Son of Zim
POINTS LEAGUE PERSPECTIVE:
Every fantasy team deserves their own personal bench coach.
Consider me your Don Zimmer guiding you towards first place finishes and most importantly bragging rights!
Once you take off your fantasy training wheels and realize straight up roto leagues are as interesting as watching synchronized swimming, it's time for you to challenge yourself and join a points league.
YOUR POINTS LEAGUE HERO OF THE WEEK:
Raul Ibanez (55pts)
Last Week: 11-31, 6 1B, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 KO, GSHR
Raul Ibanez looked more like Albert Pujols last week as he displayed awesome power including 12 RBI. In my league he scored an unholy 55pts including multi-hit game and grand slam bonus points. Raul is the personification of a Fantasy Rock of Gibraltar.
Icon SMI
|
AB |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
SB |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
3-year Average |
604 |
92 |
173 |
25 |
106 |
63 |
4 |
0.2864 |
0.3526 |
0.4785 |
How many players off the top of your head give you that many hits, runs and RBI in a season? Homeruns can be overrated (Adam Dunn) and sluggers often lack other skills that can help you in weekly points leagues. Guys like Ibanez scratch and claw points here and there producing 15 every week that make them outstanding 3 rd outfielders or DH's.
Even perhaps more incredible is that Raul is now 36 years old! Being such a late bloomer, and playing in cities under the radar like Kansas City and Seattle have always kept his value down making him a great late round pick. Sure, he is bound to decline at some point but when he does you will not have paid a heavy price. Even then, I would still bet on him being a great bench player to have stashed away as an injury insurance policy.
His production rarely "wow's" anyone but he is always a contributor week in and week out. Ibanez's career makes me think of the great Rolling Stones hit lyric, "Let's raise a glass to the hard workin' people, Let's drink to the salt of Earth." These kinds of blue-collar ballplayers rarely end up on the highlight reel but always show up where it counts...the box score. Raul I toast to you this week and say, "Job well done!" You are one of the guys who take care of business and makes fantasy baseball fun.
YOUR POINTS LEAGUE WHIPPING BOY OF THE WEEK:
Houston Street (-14)
Last Week: 1.2 INN, 6 HA, 3 BBI, 2 K, 5 ER, L, BS
Like most Oakland A's fans last week, Houston Street owners wished that someone would just stop him from throwing a baseball. In a mere 1.2 IP he was able to lose 14 points. If you have paid attention at all you had to have seen the signs of this Street imploding a mile away. Check out this eyesore of a box score in Houston's last 7 innings.
G |
L |
SV |
BS |
IP |
H |
BB |
ER |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
7 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
7.1 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
7.36 |
2.45 |
Street's career began with such promise. A fresh faced youngster straight out of the College World Series he was earmarked for the Oakland closer role before you knew it. But, Street has blown lead after lead and save after save looking like a guy that has totally lost his confidence. Confidence is everything in the 9 th and the only thing that can save him now might be a change of scenery or a different assignment out of the pen.
Street is too young to give up on so best bet is to bench him for the rest of the year in a keeper league or let him rot on the pine in a one-and-done-league. You cannot afford for him to blow up and ruin your season.
Not-So Bold Prediction: Street will rebound, but not as an Oakland A.
Send me an email at SonOfZim@fantasybaseballgeeks.com for any trade advice, or any point league related questions you may have.