As the summer progresses, we all make good moves and bad moves, good decisions and cringe-worthy ones. Long term decisions have to be taken much more seriously and the mistakes can compound. Take for example my personal life. No, not the entire thing you sicko. Just my online writing part. See, I’m not what they would call “relationally smart.” So what I did was start writing for Razzball, then a Cubs website called Northside Baseball blogging about my beloved Cubs who make me mad. These aren’t the things though.
I just never told anyone in my house I was doing it. Like for two years.
I finally came out of the writing closet this summer, and predictably was just embarrassed, but the wife appreciated the PayPal donation to the family budget, so that worked out. But the lesson had to be learned. Long term thinking would have been to just like tell people because it wasn’t a big deal. Value would have been gained by just telling people at the time.
So, what does that have to do with fantasy baseball? Nothing, probably. Was just thinking it’s time to zoom out as the season ends, look at some things learned, and look toward the future. You know, kinda similar to telling your wife what you’re doing on the phone even if you’re worried she’ll think it’s dumb (she didn’t, it’s all cool).
Value Risers:
Alec Burleson: Burly finally reached the first base ten game threshold for next year’s eligibility, so he should be good to go at the corner position. He’s been a top 10 player at the position all year, which nobody really expected going into the season. He’s more of an all around glue guy with positive value in every category more than a specialist, but that will make him a great pick next season. I’d take him hopefully toward the back of the top 100 in drafts if people don’t think this is real; it is. The only nit to pick is that he doesn’t walk, so the average will be subject to the whims of the BABIP faeries. He’s been a find this year, and his value may have gone up more than any player this season from preseason.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: Talked about him last week, great news that he’s already back from his injury. So he rises. What, you don’t think hitting in front of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto is a good thing? He’s up to the fifth overall third baseman this season with more juice to squeeze. Great target long term, but if you want him I’m thinking he’s a 3rd or 4th round pick so pay up.
Mark Vientos hasn’t permeated the national consciousness for some reason, but when the offseason hype machine comes rolling along he’ll be a hot “sleeper” or “vanity pick” by the experts and I think he’ll end up going higher than he should. It’ll be one of those “if you draft him this high he has to hit his ceiling” type of picks. 21 home runs in half a season will do that. Multiply by two and you get 42! For this year, his K rate is skyrocketing to over 30% the past month and over 40 the past week; I’m wary of a crash. If it doesn’t happen, though, stay away farther than my grammar teacher from this discombobulated paragraph.
Value Fallers:
Cody Bellinger: Belly is a fine player to fill up with, but he can’t be your main course or your stats may look anorexic. The thing with him is there’s always something going on health-wise. He’s had 11 different injuries in the past 4 years. Then there’s the ramp-up, the slow return to form, all that. He’s had no power this year. -.2 on the season, for that matter. He’s actively hurting your team in a position that’s easy to find home runs. If he were a second baseman in the 80s, he’d be a great power value, but he’s no Robby Thompson. We were hoping that sweet sweet power swing would actually produce power. Sadly, he’s never hit his stride, and I’d be very wary of a high pick or a rebound by Bellinger.
Matt Chapman: Chapman will be very popular after another year of full health and solid production in the run production areas. I’m wary the average won’t hold up, but there’s no reason to doubt here. Check where he lands; he’s almost guaranteed to opt out of this deal.
Hitter of the Week:
Spencer Torkelson is back! Well, was he ever really here? 3 HR for the week and a .333 average suggest he might be. He’s worth a spec pickup if you have the room for him. I’m never giving up on a number 1 overall pick. Thanks for the lesson Jurickson Profar!
Shifting my focus from here out to a longer term view. I think I only have 4 weeks left, that’s two rankings weeks, a overall recap week, and one more. Boom, plan. Thanks for reading.
