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Every Saturday, information heavyweights the Weekly Rundown and Closing Time join forces, a pairing equivalent to ice-cold beer and any tubed meat, to keep you covered on the present while providing a glimpse into the future. Batter up!
Every year one-hit wonders emerge from the darkest corners of the waiver wire to rock the virtual sports world. These Kajagoogoos of the diamond at first play to uproarious stadium crowds, but, after failing to match initial success, are eventually forced to work lame gigs on the park district circuit. This century alone, Richard Hidalgo, Morgan Ensberg, David Dellucci and, most recently, Mike Jacobs are just a few names who were unable to sustain top-flight productivity beyond their breakthrough campaigns.
Don't expect San Francisco's Andres Torres to follow a similar career path.
Outside Jose Bautista's 54-homer exhibition, no single output was more unforeseen than what Torres accomplished a season ago.*Essentially*a defensive holdover from the year before, the outfielder quickly rose through the ranks becoming an*indispensable all-around producer*for the World Champs. Over 139 games, the thirty-something journeyman, who failed to catch on in previous stints with the Tigers, Rangers, Cubs and Twins, sizzled, particularly in the late-summer heat. From July 1 through the end of August only six players — Bautista, Carlos Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Mark Teixeira and Joey Votto — bested him in overall fantasy worth as he racked an eye-opening .297-11-38-44-9 line, an astonishing tally for a commodity who was largely useless in 409 previous big league at-bats (.232-7-36-63-15). Overall he finished as a borderline top-60 hitter in mixers.
Despite his sensational effort, most owners mislabeled Torres a flash-in-the-pan on draft day.To skeptics, his advanced age (33), marginal contact profile and lopsided K:BB splits (0.42 BB/K in '10) arrowed to disappointment. The addition of Cody Ross and spring emergence of Brandon Belt further complicated matters. Though the center-fielder's UZR was second only to Brett Gardner last year, the odds of him getting lost in the outfield shuffle was a logical conclusion. As a result, he slipped into the beer-hazy hours of most drafts, selected on average around pick No. 223 (OF59) in Yahoo! leagues. In auctions, investors tossed only a crumpled dollar at his feet ($1.30 AAV).
Activated off the DL on Tuesday and immediately slotted back into the leadoff spot by Bruce Bochy, Torres has picked up where he left off going 7-for-15 with three extra-base hits, three runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. Doing backstrokes in nearly 70-percent of free agent pools he needs to be thrown a rope in almost all competitive formats.
Yes, based on the lack of historical evidence and ballpark environment, it's probably unlikely he'll replicate his power totals from last year. And his struggles against lefties (.226 BA in '10) means he'll*occasionally*sit for Aaron Rowand — he did not start Saturday in Chicago against southpaw Doug Davis. But make no mistake, the Puerto Rican import will contribute solidly across multiple categories, especially in runs and steals. Assuming he isn't swallowed by the injury imp, he could keep pace or outdistance (in terms of overall value) prominent names Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter and Nick Markakis.
Those in the market for a dependable, well-rounded fourth outfielder or utilityman shouldn't be "Too, Shy" about grabbing the underappreciated Giant.
Fearless Forecast (rest of season): 403 at-bats, .274 BA, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 68 R, 20 SB
• Sleep could not repair Brandon Beachy's ailing oblique. The standout rookie was placed on the 15-day DL Saturday. He's expected to miss at least three weeks. Underage top prospect Julio Teheran appears to be the frontrunner to overtake the vacated spot. Recall, the 20-year-old was rather rocky in his big league debut May 7 in Philadelphia, lasting just 4.2 innings (3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). Though he's yielded little at the Triple-A level (1.93 ERA, 7.65 K/9, 2.87 BB/9), he's still very much a work in progress. Considering the enormous amount of pitching available in traditional shallow formats — Homer Bailey, for example, is still just 33-percent owned — the rookie is nothing more than a watch worthy starter, though his upcoming matchups are mostly favorable (at Ari, at Pit, SD, at Fla, at Hou).
According to the usual Saturday protocol, bullets will be added as Saturday's action unfolds. Be sure to click the refresh button when you step away from the grill. Until then, munch on this week's slate of two-start starters. …
DOUBLE DIPPERS
For stream conscious owners who want to push the innings-pitched envelope this is the list for you. Run support, ballpark factors, historical and recent trends, opposing offenses, opposing SPs, managerial tendencies and meteorological influences are painstakingly taken into account to give you the top double dippers of each week.
Other AL Double Dippers: Edwin Jackson, ChW (Tex, LAD), Jason Vargas, Sea (Min, at SD), John Lackey, Bos (Bal, ChC), Rick Porcello, Det (Tor, at Pit), Matt Harrison, Tex (at ChW, at Phi), Ivan Nova, NYY (at TB, NYM), Carlos Carrasco, Cle (at KC, Cin), Jesse Litsch, Tor (at Det, Hou), Tyler Chatwood, LAA (at Oak, Atl), Chris Tillman, Bal (at Bos, Was), Sean O'Sullivan, KC (Cle, StL), Vin Mazzaro, KC (Cle, StL)
Other NL Double Dippers: Ubaldo Jimenez, Col (SF, at Mil), Jonathan Sanchez, SF (at Col, Oak), Tim Stauffer, SD (at Ari, Sea), Edinson Volquez, Cin (ChC, at Cle), Brett Myers, Hou (at Atl, at Tor), Randy Wolf, Mil (at LAD, Col), Mike Pelfrey, NYM (Fla, at NYY), Clayton Richard, SD (at Ari, Sea), Charlie Morton, Pit (at Was, at Det), Jon Garland, LAD (Mil, at ChW), Jonathan Niese, NYM (Fla, at NYY), Jake Westbrook, StL (Phi, at KC), Paul Maholm, Pit (at Was, Det), John Lannan, Was (Pit, at Bal), Armando Galarraga, Ari (SD, Min), Casey Coleman, ChC (at Cin, at Bos), Clayton Mortensen, Col (SF, at Mil)
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Image courtesy of US Presswire