Fantasy baseball managers are information gatherers. We are a lot of things, but especially early in the season, that is what stands out to me. Over the past few months, fantasy baseball drafts were conducted based on what we thought we knew. 

And then the 2022 MLB season started. Is it time to sell Freddie Freeman? Should we hand Matt Olson the MVP award now? Is Anthony Rizzo for real? Does Spencer Torkelson need to head back to the minor leagues? Are Bobby Dalbec and Miguel Sanó candidates for the waiver wire?

While we have to react, there also has to be a balance against overreacting. For five weeks through draft season, I took you through the first base position and now you are stuck with me as we continue that journey throughout the season. 

With teams having only played a handful of games to this point, let’s take things slow while digesting what has transpired.

 

 

 


Freddie Freeman kept everyone waiting before signing with the Dodgers, and to say that the pressure is on would be an understatement. Not only did Freeman leave the only organization he knew, but he joined one of the most prolific franchises in all of sports once Spring Training had already begun, and expectations were immediately swirling. 

All of the buzz surrounding Freeman and his addition to one of, if not the best lineup in baseball, was warranted, but this is one player whose stats don’t even matter this early. Of course, if Freeman wasn’t hitting .167 in 14 plate appearances without an RBI, I wouldn’t be saying that, but again we are talking about just three games. All it takes is one strong game, and this thought is ancient history. 

 

 


Once Atlanta determined Freeman was leaving, or decided they wanted him to, they moved quickly to bring Matt Olson into the fold. After going hitless in two at bats on Monday, Olson did walk twice, he is now hitting .500 on the season. We are working with a small sample size, but the situation hasn’t proven to be too big for Olson. Everything isn’t perfect though as we are still looking for Olson’s run producing skill set to make an appearance. To this point, the only run Olson has driven in is himself via his only home run of the season. 

Olson will be just fine this season, and if Atlanta wins the division, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in the MVP mix. 

 

 


When the Yankees resigned Anthony Rizzo, it was viewed almost as a consolation prize, but I’m not sure that is fair to Rizzo. Last season really never got on track for the first baseman although Rizzo still managed to hit 22 home runs. At this point in his career, Rizzo has an established baseline of production that we can feel good about and I feel like we forgot about him a little too soon this draft season. 

Hitting second for the Yankees is a prime piece of real estate for Rizzo, and in his first four games this season he is hitting .250 with two home runs and six RBI. Rizzo should continue to see pitches to hit, and he appears to be in prime position to take advantage. 

 

 


Spencer Torkelson made it through three levels of the minor leagues last season while having success along the way and proving that there wasn’t much more for him to do prior to getting the call to Detroit. At the same time though, adjusting to the major leagues isn’t always an easy and seamless process. 

Through the first 13 plate appearances of his major league career, Torkelson is still looking for his first hit and it has to be concerning that he has seven strikeouts. While he won’t go hitless for the entire season, and he didn’t lose his power stroke, it’s not going to be a smooth ride this year. If you drafted Torkelson, I wouldn’t move on just yet, but at the same time, I would make sure to secure a replacement and keep a close eye on the rookie in most leagues. The shallower the league, 10 teams and below, the more apt I would be to simply cut bait and look elsewhere. 

 

 


It’s no secret I was on Bobby Dalbec entering the season, and I find his name staring back at me on multiple teams. The fact that Dalbec has struck out 37.5% of the time in three games shouldn’t be too surprising as we know that is a large part of his game. Before getting the day off on Monday, Dalbec hit his first home run of the season on Sunday and I would look for a lot more of those moving forward. At this point, I would continue to play the matchups with Dalbec and consider him a borderline starter in most formats, but there is no need to react just yet. 

 

 


Miguel Sanó is hitting the ball with authority through his first four games of the season while also hitting the ball in the air. None of that should be breaking news as that is what endears us to the slugger. The fact that Sano has six strikeouts in 16 plate appearances isn’t even that much of a problem, as he generally does enough good things when he makes contact that it doesn’t matter. 

The fact that he has yet to pick up a hit this season, let alone a home run, is a little concerning, but power generally comes in bunches and there are at lot of at bats left for Sano this year. 

 

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