The Mid-Season All-Schultz team highlight this week’s Week That Was.
Unbeknownst to Schultz, I have decided to switch places in the column this week and let Schultz leadoff – a sort of Boxing Day here at the Week That Was. I will simply sit back and cherry pick a few members of the All-Schultz team on whom I want to comment. It is fun being the boss! So, without further delay, Schultz says: “With the All-Star break greatly shortening the week that was, Schultz will shorten the 2018 MID-SEASON ALL-SCHULTZ TEAMS to a single team. For those competing for a roto-title, this team is comprised of players who haven’t helped you contend so far but very well might by the time the season is over.
C: Gary Sánchez (NYY): Many of the players on this list have been physically absent from the field. With Sanchez, it just feels like he’s been gone because the player everyone expected to make the leap in 2018 never showed up. His 14 HRs and 41 RBIs from the backstop slot aren’t going to anger anyone but his .188 average makes it feel like they are his only hits. Things should change.
1B: Daniel Murphy (WSH): Since moving to D.C. after his breakout performance in the 2015 post-season, an average season for Murphy has been comprised of hitting .334 with 24 HR and 100 RBIs. A knee injury hobbled the habitually underrated heart of the Nats potent lineup but his stats will perk up as he literally gets his legs underneath him.
2B: Robinson Canó (SEA): The perennially productive middle infielder has been involuntarily shelved with an 80 game PED suspension. Any worries over Cano being relegated to the bench can be dismissed as rumor and innuendo; come August, he will re-enter a feisty and competitive Mariners lineup as an everyday player and should not be overlooked.
SS: Elvis Andrus (TEX): Since the emergence of the new crop of superstud shortstops, Andrus has become the poor-man’s (fill-in-the-blank), always providing a solid number of steals while occasionally bolstering a roto-teams home runs or average. A fractured elbow sidelined the sneakily successful mini-roto-stud for much of the first half. With the Rangers done for the year, Andrus should have free reign to swing and run.
3B: Josh Donaldson (TOR): How quickly we’ve collectively forgotten the 2015 AL MVP. His entire 2018 season has been defined by a lingering calf issue that has limited him to 36 unproductive games. He seems to be on the mend and, when healthy, will contribute down the roto-stretch. Even moreso, should the Jays trade him into the pennant chase.
OF: Avisail García (CHW): Garcia has missed so much of 2018 due to a hamstring issue that his 2017 breakout has practically been eradicated from existence. Always a prospect to be salivated over, the Sox slugger is a pure hitter. If you haven’t noticed, in the 18 games since his return, he’s hitting .329 with nine HR, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored.
OF: A.J. Pollock (ARZ): No list involving injuries would be complete without Mr. Pollock. This year, he added a broken thumb to a growing list of maladies that has included a fractured elbow and groin pulls. His power stroke has been slow to recover – unsurprising given the hand injury – but his .318 average will keep owners afloat until he fully regains his form.
OF: Byron Buxton (MIN): Similarly, no list of disappointments would be complete without Mr. Buxton. Even when his first halves are marred by simply underperforming, B-Bux has always been a strong second half performer, often causing roto-owners in keeper leagues to have visions of sugarplums dance in their heads. His inability to stay healthy and/or produce in the minors may sideline him for the rest of 2018. He’s worth taking notice of should he return to the Big Show in 2018.
SP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD): The past, present and future ace of any roto-rotation was predominantly a non-factor in the first half of 2018, missing multiple starts with bicep and back issues. Kershaw seemed slightly human in his first couple starts back but the dominating onslaught is coming.
SP: Robbie Ray (AZ): A popular choice to make the leap on the roto-pantheon, Ray has spent the lion’s share of 2018 recovering from an oblique strain. His current 5.21 ERA and 1.51 WHIP are a far cry from last year’s 2.89 ERA and 1.15 WHIP but he’s striking batters out at the same (if not slightly better) rate than his breakout 2017.
SP: Yu Darvish (CHC): Although The Overlord will preach against investing highly in anyone moving to a team, there was reason to be excited about Darvish landing in the Windy City. He’s not only been disappointing, he may be irremediably injured. If he’s deemed capable of returning, he can be eminently helpful down the stretch.
SP: Marcus Stroman (TOR): Kevin Gausman was 2017’s tale of two halves and Stroman could be the sequel. Prior to taking time off due to shoulder fatigue, Stroman was an absolutely putrid 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Since his return in late June, he’s 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. His overall stats are miserable, so he might be poachable.
RP: Roberto Osuna (TOR): There appears to be much to dislike about Osuna as a person but roto-baseball tends to be agnostic about off-the-field activities. MLB seems inclined to let Osuna return in early August and he will resume his spot at the end of the Blue Jay bullpen. When he’s on his game, he’s one of the best closers in the game.
RP: Corey Knebel (MIL): Milwaukee’s closer was the surprise of 2017, striking out 126 in 76 innings (!!!) while notching 39 saves and posting a 1.78 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. The emergence of future-phenom Josh Hader in the aftermath of an early-season hamstring injury has led many to forget about Knebel. Hader’s future is in the rotation and Knebel will be the anchor of a Brewers’ bullpen as they strive for the post-season.”
Response: This is some great work, I cannot lie. However, a few additional thoughts from me on a few of the above-listed players.
Gary Sánchez : Forget the metrics, forget the numbers, the bottom line is Sanchez is just too good of a hitter in too good of a park in too good of a lineup not to return to top offensive catcher level in the second half. Buy if anyone is selling (Rick Wolf and I own him in Tout Wars, LABR and SiriusXM Hosts leagues and will be holding!)
Josh Donaldson : Be careful here. Repeat injuries tend to continue to repeat. If you are in first place or in a virtual dead heat, look elsewhere. If you need to shoot the moon to make up 25+ points or so, sure roll the dice.
Corey Knebel : Great call here on Knebel. Yes, last year was just sick. However, this year is pretty darn good too with an elite groundball rate of about 51% and a strong swinging strike rate of about 11.5%. Also, the velo is still around 97 mph and the BB are actually down. Finally, with the xFIP .70 below the ERA, there is positive regression coming down the pike.
Robbie Ray : Interesting call here. Yes, he is striking out guys at a similar rate to last year. Yes, the xFIP says that the ERA will come down but a hard hit rate of 47% is pretty ugly. Jury is out here.
Yu Darvish : I want him to come back but boy it is hard to risk your roto future this year on that.
Enjoy baseball being back!