Players on whom I am not giving up highlight this week’s Week That Was:

Kyle Gibson:   Kyle Gibson was AWFUL Friday going just 3 innings while allowing 7 runs, 9 base runners and striking out only one.  What is wrong?  Ground ball percentage is still elite. Swinging strike rate is basically holding steady, HR/FB is not out of whack, and his BABIP is not crazy high.  The velocity is down about 1 MPH which is not good and the strand rate shows some bad luck at around 65 percent but those are not enough to yield the hideously ugly 6.10 ERA and 1.74 WHIP.  Honestly, I just do not know.  Two of his four starts have been at home and those have both been pretty solid.  Perhaps he can keep the home streak going against the Indians this week.  Many will give up on Gibson but I will not.  There are just not that many pitchers with his GB/SWK profile you can get cheap who pitch in a pitcher’s park. 

C.J. Cron:  C.J. Cron finally hit his first dinger of the year on Friday night “raising” his average to .161.  Yes, you read that correctly.  OK, after your eyes stop watering from looking at such an ugly number, consider the upside.  First, Cron is only 26 and has hit 27 dingers in just over 600 AB before his 26th birthday.  Second, the Angels as a team have not hit at all.  With Mike Trout and Albert Pujols anchoring the lineup, that is surely the change – a change that will help Cron.  Third, Cron’s contact and walk rates are up substantially but he has been super unlucky with a BABIP well below .200.  His bad luck too will change.  The bottom line here is that you should not panic as this upwardly mobile youngster will help you if you have some patience.

Jeff Samardzija:  Jeff Samardzija allowed 1 earned run on 6 hits while striking out 5 over 7.2 innings.  This was the strong start the Shark needed to get into a groove in SF.  Yes, the 19 K in 27 innings does not turn anyone on, however, a 3.00 ERA and 1.26 WHIP is not too shabby.  When you consider that Shark is still averaging close to 94 MPH on his fastball, pitches in a pitchers’ park and is inducing far more groundballs than in year’s past, you really have little reason to worry.  Is he an SP1 in fantasy?  No.  Will he prove very valuable if you hold the line all year?  Yessir!    

Justin Verlander:  Justin Verlander pitched well Friday going 7 innings while giving up just 2 earned runs and striking out 10 Indians.  If you look at the 5.79 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, you are likely to conclude there are problems in the Motor City.  However, those stats are skewed by the one bad outing against the Pirates.  While Verlander is throwing about 1 MPH slower than last year, I am still not worried.  He has been a bit unlucky in the strand department (under 65 percent) despite maintaining last year’s double digit swinging strike rate.  Comerica is a good place to pitch, the defense behind him is pretty good (especially up the middle) and the Tigers will score often which raises the odds for wins.  He is not what he was, but who among us is?  Even this new version is very much worth keeping. 

Martin Perez:   Martin Perez pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up 5 hits, 5 runs while registering only 2 Ks.  Yuck.  On the year, Perez has a 4.50 ERA and is striking out well, no one.  Will he be a big K guy?  No.  Will his ERA and WHIP fall to solid levels?  I think so.  The elite groundball rate is still there, the swinging strike rate is rising and the velo is actually ticking up.  Have some patience with this solid lefty in his second year post TJS if you are in a 15 teamer or an AL-only.  I will. 

Justin Smoak:   So far, not so good.  Despite playing for an offensive juggernaut, Smoak has no HR, 1 RBI and 2 runs scored on the year.  However, there is light at the end of the fantasy tunnel.  With Chris Colabello suspended for 80 games, Smoak should see a lot more time.  Last year Justin hit 18 HR in under 300 AB.  There is no reason to think he cannot put up similar power numbers now that the opportunity to play most every day is upon him.  Oh, and for those in OBP leagues, you are already enjoying that almost .500 OBP number. 

Avisail Garcia:   With his collar on Saturday, Garcia is now hitting a paltry .135.  Yes, even worse than Cron.  Why am I holding you ask?  Well, admittedly, I am less sure of this one than some of the above but here goes.  First, Garcia is only 25 and already has over 1,000 AB in the show.  Second, his BB rate is actually on the rise – a sign of maturity from a young hitter.  Third, he has been insanely unlucky with a BABIP of well under .200.  Finally, his hard and medium contact rates are also on the rise – a good fact and one that makes his BABIP even harder to explain.  Better times are ahead. 

And now the moment you may or may not be waiting for, the Baron of the Bottom of the Page pontificates aka Schultz says: “Late April always seems to be the time of year when roto-players turn their fancy towards finding their Troutian Saviour & Deliverer of Roto-Glory. For those unfamiliar with their roto-history, in 2012, every rotisserie and fantasy baseball league was determined by the free agency pickup of Mike Trout - who was resoundingly horrible at the end of the 2011 season. Since then, roto-owners have salivated over the prospect of finding the prospect that comes to the Big Show, rescues their season and Sherpas them to the top of roto-mountain. Of course, the only problem with that scenario is that it’s unlikely to ever happen again. Settle down Nomar Mazara believers - you know Schultz is speaking gospel here.

For those true believers in the second coming of Trout that have not already invested heavily in the young Texas slugger, you could probably do worse than gamble on Trea Turner, the Nationals shortstop of the future. While not possessed of the same power as Trout, Harper and the other roto-superstars, Turner is blessed with speed and the ability to get on base. Imagine a slightly slower Billy Hamilton that doesn't look lost with a bat in his hand. Danny Espinosa batting .188 an Stephen Drew being Stephen Drew leaves only Dusty Baker's penchant for veterans and MLB's inclination to gimmick arbitration years in Turner's way. He won't save your season but he's easily the middle infielder that will have the biggest impact when he's called up.

For those thinking the Troutian Saviour & Deliverer of Roto-Glory will come in the form of a pitcher, the Rays gave a glimpse of the future this weekend by giving Blake Snell a spot-start against the Yankees. While the Tampa Bay hurler looked a little green, he also didn't seem to shrink in the spotlight. He's been immediately sent down to the minors but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him called up later this year for a little more seasoning. The Braves also may be ready to speed ahead to the future with Aaron Blair, who will get the call on Sunday against the New York Mets. With a .79 WHIP, 1.42 ERA, Blair - acquired from Arizona as the centerpiece of the Shelby Miller trade - has likely outgrown the minors. Temper expectations due to the Braves not being built to win now but Blair might provide fine support for the back-end of your roto-rotation should he stick around.

So Schultz Has Said. So Schultz Has Spoken.”

Response:  It was really more fun when I could poke holes in Schultz “wisdom.” Unfortunately, this week I am once again left with deriding the odd third person mechanism of my unseen friend.