A Look Back at our Preseason Prospect Rankings
Prospect writer Jason Hunt is in the middle of analyzing our consensus preseason prospect rankings, and here are some links to the positions he has covered to date:
Manny Machado injury
If you saw the replay of Manny Machado's knee injury, your stomach probably turned, but we don't know, at this point, how serious the injury is. If he tore is ACL or MCL, he could miss some spring training, which means he will probably start the 2014 season on the DL. And that presents opportunity for fantasy owners on draft day. He will more than likely fall in most third base rankings this offseason, hurting his draft day value.
I don't have to tell you he is one of the best young players in the game and if you can draft him for .75 on the dollar next season, he should return a profit. In keeper leagues, owners will have a different decision to make, assuming he misses the start of the season.
I will provide an update once we learn more details of his injury, if surgery is required and what the timelines are for him returning to baseball activities.
For more on Machado's injury and the Orioles, make sure you check out Camden Chat, SB Nation's Orioles fan site.
Andrelton Simmons: 25 home run power?
I was reading Buster Olney's blog post yesterday and came across a couple interesting points he makes in his piece. One is on Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons, and have to say I missed this when writing Monday's Roundup:
The Braves clinched the NL East with a couple of homers from Andrelton Simmons, who continues to show signs of someone who will have 25-homer power in the years ahead.
Simmons is having a better season than most predicted back in March, as he isn't hitting for a high average, or getting on base, but he is hitting for power. Simmons hit two home runs on Sunday, giving him 17 for the season, to go with 73 runs scored and 57 RBI. His 17 HRs currently ranks 5th among all fantasy shortstops, and he ranks in the top 10 in runs scored and RBI as well.
Is he a top 10 fantasy shortstop in 2014?
For more on Simmons and the Braves, make sure you check out Talking Chop, SB Nation's Braves fan site.
Khris Davis to play left field for the Brewers in 2014?
Here is another interesting tidbit from Olney that could help those in deeper mixed leagues and NL only leagues in 2014:
The Brewers think that Khris Davis is going to be a good hitter in the majors, and that he will be help the offense in the years to come. But because he has a weak throwing arm, he needs to play left field -- which has been inhabited by Ryan Braun. This is why the club has talked internally about shifting Braun to right field in the future.
I assumed Davis would have some value for fantasy owners in 2014, and this sorta confirms it. Davis has made the most of his opportunity this season, hitting .280-.355-.600 with 10 HRs, 25 runs, 25 RBI and 2 stolen bases in just 125 at bats. I am not sure he can duplicate this pace across a full season next year, but he should see regular playing time for a rebuilding Brewers team.
Moving Ryan Braun to right field may not be the smartest move the team can make, but you never know what their offseason plans are for Braun. Maybe they were stung so bad that they may put him on the market this offseason. I think he can return to the hitter he was before the suspension, and will probably rank him accordingly, which is probably counter to what many in the industry will rank him this offseason.
For more on Davis and Braun, check out Brew Crew Ball, SB Nation's Brewers fan site.
Round'em Up
Marlins young starter Nathan Eovaldi bounced back from two mediocre starts to shut out the Philies for 7.2 innings last night, giving up just 3 hits, a walk and striking out 5 in the Marlins 4-0 win over the Phillies. Eovaldi is now 4-6 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 73-38 strikeout to walk rate in 100.1 innings. He is only 23 years of age, so the future is bright for Eovaldi, as I think he will be sleeper in 2014 drafts.
One of the brighter spots on a dismal season for the Brewers has been the pitching of Marco Estrada over the last month or so. Estrada shut out the Braves on 2 hits, 3 walks and 6 strikeouts in 7 innings last night to earn his seventh win of the season. Estrada is 7-4 with a 4.02 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and an excellent 110-29 strikeout to walk rate in 121 innings this season. He has given up three runs or less in six of his last eight starts.
The Rangers won't make the playoffs this season but that didn't stop them from taking out their frustrations on the Astros last night, and they were lead by outfielder Alex Rios, who had a big night at the plate. Rios went for the cycle, going 4-4 with a single, double, triple, and HR, 3 runs and 4 RBI in the Rangers 12-0 win last night. Rios has had a solid season at the dish this season, hitting .280-.327-.436 with 18 HRs, 80 runs, 76 RBI and 39 stolen bases. I have to admit I had no idea he had that many stolen bases this season, but recall Daniel Kelley mentioning on one of the Fake Teams podcasts that the Rangers were running more to generate more offense after the Nelson Cruz suspension.
More from Fake Teams:
- Streamer Report: Tuesday's Streamers
- Injury Report: Could this be my year??
- A King is Crowned: Fake Teams H2H League Recap
- MLB Prospect Rankings Review: A Look Back At Our Preseason Consensus Pitcher Rankings, Part 1
- Roto Roundup: Oswaldo Arcia, Matt Davidson, Charlie Blackmon and others
- Two-Start Pitchers: Week 25 (Sept. 23-29)
- Roto Roundup: Clayton Kershaw, Yoenis Cespedes, Desmond Jennings and others