HOUSEKEEPING
Last week the link to Rotoman’s Pitcher and Hitter Sheet got into the wild, it’s for paying Subscribers only, and I thought it best to change it. Whoops.
I did send out a newsletter on Saturday with the new link, but many of you didn’t see it and reached out. I was glad to send you the new link, and sorry to cause such inconvenience.
Which got me wondering if there was a better way. The only viable alternative would seem to be a Dropbox link to a password protected Excel sheet, but is that any better? I could transfer all subscriber names to give access to the Google Sheet, rather than keeping a private version of a public link, but there always seem to be problems with that. I’m happy to consider alternative suggestions.
If you’re curious what it is the paid subscribers are getting access to, you’ll find a sample of the old sheet here. To find out more about paid subscriptions
If you’re a paid subscriber and would like access to the new sheet, there’s a link below the signature at the end of the newsletter, behind the paywall.
A SMATTERING
I’ve been working on fixing projections and filling in the blanks. We need to get the complete set to Eric, who puts together the Patton $ Online software, by Saturday. There’s a long way to go, but I’ve been writing profiles as I go along.
Not exactly random.
Endy Rodriguez, C, Pirates: A defensively-versatile catcher (he plays second base, too) with a solid stick and good strike-zone judgment, he only got in 23 Triple-A plate appearances last year, so will surely start the year in the minors this year. But with any kind of success there he could help the Pirates at any time. He's got some pop and it looks like a plus batting average is part of the package. There will be demand when he arrives. PICK
Photo: Nelson Cruz reaction, photo by All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA
Nelson Cruz, DH, Padres: My projection is almost certainly too optimistic, but to give him fewer at-bats is to say that this is the year things end, and the Padres don’t seem to think so. But they could. Or maybe he contributes the way he did last year and that's enough. There's no danger in bidding this price. Old, really old-school PICK. (The price is $3.)
Sam Huff, C, Rangers: Forty-percent strikeout rate in Double-A, nearly 32 percent in Triple-A and in 132 plate appearances with the Rangers last season combined, these are problems. He's hit seven homers in 165 career major league plate appearances, which speaks to the potential, but frequently one is a trade-off for the other. He missed much of 2021, too, with a bad knee, which perhaps slowed his development. He doesn't really have a path to the major leagues right now, but when he gets there he should have a three-true outcomes profile. MEH
Logan O’Hoppe, C, Angels: He's coming off a pretty great season in Double-A and a trade from the Phillies to the Angels. He's considered a decent backstop with a potentially plus bat, though if he's all that and ready now he seems like a big price to pay for Brandon Marsh, a plus defender who is expected to platoon this year. So color me wary, recognizing that there is upside here if everyone is wary. Everyone probably won't be, and so the usual caveat about cold streaks in spring training or to start the season pertains. He'll be on a short leash. PAN
Ezequiel Tovar, SS, Rockies: He finished the year with the big club and they need a shortstop, so there's a good chance he breaks camp with them. But he’s a PAN because maybe not. His power and speed make him a likely target but he'll turn just 22 in August and has only 350 plate appearances above High-A. PAN
Jo Adell, OF, Angels: Just because you can't do something doesn't mean you'll never be able to do it, so the athletic and powerful Adell shouldn't be written off just yet. But after aggressive promotion he has failed three times and it's hard to see any indication of improvement in his numbers. Watching him at the major league level you can see his struggles with pitch recognition and the adjustments needed to make better contact. On principle, let's not write off a 24-year-old taken No. 10 overall once upon a time. But let's not bet on this year being the year, either. PAN
DEPT OF CORRECTIONS
In an earlier newsletter, I wrote about Vaughn Grissom, the Atlanta phenom set to make the big club permanently. Everyone hopes. I misread my chart and had Grissom playing out of position at first base, when obviously the main reason he might be promoted aggressively is because the Braves need a shortstop. Dumb mistake, now corrected in the newsletter and Sheet.
Thanks to the reader who pointed it out.
Another issue: When I did the 2B roundup last week I seem to have deleted a bunch of second basemen. I’ve been putting them back in as I find them, but as the extent of the problem becomes clearer (a note from a subscriber a few minutes ago was a big help) I’ll get them all back in this afternoon.
CLOSING TIME
Thanks for your feedback, questions, and help. Please share if you like what you’re seeing here.
There should be lots more coming up this week and the week’s ahead.
Sincerely,
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