Over the past 30 days Leonys Martin has a .367 wOBA, thanks to a .301/.363/.479 line. Yes, his .365 BABIP over the past month has helped, but even Martin’s seasonal line of .289/.340/.457 is nothing to scoff at. This may be the year that the Cuban defector posts his breakout season.
This morning’s Roto Riteup was prepared rough (caution, language).
On today’s agenda:
1. Zack Wheeler to start today
2. Reminder: Jose Reyes to be activated tomorrow
3. Speculation on Trevor Bauer
4. Three true outcomes: Ubaldo Jimenez
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Apparently today is National Pink Day. One cannot help but feel as though it should be this coming Wednesday rather than today.
On today’s agenda:
1. Swapping outfielders in Seattle
2. Jordy Mercer is the new thing in Pittsburgh
3. Drew Smyly: more than a LOOGY
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Few movies can evoke the same amount of uproarious laughter that Hot Shots! or the sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux brings out. After watching the former yesterday evening, this particular scene stuck out as especially inane and hilarious.
On today’s agenda:
1. Quick thoughts on Matt Garza
2. A trio of hot middle infielders
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Spurred on by the chance to win a title, most fantasy owners are feeling the competition really heat up. Oh, apparently the San Antonio and Miami played Game 7 of the NBA championship last night.
On today’s agenda:
1. Alexei Ramirez is heating up
2. Jonathon Niese’s potential injury
3. Welcome back, Mitch Moreland
4. Michael Pineda’s progress
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Today brings another round of bullish reports. If you’re looking for cheap and readily available outfield help, today is your lucky day.
Brandon Moss
Over the past 14 days, Brandon Moss is 11-for-35 — with five of those hits going for home runs. He also drove in 10 and scored seven runs over that time frame. Following last season’s breakout performance was going to be a difficult task, though he came out swinging in April, May saw him struggle. Many owners on the fence about Moss ditched him during his May slump, and given his .153/.262/.333 line in 84 plate appearances, we shouldn’t be quick to judge those that were quick to drop him. Of course months — and seasons, for that matter — are all arbitrary end points and we can’t get too caught up in them.
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Today is National Splurge Day! Go out and treat yo self.
On today’s agenda:
1. Josh Johnson’s 10 strikeout game
2. Jurickson Profar, outfielder
3. The return of Roy Oswalt
4. Tony Cingrani to the bullpen
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Today being June 17 represents a unique day in sports and cultural history. ESPN’s 30-for-30 did an incredible job handling the events of June 17, 1994.
On today’s agenda:
1. Alex Cobb to the 7-day disabled list
2. Josh Reddick is heating up
3. Two debuts tomorrow
4. Sonny Gray’s Triple-A exploits
As Dreamhack Summer marches on to Group Stage #2 and #3, the baseball season also marches on. For the curious, this is what Dreamhack is at its finest.
On today’s agenda:
1. John Lackey with another quality start
2. Welcome back, Johnny Cueto
3. B.J. Upton finds his power
4. A beacon of hope from Tommy Hanson
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After posting the all bullish stock watch two weeks ago, now the tables have turned and we’ll focus on the bearish report. This isn’t to say that the players here have no value, just less value than their name or draft position may have once yielded them.
Emilio Bonifacio
After stealing 40 bases in 2011 and 30 last season, Emilio Bonifacio finds himself well off of that pace this year. Last season he appeared in just 64 games but still managed those 30 steals, whereas this year he has already appeared in 54 games and has just seven bags to show for it. His strikeout rate is up, his walk rate is down, and his triple slash is a gruesome .206/.236/.315. A large part of his struggles can be attributed to his .264 BABIP, which is almost 60 points below his .330 career average. That being said, the skepticism comes from seeing Bonifacio strikeout almost once every four plate appearances. His 10.1 SwStr% is a career worst mark and his 35.8% O-Swing% and his 51% Swing% are both the worst since his rookie season.
Bonifacio may be a prime example of a solid utility player being overwhelmed when given a starters playing time. His projections aren’t kind to him either, as ZiPS and Steamer both predict a batting average around .250, 20 runs scored, and 15ish stolen bases the rest of the season. With Jose Reyes playing in simulated games and not terribly far from a rehab assignment and Maicer Izturis and Munenori Kawasaki both looking for playing time in the middle infield, Bonifacio’s grasp on the second base job looks shaky. Bonifacio isn’t largely owned, just 11% ESPN, 17% Yahoo!, and 28% in CBS leagues, but it may be time to call it a day with him.
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