The All-Schultz midseason awards highlight this week’s Week That Was.

In a break from tradition and in honor of the really good work below, I have decided, for one day only, to bestow upon the Baron of the Bottom of the Page the top of the page!  Have no fear, I will comment in the response section below. 

So, without further adieu, Schultz says: “Schultz has often said that that people like lists. From Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 through David Letterman’s Top 10 to BuzzFeed’s endless listicles, it’s been proven that listing things just makes them better. In that vein, continuing Glenn Colton’s favorite Week That Was tradition – don’t believe him when he says he’s ambivalent or simply happy to indulge the column’s sole employee – here are the 2017 MID-SEASON ALL-SCHULTZ TEAMS.

THE ALL-SCHULTZ “SEASON 2” TEAM: How many times has someone touted a TV show with the advisory that “It gets really good in Season 2.” This team is made up of those select few that have exceeded the growing pains of their early efforts and are on the verge of becoming “prestige” players.

C:   Salvador Perez (KC): When it comes to catchers, Buster Posey has spent the past few years residing in a tier all to himself. While Perez isn’t quite there yet, Posey hears him knocking and I think Perez is coming in. Already at 18 HR, 57 RBIs, Perez seems poised to exceed his already-substantial yearly norms and join the upper echelon of roto-backstops.

1B: Freddie Freeman (ATL): With 1B always being stacked from a roto-perspective, Freeman’s historically stellar seasons are predominantly overlooked. He developed a power stroke last year and before his untimely injury this season was putting up monster numbers (.341 14 HR, 25 RBIs by mid-May). He’s picked up where he left off and is on the verge of picking up 3B eligibility.

2B: Jose Ramirez (CLE): Since he turned 21, Ramirez has slowly worked his way into the mighty Cleveland Indian lineup. At 24, he is their most fearsome weapon. Far exceeding his modest .312, 11 HR, 22 SB 2016, JRam’s .331, 17 HR 48 RBI, 62 R, 10 SB isn’t a fluke. Although he’s the Tribe’s starting third baseman, his 2B and OF eligibility makes him one the game’s more valuable five category roto-assets.

SS: Carlos Correa (HOU): Given that Correa has slugged 20+ HRs in each of his first two seasons and nearly drove in 100 last year, it’s hard to say that he hasn’t started strong. However, we’ve been told to expect greatness. This year, Correa is meeting expectations. He no longer runs but his .324, 20 HR, 66 RBI, 63 R first half is part and parcel with the leap to the roto-stud kingdom.

3B: Miguel Sano (MIN): After slugging 18 homers and driving in 52 after the 2015 All-Star Break, Sano was tagged as the breakout star of 2016. Everyone was a year late. His strikeouts are still an issue but he nearly matched his 2016 production by this year’s All-Star break. Gemini is ascending. (This slot could also have been claimed by Anthony Rendon and his .315 18 HR 61 RBI long-awaited breakout).

OF: Marcell Ozuna (MIA): With all the attention paid to the Mighty Stanton and Christian Yelich, Ozuna has quietly surpassed them both. His .316 23 HR, 70 RBI by the break should give the Marlins and his roto-owners much to be excited about.

OF: George Springer (HOU): Waiting for George Springer to live up to his unlimited potential has been like watching a Samuel Beckett play, except for the fact that, this year, Springer showed up. While he may not run enough to truly be the prophesized 5-category stud, his .310, 27 HR 62 RBI, 78 R first-half atop the mighty Astros lineup will suffice. 

OF: Michael Taylor (WASH): Overshadowed by Bryce Harper, Taylor has long been a five-category star in the making. He’s just never put it all together over the course of the many opportunities he’s had to become the Nats’ centerfielder. Given his latest opportunity solely due to Adam Eaton’s season-ending injury, Taylor has blossomed, putting up a .278 12 HR, 35 RBI 10 SB line before suffering the dreaded oblique injury.

SP: Robbie Ray (ARZ): Never before has there been a collective skepticism towards a pitcher that struck out 218. Well, an accompanying 4.90 ERA, 1.46 WHIP does tend to bring out the haters. As young pitchers are wont to do, he improved. While every other non-Kershaw/Scherzer pitcher is struggling, Ray has improved to the tune of a 2.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 141 Ks.

RP: Kenley Jansen (LAD): Rightfully among the first group of closers to go in any draft/auction, Jansen has leapt from dependable to downright untouchable. If the 22 saves, .93 ERA and .54 WHIP weren’t enough, he’s struck out 58 over 38 innings and it was deservedly a headline when he walked his first batter in June(!!). Ladies & Gentleman: Your new rock-star closer

THE JUSTIN TURNER IS HITTING WHAT??!!?? TEAM: It’s staggering how many things pundits and prognosticators don’t foresee. It’s amazing anyone lets us do this in public. The number of things no one saw coming is so great Justin Turner didn’t even make this team.

C:  Tyler Flowers (ATL): If ATL wasn’t right next to his name, would you even know where Tyler Flowers played this year? A perennially weak hitter, getting a .305, 6 HR, 28 RBI out of a second catcher that you picked up as a free agent is everything you want and more.

1B: Justin Smoak (TOR); Yonder Alonso (OAK); Logan Morrison (TB): This triumvirate of the roto-disgraced have long been deemed irrelevant, never coming near their potential. If anyone grabbed them in an auction or draft, it was likely in error. Their virile power numbers have rewarded those who dared.

2B: Scooter Gennett (CIN): Nothing in Gennett’s tenure in Milwaukee as Rickie Weeks’ equally disappointing successor foreshadowed his emergence in Cincinnati. While his 4 homer game in June was an anomaly, his .311 15 HR, 47 RBI first half can’t be ignored.

SS: Chris Owings (ARZ): All too often, sleepers aren’t really sleepers, they’re just post-hyped prospects that took time to develop (see the “Season 2” team above). Sometimes it takes so much time, everyone forgets they were prospects in the first place. Hence, everyone forgot about Chris Owings, who’s only 25-years-old. Those who didn’t have been rewarded with a .294 12 HR 49 RBI 12 SB line for a minimal investment in April.  

3B: Travis Shaw (MIL): Despite the fact that the Red Sox had Pablo Sandoval miring down the hot corner, they traded Shaw to the Brewers for Tyler Thornburg. Boston must be regretting that decision now as his .295, 20 HR 66 RBI 52 R, 7 SB first half is more than Milwaukee or any of his roto-owners expected.

OF: Aaron Judge (NYY): Find the owner in your league that claims they knew that Aaron Judge would compete for a Triple Crown and post a .326, 30 HR 66 RBI, 75 R, 6 SB first half. Beat him severely for lying to you.

OF: Cody Bellinger (LA): Turning a weekend long trip to the majors for a cup of coffee into an indefinite stay on the West Coast, it’s arguable that Bellinger has overstayed his welcome in L.A. Nah, not really. By slugging 25 home runs and driving in 58, Bellinger has been this season’s most productive free agent pickup.

OF: Eric Thames (MIL): Before the season, his power numbers were discounted because he played in Korea. In April, his power numbers were discounted because they all came against Reds pitching. At the All-Star break, it’s time to stop discounting his 23 HRs.

SP: Alex Wood (LA): Due to an allegedly crowded rotation, Wood started the season in the bullpen. Once injuries mounted (including his own), he leapt to a 10-0, 1.67 ERA, .89 WHIP with 97 Ks in 81 innings. The most phenomenal starter no one drafted in April.

RP: Greg Holland (COL): Injury plagued, ineffective and out of baseball, Holland seemed like a placeholder until the Rockies could decide on their closer. With a league-leading 28 saves and a corresponding 1.62 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, they’ve found him.

THE ALL-SCHULTZ SCHADENFREUDE TEAM: Schultz swears to you that this assemblage of the biggest roto-busts from the first half didn’t start out as a list of the personal gripes and grievances of a longtime Cleveland fan. It just kind of worked out that way.

C: Jonathan Lucroy (TEX): At this time last year, Lucroy thought the Cleveland Indians weren’t worth his time. He missed out on a trip to the World Series. Now, after putting up a .256, 4 HR. 25 RBI first half in the bandbox of Arlington, the Tribe is ghosting his phone calls.

1B: Miguel Cabrera (DET): Along with Trout, Kershaw. Goldschmidt and Scherzer, the Tigers slugger is supposed to be a roto-no-brainer. No matter what the cost, he delivers. Even accounting for injuries, his .260, 11 HR 41 RBI first half is simply moribund.

2B: Jonathan Villar (MIL): After a breakout 2016 where he hit .285 while slugging 19 home runs and stealing 62 bases, the former Astros’ castoff seemed to have all the cachet of Trea Turner with none of the hype. Even tempering expectations to a Billy Hamilton baseline, Villar has been wretched, hitting only .223, stealing 17 steals bags and fighting off Eric Sogard for playing time.

SS: Addison Russell (CHC): After a 21 HR, 95 RBI breakout season capped by a soul-crushing grand slam in the World Series, it looked like the former centerpiece of the Jeff Samardzija trade was about to join the elite strata of roto-SS. With a moribund .230 8 HR, 30 RBI first half, he’s losing playing time as the Cubs try to right a listing ship.

3B: Kris Bryant (CHC): The reigning NL MVP took a gigantic step backward in the first half of 2016. The 18 home runs are serviceable but roto-owners expected infinitely more than a .265 average and 38 RBIs. He’s only driven in 20 people not named Kris Bryant. Better things are ahead but his first half was an unquestionable bust.

OF: Carlos Gonzalez (COL): In a year where the superstars of old seem to be making 30+ the new 27, CarGo has gone in the other direction. In the thin air of Colorado, in the midst of a potent lineup, his .218, 6 HR, 22 RBIs are a far cry from what was expected.

OF: Kyle Schwarber (CHC): After being anointed ENDLESSLY by Joe Buck as the second coming of Babe Ruth, a modern medical miracle and the most phenomenal thing to happen to mankind since evolution, who didn’t want to see Schwarber struggle? The 14 HRs are OK in a vacuum but his .180 batting average got him sent to the minors for modifications.

OF: Yoenis Cespedes (NYM): For the entire off season, Mets fans debated about whether their team should resign Cespedes and then argued as to whether he was worth the $110 million over four years. The first half of year 1 has seen a varying swath of injuries, 9 home runs (3 in one game and 6 hit in April) and 11 other Mets driven in. Sadly, it’s unlikely this turn of events surprised true Mets fans.  

SP: The 2016 AL CY YOUNG CONTENDERS: Rick Porcello, the 2016 AL Cy Young winner won 4 games while compiling a 4.75 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Justin Verlander, the 2016 AL runner-up put up a 4.66 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. 

RP: Aroldis Chapman (NYY): Chapman made few friends outside of the Bronx when he opted to return the Yankees after his concerted effort to hand the World Series to the Indians (after being criminally extended by Joe Madden), ostensibly giving the Bombers both sides of their 2016 trading deadline bargain. His underwhelming 3.57 ERA and 1.46 WHIP while only notching 9 saves has only been tempered by the month he missed with soreness in his throwing shoulder.

THE ALL-SCHULTZ TWIN PEAKS TEAM: In 2017, David Lynch revived Twin Peaks, the show that gave birth to Prestige TV and remains fascinating 25 years later. This team is comprised of those players that became vital again after a long hiatus.

C: Alex Avila (DET): When the Tigers brought back Avila after a dismal season in Chicago, it was thought that it was a family favor. (His dad happens to be the GM). Nepotism schmepotism. .298 11 HR 29 RBIs from your #2 catcher that was roundly ignored on draft-day

1B: Ryan Zimmerman (WASH): More than a decade has passed since Ryan Zimmerman was a coveted prospect, hoarded in keeper leagues due to his untapped potential. An afterthought for most of this decade, his .327, 19 HR, 63 RBI, 52 R first half is simply miraculous. If this team has a Lazarus, its name is Zimmerman.

2B: Brandon Phillips (ATL): Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee may have had the most success with the Indians but Brandon Phillips was the projected superstar acquired by the Tribe in the vaunted 2002 deal that bore the headline “Bartolo Colon traded for Lee Stevens and three minor leaguers.” Long a roto-afterthought, Phillips’ .291 8 HR. 34 RBI 7 SB first half has him on-pace to his best season in 5 years while possibly being shipped to a contender by the trading deadline.

SS: Jose Reyes (NYM): For the most part, shortstop is a young man’s position as increased age usually leads to diminished range. For that reason, we’re going to acknowledge Reyes’ 50+ games at short as well as his 9 HR and 11 SB instead of his other less-noteworthy numbers.

3B: Mark Reynolds (COL): A little position chicanery by putting Reynolds at his old position to include him on this team. It’s deserved though as the one-man strikeout brigade of the aughts has resurrected himself in the thin air of Colorado. No one would fault you for thinking that he was out of baseball instead of hitting .281, 19 HR, 61 RBI for a surprising Rockies club.

OF: Matt Kemp (ATL): In the distant past, roto-owners salivated over Matt Kemp and his five-category potential. He will be the first one to tell you that he was robbed of the 2011 NL MVP award that went to Ryan Braun. Out of the spotlight and almost out of the collective roto-mind, at age 32, Kemp started 2017 as one of baseball’s hottest hitters. He’s cooled to a .292, 12 HR, 41 RBI first half but his resurgence has benefitted roto-owners with long memories.

OF: Corey Dickerson (TB): Dickerson’s hiatus from relevancy was only one year but it seemed like it was longer, much longer. The writer that claimed that Dickerson wasn’t a Colorado creation may have been correct after all. Forget the dismal 2016 season, his .308 17 HR 42 RBI start to 2017 is a true return to form.

OF: Matt Holliday (NYY): A decade ago, Holliday led the Rockies to the World Series while winning a batting title and losing the NL MVP to Jimmy Rollins. Accepting his destiny to designatedly hit, he’s moved to the American League and is just off the pace of a 30 HR, 100 RBI season.

SP: Jason Vargas (KC); Ervin Santana (MIN): Jason Vargas is 12-3 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Ervin Santana has 10 wins, a 2.99 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 91 Ks and 3 shutouts. Vargas has a career 4.05, 1.30 WHIP; Santana has a career 4.04, 1.27 WHIP. I have absolutely no explanation for what’s going on here.

RP: Jim Johnson (ATL): The entire Braves team is a bit of a living time capsule. Between 2012 and 2013, Johnson notched 101 saves. Since then, well, not so many. He’s the closer of convenience for a rebuilding Atlanta squad but his 21 saves are nearly as many as he’s totaled from 2014-2016 combined.”

Response: 

Schultz is dead on right about Jose Ramirez.  The dude is for real. Yes, the stats are great, but they are supported by the advance metrics.  The contact rate in the high 80s remains elite.  Despite all the production he is also showing more patience with an increased walk rate.  Moreover, he is stinging the ball to the tune of almost 36% hard contact rate.  That means Ramirez’s lofty contact rate is not Punch and Judy but serious punch.

I love the George Springer, Waiting for Godot obscure reference.  Do not bother reading the play – Godot never comes, the native returns in Return of the Native etc.  That said, it is nice to know Schultz read more than the Cliff notes.  On a roto-serious note, let’s not overlook Springer’s speed potential.  Yes, he has only 3 swipes this season.  However they have ALL come in the last 14 games.  Pay whatever it takes if George is available in your league.

Interesting that Schultz promotes Jose Reyes.  After a putrid start, Reyes is making the roto-owners who stuck by him proud.  Over his last 30 games, the Mets SS/3B has a .311 average with 6 dingers and 4 SB.  Who would not want that kind of production that adds up to over 30 homers and 20 swipes over a full season?  Oh, and given that Reyes’ contact rate is up and the speed remains real, the .232 BABIP is sure to rise and rise a lot over the last 2.5 months.  Buy.

Finally, while the Carlton the Doorman of Fantasy Sports answered the bell big time this week, you know I have to make fun of him for using the phrase “designatedly hit”.