Mike Jacobs - Fantasy News & Updates
Mike Jacobs - Fantasy News & Updates
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Jacobs took a huge step backwards in the power department after belting 32 longballs one year ago. He also struggled mightily against lefties, hitting a miserable .178, calling into question his ability to handle regular at-bats. The Royals could well decide to cut him loose this offseason, especially with Kila Ka'aihue waiting in the wings.
Jacobs hasn't displayed his power nearly as often as owners might have expected coming off a 32-home run year. He has just three long balls in September and his 19 overall mark a return to the spot starter role that he earned in 2007 when he blasted 17 home runs.
Jacobs really needed a night like this, as he had endured a 13-game power outage and was just 3-for-26 (.115 AVG) over the last eight tilts. Because of his paltry .230 average and lack of consistent run production -- he’s plated 58 runs after knocking in 93 last year -- the 28-year-old first baseman’s stock has been limited to the deepest of mixed formats.
Guillen missed five weeks with a knee injury, then left the game early on Sept. 2 with tightness in his hamstring. It's a frustrating end to a frustrating season for Guillen, who battled injuries all year and finished with a .242-9-40 line in 286 at-bats. His slugging percentage has dropped from .460 to .438 to .367 over the last three years, but he could be worth an end-of-the-draft flier in AL-only leagues next year. Guillen's defensive issues had made him more of a DH this season, and Mike Jacobs will likely pick up the slack at that spot in Guillen's absence. Josh Anderson and Mitch Maier also seem locked in for at least semi-regular roles in the outfield for the rest of the season.
Jacobs needed this sort of outing in the worst way, as he had attained two hits over 24 at-bats (.083) in his previous seven affairs. The first baseman is prone to massive slumps with the occasionally hot streak, so be cautious in relying on him for too long.
Any owner thirsting for a solid first base option down the stretch needs to take a long look at Jacobs. He's sporting a .372 batting average (16-for-43) with 14 RBIs in his last 12 games. The pace of hitting is likely unsustainable for the career .257 hitter, but his prodigious power keeps him as a reasonable alternative at first base.
The downside, of course, is that Pena's streak is spread out over the course of three weeks. Still, he's hitting .366 (15-for-41) during that span, production that's earned him extra playing time behind the dish, pushing Miguel Olivo to DH and Mike Jacobs to the bench.
Despite seeing less playing time, Jacobs is having his best month yet in August with a .394 average, two homers and 10 RBIs. The Royals play him almost exclusively against right-handers, against whom he owns a .489 slugging percentage compared to .287 mark vs. lefties. Southpaw Mark Buehrle was on the mound Monday for the White Sox.
Jacobs hasn't had a night this prolific since, well, possibly 2008. The struggling first sacker has seen a decline in his playing time thanks to an average that has flirted with the Mendoza Line nearly all year, but Saturday's outburst offers hope that Jacobs can still right the ship before all is said and done this season. The young bopper raised his average to .231 after his three-hit effort, the highest its been since June 24.
Jacobs needed a night like this, as he had gone just 6-for-31 (.194 AVG) over the last 11 games to drop his average to a season-low .219. A silver lining is that he’s gone deep twice during the poor stretch and has cranked 14 homers on the year, giving him some value to power-starved owners in the deepest mixed leagues.
It was just the sixth starting assignment in the 11 games since the All-Star break for Jacobs, whose average dropped to an abysmal .217.
Two straight months of subpar play have left Jacobs' average at a woeful .225 -- a career low for the 28-year-old slugger. Jacobs still offers power in the form of 13 homers, but his 32-homer/93-RBI '08 season is in no danger of being surpassed this year.
Jacobs has been dialing up the power recently, sending three out of the park in the last five games. His respectable power stroke notwithstanding, the first-year Royal has limited value in mixed leagues because of his poor .222 average and propensity for whiffing (83 Ks in 261 at-bats).
The pair split time at first base and DH for the Royals. Butler is useful in AL formats, but Jacobs hasn't shown enough of the power that allowed him to hit 32 home runs for the Marlins last season. Both could lose playing time if prospect Kila Ka'aihue is called up in the second half.
He's been mired in a season-long struggle to attain hits, evidenced to the highest degree by a .122 cold snap from June 19 - July 9. A repeat 30-homer season is unlikely, but Jacobs could be expected to pound another 12 long balls in the second half.
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