Minor-ity Report: Highlight on Koby Clemens
September 26, 2009
That’s right – (Roid) Ragin’ Roger Clemens’ namesake will represent the focus of this edition of The Report. Clemens the Elder will probably be as remembered for the tortured and overexposed end of his career, than for his considerable albeit drug-enhanced prowess on the hill. Clemens the Younger (and Tinier, at 5′11) however, is a backstop, presumably PED-free, and will probably play out the entirety of his career with the laserlike desire to restore honor to the family name. Let us examine those efforts made by Koby Clemens right now.
Clemens’ (Koby, that is) was drafted in the 8th round as the 254th overall pick of the 2005 amateur draft by the Houston Astros. At age 22, Koby Clemens seems the closest thing to Houston’s heir apparent to the starting catcher’s job. Since the departure of offensively-challenged veteran statesman Brad Ausmus, the catching position has shuffled between underachiever JR Towles and literally anyone else.
Drafted as a third baseman, Clemens was switched to catcher as recently as ’08 after three unremarkable seasons at the hot corner. Before the switch, Koby had topped out at 15 long-balls and 8 steals (to go with a pathetic .252 average) in 413 at bats as a third baseman. Since the pivotal move behind the plate, however, Clemens’ has blossomed. In 2008, then-21 year old Koby Clemens knocked 7 homers, drove in 52 runs, and batted .268 with 29 doubles and a .792 OPS. In 2009, though, Clemens may have finally come into his own at the plate.
Although still in Single A ball at 22, Clemens seems to have taken the long-awaited step forward in his quest for the Bigs. In just 423 at bats, Koby Clemens has blasted an impressive 22 homers, driven in an astounding 121 runs, and is batting a league-leading .345. That performance was good enough for a promotion to double A, where Clemens has performed modestly if mediocrely in an under 20 at-bat trial.
So, what is the future for Clemens the Younger? Not an easy thing to predict having such a small sample size to base any prognostication upon. But, if 2009’s statistical emergence is remotely representative of Clemens’ batting ability, Koby will be a fantasy force to be reckoned with at a premium position. With only Towles, et al. blocking Koby Clemens at the Big League level, watchful fantasy GM’s may be well-advised to look out for an ETA as early as 2010/11.
Minor-ity Report: Highlight on Kirk Niewenhuis
September 14, 2009
Not your typical baseball name, I know. But, the former 2008 3rd round pick of the New York Mets Kirk Niewenhuis has apparently turned a corner in his sophomore season in ‘09. Just a year after signing his first professional contract with the perennial disappointments of the Big Apple, Niewenhuis has followed up an unremarkable ‘08 campaign of 3 homers, 29 RBI, and 11 steals (in 285 at bats) with an amazing 17 homers, 73 RBI, and 17 steals (in 482 at bats) between single and double A in 2009.
Niewenhuis does not have a lot of pro ball experience, but at 22 years of age, will need to hit his way up to the Bigs by the end of the 2010 season to prepare to step into some big shoes, if Carlos Beltran walks at the end of his blockbuster contract. For a Met team that has increasingly become known for both underperforming and dealing its young talent for hired hands, Niewenhuis represents a potential heir in center field in the event that either Fernando Martinez does not fulfill expectations offensively, or in the event that FMart’s glovework favors a corner spot over CF. Either way, Niewenhuis is coming up at a fortuitous time and will be afforded the chance to make an impact and find a home if his bat can keep pace. Astute Fantasy GM’s need be watchful of this multi-tool potential star outfielder.
Early AL Rookie of the Year Voting: Winner Andrew Bailey?
September 8, 2009
New Jersey native Andrew Bailey was off the radar prior to 2009. Previously known as a journeyman starting pitcher, Bailey was converted to a reliever and brought to the Bigs to enter ‘09 and did nothing but impress. Soaring past early favorites Brad Ziegler and Santiago Casilla, Bailey has a sub 2.00 ERA and sub 1.00 WHIP to go with 21 saves and over a whiff per inning. In a rookie class featuring largely mediocre bats and unremarkable starters, Bailey stands head and shoulders above the rest of the 2009 group and should score Rookie of the Year honors by a landslide (even over chief competitor Elvis Andrus).
Runners Up:
1. Elvis Andrus (SS, TEX)
Acquired just one year earlier in the blockbuster trade that sent Texas mainstay Mark Teixeira to Atlanta, Elvis Andrus has established himself as a rising star at short for the Rangers. With a .271 average, 6 homers, and 24 steals in 27 attempts, Andrus may be the best young fantasy shortstop we’ve seen since HanRam.
2. Gordon Beckham (3B, CHW)
With 10 homers and a .274 average to go with 6 steals in just 300 at bats, Beckham is quickly emerging as a cornerstone for Chicago to build its future infield around.
3. Jeff Niemann (SP, TB)
With electric stuff and the ability to win, Niemann’s success allowed Tampa to part ways with former ace Scott Kazmir while maintaining sufficient rotational depth (that fact added to the obvious potential of David Price and rising star Wade Davis, who will be expected to bring up the rear).
4. Matt Wieters (C, BAL)
Predicted to take over top offensive catcher honors from Mike Piazza, Wieters did little at the plate to support such lofty expectations. Although he hasn’t done anything wrong, Wieters also has not done anything exceptionally well.
5. Ricky Romero (SP, TOR)
Southpaw Blue Jay Romero has outshined favorite David Price in every possible way and proven that performance trumps name cache in the race for AL Rookie of the Year honors. Expect Toronto to part ways with Roy Halladay (who has already publicized his desire to test free agency) and for the likes of Romero to round out the Jays’ new young rotation.
6. David Price (SP, TB)
America watched as green, bright-eyed rookie David Price fired bullets at the Phillies during the postseason and expected that to continue during 2009. What we have seen is a complete lack of control, a penchant for surrendering the long-ball, and hurler with a weakness for road games.
A Few Words of Advice: Setting Lineups in September
September 6, 2009
We have officially entered the home stretch. Only four more days until the NFL season begins. You’ve completed two football drafts and a football auction, and only have 4 more online drafts to go over the next few days. As you spend every waking moment pondering the value that Jay Cutler will bring to Robbie Gould’s kicking stats, you should remember not to overlook one small thing: baseball season has not ended.
I am “only” in two baseball leagues at the moment. Both are keeper leagues, one an AL/NL draft league and one an AL only auction league. I am preparing for three leagues in football. One is a redraft, one is a draft/keeper league (although I do have a teammate in this league), and one a keeper/auction league. I also have a full time job, a family, and a nasty TV watching addiction. If I am going to remember to set my lineup for baseball tomorrow, I will need to find some free time. That means less time with my kids, less time with my DVR, or fewer billable hours (not sure setting my lineup is pro bono or quality non-billables). Finding such free time creates tough decisions that we face on a daily basis.
There are a few solutions to this dilemma. One is that you can set your lineup for the week on Sunday and simply check in once or twice during the week. The problem, of course, is that baseball lineups are fluid, and you need to check in once or twice a day to make sure the scheduled starters actually take the field. A second solution is that you push off your DVR watching until the weekend. This may work during the summer, when there is nothing to watch over the weekend and the DVR has but an hour or two of Monk and Top Chef (got a problem with that?). However, my DVR will overflow with a glorious panoply of viewing pleasure once the new TV season starts in September, and exactly when would I watch, when college football and the NFL dominate most normal people’s weekend schedules.
This leaves less family time or less work time. Obviously neither is ideal, but if you put your family or career before your ten fantasy baseball leagues you wouldn’t be reading articles like this on websites like this while your wife is cleaning, doing laundry and putting the kids to bed, and that memo you promised to deliver to the partner by close of business Monday remains a meager seven lines long. Perhaps the best solution is to simply sleep less. Sure, there are a finite number of hours in a day, and you probably have to shut your eyes for at least a few of them to retain some shreds of health and sanity. However, you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on your sleep in February, after football season has ended, but before Spring Training begins.
Of course, if you are unemployed, single, and living in your parent’s basement, you have it made. You have plenty of time to set your dozens of lineups, you never neglect your DVR, and you sleep past noon every day. I envy you my friend. I don’t have things so easy. In fact, if you have some time between asking your mom to finish your laundry and sneaking upstairs to raid your parents’ pantry, please e-mail me to remind me that I need to set my lineup for the day.
Carlos Beltran to Return to the Mets
September 5, 2009
Mets All-Star outfielder, Carlos Beltran, will likely rejoin the team as early as Tuesday if all things go as planned in his rehab start Saturday. If his knee injury doesn’t flare up during the next four weeks and he is able to play pain free, look for Beltran to be back to his old self. Before the knee ailment, he was batting .336 with 8 HR and 40 RBI. His return is just in time for many fantasy league playoffs and you should put him into your lineup in the coming week.
Forecast for the rest of the season:
.304 avg 7 HR 20 RBI
-Bobby Holt
Early NL Rookie of the Year Voting: Winner Garrett Jones?
September 4, 2009
Among the contenders whose names are repeatedly being thrown around in the Rookie of the Year contest, only one name stands out as head and shoulders above the rest – Pittsburgh’s Garrett Jones. Jones, perhaps the least likely of all the candidates entering the ‘09 season, has taken the Majors by storm since his July recall. With less than half a season under his belt, Jones’ success both at first base and the outfield have not only breathed life into Pittsburgh’s lackluster offense, but almost certainly contributed to the trade that sent Adam LaRoche packing to Boston (only to end up in Atlanta). Only thing that hurts him – the platoon-esque numbers against southpaws (.333 with 13 dingers against righties, .219 with 5 homers against lefties). Brad Hawpe-like don’t you think? Bottom line – his line for the year sums up as 30 homers, 23 steals, and just about a .300 average between triple A and the Bigs. Very meritorious numbers indeed.
Who else is credibly contending with Jones for NL Rookie of the Year honors?
1. JA Happ (SP, PHI)
10-4 record with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP to go with 104 K’s in just 149 IP. Has future ace potential and will give Jones a run for his money in the Rookie of the Year race.
2. Tommy Hanson (SP, ATL)
9-3 record with a 3.07 ERA and 1.25 WHIP – since his recall Hanson has been lights-out.
3. Dexter Fowler (OF, COL)
.270 average with 4 homers, 33 RBI, and 26 steals – leading NL rookies in steals.
4. Chris Coghlan (2B/OF, FL)
.304 average with 9 homers, 6 steals, with a .378 OBP and .448 SLG and dual positional eligibility.
5. Andrew McCutchen (OF, PIT)
.284 average with 11 homers and 15 steals in just 300+ at bats, thus far. Will roam CF for the Bucs for years to come.
Honorable Mention – Randy Wells (SP, CHC), Seth Smith (OF, COL), Evereth Cabrera (SS, SD), Colby Rasmus (OF, STL), Casey McGehee (3B, MIL)
h2h Corner ~ Katy Perry All-Stars XVI
September 2, 2009
It’s playoff time. Your friends and “purported experts” will tell you what you need to do: pull out all the stops, leave everything on the field, blah, blah, blah. They’re wrong. What you need to do is be strategic. Read more
Did You Know…?
Jacoby Ellsbury had more SBs than Brian Roberts and Elvis Andrus combined?
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