February 2010

Yankees | Catchers of the future being set up

by George Utter on February 28, 2010

New York YankeesThe Bergen Record reports the New York Yankees are expected to start C prospect Jesus Montero at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, while C prospect Austin Romine will go to Double-A Trenton.

Our Instinct:  Montero is currently ranked #9 on our Baseball Instinct 2010 top 100 prospects list. Romine is possibly the catcher of the future, but it’s Montero’s bat that will get him into the Yankees’ lineup no matter where he plays.

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Mets | SP Jenrry Mejia to make team?

by George Utter on February 28, 2010

New York MetsThe Bergen Record reports New York Mets RP Jenrry Mejia may stick with the parent club if he continues to show improvement in his pitching. Manager Jerry Manuel said he could envision Mejia as an eighth-inning reliever.

Our Instinct:  Mejia is currently ranked #59 on our Baseball Instinct 2010 top 100 prospect list. With Kelvim Escobar set to go the DL, Manuel is looking for set-up guy for K-Rod.  On the surface it makes sense for the Mets as Mejia has 2 good pitches and is still in search of a 3rd one.  For us fantasy leaguers, we would really like to see what he can do as a starter, but that may have to wait.

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Rays | Pitching set for first five games

by George Utter on February 28, 2010

Tampa Bay RaysAccording to The St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon plans to use SPs James Shields, Matt Garza, Jeff Niemann, David Price and Wade Davis, in order, in the first five exhibition games.

Our Instinct:  This is most likely how the rotation will look when the season is open.  While none of these guys are top 25 SP material in 2010, all have potential for growth.  Shields, Garza, Niemann and David Price are definitely top 50.  Davis, who is ranked #26 on our Baseball Instinct 2010 top 100 prospect list, is someone not too far off the top 50 already.

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Blue Jays | SP Ricky Romero wants the ball

by George Utter on February 28, 2010

Toronto Blue JaysThe Associated Press reports Toronto Blue Jays SP Ricky Romero wants to be the team’s Opening Day starter now that SP Roy Halladay has gone to the Philadelphia Phillies. “It would definitely be an awesome, awesome experience,” Romero said. “Not very many guys get to do that and it happens only once a year, so it’d be exciting. Really, really exciting.”

Our Instinct:  The 25 year old Romero is the Blue Jay’s best pitcher and a top 50 SP in fantasy leagues.  However, it would be best for everyone if Cito Gaston fed SP Shawn Marcum to the American League East wolves.  This is worth watching this spring, if Romero is truly the ace of the staff, it could cost him wins and increase his losses.

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Marlins | Who are the corners?

by George Utter February 28, 2010

According to The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Capozzi, there is a situation where IF Jorge Jimenez could open the season at third base for the Florida Marlins. Capozzi speculates if 1B Logan Morrison or 1B Gaby Sanchez do not play well in spring camp, 3B Jorge Cantu could open the season at first and allow Jimenez, a Rule 5 selection, to open 2010 in the majors.

Our Instinct:  This seems like the least desirable option for the Marlins and fantasy leaguers.  Sanchez will likely hold down the 1B job until Morrison is ready to take the job for good.  Cantu will slide over to 3B again.

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Marlins | OF Michael Stanton won’t be rushed

by George Utter February 28, 2010

The Miami Herald reports Florida Marlins OF prospect Michael Stanton will not be rushed in spring camp, according to top brass. “The whole goal of the spring is to get him totally healthy and ready to play,” said Jim Fleming, Marlins vice president of player development and scouting. “I can’t say we have any plan for him. He’ll probably go back to Double-A at the end of the spring and play and see how it goes.”

Our Instinct:  Stanton is currently ranked #6 on our Baseball Instinct 2010 top 100 prospect list. It’s likely to be 2012 before he’s ready to take over in Florida’s outfield.

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Cardinals | 2B Felipe Lopez signed

by George Utter February 28, 2010

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss reports the St. Louis Cardinals have signed free-agent 2B Felipe Lopez (Brewers) to a one-year contract. The deal has a base salary of less than $2 million and includes incentives.

Our Instinct:  This is a great move by both sides.  As hard as it is to believe, Lopez was actually the fall back plan the Cardinals couldn’t resign Matt Holiday.  However, the market bottom out on Lopez, who recently fired agent Scott Boras, hoping to get more attention.  Lopez can play any position outside of pitcher and catcher, and with Brendan Ryan recovering from a wrist injury, he makes a great insurance policy.  Lopez can trigger incentives at 350 ab’s and then every 50 ab’s after that.  Expect him to get enough ab’s to trigger most, if not all of his incentives.  He should have decent value in fantasy leagues.

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Phillies | SP Roy Halladay to pitch Thursday

by George Utter February 28, 2010

The News Journal’s Scott Lauber reports Philadelphia Phillies SP Roy Halladay will start a Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees Thursday, March 4.

Our Instinct:  Most pitchers would rather not take on the Yankees, even in spring training.  However, Roy Halladay isn’t like most pitchers and has owned the Yankees like few have in the history of the game over his career.  Halladay is a top 5 SP option in fantasy leagues, arguably the top option.

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Red Sox | Exhibition rotation announced

by George Utter February 28, 2010

The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham reports the Boston Red Sox have announced their rotation for the first five days of exhibition games. On Wednesday, March 3, P Casey Kelly will start against Northeastern University, while SP Boof Bonser will start against Boston College. SP Josh Beckett will start against the Minnesota Twins Thursday, March 4. SP Jon Lester will start against the Twins Friday, March 5, before being relieved by SP Tim Wakefield. On Saturday, March 6, SP John Lackey will face the Twins, while P Felix Doubront will face the Tampa Bay Rays. SP Clay Buchholz will pitch against the Baltimore Orioles Sunday, March 7. The Grapefruit League rotation sets up either Beckett (on one additional day of rest) or Lester (on normal rest) to start the regular season opener against the New York Yankees on April 4.

Our Instinct:  The likely opening day rotation will be Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Clay Buchholz.  In the event that Dice-K isn’t ready to go, Tim Wakefield will find his way back into the rotation.  Lester is a top 10 option, while Beckett is a top 20.  Lackey will be over priced now that he is with the Red Sox, but should still be a good middle of the rotation guy, along with Buchholz and a healthy Dice-K.  If Wakefield gets a significant number of starts, he will be a decent end of the rotation option.

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Marlins | Early Grapefruit League rotation announced

by George Utter February 28, 2010

MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez has set his early Grapefruit League rotation. SP Anibal Sanchez will start against the Washington Nationals Thursday, March 4, before being relieved by SP Rick VandenHurk. SP Chris Volstad will start against the New York Mets Friday, March 5, with RP Hayden Penn following him. SP Josh M. Johnson will face the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, March 6, before being relieved by RP Clay Hensley. On Sunday, March 7, SP Sean West will face the Cardinals, with SP Andrew Miller relieving him. SP Ricky Nolasco will make his Grapefruit League debut against the Nationals Monday, March 8, while RP Ryan Tucker faces the Mets the same day. During their first time around, the starters will throw approximately 35 total pitches or pitch about two innings each.

Our Instinct:  Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, Sean West, and Chris Volstad will open the 2010 as the starting rotation.  Johnson and Nolasco are top 25 starters, while Sanchez, West, and Volstad make for decent end of rotation option in fantasy leagues.

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