Skills
Joey Votto (1B, CIN) faced a tall order last year—expectations that he would repeat his 2010 MVP and career highs in average, home runs, RBIs and SBs. Instead, his numbers were down across the board, though still very good. Does last season make a new benchmark for which to base expectations?
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
While the top of the Seattle rotation is pretty much set, the back-end is a work in progress. One competitor for a spot is non-roster invitee Kevin Millwood (RHP, SEA). While Safeco provides a safe haven for pitchers, there are reasons to be leery about Millwood.
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Names and commentary on relievers who should go for $1 or reserve round picks in AL-only or NL-only leagues.
Mar 21 2012 12:02am
Mar 21 2012 12:02am
Many fantasy owners rode Matt Kemp's (OF, LA) breakout campaign to championships last season. And even though we here at BaseballHQ.com have written recently of the danger of paying for last year's performance, Kemp is surely the exception. He'll pick right up where he left in September—right?
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Justin Upton and other batters had big gains in 2011 over 2010. But is expecting a repeat a good bet? Or a gamble?
Mar 20 2012 12:02am
Mar 20 2012 12:02am
Last summer, it appeared that the Cardinals were making a big mistake by sending Colby Rasmus (OF, TOR) to the Blue Jays less than a year after he posted a breakout season. In the short term, the trade worked just fine for the Cards as they went on to win the World Series, while Rasmus went into the tank not long after joining his new team.
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
The end game is where you will earn most of the profit from your starting rotation. Here's why guys like Marco Estrada (RHP, MIL), Danny Duffy (LHP, KC), Brian Matusz (LHP, BAL), and Kris Medlen (RHP, ATL) are premium targets.
Mar 19 2012 12:02am
Mar 19 2012 12:02am
With another "Year of the Pitcher" behind us, opposing owners now draft starting pitchers earlier than ever. While this hinders our ability to find bargains, remember that we do not have to follow suit. The thirtieth best starter proportionally still represents the thirtieth best starter, just one with improved statistics.
Mar 18 2012 12:02am
Mar 18 2012 12:02am
Coming off of an MVP season in which he took his team to the World Series in 2010, there were questions about whether Josh Hamilton (OF, TEX) could stay healthy long enough to produce a solid encore performance. Despite missing six weeks early in the season with a shoulder injury, the answer was a resounding yes.
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
At certain times last year, James McDonald (RHP, PIT) pitched like a budding ace—the kind of arm that led him to be considered a very solid prospect in the Dodgers organization. But he also saw the wheels come off all too often during starts. Two-thirds of his nine losses were PQS-0 outings. At 27, he should be in his prime. Is there a step up coming, or has he plateaued?
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
It sucks to get old – just ask Alex Rodriguez (3B, NYY), who turns 37 this summer. Rodriguez’s aches and pains have included hip surgery in 2009, groin and calf issues in 2010, and oblique tightness, a torn meniscus in his knee, and a sore thumb last year. Those injuries have taken a toll on his bottom line.
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
Joey Votto (1B, CIN) faced a tall order last year—expectations that he would repeat his 2010 MVP and career highs in average, home runs, RBIs and SBs. Instead, his numbers were down across the board, though still very good. Does last season make a new benchmark for which to base expectations?
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
While the top of the Seattle rotation is pretty much set, the back-end is a work in progress. One competitor for a spot is non-roster invitee Kevin Millwood (RHP, SEA). While Safeco provides a safe haven for pitchers, there are reasons to be leery about Millwood.
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Names and commentary on relievers who should go for $1 or reserve round picks in AL-only or NL-only leagues.
Mar 21 2012 12:02am
Mar 21 2012 12:02am
Many fantasy owners rode Matt Kemp's (OF, LA) breakout campaign to championships last season. And even though we here at BaseballHQ.com have written recently of the danger of paying for last year's performance, Kemp is surely the exception. He'll pick right up where he left in September—right?
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Justin Upton and other batters had big gains in 2011 over 2010. But is expecting a repeat a good bet? Or a gamble?
Mar 20 2012 12:02am
Mar 20 2012 12:02am
Last summer, it appeared that the Cardinals were making a big mistake by sending Colby Rasmus (OF, TOR) to the Blue Jays less than a year after he posted a breakout season. In the short term, the trade worked just fine for the Cards as they went on to win the World Series, while Rasmus went into the tank not long after joining his new team.
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
The end game is where you will earn most of the profit from your starting rotation. Here's why guys like Marco Estrada (RHP, MIL), Danny Duffy (LHP, KC), Brian Matusz (LHP, BAL), and Kris Medlen (RHP, ATL) are premium targets.
Mar 19 2012 12:02am
Mar 19 2012 12:02am
With another "Year of the Pitcher" behind us, opposing owners now draft starting pitchers earlier than ever. While this hinders our ability to find bargains, remember that we do not have to follow suit. The thirtieth best starter proportionally still represents the thirtieth best starter, just one with improved statistics.
Mar 18 2012 12:02am
Mar 18 2012 12:02am
Coming off of an MVP season in which he took his team to the World Series in 2010, there were questions about whether Josh Hamilton (OF, TEX) could stay healthy long enough to produce a solid encore performance. Despite missing six weeks early in the season with a shoulder injury, the answer was a resounding yes.
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
At certain times last year, James McDonald (RHP, PIT) pitched like a budding ace—the kind of arm that led him to be considered a very solid prospect in the Dodgers organization. But he also saw the wheels come off all too often during starts. Two-thirds of his nine losses were PQS-0 outings. At 27, he should be in his prime. Is there a step up coming, or has he plateaued?
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
It sucks to get old – just ask Alex Rodriguez (3B, NYY), who turns 37 this summer. Rodriguez’s aches and pains have included hip surgery in 2009, groin and calf issues in 2010, and oblique tightness, a torn meniscus in his knee, and a sore thumb last year. Those injuries have taken a toll on his bottom line.
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
