Closing Time: Delino DeShields finally gets a shot
For the next few days, the entire Yahoo Fantasy Staff is in football mode. I’ll be the one trying to compare every NFL prospect to Mookie Betts or Bryce Harper. (If you see someone in Northern California that looks like Andy Behrens, that is Andy Behrens. Buy him a drink. Tackle him. Ask for an autograph. Have your brush with greatness.)
In the meantime, you get a junior Closing Time. Grinders don’t take days off.
• I am not a Jeff Banister fan. I don’t think he’s a good manager. It’s one thing to disagree with tactical choices he makes, but sometimes I don’t see any logic at all. (Maybe he’s terrific with the personality side of the job, I don’t know.)
Delino DeShields is a curious case in Texas. He had a monster spring (.448 OPB, 12 steals), then was promptly buried as Banister turned left field into Community Auditions. Spin the spinner, pick a starter. It’s been mostly a mess, as the Rangers have the worst LF production in the American League.
Wednesday, DeShields got a rare leadoff start and took advantage — three walks, two hits, three runs, two stolen bases. Perhaps it’s the start of something big. Of course, Ryan Rua — the other left-fielder of the moment — picked up a 1B start and had two hits, including a grand slam. Maybe we’re not out of the woods yet.
Nonetheless, I did some DeShields hunting in my leagues tonight. He’s owned in just two percent of Yahoo leagues — you know, the leagues where owners never dropped him, too disengaged to pick up someone else. Sometimes stolen bases come in clumps. Let’s follow this story.
Joey Gallo’s leash is getting longer all the time. He had a useful 2-2-1-0 line Wednesday — two walks. Forget the .232 average, he’s rocking a .361 OBP and .623 slugging. He’s gone deep seven times, stolen three bases. He has the No. 1 fantasy line among third basemen this far.
Adrian Beltre’s rehab schedule continues to push back, so Gallo’s locked in at third. Maybe he’ll shift to the outfield at some point, but we’re not close to that. You can still add Gallo in about half of Yahoo leagues.
• I watch a lot of Arizona games these days. I like their home park. I like a lot of their hitters. I enjoy their play-by-play man, Steve Berthiaume — and yes, I’ll turn into a game for the announcers. Their uniforms are absurdly ugly, but hey, can’t have everything.
The Snakes offense has everything you’d want — and it’s the top-scoring unit in the majors. They get on base, hit the ball hard, hit a bunch of homers. And Arizona runs liberally, more than anyone in the league.
So much for the idea that new manager Torey Luvullo might shut down the base stealers. Two nights ago, A.J. Pollock stole second in a 7-1 game — and later tried to steal third (a foul ball wiped it out). Paul Goldschmidt runs liberally, no matter that he’s the No. 3 man in the lineup. Baseball as it oughta be. If they give you a base, take it.
Middle reliever Archie Bradley is trying to get your attention. He worked three quality innings Wednesday, piled up five more strikeouts. He’s posted a 1.26 ERA and 0.84 WHIP through 14.1 innings, with 17 whiffs against three walks. Throwing pellets. Hey hey.
Will the Snakes leave Bradley in this long-reliever role, or will the power right-hander eventually shift to something different? Maybe the team shouldn’t fix something that’s not broken, but perhaps Bradley will get a chance to rejoin the rotation at some point.
And heck, maybe Bradley could enter the closing mix. Fernando Rodney shot a poison arrow in Wednesday’s soul-crushing loss to San Diego — five runs in the ninth, goodbye ballgame. The 40-year-old journeyman carries an 11.00 ERA and 2.11 WHIP. He’s walking guys, getting hit hard, elevating heart rates.
The Diamondbacks fancy themselves contenders this year, which could encourage a quick closer reevaluation. The division looks winnable. The Giants are a team beset by mishaps — headlined by the Madison Bumgarner story — and the Dodgers haven’t started quickly. Colorado is 14-8, belying a modest plus-4 run differential. The Padres should get kicked around by the rest of this division.
J.J. Hoover (2.25/1.25) and Jorge De La Rosa (3.24/1.08) have been solid in the Arizona bullpen. Tom Willhelmsen had closing experience, many moons ago. There’s Bradley, percolating. I don’t expect the Rodney circus to last all season. Place your bets.
