Facts & Flukes
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
It sucks to get old – just ask Alex Rodriguez (3B, NYY), who turns 37 this summer. Rodriguez’s aches and pains have included hip surgery in 2009, groin and calf issues in 2010, and oblique tightness, a torn meniscus in his knee, and a sore thumb last year. Those injuries have taken a toll on his bottom line.
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
While so many backstops come with some sort of caveat, Brian McCann (C, ATL) has been the rare catcher with the combination of batting average, power, and importantly, health. As he enters his age-28 season, is another repeat in the offing?
Mar 13 2012 1:03am
Mar 13 2012 1:03am
Throughout his MLB career, Matt Joyce (OF, TAM) had shown flashes of his ability but never managed to produce consistently enough to stick on the big league roster. Everything changed in 2011 as Joyce consolidated his versatile talents and enjoyed a mini-breakout season. So what's next for Joyce?
Mar 12 2012 12:04am
Mar 12 2012 12:04am
The last three seasons have arguably been the worst of David Wright's (3B, NYM) career. Coming off a season where he was struck with his first major injury (stress fracture/lower back), which cost him more than two months playing time, what can we expect in 2012?
Mar 10 2012 12:03am
Mar 10 2012 12:03am
Ervin Santana (RHP, LAA) appeared to be on his way to becoming one of the game's elite pitchers after his 2008 season. Elbow problems derailed him in 2009, but he has rebounded to establish himself as a solid workhorse starter. After consecutive seasons of skills recovery, there might even be more to come.
Mar 9 2012 12:03am
Mar 9 2012 12:03am
Over the last three years, Matt Cain (RHP, SF) has averaged 220 innings, an ERA just under 3.00 and 13 wins. At age 27, he's in his prime. Is it safe to assume another season like the last?
Mar 8 2012 12:02am
Mar 8 2012 12:02am
With 18 wins and an ERA well south of 3.00 in 2011, Jered Weaver (RHP, LAA) was rightly called the Angels’ ace and factored into the Cy Young discussion. After making a big splash in the off-season, the Angels are looking to go deep into the post season in 2012. Can Weaver deliver an encore performance?
Mar 7 2012 12:03am
Mar 7 2012 12:03am
Ian Kennedy followed up a strong first season in Arizona with an eye-opening 2011. He notched 21 wins, compiled a league-best winning percentage (.840) with a sub-3.00 ERA and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting. He's a no-brainer atop the Diamondbacks rotation, but does he have the skills to be a true fantasy ace?
Mar 6 2012 12:03am
Mar 6 2012 12:03am
Expectations were high for Adrian Gonzalez (1B, BOS) after he joined the Red Sox prior to the 2011 season. The transition to the AL East and the pressure of playing in Boston did not seem to phase Gonzalez as all he did was post the best all-around season of his career thus far...
Mar 5 2012 12:02am
Mar 5 2012 12:02am
Freddie Freeman (1B, ATL) led all National League Rookies in BA (.282), hits (161), doubles (32), HR (21), RBI (76), OBA (.346) and SLG (.448) in 2011 ... what can he do for an encore?
Mar 3 2012 12:01am
Mar 3 2012 12:01am
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
It sucks to get old – just ask Alex Rodriguez (3B, NYY), who turns 37 this summer. Rodriguez’s aches and pains have included hip surgery in 2009, groin and calf issues in 2010, and oblique tightness, a torn meniscus in his knee, and a sore thumb last year. Those injuries have taken a toll on his bottom line.
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
Mar 14 2012 1:02am
While so many backstops come with some sort of caveat, Brian McCann (C, ATL) has been the rare catcher with the combination of batting average, power, and importantly, health. As he enters his age-28 season, is another repeat in the offing?
Mar 13 2012 1:03am
Mar 13 2012 1:03am
Throughout his MLB career, Matt Joyce (OF, TAM) had shown flashes of his ability but never managed to produce consistently enough to stick on the big league roster. Everything changed in 2011 as Joyce consolidated his versatile talents and enjoyed a mini-breakout season. So what's next for Joyce?
Mar 12 2012 12:04am
Mar 12 2012 12:04am
The last three seasons have arguably been the worst of David Wright's (3B, NYM) career. Coming off a season where he was struck with his first major injury (stress fracture/lower back), which cost him more than two months playing time, what can we expect in 2012?
Mar 10 2012 12:03am
Mar 10 2012 12:03am
Ervin Santana (RHP, LAA) appeared to be on his way to becoming one of the game's elite pitchers after his 2008 season. Elbow problems derailed him in 2009, but he has rebounded to establish himself as a solid workhorse starter. After consecutive seasons of skills recovery, there might even be more to come.
Mar 9 2012 12:03am
Mar 9 2012 12:03am
Over the last three years, Matt Cain (RHP, SF) has averaged 220 innings, an ERA just under 3.00 and 13 wins. At age 27, he's in his prime. Is it safe to assume another season like the last?
Mar 8 2012 12:02am
Mar 8 2012 12:02am
With 18 wins and an ERA well south of 3.00 in 2011, Jered Weaver (RHP, LAA) was rightly called the Angels’ ace and factored into the Cy Young discussion. After making a big splash in the off-season, the Angels are looking to go deep into the post season in 2012. Can Weaver deliver an encore performance?
Mar 7 2012 12:03am
Mar 7 2012 12:03am
Ian Kennedy followed up a strong first season in Arizona with an eye-opening 2011. He notched 21 wins, compiled a league-best winning percentage (.840) with a sub-3.00 ERA and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting. He's a no-brainer atop the Diamondbacks rotation, but does he have the skills to be a true fantasy ace?
Mar 6 2012 12:03am
Mar 6 2012 12:03am
Expectations were high for Adrian Gonzalez (1B, BOS) after he joined the Red Sox prior to the 2011 season. The transition to the AL East and the pressure of playing in Boston did not seem to phase Gonzalez as all he did was post the best all-around season of his career thus far...
Mar 5 2012 12:02am
Mar 5 2012 12:02am
Freddie Freeman (1B, ATL) led all National League Rookies in BA (.282), hits (161), doubles (32), HR (21), RBI (76), OBA (.346) and SLG (.448) in 2011 ... what can he do for an encore?
Mar 3 2012 12:01am
Mar 3 2012 12:01am
