(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Page 2 of 2)
Kubel has simply destroyed right-handed pitching this season, and since the majority of pitchers are right-handed he is in the lineup regularly. Kubel came on strong at the end of last season, making fantasy owners take notice of the type of production he is capable of bringing to the table. This season, he has built on it.
His .360 average against righties is among the best you will find, and his home average of .331 makes him a solid play in the ballpark he gets stuck in for half of his games. Kubel generates power and provides protection to the Joe Mauer’s and Justin Morneau’s of the Twins lineup.
The final group we have is:
Player A: .204 AVG, 2HR, 12 RBI, 13 runs, 3 SB, 97 percent owned
Player B: .323 AVG, 1HR, 13 RBI, 16 runs, 1 SB, 26 percent owned
Player C: .295 AVG, 1HR, 18 RBI, 16 runs, 4 SB, 45 percent owned
The fact is, most people are very down on Player A and should be. Problem is, he was drafted highly and there are those that are afraid to cut the cord.
These stats prove that his production is available elsewhere. Players B and C may not produce the same home run numbers, but they certainly are generating better average, and nearly as much, if not more, in the two “legs” categories of runs and stolen bases.
Who are these guys? Player B is Aaron Rowand.
Player C happens to be talented rookie Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen has come into the league on fire.
He still is going to make mistakes, but the speed is legit and that translates at any level. The question for him will be how he adapts the second time around the league. Pitchers are going to develop a book on him, and it will be about making the little changes.
Rowand moved toward the top of the Giants order, and he has done well in adjusting. His average is the key to how his value is perceived.
Rowand’s home/road and left/right splits are perfectly in line with one another. There is no benefit to him regardless of who he is facing or where the game is being played.
The only potential downfall comes in the fact that the Giants are now searching for playing time for Fred Lewis. Nate Schierholtz has taken most of Lewis’ reps, and that means that with only three spots, one person will be sitting each day. Where Rowand has upped his season average to .295, it likely will not be him most days, but the chances is there.
Player A is Vernon Wells. His inconsistency this season is somewhat due to luck.
Even that, though, is starting to wear as an excuse with owners. With the production from the rest of the Toronto lineup, Wells’ struggles are more perplexing. There is no doubt that he is tough to drop because of where he was drafted, but his numbers make it just as hard to keep him.
The players above are just a couple examples of those that can give the same numbers as Wells has to this point in the season. These are tough decisions for owners to make.
If you want to continue to stash Wells on the bench, then that makes sense. Just adjust your roster so production can be found in his starting spot.
Rowand, McCutchen, Kubel, and others are not going to win you any style points. These players, though, are going to win you weeks in head-to-head leagues.
Sifting through the pile will allow an owner to garner more production out of their roster than simply going with what has gotten them to that point. If you are in the lower half of the league, something is obviously not working.
Take a chance on these players and production will improve. You might not have drafted Jason Bay, but you can find players that are producing like him.
Collin Hager writes The Elmhurst Pub fantasy blog. You can get your questions answered by sending an email to elmhurstpubroundtable@yahoo.com. He's also on Twitter @TheRoundtable.
0 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete