LestersLegends.com

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Josh Willingham started the year hitting .231 with 27 runs, ten home runs, and four stolen bases through June. Not great numbers, but he salvage his value by collecting 42 RBI. He’s struggling again this month hitting .154 with one home run and three RBI in 13 at bats. It was his July though that gives me hope.
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Willingham batted .324 for the month of July with 13 runs, five home runs, and 16 RBI. His 1.047 OPS was off the charts. Considering that value hadn’t reached .800 in any other month this year, you know he was raking. His hot start to the second half has helped his average climb seven points and his OPS 54 points.
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Can he sustain it? That’s the million dollar question.
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If his lifetime numbers are any indication, that could be tough sledding. Willingham has hit .270 with a .854 OPS before the All-Star Break and .254, .810 after it. It’s mainly been a struggle after August (.227) though so he could have one more good month in him.
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Part of Willingham’s success in July could be contributed to good luck. His BABIP of .327 was higher than the past two months (.281 and .286 respectively). Though his mark was .333 in April. It’s a game of averages though and his .299 mark hasn’t had a significant variance from month to month.
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My take on Willingham is to ride him while he’s hot. If he cools in September, move on. There will be plenty of players available when the September call-ups arrive.
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Also check out:

• Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 Run Scorers Vol. 8
• Can Doug Fister Produce For Detroit?
• Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 Speed Demons Vol. 8
• Is It Time To Give Up On Guillermo Moscoso?
• Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 RBI Guys Vol. 7

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Everybody knows two things about Dallas Braden. He threw a Perfect Game last year and he is not intimidated by anyone. Bravado aside, the question remains whether or not he should be part of your fantasy team. A look at his career record of 25-35 would suggest not, but we know how wins can be a tricky measure how to gauge a pitcher. |
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A look at his ERA and WHIP, which has decreased every year since his rookie season (2007), makes him a little more attractive. Especially given the solid 3.50 ERA, which was good for 33rd in the league, and the 1.16 WHIP, which was good for 16th, he posted last year.
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He also has the home ballpark working for him. The Oakland Coliseum had the 11th best park factor for runs (0.956) and the third best for home runs (0.701). It wasn’t just the ballpark for Braden though. He was nearly equally effective at home as he was on the road.
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Home:  6-8, 3.56 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .243 BAA
Away:  5-6, 3.43 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .256 BAA
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So he pitches in a pitcher’s park and does not get frazzled on the road. What’s not to like about him?
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Well, he is anything but a strikeout pitcher, having just 113 Ks in 192-2/3 innings. His K/9 ratio the past two years have been 5.33 and 5.28 respectively. Plus, while wins are a tough category to predict, he has a weak lineup backing him. Runs will undoubtedly be hard to come by.
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Fortunately, Braden won’t cost you a pretty penny. His ADP of 366 (100th starting pitcher), according to Mock Draft Central, means he will likely go undrafted in many leagues. That should be the case in smaller leagues, but in deeper ones he could be a nice option to help you in the ERA and WHIP categories.
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What are your thoughts on Dallas Braden?
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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

Thoughts that went through Dallas Braden’s mind while he threw the 19th Perfect Game in MLB history. This is great:

Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz has started the year on fire hitting .323 with 12 runs, 7 HRs, and 17 RBIs. The only thing that can slow him down is his body. He landed on the 15-day DL with a hamstring strain. He was expected to have a good year, but not to carry fantasy teams. You’ll have to make do without him for a couple of weeks. Craig Gentry got the call. Gentry is more of a speedster than a power hitter. He had 49 SBs last year for Double-A Frisco. He was hitting .293 with 12 runs, 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, and 5 SBs for Triple-A Oklahoma City. David Murphy and Gentry figure to share the ABs. Neither is a great fantasy option.

Oakland will be without Brett Anderson as well. The talented young southpaw landed on the DL, retroactive to April 25th, with a forearm strain. Anderson is off to a fast start with a 1-1 record, a 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 17 Ks in 23 innings. Chad Gaudin could take his spot in the rotation, but offers little fantasy value.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Kevin Kouzmanoff made the jump from the National League to the American League this year going from the San Diego Padres to the Oakland A’s. While he’s not in the most potent offense, he still has the opportunity to be a low-end fantasy starter at third base (click to see 3B rankings).

While his average leaves plenty to be desired, career .261 hitter, he has shown some pop despite spending the last three years in PETCO Park. His last three years he has 18 HRs & 74 RBIs, 23 HRs & 84 RBIs, and 18 HRs & 88 RBIs. 

The thing that troubles me is the 59.3 runs he’s averaged over the past three years. Considering a third of his runs came via his HRs, that number is just staggering. There were 197 players who scored more than the 50 runs Kouzmanoff did last year. He was the only player with at least 500 ABs that didn’t top 50 runs. Only three other players (Aubrey Huff, A.J. Pierzynski, Jhonny Peralta) had 500+ ABs with fewer than 60 runs. 

I realize he hit after the Padres’ only other RBI threat, but that number is ridiculous. Oakland’s isn’t much better, but I can’t imagine that he doesn’t see significant improvement in that category.

I wouldn’t want him as my starting third baseman, but would absolutely be fine with him as a corner infielder or as bench depth.

Prediction:  .270, 65 runs, 20 HRs, 85 RBIs

Past profiles:
Arizona Diamondbacks:  Brandon Webb
Atlanta Braves: Yunel Escobar
Baltimore Orioles:  Adam Jones
Boston Red Sox:  Clay Buchholz
Chicago Cubs:  Geovany Soto
Chicago White Sox:  Jake Peavy
Cincinnati Reds:  Joey Votto
Cleveland Indians:  Grady Sizemore
Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez
Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera
Florida Marlins: Cameron Maybin
Houston Astros: Lance Berkman
Kansas City Royals: Billy Butler
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Howie Kendrick
Los Angeles Dodgers: James Loney
Milwaukee Brewers: Corey Hart
Minnesota Twins: Joe Nathan
New York Mets: Jason Bay
New York Yankees: Robinson Cano