Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over. Meet the ...
Pittsburgh Pirates. I mean, what else needs to be said? They haven't been able to rebuild themselves properly in the past decade and a half. The relatively new front office seems to be headed down the right path, but it's early in the process. Fantasy-wise, you won't find much here to like.
The Breakout
Ian Snell has yet to prove he's more than a minor league sensation who can't cut it in the bigs. His best ERA was 3.76 ('07), but he allowed more hits than innings pitched that season. His only winning record came in 2006, at 14-11, but his ERA was 4.74 that season. He's never been helpful in the WHIP category, either. Last year, he was flat-out atrocious -- sporting a 5.42 ERA and 1.77 WHIP. He's a slightly above average strikeout guy, but that's not enough to overcome those rate numbers, especially when he's only bringing home seven wins.
So, why is he listed as the breakout? Well, the Pirates don't have many enticing options, for one. Also, Snell showed ace-like ability in the minor leagues. He came up through the Pirates farm system with a 58-19 record, 2.85 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP. After three full seasons in the majors, and at age 27, it's time to show his skills at the top level. Plus, the addition of respected pitching coach Joe Kerrigan will help Snell reach his potential.
The Bust
You won't find many guys who are being overvalued here, because it's the Pirates. If anything, I want to warn against the LaRoche brothers. Adam LaRoche -- owner of the longest swing in the league -- hits for power, and that's it. Getting 25-30 home runs from first base isn't exactly helpful.
Andy LaRoche, the once ballyhooed prospect, hasn't shown any ability to hit major league pitching. His OPS+ last season was 36. That's just putrid. He'll only be 25 this season, but if you think it's breakout time you are gravely mistaken.
The Lineup
1. Nate McLouth, CF
2. Freddy Sanchez, 2B
3. Ryan Doumit, C
4. Adam LaRoche, 1B
5. Eric Hinske, LF
6. Andy LaRoche, 3B
7. Steve Pearce, RF
8. Jack Wilson, SS
Brandon Moss could also win the right-field job, and Pearce could easily take left-field, and Hinske could take third base, and Nyjer Morgan could play center-field -- bumping McLouth back to a corner in the process. Whew. I'm tired. There's just a lot we don't know with this team now. What we do know is that Moss is coming off injury, and most of these other guys aren't gonna matter much from a fantasy perspective.
The Rotation
1. Paul Maholm
2. Ian Snell
3. Tom Gorzelanny
4. Zach Duke
5. Jeff Karstens
The Bullpen
CL - Matt Capps
SU - John Grabow
The Skinny
I'm expecting similar numbers to 2008 for Doumit and McLouth. Both are solid options, especially Doumit at the shallow position of catcher. Maholm is a low-end option in deep leagues, as is Snell as a sleeper. Capps qualifies as a low-end closer.
Brandon Moss is a possible breakthrough candidate, should his knee be totally healthy for most of the spring. He doesn't have a ton of power, but he was a very good all-around hitter in the minors. He's capable of .280-15-85 with a full season in PNC Park. Obviously, those aren't stellar outfield numbers by any stretch, but he could help in deep NL-Only leagues.
Other than that, though, there isn't much here. Sorry, Pittsburgh -- at least you have the Steelers.
