This is where the real fun comes in for us stat nerds. You don’t even have to be big into sabermetrics. But, think about it, all of us who play fantasy baseball are stat nerds of some kind.
And right now, checking out a player’s numbers is like opening presents on Christmas morning.
Why?
Because it’s the halfway point, duh. Daie spa. D-a-i-e…
So now and for the next week or so, you can pretty much just open up a player’s stats and just double everything they’ve done so far if you want to see what their numbers will look like after the final pitch is thrown.
Exciting stuff. No math involved (well, except for the simple multiplication). No fancy calculations. Just simple doubling of numbers.
So I scoured the numbers of fantasy guys around, and I came across some very interesting numbers. Numbers that I can honestly say I didn’t see coming before the season started.
Who would have ever thought Berkman would be on pace for 43 home runs a season after going yard just 14 times? Not I, that’s for sure. Not anybody in their right minds. But, Berkman must be dipping into the “Paul Konerko” fountain of youth, as he’s having a career resurgence at 35 as well.
Michael Morse
I wouldn’t have been surprised if you told me Morse was on pace for 28 dingers in less than 470 at-bats. But, I would have been mighty surprised if you told me Morse was actually on pace for 469 at-bats. The guy has power and was playing behind Adam LaRoche (yes, that Adam LaRoche) for most of the year. Morse only got the chance when the bum in front of him went down to injury. Now, when LaRoche comes back, Morse will have stolen his job. And maybe your fantasy heart with it.
Danny Espinosa
Morse’s teammate, Espinosa, is putting up some seriously solid numbers at what is typically a weak position (second base). His power numbers (on pace for 28 bombs, 89 RBIs) speak for themselves. At just 24, Espinosa will only keep getting stronger and stronger. We could have a regular Dan Uggla on our hands here. Dan Uggla pre-2011, I should say. You know, before he sucked.
Asdrubal Cabrera
Cabrera has never hit more than 8 home runs in any professional season, yet now, at age 25, he has 14 at the half and is on pace for 27? Oh yeah. Crazy, but not so much that anybody is that confused. The kid can flat out play and everybody has been expecting great things from him. Guess a power stroke is one of them.
JJ Hardy
Hardy’s always had pop, that wasn’t the question. But after two less-than-mediocre years, Hardy fell into the fantasy obsolete. Then, when he was battling injuries early in the season, everybody who was even still considering him wrote him off. Now, the original Hardy boy is back and slugging better than ever. His pace of 25 home runs would be just one off his career high. Could he do it? Why not? And why not own him? You could do worse at a shallow position like shortstop.
Jeff Francoeur
Remember when Jeff Francoeur hit 29 home runs and drove in 103? Yeah…that was back in 2006. Seems like ages ago, does it not? Francoeur has bounced around since then, but has finally landed with the Kansas City Royals and is on pace for a 23-100 year, which would be just the second of his career. He’s still just 27 years old. The power resurgence really isn’t all that unlikely, but it is unexpected considering the past five years of his production.
Melky Cabrera
Melky’s pace: 96 runs, 196 hits, 41 doubles, 6 triples, 21 homers, 90 RBIs, 21 steals. Wait, seriously?! That’s an all-around monster!
Alex Gordon
Gordon’s pace: 89 runs, 185 hits, 45 doubles, 8 triples, 19 homers, 87 RBIs, 9 steals. Wait, seriously?! From the former flop?? What has gotten into the Royals’ hitters this year?
Jhonny Peralta
Jhonny’s (why does he spell it like that again?) pace: 73 runs, 164 hits, 28 doubles, 6 triples, 26 homers, 91 RBIs, .315 AVG. Wait, seriously?! I didn’t even know he was still around!
Curtis Granderson
Grandy’s pace: 149 runs, 168 hits, 21 doubles, 14 triples, 48 homers, 120 RBIs, 85 walks, 29 steals. Wait, seriously?! How does Granderson approach 50 home runs? Must’ve worked with Brady Anderson in the offseason.
Jose Bautista
Now, I gotta be honest, I really didn’t see this coming. Yes, he was awesome last year, but since it largely came out of nowhere, I wasn’t sold on Bautista and I didn’t think he would be anywhere near worth the asking price he would command in the draft. As such, I completely crossed him off my list and I didn’t even consider drafting him in any league. No way, Jose.
Now, he looks like a top pick candidate for next year. He’s on pace for 52 homers, a .331 average, 108 RBIs, 127 runs and even 9 steals. Bautista also is slated for a 130:95 strikeout to walk ratio.
Dang, son. That’s some serious fantasy stuff.
Paul Konerko
As a Chicago native, I really like this guy. He’s a consummate professional and a true leader. Yes, I may be a Cubs fan, but you can’t help but respect Paul Konerko in this town. The only problem is, I think Chicago is the only place “The Captain” garners any respect.
However, after his career resurgence in 2010, not many people (even in Chicago) thought he’d duplicate it in ’11. No, not at 35.
But this year, he’s actually on pace to pass last year’s numbers! Obviously, his aging frame could break down as the season wears on and there’s quite a lot of baseball left to be played. But as it stands, PK would pass last year’s totals by 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, 15 hits and 12 points in a batting average.
Jose Reyes
You know that song “Dead and Gone” by T.I. and Justin Timberlake? That was Reyes in fantasy after 2008. Injuries completely derailed his ’09 season, but then he came back last year and just didn’t look like the same player. Only 30 steals in 133 games? Yeah, that’s about 20 or so off. Now, Reyes is back to the most exciting player in the game, as A-Rod calls him. With 30 steals in 53 less games as ’10 (seriously, 53 less games!), the speedster is on pace for 57 steals. It’s not 78 like he stole in 2007, but it is proof that Reyes has rejoined the fantasy elite.
Ian Desmond
Desmond got some on-the-job training last year as a budding shortstop and did well with it, slugging 10 homers and stealing 17 bags. But this year, he’s been much more prolific on the basepaths, on pace for 37 thefts. The average is low, the power is down, but the kid is just 25 and if he has 30-40 steal potential, that makes him a hot fantasy commodity at a shallow position.
Ryan Braun
Braun has always been good every year for 15-20 steals. But, that’s over the course of a full season. This year, the slugger has 19 thefts at the halfway point. He should easily turn in a 30-30 season and actually may approach 40-40 if he really gets hot. Crazy to think.
The Baltimore Orioles have been swinging the sticks lately. Which is a good thing because Markakis and Reynolds owners have seriously contemplated dropping both. But, chill, people. It’s only one half of the season gone. Guys like Adam Dunn will turn it around (me thinks). These two guys are proof.
Nick Markakis
His overall numbers may not look that good, but he is on pace for 199 hits. This after starting the season with a .204 average for the first month. Markakis has increased his average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage every month so far. The extra-base hits will follow. His 2011 will wind up in line with his career averages, though that really isn’t saying too much. I always thought he’d turn into a better player overall. Guess not. But the point is, you know what you’ll get with Markakis at the end of the day. So, don’t fret.
Mark Reynolds
Reynolds started slow, too. He didn’t get his average up over .200 until June 10 (though average has never been his strong suit) and he didn’t hit his 10th home run until June 8th. But, with five home runs in three days earlier this week (and eight bombs in June total), the basher is back to his bashing ways. So much so that he is on pace (39 HR, 96 RBIs) to approach his career highs in power numbers (44 HR, 102 RBIs in 2009).
