Tony Gwynn - Fantasy News & Updates
Tony Gwynn - Fantasy News & Updates
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Thanks to a hair-raising stretch of five homers over seven games, Venable was able to surpass Tony Gwynn Jr. as the Padres starting center fielder by July. That's how Spring Training figures to start, too, with Venable earning the edge for regular playing time in center.
A quality all-around night for Gwynn, who rounded the bases for just the second time in 625 career at-bats. The 26-year-old center fielder has fared well in his first extended stint this year, batting .269 with six triples, 57 runs and 11 steals in 115 games, making him a solid play in NL-only formats.
Though healthy, Venable has stumbled into an 0-for-8 funk, dropping his average to .267. The Padres elected to start him in center field, with Tony Gwynn Jr. manning center.
Gwynn looked like a savvy waiver claim back in June, when he took off after being installed as San Diego's leadoff hitter. The last month-plus has not been kind to the slap-hitting outfielder, though, as he has gone just 23-for-118 (.195) since Aug. 1, with just two extra-base hits during that stretch. Gwynn really projects as more of a fourth or fifth outfielder given his lack of pop, and his solid speed would be a lot more enticing to fantasy owners if he could get his average back up around .300.
Although it seems nearly impossible, Gwynn has rapped out just one extra-base hit (a double which came on Aug. 11) and driven in two runners in 76 at-bats this month, good for a microscopic .224 slugging percentage, a mark considerably worse than his .302 on-base figure. The left-handed batsman is going to have to mix in a little pop to his barrage of singles if he wants to attain relevancy in any format outside of deeper NL-only leagues.
There's no question that Gwynn can hit, as he put aside last year's .190 average to hit at a tidy .293 clip on the year. Hitting near the top of a punchless San Diego lineup, however, has not done any favors for Gwynn's other statistical categories, as he's crossed home just 40 times and has plated only 11 runners on the year. With his sharp on-base skills, there's no telling what he could do with a more potent offensive unit hitting behind him.
Tony Gwynn got the day off as Kyle Blanks shifted into Venable’s usual spot in right field. Venable, who has homered in four of his last six games, is batting .259 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 116 at-bats this season.
Gwynn has now hit in four straight, and his 8-for-18 showing during that stretch has boosted his average from .288 to .296. Gwynn doesn't hit for much pop -- he's slugging just .395 -- and doesn't run with much frequency or efficiency (he's 4-for-8 on stolen base attempts this year), but he's got a lock on the leadoff role in San Diego. That .296 average is a lot more helpful given his four or five at-bats every night.
There's no question that, like his father, Gwynn can bring the goods at the dish, and he is more than capable of keeping his average in the neighborhood of .300. In order to take the leap to the next level though, Gwynn is going to have to add another dimenson to his game, because although a .300 average is a beautiful thing, it's not enough to warrant consideration in any formats outside of deep NL-only leagues.
Considering that Gwynn offers little but a solid average to fantasy owners, this recent cold snap is unfortunate. While he may not hit for much pop or steal bases in bunches, Gwynn is still a decent look in deeper NL-only leagues, and should make his way back to the right side of .300 eventually. At any rate, the dearth of other options on San Diego's roster likely ensures that Gwynn will remain in the Friars' lineup for the rest of the season.
Gwynn isn't going to hit for much power and hasn't stolen as many bases as owners might hope, but he is indubitably a usable NL-only player thanks to a knack for the base knock that recalls, well, Tony Gwynn. Gwynn has hit in three straight and boosted his average to .304, and will continue to see action at the top of the Padres' lineup as long as he's healthy enough to go. That, plus the promise of the occasional steal and run scored, is enough to get him into a flex role in most NL-only leagues.
Either the A's want to shore up their outfield for the second half or they felt the need to acquire a serviceable outfielder in case Matt Holliday is dealt. In either case, Hairston, who is batting .299 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs, figures to take over the right-field job in Oakland. That means Ryan Sweeney, Travis Buck and Rajai Davis will face a crunch for playing time in the A's outfield. With Hairston no longer holding down an outfield spot in San Diego, Tony Gwynn Jr. will see everyday time in center field while Kyle Blanks slots in as the right fielder. Will Venable could also cut into Gwynn's at-bats. Webb went 7-1 with a 4.34 ERA at Triple-A Sacramento while Italiano was 5-6 with a 5.63 ERA for Class A Stockton.
Still hitting just like his Hall of Fame pops, Gwynn has three straight games of multiple hits. He doesn't possess the speed typified by many leadoff hitters, but his ability to reach base is the hallmark of any worthy leadoff man. Unfortunately for his case, he may not cross home plate as much as a he should given the mediocre state of the Padres offense.
There's something so right about seeing a Gwynn tearing it up in San Diego again. Junior Gwynn has really come into his own this year, hitting .329 with 16 runs scored with a keen-eyed 14/18 BB/K ratio.
There is a chance Hairston will be activated against Seattle on June 23, at which point he'll return to patrolling center for the Padres, likely pushing Tony Gwynn Jr. back into a fourth-outfielder role.
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