OK, so there are a few threads floating around here on him. And I'm well aware that his current walk rate doesn't seem to indicate that he'll win the batting crown this year.
But we have now crossed the quarter mark and Alex Rios is the ESPN player rater's top-rated outfielder. And this is a guy who went undrafted in the vast majority of leagues.
He's a guy whose five-category buzz was about the same as Hermida's a couple of years ago. Lo and behold, he's changed his stance and is suddenly raking. He's hitting for average, hitting for power, is running all over the place (with mixed results) and is often batting leadoff for the surprisingly potent Jays.
Most of the eyewitness accounts I'm reading say he doesn't even look like the same player.
My question is this: Has Alex Rios turned the corner to join the fantasy elite?
I have him in one league, and I suddenly have this gut feeling that I should be trying to trade for him in my others, that I should be making seemingly ridiculous offers to Rios owners who think they are selling high.
Why do I think he's going to be an early-round draft pick for years to come? Can someone please talk some sense into me? Please?
Rios has always had the talent, but this year he changed his batting stance to a crouched position, much like Vernon Wells' batting stance. I think Rios is a safe better be a outfielder for fantasy purposes (and in real life. The guy can run, throw, catch, hit for avg. and hit for power) for years to come.
The guy is FOR REAL. His swing is beautiful. I had him 2 years ago when he was a rookie so I was sort of "familier" with him when the season began. I am in 2 leagues and he went undrafted in both. I watched him on MLB TV for the first 2 weeks and realized that this guy has definately turned the corner. He doesn't chase crap and deposits mistakes over the fence. I picked him up in both leagues and he has become very valuable additions to both. This guy is a STUD.
I got him on one team and am very pleased. He was a big help while Jason Bay was in low gear and this week has been very pleasant. I finally caught a Jays game (vs. the ChiSox) and got a nice look at Rios and was pleased w/ the game.
I saw him pinch hit vs the rockies...3 run bomb...I was impressed...I guess I shouldn't have dropped him but there is no room when I have crawdad, beltran, and holliday
acsguitar wrote:I saw him pinch hit vs the rockies...3 run bomb...I was impressed...I guess I shouldn't have dropped him but there is no room when I have crawdad, beltran, and holliday
In response to the original post, no he is not "elite" yet. I consider basically the top 10 outfielders elite. Next year he will be drafted as a top 25 maybe top 20 outfielder IMO. Not elite but not bad by any means.
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by duckbillgates » Sun May 28, 2006 4:30 am 
