Raul Ibanez - Fantasy News & Updates
Raul Ibanez - Fantasy News & Updates
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Ibanez was seemingly headed for even bigger numbers before a strained left groin sidelined him in mid-June. Up to that point, he was batting .312 with 22 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .656 slugging percentage, but he hit .232 with 12 homers, 34 RBIs and a .448 slugging percentage the rest of the way. His second-half production likely was also affected by a muscle tear in his abdomen, and he underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia after the season. Ibanez is expected to be healthy for the start of 2010, though it's hard to imagine the 37-year-old topping his '09 numbers next season.
Lidge will have surgery Wednesday to remove a loose body from his right elbow. He also will have his right flexor/pronator tendon evaluated. If the tendon needs to be repaired, Lidge is unlikely to be ready to pitch by the beginning of Spring Training -- although he should be ready a short time after. Ibanez, meanwhile, will have a sports hernia surgically repaired, and southpaw Scott Eyre will have loose bodies removed from his left elbow. Both surgeries will be on Monday.
A logical decision by the Phillies, considering Ibanez has played through a torn abdomen muscle over the last several weeks, greatly limiting his range in left field. Look for Ben Francisco to man left in his place.
Ibanez’s bat has cooled off significantly following a monster first half, but he continues to do enough to warrant a starting spot in the majority of leagues. Being surrounded by a stacked Phillies lineup only enhances his outlook for the stretch run.
Ibanez has slipped quite a bit since the mid-season intermission, hitting just .240 with nine jacks and 26 ribbies, compared to a first-half that saw the veteran slugger rack up a .309 average with 22 bombs and 60 RBIs. An early-July groin strain has likely played a huge factor in his second-half slide, but he's been showing signs of turning the corner lately, cracking four homers in his last six games.
After going homerless since Aug. 12, Ibanez has suddenly rediscovered his power stroke with three dingers in his last two games. It's no surprise that his outburst came on the road, where Ibanez sports a .293 average and a .608 slugging percentage compared to his respective home marks of .262 and .524. All in all, this marks the second season in which he's cracked 30 homers.
Ibanez was mired in a 10-for-78 (.128) slide going into the long weekend, but he has now hit in three straight and is 5-for-11 during that stretch. Ibanez is and always has been a surpassingly streaky hitter, but as his unconscious early season demonstrated, he can really run off quite a streak when his timing is right. Owners and Phils fans can only hope that his recent mini-surge is the beginning of another Ibanez-ian tear.
After looking like a legitimate MVP candidate during the season’s first two months, Ibanez has slowed down considerably at the plate. August was by far his worst month, as he batted a meager .193 with just one home run and four RBIs, and September has not treated him any better, either. Still, the veteran outfielder showed enough during the early part of the year to give his owners every reason to believe he can turn things around soon.
Since the end of June, Ibanez has seen his average drop from .312 all the way down to .286. In spite of this, with 27 homers and 79 RBIs, the veteran outfielder is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career in his first campaign with the Phillies. Owners should stick with Ibanez, who was bound to hit a rough stretch sooner or later.
If it were not for a strained groin that sidelined Ibanez for close to a month starting in mid-June, he would have been among the handful of players considered for NL MVP honors. Even if the veteran outfielder does not take home any hardware, Ibanez has proven to be one of this year’s best value picks.
Ibanez has driven in four runs over his last three games. Strange as it might seem given his bandbox of a home park, Ibanez has actually done his best work on the road. Monday's showing lifted his road average to .331 (vs. .283 at Citizens Bank Park) and his 15 homers and 41 RBIs both compare favorably to his home numbers (11 and 33, respectively). The lesson: Ibanez is worth playing wherever he goes.
Despite his rather pedestrian .267 average in July, Ibanez has more than made up for his shortcomings in that department with another round of power-backed fireworks. Despite missing over a week of action before being activated from the DL on July 11, the left-handed masher has posted an imposing .622 slugging percentage with eight extra-base hits -- including four homers -- and 14 RBIs.
That's three long balls and eight RBIs since the All-Star break for Ibanez, who is picking up right where he left off in June, before landing on the 15-day DL. Even more promising is that the three-run knock came courtesy of fellow lefty Ted Lilly, giving Ibanez a grand total of 25 homers and 68 ribbies in spite of his near-one-month absence.
The long balls, Nos. 23 and 24, were the first since Ibanez returned from the 15-day DL on July 11. It looks like the hot-hitting 37-year-old is picking up right where he left off when he was forced to the DL in mid-June. He heads into Friday hitting .312 with 63 RBIs.
It's too bad injuries ended up sidelining Ibanez for a chunk of his outstanding first half. Still, even after sitting out three weeks, the 37-year-old left fielder remains on pace to set new personal highs in average and homers, though his career-high 123 RBIs may be out of reach. Another injury will result in more playing time for Greg Dobbs, who hit .269 with a .463 slugging percentage in 108 at-bats.
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