Yardbarker: Aubrey Huff

Fantasy Baseball 2008 Roundup

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:39:55 -0500

It was quite an eventful 2008 season for fantasy baseball managers. From the rise of Cliff Lee and Carlos Quentin to the fall of Erik Bedard and Victor Martinez, there was no shortage of events to talk about. But now that the 2008 season is over, how will looking back help you look forward? Screaming Sports' Phil Yoon explains.

Write One Preston Article, May As Well Write 1,000

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:48:39 -0500

Not 10 minutes after finishing the last post on Mike Preston and his Raven's writing, he gives me fodder for yet another. This blog will not be an anti-Preston ranting ground, but today he just seems to be asking for it. In his just-posted Q&A column (hmmma?? another 'bullet point' piece?), Preston has a lot of [...]

5 Hitting Stat Leaders You Certainly Did Not Know

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:35:47 -0500

#1 Extra Base Hit: Aubrey Huff
A lot was made the past few days of Stephen Drews 40, 10, & 20 splits so one might have thought he was the extra base hit leader. Some may have thought Albert Pujols the best hitter in baseball had the most extra base hits. Others may have gone with Hamilton or Utley or Wright or Braun or any of the studs in the league right now. Would anybody have thought it was Aubrey Huff who has the most extra base hits in baseball?

#6 Grounded into Double Play: Derek Jeter
Here's a stat most probably didn't know about the disappointing Yankees this year; Derek Jeter hits into a ton of double plays. He's certainly having a down year average wise and overall stat wise but his 26 double plays have consistantly been rally killers.

#1 Pitcher Per Plate Apperance: Nick Swisher
I would have thought the Greek God of Walks would have dominated this category or hitters like Adam Dunn, Ryan Howard, Jack Cust etc. Players that either strike out, walk or hit homers. I guess Swisher is close to this category but he certainly wouldn't have been my first guess. Regardless, Swisher sees over 4.5 pitches per plate appearance and is certainly a key contributor for the White Sox grinding away starters.

#1 Hit By Pitch: Chase Utley
Utley is certainly an old school player and I guess I can't say I'm surprised by the fact he is leading baseball in getting drilled. But he is smallish and should be able to get out of the way of pitches, unlike the large man that trails him by 7 Jason Giambi. I guess its obvious that Utley doesn't really want to get out of the way.

#11 Stolen Bases: Matt Kemp
I knew Kemp was a great athlete coming into this season and that he had a chance of going 20/20 if actually given the paying time he deserved. But did you have any idea that the man has 35 steals this year? Only 3 behind teammate Juan Pierre.

5 Hitting Stat Leaders You Certainly Did Not Know

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:35:47 -0500

Aubrey Huff is So Jealous Right Now

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:40:26 -0500

Not only did he become a statistical legend with the Tampa Bay Rays in his seven seasons with the club, but he also was forced to live in Tampa Bay, a city more known for classic episodes of C.O.P.S. and being much more of the horsesh*t variety then Baltimore could ever aspire to be.

MLB Fantasy Minute - Week 25

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:08:17 -0500

Screaming Sports' Phil Yoon breaks out his famed MLB Fantasy Minute and breaks down the MLB's top five fantasy-related stories. Who was the best bargain of the year? Who was the highest ranked bargain of the year? And who was the most justified sleeper? Oh ... and we're still - yes, still - keeping an eye on both C.C. Sabathia and Roy Halladay. Mr. Yoon has all if it covered and much more.

Huff As Good As Gone?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:52:56 -0500

Orioles DH Aubrey Huff is having a career year, hitting .311 with 32 HR in 147 games this season. Several teams will be pursuing a solid first baseman this offseason, and may look to Huff instead of spending the big bucks on someone like Mark Teixeira. The Orioles could definitely use the prospects, as well the extra spending cash to improve in 2009. If they were able to clear half his 2009 salary (8 million dollars), they would be able to go after a veteran pitcher.

As for teams that could pursue Huff, the Angels, Yankees, Braves, and possibly the Brewers, if they are able to unload Prince Fielder.

Fantasy Baseball Top Fives: Offense

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:27:03 -0500

With the MLB season entering its final week, Screaming Sports' Phil Yoon takes a look at the best offensive players of the year. He lists at least five players at each position and names his offensive player of the year, comeback player of the year and disappointment of the year.

Huff As Good As Gone?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:00:21 -0500

As for teams that could pursue Huff, the Angels, Yankees, Braves, and possibly the Brewers, if they are able to unload Prince Fielder.

MLB Punchlines: Playoff Races and 3 Games Left at Yankee Stadium

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:51:55 -0500

Even in defeat the Rays still find ways to impress. Evan Longoria blasted 3 HR's in a loss to the Twins last night. (Washington Post)

Well it is good to know that Tim Lincecum is human. (Seattle Times)

Does the Red Sox front office cringe every time they hear Curt Schilling speak publicly? This time he chimed in on Manny's departure from Boston, about 2 months late. (San Fran Chronicle)

Justin Duchscherer could be sidelined for the season after aggravating an injury to his hip. (SacBee)

This article sums up what it is like to be a Mets fan right now. (Newsday)

A-Rod and Cynthia have reached a settlement in their divorce. (NY Daily News)

Andy Pettitte is ready to make his start Sunday night in the last game ever at Yankee Stadium. (NY Daily News)

Ben Sheets' status for his next start is still up in the air. (Journal Sentinel)

As Plaschke points out plenty could still go wrong for the Dodgers down the stretch. (L.A. Times)

Jim Leyland was suspended 3 games by MLB for inappropriate conduct during 2 games earlier in the week vs the Rangers. (Detroit Free Press)

When we read this headline about Geovany Soto, we immediately thought of Soda Popinski from "Mike Tyson's Punchout." (Sun-Times)

Aubrey Huff, Nick Markakis, and Brian Roberts could become the first trio to each hit 50 doubles in a season for the same team. (Baltimore Sun)

John Smoltz will be in the booth for TBS during the divisional series. (AJC)

Fantasy Baseball Five Questions: Keeper Leagues

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:03:32 -0500

It's easy to look at MLB superstars and say they're "keepers," but what about some of the players that sneak under the radar? Screaming Sports' Phil Yoon takes a look at several Major League Baseball players and determines who you should be keeping and who you should send packing.

Rant Revisted; Hafner and Bullington to be activated

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:14:38 -0500

Well..

I bring it up about Jamey Carroll playing second and LOW AN BEHOLD

There he is at second base..

WHERE IS JOSH BARFIELD?!

Are you trying to completely nix him out of this equation damnit.

Anyway.. Travis Hafner made his return with the team in Baltimore today, took BP and all indications are he will be activated tomorrow.

HORRAY!

Pronk is OFFICIALLY Back! Party Time.

Now the question becomes when does he see his first bit of action.

and How long before he decapitates Jamey Carroll for taking over the Fantasy Football League?

Bryan Bullington will be activated to the Active roster for the start on Saturday in the double header. This is a no-brainer, considering he is on the 40 man roster. Why waste a spot, it's just one start and hell, its the Royals.

We'll see what Bullington has.. He is just a sitting duck though if you ask me. They have prospects that need protection and Bullington is one of those guys that could clear a spot for them.

HOW ABOUT CHOO IN THE THREE HOLE?

This kid is on fire. He's really figuring out a lot of the Indians issues. I'd really like to see Dellucci jetisoned and them go with the four man rotation of Grady, Ben and Choo with Gutierrez as the fourth OF. It fits perfectly. It also is one less position you need to pay attention to in Free Agency. I'm putting together a mega chart for the off-season.. I think our prime needs would be Third Base, Starting Pitcher and Bullpen. We'll tackle that when there is nothing to talk about though.

Tomorrow or Wednesay wil be probably our final What Could Have Been of the year.. Maybe we'll do one more in the regular season, maybe not. But, this one will be on Baltimore outfielder Luke Scott.

Fausto is pitching well right now. Offense nees to kick up a few more runs though with the way the O's offense runs. Aubrey Huff is partier.. I tell ya what.

For What It's Werth

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:44:48 -0500

It never ceases to amaze me who shows up on this list from week to week. Players like the Phillies' Jayson Werth (OF) would never cross my mind, yet that's the beauty of major league baseball…it's unpredictable. Werth hit 4 HRs and had a stolen base while hitting .500 with an OBP of .613 last week (8/25-31). Finishing up one of the best months a member of the Houston Astros has ever had, Ty Wigginton (3B/2B/LF) hit 5 solo HRs (5 RBIs for the week) while hitting .348 with an OBP of .375 The Met's 1B Carlos Delgado has continued his second half surge by hitting 4 HRs of his own last week. The mighty 2B of the Boston Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia, continues to silence those who said that he couldn't follow up his Rookie of the Year (2007) performance this year, but he has. He currently leads the AL in batting average (as of 9/2/08) and some are even calling for some MVP votes (which might take away votes from teammate Kevin Youkilis). Dustin hit another HR last week while stealing 4 bases and hitting .500 with an OBP of .567 I think this might be the first time Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins has made this list this year. He had a HR with 7 stolen bases while hitting .483 with an OBP of .528 The rest of this top 10 list are the Dodger's rent-a-LF, Manny Ramirez who hit 3HRs, stole a base and hit .519 with an OBP of .594. When was the last time he stole a base as a player for Boston? National's OF Elijah Dukes with 2 HRs and 2 SBs while hitting .316 with a .435 OBP. The Met's SS Jose Reyes who stole 6 bases last week while hitting .429 with an OBP of .500. Another Met, CF Carlos Beltran, had 2 HRs, stole 1 base while hitting .320 and a .345 OBP. Last, but not least, comes Orioles DH Aubrey Huff who continues to have a career year. Last week he hit another 2 HRs and stole a base while hitting .478.

Taking a Look at The MLB MVP Race

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:04:40 -0500

The question has been posed forever. The chant has been yelled for decades. The nicknames have stuck for years. "O-ver-rated!" Just what makes a player overrated? Are we just dealing with emotions, or are other statistics and facts applied? Likewise, MVP chants have filled sporting arenas and fields for years on end. In the end, is the best player really chosen, or are they really "overrated"? www.rawsportsblog.com

Phillies Acquire Stairs

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:02:12 -0500

After missing out on Mark Kotsay, and shying away from Aubrey Huff due to his 2009 salary, the Phillies have acquired the left-handed bat off the bench they were looking for. Reports are the Phillies acquired outfielder Matt Stairs from the Blue Jays for a player to be named later. Stairs, who was designated for assignment earlier in the week by the Blue Jays, has had a disappointing season so far, hitting .250 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI's. I'm really not a fan of this move. The Phillies really had a chance to make a bigger splash by the August 31st trading deadline, by going heavy after a guy like Kotsay, or bringing in Huff. They once again settled for the bargain. Instead of getting an outfielder who can platoon with Jayson Werth and contribute regularly, they go out and get a 40 year-old outfielder whose only purpose will be riding the pine. Maybe one day the Phillies front office will realize when you shop at a yard sale, all you're getting is other people's junk. If there's one bright spot to this move is it's Stairs career numbers at Citizen's Bank Park. In 8 career games he's batting .444 with six home runs and 10 RBI's.