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Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: John Mayberry Jr., Dayan Viciedo, more
by Nicholas Minnix
on August 29, 2011 @ 13:12:06
PDT
Follow @NicholasMinnix
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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
Corner infielders
Dayan Viciedo, Chicago White Sox The ChiSox pulled the trigger. Carlos Quentin (sprained left shoulder) is on the disabled list, and Viciedo is again a major leaguer. Ozzie Guillen noted that the Cuban prospect didn't join the South Siders so that he could leave an imprint of his posterior on the pine. The DM has been making the stash case for Viciedo. The urgency has risen. The 22-year-old went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, two runs scored and a walk in his first MLB game of 2011. He has third-base eligibility, and quality hitters with it are in short supply. Shallow mixed: Acquire Deep mixed: Acquire AL-only: Acquire Chris Marrero, Washington Nationals The Nationals called up their first-round pick from 2006, Marrero, this past weekend. It appears that he'll play at least semi-regularly for the Nats, at times drawing starts at first base and pushing Mike Morse to left field. Jonny Gomes would appear to be a loser in this situation. A severe injury in 2008 probably delayed the path to The Show of Marrero, 23. His most attractive asset is his raw power, but as Baseball America notes and the youngster's numbers show, he hasn't yet unleashed it in games on a consistent basis. In his first full season back from a broken leg and torn ligaments, in 2010, he batted .294 with 18 home runs and 82 RBIs in 524 at-bats for Double-A Harrisburg. This season, at Class AAA Syracuse, he hit .300 with 14 dingers and 69 RBIs in 483 at-bats. It sounds like Marrero's swing can get a little long sometimes, judging from BA's assessment, and his plate discipline is still a work-in-progress. He's made strides in the latter area, though. It's his defense that makes managers cringe and which may prevent Davey Johnson from running him out there every day. Still, there's obvious upside here, especially if he gets the PT. Marrero is three for his first eight, all the hits singles, with two strikeouts and no walks. He started one of two contests and has already committed two errors. Shallow mixed: Pass Deep mixed: Watch NL-only: Acquire OutfieldersJohn Mayberry Jr., Philadelphia Phillies Mayberry, 27, has started in eight of the Phils' last nine contests and went 11-for-30 (.367) with three home runs and 10 RBIs in them. Raul Ibanez missed several days with a groin injury, but Charlie Manuel noted to the press on Friday that Ibanez was healthy for the club's game that night against Florida Marlins right-hander Clay Hensley. Uncle Charlie just chose to play Mayberry instead. Mayberry is hitting .269 with 12 home runs, 41 RBIs and six stolen bases in 201 at-bats this season. Although his career has gone through a series of ups and down, he's a bright, coachable hitter who has incorporated the changes that the club has asked him to make at the dish. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound athlete can play all three outfield spots and packs 30-homer power in that frame, to go along with his 15-steal speed. Could he be the next late bloomer whom Philly has discovered? Shallow mixed: Pass Deep mixed: Consider NL-only: Acquire PitchersJason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals After Motte converted a save opportunity flawlessly, with one strikeout, on Sunday, Tony La Russa suggested that the right-hander will see more opportunities before the season ends. The 29-year-old has a 3-2 record with a 1.70 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, a 8.15 K/9 and a 2.04 BB/9. It's the last figure that's most encouraging. He's also served up just one home run this season. There has been no indication that Fernando Salas has abdicated his throne, but he did blow his last two opportunities and thus may have to squeeze a cheek to share it. Shallow mixed: Consider Deep mixed: Consider NL-only: Acquire Eric Surkamp, San Francisco Giants Jonathan Sanchez (sprained left ankle) hasn't made much progress; Bruce Bochy told the media that it's possible that the southpaw doesn't pitch again this season. It's not a likelihood, but San Fran is becoming concerned. The Giants believe that Barry Zito (right ankle injury) may be able to return to them and help them in a couple of weeks. Surkamp, meanwhile, has already received his next MLB play date: Sept. 6, against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park. Will San Francisco have to continue to rely on him? In his big-league debut on Saturday, against the Houston Astros, he went six frames, gave up six hits, one run and three walks, and fanned four. The southpaw has been a command artist in the minors. This season, for Double-A Richmond, he was 10-4 with a 2.02 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, a 10.43 K/9 and a 2.78 BB/9. Baseball America notes that the 24-year-old can generate swinging strikes with his changeup and curveball, in addition to his heater, which sits only in the upper 80s. Perhaps a reluctance to set up his other stuff with that fastball is the reason that he walked a few in his debut. It's conceivable that Surkamp won't trust his stuff enough to be as aggressive as he should, but he has a fantastic track record in his last couple of farm campaigns. It's unlikely that he'll have mixed-league value, but it never hurts to pay attention. His next outing, another chance to earn future consideration from Bochy, is an enticing spot. Shallow mixed: Pass Deep mixed: Watch NL-only: Acquire About Nicholas Minnix
Minnix is baseball editor and a fantasy football analyst at KFFL. He 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 SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow @NicholasMinnix Don't miss these great reports....![]() |
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