Chase Headley didn't waste any time making an impact with home runs in his first couple of games.
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What a wonderful time of the year draft season is.
Several months ago we had the joy of the NFL Draft. We’ll find out if Matt Ryan is the answer at quarterback in Atlanta in the next year or two, and if Baltimore trading up for signal caller Joe Flacco was really the right move (I doubt it). The Chiefs made the most of their additional draft picks, and the Vikings should have a dominating defense, in fantasy terms as well, with the picks they traded to Kansas City for Jared Allen.
More recently, the MLB First-Year Player Draft was held, where the Rays stocked up on yet another top player in five-tool shortstop Tim Beckham. The middle of the first round was littered with a number of elite college relievers, and we may see a number of them climb their way into the Big Show very quickly, ala Chad Cordero in Washington. Andrew Cashner of the Cubs, Josh Fields in Seattle, and Ryan Perry in Detroit went consecutively beginning at No. 19, and all figure to meet those criteria. Of the three, Perry figures to be one that might eventually make the jump to front-of-the-rotation starter.
This column will go to print after the NBA Draft has already concluded, and hopefully it meets the expectations for it being one of the most unpredictable in history. After PG Derrick Rose and SF Michael Beasley lead things off, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the pieces will fall. My Kansas Jayhawks should see three of their alumni go off the board before No. 20 between Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, and Super Mario Chalmers, who’s stock has risen appropriately after his legendary shot against Memphis in this year’s NCAA Tournament. I think this is going to be a draft where we look back and see that a lot of bargain players are going to be found in the second round. Here in Detroit, I’m hoping Bill Walker is a player the Pistons scoop up. After suffering a torn ACL, he rebounded nicely and played well with Beasley this season and provides upside with playmaking ability. I’ll make a bold prediction and say that looking back, we’re going to wonder why Arizona combo guard Jerryd Bayless wasn’t in the conversation for the No. 2 pick at least.
Taking off on that same draft angle, some former high draft picks in baseball are really starting to make some noise, some after some adjusting and some right off the bat.
Chase Headley has wasted no time, as expected, in making an impact with his bat in San Diego for fantasy owners. The 2005 second-round pick picked up his first Major League home run in Yankee Stadium last week, and followed it up with another at home against Detroit. The switch-hitter should be good enough to be a low-end corner infielder option for most teams for now, but I wouldn’t let the perception of playing in PETCO Park for most games scare away owners. His 14 strikeouts in 36 at-bats is definitely a concern. Headley is known for his smarts though, and I think it’s just a matter of when he cuts down on the K numbers.
Meanwhile, baseball’s biggest surprise in Tampa Bay continues to be carried by the help of another highly-touted rookie in Evan Longoria. Longoria aided Matt Garza’s complete game one-hitter with another home run, giving him a total of 14 to go along with 43 RBIs and a steadily rising .261 average. Strangely Longoria, a righty, has an abysmal .169/.282/.373 against LHP, and 11 of his 14 round-trippers have come against righties. Still, Longoria is already making a case as a low-end 3B in 12-team mixed leagues with his power production, and a .280/90/30/100 line isn’t so far off, with close to 10 steals as an added bonus.
Speaking of Garza, he has made steady strides after struggling mightily at the beginning of this season. Garza’s peripherals are finally looking more in line with the numbers of the pitcher that the Rays believed they were getting when they dealt away the punchless Delmon Young to the Twins in the off-season. Garza is now sporting a 3.76 ERA to go along with a 1.9 K/BB ratio. Once deprived and devoid of fantasy-worthy options several years ago, the Rays are now sporting a plethora of talent. If Garza can continue to spot his fastball and mix it in with his plus-slider to strike out batters consistently, Tampa Bay may have one of the best three-deep fantasy rotations in 2009, and that’s not even including phenom David Price.
Owners who might have been waiting for utility player Brandon Inge to finally heal his strained oblique as a No. 2 catcher saw him finally hit the DL, but nearly simultaneously Gary Sheffield has come off with a bang. Sheffield told the Detroit Free Press the time off "was a blessing in disguise -- it gave me a chance to sit down for 15 days and do nothing. I've always felt a responsibility to play no matter what my injuries were." Most owners who may have drafted Sheffield as a No. 3 outfielder may still be willing to sell low, but this might be a good time to take a chance on a guy who can contribute with power and still steal a few bags. Sheffield’s first series back included a four-hit contribution, and added a home run in each of the other games.
Today brings a full slate of games after some teams had the day off Thursday, so here’s a little food for thought with Friday’s games and anyone looking for spot starters.
Start: Randy Wolf (vs. SEA), Gil Meche (vs. STL), Dana Eveland (vs. PHI)
Sit: Jose Contreras (vs. CWS), Micah Owings (@ FLA), Nick Blackburn (vs. MIL)
If you’re chasing wins, either Mike Pelfrey or Dan Giese are interesting options in tomorrow’s afternoon game in the New York doubleheader as well. Pelfrey has a 2.76 ERA and a respectable 1.35 WHIP in his last month.
Have a fun, safe weekend kids.
