When the Mariners and A’s open a two-game series in Tokyo on Wednesday morning (6:10 a.m. ET), it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to take away any meaningful insights for the 2012 season – you know how I feel about small sample sizes. However, there will be some players and storylines to watch for fantasy owners of players on the A’s and M’s, and it is baseball season, after all.
Here are 10 things to look for in these games if you decide to wake up really early. It’s not like you have anything better to do so early in the morning.
10) The debut of Yoenis Cespedes
The 26-year-old Cuban import is expected to play center field and bat fifth in the A’s lineup. He’s getting drafted as a fourth or fifth outfielder in mixed leagues, and some people think he has 25-homer power. How good is this guy? It's time to find out.
9) Is Ichiro heading downhill?
The Japanese hit machine posted career lows in batting average (.272) and home runs (five) in 2011. Ichiro’s line-drive rate (19.1 percent) was close to his career average, and a subpar (for him) .295 BABIP suggests some bad luck. Betting on improvement from a 38-year-old is usually risky – and not recommended here – but another .300, 40-steal season isn’t out of the question.
8) Can Brandon McCarthy do it again?
After many years in which his good Triple-A numbers didn’t translate to the big leagues, McCarthy had a breakout season in 2011, going 9-9 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 25 starts. The righty’s increased ground-ball rate and excellent control suggest that while he may not be an ace, the improvement was real. McCarthy gets the Opening Day start for the A’s. Also, you should follow McCarthy on Twitter at @BMcCarthy32, because he’s more interesting than your average tweeting ballplayer.
7) What in the world happened to Chone Figgins?
And you thought Figgins’ first year in Seattle was bad? His second was downright horrendous, as he batted .188 with 24 runs, 11 stolen bases and a .484 OPS in 81 games. Figgins can’t possibly be that bad again, but he doesn’t project to be more than a modest source of steals in AL-only leagues.
6) Grant Balfour: Closer
The A’s decided to go with the Aussie over lefty Brian Fuentes, and as we like to say around here, a closer is a closer if his manager says he is. (Eloquent, don’t you think?) Balfour’s career strikeout rate of 9.92 per nine innings can match up with just about anyone, so don’t let his first-time closer status fool you – he should be pretty good. With that said, keep an eye on the whiff-tastic Fautino De Los Santos in case things don’t work out for Balfour.
5) Will Justin Smoak rebound?
Smoak carried high expectations into 2011 after being acquired in the Cliff Lee deal, but had a miserable season that included a thumb injury, a broken nose and his father’s death, along with just 15 homers and a .719 OPS in 123 games. Am I making excuses for Smoak? Maybe, but at age 25 with an above-average batting eye, he seems likely to improve.
4) The A’s go with Brandon Allen at first base … for now
Allen has at least temporarily beaten out Kila Ka’aihue and Daric Barton for the starting job. The powerful 26-year-old hit 24 homers between Triple A and the majors last season, but strikes out a lot and will be susceptible to low batting averages. Those considering Allen in mixed leagues should keep in mind that Barton and Ka’aihue still lurk, and though they’re not exactly superstars, they could impact Allen’s playing time.
3) Jesus Montero: American League Rookie of the Year?
The Mariners have a real, live power hitter, courtesy of the Yankees. They had to give up a good, young starter to get Montero, but this trade seems like a win-win. Montero will be in the fantasy-unfriendly situation of qualifying at DH-only in many fantasy formats, but he appears to have the pop to hit 20-25 homers right now, even playing half his games in cavernous Safeco Field. Montero retains catcher eligibility in FOXSports.com leagues, making him a top-10 player at the position.
2) Youngsters at the keystone
Dustin Ackley and Jemile Weeks aren’t rookies, but both enter their first full major-league seasons. Look for Ackley to have more power and Weeks to steal more bases, with strong batting averages from each. Both Ackley and Weeks are rosterable in standard mixed leagues, but don’t expect too much, too soon.
1) Felix Hernandez!
King Felix is awesome. Set your Wednesday alarm for 6 a.m. on the East Coast, or 3 a.m. in the West, just to watch him. It’ll be worth it.
