Baseball is not an easy game.
All the talent in the world can sometimes be just enough to sniff success in the big leagues and ultimately sink into the unknown abyss that houses thousands of other can't-miss prospects who swung and missed.
It doesn't seem to matter in baseball whether you were the No. 1 overall draft pick or a little-known nothing taken near the final rounds. Players have found greatness from both spots and have failed just the same.
While Washington waits to unwrap its shiny new No. 1 draft pick in Stephen Strasburg, as if he's the savior of the floundering franchise, it should serve as a good reminder that the last two can't-miss prospects aren't exactly connecting just yet at the big league level.
Baltimore catcher and Baseball America's No. 1 overall prospect -- Matt Wieters -- and the No. 2 prospect and top overall draft pick from 2007 -- Tampa Bay starter David Price -- both ascended the minor league ladder with ease.
Price was pitching in the World Series in his first professional season as he jumped from Class A to the majors in a mere four months. Wieters is already in Baltimore in only his second pro season after assaulting minor league pitching at every stop.
They are here and so they should dominate and be on everyone's Fantasy rosters. At least that seems to be the thinking most owners are subscribing to at the moment. Except, Wieters and Price are not dominating. Not by a long shot.
Major league pitching is a much different monster from anything he's seen in the minors and so Wieters has started slowly, batting .268 with three homers and nine RBI over his first 97 at-bats. His pitch recognition has been off and all three homers have gone to the opposite field. Clearly, he has the power and ability, he just needs the experience.
With good Fantasy catchers hard to come by, we don't have much issue with the fact that Wieters is owned in 90 percent of leagues. His upside is enough to warrant that type of ownership but realize he's going to continue to struggle until he really establishes himself at this level. In actuality, Wieters has been a borderline No. 1 Fantasy option at the position over the last several weeks. His numbers, though, don't resemble the All Star he's expected to become.
Price, on the other hand, doesn't have as sound an argument as to why he's owned in 86 percent of leagues. Like pitching, major league hitting is a different ballgame from that in the minors and right now Price is being exposed for the raw talent he is.
Price dominated in the World Series last season, sure. But that came in relief as he was able to unleash his pure talent over a short outing and overpower hitters with speed. You can't do that as a starter and owners have been waiting -- to no avail -- to get consistent strikes out of the former Vanderbilt star.
Price is 2-3 on the season for the Rays with a 5.21 ERA in eight starts. He has shown his upside at times but has walked at least five hitters on five different occasions and has struggled mightily with his command with 30 walks in 30 innings.
"Embarrassed," Price told the St. Petersburg Times after his latest loss on the 4th of July at Texas. "I can't even put words on that. We needed to stop the bleeding, and I let us down. I've got to be able to get back out there with that mindset and that attitude that I know I belong."
Price's struggles have him questioning himself and manager Joe Maddon might get to the point where he decides a return trip to Triple-A might be the best thing for the future ace to regain his confidence.
"Patience is a really important word with this fellow," Maddon said. "Everybody expects him to be the finished artwork by now, and that's just unfair. He's not ready for that -- yet -- but he's not far away from it either."
And patience is exactly what Fantasy owners need to show with guys like Price and Wieters. They'll be on 100 percent of rosters as must-start Fantasy options in time. But for now, take them with a grain of salt and realize they are young kids learning to play a very difficult game.
Call to the Bench -- We feel this player might be worthy of adding to Fantasy rosters for the long haul
Armando Galarraga, SP, Detroit
Owned: 47 percent of leagues
Analysis: Galarraga is in the midst of a yo-yo season for the Tigers. Fantasy owners watched last season as the rookie posted 13 wins in 28 starts with a 3.73 ERA. They lauded his efforts and drafted him across the board this season. He was on 72 percent of rosters to start the year. By the end of April, Galarraga was 3-0 in four starts with a 1.85 ERA and was owned in 93 percent of leagues. That is when his sophomore season spontaneously combusted. The right-hander made six starts in May and lost five of them with an 8.49 ERA. He gave up 10 homers and walked 14 in 29 2/3 innings during the month and looked lost on the mound. June didn't get much better as Galarraga lost two of his first four starts during that month without notching a victory. In all, the freefall saw him fail to win in 10 straight outings before he finally topped the Cubs on June 25. He gave up four runs over six innings in that win, which isn't fantastic either, but something appeared to click for him. Since winning that start, Galarraga is 2-0 and has given up just two runs in his last 13 1/3 innings with 12 strikeouts. The guy has a proven track record of success and there is no reason to believe confidence was his only glaring issue. If he's found that again, he could be an excellent mixed-league Fantasy option in the second half.
You're Out! -- We feel this player might have already peaked and his value could be on the decline, so Fantasy owners might want to cut bait ASAP
Maicer Izturis, SS, L.A. Angels
Owned: 18 percent of leagues
Analysis: Experienced Fantasy owners continually check the waiver wire to find hidden gems and as we're one week before the All-Star break, there is one diamond in the rough still available in the majority of leagues. The middle infield positions are always thin for Fantasy talent and right now the Angels starting shortstop, Izturis, is playing like a viable Fantasy option in all leagues. Hitting .303 on the season, Izturis exploded in June with a .338 average, two homers and 12 RBI in 65 at-bats. He's 8 for 20 (.400) thus far in July and has been ranked among the top 10 shortstops in Fantasy for several weeks now. But Fantasy owners have been smart to stay away up until now -- he gained an 11 percent increase in ownership over the past week -- because Izturis has absolutely no track record to suggest his hot streak will continue. The Angels possess young talent at the middle infield positions and are going with Izturis right now over Erick Aybar, who has struggled at times this season. Izturis is a career .276 hitter over six seasons with the Angels and Montreal Expos. He's never hit more than six homers in a season or driven in more than 51 runs. He's not a stolen base threat, either. Izturis is a slap-hitter who is simply red hot and finding holes all over the diamond right now. The mathematics of baseball suggest this cannot last. His batting average will be down near his average by the end of the season and he'll likely go back to being a part-time guy as soon as he struggles. Leave his ownership right where it is and don't go picking him up in mixed leagues if you haven't already.
GIDPs -- We feel this player might not warrant as much Fantasy consideration as he is receiving and should be avoided in most instances
Juan Pierre, OF, L.A. Dodgers
Owned: 55 percent of leagues
Analysis: Manny Ramirez has already made his presence felt since coming off his 50-game suspension and returning to the Dodgers. He is the team's everyday left fielder and Juan Pierre and his Fantasy owners will just have to live with that fact. Pierre could make a major argument that he was snubbed for the All-Star game as he's batting .328 on the year with 25 RBI and 23 stolen bases covering 253 at-bats. Still, he's not even a starter on his own team anymore. Pierre has started just once since Ramirez returned, going 4 for 7 at San Diego on Sunday, and his manager Joe Torre plans to play him more than he did before Ramirez left the team. Torre said he envisions Pierre seeing a few starts per week with the 37-year-old Ramirez needing regular rest. Third base coach Larry Bowa thinks Pierre has earned at least a little more time. "I've been around Joe [Torre] for a while. I don't think Joe's going to say, 'OK, now sit down for three months.' " But Pierre doesn't hit homers or drive in many runs. His Fantasy value is predicated on him being in the lineup consistently. A few starts per week is not enough for him to be a viable mixed-league Fantasy option any longer. Hey, there is always the possibility Ramirez does something dumb again.
Scouting -- We feel this player is on the verge of being a Fantasy reliable option, but still needs to be monitored over the next few weeks
Ryan Sadowski, SP, San Francisco
Owned: 26 percent of leagues
Analysis: If you aren't intrigued by the newest Giants pitching sensation than it is obvious you don't know his story. Sadowski did not take your typical route to the major leagues. The 6-foot-4 26-year-old right-handed hurler played his college baseball for the University of Florida. If you can call pitching a total of 6 2/3 innings over his collegiate career actually "playing" for the team. He barely even got off the bench during his time in Gainesville and, needless to say, was not drafted when his college days were over. He had his mom call pro scouts for a tryout and was eventually taken in 2003 in the 12th round by the Giants. He spent six years in the minors and has career record of 31-26 with a 4.67 ERA. He's gone through surgery on his shoulder, elbow and brain during his time in the minors and is probably lucky to even be alive. Never dreaming he'd be called up to the majors, he was considering making the move to play in Japan when the Giants purchased his contract after going 5-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 13 starts at Triple-A Fresno. After all that turmoil it makes perfect sense that he goes 2-0 in his first two major league starts without allowing a run on seven hits covering his first 13 innings as a big leaguer. Pitching on a staff with three former Cy Young winners -- Randy Johnson, Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito -- and another guy who is headed in that direction -- Matt Cain -- Sadowski has, at least for now, cemented his spot as the No. 5 starter. Nothing about him suggests this success will last, however, so tread lightly before making him the trendy pick up across waivers.
Farm Boys -- This segment is for those long-term keeper owners looking for the next Fantasy superstar
Jarrod Parker, SP, Arizona
Owned: 7 percent of leagues
Analysis: Named to the minor league Futures game, Arizona's starting pitching prospect was the ninth overall pick in the 2007 draft -- the same draft that produced Price and Wieters. Taken out of high school, the 20-year-old went 12-4 at Class A last season with a 3.44 ERA. Beginning this year in Class A again, Parker's 0.95 ERA in four starts had him at Double-A Mobile in no time. Parker is 4-3 at Mobile with a 2.93 ERA in 12 starts and has 56 strikeouts in just over 58 innings. Parker was hit on the wrist by a line drive back on June 13 but has shown no ill effects of the injury since, going 1-0 in three starts with four runs allowed covering 16 innings. He needs to go deeper into games and likely won't join the Diamondbacks rotation this season. Still, Yusmeiro Petit and Doug Davis don't figure to be mainstays at the back-end of the rotation and Parker could be inserted by opening day 2010.
Doctor's Report -- This segment highlights a player on the verge of coming off the DL and ready to make an immediate Fantasy impact.
Kyle Lohse, SP, St. Louis
Owned: 55 percent of leagues
Analysis: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa realizes how important getting Lohse back into the rotation will be for his team. "If we get our five guys back, we have a chance," La Russa was quoted as saying. Lohse is that fifth guy in a rotation with Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Joel Pineiro and Todd Wellemeyer. Sorry, Brad Thompson, you don't cut it. Lohse was 4-4 with a 3.99 ERA on the season prior to straining his right forearm and landing on the DL. His last start came back on June 3 and the injury came one appearance after one of his finest outings of the season, a four-hit shutout win over the Royals. Lohse is rehabbing with Triple-A Memphis right now and in one start went 4 2/3 innings allowing two runs on three hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Lohse hopes to return to the Cardinals by the All-Star break. If he can regain his form and maintain his health, he'll be a decent mixed-league Fantasy starter over the second half of the season.
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