ssmarsh 26 Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Matt Joyce has gained almost 20 pounds this offseason in hopes he'll have more power and will stay stronger throughout the season. "I think that in itself is going to help," Joyce told the Tampa Bay Times. "Everything looked great last year, but I felt a little weaker." Joyce started last season strong, hitting 14 home runs through June 15, but went on to hit just four over a dismal second half. He'll likely serve as the Rays' everyday DH next season. Interesting. If he's getting everyday AB's, is he worth a keep? Link to post Share on other sites
RotoRaysfan 1,088 Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 He'll live and die with his ability to fix his platoon splits. His 2H fade was clearly a part due to fatigue, but I think at age 29, he is what he is - a RH masher, who clearly understands how to crush them. The nice part is that is he on the high end of any platoon. But, I don't know if he'll sniff 500 PA's - as long as Sean Rodriguez (the mirror version of Joyce) is on the team, you'll see him sit against most LHP's (BOS - that's Lester & maybe Doubront, NYY - Sabathia, TOR - Buerhle & Happ, BAL - Chen). In the AL, about 1/4 or more of the starters are LHP's, so it does put a very clear cap on his ceiling. Honestly, he's someone you fill at the end of most rosters in AL-only leagues or 16+-league rosters, IMO. Probably doesn't even sniff mixed-league drafts because of the limit of his max PA's, and his platoon splits. Reminds me a lot of Seth Smith fantasy-wise (great for daily league adds, but hard to count on for weekly lineups, and tough to justify a spot on benches in mixed leagues). He could return a nice profit on that type of endgame investment, but the cap on his ceiling makes him more of a speculative guy to track for the endgame than anything else. Link to post Share on other sites
Sine_cera 6,239 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 He'll live and die with his ability to fix his platoon splits. His 2H fade was clearly a part due to fatigue, but I think at age 29, he is what he is - a RH masher, who clearly understands how to crush them. The nice part is that is he on the high end of any platoon. But, I don't know if he'll sniff 500 PA's - as long as Sean Rodriguez (the mirror version of Joyce) is on the team, you'll see him sit against most LHP's (BOS - that's Lester & maybe Doubront, NYY - Sabathia, TOR - Buerhle & Happ, BAL - Chen). In the AL, about 1/4 or more of the starters are LHP's, so it does put a very clear cap on his ceiling. Honestly, he's someone you fill at the end of most rosters in AL-only leagues or 16+-league rosters, IMO. Probably doesn't even sniff mixed-league drafts because of the limit of his max PA's, and his platoon splits. Reminds me a lot of Seth Smith fantasy-wise (great for daily league adds, but hard to count on for weekly lineups, and tough to justify a spot on benches in mixed leagues). He could return a nice profit on that type of endgame investment, but the cap on his ceiling makes him more of a speculative guy to track for the endgame than anything else. It's funny that you mention both Joyce and Smith because I had both in my 16-team points league last season. It's a daily league and it's great to have guys with those kind of platoon numbers on your team. Platooning them at my Util position gave me great value per PA. I agree that he is what he is. He's a platoon player who will only play vs righties but will give you value in those limited PA's because he hits righties so well. He's indeed more a guy for deeper leagues and AL-only. Or someone you pick up when he's hot and you know he'll be facing plenty of righties during a certain stretch. You can drop him afterwards once the lefties come back into play. Link to post Share on other sites
The Big Bat Theory 7,568 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Where does he play? Aren't Zobrist, Myers and Jennings the full time OF now? Will Zobrist be used at 2B again to give Joyce AB's? Will Joyce DH some? Seems to me Myers sealed Joyce's fate of never being anything but a fourth OF now. Link to post Share on other sites
Sine_cera 6,239 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Where does he play? Aren't Zobrist, Myers and Jennings the full time OF now? Will Zobrist be used at 2B again to give Joyce AB's? Will Joyce DH some? Seems to me Myers sealed Joyce's fate of never being anything but a fourth OF now. I expect Zobrist to be the 2B, Joyce the DH and DeJesus playing the OF along with Jennings and Myers. Link to post Share on other sites
TrueShoe 126 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Brandon Guyer will probably be in the mix as well. Link to post Share on other sites
lolix 22 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I don't think Guyer makes the team. Joyce won't get much playing time at all against lefties, Rodriguez will probably play the field and DH will be a revolving door giving the position players a rest. Link to post Share on other sites
El_Chingon 1,810 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Quietly mashing. This guy is gold for deeper leagues if you can pay attention and start vs. RHP, bench vs. lefties. Link to post Share on other sites
Cmilne23 10,559 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 In typical Joyce fashion having a nice April, May's are usually amazin, and then the wheels fall off. Link to post Share on other sites
supac720 362 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Probably the only #3 hitter in an MLB lineup that isn't universally owned in majority of fantasy leagues. Link to post Share on other sites
peelpub94 143 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Joyce is probably the waiver wire all star year after year. Too bad he barely sees the line up when facing a Lefty. Great bench guy to have. Grabbed him during the Gomez suspension. Link to post Share on other sites
Dxu8888 61 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Dude is totally underrated. Just look at this thread. He has a 1080 OPS... good for 3rd in MLB this year. But only rostered in 15% of yahoo leagues. It is like no one knows who this guy is?? Even his manager doesn't believe him. Benches him against lefties and uses Logan Forsythe? He put on 20Lb this year.. More muscle = more production... Link to post Share on other sites
billydough 822 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Yeah I'm really wishing my Tigers had kept this guy around. Link to post Share on other sites
Rabbit Maranville 1,366 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I love this guy. 0-0 with 5 BB last night. Link to post Share on other sites
grandchamp 61 Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Picked him up for this week. Batting .063 with 1 rb and 1 run in 16 at bats. Kind of how my luck works Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.