Zack Cozart

[Sharky]

He doesn't seem to be getting much attention yet, but I'm very high on Zack Cozart this year. Really looks like a better hitter than he was given credit for. And the kid has some decent wheels too. I bet he will be a revelation for many this year. And batting second in that lineup, he'll score plenty of runs.

[TS Garp]

You may be a little late to the party here, but I agree -- good upside.

[Sharky]

Not sure about that. I kept him this year, and have been a fan for a while.

1. Most pundits have said he will struggle to hit for average. Not sure that's the case.
2. He is entrenched in the second slot in the order. Most sources did not appear to factor that in (sufficiently) into his value. Check out projections. I doubt anyone has him at 80+ runs scored.

I'm not saying I discovered the guy. Just that his value still doesn't seem to be perceived yet.

[onejayhawk]

You will recall that Ed's playing time thread, he got a big write up. In my 16 team keeper league, he went 4th round after keepers.

As a prospect he looks pretty good, if a bit older than most. But the locked in role is a big deal.

J

[Gregg]

He went for $16 in our NL only 5x5 keeper $260 budget.

[TS Garp]

I'm interested to know why people are high on Cozart. I don't really see an awful lot to like there, personally. I guess he could be league average with some luck.

He works well for fantasy because he good pop for a MI as well as good speed and he's hitting #2 in a loaded lineup.

[Porcello]

He works well for fantasy because he good pop for a MI as well as good speed and he's hitting #2 in a loaded lineup.

Pretty much, double-double with room for more on both ends, counting stats should be solid batting 2nd, and as long as he hits at least 270/320 he probably won't lose that spot in the order. Fairly good chance he outproduces Alexei and Jeter at a much cheaper cost.

[onejayhawk]

I'm interested to know why people are high on Cozart. I don't really see an awful lot to like there, personally. I guess he could be league average with some luck.

To characterize it as "high" is misleading. They are saying he is consistently undervalued. If league average is his upside, and he is available in the second half of an NL only draft, He is a find.

Also, league average is conservative.

J

[Porcello]

Wow, I just do not see that at all. He did have a nice half season his second time around in AAA but that's about it. I'd put money on Jeter and Alexei outproducing him, though.

Low risk guy, though, I guess. I haven't seen him going all that cheap anywhere. He was kept at $10 in my NL only and $12 in my mixed league. Alexei was $17 in my mixed. Jeter was $21. Not really "much" cheaper, imo, and he would have probably gone for somewhere around the $16 that Gregg noted earlier. For the exact same cost or very close to it, I take Alexei or Jeter.

In my leagues, I only do mixed - hate only's
-kept for $6 in keeper auction
-kept in 25 keeper league, had been stashed in the minors since league started in 2009
-cost $8 in redraft auction, I bought him
-drafted between the 20th and 25th rounds in my 2 redrafts, I got him in 1 of them. Made a mistake in the other and took Aybar earlier in the other, but that's what happens when you co-own a team and are conferenced into the draft periodically while at a casino.

Not sure how much more Alexi and Jeter went for but I know it was quite a bit across the board, I'd guess they both cost in the teens and went in the 10th-13th rounds without looking. Dee probably did too, but he's a completely different animal. I really like having him in my keep 25 because I've built my team to be so power heavy that he fits perfectly, but in most leagues he's a tough to piece to build around.

[onejayhawk]

Wow, I just do not see that at all. He did have a nice half season his second time around in AAA but that's about it. I'd put money on Jeter and Alexei outproducing him, though.

You dont expect 10 HR and 10 SB in 600 PA? He has consistently projected that much, in less PT. Given Jeter's ongoing decline and Alexei's lack of speed, I would be willing to chance that. How about a team hat?

If both Jeter and Alexei Ramirez are higher on Baseballmonster's 5x5 rankings at the end of season, you win. If only one player, or if any player is on IR for 31 or more days, then no bet. If Cozart ranks higher than both Ramirez and Jeter, then I win.

J

[onejayhawk]

Sure, I'm game. I have no idea what Baseballmonster is but sounds like a fun bet.

http://baseballmonster.com/PlayerRankings.aspx

J