Facts & Flukes
Rickie Weeks (2B, MIL) started quickly last year, earning his first All-Star selection with a .283-14-33 first half. But like so often in the past, injuries derailed his season. Now 29, Weeks will be counted on to help pick up the offensive slack following Prince Fielder's (1B, DET) departure.
Mar 28 2012 11:01pm
Mar 28 2012 11:01pm
In a spring training battle for a roster slot? Just make a good early impression—like hot-hitting Ryan Raburn (2B/OF, DET), who’s vying for the Tigers’ opening day second base position. Despite the start, Raburn has fairly one-dimensional the past few years.
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
After a troubling 2010 in which leg injuries limited him to a career-low of AB, Jimmy Rollins (SS, PHI) headed into his 2011 walk season playing for a new contract. He did enough to secure at least three more seasons in Philadelphia, though his skills have decidedly flattened out in recent seasons.
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
Josh Collmenter (RHP, ARI) was called to fill in as Arizona's fifth starter early last year and ran with the opportunity, posting a sub-3.00 ERA and a WHIP below 1.00 in the season's first half. He wasn't quite as good from July on, but kept the job. But does Collmenter have the skills to merit fanalytic consideration?
Mar 24 2012 12:03am
Mar 24 2012 12:03am
In a lineup full of more veteran boppers, Brett Gardner (OF, NYY) provides some youth and zip on the bases. Gardner has become a great asset to the Yankees because of his speed and defense, but is there room for more growth in his game?
Mar 23 2012 12:04am
Mar 23 2012 12:04am
Joey Votto (1B, CIN) faced a tall order last year—expectations that he would repeat his 2010 MVP and career highs in average, home runs, RBIs and SBs. Instead, his numbers were down across the board, though still very good. Does last season make a new benchmark for which to base expectations?
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
While the top of the Seattle rotation is pretty much set, the back-end is a work in progress. One competitor for a spot is non-roster invitee Kevin Millwood (RHP, SEA). While Safeco provides a safe haven for pitchers, there are reasons to be leery about Millwood.
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Many fantasy owners rode Matt Kemp's (OF, LA) breakout campaign to championships last season. And even though we here at BaseballHQ.com have written recently of the danger of paying for last year's performance, Kemp is surely the exception. He'll pick right up where he left in September—right?
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Last summer, it appeared that the Cardinals were making a big mistake by sending Colby Rasmus (OF, TOR) to the Blue Jays less than a year after he posted a breakout season. In the short term, the trade worked just fine for the Cards as they went on to win the World Series, while Rasmus went into the tank not long after joining his new team.
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
Coming off of an MVP season in which he took his team to the World Series in 2010, there were questions about whether Josh Hamilton (OF, TEX) could stay healthy long enough to produce a solid encore performance. Despite missing six weeks early in the season with a shoulder injury, the answer was a resounding yes.
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
At certain times last year, James McDonald (RHP, PIT) pitched like a budding ace—the kind of arm that led him to be considered a very solid prospect in the Dodgers organization. But he also saw the wheels come off all too often during starts. Two-thirds of his nine losses were PQS-0 outings. At 27, he should be in his prime. Is there a step up coming, or has he plateaued?
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Rickie Weeks (2B, MIL) started quickly last year, earning his first All-Star selection with a .283-14-33 first half. But like so often in the past, injuries derailed his season. Now 29, Weeks will be counted on to help pick up the offensive slack following Prince Fielder's (1B, DET) departure.
Mar 28 2012 11:01pm
Mar 28 2012 11:01pm
In a spring training battle for a roster slot? Just make a good early impression—like hot-hitting Ryan Raburn (2B/OF, DET), who’s vying for the Tigers’ opening day second base position. Despite the start, Raburn has fairly one-dimensional the past few years.
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
Mar 27 2012 11:03pm
After a troubling 2010 in which leg injuries limited him to a career-low of AB, Jimmy Rollins (SS, PHI) headed into his 2011 walk season playing for a new contract. He did enough to secure at least three more seasons in Philadelphia, though his skills have decidedly flattened out in recent seasons.
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
Mar 26 2012 11:04pm
Josh Collmenter (RHP, ARI) was called to fill in as Arizona's fifth starter early last year and ran with the opportunity, posting a sub-3.00 ERA and a WHIP below 1.00 in the season's first half. He wasn't quite as good from July on, but kept the job. But does Collmenter have the skills to merit fanalytic consideration?
Mar 24 2012 12:03am
Mar 24 2012 12:03am
In a lineup full of more veteran boppers, Brett Gardner (OF, NYY) provides some youth and zip on the bases. Gardner has become a great asset to the Yankees because of his speed and defense, but is there room for more growth in his game?
Mar 23 2012 12:04am
Mar 23 2012 12:04am
Joey Votto (1B, CIN) faced a tall order last year—expectations that he would repeat his 2010 MVP and career highs in average, home runs, RBIs and SBs. Instead, his numbers were down across the board, though still very good. Does last season make a new benchmark for which to base expectations?
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
Mar 22 2012 1:04am
While the top of the Seattle rotation is pretty much set, the back-end is a work in progress. One competitor for a spot is non-roster invitee Kevin Millwood (RHP, SEA). While Safeco provides a safe haven for pitchers, there are reasons to be leery about Millwood.
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Mar 21 2012 12:03am
Many fantasy owners rode Matt Kemp's (OF, LA) breakout campaign to championships last season. And even though we here at BaseballHQ.com have written recently of the danger of paying for last year's performance, Kemp is surely the exception. He'll pick right up where he left in September—right?
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Mar 20 2012 12:05am
Last summer, it appeared that the Cardinals were making a big mistake by sending Colby Rasmus (OF, TOR) to the Blue Jays less than a year after he posted a breakout season. In the short term, the trade worked just fine for the Cards as they went on to win the World Series, while Rasmus went into the tank not long after joining his new team.
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
Mar 19 2012 12:03am
Coming off of an MVP season in which he took his team to the World Series in 2010, there were questions about whether Josh Hamilton (OF, TEX) could stay healthy long enough to produce a solid encore performance. Despite missing six weeks early in the season with a shoulder injury, the answer was a resounding yes.
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
Mar 16 2012 12:03am
At certain times last year, James McDonald (RHP, PIT) pitched like a budding ace—the kind of arm that led him to be considered a very solid prospect in the Dodgers organization. But he also saw the wheels come off all too often during starts. Two-thirds of his nine losses were PQS-0 outings. At 27, he should be in his prime. Is there a step up coming, or has he plateaued?
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
Mar 15 2012 12:01am
