Playing With Fire: Spring Training Edition
Hey guys, thanks for checking out the newest column here on www.mlbfrontoffice.com. Every Thursday, I'll provide a synopsis of the best players each week, and possibly some of the worst. This week, since only two regular season games have been played, I'll provide some information on spring training.
Eugenio Velez was first talked about a few weeks ago as a potential filler at short stop for the Giants while Omar Vizquel was injured, but now it appears he will in fact make the team out of spring training. Velez is the leading base stealer so far this spring with 14 and has posted a .303 batting average in his league leading 76 at bats. He is a versatile guy that could pick up multiple positional elidgibility throughout the year, so consider stashing him on your bench.
Hunter Pence busted onto the major league scene last year, and has continued to prove himself as one of the best young outfielders in baseball. In 75 at bats this spring, Pence boasts a .400 average, 4 home runs, 15 rbis, and 4 sb. To go along with that, Pence is scoring quite a few runs due to his .707 slugging percentage. I actually got the chance to see Pence play today, but he was hitless.
Ivan Rodriguez may be the most impressive offensive player this spring. Pudge has hit 8 home runs in only 56 at bats while maintaning a .375 average. Andre Ethier fits into a similar mold in that he has beem a solid source of spring time power. Ethier has 6 home runs in 65 at bats, and in doing so he has a .369 batting average with a .488 OBP.
As far as pitching goes, Jered Weaver has gone 5-0 in 6 starts totaling 26.1 innings. In that time he has managed to rack up 19 strikeouts and hold a 1.37 ERA. No other pitcher this spring with more than 20 innings has allowed fewer runs.
John Maine has also been solid from the mound posting a 1.78 ERA in 25.1 innings. Maine is leading all of baseball with his 28 strikeouts against other Grapefruit League foes as well this spring. If he can continue his dominance in the regular season, he could be a Cy Young candidate. Thats right, I said it. The Mets offense should supply plenty of runs, making it hard for him to lose games.
Edinson Volquez and Carlos Villanueva are two relatively young guys to keep an eye. I got to see Volquez pitch on Tuesday, and he was rather impressive. Villanueva is a guy that I have been praising for two years now as he has made his way up through the Brewers system.
Volquez has the second most stirkeouts in baseball so far, 26, and has done so in only 20 innings of work. It looks like he has locked up a spot in the Reds rotation, which may seem scary with him pitching in GABP, however, he has yet to allow a home run this spring. It's yet to be determined if his success will carry into the regular season, but he is a solid sleeper.
Villanueva on the other hand has pitched in the majors for a full season now, and showed bright spots. Like Volquez, it looks like he will get a spot in the rotation out of camp and has had a rather impressive spring. In 4 starts, he holds a 2.63 ERA with a WHIP just over 1. Although he isnt the best strikeout pitcher, he has managed to rack up 17 strikeouts this spring.
As you know, spring training stats have limited importance, so don't throw your whole draft at these guys, but keep a close eye on them to see if their success continues.
Eugenio Velez was first talked about a few weeks ago as a potential filler at short stop for the Giants while Omar Vizquel was injured, but now it appears he will in fact make the team out of spring training. Velez is the leading base stealer so far this spring with 14 and has posted a .303 batting average in his league leading 76 at bats. He is a versatile guy that could pick up multiple positional elidgibility throughout the year, so consider stashing him on your bench.
Hunter Pence busted onto the major league scene last year, and has continued to prove himself as one of the best young outfielders in baseball. In 75 at bats this spring, Pence boasts a .400 average, 4 home runs, 15 rbis, and 4 sb. To go along with that, Pence is scoring quite a few runs due to his .707 slugging percentage. I actually got the chance to see Pence play today, but he was hitless.
Ivan Rodriguez may be the most impressive offensive player this spring. Pudge has hit 8 home runs in only 56 at bats while maintaning a .375 average. Andre Ethier fits into a similar mold in that he has beem a solid source of spring time power. Ethier has 6 home runs in 65 at bats, and in doing so he has a .369 batting average with a .488 OBP.
As far as pitching goes, Jered Weaver has gone 5-0 in 6 starts totaling 26.1 innings. In that time he has managed to rack up 19 strikeouts and hold a 1.37 ERA. No other pitcher this spring with more than 20 innings has allowed fewer runs.
John Maine has also been solid from the mound posting a 1.78 ERA in 25.1 innings. Maine is leading all of baseball with his 28 strikeouts against other Grapefruit League foes as well this spring. If he can continue his dominance in the regular season, he could be a Cy Young candidate. Thats right, I said it. The Mets offense should supply plenty of runs, making it hard for him to lose games.
Edinson Volquez and Carlos Villanueva are two relatively young guys to keep an eye. I got to see Volquez pitch on Tuesday, and he was rather impressive. Villanueva is a guy that I have been praising for two years now as he has made his way up through the Brewers system.
Volquez has the second most stirkeouts in baseball so far, 26, and has done so in only 20 innings of work. It looks like he has locked up a spot in the Reds rotation, which may seem scary with him pitching in GABP, however, he has yet to allow a home run this spring. It's yet to be determined if his success will carry into the regular season, but he is a solid sleeper.
Villanueva on the other hand has pitched in the majors for a full season now, and showed bright spots. Like Volquez, it looks like he will get a spot in the rotation out of camp and has had a rather impressive spring. In 4 starts, he holds a 2.63 ERA with a WHIP just over 1. Although he isnt the best strikeout pitcher, he has managed to rack up 17 strikeouts this spring.
As you know, spring training stats have limited importance, so don't throw your whole draft at these guys, but keep a close eye on them to see if their success continues.
