Rookie Mistakes
March 31, 2008
There are rotisserie heroes and fantasy goats. But some performances are so ugly, egregious or plain perplexing they demand a closer look. Here is Update’s seriously twisted moment this week.
There’s a fine line between fantasy experts and fools. Take, for example, rookies. Many fantasy baseball insiders and so-called “experts” touted Cameron Maybin as the sleeper rookie of this year’s draft. The 20-year-old Florida Marlins phenom was supposed to be the secret weapon that would separate well-studied GMs that had done their homework from the pack and ensure a quality roto season. Those experts and GMs that landed Maybin must be feeling the backlash now. Maybin was sent to Class AA Carolina after going hitless in his final 18 at-bats this spring to finish with an unserviceable .190 batting average. Talk about a wasted draft pick. This guy was going as high as the 11th round in some drafts — a pick most owners would love to have back. Sure, he’ll make it back to the big leagues at some point this season, but by that point he’ll have been long lost to the waiver wire and up for grabs to everyone in your league. So, next season think twice about over drafting and grabbing the “next big thing” before his time is due. Sure, you may get lucky every once in a while. But more often than not, you’re going to look foolish shuffling your roster at two in the morning the night before Opening Day.
NBA Hoop Scoop
March 30, 2008
BY MICHAEL GANCI
UPDATE! Writer
Our weekly digest of everything fantasy basketball. Facts don’t lie and the Hoop Scoop is full of ‘em. Projections for the week of March 31-April 6. Stats through March 28: 
NATE ROBINSON
New York Knicks, PG
Comment: Nate is quietly finishing out the season nicely. He’s had a pretty nice run in the last ten games, evidenced by his 17.6 points per game over that span. If you need a guard capable of scoring, Nate may be your man. Put him in the lineup, because the Knicks need him in their injury riddled backcourt.
DAMIEN WILKINS
Seattle Sonics
Comment: Wilkins scored 13 points on Wednesday and is an interesting option for fantasy owners in need of a spot starter in daily update leagues. Wilkins has now scored in double figures four straight games. Pick him up and take a chance on him, because he has value as the season draws to a finish.
WILSON CHANDLER
New York Knicks, SF
Comment: Knicks coach Isaiah Thomas is giving Chandler serious minutes down the stretch, and the youngster is responding. He’s scored in double figures the past five games and recently recorded his first career double-double. The Knicks have given up on this season and are giving minutes to their youngsters.
HAKIM WARRICK
Memphis Grizzlies, PF
Comment: Not many people in basketball are as hot as Hakim Warrick right now. He has scored 29 and 26 points respectively the last two games. Due to this recent production explosion, his minutes are up and he’s getting touches. Activate him in your lineup as fast as possible.
CHRIS KAMAN
Los Angeles Clippers, C
Comment: Kaman finally made his long awaited return, posting 16 points in his first game back in the lineup. It’s safe to activate the Clippers big man; he will be productive from here on out.
JARRETT JACK
Portland Trail Blazers, PG
Comment: Jack has been disappointing, especially recently. He’s averaging a mere 8.2 points over his last ten contests. He has lacked consistency scoring, but is worth hanging onto — at least for a little while. Brandon Roy will miss the next four games with a sore groin, and Jack will see his role increase.
JAMARIO MOON
Toronto Raptors, SG
Comment: Moon has showed flashes of excellence this season, but hasn’t been consistent enough. He has scored double figures only once in the last six games and is averaging a mere nine points this season. The Raptors were pleasantly surprised when Moon emerged as a productive playmaker. They’ll be even happier if he starts playing well with some regularity.
WALLY SZCZERBIAK
Cleveland Cavaliers
Comment: This hasn’t exactly been the Wally the Cavs envisioned they would be getting when they traded for him at the deadline. In his last ten games, he’s averaging a slight 6.5 points per game. He’s fallen out of favor with coach Mike Brown and has been riding the bench.
JARED JEFFRIES
New York Knicks, PF
Comment: I felt compelled to add Jeffries to this list simply because he is the least productive fantasy player you could possibly own. He’s even worse than Eddy Curry and Bruce Bowen. Stay clear of him. You might as well have an extra empty spot on your team.
DARKO MILICIC
Memphis Grizzlies, C
Comment: Milicic is one of the most frustrating fantasy players to have on your team, and like Forest Gump said, “he is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Recently, it hasn’t been sweet for Milicic, as his last two scoring outputs were zero and four respectively.
ANTHONY PARKER
Toronto Raptors, G
Comment: Parker has double digits in five of his last six games and would be a nice addition if you need a stopgap while someone else is hurt. He has flown under the radar and is probably available in most leagues. Take a flyer.
DAEQUAN COOK
Miami Heat, G
Comment: Cook has been a surprising spark in an otherwise pathetic Miami lineup (Ricky Davis is the only other positives). On Wednesday, he put up a nice line in the loss to the Knicks, which included 21 points and six rebounds. Use him as a utility or backup player in all formats.
RICKY DAVIS
Miami Heat, SG
Comment: Davis’ production has been nothing short of stellar since Dwayne Wade went down for the season with injury. His solid run continued in Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks, in which he posted 28 points and nine rebounds. It is safe to activate Davis in all fantasy formats.
MATT CARROLL
Charlotte Bobcats, SG
Comment: Carroll’s an interesting candidate who can see some serious minutes in Charlotte’s back court. Recently, he has been rather inconsistent, and in the two games prior to Wednesday night’s 18-point performance, he totaled just 13 points combined. I think his minutes and versatility make him a sleeper option if you need someone to fill in at guard or even at the utility position.
LUOL DENG
Chicago Bulls, SF
Comment: Deng has finally proven that he’s healthy and is putting up the numbers that fantasy owners knew he was capable of all along. While averaging 17.2 points on the season, Deng makes a solid No. 3 fantasy forward. Put him in your lineup while he is going well.
JERRY STACKHOUSE
Dallas Mavericks, SF
Comment: Stackhouse rebounded nicely this month after playing sub-par for most of the season. He has averaged over 13 points the last ten games — no doubt a product of Dirk Nowitzki’s absence — and should be a decent fantasy source down the stretch.
LUIS SCOLA
Houston Rockets, PF
Comment: Scola has been a big surprise since Yao Ming went down. His heroics continued Wednesday with a line that included 18 points and 18 rebounds. Scola’s not scoring as much with Ming out of the lineup, but he’s pulling down more rebounds than ever and can be counted on in deeper leagues.
NICK COLLISON
Seattle SuperSonics, PF
Comment: I was right when I said that Chris Wilcox’s thumb injury is worse than we all expected. Collison has been getting serious minutes in Wilcox’s absence, and has been showing what he can do as well. He had nine points, five assists and a whopping 21 rebounds in Wednesday’s effort and can be a nice addition to any team.
BRAD MILLER
Sacramento Kings, C
Comment: It looks like Miller’s injured elbow may not be a big obstacle after all, especially if Wednesday’s output is any indication. The big man posted a monster line that included 15 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists.
EMEKA OKAFOR
Charlotte Hornets, C
Comment: Okafor’s owners were pleased to see the young big man finally break out of his slump Wednesday when he tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds. Prior to that, Okafor hadn’t score over 10 points in four straight contests and seemed to be in the doghouse.
JASON WILLIAMS
Miami Heat, PG
Comment: Williams has been diagnosed with a deep bone bruise and is going to miss at least five days of action. Williams is at best a No. 2 point guard when healthy but, much like Brandon Roy before, cut him if your team is making a run at a championship. He won’t contribute any time soon.
KIRK HINRICH
Chicago Bulls, PG
Comment: Hinrich has been a major dissapointment this season for the Chicago Bulls. He’s averaging less than nine points over his last ten games. Look for a decent alternative, because Hinrich just isn’t able to put the ball in the basket. Bench him immediately.
BRANDON ROY
New Orleans Hornets, SG
Comment: Well, it looks like Roy has been ruled out for at least the next four games, so if your team is in a tight race, you may have no option other than cutting him. This, of course, wouldn’t be the same in keeper leagues, but you need to find an alternative for him now. He has had a nice year, but his being injured doesn’t help your fantasy team.
JOSE CALDERON
Toronto Raptors, SG
Comment: It seems like Calderon may have blown his one and only shot to keep a starting gig in the NBA. He has averaged nine points over his last ten games, and is back on the bench due to the outstanding play of T.J. Ford. Bench him in all leagues.
VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC
Los Angeles Lakers
Comment: Vladimir Radmanovic continues to start for the Lakers, but the results haven’t been encouraging. On Wednesday, Radmanovic capped off his recent spree of sub-par play with a three-point and five-rebound performance. Radmanovic has not scored in double digits in his last three games, shooting 7-22 from the field over that stretch. Fantasy owners should be upset. His play last week warranted a starting spot, but now you can bench him.
MICKAEL PIETRUS
Golden State Warriors, SF
Comment: Pietrus hoped that his strained groin would be doing better at this point but the response to the treatment thus far has not been good. It very much looks like Pietrus will be sidelined for at least a few more games, and until he is active in games, he deserves to be stashed away on the bench.
BRANDON BASS
Dallas Mavericks, PF
Comment: Bass has had a couple of good games, but overall just isn’t providing enough to be considered a viable option to start in fantasy as a Power Forward. For now, I think you need to look elsewhere while Bass develops and then one day, he may be an asset to your team, just not now.
IKE DIOGU
Indiana Pacers, PF
Comment: Don’t be misled by Diogu’s 16-point performance on Wednesday. The only reason that he got the playing time that he did was because Troy Murphy was sidelined with strep throat. Don’t expect any other games like this in the near future and don’t even think about picking Diogu up off of the waiver wire.
ANDREW BYNUM
Los Angeles Lakers, C
Comment: Jackson has elected to target April 6 as a return date for the big man. Keep him on the bench this week, because he is not going to be enough of a help to make a difference. I cannot trust him until he proves that he is healthy and that he can last 48 minutes.
ANDERSON VAREJAO
Cleveland Cavaliers, C
Comment: It seems like maybe the Cavaliers should have let Varejao go when he was trying to leave via free agency last season, because his production has been awful to say the least. In his last ten games, the big man has only posted 6.9 points per game. Drop him in all formats.
15 Seattle SuperSonics rookie Kevin Durant has scored at least 25 points 15 times this season.
15 Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has scored at least 35 points 15 times this season.
8 The Washington Wizards are 8-12 without Caron Butler in the lineup.
6 Dissapointing Chicago Bulls point guard Chris Duhon is averaging just six points a game this season.
ROGER MASON
Washington Wizards, SG
Comment: Mason has played a bit spotty lately, but if he develops any kind of consistency, he could be a dangerous fantasy star. Keep your eye on him as the year moves to a close. He has double digits in four of his last six games, so he could be a sleeper.
SUNS @ NUGGETS
Tue, April 1 9:00 PM ET
This game is going to be interesting. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire go to battle with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. This should be good, and I think that Nash’s instinct will prove pivotal in Phoenix’s winning of this game. I also think that Shaq will have a big impact. Stay tuned.
Deal Gone Bad
March 25, 2008
There are rotisserie heroes and fantasy goats. But some performances are so ugly, egregious or plain perplexing they demand a closer look. Here is Update’s seriously twisted moment this week.
The Dallas Mavericks bold acquisition of Jason Kidd at the trade deadline this year has raised some eyebrows. Owner Mark Cuban & Co. were hoping Kidd would be the player to push them over the top. Instead, the Mavericks are just 9-8 since the trade and have yet to beat a team over .500 with Kidd in the lineup. So, what’s the problem? For starters, the Hall-of-Fame ready point guard is averaging just 8.4 points with his new team. Jason Terry has struggled to adapt to Kidd’s style at the point, and the team has been relying heavily on the aging Jerry Stackhouse to provide offensive punch. Dirk Nowitzki — last season’s MVP — suffered a bad ankle sprain on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs. He’s out of the lineup indefinitely, and though nobody’s mentioning it much, the Mavs are in danger of missing the playoffs. They’ve slid to the seventh seed, where just 1.5 games separate them from ninth place Golden State. How did a team that won 67 games last season fall on such hard times? Cuban better start worrying because Kidd isn’t getting any younger and time is running out. One thing’s for certain: if the Mavericks don’t make the playoffs, the Jason Kidd blockbuster will go down as one of the worst trades in NBA history.
First Basemen
March 20, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Fantasy owners tend to get a sizable amount of power from the first base position. It seems that most of the league’s top sluggers play the position, making it a relatively deep pool. Some folks like to wait on snagging a first baseman, noting how potential 25-plus home run guys are available late in drafts or even on the waiver wire. If you follow this tactic, just make sure you have some insurance because landing a dud at first base could derail your title dreams. Without further ado, Update! presents the top twenty first basemen.:
2007 Stats: .327 AVG, 32 HR, 103 RBI, 99 R, 2 SB
Comment: Pujols was the consensus No. 1 overall pick heading into the 2007 draft. He went on to have somewhat of an “off-year.” Heed these words: Pujols is not in decline. He’s a 28-year-old beast who should come back strong this year to clobber 40-plus HR, 120 RBI and score at least 100 runs. As far as Update! is concerned, he’s still the elite pick of the position and should be taken in the early part of the first round.
2007 Stats: .268 AVG, 47 HR, 136 RBI, 94 R, 1 SB
Comment: When it comes to power numbers, Howard is as productive as they come. He would have topped 50 HR for the second consecutive year, but he started off the season slowly. Of small concern should be Howard’s batting average; in 2006 he hit .313, but that figure dropped big-time in 2007. It’s worth noting, however, that he batted .280 in the second-half. Any way you slice it — with that lineup in that small ballpark — Howard should be a 50 HR, 130-plus RBI threat once again in 2008.
2007 Stats: .288 AVG, 50 HR, 119 RBI, 109 R, 2 SB
Comment: Fielder became the youngest player ever to hit 50 HR in the majors last season. He has a bright future ahead of him; he just needs to work on his steadiness. Here are Fielder’s month-by-month AVG/HR totals in 2007: .270/6, .321/13, .258/8, .277/3, .267/9 and .333/11. As you can see, he jumps up and down in his production. The amazing part is that despite his variations in stats, he still ends up with elite numbers. Just imagine how mammoth his game could be if he maintained a consistent pace.
2007 Stats: .306 AVG, 30 HR, 105 RBI, 86 R, 0 SB
Comment: Teixeira’s numbers with the Texas Rangers in 78 games last year were as follows: .297 AVG, 13 HR, 49 RBI and 48 R. Not too shabby, but check out Tex’s stats in just 54 games with the Braves: .317 AVG, 17 HR, 56 RBI and 38 R. He obviously had no problem adapting to his new team and joining a contending squad seemed to spark his bat. Teixeira could be in store for his best season yet in 2008, perhaps with a terrific batting average to boot.
2007 Stats: .271 AVG, 31 HR, 111 RBI, 84 R, 1 SB
Comment: Morneau was on pace for a monster season through the first-half of 2007, totaling a .295 AVG, 24 HR, 74 RBI and 57 R in 83 games. But he really fell apart (like the rest of the Twins team) in the second-half, garnering a .243 AVG, 7 HR, 37 RBI and 27 R. This is strange to see from Morneau, who did the complete opposite in 2006 en route to an AL MVP. Even though fantasy owners run some risk with Morneau struggling for a stretch of the season, the man can still be counted on for 30-40 HR and 110-125 RBI when it’s all said and done.
2007 Stats: .282 AVG, 46 HR, 121 RBI, 99 R, 1 SB
Comment: Pena exploded onto the scene in 2007 as a 29-year-old breakout after the Boston Red Sox cut him the season before. If his numbers aren’t convincing enough, consider his Top 5 ranking in the American League in HR, RBI, slugging percentage (.627), on-base percentage (.411), extra base-hits (76), walks (103), OPS (1.037) and at-bats per HR (10.7). There is some risk involved with taking a player who has had only one great season, especially when that player will be 30 in May. But Pena’s game seems legit. Consider him a No. 1 first baseman.
2007 Stats: .278 AVG, 34 HR, 102 RBI, 95 R, 7 SB
Comment: Berkman regressed some in 2007. After spending 2006 putting up brawny stats (.315 AVG, 45 HR, 136 RBI, 95 R, 3 SB), his numbers suffered considerably in 2007. There are plenty of players out there who would consider last year a great season, but for Berkman, it may be the sign of a decline. It’s encouraging that Houston has built a better lineup in the off-season, so he should at least match last season’s stats if healthy in 2008.
2007 Stats: .331 AVG, 15 HR, 67 RBI, 41 R, 0 SB
Comment: The future is now for Loney, who made his case for as the starting first baseman for 2008 by hitting .382 with nine HR, 32 RBI and 18 runs in Sept. If the Dodgers are smart, he’ll hit no later than fifth in the lineup. It’s not everyday that you get a young, gifted slugger like Loney who can drive the ball and hit for a high batting average. With Grady Little gone from the manager’s role (he stubbornly kept Loney out of the starting lineup for most of the season despite Los Angeles’ struggling offense), Loney will flourish this season.
2007 Stats: .282 AVG, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 101 R, 0 SB
Comment: It’s frustrating that Gonzalez can’t play all his games on the road; he pounded 20 HR and drove in 64 runs in 82 games away from San Diego. This off-season, the Padres added Tadahito Iguchi and Jim Edmonds, which gives the offense a boost (though they still lack protection for Gonzalez’s bat). He turns 26 in May and is still getting better, so he should at least improve a little on last season’s numbers, regardless of the home stadium situation.
2007 Stats: .296 AVG, 21 HR, 102 RBI, 86 R, 13 SB
Comment: Guillen makes the shift to first base from shortstop this season due to his diminishing fielding range and the acquisition of Edgar Renteria. While he doesn’t fit the bill of a power-hitting first baseman, Guillen did reach career-highs in HR and RBI in 2007. He’s a great hitter that can hit well over .300 and should score over 100 runs in that explosive runs Tigers lineup. For fantasy purposes though, since he’ll probably be shortstop eligible, he’ll have more value slotted in as a shortstop (though he’s bound to finish as a top-15 first baseman as well).
2007 Stats: .317 AVG, 22 HR, 82 RBI, 91 R, 6 SB
Comment: It wasn’t exactly a return to his incredible 2005 campaign, when he knocked 46 HR with a .338 AVG and 120 runs, but Lee sort-of bounced-back after an injury-ruined 2006 season. He hit .317 in 2007, but his HR and RBI numbers could have been better. One positive for him from last season, however, is the fact that he swatted 16 HR in the second-half, meaning he does have the potential to hit 30 HR.
2007 Stats: .259 AVG, 31 HR, 90 RBI, 71 R, 0 SB
Comment: The entire White Sox offense struggled mightily for most of the season, attributing to Konerko’s mediocre stat-line. The good news for fantasy owners is that the White Sox organization is adamant about once again becoming a contending team. They’ve gone out and added Orlando Cabrera and Carlos Quentin to help the offense and the development of players like Jerry Owens and Josh Fields should lead to a much better White Sox lineup for 2008. Konerko should rebound this season and drive in over 100 runs while hopefully getting his batting average back to the .280 range.
2007 Stats: .320 AVG, 17 HR, 91 RBI, 86 R, 0 SB
Comment: Helton’s 30 HR days appear to be over, but he still has significant fantasy value at age 34. With players like Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe, Garret Atkins and NL MVP Matt Holliday, the Rockies have built themselves a formidable middle of the order, one that Helton stands to benefit from. Don’t be surprised if he actually improves on last season’s numbers.
2007 Stats: .288 AVG, 16 HR, 83 RBI, 85 R, 4 SB
Comment: The Gold Glove winner provided an incredible amount of grit and plate patience to the 2007 World Series Champs, but fantasy owners shouldn’t think of him as a mere role player on draft day. Youkilis had career-highs in batting average, HR and RBI. The beauty of Youkilis’ game is his versatility. He can hit anywhere in the lineup, so if he’s given a bulk of at-bats in the two-hole, he’ll pick up a ton of runs with Big Papi and Manny Ramirez hitting behind him. If he bats fifth, he’ll drive in a ton of runs. It’s a win-win with Youkilis, who should continue to improve in 2008.
2007 Season: .258 AVG, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 71 R, 4 SB
Comment: Delgado enjoyed quite possibly the worst season of his career in 2007. The man’s going to be 36 in June and is coming off a horrid season. Delgado has some incentive to improve, however. The Mets have a club option for 2009 worth at least $12 million, so if he wants to prove that he is still worth double-digit millions, he will have to come back strong in 2008. Look, he’s still in a great lineup that will give him plenty of RBI opportunities. There were times last season where he looked poised to bust out of his slump with a couple of big games, only to slip again. The guy could top 30 HR and 100 RBI and is worth taking a chance on. Just make sure you have a back-up first baseman drafted as insurance.
2007 Stats: .347 AVG, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 16 R, 1 SB
Comment: Barton has to battle Dan Johnson for playing time, but if Barton’s play following his 2007 call-up suggests, he should get plenty of at-bats in 2008. He showed some nice power and based on his upside, Barton should be the everyday first baseman when it’s all said and done.
2007 Stats: .292 AVG, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 38 R, 0 SB
Comment: Played in just 92 games in his rookie season but still came away with solid numbers. Despite getting some time at first, Butler figures to slot in as the full-time DH for 2008. The Royals offense should be stronger with the development of Alex Gordon and the acquisition of Jose Guillen, so Butler could surprise a lot of people with a fantastic season.
2007 Stats: .321 AVG, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 11 R, 1 SB
Comment: We’ll have to see how new manager Dusty Baker plays it, but Joey Votto sho
Designated Hitters
March 20, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Designated hitters are usually unattractive fantasy options. Since most fantasy leagues have just one or two utility slots, players with a DH tag leave little roster flexibility. But in the past couple of seasons, some big bats have gone from playing everyday positions in the field to full-time designated hitter roles. There are some strong bats in the DH pool, and Update! went ahead and ranked the top ten designated hitters heading into the 2008 season:
2007 Stats: .332 AVG, 35 HR, 117 RBI, 116 R, 3 SB
Comment: Ortiz finally looked like he was slowing down heading into the All Star break, having belted just six HR total in May and June. Sox officials then revealed that he was playing on a bum knee that would require surgery; fantasy owners figured he would taper off as the season wore on. That was not the case. Big Papi finished with career-highs in batting average and even stolen bases! All right, so three swiped bags isn’t much, but the fact that he turned in a terrific fantasy season despite playing hurt is great news for owners heading into 2008. Ortiz had off-season surgery to repair the knee and is expected to be at full health for the start of the season.
2007 Stats: .266 AVG, 24 HR, 100 RBI, 80 R, 1 SB
Comment: While Hafner did manage to drive in over 100 runs for the fourth consecutive season, he also hit below .300 and scored under 90 runs for the first time during that span. He took off in September (.316, five HR, 23 RBI) but that was before he really stumbled in the post-season, ending with a meager .186 AVG in the playoffs. Hafner shouldn’t be ignored or anything in 2008 drafts, but after a season like last year, maybe he truly peaked in 2006.
2007 Stats: .265 AVG, 25 HR, 75 RBI, 107 R, 22 SB
Comment: When Sheffield was healthy, he was a dangerous bat in the Tigers lineup. He started off the season terribly, batting .200 in April before becoming one of the best contributors in fantasy baseball between May and July. Shoulder woes took a toll on him late in the season and Sheffield had off-season surgery to try to patch it up. He’s been dealing with shoulder injuries for what has felt like forever, so he definitely is an injury-risk for 2008. But in Detroit’s potent offense, Sheffield could put up beastly numbers this season.
2007 Stats: .275 AVG, 35 HR, 96 RBI, 79 R, 0 SB
Comment: Thome enjoyed another productive season with the Chicago White Sox in 2007 and that was with a lineup that had a hard time mustering runs for most of the year. Chicago should be better heading into 2008, so Thome could improve on last season’s numbers. He did miss 32 games in 2007 and is turning 38 in Aug., but Thome should still be a nice fantasy option at the DH spot.
2007 Stats:.277 AVG, 26 HR, 95 RBI, 63 R, 0 SB
Comment: The Big Hurt played in 155 games last season, the most since 2000 when he played in 159 games with the Chicago White Sox. He closed the 2007 campaign out especially strong, hitting .325 with 10 HR and 41 RBI in the final two months of the season. Thomas is turning 40 in May, but needs 469 plate appearances this year in order for his 2009 option to kick in. If he’s healthy, he should swat about 30 HR in 2008.
2007 Stats: .236 AVG, 14 HR, 39 RBI, 31 R, 1 SB
Comment: Giambi was limited to just 83 games in 2007, as injuries again affected his game. He’s entering a walk-year in 2008, but his playing time is in jeopardy. He’s going to have to share time at DH with Hideki Matsui, and the Yankees have Shelly Duncan and Wilson Betemit to use at first base. Giambi’s playing time is likely going to be predicated on how he performs. If he swings a hot stick, the Yankees are going to find a way to get him at-bats. If he struggles, however, things will be much cloudier.
2007 Stats: .240 AVG, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 19 R, 1 SB
Comment: Botts played well during Winter League play and is hoping to land a starting gig with Texas for the start of the 2008 season. He has tremendous power potential and could fill in the DH role, vacated by Sammy Sosa, nicely. He can play the outfield as well, but because the Rangers acquired Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradely, there probably isn’t enough room for him out there. If Botts wins an everyday job out of Spring Training, he could be an excellent source of HR and RBI in 2008.
2007 Stats: .244 AVG, 17 HR, 49 RBI, 48 R, 12 SB
Comment: It was a bit disappointing that the Rays signed veteran Cliff Floyd to a one-year deal. It looked like Gomes was sure to get more playing time after Tampa Bay sent Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes packing. Don’t worry too much though. Because Rocco Baldelli and Floyd are injury-prone, Gomes figures to at least match his 348 at-bats from last season. He’s shown nice power in the past and a 25 HR season wouldn’t be surprising.
2007 Stats: .280 AVG, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 68 R, 1 SB
Comment: Outside of an outstanding August (.363 AVG, 8 HR, 19 RBI and 19 R), Huff was merely okay during the 2007 season. Huff is 31-years old and underwent off-season sports hernia surgery in mid-January. The Orioles aren’t exactly offensive juggernauts heading into 2008, so don’t expect a return to his 30 HR / 100 RBI days of 2003 and 2004.
Seattle Mariners
2007 Stats: .314 AVG, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 78 R, 0 SB
Comment: Serving as a full-time DH for the first time in his career, Vidro benefited greatly. He managed to play in 147 games in 2007 - the most since 2002. And while the HR and RBI numbers were not typical DH figures, he still helped the team out a lot. His .314 batting average last season was his best mark in five years and he should provide similar stats in 2008. age 26.
Texas Rangers
Comment: A little too old to be a true prospect (28 in July), but Botts should get a real crack at playing consistently in 2008.
Free Agent
Comment: Sosa’s status for 2008 is up in the air, as no teams seems willing to sign him. He may be forced to retire if interest in him remains ice-cold.
New York Yankees
Comment: Yankees’ fans will be popping champagne at the end of the 2008 season to celebrate the end of Giambi’s $120 million contract.
TRAVIS HAFNER
Cleveland Indians
Comment: In July of 2007, Hafner signed a four-year, $52 million extension that has him locked up with Cleveland until at least 2012.
Relief Pitchers
March 20, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
It’s an old adage, repeatedly exclaimed by fantasy experts every season: don’t draft closers too early. The logic generally stems from the high turnover rate of the position, inconsistencies from year to year and their dimished impact on several categories (strikeouts, wins, etc.). Basically, you do not want to risk a third or fourth-round draft pick on someone with such volatile properties. While this philosophy does carry weight, it is important to note that many fantasy owners take this “don’t draft closers early” mantra too far, mistakenly waiting too long and ending up stuck with the likes of Armando Benitez. Sure, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to add closers throughout the season, but you don’t want to rely on the waiver wire alone. Free agent fantasy additions should be more about deepening your bullpen rather than building one. With that in mind, here are the top 30 closers heading into this season:
2007 Stats: 1-3, 37 SV, 58.1 IP, 1.85 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 84 SO
Comment: No one needs to worry about Papelbon moving to the starting rotation anytime soon. In his second season working in the closer’s role, Papelbon once again put up sick numbers. The World Series Champion Red Sox are going to win a lot of games in 2008, so Papelbon should top the 40 save mark with ease. Draft him with the utmost confidence.
2007 Stats: 5-2, 40 SV, 67.1 IP, 2.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 90 SO
Comment: Last season, he sported a career-low 1.25 WHIP and his 2007 ERA was his highest mark since posting a 3.03 ERA in 2003. This might seem like nit-picking, but for Rodriguez, those are just OK numbers. Seeing as he is just 26-years-old, Rodriguez is probably not headed for a decline. But he’ll need to bounce back to re-establish himself as the top of the relief pitching position.
2007 Stats: 6-1, 40 SV, 71.2 IP, 1.38 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 82 SO
Comment: Most were skeptical about how he would handle ninth-inning duties in 2007 after breaking out in 2006, but Putz once again finished the season as a premiere closer. He was bothered late in the season by arm troubles (tightness in his right triceps) but is presumed to be fine for spring training. Putz will be 31 in Feb., which is a concern since he has only had two great seasons in the big leagues, but those two seasons have been too dominant to ignore.
2007 Stats: 3-5, 40 SV, 65 IP, 2.77 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 56 SO
Comment: Jenks enjoyed the best season of his career thus far with a fine 2007. He closed the year out especially well, giving up just three earned runs in the final two months of the season. It’s somewhat discouraging that his strikeout numbers dropped noticeably after he whiffed 80 in 2006, but it’s clear that he’s stepped up his game overall. Chicago added Scott Linebrink in the off-season so Jenks should have a better bridge to bring him leads late in games. That should translate to another 40 save season.
2007 Stats: 4-2, 37 SV, 71.2 IP, 1.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 77 SO
Comment: Nathan is entering his fifth season as the Twins closer and is in walk-year status. As his 2007 suggests, he should be in for a nice-pay day following this season. The Twins know this and they are expected to shop Nathan around to see what they can get for him. It would be a shame if he were dealt to a contending team that acquires him to be a set-up man, particularly if you waste a fantasy draft pick on him before the season began. This presents a bit of risk with Nathan, but if he pitches in the ninth inning for all of 2008, history shows that he’ll finish amongst the top closers in the game.
2007 Stats: 2-1, 39 SV, 64.1 IP, 1.40 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 78 SO
Comment: Despite dealing with hamstring and shoulder ailments, Saito put together another impressive season with a dynamite 2007. Saito has had great numbers the past couple years, but he’ll be 38 in February and with Jonathan Broxton breathing down his neck, he’ll have little room for failure. Another negative for Saito this season is the presence of new manager Joe Torre. Torre is notorious for blowing out bullpen arms by overworking his relievers, and with Saito’s age an injury could be imminent. If he’s healthy all season, Saito should again be amongst the best closers in fantasy baseball. Just keep in mind that he comes with some risk.
2007 Stats: 2-2, 34 SV, 68.1 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 80 SO
Comment: Wagner looked like he was headed for a huge 2007 after a fantastic start (first half: 1-0, 17 SV, 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 51 SO in 38.1 IP). His second-half, however, was flat-out bad (1-2, 17 SV, 3.90 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 29 SO in 30 IP). His overall season ERA, WHIP and strikeouts were his worst since 2001. Wagner is turning 37 in July, so he may be on the decline. As long as his ERA stays under 3.00 and he accumulates over a strikeout-per-inning, he should remain a nice closer option for the competing Mets in 2008.
2007 Stats: 3-4, 30 SV, 71.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 74 SO
Comment: It’s peculiar that Rivera became the highest-paid closer of all time after one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. The fact that he’s 38-years old is a concern, but the Yankees are obviously going to keep him in the closer’s role. He still had solid numbers and has been incredibly reliable in his career. When you’re closing games for a perennial contender like the Yankees, the saves are going to come. Just because he hasn’t had 40 saves in the past two seasons does not mean he can’t reach that mark in 2008.
2007 Stats: 4-5, 42 SV, 57.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 44 SO
Comment: Hoffman finished the regular season very poorly, giving up 12 ER in 21.1 innings during the final two months of the season, including blown saves in the Padres final two games — effectively ending their 2007 season. This is the last year of his current contract, so Hoffman will probably have to turn in another effective season in order to prove that he can still close games. That being said, the Padres aren’t going to shy away from him in the ninth inning if he has a couple of bad games, so he should be safe to use in 2008.
2007 Stats: 1-4, 47 SV, 64.2 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 78 SO
Comment: Enjoyed the best season of his career in 2007 with the Diamondbacks. Now with the Astros, Valverde will have a hard-time breaking 40 saves for the second consecutive year. Aside from his inconsistency issues prior to this season, he’s going from an up-and-coming team that went to the NLCS in 2007, to a team with that was among the worst in baseball. The Astros have improved their offense on paper, so they shouldn’t be as bad as they were in 2008. If Valverde can stay healthy, he should be able to garner 30-plus saves with solid overall numbers.
2007 Stats: 3-3, 37 SV, 75 IP, 3.36 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 62 SO
Comment: The fantasy community was pretty disappointed with Cordero’s 2007 season given his talent. But the guy still ended up with 37 saves on the Washington Nationals (who won only 73 games all season). Sure the 1.39 WHIP was ugly last season, but the Nationals have made it clear that Cordero is still the closer, no matter how much he struggles. That’s encouraging heading into 2008 as Washington should win more games thanks to their fervent activity this off-season. 40 saves may actually be a real possibility this season and at age 25 (he’ll be 26 in March), Cordero is still capable of turning in a brilliant season.
2007 Stats: 0-4, 52 SV, 63.2 IP, 2.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 86 SO
Comment: Cordero picked the perfect time to have the best season of his career as he cashed in on a deal with the Reds. His numbers seem bound to suffer at least a little as he’s moving to one of the smallest home-run parks in all of baseball. The Reds seem committed to winning as evidenced by the signing of manager Dusty Baker, but who knows how much they’ll improve on a 72-win season. The good thing about Cordero is that he should be in no jeopardy of losing the closer’s gig thanks to the big contract. So long as you understand that his ERA may rise in the smaller home stadium, feel free to draft Cordero and expect 30-plus saves this season.
2007 Stats: 4-2, 19 SV, 78 IP, 2.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 58 SO
Comment: Corpas took over closing duties for three-time All Star Brian Fuentes in July and he didn’t look back when given the keys to the ninth-inning gig. He finished the season with an impressive overall stat-line. As of right now, it appears as if the Rockies are going to go with Corpas as their closer to start 2008. Of course, should he falter, Colorado could always go back to Fuentes, who has 85 career saves. This presents a great risk for fantasy owners looking to draft Corpas. But as long as he maintains his effectiveness from 2007 and staves off Fuentes, he should be a great option at the relief pitching positions for the National League Champion Rockies.
2007 Stats: 4-7, 18 SV, 79 IP, 2.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 64 SO
Comment: Capps big-frame proved intimidating in 2007 as he produced great numbers while being named the closer in June. At age 24, Capps looks like the real deal and Pittsburgh has heard plenty of teams come calling about his services. The Pirates are reportedly going to try to lock him up with a multi-year contract. Should Capps remain a closer in Pittsburgh, he probably won’t see 40 saves, but he should provide another great season overall.
2007 Season: 3-3, 9 SV, 72 IP, 3.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 70 SO
Comment: While he only has 13 career saves, Soriano is being thrust into the closer’s role for Atlanta in 2008. He’s got great stuff and fantasy owners should not shy away from him just because of his inexperience. His overall season line of 2007 looks pretty good, but it does not tell the whole story. When pitching in the ninth inning, he held opposing batters to an insane .099 batting average. The Braves might have a tough time putting him in a situation to get 40 saves, but Soriano has the make-up to have a big season and make the most of his save opportunities.
2007 Stats: 2-3, 17 SV, 69 IP, 2.48 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 75 SO
Comment: Soria enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign in 2007, being used in the closer’s role while Octavio Dotel was out before being given the job for good following Dotel’s trade to Atlanta. He’s turning 24 in May and has a bright future ahead of him. The Royals may not look like a team good enough to give him a ton of save chances, but don’t judge a book by its cover. The team had 36 saves last season from seven different players, meaning that Soria should be good for about 30 if he stays healthy.
2007 Stats: 4-0, 32 SV, 65.1 IP, 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 54 SO
Comment: Following a let down 2006, in which Isringhausen dealt with injury virtually all season, the veteran closer came back strong in 2007. The Cardinals picked up their option on Izzy for the 2008 season and he is due to be a free agent after this season. He’s no spring chicken (35-years old), but Isringhausen could earn a multi-year deal following this season if he turns in another solid campaign.
2007 Stats: 5-2, 16 SV, 50 IP, 2.88 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 63 SO
Comment: The 2005 AL Rookie of the Year was rather injury-prone in 2007 after two straight seasons of pitching 70-plus innings. He’s got the talent to be a top closer, but the A’s are no longer the competitive team they once were, meaning less save chances for Street. Since Oakland seems to be chugging towards a rebuilding era, Street may be dealt at some point. If he lands a closer’s job elsewhere, his value would gain a nice boost. Of course, any team that may acquire him could put Street in a set-up role.
2007 Stats: 5-3, 19 SV, 67 IP, 3.36 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 88 SO
Comment: The Phillies got Lidge for cheap in the off-season, but while many are giddy at the prospects of Lidge returning to his former dominant self, fantasy owners should proceed with caution. Keep in mind that Lidge will now be playing home games in tiny Citizen’s Bank Park. If the fragility of his psyche is still an issue, he could be a game-winning HR away from a total implosion. Philadelphia still has Tom Gordon and Brett Myers on staff, so they have alternatives to Lidge if he can’t stand the pressure of playing for the reigning NL East Champion Phillies.
2007 Stats: 4-2, 16 SV, 52 IP, 3.81 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 51 SO
Comment: Gagne was signed to close games for the Brewers, but those of us who witnessed his awful showing in Boston last season (2-2, 0 SV, 6.75 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 22 SO in 18.7 IP) know that he has meltdown potential. It’s not encouraging that Milwaukee has Derrick Turnbow, David Riske and Salomon Torres throwing in the bullpen; all of them have closing experience. Since Gagne is signed to a one-year deal, the team may not feel it necessary to stick with him in the closer’s role if he struggles mightily, particularly if they are competing for the playoffs. He’ll probably have a decent leash on the job, but have some insurance on your roster in case he falters.
2007 Stats: 1-2, 6 SV, 23.2 IP, 2.28 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 18 SO
Comment: The future is now for Brian Wilson, who will battle Brad Hennessey and Tyler Walker for the closer’s gig in San Francisco. He was effective last season when given the opportunity to close and this spring training, there shouldn’t be much of a competition. Wilson is clearly the better option in the bullpen and he should begin the season as the Giants closer.
2007 Stats: 5-4, 2 SV, 85.1 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 63 SO
Comment: The Diamondbacks established themselves as a competitive force in the NL West and with their group of young, gifted players, they should remain competitive in 2008. One of those young stars, Tony Pena, would be a terrific option to fill the vacant closer’s seat left by traded reliever Jose Valverde. In his first full-season, Pena opened eyes with his ability to get hitters out. Unfortunately, Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin named Brandon Lyon the closer heading into spring training, but given Pena’s talent, don’t be surprised if he usurps Lyon in the role.
2007 Stats: 5-1, 69.2 IP, 1.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 96 SO
Comment: We all know that the Cubs re-signed Kerry Wood to a one-year deal with the intention of trying him out as their closer. But judging from the past few seasons, banking on Kerry Wood to be healthy all year is a loser’s bet. Anyone who saw the Cubs bullpen last season knows that Marmol was far and away their best pitcher. If Wood has any issues staying healthy (and he will), Marmol would be the favorite to collect saves for the Cubs. Even as a set-up man, he’s great for fantasy purposes.
2007 Stats: 1-4, 38 SV, 61.1 IP, 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 33 SO
Comment: Jones signed a one-year, $7 million contract to stay with Detroit in 2008, but that was probably more out of desperation on Detroit’s part. With Joel Zumaya out at least half the season, the Tigers had to retain Jones. The good thing for fantasy owners here is that manager Jim Leyland has stuck by Jones through tough times even when Zumaya and Fernando Rodney were clearly outperforming him. There’s no reason to think Leyland won’t continue to stand by Jones.
2007 Stats: 4-4, 2 SV, 82 IP, 2.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 99 SO
Comment: Dodgers closer Takashi Saito is pushing 40 and showed some fragility in 2007. If Saito goes down because of injury, Broxton could finally get his shot to close full-time in 2008. The monstrous Broxton has the talent to be a top closer for fantasy owners, though if new L.A. manager Joe Torre does indeed blows out Saito’s arm, it’s possible that Broxton would be next on Joe’s hit list.
2007 Stats: 4-5, 65.2 IP, 5.07 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 58 SO
Comment: He led the AL in saves last season, but Borowski’s age (37 in May) and season ERA in 2007 bode poorly for his chances in 2008. He also has a ton of competition waiting to take his job in Mashide Kobayashi, Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt. Let’s face it, the Indians bullpen was a strength last season and it had little to do with Borowski’s adventurous style of garnering saves. The only good thing going for him is the fact that Indians manager Eric Wedge showed tremendous loyalty to Borowski in 2007. If Borowski struggles, Wedge could do the same in 2008.
2007 Stats: 2-1, 12 SV, 68.1 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 63 SO
Comment: Wilson is the front-runner for the closer’s job in Texas. He needs to be tracked in spring training as the Rangers may decide to put Joaquin Benoit in the role if Wilson struggles, but that seems a long shot to happen. Texas should be considerably better in 2008 thanks to their busy off-season that saw them make improvements to their offense. Wilson hit his peak in July, when he gave up all of two ER all month long, before stumbling some at the end of the season. He could far exceed his draft day value in 2008 so fantasy owners can consider him a sleeper for saves.
2007 Stats: 0-5, 32 SV, 84 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 87 SO
Comment: Gregg did a respectable job as the team’s closer for almost all of 2007, but he is in the unfortunate circumstance of being in a bullpen loaded with potential closers. Between Matt Lindstrom, Taylor Tankersley and Lee Gardner, Gregg will have to play pretty well in order to hold onto the role. Judging by his 6.23 ERA in Sept., Gregg may lose his grip on the ninth inning gig sooner than later.
2007 Stats: 1-1, 0 SV, 24.1 IP, 3.33 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 24 SO
Comment: Wood signed a one-year, $4.2 million contract to stay with the Cubs in 2008, and the hope in Chicago is that he develops into a devastating bullpen arm. While many believe that the Cubs are grooming Wood to be their closer, it’s hard to imagine them giving him the job right out of spring training unless he can prove to them that he can handle the workload. Perhaps he has a tremendous Spring and silences his critics, but since the Cubs have guys who can close — like Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry — it’s more likely that if he does earn the closer’s job, it’ll be some time during the regular season.
San Diego Padres
2007 Stats: 6-4, 2 SV, 93.2 IP, 2.02 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 102 SO
Comment: Bell did an incredible job in his first season with the San Diego Padres, becoming a reliable bridge to future Hall-of-Famer Trevor Hoffman. Bell isn’t in any position to usurp Hoffman, but at age 40, who knows what can happen. Bell was never really a great pitcher before joining the Padres, but he’s clearly found a niche in San Diego.
Los Angeles Angels
Comment: K-Rod is going to shatter the salary mark for highest-paid closer in baseball. The Angels would be fools to let him get away.
Detroit Tigers
Comment: With the way he’s looked the last couple of years, retirement may be just around the corner (especially if Detroit wins a World Series this season).
Cincinnati Reds
Comment: He hit the free agent pool as the most sought-after reliever in baseball and signed a four-year, $46 million contract.
HUMBERTO SANCHEZ
New York Yankees
Comment: Sanchez underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2006 and might become the Joba Chamberlain of 2008 for the Yankees as a starter-turned-reliever. Sanchez has tremendous talent.
Stealing Your League
March 20, 2008
Now, it’s no small coincidence that the top three NBA ranking players in the steals category are on playoff bound teams. Washington Wizards small forward Caron Butler (2.26 spg), Baron Davis of the Golden State Warriors (2.37 spg) and New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (2.72 spg) are all veritable fantasy studs.
Intangibles are defined as assets that cannot be perceived by the senses. In NBA terms, that means the little things. Defense is a huge part of being an intangible player, but in fantasy, defense as a whole is not valuable. Steals, blocks and rebounds, however, are definitely important individual numbers.
These three players are not just superstars, the’re also the most valuable pieces of their team. And not just because of their lane trolling prowess; they also play a complete game. Stealing is an important fantasy statistic, and being able to pick the ball off without giving yourself away is no easy task, which is probably why all three of these people are top fantasy picks.
Fantasy GM’s often forget that (in roto-leagues) steals are just as important as rebounds or points. In a lot of leagues, steals and blocks are worth double. The term five-category stud is just as applicable here as it is in baseball. Do yourself a favor. Load up on guys who can steal and block because they can almost undoubtedly do everything else just as well.
– MICHAEL GANCI
Second Basemen
March 17, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies was the only second basemen worth taking in the first or second round in the 2007 draft. But as the new season approaches, at least a handful of players have made a case for early fantasy ownership. Utley still leads the pack, but more and more quality second baseman have cropped up. While 2007 was the year of the shortstop, 2008 could very well be the time for two-baggers to step up around the league. With that in mind, Update! presents the top twenty second basemen to draft for the 2008 season:
2007: .332 AVG, 22 HR, 103 RBI, 104 R, 9 SB
Comment: Despite missing 30 games in 2007, Utley still finished with superb second-base numbers. He’s the only two-bagger in fantasy worth taking in the first-round and with good reason. He’s a sure-fire bet for batting over .300 with 25-35 HR, 100-115 RBI, 105-120 runs and double-digit stolen bases if healthy for a full season.
2007: .288 AVG, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 107 R, 32 SB
Comment: Phillips’ 2007 numbers are even more impressive considering how atrocious Cincinnati’s offense was last season. He turns 27 in June and should only continue to improve, particularly if the Reds are healthier in 2008. And if some of their talented prospects (Jay Bruce and Joey Votto) step-up, Phillips may even top 100 RBI.
2007: .306 AVG, 19 HR, 97 RBI, 93 R, 4 SB
Comment: Most of Cano’s at-bats in 2007 were spent in the six-hole or later in the Yankees staggeringly powerful lineup, making his numbers even more impressive. Cano is 25 now, so don’t be surprised if he’s asked to bat higher in the order. Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada are not getting any younger, and Cano may already own a more dangerous bat than both players. Should Cano be moved up the batting order, he could finally top the century mark in both runs and RBI while possibly topping 20 HR as well.
2007: .263 AVG, 20 HR, 61 RBI, 96 R, 23 SB
Comment: After busting out of the gates in 2007 with a white-hot April, Kinsler really slowed down. But despite his struggles, he still ended up with a solid overall fantasy line. Manager Ron Washington has indicated that Kinsler will mostly bat second as it stands, though he could also bat leadoff depending on the lineup. Kinsler turns 26 in June and should continue making strides.
2007:.290 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 103 R, 50 SB
Comment: The switch-hitting infielder tied the American League lead in stolen bases last season (14 more than his career-high set in 2006). 2007 also marked the third consecutive year that Roberts has reached double-digit HR totals. The 30-year old speed demon will likely swap 45-plus bases again in 2008, but his run production may slip with Miguel Tejada now playing for the Houston Astros.
2007: .245 AVG, 31 HR, 88 RBI, 113 R, 2 SB
Comment: No one’s arguing with most of his 2007, but that .245 batting average is keeping him from the cream of the second base crop. Uggla needs to figure out how to bring his home-field comfort (.275 AVG in 80 games) to the road (.216 AVG in 79 games). He no longer has Miguel Cabrera hitting behind him, which should negatively affect the quality of pitches he sees and likely bring down his run totals. But chances are the Marlins are going to turn to Uggla to drive in runs, which should help him improve his RBI numbers.
2007: .341 AVG, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 105 R, 7 SB
Comment: Polanco slotted in perfectly as the No. 2 hitter in front of the big bats of Maggilo Ordonez and Gary Sheffield last year. With the Tigers offense super-charged by the acquisitions of Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cabrera, Polanco could reach 130 runs scored. Manager Jim Leyland loves Polanco’s game, so he should stick in the two-hole for 2008, putting him in the perfect position to turn in another productive season.
2007: .322 AVG, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 55 R, 5 SB
Comment: Since manager Mike Scioscia likes using aggressive base running at the top of his lineup, Kendrick may end up taking most of his at-bats in the sixth hole or farther down the lineup. It’s a shame because Kendrick showed a lot of promise in 2007. He’s got the talent to bloom anywhere in the lineup, but obviously the higher up in the order he is, the better his stats are going to be. Kendrick has decent speed, so hopefully the Angels opt to use Kendrick in the two-hole in front of Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero.
2007: .317 AVG, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 86 R, 7 SB
Comment: The 2007 AL Rookie of the Year winner looked like a seasoned-vet en route to a fantasy worthy regular season performance. He struggled mightily in April, leaving us to wonder how much better his numbers would have been had he got off to a hot start. With a full-season of big league play under his belt, Pedroia should be able to improve on his 2007 campaign in that especially potent Red Sox lineup.
2007: .294 AVG, 10 HR, 63 RBI, 69 R, 10 SB
Comment: Before succumbing to a torn ligament in his left thumb, Hudson was enjoying a pretty good 2007 season. Those numbers may not leap off the page, but there’s good reason to think he will enjoy an improved 2008. Hudson becomes a free agent after the 2008 season and he has made it clear that he wants to stay with the Diamondbacks. The club has let it be known that they prefer to see how the season plays out before working out a new contract, which means Hudson will have to really show them something in order to convince Arizona to retain his services.
2007: .302 AVG, 20 HR, 79 RBI, 78 R, 1 SB
Comment: Kent proved there was still something left in his bat in 2007. He led the team in HR but will be turning 40 this season. Fortunately, the Dodgers have added Andruw Jones and have a new coaching staff on board, looking to create a winning atmosphere. With the development of young players like James Loney and Matt Kemp, the Dodgers lineup could be strong this season and Kent could improve on those numbers.
2007: .276 AVG, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 91 R, 9 SB
Comment: The Braves gave Johnson a chance last year and he provided strong across-the-board numbers in his first full season. Atlanta is going to have to lean more on Johnson with the loss of Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones if they want any shot at making the post-season in 2008. He will have to improve his numbers during the last stretch of the season especially. He struggled mightily in Aug. and Sept. in 2007 (.240 AVG, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 26 R and 2 SB in 47 games).
2007: .301 AVG, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 91 R, 19 SB
Comment: Helton’s 30 HR days appear to be over, but he still has significant fantasy value at age 34. With players like Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe, Garret Atkins and NL MVP Matt Holliday, the Rockies have built themselves a formidable middle of the order, one that Helton stands to benefit from. Don’t be surprised if he actually improves on last season’s numbers.
2007: .302 AVG, 11 HR, 81 RBI, 77 R, 0 SB
Comment: The 2006 NL batting champion was remarkably injury-prone in 2007, playing with various eye, shoulder, wrist and knee ailments. Despite all that, he missed only 15 games and finished with an impressive line. He underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season but will reportedly be at full health heading into spring training. The Pirates lineup is obviously not ideal for fantasy purposes, but Sanchez has topped 80 RBI for two straight seasons and should hit for average once again in 2008.
2007: .291 AVG, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 87 R, 4 SB
Comment: Hill reached career-high marks in HR, RBI and runs while setting a franchise record for doubles by a second baseman with 47 last year. He closed out 2007 exceptionally well, batting .406 AVG with 23 runs. Hill is in a good-enough lineup with Toronto, and since he’s still pretty young (26 in March), he could top last season’s stats.
2007: .288 AVG, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 84 R, 32 SB
Comment: Matsui finally enjoyed the type of season folks expected when he arrived before the 2004 campaign by posting solid numbers in 2007. While he is no longer playing home games at Coors Field (where he batted .330 in 2007), Matsui will be joining a pretty good Astros lineup in Houston. Unfortunately, he missed 58 games last year with back and hamstring ailments and his health will likely take a couple of hits in 2008 as well.
2007: .276 AVG, 19 HR, 76 RBI, 84 R, 9 SB
Comment: Ellis forced the Athletics to pick up his 2008 option by producing a career year. Ellis has been injury-prone throughout his career, but he showed last year that he could be a productive player when healthy. He’s entering a walk-year this season, so the motivation should be there for him to possibly top his numbers from 2007.
2007: .235 AVG, 16 HR, 36 RBI, 87 R, 25 SB
Comment: Weeks set career-high marks in HR, runs and SB, but most folks will tell you that he had a rough 2007. It’s a fair assessment to make since his batting average was simply unacceptable for most fantasy owners. Weeks was way better in the tail end of 2007 — he scored 29 runs and hit nine HR in Sept. The Brewers lineup is looking pretty good right now and Weeks is capable of having a useful season.
2007: .283 AVG, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 30 R, 0 SB
Comment: Cabrera took over for the ineffective Josh Barfield at second base mid-August last season and put up good numbers. He hit primarily in the two-hole of Cleveland’s lineup, a spot that could see him produce big numbers in 2008. If he remains near the top of the order this season and Travis Hafner improves his game from 2007, Cabrera could stand to benefit greatly.
San Diego Padres
2007: .267 AVG, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 67 R, 14 SB
Comment: Iguchi was a great fantasy second baseman in 2006 and should not be written-off just because of an average 2007. Since he will be playing everyday, Iguchi could easily reach double-digit home run totals in 2008 - he had 33 dingers from 2005-2006. The Padres lineup will be better than it was last season, and if Iguchi hits near the top of the lineup, he may turn in a surprising season - especially with Adrian Gonzalez hitting behind him.
Colorado Rockies
Comment: Since the Rockies signed Marcus Giles, it means that Stewart will have to compete against Giles, Jayson Nix, Clint Barmes… Let’s just say there are tons of options for Colorado at second. If Stewart plays everyday though, take an immediate flyer on him.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Comment: Kent didn’t seem as if he was really considering retirement before the 2008 season, despite weighing the option in years past. Still, he’s turning 40 in March.
Baltimore Orioles
Comment: It seems inevitable that the Orioles are going to trade Roberts, with the Chicago Cubs being the front-runners to land him.
LUIS CASTILLO
New York Mets
Comment: The Mets overpaid for Castillo when they signed him to a four-year, $25 million contract. He’ll be 36 when the deal expires.
Shortstops
March 17, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
From Jimmy Rollins’ NL MVP campaign to Troy Tulowitzki breakout season, 2007 was the year of the shortstops. The position is as deep as it’s been in recent memory and boasts an elite top three that could all go in the first round of your fantasy draft. So with that in mind, Update! presents the top twenty shortstops for 2008:
2007: .332 AVG, 29 HR, 81 RBI, 125 R, 51 SB
Comment: Ramirez became the cream of a suddenly rich shortstop position with a dominant 2007. At age 24, there’s still room for improvement — shocking considering how incredible he was last year. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has mentioned moving Ramirez out of the leadoff spot with Miguel Cabrera gone. With the Marlins looking to replace his offensive production, there’s a good possibility that Ramirez will top 100 RBI in 2008. Ramirez could land in the three spot and thrive as a 30-plus HR threat. Really though, it doesn’t matter where he hits, this guy’s going to get his stats.
2007: .296 AVG, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 139 R, 41 SB
Comment: Although it’s rather difficult imagining the 29-year-old Rollins reaching the lofty heights he touched last year, he should continue to produce at an elite rate in 2008 thanks to a forgiving home ballpark and a strong lineup around him. Rollins hasn’t missed more than eight games in a season since 2001, so you know you can count on him to perform all year long.
2007: .280 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 122 R, 78 SB
Comment: Reyes was a consensus No. 2 overall pick for fantasy drafters in 2007, but just because his value has slipped a bit does not mean that he isn’t a fantastic player. The guy stole an amazing 78 bases last season — the most since Marquis Grissom swiped 78 in 1992. His HR and RBI totals were disappointing in 2007, but he’s just 24-years old and could very well return to the top of the shortstop rankings by the end of this season.
2007: .291 AVG, 24 HR, 99 RBI, 104 R, 7 SB
Comment: Tulowitzki enjoyed a remarkable rookie campaign last season. Considering he only had two HR entering June and finished with 24, the potential for a 30-plus HR season is definitely there. The only real knock on Tulowitzki is that his home stats (.326 AVG, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 54 R and 2 SB in 77 games) and road numbers (.256 AVG, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 50 R and 5 SB in 78 games) don’t quite match up. If he can maintain a consistent performance away from Coors Field, Tulowitzki could take his game to the upper tier of infielders.
2007: .322 AVG, 12 HR, 73 RBI, 102 R, 15 SB
Comment: Jeter enjoyed yet another useful fantasy season in 2007. While he’ll likely spend another season hitting in the two-hole, there is cause for concern in Jeter’s game. He’s turning 34 in June and while he has maintained a high batting average the past couple of seasons, his numbers have dropped elsewhere. His 102 runs last season marked the first time he failed to score at least 110 runs since 2004. His HR totals have dropped consistently every season since 2004 as well. Many consider Jeter a veritable fantasy warhorse, but he may just be on the cusp of a real statistical decline.
2007: .332 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 87 R, 11 SB
Comment: Renteria missed 38 games in 2007, but still provided good numbers with the Atlanta Braves. With the move to Detroit, Renteria enters a terrific situation, ripe with potential. The Tigers feature what has to be the best lineup in baseball, and Renteria should benefit. He will be reunited with manager Jim Leyland (the man under whom he won a World Series ring in 1997 for the Florida Marlins), and fantasy owners should expect big things from Renteria in 2008.
2007: .315 AVG, 9 HR, 94 RBI, 80 R, 13 SB
Comment: It’s nice that Young matched his career-high in stolen bases last season. Plus, he now has four straight 90-plus RBI seasons and continues to hit at a great clip year-in, year-out. But the nine homers he bopped last season is probably evidence that the days of his 20-plus HR power are over. Hopefully, with the acquisition of players like Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley, Young can improve on last season’s numbers.
2007: .296 AVG, 18 HR, 81 RBI, 72 R, 2 SB
Comment: Tejada missed 29 games last year, but his 2007 stats were still pretty solid. A nagging wrist injury limited Tejada’s production last year, but after a healthy off-season he should improve a bit. He belted 10 homers in Aug. last season, proving he still has 20-plus HR pop, and the Astros lineup is a significant upgrade over the Orioles, meaning Tejada should remain productive in 2008.
2007: .301 AVG, 8 HR, 86 RBI, 101 R, 20 SB
Comment: Cabrera turned in arguably his best season ever with Los Angeles last year. Now, he’ll be asked to be a regular producer near the top of the White Sox lineup, following a 2007 White Sox fans desperately want to forget. Cabrera should continue to be a run scoring and stolen base threat. And considering that he’s in a walk-year, there’s no reason to believe he won’t improve on last season’s numbers.
2007: .254 AVG, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 89 R, 4 SB
Comment: While he hit just .254 last season, he’s clearly solidified himself as a power-threat in the Padres lineup. With San Diego adding Jim Edmonds and Tadahito Iguchi to their offense, the lineup should be better in 2008. Greene has a tendency to be streaky and that trend could continue this season. But at age 28, perhaps he’s turned a corner.
2007: .270 AVG, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 87 R, 25 SB
Comment: Furcal battled ankle woes last season, causing a drop in his stolen base numbers. He missed 26 games in 2007, but should be fully healthy in 2008 and is still in a position to produce with Los Angeles. The acquisition of Andruw Jones could help Furcal top 100 runs scored, and if the team continues to run heavily, he could easily swipe over 35 bases in a rebound season.
2007: .277 AVG, 26 HR, 80 RBI, 89 R, 2 SB
Comment: Hardy enjoyed a blistering start to the season, compiling tremendous numbers in April and May (.300 AVG, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 34 R and 0 SB in 52 games). That, unfortunately, made up for most of his overall stats thanks to a mediocre showing the rest of the season (.260 AVG, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 55 R and 2 SB in 99 games). Hardy has got talent, but he obviously needs to work on his consistency. He has tremendous upside in an improving Brewers offense, but he also has the potential to kill your team for long stretches of time.
2007: .270 AVG, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 87 R, 4 SB
Comment: Cleveland has an offense that has made a habit of scoring a ton of runs the past few seasons, meaning Peralta should have plenty of opportunities to at least match last season’s totals. He’s hit 20-plus HR twice now in his career and hopefully he can do it again in 2008. Peralta will be turning 26 in May, so the best may be yet to come.
2007: .237 AG, 8 HR, 73 RBI, 71 R, 33 SB
Comment: Lugo didn’t have the big year many envisioned for him in 2007. It wasn’t a terrible season overall, particularly in the RBI and SB categories, but he could do a whole lot better. There’s hope for 2008; Lugo hit .280 after the All-Star break and if he can just get on base more often, the runs will come pouring in that potent Red Sox lineup.
2007: .238 AVG, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 60 R, 9 SB
Comment: Drew entered the 2007 season as one of the bigger sleeper picks in fantasy drafts. However, there were plenty of disappointed owners when Drew went through a rough first full season. He finished the year on a great note, however, hitting .387 in seven post-season games with two home runs, four RBI, six runs and one stolen base. It’s possible he was putting too much pressure on himself to perform well last season, meaning he could break out in 2008.
2007: .326 AVG, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 54 R, 5 SB
Comment: Escobar was great for the Braves in 94 games last season. Escobar was so good that when Edgar Renteria was placed on the DL, they shipped the All-Star shortstop to Detroit and entrusted Escobar with everyday shortstop duties. He hit over .300 every month he played last year, displaying impressive consistency for a 24-year-old rookie.
2007: .266 AVG, 3 HR, 45 RBI, 80 R, 28 SB
Comment: Theriot really stumbled towards the end of the 2007 regular season, batting .202 with just eight runs in September. He definitely has 30-plus steal potential and if he bats near the top of the order (as he was doing in 2007), 100 runs is a real possibility. Just don’t expect too much help with the power numbers.
2007: .245 AVG, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 70 R, 24 SB
Comment: Lopez’s numbers dropped across the board in 2007 with a .245 average being the most alarming aspect of his descent. He needs to be more efficient at the plate. If he improves, the Nationals lineup is strong enough for him to score 90-plus runs with plenty of stolen bases (he stole 44 in 2006).
2007: .309 AVG, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 58 R, 10 SB
Comment: Injuries, again, slowed him down in 2007, but Eckstein should have more value with a one-year deal in Toronto in a pretty-good offense. Expect double-digit steals and perhaps 90 or more runs.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2007: .296 AVG, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 67 R, 2 SB
Comment: Wilson enjoyed a decent-enough season last year, but he really turned it on late in the year. He yielded a white-hot bat in Aug. and Sept. (.410 AVG, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 26 R and 2 SB in 42 games), being a batting average savior of sorts for fantasy teams during the stretch run. His name is always mentioned in trade rumors, and with top prospect Brian Bixler behind him, Wilson may finally be moved. A trade would of course be a boon to his fantasy value — virtually every major league offense is better than Pittsburgh’s.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment: The Pirates’ shortstop of the future is probably not going to usurp Jack Wilson. Still, his presence gives Pittsburgh the freedom to ship out Wilson if they feel it necessary. Bixler would become the everyday shortstop, instantly making him a fantasy pickup.
Chicago White Sox
Comment: Fresh off a productive 2007, Cabrera should continue to be a reliable option for fantasy owners.
San Francisco Giants
Comment: There’s nothing wrong with his glove, but he played terrible during winter league and he’ll be 41 in April. This should at least be his last year as a starter.
TROY TULOWITZKI
Colorado Rockies
Comment: Tulowitzki and the Rockies agreed to terms on a six-year, $30 million extension.