Player News – Page 108 – FantasySP Blog

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.

Nelson Cruz hits the DL – Rangers offense sputters

Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz was placed on the Disabled List today with a strained right quadriceps muscle.

Cruz had struggled since his epic 1st week of the season, down to a .219 batting average and a .741 OPS, well below the .318 and .950 he hit last season. In his last 6 games before he went on the DL, Cruz had gone 2-23 with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Nellie was on the DL last season three times for hamstring issues, so leg issues are not foreign to him. Hopefully the time off will help him regain his focus.

Analysis: While the Boomstick is sidelined, Mitch Moreland will see regular playing time in the outfield. Mitch has been solid in his second season, with 11 RBI’s and 15 runs in 30 games, along with 4 home runs. His lefty/right splits are horrific (.100/.280/.100 vs. .315/.383/.616), but with Craig Gentry as the only other outfield option, Moreland will get his chances to experience “growing pains” against left-handed pitchers. But remember, he did blast a home run off the Giants’ Jonathan Sanchez in the World Series.

Ron Washington could also change up the lineup, dropping Kinsler to a run-producing spot. But that might just be against left-handed pitchers.

NOTE: Moreland is hitting 7th tonight against the Yankees against RHP Bartolo Colon.

Recommendations: While Moreland has nice potential, his numbers against lefties does not bode well for a two-week stint in fantasy baseball. Both Gerardo Parra (owned in 1% of leagues) and Nate McClouth (owned in 11% of leagues) are top-50 players over the last two weeks and have higher ceilings across the board.

Draft Impact- Cam Newton

Cam Newton figures to be the starting quarterback for the Panthers on day one but is he a legit QB2 this year?

Analysis: Even without DeAngelo Williams the Panthers still have a solid ground game with Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson. Newton, like Sam Bradford before him will not be asked to win games just limit mistakes. Obviously, Newton’s greatest asset is his legs and a potential 500 rushing yard year is not out of the question. A 500 yard season on the ground would easily put him into low end QB2 status with the potential for more. However, Newton’s decision making and defensive recognition is suspect so you can expect just as many passing touchdowns to interceptions. In dynasty/keeper leagues you really have to pass on a guy that more than likely will never throw for more than 3,600 yards and seems to be a glorified version of Vince Young. Guys like Josh Freeman and Aaron Rodgers put up more than solid rushing numbers for a quarterback but at least they can throw it without question. There is only one Mike Vick and Newton isn’t him. Newton does have slightly more talent than Vince Young but he is years behind in terms of polish when each came out of school early.

Projection: Look for Newton to pass for 2,500 yards with up to 500 rushing yards. Twenty total touchdowns is possible but expect twenty picks. He’s an extremely low end QB2 this year but could wind up being a top 18 quarterack by year’s end.