Free Agent Watch
Andrea LaMont
June 10, 2011
If you were snoozing and missed your shot at Anthony Rizzo, don’t fret, there will be plenty more where that came from. In the next several weeks, you are going to have rookie call-ups coming at you from all directions. I appreciate saber-metrics as much as the next guy….but jeeezzz…
The stat masters will tell you their BABIP, their park advantages or disadvantages, and any other carefully calculated projection, but there will never be a formula for how well a player will transition to the major league. I have no use for the term “regress to the mean”, and the guy who says that is still waiting for Chris Davis to pan out.
Emotional stability, maturity, composure and environment are the human elements of baseball-
And they are bigger than any stat.
Just remember, “A rookie is a rookie is a rookie.” –Lenny Melnick
· Cord Phelps (2B-CLE) Phelps should see regular at bats, taking over at 2nd base for the struggling Orlando Cabrera, (who is hitting below the Mendoza line against righties.) In Triple-A this season, he maintained a .299 Average with seven homers and 40 RBI in 211 at bats. Has more power than most middle infielder types, and could really be an asset to your club if he transitions smoothly.
· Dee Gordon (SS-LAD) Better than advertised, Gordon was brought up to replace Rafael Furcal at Shortstop in LA. He should get regular at bats for at least a month, and just like any rookie, if he produces he stays. Dee Gordon had three hits in his first start, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Philly on Tuesday. Gordon hit three singles, scored a run, stole a base and finished 3 for 5. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says, "He's going to be exciting. He's a guy that's fun to watch." Triple-A stats for 2011: In 50 games, 200 at bats- 63 Hits, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 18 RBI, 34 runs, 14 walks, 30 strike-outs, 22 stolen bases, and a .315 AVG
· Graham Godfrey (SP-OAK) He has only allowed two homers in 50.1 innings down in Triple-A Sacramento. 45 strikeouts while only walking 14 over nine starts this season show he has decent command, and will start for Oakland today, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. With Brett Anderson on the brink of Tommy John surgery, Oakland may keep Godfrey at the back-end of the rotation.
· Jeff Marquez (RP-NYY) Traded from the Yankees to the White Sox in 2008, and picked up off waivers by the Yankees on Wednesday. He is a bullpen pitcher who may provide holds, and an occasional fluke win or save. He has shady command and likely won’t work out for the Yankees but hey, Bartolo Colon was a big joke too, wasn’t he? Just sayin.
· Dellen Betances (SP-NYY) Tearing it up in Double-A, don’t be surprised if the Yankees put him on the fast track to the majors. This kid is a future stud, and the Yankees have never been shy about utilizing their farm tools. So far this year, Betances has pitched 45.1 innings, striking out 50 while walking 22. Maintains a 1.99 ERA and a 1.175 WHIP.
· Ben Revere (MIN-OF) The good news is that Gardenhire likes Revere, the bad news is that one day he goes 3 for 5 and the next day he goes 0 for 4. If you play in a daily league, Twins are laden with injuries so Revere should see consistent at bats.
· Will Venable (OF-SD) Don’t give up all hope for Venable just because he stunk it up to start the season. He was sent down to the minors for some batting practice while battling a hand injury late May. I predict Venable will still salvage his season and end up with 22 homers and 29 stolen bases. Lofty, maybe, but totally possible.
· Johnny Venters (RP-ATL) I had the pleasure of seeing the Venters/Kimbrell tandem last Friday at Citi Field. I was blown away by Venters, and recommend picking him up in any league he may be sitting un-owned. ANY league. Venters should be getting the majority of save opportunities sooner rather than later.
· Jordan Lyles (SP-STL) You could do a lot worse than Lyles. He strikes out batters, he rarely walks anyone and he maintains his composure under pressure. Those assets separate the men from the boys every time, It doesn’t matter how “nasty” his stuff is.
· Johan Santana (SP-NYM) According to ESPN Mets writer Adam Rubin, Johan is right on schedule for a return in mid-July. Picking up Santana could save your season. Sure there is risk here, but I am willing to spend a nice chunk of my FAAB on Santana. He poses much less risk than all these rookies we fantasize about…