With the All-Star Game a little more than two weeks away, Roto Files is looking at the best-of-the-best and the worst-of-the-worst from the first half of the fantasy season in a two-part series. This week: the National League’s winners and losers.
With the Midsummer Classic right around the corner, it’s time to hand out awards to the players helping or hurting your fantasy teams during the season’s first half.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see all of the rehearsed song and dance routines (one of which was a moving interpretational dance performed by Mr. Met, the Philly Phanatic and Bernie Brewer), and a skit performed by Bobcat Goldthwait and David Hasselhoff about how much St. Louis misses Albert Pujols.
Also, due to the fact we forgot to order them, players will not receive trophies this year. But, they will get a nifty, unframed certificate (OK, fine, it’s just a piece of paper with a stick figure drawn on it). So, without further ado, here are the NL winners — and losers (stats don’t include Friday night’s games):
MVP: On paper, Carlos Gonzalez looks like the front-runner for the MVP award for the first half of the season (.297, 21 HR, 58 RBIs, 14 SB). Only problem is this: Paul Goldschmidt! Gonzalez was the ninth overall selection in drafts this season(an 11.2 average draft position, according to fantasypros.com, which averages draft positions from ESPN, Yahoo, CBS and MockDraftCentral.com). Goldschmidt, however, had an ADP of 50.5. Big things were expected of him, but he was never going to be a first-round pick. Based on that, and the fact Goldschmidt has a higher batting average, more RBIs, two fewer homers and the same number of hits, we believe the third-year player is the first half MVP.
LVP: After receiving a five-year, $72.5 million contract from Atlanta, B.J. Upton (52.1 ADP) has provided the Braves and fantasy owners with a .174 batting average, eight homers and 17 RBIs. If he were a pitcher, his 84 strikeouts would be helpful. He’s a bust!
TOP PITCHER: Though Adam Wainwright, Jordan Zimmermann, Lance Lynn and Cliff Lee all have more wins, no one has captivated the baseball world like Matt Harvey. Despite the fact the Mets score runs at a snail’s pace and their lack of offense has cost the ace several wins, Roto Files believes Harvey’s stats are unmatched. He had the NL’s lowest ERA (2.05) and WHIP (0.88) heading into last night’s game, and also led the league in strikeouts (121). A true ace, both in the real and fantasy world.
SON OF A PITCH! With an average draft position of 34.6 (the sixth pitcher taken overall — 36 spots higher than Harvey), the Phillies’ Cole Hamels (2-11) has been disastrous. He’s a bona fide ace and he has one more win and two more losses than Shaun Marcum (1-9). Owners must keep their fingers crossed he can turn it around.
TOP ROOKIE: While Jose Fernandez has been one of the few bright spots for the Marlins, what the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig did in his first 23 games is astonishing. He was 35-for-89 (.427) with seven homers and 16 RBIs entering last night. Heck, the guy got hit in the nose by a pitch and stayed in the game. If he’s on your team, you have a keeper!
BEST UTILITY PLAYER: He’s on the disabled list now, but Braves rookie Evan Gattis has the stats of an everyday player (.252, 14 HRs, 37 RBIs) in about half the at-bats. The fact he is eligible as a catcher and an outfielder has made him even more valuable for fantasy rosters.
SHORT ON NOTHING: Brewers shortstop Jean Segura (248.2 ADP) has been so good, we created an award just for him. It’s hard not to salivate over what the 23-year-old is doing (.330, 11 HRs, 32 RBIs, 24 SB, eight triples) in his first full season as a starter. The steal of this year’s draft.
COMEBACK PLAYER: After going 6-12 with a 5.34 ERA last season for two teams and starting this season on the disabled list, the Pirates’ Francisco Liriano has looked like the promising pitcher he was in Minnesota. In nine starts, the lefty is 6-3 with a 2.30 ERA, 61 strikeouts and a 1.28 WHIP.
BIG RELIEF: A journeyman relief pitcher in the league since 2000 has finally found his calling. The Pirates’ Jason Grilli (176.7 ADP) has been a lights out closer, collecting 26 saves in 27 tries and striking out 58 in 34 2/3 innings. This is a fantasy come true.
LITTLE RELIEF: Does anyone remember the Brewers’ John Axford? What ever happened to that guy? And what about that Carlos Marmol character on the Cubs? Someone should call these guys to make sure they’re OK.
BREAKOUT STUD:
Patrick Corbin’s (351.7 ADP) nine victories and 2.22 ERA over 16 starts have been a pleasant surprise for the Diamondbacks, but the Phillies’ Domonic Brown (223.1 ADP) is the winner here. Not only is he hitting for power (21 homers) and driving in runs (55 RBIs), he also has a respectable .276 batting average and long-term keeper potential.
BARGAIN BIN: The Diamondbacks’ Gerardo Parra went from barely drafted to valuable commodity in a short period of time.
JEKYLL AND HYDE: From April 1 to June 5, Pedro Alvarez hit .199 with 12 homers and 31 RBIs while striking out 67 times for the Pirates. From June 7-26, Alvarez hit .353 with seven homers and 20 RBIs. He’s going to strike out, that’s a given. But, has he actually learned how to hit for an average above his weight (.242 headed into last night’s action, he weighs 235)?
TOLD YA’ SO: Roto Files said Jordan Zimmermann (91.9 ADP) was only going to get better after compiling 12 wins and a 2.94 ERA over 32 starts last season. While the Nationals have been disappointing so far, the 27-year-old righty already has 11 wins, has lowered his ERA to 2.28 and has a WHIP of 0.92. Ace-like for any fantasy squad.
NEW ROTATION LOCKE: In his first full season as a starter, the Pirates’ Jeff Locke has been a great find, going 7-1 with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He hasn’t lost a game since April 7.
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