So I have a bit of a problem right now with ESPN fantasy leagues.
I look at Lane Thomas, who I very happily have had on my team since May 24, right?
He is an outfielder and the leadoff hitter for the Washington Nationals, who sport a record of 25-37. This team is second-to-last in MLB in home runs with 48. They are 24th in MLB with 253 runs.
But the disrespect that has been given to our guy, our man, my outfielder, Mr. Lane Thomas.
I can’t go without speaking on it any longer.
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So when speaking on Thomas, it is important to note that regardless of what team a particular player plays for in fantasy, having leadoff hitters on your team is an absolute cheat code if you’re in a league that values counting stats.
And every league does, so I don’t care if it’s the Nationals, I don’t care if it’s the Athletics.
Leadoff hitters are runs merchants, and we like runs!
Who doesn’t?
So why is Lane Thomas only owned in 20.8 percent of ESPN leagues when he has 41 runs scored?
21 percent? For a guy with the exact same H/AB ratio as the NL MVP from a season ago, Paul Goldschmidt?
This is a guy that’s languishing on waiver wires?
I’ll give you more, because it’s just ridiculous.
I will read to you the ESPN recap of Lane Thomas that is underneath his profile when you click on his name. This is straight from the source. No subjectivity. Directly from the app.
“The 27-year-old continues to produce as Washington’s leadoff hitter. Thomas has hit safely in 20 of his last 22 games, scoring 19 runs and slashing .293/.343/.543 over that stretch with five of his nine homers and two of his six steals on the season.”
Beautiful, Lane! Thank you for being better than Randy Arozarena over the last month! I appreciate you greatly.
And not even a quarter of fantasy baseball players care about you…
It’s pretty depressing.
Is it because you’re short? You’re 6 foot even. That’s not crazy tall. That has to be it. Because it’s not like you don’t have power. Your team doesn’t have power, but you have power!
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So let’s talk about power.
Because when you acquire a player, particularly an outfielder, you want them to either possess one of two profiles: power and speed, resulting in lots of stolen bases, RBI and homers.
Or what I call “Brandon Nimmo”, a dude who walks a ton and scores a bunch of runs and has a knack for hitting triples at Coors Field because it’s close to where he grew up.
(There is only one Brandon Nimmo, and he’s a steal every year.)
But if you want a guy that’s a mix between the two: we’re talking about him.
I can play Thomas alongside Nimmo and I have, and he’s gone deep for me.
Tonight I played him with Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Lourdes went yard, and Thomas doubled and tripled and Nimmo had a pair of singles.
Thomas being a jack of all trades and being absolutely, positively free are the kind of moves you have to make to maximize your team, and its overall value.
I added Brent Rooker this year during his two-week homer barrage. Then I noticed that it was just that, a two-week homer barrage.
I notice a better player that’s more consistent. More runs, better average. Not a one-trick pony. Homers are nice, but if you’re multi-faceted? If you bring it in several categories? You’re a long-term answer.
So where was he developed? St. Louis.
What do I say about the St. Louis Cardinals and their prospects? They grow on trees.
They’ve had so many good ones. I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how many good players have come through that system.
Thomas is also 27, in the absolute peak form of his career. He has seen some down times during his tenure as a big leaguer, but it seems like he’s figuring things out, and I couldn’t be happier for him.
And who knows where that takes him?
Do the Nationals extend him? Does he get dealt at the deadline for a team in need of a ridiculously productive, underrated outfielder that no one seems to know about STILL?
21 percent of leagues, man. 21 percent.
And he’s having as good of a year as Paul Goldschmidt.
As fantasy managers, we need to be better, frankly.
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Or at least look at the stat line?
Don’t pay so much attention to names, or the past.
Pay attention to what’s happening over the past 30 days, 15 days, 7 days.
Don’t keep players with counting stats in the teens in June while a player with counting stats approaching the 40s sits and rots and collects extra base hits by the bundle on waivers while you wonder why your team isn’t hitting.
There’s typically, usually a better option.
Lane Thomas is that option, for 80 percent of leagues. He should be owned in all of them. According to my league, he’s position rank 9 in the outfield.
A Top 10 outfielder through 260 or so at-bats.
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As they say, put some respect on his name.
I’ve loved having Lane, and I hope he keeps it going.
I’ve watched him this year and he has a great swing, a consistent approach and he gets it done daily against the toughest of pitchers.
He’s worth the add.
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But I already have him, and he won’t come cheap.