Any performance from this morning’s extra-inning game is hard to overshadow the news of one of the greatest hitters in the game retiring. Despite ending the game 0-4, Ichiro Suzuki finished his career with 3089 major league hits and 4367 total hits across both Japan and the majors. He wished to end his career with the first two games back in Japan, giving his biggest fans a chance to say goodbye. He was pulled in the eighth inning to plenty of cheers and plenty of tears. Let’s tip our caps to a legend.
Not only did we get some extra fanfare, we got some extra baseball! Our first extra-inning game of the season gave us three more frames to enjoy. Did anyone take advantage of those extra at-bats?
Ryon Healy (3B, Seattle Mariners)
2-5, 2 R, HR, 2B, 2 RBI
The Mariners have five first base/designated hitter-type players on their roster, but only one of them can start at third base. Ryon Healy showed he should hang in the starting lineup with two hard hit balls, one over the wall and one up against it. He will see plenty of playing time as long as he has the versatility to be at third.
Mitch Haniger (OF, Seattle Mariners)
2-4, R, HR, 2B, HPB, RBI
Mitch Haniger keeps proving to us all that he is the star of this lineup. That home run was a bomb. He’ll spend plenty of time in the heart of Seattle’s order for ample run and RBI opportunities. Haniger is a solid seasonlong four-category player sprinkling in some steals.
Ramon Laureano (OF, Oakland Athletics)
2-5
If he wasn’t on a roster in your league after the draft, Ramon Laureano sure wasn’t going to be picked up after yesterday’s near golden sombrero performance. A favorite sleeper pick for a 20/20 season, Laureano nabbed his first couple hits of the year and also the first hit off of Yusei Kikuchi. Grab him while you still can.
Marcus Semien (SS, Oakland Athletics)
3-6, R, RBI
Here’s some trivia: This shortstop finished top 12 among qualified shortstops in all five standard fantasy categories in 2018 and is being drafted as the 26th shortstop according to FantasyPros. Who is it? No hints allowed. Some might even consider Marcus Semien’s 2018 a down year as his potential 20/20 2017 was cut off by injury, and his 2016 resulted in 27 dingers.
(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)
Who would you rather have in your lineup in a standard, 10-team roto using R/RBI/HR/SB/AVG – E. Rosario or Haniger?
I give Rosario the slight edge as he doesn’t strike out as much and should give a few more points in AVG (though he doesn’t get on base as often). The counting stats are pretty even, but I would bet on the Twins to have a more potent offense. A tough hurdle I have with Rosario though is that his xStats say he over-performed quite a bit last year.
Thoughts/projections for Muncy and Voit at 1B?
I apologize this reply is a bit delayed. I feel the Yankees will find appropriate playing time for Voit be it at DH or 1B, but Muncy is a bit difficult due to the platooning and roster shifting that happens with the Dodgers. Overall I can see both having a similar year to Olson’s 2018. Good enough to own but a bit underwhelming given the hot start from the year before.