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Here’s an early peek at the RotoAce 2012 fantasy baseball rankings for outfield. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Toronto Blue Jays’ Category
Early fantasy baseball rankings: Third Base
Here’s an early peek at the RotoAce 2012 fantasy baseball rankings for third base.
1. Jose Bautista (left): No. 1 overall on ESPN’s player rater for last year, he’s already produced one encore for his breakout 2010 season, so who are we to doubt he can do it again. The batting average is likely to fall back below .300, but the power numbers are as elite as they come.
2. Evan Longoria: The Rays star missed a full month yet still managed 31 homers and 99 RBIs, so a healthy season could see him rise to the top of the third base rankings if he can get his average back up. (more…)
Early fantasy baseball rankings: Catcher
Here’s an early peek at the RotoAce 2012 fantasy baseball rankings for catcher.
1. Brian McCann (left): With our No. 1 going down for the season (Victor Martinez), McCann assumes the top spot. He’s as consistent as they come (between 18-24 homers and 71-94 RBIs in each of his six full seasons) and is in his prime entering his age-28 season.
2. Carlos Santana: The .239 average may have disappointed in his first full season, but the counting numbers (27 homers, 84 runs, 79 RBIs, 5 steals) were elite and could get better as he turns just 25 in the first week of the ’12 season. His high walk rate and .291 career minor league average are good signs that his average will be on the rise and give the Indians slugger a chance at the top spot. It helps that the Indians keep his bat in the lineup by playing him at first base when he’s not catching. (more…)
Spotlight: Brett Lawrie
Brett Lawrie, the Blue Jays’ top hitting prospect who was on the verge of a callup in late May when he broke his hand, finally made his major-league debut Friday. (more…)
StockWatch: Friday, July 15
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Ryan Dempster is finally getting his ERA (4.68) closer to his xFIP (3.23). He threw eight shutout innings Saturday and has allowed three runs or less in 12 of 14 starts since May 1, making now probably the last chance to acquire him before his ERA starts looking so good he’ll be off limits. He’s been battling a bad ERA since an extremely unlucky 9.58 (with a 4.17 xFIP) in March/April.
Add of the day: Eric Thames is red-hot, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and is 11-for-22 in his past five games overall. He is also hitting primarily in one of the best lineup spots in baseball – in the second spot right in front of Jose Bautista – and if he can stay there he has a chance for continued success. (more…)
StockWatch: Sunday, July 3
Yahoo for our ownership percentages are in parentheses. From games of Sunday, July 3.
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Rajai Davis (37%) broke out of a hideous 7-for-76 slump since his last stolen base back on June 4, going 3-for-4 with three steals on Sunday. With the skid likely behind him, it’s a good time to get the speedster in if you’re in need of steals.
Nick Markakis (79%) continued his June rampage on into July, going 5-for-5 with a steal on Sunday. Since June 8, Markakis is 44-for-101 with three homers, 14 RBIs and three steals in 22 games, raising his average from .236 to .296. It’s good to see Markakis sprinkling in some steals, which helps make him a solid mixed-league option going forward. (more…)
StockWatch: Sunday, June 26
Yahoo for our ownership percentages are in parentheses. From games of Sunday, June 26.
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Jeff Keppinger (6%) just keeps doing the one thing he does best – hit for average. The Astros’ second baseman went 3-for-3 with a homer on Sunday, raising his average to .336. Keppinger is 17-for-42 in his past 10 games with six multi-hit performances. Because he has just two homers and no steals, Keppinger is more of an NL-only guy, but he can help out in deep mixed leagues too.
Ricky Romero (90%) hurled a four-hit shutout with two walks and five strikeouts against the Cardinals on Sunday. Romero has given up just three earned runs in his past three starts covering 24 innings with 21 strikeouts. His 2.74 ERA and 1.16 WHIP are both big improvements on last year’s breakout, as Romero is taking his place among the elite starting pitchers in all of baseball. (more…)
Spotlight: Eric Thames
Eric Thames is being promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to start in left field for the Blue Jays with Jose Bautista moving to third base. (more…)
StockWatch: Saturday, June 18
Yahoo for our ownership percentages are in parentheses. From games of Saturday, June 18.
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John Danks (52%) continued his resurgence with his third straight win since starting 0-8, holding the Diamondbacks to seven hits and two runs (one earned) in seven innings with no walks and seven strikeouts. During his winning streak, Danks has a 1.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 17-3 K-BB ratio in 22 IP. He has lowered his ERA from 5.25 to 4.29, much more in line with his 3.98 xFIP. Danks is back as a solid mid-rotation SP for deep mixed leagues.
Alex Rios (66%) broke out of an 0-for-13 skid by going 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs on Saturday. As long as Guillen sticks with his struggling outfielder, Rios should be on the rise as his .217 BABIP comes up closer to his career .277 mark. (more…)
StockWatch: Friday, June 17
Yahoo for our ownership percentages are in parentheses. From the games of Friday, June 17.
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Brett Myers (37%) may be finally awakening, tossing a complete game against the Dodgers on Friday. Myers allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) with six strikeouts and one walk. Before we get ahead of ourselves and start announcing that the Myers of last year (3.14 ERA, 180 Ks) is back, remember that this is just the third time in his last 11 starts that he has allowed three runs or less. One encouraging sign is that Myers has cut his walk rate in half from 3.2 BB/9 in the first two months to 1.6 BB/9 in June. Myers had always had a problem with the long ball before last year, when his HR/FB rate dropped to 8.5% from his career 14.4%. His old bugaboo has returned this season with a 14.8% HR/FB, so don’t expect a return to last year’s form entirely. Myers’ 4.03 xFIP shows that his 4.75 ERA is a bit inflated, so he should be able to become someone you can use in deep mixed leagues for favorable matchups.
Josh Tomlin (56%) ended his string of three straight six-run outings, limiting the Pirates to one run in 6.2 IP with five strikeouts and no walks. Tomlin dropped his ERA to 3.93 and has a sparkling 1.07 WHIP due in large part to his miniscule walk rate of 1.2 BB/9. As long as he can keep limiting the free passes, his 3.72 xFIP could hold up as long as the league doesn’t figure out how to square up all those strikes he throws. (more…)
