Two of the most added players in ESPN leagues over the past week were Dodgers….or how us Angelenos like to call them, Los Doyers. Enrique Hernandez saw a 50.3% increase in ownership from 16.1%, while Joc Pederson saw a 44.3% increase in ownership from 33%. Joc is owned in 77.3% of leagues, while Kike is at 66.4%? Maybe I’m not so cuckoo after all.
Let’s begin with Kike. He’s the starting second baseman for the Doyers. He’s played in all but one game and has already clubbed three home runs. He’s walking 14.3% while only striking out 10.7% of the time. He’s always possessed good plate discipline, so that walk number shouldn’t surprise. The strikeout rate? Yeah, he’s a career 20% guy, so don’t expect that ratio to continue. Anyways, I could babble about numbers but the sample size is so low right now that it wouldn’t be too productive. The main takeaway for Kike is that he’s now playing full time. He’s batting leadoff against lefties and fifth against righties. Throughout his career, Kike has been a lefty masher, posting a .501 SLG in 681 plate appearances. In addition, he has 2B, OF, SS eligibility. Don the hat, step into the stirrups, and let’s ride this bull. Yee haw!
Pederson has also clubbed three home runs on the season. Like Kike, he’s walked more than he’s struck out so far this season (17.4% vs 8.7%). His career walk rate is 13.1%, while the career strikeout rate is 24.7%. But the sample sizes are small (that’s what she said). Yes, I just binged the Office. Anyways, Joc bats leadoff against right-handed pitching. That’s nice, but he gets platooned against lefties, and that’s probably not going to change. His career batting avg (.181) and slugging (.316) are terrible and, with the Dodgers having Chris Taylor as his platoon mate, that situation will likely remain that way. But he’s on the strong side of the platoon, Son? Yes, I know, but here’s the thing. Within the NL West, there are 10 starters that are left-handed. That’s half of the starting pitchers in the division that the Dodgers have to go against. Not one. Not two. Not three. But 10! I was watching BBC Earth: The Hunt last night and there was a section on Polar Bears. One in five hunts are successful. And that’s when the conditions are pristine, as in water is frozen and there are limited breathing holes for the seals. During the summer, though, when the ice has melted and there are plenty of avenues of escape for the seals, one in 20 hunts are prosperous. I can’t believe how perfectly that analogy worked for this Bull or Bear piece. The Universe is indeed awesome sometimes.
