Solarte is breaking out all over! He’s halfway to his career high HR total with 9 right now. He’s a third of the way towards surpassing his career highs in runs and RBI. So what gives? Well Solarte has embraced the launch angle revolution and has dropped his ground ball rate by 7% from his career numbers. But this shouldn’t have surprised us — every year it seems like Solarte has been hitting less ground balls. In the low minors he was hitting between 50 and 60% of his balls on the ground, in the upper minors he was hitting between 40 and 50% and now he’s just taking his game to the next level. Maybe we just should’ve seen this coming?
Risers:
A.J. Pollock: This is the A.J. Pollock we were all promised in 2015. Pollock is currently the #4 outfielder according to ESPN’s biased Player Rater and is the closest hitter to having double-digit HR and SB (10/8 respectively.) All Pollock owners are all collectively holding their breath in anticipation of this year’s season-ending injury, but for now enjoy the ride.
Corey Dickerson: No one seems happier than Corey Dickerson to escape Florida.Of the big three outfielders who were traded from their Florida teams (Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton and Dickerson) Dickerson has more hits, RBI and stolen bases. If he keeps this pace up he could end up in the top 50 completely eclipsing his current OF mate Gregory Polanco.
Fallers:
Marcell Ozuna: I don’t know how much longer Ozuna’s 2017 keeps him high on this list. Ozuna has 17 RBI which aren’t bad, but the 2 HR, 9 runs and .263 average are really not looking good for a guy who was probably a top 5 round pick in your league. Ozuna is making hard contact on almost 50% of his balls put in play — but unfortunately he’s also hitting 50% of his balls in play on the ground. He’s pulling 44% of his balls compared to 21% going to the opposite field — I wish there was something I could pinpoint with Ozuna, but baseball is a crazy game. I think last year’s .355 BABIP lead to a career high anomaly season. Before 2013 to 2016 his batting average was .265, .269, .259, .266. Last year? 312. This year? .263.
Brett Gardner: As of right now, Brett Gardner’s batting average is under .200. His lowest batting average since his rookie season was .256. I think a bit of bad luck has befallen the Yankees leadoff man who is posting a 13.8% BB/rate, yet the highest strikeout rate of his career with a 22.5%. Could age be catching up with him? Maybe — he’s an old 34 who seems like he’s been playing so long that he’s 44. More likely, his career low .259 BABIP is causing a bit of bad luck to affect his ratios. He, like Ozuna, is also hitting far too many ground balls: 51.2%. Maybe Gardy has lost a step at 34. When you’re 27 you can turn some of those ground balls into hits. Turning 35 in August plus having an annually falling speed score is a formula for decline.
New on the Scene:
Michael Brantley: Maybe I was hesitant to rank him on account of he’s always hurt. But I can’t deny that .348 average anymore. He is putting bat to ball at an astonishing 94% contact rate and he’s only drawn 3 walks and swung through 5 strikeouts. Michael Brantley has come to play and if he keeps making contact at that rate — he could hit over .333 on the year.
Kevin Pillar: Or as I like to call him — Diet Pollock. Solarte’s teammate hasn’t allowed his batting average to dip below .265 all year. This is being fed by a .354 meaning Pillar could be a sell high candidate for you. However, Pillar has been making excellent hard contact so far this season seeing his 27.3% last year to 36.9% this year so maybe all that time getting swole is paying off. Pillar has never hit over .280 at the major league level so I think some correction is coming — but he did have a 15/15 season last year making him a valuable 4th OF for you.
GREEN: Rising | BLUE: New Additions | RED: Falling
Top 100 Hitters
| RANK | NAME | TEAM | POSITION | LAST WEEK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | 1 |
| 2 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | 2 |
| 3 | Bryce Harper | WAS | OF | 3 |
| 4 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | 4 |
| 5 | Trea Turner | WAS | SS | 5 |
| 6 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | 6 |
| 7 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | 7 |
| 8 | Paul Goldschmidt | ARI | 1B | 8 |
| 9 | Carlos Correa | HOU | SS | 9 |
| 10 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B | 10 |
| 11 | Manny Machado | BAL | 3B | 11 |
| 12 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF | 12 |
| 13 | Giancarlo Stanton | NYY | OF | 13 |
| 14 | Francisco Lindor | CLE | SS | 14 |
| 15 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | 15 |
| 16 | Joey Votto | CIN | 1B | 16 |
| 17 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | 17 |
| 18 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | 18 |
| 19 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 2B/3B | 19 |
| 20 | George Springer | HOU | OF | 20 |
| 21 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | 21 |
| 22 | Brian Dozier | MIN | 2B | 22 |
| 23 | Jose Abreu | CHW | 1B | 23 |
| 24 | Dee Gordon | SEA | 2B | 24 |
| 25 | Gary Sanchez | NYY | C | 25 |
| 26 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | 26 |
| 27 | Justin Upton | ARI | OF | 27 |
| 28 | Josh Donaldson | TOR | 3B | NR |
| 29 | Alex Bregman | HOU | SS/3B | 28 |
| 30 | Andrew Benintendi | BOS | OF | 29 |
| 31 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI | 1B/OF | 30 |
| 32 | Starling Marte | PIT | OF | 31 |
| 33 | A.J. Pollock | ARI | OF | 44 |
| 34 | Buster Posey | SF | C/1B | 33 |
| 35 | Ozzie Albies | ATL | 2B | 47 |
| 36 | Robinson Cano | SEA | 2B | 34 |
| 37 | Anthony Rendon | WAS | 3B | NR |
| 38 | Edwin Encarnacion | CLE | 1B | 36 |
| 39 | Khris Davis | OAK | OF | 37 |
| 40 | Didi Gregorius | NYY | SS | 39 |
| 41 | Yoenis Cespedes | NYM | OF | 40 |
| 42 | Marcell Ozuna | STL | OF | 32 |
| 43 | Eric Hosmer | SD | 1B | 41 |
| 44 | Nelson Cruz | SEA | DH | 42 |
| 45 | Tommy Pham | STL | OF | 43 |
| 46 | Jean Segura | SEA | SS | 46 |
| 47 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | 48 |
| 48 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | 49 |
| 49 | Nicholas Castellanos | DET | 3B/OF | 50 |
| 50 | Mitch Haniger | SEA | OF | 64 |
| 51 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 2B | 52 |
| 52 | Andrew McCutchen | SF | OF | 53 |
| 53 | Ender Inciarte | ATL | OF | 54 |
| 54 | Ronald Acuna | ATL | OF | 55 |
| 55 | Mike Moustakas | KC | 3B | 56 |
| 56 | Javier Baez | CHC | SS/2B | 57 |
| 57 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | 58 |
| 58 | Travis Shaw | MIL | 3B | 59 |
| 59 | Rafael Devers | BOS | 3B | 62 |
| 60 | Gregory Polanco | PIT | OF | 51 |
| 61 | Matt Olson | OAK | 1B | 67 |
| 62 | Jose Martinez | STL | 1B | 70 |
| 63 | Willson Contreras | CHC | C | 60 |
| 64 | Joey Gallo | TEX | 3B/1B | 71 |
| 65 | Kyle Seager | SEA | 3B | 61 |
| 66 | Nomar Mazara | TEX | OF | 72 |
| 67 | Adam Jones | BAL | OF | 66 |
| 68 | Justin Smoak | TOR | 1B | 76 |
| 69 | Carlos Santana | PHI | 1B | 69 |
| 70 | Hanley Ramirez | BOS | DH | 77 |
| 71 | Ryan Braun | MIL | OF | 80 |
| 72 | Eugenio Suarez | CIN | 3B | 81 |
| 73 | Brett Gardner | NYY | OF | 68 |
| 74 | Billy Hamilton | CIN | OF | 73 |
| 75 | Chris Taylor | LAD | 2B/OF | 83 |
| 76 | Jed Lowrie | OAK | 2B | 92 |
| 77 | JT Realmuto | MIA | C | 84 |
| 78 | Corey Dickerson | PIT | OF | 100 |
| 79 | Kyle Schwarber | CHC | OF | 82 |
| 80 | Yangervis Solarte | TOR | 2B/SS/3B | NR |
| 81 | Kevin Pillar | TOR | OF | NR |
| 82 | Salvador Perez | KC | C | 89 |
| 83 | Yadier Molina | STL | C | 90 |
| 84 | Brandon Belt | SF | 1B | NR |
| 85 | Nick Markakis | ATL | OF | NR |
| 86 | David Peralta | ARI | OF | 97 |
| 87 | Domingo Santana | MIL | OF | 74 |
| 88 | Eddie Rosario | MIN | OF | 93 |
| 89 | Todd Frazier | NYM | 3B | NR |
| 90 | Matt Chapman | OAK | 3B | 85 |
| 91 | Josh Bell | PIT | 1B | 87 |
| 92 | Delino DeShields | TEX | OF | NR |
| 93 | Tim Anderson | CWS | SS | 95 |
| 94 | Cesar Hernandez | PHI | 2B | 99 |
| 95 | Michael Brantley | CLE | OF | NR |
| 96 | Christian Villanueva | SD | 3B | NR |
| 97 | Teoscar Hernandez | TOR | OF | NR |
| 98 | Marcus Semien | OAK | SS | NR |
| 99 | Jose Peraza | CIN | SS | NR |
| 100 | Eduardo Escobar | MIN | 3B/SS | NR |
Let me know what you think in the comments below!
There were a lot of new arrivals because eight players in the top-100 from last week went on the disabled list!
It’s all thanks to Yangervis’ Band-Aid mustache!
@Grey:
It’s the source of all his power! It really looks like he cut himself shaving: https://youtu.be/tLPZmPaHme0
Hope Au Shizz can turn it around, otherwise will be going Aww Shi ite.
@Prog_Nation: Doesn’t look good. His swinging strike and contact percentage numbers are dreadful.
@Prog_Nation: maannnnn Ive been holding off on dropping him but he’s 3 for his last 34 …………………………………………………………………………..3/34.
Three 4 thirty-four.
That’s .088
Yuck.
@Kerry Klug: Don’t want to drop, but may see if I can trade him for someone up and coming, or close on your list. One article states he is seeing less fastballs and more breaking and falling behind in the count more often. I’ll hold him and see how he does against less than stellar pitching later this month.
@Prog_Nation: Oh my bad! I meant drop him in my rankings — sorry.
@Kerry Klug: HA!
@Kerry Klug: Gotcha. Thanks.
The Dickerson vs Stanton Yelich comment is nuts, worst ballpark and supporting offense than the other two as well!
Rosario has to be rising. Where do you see him at next week? Is top 50 feasible the way he’s hitting?
@J-Hova:
Oh I don’t know if he’s actually the happier than the other two but he is performing really well.
Dahl and Brinson in the OF (with LoCain, Trout and Acuna) so Rajai Davis is on the WW. Do I make a claim and who to drop? Or I could replace either guy with Canha, L.Garcia, Altherr, Descalso, J.Pederson , Kiki Hernandez. GParra, Dietrich, H.Bader, A.Hanson, K.Calhoun or Hernan Perez.
@dfrench23: I’d drop brinson and grab Canha. Brinson has a bright future but not yet.
Mancini or M. Adams?
@Robert: I’d go with Adams for right now.
Week 7 @ Coors, Cargo, Dahl or Desmond?
@Chucky: Call me crazy…but I think Desmond is about to go on a hot streak.
What about Matt Adams?
@LadyScorpio: Matt Adams was replaced VERY late with Jose Peraza — I need more time with Adams and I need to see what happens when Eaton is back.
So-lar-te!
I’ve been keen on him since last year. But last year it was easy to look past him, because of the lack of offensive talent surrounding him. I don’t know how much of a chance he has to rise in your rankings, but I think he’s more or less worth where he’s at. Belt and Teoscar (have you seen his barrel rates?!) are the only 2 you have after him that I mildly prefer. But that position eligibility is pure gold in some leagues.
Twelve new names this week, so that means another twelve left us like a red-shirt leaves Star Trek. We aren’t sure who they were and we aren’t sure if we care. There are for sure new players added who probably should have been there a few weeks ago, but your conservative approach deserves respect. While you aren’t especially helping out someone looking to take some chances, you are establishing a reasonable confidence level in a range of players.
A question though – who is the Yankees player in your profile pic? I feel like I am supposed to recognize him, as I am both old enough and a Yankee fan…
Does this person who writes this normally parodies?
@Dwange:
Really just I mean the rankings.
@Dwange:
Parodies? I don’t know what you mean. Most of the writers on this site take a lead from Grey and add some wit to their writing. I like Klug’s rankings. I mean, they’re supposed to be legit rankings, if that’s what you mean. Parody of what?
@Wile E Coyote: Jose R at 19? He’s better then springer?
T Turner at 5? I don’t get it. Lindor is better than him at #15. And probably every player outside your top 4
@Dwayne:
A lot of rankings lists have Turner in the top 10. His value should be obvious, 50+ SB, a ton of runs, mid-teen homers+, and either avg or obp depending on your league. At SS. A 50+ SB player who doesn’t kill all of your other cats is gold.
I’m not saying you’re an idiot for disagreeing, but you are in the minority with that viewpoint. The other error you’re making is assuming that any list is some kind of exact and perfect valuation. Its a predictive model. A generalization. Don’t obsess over precise and discrete values, try to view rankings as a blurred line.
@Wile E Coyote: ty
@Dwayne:
Jose Ramirez wOBA: .400
George Springer wOBA: .340
Jose Ramirez wRC+: 151
George Springer wRC+: 117
It’s not even close. Ramirez is the far better hitter so far this season, and has been for a while now.
@Dwange: I usually write parody songs. I took Nicki Minaj’s song “Chun-Li” and made a parody called “Chunky.”
Jose Ramirez is better at every fantasy statistic than Springer. And has better position eligibility. Is that a parody suggesting Springer should be ranked higher than Ramirez?
You do make a good point about Turner vs. Lindor. I was expecting a LOT more stolen bases from Turner and a lot of people agreed with me apparently according to their ADP (9 vs 20.) Will I flip them? Probably not — but should Lindor move up? Perhaps. Most of the players in that top 20 deserve to be there (and a few don’t. I SEE YOU GOLDSCHMIDT!)
It’s tough to move players out of the 20 because they mostly have earned their ranking and I don’t want to overreact to one month of stats.
Looking for the Paul Goldschmidt that I drafted in the first round. Any idea where he is?
@Matt: Arizona
@Matt: Dang man…i don’t know. I thought the humidor situation was getting overblown and even drafted him (surprisingly late) in a few leagues. I think first round Goldschmidt was left back in 2017. I am not giving up on him in the slightest — but I’d try to grab Matt Adams if he’s still available in your league.
@Kerry Klug: 1 fer 1, based on your top 100, what number range would you comfortably give up for Goldy?
Is Didi a sell high?
If so, who would you be looking to dish him off for?
@Utah Green Sox: I guess technically you would be selling high…but I’m not getting rid of Didi if I’m you unless you have a lot of weaknesses. What is your team looking like?
@Kerry Klug:
I’m coasting in the hitting categories. ..maybe a little lacking in Stolen Bases
My pitchers ain’t flash and saves are hard to come by…
There are normally good(ish) hitters and crappy pitchers on waivers in my league
12 Team 6×6 OBP + Holds
C Wellington Castillo
1 – Jose Abreu
2 – Cesar Hernandez (Murphy on DL)
3- Freeman
SS – Anderson
OF – Bryant, Castellanos, Acuna
Utl – Rendon and Didi
Bench – Rosario
SP – Robbie Ray (DL), Carlos Mart, Luis Castillo, Alex Wood, Bauer, Wacha, Shark, Tallion
Saves – Allen, Treinen
Holds – Reed, Nicasio, Kintzler, Stammen, Alvarado
@Utah Green Sox:
Or just a simple drop Anderson for like Euginio Suarez or Pillar
1 fer 1, based on your top 100, what number range would you comfortably give up for Goldy?
@Joel: I’d say…you’d have to get a top 25 player back for him despite his struggles. Between #25 and #40 would have to be a package.
Elvis just landed on the WW. Got Segura at SS and he’s my only SS-elig guy. Nunez in my MI slot doing nothing.
Got the #2 spot in waivers. Trying to decide who, if anyone, to drop (in order of consideration): Jeimer (JDon & Beltre healthy!), Cervelli (not a believer yet – happy going no C), Nunez (have a feeling I’d regret dropping him later).
Or I could let go of a P: Minor would be the likely victim. I’m thinking with this route I’d be able to slide Elvis into a DL slot and scoop Minor right back as a FA since he’s starting today (2 day waiver period).
What’s your take on Luke Weaver?
1) Would you use the #2 WW pick on Elvis? FA options are Anderson (-1 per K), Dansby, Kingery, Robertson, Adames
2) Who would you drop if so?
Thanks!