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As I sit here listening to Kelly Clarkson belt out Christmas songs, and I have zero shame saying I’m a fan, it must be the right time of year to start cranking out Player Profiles for the 2017 MLB Draft Guide from Fantasy Alarm. Either that or I just listen to holiday songs all year long. Which would be worse? Holiday songs all year or unabashed Kelly Clarkson fandom? You can decide that one.
Back to what you are here for.
The Player Profile Series is a staple of my work at Fantasy Alarm.
A player is traded. I write a Player Profile.
A player is called up from the minors. I write a Player Profile.
A player starts off white hot, out of nowhere, and everyone wants to know what is up with him? I write a Player Profile.
A player just sucks eggs early on and people don’t get it. I write a Player Profile.
All of that happens in season all year long at Fantasy Alarm.
However, we’re at a different point of the season, actually we’re before the season is even a thing, and that’s the most important time to understand who a player is or isn’t – before you sit down at the draft table.
In this Draft Guide we cover the basics – but it’s our different, hopefully innovative, approach that sets us apart from other providers.
We don’t just rank players. Though of course we do rank players.
We don’t offer a preseason report on a guy in 2-3 sentences like many do in those smallish player capsules.
We offer 1,000-2,000 word articles on players in the Player Profile series.
You don’t need to know that Mookie Betts or Clayton Kershaw are stars. Any write up about them is pretty useless.
However, what about those players that emerged out of nowhere last season? Or how about those guys that just couldn’t find their footing all year. Are those players going to repeat their success/struggles from last season? Are there reasons to believe that these players will continue to climb or fall totally off the cliff? Why do we have Player X ranked 19 spots higher than what ADP data says? Conversely, why is it that Player Z is ranked so much lower at Fantasy Alarm than anywhere else?
This is what the Player Profile section is for, to explain the positions we hold on players.
The Player Profile series will explain to you why we believe in, or are turning away from, players. We will talk about the background of the player from his talent base, to his pedigree, to his performance in the minor leagues. If applicable, we will detail his work at the big-league level as well. We will show you why we think that Gary Sanchez is going to see a huge pull back in his power pace from last season. Why is it that we won’t be pushing Giancarlo Stanton on anyone in 2017? What about Aaron Sanchez? Everyone loves him. Why don’t we at Fantasy Alarm? The Player Profile series will explain our positions, and in great detail.
Finally, what is the criteria that we use for Player Profiles? Basically, I just choose whomever the hell I want (I am the Oracle for goodness sakes). Each day I get questions all over the place in cyberspace. Usually a few names tend to come up over and over. Those are the fellas I try to write about (never let it be said that I’m not a man of the people). I also try to choose players that I perceive there to be a market inequity with. By that I mean I choose players who the majority of folks likely have a misunderstanding about. Those are the key players to hit on – the ones you are overlooking or, more importantly, the ones you are drafting too early or spending too much cash on. Those mistakes on draft day can end up being really painful.
So before walk over to my CD player to put in another holiday CD, (1) yes, I still use a CD player and (2) this one will be Katherine McPhee’s holiday album, let me list for you the confirmed players for this year’s Player Profile party. Note that others might be added to the list, depending what their views are on Christmas songs.
VIDEO PROFILES
Sometimes writing is hard. I know that reading can be hard too. These videos should make it easier for the both of us and who doesn't love a little extra face-time with the Oracle?