Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees is having an unbelievable start to the 2007 season and everybody knows that, but I want to try to give you a little different perspective on his fantasy value. A-Rod had another big night on Friday, going two for five with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Now here is the little bit different view on his monster stats. A-Rod is averaging 1.48 hits per game, 1.37 runs batted in per game and .52 homeruns per game. Those numbers project out to about 232 hits, 215 runs batted in and 82 homeruns. Is that possible? Probably not but the last time A-Rod hit the free agent market he batted .316 with 41 homeruns and 132 runs batted in (that was seven years ago).
Kei Igawa of the New York Yankees stunk up the place again on Friday. The Yankees' offense spotted him a five run lead in the first inning and he promptly went out in the top of the 2nd and started giving it up. The night finally ended for Igawa with four plus innings pitched allowing eight earned runs on nine hits and a walk. This was the third time in six starts that Igawa allowed seven or more earned runs. It appears it didn't take American League hitters very long to figure him out and on the reverse there is no guarantee that Igawa will be able to figure out American League hitters.
Bobby Abreu of the New York Yankees showed some signs of life today against the Texas Rangers. Abreu hit like a leadoff hitter on Friday but unfortunately for Abreu owners he was batting third instead of leadoff. Abreu went three for five with two runs scored (which is always good) but he was batting third and the Yankees scored double digit runs without Abreu collecting an RBI. Abreu was batting .098 in his last ten games so three hits in one day is a major improvement. The Yankees are hoping that Abreu's BA and RBI don't go MIA like his homeruns suddenly did in 2006. Don't worry he'll get back on track and I expect it to be sooner than later.
Carlos Silva of the Minnesota Twins went to work on Friday night for the sixth time this season and posted his fourth quality start of the season. Silva threw a gem against the Boston Red Sox on Friday allowing just one run over seven innings on five hits. Unfortunately, for Silva owners and the Twins his teammates failed to provide him with any run support and he fell to 2-2 on the season. Silva has been pitching very well in 2007. He has yet to allow more than three runs in a start and his earned run average in now 2.75. Although Silva is doing great in baseball he is just doing okay in fantasy baseball because he doesn't strike many out, he has a WHIP of 1.42 and he isn't recording wins.
Tori Hunter of the Minnesota Twins is putting together quite a free agent year thus far in 2007. Not only is Hunter performing in every category, he is excelling in most (.340 BA, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 1.108 OPS and 6 SB. With most of the usual suspects set in center field you might see somebody like the San Francisco Giants go after Hunter and then a 1AA type guy in left field instead of just signing one star to replace Barry Bonds. Hunter is off to a great start and he might even have a career year (seems like the popular thing to do before becoming a free agent) but he will not bat over .300 and he will not steal 35 bases like he is on pace to do.
