Players On Watch During Week 1

By Corey R. Cunningham

Cincinnati Reds SS Zack Cozart had 11 AB. During those 11 AB, he acquired 6 H, 4 R, 1 HR, and 2 RBI. Cozart is off to the hot start that I expected. Cozart is batting in a deep lineup that has the potential to produce high offensive numbers all year. With a lineup surrounding Cozart with players like Phillips, Bruce, Rolen and Votto it’s hard not to say Cozart is a fantasy option, let alone dynasty player.

Houston Astros LF J.D. Martinez had 12 AB. During those 12 AB, he acquired 4 H, 1 R, 1 HR, and 3 RBI. Martinez, just as Cozart as I predicted is off to a hot start. Martinez and the Astros have put some tough competition to start the season off against Colorado. Some expected Houston to have the least productive offense in the league in 2012. I think Carlos Lee, and JD Martinez will have something to say about that.

Seattle Mariners 2B Dustin Ackley had 19 AB. During those 19 AB, he acquired 6 H, 4 R, 1 HR, and 3 RBI. Ackley is being the hitter he as during his college career at UNC, as well as what he should while he was in the minors. Seattle is another team predicted to end of in the lower tier of the offensive stats this year. They have a lot of young talent, Jesus Montero, Justin Smoak, Mike Carp, and Ackley.

Oakland Athletics CF Yoenis Cespedes had 13 AB. During those 13 AB, he has 4 H, 3 R, 3 HR, and 7 RBI. Though off to a sluggish start in winter league ball, some said he was over rated, as of now, I believe he holds water to what his numbers were in Cuba. With the signing of Cespedes, the A’s actually hold some value when it comes to fantasy players. Cespedes might actually be worth a dynasty league option.

Philadelphia Phillies 2B Freddy Galvis had 10 AB. Galvis is batting .000 with 10 AB, 0 H, 1 R, and 2 K. Galvis who was an automatic option to AAA before the start of the regular season has started for the Phillies due to an injury to Chase Utley, and it looks as if Galvis will be the starter for some time to come. This offense I believe can put up numbers, however, the age of the lineup is a bit of some concern.

Kansas City Royals CF Lorenzo Cain had 11 AB. Cain has just 1 H, 1 R through the 11 AB, and is off to an opposite start of what he produced in spring training. I am a big fan of Cain, and hope his bat finds the baseball soon. KC had put Cain in the 2 hole to start the season and as of yesterday, he was down batting 8^th. Not sure why the flip flop of spots, however, I feel this could be another Carl Crawford story of batting in every position just to get all flabbergasted.

San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt had 10 AB. Belt has had 1 H, 1 R, and 5 K through 10 AB. Belt struggled at the start of last year after he made the team out of spring training and yet again, it looks as if he is off to the same start. Belt was slotted to start in LF, however, Aubrey Huff who has not been doing so well in the spring has been the starting LF. If Belt does not turn the juice on quickly, he will once again be finding himself on the outside looking it, either on the bench as the 4^th OF, or in AAA.