It is easy to forget, when a young player with potential puts up decent numbers, that the end result may be not much better than an obscure veteran having an up year.
Consider these two lines:
Player one: 138/485 (H/AB) 67 runs, 8 home runs, 55 RBIs, 2 steals, .361 OBP
Player two: 115/436 (H/AB) 65 runs, 6 home runs, 50 RBIs, 7 steals, .345 OBP
Player one is Yunel Escobar, starting shortstop for the Atlanta Braves.
Player two is Marco Scutaro, starting shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Both have utility value in most leagues at 2B and 3B as well as SS.
Escobar is marginally better than Scutaro, but not by much. And the more important number is this. Scutaro, owned in only 6% of ESPN leagues, is probably available. Escobar, owned in 87%, is probably not.
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