Where There Is A “Will,” There Is A Way
8/18/2013
Over the course of a decade involved in fantasy baseball, there is one certainty more glaring than most. When it comes to the final 2 months of the season, just about every single league (especially the ones of the public variety) has a few fellas (and ladies) towards the bottom of the heap that has flat out given up. You can’t get them to respond to trade requests for their only stud, Miguel Cabrera or Yu Darvish, who has seemingly carried them to an even better record than most last place teams deserve. Their “roster moves” column has 5 or less and most of those were right after the draft. You wish they would just give up those stat monsters to you but at the same time, if they WERE still involved, the free agent list would be even thinner than it is already seems. Which leads me to the heart and soul of this article. The infamous “add/drop” advice from a guy who proudly boasts a positive attitude and confidently sits in 1st place in two leagues and a strong 6th in a third league. Yep, a strong 6th. I said it. I will finish at least 5th. You can always improve. So make this week a particularly special week by making the moves, pulling the trigger, or in some cases, staying put. Why rock the boat now? For those of you unlucky enough to be looking for free agents, let’s look at the studs who will help your team by stat stuffing that daily lineup.
This is the time of year where rookies are beginning to filter in and attempting put a stamp on their arrival and former “top prospects” are trying to finally, and I mean it, FINALLY, show a consistent reason why they will stick around and flourish. We can’t all be studs from the get-go! So let’s start with a Will. Because where there is a will, there is a way. Get your hand on these boys of summer to make a stretch run that will impress the few folks left checking the league page regularly.
Will Venable OF: The ladies in San Diego aren’t the only things sizzling hot in August!. Will has continually showed stretches of stat stuffing but this stretch has been particularly hot. Not a fan of his batting eye when it comes to walks (zero in the past 7). SD only faces one lefty in the next 7 games, so he will be in the lineup and ready as always to prove he can be a stat monster. Here’s to hoping a good thing can continue! If not, at least you can people-watch and still enjoy a San Diego game! (Tip of the cap to you beautiful SD fans)
Gerardo Parra OF: With more then half of his hits this past week going for extra bases (3 doubles, 1 triple and a homerun in 22 ab’s), and still finding the time to get 2 sb’s, he is back and fired up! Who said Adam Eaton was going to be the surprise of the AZ outfield this season? Get with the G man and his hitting-friendly teammates. With only 2 tough lefties in the next week, and games in great venues, he should continue raking….
Dexter Fowler OF: With the next week on the road, I’m a slight bit hesitant to go nuts but the Fowl is on the prowl again. With a walk in 5 of his last 7, his run production is back, as well, as his speed threat is back. 2 sb’s in past 7 days is a sign he isn’t shutting it down. Time for him to earn his contract in preparation for his age 28 season next year. A great age for production, historically speaking.
Scooter Gennett 2B: Ok, Ok, I really tend to over-analyze walks, or at very least, pitches per at bat, which Scooter is not doing well with, however, he is hungry and he is stuffing the hits column. His HR’s are a total anomoly but with a name like Scooter in a sport like baseball, you just have to roll with him if you need a 2B. His next 7 are against solid foes but finishes with a couple on the road at the hitter friendly Great American Ball Park. Ride his hot streak. I see a couple more weeks of nice surprises ahead. But just like Scooters…..they are only neat to ride for a short time and you never brag about it.
Ike Davis 1B: Switching things up a bit from the speedy guys to a guy who will never be given the green light, the former Ike Davis has been sighted lately. On the bases that is, and not walking back to the dugout. His OBP has been Votto-like lately (.517 in last 7) and he is playing with more of a free spirit. Who wouldn’t after the Mets have given him so many chances! He is back to getting on base and even threw in a homerun as a tease the other day. If looking for OBP and solid run producing for the next month, you could do much worse then Ike! He is known for his second-half runs and it seems he has finally started to eat his wheaties! From a guy who drafted him in 2 leagues this year, it’s ABOUT TIME IKE!
Chris Dickerson OF: It’s nice to see the former infielder, turned outfielder have success. If the latest on CarGo is true and he still hasn’t begun to swing a bat, it seems that Dickerson will continue to see his fair share of AB’s which is music to fantasy owners who love stat-stuffers. Dickerson has shown the ability to spray the ball (4 doubles and 2 triples in his last 15 at-bats). His .300+ BA so far this season, with inconsistent playing time boads well for his believers that he can maintain a solid last month of the season.
Sonny Gray SP: It’s hard not to get excited about Sonny’s first 2 starts. I know, I know, it was against the Blue Jays and Horrible Houston, however, solid pitching is solid pitching, no matter the team, and his 2 outings have been impressive ( sub 1.00 whip and a strikeout per inning). Now maybe I’m biased cause I always cheer on the sub-6 foot RHP (Danny Fahrquar from Seattle and Kris Medlen from Atlanta come to mind also), but the one caveat that Sonny has going for him is his team. The A’s have always developed pitching about as good as it can get and their ballpark is a haven for pitchers. If you are looking for solid help down the stretch, things are looking Sunny, Sonny. Lowly Mariners are on deck next for Mr. Gray.
Marco Estrada SP: Yes, I know, after further review, it seems Marco is under 6ft and a RHP. Although he has St. Louis coming up, anyone who can throw a gem of a game on the road against the Texas Rangers in August, has me believing. His peripherals have been up and down this season but his recent streak of no base-on-balls has me thinking he wants to finish this season on a solid note. Milwaukee needs all the good vibes it can get.
Ryan Cook RP: True, he may not be a closer, but his peripherals have been outstanding the past month and as the season closes out, you need all the help you can get in the era, whip, as well as, all ratio columns if your league uses them. Don’t underestimate the value of great set-up guy.
Nate Jones RP: Remember Crash Davis in Bull Durham telling Nuke Laloosh that groundballs are more democratic. Well Nate must have not watched the movie. Maybe because he was 2 when it came out. Talk about a wake up call to all middle-aged fantasy enthusiasts. 25 years old…..yikes. Getting back to the point. Jones has struck out 14 in his past 7+ innings. If you need some k’s and are limited with your innings limit coming up or your league uses k’s/9, grab him up and watch your league standing rise. His stuff is worthy of continuing a 10+k’s/9 the rest of the way.
Danny Farquhar RP: I mentioned him earlier. He of the dimunitive frame. It was nice to see Seattle put him right back out there after suffering a loss earlier last week. His 1 walk in the past 7 innings pitched boads well for his success. And although Seattle isn’t going to reel off a win streak any time soon, when they do win, it isn’t by much. Look for Dan the man to finish strong.