Visiting the Eyes, Nose, and Ear Doctor

[DOUGHBOYS]

There are some things that don't make sense to us.
'Glee' is still on tv.
Jim Furyk's golf swing.
Kansas.

But, we visualize these things and others, process them, and go on with our lives. The same things happen in fantasy baseball.
We use our eyes to see a player. We visualize whether his performance on the field is pleasing or not.
The nose is the 'Numerish' in us. It sniffs out the things the eyes don't tell us.
After the eyes and nose report to the brain, we are left to formulate the deciding factors.
Let's try a couple of examples....

John Axford-
The eyes tell us he was bad. Very bad. Owners cringed when he entered a game. He lost his job once or twice to unknowns. He came into the year as a top five Closer. He finished the year with his tail between his legs. His owners suffered through a Marmolic season.

The nose tells us that he still struck out over 12 batters per nine innings. It also tells us that Axford saved 35 games. Sixth in the National League. Isn't that what he was drafted for? Just give us the Saves, baby, we'll sort the rest out later. He gave up 10 homers. Twice as many as he had given up in his career before last year. His ratios were bad, but lifetime, his ratios are still good.

The brain starts wondering. Do I get the Axford of this year or previous when drafting next year? KRod and his senior assaulting ways, will probably be with another team, so Axford isn't being pushed by anybody.
The brain decides that Axford is still a viable Closer. It's just that next year, his name will be farther away from Papelbon on drafters lips, and closer to that of Greg Holland.

Wilin Rosario-
The eyes love Wilin Rosario. He started out the year behind Ramon Hernandez, but took advantage of a Hernandez injury to become the starting catcher for the Rockies.
It seemed like Rosario was always hitting a homer. His owners couldn't wait for him to go against a lefty. He moved further up the lineup as the season progressed, and we all love our catchers to hit in the middle of the lineup.

The nose agrees with the eyes about hitting left handed pitching. Rosario crushed ALL pitchers to the tune of a homer every 14 at bats. Against lefties, his ratio was an off the charts, one homer every eight at bats!
Is his power real?
The nose says yes. He hit more homers both at home and on the road than teammate Carlos Gonzalez. Not many Rockies hitters can claim double digit homers on the road. Rosario can.
The eyes and nose think Rosario is all that and a bag of Doritos.

Enter, the Ears.
Sometimes we have to go beyond the eyes and nose test. We have to use our ears.
Rockies Management stated on more than one occasion that Rosario's defense was lacking. They are sending him to winter ball to improve his defense.
He led the league by far in passed balls this year. He even had four in one game.

The brain has a lot to digest. The eyes and nose agree that Rosario could be a special catcher. A great power source for any fantasy team. ANY player, catcher or not, who has a 14/1 homer ratio is worth more than a look.
But, the ears reasoning is scary. Some teams bench misfit fielding catchers and catchers get 'rested' enough without being benched for a reason.
The ears take some of the luster off Rosario, but the brain still wants Rosario on his team next year.

By the way, the nose has this to say....

.270/98/22/59/18 in 533 at bats
.270/67/28/71/4 in 396 at bats

The first line is that of Bryce Harper, Wonderboy and probable Rookie of the Year
The second line is that of Rosario, who seems to be hardly considered.
The Nose knows....