Fantasy Baseball: Wednesday's Spring Training Roundup

by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 11, 2010 7:30 AM EST in Baseball

Some thoughts after reviewing Wednesday's spring training boxscores:

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain may be making the 5th starter decision real easy for manager Joe Girardi. Joba gave up 6 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, a grand slam and only 1 strikeouts in 2 1/3rd innings. Phil Hughes followed Joba and gave up 1 run on 3 hits in 2 2/3rd innings.

Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore went 2-2 with his first spring HR and 4 RBI. Fantasy owners are hoping he can return to his years of going 20-30 or 30-30.

Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee threw 3 innings giving up one run on 5 hits, a walk and one strikeout. I am curious if all the innings Lee threw last year and in the playoffs and World Series will catch up to him like it did to Cole Hamels in 2009.

Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez went 2-4 with 3 runs scored, and is now hitting .400 in early action. Sanchez is fighting for the first base job with prospect Logan Morrison. Morrison is not helping his cause as he is hitting only .071 at this point.

A's starting pitcher Ben Sheets had a tough outing on Wednesday giving up 6 runs, 5 earned, on 5 hits and a walk in 2 2/3rd innings. The A's are looking for Sheets to have a bounce back season after missing all of 2009 recovering from surgery.

Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin got hit around on Wednesday giving up 3 runs on 5 hits in 1 1/3rd innings. I don't see Franklin repeating his success as a closer in 2010. This situation bears watching.

Padres pitching prospect Mat Latos gave up an unearned run on 3 hits in 3 innings, lowering his ERA to 1.80. Latos is fighting for the 5th starter spot in the Padres rotation, but could be the team's ace by the end of the year. Latos dominated each minor league level he pitched at in 2009.

Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez threw 3 shutout innings giving up 3 hits and striking out 5. Sanchez may be ready for a breakout season in 2010, and should reach the 200 strikeout plateua for those of you in 5 x 5 leagues

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Latos

Liking him as a sleeper in 12-team mixed leagues. By sleeper, I mean getting quality efforts in doubel digit rounds rather than having to draft him in the initial wave of quality SP in the 7th-9th rounds.

by faketeams on Mar 11, 2010 8:10 AM EST reply actions

+1

I am curious if they start him in AAA this year. I doubt it the way he is pitching, but you never know.
I hope to draft him in my two NL-only leagues after the 11-12th rounds.

raygu
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 11, 2010 9:34 AM EST reply actions

I'd be shocked if he didn't make the team

Realistically, there’s not a whole lot in the Padres rotation. Chris Young is returning from an injury, and I think that Kevin Correia and Clayton Richard are really the only others who have a rotation spot locked. He should be very good in Petco on a consistent basis I think.

I doubt he’s going to last until the 11th or 12th round in NL only leagues – ESPN’s ranked him in their top 60 overall, which probably makes him a 3rd or 4th at worst on an NL only team. But I haven’t played a lot of single-league fantasy leagues, so I could be off on that.

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by Jason Hunt on Mar 11, 2010 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

NL Only

I drafted Ubaldo in the 10th or 11th round of my NL only league last year, so I have a feeling he could last till then. Plus the guys in my league probably won’t know who he is.
Wait a minute, ESPN ranked Latos top 60 overall? Pitchers only I assume.

raygu
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 11, 2010 2:29 PM EST reply actions