Brent
Hershey
March 06, 2012 1:03 AM GMT
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?
Dan
Becker
March 05, 2012 1:02 AM GMT
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...
Joe
Hoffer
March 03, 2012 1:01 AM GMT
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?
Thomas
Kephart
March 02, 2012 1:04 AM GMT
Adrian Beltre is coming off the most productive back-to-back seasons of his career. Does this new level represent a plateau, or is he more likely to revert to pre-2010?
Jeffrey
Tomich
March 01, 2012 1:03 AM GMT
Neil Walker (2B, PIT) proved to a good power-average combination for a middle infielder during his 2010 rookie season, going .296-12-66 in 426 ABs. But the average fell last season, and it took another 170 ABs to manage the same HR output. Yet he did swipe nine bases. The question now is, can he put it all together?
Dave
Adler
February 29, 2012 1:01 AM GMT
In the “not exactly shocking news” category, NYY manager Joe Girardi has declared that CC Sabathia (LHP, NYY) will be his Opening Day starter. In an effort to stay strong throughout the year, Sabathia came into camp with a bit less weight that he was carrying last season.
Brent
Hershey
February 28, 2012 1:01 AM GMT
While everyone knows that a near-$50 season is next to impossible to repeat, many still held a shred of hope for Carlos Gonzalez (OF, COL) heading into 2011. And sure enough, he wasn't able to live up to his stupendous performance in 2010. But those who use the word "rebound" in anticipation of 2012 are asking the wrong question.
Dan
Becker
February 27, 2012 1:01 AM GMT
After an injury plagued and ineffective 2010, Josh Beckett (RHP, BOS) found himself at something of a career crossroads at the outset of the 2011 season. Beckett answered the bell and then some, anchoring the Boston rotation and posting excellent numbers across the board...
Joe
Hoffer
February 25, 2012 1:01 AM GMT
2011 was a tale of two seasons for Andre Ethier (OF, LA). After starting the season with a 30-game hitting streak, Ethier tailed off due in large part to knee issues that led to season-ending arthroscopic surgery in early September. The Dodgers signed Ethier to a one-year $10.95M deal (plus incentives), a relative bargain following his hot start in 2011. Will Ethier be a bargain at our draft tables as well?
Thomas
Kephart
February 24, 2012 1:01 AM GMT
Evan Longoria is coming off a season of reduced value, having lost nearly a month of 2011 with an early-season oblique injury. He also failed to fully translate his skills into production. Can Longoria rebound in 2012?