It’s a pretty funny game this fantasy baseball. And, obviously, since I’m saying it’s funny, it’s not at all funny what I’m about to say. No matter how heralded a prospect is, no matter how young they still are, if they have a bad season, people abandon them. David Price is currently being drafted around the 170 mark in 2010 fantasy baseball drafts. This is the pot luck section of every draft. This is the point when people throw out game plans and are just looking for the best available pitcher. This is the point when someone invariably walks into your room while you’re drafting and you lose it. Her, “Honey, can we eat dinner soon?” You, “Dinner? Dinner?! I’m choosing between Randy Wolf and David Price and you’re asking me about dinner? How about I fix the economy while I’m at it?!” And now you’ve drafted Randy Wolf and you’re getting a divorce. Hopefully you’re not picking a divorce attorney while doing your midseason draft. “Retainer? Retainer?! I’m deciding between Felipe Lopez and Scott Sizemore!” There’s little to be excited about when looking at Price’s 2009. Ks went down, walks went up, he wasn’t unlucky… He basically threw gas and let out a burp. So what will Price’s 2010 look like? Is he a possible 2010 fantasy baseball sleeper?
Price has tremendous stuff that he showed in college, the minors and briefly in the majors in 2008. Intro Paragraph mentioned how Price’s walks went up and Ks went down in 2009. Mr. Paragraph, if that’s his real name, wasn’t telling you the whole story. Price’s K’s went down in the 2nd half of the season, but his walks went way down, as well. Captain Stubing once described this as “getting your sea legs.” Price was learning how to pitch in the major leagues last year. 2010 should be the year he continues his progress. Walks should stay down and strikeouts should start to come around again. The real breakout might not come until 2011. Nevertheless, the breakout will come. In 2010, we should expect a solid third fantasy starter-type season. Ups and downs, culminating in a line of 12-9/3.75/1.30/155. The reason why I’d go for him over someone like, say, Oswalt is the upside. The reason I’d go for Oswalt over Price is the downside. There’s more risk with Price. You need to evaluate your pitching staff in-draft to see if you can handle risk. The only reason why I’m not head over flippin’ heels for Price while caps-locking my superlatives is because of his division. I’d prefer a late pitcher in the NL, but risk and division aside, I like Price and he is a solid sleeper for 2010 fantasy baseball.
