After an extremely disappointing April (.228/.301/.380), Cincinnati Reds’ right fielder Jay Bruce bounced back with a scorching-hot May, showcasing his elite power potential. In 28 games last month, Bruce hit .342/.402/.739 with 12 HRs and 33 RBI, and now ranks as the No. 5 player in Yahoo! leagues.
I’ve always loved Bruce for his five-tool talent. Heck, I projected him to blast 35 HRs in 2010, and forecasted at least 30 bombs and a .284 average this season. I even ranked him as the No. 54 player overall on the 2011 Big Board. But I certainly didn’t expect him to be this good so soon…
The consensus No. 2 pick before the season started, Hanley Ramirez has done little to justify his draft position. Through 181 at-bats this season, Ramirez is flirting with the Mendoza Line (.210) and sports a Jason Bartlett-like OPS (.618).
To make matters worse, Ramirez was removed from Sunday’s game after the first inning with lower back stiffness. He recently missed a few games due to a foot injury, but his woes go far beyond this.
Ramirez’s BABIP is .238—more than 100 points lower than his career .340 clip. A closer look, however, suggests poor luck isn’t the only culprit of his lackluster production…
Aramis Ramirez has averaged 28 HRs, 96 RBI and a .295 batting clip a year since 2004, despite missing 118 games over the last two seasons. His torrid 2010 second half (15 HRs, 51 RBI in 62 games) led many (myself included) to believe Ramirez would return to his former 25-HR, 100-RBI days this season, but he has yet to produce as such.
The soon-to-be 33 year-old third basemen whacked just his second dinger of the season on Sunday, and sported a .280 batting clip in 175 at-bats entering the game.
The questions rises, then: Is Aramis Ramirez a good buy-low candidate?
Chicago White Sox pitcher Edwin Jackson dominated the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk while fanning 13.
After two starts this season, the 27-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9. Given his uninspiring career totals before today’s gem (4.61 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 6.71 K/9, 3.87 BB/9 in 88 1/3 innings), one can’t help but wonder: Is Edwin Jackson’s spectacular start legit?
Through 82 team games (324 at-bats) this season, Reds‘ second baseman Brandon Phillips is tied with Boston’s Kevin Youkilis for the major league lead in runs, with 62.
Phillips also has 10 homers and 10 steals at the mid-way point, putting him on pace for his fourth consecutive 20/20 season.
Perhaps the most surprising stat, however, is Phillips’ batting average. In four and a half seasons with the Reds, Phillips has never finished with a batting average higher than .288, and his career mark is an uninspiring .269…
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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