Home Cooking and Bobby Abreu

by
December 31, 2008

Bobby Abreu has long been a fantasy favorite due to his ability to provide help in all five categories. Who can’t use 22 SB from a guy posting a .296-20-100-100 line, like Abreu did last year?

But it’s a trying time for Abreu in real life, as he finds himself a free agent with very limited options. He is competing for a roster spot with better and/or younger players in Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Pat Burrell. Garret Anderson and Ken Griffey are also on the market.

Abreu will sign somewhere eventually but fantasy owners still need to be a bit wary that he will remain an impact player. The reason for caution is that the past two seasons, Abreu has been a great hitter in Yankee Stadium and just a run-of-the-mill hitter in away parks.

H – .318-24-111-122-25
R – .260-12-90-101-22

It’s very common for players to hit better in their home parks but 58 points of AVG and twice as many HRs is enjoying home cooking more than most. Is that something Abreu can carry to his next home park?

There’s nothing particularly troubling in Abreu’s batting profile. He doesn’t walk as much as he used to but neither does he fan at similar rates that he did in the past. Abreu is still a line drive machine and he regularly features a robust BABIP. Last year’s mark of .333 was actually beneath his career .352 in the category.

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Abreu will turn 35 before the start of the season and is at the age where players can fall off a cliff at any time. He should still be a productive fantasy hitter in 2009, but likely at a rate noticeably below what he’s done the past few years in the Bronx.





 

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