Articles
2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Ian Desmond
Whatever are we going to do with Ian Desmond? Coupled with the fact that we are not even sure what team he will be playing for at the moment, the erratic and streaky play of Desmond at the plate screams uncertainty for the 2016 fantasy baseball season. He has been the longstanding SS of the […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoPatience is the Key With Henderson Alvarez
In May of 2015, Henderson Alvarez was placed on the Disabled List with shoulder problems and he would not return. At the time, the Miami Marlins were upset about this development. “Here is the disciplined middle-rotation starter that we need,” the front office thought after landing him in the blockbuster Jose Reyes trade. After just […]
Adam Mernit 9 years ago2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Eduardo Rodriguez
Many of the headlines surrounding the Boston Red Sox’s pitching rotation have to do with David Price. After all, he did receive the largest contract in the history of baseball for a pitcher. However, behind Price is a group of young guns (and I guess Clay Buchholz) that are looking to make their mark in […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoEugenio Suarez's Improvement Will Continue
Suarez’s rookie season in Detroit was interesting. He was limited to just 85 games played and faced a platoon at shortstop, which limited his offensive production drastically; he hit just .242 with four home runs, 33 runs scored, 23 RBI, and a frustrating .652 OPS. While he did pop onto fantasy radars briefly in the beginning […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoRich Hill A Sneaky Veteran SP Option in 2016
At the age of 35 and having played for five different teams, we can file Rich Hill under the “Grizzled Veteran” category. In the early days of Hill’s career, we got a good look at what he could do on the bump while making 57 starts with the Chicago Cubs. He dazzled fans with an […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoZack Cozart Provides Surprising Power For A Shortstop
In 2014, Zack Cozart hit four home runs in 147 games. In 2015, Zack Cozart hit four home runs in the month of April alone. He would hit five more home runs before slipping on first base and suffering a horrific knee injury just 53 games into the season. Before the injury, we were seeing […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoRisks Outweigh Rewards For Devin Mesoraco
Devin Mesroraco has been all over the place in recent years. Even in a career (2014) year where Mesoraco hit .273 with 25 home runs, 80 RBI, and an All Star Game appearance, he was only able to play in 114 games. Granted, capable backup Brayan Pena was on hand to give him rest, but […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoSean Doolittle Still Oakland Athletics' Ninth Inning Guy
Sean Doolittle just recently announced that he is fully healthy and ready for spring training. This news has put a smile on every Bay Area resident wearing a Green Collar, and for good reason. The Oakland Athletics’ closer has amassed 224 strikeouts in 192 2/3 innings over the course of his Major League career. Throw […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoBilly Burns Will Give Fantasy Owners Balance in 2016
In his first near-full major league season, Billy Burns made a great impression on the Oakland Athletics’ front office and fans alike. He proved himself to be a contact hitter who gets on base and uses his speed to score runs. After getting called up from the AAA Nashville Sounds, Burns started to turn the […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoStrikeouts Contribute to Most of Raisel Iglesias' Value
When it comes to the Cincinnati Reds’ pitching rotation, it can be tough to fully commit to any of its members when trying to form a reliable fantasy SP roster. Aside from Homer Bailey, who is still a question mark in his own right, there is an unproven track record from top to bottom. Raisel Iglesias […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoMarcus Semien is a Big Question Mark Heading into the 2016 Season
Whether Marcus Semien has made a good or bad name for himself in Major League Baseball is still up for debate. Semien is one of the least disciplined infielders in all of Major League Baseball. In the 2015 season at shortstop with the Oakland Athletics, Semien had a mind-boggling 35 errors. Thank goodness errors do […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoMark Canha's Progression as a Viable 1B
Mark Canha’s career has taken a lot of twists and turns. The Florida Marlins selected the former UC Berkley Golden Bear in the seventh round of the 2010 Junior Amateur Draft. In 2014, the Colorado Rockies swiped Canha from the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft and just moments later, traded him to the Oakland […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoWhat to Make of Stephen Vogt in 2016
Catchers are always a tricky draft selection, and one name that will come up a lot in this year’s draft preparation is Stephen Vogt. From the 2014 season to the 2015 season, nearly all of Vogt’s counting stats doubled. His RBI total increased from 35 to 71, his runs scored total went from 26 to 58, […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoBrandon Phillips Ain't (Totally) Dead Yet
While Brandon Phillips is a hometown hero in Cincinnati, his popularity hasn't matched his production at the plate. Unfortunately, the days of 20+ home runs in a season are over. He did hit 18 home runs in four straight seasons from 2010 to 2013, but the power has essentially disappeared since then. Thankfully, Phillips’ production in […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoHealth Will Determine Jesse Hahn's 2016 Performance
Since Jesse Hahn's MLB debut, he has shown the ability to dominate even the most powerful lineups. However, he has never been able to stay healthy long enough to maximize his full potential. Hahn’s 2015 season came to a screeching halt when he was officially shut down towards the end of the summer with elbow […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoJoey Votto Will Keep Rolling in 2016
When Joey Votto blasted three home runs out of Great American Ballpark in June of 2015, we all knew he was back. After a dismal, injury-filled 2014 in which he only played 62 games, 2015 was a different story. With an incredible 1.000 OPS, Joey Votto was able to match his second-highest career total in […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoExpect Continued Improvement From Josh Reddick in 2016
Josh Reddick is an intriguing player from a fantasy perspective. When The Oakland Athletics brought in Reddick through a somewhat lopsided trade with the Boston Red Sox, Billy Beane and company were not too sure of what they had. After all, he had only played 143 games in three seasons with the Red Sox and […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoAnthony DeSclafani Will Make the Leap in 2016
It is safe to say that the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation has some question marks, the biggest most likely being Homer Bailey. However another big question mark for the Reds is slated right behind Bailey in the rotation. Anthony DeSclafani, the sixth-round draft choice out of Florida back in 2011, has been somewhat frustrating when on […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoCan Sonny Gray Build on His 2015 Success?
After finishing third in AL Cy Young voting last season, Sonny Gray is starting to look like the weapon the A’s hoped for when drafting him in 2011. With a 2.73 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and a 169/59 K/BB ration spread across 208 innings in the 2015 season, some fantasy owners are in agreement. Others […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoHomer Bailey Will Return With a Vengeance
With the departure of Jonny Cueto to San Francisco for greener pastures, the Cincinnati Reds view Homer Bailey as their ace. Many would view this as a tough spot, considering that his 2015 season was a complete nightmare; he began the season on the DL, started two games, and proceeded to go under the knife […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoBilly Butler Fading From Fantasy Relevance
“Country Breakfast,” better known as Billy Butler, has surely seen better days. In six of his eight seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Billy Butler was as reliable as it gets. He could split the gaps, he could hit for power, and he could get on base when he needed to. This all culminated in […]
Adam Mernit 9 years ago2016 Will Bring Continued Decline For Jay Bruce
When Jay Bruce hit 30+ home runs in three straight seasons (32 in 2011, 34 in 2012, and 30 in 2013), other teams took notice. In those three years, Jay Bruce’s average was .257; not spectacular, but also not horrendous, especially considering his RBI production. Since 2013, Bruce’s has production dropped substantially. His slash line […]
Adam Mernit 9 years agoThe Curious Case of Billy Hamilton
Billy Hamilton has been a polarizing figure in fantasy baseball in the last two seasons. In 2015, he fell one stolen base short of Dee Gordon for the league lead (58). This type of speed can be an asset to any fantasy lineup. But in order to have fantasy value, Billy Hamilton needs to steal bases. […]
Adam Mernit 9 years ago