Danger of Assumptions

I wrote a post on Franklyn Gutierrez a couple weeks ago that showed how I brilliantly discovered this prospect's sleeper potential. Unfortunately, this basis was not supported by its initial premise

That premise was the overall Roto uselessness of Todd Hollandsworth (True! Whatchoo talkin'bout?) and his lack of solid platoon partner capability because Jason Michaels already batted from the left side of the plate. To understate this, oops.

To correct that record (while leaving my brilliantly written but, erroneously-based, post all alone for posterity), Hollandsworth can platoon with Michaels, and sadly, likely see quite a few ABs in that role - quite a few more than any Roto team will care to see.

Fortunately, this could accelerate Brad Snyder's arrival as he can fill the role Gutierrrez was proposed to do - a partial platoon mate for either corner OF Jason Michaels or Casey Blake. Brad Snyder's 2006 prospects have improved substantially as he can be recalled and given 10+ plate appearances per week subbing for either corner OF once or twice per week. In deep keeper league, this has elevated him to mid-to-late 1st round minor league draft status.

I still see Gutierrez as a sleeper - just one a little more somnolent in nature.

What was the reason for the title of this post? It was assuming Michaels was a lefty hitty. Yes, and if I were an instructor, I'd have to give credit for the answer, but my truly brilliant student (who some would say passed his teacher with this answer) would ask why.

It was the hype surrounding Michaels this off-season. How else to explain how a player with Luis Castillo-esques OBP and SLG stats could be thought to be capable of a 500+ AB season? He had to bat from the left side in order to guarantee 400+ of those ABs!

Hopefully, that assumption made an ass only of me.