What is up party people? Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July. We are now almost to the break, the All Star Game, and soon the home stretch. So who am I paying extra attention to for the second half? These players are listed in no particular order, some good performances and some not-so-good performances. A very good (and that’s underselling it) performance has been put up by one Ronald Acuna Jr who has been nothing short of sensational with 20 home runs and 40 steals while batting .330. Oh, by the way, we’re only halfway through the season. Yeah, I had to double check that too. Could he do 40/80? He has more than enough talent and I can’t wait to see how high his ceiling is.
Michael Harris II started off really rough but since the calendar flipped to June he looks great, just like you drafted him to be. The nature of his game is streaky, but he brings huge upside to the table. He can give you a little bit of everything and I’m expecting his second half numbers to be quite strong.
Luis Arraez yes I just want to see if he can bat over .400.
Alek Manoah was awful (really awful) to start the season. After looking like the next big thing, earning a high draft pick this season, he rewarded us all by being so bad the Jays were forced to send him all the way down to rookie ball. He responded to that by getting absolutely shelled. Yeah, that’s not what we were expecting. Somehow he rebounded after a promotion to Double A ball and will get another crack at major league hitters, coming to you live this Friday. I’m cautiously optimistic for his return. I have to believe that his talent is still there but I can’t bring myself to roster him just yet. He may well return to form in the second half but I need to see at least one start before I run to the wire.
Jorge Soler gave us the power but he also kept his batting average around .250, elevating him to fantasy All Star status. He’s in the mix for 40 bombs which is still an impressive number. Will he get there? Stay tuned to find out.
Yandy Diaz blasted out of the gates with a big time power bat. Feels like it’s been ages since he’s knocked one out. Yeah, it’s been over a month. However, that hasn’t kept him from his usual strong batting average. He’s been a stud and if he rediscovers the power, oh boy.
MJ Melendez looked primed to be one of the top options behind the dish and after batting just north of .200 with only 6 home runs he has barely been worth a roster spot. I thought he could be the holy grail of catchers, the guy who doesn’t actually get down in the squat. Tough to give up on his potential, but woof, this is ruff. If he finds his power stroke he can be good for your team but I fear the sunk cost fallacy is all too real. In shallower leagues, you can probably find a catcher to help you right now. Just keep an eye on him and be ready to pounce if he starts turning it around.
Blake Sabol was a target of mine after he made the Giants opening day roster because, like I just mentioned with MJ, he is catcher eligible but gets most of his starts in the outfield. Sadly, his overall fantasy performance hasn’t been much better despite a better average and more power. Unlike MJ, Sabol has more competition for playing time and may not see as many at bats in the second half. I think he will still see the field on a regular basis but he may not be an everyday player if the Giants are healthy.
Anthony Volpe took the league by storm and then poof, bottomed out. The Yankees have remained committed to him in spite of that and he is starting to come around. He has power and speed and what should be a potent lineup around him. I like him to have a big second half and he seems to be rather available.
Kevin Gausman was excellent last season and that splitter has been working its magic in 2023. Should have picked him for Cy Young.
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