Hamilton and Gordon Go Up...Who is Down?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 12:14 pm
I am already knee deep in trying to figure out what player goes where in next years draft. The Pre-Mature E-Draftulation draft that begins with the last pitch of this season is approaching fast. Of course, there will be movements up the draft board like Hamilton, Dee Gordon, N Cruz, Abreu and others.
But, who are the droppers?
Here are a few.....
.319/41/5/45/5
.311/34/6/27/4
These are similar stats from players who play the same position. The difference being is that the first player was taken in the first round. The other was hardly selected at all.
They are Robinson Cano and Scooter Gennett.
Cano is no longer a dominant player at his position.
He is only in the top five of two categories among 2b, Avg. and rbi.
He still hits in the middle of a lineup. Something that most 2b do not. That alone, should keep his draft position for 2015 high.
At least it has for Dustin Pedroia.
But, Cano falls in 2015. Fantasy players are attracted by hr/sb. Cano has a 5/5 midway through the 2014 season.
152 players have more homers. 85 have more steals.
Cano drops, but it won't be a free fall. There will be those that see Cano as just getting his feet wet in Seattle. Or see it as just an off year.
I feel Cano drops to the bottom of the second round as his high mark and the fourth round as his low.
Chris Davis.
I've heard several reasons for Davis not being 'Crush' this year.
He's off the juice. He's hiding injury. Pitchers have 'figured him out'.
What floored me from his 2013 season is that he hit .286
The man only hit 71 singles. He had 96 extra base hits.
He outdoned Adam Dunn!
I never expect Davis to hit even close to .286 again.
He had a magical year.
It's over.
Adam Dunn descended slowly in fantasy drafts when it was apparent that he was an all or nothing power hitter. The same will happen with Davis. His stats scream for him to be taken in a double digit round next year.
But, at least one in 15 of us will be thinking like Dennis Rodman....Rebound.
Davis will fall to the fourth round as a high selection. The seventh as a low.
.290/44/11/46/8 are really nice stats. But, we expect more out of a first rounder. Especially out of a guy who was the average number eight overall pick.
If this is Ryan Braun without PED's (we never really know), I would rate him as above average as a player.
Not, a Superstar.
Braun is on his way to having the least amount of home runs and rbi in his career. That is, except for last year, a lost year for Braun.
Some will say that it was injury that slowed him down this year.
Too bad!
When/if getting off the juice, injury comes with the territory. Like mortals.
Two things can happen to Braun before next season commences.
He could cheat again. It would bring back the adulation and cheers that he has missed this year. It could also please his owners and put him in the running for an MVP for 2015.
My personal feeling is that Braun has been using his whole career, beginning with going to school at Miami.
I also believe he is off them now. The ball no longer zings off his bat as it did before.
The second choice is that Braun could go on as Clark Kent. A mild mannered player without powers far above others.
Either way, he gets paid.
Braun's .290/44/11/46/8 is very close to that of another player. He is, perhaps, the total opposite of Braun. A man who is not afraid of being seen as a dork. A man whose ego does not arrive in the room, before he does. A vegan, who would never put anything like PED's in his body.
Hunter Pence.
Pence has a line of .293/58/11/30/7.
Pence was the 48th player taken, on average, by NFBC players last year.
Braun's drop will not be that significant.
His owners can hope that he goes back to his old ways (You have to love America!).
Braun will drop out of the first round though.
The second round will be his high for next year, the third round or maybe even fourth round, if he gets injured again, will be the low.
One more thing....
I know Miguel Cabrera has good counting stats this year. But, I feel it is the beginning of the end of his domination atop draft boards. Most of his home runs this year qualify as 'Just Barely's'. He seems more of a gap to gap hitter than a power hitter this year.
Some believe that doubles turn to home runs. I believe more, that home runs turn to doubles.
Cabrera is leading baseball in doubles.
Cabrera may still be the best hitter in baseball. But, he is no longer one of the best power hitters in baseball.
It could be remnants of his injury from last year. I think it is. And that it has had a lasting effect.
Does Cabrera fall next year?
Maybe a little, but not much.
He is still a good enough hitter to almost guarantee a .300/100/100 season.
But as said before, fantasy owners are attracted by the hr/sb categories.
Cabrera has had consecutive 44 home run seasons.
Cabrera could see himself falling from the best four category player on the planet to the best three and a half category player on the planet.
Cabrera will still be a top five pick. But, I do believe his days of being the number one Overall pick in a Main Event are over.
ps- That is, unless Joe gets first pick in a Main Event League next year.......
But, who are the droppers?
Here are a few.....
.319/41/5/45/5
.311/34/6/27/4
These are similar stats from players who play the same position. The difference being is that the first player was taken in the first round. The other was hardly selected at all.
They are Robinson Cano and Scooter Gennett.
Cano is no longer a dominant player at his position.
He is only in the top five of two categories among 2b, Avg. and rbi.
He still hits in the middle of a lineup. Something that most 2b do not. That alone, should keep his draft position for 2015 high.
At least it has for Dustin Pedroia.
But, Cano falls in 2015. Fantasy players are attracted by hr/sb. Cano has a 5/5 midway through the 2014 season.
152 players have more homers. 85 have more steals.
Cano drops, but it won't be a free fall. There will be those that see Cano as just getting his feet wet in Seattle. Or see it as just an off year.
I feel Cano drops to the bottom of the second round as his high mark and the fourth round as his low.
Chris Davis.
I've heard several reasons for Davis not being 'Crush' this year.
He's off the juice. He's hiding injury. Pitchers have 'figured him out'.
What floored me from his 2013 season is that he hit .286
The man only hit 71 singles. He had 96 extra base hits.
He outdoned Adam Dunn!
I never expect Davis to hit even close to .286 again.
He had a magical year.
It's over.
Adam Dunn descended slowly in fantasy drafts when it was apparent that he was an all or nothing power hitter. The same will happen with Davis. His stats scream for him to be taken in a double digit round next year.
But, at least one in 15 of us will be thinking like Dennis Rodman....Rebound.
Davis will fall to the fourth round as a high selection. The seventh as a low.
.290/44/11/46/8 are really nice stats. But, we expect more out of a first rounder. Especially out of a guy who was the average number eight overall pick.
If this is Ryan Braun without PED's (we never really know), I would rate him as above average as a player.
Not, a Superstar.
Braun is on his way to having the least amount of home runs and rbi in his career. That is, except for last year, a lost year for Braun.
Some will say that it was injury that slowed him down this year.
Too bad!
When/if getting off the juice, injury comes with the territory. Like mortals.
Two things can happen to Braun before next season commences.
He could cheat again. It would bring back the adulation and cheers that he has missed this year. It could also please his owners and put him in the running for an MVP for 2015.
My personal feeling is that Braun has been using his whole career, beginning with going to school at Miami.
I also believe he is off them now. The ball no longer zings off his bat as it did before.
The second choice is that Braun could go on as Clark Kent. A mild mannered player without powers far above others.
Either way, he gets paid.
Braun's .290/44/11/46/8 is very close to that of another player. He is, perhaps, the total opposite of Braun. A man who is not afraid of being seen as a dork. A man whose ego does not arrive in the room, before he does. A vegan, who would never put anything like PED's in his body.
Hunter Pence.
Pence has a line of .293/58/11/30/7.
Pence was the 48th player taken, on average, by NFBC players last year.
Braun's drop will not be that significant.
His owners can hope that he goes back to his old ways (You have to love America!).
Braun will drop out of the first round though.
The second round will be his high for next year, the third round or maybe even fourth round, if he gets injured again, will be the low.
One more thing....
I know Miguel Cabrera has good counting stats this year. But, I feel it is the beginning of the end of his domination atop draft boards. Most of his home runs this year qualify as 'Just Barely's'. He seems more of a gap to gap hitter than a power hitter this year.
Some believe that doubles turn to home runs. I believe more, that home runs turn to doubles.
Cabrera is leading baseball in doubles.
Cabrera may still be the best hitter in baseball. But, he is no longer one of the best power hitters in baseball.
It could be remnants of his injury from last year. I think it is. And that it has had a lasting effect.
Does Cabrera fall next year?
Maybe a little, but not much.
He is still a good enough hitter to almost guarantee a .300/100/100 season.
But as said before, fantasy owners are attracted by the hr/sb categories.
Cabrera has had consecutive 44 home run seasons.
Cabrera could see himself falling from the best four category player on the planet to the best three and a half category player on the planet.
Cabrera will still be a top five pick. But, I do believe his days of being the number one Overall pick in a Main Event are over.
ps- That is, unless Joe gets first pick in a Main Event League next year.......