I remember years ago the gold standard for fantasy goodness was getting 20 home runs and 20 steals. That trend is unfortunately not in our favor anymore. As I have waxed poetic before about the growing trend of the stolen bases laying by the roadside and becoming less of an accumulated stat across baseball… This year, we roughly have 50 games to go and we have one player that has just accomplished the feet, and if someone would have guessed that it would have been Wil Myers in preseason, I would have spit out my grape Fanta. With other players on pace to eclipse this mark, the number is still trending in a bad way. In the last six years, the number was the highest in 2011 with 12 players making the 20/20 barrier. Since then, it has reduced every year, 9 in 2012, 8 in 2013, 5 in 2014 and 4 just last year. With Myers, there is some hope that a few other players get there, but the numbers are not in the stats favor to be opposite of what they once were, and there is no way that I can see it getting up to double digits again. This tells me a few things about rostering SB guys, first, the elite are more coveted. Players like Jose Altuve to me should be a top-5 player next year because he basically wins you, or at least is the reason that you win two categories. Second thing is that grabbing players that are steal-only guys is probably not worth the chase, and the punt of the category is most likely the best strategy. But hell, what do I know, I have only been here since forever and a day.
Raul Mondesi Jr. – He is getting his taste now. Alcides is a free agent at years end, and the tarot cards read that Baby Mondy will just slide over and take his spot. Regardless of next year, he is the 2B/SS almost everyday. He doesn’t have elite speed, but 10-15 on a year is likely his cap, and his claim to fame and roster usefulness now is that he is playing every single day. He is a better hitter than his .229 avg currently, and let’s remember he is still only 20 years old.
Travis Jankowski – I seem to talk about him every week, but I always find something new about him. He has 207 plate appearances this year and 24 steals. Stolen base leader Jonathan Villar has 458 and 41 steals. I am no math dude, but someone looks better. TJ has 7 steals over the past seven games, nuff said.
Tyler Saladino – Lawrie is still dinged and he has multiple position eligibility. That to me screams stream on an off day set. Two steals over last week of games and has the second sack manned for at least another seven games.
Tom Wilhelmsen – Is definitely in the cat bird seat in Seattle. Got the cheapy off day save for Edwin. They will be very careful with Diaz usage down the stretch so a grab and bench for Tom wouldn’t be the worst idea I have ever heard.
Sam Dyson – Blew his second save in a row, and to be fair his handcuff looked worse. Jeffress would be the guy but he gave up three earned in same game. Nothing to see yet but Jeffress was tossed back in a ton of leagues.
Roberto Osuna – The Blue Jays won three straight games and had three separate guys get saves in each game. Thanks for making SAGNOF’n easy Gibby.
