clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Roto Roundup: Kendrys Morales, Alexi Ogando, Zack Greinke, Brandon Belt and Others

By Ray Guilfoyle
March 22, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Kendrys Morales (8) singles in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-US PRESSWIRE
March 22, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Kendrys Morales (8) singles in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-US PRESSWIRE

This is the first in the daily series of Roto Roundup articles for 2012. The Roto Roundup is similar to the Fantasy Baseball Thought articles, but I will focus more on game action and injury news, rather than just the news. So let's get on with it.

This weekend is the second of the two big expert league auctions in New York City. Yes, the Tout Wars experts league drafts take place this weekend, with the AL-Only auction this morning, the mixed league auction this afternoon, and the NL-only auction tomorrow morning. I will provide links to the auction results as they come available. Here is a link to the live spreadsheet. Matt Moore went for $19 to Jeff Erickson from Rotowire. You can follow the AL auction live chat here. Prince Fielder just went off the board at $30!!

It appears Angels DH Kendrys Morales hasn't missed a beat in his almost 2 year layoff from baseball, as he went 2-3 with a HR last night in the Angels win over the Indians. Morales will be the Angels DH and here is a look at his stats prior to his freak injury, courtesy of Baseball-Reference:

Year G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB
2006 57 197 21 46 10 1 5 22 17 28 .234 .293 .371 .664 71 73
2007 43 119 12 35 10 0 4 15 6 21 .294 .333 .479 .812 111 57
2008 27 61 7 13 2 0 3 8 4 7 .213 .273 .393 .666 72 24
2009 152 566 86 173 43 2 34 108 46 117 .306 .355 .569 .924 139 322
2010 51 193 29 56 5 0 11 39 12 31 .290 .346 .487 .833 129 94
5 Yrs 330 1136 155 323 70 3 57 192 85 204 .284 .336 .502 .838 119 570
162 Game Avg. 162 558 76 159 34 1 28 94 42 100 .284 .336 .502 .838 119 280
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/24/2012.

He was having the start of a career year at the plate in 2010 before his ankle injury, and was 5th in the AL MVP voting in 2009, so he has plenty of talent to help fantasy teams in 2012. I would move him up my first base rankings now, and see him as a solid choice for Comeback Player of the Year if he can stay healthy.

Rangers starter Neftali Feliz is dealing with some shoulder soreness, so the Rangers moved Alexi Ogando to the rotation and all he did was throw 4 2/3 innings last night, holding the Giants to 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. Baseball HQ's Ron Shandler thinks Ogando could be a solid source of strikeouts should he start every 5th day in 2012.

More Roto Roundup after the jump:
The Giants have been playing Aubrey Huff in left field recently, with Brandon Belt at first base, but they still have not announced where Belt will start the season. It is looking more and more like Belt could start the season in the big leagues, or rather, he should as he is hitting .348-.392-.630 with 3 HRs, 6 RBI and a 10-4 K/BB rate in his 46 spring at bats.

Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter is out indefinitely with a nerve issue in his pitching shoulder, and Lance Lynn will take his spot in their rotation. Like I said a few days ago, Lynn should come cheap in drafts and could remain in the rotation even when Carpenter returns from the DL.

Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie is expected to return to the lineup today after sitting out a week due to groin tightness. I see him approaching a 20-20 season in 2012, and he could be a first or second round pick in 2012 if he really blows up.

Brewers outfielder Corey Hart was scheduled to appear in a minor league game today, but he isn't ready to slide yet, so it appears he may start the season on the DL. If he should, he will only miss the first 5-6 games of the season, so I wouldn't drop him too much on your draft board come draft day.

It might be time to move Brewers starter Zack Greinke on your draft boards. He currently has a 20-1 strikeout to walk ratio in just 12.1 innings of work this spring. I read last night that he is working on adding a new cut fastball to his repertoire this season. He struck out over 200 in just 171.2 innings in 2011, and that was after missing a month of action, so he could lead the NL in strikeouts in 2012, assuming good health.