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I want to get back to writing these articles to see if we can identify some hitters on the rebound and others who are not. Here is a look at some of the hotter, and colder, hitters since June 30th, per Fangraphs database.
Who's Hot:
Neil Walker, PIT-Walker is one of the more productive second baseman in all of baseball, and he is hitting .434-.446-.585 with a HR, 11 RBIs, 8 runs and 2 SBs in 56 July plate appearances. He is a top 5 fantasy second baseman this season.
Joe Mauer, MIN-Mauer is hitting .393-.485-.429 with 7 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 66 July plate appearances. Leg injuries have sapped his power thus far, then again, he is not much of a home run hitter. He will have solid value as long as he keeps his catcher eligibility.
Dustin Pedroia, BOS-Pedroia is probably the top fantasy second baseman at this point, and he is hitting .410-.486-.803 with 6 HRs, 15 RBIs, 17 runs and 2 SBs in 70 July plate appearances. He's on pace for 22 HRs and 29 SBs this season.
The rest of Who's Hot and Who's Not after the jump:
Hanley Ramirez, FLA-Ever since Jack McKeon took over managing the Marlins, Hanley has been on fire. He is hitting .400-.492-.691 with 4 HRs, 17 RBIs, 13 runs and 3 SBs in in 65 July plate appearances. Even still, the power is down, again, this season.
Aramis Ramirez, CHC-I was offered ARam in the UBA league right before he started this hot streak-what was I thinking? Ramirez, is hitting .345-.387-.782 with 7 HRs, 18 RBIs, and 13 runs scored in 62 July plate appearances, and is one of a few Cubs who are actually having a good season at the plate.
Who's Not:
Mike Moustakas, KC-Mous has been struggling in his first taste of the majors, as he is hitting just .190-.235-.228 with just 3 RBIs and 4 runs scored. There is some thought that he could be sent back to AAA, but I think KC will let him work his way through this slump.
Russell Martin, NYY-Martin started the year off hot, hitting home runs like it was 2008, but I kept telling my friends who are Yankee fans, that he will come back down to earth, and he has. In his last 77 plate appearances, he is hitting .188-.260-.275 with a HR, 10 RBIs and 4 runs scored.
Colby Rasmus, STL-Rasmus has been the subject of some recent trade rumors, and some think he would be better off playing elsewhere. In his last 80 plate appearances, he is hitting .181-.253-.375 with 4 HRs, 8 RBIs and 13 runs scored, so he is making his hits count. He has been a disappointment this season.
Aubrey Huff, SFG-Huff is battling a back injury right now, and maybe that helps explain the slump he is in as he is hitting .211-.260-.274 in his last 104 plate appearances with a HR, 10 RBIs and 8 runs scored.
Stephen Drew, ARI-Drew has been losing playing time to Willie Bloomquist recently and here is why. He is hitting .167-.205-.282 with a HR, 6 RBIs and 5 runs scored in his last 84 plate appearances. Manager Kirk Gibson is not afraid to sit his starters, so that is saying something.