Player News – Page 115 – FantasySP Blog

Brandon Belt and Adam Dunn

Adam Dunn will be out at least a week after undergoing an appendectomy Tuesday night.

Analysis: If you are in a daily lineup situation and you don’t have the depth at first base that you’d like you have then you have consider the rookie who is the hot commodity right now, Brandon Belt. Belt ripped through the minors last year hitting 23 bombs, stealing 22 bags between High A ball and Triple A. His walk rates are solid as he is a very disciplined hitter. Belt already has a homer, a steal and four walks in five games this season and as long as he has a starting job he has great speed numbers to offer as a fantasy first baseman. Belt may go on a cold streak longer than his current 0-11 streak but he’s a good fit right now for the injured Dunn and he offers some potentially solid numbers as the season moves forward. Belt has reached base three times during his 0-11 streak so even if his bat is cold his eyes are sharp and patient.

Projection: The ChiSox list Dunn as being out for five days but I’m not buying it. Dunn will be out at least a week if not two so you’ll need a servicable replacement if one isn’t already on your roster. Brandon Belt isn’t going to hit 30 homers but he’ll produce in all five categories if he continues to start.

Jordan Walden Earns First Save Of 2011

The Angels have changed closers just five games into the regular season and the hard throwing Jordan Walden is now Mike Scioscia’s ninth inning guy.

Analysis: Former Angels closer, Fernando Rodney, pitched in just two games this year but Scioscia had hinted Rodney’s delivery just isn’t consistent. Rodney has allowed two earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched this year but the big number is allowing four walks to four outs. This may be a Brad Lidge delivery/confidence issue and it may be resolved by seasons end but his job may not be there for him when he turns it around. Jordan Walden is the real deal, a typical two pitch closer. His fastball tops out a 100 MPH but it settles in the high 90s while his slider ranges in the mid 80s. Walden isn’t a lights out Billy Wagner kind of closer where he’ll average 10 K’s per 9 IP but he should stikeout out about eight batters per nine innings pitched. One of the best things Walden does is limiting the big inning, he rarely gave up homers in the minors.

Projection: For now it appears Walden is somewhat secure in the closer’s role with the Angels and he should rank among the top 25 closers in the game going forward. If you have Fernando Rodney or a lesser tier closer then Jordan Walden is a must pick up and will put up better numbers than Rodney should have this year.

Alex Gordon, Post Hype Sleeper?

Much was expected from Alex Gordon after being taken second in the 2005 MLB draft but after four disappointing big league seasons he just may put in together.

Analysis: There was a time in baseball a handful of years ago when the big debate was who was the best prospect, Alex Gordon or 2003 top pick Delmon Young. It took Young a change of scenery and five seasons to put together a really solid year and it may be the case for Alex Gordon in his fifth year. Gordon has been tagged with the 4-A label, a guy too good for the minors but just cannot get it done in the bigs. This year, however, Gordon has looked very impressive batting third in an underrated Royals lineup. Gordon is never going to take tons of walks or strikeout less than 20% of the time but he does possess some lightning quick wrists and extremely fast bat speed. Thus far this year in four games Gordon has six hits, two doubles with four runs. This should come as no surprise due to the productive spring Gordon had as he hit .343 with six bombs in 70 AB. The third spot in the batting order just may be what he needs at this point in his career to be the most productive player he can be.

Projection: He’s only owned in less than ten percent of leagues so you don’t have to pick him up now but he does have the chance to put up some solid numbers this year. If he can stay healthy expect 20 HR, 10-12 SB, a .270 AVG with the potential for more.

Matt Harrison is 2011’s C.J. Wilson

The Texas Rangers’ Matt Harrison is only one start into 2011, and it’s been dominant. Seven innings, 5 hits, 2 walks (both in the 7th inning after showing signs of fatigue), and 8 strikeouts (four looking) against arguably Major League Baseball’s best lineup in the Boston Red Sox.

Harrison opened the 2008 and 2009 season as the Rangers’ #5 starter, but with the loss of Cliff Lee to free agency and Tommy Hunter to injury, he slid into the 3rd spot of the rotation. Matt had a solid spring, leading all Ranger pitchers with 23 innings.

He’s a hard thrower for a left-handed pitcher, topping out at 94 miles per hour. Any lefty that can do that will have a chance to be successful in baseball. He’s had flashes of greatness, including today, as long as he minimizes the walks. He got into trouble against the Sox after 2 walks in one inning, but came back to strike out Jacoby Ellsbury. If Harrison can keep his K:BB above 3:1, he’ll have a chance to go deep into games and position himself to win a lot of games.

Advice: Pick Harrison up and for the first few month or so, use him against favorable matchups. His next expected starts are against Baltimore, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Oakland. Other than the Yankees, those are all favorable, which makes Harrison a very valuable player early on. Even though he dominated a vaunted Boston lineup, he’s still raw enough to be punished by patient, established hitters like the Yankees.

Projection: 28 starts, 175 innings, 14 wins, 3.45 ERA, 145 k’s, 1.26 WHIP

What do you think? Will Harrison have a solid season? Or was this first start an aberration?

Stock Falling- Carl Crawford

Carl Crawford may be 0-7 with four strikeouts to start the season but that isn’t why his stock is falling.

Analysis: Carl Crawford’s stock is falling because of where he is currently hitting the the Red Sox batting order. Crawford is hitting third after spending his whole career either leading off or hitting in the two spot with Tampa. His potential stolen base numbers from hitting third in the order concern me a great deal and we can look to Hanley Ramirez to show you why. Hanley lead off for Florida in 2006 and 2007 and he stole 51 bases each year. Fast forward to 2008 where he batted third and he only stole 35 bags. Hanley has been hitting third ever since and has not come close to stealing forty bags. If Crawford remains in the three spot behind protypical lead off batter Jacoby Ellsbury and prototypical two hitter Dustin Pedroia he has a problem. His problem now becomes yours because you drafted a guy whose greatest asset is now in check and he has never hit twenty homers in a season.

Projection: If Crawford remains in the three spot in the batting order he won’t even come close to sniffing fifty swipes this year. Obviously you have to wait and see if his spot in the order is set in stone or if injuries to Ellsbury or Pedroia occur, but right now his potential stolen base numbers this year have taken a hit.