sportznut
02-25-2005, 08:50 PM
Question of the Week: Spring Stories
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Modified: Friday, February 25, 2005
Each week we'll discuss a hot topic in fantasy baseball. For prior questions, check our also-sees to the right.
This week's question: With spring training officially underway and all players currently in camp, what one position battle will you be watching?
http://espn.starwave.com/i/columnists/karabell_eric_m.jpg Eric Karabell, ESPN Fantasy Games Senior Editor
Well, it's no surprise that I'll be watching closely what Philadelphia does with three quality infielders vying for two spots. Chase Utley (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7072')) has a sweet lefty swing that based on half a 2004 season, could translate to 25 or more home runs, with a nice average. David Bell (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5343')) comes off his career year, though nobody noticed. The oft-maligned Bell went 18-77 and .291, his best fantasy season. And then there's Placido Polanco (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6049')), arguably the best fantasy player of the three, with 31 homers and 21 steals over the past two seasons, with a .295 average and eligibility at second and third. Polanco wasn't supposed to be here. He should be starting somewhere, but he took arbitration. He might still get traded. But with Bell's history of back problems, and Utley's relative inexperience, Polanco could find plenty of at-bats. I'm very interested to see how Philly divides the playing time here, for it's doubtful all three of these guys can achieve great fantasy numbers under the current scenario.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/cockcroft_tristan_m.jpg Tristan Cockcroft, ESPN Fantasy Games Contributing Writer
Interestingly enough, both of the spring battles that intrigue me most involve rotation spots up for grabs. Boston is an obvious one, but I think the race for the fourth and fifth starter jobs will come down to which two from Bronson Arroyo (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6498')), Wade Miller (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6270')) and Tim Wakefield (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4906')) have the best spring training. Miller's health is really the only other question there, so the battle is a pretty cut-and-dry one.
The race that involves more thought and intrigue, to me, is the one in Oakland, for the final three spots behind Barry Zito (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6394')) and Rich Harden (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7180')). Why is that? So much has been made of the Billy Beane factor in Oakland, but this is going to be the first time we see whether the Athletics' recent success was more a result of Beane's methods or the talent of the "Big Three" of Zito, Tim Hudson (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6245')) and Mark Mulder (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6393')). You've got nothing but rookies and sleepers to choose from among the candidates: Joe Blanton (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7461')), Juan Cruz (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6783')), Seth Etherton (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6479')), Danny Haren (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7172')), Dan Meyer (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7426')) and Keiichi Yabu. The spring will be one giant proving ground for all six. I'm most intrigued by the command that Blanton and Haren have displayed as professionals, and I have to believe they're the leading candidates right now. I actually would not be shocked if Blanton's numbers wind up pretty close to those of Zito, who has struggled. A word of caution to you, and the Athletics, however: If you've ever tried to build a fantasy pitching staff almost entirely of rookies and sleepers, you know how volatile they can be. Even three successes out of six -- or 50 percent -- is considered an overwhelming conversion rate on a list of sleeper candidates, so don't go overboard in your bidding.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/engel_scott_m.jpg Scott Engel, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I think I will be watching these battles go on for awhile, and the Chicago Cubs (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=chn'))' left field situation intrigues me. While Todd Hollandsworth (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5301')) is opening the spring as the current leader for the position, he has never been more than a stopgap solution anywhere he has played, plus he has always been injury-prone. The Cubs simply have to get Jerry Hairston Jr. in their lineup somewhere. He is their ideal leadoff hitter, not Corey Patterson (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6400')), and he's the featured player in the recent Sammy Sosa (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4344')) trade. I don't care what Dusty Baker tells the media right now. Left field will be Hairston's to take. Anytime you are battling a guy like Hollandsworth for playing time, it's simply telling you as a player that you just have to perform respectably to win the job.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/rounce_kevin_m.jpg Kevin Rounce, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I'm going to stay in the same city as Scott here and watch the closer situation for the Cubs. LaTroy Hawkins (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5336')) is best suited for the eighth inning, but they have no one suited for the ninth. Is Joe Borowski (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5448')) healthy and ready to contribute? Will Ryan Dempster (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6006')) have a closer mentality? These are big questions for a team that has great starting pitching and a decent offense. An unstable closer situation will not only frustrate fantasy owners, but may affect the psyche of Prior, Wood, etc. if they keep watching their wins blown by an erratic closer. Who will shut the door in Chicago? The player who emerges can help win some fantasy leagues, and may send the Cubs to the playoffs.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Modified: Friday, February 25, 2005
Each week we'll discuss a hot topic in fantasy baseball. For prior questions, check our also-sees to the right.
This week's question: With spring training officially underway and all players currently in camp, what one position battle will you be watching?
http://espn.starwave.com/i/columnists/karabell_eric_m.jpg Eric Karabell, ESPN Fantasy Games Senior Editor
Well, it's no surprise that I'll be watching closely what Philadelphia does with three quality infielders vying for two spots. Chase Utley (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7072')) has a sweet lefty swing that based on half a 2004 season, could translate to 25 or more home runs, with a nice average. David Bell (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5343')) comes off his career year, though nobody noticed. The oft-maligned Bell went 18-77 and .291, his best fantasy season. And then there's Placido Polanco (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6049')), arguably the best fantasy player of the three, with 31 homers and 21 steals over the past two seasons, with a .295 average and eligibility at second and third. Polanco wasn't supposed to be here. He should be starting somewhere, but he took arbitration. He might still get traded. But with Bell's history of back problems, and Utley's relative inexperience, Polanco could find plenty of at-bats. I'm very interested to see how Philly divides the playing time here, for it's doubtful all three of these guys can achieve great fantasy numbers under the current scenario.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/cockcroft_tristan_m.jpg Tristan Cockcroft, ESPN Fantasy Games Contributing Writer
Interestingly enough, both of the spring battles that intrigue me most involve rotation spots up for grabs. Boston is an obvious one, but I think the race for the fourth and fifth starter jobs will come down to which two from Bronson Arroyo (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6498')), Wade Miller (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6270')) and Tim Wakefield (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4906')) have the best spring training. Miller's health is really the only other question there, so the battle is a pretty cut-and-dry one.
The race that involves more thought and intrigue, to me, is the one in Oakland, for the final three spots behind Barry Zito (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6394')) and Rich Harden (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7180')). Why is that? So much has been made of the Billy Beane factor in Oakland, but this is going to be the first time we see whether the Athletics' recent success was more a result of Beane's methods or the talent of the "Big Three" of Zito, Tim Hudson (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6245')) and Mark Mulder (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6393')). You've got nothing but rookies and sleepers to choose from among the candidates: Joe Blanton (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7461')), Juan Cruz (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6783')), Seth Etherton (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6479')), Danny Haren (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7172')), Dan Meyer (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7426')) and Keiichi Yabu. The spring will be one giant proving ground for all six. I'm most intrigued by the command that Blanton and Haren have displayed as professionals, and I have to believe they're the leading candidates right now. I actually would not be shocked if Blanton's numbers wind up pretty close to those of Zito, who has struggled. A word of caution to you, and the Athletics, however: If you've ever tried to build a fantasy pitching staff almost entirely of rookies and sleepers, you know how volatile they can be. Even three successes out of six -- or 50 percent -- is considered an overwhelming conversion rate on a list of sleeper candidates, so don't go overboard in your bidding.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/engel_scott_m.jpg Scott Engel, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I think I will be watching these battles go on for awhile, and the Chicago Cubs (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=chn'))' left field situation intrigues me. While Todd Hollandsworth (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5301')) is opening the spring as the current leader for the position, he has never been more than a stopgap solution anywhere he has played, plus he has always been injury-prone. The Cubs simply have to get Jerry Hairston Jr. in their lineup somewhere. He is their ideal leadoff hitter, not Corey Patterson (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6400')), and he's the featured player in the recent Sammy Sosa (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4344')) trade. I don't care what Dusty Baker tells the media right now. Left field will be Hairston's to take. Anytime you are battling a guy like Hollandsworth for playing time, it's simply telling you as a player that you just have to perform respectably to win the job.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/rounce_kevin_m.jpg Kevin Rounce, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I'm going to stay in the same city as Scott here and watch the closer situation for the Cubs. LaTroy Hawkins (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5336')) is best suited for the eighth inning, but they have no one suited for the ninth. Is Joe Borowski (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5448')) healthy and ready to contribute? Will Ryan Dempster (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6006')) have a closer mentality? These are big questions for a team that has great starting pitching and a decent offense. An unstable closer situation will not only frustrate fantasy owners, but may affect the psyche of Prior, Wood, etc. if they keep watching their wins blown by an erratic closer. Who will shut the door in Chicago? The player who emerges can help win some fantasy leagues, and may send the Cubs to the playoffs.