Category: MLB

Rangers’ Borbon to DL, trifecta complete

Julio Borbon was placed on the disabled list Saturday, joining Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton as the other Opening Day outfielders on the DL. AAA outfielder Endy Chavez was recalled and RHP Brandon Webb was transfered to the 60-day DL to make room for Chavez on the 40-man roster.

Borbon was on the heels of a 10-game hitting streak and a 17-game stretch that saw his batting average jump 100 points, up to .270.

Endy Chavez will take over the center-field responsibilities for the time being. He hit leadoff for Ron Washington on Saturday, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout. He was hitting well at AAA (.305 BA), but if he struggles there for more than a couple of games, expect another lineup shuffle by Ron Washington.

The player to keep an eye on in this situation is Leonys Martin, a recently signed Cuban import who made his professional debut Thursday, going 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and a steal. Professional scouts have conflicting ideas on who he plays like, with projections of Juan Pierre with a better arm, or Kenny Lofton, or Jacoby Ellsbury.

Borbon has played well enough so far and has the talent to be a solid player, so he’ll be given a chance if/when he comes back from the disabled list.  If he struggles or doesn’t recover fully from the injury, Martin could see the Major Leagues sometime between the All-Star Break and the trading deadline.

Martin is not a blip on the fantasy radar yet. In keeper leagues, he’s worth a speculation buy.

Delmon Young Returns From DL

Delmon Young is returning from the 15 day disabled list after straining his left oblique muscle. Young has struggled this year hitting .228 without a home run in sixteen games.

Analysis: Delmon Young may have had an inflated RBI total last year but we know who he is. Delmon is a lifetime .291 hitter and his power is slowing developing. His ISO has increased in each of his last three years from 2008-10 and he has a little bit of speed to offer as well. Young is a perfect sleeper now in roto leagues that don’t bother with OBP, he just hacks at everything (60.6 Swing%). If you have been following fantasy baseball at all this year you know this is a great time to buy low on the outfielder who is available in half of fantasy leagues nationwide. This isn’t a Sam Fuld or Jonny Gomes (combined 0 HR since April 18) situation where he will fall off the face of the planet, Delmon is a professional hitter who provides five-cat numbers. Don’t count the Twins or Delmon Young out this year.

Projection: From this point on you can expect a .290 batting average, 12-15 home runs, five plus stolen bases and competitive run and RBI totals from Delmon Young. Buy him low, buy him now and don’t look back.

Time To Sell Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran now has eight homers on the season after mashing three Thursday night against the Rockies. His play thus far this year has been surprisingly solid but we know what lies ahead for the switch hitter…injuries.

Analysis: Beltran hasn’t reached 360 plate appearances in each of his last two years and his speed numbers are in rapid decline. Beltran has just three steals in his last 100 games and to further add insult to injury, he hasn’t even attempted one stolen base this year. It is obvious he in no longer a five category fantasy stud but his recent power surge is questionable as well. Beltran’s isolated power has decreased in each of his last four years and to see his ISO in the .230-.250 range this year is shocking considering his career ISO is just .212. As the season moves forward and Beltran’s legs just cannot take the beating day after day and as his fielding becomes even more of a liability we know he has at least two trips to the disabled list down the road. If he does stay healthy and his power dries up you’re left with an outfielder without a great asset and one you could have sold in mid May for a younger fantasy stud in a slump.

Advice: Beltran has a few trips to the disabled list in him and it serves all Beltran owners well to see what they can get for him right now.

 

Aaron Hill Is Under The Radar

Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill is now three games into his return from a hamstring injury and he is flying under many fantasy owner’s radars.

Analysis: Yes, Aaron Hill had an awful 2010 campaign with a sub .200 BABIP but he is one of the premier power hitting second baseman in the game. He’s averaged 31 homers over the last two seasons so it is surprising to see him available in so many fantasy leagues across the country. Hill has yet to homer in seventy-five at bats this season but it’s hard to blame him since it’s difficult to find any rhythm with his recent injury. Hill will be fine, Toronto has a solid lineup and he hits homers in bunches. This is a perfect opportunity to either pluck Aaron Hill up off the waiver wire or to buy the slugger at a discounted price. He’s still capable of posting twenty homers by season’s end and his run and RBI totals will be more than solid the rest of the way. Hill is pressing a bit at the plate and is striking out a bit above his career average but we can deal with the strikeouts when his power surfaces.

Projection: He’s never been a friend of your batting average in roto leagues but that isn ‘t why you’d want to own the second baseman. Expect a .250 BA, 17 HR, 50 R, 50 RBI and five plus steals the rest of the season. His value will not get lower.

Have Some Faith In Kelly Johnson

Kelly Johnson may be hitting just .176 this year but there is reason for hope.

Analysis: Kelly Johnson’s BABIP this year is 93 points below his career average, so he’s having a bit of an Aaron Hill 2010 season thus far. There is still plenty of time to bounce back and despite all his struggles Johnson still has four bombs and four stolen bases. He is only one of three second baseman in baseball with at least four homers and four swipes and his 14 runs is still good for fourteenth among major league second baseman. There really isn’t a reason why Johnson is available in over thirty percent of fantasy leagues but other owners lack of patience is your gain. Although Johnson did peak last year with a .284 batting average and 26 home runs he’ still on pace for 20 home runs and his BABIP will bounce back. He hits in a great hitter’s park, second base isn’t as deep as everyone thinks it is and when he returns to action Tuesday against the Giants he should return to form. Johnson is still a viable option at second in deeper leagues and is certainly bench worthy in every league.

Projection: Johnson should hit nearly twenty homers and will end up with about fifteen steals. His average should come up into the .240 range, sixty points above what he is hitting now. Have some faith.