Michael Taylor, 2017 Fantasy Baseball

Michael Taylor of the Washington Nationals is:

A) A bad baseball player.

B) An improving baseball player.

C) A good baseball player.

D) A good looking baseball player.

R) All of the above.

If you selected A, then you are correct. Anytime a headline for a story reads, “Nationals’ Michael Taylor Might Have Had The Worst Game In Baseball History,” you’re always in consideration for being labelled a bad baseball player. I mean, the article opens with, “We’re not even exaggerating…” So, Taylor went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts and left five men on base in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That’s not even the end of the story. In the bottom of the ninth, with the Nationals up by one run, Taylor charged a ball hit by Yasiel Puig but the ball went under his glove, which allowed two runs to score. Okay, one game does not make a player bad. It just means one game was played poorly. You gotta admit, though. That was pretty bad.

Anyways, our illustrious leader, Grey, calls Taylor a hot schmotato. Not just any hot schmotato, but a “full stop, all caps hot schmotato. Taylor’s like Altuve getting cereal, on the latter.” Translation: He sucks.

If you selected B, then you are also correct. In every big league season, Taylor has increased his batting average: .205 in 2014, .229 in 2015, .231 in 2016, and .273 in 2017. Taylor began this year with a pathetic slash line of .219/.235/.250 in April. In May, it was .281/.330/.500. So far in June, it’s .284/.301/.642. He’s also been “working to be selective in his swings.” Let’s not forget, Taylor is still only 26 years old.

If you selected C, then you are also correct. If he wasn’t good, he wouldn’t be in the pros. Duh. Seriously, though, good is such a subjective adjective, especially in baseball. It really depends on what criteria you’re looking at. In 2014, Taylor hit 14 home runs and stole 16 bases. Only 15 players could lay claim to those numbers that season. That’s good, right? Currently, WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is 1.5. That would place him in the 60-range for that statistic. That’s good, right?

If you selected D, then you are also correct.

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I’m secure enough in my sexuality to say that he’s a good looking dude.

If you selected E, then you are also correct. He’s bad, improving, and good. Which basically means that he’s inconsistent and has holes in his game. Taylor mashes lefties (.397 wOBA with a 23.3% strikeout rate). Against righties, .329 wOBA with a 35.6% strikeout rate. At home, .439 wOBA with a 26.7% strikeout rate, but on the road, .260 wOBA with a 38.7% strikeout rate.

There’s juicy power/speed potential here with Taylor. The high strikeout rate sucks and so does the 16% swinging strike rate. In addition, he bats eighth in the batting order. But….did you know that he’s the 51st outfielder on both ESPN’s and Razzball’s Player Rater? What??!! He’s owned in 10% of ESPN leagues and 0% in RCL’s. What??!! What??!! Jackie Bradley Jr. is 99% owned in RCL’s, yet he’s the 79th outfielder. What??!! What??!! What??!!

I usually give the hand to players that strikeout 30% of the time and have a swinging strike rate over 15%. With Taylor, I’m a little intrigued. This is the first time in his brief major league career in which he’s posted back-to-back months with an average over .280. Granted, the BABIP is at .365, but here’s the thing. You pretty much know when to play him. Against lefties at home. If he can somehow improve against righties and maybe stay at a Holiday Inn on the road, then you got yourself a playa playa. Here’s the thing part deux. He’s a potential 20/20 player that’s free. The projection systems have Taylor down for 8-10 home runs and 10-12 stolen bases rest of season.

VERDICT

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