Through two months of the fantasy season there has been a ton of disappointment. The majority of the first round picks that were drafted are still struggling, or at least now finally getting back on track. Some of the game’s top pitchers have been nothing short of an embarrassment for your roster. So if all you power hitters aren’t hitting home runs, and all of your good starting pitchers have not been consistent, what is keeping you competitive? The pattern I have been noticing around baseball this year is if you have guys with high batting averages, and a good number of RBI’s and runs scored, your team has been more than competitive, but successful as well.
Normally people draft for power, or another category that they focus the strength of their team on. However, because this season there is a wide spread of talent throughout the league, it is necessary to find the guys that have good batting averages because they have been the guys that have done a lot in fantasy this season. They will continue to produce as the weather continues to get nicer into June and July. In my league, which is a point’s league, the number 2 ranked first basemen right now is Kevin Youkilis, and he is nearly 70 points in front of the number one pick Albert Pujols. Youkilis has 13 more runs, 14 more hits, 7 more doubles, and 2 more RBIs. He is also batting 60 points higher; Youkilis at .354, Pujols at .296.
That is the most noticeable difference; however, Kelly Johnson is ranked number 3 amongst second basemen. Here is a guy that wasn’t on the map at the start of the season but has developed into a very good leadoff hitter for his team, and it would appear that he will be in that spot all season. Pick up on these patterns; it’s not all about power anymore, this season it seems that the higher the batting average, the better the player. We are coming off a steroid era, so we should prepare ourselves for the down fall of the home run total. Keeping a close eye on players’ batting averages can help you make trades that you normally wouldn’t make.
Looking at the minor leaguers around the league, it would appear that Homer Bailey is making a push into the Reds rotation. He is 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA, 52.3 42 Ks, 21 BBs. There is a good chance you will see him on the roster with the Reds if things don’t get better this month. Another prospect too look at is Yovanni Gallardo of the Milwaukee Brewers. Like bailey, he is 5-1, but with a 2.22 ERA. In 48.6 innings this season he has 66Ks, to 16 BBs, a phenomenal ratio for the young right hander. Considering the Brew crew is giving Braun a chance, their young powerful third basemen, there is a chance Gallardo will be up soon as well. Those are a couple of pitchers that could have some impact as soon as this month. Possibly another Tim Lincecum is on the horizon. The new wave seems to be the young pitching that has come up over the last year. These two guys will look to keep the trend going.
There’s a look at some new up and coming pitchers, as well as the new pattern in fantasy this season.
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