Last year, Brandon Allen treaded his six-two, two-hundred and thirty-five pound man-gams through Double- and Triple-A before hitting the majors in August. And by hitting the majors, I don’t mean hitting in the majors. As Lil Jon once said in grade school, I come correct with my prepositions, okaaaay!!!!! In the minors in 2009, Allen slashed .298/.373/.503 with 20 homers, cutting his strikeout rate for the 2nd year in a row. However, that didn’t carry over to the majors, whiffing 40 times in 104 at-bats. Though, that was a small sample size… that’s what she said! (Stephen broke him down further in his Diamondbacks Prospect Review.) For Brandon Allen to make an impact in 2010 fantasy baseball, he needs a spot to play. Oh well, right? Not so fast, Alex P. Keaton on speed.
What do Chad Tracy, Tony Clark, Conor Jackson, Josh Whitesell, Rusty Ryal and Chris Snyder have in common? They suck. They also played 1st base for the Diamondbacks at some point in 2009. (Mark Reynolds played 28 games at 1st too, but I have it on good authority he wants to play 3rd… Actually, I don’t have it on any authority. I’m educated-guessing here. The Diamondbacks would be better with Reynolds at 3rd and Allen at 1st.) So over the top rope comes the big-boned Brandon Allen. He should get an ample opportunity in Spring Training to win the job. If he can break camp with the Diamondbacks, he’ll be a solid sleeper for power in 12 team mixed leagues and deeper at a corner infidel spot. In NL-Only leagues, he’ll be draftable as a sleeper 1st baseman. He should provide power, if nothing else. You’re looking at a 20 homer hitter with a chance for a bit more. He’ll probably hurt you on average, but what else is new from a Diamondhack hitter? Windmills were once used for pumping water through primitive irrigation systems. Maybe the swings and misses are how the Diamondbacks keep the hot tub bubbling in the right field stands at Chase Field.
Looks like Ray Flowers was in the same draft as you. He gives seven of his hallowed picks. Come on, tantalize us with a few more of yours. (BTW: He projects mid-December for the mag to hit the stands.) (If I missed the mark and this not the same auction, then a heckuva coincidence.)
http://www.rototimes.com/blog.php?author_id=66
@Simply Fred: Edit: auction, not draft.
@Simply Fred: RAYs Picks: Jeter and Rollins? BLEH…. jeter had a resurgence, rollins is declining, he talks about “stealing a SS from another owner” give me “theriot” if i have to spend what $49 of my budget on those two… In the 7 picks he listed its like he was trying to pick the all old guy bounce back team, johnny damon, vlad, jeter…? Peralta for that cheap is alright, IF he remembers how to hit…. IDK- I’m not a fan of the all 30+ an older team. Grey give us at least 5 of ur picks!
a big strapping lad with a ton of power , however ,
a .160 afl batting average suggests that he’s
not even close to being ready .
@Simply Fred: I’ve never heard of that guy, but looks like he’s a Fanball person. They have their own magazine.
@Tony: B.J. Upton ($19), Ethier ($18), Votto ($24), Carlos Quentin ($5) and Pence ($11). Quentin’s a bench player on my team, but I couldn’t let someone take him for $4.
@big o: Petersen and Desme can’t be the only worthwhile names for 2010 because of their AFL stats. As said above, if Allen gets the job, he’ll probably hurt you on average and hit homers.
@Grey:
i was thinking allen’s up-side might be chris davis ,
but then i checked out davis k/bb rate .
how utterly awful .
@big o: Check out Greg Halman.
@big o: Would you say that Mike Stanton would be MLB ready with the slash line he produced in, what, 6 games? Slumps happen, and you aren’t looking for a super high average anyway.
@Grey: @big o: I am thinking a poor mans Carlos Pena.
@Grey: That makes Chris “K” Davis look like a great contact hitter.
@Stephen: Poor man’s Pena makes sense. re: Halman — Yeah, he’s something special on the Ks.
@Grey: I’ve never done an auction, but CQ at $5 seems like a nice upside buy? He actually stays healthy and bats around .275, huge payoff right?
I’m not buying into BJ Upton this year. I actually didn’t buy into him any year, but def’ly not til I see something from the guy… He’d have to fall to the 5th round for me to take him, which I KNOW won’t happen.
@Tony: Quentin is a high teens ($17) type player. $5 is ridiculously low. I don’t mind Upton as long as it’s assumed that he won’t hit 20 homers. His average was off last year, he’ll be better.
@Tony: @Grey: Didn’t mean to leave the impression that I thought Flowers’ picks any good. Just trying to prompt Grey for a few of his auction bids. That’s what we were looking for! Thanks, Grey.
Will be looking for Quentin at those levels. I see the value in BJ, but with recent discussion of all of the cheap speed being available, am likely to pass as well.
Off to the pool.
@Simply Fred: Pool? Are you in New Zealand too?
@Simply Fred: HAHA you love flowers picks! just kiddin… i didn’t think you did, just figured you were trying to pry info…
@Grey: Cos that’s how we roll around here.
@Steve: I know your MO.
@Grey: Ha! Not quite warm enough for me here yet, actually.
The kids have been in my parents’ pool though. Crazy.
@Steve: How’s living with the mother-in-law going?
@Grey: It’s fine. They’re great really – just have different ways of doing things and they don’t take food quite as seriously as we do. That said, they’re quite happy for me to do the cooking!
An added wrinkle to the whole thing, is that for the first full week (ie this week), my wife is in Singapore on business!
@Steve: You cook? Well?
@Grey: Don’t get too many complaints. To my face, anyway.
I enjoy it, which helps.
@Steve: What’s your favorite thing to make?
@Grey: Hmm. Dunno really. I always enjoy firing up the Weber and BBQ-ing.
Also like steak and chips, fish, roast pork or lamb, risotto, spaghetti carbonara. Tend to favour the classics!
@Steve: Ah… Yeah, gotcha. I took a cooking class once. Learned how to make ravioli. Took the class to meet some ladies. Turned out the only ladies that are taking a cooking class are the ones learning to cook for their kids.
@Grey: MILF hunter!
@Steve: He wants wrinkles where there didn’t use to be any… He’s looking for a mommy figure… He wants to be spanked… Grey Albright: MILF Hunter!
@Grey: It’s a noble pursuit.
@Steve: the pursuit of temporary happiniess
@AL KOHOLIC: A man’s gotta take it where he finds it.
@Steve: WHO,RAA
@AL KOHOLIC: ?
@AL KOHOLIC: HEY I COOK TOO!and staying with mom in law(or anyone really) wouldnt be bad for a week maybe but a man needs his space and tv and couch
@AL KOHOLIC: No chance of TV or couch – for any of the grown-ups.
The kids have taken that over.
@Grey:
checked out greg halman .
am giving the kid some slack .
those wooden shoes pinch the hell out of your toes .
@Grey: Two days left with the grandkids (and great grandma) in Maui. Parents left home to work. All in all a happy bunch.@Steve: Steak and Carbonara enough variety to keep me going a long time.
@Tony: Are you in the Razzball Mock under a pseudonym (don’t see “Tony”)? That’s where you will find all of my love for Ray’s picks.
@big o: Ha!
@Simply Fred: Ah… Didn’t know you were away on vacay. Enjoy yourself.
@Grey: “He wants wrinkles where there didn’t use to be any… He’s looking for a mommy figure… He wants to be spanked… Grey Albright: MILF Hunter!”
HA! Classic!
Sorry I missed this conversation, I mighta said something really stupid…………………….
@BigFatHippo: It’s never too late.
@Steve: RE: Razzball Mock. Was there some sort of accounting (and award) to last year’s winner? Otherwise, it’s hard for me to see the value of disclosing one’s strategy preparatory to the real drafts in the spring. Apparently, Grey got caught bidding up a couple of players in his auction. Proper to expect some slight of hand?
@Steve: For example……..
Yesterday I………………wait, that wasn’t me
@Simply Fred: I wouldn’t overthink it. These mocks tend to be a bit of a footrace to see who can get the Razzball favourites first.
It’s scoop or be scooped.
Like big o said, (at least) half the enjoyment comes from all the banter between picks.
Oh – and we’ll no doubt have a few of these over the next few months.
@Steve: Footrace is kinda what I expected. If I hold off on picking Desmond Jennings to round 2 do you think I still have a chance to get him? (Probably depends what draft order I get.)
@BigFatHippo: Should’ve said it needs to be read while the Shaft music plays in the background.
@Grey: Shaft music indeed.
@Simply Fred: Reminder to self: Don’t try to “banter”.
@Simply Fred: You won’t be able to stop yourself.
@Steve: You know me better than I do. Thank you for reaching out to the ledge.
@Grey: Speaking of Carlos Pena:
http://www.draysbay.com/2009/11/18/1162281/should-the-rays-trade-carlos-pena
via MLBTR
@Stephen: Should they trade him? If someone will take him…
@Grey: 40 HRS, ugly average, pass
@Tony: I’ll see that and raise you a, “Drafted after 250th pick of a draft, worth a look.”
@Grey: who? what? haha, pena will go before that, i jumped in and i dont know what i got into!
i was talking about pena are you talking about allen?
@Tony: Ah… yeah, I was talking about Allen. My bad.
Brandon Allen numbers – for a keeper league – what are you looking from him 3 or 4 years down the road
Miss Cleo, the self-proclaimed psychic could not help me
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0SWl0hRdg4A/STaWHw_xN5I/AAAAAAAAHkc/E6r2nLOMIak/s400/Miss_Cleo.jpg