Huff working hard to bounce back: In his first interview since his disastrous 2011 season ended, Giants veteran Aubrey Huff told the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday that he deserved all the criticism he faced last season, including harsh comments from GM Brian Sabean. "I heard it. I read it. It's warranted," Huff said. "When you had the year I had before, finishing seventh in the league in MVP voting, and then being one of the worst players the next year, I've got to get the blame." The Giants blamed Huff's lack of dedication to working out for his awful offensive campaign in 2011, but Huff sees it a bit different. "I don't think I was that out of shape. I was just so mentally in the toilet," he said. "I just never turned it around. It just kept snowballing. I got into a rut. Then it got compounded, and it became more mental. It kind of got rough there at the end. I lost a lot of confidence last year. You guys saw it in the clubhouse. I wasn't the same guy. It's hard to be so confident when you're so bad. I've got to go to spring training and prove myself and basically win a job, because I've got two young kids (Brandon Belt and Brett Pill) breathing down my neck." (Updated 01/04/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/15/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Although Huff doesn't believe he was out of shape last season, he is still making it a point to come to spring training in great shape this year. He has been working out at Athletes Performance Institute in Arizona since mid-November and has re-introduced a regimen to his workout that he feels will help him get on track in 2012 -- Pilates. Huff said he was "mentally fried, and my body was tired as hell" following the 2010 season, so he stopped doing Pilates. He said that was a mistake because he believes Pilates contributed to his well-being and success in 2010. Fantasy owners would sure love it if Huff returned to the form he displayed in 2010, when he hit .290 with 26 homers. Huff might split his time between the outfield and first base in 2012 if Belt or Pill prove they are ready for the majors. This is an encouraging report, but Huff is still more of a late-round Fantasy option on Draft Day. (Updated 01/04/2012).
01/25/2012 12:05 Positional and pitching eligibility for 2012
Plenty of position players and pitchers with eligibility changes entering 2012. We've got the complete listings for multi-eligible players, starting and relief pitchers and more for your league setup.
Ever since 2005, Aubrey Huff has experienced a downturn in every odd-numbered year, and in 2011, the pendulum swung a little farther. Huff's batting average plunged 44 points from the previous year, and he compiled his lowest home run total (12) since 2001. His power decline was particularly acute at home, where he hit just three home runs in 258 at-bats. As a 35-year-old, Huff may be running out of comebacks, and he will be pushed by Brandon Belt for the starting first baseman's job. Owners have given up on Huff before, only to learn that he had more gas left in the tank, but given his age and the competition he will face to keep his job, he is a riskier pick than ever. Huff is best left for deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats. (Updated 1/5/12)