Spring Training Update – Mar 2, 2009

written by Keith J. Giordano    

     Spring training 2009 is underway.  While most players still do not have a good sample size of ABs on which to base decisions, we can definitely see the direction things are headed.  These updates will become longer as the sample size of at bats increases.  Some quick hits for now……

     Finally!  The Athletics have learned that Bobby Crosby is not the player they had hoped he would develop into.  They just signed Orlando Cabrera, which means Crosby is no longer a fantasy option.  It also means you can drop Cliff Pennington off of your sleeper lists.  While Cabrera is a significant upgrade over Crosby for fantasy purposes, it should be noted that the A’s don’t steal all that much, and their ballpark is not good for power hitting.  Cabrera’s stats could drop across the board.

     I’m liking Chris Ray more and more this season.  He is throwing well in the early spring, and was a capable closer before his injury.  George Sherrill was OK last season, but Ray was better when he had the job.  Sherrill (who technically still has the job) is currently coming back from a mild hamstring strain.

     Those of you that are planning to draft Andruw Jones since he will be so cheap should reconsider that plan.  It is pretty funny how much I loved this guy once upon a time.  Now it is pretty easy to see he has serious issues.  Will someone please teach him how not to swing at that outside pitch?  He is racking up strikeouts already (in 8 out of 9 ABs he has struck out).

     There is still no clear indicator about who will be closing in the Seattle bullpen this season.  There are no fewer that five candidates.  Speaking of Seattle, Franklin Gutierrez is reminding us why he was such a hot sleeper last season.  He started off slow, and that ruined his chances at a regular gig in Cleveland.  Now with a fresh start and less competition in Seattle, I am putting him back on my under-priced starter list.  I am also moving Wladimir Balentin down on my draft sheets.

     There has been much discussion in the Rotobuzz home office about the value that Jayson Werth should be assigned for the upcoming auctions.  I am a fan, Howard is not.  So needless to say when Werth was reported to have shoulder soreness (thus feeding into Howard’s argument) I was discouraged.  He is indeed an injury risk, but I am not discounting his value quite yet.

     The Felipe Lopez leadoff experiment is not going according to Bob Melvin’s plan.  So far (admittedly in only 12 ABs) Lopez has a BA of .167 and an OBP of .231.  That just isn’t going to cut it.  Chris Young, however, is tearing it up early in the spring.  Maybe, juuuuuuust maybe, he will cash in on some of his promise this season.

     A few years ago I gambled heavily on Wilson Betemit.  He had strong power potential, had shortstop eligibility, and looked like he could wind up with the starting role at third base for the Dodgers.  Well, he blew that chance.  Now it seems like he is going to blow another chance with a poor spring.  Look for him to continue with his utility and spot starting role on the White Sox.

     You know what sucks?  When the guy you have tagged as your sleeper performs too well in the spring.  He gets coverage, news clippings, and hype that wasn’t there before the spring.  His price goes up, and before you know it you are paying 2-3 times what you wanted to in order to get him.  This is happening to me right now with Chris Dickerson.  Launching a pair of longballs over the weekend is sure to boost his profile and raise his price for auctions.  He will wind up the starter.

     Watch out Gaby Sanchez.  Early in the going I pointed out Sanchez as a potential sleeper at first base.  His spring has started slowly, and now there are grumblings that Dallas McPherson could finally get a chance to start the season in the everyday lineup at third base.  They would move Jorge Cantu over to first base.  It should be noted however, that Dallas still has a K/BB ratio of 4/1 this spring.  While the upside of McPherson is exciting, he is much more well known that Sanchez.  Thus another sleeper could disappear.  Keep watching this situation.

     It appears as though the Dodgers may impose an A-Hole tax on Manny Ramirez.  Who can blame them.  This is only fantasy relevant since at least 2 OFs (Andre Ethier, Juan Pierre) will have their value decrease significantly if/when this egomaniac gets his deal done.

     Right now the Pirates have Nyjer Morgan pencilled in to start the season in center field.  His performance this spring so far has to have management rethinking this idea.  Both his BA and OBP are .231.  He has not worked a single walk.  While it would seriously hurt Nate McLouth’s power categories, he did post a .362 OBP from the leadoff spot last season.  He may steal a few more bases in that spot as well.