One part of All-Star weekend that I never really got into was the Home Run Derby. But my friends who went said that it was so exciting and the whole crowd was into every fly ball and it was just an exciting time. Because of that, I wanted to recognize the HRD winner...
...Yoenis Cespedes. Whenever there is a card with On-Base 5 or 6 and a great chart, my brother and I refer to it as that team's Brant Brown. Well, Cespedes was the Brant Brown card for the Athletics in this year's set, although with not quite as good of a chart as Brown. But there is still a lot here to like. A speed A OF+1 allows you the flexibility that you might need for being able to pinch-hit or pinch-run with him, if he doesn't start and depending on the situation. Or, if you decide to start him, you get pretty good value at 120 pts.
Looking ahead to his 2014 card, we are looking at a very similar On-Base (possibly up to a six), but the chart might be a bit beefier. He already has as many doubles in 2014 as he had in all of 2103 (21), and his triple and homer totals look like they have a good chance to be higher this year. His SB total is down, so his speed may possibly drop, but after some of those throws we have seen from him this season, his defense might improve as he already has more outfield assists this year than he had last year and is leading the league in that category for leftfielders.
So congratulations to Yoenis Cespedes on being back-to-back Home Run Derby Champion, which propelled him to the high honor of being this week's Card of the Week.
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