MLB Barometer: Smoke Signals

The driving force behind the MLB Barometer is the streak. We're looking for the hot ones to ride, the cold ones to avoid, and the knowledge and understanding of which ones, at either temperature, will most likely be sustained. During the season, once the stats begin to really count, legitimate streaks become easier to identify as we watch our fantasy teams rise and fall in the standings. But right now, while most pundits are telling you to take spring stats with a grain of salt, the task at hand becomes a little more difficult. Just because Yasiel Puig is batting .521 with three home runs, it doesn't mean that you're making him an early-round pick. Conversely, just because Dillon Gee has an 8.31 ERA with nine walks this spring, it doesn't mean that you're avoiding him like the plague. While you can't ignore spring numbers altogether, determining what is real and what may be just wishful thinking is as much about the situation as it is about the player.

Opportunity is the key

You've reached the end of our free article preview.
See below to find out how you can read the full version of this article.

---