Spring training stats are probably not the best way to scout your fantasy team's draft strategy, but it's hard to not take a peek here and there and see who might be fixing for a breakout. My belief is that spring pitching performances are more predictive of regular season performance than hitting, but I can't prove that. In the absence of a Giants game wrap for yesterday, I'll just post a few lines from around the league.
Charlie Morton(Astros)- 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 0.00. This was his second appearance of the spring.
Jack Flaherty(Cardinals)- 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K's. ERA= 6.25. Flaherty is not generally a big strikeout pitcher.
Reynaldo Lopez(White Sox)- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 1.80. The walks are a red flag.
Zack Godley(D'Backs)- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 0.00. Watch out for Godley and the rest of the D'Backs rotation. How will the humidor affect their stat lines? Godley is not exactly a sleeper, but he's not considered elite either. He could be poised for a huge breakout.
Chris Young(Padres)- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 3.86. Does Young have anything left in the tank? He may have a few good starts left in him, but is unlikely to pitch a full season in a starting rotation.
Remember Jason Kipnis? He's hit 6 dingers in 6 games for the Indians.
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Giants fans posting here mostly really like Mac Williamson and dismiss Kyle Jensen.
ReplyDeleteNeither has much of a MLB record nor has either done particularly well in just 17 games for Jensen and 92 games for Mac.
Their more extensive AAA records are interesting to compare:
Mac in 202 games: .252/.323/.447/.771
Jensen 454 games: .265/.328/.502/.830
I suspect that if Jensen had come through the Giants system there would be a lot more interest in his Randy Elliott spring!
I'm jazzed and looking forward to see him bashing here in Sacramento -- if the Giants extend that courtesy.
The problem with comparing Mac and Jensen's AAA record is because Jensen has been so much older and experienced than those in AAA, that he's going to hit that much better than younger guys. Or do you think that you were the only one to notice his .830 OPS?
DeleteFurthermore, .830 OPS is not really that good in AAA, once translated to the majors, and especially once you adjust it further downward due to his advanced baseball age. Every team thought so much about his .830 OPS that they let him go to Japan last season without offering him a major league position, which I'm sure he would have took in a heartbeat over going there.
No, I disagree, had he been a Giants prospect, I would have to say that there would be even less interest, because, from what I've noticed, fans get burned out on prospects who sit in the farm system and never do enough to make the majors. Makes them more jaded about nice performances like this.
Also, the more homers, the more experienced spring training observers have seen this over and over again, and more than likely, was burned each time that happened. I know I've been burned.
We like Mac because he's still at that young age (27) where you have a realistic hope that he's finally figure it out and be that hitter we all think he can be, especially after changing his batting mechanics. Jensen is 30 YO, and most guys don't suddenly figure it out at that age, especially after missing most of the 2017 season, he hardly was used in Japan, not sure if it was injury or whatever.
I would love to see him go to Sacratomato and bash HRs and force his way into the majors. He's probably not going up unless a starter gets injured, but if he's hitting, they'll definitely put him in a bench position, every team can use a good power hitter on the bench. He and Parker are probably battling with Blanco for the 5th OF bench spot, and he's like a right handed Parker (oddly, he throws left though), only without the success hitting in the majors that Parker has had, at a younger age. But with Pablo possibly being another lefty power source of the bench, Jensen might get the nod although Parker has no options left, his poor spring is hurting his chances greatly of winning that last spot, I had him pegged there due to his lack of options and his good MLB hitting, but a poor spring will cost him that opportunity.
I like Zach Godley. He was on my fantasy team last year, and drafted him this year. Ronald Acuna is very intriguing so I'm stashing him on my roster. Hope he makes opening day with the Braves.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Mac will need a little time in AAA implementing the batting changes he's learning. Interested to see how he starts off in AAA.
LG