Tracy vs. Charlie Manuel 

Jim Tracy has done a superb job of managing since taking over for Clint Hurdle in late May.  The Rockies were 74-42 after the switch and the players really seemed to buy into Jim Tracy’s mold.  Charlie Manuel has led the Phillies to 3 straight NL East titles and has a World Series ring that’s still shining.  He is known for his excellent player management skills and his ability to motivate his players.

Edge: Phillies

Prediction:  The injury to Jorge De La Rosa was a huge blow for the Rockies and one I don’t think they’ll be able to overcome.  Even with De La Rosa, I don’t know how much of a real chance the Rockies would’ve had at beating the Phillies.  But they’re a team that never lets down and we’ve seem them overcome adversity for much of the season to get where they are now, so anything is possible.  In the end, I think the Phillies will just be too much for Colorado to handle.

Phillies in 4

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Jsunfella, October 8th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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FANTASY BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: THE BEST OF THE BEST

 

Fantasy Baseball's Top Performers for 2009

Fantasy Baseball's Top Performers for 2009

BEST CATCHER:  JOE MAUER (MIN)-  Despite missing the first 3 weeks of the season, Mauer was clearly the best fantasy player at the catcher position in 2009.  He won his 3rd American League batting title in 4 years, hitting .365 overall with career highs in HRs (28) and RBI (96).

BEST VALUE:  Miguel Montero (ARI), Kurt Suzuki (OAK)

BIGGEST BUSTS:  Geovany Soto (CHC), Russell Martin (LAD)

BIT BY THE INJURY BUG:  Ryan Doumit (PIT)

 BEST FIRST BASEMEN:  ALBERT PUJOLS (STL)-  Pujols had the best offensive year of any player in baseball.  He is the “cream of the crop” in any type of fantasy format and the consensus #1 overall pick in all fantasy leagues for 2010.  Pujols finished 2009 with a batting average of .328 with 47 HR, 135 RBI, 122 R, 16 SB and a near 2/1 BB/K ratio.

BEST VALUE:  Kendry Morales (LAA)

BIGGEST BUST:  Chris Davis (TEX)

BIT BY THE INJURY BUG:  Carlos Delgado  (NYM)

 BEST SECOND BASEMEN:  CHASE UTLEY (PHI)-  This spot arguably could’ve gone to Aaron Hill who had a monster year for the Toronto Blue Jays, but Utley gets the nod.  He put up his usual type of numbers, with a .282 average to go along with 31 HR, 93 RBI and 23 SB.

BEST VALUE:  Aaron Hill (TOR)

BIGGEST BUST:  Kelly Johnson (ATL)

BIT BY THE INJURY BUG:  Rickie Weeks (MIL)

 BEST THIRD BASEMEN:  EVAN LONGORIA (TB)-  This was by far the hardest position to choose a clear top performer from.  Other worthy candidates include Pablo Sandoval (SF), Chone Figgins (LAA) and Mark Reynolds (ARI).  In fact, in Rotisserie formats I would probably take Figgins and Reynolds above Longoria.  But you can’t argue with the production Longoria provided, improving in nearly every offensive category in his sophomore campaign.  He more than lived up to his draft day billing, hitting at a .280 clip with 33 HR, 133 RBI and 100 runs.

BEST VALUE:  Pablo Sandoval (SF)

BIGGEST BUST:  Garret Atkins (COL)

BIT BY THE INJURY BUG:  Aramis Ramirez (CHC), Alex Rodriguez (NYY)

 BEST SHORTSTOP:  HANLEY RAMIREZ (FLA)-  Ramirez won the NL batting title with an average of .342.  He somewhat dwindled towards the end of the season, leaving him short of a second straight 30/30 season (24 HR and 27 SB).  However, Ramirez was the only SS in baseball to record over 100 RBI (106).

BEST VALUE:  Marco Scutaro (TOR), Jason Bartlett (TB)

BIGGEST BUST:  J.J. Hardy (MIL)

BIT BY THE INJURY BUG:  Jose Reyes (NYM)

BEST OUTFIELDERS:  RYAN BRAUN (MIL)-  Braun continued his surge as one of the game’s premier young stars.  He was a beast of a fantasy outfielder in 2009, hitting .320 with 32 HR, 114 RBI, 113 R and 20 SB.  CARL CRAWFORD (TB)-  If not for a stretch of August in which he was limited by injury, Crawford could’ve earned the top spot.  He hit .305 with 15 HR, 68 RBI, 96 R and 60 SB on the season.  MATT KEMP (LAD)- Kemp is a newcomer to the group of elite fantasy outfielders, but the sky is the limit for him as he is only going to get better as he develops more power and gains experience.  Kemp hit .297 on the year, with 26 HR, 101 RBI, 97 R and 34 SB.  MATT HOLLIDAY (STL)- After a mid-season trade that sent him to the Cardinals, Holliday prospered and re-emerged as one of the top fantasy outfielders in all of baseball.  He batted .356 in his time with St. Louis, and .313 overall with 24 HR, 109 RBI, 94 R and 14 SB.  JACOBY ELLSBURY (BOS)- Ellsbury led the majors with 70 SB’s this season.  Overall, he hit .301 with 8 HR, 60 RBI and 97 R. 

BEST VALUE:  Justin Upton (ARI), Adam Lind (TOR), Jason Kubel (MIN)

BIGGEST BUSTS:  BJ Upton (TB), Magglio Ordonez (DET), Corey Hart (MIL), Jay Bruce (CIN)

BIT BY THE INJURY BUG:  Josh Hamilton (TEX), Calos Beltran (NYM), Carlos Quentin (CWS), Vladimir Guerrero (LAA)

 BEST STARTING PITCHERS:  ZACK GREINKE (KC)- Despite pitching for a lowly Royals team, Greinke still shined and is the clear front runner for the 2009 AL Cy Young award.  He was 16-8 in 229.3 innings pitched, recording 242 K’s to only 51 BB’s while sporting a 2.16 E.R.A. and 1.07 WHIP.  TIM LINCECUM (SF)- Lincecum followed up his 2008 Cy Young season with similar brilliance in 2009.  He finished first in the NL with 261 strikeouts and 2nd in the NL in E.R.A. (2.48).  Lincecum was 15-7 on the year.  JUSTIN VERLANDER (DET)- Verlander finished first in the majors with 269 strikeouts.  He put a disappointing 2008 season behind him, finishing 1 win short of 20 wins (19-9) to go along with an E.R.A. of 3.45 and a WHIP of 1.18.  FELIX HERNANDEZ (SEA)-  King Felix finally put together the type of season scouts have said he was capable of since he was first discovered out of Venezuela just a little over 5 years ago.  Felix was 19-5 with 217 K’s, 71 BB’s, 2.49 E.R.A. and a 1.14 WHIP.  ROY HALLADAY (TOR)-  Despite hitting a rough patch coming out of the All-Star break, Halladay still had a typical “Halladay” type of season.  He stuck out 208 batters, walked only 35 and finished with a record of 17-10.  His E.R.A. of 2.79 ranked 3rd in the AL.

BEST VALUE:  Ubaldo Jimenez, Wandy Rodriguez, JA Happ, Scott Feldman

BIGGEST BUSTS:  Scott Kazmir, Cole Hamels, Francisco Liriano, Roy Oswalt

BIT BY THE INJURY BUG:  Brandon Webb, Edison Volquez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Brett Myers

 BEST RELIEF PITCHERS:  JONATHAN BROXTON (LAD)- Broxton led all relief pitchers in strikeouts (114 K’s in 76.0 innings) and wins (7).  His E.R.A. was relatively high for a closer (2.61), but his 36 saves were a key reason why the Dodgers were able to win the NL West.  MARIANO RIVERA (NYY)-  The best closer in the history of the game continued his Hall of Fame career in 2009, striking out an average of over 1 batter per inning (72 K’s in 66.3 innings).  Mariano had a miniscule 1.76 E.R.A. and 0.90 WHIP to go along with 44 saves for the team with the best record in baseball.  JOE NATHAN (MIN)- Nathan recorded a career high 47 saves in 2009 and now has 6 straight seasons of at least 36 saves.  He recorded 89 strikeouts in 68.7 innings to go along with an E.R.A. of 2.10 and a 0.93 WHIP.

BEST VALUE:  Heath Bell (SD), David Aardsma (SEA)

BIGGEST BUSTS:  Brad Lidge (PHI), Kerry Wood (CLE)

 **OVERALL AWARDS**

FANTASY MVP:  ALBERT PUJOLS

FANTASY CY YOUNG:  ZACK GREINKE

BEST VALUE PLAYER:  KENDRY MORALES

BIGGEST BUSTS:  BJ UPTON, CHRIS DAVIS

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Jsunfella, October 7th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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