Category: MLB

Buying Low- Rickie Weeks

Rickie Weeks is batting just .154 thus far this year which means it is time to buy.

Analysis: Rickie Weeks did miss three starts over the past weekend due to a swollen hand/wrist. Putting the injury aside, a .154 batting average with just 7 RBI is not what anyone signed up for when drafting Weeks. There is some positive news to report though. Weeks’ BABIP is just .205, a full .100 points below his career average of .305. His strikeout rate is up a bit but he is actually walking four percent above his career average this year.

Weeks is being dropped in many fantasy leagues across the country purely out of impatience. Keep in mind that Rickie has averaged 25 HR, 10 SB with a .269 BA over the past two years at second base. Second base is not a deep fantasy position and adding Weeks at a low price is the intelligent play here.

Even looking at Weeks’ isloated power of .151 this year, it’s only .27 points below his career average. Rickie will be fine and he will finish with respectable numbers. Weeks will have considerable value in a few months and depth is always a good thing to have at the trade deadline.

Last Call On Edinson Volquez

Edinson Volquez shut down the Phillies Saturday lasting 6.0 innings and only giving up one earned run.

Analysis: Edinson Volquez has only given up more than three earned runs in just one of his eight starts this year. His 2.79 ERA ranks twenty-third in the National League and his forty-three strikeouts is eleventh best in the National League as well. Yes, he is pitching at Petco Park but who cares… his fantasy owners love that fact. Volquez is available in well over sixty percent of fantasy leagues and he will be gone soon. He isn’t known for his consistency but he’s only had one bad outing in eight starts.

Volquez is walking slightly fewer batters this year but the biggest difference with his game has been the re-emergence of his changeup. Only a handful of big league pitchers have a better change than Volquez and it’s great to see him use it with dominance once again. Volquez isn’t just a “pick him up while he is hot” starter, he’s a legit lower tier starter pitching at Petco. It’s last call on Edinson Volquez.

Buying Low- AJ Burnett

AJ Burnett has a 6.08 ERA this year and allowed twelve earned runs against the Cardinals last week. So… why am I buying AJ Burnett?

Analysis: AJ Burnett has only made four starts this year and we all know about the twelve earned run game. But, what you may not know is that in Burnett’s other threes games he’s only allowed four runs in 21.0 innings for a 1.71 ERA in those starts. AJ Burnett has pitched three remarkable games this year in four starts, period.

Burnett’s K/9 rate is 10.27, a career high thus far but it is only four games into the season. Remember, he’s back pitching in the Natioanl League and he doesn’t have to face the Rays, BoSox or that Toronto lineup on a daily basis anymore. His fastball, curve and change are all at the same velocity as in year’s past, so no need to worry about his stuff. The 6.08 ERA might scare some away but he has been pitching well. Burnett is owned in less than ten percent of fantasy leagues and now is the time to buy the veteran at the lowest his value can possibly be. If you are buying stock right now you have to be looking at AJ or at the very least Edinson Volquez.

Losing Faith In Maybin?

Cameron Maybin is being dropped in nearly twenty percent of fantasy baseball leagues for no other reason than impatience.

Analysis: I can see why a .200 batting average could scare some owners but I cannot see why some are losing faith in Cameron Maybin. Despite the awful average Maybin has stolen eight bases, fifth best on all of baseball. Considering he had forty steals and nine homers last year we all need a little patience in his case. Maybin is only a career .250 hitter with a 25% strikeout rate, so there will be plenty of ups and downs during the season for the former Marlin and Tiger.

Cameron Maybin may not be hitting particularly well but he is getting on base as of late. Maybin has drawn five walks in his last four games. For an outfielder with a career 8.2% walk rate you have to love that he is still finding a way to get on base. I still expect numbers similar to last year’s line- .264 BA, 40 SB, 9 HR, 82 R, 40 RBI. He has some power but hitting in Petco isn’t exactly like hitting at Coors Field. Be patient and have some faith in the twenty-five year old, he is still incredibly raw.

Deep League Help- Pedro Alvarez

Pedro Alvarez is hitting just .203 this year but his recent success should come as no surprise.

Analysis: Pedro Alvarez possesses elite power and he is finally starting to show signs of it. Alvarez has hit four home runs in his last ten games. Throw in the eight hits he has amassed over his last six games and you have yourself a very hot third baseman. Having depth at the third base position in fantasy baseball is always a huge plus so picking up Alvarez in deeper leagues just makes sense. Alvarez is available in well over ninety percent of leagues across the country.

Keep in mind that Alvarez does not hit lefties well, he has a .211 batting average against them for his career with a .329 slugging percentage. While he may not even hit .250 this year his home run and RBI potential make him a great sleeper at this point in the season. As always you can sell him high down the road or chuck him if he starts striking out more than Mark Reynolds. With Ryan Zimmerman out for now and his health issues in the past it does make sense to stockpile depth at third base.