Any qualified dietician would tell you balanced nutrition is
the key to longevity.
To achieve success in an epic game, baseball fanalysts would
too. Players composed mostly of saturated fats, high fructose corn syrup and inflated
strikeout rates (i.e. David Ortiz(notes)) typically are not recommended.
However, Arizona’s
Chris Young, historically the KFC Double Down of fantasy outfielders, may
soon become an acceptable diet staple.
Since his inaugural season in 2007 – he’s the only rookie in
big league history to smack 30 homers and swipe 25 steals – Young has added
love handles and spiked the cholesterol levels of his investors. His gross strikeout-to-walks
disparity often created prolonged droughts. Flirting with Mr. Mendoza was an all too
familiar occurrence. Over the past two seasons, he averaged an artery-clogging
.233-19-64-70-12 line. To most, his banishment to Triple-A Reno last July was
well-deserved and long overdue.
However, Young, similar to Texas’ Chris Davis(notes), underwent a major
transformation during his minor league hiatus. Disgusted frowns spurred by
over-pressing were replaced with jubilant smiles. Exhibiting
renewed energy when recalled in September, he collected a respectable .277 BA with eight homers and 14 RBI
over his final 108 at-bats. The former top prospect credited his blue collar
approach for the turnaround. From MLB.com:
"I know how hard I was working and the
adjustments I was trying to make to turn things around," Young said.
"My desire and work ethic were not the issues. I love this game, it means
so much. I’ve played it since I was 4 years old. It was my first love. I push
myself and expect more out of myself than anyone else ever could…""To go back there and have some success really
helped," Young said. "I didn’t have all the other pressure around me.
I was able to focus on what I needed to do and not have outside pressure on me.
I got comfortable in the box again and I was confident at the plate. I wasn’t
thinking as much. When you stop thinking is when things turn around for you,
because when you’re not thinking at the plate you let your natural abilities
take over instead of thinking so much about mechanics."
Determined to bury his destitute ways, Young worked hard
this past offseason in an attempt to carry momentum over from his admirable
finish. He came to spring training lrelaxed and stress free. In a paradoxical
twist, his boyish exuberance spawned veteran maturity. Spring stats can be
irrelevant, but over 62 Cactus League at-bats, he accumulated a .306 BA with three
homers, 12 RBI and two steals. More importantly, he posted a 9:10 K:BB split.
So far in the regular season, the 60 percent-owned commodity
has remained consistent at the plate. In 28 at-bats hitting primarily behind Mark Reynolds(notes),
he’s notched an uncharacteristic .321 BA with three homers and a
position-leading 12 RBI. Unfathomably, he’s struck out just four times (14.3
K%), remarkable when considering his tree-destructive past (26.4 career K%). With
terrific table-setters in front of him, banner numbers are attainable. Seriously.
Yes, the sample size is minute, but Young’s initial results are
certainly encouraging. He’s always possessed the pedigree. In 2005,
he was named the White Sox’s Minor League Player of the Year. The outfielder’s sharpened
eye – his walks percentage has steadily increased in three consecutive seasons
– is a significant evolutionary step.
Simply put: some players’ developmental curves (i.e. Nelson
Cruz(notes)) are steeper than others (i.e. Jason Heyward(notes)). With 1,725 at-bats under his belt, the 26-year-old could be
on the precipice of a remarkable year, which really would be an unforeseen achievement.
Just four weeks ago most drafters would’ve rather mud-wrestled a Komodo
dragon.
Nutritionists maintain five-a-day will keep the doctor away.
For those who acquire the burgeoning Young, across-the-board contributions could
help their teams avoid additional waiver checkups.
Fearless Forecast
(season): 575 at-bats, .273 BA, 33 HR, 90 RBI, 78 R, 16 SB
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Discount Den
Quality commodity owned
in fewer than 20 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Nick Johnson(notes), 1B, OF
(19 percent-owned): Finally busting out of a two-week slump, the Oscar
Meyer-athletic Johnson smacked his first homer of the season and scored three
runs April 13 against the Angels. At first glance, he may seem undesirable due to his injury-plagued
history and incredible depth at first, but the double-chinned three is very rosterable in 12-team mixed
leagues. The hitter-friendly microclimate at Yankees Stadium and his
entrenched No. 2 spot in the order benefits the lefty-swinger greatly. If he
can somehow avoid the injury imp and muster 500 at-bats, Johnson is bound to
finish in range of .285-20-75-100.
Ooh Stream Weaver…
Widely available plug
n’ play starter heading into the weekend.
Colby Lewis(notes), Tex
(4/15 at Cle, four percent-owned): An unheralded deep league Rip Van Winkle
a month ago, Lewis was dandy April 9 against Seattle, earning the win ( 7 IP, 1 ER, 3:4 K:BB). Though his control was only adequate in
his first start, the well-traveled righty has plenty of polish. While exiled in
Japan
from 2008-2009 he tallied sick numbers (354.1 IP, 369:46 K:BB, 2.82 ERA). The
woeful Indians have collectively batted just .221 and scored a mere 3.4 runs
per game. Based on the matchup, Texas’
Gulliver could again shine.
Middle Relief Magic
ERA/WHIP savior,
potential saves/wins vulture.
Jeremy Affeldt(notes), SF (20
percent-owned): As Alfredo Aceves(notes) owners can attest, every season one or two
relievers stumbles into winnable situations. With two Ws and an unconventional two-inning
save already attached to his name, Affeldt could be a similar middle relief maestro.
Last year, the journeymen reliever was the Mariano Rivera(notes) of holders, tying
Matt Guerrier(notes) for the league lead in the controversial fantasy category with 33.
His combination of strong strikeout and groundball totals arrows to continued
success. Roughly 70 IP with an ERA well south of 3.00 and 60-plus Ks should be
expected.
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Images courtesy of US Presswire, MLB.com