Maybe you look at the low batting average and lack of major league power for Andy LaRoche and see a kid who will never make it. I see something else, someone who really will matter in fantasy. I know this is a double negative and will make my editor and fifth-grade English teacher squirm, but nobody with that kind of plate discipline doesn't make it in the bigs at some point.
I do, however, understand why the Dodgers felt compelled to deal a pair of minor leaguers to the Indians for helpful Casey Blake. I don't fault the team. Blake is a solid major leaguer, has some pop at third base and it sends a message to the fan base. Good move. Then again, when LaRoche gets flipped this week for a middle reliever, and his new team bears the fruit of an emerging player, it might not look so good.
This idea came to me when I saw this Blake deal. Not only is LaRoche, who has walked and hit at every level, going to eventually be a starting third baseman, but new Indian Jonathan Meloan vaults to the top of the list of potential Tribe closers. That's right, the minor league numbers this season don't look pretty, since the Dodgers were forcing Meloan into a starting role I don't think he's suited for, but with two strong pitches, and only Masa Kobayashi and Rafael Perez standing in his way, saves could be coming.
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Eric Karabell
