I'm going to look at hitters and pitchers today. What numbers stand out in a positive or negative way? Which players may not be as good as you think, or conversely, better than you thought? There will also be talk about puppies, who doesn't like those little fellas, and something I found in a garbage can Thursday night as I was walking to the bar. 

HITTERS

Jose Abreu has been stupendous this season. He's still only hit two homers since August 23rd. It's September 19th.

Jose Altuve has been a fantasy superstar. Let me ask something. How is he batting .340 with 53 steals and he's still managed to score fewer runs than Howie Kendrick (81 to 84)? Oh Astros offense you are offensive. 

Jose Bautista is batting .283 with 33 homers and 98 RBIs. He's a near lock to hit better than .260 for just the second time in a career that began 11 years ago. 

Miguel Cabrera has been a disappointment to some because he's hit 23 homers after back-to-back seasons of 44 homers. Look, I get it, but come on now. He's driven in 103 runs for the 11th straight season and he's just three runs away from a 5th straight effort of 100. He's also batting .318, just three points below his career mark. You have bigger things to worry/complain about than Cabrera's lack of homers, trust me. 


Nelson Cruz has been terrific with 39 homers and 103 RBIs. However, he's pretty much been the same hitter he has always been with the main difference being health (150 games played). This year his slash line is .266/.333/.525. For his career it's nearly a match: .267/.328/.500. He's gone 10 games without a homer. 

Brian Dozier has gone 20/20 and scored 104 runs. It's been an outrageously successful campaign. He's still hitting just .237 with a .405 SLG though, nearly identical to his .239 and .392 career marks. I do appreciate the increase in his walk rate that has taken his OBP from .317 last year to .344 this season. Still a very flawed hitter. 

You could have dropped acid or just swigged a 7 UP to get high in the old days.


Adam Eaton has been in and out of the lineup due to a myriad of injuries this season. He's pushed his batting average up to .301 on the year and his OBP is a solid .364. That has helped him to score 71 runs and he's also swiped 14 bases. Given his overall game he's going to need to double that steal rate next season to really be the player we hoped he would be in the fantasy game.

Victor Martinez hit 26 homers in 304 games in his last two seasons. How has he hit 31 homers in 141 games this season? Look no further than his elevated HR/F ratio that WILL come down next season. This year that mark is 16.3 percent, the first time it's ever been over 13.5 percent by the way. Add the HF/R ratios together his last two seasons and you end up with a 14.5. He's more than doubled that rate this year. 

 


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PITCHERS

A.J. Burnett has stunk with an 8-17 record, 4.40 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Still, give him some credit. He's taken the ball 32 times and is one of just 17 pitchers to have crested 200 innings this season. He's also struck out 180 batters. Doesn't sound like he will be back for 2015 though.

Tyler Clippard leads the league in holds with 36. He's also racked up a 2.06 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 78 punchouts in 65.2 innings. Since the start of the 2011 season he's on the short list for the best relievers in baseball. 

R.A. Dickey is totally unpredictable but he's still a fantasy option if you can stand the ups and down. He's won 13 games this season with a 3.82 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He's also struck out 165 batters in 202.2 innings. That's playable in darn near every format to be honest with you.

I want to smile today. Do you? 

J.P. Howell has resurrected his career. In 64 outings he's posted a 1.17 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 46 innings for the Dodgers. 

Phil Hughes has walked 16 batters this season. His K/BB ratio is currently 11.0. The all-time single season record is held by Brett Saberhagen at 11.00. I never thought I would be writing “all-time” & “Hughes” in the same sentence.

Still trying to figure out why this was in a garbage can... 

Don't forget about Garrett Richards. He ended the year with 164 Ks in 168.2 innings while posting a 2.61 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Compare that to Corey Kluber (2.54 and 1.11).

Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals are headed to the playoffs. I'd be very wary of starting him in the last week of the fantasy season though. He's already over 200 innings for the first time in his career and given the micro-managing that his career has engendered don't you think the Nationals will either skip a start or severely curtail his workload? I do. 

Tony Watson... do you even know what team he is on? Watson is second in baseball with 33 holds and he has 10 victories as well. Ten. Toss in a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, not to mention 77 Ks in 72 innings, and you have the most valuable non-closing reliever in baseball. It's the Pirates by the way,, the team he pitches for.