Remember that one Razzball writer, the guy who said that shallow positions aren’t shallow, they’re just waiting for guys to ascend to their new lofty heights? Genius, that guy is. Especially with Nick Kurtz receiving the call in Oakland.
Kurtz is the rarest of modern breeds: a first base bat prospect taken in the first round. After demolishing pitchers at Wake Forest, he debuted with over a 1.200 OPS. This earned him a slot in AAA for his first full season.
And he has done nothing but hit (kinda). I’m more excited about Kurtz than I was about Triston Casas and Andrew Vaughn, for reference. He’s been stashed in my NA slot in every league I’m in. And yet, I must preach a bit of caution.
Kurtz, you see, is in his first pro cold snap. He’s just 5 for his last 27 with a 32% K rate in that time. Big picture, it’s just a blip. He’s for real. Just this season, we’re not getting prime Miguel Cabrera here. If we get .240 with 20 HR, that would be a tremendous rookie season, especially given that he was playing in the NCAA at this time a year ago.
He’s a must add, but don’t be surprised to see hit and cold stretches.
So what else is news in the corners world?
Matt Shaw was demoted from the Cubs, with no single replacement named. Shaw really struggled at the plate and was not looking like he was about to improve, so he’s back to Iowa. If you’re desperate, Jon Berti gets the most run, but I’d just ignore it and watch Shaw tear up the minors for a bit. It’s likely a short stint, so stash.
Jonathan Aranda has played in his last two games against lefties. That’s it. That’s the blurb.
Triston Casas is a .182 hitter in March and April. He’s .268 after that. Don’t give up. Looks like a perennial slow starter.
Luis Arraez was taken to the hospital after a scary collision and is now on the 7-day concussion list. Concussions that send you to the hospital are probably worse than ones that don’t, so you probably have to look elsewhere for your batting average needs for a while. Just hope he’s okay! Ask Justin Morneau what a concussion can do to your career.
I was low on Jazz Chisholm Jr. unlike everyone else in Razzball and he’s not hitting near .200. He does have 6 HR and 5 SB, and you picked him as one of your top four guys, but I imagine this sucks.
Cam Smith is hitting .289 with 3 HR the past two weeks, quite an accomplishment. It will be really interesting to see him and Kurtz as draft classmates in the AL West for years to come. Cam is going to be a monster.
Cutting it a bit shorter this week, or maybe too long depending on your perspective. I’m at a house with the in-laws, and this is getting me out of a rousing game of Apples to Apples. Ugh. There’s no strategy in that monstrosity of a game. Maybe should just keep typing……
What the chances the Guardians decide to waylay the Carlos Santana experiment at 1B and go with Manzi as their future at 1B
Probably would take some losing which they aren’t doing right now. They should though. Obviously. Think about the future!
Morneau and Joe Mauer, too.
Poor Twins