Rotoprofessor

The spring games continue, as do the intriguing position battles.  Could Wade Davis’ grasp on the fifth starters spot fade?  Could Ike Davis force his way into the Mets’ 1B mix?  Let’s look at these stories and all the rest:

1. Wade Davis struggled in his spring debut, giving up 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 1, over 1.2 innings.  It’s just one outing, but the battle for the fifth starter spot in Tampa Bay could quickly heat up if Davis struggles his next time out and Jeremy Hellickson continues to pitch well. 
2. Ike Davis went 3-5 with 2 RBI and 1 R.  He’s now hitting .538 with 1 HR and 6 RBI in the early going.  Could Daniel Murphy’s hold on the 1B job in New York be in trouble?  If the Mets were smart, I’d think so.  These are the Mets, however…  It probably doesn’t matter what Davis does this spring, but time will tell.
3. Albert Pujols is hitless in his first five at bats…  OK, that’s not really a story worth monitoring, now is it?
4. J.P. Arencibia went 1-2 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 1 R, his second straight game going deep.  We’ve talked about him in the past (click here to view), but all that stands between him and a chance to play is John Buck.  Needless to say, it could just be a matter of time.
5. Shaun Marcum, who hasn’t pitched in the Majors due to 2008 due to injury, tossed two hitless innings, walking one and striking out two.  He’s certainly someone worth monitoring as a sleeper in all formats, having posted a 3.39 ERA in 25 starts in ‘08 before going down.
6. Brandon Wood has started the spring going 0-5, though he has walked twice and struck out just once.  The little victories, right?  In this case, it could go a long way, so continue to keep a close eye on him.
7. Carlos Quentin went 2-3 with 2 HR, 5 RBI and 2 R.  He’s flying a bit under-the-radar for fantasy owners, though this type of performance could garner him a bit more attention.  I have him ranked as the 17th best outfielder in the league (click here for the rankings), so he certainly has been on my radar all along.
8. Alcides Escobar hit eighth, going 1-2 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 1 R.  The power is nice, but the fact that he is towards the bottom of the order, with Rickie Weeks leading off, is much more notable.  As we’ve said in the past (click here to read), he needs to be at the top of the order to fully enjoy his potential fantasy value.  Keep monitoring this one during the spring to see what the Brewers do.

Which of these storylines interests you most?

If you would like to see a free preview of the Rotoprofessor 2010 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide (available for just $5) now including a Top 50 Prospects for 2010 List, click here.