Here at Project Prospect, we’re as into following the big leagues as we are the minors. So we have perspectives on every kind of fantasy question. We’re making an effort to help your team out by providing Free Fantasy Advice once a week.
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With questions blazing up the email front, I’ve decided to do have double the fun by putting my two cents in covering a couple issues this week:
Bill from Madison, Wisc. asks:
I'm in a keeper league and we have monthly drafts. The question this month is Kevin Slowey or Wladimir Balentien. I have first pick. I need hitting more, but I’m not sure if Balentien is worthy – I don't see him on anyone's list of top 25. Is he for real? Is he going to bypass Adam Jones?
Thanks,
Bill
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Bill,
There’s definitely been a lot of buzz surrounding Wladimir Balentien as of late, but I’m not ready to sell the farm to go and get him. Sure, Balentien is off to an impressive start – .324/.392/.554 at Triple-A Tacoma – but it’s too early. How much weight do you really want to give to a 34-game stint? Balentien hit just .230 in 444 Double-A at-bats last season, so this flaming start could be more than an anomaly than anything else. That being said, I’d be shocked if Balentien doesn’t make 2008 top 100 lists, but he’s nowhere near the top 25 radar.
Kevin Slowey is on the radar.
Slowey entered 2007 as the No. 55 overall prospect on our board, and he’s done nothing but improve his stock thus far. In his first six starts this season, Slowey has posted a 1.51 ERA, allowing just 24 hits in a dominant 41.2 frames of work. Pair his start with an impressive background (career WHIP: 0.80) and it looks like you have your man.
Balentien is pushing for a spot on next year’s top 100 while Slowey is knocking on the door of the top 25 as you’re reading this. Despite your need to restock your minor league hitters, I couldn’t pass up Kevin Slowey in this case.
Jordan from Portland, Ore. asks:
I’m looking for an instant impact. Who do you think is more likely to have immediate success: Andy LaRoche or Billy Butler?
Thanks!
Jordan
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Jordan,
There are a lot of question marks surrounding LaRoche right now – the Dodgers gave him the call after a less than blazing .235/.309/.367 start to his 2007 campaign with Triple-A Las Vegas. Although he’s in a similar mold, LaRoche isn’t the kind of guy who’s going to join the David Wrights or Ryan Zimmermans of the world. If you want an impact third baseman, nab Evan Longoria – all he’s done is go .333/.451/.621 to start the 2007 campaign.
On the flipside, Billy Butler has no question marks.
Butler is as pure a hitter as they come – no need to ask questions about defense for fantasy! A native of Orange Park, Fla., Butler started the year off the right way, going .337/.445/.584 before being called up by the Royals. Pair that with a .344/.417/.564 line over the course of an impressive minor league career and you absolutely have to grab Billy Butler while you still can.
If you have a question for Free Fantasy Advice, you can email it to adamloberstein@gmail.com. We pride ourselves on punctually answering every question that we receive.