Buccos Fantasy Focus - April 21st
This section will be a weekly look at which Pirates you should start on your fantasy team, which Pirates you should bench (all of them except Nate Mac at this point) and which players are poised for big games based on certain match-ups throughout the week.
First, the Go-To Players...
Start These Bucs
Nate McLouth - The guy is absolutely on fire right now and he has been since the beginning of the season. Let's check out his numbers:
.382AVG/3HR/16RBI
Now, that's impressive, but look deeper inside Nate Mac's offensive surge and you'll see a few more things. Namely, he has an 18-game hitting streak to start the season. But check this out:
His 29 hits are five more than the second-best on the team, Xavier Nady's 24 and only four behind the NL leader, Chipper Jones (33). His 16 RBI lead the team and he hits leadoff! His .453 OBP is sixth-highest in the NL among batters with more than 60 at-bats.
Basically, Nate McLouth is the Pirates' biggest offensive weapon and if he continues this pace, he'll be in the Top 10 of most major offensive categories by season's end.
Nate Mac has punished the ball this season and shows no signs of slowing down.
Ian Snell - I just got a little queasy looking at the Pirates' pitching stats, but Ian Snell has been their most consistent starter, holding a 2-1 record at the moment. Snell will take the hill on Wednesday to face the Cardinals at PNC Park, against whom he has a 3-3 career record and a 3.40 ERA.
So far this season, Snell has been back-and-forth. After struggling in his first start, he was Brilliant against the Marlins in his second. He won his third and struggled against the Cubs (albeit while racking up a quality start) during his fourth. My guess is that Snell (2-1, 4.07 ERA this season) will pitch well against the Cards. Snell leads the team in strikeouts (20 in 24 2/3 IP) and has given up only one homer this season while struggling over the course of his career with the long ball.
Ian Snell has been solid so far this season, the polar opposite of his fellow Pirates starters.
Avoid these Buccos (Like the Plague!)
Adam LaRoche - He said it, his manager said it, we all hoped for it, but alas, Adam LaRoche is in an early-season funk the likes of which haven't been seen since...last April. Wow, this guy is terrible in April. Not only is LaRoche leading the team in strikeouts (19), he has only seven hits in 53 at-bats this year for a pitiful .132 average, the lowest on the team not counting pitcher Zach Duke (.125) and DL'd shortstop Jack Wilson who started the season 1/12 before being hurt. The worst part? Yes, there actually is a worse part...two of LaRoche's seven hits came in his first two at-bats of the season. That means he's an atrocious 5 for 51 (.098) since those first two plate appearances.
"LaRoche is a disaster. I really believed that guy was going to man up this season," said TNons. We all hoped for the best out of LaRoche, but it looks like more of the same from Adam until the summer months. Until he gives any sign of coming to life at the plate, stay away from LaRoche as if your life depended on it.
Pirates' first baseman Adam LaRoche strikes out looking...again. At least he has perfected the "I just looked at a called strike three" bat toss.
First, the Go-To Players...
Start These Bucs
Nate McLouth - The guy is absolutely on fire right now and he has been since the beginning of the season. Let's check out his numbers:
.382AVG/3HR/16RBI
Now, that's impressive, but look deeper inside Nate Mac's offensive surge and you'll see a few more things. Namely, he has an 18-game hitting streak to start the season. But check this out:
His 29 hits are five more than the second-best on the team, Xavier Nady's 24 and only four behind the NL leader, Chipper Jones (33). His 16 RBI lead the team and he hits leadoff! His .453 OBP is sixth-highest in the NL among batters with more than 60 at-bats.
Basically, Nate McLouth is the Pirates' biggest offensive weapon and if he continues this pace, he'll be in the Top 10 of most major offensive categories by season's end.
Nate Mac has punished the ball this season and shows no signs of slowing down.
Ian Snell - I just got a little queasy looking at the Pirates' pitching stats, but Ian Snell has been their most consistent starter, holding a 2-1 record at the moment. Snell will take the hill on Wednesday to face the Cardinals at PNC Park, against whom he has a 3-3 career record and a 3.40 ERA.
So far this season, Snell has been back-and-forth. After struggling in his first start, he was Brilliant against the Marlins in his second. He won his third and struggled against the Cubs (albeit while racking up a quality start) during his fourth. My guess is that Snell (2-1, 4.07 ERA this season) will pitch well against the Cards. Snell leads the team in strikeouts (20 in 24 2/3 IP) and has given up only one homer this season while struggling over the course of his career with the long ball.
Ian Snell has been solid so far this season, the polar opposite of his fellow Pirates starters.Avoid these Buccos (Like the Plague!)
Adam LaRoche - He said it, his manager said it, we all hoped for it, but alas, Adam LaRoche is in an early-season funk the likes of which haven't been seen since...last April. Wow, this guy is terrible in April. Not only is LaRoche leading the team in strikeouts (19), he has only seven hits in 53 at-bats this year for a pitiful .132 average, the lowest on the team not counting pitcher Zach Duke (.125) and DL'd shortstop Jack Wilson who started the season 1/12 before being hurt. The worst part? Yes, there actually is a worse part...two of LaRoche's seven hits came in his first two at-bats of the season. That means he's an atrocious 5 for 51 (.098) since those first two plate appearances.
"LaRoche is a disaster. I really believed that guy was going to man up this season," said TNons. We all hoped for the best out of LaRoche, but it looks like more of the same from Adam until the summer months. Until he gives any sign of coming to life at the plate, stay away from LaRoche as if your life depended on it.
Pirates' first baseman Adam LaRoche strikes out looking...again. At least he has perfected the "I just looked at a called strike three" bat toss.
Leave a comment