pinstripepress

Happy Friday folks! Yesterday the boys in pinstripes worked out in front of a plethora of fans in the new cathedral, and from what I saw in the highlights, they looked extremely excited and impressed. They were smiling, throwing the ball around, and giving interviews afterward as if it was game 1 of the World Series. It’s gonna be a great day since they’ll get to play an exhibition, but even a greater week to come, as the Yanks will open the season for real on Monday afternoon.

I’m going to give my predictions for the starting roster, as well as for the season on Monday morning, but for now we’ll get right into FANTASY FRIDAY. This week I’m going to zone in on the under-appreciated player, or “sleeper.” Now, on the current roster, you could find a couple of  them - Xavier Nady, Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher, and for a limited time,  Cody Ransom. Let’s go over each, and how they may sneak up on you and add some production to your fantasy team:

Xavier Nady - Nady will be the everyday rightfielder, and probably will hit in the bottom of the line-up (behind Cano and in front of  Ransom). That’s not a great spot to be in, but I think Cano will be on base a lot this year, so he’ll have a lot of chances to drive him in along with the couple of big bats before him. The X-man is a solid righty bat, and he should flirt with a .300 average for most of the year, along with a home run total somewhere in the 20’s. Even if he doesn’t start for your fantasy squad, he can be an excellent reserve.

Brett Gardner - This kid has value simply because he will be the everyday centerfielder, but there’s also the potential for a great sleeper-like season. He’s going to now be hitting in front of Jeter, so that’s a good opportunity for hit-and-run plays and advancing to 2nd/3rd on bunts. Gardy may also impress people with his average, and he looks like a different hitter after seeing him this spring. Don’t forget the stolen bases of course, which may soar if on base enough.

Nick Swisher - Swish was a great grab for the clubhouse, but he could also be a quite valuable player on the field. He’s got versatility (eligible to play 1st, outfield), he’s a switch-hitter, and he sees a lot of pitches per at-bat. Also due to the fact that he’ll be playing in Yankee Stadium now, the short-porch in right will be friendly to many of his left-handed swings. Even though he’s not playing everyday, Swish will get a good amount of time (Girardi loves him), and could get you 20-25 homers with possibly a few steals.

Cody Ransom - Cody will only be starting at 3rd for about a month (so we’re told), but he could quite possibly have some fantasy-value if he keeps a hot bat. He could be involved in a lot of stealing with Gardner laying down some bunts behind him, and he does have long-ball power. I wouldn’t expect a ton out of him, but maybe you could catch some lightning in a bottle and utilize him - especially if you’re 3rd basemen goes down early.

Have a great weekend, and don’t forget your umbrella before heading home!

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