Which player should have a tremendous 2nd year ala fielder?

[MTUCache]

Weeks isn't 2nd year, but probably my top choice. Had incredible last 2 months. If he doesn't get hurt, watch out.

Buchholz is a good arm, who will get 200 innings.

Adam Jones could surprise in a non pressure place like Baltimore.

Pence, D Young, C Young, all should improve.

I agree that Pence, Young, Young, and Weeks all should have good years this year. I'm targeting all of them in my drafts, with Weeks as a "sleeper" at 2B and the rest as #3 OF type guys.

Questioning a little bit you're projections of Buchholz and Jones....

Although Jones is going to get the starting gig this year, and should do better than his <.250 year last year (over only 65AB), I'm still not sold on him being "ready".

Buchholz looks to be a great guy in the start of the year, but I'm questioning whether he'll hold up on his second or third trip around the league. Also, 200+ IP is way too much for that arm. With Schilling coming back, and the Sox having seven good starters, I can see Buchholz getting shut-down pretty quickly in August, and resting up for the playoffs. Anything over 180IP would be irresponsible by Francona, in my opinion. They just don't need him to pitch that badly.

[Slow Pitch]

Stephen Drew & Alex Gordon will show great improvements.

[mtarail]

Hermida could make some progress, but in terms of a Fielder-like explosion of power the #1 candidate in my opinion is Wily Mo. The guy showed tons of power in a small park in the 'Natti, it's my understanding that he's starting in the OF, and the Nationals are moving into a new, more hitter friendly park.

Although he's not a 2nd year by any means, Swisher is another guy that could explode this year. New, very power-hitter friendly park in Chi and better hitters around him than he had in the Oaktown.

[RedSoxNation04]

Weeks isn't 2nd year, but probably my top choice. Had incredible last 2 months. If he doesn't get hurt, watch out.

Buchholz is a good arm, who will get 200 innings.

Adam Jones could surprise in a non pressure place like Baltimore.

Pence, D Young, C Young, all should improve.

I agree that Pence, Young, Young, and Weeks all should have good years this year. I'm targeting all of them in my drafts, with Weeks as a "sleeper" at 2B and the rest as #3 OF type guys.

Questioning a little bit you're projections of Buchholz and Jones....

Although Jones is going to get the starting gig this year, and should do better than his <.250 year last year (over only 65AB), I'm still not sold on him being "ready".

Buchholz looks to be a great guy in the start of the year, but I'm questioning whether he'll hold up on his second or third trip around the league. Also, 200+ IP is way too much for that arm. With Schilling coming back, and the Sox having seven good starters, I can see Buchholz getting shut-down pretty quickly in August, and resting up for the playoffs. Anything over 180IP would be irresponsible by Francona, in my opinion. They just don't need him to pitch that badly.

Yeah, even with the recent Schilling drama, no way Buchholz goes anywhere near 200 innings. I would say the goal is to get him 150-170.

[moose32]

i'll throw in josh hamilton. i could see 40 hrs with a full year of abs

[RedSoxNation04]

i'll throw in josh hamilton. i could see 40 hrs with a full year of abs

Probably won't get to 40, but 35-37 is definitely in sight...talk about "tremendous year"!

[Yoda]

Braun looks like the guy so far.

[jmudukes2008]

he's not a big power guy...but in the last third of the season i'm expecting bet 7-10 homers from jose reyes, as well as a decent raising of his average. He's running every single ball out recently...which if he had done all year probably would have accounted for about 15 more points on his ba. And I know he's not a sleeper yada yada, but he's going to be much more productive these last two months.

[RedSoxNation04]

What's everyone's thoughts on Alex Gordon in his second year? I was just looking at his splits and he is still striking out a ton. Was there a little too much hype on this kid or is it still too soon to tell what he is going to turn into?

[ataraxia]

What's everyone's thoughts on Alex Gordon in his second year? I was just looking at his splits and he is still striking out a ton. Was there a little too much hype on this kid or is it still too soon to tell what he is going to turn into?

He has yet to make the adjustment at the major league level that every player needs to do to become great. It's possible he may never learn, but I for one think he'll come around--just very unlikely that it'll be this year.