Brian Roberts, Francisco Cordero, Dick-K, Derrek Lee, Adam Dunn, Lance Berkman
RA Dickey Dicks, the man of many fantasy names during a season, had an up and down 2007, unfortunately in that order. Dicks ended the season in 5th place after spending almost the entire first half with a solid first place lead, that somehow fizzled. You could say that his team went as Jose Reyes did in 2007 – very strong through June, mediocre in July and early August, and in dire need of a slump buster in late August and September. His commanding lead in the early months was enough to hold onto a respectable 5th place finish out of 14 teams. However, as 2007 ended, Dicks certainly recognized the need to overhaul his team in the offseason and will enter the draft with only 2 players that were part of the 2007 fizzle.
Dicks traded Jose Reyes for Brian Roberts and Lance Berkman and then traded Joe Mauer and Bobby Abreu for Adam Dunn and Francisco Cordero. Adding those four players to Dice-K and Derrek Lee, Dicks is certainly entering 2008 with a core strengthed in HRs, RBI and OBP, while weakened in Runs and SB from 2007. His pitching is little changed, positioned to do well in Wins, Saves and Ks, with a mediocre start in ERA and WHIP.
Starting with hitting, power numbers are certainly improved with Dunn and Berkman replacing Mauer and Abreu. That adds 40 homeruns to a previously power starved lineup. Abreu, Mauer, Reyes and Lee could be expected to put up approximately 60-70 combined homeruns and 320 RBIs, while Dunn, Berkman, Roberts and Lee should be expected to put up 110-120 HRs and 360-380 RBIs. In runs Dunn and Berkman will both score 20 more runs than Mauer and Abreu, but that is about the number of fewer runs you expect from Roberts vs. Reyes. Speed has gone from Dicks’ strongest asset to his weakest. Roberts will replace 75% of Reyes’ steals (he’s essentially Diet Jose Reyes, less runs, less RBIs, a little bit better OBP, 25% less steals but still the same weak power stroke), but Abreu’s steals will need to be addressed in the draft. This teams appears to drop 5 spots in Steals, and 1 spot in runs, while making significant gains in home runs, possibly 7 spots and maybe 2 points in RBIs and 2 points in OBP. That would be net 5 points on the hitting side.
On the pitching side, Dicks stands to defend his admirable Wins, Saves and Ks performance all in the top 5, while maintaining a mediocre ERA and WHIP.
I am most critical of the trade that led to keeping Cordero. His value as a second tier closer might have been better addressed in the draft. However, the value of his other keeper options were certainly limited, and given the situation, Cordero probably was the best choice, even if I am of the opinion that he is a weak keeper. I don’t think he performs at the same level he did last year. (For the record, if there was a justifiable alternate for putz on the Dynasty Killas, he would have been cut).
In the draft, which is only 20 days, 8 hours, and 35 minutes from now, Dicks will need to target speed as well as low ERA and WHIP. Sacrificing Ks will be a mistake that could cost him advancement in the standings. As with most of this league, it appears that Starting Pitchers should be of paramount consideration.
Some improvement is likely, but it will take more than one strong draft pick or waiver pickup to put this team over the top.
Next up: The Cuddle Rapers
Filed under: Draft Discussion | Tagged: RA Dickey Dicks, Reverse Reach-Around Dry Handjobs, RRAD-H
I’d have to say, that is a pretty fair assessment.
I agree, fair assessment. McJunk has done his homework.
My problem with this team is that I don’t see a lot of upside. Dunn and Berkman are strong power guys, you pretty much know what you’re going to get, but their likely performance doesn’t guarantee that the patriarch of the RRADHJ will be in the upper tier of the power categories (meaning the Dickey Dicks are not at the level of, for example, Wicked Obnoxious’ power core). I think Dice-K has upside, but I don’t like Cordero as a keeper. He’s struggled with consistency throughout his career and I don’t see him having a great year as the closer for a bad team in a hitters’ park. But there may not have been a better available keeper choice, and Cordero fills a need as closers will likely go off the board quickly in the first few rounds of the draft.