If I told you there was a cartoon about a Spanish guy that works as a repairman, you’d probably think it was part of the Adult Swim lineup. Maybe even HBO. If you’ve ever seen The Life and Times of Tim, you’d likely agree. Tim is perhaps my all time favorite adult themed cartoon, after Beavis and Butthead of course. I’m sure that speaks volumes for my childish sense of humor. Between immature television shows and The Howard Stern Show it should come as no surprise that I am as well informed as I am. If you wanted to watch Handy Manny, however, you’d have to tune into the Disney Channel. Believe it or not Handy Manny is a cartoon for little kids. Way to reinforce that stereotype at an early age Disney. I just saw a commercial on the Disney Channel promoting some new shows they will be airing. Saul the Banker, Tyrone the Thief and The Blonde Girl Who Isn’t Smart. Get your DVR’s ready parents!
Handy Manny Machado led all players in plate appearances last season with 713, converting those opportunities into 35 home runs, 86 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and 485 fantasy points. That translated into 0.68 points per plate appearance. For reference, Mike Trout had 486 points. Andrew McCutchen had 455. Trout and McCutchen were both first round picks. Machado had an ADP of 116. I think this is the year he moves past Mike Trout and begins his reign as a top five batter in points leagues. 40 homers and 100+ RBIs is well within his reach. So is an MVP award.
The real question is whether he can move past both Josh Donaldson and Nolan Arenado and emerge as the top third baseman. That answer is, I’m not sure. But I will say this, if it doesn’t happen this season it will be within the next two years. Both Donaldson and Arenado hit 40 long balls and drove in over 100 runs. They also happen to play their respective home games in two of the highest fantasy point yielding ballparks in fantasy baseball. The good news is that there are basically three number one 3B. In a ten team non-keeper league that gives you roughly a 30 percent chance at a stud on the hot corner. In keeper leagues your chances are zero if you don’t already own one of them.
It’s the twenty stolen bases that I think are going to be the difference between Manny and the pack. I wouldn’t expect any more than twenty however. Still that’s more than Donaldson (6) and Arenado (2). Another factor in points leagues is strikeouts. Machado struck out 111 times last season, as compared to Donaldson (133) and Arenado (110). To level the playing field let’s look at how often each struck out. Manny Machado struck out once every 6.423 plate appearances. Donaldson struck out once every 5.346 plate appearances. Lastly, Arenado reached three strikes once every 6.045 plate appearances. The numbers say that Machado strikes out less often. Advantage Machado.
In redraft leagues and I can see these three being drafting with consecutive picks. The days of Adrian Beltre and Evan Longoria are long gone. I’d also like to point out that you haven’t found Kris Bryant‘s name in this post. Well up until this point at least. In points leagues I don’t see him being a top five third basement. Let someone else draft him in the first few rounds or overpay for him in the auction. He’s not the 3B you’re looking for.
I’m pretty sure that “machado” is Spanish for “even more macho”. Google translate disagrees. It says “hatchet”, but I’m sticking with my initial interpretation. Do you think if he wrestled he’d be known as Randy Machado Man Savage? I’m pretty sure if he was a repairman, he’d be Handy Manny. For now we’ll just call him the heir apparent to the third base throne.
