2011 Fantasy Baseball: The Rookie Report, Drabek, Britton, Pineda & More!
Rookie pitchers received most of the attention for the first 11 days of the 2011 MLB season. In fact four rookie pitchers made quite an impact in baseball’s toughest division, the American League East, as the season got under way. Unless you have been living under a rock you should know already that Kyle Drabek, Zach Britton, Jeremy Hellickson and Ivan Nova all pitched for their respective teams and made an impact. Michael Paneda, Esmil Rogers and Jordan Walden also made contributions for their teams.
STARTING ROOKIE PITCHERS:
KYLE DRABEK (Toronto): Drabek the Eastern League AA Pitcher of the Year and son of former major league pitcher Doug Drabek pitched very well in his two starts for the Blue Jays. Kyle went 1-0 giving up only two earned runs in 13 innings. He also averaged just under one strike out per inning. Drabek was on my pre-season sleeper list and has the pedigree to be solid all year. Get him on your roster as the future looks very bright for Kyle.
ZACH BRITTON (Baltimore): The Orioles top prospect got called up when Brian Matusz went on the disabled list to start the season. Britton made the most of his opportunity going 2-0 with 0.65 ERA, need I say more? In fact Zach shut down the big bats of the Texas Rangers for 7 2/3 innings before being lifted. Britton throws a 90+ mph sinker prompting Mike Flanagan, one of the best left hand pitchers in Baltimore history to quip that "he has never seen a left hander with as much movement on his sinker as Britton has. If he hasnt been scooped up yet in your league, get him now!
JEREMY HELLICKSON (Tampa Bay): Hellickson who was 4-0 last year after his late season call up, has looked pretty good this year going 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. In his first start for the Rays he struck out 10 Angels in only 5 2/3 innings. Yesterday Jeremy faced the Red Sox and allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings earning the win. Hellickson did walk five batters in the game. He is currently the number five starter and quite frankly the Rays offense worries me regardless of last night's 16 run output. I like Hellickson but I am going to temper expectations for him right now especially with the Rays looking like a 75 win team this year.
IVAN NOVA (New York): Nova doesnt have as much talent as the above three mentioned but he does have one thing going for him and its called the Bronx Bombers run support. Nova has a win but also has a 6.10 ERA. Nova also seems to hit the wall around the 5th inning so he doesnt go deep into games. He is still available in many leagues so pick him up only if the matchup warrants it. He will help in the wins and K categories.
MICHAEL PINEDA (Seattle): We will find out more about Pineda this week as he has two starts one against Toronto and the other at Kansas City. Pineda is the first rookie to make the Mariner rotation since Freddie Garcia did it in 1999. He like Hellickson is a 5th starter and will pitch all year behind one of the American League’s most putrid offenses. Pineda throws in the mid nineties, pitches in a pitchers ball park and has no pressure on him which will only benefit him. I advise picking him up and playing the matchups.
ESMIL ROGERS (Colorado): Rogers qualifies as a RP also and he has two starts this week against mediocre offenses. He is a fifth starter so I am going to temper his expectations until I see a bit more from him. Rogers struck out seven Pirates in his first start while allowing only four hits in 7+ innings. I grabbed him this week as a two start option. Put him on your watch list and see a bit more then grab him.
RELIEF PITCHERS:
CRAIG KIMBREL (Atlanta): Kimbrel earned three saves while averaging two strike outs an inning. He is clearly the Braves closer and is down right nasty. He is a must have closer in all formats.
JORDAN WALDEN (Anaheim): Walden has looked good since taking over the closer role from Fernando Rodney but only one problem here, Angels manager Mike Scioscia has said he is open to returning Rodney to his closer role. I am a bit leary of recommending Walden without clear cut evidence of how the skipper will play these two out. A rookie closer with a history of arm problems is a cause for concern. Proceed at your own risk with Walden.
STARTING ROOKIE PITCHERS:
KYLE DRABEK (Toronto): Drabek the Eastern League AA Pitcher of the Year and son of former major league pitcher Doug Drabek pitched very well in his two starts for the Blue Jays. Kyle went 1-0 giving up only two earned runs in 13 innings. He also averaged just under one strike out per inning. Drabek was on my pre-season sleeper list and has the pedigree to be solid all year. Get him on your roster as the future looks very bright for Kyle.
ZACH BRITTON (Baltimore): The Orioles top prospect got called up when Brian Matusz went on the disabled list to start the season. Britton made the most of his opportunity going 2-0 with 0.65 ERA, need I say more? In fact Zach shut down the big bats of the Texas Rangers for 7 2/3 innings before being lifted. Britton throws a 90+ mph sinker prompting Mike Flanagan, one of the best left hand pitchers in Baltimore history to quip that "he has never seen a left hander with as much movement on his sinker as Britton has. If he hasnt been scooped up yet in your league, get him now!
JEREMY HELLICKSON (Tampa Bay): Hellickson who was 4-0 last year after his late season call up, has looked pretty good this year going 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. In his first start for the Rays he struck out 10 Angels in only 5 2/3 innings. Yesterday Jeremy faced the Red Sox and allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings earning the win. Hellickson did walk five batters in the game. He is currently the number five starter and quite frankly the Rays offense worries me regardless of last night's 16 run output. I like Hellickson but I am going to temper expectations for him right now especially with the Rays looking like a 75 win team this year.
IVAN NOVA (New York): Nova doesnt have as much talent as the above three mentioned but he does have one thing going for him and its called the Bronx Bombers run support. Nova has a win but also has a 6.10 ERA. Nova also seems to hit the wall around the 5th inning so he doesnt go deep into games. He is still available in many leagues so pick him up only if the matchup warrants it. He will help in the wins and K categories.
MICHAEL PINEDA (Seattle): We will find out more about Pineda this week as he has two starts one against Toronto and the other at Kansas City. Pineda is the first rookie to make the Mariner rotation since Freddie Garcia did it in 1999. He like Hellickson is a 5th starter and will pitch all year behind one of the American League’s most putrid offenses. Pineda throws in the mid nineties, pitches in a pitchers ball park and has no pressure on him which will only benefit him. I advise picking him up and playing the matchups.
ESMIL ROGERS (Colorado): Rogers qualifies as a RP also and he has two starts this week against mediocre offenses. He is a fifth starter so I am going to temper his expectations until I see a bit more from him. Rogers struck out seven Pirates in his first start while allowing only four hits in 7+ innings. I grabbed him this week as a two start option. Put him on your watch list and see a bit more then grab him.
RELIEF PITCHERS:
CRAIG KIMBREL (Atlanta): Kimbrel earned three saves while averaging two strike outs an inning. He is clearly the Braves closer and is down right nasty. He is a must have closer in all formats.
JORDAN WALDEN (Anaheim): Walden has looked good since taking over the closer role from Fernando Rodney but only one problem here, Angels manager Mike Scioscia has said he is open to returning Rodney to his closer role. I am a bit leary of recommending Walden without clear cut evidence of how the skipper will play these two out. A rookie closer with a history of arm problems is a cause for concern. Proceed at your own risk with Walden.
Written by John Marino exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com.
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(April 7, 2011 – Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, The Rookie Report, John Marino, Kyle Drabek, Zach Britton, Jeremy Hellickson, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, Esmil Rodgers, Craig Kimbrel, Jordan Walden
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