Facts & Flukes
It looks like Carl Crawford (OF, BOS) will have to wait a bit to prove that his first season in Boston was a fluke. After arthroscopic wrist surgery in January, he’s likely to miss the first few weeks of the season. It's really no mystery why Crawford's 2011 performance dropped off.
Feb 21 2012 12:02am
Feb 21 2012 12:02am
The Cardinals caught a lot of flack last off-season after signing the then 35-year-old Lance Berkman (1B/OF, STL) to play the OF. His durability and production had come into question after a down 2010, but Berkman stayed on the field (including 126 games in the OF) and proved the critics wrong.
Feb 21 2012 12:01am
Feb 21 2012 12:01am
Amid the high-profile influx of big name first basemen into the American League, Mark Teixeira (1B, NYY) has become somewhat of a forgotten man in the discussion of elite players at the position. It doesn't help matters that Teixeira is coming off two productive but uneven seasons.
Feb 20 2012 12:01am
Feb 20 2012 12:01am
Hanley Ramirez (3B, MIA) would like to forget his 2011 season. A .243 BA with 10 HR and 45 RBI isn't exactly the kind of production we have grown to expect from Ramirez. So what can we expect in 2012?
Feb 18 2012 12:01am
Feb 18 2012 12:01am
Miguel Cabrera answered critics of his off-field behavior last season by earning his first batting title, producing yet another 30-100-.300+ season. Cabrera is being challenged to shift back to 3B, his primary position in the early years of his career before joining DET. Potential 3B eligibility would further enhance the perceived value of this perennial Triple Crown threat.
Feb 17 2012 12:00am
Feb 17 2012 12:00am
Those expecting big power numbers from Aaron Hill (2B, ARI) last year were sorely disappointed. The same player who connected for 36 HRs two seasons ago managed just eight homers in 520 ABs between Toronto and Arizona. Meanwhile, he stole as many bags as he did during the previous five years combined. His average has seen wild swings over the past few seasons, too.
Feb 16 2012 12:01am
Feb 16 2012 12:01am
2011 was a lost year for Joe Mauer (C, MIN). He had arthroscopic surgery on his knee in the offseason, and then missed two months of the first half with leg weakness. Signs are good that Mauer can return to his previous form.
Feb 15 2012 12:01am
Feb 15 2012 12:01am
Though an ill-advised pickup basketball game cost him a month worth of starts, Zack Greinke (RHP, MIL) bounced back and completed a fine first season in Milwaukee—16 wins and a sub-4.00 ERA. Those stats, though, didn't do justice to his phenomenal skills season of 2011.
Feb 14 2012 12:01am
Feb 14 2012 12:01am
JJ Hardy put together a career year in 2011 by applying the strong batting skills he'd shown in the past in conjunction with logging 500+ ABs for the first time since 2008. Even after missing a month with an oblique strain, Hardy made the most of his new home in hitter-friendly Camden Yards by posting terrific offensive numbers, particularly in terms of power.
Feb 13 2012 12:01am
Feb 13 2012 12:01am
It must be daunting to be Clayton Kershaw (LHP, LA). How does he top a season where he won the pitching Triple Crown, the National League Cy Young Award, and Gold Glove? We don't know, but we wouldn't suggest betting against him.
Feb 11 2012 12:01am
Feb 11 2012 12:01am
Howie Kendrick has established himself as a solid 2B option, but can he retain his 2011 power gains?
Feb 10 2012 12:01am
Feb 10 2012 12:01am
It looks like Carl Crawford (OF, BOS) will have to wait a bit to prove that his first season in Boston was a fluke. After arthroscopic wrist surgery in January, he’s likely to miss the first few weeks of the season. It's really no mystery why Crawford's 2011 performance dropped off.
Feb 21 2012 12:02am
Feb 21 2012 12:02am
The Cardinals caught a lot of flack last off-season after signing the then 35-year-old Lance Berkman (1B/OF, STL) to play the OF. His durability and production had come into question after a down 2010, but Berkman stayed on the field (including 126 games in the OF) and proved the critics wrong.
Feb 21 2012 12:01am
Feb 21 2012 12:01am
Amid the high-profile influx of big name first basemen into the American League, Mark Teixeira (1B, NYY) has become somewhat of a forgotten man in the discussion of elite players at the position. It doesn't help matters that Teixeira is coming off two productive but uneven seasons.
Feb 20 2012 12:01am
Feb 20 2012 12:01am
Hanley Ramirez (3B, MIA) would like to forget his 2011 season. A .243 BA with 10 HR and 45 RBI isn't exactly the kind of production we have grown to expect from Ramirez. So what can we expect in 2012?
Feb 18 2012 12:01am
Feb 18 2012 12:01am
Miguel Cabrera answered critics of his off-field behavior last season by earning his first batting title, producing yet another 30-100-.300+ season. Cabrera is being challenged to shift back to 3B, his primary position in the early years of his career before joining DET. Potential 3B eligibility would further enhance the perceived value of this perennial Triple Crown threat.
Feb 17 2012 12:00am
Feb 17 2012 12:00am
Those expecting big power numbers from Aaron Hill (2B, ARI) last year were sorely disappointed. The same player who connected for 36 HRs two seasons ago managed just eight homers in 520 ABs between Toronto and Arizona. Meanwhile, he stole as many bags as he did during the previous five years combined. His average has seen wild swings over the past few seasons, too.
Feb 16 2012 12:01am
Feb 16 2012 12:01am
2011 was a lost year for Joe Mauer (C, MIN). He had arthroscopic surgery on his knee in the offseason, and then missed two months of the first half with leg weakness. Signs are good that Mauer can return to his previous form.
Feb 15 2012 12:01am
Feb 15 2012 12:01am
Though an ill-advised pickup basketball game cost him a month worth of starts, Zack Greinke (RHP, MIL) bounced back and completed a fine first season in Milwaukee—16 wins and a sub-4.00 ERA. Those stats, though, didn't do justice to his phenomenal skills season of 2011.
Feb 14 2012 12:01am
Feb 14 2012 12:01am
JJ Hardy put together a career year in 2011 by applying the strong batting skills he'd shown in the past in conjunction with logging 500+ ABs for the first time since 2008. Even after missing a month with an oblique strain, Hardy made the most of his new home in hitter-friendly Camden Yards by posting terrific offensive numbers, particularly in terms of power.
Feb 13 2012 12:01am
Feb 13 2012 12:01am
It must be daunting to be Clayton Kershaw (LHP, LA). How does he top a season where he won the pitching Triple Crown, the National League Cy Young Award, and Gold Glove? We don't know, but we wouldn't suggest betting against him.
Feb 11 2012 12:01am
Feb 11 2012 12:01am
Howie Kendrick has established himself as a solid 2B option, but can he retain his 2011 power gains?
Feb 10 2012 12:01am
Feb 10 2012 12:01am
