Here’s a post we didn’t think we’d be reading last year at this time, huh? What’s next, a Robbie Ray sleeper post? Actually… Okay, will save that for another day. Last year, was a lost year for Carlos Martinez. He dealt with a myriad of injuries. By the way, Myriad is a great name for a cult. Just throwing it out there in case any readers fancy themselves the next Bo and/or Peep of Heaven’s Gate. Or Myriad could be a 60-year-old Jewish woman. “Myriad, you know I can’t have lactose!” Any hoo! Carlos Martinez’s injuries began as oblique than progressed to straight bleak with shoulder issues. At one point, he was hit by a screamin’ meemie comebacker off his chest that sent him for x-rays. Carlos Martinez was the refrigerator and injuries were the magnets. By the by, if you want to use Screamin’ Meemie as your cult name, I’m not hating on that either. So, the big question is will Carlos Martinez be able to bounce back from his dreadful year and return to ace status. So, what can we expect from Carlos Martinez for 2019 fantasy baseball and what makes him a sleeper?
I duped you. I mean, you were wholly duped. You were so duped, you don’t even know how duped you were or how you were duped. I said Carlos Martinez had a lost year and could he bounce back from his dreadful year. Guess what you Screamin’ Meemies of the Myriad Earth Tribesmen? Carlos Martinez wasn’t bad last year. I just snapped you in half. I broke you off with a little, “What now?” He had a 3.11 ERA. Shizz, doode, have you seen some ERAs that are passing as good nowadays? I know ERA is not the best barometer of solid pitching, but the post isn’t over yet, so chillax! His velocity was down overall last year (95 to 93 MPH). But let’s dig in on that, because his K/9 was down from the previous year. He went down early in the year (May 8th thru June 5th) with something oblique. Prior to that, his fastball was in the 90-93 range. Dragging down his season long numbers because when he was finally healthy in August, his velocity was between 94-96. His slider velocity was also down two miles per hour early in the year and saw that bounce back too. Same with the cutter. All of his pitches were off anywhere from two to three miles per hour early on. After he returned in August, all his pitches were back. In the 1st half, his K/9 was 8.6; in the 2nd half, it was 9.6. Of course, I realize the jump in stuff in the 2nd half coincided with him being used as a reliever vs. a starter. Also, shoulder injuries are scarier than Bird Box, I get it. Or maybe, just maybe, he was working his way back and he’s fine now. Every time a starter goes down with shoulder tightness an angel doesn’t get his wings or The Sciosciapath wouldn’t have been asked to retire. Shoulder tightness doesn’t have to end careers either. He just turned 27, and, prior to last year, he averaged 200 innings the previous two years. Maybe last year was simply a nice break for a guy who was being overworked. Wouldn’t you prefer a starter who threw less than 120 IP last year but has a history of being an ace than a guy who has never thrown 200 IP before? I’m farting in your general direction, James Paxton. Of course, all of this would be moot if Carlos Martinez was being drafted anywhere near an ace, but I’ve seen him go as late as 150th overall. There’s insane value at that point. Insane like being a Screamin’ Meemie in the Myriad cult and not wanting a hand-me-down earth skin. For 2019, I’ll give Carlos Martinez the projections of 12-9/3.42/1.26/182 in 187 IP with a chance for more.
