Roto Riteup: August 13, 2013

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the film Detroit Rock City. For the reader’s pleasure, a link to a showdown of Disco vs Rock can be viewed here (warning: language). While it wasn’t exactly a hit — commercially nor critically — Detroit Rock City is certainly a film worth seeing on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

On today’s agenda:
1. Omar Infante returns
2. Brian Dozier’s hot streak
3. A bounce back start from Dan Straily
4. The outfield shuffle in Arizona

Omar Infante returns
After a setback in Single-A a couple of weeks ago, Omar Infante returned to the Detroit Tigers yesterday. He was held hitless in yesterday’s game, but is still hitting a quality .305/.335/.441 on the year. For anyone looking for middle infield help, Infante makes for a very good option even as he hits in the bottom third of the order. One can pick up Infante in over 70% of Yahoo! leagues, 55% of ESPN leagues, and 45% of CBS formats

Brian Dozier’s hot streak
Following yesterday’s home run, Dozier has a modest seven game hitting streak going where he has posted 11 hits in 35 plate appearances. Add in his three walks plus a hit-by-pitch and Dozier has been an on-base machine for a week straight. Another positive is that Dozier has hit leadoff for over a month now and has scored 13 runs in 22 games since the All-star Break. Consider his 12 home runs and nine steals and some may consider Dozier is worthy of ownership in deep mixed leagues.

Dozier has really only hit higher level pitching in one season — back in 2011 in Double-A where he hit .318/.384/.502 as a 24-year-old. A promotion to Triple-A last year saw him hit a mere .232/.286/.337 in 200 PA’s before getting called up to the show where he hit for a 63 wRC+ in 340 PA’s. He’s never been much of a power hitter, even doubles, nor has he flashed much in the way of stealing. If you are hurting for a shortstop, you could do worse, but don’t expect too much from Dozier. His recent hot streak has seen a 25% increase in ESPN leagues and is now owned in over 35% of ESPN leagues. CBS owners have been more keen to him all year, as he is owned in almost 60% of leagues there, contrasted by the 31% ownership rate in Yahoo! leagues.

A bounce back start for Dan Straily
Given that prior to yesterday’s game, Straily hadn’t made it out of the fifth inning for three straight starts, his 7 1/3 innings of one run ball was a nice turnaround. He recorded five strikeouts and a dozen swinging strikes, however he did walk three. Straily projects to face the Cleveland Indians at the Coliseum in his next start and should be streamed. The Indians have the seventh highest strikeout rate — though the club did just release strikeout king Mark Reynolds — and Straily’s fly ball tendencies and associated home run risk should be somewhat mitigated by his home park. Straily is currently available in over 60% of CBS formats and 90% of both ESPN and Yahoo! leagues.

The outfield shuffle in Arizona
With the news that Cody Ross will undergo surgery later today that will likely end his season, the Diamondbacks find themselves with a hole to fill. To date, Adam Eaton has been another crushing disappointment that causes the present author to fondly relive February and March preseason hype while silently sipping IPA’s in the dark. Arizona has several options to choose from and there hasn’t been an official declaration of playing time announced by the club.

Due to the lack of announcements on how the outfield playing time will be split up, the following is pure speculation on the behalf of the present author. What would make sense is a platoon in right field with Gerardo Parra and A.J. Pollock while giving full time center field duty to Adam Eaton. Left field could be a mixed bag with Martin Prado and Jason Kubel getting most of the starts. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, as Arizona manager Kirk Gibson isn’t exactly known for his process-focused decision making. For now, grabbing Eaton seems to be the best move based on upside alone. Eaton is available in somewhat surprisingly low levels across ESPN (4.8%), Yahoo! (21%), and CBS (44%).