Roto Riteup — Presented by DraftKings: June 30, 2014

After today, we’ll be officially half-way through the 2014 season. There’s as many Roto Riteups to come this year as there has already been, which could either be great news, or the bane of your existence.

On today’s agenda:
1. Chris Parmelee in center: good for you, bad for Twins
2. ALERT/Reminder that Taijuan Walker’s starting today
3. An Alex Cobb comparison
4. Manny Machado’s righting the ship
5. The Figurative Five

Chris Parmelee in center: good for you, bad for Twins
For the first time in his professional career — both minors and majors — Parmelee not only appeared in center field yesterday, but he started there. Normally a corner outfielder moving to center isn’t big news, but when that corner outfielder is really a first baseman, things get wonky.

Parmelee was supposed to be a great hitting prospect for the Twins, mashing many a tater in 2012, but his big league experience has been mediocre at best this far. Parmelee has been hitting of late, though, and since he’ll continue to get looks there if he’s hitting, CF eligibility for those of you in specific position leagues is a great plus. Parmelee is still just 26 years old, so hey, maybe he’s getting his shiz together.

ALERT/Reminder that Taijuan Walker’s starting today
Did you know Taijuan Walker starts for the Mariners today? I knew that, and I’m very excited, because he’s big, talented, and incredibly handsome.

An Alex Cobb comparison

2013: 23% K (9.2% SwStr%), 8% BB, 56% GB%, .279 BABIP, 91 MPH fastball; 2.76 ERA, 1.15 WHIP

2014: 21% K (11.3% SwStr%), 8% BB, 55% GB%, .277 BABIP, 91 MPH fastball; 4.10 ERA, 1.21 WHIP

Those 2014 numbers are excluding yesterday’s start, but something’s weird. The big difference is a 11 point hit in his LOB%, which is closer to both his and the league’s average this year. Still, Cobb is a guy I’d be interested in buying from an owner who’s selling.

Manny Machado’s righting the ship
After an atrocious .220/.271/.284 line over 109 ABs in May, Machado has turned the corner, hitting .260/.315/.440 in June. It could have just been a fluke slump in May, but there is something to be said for the youngster coming off of a major knee surgery and getting himself back into working order.

Machado slashed .283/.314/.432, so if we just ignore May, he’s pretty much doing exactly the same thing as last year. If Machado can do what he did last year over the course of the second half, he’s a guy you want around in virtually all leagues.

The Figurative Five

SP: Jesse Hahn | $8,300 | vCIN
SP: Jake Arrieta | $8,400 | @BOS
1B: Eric Hosmer | $3,600 | @MIN (Yohan Pino)
OF: Josh Hamilton | $4,300 | @CWS (Hector Noesi)
OF: Kole Calhoun | $3,900 | @CWS (Hector Noesi)

Ride or die with Jake Arrieta, or get out of my house. Kole Calhoun is awesome; and when Wiers and I agree on liking the same thing, you should probably assume it’s the best guy in the league and that his name is Kole Calhoun.

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