Crushing Blow Branyan style

Manny Acta has Stated that newly signed Russell Branyan who hit 31 HR's for Seattle last season will start at First base this season for the Indians. Well So much for Michael Brantley or Matt Laporta being full time or even major league players this year. Laporta looked like the starting first baseman until this news, and Brantley looked to be starting in left until now.

My personal opinion is that Laporta will be with the Big club playing left and should still be on your radar. Expect some struggles from Laporta as this will be his first full season in the big leagues.(temper expectations) The Biggest loser in all of this is Michael Brantley, who I have seen touted all over the Internet as a sleeper. I have even heard people say they think he will put up Kemp like numbers from Kemp's rookie campaign.(Kemp's first year as a full time starter 2008: 606, AB's, 290 avg, 340 obp, 18 hr's, 76 rbi, and 35 steals).

Although I think Brantley could do this in a couple years I do not think he is ready to do that this season. Now, he won't even have the chance. Brantley will get full time AB's but not with the Big club. My personal opinion is that Brantley will start the year in AAA barring an injury in Spring ball. All that said, I am buying Branyan as a late round utility pick for his 30-40 hr potential. If Branyan can stay healthy I see no reason why he can't repeat what he did last year. Branyan Projection: 260 avg 60 runs 35 hrs 96 rbi and 1 SB.

The Bay State Scout (Bay_state_scout@comcast.net)
It has been confirmed by a report in the Cleveland Plain dealer (http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2010/02/cleveland_indians_sign_russell.html)

Rent A Vet: Russell Branyan

This Week I recommend picking up Russell Branyan. He is the Staring first baseman for the Mariners and is only owned in 1% of Yahoo Leagues, 14% of CBS Leagues and 3% in ESPN leagues.

So far Branyan has carried over his spring success (7 HR's and 18 RBI with a 278 AVG and 337 OBP) into the regular season (2 HR's 3 RBI 1 SB a 286 AVG and a 373 OBP). Branyan has always been a hot streak guy and he could be starting one right now. It helps that he has 6 games this week all against right handers. Branyan has a 519 SLG % over the past three seasons against righties. In that three year span he has hit 36 HR's in 462 at bats. Pick him up for this week and hope this is the start of a 1-2 week homer binge. The Bay State Scout

Russell Who?

Sleeper Alert! Russell Branyan should now be on your radar.

Why Branyan? Branyan has always been one of those guys, you know, great power but never enough AB's. As of right now Branyan is having a great spring and should go into the regular season as the everyday first baseman\DH for the M's. Branyan should contribute great power numbers if he gets close to 500 AB. Nothing has been stated but I would assume that he will also be in a prime RBI spot in the M's lineup, maybe 5th. He won't hit for a great AVG but I could see him producing like a Jack Cust(30 HRs, some RBI, some R and not much else). Branyan is a guy to look at for your bench because he will have 1st and 3rd eligibility by mid April and with the amount of AB's he should get, 30 HR is definitely attainable.

If he gets 500 AB I could see him doing something around a 240-75-30-87-3 type stat line.

THE BAY STATE SCOUT