Dart Throws: Jonathan Schoop

How did I come to this dart throw? Thanks for asking, Clunky Intro! I looked at NFBC’s ADP and, specifically, for who was being drafted after 300th overall, i.e., late eh-eff. I eye-spied Jonathan Schoop, and was like, “Ooh, is he that bad? I don’t think he is, but maybe I’m remembering things differently during my ninth month of the preseason. Am I seeing something that isn’t there? I can’t be. I’m so unbiased. Really, I am as impartial as human nature will allow. An even-keeled down-to-earth, extremely handsome, well-coiffed Fantasy Master Lothario.” Then I looked at Steamer projections for 2nd basemen (go to that page and type 2B into the column for positions), and saw something that knocked off my socks, and I was wearing stirrups to avoid such needlessly undressing of my feet. Look at these projections:  58/18/50/.240/2 in 316 ABs vs. 41/16/47/.262/1 in 318 ABs. The 2nd one is Jonathan Schoop. Obviously less runs, but way better average, which makes everything kinda equal there. Yes, twenty points in average evens out the runs, and, while you might say average is fickle, so will runs in a shortened season. Those numbers just aren’t that different. The problem is the 1st guy is being drafted 69th overall and, as high as the top 25 (though, that’s silly). One guy goes top 70 and another guy being drafted after 300? That’s crazy. Any ideas who the 1st guy is? Yes, Max Muncy, well done. You win an imaginary pat on the back. So, what can we expect from Jonathan Schoop for 2020 fantasy baseball and what makes him a great dart throw?

Wait a second, I just told you what to expect from Jonathan Schoop and why he was a great dart throw. I mean, I guess I could figure out why he’s projected for that. Geez, the work I’m putting in over here. If you throw out his worst season (2018, when he battled oblique injuries and was traded during the year), he’s an easy .265 hitter, averaging 25 homers. If you want to talk shortened season, in 75 1st half games last year he hit .260 with 14 homers. Last year, his SLG was about the same as OZUNA and Au Shizz. What’s that, they weren’t good either? Yeah, well, Schoop is younger and does pretty much exactly what those two schmohawks are gonna do minus 250 draft picks. OZUNA is especially similar for batted ball profile:  35.2% FB rate vs. 36.8%; 22.1% HR/FB vs. 19.7% and they both pull everything. OZUNA does have a harder contact rate, but OZUNA is projected for 19 HRs, and .276. What’s the difference there? 3 HRs and .14 on average? Big whoop. Schoop is currently slotted into the five-hole in the lineup, but, since three righties Maybin, Miguel Cabrera and C.J. Cron, and one switch-hitter, Goodrum, are in front of him, he could easily move up in the lineup, which essentially eliminates all the difference in counting stats between him and Muncy. What seems to trip people up about Schoop is his lack of walks (.304 OBP), even though you’re not all in OBP leagues. Pointing at Schoop’s OBP while not being in an OBP league is like pointing at your neighbor’s Jason Mraz concert tee. Please, and I can’t emphasize this enough after this brief pause, stop worrying about things that don’t concern you. Your neighbor likes Jason Mraz and Schoop likes swinging at pitches. Before the cool done run out
Schoop be giving it his best-est, so make that dart throw.