All Articles
As expected, Mike Aviles was named the starting shortstop in Boston to begin the season. His main assets are his contact rate (86 percent career) and his speed. Aviles has stolen 14 bases each of the past two years, and did so in just 286 at-bats last year. A consistently low walk rate makes getting on base a struggle, though, which could eventually cut into his playing time somewhat. At this point, though, that doesn't seem to be a major concern, as manager Bobby Valentine is thinking of using Aviles in the leadoff spot.
Mar 27 2012 11:05pm
Mar 27 2012 11:05pm
In a spring training battle for a roster slot? Just make a good early impression—like hot-hitting Ryan Raburn (2B/OF, DET), who’s vying for the Tigers’ opening day second base position. Despite the start, Raburn has fairly one-dimensional the past few years.
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
Hands down, the closer position is the most frustrating in fantasy baseball. There are seasons where near 50% of the closers on Opening Day are not in the same role by the end of the season. Some lose their job because of ineffectiveness and even more due to injuries. Any edge you can get for draft day can only help you increase the odds of not getting burned by leaning on a high risk closer.
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Here are some of the recent closer changes and some relievers who put up great springs.
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
When looking at batters in Points Leagues, you must immediately recognize a major difference from the Rotisserie format
- steals are only minimally important. With no ratio categories, total bases and counting stats become your ambrosia.
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Previewing the opening series of the MLB season in Japan between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners.
Mar 26 2012 11:06pm
Mar 26 2012 11:06pm
Both Pedro Alvarez and Lonnie Chisenhall entered March as their teams’ Opening Day 3B favorites, but their spring performances haven’t cooperated. Thames wins TOR’s LF job, and more observations as April approaches …
Mar 26 2012 11:05pm
Mar 26 2012 11:05pm
After a troubling 2010 in which leg injuries limited him to a career-low of AB, Jimmy Rollins (SS, PHI) headed into his 2011 walk season playing for a new contract. He did enough to secure at least three more seasons in Philadelphia, though his skills have decidedly flattened out in recent seasons.
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
BATTING: Young players like Jose Tabata reached 800 career PAs last year—often a predictor of solid career growth.
Mar 26 2012 11:02pm
Mar 26 2012 11:02pm
On the surface, the National League appeared to have lost a tremendous amount of offense with Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols moving over to the American League. Are there injury risks in the NL outfield pool that will make it even tougher to find top-notch offensive power?
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
Cell phones don’t cause cancer. There is no Verducci Effect. Nostradamus didn’t predict anything. And players don’t play harder or better in contract-year seasons. All of these theses are examples of the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy. Here we examine two examples that run rampant in fantasy baseball circles, and one surprising example that may hit a little close to home for the fantasy baseball player.
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
As expected, Mike Aviles was named the starting shortstop in Boston to begin the season. His main assets are his contact rate (86 percent career) and his speed. Aviles has stolen 14 bases each of the past two years, and did so in just 286 at-bats last year. A consistently low walk rate makes getting on base a struggle, though, which could eventually cut into his playing time somewhat. At this point, though, that doesn't seem to be a major concern, as manager Bobby Valentine is thinking of using Aviles in the leadoff spot.
Mar 27 2012 11:05pm
Mar 27 2012 11:05pm
In a spring training battle for a roster slot? Just make a good early impression—like hot-hitting Ryan Raburn (2B/OF, DET), who’s vying for the Tigers’ opening day second base position. Despite the start, Raburn has fairly one-dimensional the past few years.
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
Hands down, the closer position is the most frustrating in fantasy baseball. There are seasons where near 50% of the closers on Opening Day are not in the same role by the end of the season. Some lose their job because of ineffectiveness and even more due to injuries. Any edge you can get for draft day can only help you increase the odds of not getting burned by leaning on a high risk closer.
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Here are some of the recent closer changes and some relievers who put up great springs.
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
When looking at batters in Points Leagues, you must immediately recognize a major difference from the Rotisserie format
- steals are only minimally important. With no ratio categories, total bases and counting stats become your ambrosia.
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Mar 27 2012 11:01pm
Previewing the opening series of the MLB season in Japan between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners.
Mar 26 2012 11:06pm
Mar 26 2012 11:06pm
Both Pedro Alvarez and Lonnie Chisenhall entered March as their teams’ Opening Day 3B favorites, but their spring performances haven’t cooperated. Thames wins TOR’s LF job, and more observations as April approaches …
Mar 26 2012 11:05pm
Mar 26 2012 11:05pm
After a troubling 2010 in which leg injuries limited him to a career-low of AB, Jimmy Rollins (SS, PHI) headed into his 2011 walk season playing for a new contract. He did enough to secure at least three more seasons in Philadelphia, though his skills have decidedly flattened out in recent seasons.
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
BATTING: Young players like Jose Tabata reached 800 career PAs last year—often a predictor of solid career growth.
Mar 26 2012 11:02pm
Mar 26 2012 11:02pm
On the surface, the National League appeared to have lost a tremendous amount of offense with Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols moving over to the American League. Are there injury risks in the NL outfield pool that will make it even tougher to find top-notch offensive power?
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
Cell phones don’t cause cancer. There is no Verducci Effect. Nostradamus didn’t predict anything. And players don’t play harder or better in contract-year seasons. All of these theses are examples of the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy. Here we examine two examples that run rampant in fantasy baseball circles, and one surprising example that may hit a little close to home for the fantasy baseball player.
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
Mar 26 2012 11:01pm
