Felipe Lopez: The D’Backs have installed Lopez at second base and the top of the order. Leaving Washington will help his power, but the 23 home runs he hit in 2005 looks to be a fluke, 2006/2007/2008 home run of 11/9/6. He turns 29 years of age in May, so it hard to believe that his speed is totally gone, but the 8 caught steals in 16 attempts last year and 3 caught steals in 5 attempts this spring, doesn’t inspire confidence that the will be a force on the basepaths.
Jon Rauch: Based on his disaster spring, 14 ER and 6 walks in just 8.1 innings, there may be something to Rauch’s poor second half last season, 6.66 ERA in 24.1 innings. Rauch has nice skills, 2007/2008 K/9’s 7.3/8.3 and BB/9’s of 2.1/2.0, but is not dominating enough to fully get away with such a high amount of fly balls, FB%’s of 53%/46%, especially when pitching at home. If you own him, you may want to reserve him early and see if he can work through the problems from this spring.
Rich Harden: Harden was bombed by the Yankees yesterday, 7 ER in 3.2 innings, and has now given up 6 home runs in his last two starts. When healthy, he is one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball; 10-2, 2.07 ERA, and an 11.0 K/9 last year, but his recent performances suggest he may not be fully sound.
Yunel Escobar: Escobar will open the season as the Braves’ starting shortstop and leadoff hitter. With his good approach at the plate, 2007/2008 BB%’s of 10%/10% and Ct%’s of 88%/88%, he should provide a good batting average, .326/.288, but don’t expect much power, 2007/2008 home runs of 5/10 and GB%’s of 56%/58%, or speed, 7 steals in 15 attempts over the last two years.
Mike Gonzalez: Gonzalez will open the season as the Braves’ closer. He has the dominance to be an effective closer, 11.8 K/9, but his health, just 50.2 innings over the last two years, control, 2006/2007/2008 BB/9’s of 5.2/4.2/3.7, and growing FB%, 36%/41%/44%, make him a risky proposition.
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