A grounded Angels highlights (really lowlights) this week’s Week That Was:

Garrett Richards:  Just awful.  Forget about fantasy baseball for a moment and you just have to sympathize with this young fireballer with all the ability in the world.  First, his 2014 comes crashing to a halt with a freakish knee injury in a year where he was in the Cy Young discussion.  Then, in 2016, when he was anointed the ace of a team that sports Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and more, Richards succumbs to Tommy John surgery.  I am rooting for him to dominate baseball in 2018 but that does nothing for you right now.  If you are a Richards owner (and I am in four, yes FOUR leagues), you were getting much more than his 1-3 record made it appear.  Richards was throwing gas (averaging over 95.5 Mph), had a nice 2.34 ERA and struck out 34 in 34.6 innings.  In shallow leagues you may be able to find guys who can replace some of what Richards gave you.  In AL-only leagues, good luck with that.  Even the stars of tomorrow such as Blake Snell are surely gone.  All you can do is stream starters who have good matchups and play high K relievers in those other weeks.  Hang tough and really use that M in SMART – Management.

Aaron Hicks:  Who would have predicted that the Yankees with OF, DH and 1B populated by old (Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran and to a lesser extent Mark Teixeira) and injury-prone players (Jacoby Ellsbury and to some extent, Brett Gardner) would need Hicks to step up and play almost every day?  Hmm, the answer is absolutely anyone who thought about it.  Since getting into the starting lineup on Friday, Hicks is 2-for-5 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, a dinger and a walk.  Do not be one of those fantasy players who look at Hicks’ year-long numbers (a .132 average) and draws a negative conclusion.  First, he had minor injury dings early.  Second, his playing time was sporadic (tough to hit that way).  Third, thus far he has a historically low .129 BABIP that will undoubtedly correct.  And finally, Hicks is exactly the type of player the Rules of Engagement say has good odds of breaking out – a post-hype player with talent and 800-plus AB in the majors despite a young age (in this case, 26).  I believe and you should too.  There is a bargain to be had if you move quickly enough. 

David Price:  Speaking of the Rules of Engagement – they say that a big money free agent in a new home takes a serious risk of struggling early in the season as they adjust to new teammates, new friends, living in a new city and trying to justify obscene amounts of money.  David Price, he of the 200-plus million dollar deal, is showing the wisdom of following the ROE.  Saturday against a Yankee team that has hardly lived up to the moniker Bronx Bombers, Price allowed 6 ER and 10 baserunners in 4.6 innings.  Yuck.  His ERA now sits at 6.75.  Double Yuck.  Often I advise fantasy owners to hold such players if they invested as players do settle in to new situations.  Price is showing an even better swinging strike rate than in year’s past and his ground ball rate is stable.  So, while the fact that Price is sporting an average fastball velocity of over 2 mph less than in 2015, has me worried, I still think you have to hold – at least until a good start or two raises the market value.  [Or, just a thought, maybe the Garrett Richards owner in your league will be desperate enough to pay full price for Price now.  No Lawr Michaels -- toutwars and FSTA expert league Price owner -- and no Steve Gardner – LABR AL Price owner – team CTW will not abandon the Rules of Engagement!)   

Mitch Moreland:  Mitch Moreland had a nice Saturday at the dish going 2-for-4 with a run, 2 RBI and a dinger.  After that stat sheet filling performance, Moreland is hitting .260 with 4 dingers and 14 RBI.  Given that his hard contact percentage and line drive percentage are both up substantially on the season, I feel good about Moreland having another strong and overlooked year.  Did you know that if you throw out the injury-marred season of 2014, Moreland has hit 61 in around 1,250 AB over the last three years (in other words, 30-plus HR a year over two full time years)?  Now you do.

Ian Kinsler:  Ian Kinsler is thriving atop the potent Tiger lineup.  Surprised?  I am not.  Who wouldn’t want to hit in front of J.D. Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, a healthy Victor Martinez and Justin Upton?  Saturday, Kinsler just kept on keeping on, going 2-for-4 with a run and 2 RBI.  As of Sunday morning, Kinsler was hitting .308 with .349 OBP, 6 HR, 17 RBI and 24 runs scored in just 120 AB.  I know you cannot do this but if you extrapolate that to a 600 AB season, Kinsler would finish with 30 dingers, 120 runs and 85 RBI. Sweet!  Now, can he continue to produce at a high level even if it is not this high?  Yes. First, he will get pitches to hit given the bombers behind him.  Second, his BABIP is at or around his career norm so no odd luck factor there.  Finally, his hard hit percentage is up and he is hitting the ball back up the middle more than in previous years. I am in. 

Marcus Semien:  Going back to a Rule of Engagement (i.e., hitters who reach 800-plus AB at a young age are more likely to see a jump in performance than other hitters), we come upon Marcus Semien (25 years old with over 800 AB coming into the year).  Yesterday, Semien continued to show that breakout potential going 2-4 with 2 runs, 3 RBI, and a dinger.   As of Sunday morning, on the year, Semien had 8 dingers, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored despite hitting ninth most of the time.  Yes, Semien is hitting only .221 but do not let that fool you.  He is not selling out and swinging for the fences.  Rather he is actually being more patient and walking more.  An anomalous .200 BABIP is depressing his average.  The BABIP will rise and so will the average.  Buy! 

Justin Smoak:  I will not again resort to the Smoak is smoking joke (oh wait, I did).  Anyway, weak puns aside, Justin Smoak is taking advantage of the opportunity to play more in light of the Colabello suspension and making that most of it.  Smoak went 2-for-4 with a run Saturday raising his batting average all the way to .271 and his OBP to a sweet .419.  All indications are that this is real.  Smoak appears to have finally matured as a hitter.  He is going opposite field and up the middle more, hitting the ball harder and being much more selective (indeed he has doubled his walk rate).   There are still doubters but I am not one of them.   

And now the moment you well, may or may not be waiting for, the Baron of Bottom of the Page pontificates a/k/a Schultz says: “This week in this little portion of The Week That Was, Schultz thought it might be fun to check in on some old friends. Once integral linchpins that would Sherpa roto-teams up the mountain towards roto-glory, we may have left these former mates along the side of the road. Well, one man gathers what another man spills and there may some life left in these once shiny but recently tarnished roto-finds.

Anyone remember when Dustin Pedroia won the AL MVP award? You would be forgiven for taking a moment to wonder whether Schultz was joshing with you for sport. After spending the early part of this decade competing with Robinson Cano (another old friend that seems to have regained some luster) as the roto-2B of the future, Pedroia battled hand injuries that sapped his usefulness. While an ever-valuable 20/20 may be wishful thinking, Pedroia seems to have regained his power stroke, slugging 4 home runs while hitting an eminently useful .308. If you have the luxury of garnering speed elsewhere, Dusty appears to be on pace to equal his numbers of old.

Over in Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips appears to be another former roto-stud that's regained his signature swat. Once a lock for a 15/15 season (not too shabby from a 2B), the last couple years have seen Phillips battle injuries and/or appear to be feeling his age. With 6 HRs in the first month of the season and a potential trade to a contender looming in the spring, roto-owners could do worse than to remember Mr. Phillips.
Finally, Schultz cannot take any stroll down roto-memory lane without visiting Victor Martinez. A healthy V-Mart (a/k/a Vicky-Mart, "thank you, come again") is one of the best pure hitters to ever play the game. His recent outings have been spotty due to multiple knee injuries but one thing has remained certain: when Martinez has his legs under him, there aren't many more valuable roto-assets. With 5 HRs and a .320 average, it's safe to say that he's standing on solid ground and the most useful utility player in the roto-world (if such a thing still exists. I definitely can't hear it over the Fantasy Alarm). ”

Response:  Schultz playing “girl with the curl” this week.  When his points are good, they are very good and when they are bad . . . you get it.  Schultz is right and provides very good analysis  about VMart and Fantasy Alarm but I cannot endorse investing in the injury prone Pedroia or Phillips.  Indeed, I would take the exact opposite tack from the Baron and urge owners to sell high on those oft-injured keystoners.  Only time will tell who gets to razz the other on this disagreement.