Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy owners with Robinson Cano on their teams should be enjoying this past week, as the Yankees second baseman has six multi-hit games in his last 10 and is just coming off a big, two-homer game in Toronto on Wednesday. He’s driven his average up 10 points in 10 days.

In the past week, he is 9-for-20 with five extra-base hits and 9 RBI. Look for him to continue powering this week position.

I’m not like Fonzie - I can admit when I’m wr-wr-wr-wrong.

Yesterday I advocated benching Barry Bonds for the remainder of the fantasy season. Then he goes and blasts #757. Ha.

Bruce Bochy says he is sitting today (day game after a night game), so bench him with confidence today. After that, it’s anyone’s guess which is best!

Congrats on hitting your 756th career home run and being the new home run king, Barry. But you’re no help to my fantasy team now.

Even chasing the record, he was often pulled in the late innings and sat in day games after night games. Now with the feat accomplished, the only thing we can expect is less playing time. Add that to his significant dropoff in numbers since the All Star break and the fact that he’s 43, and you’ve got a fantasy player that should be riding the pine in favor of more durable, everyday players.

Thanks for the numbers, Barry, but you’re on the bench now.

Every year, there are overrated players in fantasy baseball that keep starting on someone’s team and fail to produce. This year, I speak from experience, as one of these guys is Nick Swisher.

I have Swisher on one of my fantasy teams, and I admit, I start him almost every day. Despite his power numbers being down, and despite that awful strikeout rate, he is in there all the time. I keep thinking he’ll get hot. Surely this guy who hit 35 home runs last year will turn it on and start tearing up the league. Couple that with me being an Oakland A’s fan, and you’ve got a recipe for fantasy disaster.

But it’s time I take a step back from my own fantasy team and look at the big picture here. Swisher is eligible at first base and outfield, so his value is in his versatility. But, should it be? Outfield and first base are both extremely deep positions. Value in those positions should come from the numbers they put up!

With a .256 batting average, 14 home runs, and 56 RBI, he’s not exactly at the top of the board in any standard fantasy category. The things he does give you are walks (leads the AL) and on-base percentage. If your league counts those - as mine does - there is at least a bright spot.

But in the big offensive categories, Swisher is being equaled in production by lesser-owned players like Matt Stairs (owned in less than 1 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues) and overshadowed by his own teammate, Jack Cust (owned in 4 percent of ESPN leagues).

Is he worth hanging onto? That’s up to you - and me.

He’s not going to come up high in your search if you base it on overall numbers, but Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dustin McGowan is a guy to take a look at.

He’s gone 7+ innings in three of his last four starts, most recently in an eight-inning gem over Texas yesterday. He’s certain to get you some quality stats in his next start Saturday against Kansas City. Grab him on Friday if you need the pitching help. He’s only owned in 11% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Are you at the bottom of the pack when it comes to steals? Are you reeling from losing Shane Victorino and need a good speedster to replace him? Here’s a few base thieves who very well may be available in your league:

Reggie Willits: Teammate Chone Figgins gets most of the attention in fantasy for his speed and versatility, but Willits is a guy who could be a big help, with 22 steals in 28 chances, and a .303 batting average to boot. He’s only owned in 29% of ESPN fantasy leagues, and you know the green light is always on in Anaheim.

Kenny Lofton: A no-brainer for fantasy teams five years ago, Kenny is getting less love in his old age. But, if you haven’t noticed, he’s still swiping bags. It’s hard to tell what the trade to Cleveland means for his playing time, but so far he has played in every game since the deal. He’s got 21 steals in 25 chances, and that average is over .300. He’s only owned in 18% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Kazuo Matsui: Former Met Kaz Matsui is quietly having a good season for the Colorado Rockies, and it’s time fantasy owners take notice. He’s playing every day and batting second behind fellow speedster Willy Tavaras, and he’s stolen 18 bases in 20 chances in just 63 games (he spent some time on the DL early in the season). And with a .283 average, he won’t kill you in that category. He’s owned in 28% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

So if you’ve got a need for speed, take a look at your free agents and one or all of these guys could be there for the taking.

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s another Chris Young in the NL West who is not 6-foot-10 and doesn’t pitch for the Padres.

Meet Chris B. Young, 23-year-old center fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had a big time Web Gem last night, but he’s raising more eyebrows with his 1.385 OPS over the past week. His overall numbers on the season aren’t sexy (.245/.294/.493), but he’s obviously on the way up. He’s a hot play right now, and he’s only owned in 17% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Being that this is my first post here on the Fantasy Baseball blog, I figured it’s best to come clean right away. I, Kelly TerBest, have never won a fantasy baseball championship.

Sure, I’ve spent many a regular season day in first place, after having implemented my sure-fire draft strategies and set my lineups daily like a good fantasy owner. This season, I’m currently in first place in two leagues - one where I’ve been on top since day one, and another where I recently made it there after weeks of scratching and clawing. But I guess I’m a lot like Billy Beane, because my “stuff” just doesn’t work in the playoffs. First round exits? I’ve got many of them. But my trophy case is completely bare.

I guess what I want to make sure I get across is that I’m not here trying to act like an expert. But I LOVE fantasy baseball, and I love to talk strategies and stay on top of all the news and developments. Now that I’m on board here I hope to keep this a fun and up-to-date fantasy baseball hangout. So thanks for stopping by and I hope you’ll continue to check in regularly!

This site is currently in need of a writer. If you have any interest in writing on the topic this site covers, feel free to submit an application at 451 Press. Thank you.

451 Press, FBL, Writers Needed

It’s time again to take a trip around the bases and check in on the league leaders. There are some surprises at the top and some other players you’d expect. While fluke season can generally be considered over, don’t expect all these guys to keep the pace they’re currently at.

Derrek Lee - Lee is leading baseball with a .422 batting average. Coming off a season where he was injured, Lee has bounced back strongly so far. His power numbers aren’t great (only two HR’s) but expect those to return soon.

Chipper Jones - Jones has hit at least 30 homers only once in the last five seasons. This year, he’s leading the National League with ten. While he won’t keep this pace, he’s swinging a hot bat and could very well have a big year. While it seems like he’s been around for ever, Jones is only 35 — so he should still have some gas in the tank.

Barry Bonds - Guess who is having his best season since 2004? The much loved and much hated Barry Bonds. He’s already smashed nine out of the park, has a .338 batting average and a .500 on base percentage. As he chases Hank Aaron, he’s doing so at a high level. He’s 42 so there’s always a chance he breaks down, but so far so good for Bonds owners.

Alex Rodriguez - ARod was on fire. Now it appears that he’s cooled off. He hasn’t homered since April 23rd and isn’t batting in many runs either. Obviously he wasn’t going to keep up his torrid pace, but this was a pretty fast decline back to earth. It’ll be interesting to see whether he picks it back up or if this could be a start of a postseason-like slump for Rodriguez.

Carlos Zambrano - Zambrano will be a free agent this winter if the Cubs aren’t able to extend his deal. It’s believed that there is big money on the table for the pitcher, but the two sides haven’t been able to come to an agreement as of yet. The fantasy impact of this could vary. With free agency pending, Zambrano might be apt to shut it down early if the Cubs get out of the hunt or if he suffers any sort of injury. In keeper and dynasty leagues, you might actually want him to wait for the offseason because if he pitches in a big market with big bats, he could be a superstar.

Roger Clemens - Clemens is expected to announce by the end of May where he intends to play this season. The three main options that many assume are the Astros, Red Sox and Yankees. A lot of people expect him to return to the Astros, but Clemens has been quiet and hasn’t shown any indications one way or the other.

Chad Cordero - Cordero led the majors in saves in 2005 and is now being shopped by the Nationals. Their asking price is expected to be a major league ready starting pitcher and some additional prospects. Keep an eye on what the Nationals decide to do because if Cordero lands on a team who is desperate for a closer, he could become a fantasy option.

Now that the season has started, teams around the league have figured out what they do and don’t have. It’s also the time of year that trade rumors start to heat up.

Here is what we’re hearing:

Alex Rodriguez - This winter, ARod has the option to become a free agent. Teams such as the Angels and the White Sox would be interested in signing him if he does decide to cut ties with the Yankees. If the Yankees fall out of the playoff chase and expect ARod to leave, they may actually look at trading the slugger.

Brad Lidge - Lidge, the Astros former dominant closer, continues to struggle and there are rumors that his time in Houston is quickly coming to an end. If that’s the case, there are a number of teams out there that would like to get him. The Devil Rays are a possible destination.

Cesar Izturis - His time the Cubs shortstop could be coming to an end. Ryan Theriot is expected to take over the job by next season, so it’s possible that the Cubs will try to get something for Izturis at some point this season.

Byung-Hyun Kim - Currently on the Rockies, Kim could be moved to a team looking for some bullpen help. He’s had a decent last couple of seasons and he’s still young enough to possibly have some upside. However, most teams would want the Rockies to pick up much of his salary if traded.

Depending on your early season success in Fantasy Baseball, you can sometimes afford to invest roster spots on players who are weeks and sometimes months away from making an impact. Of course if you are struggling to just keep up with your league mates, sometimes it’s necessary to purge your roster of inactive players to maximize your productivity. However, if you have the room, there are some interesting names out there that can be had.

Roger Clemens - Nobody knows when or even if this guy will pitch this season. But if he does, he has a proven track record of being effective. If you have the space, he could be worth a roster spot to hold in case he comes back and is able to produce.

Pedro Martinez - Martinez is still months away from seeing action, but like Clemens, he is a proven commodity. His velocity is down in recent seasons, but he’s crafty enough to get the job done. If the Mets are in the playoff chase, Martinez could be their ace down the stretch.

Kerry Wood - Wood isn’t on the same level of Clemens or Martinez, but he’s going to be throwing soon and he might be worth a look. If he ever returns to his younger form, or even close to it, he’s someone who could help any fantasy team.

Juan Encarnacion - Encarnacion has a job in the Cardinals’ lineup whenever he fully recovers from his offseason surgery. He’s currently rehabing in the minors, but he should be up in the big leagues within a couple weeks. He’s not a huge producer, but he’s decent off the bench in bigger leagues.

Nick Johnson - Here’s another guy recovering from injury, but the timetable on his return isn’t too clear at this point. Some thought he’d miss the season, but the latest reports indicate that he might be back before mid-July.

Early in the season, looking at league leaders is meaningless. But now that we are a little bit into the season, the good players start separating themselves from the pack.

Here are some players who are leading the way statistically:

Alex Rodriguez - Nobody can even come close to the numbers that Rodriguez is putting up so far this season. After an offseason where the biggest stories involving ARod had nothing to do with the game, he’s again reminded everyone that he’s one of the most talented players this sport has ever seen. Right now, he has twice as many home runs as anyone in the league (14). He’s also far an away leading everyone in RBIs (34). On top of that, he’s hitting .385. It’s impossible that he keeps up this pace, but it’s not impossible that he ends the season as the game’s best fantasy player.

Vladimir Guerrero - Guerrero has already missed a little time due to injury, but he’s having a great season through it all. He’s leading everyone with a .403 batting average. To go along with that, he has five homers and 18 RBIs. As long as he remains healthy, he should be a strong bat for the Angels all year.

Hanley Ramirez - The leadoff batter for the Florida Marlins is already having a very fine season. He has a National League leading 22 runs and is batting .388. There were some questions about him before the season starting concerning whether he is for real or not. It’s not safe to say he’s one of the better young talents in the game.

Jose Reyes - Like Ramirez, Reyes is a multi-talented leadoff batter who plays shortstop in the National League. He’s batting .329 and is leading baseball in triples (5) and stolen bases (12). If there’s a guy who can end up even more valuable than ARod this season, it could very likely be this guy. Reyes does it all … and does it all well.

Alex Rodriguez keeps hitting homeruns, the Yankees keep losing and players keep getting injured. That’s been the pattern for much of the early season.

Here are the injury updates with some familiar faces.

Mark Prior - After looking like he was going to be a stud early in his career, Prior has been injured almost constantly in recent history. With the way his arm has fallen apart, it’s starting to become doubtful whether he’ll ever make it fully back to where he was. The latest news is that Prior is going to undergo exploratory surgery on his right shoulder. It’s pretty safe to assume that he’s not going to have much of a fantasy impact this season. The only way he should be on your team is if you are playing in a dynasty or keeper list and you either have huge rosters or an injury list where you can stash him.

Eric Gagne - Another guy who knows the inside of a doctor’s office is Eric Gagne. After missing a lot of action over the last couple seasons, Gagne is injured again. This time it’s his hip. The good news is the injury doesn’t seem that severe and should only sideline him for 15 days. He’s still a borderline fantasy player even in the biggest of leagues until he can prove he’s more than an injury waiting to happen.

Ken Griffey, Jr. - When talking injuries, you have to mention this guy. Junior went from a guy who looked like he was going to go down as perhaps the best player of all-time, to a guy who spent the better part of the last five years dealing with numerous injuries. The latest reason why he missed time was due to him recovering from diverticulitis. Junior should be back in the lineup on Tuesday, which is the good news. The bad news is that if diverticulitis doesn’t shelf him again, recent history tells us something else will.

Rich Harden - Our fourth and final injury update comes from our fourth guy who knows all to well what it’s like to be injured. Rich Harden, who even though he’d make Mark Prior seem like Cal Ripken, Jr., has battled various injuries over the last couple seasons. He had 31 starts in 2004, but only 31 starts since then. He’s now going back on the DL with a shoulder injury. As of right now, it looks like it isn’t serious. But as with any of this foursome, it’d be best to prepare for the worst.