RADIO
I’m calling out all fantasy owners who have Elvis Andrus types in their Top 50 or 75 rankings -- enough with your teenage fetishes about these one-tool wonders! Base stealers like these chumps can certainly run, if that's the kinda thing you're into... but they can't do much else. Their net impact on your team is a dead roster spot, where all you can hope for is a couple of hits and a couple of SBs per week -- and that’s based on the best-case scenario that these thieves actually keep on stealing on a consistent basis. Yes I'm talking about all of you obsessing over Everth Cabrera or Emilio Bonifacio or Ben Revere.
Remember what happened when you splurged on Willy Taveras following his 68 SB season in 2008? You were rewarded with a hideous line of 25 SB, 1 HR, and 15 RBI in 2009. Putrid!
But for my ultimate "one-tool fool" that somehow continues to entice owners...Juan Pierre. Enough! He hasn’t scored more than 100 runs since 2004. Pierre averages 2 HR and 40 RBI per season. Yes I know he hits for a decent batting average, like Revere. But even if you're getting some steals and a few hits, once you take the runs away it just isn't worth wasting a roster spot on guys like this.
Instead, look for more well-rounded ballers. Guys that will get you stats in multiple categories, not just steals. If you want steals, you can draft someone like Angel Pagan or Coco Crisp or even Rajai Davis or Cameron Maybin later in the draft -- and you'll be rewarded with a little batting average, a little pop, a little power and a lot more upside... instead of a one-tool fool.
