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Scott is the obvious
first choice to man RF considering his huge numbers in the second half
last year. However, while Scott hit .366 with a 1.131 OPS against righties last
year (164 ABs), he struggled against lefties hitting just .240. Give Scott the battle edge.
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OUTFIELD: ASTROS
Luke Scott
(.336-10-37-31-2 in 214 ABs)
Jason Lane
(.201-15-45-44-1 in 288 ABs)
Richard Hidalgo (Out of
Baseball)
Carlos Lee and Chris Burke are locked into LF and CF
leaving these three hitters to battle for the RF position. Scott is the obvious
first choice to man the spot considering his huge numbers in the second half
last year. However, while Scott hit .366 with a 1.131 OPS against righties last
year (164 ABs), he struggled against lefties hitting just .240 with a rather
pedestrian .777 OPS. Lane, who hit a horrific .201 last year, is just a year
removed from 26 longballs and 78 RBIs, so he could find some playing time if
the team chooses to sit Scott against lefties since Lane has hit 21 HRs off of
southpaws in just 356 career ABs. Lane has also had a huge spring hitting 5 HRs
while posting a .714 SLG%, and that certainly isn't going to hurt his chances.
Hidalgo was brought in with the hope he could resurrect his career, but he has
managed to hit only .152 in 33 spring ABs.
Don't forget about Hunter
Pence either. He likely will start the year in the minors, but he has big
time power and a significant future in this game. All you need to do is look at
his spring training numbers to realize that: .593-2-9-10 in just 27 ABs.
SP: PHILLIES
Adam Eaton (7-4, 5.12
ERA, 43 K, 1.57 WHIP in 65 IP for TEX)
Jon Lieber (9-11, 4.93,
100 Ks, 1.31 WHIP in 168 IP)
With the front four of the
rotation locked up (Brett Meyers, Freddy Garcia, Cole Hamels
and Jamie Moyer), the Phillies are trying to decide what to do with
their 5th spot. Initially, the plan was to move Lieber for help
(possibly in the bullpen), but as of now, Lieber still calls Philly home. As a
result, the team has a surplus of starting pitching, and while that certainly
isn't a bad position to be in, the team simply must do something because they
have six capable starters. Eaton, the epitome of an average ML pitcher, owns a
career 4.40 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with only one season of 190 IP despite being a
starter for the last seven years. Lieber is the more likely pitcher to be moved
however, but considering the fact that Eaton seemingly gets hurt almost as
often as J.D. Drew, perhaps the Phillies will hold onto Lieber for
insurance purposes. Despite his highest ERA since the 1995 season, Lieber still
maintains impeccable control (4.17 K/BB ratio) that allows him to keep his WHIP
under control despite less than overwhelming ratios. Lieber has allowed 60 HRs
the past two years and is 37-years-old, so of the two, Eaton would seem to
possess the most upside.
RP: GIANTS
Armando Benitez (4-2,
3.52 ERA, 31 Ks, 1.57 WHIP, 17 SVs in 38.1 IP)
Brian Wilson (2-3, 5.40
ERA, 23 Ks, 1.77 WHIP, 1 SV in 30 IP)
Tim Lincecum (2-0, 1.73
ERA, 58 K, 0.83 WHIP in 27.2 IP A/AA)
Armando Benitez will be the
Giants closer if he is healthy. The problem is, he has had some elbow troubles
since coming to San Fran, and last year he was also dogged by leg issues as
well. In fact, Benitez has thrown 68.1 innings since becoming a Giant two years
ago after he threw 69.2 innings in 2004 for the Marlins (he had a 1.29 ERA,
0.82 WHIP and 47 SVs that year). With his injuries and cancer-like attitude in
the clubhouse, the Giants wouldn't mind at all to trade Armando if a team is
willing to pick up the majority of his salary. That being the case, the Giants
could end up turning to hard-throwing youngster Brain Wilson to close out
games. Wilson had a strong AFL season, but his rookie season last year included
23 Ks and 21 BBs, so despite throwing hard, he is still a thrower and not a
pitcher. Lincecum is the Giants best pitching prospect and though he would seem
to be an ideal fit as the closer based on his 95 mph heat and devastating
curveball, the team has stated that he will be left in the starting rotation
and that he will be sent to the minors to work on things. However, in 31.2
innings at low and high-A ball, Lincecum averaged 16.73 K/9IP to go along with
a 0.83 WHIP, so he could be a factor by mid-season.
RP: MARLINS
Taylor Tankersley (2-1,
2.85 ERA, 46 Ks, 1.44 WHIP, 3 SVs in 41 IP)
Kevin Gregg (3-4, 4.14
ERA, 71 Ks, 1.39 WHIP in 78.1 IP for LAA)
Henry Owens (9.00 ERA in
4 IP for NYM)
Matt Lindstrom (3-4, 3.37
ERA, 70 Ks, 1.31 WHIP in 58.2 IP at A+/AA)
With Rickey Nolasco
needed in the rotation because of the injury to Josh Johnson, and Taylor
Tankersley dealing with some shoulder issues (tendonitis), the team's closer
situation is in a state of flux. The team was planning on turning to Tankersley
but the lefty has been unable to throw for a couple of weeks and has yet to
appear in a game. The team hopes he will be ready by opening day, but at this
point it might be a bit of a stretch. Kevin Gregg has a 2.16 ERA with 8 hits
allowed in 8.1 IP this spring and appears to have first dibbs at closing for
the Marlins if the Fish can't count on Tankersley's wonky shoulder. Gregg did
average 8.16 K/9IP last year for the Angels, but his career ratios in three
seasons aren't very strong (4.31 ERA, 1.36 WHIP). Lidstrom has never thrown a
meaningful pitch in the majors, but at AA last year he had 54 Ks in 40.2 IP.
Owens, a hard thrower also brought to Florida from the Mets, has gone 9 innings
this spring without allowing a run. Owens, who owns a career K/9IP mark of
12.32 in the minors, and simply dominated AA hitters last year with 74 Ks in
just 40 IP (16.65 per 9).
Ray Flowers,
a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) and the Society for
American Baseball Research (SABR), can be reached with comments and questions
at: rayf@sportsgrumblings.com.
