Another critical Rule of Engagement highlights this week’s Week That Was.

Rule:  Do not invest full price in players coming back from injury.   Yes, it could work out (see Jose Fernandez below) but the risk is too great to pass on a player at the same price or draft slot who is not coming off injury.

Michael Brantley:  Despite coming off of shoulder surgery in the offseason, Brantley kept commanding a high draft pick or high auction price this March.  Yes, when healthy, Brantley is one of the best outfielders in the game – when healthy.  I do not consider myself an injury expert, a doctor, physical therapist or any kind of medical professional.  However, what I do know is that a player coming off of significant surgery poses more risk in March than one who has no known injury impediment.  Next year, devalue the injured player and reduce your risk.  Following this Rule of Engagement would have saved you from the lost investment in Brantley.

Yu Darvish:  Is Darvish a terrific pitcher?  Yes.  Will he likely have a strong 2017 after missing 2015 with Tommy John surgery?  Yes.  Was he a good fantasy investment at close to full price for 2016?  No.  The Rules of Engagement would have had you pay far less for Darvish than your competitors.  What did those who invested get so far?   Well, you got 26 innings through almost four months.  Yes, they have been good innings but not nearly enough to warrant the price you had to pay.  The ROE would have saved you here as well.

David Wright:  The Mets captain’s return for the playoff run in 2015 was a great story.  Those who believed that his balky spine could hold up throughout 2016 and believed he would warrant a big price in fantasy baseball should have known better.  I hope Wright returns to being David Wright in 2017 but the Rules of Engagement said do not pay in 2016 and they say the same for 2017.  If you get a bargain fine, go for it.  Paying full auction price/high draft pick as if he is healthy is a mistake.  Those who made that mistake this year got 7 HR and a .226 average for their investment.

Mark Teixeira:   Tex had a surprising and refreshing (for this Yankees fan) return to prominence season in 2015.  Unfortunately, he missed the end of 2015 with a broken bone in his leg.  Many argued that the injury was a fluke and that such a fluke should not reduce his 2016 draft price.  The Rules of Engagement said that was wrong and it was.  Yes, Tex could have returned to hit 30 HR and .230 but the risk was just too great.  I wish the results were different but this player coming off injury is hitting just .188 with nine dingers through about 2/3 of the season.  The risk of these weak results was too great in March.  It just was.

Sean Doolittle:   Many were convinced that Doolittle would overcome shoulder injuries and close for Oakland.  Yes, it could have happened but the Rules of Engagement caution against paying for a pitcher with shoulder woes when there are other similar priced pitchers without such known problems.  Yes, apparently healthy pitchers got hurt.  That will happen.  The problem is that pitchers you know already have a problem are more likely to get hurt.  Doolittle did.    Number of saves so far this year: four.  You get the point.

Hunter Pence:  Yes, Pence was healthy and productive year over year for a long time.  If you were paying for past performance, that would be the critical stat.  However, when you are paying for future performance, health going forward is more important.  Entering 2016, Pence was coming off a season of just 207 AB and a broken arm and thus, Pence posed greater risk than similarly skilled players without the prior injury to overcome.  Unfortunately, those who ignored the risk ended up with a player who got hurt again and has managed just 181 AB thus far.  Was it a fluke he got hurt again?  Maybe.  Would following the ROE have saved you from a full investment? Yep.

Jose Fernandez:  No rule is 100 percent and the ROE would have steered you away from the incredible season Jose Fernandez has posted.  It is not that we did not believe in Jose, it is that we did not want to pay full price for that belief given the 2015 and 2014 injuries.  Well, Jose proved the doubters wrong (and Craig Mish right) so far by striking out 175 hitters in just 120 innings thus far.  Wow.  I will still follow the Rules of Engagement but boy has Jose proved the exception to the Rule in dramatic fashion.  Bravo!       

And now the moment you well, may or may not be waiting for, the Baron of Bottom of the Page pontificates -- aka Schultz says: Well, nothing.  After producing his terrific All-Schultz midseason awards, Schultz is taking a well-earned week off.  See you next week buddy!