Last year, Christian Walker had a breakout season that everyone seems to be fully discounting for 2020. He went 86/29/73/.259/8 in 529 ABs. I’m sorry, he better than Au Shizz? Because he looks better than Au Shizz. I suppose no one thinks Christian Walker can do it again, or even take it a step further. I wonder why, i.e., hymn, why can’t he go onward Christian Walker? Did I just write the last two sentences just to tee up that pun? *puts on sunglasses* Maybe. But we’re not just here today talking about Christian Walker because of a church hymn. If that’s all I wanted, I would’ve talked about Mariners prospect, Wade Enwatter or Milord Kumbaya. What, you thought I was only going to write two sentences for bad puns? You new to Razzball? Church puns are supposed to stink. That’s why everyone’s got their nose up looking for a pew. Take it, Highlights Magazine! It is yours! So, what can we expect from Christian Walker for 2020 fantasy baseball and what makes him a sleeper?
Kinda goes back to everyone not trusting Christian Walker to repeat, because if he just does his previous season again, he’s worth way more than where he’s being drafted. So, can Walker repeat? Doode, why else am I writing this post? Seriously. JFChristian! He averaged 411 feet per homer, so if the balls come back to earth and not wearing sweatpants with “Juicy” on their ass, he’s still got plenty of power to hit it out. His 14.8 Launch Angle, produced a 38.4% fly ball rate with a 20% HR/FB rate. Ain’t trying to make unrealistic expectations, but the other guy with a 14.8 Launch Angle is Pete Alonso, but Walker’s exit velocity on average was actually higher than Albombso’s. Walker had a 46% Hard Contact rate and Alonso had a 42% rate. Obviously, I’m not saying this to bring Alonso down, it’s to elevate the Walker like donning a pair of Steph Curry sneakers. “Yo, where’d you get those fly as f**k nurse sneakers?” That was overheard on the streets of Sacramento. If you heard Walker had a 46% Hard Contact rate and thought that sounded high, you’re right. He was top 15 in the league. No one in the top 15 is a chump. Only one even close to chump-like is Rhys Hoskins at 14th, and I’m not convinced yet there’s not something still to him. Gonna sound pretty basic, but sometimes ya boy Grey gotta be basic. If you hit the ball hard and in the air, you’re gonna do fine. So, Walker will homer, can he do anything else? He stole eight bags last year in nine attempts, but he must’ve been sneezed on by Jarrod Dyson, because he looks more like a 3-5 steal guy. Next up, his batting average. Last year’s .259 was with a .312 BABIP, so he’s close to his ceiling without more luck or fewer strikeouts. Thankfully, I think he can cut his Ks. His chase rate was 28.2%, which is not just a home park number, but how often he went outside the zone for pitches. League average was 31.6. His rate of swinging at pitches inside the zone was 78% (average was 68.5%) and his contact on pitches inside the zone was 81.9% (league was at 84.9%). So, not all great there, he’s obviously swinging at the right pitches, but he is missing them. That feels more correctable than swinging at the wrong pitches and hitting or missing them, so it’s positive, relatively. Feels kinda pushy for his average without strides forward. Well, you know who can takes strides forward? Walker! (Sorry.) Honestly, he feels like a cheap Au Shizz for barely half the price. Call him Paul Ironschmidt. Fe Shizz! For 2020, I’ll give Christian Walker projections of 82/31/93/.257/4 in 554 ABs with a chance for more.
Just put in a bid for him, thanks for the reminder. I forgot about him. I had a lot of fun in the RCL with DT on the football side this year. Do you guys do that for baseball? If so, could I get in on that?
It was fun, Snacks! Thanks for letting me get to the championship, just need to take Wyld Stallions out now!
Definitely on RCL baseball, keep an eye out for Truss’s announcement post.
Ha, you da man! Had Lot of fun this season. Good Luck amigo, you built a bad ass team, nice trading with you!! Will keep an eye out for RCL baseball, thanks again buddy and good luck against the Wyld Stallions, will be watching close!
and where is Ante this year? Seems quiet without Abbot and Costello..
Ante is around. I think he might be posting baseball quotes this year.
Pepping for the big anniversary trip!
That’s right, going to Amsterdam…Is it bad I know where Ante’s going for his anniversary in three months and can’t remember when my actual anniversary is?
Ask Aleca. Mmmmm… I’m not sure about that
Haha
No, Grey. It is bad that I/we do.
Haha
Quotes end with the season, he’s been around tho
But Grey, didn’t you see what happened to all the White Walkers?
Tis the season for Christian Walkers.
Tis the season for Christian Walkers. Just hope he doesn’t turn into Jesus Aguilar.
GOT got
Not to ‘meh’ but I’d rather be running than Walking. He’s 28. Late breakout, decent power. I wouldn’t be shocked if the power numbers repeat, but I’m not sold on the AVG. Feels like… hold on lemme check dem stats a bit… Kole Calhoun! It’s almost 2 am at the bar and get in where you fit in.
Not really a late breakout. Walker was raking for 2 years in AAA and should have been up a while ago but was blocked by Goldy. Walker was a .300 hitter in AAA with 35HR’s. He was a Gold Glove finalist last year, so playing time isn’t a concern. Outside of SB’s which should be more like 5, I think 2019 was his floor. That’s a great pick at 220-250.
Thank you, Hot Corner!
Walker:
2017 (AAA): 133G/104/32/114/.309 /5
2018 (AAA): 84G /68/18/71/.299 /1
Those are in the PCL, so they can be discounted, but I am buying the talent. Took him around pick 225 in DC as my UT.
Were you his fan last year when I was doing my 1B rankings?
No. Walker wasn’t on my radar screen last year at this time.
I started looking closer at him more recently. I am a fan of looking for guys who’s breakout has partial started, but not so fully that it is priced into draft prices. Then, I decide if it is real or just a few good months. It doesn’t always work out, but they are low risk and win leagues. Last year, it was Bell and Marte. This year, it Walker and Mazara and I like your call on Swanson.
Ah, gotcha, nice! Wasn’t sure, because someone last year mentioned Walker in my 1B rankings comments as a breakout
That would be me (Luigi) Grey.
You even gave me a nice shoutout at end of season recaps and I offered you some free legal guidance, if needed, for help going BACK to BACK to BACK in my league, which was unfathomable.
Maybe I’ll see you down in Spring Training this year and i’ll introduce you to the White Walker.
Yes, thanks again Luigi!
Yeah, PCL covers a multitude of sins. But he was 26 in 2017 (his breakout year in the PCL). Go back a few more years and see how he did 2015-2016. Not quite the inflated AVG/OBP/SLG. He was blocked in Baltimore before being blocked in Arizona.
I actually had him for the first month or so last year. Someone called him out in comments here last year. So I watched him a bit in preseason and grabbed him in one draft. He hit for a little while, then ghosted so I dropped him. Take a look at his monthly splits last year. April/May he hit 7 HR with a .307/.381/.614 slash line! Then followed that up with this slash lines for the rest of the season. Meh.
0.208 0.283 0.375
0.250 0.317 0.424
0.239 0.388 0.522
0.304 0.385 0.457
0.235 0.340 0.469
How’s ever (bigbear turning the ship around), since I’m looking at splits: he looks like a solid strong side platoony-tune. 23 of his 29 HR against righties. .838 OPS vs. righties (.789 vs. lefties).
The sleeper call with a platoony bump. Can we call him Knocked Up Minnie? Disregard the fact that Minnie isn’t Looney Tune. I checked their character list… your five female reads will be disappointed with the lack of female role models in the Looney Tune line up!
You’d be lucky to get him later than n his current NFBC ADP of 205. He went earlier in my current draft.
Damn, bigbear, why you gotta do me like that?
Haha! I still love your fantastic stash, Mr. FML!
Thank you, bigbear!
First base is interesting this year. It is fairly top heavy and even the top guys have some question marks. It really is going to depend on how the ball issue plays out If it is still bouncy then it would probably make sense to take a guy like Walker late and fill up your CI slot with a 3B.
Then again if they fix the “stitching”issue and the ball isn’t flying out of the park, this might not make work.
Agreed, there are some big guys up front, then it gets as quiet as a (fill in analogy) for about 10 rounds
“Quiet as a coffin.”
Quiet as a church mouse in a coffin
Smoak the Brewer, great spot for him to land..
Except that there’s about 7 players per infield spot
They signed two halves of a platoon with Healy And Smoak and already had Braun….why not just pay $20 million and sign Donaldson to play first?
Great question!
Why — he will be making more than Shaw would have, and both players were bad last year, except Shaw is 3 years younger. And a better fielder.
Stearns is Strange
Yeah
Speaking of 1b sleepers, NFBC ADP 544 (51 1B) Justin Smoak going to the Brewers. Stock has to rise, but starting to get a little crowded in Mil lineup though with Garcia, Healy, Sogard and Smoak all being added last few days. How many ABs you think he’ll get Grey?
Over/under around 400 ABs, no way he plays every day
Currently drafting in a NFBC 15 team draft 50 and hold. 8th spot. So far…
Trea
Rendon
Albies
Trying to decide between Olson or Paddock. Either way is not a bad move, can hit pitching and outfield for awhile if I get Paddock who is the next ADP SP. What do you think?
Meant Olson instead of Paddock
Damn, you really need an SP, but I love Olson — Think him then immediately SPs
I was hoping you would say that.
It’s one thing to try an win your individual league, but to place in the O/A standings a guy needs to take a chance. Seems we can get lucky on pitching.
Yeah, and I love Olson, so I’d go him
Standard 5×5 10 team NL only keeper league. Who do you prefer C. Walker ($7) or T. Edman ($8). Context wise, will have Acuna, Soto, Trea as foundational guys.
Hmm, close, I’d go Walker
Lol, I think I’m in that same DC with Packers2018, drafting from 12 spot, went Soto(12), Buehler (19), Yordan Alvarez(42), Ketel Marte(49).., surprised those last 2 fell that far…, so, my question in 15 teams draft and hold Grey, where’s the latest you would get your first starter??,
Always like to get my 1st starter around 45-55, ideally, not much later (or earlier)
Gioloto or bust
I love Giolito!
That seems like a good start to me.
Good stuff Grey! Like Walker. Any chance he gets usurped by K Cron?
Also, Can you give your over/under for Avisail ABs now that they added all of these other turds?
Thanks Lothario of the Fantasy Master College de Charleston!
Nah, K-Cron feels like a AAAA player
Avisail went from 525 ABs to 425 ABs to 375 ABs in the matter of 3 days
Hey Grey, what are your thoughts on Giancarlo Stanton this season? I’ve got a chance to essentially acquire him for nothing in an AL only 12 team league. His salary is $26, which seems close to market. I’ve got to pull the trigger right?
He’s well worth the $26 salary in an AL-Only
Greg Walker, Larry Walker, Christian Walker… that’s some good company… a Walker at 1B is a natural fit.
What, you got something against Neil Walker?
Lol. Comparatively, I guess!
JJ Walker?
Well, following up from yesterday, I went with Kela, C. Vasquez, D. Gregorius with picks 192, 222, 229. Im pretty happy with getting those last two there. They should stabilize my BA and get solid counting stats.
Didi there is crazy, no idea why he’s suddenly being forgotten — nice on Vasquez, he has BA possibility
Thanks, yeah, I got some bargain shopping done!
I had my choice of Didi or Danby there. Danby went next pick. Phillies lineup should be pretty comparable for him to Yanks.
Dave-o! So Indians wanted Walsh as i thought plus 1 other. Would you have done that for Kluber? As a booby prize we signed Teheran to a 1 year (see my comment below), now i think our priority has got to be Ryu i think, yes injuries but in 6-man rotation can probably keep him and Ohtani fresher and healthier.
BTW nice cheap get on Didi
Yeah I would definitely have shipped Walsh. He is inferior to Thaiss and between those two and Ward the Rendon signing squeezes all 3’s PT.
Do love me some Dansby, but can’t fault Didi
“yanks looking at Joe Panik”
You KNOW they’re thinking that they can catch lightening again and turn Panik into DJL 2.0!
Think DJ/Panik is at Champagne Room in Circus Circus
ha!
Look away Yankees, Joe Panik?! nuthin to see here..Just use the guy you already got, Thairo Estrada, as back up around the infield, hes solid and already on the 40 man..
Yeah, I really really hope they pass hard on that.
Estrada played really well last season and can fill in in a lot of spots on the field..Hes got a little pop and can run, give him a shot and forget outside help on this one.
Don’t they have 6 infielders already?
Where has Voit been going in drafts lately? Seems like he’s been totally forgotten due to that 2h injury…part of me would prefer Voit over Rhys 1:1 as long as Yanks don’t sign EE or another 1b.
Around 200, about right, might be too early considering iffy playing time/history
Thanks had me thinking since I owned him last year.
I am very concerned about his second half.
I was hoping you would bring it up… Without lookIng at at any stats since I owned him I just feel like his second half was awful. Will that bad half carryover to a full season next year what do you think?
I’m not too concerned about it for his price, it’s a concern, but everyone after 200 overall has some concerns
actually, it seems like in 2nd half, he was more selective, at the plate, walk rate went up, k rate went down, soft contact actually went down, RBIs seems to be the number that suffered, maybe he was pitched differently with runners on base, he became more selective and walked more…, hard contact is borderline elite, this guy has another leap in numbers…,
I like how you’re talking!
Standard 5×5 10 team NL only keeper league. Who do you prefer C. Walker ($7) or T. Edman ($8). Context wise, will have Acuna, Soto, Trea as foundational guys
Hmm, close, I’d go Walker
Thanks.
Would you consider keeping them both and not keeping L. Castillo ($22). I will be keeping M. Soroka ($6).
Nah, keep Castillo
I just now got the Au Shizz reference thanks to the Fe. Better late then never-hope you have a great holidays.
Ha, thanks! Happy holidays!