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Where in the world is Kyle San Diego? He’s in San Diego!
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Kyle Blanks, through 25 games/79 plate appearances has hit to a line of .262/.380/.431. I have him in my deepest of leagues that utilizes OBP and SLG and thus far he’s certainly provided supplemental value for me. The question is will he remain an everyday or at least consistent option.
On CBS Sports, I read this:
Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks is beginning to come around offensively. He's batting .308 (4 for 13) with two home runs and five RBI in his last four games, prompting manager Bud Black to say a great opportunity awaits Blanks.
"His future is right in front of him, and it's bright, as long as we can keep him on the field," Black said during an interview with MLB Network Radio.
I am not sure how much substance this has - even coming from their manager because this so called "great opportunity" doesn’t really await him – at least not this season. According to Fangraphs’ new Depth Charts, let’s take a look at the contingencies:
1B: Yonder Alonso > Jesus Guzman > Kyle Blanks
LF: Quentin > Guzman > Blanks > Kotsay
RF: Denorfia > Venable > Kotsay > Blanks
With 1B relatively out of site, we have to focus on the OF where Quentin (chronic knee condition) will continue to monitor LF when healthy, Cameron Maybin (ailing wrist) should return to CF within the next week or so and Will Venable shows enough counting stats in the HR/SB department where he should continue to consume an available OF spot. In addition to these three, Chris Denorfia should continue consuming AB against lefties (.337 avg and .389 wOBA vLHP) while Mark Kotsay will do the same against righties (.343 avg and .344 wOBA).
Unless there is significant missed playing time from Maybin (Venable would shift again to CF), Quentin, which is certainly possible or Denorfia, I just can’t validate Black’s statement. It was probably more motivational to Blanks than anything.
Thus far Blanks has been a better and worse Denorfia: .370 avg vLHP/.184 avg vRHP (.442 and .302 wOBA respectively) meaning he’s on the wrong playing time side from a splits perspective and they already have Denorfia to provide similar value.
According to Yahoo (similarly % owned OF), I would prefer Andy Dirks, Oswaldo Arcia or potentially even Scott Van Slyke if he continues to get playing time.
....
True Story – my uncle hired the lead of the band who performed the Carmen San Diego song on the show for my cousin’s bar mitzvah. I got to hear this song live at a coffee house.
Daniel Schwartz owns and contributes for Rotobanter.com - dedicated to fantasy baseball visitor requests and live discussion. You can follow him on Twitter @Rotobanter.