Mixed LABR results

[ToddZ]

Steve Gardner posted the link so I guess it's OK.

First ever Mixed LABR that will be played out. It is 15-teams so you folks could find it interesting. There is trading, and I have a hunch this will be an active league.

I was invited to the regular AL/NL auctions, but opted to crash the East Coast swing of the First Pitch Forums instead. My team is typically boring with little risk, probably to a fault.

MIXED LABR

[gpchurchill]

thanks for posting the link

i predict leonys martin will be a week one faab purchase

[Captain Hook]

thanks for posting the link

i predict leonys martin will be a week one faab purchase

Why? Craig Gentry is the favorite to start in CF for the Rangers

[gpchurchill]

from shawn childs, sportsdraftdaily;

83-Leonys Martin I TEX I – I think it’s pretty clear he will be the starting center fielder for Texas this season. Last May they signed him to a five-year $15 million contract. The Rangers have too much invested in him to make him a bench player. In his first season in the minors, he hit .295 with 4 HR’s and 19 SB’s in 302 at bats. He was tough to strikeout (11 % K rate). At this point, his walk rate projects to be slightly less than the major league average. He will most likely hit ninth in the batting order this season. He will hit between 5 and 10 home runs and he has a very good chance stealing 30+ bases. He makes good enough contact which will lead to him being a neutral hitter in his first year with the Rangers.

mlbdepthcharts, and rotochamp both have hamilton in center, w murphy and cruz. i haven't seen any projection indicating gentry as #1 cf.

[Captain Hook]

The Rangers have had Gentry in CF on their depth charts for several months and had several articles alluding to him having the edge. This weekend with spring training open they are saying it is an open competition between Gentry, Borbon, and Martin because clearly they want Hamilton in LF the majority of the time,

We will see what happens in spring training games

-----------------------------------------------------------
ETA Other notes: (from Richard Durrett's blog at ESPN)

* Manager Ron Washington made it clear Saturday that center field is open this spring. And the contenders are here in camp already with the first full workout slated for Sunday.

* Julio Borbon believes a full season of winter ball has helped him improve. His ankle feels good and he certainly looked more self-assured and confident to me in the clubhouse Saturday morning. Maybe having to fight for the center field job will help him.

* Craig Gentry has the benefit of getting quality time in the big leagues last year and playing time in the postseason. His confidence is high, too, and he knows he has a great opportunity to win the job.

* We'll see if Leonys Martin can push his way forward as well. The club is high on him, but he's still got just a few months of minor-league action under his belt.

[NorCalAtlFan]

where there's a youk, there's a way.

[ToddZ]

where there's a youk, there's a way.

but at least the round keeps getting later and later

[ToddZ]

More on Hamilton/Gentry/Martin/Borbon

My take is the job is Gentry's with Martin in Triple-A until he shows he is ready

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/26 ... arily.html

[Glenneration X]

Let's face it, unless someone has insider info on the Rangers CF battle, it's all guess work right now. This is the classic hot bat and glove out of camp will win the job. The spring will decide this race, anything you hear prior to that is just noise.

[Edwards Kings]

Let's face it, unless someone has insider info on the Rangers CF battle, it's all guess work right now. This is the classic hot bat and glove out of camp will win the job. The spring will decide this race, anything you hear prior to that is just noise.

Agreed and it means it is going to be VERY difficult for someone to get 450 AB at the position.

[ToddZ]

Let's face it, unless someone has insider info on the Rangers CF battle, it's all guess work right now. This is the classic hot bat and glove out of camp will win the job. The spring will decide this race, anything you hear prior to that is just noise.

Agreed and it means it is going to be VERY difficult for someone to get 450 AB at the position.

Easy for you guys to say. You don't have people expecting you to read a crystal ball

[Glenneration X]

Let's face it, unless someone has insider info on the Rangers CF battle, it's all guess work right now. This is the classic hot bat and glove out of camp will win the job. The spring will decide this race, anything you hear prior to that is just noise.

Agreed and it means it is going to be VERY difficult for someone to get 450 AB at the position.

Easy for you guys to say. You don't have people expecting you to read a crystal ball

That's why you get the big money my friend....and don't forget, I'm a subscriber. So I expect to receive the answer to this question from you guys before anyone else gets it.

[ToddZ]

That's why you get the big money my friend....and don't forget, I'm a subscriber. So I expect to receive the answer to this question from you guys before anyone else gets it.

Jokes aside, the good Captain is a season ticket holder for Ranger spring training and talks to the team's front office all the time, so you have come to the right place.

[Glenneration X]

That's why you get the big money my friend....and don't forget, I'm a subscriber. So I expect to receive the answer to this question from you guys before anyone else gets it.

Jokes aside, the good Captain is a season ticket holder for Ranger spring training and talks to the team's front office all the tie, so you have come to the right place.

See, I knew I spent my money in the right place.
All joking aside, you guys do a great job with your site. You've got yourself a loyal customer here.
Keep up the great work.

[ToddZ]

See, I knew I spent my money in the right place.
All joking aside, you guys do a great job with your site. You've got yourself a loyal customer here.
Keep up the great work.

Thanks G-X,

Now
must
write
more
profiles...

[Edwards Kings]

Let's face it, unless someone has insider info on the Rangers CF battle, it's all guess work right now. This is the classic hot bat and glove out of camp will win the job. The spring will decide this race, anything you hear prior to that is just noise.

Agreed and it means it is going to be VERY difficult for someone to get 450 AB at the position.

Easy for you guys to say. You don't have people expecting you to read a crystal ball

Yes...yes it is. And yes...yes you are! I do not have a rep on the line like you do, but for what it is worth, you are one of the few people I actually listen to and value your opinion. Keep up the excellent insight. If we didn't have a few guys like you, we would only have the Yahoo! yoohoo-types to read and they target the 8-team mixed league free office league audience (who think David Freese is a "sleeper"!).

[Edwards Kings]

Longoria 5th pick of the second round!

Wow!

[Greg Ambrosius]

Longoria 5th pick of the second round!

Wow!

That doesn't make any sense. I know most of these guys and I'm surprised that the back end of the draft didn't double Longoria with either their first picks or grabbed him at the end of the first round. With third base being a weak spot, it makes no sense for him to go 20th overall. In the most recent NFBC Slow Drafts, he's been going 12th to 15th pretty much every time.

[ToddZ]

And of course, everyone that passed on him late first then commented in the chat what a steal he is.

I still have lump on top of my head

[Edwards Kings]

I would love to hear from the guy who picked second and selected four SP and one closer in the Top 10 (Tom Trudeau). "Interesting" strategy as he also locked up two premier catchers in the first 10. He has Miggy and Butler, but seemingly sacrificed the rest of his offense (Covello was his first OFer in Round 10) to get that strangle hold on catcher (Napoli, Mauer) and premium starting pitchers, but then seemed to give his SP advantage away (only chose one other major league starter in Ted Lilly) and loaded up the back end of his pitching spots with the likes of Romo, Uehara, Gregerson, and Bastardo. Sure, ERA and WHIP will be fine, he has two closers and set-up guys, so that is OK, but K's and Wins are pretty much thrown out the window.

I guess I am jamming on him which is not fair as I do not know him, but I would love to hear his strategy.

[headhunters]

on longoria- every guy picked ahead of him has had at least one season of 1st round output. most- more than one. longoria just never has. those kinds of things happen in drafts . there are a few guys i wouldn't have taken ahead of him- but not many. plus- in spite of what people say, 3rd base is very deep at the top. ( if that makes any sense)

[ToddZ]

The 5 guys that stick out to me that i would definitely take Longoria over are Grandy, Hanley, Verlander, Pedroia and Reyes, plus maybe Ellsbury, Upton, Kinsler, Fielder and A-Gonz depending on the draft spot and how quickly it would get back to me.

[ChiScottieBaseball]

Starlin Castro second round? Todd what are your thoughts on this?

[ToddZ]

I just don't get it and Tim's a great guy that knows his shizzle.

Some people are pretty stubborn about some things. Tim avoids OF early and likes Castro.

I like stats early and avoid overdrafting unproven players.

I also think I need to take more risks, but this is not one I could consider.

[Captain Hook]

from shawn childs, sportsdraftdaily;

83-Leonys Martin I TEX I – I think it’s pretty clear he will be the starting center fielder for Texas this season. Last May they signed him to a five-year $15 million contract. The Rangers have too much invested in him to make him a bench player. In his first season in the minors, he hit .295 with 4 HR’s and 19 SB’s in 302 at bats. He was tough to strikeout (11 % K rate). At this point, his walk rate projects to be slightly less than the major league average. He will most likely hit ninth in the batting order this season. He will hit between 5 and 10 home runs and he has a very good chance stealing 30+ bases. He makes good enough contact which will lead to him being a neutral hitter in his first year with the Rangers.

mlbdepthcharts, and rotochamp both have hamilton in center, w murphy and cruz. i haven't seen any projection indicating gentry as #1 cf.

Here is an update...............from the Rangers website news/blog

Rangers want Martin to soak up spring lessons
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes according to plan, Rangers outfielder Leonys Martin will start the season in the Minor Leagues.

"If my guys stay healthy, [Martin] will get a whole year in the Minor Leagues," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "If something happens to my guys and he's doing well ... but my intention is for my guys to be healthy. It's important that they stay healthy."

Martin, who signed a five-year, $15.5 million deal with the Rangers last May, hit .348 with nine doubles, two triples and four home runs in 29 games for Double-A Frisco and .263 in 40 games for Triple-A Round Rock last season.

He was believed to be competing for playing time in center field in the big leagues against Julio Borbon and Craig Gentry. Washington said Josh Hamilton will also see action in center field during the upcoming season.

"I hope [Martin] learns how the game is supposed to be played by watching Hamilton and the Cruzes and the Murphys and Borbons, guys who have been there and done that," Washington said. "It's more about learning how to be a pro than what he has to offer talent-wise."

Martin, ranks No. 88 on MLB.com's Top 100 prospects list and No. 4 on the Rangers' list, made his big league debut on Sept. 2 and hit .375 with a double in eight games in center field. He played twice a week for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, finishing with a .290 batting average in eight games.

"We just got to keep getting him in as much as I possibly can and let him show us," Washington said. "He's a talented kid and he's going to get a chance to play. ... We've never seen him under playing conditions. Yes, he was with us last year, but all he did was practice."

Martin, who went 1-for-2 with a homer in the Rangers' 16-3 victory over the D-backs on Tuesday, said he is ready for the challenge.

"I've been working a lot on everything, especially, baserunning and stealing bases," he said. "I'm just trying to get better at my game. I'm learning every day. The decision is up to them, and I will do whatever they decide."