Holy cow do I miss writing these.
Actual prospect news? Yes, please!
PS: We’ll circle back to round out the Top 100 on Sunday.
PPS: I’m building an overall dynasty rankings set, and it’s already a scramble to stay ahead of the draft room in the Highlander Dynasty Invitational. I feel like Indiana Jones running from a rock. We’re on pick 34 as I type this part, and I only feel really good about my rankings through pick 50 or so. I’m at 143 in terms of building the list from scratch. Wish me luck, dear reader, as this hallway is narrow, and my computer time is scarce.
I need to finish these before Friday. Fry! Day!
Anyone else asking that too-much-of-a-good-thing question this week? I know I’m feeling whelmed.
Wednesday night at 6 p.m.,the CBS AL Only Auction (SCD) kicks off. Need to have that player pool fully sussed before then.
Friday night, I’ll drive two hours to my home league auction then back home Saturday to help in the house and finalize the Top 100 before midnight (when it goes to press, so to speak). Then Sunday morning, I’ll drive about an hour to find a new place for a draft I joined because I have two brothers (in-law) in the league. 10:30 a.m. Sunday draft. Whazza whazza what!? I’m very afraid this is one of those ten-hour deals, just between you and me. Older I get, kind of worry. Also one of those things that could’ve been an email. I’m sure I’ll have a blast as it’s underway, but my brain is probably still a bit broken from the pandemic so I wonder why not a text thread. Smiling emoji would go here if I had one. Do I have one? : ) Not that one. You know what I meant.
I saw new Oakland 3B Kevin Smith make a snazzy play at shortstop the other day. So snazzy, in fact, that the announcers thought he was Olympian and defensive wizard Nick Allen. How many at bats do you think Smith will get if healthy this year? Over/under at around 500? Here’s what I wrote about him in the Toronto Blue Jays Top 10 Prospects for 2022 Fantasy Baseball:
“Get ready for some Mallrats jokes! Pretty sure I got one in there somewhere last season, and I apologize for any future bits that don’t land. Gotta focus. Focus! Smith was doing just that in 2021, zeroing in on swing decisions that left him with an enticing 23.7 percent strikeout rate after punching out 32.3 at a percent clip in 2019 at AA. He also walked about twice as much: from 6.2% to 11.2% and slashed .285/.370/.561 with 21 HR and 18 SB in just 94 games. That’s a loud season for a former first-round pick taking his first licks at AAA. Felt like his success went mostly under the radar, and his MLB performance in 36 plate appearances (.094/.194/.188) certainly didn’t win any advocates, so it’s under the radar he’ll stay. I’m not saying he should top anyone’s wish list, but I do think he’ll get a legit shot to stick this season and could be a boon even in redraft leagues.”
Well lucky you if you drafted Smith before he got traded to Oakland, but that doesn’t mean we’ll just be chasing money from here forward. Smith is still a good get in just about any league in case he lands on his feet out West in the land of opportunity.
Seattle RHP Matt Brash was mentioned by manager Scott Servais as his preferred candidate for the fifth starter’s role, which makes sense given how the club rushed him up the big leagues to help in a pinch during their playoff chase last season.
Here’s what I wrote about Brash in the Seattle Mariners Top 10 Prospects for 2022 Fantasy Baseball:
“I’ve got a pretty open mind to his potential role, and I suspect Seattle feels a similar way. Brash is enjoying a loud breakout season, especially if you do the cool kid thing and remove his one big hiccup: 1.61 ERA and a 36.6 K% in ten starts since June 23, seven of those coming in AA.”
I suspect the general expectation was for a red carpet rollout before George Kirby, and I’m not saying that won’t happen–just that it’s interesting to think Brash might get there first and establish himself as a mainstay.
Cincinnati RHP Graham Ashcraft was throwing 97 with a nasty bender against the Cubs. He’s not the best of the club’s pitching prospects, which might give him an edge in beating Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Brandon Williamson to the big league club, depending on how Cincinnati wants to play the service time game. How can you not be romantic about baseball? With Luis Castillo on the IL to start the year with a shoulder issue, Reiver Sanmartin can be penciled into the opening day rotation. He might be the number three starter behind Mahle and Minor.
Cincinnati RHP Tony Santillan is being stretched out to start after debuting in the arm barn last year. His competition for one of the last two spots is probably Vladimir Gutierrez and Justin Dunn with the aforementioned Ashcraft having an outside shot. Whoever wins their shot will be an intriguing streamer against the Pirates and Cubs.
OF Steven Kwan has been playing center field, and while I think the first chance there will go to Bradley Zimmer, he’s had a lot of trouble staying on the field, and Kwan just does everything well on the field, especially in the batter’s box, where Kwan refuses to strike out.
We were writing 3B Jose Miranda into Minnesota’s lineup following the Josh Donaldson trade, but the signing of Carlos Correa figures to bump Gio Urshella to 3B. Fortune may still favor the bold because Miranda is easily among the team’s best nine. Just be prepared to spend the first few weeks without him.
Thanks for reading and good luck in what promises to be a weekend full of dunks and drafts!
