Truth be told, I almost made Logan Morrison my discount double check post for first basemen but decided ‘nah, I’ll cheap out and go with an already draftable commodity in Kendrys Morales cuz I’m lazy like that’. Then Grey said ‘only one OF? Seriously, how lazy can you be? Give me three posts about outfielders. And put the lotion in the F@#$ing basket!’. And so I obliged on both counts but still got the hose again for some reason. But we’re not here to talk about playing lambs with Albright, we’re here to dissect LoMo’s current draft day ADP of 269 and whether it’s a discount or a steal for 2013 fantasy baseball…
To better understand why LoMo might be a value we need to go back in time. So please feel free to step into my DeLorean and bump to Macklemore as we travel all the way back to 2011…wow, that was a really quick trip. And yet, you still had more hair back then. What’s that? You’ve been doing a full body wax to remove any chance at circumstantial evidence just in case? In case of what? Hrm, I don’t think I want to know…and I think you can find your own way back to 2013 now, thanks. But since we’re here, let’s at least see why I’m intrigued by Morrison for this season. Back in 2011, Logan took over full time as left fielder for the then Florida Marlins and went on to hit .247 in about 462 at-bats while hitting 23 homeruns and driving in 72. Sure, the average is nothing to get excited about but when you consider those homers came in 123 games, we’re looking at 28 homeruns if we just give him 27 more games played. Yes, LoMo has 30 homerun potential and he’s slotted to be the starting first basemen for the Marlins in 2013, so what the heck is the deal with the discount, you ask? Injuries, of course. Morrison just can’t stay healthy and just to spite me yahoo posted on the date of this typing – January 11th – that Logan is going to be slowed in the Spring due to knee rehab (or ‘kneehab’ if you like saying things like Bennifer and Brangelina).
Morrison has had surgery on the same knee twice in less than a year and it showed in his 2012 finishing line: .230 with only 11 HRs and 296 at-bats. The reality is this news about going slow with his knee to begin 2013 is a blessing in disguise, though, as it was him pushing through the same knee rehab in 2012 after a December 2011 surgery that lead to that dismal line and the eventual secondary surgery. So we’re talking about a guy that might start the year on the DL, which scares some people off but for me I say ‘oh yeah, so what!?!’ That’s why we have DL spots, people. With where he’s going in the draft, you’re drafting for upside anyways. If you don’t believe me, just ask the people currently ADP’ing Wil Myers out at 225, just 6 spots behind LoMo. There’s a high likelihood because the Rays are the Rays that Myers isn’t in the Tampa Bay outfield until end of May, early June. But there’s no DL spot for minors. Well there is but it’s between R. Kelly’s sheets…PSSSSSSSSSS! Sorry, still rocking Macklemore over here. NW represent!
In all seriousness, a 30 home run pace doesn’t come from every player in the 18th round or later. Unless of course you listened to me last year when I said to go after Adam LaRoche. Oh and Chris Davis is in there as well. I just gave you 66 homeruns in 2012 and you dare doubt me? If my track record as the artist formerly known as ONC proves anything, it’s that I can find you 30 homeruns late. In Sky we trust. But to give this fantasy fajita it’s final wrap, in deep leagues he’s well worth your time if preseason news stays encouraging. And if it doesn’t, you drafted him and put him on your DL anyway. Drop him when Troy Tulowitzki goes on it. What? You know he will. In all, draft him for the potential and pray at the Marlins altar he gives you 145 to 150 games…and pray you don’t have a seizure while you do it.
