Thursday Afternoon Fantasy Baseball Thoughts: David Wright, Dee Gordon, Arodys Vizcaino, and Others

I am back from Dublin, Ireland and need to re-acclimate my body to drinking something other than beer. What they say about Irish people is very true. They are some of he nicest people you ever want to meet. I have to say the city is bigger than I imagined. if you are ever in Dublin, make sure you say hello to a few bartenders: Patrick at the Stags Head bar in the Temple Bar area of the city, and Stuart at the Burlington Hotel Dublin 4. Both were very good to us.

I tried to stay on top of the fantasy baseball news while I was in Dublin, but the internet connection was very slow in the hotel. I want to thank Jason for posting a few Fantasy Baseball Thoughts articles, and Rob (aka smokey) for hosting the chat on Monday night, in my absence.

Now for some fantasy baseball thoughts:

In reading Buster Olney's blog post today, he linked to a Los Angeles Daily News article, written by J.P. Hoornstra, with some quotes from Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon. Hoornstra says that Gordon doesn't want to predict how many steals he will have this year, which I like. One important note at the end of the article, Hoornstra writes that Gordon wants to steal third base more this season:

Gordon's immediate goal is to steal third, something he hasn't done in Cactus League play but wants to before the regular season begins.

"It's about seeing what you can and can't do," he said.

If Gordon can be successful stealing third base this season, there is no limit to how many bases he can steal. But, he has to get on base at a better than league average first. I project him to steal 50 bases this season, and there is more upside to that depending on his OBP.

It was reported today that Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino will be making a visit to Dr. James Andrew to take a look at his right elbow early next week. Vizcaino was diagnosed with ulnar neuritis and had to sit out for 6 weeks in 2010 with a similar injury two years ago. His injury may open the door for Kris Medlen in the Braves bullpen.

More fantasy baseball thoughts after the jump:

Mets third baseman David Wright is sidelined with a tear in his rectus abdominal muscle in his left rib cage, but Wright seems to think he will be ready for Opening Day. Here is Andy Martino from the New York Daily News:

He was careful not to predict a timetable for his return to spring training games, but did say that about two weeks of Grapefruit League at-bats would be sufficient to prepare him for the regular season.

So, if Wright needs two weeks of at bats in spring training to be ready for opening day, that would mean he would be return to playing some spring training games by the weekend of March 24th, or right around that time. Something to take note of come draft day.

Adam Dunn was sidelined with neck stiffness today. Is it me or has there been a lot of players with neck injuries this spring training? Dunn is a nice later round draft pick who could outperform his draft slot this season should he be able to return to the Dunn of old.