Comments on: Cole In Oscopy

By: Tarasco'sSecretStash

Tarasco'sSecretStash — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:38:29 +0000

Hamels is a scary scene for the Phi-tins’ still, but definitely not worst case. He doesn’t seem to have a body that’s pitching-friendly based on early returns – lots of minor-but-threatening structural injuries. No question talent-wise he’s one of the best lefthanders in baseball, but he’s starting to earn the rep of a cat like Kazmir or Beckett. When he’s on the hill and healthy he’ll be the best fantasy pitcher in baseball, but durability is always going to be a question.

Holliday’s an interesting hitter, and one I look forward to seeing at least a little bit more now that he’s in the AL. This is a go year for Billy Beane, which is always exciting, and Holliday is a guy he’s got a lot riding on. I’m a Sawx fan and I’ve never had him on a fantasy team, so my firsthand experiences watching this guy are limited so far. But he’s a legitimately scary hitter from what I have seen. He showed a tremendously compact, quick-to-the-ball stroke in the ‘07 Series (his homerun against Okajima was ill), and I’ve seen him hit a few dingers in random games with the same swing. He’s shown himself to be a legit .300 hitter in this league by using all fields and he’s shown a steadily progressing ability to take walks. Bostonaccent does a pissah jawb making the case of the negative move from Coors to the Colosseum as a detriment to Holiday’s value, but while there is likely to be a slight effect on his homerun totals (what, 3…5 less max?) he’s shown himself to be a reliably smart hitter that works all fields effectively so far in his career. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he keeps his slugging eerily consistent by adding a few doubles and triples to augment the loss of homeruns. And he may run a little less in Oakland, but he’ll still be good for 10 bags. He’s still a top tier outfielder in a scratch draft, absolutely…

By: papasmurf

papasmurf — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:57:04 +0000

@BigFatHippo: I hope we (all Hamels' owners) can get at least half a season out of him. This news threw me for a loop today. I was all set to draft a versatile position player for my team (slow draft) and then had to switch gears and grab Clay Buchholz as insurance. It was pick #300+ so I guess the upside is worth it, but the guy I passed up I could really use as backup.

By: BigFatHippo

BigFatHippo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:58:13 +0000

@papasmurf: Let's hope the extra innings in the playoffs doesn't do what it usually does to young pitchers, cause dead arm about midway through the season.

By: papasmurf

papasmurf — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:36:18 +0000

News on Hamels is as good as one can hope fer.

By: Tony Y

Tony Y — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:53:13 +0000

@Baron Von Vulturewins: Holliday missed 23 games? Homer draught? He hit 23 while missing 23 gamessss? His splits were almost dead on first half and second half except he missed 23 games…. he stole more bases than he ever has… he was ranked #9 overall in yahoo at years end? Add 23 games on that…. I mean i understand you saying he’s going to regress some this year, but I hardly think you were robbed from that output last year?

Did i mention he missed 23 games?

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:20:55 +0000

@Colin: Yup, over thinking it. @Tarasco’sSecretStash: Yup, inexplicable.

By: Tarasco'sSecretStash

Tarasco'sSecretStash — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:50:08 +0000

Sooo…Houston has the worst farm system in baseball, and one of their only potentially impact young players is a mashing catcher coming off a busted first go in the bigs. So rather than pay him the league minimum to give it the ol’ college try a second time around and build his confidence backing up Sanchez out the gate they instead throw a couple million at a washed up roidbag 37 year old who’s four years removed from his last league-average OPS season. Did Ed Wade lose a bet or something? Gotta love the ’stros…

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:05:40 +0000

@Grey: Grey it's fairly obvious Encarnacion and Zimmerman are not on the same level, that's the reason for the extra draft pick in the deal. That extra pick is nice, but I believe I'm overthinking this. I already have 8 great hitting keepers and will add to that collection with my first 2 picks and then grab the best SP's available when it's my turn again. Thx Grey.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:51:17 +0000

@BigFatHippo: Yup those 'roos can be pretty vicious. Glad we don't have 'em here. Just in case you were labouring under that misapprehension.

By: BigFatHippo

BigFatHippo — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:47:13 +0000

@Steve: Ha, that's what they get for naming their daughter Beatrix.