MLB Opening Day 2011: Fantasy Baseball Reactions and Observations
It was a soft opening for Major League Baseball with only six games on the docket. However, baseball is most certainly back on the sports scene.
I couldn't be happier. I'm beyond tired of discussing NFL and NBA labor situations, distant College Football plans and worthless Spring Training results. And I think I'm finally ready to set the tournament aside for a few days.
Bring on the hardball. Now they count.
There are plenty of interesting story lines to digest after the day's events.
The Brewers led off their season with back-to-back jacks. Too bad their bullpen couldn't contain a certain light-hitting, Reds catcher.
Ryan Franklin blew a slim, late Cardinals lead thanks to a clutch ninth-inning home run by a Padres outfielder.
Derek Lowe was masterful against a helpless Natty Light offense and Jason Heyward kept up a tradition.
The Bronx Bombers won their opener with some late offense.
And Clayton Kershaw got the best of the Freak in a classic pitchers' duel between hated rivals.
We've got six more months of this goodness so we can't get too carried away in the analysis. These guys will have 161 more to improve or come back down to earth.
But let's take a light-hearted look at what went down from a fantasy lens.
Ramon Hernandez
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The Reds' 2010 magic may have dried up in the NLDS against the Phillies, but it was back in the first game of the 2011 season thanks to unlikely hero, Ramon Hernandez.
Hernandez began his third season in Cincinnati with a bang, tallying a quartet of hits, including the game-winning, three-run, walk-off homer to the opposite field (right) off of Brew Crew closer John Axford.
Hernandez hit a grand total of seven long balls last year. But this one will have the Cincy faithful talking about another big Reds' run.
Joey Votto
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The reigning NL MVP got back to business as usual as he started the comeback effort in the seventh inning with a solo homer off of righty, Kameron Loe.
He got on base three times, twice via walk, scored a run and drove in two more.
Should be another big year for the Reds' first baseman.
Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs
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The Reds outfielders got some love from fantasy owners looking to leach off of the long balls flying out of Great American Ballpark. The pair were common late-round additions to owners looking for that final outfielder.
Stubbs went 2-for-5 and provided the only real damage against Yovanni Gallardo with a fourth-inning solo homer. He also scored a pair of runs and delivered a double.
Bruce had a pair of hits as well.
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Rickie Weeks
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In his first two at-bats against Edinson Volquez, Weeks homered and then drove in a run with a double from the leadoff spot.
Many fantasy players may have passed on Weeks in the early rounds or took him later with a bit of angst in the back of their head. Weeks has only had one usable fantasy season even though he's been in the bigs since 2005.
If today was any indication of what's to come, those that took a gamble on him early will be wearing a smile.
Carlos Gomez
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Gomez has always been known for his speed, but he showed off a bit of power by going back-to-back with Weeks to lead off the season.
Ryan Braun
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Braun was one of the first outfielders taken in most drafts and he showed why in the opener.
Braun finished with two hits, two RBI and showed off his power stroke with a solo shot in the fifth.
Yovanni Gallardo
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Gallardo was the tough luck loser, but it wasn't any of his doing.
The Mexican right-hander held the potent Reds lineup to two runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. He allowed plenty of baserunners, but he wiggled out of a jam in the first with only a run given up and then only allowed Stubbs' homer the rest of the way out.
He left with a 6-2 lead before handing it over to the bullpen, which promptly gave it away.
Prince Fielder
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The big fella had a quiet day. He went just 1-for-3 with a single and two walks.
He's looking for a big bounce back year after a lackluster—for him—year. If he can put up MVP-caliber numbers, he'll be in for a big pay day next winter.
Casey McGehee
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McGehee broke out last season with some solid power numbers from the hot corner.
He showed why many believe he'll be a solid offensive force by driving in a pair of runs with a single in the seventh.
Mark Teixeira
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Anybody not start Tex Mex today?
He's only a .235 career hitter in March and April and after last year's horrendous start, when he hit .136 with one homer, I wouldn't have blamed you if you did.
But you're probably kicking yourself after today.
Teixeira provided some early power with a three-run bomb to right off of Justin Verlander in the third inning.
Curtis Granderson
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Grandy was a game-time decision after being limited most of the spring with an oblique strain.
The pinstripes' lefty outfielder showed he's healthy enough by swatting a go-ahead solo shot off of former Yankee reliever Phil Coke in the seventh. The eventual game-winning home run took on added significance seeing as how it came off a lefty. Granderson hit just .234 last year vs. left-handed pitching.
Granderson had a very slow start (.239 BA through May) in his first season in Gotham City, but still finished with 24 jacks, 67 RBI and 76 runs scored. He finished the year strong with 9 ding dongs and 25 RBI in September.
That momentum carried over into the postseason where he went 10-for-28 with a homer, six RBI and three runs scored against the Twins and Rangers. He also showed solid patience by drawing eight walks in 38 plate appearances.
If he stays healthy, he could be in for a big season, even though he's hitting eighth in the lineup.
Russell Martin
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Martin is a risk for many owners given his unproductive 2010 season.
He reaped early rewards for fantasy gamblers on Opening Day by scoring a pair of runs while adding a single and a stolen base.
Martin has just 66 stolen bases in his career, so don't expect too many more swipes from your catcher's spot. But he does have decent speed and is a career .272 hitter.
He could do some damage at the bottom of that Bombers' lineup.
Girardi has said Martin's his man behind the dish and that he really doesn't want aging DH Jorge Posada to catch this season.
Gustavo Molina is his only backup right now, but you never know when prospect Jesus Montero will pop back up to the bigs. Montero had a sour spring, but he's still one of the Yanks' top prospects and will surely challenge Martin for time at some point this season.
A-Rod
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A-Rod had a quiet start to the year. He had a double, a pair of walks and a run scored.
Derek Jeter
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Jeter started the first season under his hard-fought final contract quietly as well. The captain went 0-for-2 with an RBI sac fly, a walk and a run scored.
I personally don't see Jeter replicating his lackluster 2010 numbers. I'm no Jeter-holic, but I see him returning to close to .300 with around 100 runs scored. And he'll probably get another bogus Gold Glove just to piss off everyone outside of New York.
Robinson Cano
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The second runner-up for the AL MVP didn't do much in his debut either. He was 0-for-3 with a walk.
If he can come close to last year's production, that Bombers lineup is going to be quite formidable once again.
CC Sabathia
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After failing to land Cliff Lee in free agency, Sabathia is going to have to be the man if the Yanks are going to do anything in a stacked AL East.
He wasn't his dominant self, but he put up solid numbers and eluded the big inning in his debut. Sabathia allowed three runs—two earned—on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over six frames. He threw 106 pitches before getting the hook.
He had ugly second and fourth innings where he allowed three baserunners each frame. But he got out of it with just a sac fly RBI in the second and an RBI single in the fourth. The Yankees defense hurt him in the fifth when Robinson Cano booted a grounder, which led to a Miggy Cabrera sac fly.
Pretty typical first outing for CC. It wasn't vintage, but it should have been good enough for a win—he just didn't stick around long enough.
Sabathia has thrown at least 230 innings in four straight seasons and has won at least 17 games in each of those years, making him a consistent Top 5 pitcher pick in every fantasy league. Being on a perennial 100-win threat, the big fella is bound to get around 20 wins and be in contention for the AL Cy Young.
Yankees Bullpen
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That's the way Joe Girardi envisions this unit finishing games all season.
Sabathia gave way to Joba 'I'm gonna get out of this Rut' Chamberlain in the seventh, Rafael 'Second Fiddle' Soriano came on for the eighth and Mariano 'Enter Sandman' Rivera closed the door in the ninth. Result for the Tiger lineup? 0-for with three strikeouts and no runners on base.
Can't get much better than that.
I picked up Soriano in two of my leagues this year even though neither league has holds. I'm thinking Mo is bound to miss a portion of this season seeing as how he's 40. That would open the door for the former Rays closer who had an AL-best 45 saves a year ago.
Justin Verlander
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The hard-throwing righty had his fastball humming, routinely hitting 100 mph on the gun. He was a little wild early, walking two in the first. But he really ran into trouble in the third when he gave up a single to Martin, a walk to Jeter and then a three-run bomb to Teixeira.
However, after the early hiccup, Verlander found his groove, retiring seven straight Pinstripers before A-Rod's double in the sixth. He wiggled out of that jam as well getting back-to-back Ks of Swisher and Posada.
If you're a Verlander owner, you have to like the way he ended that gutty start and can't be too worried about only getting hurt by a three-run homer to an excellent hitter over six innings at Yankee Stadium.
The only thing that concerns me is that he needed 115 pitches to get through six innings and he walked four.
Miguel Cabrera
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Miggy had a rough spring thanks to his drinking binges re-surfacing.
He'll probably be hounded by that for most of the season, though it seems like a lot of people had forgotten about his issues with drinking in the final weeks of the 2009 season. That episode was a lot more damaging as it contributed to the Tigers' fall from a playoff berth.
Cabrera had a productive, but unspectacular opener, going 1-for-2 with a run scored and another batted in on a sac fly in the fifth.
Here's hoping he can focus on baseball and leave the booze cruising behind.
Brandon Inge
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Inge provided some smiles to Tigers fans and desperate (or savvy you be the judge) fantasy owners as he had a pair of hits, including an RBI single off of CC in the fourth.
It wasn't all good for Inge as he had a throwing error that led to a Yankee run in the seventh.
Jason Heyward
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Does this guy know how to make an entrance or what?
For the second straight year, Heyward hit a home run in his first at-bat of the season.
This time, he victimized Livan Hernandez with the long ball, spoiling a very solid outing by the veteran vagabond.
Brian McCann and Chipper Jones
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The southern stalwarts provided Derek Lowe and the Braves bullpen with all the offense they needed.
Jones had a double and a single and also scored a run on McCann's base hit in the first. McCann had a pair of hits and an RBI.
Jones looks like he's still locked in from the spring where he hit .387 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored in 62 at-bats.
Most owners either passed on Jones or waited until their final few picks to draft the veteran who is entering his 17th season.
Last year was the first time in his career that Larry didn't play in 100 games. But so far the left ACL he tore last August seems to be holding up. Those in Atlanta and owners probably won't be comfortable until Larry gets a few hundred at-bats under his belt.
Derek Lowe
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D-Lo had his sinking action working against the Natty Lights. He gave up just three hits and walked two over 5.2 innings of work while earning the W.
The only trouble he faced all day came in the first when he allowed two soft singles to Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman. He diffused the situation easily by getting a pop out form Adam LaRoche and a harmless groundout from Michael Morse.
After that he struck out the side in the third and didn't allow any Nat to reach second base. He threw 105 pitches and was removed after walking Ryan Zimmerman in the sixth.
He got 10 ground ball outs, compared to three fly ball outs, which is a great sign for the sinkerballer.
His low strike total (59) and not getting through the sixth is the only thing to take issue with in the opener.
The Braves Bullpen
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Billy Wagner enjoyed a resurgent 2010 season, but called it quits after an early postseason exit in the NLDS.
Enter Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters.
Kimbrel won the closer job out of spring, but Venters could be just as important and may take over the role eventually.
Both were in good shape in the opener.
Pete Moylan, Eric O'Flaherty, Venters and Kimbrel allowed only two baserunners over 3.1 innings.
Like the Yankees, that's exactly how Fredi drew it up.
Livan Hernandez
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Something tells me Livan will be taking a lot of games like this on the chin.
The well-travelled 'ace' of the Nationals staff went to work on the Bravos, holding them to two runs on four hits over 6.1 innings. He left after throwing a tidy 77 pitches, 51 of which were strikes.
Unfortunately, he's pitching for a team that has little to no offensive pop. The team managed just five hits in support of the big Cuban righty.
Livan enjoyed a terrific season a year ago where he only won 10 games, but posted a solid 3.66 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 211 innings pitched line.
He probably still won't win many games with this lineup and won't be much of a fantasy option, but he continues to prove that he is still a formidable and very capable major league hurler.
Jayson Werth
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The $100 million dollar man was pretty quiet today for the Nats. He was just 1-for-4 with a single.
Is he headed for a big contract bust season?
Didn't like the deal when I heard the figure he got and still don't.
Jeff Matthis
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Matthis did his best to make up for the loss of Mike Napoli, going 2-for-4 with a home run in the fourth to give the Angels and Jered Weaver some insurance.
Matthis only hit five home runs in 237 at bats last year while hitting a paltry .211.
The Halos are banking on Matthis as he's the starter for the foreseeable future with only Hank Conger to back him up.
Torii Hunter
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Hunter had a solid year in 2010, but I sometimes forget about him because I don't see him much being on the east coast.
Not seeing him in center field also threw me for a loop—he's moved to right to make way for Vernon Wells. The shift shows Hunter's selflessness and low ego. How many nine-time Gold Glovers willingly give up their natural position?
But he set the tone on offense today against the Royals, crushing a solo shot off of Luke Hochevar in the fourth.
He finished the game 2-for-4.
Maicer Izturis
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The diminutive third baseman made a very early statement to fantasy owners from the Halos' leadoff spot. He set the table, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Jered Weaver
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Weaver's outstanding 2010 got lost in the mix thanks to the Angels' disappointing season, a pair of amazing AL East lefties and a monarch named Felix.
Weaver led the AL with 233 strikeouts and posted a 3.55 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP while making a league-high 34 starts.
He opened with a win against the punchless Royals lineup, holding them to four total baserunners and no runs over 6.1 innings while striking out six.
The Angels are my pick out of the AL West and Weaver and Dan Haren are the biggest reasons.
Vernon Wells
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The Halos are desperate for more power while still waiting for Kendry Morales to come back from his broken leg.
Enter Mr. Wells.
Wells enjoyed a resurgent first half of last season, but his numbers curtailed as the year wore on in Toronto.
The Angels have certainly catered to Wells, allowing him to take over center fielder in place of 9-time Gold Glove winner Hunter.
As much as they love his glove, the Angels need run production from him or they'll have trouble keeping up with Texas.
Fernando Rodney
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Rodney blew seven saves last season in just 21 opportunities while sharing time with Brian Fuentes.
Fuentes was shipped out of Anaheim last season and now the job is all Rodney's.
The Halos are hoping they get the 2009 version of their closer when he saved 37 games for the Tigers.
He walked one today, but got the job done against the Royals.
Melky Cabrera and Jeff Francoeur
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The Royals' idea of prime free agent acquisitions actually came through on Opening Day at the Kauff.
Cabrera enjoyed a three-hit day, unfortunately none of them led to a run.
Francoeur went 1-for-4, but made the hit count, launching a seventh-inning shot for KC's first run. He's still trying to recapture that power struck he had as a youngster in Atlanta when he posted back-to-back 100 RBI campaigns. It'll be tough to find in KC.
Mike Aviles
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Aviles displayed his value as a utility infielder, playing both second and third, while also launching a homer as the Royals tried to mount a comeback in the eighth.
He finished just 1-for-5 at the top of the lineup.
Cameron Maybin
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Maybin must have been saying, “Suck on that, Fish!”
The Marlins gave up on the speedy centerpiece of the Miguel Cabrera-to-Tigers deal over the offseason.
The move paid immediate dividends for the Pads.
He hit the game-tying home run in the top of the ninth off of Cardinals' fire-bearded closer, Ryan Franklin.
He finished the game 2-for-5.
Tim Stauffer
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The Padres keep creating fantasy buzz with their pitching staff. Darren Balsley must be doing something right.
Mat Latos, Clayton Richard, Jon Garland and Kevin Correia came out of nowhere to nearly lead the offensively-challenged Pads to the NL West crown.
Stauffer, who made just seven starts last year, could be the next hurler to enjoy the Balsley bump.
Stauffer scattered nine hits and a walk over six innings, allowing just two runs.
He didn't blink against Pujols, going right after him and forcing the game's preeminent power hitter into two of his three double plays.
Heath Bell
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Bell was automatic as the Cardinals' bats laid down in order with three consecutive ground outs.
The only question facing owners of the dominant closer is if the Pads will give him enough opportunities to rack up big save totals, or if he'll be pitching for a contender in the second half of the season.
Cardinals Outfield: Colby Rasmus, Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman
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This trio and starter Chris Carpenter were the only bright spots for the Cardinals during a flop of an opener.
Colby Rasmus, Matt Holliday and new addition Lance Berkman combined for eight hits.
Rasmus tripled, scored and walked twice while scoring a run.
Holliday had three hits and swatted the go-ahead solo home run in the eighth.
Berkman made a great impression on the St. Louis faithful with two hits and a run scored.
Too bad the outfield's production couldn't rub off on our next slide.
Albert Pujols
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It's just one game. But the soon-to-be $300 million man had a day to forget in the Lou.
Poo-poo-cachoo went 0-for-5 and grounded into three double plays. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first Major Leaguer to ever ground into three double plays on Opening Day.
There won't be too many games where the Cards get that kind of production from the hitters behind Pujols and he remains silent.
Sick of him yet? Trade him to me!
Chris Carpenter
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The Cardinals will go only as far as Carp takes them this season.
With ace Adam Wainwright on the shelf for the season, the veteran right-hander will have to take the reigns once again.
He looked ready for the task Wednesday.
The former Cy Young winner held a powerless Padres team to two runs on two hits and two walks over seven innings.
This guy only seems to toss quality starts.
He wouldn't have gotten the win, despite Ryan Franklin's collapse. Pads' starter Tim Stauffer matched Carp through six, though the Cardinals blew plenty of chances.
Ryan Franklin
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Wow that doesn't inspire much confidence going forward, does it?
Franklin only blew two saves last season in 29 opportunities, but the ginger-bearded closer couldn't shut the door against the weak-hitting San Diego lineup.
Maybin's home run makes you wonder if the Cardinals and fantasy owners are worrying about the 37-year-old's effectiveness over the marathon.
Clayton Kershaw
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This lefty is on the verge of really becoming something special.
I thought last year would be his breakout campaign, but the Dodgers' offensive struggles and his early control problems held him to 13 wins. He did post a very respectable 2.91 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.
Kershaw didn't blink going against the World Champs and a two-time Cy Young winner.
He allowed just five total baserunners over seven innings while sending nine Giants to the bench with the whiff.
If the Dodgers can get some run production behind him instead of counting on fielding mistakes like tonight, this guy could be a Cy Young candidate.
James Loney
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Loney gave the Dodgers their only legitimate run in the eighth with an RBI double.
Not much going on offensively for the blue squad.
Jonathan Broxton
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Broxton lost his job in the middle of last season after blowing a nauseating amount of saves (seven in all).
He gained it back by the end of the season, but ended the season with a pair of blown saves.
He didn't gain any fans in L.A. on Thursday, as he had them on the edge of their seats following Burrell's solo shot.
He eventually got the job done, but Donny Baseball can't be too confident and could be thinking about Hong-Chih Kuo or Matt Guerrier or anyone else to find some closure.
Tim Lincecum
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The Freak had a 'down' year when he finished the regular season with 'only' 16 wins.
Then he shut everyone up in the postseason leading the pitching-heavy Giants to their first World Series title since 1954.
The long-haired wunderkind revived some postseason heat in the opener. The Dodgers managed just one unearned run against the Freak courtesy a pair of throwing errors.
He allowed eight baserunners over seven innings while striking out five.
Kershaw may have topped him this time around, but it wasn't exactly the cleanest victory.
Can't wait for round 2.
The Giants Lineup and Defense
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The champs came out flat on offense and errant on their throws in crunch time.
Miguel Tejada and Buster Posey each had throwing errors in the sixth leading to a run. Pat Burrell also had an error.
The lineup was even worse than the accuracy of those tosses. They totaled seven base runners the whole game and got their only run on Burrell's home run in the ninth. They also struck out 10 times.
C'mon guys. You're world champs! You can't lay an egg like that for your ace!
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