Panzram
03-15-2006, 10:44 PM
Edwin Encarnacion, Reds
One of the Reds top prospects, Encarnacion was promoted to the bigs after the Reds traded Joe Randa last July, and he's expected to stay there for quite some time. In regular duties at third base during the season's final two months, Eddie hit eight homers with 29 RBI in 166 at-bats. While Encarnacion clearly lacked discipline during his call-up last season, he showed much better patience in the minors, and I'm betting the major league experience helps bring his batting average up significantly this season. That is, assuming he reduces his horrid 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio to the 1.5-to-1 range he displayed in the minors. He's a bit of a gamble, but worth keeping an eye on, in mixed formats, but as a very young prospect with 20-homer, 10-steal potential, he should be squarely in your sights in the later rounds of keeper and NL-only leagues.
Adrian Beltre, Mariners
Just bear with me here. It's painfully obvious that Beltre's 2004 outburst was the exception, not the rule. However, much like with Morneau above, I'm not as ready to completely write this guy off as others are. True, Beltre's numbers were simply atrocious in his first year in Seattle, but there were signs of improvement in the second half that give me a small glimmer of hope. Though the batting average stayed frighteningly low all season, Adrian did hit 13 of his 19 homers and drove in 51 runs in the season's second half. Let's assume a player who has now adjusted to the American League and is still in his prime at age 28 doubles his second half digits from 2005. That makes him a 25-homer, 100-RBI hitter, which is why it shocks me to see that he's consistently rated below and selected behind third basemen like Chad Tracy, Melvin Mora, and Scott Rolen, all of whom scream bust to yours truly. I'm certainly not saying Beltre will approach his insane 2004 numbers, but he's also not as bad as most people are assuming, and I think he'll outperform his draft position/auction value on draft day.
Mike Lowell - Lowell fell off the radar in 2005 managing just a .263-8-58 after two seasons where he bordered on the edge of greatness with averages between .276-293 and 27-32 home runs per season. A lot of speculation has arisen that Lowell hit the wall due to withdrawal from steroids. If that’s true don’t expect much of a bounce back, but if he can manage to rebound to even a .280-18-80 he’ll be a steal for under $5.
Brandon Inge, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Like Lane, Inge is a 28-year-old just now coming into an everyday job. While his production is mediocre for a Fantasy third baseman, Inge has catcher eligibility, which will make him an intriguing sleeper on Draft Day. He also has outfield versatility to add to his resume. A Fantasy catcher who plays around 150 games in the lineup is invaluable, and almost unheard of.
4. Michael Cuddyer, 3B, Minnesota Twins
Cuddyer, who will be 26 by opening day, figures to take over as the Twins' everyday third baseman. He will have to beat out Eric Munson and Terry Tiffee this spring, but that shouldn't be too difficult because the Twins traditionally have brought their youngsters along slowly, and he has already served his apprenticeship the past two years. Munson has been playing some first base this spring, so the battle might already have been won. Like Inge, Cuddyer has versatility to his resume, being able to play second or third in most Fantasy leagues (and first and outfield in some others). Like Lane, Cuddyer hit 30 homers his last full season of playing every day (2001 in Double-A).
One of the Reds top prospects, Encarnacion was promoted to the bigs after the Reds traded Joe Randa last July, and he's expected to stay there for quite some time. In regular duties at third base during the season's final two months, Eddie hit eight homers with 29 RBI in 166 at-bats. While Encarnacion clearly lacked discipline during his call-up last season, he showed much better patience in the minors, and I'm betting the major league experience helps bring his batting average up significantly this season. That is, assuming he reduces his horrid 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio to the 1.5-to-1 range he displayed in the minors. He's a bit of a gamble, but worth keeping an eye on, in mixed formats, but as a very young prospect with 20-homer, 10-steal potential, he should be squarely in your sights in the later rounds of keeper and NL-only leagues.
Adrian Beltre, Mariners
Just bear with me here. It's painfully obvious that Beltre's 2004 outburst was the exception, not the rule. However, much like with Morneau above, I'm not as ready to completely write this guy off as others are. True, Beltre's numbers were simply atrocious in his first year in Seattle, but there were signs of improvement in the second half that give me a small glimmer of hope. Though the batting average stayed frighteningly low all season, Adrian did hit 13 of his 19 homers and drove in 51 runs in the season's second half. Let's assume a player who has now adjusted to the American League and is still in his prime at age 28 doubles his second half digits from 2005. That makes him a 25-homer, 100-RBI hitter, which is why it shocks me to see that he's consistently rated below and selected behind third basemen like Chad Tracy, Melvin Mora, and Scott Rolen, all of whom scream bust to yours truly. I'm certainly not saying Beltre will approach his insane 2004 numbers, but he's also not as bad as most people are assuming, and I think he'll outperform his draft position/auction value on draft day.
Mike Lowell - Lowell fell off the radar in 2005 managing just a .263-8-58 after two seasons where he bordered on the edge of greatness with averages between .276-293 and 27-32 home runs per season. A lot of speculation has arisen that Lowell hit the wall due to withdrawal from steroids. If that’s true don’t expect much of a bounce back, but if he can manage to rebound to even a .280-18-80 he’ll be a steal for under $5.
Brandon Inge, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Like Lane, Inge is a 28-year-old just now coming into an everyday job. While his production is mediocre for a Fantasy third baseman, Inge has catcher eligibility, which will make him an intriguing sleeper on Draft Day. He also has outfield versatility to add to his resume. A Fantasy catcher who plays around 150 games in the lineup is invaluable, and almost unheard of.
4. Michael Cuddyer, 3B, Minnesota Twins
Cuddyer, who will be 26 by opening day, figures to take over as the Twins' everyday third baseman. He will have to beat out Eric Munson and Terry Tiffee this spring, but that shouldn't be too difficult because the Twins traditionally have brought their youngsters along slowly, and he has already served his apprenticeship the past two years. Munson has been playing some first base this spring, so the battle might already have been won. Like Inge, Cuddyer has versatility to his resume, being able to play second or third in most Fantasy leagues (and first and outfield in some others). Like Lane, Cuddyer hit 30 homers his last full season of playing every day (2001 in Double-A).