The Real Deal - Super Bowl Edition
Each week I will pick 5 hot players from the previous week and review if their hot week will continue or if the are playing over their heads. I will try to find out who is real and who is not in fantasy baseball.
1) Rich Hill - SP - Chicago Cubs
Rich Hill has been a very hot name this week and after getting built up so much last year and disappointing he is going to be forgotten in most drafts. He does have the skills to be a successful pitcher, but something was wrong in 2008. A new home could be the right move with Hill, but going to Seattle or Baltimore aren't going to help his chances at wins in 2009. He has the skills to be The Real Deal, but we'll have to see if he gets it back.
2) Joe Crede - 3B - Free Agent
Crede reached the 30 homer plateau in 2006, but was derailed by injuries in 2007 and 2008. His HR/FB took a dive in 2007, but a good sign in 2008 was his power did return even if in less games. With his major fly ball swing he has a horrible BABIP and it really hurts his average and RBI's. He also won't be stealing bases or scoring many runs. He comes down to a power only guy and has limited value. He is not The Real Deal.
3) Jon Garland - SP - Arizona Diamondbacks
If you want innings here is your guy, but don't expect him to get you anything but 10-12 wins. He has had only one season with a K/BB over 5 and his K/9 has never been above 5.50. You can only have Garland on your team if you have no concern for your ERA and WHIP. He is not The Real Deal.
4) Paul Maholm - SP - Pittsburgh Pirates
Was overlooked a lot in 2008, but if you ignore his lack of wins on a bad team he is a very good pitcher with a lot of chance to improve. He is still a below 2.50 K/BB pitcher, but has improved the past two years. His most impressive ability though is his GB% of 53%. This should help him limit homers and keep an above average line for 2009. He is The Real Deal.
5) Matt Wieters - C - Baltimore Orioles
We have already discussed Wieters here and how impressive he is going to be (in 2009?). The news here is Baseball Prospectus has leaked his projection and they are even more bullish than Bill James and have a final line of .311/.395/.544 and enough playing time to total 31 homers. They are projecting a .319 EqA which would make him have one of the 20 greatest seasons ever by a catcher offensively. He is beyond The Real Deal, but is likely to be drafted to early as the hype continues.
Make sure to see my other writing at RotoSavants.com
1) Rich Hill - SP - Chicago Cubs
Rich Hill has been a very hot name this week and after getting built up so much last year and disappointing he is going to be forgotten in most drafts. He does have the skills to be a successful pitcher, but something was wrong in 2008. A new home could be the right move with Hill, but going to Seattle or Baltimore aren't going to help his chances at wins in 2009. He has the skills to be The Real Deal, but we'll have to see if he gets it back.
2) Joe Crede - 3B - Free Agent
Crede reached the 30 homer plateau in 2006, but was derailed by injuries in 2007 and 2008. His HR/FB took a dive in 2007, but a good sign in 2008 was his power did return even if in less games. With his major fly ball swing he has a horrible BABIP and it really hurts his average and RBI's. He also won't be stealing bases or scoring many runs. He comes down to a power only guy and has limited value. He is not The Real Deal.
3) Jon Garland - SP - Arizona Diamondbacks
If you want innings here is your guy, but don't expect him to get you anything but 10-12 wins. He has had only one season with a K/BB over 5 and his K/9 has never been above 5.50. You can only have Garland on your team if you have no concern for your ERA and WHIP. He is not The Real Deal.
4) Paul Maholm - SP - Pittsburgh Pirates
Was overlooked a lot in 2008, but if you ignore his lack of wins on a bad team he is a very good pitcher with a lot of chance to improve. He is still a below 2.50 K/BB pitcher, but has improved the past two years. His most impressive ability though is his GB% of 53%. This should help him limit homers and keep an above average line for 2009. He is The Real Deal.
5) Matt Wieters - C - Baltimore Orioles
We have already discussed Wieters here and how impressive he is going to be (in 2009?). The news here is Baseball Prospectus has leaked his projection and they are even more bullish than Bill James and have a final line of .311/.395/.544 and enough playing time to total 31 homers. They are projecting a .319 EqA which would make him have one of the 20 greatest seasons ever by a catcher offensively. He is beyond The Real Deal, but is likely to be drafted to early as the hype continues.
Make sure to see my other writing at RotoSavants.com
Labels: Joe Crede, Jon Garland, Matt Wieters, Paul Malholm, Rich Hill
