Player Profiles: Jose Bautista

After the 2010 season, Jose Bautista came into 2011 with something to prove. He had always been a reject of a player, dumped off by many teams, including the Rays, Pirates and Royals and Orioles. But John Farrell believed in him and gave him a shot. Well, he dropped 54 bombs on the American League, and suddenly everyone was talking about how he was on steroids. Joey Bats is not on steroids, and he is a flat out boss. He hit .302 this season while tallying the highest SLG and OPS in the league. He improved his walk rate dramatically, walking 132 times, most in the American League, in 28 less plate appearances than his 2010 campaign. He also became more versatile, showing critics that he can play third base and right field effectively. Though Bautista won't see anymore playing time at third (prospect Brett Lawrie was promoted mid-season), he is more than capable in right field, making a spectacular play in the All-Star Game.

Well, Its been awhile...

The "long-awaited" return of this blog is officially underway. As of now, I'm sitting in Oklahoma City trying to find a channel to watch the All-Star Game. Speaking of All-Stars, this year's roster seems to be missing a few perennials, such as Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and all of the pitchers that pitched this past Sunday. The MLB All-Star game has essentially become a joke due to the absence of the real "Stars." It is a shame that the fanfare around the game has become so strong that a few voted-in All-Stars do not want to attend. (Yes Jeter, I'm talking to you.) But more specifically, Aramis Ramirez. What the heck? He was invited by NL Manager Bruce Bochy of the San Fransisco Giants, but declined the invitation because he was going to visit family in Puerto Rico. I understand that he was invited on Friday, but other All-Stars, such as Pablo Sandoval of the Giants and Miguel Montero of the Arizona Diamondbacks were invited AFTER Ramirez, yet they're still attending. Considered an All-Star is supposed to be an honor, yet the top players in the league are declining to even go to the fanfare before the game. Last year, Troy Tulowitzki was injured, yet he still attended the ceremonies before and after the games. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez didn't even bother to show up to the festivities. I am essentially saying that the All-Star Game is supposed to be an honor, and if you have no desire in attending the fanfare, request for your name to be taken off the ballot. There are plenty of players willing to play in the All-Star game, but don't get the chance to do so.

Mark Reynolds Trade Reaction

    Mark Reynolds is now officially a Baltimore Oriole. As odd as that sounds, The Orioles made the right move by acquiring a big power bat like Reynolds. Although, by trading for Reynolds, the Orioles become strikeout prone, the move solidifies the rest of their lineup. Reynolds will never be a 3-hole hitter type, but slotting him behind Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters and Adam Jones, the Orioles have become at least semi-deep in hitting.

Under manager Buck Showalter, the Baltimore Orioles went 34-23, which by any means is AMAZING, considering the Orioles only won 33 games between April-September. Yes, you heard that right, the Orioles won more games in the last two months than they did the rest of the season. 

Anyways, Reynolds becomes an integral part of the Orioles lineup this season, but he might not stay an Oriole for long, because he becomes arbitration-eligible after next season. The acquisition allows the Oriole's young pitching staff to develop and make mistakes, and behind the run support of Reynolds, they might be able to win a game or two if they allow >3 runs. 

Maybe the biggest impact of the Reynolds trade were the prospects that the Orioles gave up. In the trade, the Orioles gave up two highly touted prospects in David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio, the latter of the two, a behemoth of a man, standing at 6'9". Hernandez has the potential to be a shut-down closer, tossing his four seamer at the mid-to-upper 90's with a disgusting slider. Whereas, Mickolio, the main haul in the Erik Bedard trade, does not profile to be a front of the line starter. His fastball reaches the low 90's and his breaking stuff is most only horizontal. The important part for both of these players is that the Diamonbacks can use both players this year. Both have significant time in Triple-A, and if needed, could be called upon to play in 2010. Both the Orioles and the Diamondbacks got what they wanted in the trade, but now the Diamondbacks have a gaping hole in the middle of their order, and none of their prospects are hitting at the power level that Reynolds has.

3rd Base Rankings

1. Evan Longoria
2. David Wright
3. Alex Rodriguez
4. Ryan Zimmerman
5. Jose Bautista
6. Adrian Beltre
7. Michael Young
8. Casey McGehee
9. Placido Polanco
10. Mark Reynolds

Notes: Kevin Youkilis does NOT qualify to be a third-baseman as of yet (only 3 games played last season), but when we acquires third-base eligibility, I would rank him fourth on this list, and move everyone on this list down one.

Just Missed: Pablo Sandoval (watch his stock this off-season, he might not have a starting gig next spring, that moves him after the top-20), Pedro Alvarez,Aramis Ramirez, Scott Rolen, Chone Figgins.

Jayson Werth Signing

December 5, 2010

The Washington Nationals have officially signed free-agent oufielder Jayson Werth to a contract of 7 years/126 Million. Let me repeat myself. The WASHINGTON NATIONALS have signed Jayson Werth. What the?! Where did this come from?! If you think that Jayson Werth is crazy, well you might be right.

Days before the Winter meetings were slated to begin in Lake Buena Vista, FL, many transactions have happened, such as the San Diego Padres' trade of Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox, Derek Jeter signing back with the New York Yankees ( big shocker, right?), but the most enigmatic was the Jayson Werth signing.

Some may ask, is Werth really werth (pun intended, lock it up great fantasy team name) the contract? Both the Nationals and Werth's agent Scott Boras agree that the contract is fair to both the player and the club. The Nationals were in a dire need of a power hitting, 4 hole hitter after Adam Dunn left via free Agency to the Chicago White Sox. Werth was presumed to be the second best outfielder in the 2010 free-agency class, shortly after the long-time Tampa Bay Ray, Carl Crawford. Now that the Nationals have locked up Werth for 7 years, the only problem is consistency.

Over the past 3 seasons, Werth has accumulated 97 home-runs and 53 stolen bases, great statistics for any free agent. The only problem revolves around his ability to produce year round. At some points in his career, Werth has looked like a slugger, going on prolific streaks, and yet, the next week, he might as well be benched. I have reviewed his swing, and the only thing that seems to be wrong with it is his weight transfer. As his 6'6" frame coils to hit the baseball, he often looks robotic, standing straight and trying to use all upper body, but as you can see on the link above, Werth has incredible power if he uses his lower half more often.

The Nationals have deemed Werth werthy (yes, I know its awful) to be their so called "star" of the team, and he looks to hit in the 4-hole right behind third baseman, Ryan Zimemrman. With Werth in their lineup, the Nationals have become a force to be reckoned with in the NL East, but they still have a few years to become one of the top tier teams in the Majors. Two of the most dynamic prospects in the game, Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasberg, the latter recovering from "Tommy John" surgery, a transplantation of the ulnar-collateral ligament in the elbow. In the next few years, the Nationals look to have one of the best 3-4-5 hitters in the major leagues with Zimmerman, Werth and Harper (in no particular order), with a legitimate ace in the making in Strasberg.

However the story is spun, watch out for the Nationals come 2014.

2nd Basemen Rankings

1-Robinson Cano
2-Chase Utley
3-Brandon Phillips
4-Dan Uggla
5-Ian Kinsler
6-Dustin Pedroia
7-Ricky Weeks
8-Ben Zobrist
9- Aaron Hill
10-Brian Roberts

These are my rankings and my feelings. Just Missed: Martin Prado, Howie Kendrick, Gordon Beckham

Adam Dunn Signing

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Today, one of the biggest (and yes I also mean literally) sluggers signed with his 4th team in 10 years. Do you know who this is? Who is the only person in the last 7 years to hit at least 38 home runs per year, but has never eclipsed a season average of .270? Thats right, Elvis Andrus , has signed with the Chicago White Sox. Wait... thats not right, no no no first baseman Adam Dunn,30, has signed with the Chicago White Sox.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick and Bruce Levine report that the deal is all but finalized between the Sox and Dunn. Dunn, slated for four years and 56 million, will primarily serve as the DH for the Sox, but that depends on the status of free-agent Paul Konerko. Konerko, who has been a long-time White Sox, doesnt plan to sign before the winter meetings, which are to be held two weeks from today.

Although Dunn is considered to be one of the most durable players in the game ( at least 150 games/ season since 2004), he will likely not play the field every game for the White Sox. Although he has expressed interest in not Dh'ing, the White Sox signed Dunn for his hitting ability, not his ability to field. Currently, the White Sox plan to sign Konerko again, and for him to be the every-day first baseman. Although Dunn will spell Konerko, he will considered the Sox' DH.

Dunn was originally believed to sign elsewhere, with his former team the Washington Nationals aggressively pursuing the slugger, but other teams in the mix were The Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays. The Sox plan to hit Dunn primarily in the cleanup slot, but with Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin, Dunn may have to earn his worth. The only thing that is for certain next season is that Adam Dunn will continue to mash.