There is good reason why I ranked Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith so low this summer and made sure to avoid him in drafts. The stolen bases were not worth it in relation to the total lack of power, but it turns out, Smith could not even hit enough to play regularly. The Mariners farmed Smith to their alternate site -- sounds so sci-fi! -- Tuesday after he hit .133 with a pair of stolen bases in 14 forgettable games. Smith began Tuesday rostered in more than 40% of ESPN standard leagues. Well, the Mariners are telling you to move on so go and do it!
The problem for fantasy managers is that so many of the top stolen base threats from the 2019 season are simply not running as expected. Nationals shortstop Trea Turner finally stole his maiden base of 2020 on Monday, but of the 11 players who stole 25 or more bases in 2019, only three of them have swiped more than three bases so far (Adalberto Mondesi, Jonathan Villar, Tommy Pham) and the third fellow in that group is probably out for the season. Pham broke the hamate bone in his wrist this weekend.
Major league managers simply do not value the stolen base anymore. Perhaps if Smith, Jarrod Dyson and Delino DeShields offered even modest power, they would play more, but they do not. Everyone craves power. Moving up one base is no longer a big deal. Royals leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield, two-time AL hits leader and provider of an average of 16 home runs and 33 stolen bases the past three seasons, is currently sitting on five home runs and two steals. Power is king.
Regardless, stolen bases remain a category in roto leagues, so those who thought they would get them from a varied group consisting of Smith, Christian Yelich, Victor Robles, Kolten Wong and Francisco Lindor have not received them. Who is running and you can still get in ESPN standard roto leagues, available in at least 50% of them? Glad you asked. Oh, and ignore the category in points leagues.
Andres Gimenez, 2B/SS/3B, Mets: I have doubts the rookie is ready to hit major league pitching, as he hit a mere .250 in Double-A just last season (and with no plate discipline), then skipped Triple-A, but he is fast, he can defend, and this is the Mets. They might think he is awesome, and as long as he plays, he runs.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, C/3B, Rangers: This is a legit top-10 fantasy catcher because nobody else at the position steals bases, and he is relatively safe for batting average. I love this player, and he might add shortstop eligibility soon! Hey, Kiner-Falefa did say he would hit and run much better once removed from catcher duties, and he was right.
Jon Berti, 2B/SS/3B/OF, Marlins: Not a bad utility option, since he can play anywhere and steal a base. Berti stole 16 bases in the second half of 2019, which was among the leaders, and Miami is missing some folks, so they keep playing him.
Myles Straw, SS/OF, Astros: Another utility fellow pressed into more regular duties, Straw led off Tuesday and stole his fourth base. If George Springer keeps having wrist problems, Straw keeps playing.
Garrett Hampson, 2B/OF, Rockies: We all knew he could steal myriad bases if given the chance, and now he is getting this chance to play regularly and lead off. This might change soon, but Hampson could be a top-10 base-stealer for years, if the Rockies allow it.
Austin Slater, OF, Giants: This is an odd one since Slater was not a volume or particularly successful base-stealer in the minor leagues, but he is picking his spot after two-plus weeks and we applaud him for it. Slater was 22-of-26 stealing bases from 2018-19 across the majors and minors.
Victor Reyes, OF, Tigers: Reyes stole 19 bases between the majors and minors last season, and hit .304 for the Tigers in 292 PA, so the fact that he has succeeded on all four of his stolen-base attempts so far should not be a major surprise. Who knows if he hits enough, but he is playing.
Mike Tauchman, OF, Yankees: An overachiever now playing regularly with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge injured (Wait, can that be true? They are so durable!), Tauchman figures to be more of an opportunistic base-stealer than volume option, as he is 10-for-10 in steals over 105 Yankees games.
Magneuris Sierra, OF, Marlins: Seems like he deserves a chance to play even when some of the team's regulars return to full health, as Sierra has more walks than whiffs and was always a runner -- albeit with poor success percentages -- in the minors.
Roman Quinn, OF, Phillies: I have seen enough of this speedy switch-hitter to know he is not an emerging star, but he can steal a base whenever he wants. He is that fast. Durability is always the question, and the Phillies hit him ninth, but they also need him to handle center field.
Random thoughts from the baseball world
I speculated all week that Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez was likely to head back to the injured list with a knee problem, and then it actually happened. This stinks because the Astros and fantasy managers miss a top-30 hitter. Keep Alvarez rostered, but in a dynasty format, be proactive and see what you can get. This stuff lingers.
It is doubtful that Cubs slugger Kris Bryant will have wrist problems for years, but the current one clearly inhibits his hitting, and he might not play the rest of the week. The Cubs should give him a week off to heal. Be concerned that Bryant is also not a top-30 hitter in 2020.
Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda wants to be a top-30 pitcher in 2020 and performances such as Tuesday's, when he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, prove it. People doubted Maeda could thrive away from the Dodgers, but he is the No. 13 starting pitcher on the Player Rater. Maybe all he needed was a firm rotation spot without the constant threat of moving to the bullpen.
The Braves called up top prospect Cristian Pache, and while I cannot wait to see this Andruw Jones clone defend in center field, I do not place him in the same category as Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson, Angels outfielder Jo Adell or Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm for fantasy purposes. Not yet. For one, not sure Pache stays in the majors when Acuna and Nick Markakis return to health. Ender Inciarte has to start hitting at some point. Pache's hit tool has not reached full development yet, and he was 15-for-34 on stolen bases -- not a misprint -- the past two seasons in the minors.
Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez hit his fifth home run Tuesday. Honestly, trade him now. He has five homers and a mere four other hits in 20 games, three runs scored on non-homers, seven walks versus 31 strikeouts. This is all ghastly. Nobody doubts the power, and his BABIP has to rise, but will he hit .220 the rest of the season? Get the power elsewhere.
Time to sit Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson until he gets his control straightened out. Pearson has issued 10 walks over his past three starts and 11 ⅓ innings since opening up so nicely against Max Scherzer. Was I too trusting of Pearson, and Spencer Howard for that matter? Perhaps they are not ready. We shall see if Tigers No. 1 pick Casey Mize suffers a similar fate starting Wednesday in Chicago.
Bullpen banter
Maeda settled for a no-decision because lefty Taylor Rogers continued his surprising struggles and blew the save. Rogers was supposed to be a safe, top-10 closer, which he could still be if -- and when -- that silly .434 BABIP normalizes. Add Sergio Romo if you desire, but I would still trade for Rogers.
Just when we thought Padres lefty Drew Pomeranz would get all the saves now that Kirby Yates is done, he enters Tuesday in the seventh inning with a two-run lead and Emilio Pagan gets the save chance. He cannot finish the job and Cal Quantrill retires one hitter for the save. Pagan has been terrible, and I doubt Quantrill is a factor. Pomeranz remains a must-add.
Somewhat similarly, Rays right-hander Nick Anderson handled the heart of the Yankees lineup in the eighth inning, up three runs, and Chaz Roe got the ninth inning, though the hitters he faced are off to much better starts. Anyway, managers seem to be understanding that their best relievers can enter games earlier than the ninth inning. Good for them, if bad for fantasy.
Did anyone have any doubts the Dodgers would rehabilitate Blake Treinen into the fellow he was in 2018? Kudos to them. Still, some team will give Treinen a three-year deal this winter -- and a year in, they will regret it.
Recent work: Podcast | Dominating Seagers | Bichette injury; weekend wrap | Bohm, Carlson promotions | Closer report