Breakouts & Sleepers

2012 Breakouts & Sleepers

This is the single most import category of fantasy baseball competition. How many performance break outs did you draft.. or pick up as free agents during the season? You're going to need these guys to win.. before the stats are in. Based on this approach.. you'll be the first team in your league to look at new stars on the rise.. and sew them up..Draft & FAs like: Pablo Sandoval, Kendry Morales, Carlos Gonzalez, Desmond Jennings, Allen Craig, Joey Votto, Justin Upton, Matt Kemp on your roster.

We got Maybin, Sandoval, Craig and Jennings as free agents in 2011. And the pitching we found was very productive.. like Leubke.. our # 2 break out choice. You simply must be able to identify two or three of these break out players in order to get the edge on other teams. So .. here they are..

5 Breakouts for 2012:

• John Mayberry - Sneaky numbers.. from a sneaky good athlete. This kid is 6'6" tall and has tremendous leverage. But he is disciplined and as he accumulated consistent ABs.. he produced in 2011. He took what they gave him.. and hit the ball where it was pitched. In addition to projecting 25-30 HRs.. his average could climb 15 points in 2012.
• Cory Leubke - Solid 2011 with more to follow in 2012. In the west coast parks, the night air gets very heavy. Add to that the dimensions in the power alleys in Petco Park, LA and SF, where combined, SD will play 72% of their games. Leubke will be difficult to beat if he throws the ball like he did in 2011.
• Paul Goldschmidt - If he maintains his playoff approach.. his performance will zoom. He let the ball travel deep.. drove it oppo.. and laid off the nasty low-away slider
• Allen Craig - Some one might pay too much for him. Hitting w/o Albert in the line-up? Little different look for him in 2012.. so he'll be challenged. But there's a reason STL let Albert walk away. In fact.. two or three reasons. Craig is one of them. See Freese.
• Salvador Perez - Solid cameo in 2011. He's deeep value at catcher.. with some power.

Honorable Mention: David Freese - What can we say? This kid's swing was on plane.. in balance during the entire 2011 post season. If he starts the way he finished.. there's nothing TO say.. except congratulations. You'll get yourself one hell of a hitter.. if he can stay on the field. 

January 2012 Sleepers: 

• Cameron Maybin - Put up some numbers in 2011. The line-up will improve and so will Maybin. They just picked up Quentin from ChiSox. Good start to more run production.
• Jason Kubel - The move to Arizona will boost Kubel's stock. This guy is perfect for the D'Backs team.. and stadium. He's LH.. which they need in order to balance their line-up. If Kubel is right this year, and word is he's working his hiney off, he'll produce big numbers at hitter friendly Chase Field.
• Mitch Moreland - No Fielder.. lotta Moreland in 2012. Plenty of deep value to be had here. This guy hit a 470' HR into the upper deck in Texas.
• Ian Stewart - If he gets off to good start in Chicago, he might bust out. He had it going in 2008.. but pitchers adjusted and he didn't respond.. lost confidence after too many Ks. Hitting coach Rudy Jamarillo in Chicago is as good as they get to get him back in a good swing plane.
• Neftali Feliz - Texas should win the AL again with Feliz emerging as the #3. Pitching with a professional defense behind and plenty of run support.. Feliz could win 18 games. 

Honorable mention: Both LAA CFs.. Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout are great athletes.. but can they produce enough offense at the ML level? One will.. and the other will be traded.

Consider this: There are probably 1,000,000 guys who can hit a baseball 400+ feet. But only 25 or so can do that against MLB pitching once every week. What DO you see? That's the key.

Good Luck in 2012!

J Cabo