Prospect Watch: Xavier Paul

Xavier Paul - OF - Los Angeles Dodgers

Paul continues to play well in Triple-A Albuquerque (.386 with 3 home runs and stole 3 bases), but plays the one position the Dodgers simply do not need, unless Manny Ramirez goes down to an injury and hits the DL (which is likely at some point).  It does help that Juan Pierre has moved on, though the Dodgers replaced him with Garret Anderson, Paul could compete if he gets a chance.

Paul is 25-years-old and has played a full season of Triple-A baseball, so he is ready for the big leagues.  He has a nice combination of pop and speed that will please fantasy managers if and when he gets his chance.  He hit 28 doubles, 5 triples, 9 home runs and stole 17 bases with 443 at bats in 2008 and spent a lot of the 2009 season on the Dodger bench and the DL.  Thus far in 2010 he has hit 3 home runs and stole 3 bases while batting .386 with 39 at bats.

In the end we are looking at a .290, 10-15 home-run-hitting, 20-30 stolen base fantasy player if he gets the call.

Sin City Scout

Paulywood?

Paulywood doesn't roll off the tongue like Mannywood, but it at least describes someone who will actually be playing the outfield for the Dodgers in the next 50 games. With Manny's 50 game suspension, Xavier Paul was called up from AAA. He had a great spring training with the big boys and has continued to play very well since being sent back down. This year his line is: .344 AVG, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 8 SB, 10 Runs. Decent all around numbers. May want to take a chance on him. Worth noting, this suspension will open the door for Juan Pierre as well. Watch closely to see who will get the playing time. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Manny Being A Cheater

Scout Hoffman profantasybaseball.com In some shocking news out of Los Angeles this morning, Manny Ramirez is being suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance. Up until now Ramirez has not been linked in any way to performance-enhancing drugs. It has been reported that it was not a steroid, but a prescribed drug for a medical condition. Nonetheless, he is out of the lineup until July 3rd. This obviously puts a drastic downturn on Ramirez’s fantasy value, but who else does it hurt? Andre Either has benefited greatly from having Manny around him in the lineup. Since Manny joined the Dodgers last summer, Either has hit at a .320 clip with 15 HRs and 58 RBI in about 300 ABs. In the 350 ABs before Manny became a Dodger Either hit .274 with 11 HRs and 46 RBI. Some of the increase in numbers can surely be attributed to his growth as a hitter, but a large part has to do with pitchers giving him better pitchers to hit with Manny protecting him. I would expect Ethier’s average, runs and RBI to see a slight dip over the next two months. Orlando Hudson is another Dodger whose fantasy value could take a hit. Hitting ahead of Manny, the O-Dog was on pace for over 100 runs, nearly 100 RBI, and is hitting .342, nearly 60 points above his career average. You can expect those numbers to decrease while Manny is serving his suspension. The entire Dodger pitching staff will certainly miss Manny. The Dodgers are first in the NL in runs scored and that number will most likely drop without the slugger in the three spot in the order. Chavez Ravine has always been a pitchers park so I do not anticipate a drop in ratios for the pitchers, but they may miss out on a few wins. Not all fantasy hope is lost for the Dodgers for the next 50 games. Xavier Paul will be called up to take his roster spot, he is off to a solid start in AAA, but I do not think he will see everyday playing time. Juan Pierre may stand to see an increase in playing time, so those of you who need runs and SBs, he may be a good two month rental. Pierre could be pushed into the leadoff spot and bump Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson down a spot in the order. Matt Kemp who has been buried in the 7th hole will may be pushed up in the order and could see an increase in RBI chances. Everyone knows that Manny Ramirez can be a both a positive and negative force in the clubhouse for a team. It will be interesting to see how Manny and the Dodgers react not only during the 50 games suspension, but when he returns. Will he go back to being the force he has been for his three months in Dodger Blue, or will he revert to the guy who played his way out of Boston for personal gain. Only time will tell.