Why I like Chone Figgins.
The most underrated and ignored figure in fantasy baseball this season is Chone Figgins.
Yes...Chone Figgins. He of the .188 average last season. Little did we know that Figgins' struggles last season were due to a torn labrum. Apparently that torn labrum is healed and he is back to 100%: (see here)
http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2017551842_mari20.html
So...what does all of this mean for your fantasy gamers? It means that you have someone that is still a career .280 MLB hitter with plus speed, plus on-base skills (he walks tons), with means plus run scoring abilities.
Combine all of this with his position eligibility and plop him at the top of a very underrated SEA lineup and you have a top of the lineup switch hitter that everyone will clamor to be adding before the end of May. (article above notes that he will play every day all around the Mariners' lineup)
Now...about that SEA lineup...let's break that down...Figgins will bat directly in front of Dustin Ackley. Ackley is a contact machine that is a career .380+ OBP and .820+ OPS in the minor leagues. Combine that with his 10 extra pounds of off season muscle and Figgins looks even better.
Ackley is in front of Ichiro Suzuki. Suzuki is a future Baseball Hall of Famer that drops down to the #3 hole. If you have ever wondered what Tony Gwynn would have done if he ever batted 3rd...watch the Mariners this season (or look at George Brett's stats). Either way...Suzuki's numbers should look very similar to what Michael Young produced last season...only with 25+ SBs. How is Figgins looking now?
Don't forget about Mike Carp. He is batting behind Ichiro and has legitimate 20 HR pop. Don't believe me? Look at what he did in just 290 ABs last season. Better still...click on "projected stats" (if you own him). Also...he is right at that age 24-25 breakout age. Not bad for a young clean up hitter.
Who follows behind Carp? Jesus! Jesus Montero. You know...the best C bat in the majors (sorry Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana). He is a career .308 minor league bat and his AAA stats are legitimate as they were done in the IL not the PCL. (feel free to compare his minor league stats to Santana)
Hear me now...believe me later...you will be adding Chone Figgins before the end of May if you need R or SB category juice and/or a multi-position eligible UTIL bat. The production will be there.
