Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Sean Marshall, Hector Sanchez

July 15, 2011 @ 23:46:32

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Your fantasy baseball cheat sheets are no longer of use. KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market series gives you tips on fantasy baseball players available as free agents, on waivers or for your FAAB dollars in your rotisserie or head-to-head baseball league. It's time to replace your fantasy baseball busts.

Key

Acquire	Add player (in most circumstances)
Consider	Add for speculation or because of need
Watch	Track player, consider if trend continues
Pass	Do not add player (in most circumstances)

 

Catchers

Hector Sanchez, San Francisco Giants

Marshall backup plan

The Giants have called up this 21-year-old prospect and probably don't expect him to grab pine very often. Sanchez is supposed to be raw defensively, although the club must believe that he's made considerable strides in that area if they're willing to entrust this staff to him during a pennant race. Offensively, he's still developing, too, as his age would suggest - and particularly in the power department - but he does have some promise.

At advanced Class A San Jose this season, Sanchez hit .301 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs in 176 at-bats. He jumped from there to Triple-A Fresno, where, in 78 at-bats, he batted .321 with no round-trippers and 12 RBIs. He also walked in 10.2 percent of his plate appearances, a drastic improvement from his 2.7 percent walk rate with the San Jose Giants. In general, as a pro, the switch-hitter has displayed positive statistical indicators in terms of batting average.

Despite Sanchez's reviews and pretty bright future, it's hard to imagine this youngster, who plays the most difficult position on the diamond, jumping from the low minors to the bigs and have extensive success immediately. By all accounts, he entered this season with quite a bit to learn. He may contribute because of his pure ability, but he won't hit for power and is unlikely to be trusted with an advantageous lineup spot, even in San Fran's sub-par lineup. Sanchez warrants intrigue, but it would seem foolish to spend a great amount on him.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Pitchers

Sean Marshall, Chicago Cubs

Carlos Marmol has blown two of his last three save opportunities and has been erratic (more so than usual) this season. It's highly unlikely that he'll abdicate his closer's throne on the North Side, but Mike Quade has indicated that Marshall will get consideration in save situations that involve tough left-handed batters.

Marshall, 28, is in the midst of his second straight season of quality relief work (5-3, 2.72 ERA, 9.21 K/9, 2.09 K/9) and is worth owning in deep formats even without the prospect of saves. Don't expect a significant contribution in that category, but a few extra wouldn't hurt.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Consider

NL-only: Acquire

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Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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