Lyle Overbay - Fantasy News & Updates
Lyle Overbay - Fantasy News & Updates
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That move would have accomplished two of the D-backs' offseason missions in one fell swoop: Getting Snyder's salary off the books while freeing up regular playing time behind the plate for Miguel Montero, and adding a short-term solution at first base until Brandon Allen is ready to take over.
There has been plenty of speculation that Snyder would be dealt this offseason with the emergence of backup Miguel Montero last season. Snyder, who signed a three-year, $14.25 million extension last winter, was hampered for most of the 2009 season with back problems that eventually required surgery and limited him to just 61 games. He hit .200 with six homers and 22 RBIs. Last season, the 32-year-old Overbay hit .265 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs in 132 games. His arrival would allow first-base prospect Brandon Allen to be brought along slowly.
Inconsistency kept Overbay from making much of a mixed-league impact. He mostly sat against left-handed starters, though he contributed a .282 average and a .509 slugging percentage against righties. He'll likely return as the Blue Jays' starter at first base in 2010 -- the final year of his current contract -- though the team might explore trading Overbay with Brian Dopirak knocking on the door in the Minors.
Overbay has now surpassed his 158-game home run total from 2008 in just 130 games, and owns a very respectable .841 OPS on the season. Injuries kept him off the field more than his owners would've liked, but they haven't really pushed Overbay off his usual pace. While that pace is behind the one he set in his breakout .312.-22-92 campaign back in '06, Overbay remains a very serviceable (if not terribly inspiring) corner infielder in AL-only and deeper mixed formats.
Overbay has had his moments, but he simply doesn't do enough in the home run and RBI departments to warrant a starting spot in mixed leagues, especially considering the depth of talent at first base.
Inglett was pressed into action in right field after Randy Ruiz -- who himself had to leave Sunday's game after getting beaned in the face by Yankees reliever Josh Towers -- slid over to first base to cover for the hobbled Lyle Overbay. Inglett has made three starts in September and has sprayed seven hits in 10 at-bats with two walks and three runs scored. He could be in for even more time if Ruiz and Overbay aren't able to make it back in the next few days.
Overbay hasn't taken the field since injuring the finger Sept. 3. Randy Ruiz got the start at first and hit seventh in Sunday's contest against the Yankees. If Overbay is forced to miss additional time, Ruiz and Kevin Millar -- who filled in at first this Friday and Saturday -- should continue to hold down the fort in his place.
Millar batted cleanup and went hitless in five at-bats, dropping his average to .220. It's unclear whether Overbay will make it back over the weekend.
Overbay was a fantastic option for 14 games from Aug. 10-29 when he hit .345 with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs. He notched just two hits in 12 at-bats (.167) during four ensuing games, but Wednesday's long ball is a reminder that the first baseman can be useful in mixed leagues.
Overbay has been the picture of consistency this season, posting a .269 average to go with a .389 on-base percentage, 13 homers and 51 RBIs. The left-handed hacker's numbers are right in line with his career totals, which should translate into another season of 15-plus homers and 65 RBIs.
Overbay has been raking since the All-Star break, boasting a .327 average and a .577 slugging percentage in 52 at-bats. The only downside is that despite delivering three homers and four doubles, he only has four RBIs to show for it.
Overbay is right around his career norms this year, which means that AL-only owners are likely getting the solid-but-unspectacular flex slugger they paid for. That said, it's nice to see him get August off to a nice start after a July in which he hit just .227 and had but one homer and two RBIs in 66 at-bats.
After a 1-for-16 slump, Overbay has now logged back-to-back solid games. It's been a quiet summer for Overbay, who last went deep on June 21. He'll need to either boost his .259 average or go on a power tear to offer something to owners outside of deep AL-only play.
Overbay has chipped in with some extra-base hits and has managed to cross home six times in July, but the patient batsmen hasn't homered -- or driven in a run -- since a five-RBI outburst on June 21, a span of 19 games. Overbay is going to have to pick up the pace in order to hold on to the mixed-league value he's worked hard to attain this season.
This latest cold spell has dropped Overbay's average down to .250, but his .371 on-base percentage tells us that plate discipline is not the problem. Expect the Blue Jays first baseman to bounce back soon.
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