Sweetbob's Fantasy F*ck/Marry/Kill - May 14th

This is the second installment of "Sweetbob's Fantasy F*ck, Marry, Kill." I received some emails asking me for fantasy advice. If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer all of them. You can email me at bobbymcrib@gmail.com.

Who made the list for a second week in a row? Do I trust David Robertson to close games for the Yankees? Should you begin looking for starters to replace Josh Beckett and Ubaldo Jimenez?

Welcome to "Sweetbob's Fantasy F*ck, Marry, Kill"...

Before I begin, let's go over the F/M/K terminology. The guys that I list under "Fuck" are guys that are currently hot and you need to pick them up. "Marry", are guys that you need to stick with, even if they are struggling a bit. "Kill", are guys that you need to think about dropping for better players in the free agent pool. 

* In the player description, the "owned %" was taken from ESPN.com leagues.

OF Josh Reddick - Oakland A's - 90.7% owned - Unless you are in an AL-only league, I doubt that Josh Reddick was drafted. He's being added to leagues as a feverish pace. I doubt the A's or his former team, the Red Sox, thought that he would be showing this much power. He's batting .291 with eight home runs so far. If he hasn't been added in your league, pick him up, especially since Yoenis Cespedes was just put on the disable-list.

OF Allen Craig - St. Louis Cardinals - 72.2% owned - Since he came off of the disabled-list, he's been on a tear. In the past two weeks, he's batting .324 with four homer runs and 13 RBI. There could soon be an issue with Craig's playing time, since Lance Berkman comes back from injury in the next few weeks. If you own Craig, ride him while he's hot, but keep an eye out on Berkman's playing status.

3B Will Middlebrooks - Boston Red Sox - 39.5% owned - When Kevin Youkilis went down with an injury, Red Sox Nation didn't even expect a productive replacement. Middlebooks has taken his opportunity and made the best of it. He has a stat line of 3/11/.282 over the last two weeks. If he keeps this up, he could steal some at-bats at either third-base or designated-hitter. If Youk struggles, Boston could start looking towards the future and deal him. It's a "what if," but Middlebrooks is a nice short-term fix.

C J.P. Arencibia - Toronto Blue Jays - 21.9% owned - If your catcher is struggling at the plate this season, Arencibia is a nice replacement. You know what you're going to get out of him and he delivers. His batting average won't be very high (probably hovering around .240), but you will get power. He has hit a couple dingers in the last two weeks.

3B Chris Johnson - Houston Astros - 42.1% owned - Johnson was on this list last week and his ownership jumped by almost 30%. He is still on a hot streak and I think he is the real deal. He was productive last year and he's continuing to improve. In the last two weeks, he is batting .368 with four homers and 11 RBI. Don't let the fact that he's on the low-scoring Astros scare you away. He will still produce numbers on a bad team.

SP Joe Blanton - Philadelphia Phillies - 13.6% owned - When you think of the strong starting pitching on the Phillies, Blanton is the last person you would name. He is the hottest pitcher on their staff and available in nearly every standard mixed league. He has two starts this week with favorable match-ups. Over the last two weeks, he's averaging nearly a strikeout an inning (21 in 23 innings) with a couple wins. He's worth a pick up and/or spot start this week.

SP James McDonald - Pittsburgh Pirates - 37.6% owned - It has been a long time since a Pirates starting pitcher looked this great. McDonald has been hot since the beginning of the year. He has a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 39 Ks in 44 innings...All-Star caliber numbers. His K/BB rate isn't great, but his balls are missing bats. He has only given up 31 hits in seven starts this year.

SP Carlos Zambrano - Miami Marlins - 47.0% owned - As a Cubs fan, it pains me to see Zambrano having a good season. In his last three starts, he has only given up one run with 21 strikeouts in 23 innings. He's red hot and you should pick him up and ride him until he has a six walk performance. He will have a few of those outings per year. The key in owning him is knowing when to drop him before his numbers hurt your team.

RP Alfredo Aceves - Boston Red Sox - 61.9% owned - Aceves started out the year bad, to say the least. His first few outings were horrible and his ERA & WHIP still show the affects of those appearances. He settled down and has a firm hold on the closing job. He has only given up two runs in his last 11.2 innings and has converted his last five save chances. Boston should start winning more games soon and he'll rack up some saves in your roto or head-to-head league.

SP Edinson Volquez - San Diego Padres 29.5% owned - Even though the Padres are bad, their pitchers still get to pitch half of their games at spacious PETCO Park. Volquez is on a hot streak and has only given up four runs in his last 25.2 innings. You won't expect many wins from him, but he has won his last two starts. He will help you a lot in strikeouts to make up for the lack of wins.

SP Brandon McCarthy - Oakland A's - 77.0% owned - McCarthy was drafted in most leagues, but was one of the first pitchers dropped in a large percentage of leagues. His starts weren't bad, but they weren't wowing any owners. His numbers started to improve and he has his pitches working and looks like old Brandon McCarthy. He won his last three starts and recorded ten strikeouts in his last start against Detroit.

OF - Jason Kubel - Arizona Diamondbacks - 81.8% owned - He keeps hitting, yet his owned percentage continues to drop. He hasn't shown a lot of power over the last couple of weeks, but in the last week, he has a hit in every game. The power will be hit or miss, but Kubel is a consistent hitter for your team.

OF - Logan Morrison - Miami Marlins - 67.0% owned - Based on past performance, you have to stick with LoMoMarlins. He is a streaky hitter, but at the end of the year, he'll have good fantasy numbers. If Ozzie Guillen starts to leave him off the lineup card, then it is time to think about dropping him.

OF Gerardo Parra - Arizona Diamondbacks - 50.3% owned - A lot of team owners get scared away by the word "platooon." Parra is on the ride side of the platoon, since he only sits when the Diamondbacks face a strong left-handed pitcher. His ownership has started to level out after being a trendy pick-up. He will give your team batting average, medium power, and some steals. He's a perfect fourth or fifth outfielder in standard mixed leagues.

1B Mark Trumbo - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - 77.2% owned - I can understand why people have dropped Trumbo, the Angels' lineup is crowded. They have Kendrys Morales, Albert Pujols, and Trumbo all sharing time at first-base. It helps that the Angels are working Morales back slowly and putting Trumbo in left field. He's getting at-bats, but he's getting left off the lineup card often. I expect the Angels to make a trade to free up playing time or send Trumbo to a better situation. Hold on to him, he is going to put up solid numbers. Keep in mind, he will soon be eligible to roster as an outfielder. He could have a rough week, since the Angels will not have the DH option for four games this week (they play in National League parks).

2B Neil Walker - Pittsburgh Pirates - 77.9% owned - Walker is sitting at one home run this year, but his average is at .278. By the end of the year, he'll have around 12-15 home runs and with an average near .300. His numbers have improved this week and has shown the ability to get on base and score runs.

C A.J. Pierzynski - Chicago White Sox - He is consistent and you know what you are getting when you own him. Pierzynski is not a guy that you brag about owning on your fantasy league. He isn't going to hit 30 homers and bat .325, but he has double-digit power w/ .280 average potential.

SP Jaime Garcia - St. Louis Cardinals - 90.2% owned - I'm not sure why team owners are giving up on Garcia so easily. He's a guy that will have a couple bad outings every couple months, but he will get his ERA under 4.00 by this time next month. He isn't going to strikeout a ton of batters, but he gives you other categories. He will give you wins and low ERA over the course of a season.

SP Matt Moore - Tampa Bay Rays - 91.0% owned - Moore went fairly high in fantasy drafts based on his performance in last year's playoffs. He showed poise and delivered a lot of filthy pitches. He is having trouble with his pitch count and not getting to the sixth inning. Once he finds how to get outs without having to strikeout batters, he will be able to get deeper into games. He could be a stud by August, so hold onto him right now.

SP - Hiroki Kuroda - New York Yankees - 80.4% owned - He impressed me last season and I have confidence that he will get plenty of wins when the Yankees start winning. He isn't the reason for the Yankees troubles. He has only had two bad starts, which inflated his ERA & WHIP to 3.56/1.37 respectively. If you take out those two starts, he has an ERA under 2.00 and a 1.10 WHIP.

OF/DH Kendrys Morales - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - 67.4% owned - The Angels play four games in National League parks and I don't see him playing in the majority of those games. They play a lot of Interleague games in June, so his ownership value will take a big hit. It is getting more difficult for Morales to crack the starting lineup. It doesn't help him that Mark Trumbo is hitting so well.

1B/OF Carlos Lee - Houston Astros - 97.0% owned - I'm not saying that you should instantly dump the former All-Star, but it could be time to start thinking about it. There are a lot of quality outfielders and first-baseman in the free agent pool. You drafted Lee for power and RBI and he isn't delivering. Keep an eye on his numbers, because it could be time to pull the trigger.

2B Rickie Weeks - Milwaukee Brewers - 88.1% owned - Weeks has been an up & down player for his entire career. He is either hitting under .200, knocking multiple homers in a game, or in the disabled list. It is nice to have power at the second-base position, but he has a nagging injury and his batting average is killing your team. If you don't have a suitable free agent replacement, put him on your bench while he's working through his injury.

3B/1B Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles - 73.1% owned - Davis started out the season on fire, but he has came back down to Earth in a hurry. He reverted back into the player that couldn't hold onto a job in Texas. He will not finish the season with an average over .220 and his power is streaky. If Will Middlebrooks is available in your league, he is a better option than Davis.

1B/OF Lucas Duda - New York Mets - 63.2% owned - The NL East is loaded with left-handed starters. The Mets have Duda on a platoon and usually sit him when they face a lefty. If the Mets were in another division, he would get more playing time. He has a lot of skills and when he plays, he's solid. Unless you are in a deep mixed or an NL-only, there are better free agent options as a replacement.

1B Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks - 44.3% owned - He is another player that is stuck in a platoon and shares time with Lyle Overbay. Goldschmidt was a late-season fantasy surprise last season. He was drafted in hopes that he would continue his above-average production. Goldschmidt has disappointed owners and it's time to pull off the band-aid. He could be a pick-up option later in the season if he ever hits his way out of the platoon.

SP/RP Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox - 94.4% owned - He is pitching through elbow issues and the White Sox are indecisive if they want to move him into the closer role. He has been an above-average starter this season, but elbow injuries always scare me as a fantasy team owner. He will either turn it around and have a solid season or completely lose his command and inflate his ERA and WHIP. He is a pitcher to keep and eye on and read the injury report on a daily basis. I have a feeling that he will make a trip to the DL very soon.

SP Josh Beckett - Boston Red Sox- 82.9% owned - He is in a messy situation in Boston. Beckett isn't known for keeping his cool and is labeled an emotional pitcher. I am not sold that he will end the season on Boston. A trade could come sooner than later. If he has one more bad start, it could be time to open up a spot on your roster for a rotating starter.

SP Ubaldo Jimenez - Cleveland Indians- 71.8% owned - He made the "Kill" list last week and he had another bad start. He walked five batters, allowed nine hits, and gave up seven runs in 4.2 innings. His ERA now stands at 5.18 and carries a 1.78 WHIP. I'm not sure what team owners are waiting on. Drop Jimenez now and pick up a guy like Christian Fredrich, Ross Detwiler, or Drew Smyly.

RP Grant Balfour - Oakland A's - 74.0% owned - He recently lost his job as the closer to Brian Fuentes. Bob Melvin, Oakland's manager, left the door open for Balfour to earn his spot back later in the year. He has had many opportunities to close games on other teams, but he has never succeeded as a closer. He isn't worth a roster spot in any mixed league format, unless you are in a roto league with a Holds category

Sweetbob's Fantasy F/M/K - May 7th

It has been over a month since you've had your fantasy baseball draft. If you are like me, you have given your players ever chance  to succeed. This is the time of year that teams start to make roster moves and you should do the same. You probably feel dumb for drafting Carlos Marmol...so make up for it by picking up someone better! This is the first of many weekly columns to help you win your fantasy leagues.

Welcome to "Sweetbob's Fantasy F*ck, Marry, Kill"...

Before I begin, let's go over the F/M/K terminology. The guys that I list under "F*ck" are guys that are currently hot and you need to pick them up. "Marry", are guys that you need to stick with the whole season, even if they are struggling a bit. "Kill", are guys that need to be dropped for better players in the free agent pool. 

* In the player description, the "owned %" was taken from ESPN.com leagues.

3B  Pedro Alvarez - Pittsburgh Pirates - 68.1% owned - Fantasy baseball players have waited for Alvarez to produce in the Majors. He looked like he was headed back to the Minors until he started to swing for the fences. Over the last 15 games, he has hit five home runs with a .378 average. This could be just a hot streak, so keep an eye on his batting average...when Alvarez is cold, he's ice cold.

SS/3B Jed Lowrie - Houston Astros - 71.5% owned - When Houston traded for Lowrie, they didn't expect this much offense. He has already hit four home runs and is batting .338 on the year. I would expect these numbers to level out throughout the season, but he's a must-start during this hot streak.

C Carlos Ruiz - Philadelphia Phillies - 47.3% owned - The Phillies needed offense while Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are out and they are getting it from Ruiz. He has averaged an RBI a game over the last 15 games and has nearly batted .400 during that stretch. He shares time with Brian Schneider behind the plate,  but he has been batting in the middle of the order when he is in the starting lineup.

OF Gerardo Parra - Arizona Diamondbacks - 55.9% owned - After Chris Young went down with an injury, Parra started getting regular playing time. He has been a good source for steals and batting average. Although he's in a platoon with A.J. Pollock, he still gets a lot of at-bats. He is a solid start while Young is on the disabled-list.

3B Chris Johnson - Houston Astros - 14.0% owned - After Johnson was called up last season, he ended the year on a high note. He had a slow April, but he returned to form over the last two weeks. He has hit 3 home runs, drove in 14 RBI, and carried a .333 average. This could just be a spike, but he could end up as a player that you'd like to "marry."

3B Kyle Seager - Seattle Mariners - 6.6% owned - Before this week, the consensus was that Seager would soon end up in a platoon at third-base. In the last 5 games, he has drove in 10 RBI, hit three home runs, and batted over .400. I think he is playing his way into a job as an everyday starter at third. Chone Figgins is the odd man out, but could find at-bats at another position. If you pick Seager up, there is still a slight chance that he will end up sharing time.

OF Tony Campana - Chicago Cubs - 17.0% owned - Campana was interviewed this week and said that if he started every game, he would steal over 100 bases. I believe that he would do that, since he's only been up two weeks and he has seven steals. You will not get any power from him. You would only be picking up steals and a decent average. He is a AAA demotion risk if the Cubs start making roster moves.

SP Chris Capuano - Los Angeles Dodgers - 62.2% owned - I know, I can't believe that he made the list either. He has only given up a total of one run in his last three starts. He faces the Rockies next and could string together a few more stellar outings. The most surprising thing is his K/9 is hovering around 9.0.

RP Santiago Casilla - San Francisco Giants - 73.0% owned - When it was announced that Brian Wilson would need Tommy John surgery, most people assumed that Sergio Romo would fill the closer role. The Giants opted to keep Romo in the set-up role and moved Casilla to closer. He's still available in a lot of leagues and he's currently the man. It could only be a matter of time before Romo gets a shot, but he's playing very well.

SP/RP Jeff Smaradzija - Chicago Cubs - 23.7% owned - I'm a Cubs fan and even I'm skeptical if he can keep pitching this well. In his last two starts, he has only given up one run and he's struck out 16 batters. He may not rack up wins, since Chicago is really bad, but he'll give you a nice ERA and WHIP.

OF Jason Kubel - Arizona Diamondbacks - 93.8% owned - Kubel was drafted in 100% of leagues, but people are starting to drop him. He started off cold, but he has shown signs that he's adjusting to National League pitching. He was a model of consistency in Minnesota and he's going to have a good year batting clean-up in the desert.

SS J.J. Hardy - Baltimore Orioles - 86.5% owned - Hardy already has six home runs this season, but his batting average has been hovering around .200. You knew what you were getting when you drafted Hardy, an extremely streaky player. His power numbers are one of the best at his position. You need to stick it out and you'll be rewarded in the end.

1B/2B/3B Daniel Murphy - New York Mets- 87.6% owned - Do you see how many positions he is available at? I don't understand why owners are dropping him. He hasn't hit for power yet, but he's worth more because of his position flexibility. He will bat for average and get his share of home runs when it warms up.

OF Alejandro De Aza - Chicago White Sox - 71.8% owned - De Aza has been a surprise for the White Sox, but owners are dropping him because he hasn't hit a home run in over two weeks. You shouldn't have expected a ton of power from him, but he's a valuable outfielder. If your league plays with .OBP, he has walked 13 times in the last 96 at-bats. He is a source for steals and runs, so go add him on your team.

1B Mark Trumbo - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - 69.4% owned - I can understand why people have dropped Trumbo, the Angels' lineup is crowded. They have Kendrys Morales, Albert Pujols, and Trumbo all sharing time at first-base. It helps that the Angels are working Morales back slowly and putting Trumbo in left field. He's getting at-bats, but he's getting left off the lineup card often. I expect the Angels to make a trade to free up playing time or send Trumbo to a better situation. Hold on to him, he is going to put up solid numbers. Keep in mind, he will soon be eligible to roster as an outfielder.

2B Neil Walker - Pittsburgh Pirates - 67.8% owned - Walker is sitting at one home run this year, but his average is at .287. By the end of the year, he'll have around 12-15 home runs and with an average near .300. He will help you get a little pop from the position and help in the runs category once Andrew McCutchen finds his power.

SP Josh Johnson - Miami Marlins - 93.0% owned - He has been roughed up this year and Ozzie Guillen openly questioned his health. He has had health issues in the past and has been on the disabled list more than any other ace. I would stick it out with Johnson and leave him on your bench for his next start. I don't think you can drop a guy this early that you've picked to be your ace. If his next two starts look iffy, start looking for a possible replacement or trade.

SP Mat Latos - Cincinnati Reds - 88.4% owned - He went from the spacious PNC Park to a little-league park in Cincinnati. Two out of his last three starts have been shutouts, so he's getting there. Latos is a guy that you drafted high, so stick with him. He faces the Cubs, Pirates, and Astros a lot this year, so he'll rack up the strikeouts.

SP Edwin Jackson - Washington Nationals - 58.9% owned - He hasn't been very consistent this year, but he's good for a K/9 rate around 9.0. Washington is a good team this year and Jackson will get his fair share of wins. He could be a guy that is always there when you rotate starting pitchers, but he should be rostered.

RP Matt Capps - Minnesota Twins - 90.6% owned - No one is excited to have him on their team, but he helps win fantasy league championships. A few people probably dropped Capps, who is a entrenched closer, for a shot at a guy who may not have the closing job for the Yankees (Soriano/Robertson). You know who is getting the save in Minnesota.

SS Erick Aybar - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - 63.8% owned - People are finally starting to drop Aybar, a player who was drafted a few rounds too high. I have never been pro-Aybar, since I've always found a shortstop that was better than him on the waiver wire. If J.J. Hardy or Alexi Casilla are available in your league, drop Aybar and go with one of those players.

1B/DH Justin Morneau - Minnesota Twins - 55.8% owned - I really hate what has happened to him. Morneau has struggled with concussion issues and now he is having wrist problems. In baseball, it is one of the worst injuries to have and takes the longest to heal. Your bat speed and power are severely compromised with a wrist injury. I would drop him and pick up Bryan LaHair or Alex Presley.

C Geovany Soto - Chicago Cubs - 25.6% owned - People are slowly dropping Soto, since he was near 100% ownership post-draft. He has been splitting time with two other catchers (Wellington Castillo/Steve Clevenger). One of them will emerge as a better fantasy catcher than Soto. He hasn't hit for power or average in three seasons and has all but completely faded away in Chicago.

SS Alexei Ramirez - Chicago White Sox - 81.2% owned - Ramirez is a slow-starter and most owners are aware of this. You drafted him for power, steals, and eventually, average. He is batting below .200 and hasn't shown much power yet. I am not seeing a spark and if he keeps this up, the White Sox will not be afraid of pulling him out of the lineup.

2B/3B Ryan Roberts - Arizona Diamondbacks - 40.4% owned - I had such high hopes for Roberts in 2012. I picked him up last season and he helped me win a league. He had a slow start and Cody Ransom has taken over third-base. Ransom doesn't have much of a glove, but he has always been able to hit. Roberts isn't getting enough at-bats to justify a roster spot.

OF Jeff Francoeur - Kansas City Royals - 47.8% owned - He had a great 2011 season, but historically, he doesn't string together good seasons in back-to-back years. Francoeur was drafted fairly high, but being able to pick up a player with higher upside (Bryce Harper or Mike Trout) is the smart play. He is not contributing to any roto category.

OF Alfonso Soriano - Chicago Cubs - 37.7% owned - I really don't know why I have to tell people that they should drop Soriano, but you have to drop Soriano. He is literally collecting dust and rotting in the left field. I can't explain how he accumulated a stolen base, but I'm guessing that the pitcher must have rolled the ball to home. His skills have diminished greatly and he is barely a borderline start in an NL-only league.

SP Ubaldo Jimenez - Cleveland Indians - 80.0% owned - In 2010, he was lighting up the league with his masterful pitching performances. He has fallen back to Earth and has averaged over six walks per nine innings in 2012. His control is what made him dominant in Colorado. I don't see him being a permanently rostered pitcher and barely deserves a spot-start.

Clay Buchholz - Boston Red Sox - 45.6% owned - He has started six games and has allowed at least five runs in each game. Buchholz should thank his offense for his 3-1 record, because he doesn't deserve it. His ERA (9.09) and WHIP (2.02) are astronomical, plus his strikeouts are down (20 in 32 innings). Can the Red Sox put him on the disabled-list and list his injury as "broken curveball"?

SP Max Scherzer - Detroit Tigers - 58.3% owned - If you desperately need strikeouts, hold onto him...but your ERA and WHIP will take a nasty hit. Detroit has a few arms in the Minors waiting for their debut and if Scherzer continues to struggle with command, he is a candidate to get replaced or bumped. I would rather roster a pitcher like Ross Detwiler, Jason Hammel, or Jake Westbrook in the short-term.

2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Is your Fantasy Baseball draft coming up soon? Most leagues will be drafting in the next two weeks and I'm here to help you out with late-round sleepers and guys that you should take a flyer on. These are guys that I feel are extremely undervalued and could help your team's depth. Most of these guys are currently going in the late 200s or completely undrafted. There are certain baseball players that aren't "sexy" to have on your team, but there's value in those players. If you are in a league with a lot of bench spots, this post will be even more helpful to you. These are guys that you can stash away and wait until their playing situation is more established.

Catcher

Ryan Doumit - Minnesota Twins

Devin Mesoraco - Cincinnati Reds

John Buck - Miami Marlins

Miguel Olivo - Seattle Mariners

Rod Barajas - Pittsburgh Pirates

Doumit will be platooning at catcher with Joe Mauer and playing a lot of designated hitter. He can be an offensive force when he just has to worry about hitting. Mesoraco has to beat Ryan Hanigan out for the starting job, but he's the more talented player. Buck will give you power and will benefit from the high OBP guys batting in front of him. No one will be excited about owning Olivo or Barajas, but they consistently produce. They aren't sexy picks, but these guys can help you get production from the catching position.

First Basemen

Ike Davis - New York Mets

Adam LaRoche - Washington Nationals

Brandon Belt - San Francisco Giants

Bryan LaHair - Chicago Cubs

Mike Carp - Seattle Mariners

Davis, LaHair, Belt, & Carp will find out if they are MLB starting first-basemen or if they are 4-A players. If Davis struggles early, he could end up in a platoon situation Lucas Duda. Belt and Carp are guys that rake it up in the minors, but haven't been given a fair opportunity in the Majors. These guys have a little risk attached to them, since they are going late or undrafted, but they have high reward. The Cubs have made it clear that they will be patient with LaHair. They could have went out and signed a cheap 1B replacement, but they will be sticking with LaHair for the long haul. Adam LaRoche is another pick that isn't "sexy," but he's a nice 6th outfielder that you can play to fill in on a day off.

Third Basemen

Mat Gamel - Milwaukee Brewers

David Freese - St. Louis Cardinals

Lonnie Chisenhall - Cleveland Indians

Danny Valencia - Minnesota Twins

Ty Winnington - Philadelphia Phillies

This is a make or break year for Gamel. He is a popular sleeper this year and it is his turn to produce or his value will drop off of the map. David Freese could go higher in some leagues than others, but if you see him drop to pick #230-ish, snatch the World Series MVP for your team. Chisenhall will hit for a nice average and he's a guy that could surprise you with his power. I was a Valencia fan last season and he helped me out a lot. He's a nice guy that you can use to fill in. Lastly, Winnington is the guy that a league member is always "stuck with," but by June, he'll be thankful for drafting him.

Second Basemen

Mike Aviles - Boston Red Sox

Dustin Ackley - Seattle Mariners

Daniel Murphy - New York Mets

Alexi Casilla - Minnesota Twins

Jose Altuve - Houston Astros

You aren't sure which Aviles you're getting, but he'll be in front of a lot of offense. He'll score runs and get on base for the Red Sox. Ackley and Altuve are nice young players that will receive more playing time in 2012. Ackley had some moments last season when he looked like a future All-Star. Altuve could be the fastest player in baseball, he'll get you steals on a really bad Astros team. Murphy and Casilla will be that in the late rounds and are consistent as they come, they will surprise you with their productivity.

Shortstop

Zack Cozart - Cincinnati Reds

Ian Desmond - Washington Nationals

Emilio Bonifacio - Miami Marlins

Alex Gonzalez - Milwaukee Brewers

Stephen Drew - Arizona Diamondbacks

It's Cozart's time in Cincinnati. He can get you above average power for the position and not a bad batting average. Desmond won't get you amazing stats in any one position, but above average across the board, minus home runs. Bonafacio hit the cover off the ball for most of the season last year. He'll benefit from the new additions to the roster and will have a high batting average and stolen bases. Gonzalez is a guy that gets an opportunity year after year, because he can give a team power. Drew was a Top 10 shortstop in 2010, but after a couple disappointing seasons, he is going late or undrafted this season. It looks like he will start the season on the disabled list, but if you have room to stash him, do it. At where you can draft him, Drew could have the most value in this draft.

Outfielders

Peter Bourjos - Los Angeles Angels

Colby Rasmus - Toronto Blue Jays

Yonder Alonso - San Diego Padres

Marlon Byrd - Chicago Cubs

Alex Presley - Pittsburgh Pirates

Jason Bay - New York Mets

Denard Span - Minnesota Twins

Andres Torres - New York Mets

Bourjos will benefit from being in a lineup with Albert Pujols. There is a lot of speed on the Angels this year and they will run. After Rasmus was traded to the AL, he had a nice run with Toronto...expect more of that. Alonso was traded to the Padres in the Mat Latos deal. He has all kinds of power, but PETCO Park will limit him a little. Byrd, Bay, and Span are guys that fell a bit short in 2011. Byrd will give you above average stats across the board and Bay will benefit from the walls being brought in at Citi Field. Span is another Minnesota player that is consistent. Presley is trying to eat a spot in the outfield and he could be a future star for the Pirates. Finally, Torres will be a starter and hit lead-off for the Mets. Even if he struggles, New York doesn't an adequate replacement, so he'll get steals for your team.

Starting Pitchers

Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox

Trevor Cahill - Arizona Diamondbacks

Brandon McCarthy - Oakland A's

Erik Bedard - Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Maholm - Chicago Cubs

Rick Porcello - Detroit Tigers

Edinson Volquez - San Diego Padres

Josh Collmenter - Arizona Diamondbacks

Drew Pomeranz - Colorado Rockies

Homer Bailey - Cincinnati Reds

Sale was a relief pitcher last season, but is being converted back into a starter. He was a former top pick for the White Sox and is better suited as a starting pitcher. Cahill and Collmenter are going to benefit from playing against the NL West. They will get you wins, but the WHIP may be a little high. McCarthy has fallen in the draft due to injury concerns, but he's healthy and will produce for you. Bedard will get you some wins in a below-average NL Central, the same goes for Maholm. Porcello struggled last season and his K/9 rate fell. He is due to bounce back, if anything he'll be a 5th starter for a very good team. Pomeranz was the key piece in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. Coors Field could hurt his stats a little, but he's worth a late-round pick. Finally, Bailey has the "failed prospect" tag, but he showed promise last season. If he can corral his control, he'll be an amazing late-round pick.

Relief Pitchers

Serio Romo - San Francisco Giants

Tyler Clippard - Washington Nationals

Joe Nathan - Texas Rangers

Addison Reed - Chicago White Sox

Vinnie Pestano - Cleveland Indians

Jim Johnson - Baltimore Orioles

All of these guys are either closers or guys who will get save chances. If your league has a "Holds" category, these guys will go higher than in leagues without that category. Romo's stock is very high, because he'll give you a fantastic ERA and WHIP and he'll be in line to save games if Brian Wilson's arm fails him. Clippard is a guy who would be a closer on any other team, but Drew Storen is in his way. If anything, Clippard will give you holds, a nice ERA, and WHIP. Joe Nathan and Jim Johnson are slated to be closers, but undervalued. Nathan has some other bullpen guys breathing down his neck and Johnson could be this year's "closer on a bad team, but leads the league in saves" guy. Addison Reed and Vinnie Pestano are "closers in waiting" and they may not wait that long in the season before their numbers are called.

Good luck to everyone playing fantasy baseball this season. If you are doing a live draft with your buddies, don't be the shirtless, drunk guy who is trying to draft Tim Tebow by the 9th round.


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Jay Bruce - The Next Dunn or Kearns?

Jay Bruce was the most heralded prospect for the Reds since Pete Rose. The hoopla that surrounded him last season when he was called up was phenomenal. He tore up pitching the first two weeks into the league before cooling off and hitting a little rookie wall towards the end of the season. Before this season, I drafted Bruce in nearly every fantasy baseball league that I am in. He has hit 18 homers so far in 2009, but his average has been hovering around .200 for most of the season. While fielding a ball in the outfield, Bruce broke his wrist and is likely out for 6-8 weeks, nearly most of the rest of the season. I have analyzed Bruce's stats at the beginning of his career. When he was called up, comparisons of Rose, Bench, and Morgan were there, but so far he has not lived up to the hype. Would a comparison to ex-Reds Adam Dunn or Austin Kearns be more reasonable?

Bruce is a much better fielder than both Dunn and Kearns, so the comparison is clearly based on his ability at the plate. We all know that they both hit home-runs out of Great American Ballpark at an alarming rate early in their careers, but it is a hitter's ballpark. Dunn's minor league numbers translated similar into the pros, since he hit homers, walked a lot, but struck out at a high-rate. Austin Kearns spent three season in the minors, but clearly didn't have the home run totals that Dunn put up at the high minor league level. He hit at a better average and didn't strike out as much. Dunn and Kearns are different hitters when it comes to their splits stats when facing LHP vs. RHP. Dunn can hit for power against both lefties and righties, but Kearns did not have any power when facing southpaws.

Jay Bruce has similaries to both Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns early in their careers. Bruce is similar to Austin Kearns, because he has no power against LHP and he does not have a high strikeout rate. Bruce's similarities to Dunn relates to batting average and power. Dunn swings for the fences with every at-bat, Bruces swings for the fences, but not as much. Bruce has not shown the ability to hit for average in his minor league career and doesn't look like he will be winning any batting average during his career. He could end up with a career batting average similar to Dunn, but Bruce has more speed than Dunn ever had in his career.

My final analysis is that Bruce's future is still to be determined. His 2009 season is forgettable and has had a bad luck. I'm not completely referring to his wrist injury, but his BABIP (Batting Average for Balls In Play) is one of the lowest in the league. He has not had the lucky bounces that other players have received this year. I would say that he looks to be more like Adam Dunn at this point in his career, but he could still be a more complete player in the long-term. "Bruce Almighty" may have all the fans in Cincinnati worried right now, but they still need a lot of pieces before the Reds are fending for the NL Central crown. Let's just hope that in five year's time, Bruce isn't playing for the Washington Nationals like Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns.

Fantasy God - Grady Sizemore

The Indians are not having the spectacular season many experts predicted that they would have. They are currently on an 8-game winning streak, but they are still double-digits behind the leader of the AL Central. Cleveland does have a long bright spot this season, Grady Sizmore. He has mostly been more flash than substance in the past few seasons, but this year with Travis Hafner out, he has been the run-producing beast he was expected to eventually become.

The ladies have always loved Grady Sizemore, but this season fantasy owners are even starting to propose marriage to the Cleveland center-fielder. Last night he joined the 30/30 club, but hitting two homers in a Indians victory. Over the past few seasons he has seen his power numbers and stolen bases increase, but his batting average has taken a trend downward. He is receiving less pitches to hit, if Cleveland can get a power guy hitting behind him, Sizemore should see more walks and less strikeouts.

Sizemore is on pace to have better than a 35/35 season, but not quite a 40/40, unless he goes on a tear in the last few weeks of the season. The Indians should be a better team next season with a healthy Hafner and bringing up Matt Laporta, the gem of the C.C. Sabathia trade. Ben Francisco has shown potential along with possible 2009 closer Jensen Lewis.

Sizemore has been the definition of healthy and has played every game the last few seasons. If he can keep consistent and play at this high of a level, he could be due a large contract in the near future. He does have that "star" quality the Yankees love to have, by the time he is a free agent, Derek Jeter could be on his last legs. The New York media would love to follow him around and lead with him on Page Six.Grady Sizemore will not flame out over the next few years. The wear and tear of him playing everyday shouldn't bother him. Progressive Field isn't on Astro-turf, so the "Andre Dawson effect" shouldn't take effect, so his knees wouldn't turn into rust by season 10. Sizemore has fun in Cleveland, at this very moment he could have any woman he wants in Ohio, that must be a great feeling.

This could be my last "Fantasy God" post in reference to baseball this season. The head-to-head leagues are going to be in playoff mode and it's about too late to make a huge move in roto leagues. Fantasy Football drafts are in swing, so expect an almost weekly addition once the football season gets underway.

My 2008 Un-All-Star Team - Revisited

On May 7th this year I made my "2008 Un-All-Star Team." I wanted to re-visit this, as some of the players have turned their seasons around, and some have tanked even farther down than I could have imagined. Some have grown mustaches to bust out of their slumps, while others seemed content with a mediocre year and released from their teams. I love when people say that some players are "second-half guys," as you can see, not all players end up heating up as the temperature rises.

The batting averages in italics are as of May 7th, 2008.

Infield
Rickie Weeks - .195 - currently .229 - not an everyday starter
Robinson Cano - .157 - currently .264 - a true second-half guy
Kenji Johjima - .189 - currently .213 - lost his starting job
Ben Broussard - .159 - currently .159 - released and now currently in minors with Yankees
Johnny Estrada - .179 - currently .170 - released by Nationals
Casey Blake - .202 - currently .292 - traded to Dodgers, doing very well.
Ryan Howard - .168 - currently .235 - tied for major league lead in home-runs

Outfield
Andruw Jones - .158 - currently .161 - injury-plagued season
Alfonso Soriano - .177 - currently .293 - made actual all-star team
Nick Swisher - .196 - currently .213 - been very streaky
Jose Guillen - .165 - currently .252 - great second-half
Jim Edmonds - .172 - currently .240 - released by Padres, signed with Cubs, has been on fire when in the starting lineup
Michael Bourn - .194 - currently .226 - an off year, hasn't stole many bases in the second half

Designated Hitter (barely)
Gary Sheffield - .176 - currently .223 - injury plagued season
Jose Vidro - .192 - currently .234 - released by Mariners
Jim Thome - .209 - currently .250 - a very resurgent second-half, big power numbers as well
Jason Giambi .157 - currently .252 - great middle of the season, has fell off here of late

The baseball season is a long and grueling marathon, not everyone can sprint the entire season. A lot can change during the season, but if a player can stay healthy and consistent throughout their career, they will have long playing careers in the Majors. For those you stay injured or struggle, it is easy for a club to cut their loses and a career can come to an end.

Fantasy God - Jason Giambi

The name of this post should be "Fantasy God - The Mustache," but I felt that Jason Giambi should get some credit for his performance. I had a post in early May about my 2008 Un-All-Star Team and Giambi was batting a measly .157 and it didn't good. He has since grown a crazy-man mustache and raised his average over 100 points since then and making the Yankees look like a possible contender.

Jason Giambi is hitting in the 5th spot for the Yankees, which is one of the best spots to be hitting in. Alex Rodriguez receives plenty of walks and Bobby Abreu and Derek Jeter get on base at a high rate. The possibility for Giambi to drive in 120 runs a season is always a possibility. He has hit 18 homers, drove in 52 runs, and is currently batting .268. In the past 30 days, he has hit 7 homers, 24 RBI, and batting over .300.

I haven't seen such a facial craze since Johnny Damon looked like Jesus for a couple seasons in Boston. The Yankees are only allowed to grow mustaches (team code), so don't look for him to go mountain man on everyone. Giambi's 70's porn 'stache should be adorned by the entire roster and maybe the Yankees could catch the Rays and Red Sox in the AL East.

I picked up Jason Giambi on my fantasy team by a fluke. I traded Jay Bruce to a team for Miguel Cabrera, Billy Wagner, and Jason Giambi was thrown in the trade as "trash" at that point. I was expecting to release Giambi, but the first day I had him, he knocked two homers and he's been a staple in my starting lineup ever since.

I look for Giambi to hit around 40 homers this season and get near 120 RBI and should finish the season with a .280 batting average. It sure looks like The Great Giambino is back this season.