What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

[nyisles16]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Tim Hudson.

nice bounce back year... but lost to a call-up yester... oh, wait, I've seen that one before

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

For the Cardinals, positive surprises:

Yadier Molina - .294, 1 HR, 10 RBI, currently on 13 game hit streak

Chris Duncan - .290, 7 HR, 15 RBI (I wasn't sure if last year was a fluke or not, looking like it wasn't)

Braden Looper - 5-3, 3.27 ERA (much better than I could've expected)

Bullpen arms (well a few) - Ryan Franklin, Jason Isringhausen, Randy Flores, Tyler Johnson, and Russ Springer

Negative surprises:

The rest of the rotation, Wells is sucking (although I can't say this one comes as a big surprise), Reyes and Wainwright struggling big time, although they're young so I'm not panicing they'll come around by next year.

The rest of the lineup.

[Blzer]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

What has Granderson done that surprises you?

Seven home runs, no double plays.

[dieselboy]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

What has Granderson done that surprises you?

Last year: .260, .773 OPS, 90 R, 31 2B, 9 3B, 9 HR, 19 HR, 68 RBI, 8 SB

This year (on pace for): .284, .923 OPS, 110 R, 57 2B, 23 3B, 26 HR, 87 RBI, 24 SB.

[Sandman42]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Jorge Posada

Who would've guessed he would lead the MLB in batting almost 2 months into the season?

[Birdsonbat]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

He was mentioned, but no numbers posted

Oliver Perez - 5 W, 2.90 ERA, 48 K to 16 BB

Night and day difference from the last 2 years so far. I hope he keeps it up.

[Husker_OS]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

After today's performance, let me add Fausto Carmona of the Indians. Always had great stuff in the minors, last year had his head messed up going from starter to closer. This year, he's 5-1 and has beaten Santana twice in a month.

Most definitely.

[The Chef]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Mike Lowell, Jorge Posada, Aaron Rowand, Brandon Phillips, Gary Mathews, BJ Uptopn, Kevin Youklis, Curtis Granderson, Jhonny Peralta, Kelly Johnson, Shane Victorino, Carlos Pena, Al Reyes, James Shields, Oliver Perez, Jason Marquis, Tom Gorzelanny, David Weathers, Hideki Okajimo, Kelvin Escobar, Time Wakefield, Ian Snell, Shawn Hill, Gil Meche, Jason Hirsh, Jason Bergmann...

Not sure why some of those guys were a surprise, Kelvim Escobar always had good stuff, just couldnt stay healthy. Lowell isnt a bumb, nor is Posada, Upton was a much talked about prospect going into this season, Youkilis has always hit for average it seems, Ian Snell was the best pitcher in Pittsburgh last year, a lot of the rest I tend to agree with though.

[The Chef]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Opponents aren't giving him much to hit and he's not helping himself by trying to pull everything. I was at the HR Derby last year and he (not to mention David Wright) put on an amazing display of power. He's simply too talented not to turn it around at some point.


How about on the Dodgers... Jason Schmidt??? Looks like he may not be healthy or something, because when he was he was one of the top hurlers in the NL.

And Saito the closer has been lights out. I guess he was good last year, but us east-coasters don't hear a lot about the west as we're too busy sleeping...

I agree about Schmidt, hes been anything but serviceable so far but if he comes back healthy from this injury, he has more then enough time to turn it around, he has far too much talent to keep at the current level. As far as Saito goes, I really hope they deal him at the deadline for another bat, someone at third would be nice, and let Broxton close for this team. Furcal has been slow to get going thanks to his injury also, as a Dodgers fan it sucks watching them get swept by the Angels but hopefully we can turn it around asap.

[dieselboy]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Not sure why some of those guys were a surprise, Kelvim Escobar always had good stuff, just couldnt stay healthy. Lowell isnt a bumb, nor is Posada, Upton was a much talked about prospect going into this season, Youkilis has always hit for average it seems, Ian Snell was the best pitcher in Pittsburgh last year, a lot of the rest I tend to agree with though.

Escobar might be a push, but he is dominating right now. Lowell has never hit 300 before. Posada is old, a catcher, and coming off a year where he hit .277. Upton was highly talked about but I didn't expect it this year. Youkilis is playing way above his head. Snell had the stuff last year, but he is putting it all together in 2007.

[SidVish]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Ted Lilly: 2.69 era, 54 ks in 61 innings

Jason Marquis: 2.76 era

Rich Hill: 2.91 era, 46 ks in 52 innings

Agreed. Lilly has a 48-8 SO-BB ratio. Hill didn't look ready last year but is pitching great. His curveball is nasty. Marquis has to be the biggest surprise of the three because NOBODY expected this type of performance up to this point. Everyone had a wtf moment when he signed his contract with the Cubs and deservedly so. He had an ERA over 6 last year and was left off the WS roster by the Cards. It's not looking to be that bad of a deal thus far.

[tonybologna]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Jack Cust, Ted Lilly, Andruw Jones(struggling bad in FA season),& Braden Looper to name a few right off the top of my head. Thanks!

[Sandman42]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Surprised no one has mentioned Fausto Carmona yet.

[snepp]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Surprised no one has mentioned Fausto Carmona yet.

After today's performance, let me add Fausto Carmona of the Indians. Always had great stuff in the minors, last year had his head messed up going from starter to closer. This year, he's 5-1 and has beaten Santana twice in a month.

n/t

[Sandman42]

Re: What players have been the biggest surprises this year?

Oops. Somehow I missed that one. Amazing how he goes from 1-10 last season to a very dominating pitcher this season. Aside from his 1st start he hasn't given up more than 3 runs this season. He's been my best pitcher on my AL only fantasy team.