Drafting Minor Leaguers? Be Wary of the California League
If you are in a league that drafts or stashes minor league players, this article from Baseball America is a very good read. One of the hardest things to do when looking at minor league statistics is to try and translate those numbers into future major league production. The article from BA has the offensive production totals from the 2009 minor league season for each league. Read the article for the full chart, but there were two leagues that pop out immediately. Already well known as being hitter’s leagues, the California league and Pacific coast league. Those two leagues have an average ISO of .1465 compared to all the rest of the leagues, which check in at an average ISO of .1223. The chart below shows the differences in each category from the article. This does not include short season leagues.
This information is important when looking at some names that put up gaudy stats in 2009.
Strategy: The 7/10 Split
Relievers and High Inning Totals: Should We Be Worried About Andrew Bailey?
2010 Sleepers, Comebacks and Busts: Starters
There was no post yesterday, mostly because the task of identifying sleepers and busts out of the starting pitchers pool should be a three-day affair. One thing is for sure, there are a lot of arms to choose from and there will be a lot more coming from the minor leagues as the season moves along. For draft day purposes, here are the 2010 sleepers, comebacks and busts in the starting rotation.
no comments2010 Sleepers, Comebacks and Busts: Outfield
Ten Biggest Stories of the Spring So Far
Spring training isn't that important for most players. Think of it as the NFL preseason. Get the reps in and don't get hurt. There are also players that aren't under the category of "most players." They are the ten biggest stories in spring training so far and deserve to be watched closely over the next four weeks.
- Jose Reyes' thyroid. He was probably going to be at the top of the list anyway, but now that he's back in New York to undergo tests for an overactive thyroid. For head to head leagues, this creates an opportunity. His teammate Jeff Francoeur went as far as saying that Reyes was back just a week ago, but things have changed since. Keep in mind Reyes claims that he hasn't felt abnormal and the hamstring shouldn't be an issue since there was talk of him coming back at the end of last year. Diagnosis: Maybe this is a break for head to head leagues who can get him cheaper now, and even if he needs to miss time, it will be at the beginning of the year not the end.
