Ain’t Too Proud To Bregman …And The Top 100 Hitters, SECOND HALF!

I ain’t too proud to beg, sweet darlin’. Please, don’t leave me, girl. (Don’t you go!)

Truth is I could recite just about any Temptations song to you. Growing up with a dad who only listened to Motown and oldies, the moment I started to take interest in ladies I had a song for every occasion. Now, granted, I was about 10 or so when I asked out my first girlfriend, so the stakes weren’t crazy high. But whether a fifth grade swing or a fifteen year old fling, my adolescence knew how to swoon a girl. And I know how to spot a keeper.

Now if I gotta cry to keep you, I don’t mind weepin’ if it’ll keep you by my side.

Will tears flow from my now 30-year old eyes as I’m writing this? Um. No. That’s one thing I’ve matured in since the teenage years (and for the sake of my friends, my family, my wife, my children and my masculinity, thank Heavens). But I’d do just about everything I could short of that to make sure I got this week’s Creeper of the Week onto my roster and, in keeper leagues, locked in for next year. And if you miss out on him, you’ll be bregging to get him from someone else. See what I did there?

• Alex Bregman, SS (17.1%) – So what if the ‘Stros decided not to bring Bregman up to start the second half. They’re just being silly. Just about the only universal commentary from the All-Star Weekend was that Alex Bregman was overwhelmingly ready for the Majors. He raked two extra-base hits in the Futures game, and has his signature already written and waiting on him at 3B in Houston. The beauty of playing the hot corner with the SS eligibility, a la Manny Machado, is that he must have enough pop to play there while being eligible at a weak position. Bergman has the potential to come up and challenge the numbers of any of those top SS listed in the rankings below. And since this is all about finding a player owned in less than 20% of ESPN leagues, welp, now’s your chance. His 17.1% mark will balloon to north of 65% within a week of his call-up. And why all the fuss? The #2 overall pick in 2015 has dominated at the plate by producing 23 HR and 18 SB in his first 600 MiLB ABs across the top four levels. He doesn’t K much, walks about 10% of the time, and currently sports a .388 ISO in 11 AAA games, surpassing his .263 mark in 62 AA games. Sweet mercy, come and come quick, young man. You’re being patiently awaited for on 5 of my teams. Thank you! And for you that pick him up…you’re welcome.

Now enough creepin’…let’s get to the Rankings. BUT WAIT!!!

For the Week 16 edition I’m giving you my SECOND HALF RANKINGS! (Duh, duh, duh!) You’ll see a lot of change up in these rankings from previous ones as I rely a little less on what numbers have gotten us to this point, and a little more on whom I project to do the best moving forward. So, congratulations, Adam Duvall. Your first half numbers gets you into the Top 100, but don’t for a second think I actually believe you’re reaching 40 HR or maintaining an AVG over .250. As a result, he drops from the Week 14 rankings (Week 15 remained stagnant due to the All-Star Break). Similar moves will be seen with players either on the DL (previously any DL player was removed from the ) or those that have underperformed but I expect great second halves (see: 19. Giancarlo Stanton). In general I chose to go with the upside over just the highest floor. Listen, it’s the second half; you can’t play it safe. Go for the gold, because second place is the best loser, right? So, view these rankings as TRADE VALUE ROS, but, as always, apply it with context to your team’s situminationism. You read it right. Have 5 solid OF but a weak 2B? Don’t be afraid to move 24. Yoenis Cespedes for 39. Rougned Odor. You do you, boo boo. (I’m pretty sure that’s not a Temptations line). Alright, let the debate begin…here are the Top 100 for the Second Half!

*= Currently on DL, += Suspended, #=Minors
Dropped from Week 14 Rankings: Justin Upton, Trayce Thompson, Jean Segura, Cameron Maybin, Jose Ramirez, Danny Valencia, Nomar Mazara, Jung-ho Kang, Matt Carpenter (injury), Adam Eaton, Jason Hayward, Hanley Ramirez, Kole Calhoun

Rather than a lot of notes on the players, let’s trigger the dialogue in the comments! So, go ahead and drop em and let’s talk about the hitters for days! Well, until the Week 17 edition, at least. Love this. Love you guys. I ain’t beggin’ you to stay, but you know what’s good for ya. DROP A COMMENT!