Yeah yeah yeah, of course we’re technically over halfway through the season, I don’t care. After the All-Star break is the second half. A stretch run, if you will. Time to prepare to make that final push.
Season long stats can be left behind at this point, so with that in mind, let’s give everyone a fresh start. These guys may have hit the ground running in the first half. Can pumps be worth a second?
Remember right now we are not trying to win the season stat war. We look at who has the most value for two months and change. With that in mind, let’s dive in.
MANNY MACHADO
Current stats: .198 with 19 HR,
The power is already there, with seven home runs in the last month. As you can see, his batting average has been lagging. However, in his last 30, he has a .942 OPS, ranking 22nd overall. Not just locally, overall, like every pool player.
ASSIGNMENT: Pumper, he is 30 years old now and he is the guy you wrote to. There’s no reason to move away from the guy, and he’s a third-round value going forward, just like you drafted him to be.
In a league game, I was offered by Gunnar Henderson, and I turned it down after two seconds. Manny was just being stupid, at this point, and Gunnar looks shot (get it?) I wrote an entire paragraph just to type that outburst.
ALEX BREGMAN
Current stats: .239 AVG, .336 OBP, 10 HR
No, Leggy Breggy has never been driven to power, unless he found a couple at the weekend. A notorious pull hitter moving to a no-pull park, it was predictable to see the power numbers dip. Our projections have him finishing with .245 16 HR, 74 R, and 69 RBI. You see, the idea, Alex, is to do something other than hit dingers, right?
The bats look good, and he has good skills at the plate. His defense keeps him on the field, which helps. But really, it’s only his contract that makes him hit the middle. The quality of communication is weak in that area, and that’s hard to come by in your 30s.
PREFACE: Slumper. Bregman hasn’t had a big second half since 2023, and he’s showing no signs of it yet. This may be what he is, eerily similar to the next guy……
CALEB DURBIN
Current stats: .233 with 9 HR
But his last 30 days shows a .337 with 6 HR and .995 OPS. What’s in a name Bill Mueller continues the hot corner in Boston? Durbin was bad, he went to the kids, he hurt his finger, and now he’s doing whatever he’s doing. By that I mean only swinging at good pitches and making solid contact, if not great metrics on contact. He’s a professional bat, and the red hot Sox are among them,
ASSIGNMENT: Pumper. He seems to be settling into his new swing at last, and that plate approach gives him a different profile in baseball. The power isn’t unreal, but he has real juice to hit and should be considered as a prospect going forward.
Durbin can also play second, and if you can plug him into the MI or CI ring positions you have a great plug player.
AUSTIN RILEY
Current stats: I can’t get them to post. You don’t want to know.
Riley has hit three dingers since halftime. They were all against the Mets. I can’t put a price on success versus the Mets’ pitching.
NOTICE: Pumper? He’s doing it here, but he’s had some great second halves that seem to have gone nowhere just two years ago. If you need to make ground, that’s the time to get Riley. Not if you’re defending the lead, if that makes sense. The boy is a dumperpumper!
