LestersLegends.com

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Colorado Rockies southpaw Christian Friedrich has been nothing short of sensational in his first two big league starts. In 13 innings the 24-year old has allowed a mere two earned runs for a 1.38 ERA. He has only yielded eleven hits and a pair of walks for a 1.00 WHIP.
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Friedrich is not only getting outs, he is overpowering hitters, racking up 17 strikeouts (11.8 K/9) with impressive control (8.5/1 K/BB).
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He won his Major League debut by holding the Padres to one run over six innings. He followed that performance up with a masterful seven inning, one run, ten strikeout gem against the Giants, only to see his bullpen allow two runs in an inning of work.
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He will have to improve against left-handed batters. He is silencing righties (.184, .436 OPS), but has allowed four hits in ten at bats to lefties with a 1.200 OPS.
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His success is a little surprising based on his 4.04 lifetime minor league ERA. He did pitch well for Triple-A Colorado Springs prior to being called up. Christian was 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 27 strikeouts (four walks) in 30 innings.
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Friedrich was once a top left-handed pitching prospect though after a brilliant run at Eastern Kentucky. 2010 and 2011 were tough years, but he seems to have got the joke and is worth keeping an eye on as long as he is pitching this well and has a spot in the rotation. He’s a nice streamer candidate for his next start (Seattle).
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Friedrich is barely owned in fantasy leagues, but that should change in the coming days. If he shuts down the Mariners on Saturday, which is a strong possibility, that number will jump dramatically.
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By Haley Smilow
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You might say Eric Young Jr. has baseball in his blood. Growing up he became acquainted with the game early by watching his father, Eric Young Sr., play for the Dodgers, Rockies, Blue Jays, and Cubs, among other teams. Eric Young Jr. (or EY2., as he is known) was a multi-sport athlete in high school, but ultimately decided to pursue baseball. He played one year of college ball at Chandler Gilbert Community College before following in his father’s footsteps and being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round of the 2003 draft. EY2 steadily worked his way through the minor leagues, posting solid batting averages at every level and catching the eyes of the Rockies’ front office, which resulted in his major league debut in 2009. In 158 career major league games EY2 has posted a line of .246/.324/.295 and spent time playing second base and patrolling the outfield. This year the 26-year old will again look to provide the Rockies with production off the bench.
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Reporter Haley Smilow recently had a chance to chat with Eric Young Jr., and discovered his favorite foods, his go-to songs on his iPod, and what it means to him to share so many baseball memories with his father.
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At what age did you start playing baseball? And did you eventually end up playing in a travel league?
I started playing at age 7. I played travel league (summer) from ages 9-12.
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Who was your favorite team growing up? And other than your father, who where some of the players that you looked up to as a kid?
Favorite team growing up was whichever team my dad was on. I was a big Ken Griffey, Jr. fan growing up.
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When you are up to bat what is your theme song?
I’m going with Drake “Headlines” this season, and maybe the Bernie. Still debating on that one.
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Do you have a favorite restaurant in Colorado? And what is your favorite food?
I love Tokyo Joe’s. I love teriyaki.
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Name 5 songs on your Ipod right now that you have on repeat?
Drake-Headlines, Pitbull- International love, TPain-Turn all the lights on, Flo Rida-Good Feeling, Lloyd-Be the One
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Do you have any rituals or superstitions before and during a game? Can you give me an example?
I try to eat healthy before a game, usually oatmeal. Music headphones on a bunch.
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What do you do during the off-season?
Try to get enough rest before getting back to training, and visit my family members.
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Refuse 2 Be Ignored is one of your slogans can explain what it means to you?
It means embrace all/any of your talents. Refuse to ignore what your good at/makes you special to the world in your own right. I just love to encourage people to find what their gift is to the world.
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You and your father hold a historical moment with the Rockies organization; can you tell use about it?
We have a few. His opening home run in Denver, my debut in ’09, our playing against each other in spring training. It’s all been a blessing to our family.
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At the 2012 Winter Meetings your name came up in several trade possibilities including the Mets, Tigers and Mariners, if you could play for any team who would it be?
I just want to play and utilize my abilities to my max potential. It doesn’t matter where.
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What trade or free agent player signing will have the biggest effect on their teams chances of making it to World Series?
You never know before the season starts. You have to see how the teams gel together when they get new personalities to a team.
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Four of the fastest men currently in MLB – EYjr, Brett Gardner, Michael Bourn and Carl Crawford who is the fastest?
You always have to believe in yourself, so I’m saying me. All those names can fly though. I enjoy watching all those other names play the game of baseball.
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If you were not playing baseball, what else could you see yourself doing?
I can see myself as a barber.
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Any reason for number 1?
Number 1 was my original number when I was 7 years old.
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Do you have any other nicknames then Base Burner or EY2?
Lil EY
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What was the difference playing winter ball in Hawaii and Venezuela?
Hawaii is a state and Venezuela is another country. The difference in cultures is the biggest difference.
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What advice would you give to the young readers?
Find what you’re special at and embrace it. I love to play ball and cut hair…so I’m giving it all I have.
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Intro by: Robbie Clark of Yanks Go Yard
Interview by: Haley Smilow

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Todd Helton is 38 and has had his share of injuries in recent years, most notably his troublesome back. He has, however, been able to maintain a spectacular .322 lifetime average to go along with his equally impressive .971 OPS.
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In the past four seasons he has only played in 125 or more games on one occasion and has alternated between sub-.265 batting averages and +.300 averages.
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If that trend were to continue, this would be one of his down years. So far, that is exactly what it has been.
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Entering today’s game he is hitting an abysmal.239. Hardly what you would expect from a hitter with his credentials.
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It isn’t all bad though. Despite his horrible batting average, he still owns a solid .849 OPS. That’s because he has slugged three home runs already. He hit 14 all of last year, with a monthly high of three. If he connects one more time it will be his highest monthly total since August 2010.
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It’s not just Helton that is struggling for the Rockies. Troy Tulowitzki is off to a solid start, but not necessarily the numbers you’d expect from him. Carlos Gonzalez is struggling. Helton is one of only two players with double-digit RBI on the team.
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He is owned in 13.0 percent of Yahoo! and 8.3 percent of ESPN leagues. I wouldn’t go out and snatch him up and I wouldn’t take issue if you decided to cut ties. He is a solid streaming hitter option though when he is facing a right-handed pitcher.
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Helton is hitting .320 with a 1.153 OPS against them (.143, .468 against southpaws) this year, .300, .880 vs. .294, .794 over the past three years and .331, 1.022 vs. .301, .846 lifetime.
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Also check out:

• Is Denard Span Back?
• Should You Bail on Adam Wainwright?
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• Should You Be Concerned With Kevin Youkilis?
• Should You Snatch Up Alejandro De Aza?

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Jhoulys Chacin has hit a major speed bump on his road to fantasy stardom. After going 8-4 with a 2.73 ERA in his first 15 starts, he’s gone 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA over his past five. He did have a hard luck loss in the mix in which he allowed just one run over seven innings to the Nationals, but the other four starts have been disasters.
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With his recent string of bad outings can you continue to trust him? If last year is any indication then the answer is “yes”.
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Chacin’s 2010 season is eerily similar to last year. From April through June Chacin was cruising. He was 4-7, but had a solid 3.51 ERA. Then Chacin fell apart in July going 1-1 with a 6.32 ERA. Jhoulys then gathered himself to finish strong going 4-3 in August and September with a brilliant 2.13 ERA.
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One of Chacin’s main problems has been his control. His month walks/inning ratio has increase each month from 2.38 in April to 3.92 in May to 4.83 in June and now 5.87 ERA. It’s hard to be successful when you are issuing that many free passes.
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One sabermetric that could work against him is his BABIP. Even during his terrible July his monthly mark is .234, which actually increased his yearly mark to a still impressive .227. Considering he was .283 for Triple-A Colorado Spring and .285 for the Rockies, one would think that his luck would run out, which could lead to a rise in his peripheral numbers.
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His next start comes against the Dodgers. He’s facing Clayton Kershaw so a win in not a strong possibility, but he could return to form. I’m not quite willing to write him off, but I would certainly hesitate to you him against a potent offense until he proves otherwise.
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Also check out:

• Is Cameron Maybin Getting It?
• Week 17 Two-Start Pitchers
• Can Mat Latos Dominate Again This Year?
• Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 Run Scorers Vol. 7
• Is Cory Luebke For Real?

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Ubaldo Jimenez was placed on the 15-day disable list because of a cut on his thumb. He should be available on April 17th. Jimenez got off to a rough starting allowing five earned runs in six innings. Ubaldo got off to that incredible start last year, but historically April hasn’t been his strongest month. His April ERA is 4.38, which is the highest monthly ERA. The rest of the season he has a lifetime ERA of 3.44. Don’t hit the panic button just yet.

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Dexter Fowler had a decent April that saw him hit .256 with 12 runs and four stolen bases in 82 at bats. He hit the skids in May batting .158 with six runs and two stolen bases in 57 at bats. After going hitless in eight June at bats he was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
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It was there that he regained his confidence…and his stroke. He hit .340 in 27 games for the Sky Sox, scoring 23 runs in 27 games. When he returned to the Rockies, he brought his minor league success with him.
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Fowler hit .287 (25 for 87) in July for the Rockies with 21 runs. He went on to hit .275 in both June (25 for 91) and July (28 for 102) and .500 (6 for 12) in October. That’s an average of .288 (84 for 292) with 54 runs from July through October.
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While his overall HR (6) and RBI (36) numbers are far from impressive, he had five HRs and 32 RBI in those summer months. While I don’t expect him to turn into power hitter, he could hit around 8-10 next year if he can maintain that swing.
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That’s not why you’re drafting him though. You’re looking for runs and stolen bases. He has scored 73 runs in each of the past two seasons in just 433 and 439 at bats respectively.
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Perhaps the biggest disappointment was his regression from 27 to 13 stolen bases. If you take a chance on him, it won’t come at a high price. His average draft position, according to Mock Draft Central, is 236. That’s at the back end of the 20th round in 12-team leagues. It’s the perfect spot to take a player with 90 run and 30 stolen base potential.
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Also check out:

• 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
• 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings

ESPN is reporting that Colorado Rockies President Keli McGregor was found dead in his Salt Lake City hotel room. McGregor was just 48. Foul play is not suspected. McGregor leaves behind a wife and four kids. 

My thoughts and prayers are with the McGregor family and the Rockies organization. The sadness comes just days after Ubaldo Jimenez threw Colorado’s first no-hitter.