Catching Up On the New Guys (again!)

We’re almost halfway complete with our season and it’s a good time to once again check in on how the new guys are doing. 

Looking at the staring pitchers that are still getting full playing time (or close enough), Jerry Reuss (Carnies), Lefty Stewart (Fishbiscuits), and Justin Verlander (Shadows) are each among the best at the position.  Reuss at 10-1 with a 2.18 ERA remains top of the newest class of ATB starting pitchers.  As a group, these starters are averaging a 3.85 ERA and 1.40 WHIP, which is right around the league average.

 

Four relievers have excelled as well.  Mike Adams (Banana Bears) is the best of the bunch, holding down a 1.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 2.26 RCERA in just over 33 innings of work.  David Robertson (Black Sox), a new Steve Bedrosian (Brews), and Jonathan Broxton (Orators) have performed nearly as well, but do show slightly worse peripherals.  This group of relievers averages a 3.72 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 3.94 RCERA combined.

This last group of pitchers hasn’t had much of an opportunity to play or have been dropped outright.  A few, such as Carlos Marmol (Thrill), Frank Arellanes (Carnies), George Sherril (Shadows), and Sergio Romo (Gossamers) likely deserve a bit more attention from their owners, they are performing quite well.

Moving onto batters, three new players have been utilized on a full time basis – Miguel Cabrera (Snow), Matt Kemp (dogphin29), and Jacoby Ellsbury (Snow).  All are playing offensive minded positions and all are among the worst at those positions.  Even Ellsbury, who had a tremendous start, has just about worn out his welcome.  Their days as starting players are numbered.

This next batch of batters has all been in platoons or has garnered playing time on a part time basis.  Six of the thirteen have been of much use to their owners, especially Harry Walker (Gossamers), Ned Williamson (Carnies), and Jimmy Ryan (Piñata Batters).  High profile picks such as Ryan Braun and Mike Napoli have struggled, but held their own when looking at positional quality.  And nothing good has come off the bat of Troy Tulowitzki (“Mechanics”) and Jose Bautista (“Mechanics again, oof).

Everyone else has had minimal playing time, but one can’t help but wonder what Fred Snodgrass (1.063 OPS) and Jim Viox (.380 OBP at 2B) have to do in order to impress the Orators sufficiently to get some more playing time.