#bryan lahair

[fantasyteamadvice-blog]

Patrolling the waiver wire - weeks 5 and 6 fantasy baseball 2012

Ryan Zimmerman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The injuries are beginning to mount in fantasy baseball, especially at third base where a Ryan Zimmerman, Evan Longoria, and Kevin Youkilis have all headed to the DL for various reasons.  Owners will be scrambling to fill the holes in their lineups, and we have your dose of hot pickups right here!

HOUSTON,TX-MAY 01: Jed Lowrie #4 of the Houston Astros receives a high-five from Dave Clark #35 of the Houston Astros after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the New York Mets on May 1, 2012 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Jed Lowrie – 3B/SS – Houston Astros

One of our favorite sleeper candidates heading into 2012 is really heating up heading into May.  He currently owns a line of .303/3/9 to go with 1 SB.  Fantasy owners that are scrambling for a third baseman should add Lowrie now, as he may be ready to fulfill all the potential we have been hearing about for years.  The best news?  He is also available at SS, making him useful at two of the thinnest positions in fantasy.

Jose Altuve – 2B – Houston Astros

The future is beginning to look a little brighter for the Astros, as they have solid young hitters in Jose Altuve, Jed Lowrie, and J.D. Martinez.  Altuve was projected to be a solid contact hitter, with 15 SB speed, but after 1 month he is hitting .367 with 1 HR, 10 RBI, 16 runs scored, and 4 stolen bases.  He is a top 5 second baseman early on in the season, and should be owned in 100% of mixed leagues while he is rolling like this.  We still expect Altuve to finish just outside the top 10 second basemen, but if you have a MI spot in your league he should be a valuable tool all season long.

Denard Span – OF – Minnesota Twins

Span is currently riding a 12-game hit streak, and fantasy owners need to reacquaint themselves with the Twins leadoff hitter.  Although he won’t hit for much power, his .340 average, 5 RBI, 9 runs, and 3 SB’s are all you can ask for out of a leadoff hitter.   He should steal over 25 bases this season if he stays healthy, and at 28 years old is in the prime of his career.  If you are in need of an outfield option, possibly to fill in for an injured Jordan Schafer, give Span a look.

Josh Reddick – OF – Oakland Athletics

It’s beginning to look like the Red Sox missed the boat on this one, as Josh Reddick is starting to show some serious power in Oakland.  He currently has 4 HR’s and 3 SB’s to go with a solid .276 average, and if he keeps those numbers going throughout the season he will end the year right around 24 homers and 18 stolen bases making him more than worthy of being owned in fantasy formats.  He is still young at 25, and developing his power, so even if you missed the the chance to pick him up this year, keep an eye on the young slugger as he could develop into a solid power option in the outfield in the years to come.

Kelly Johnson – 2B – Toronto Blue Jays

Kelly Johnson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Johnson is beginning to show the power that made him a fantasy sweetheart just a few years ago. His line of .250/5/12 with 0 SB’s and 16 runs scored isn’t blowing anyone away, but if you have an injury and need a stop-gap option Johnson can provide some pop off the wire.  His batting average isn’t likely to go up much from .250, but there seems to be something in the water up there in Toronto as they seem to have pop in the order from top to bottom.  If you are able to add Edwin Encarnacion, he should be the first option as he currently is tied in the AL lead for home runs with 9, but chances are someone already grabbed him.  Pick up Johnson and hope the power numbers continue throughout the season.

Honorable mention – These guys may be worth a look in deep formats

Bryan LaHair – 1B – Chicago Cubs

Michael Saunders – OF – Seattle Mariners

Jon Jay – OF – St. Louis Cardinals

Zack Cozart – SS – Cincinnati Reds

Ok that is it for today’s article.  If you have any questions about who to start/sit or add in your particular format, please post in the forums for the community to answer.

    Patrolling the waiver wire – weeks 5 and 6 fantasy baseball 2012 was originally published on Fantasy Team Advice

[fantasyteamadvice-blog]

2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers - First Base

I will be going position by position this preseason, getting owners ready for their 2012 fantasy baseball draft, by outlining the 2012 sleepers at each position.  In most instances, these players will either go undrafted, or go in the late rounds of deep leagues.  Just make sure you know their names, and keep an eye on them if they do hit the waiver wire, as they will have the opportunity to benefit your fantasy team in the upcoming season.

  Bryan LaHair – Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have named Bryan LaHair their opening day first baseman for the 2012 season.  He definitely deserves a look as he absolutely raked at AAA last season hitting 38 HR’s with 109 RBI’s.  In 20 games at the major league level in 2011, he only managed 2 HR’s and 6 RBI’s.  This guy has some serious power, and will be 29 entering this year, which means this could be his last chance to prove he can produce at the major league level.  I definitely think he should be mentioned a little more in baseball circles as a deep sleeper, but apparently other analysts just don’t feel he can get it done at the major league level.  If you play in an NL-only format, or maybe a 20 team league, take a look at LaHair in the final rounds of fantasy drafts.  If you play in a standard 10-team format you will probably let him go to the waiver wire on draft day, but if he gets his power swing going, he could be a nice addition to your fantasy team.

  Lucas Duda – NYM

Duda will more than likely open the season as an outfielder for the New York Mets as Ike Davis will be returning from injury; however, Lucas will still have first base eligibility in the majority of fantasy leagues, which is the reason he makes our sleeper list at the position.  In 2011, he played in 100 games for the Mets and put up a solid line of .292/10/50 and only struck out 57 times.  If you play in a league where strikeouts are important it is nice to find a sleeper that doesn’t swing and miss as much as the other big names at the position.  Entering the 2012 season, we are projecting very modest numbers for Duda at .280/15/61.  He will see more games this year, so his strikeout numbers will go up, but he hits for a high average with some power, and could easily exceed the projected numbers we have for him this year.  If you want to pick up a solid backup in the late rounds for your OF/1B positions, take a look at Duda.

    Yonder Alonso – SD

Alonso was the key piece in the Mat Latos deal between the Reds and Padres in the offseason, and after watching Alonso in the preseason, manager Bud Black has stated that he is confident the Padres received good value in the trade.  I have a real hard time drafting any Padre, and 2012 will be no exception.  Don’t get me wrong, Alonso is a good hitter, with an average that should translate nicely at the major league level.  His last 2 years in AAA he hit .296, and in 47 games with the Reds in 2011 he put up a line of .330/5/15.  What concerns me here is the lack of power and RBI potential as he hit just 12 HR’s in 2010 and 11 in AAA.  Moving to the pitchers paradise in San Diego, those numbers don’t stand to improve much.  We actually projected him to have a pretty solid year, putting up a line of .297/14/63, but even numbers like those drop him to #69 on our projections for outfielders.  Playing at first base he will be a very deep sleeper, and if you need a solid source of average he could be that guy.  I don’t recommend taking him as anything more than a CI or backup on draft day, as there is limited power potential here, but he will put the ball in play so he can benefit owners looking for some singles and doubles.

  Mat Gamel – MIL

It looks like Mat Gamel is being given the opportunity to replace the rather large void (no pun intended) left behind by Prince Fielder.  Much like our other sleepers, Gamel has put up strong numbers throughout his minor league career, and will be looking for them to translate at the major league level in 2012.  His 2011 line from AAA was .310/28/96.  He has had to small sample sizes at the major league level, but so far has shown an inability to hit major league pitching.  In 2010, he hit just .200 in 12 games for the Brew Crew, and in 2011 just .115 in 10 games.  I have a hard time believing he will have a miraculous turnaround in 2012, and become the .300 hitter he was at the minor league level, but he may turn into a pretty solid offensive player in the next couple of years as he gets more seasoning.  There will be some growing pains here, and we have him projected at a very modest .238/15/48 line for 2012.  Expect him to get around 400 at-bats as the Brewers have an up and down year, and only take Gamel in the deepest of formats for 2012.

  Honorary mentions – This category is for those players that I can’t really call sleepers because their names are well known, but because they are going late in fantasy drafts they could outperform their draft ranks and have very solid and productive years in 2012.

Kendrys Morales – LAA

Adam Lind – TOR

Ryan Howard – PHI

Freddie Freeman – ATL

Carlos Pena – TAM

            2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – First Base was originally published on Fantasy Team Advice

[princeofny]

Bryan LaHair always put up good minor league numbers with power and walks; he got his big league chance, made the All-Star team and then showed why he was in the minor leagues for so long. 

[bleacherbummed]

What I'm thankful for #4

April/May Bryan LaHair

for all of those home runs, clutch hits, and making the All Star team

[chicagocubs]

Happy birthday to Bryan LaHair! 

[whiskeyspook]

I hope yesterday was not the last time we see LaHair in a Cubs uniform.

[whiskeyspook]

LAHAIR IS PLAYING!

Cubs lineup vs. Reds 9/20: DeJesus CF, Barney 2B, Rizzo 1B, LaHair LF, Castro SS, Valbuena 3B, Castillo C, Sappelt RF, Berken P

[gocubs]

Bryan LaHair congratulates Anthony Rizzo after his grand slam against the Pirates