Issue: Nate McClouth is hot early in Spring Training, while Jordan Schaffer looks ticketed for AAA where he’ll get to play every day. What should I do with these 2 Braves center fielders on Auction Day?
Facts: Schaffer was hot, hot, hot 2 years ago in Spring Training, then suffered a hand injury at the end of the first week of the 2009 regular season. He played through it and out of a job. It has taken 2 years for him to recover fully; in the meantime he has put up nondescript MILB numbers. Jordan’s star has dimmed, but Nate is on fire right this minute. What can we expect from McClouth? Here are his career splits month by month:
| Split | PA | R | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | |||||||
| April/March | 337 | 47 | 15 | 47 | 6 | .265 | .360 | .478 | |||||||
| May | 484 | 76 | 14 | 48 | 17 | .245 | .340 | .419 | |||||||
| June | 348 | 43 | 5 | 32 | 12 | .219 | .277 | .356 | |||||||
| July | 395 | 70 | 14 | 35 | 12 | .249 | .324 | .457 | |||||||
| August | 330 | 43 | 11 | 32 | 14 | .241 | .317 | .415 | |||||||
| Sept/Oct | 469 | 82 | 18 | 60 | 22 | .286 | .385 | .496 |
Analysis: The beginning and end of each season are when McClouth is at his best. Unfortunately, there are more games in between when Nate has produced sub-par numbers. Let someone else pay full value or a premium for McClouth’s Spring Training and March/April numbers. If you’ve got a spot for a buck flier and your league allows you to grab players on Auction or Draft Day who aren’t on a MLB roster, then spend a buck or a late, late draft pick on 24 year old, Deep Sleeper Jordan Schaffer, as he’ll have the starting job in Atlanta by mid to late May.
Predictions:
Nate McClouth 403PA 12HR 54R 45RBI 12SB .246BA.
Jordan Schaffer 469PA 16HR 70R 75RBI 19SB .287BA
