NL East: 5 players who mean more than you think

Pos: CF2012 Notable Statistics:124 G, 70 R, 40 SB, .333 OBP, 29 BB/54 SO, 3.4 WARScheduled to be the starting RF for the Twins heading into 2012, Revere found himself playing more CF than he might have originally expected due to injuries to Denard Span that cut short most of his 2012 season. He still played the majority of his games in RF (84) compared to CF (39), but Revere rightfully stepped up in Span’s absence in the Twins’ lineup, taking over his role as the leadoff hitter throughout most of ’12. Fantasy owners were well aware of Revere’s season as, during an extended period of time, he was getting on base and stealing bases consistently and often. The knock on Revere is that, although he was getting on-base, he still needs to learn to draw more walks for a leadoff hitter (5.2 BB%). What he also provides is exceptional defense. He didn’t commit a single error last season, and was in the upper echelon of right fielders across baseball on a defensive level, saving 11 runs and tallying a UZR of 15.8. Revere was a hot trade chip during the off-season and that led to the Phillies trading for his services in December. The Phillies are likely to use him in CF and bat him leadoff in 2013, doing their best to maximize his value. Revere will do all that he can to incorporate some youth into an aging Phillies roster, hoping to be a table setter for the likes of Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and, when his suspension is up, Carlos Ruiz.  Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.comPos: SS2012 Notable Statistics:114 G, 53 R, 26 2B, 1 HR, 25 RBI, .289 AVG, .333 OBPTejada is truly one of those players who need to be watched in order to determine his value to a club. Take one look at his statistics and it is easy to just pass over them. Nothing really stands out. Low power numbers, good, not great, OBP, doesn’t steal bases (only 4), suspect defender (12 E, 1 DRS, 1.2 UZR), low walk rate (5.4%), and higher than you’d like strikeout rate (14.6%). What gets Tejada on this list is his potential. He is entering his age 23 season and Mets officials are high on him. He was moved all around the lineup last season, never finding a consistent spot in the order. Supposedly, they are going to give him every opportunity to hit in front of David Wright and Ike Davis this upcoming season, hoping he gets on base enough for those two to drive him in. He has not had a good spring so far, but it is obviously yet to be seen if it will determine his 2013 success. This isn’t quite a make or break season for him as he is still growing as a player, but if Mets officials do not see the improvement they’d like from him in 2013, they might just turn to a different option down the road. If things begin to click for him, he’ll have truly earned his spot on this list.Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.comPos: CF2012 Notable Statistics:91 G, 13 HR, 36 RBI, 14 SB, 29 BB/84 SO, .374 OBP, .909 OPS, 144 OPS+This 31-year old had his only full season in the major leagues in Miami in 2012, and he left quite the impression. After having minor stints with the Rays in ’07, ’08, and ’11, Ruggiano finally was given an opportunity to play every day for the franchise that had such high expectations for 2012. Although some may consider it too small of a sample size added in with how bad the Marlins truly were last year, Ruggiano was impressive enough to earn himself a likely opening day spot in the lineup in 2013. The huge outfield gaps at newly-opened Marlins Park showed no real effects on him as his home/road splits did not show anything that stood out. Playing all three outfield spots for the Marlins last season (primarily in CF) proved his versatility, although the numbers will tell you he is clearly better in center than either corner outfield spot. With the Marlins expected to bring up the rear in the NL East, he likely will not get that much attention, but some analysts believe that Ruggiano will really stand out in 2013. Keep an eye out for him, just in case he does.Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.comView the list ยป
Pos: RPRole: Middle-reliever/Set-up2012 Notable Statistics:64 G, 1.73 ERA, 46 K/19 BB, 1.15 WHIP, .225 BAAComing off an outstanding 2011, O’Flaherty was great once again out of the Atlanta bullpen in 2012. Many analysts believed that he, along with other bullpen mates Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel, were overworked in ’11, leading to speculation about their possible effectiveness in 2012. Although O’Flaherty did not throw as many innings last season (57 1/3 compared to 73 2/3 in 2011), he was still one of the more dominant set-up men in all of baseball. The strikeout totals may have not seemed as impressive last year, but he still posted a 20.0 K% as well as doing what all relievers are asked to do: not allow base runners. Left-handed relievers are expected to get out left-handed hitters, and O’Flaherty did just that (.113 BAA, .305 OPS). Relying heavily on his sinker and slider, he doesn’t allow hitters to square up anything he throws, making him an effective ground-ball pitcher (66.0 GB%). O’Flaherty is truly a staple of what some would say is the best bullpen in baseball, and he will be counted on, along with Venters and newly-acquired Jordan Walden, to get the ball to Kimbrel in the 9th inning. He will play a huge role to try and help lead this championship-caliber franchise to a World Series in 2013.Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.com 

General Sports newsletter

Over the next week, all 6 divisions of MLB will be examined to find one player from each team who may be overlooked, or not given enough credit for just how much they mean to their respective team's success. Some of these players are well-known, others likely are near the bottom of the popularity list. It does not mean that they are disliked, it just goes to show that they need to start being recognized.

Related topics

Advertisement

This list will focus on five players from the National League East. You can go back and check out the previous lists focusing on players from the AL East, Central, and West.

View the list
  • Pos: RPRole: Middle-reliever/Set-up2012 Notable Statistics:64 G, 1.73 ERA, 46 K/19 BB, 1.15 WHIP, .225 BAAComing off an outstanding 2011, O’Flaherty was great once again out of the Atlanta bullpen in 2012. Many analysts believed that he, along with other bullpen mates Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel, were overworked in ’11, leading to speculation about their possible effectiveness in 2012. Although O’Flaherty did not throw as many innings last season (57 1/3 compared to 73 2/3 in 2011), he was still one of the more dominant set-up men in all of baseball. The strikeout totals may have not seemed as impressive last year, but he still posted a 20.0 K% as well as doing what all relievers are asked to do: not allow base runners. Left-handed relievers are expected to get out left-handed hitters, and O’Flaherty did just that (.113 BAA, .305 OPS). Relying heavily on his sinker and slider, he doesn’t allow hitters to square up anything he throws, making him an effective ground-ball pitcher (66.0 GB%). O’Flaherty is truly a staple of what some would say is the best bullpen in baseball, and he will be counted on, along with Venters and newly-acquired Jordan Walden, to get the ball to Kimbrel in the 9th inning. He will play a huge role to try and help lead this championship-caliber franchise to a World Series in 2013.Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.com 
  • Pos: CF2012 Notable Statistics:91 G, 13 HR, 36 RBI, 14 SB, 29 BB/84 SO, .374 OBP, .909 OPS, 144 OPS+This 31-year old had his only full season in the major leagues in Miami in 2012, and he left quite the impression. After having minor stints with the Rays in ’07, ’08, and ’11, Ruggiano finally was given an opportunity to play every day for the franchise that had such high expectations for 2012. Although some may consider it too small of a sample size added in with how bad the Marlins truly were last year, Ruggiano was impressive enough to earn himself a likely opening day spot in the lineup in 2013. The huge outfield gaps at newly-opened Marlins Park showed no real effects on him as his home/road splits did not show anything that stood out. Playing all three outfield spots for the Marlins last season (primarily in CF) proved his versatility, although the numbers will tell you he is clearly better in center than either corner outfield spot. With the Marlins expected to bring up the rear in the NL East, he likely will not get that much attention, but some analysts believe that Ruggiano will really stand out in 2013. Keep an eye out for him, just in case he does.Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.com
  • Pos: SS2012 Notable Statistics:114 G, 53 R, 26 2B, 1 HR, 25 RBI, .289 AVG, .333 OBPTejada is truly one of those players who need to be watched in order to determine his value to a club. Take one look at his statistics and it is easy to just pass over them. Nothing really stands out. Low power numbers, good, not great, OBP, doesn’t steal bases (only 4), suspect defender (12 E, 1 DRS, 1.2 UZR), low walk rate (5.4%), and higher than you’d like strikeout rate (14.6%). What gets Tejada on this list is his potential. He is entering his age 23 season and Mets officials are high on him. He was moved all around the lineup last season, never finding a consistent spot in the order. Supposedly, they are going to give him every opportunity to hit in front of David Wright and Ike Davis this upcoming season, hoping he gets on base enough for those two to drive him in. He has not had a good spring so far, but it is obviously yet to be seen if it will determine his 2013 success. This isn’t quite a make or break season for him as he is still growing as a player, but if Mets officials do not see the improvement they’d like from him in 2013, they might just turn to a different option down the road. If things begin to click for him, he’ll have truly earned his spot on this list.Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.com
  • Pos: CF2012 Notable Statistics:124 G, 70 R, 40 SB, .333 OBP, 29 BB/54 SO, 3.4 WARScheduled to be the starting RF for the Twins heading into 2012, Revere found himself playing more CF than he might have originally expected due to injuries to Denard Span that cut short most of his 2012 season. He still played the majority of his games in RF (84) compared to CF (39), but Revere rightfully stepped up in Span’s absence in the Twins’ lineup, taking over his role as the leadoff hitter throughout most of ’12. Fantasy owners were well aware of Revere’s season as, during an extended period of time, he was getting on base and stealing bases consistently and often. The knock on Revere is that, although he was getting on-base, he still needs to learn to draw more walks for a leadoff hitter (5.2 BB%). What he also provides is exceptional defense. He didn’t commit a single error last season, and was in the upper echelon of right fielders across baseball on a defensive level, saving 11 runs and tallying a UZR of 15.8. Revere was a hot trade chip during the off-season and that led to the Phillies trading for his services in December. The Phillies are likely to use him in CF and bat him leadoff in 2013, doing their best to maximize his value. Revere will do all that he can to incorporate some youth into an aging Phillies roster, hoping to be a table setter for the likes of Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and, when his suspension is up, Carlos Ruiz.  Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.com
  • Pos: RPRole: Middle-reliever/Long-reliever2012 Notable Statistics:59 G (88 1/3 IP), 2.34 ERA, 87 K/36 BB, 1.20 WHIP, .211 BAA, 23.5 K%In what proved to be a phenomenal season for the Washington Nationals in 2012, Stammen provided value where it was needed, filling two different roles for the club. He compiled many innings last season, often being brought in for two innings at a time just trying to get the ball to the back end of bullpen. What made Stammen so great in 2012 was that he was just plain filthy. Combining a moving fastball with a diving slider and grappling curveball with his funky delivery and arm slot, he was able to give hitters all sorts of fits. At times, it seemed that if he was coming into the game, you could just guarantee that he was not allowing anyone to cross home plate or even reach base, no matter the circumstances. After being originally considered for the rotation in his early development, the Nationals eventually converted him to a reliever, 2012 being his first full year out of the bullpen. In what is expected to be a hotly-contested division race between them and the Braves in 2013, the bullpen match-ups will be one to watch. Both teams have extremely deep ones, maybe the two best in all of the majors. Stammen may not be called upon to throw as many innings this season if the Nats’ bullpen can improve its consistency from their outstanding 2012. If they do, he will likely be contributing to the odds-on favorite to win it all in 2013.Source: Baseball-Reference.com, Fangraphs.com
  • These 5 players may or may not be worthy of making this list in 2014, but there is no doubt they should be on fans' minds in 2013. Hopefully their exposure will increase enough that they will not have to even worry about finding themselves' on this list next season.What other NL East players do you think deserve to be on this list? Are there any players who you think should supplant the player representing their team on this list?
View the list

, Dayton Baseball Examiner

Cody Woods is a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in sport management. A former high school catcher and 3rd baseman, Cody has the knowledge of the game of baseball that dates back to the deadball era. He prides himself on the history of America's pastime. Whether it...

Advertisement

Today's top buzz...