Don was thrilled preseason by thoughts of the pin-striped Abreu. How are those thoughts working out now?

Bobby Abreu – He will rack up huge RBI and runs numbers playing with the Yankees. If he can take advantage of the right-field porch, we may see his peak power season as well. Any way you slice it, Abreu is in a great position to be the Toast of NY this summer.

Even with a terrible season in a variety of ways for Abreu, he will likely score 110+ runs and have 100+ RBI…to go along with around 20 stolen bases and 20 home runs. You see, Abreu (owing to his team) was in a position to have very safe downside coverage. Even though he did not meet my expectations, my loss was not really that much. Cover your downside.

Justin Speier – He posted a career high in K rate and has improved his control. Has an upside and could round out your staff for a dollar and return many more in profit.

In mid-August, Speier had an ERA below 2.0 and a WHIP under 1.0. His ERA has risen a bit recently, but he has still been as asset (when not on the DL).

Rafael Betancourt – While Borowski and Foulke vie for the closer’s role, Betancourt should see ample seventh and eighth inning duty for the Tribe. That could lead to nice stats all around for Betancourt. If he falls into the closer’s role later in the year, all the better.

Credit Eric Wedge for using his best pitcher (Betancourt) when he needs him and not constraining him to closing games. Betancourt has a WHIP of 0.726 and an ERA of 1.45, which is very tasty in 62 IP. Of course, I would not invest much in him next year since he is seemingly injury-prone and you should not count on a sub-1.0 WHIP…ever.

Scott Baker – Pitched better than his results last year. If he gets an opportunity, he could be a very solid pitcher with strikeout upside. Even if he doesn’t make the squad out of camp, reserve him.

This turned out as planned. Baker has a decent strikeout rate and, while not a solid pitcher, can eat innings cheaply for the Twins for the near future.

Maicer Izturis – Will very likely have more value in the second half than the first half. Thus, stick him on your reserve until someone ahead of him is injured or falters. Has lots of speed and on-base skills with doubles pop. Don’t forget about him.

Izturis is batting 40 points higher after the break and is doing what is expected in light of the various injuries to the infield for the Angels. He does not seem to be a guy who will ever rack up a lot of steals, but his on-base skills could play well in a variety of locations. He could turn into a starter if he gets out of Los Angeles.

BJ Upton – Seemingly without a position and to be used as a utility player for now. Whatever the case, he has good on-base skills and can steal 30 bases even only playing part time. Spend here since the upside is big.

Yep…the upside was (and is) big. Upton, who has hit 20 home runs and is slugging 0.530, just turned 23 a few days ago. If you got him cheap this spring, good for you. Guys like Upton help anchor teams for the future.

Jose Guillen – His 23% hit rate last year is incredibly low. If healthy, expect 20+ home runs again and an average. Could be undervalued in AL only leagues.

Guillen is having a fine year and currently has 19 home runs while hitting 0.295. Bully for you if you got him cheap in your league. I picked him up in multiple leagues much later than I should have.

Hector Luna – With Marte, Peralta and Barfield around, he could fill in if any of them falter or are injured. A great guy to stash on your reserve and use during those weeks he gets an opportunity.

Well…Marte did falter…and so did Barfield! However, Luna was very poor in March and lost his role as a utility infielder with the Indians. He is now with the Blue Jays and should have a reasonable career shuttling between Triple-A and the Majors since he “plays” multiple positions.

Casey Kotchman – At the end of 2005, he was one of the Angels best hitters. Mono robbed him of his 2006, but he is still very young. Has a lot of upside and you’ll likely get him cheaply.

Yes…and yes. Always have to like investing in players that are not really rookies and have had depressed stats that can be reasonably be explained away. Kotchman is hitting 0.300 but with only nine home runs. However, he is only 24 so it would be reasonable to project him as a No. 3 hitter with 20 home runs power a few years out. If he is on your roster for a buck, keep him since the best is yet to come.

In conclusion, it is clear that I invest in upside players that are not highly-touted rookies, but who have had some sort of reason to depress their stats. In addition, since most roto-players just look at previous year’s stats, they can miss opportunity for upside. Yes…sometimes it does not work out (see Reed and LaRue), but you only spent a buck on those guys anyway…so you can dump them in the FA pool with no regrets and get someone else.

Questions and comments may be sent to donvisco@sportsgrumblings.com.