Note: Clearly we’re looking at a small sample size with all these players, and it’s important not to distort expectations based on that.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ - .267-4-11-10-0 with a 1.011 OPS in 15 games

Despite the early success Alex is hitting .267. The last time he hit .290 was back in 2008. That’s a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

 

I also noted the 1.011 OPS in the lead. The last time that mark was .850 was 2009.

ARod has done nothing but lift the ball in the early going as his 55 percent fly ball rate is obscenely high (career 39.4 percent). Only once in his last six seasons has that mark been at 40 percent. ARod also has a 25.0 percent HR/F ratio, a mark he’s only been able to match once the last eight years (the mark didn’t reach 16 percent his last three seasons). Clearly we’re not talking anything sustainable here.

ARod is less than four months from his 40th birthday. He didn’t take an at-bat last season due to suspension. In addition, his last three seasons on the field (2011-13) he averaged a mere 88 games played. That is data you need to fully comprehend with Rodriguez. He is old and hasn’t appeared in 125 games in a season since way back in 2010. Even with his strong start he is by no means a lock to even be on the field in two months. Enjoy your cheap production but realize the production will slow though that doesn’t mean a .270-25-75 type of season is out of reach.
 

ZACK COZART - .353-4-8-8-1 with a 1.036 OPS in 14 games

I recommended starting Cozart yesterday in the Daily Trends column. He went out and had three hits, including two homers, drove in three runs, scored three times and stole a base. How about them apples!

 

I will never suggest going with Cozart again. Why? Read on…

He might be the worst every day hitter in the NL the past three seasons. The sheer volume of ineptitude should shock you in to doubting why you ever considered adding him to your club. Data.

(1) He’s hit .246 in 1,722 career at-bats.

(2) He’s posted a .284 OBP over 1,854 plate appearances.

(3) He’s the owner of a .373 career SLG.

(4) His career OPS is .658.

All of that is atrocious work and not even league average stuff.

In 461 career games Cozart has stolen 12 bases. Yippee.

Cozart has hit a total of 37 career homers. The last three seasons, his three full campaigns, he’s averaged 10 homers a season. You really think his four to this point of 2015 signals some significant growth? It doesn’t.

I said it before. This guy is a terrible offensive performer. We’re talking a sample size of 51 at-bats in 2015. He’s showed nothing the previous three seasons to lead anyone to believe he can be even a league average fantasy performer for his position, let alone a star. Deal him while you can or add him to your club only if you understand his talents – of which there are certainly few.

MIKE MOUSTAKAS - .327-3-5-13-1 with a .958 OPS in 14 games

I know he was second selection in the 2007 Entry Draft.
I know that he’s not even 27 years old yet.
I get it.

I also know that Moose might be the worst every day hitter in the AL the past two seasons.

Through 528 career games covering more than 2,000 plate appearances, his slash line is an embarrassing .239/.293/.384.

The last two years he’s averaged 14 homers, 48 RBIs, 44 runs scored and hit .223. Read those numbers again before you go all-in with the 14 games of success this season. Even with his success…

His 6.2 percent walk rate is slightly below his 6.4 career mark.

His 0.70 GB/FB ratio is only a bit tilted from his 0.82 career mark.

The last three season his HR/F ratio has been 8.9 percent. That puts his current mark of 13.0 percent in some doubt.

His career wOBA is .297. Do you really think he’s going to hold on to his current .419 mark? Come on.

He’s hitting second in the order, but he’s only produced two RBIs when he didn’t drive himself in with a homer.

It’s up to you and how you want to play it, but here’s my advice. Don’t let two weeks discount years of ineptitude. Check out the best two months of his big league career prior to this one. He hit .315 with a .375 OBP and .909 OPS in April of 2012. On the year he went .242/.296/.412. In September of 2012 he went .352/.380/.580. On the year he hit .263 with a .309 OBP and .367 SLG. Remember that before you buy what the back of his ball card says right now.