Breakout Candidate:Ned Andrews

It is hard to call someone a breakout candidate when they have been in the majors for several seasons and have hit arbitration.  But I am doing that for my own player today in href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2518892" target="_blank">Ned Andrews.

Even though he posted an OPS over .900 each of the past two seasons it has felt like he has underachieved. Looking over his awards page my feeling is confirmed.  No all-star appearances.  He has been streaky and barely cracked 100 RBI playing for a team that has had some serious on base threats at the top of the lineup.

So far this season he has been putting it all together.  The thing he has been unable to do since arriving in the majors is walk with any consistency.  so far this season he has done so.  With an OBP over .400 and an OPs of 1.011 he is making a case for inclusion in the MVP discussion and making his first major league all star team. 

After 46 games he is at 51 RBI and 36 runs.  Most importantly, he has been consistent.

If things keep going the way they are Andrews will be recognized for what he has done and not what he could do.

Draft Analysis Part I

So prospects for the draft were released today.

Step one for me is to check and run my formula.

After doing this I then do a preliminary sort.

Based on my sort this season I anticipate a few teams are going to have great drafts. There are some good top level players but the drop off happens quickly.

DL Summary 8/27/10

Since my last DL post there have been a few guys who were removed from the DL and only 8 remain from the last time.  Of those 9 only 4 are currently eligible to ccome off the DL.

So who is new?

Victor Carreras got hurt, put on the DL, and is ready to come back to play the utility role.

Albert Diaz's injury is similar to Edwards in that it is a leg injury and did not touch the players area of strength.  He tore his hamstring.  Before the injury he had a 0 baserunning skill.  His speed dropped 5 rating points.

Brandon Smith is a nice back up and should be back soon.

Raul Javier utility infielder.


P Hal Rizzuto got hurt in his second major league start.  Minimal impact, back soon.

PSonny Coffman 8 starts in and got hurt.  No impact on long term but he probably could use an extra season of development in the minors.

Ryan Edwards see individual entry

Ryan Edwards injury oddity

Ryan Edwards dodged a bullet today.

It is a rare occasion when a player is hurt for 81 days and has few ill affects but that is what happened to Edwards today.

Edwards tore a muscle in his groin and the only areas of impact were speed, durability, stamina and health.

I know that WIS injuries tend to directly impact areas of injury but I was surprised this did not affect at least velocity.