Baseball Viral

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor) It’s hard to argue that 2017 was not a disappointing season for the Cubs’ Kris Bryant, after he won the NL MVP in 2016.  Was it the World Series hangover?  Was it the struggles of the supporting cast?  Was it just that he is incapable of matching that impressive season? That’s a question we’ll try to answer, and while no one is going to say that he isn’t among the Top 20-25 players in the game the following numbers wouldn’t justify a first round pick: 549 At Bats .295 Batting Average (162 Hits) 29 Home Runs 73 RBI 111 Runs 7 Stolen Bases .409 On Base Percentage .537 Slugging Percentage .334 Batting Average on Balls in Play Now the question facing fantasy owners is if he can rebound and deserve to be selected in the first round as we head into 2018, or if he’s morphed more into a second round selection? The two numbers that jump out at you are his HR (after hitting 39 in ’16) and RBI.  To an extent the two go hand-i...

A rousing youth movement has the A's more excited than ever about their future, but expectations must be tempered in the coming year while they practice patience with a rebuild. from OAK Homepage News http://ift.tt/2Cjd4wA

When Haley Alvarez finished her internship with the Oakland A's two years ago, she began searching for her next opportunity, understanding the A's didn't have any full-time positions available at the time. But a couple of weeks later, she received a call from the club's general manager, David Forst, asking her if she would like to attend scout school, with the A's as her sponsor. That started Alvarez on a path that eventually led her back to the A's in a full-time role. from OAK Homepage News http://ift.tt/2C89ilg

The 2017 season was a time of transition for the A's, who made promises of a rebuild and better days ahead amid a third consecutive last-place division finish. A sluggish start prompted the club to give the young guys a shot, and they responded with a 36-37 record in the second half, finishing on a 17-7 run with a core of baby-faced hitters who are igniting a roster renovation. from OAK Homepage News http://ift.tt/2lwJ310

article teaser:  Jake Lamb once again started strong before fading in the 2H. What can we expect in 2018? Plus Carlos Martinez, Jose Peraza, Anthony Swarzak, and Stephen Vogt. 2H fade again plagues Lamb … For the second year in a row, Jake Lamb (3B, ARI) got off to a fast start only to wither in the second half of the season. What can we expect in 2018? Full text available to BaseballHQ full subscription subscribers only read more from BaseballHQ.com - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Sleepers, and more http://ift.tt/2CbY2IJ

article teaser:  Jose Ramirez was the game's most skilled bat during the final month of 2017. Let's complete our look back at the most skilled players of September 2017 by moving on to hitters. Here were the most skilled bats in September/October: Full text available to BaseballHQ full subscription subscribers only read more from BaseballHQ.com - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Sleepers, and more http://ift.tt/2pUx2I2

The Bulldogs advance to the national championship game after beating the Sooners, 54-48, in double overtime. It was the first overtime game in Rose Bowl history. from Sports http://ift.tt/2CrtthA

The Crimson Tide, helped by two key plays from 308-pound defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne, goes big to secure its spot back in the national title game. from Sports http://ift.tt/2q8DjjG

Washington finished an ‘unacceptable’ 7-9, and now it must resolve Kirk Cousins’s status before it can solidify the rest of its roster moving forward. from Sports http://ift.tt/2EsxGjf

"Things happen fast for some guys, and others, they can play quick and pressure is not a big deal for them,” Coach Barry Trotz said. He would put Djoos in the second category. from Sports http://ift.tt/2C6TKP1