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Seven-time
Japanese batting champion OF Ichiro Suzuki (Sea) is leading the
majors with 49 hits. The floodgates are going to be flung wide open
as Ichiro-san is the first established Japanese position player to
make it in the big leagues. I'm sure Steinbrenner has |
Mariner's
Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki |
dispatched
his best scouts to scour the Japanese leagues (much like they do the
Latin leagues). Ironically enough, Suzuki hit his first pro home run
off Hideo Nomo in 1993 in Japan. Fan Spin: He also has 6 SBs; trade
for him if you can catch an owner in your league napping (Fat
chance!).
Where
in the world did 3B/OF Albert Pujols (Stl) come from?! In any case,
he's hitting .365 BA with 10 HRs and 34 RBIs, tying the rookie record
with eight home runs in the month of April. Mac who? Pujols was a top
prospect of the Cards - named the Card's Minor League Player of the
Year last year - but he was totally kept under wraps. His combined
statistics included a .314 batting average, 19 HRs and 96 RBIs, and
was ranked among the organizational leaders in nearly every offensive
category. Fan Spin: he's most probably long gone in your league. P.S.
So that you don't sound like an idiot, his name is pronounced
POO-holes.
After
three mediocre years going a combined 36-25, SP Russ Ortiz (SF) has
jumped out to a 5-1 start and 2.93 ERA. Ortiz has apparently picked
up where he left off from 2000. He was relegated to the Giants
bullpen after the All-Star break, but injuries forced him back to the
rotation. Ortiz went 10-4 with 3.22 ERA in 16 outings (15 starts)
during the second half of last year. Fan Spin: this is a breakout
year for Ortiz.
You
probably think that I made this up, but normally rock solid SP Tom
Glavine (Atl) is leading the majors in walks with 29 or 4.1 per
start. Prior to this year, Glavine averaged only 2.2 walks per start.
Fan Spin: Regardless of his bloated 1.50 WHIP, don't do anything
stupid - he won 21 games last year. Speaking of walks, the "Big
Unit" - SP Randy Johnson (Ari) - has only 9 CAREER walks versus
left-handed hitters. That's just simply amazing!
Locker
Room is written by Michael Skordeles
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