The Dread Pirate is in the top five for Grey’s most favoritest players. (People using third person for themselves is in Grey’s top five annoyances. It’s irony! Or not, did we ever decide what irony was? Ask the British, offer them some dental assistance.) Member when I said Andrew McCutchen was a poor man’s Shane Victorino? Feign Victorino. No? Probably cause I said that about Dexter Fowler. Nevethehoo! McCutchen’s the next Carl Crawford. How’s dem apples? Delicious! (Assuming you don’t bite into the core. Who thought it was a good idea to make the core barely different in texture and color than the apple? I’m one-upping Mother Nature and saying the apple core should be made of titanium. That’s me, my rules. Carry on.) So what did Andrew McCutchen do to be in my sights for 2011 fantasy baseball keepers?
In 2010, The Dread Pirate dropped his K-rate by almost 5% from 19.2% to 15.6% while keeping his walks where they were. His BABIP was .311, which is probably a little low for him. The line drives held, the fly balls dropped a little (literally!) and ground balls went up (or is that down?) a little. In 2011, I could see McCutchen maintaining his .286 average or even beating it a tad. He stole 33 bases and there’s little to think that won’t hold or go up as he turns 24-years-old. His OBP is solid for a young hitter. The power is real, but not real real like he’s going to hit 30 homers. It’s real enough for a guy who can steal 40 bases. 15 homers seems to be the base. 20 homers doesn’t seem out of reach. In 2011, 100/18/60/.290/38 looks like a conservative line. He can absolutely beat those projections. That, friend, is a top 10 outfielder with upside and a 2011 fantasy baseball keeper for Grey.
