Fantasy Insider

New Team Announced!

Ok, so I have a little too much free time on my lunch break, but… let’s just say we had one person who wanted to join our league, we don’t want to give up any players we already have, so we let them make up a team of all free agents. Who would they chose? Do they stand a chance? I am going to pick a full team of players, from the current free agent pool and watch these players over the next few weeks; I will keep track of points and update you all on their performance. It will be fun to see where this team ranks. Can they outscore anyone?

Let’s call this team, the Fresno Free Agents

Catcher: John Buck
Buck has been producing when he gets the playing time; hopefully he can continue this and as a reward get more at bats.

First Base: James Loney
This rookie has a lot of potential, so much so, they moved Nomar to Third Base.
Everyday at bats could make him the steal of the second half.

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia
The BoSox rookie has been impressive in the first staff. If Fresno can get the same consistency from him in the second half he should be a good fit.

Shortstop: Khalil Greene
If only he hit for a higher average, this shortstop would have already had a home. He has 15 HR, 51 RBI, & 48 Runs. His .243 average is a bit scary, but he is hitting .292 in the last month.

Third Base: Mike Lamb
Lamb has been hot the past few weeks, batting .347, with 4HR, 14 Runs, & 18 RBI’s over the last 28 days. When hot he can put up similar numbers to some other players that are consistently in Fantasy starting lineups.

Outfield: Nick Markakis
This player was drafted, then dropped, then picked up, then dropped and so on and so forth. Markakis has something to prove and I can see him carrying this squad.

Outfield: Delmon Young
Here is another player that was originally drafted and has been a bit of a let down. But, over the past few weeks he is showing why he belongs in the big leagues. He will be a key contributor.

Outfield: David DeJesus
This Kansas City Royal can’t seem to get a break; he has very impressive numbers but can’t crack the lineup on any of the Big 12 teams. Fresno has decided to give him a chance, he is consistent and I am sure he will not disappoint!

Utility: Dan Johnson
Mr. Streaky is swinging a hot bat once again;
let’s see if his sweet stroke will help this club.

Pitcher: Jamie Moyer
This old man is a free agent once again, but he has the most quality starts of the lot. The Phillies’s need him to be consistent and I believe he will be just that in the second half of this season.

Pitcher: Doug Davis
Davis is a quality pitcher, he hasn’t been awful, but hasn’t been great.
He needs a little bit more run support, but he deserves a spot.

Pitcher: Aaron Cook
Hopefully Cook can be consistent and be a solid number 3 starter, he has been good at times and awful at times. But what can you expect from a free agent?

Pitcher: Jason Bergmann
Bergmann was impressive before he got hurt; I look to him to continue pitching well now that he is back from injury. I look back to his start vs. Atlanta in May where he pitched 8 innings, in a 2 hit, 1 run effort where he struck out 10. The potential is there, but I’m not expecting too many wins since he does pitch for the Nats.

Pitcher: Kameron Loe
Have you seen his last few starts? 5 for 5 when looking at games started and quality starts. He has a 1.60 ERA, 1.18 Whip and has won 4 of his last 5 in the past month. Pretty Impressive.

Pitcher: Octavio Dotel
One of the few true closers available, Dotel has been pretty good.
Unless he gets traded, Fresno should get some pretty good numbers out of him.

Pitcher: Jeremy Accardo
Filling in for BJ Ryan, Accardo has been anything but consistent, he has had his ups and down. Hopefully he can get a couple saves per week for the Jays.

I will update everyone on this team’s performance over the next few weeks;
make sure to check the leagues message board for the update.

Who is your MVP?

With the All Star break here, it is time to take a look back at the first half and give out a few awards; Al/NL MVP, AL/NL CY Young, AL/NL Rookie of the Year, & Hit & Run Manager of the Year. I would like to start by saying these decision were based a great deal on the Hit & Run scoring system and who produces in the Hit & Run League; there might be better options out there, but these are the players that deserve the honors for our league.

Hit & Run, AL MVP – Alex Rodriquez, Florida Sun
I did not want to make these awards predictable, but I don’t think anyone could argue that Alex Rodriquez has had an amazing first half of the season. He has the most points for any offensive player with 380; plus his stats are impressive; .316 BA, 30 HR, 86 RBI’s, & 79 Run’s. He leads the league in all of those categories, except Batting Average. Rodriquez has had multiple impressive scoring weeks; 55, 47, 42, & 39, he is exactly what you want to get out of a keeper. The Sun are looking for him to continue swinging a hot bat as they try to make the second half interesting with a playoff run.

Hit & Run, NL MVP – Chase Utley, Wilmington Knights
Some might question this next decision, but he is the second highest NL scorer, behind Jose Reyes. He is a more complete player than Reyes and a standout at a very shallow position. Chase Utley is batting .324, 112 Hits, 15 HR, 34 Doubles, 68 RBI’s, & 64 Run’s. He is in the top 4 in RBI’s & Runs, plus he leads the NL in Doubles. He has the sixth most points for all offensive players. The only reason Reyes has a few more points in because of his 46 stolen bases, Reyes’s power numbers have dropped and Utley has more runs scored, more hits, a higher batting average, & on base percentage. This was a tough call, but since the numbers were close and the points were close it goes to the second baseman. If the Knights have any chance of making a run in the second half, Utley is going to need to carry the offense each week and put up consistent points.

Hit & Run, AL CY Young – CC Sabathia, Candlewood Fish
This I felt was the right choice. CC Sabathia leads the AL in wins with 12, has pin point control, has only allowed 18 BB, and struck out 119 in 133 innings. He has been good, real good. Sabathia is the number one overall point scorer for all players, he has 422 points. If he can duplicate those numbers in the second half he would blow away Santana’s totals from last year by 50 points. At only 27 years old, he will be a part of the Candlewood’s nucleus for years to come.

Hit & Run, NL CY Young – Jake Peavy, Wilmington Knights
Tied for third with Johan Santana for most points scored this season, this pitcher is 30 points above any other NL pitcher. Jake Peavy has forgotten about his sub par season last year and has regained his role as a fantasy ace. Peavy has 397 points, just behind CC Sabathia & Dan Haren. He has an impressive ERA of 2.19 & a Whip of 1.05. Peavy is also a 9 game winner and the starter for the 2007 all-star game. But the most outstanding stat is his strikeout to inning’s pitcher rate, 125 K’s in 119 innings. If the Knight’s want to be in the race this second half they really need Peavy to keep producing like he can.

Hit & Run, AL ROY – Daisuke Matsuzaka, Palm Coast Wildcats
Dice K is the real deal; Daisuke Matsuzaka is in the Top 20 for all fantasy pitchers, with 346 points. His ERA is ok, 3.83, but he has 10 wins at the break. He also has a very impressive K/9 rate, 123 strikeouts in 119 innings. The wildcats were lucky to grab this gem in the first round of the hit and run draft, at only 27; he will be a staple in their starting rotation for the future. The wildcats are a starting pitcher or two away from putting together a very well balanced and dominate team.

Hit & Run, NL ROY – Ryan Braun, Wilmington Knights
This was a two horse race; Hunter Pence & Ryan Braun were the two options. Both players have been key contributors to their teams, plus they are both putting up monster numbers. Pence, though has been in the big leagues a little longer 275 AB to Braun’s 163 AB. Both players have pop in their bat, 11 HR each & they both have some speed, 7 SB for Pence & 8 SB for Braun. Also, these boys can hit for average, Pence .341 to Braun .349. Pretty similar numbers, wouldn’t you say?  Both are good, but I have to give the honors to Ryan Braun, he has similar production with less at bats. This race is going to be fun to watch in the second half.

Hit & Run, Manager of the Year – George Smith, Florida Hotheads
Somehow the Florida Hotheads have managed to stay a float and fend off the surging Bethel Four-Baggers. The Hotheads have a very well oiled offense, but their well managed pitching rotation has kept them in first place. They really do not have a true fantasy ace, but they get consistency from Billy Wagner & Francisco Cordero. Great managing has steered this staff to have the fourth ranked rotation.  George Smith has taken advantage of the matchups and plugged in the right two-start weeks to get the most out of his squad. Granted, it does make managing a little easier when you have Javier Vazquez get back to back complete games for a total of 79 points in one week.

Let’s hear what you have to say? Don’t think Utley deserves MVP? Think I’m crazy for giving Sabathia the CY Young? Do you agree George Smith is the next Billy Martin?  Leave some feedback!

Who can help my team in the second half?

Ok, so I blew it when I recommended Josh Johnson of the Marlins, he is going on the DL. But, Billingsley put up a 37 point game and Capps has continued to gain saves for the Pirates. 2 out of 3 isn’t horrible. If you need a closer, make sure you pick up Capps while he is still available.

Now I thought I’d give you a few free agent hitters to look at if you need help in the second half of the season.

Mike Lamb is someone who might be able to help you out in a pinch. He can play either first base or third base. He has the tools that can give your fantasy lineup a nice jolt. Lamb put up 42 points in week 11 and then 16 & 19 in the next two weeks after that. If you need some help at either first, third, or DH he might be a nice guy to plug in off of your bench when you have a slumping or injured player.

Also, check out Adam LaRohce from the Pirates, he has 5 home runs in the last 8 days, he is red hot! He had 27 points last week and currently over 20 for this week. Take a look at him if you need first base help or are looking for a plug and play in your DH spot.

Need help in your outfield? Chris Duncan might be someone to take a look to help your team. Duncan is a bit streaky, but has been fairly consistent as of late, he has put up good fantasy numbers in the past three weeks; .418 BA, 6 HR, & 21 RBI. Not to shabby. Another outfield who is making the most of opportunities is the bird man, Marlon Byrd. I have a little bias towards him; he threw me up a batting practice ball when I was over at Citizen’s Bank Park when he played for the Phillies. But, he still is producing. He was inserted into the lineup at the end of May and has put up impressive numbers. In only 133 AB’s he is batting .383, 23 RBI, 22 runs, & 3 HR’s.

Stay tuned each week for more players that might be able to help you out!

The All Star speculation is over, the fan voting is complete and the managers and players have made their picks. It is always fun to see which team sends the most players to the game. It looks like this year all the fans in Detroit came out to vote, as 3 Tigers were selected by the fans and 2 others were selected by the players. They are tied with the Red Sox’s for the two teams with the most players represented, 5 each. Leading in the NL, were the Mets & Brewers with 4 players, followed by the Phillies & Dodgers with 3 players each.  But this is fantasy baseball, so let’s take a quick look at how our league is represented.

The two teams receiving the most selections were the Bethel 4-Baggers & the Wilmington Knights, each team had 9 players selected. The 4-Baggers are sending six pitchers, four starters & two relievers; Josh Beckett, Dan Haren, John Lackey, & Brad Penny, plus Jose Valverde & the recently demoted closer Brian Fuentes. They also added Victor Martinez behind the plate, Orlando Hudson at second base & Matt Holliday in the outfield. The Knight’s are sending two of the games starters, Chase Utley & Derek Jeter, plus three NL reserves; Carlos Lee, Aaron Rowand, & catcher, Brian McCann. The pitchers that will be on the team include, aces Jake Peavy, & Cole Hamels, plus closers, Takashi Saito & Bobby Jenks.

The Florida Hotheads are next with 8 total selections. They send starting outfielder, Vladimir Guerrero. They also add 3 Red Sox’s to the team; David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and the recently acquired Mike Lowell.  Rounding out their selections include; Second baseman, Brian Roberts and pitchers; Gil Meche, Fransico Cordero, & Billy Wagner.

New Milford adds the next most all stars with six selections; their entire outfield made the team; Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey, Jr., & Alfonso Soriano. Bonds & Griffey will be starting the game as they were voted in by the fans. Also, from the Greenwave are; Jorge Posada, Justin Verlander, & Fransico Rodriquez.

Next, is the most impressive selections, a team with four starting players, plus one additional reserve. The Sanwich Sandwich send, catcher, Ivan Rodriquez, first baseman, Prince Fielder, second baseman, Placido Polanco, & shortstop, Jose Reyes. All they need is Alex Rodriquez or the recently traded David Wright and they would have a starting all star at each position in the infield. If they did not trade Derek Jeter, they would have the starting all star shortstop for both the NL & AL. The additional reserve is Tampa Bay outfielder, Carl Crawford; this makes up five selections.

Two other teams had five selections, the Warwick Bombers & Palm Coast Wildcats. The Bombers send, Alex Rios & Johan Santana from the AL, plus David Wright, Miguel Cabrera, & Ben Sheets from the NL. Notice they have both all star third basemen from the NL. The Wildcats send all NL talent to the game with starters Russell Martin & Carlos Beltran and they also will be sending Albert Pujols, JJ Hardy, & Trevor Hoffman.

The Key West Parrot Heads & Candlewood Fish, each have four selections. The Parrot Heads send starter Magglio Ordonez, and reserves; Grady Sizemore, Carlos Guillen & Justin Morneau. The Candlewood fish send Michael Young & possible starter CC Sabathia from the AL and Freddy Sanchez, & Derek Lee from the NL.

East Tennessee Bucs send three players; Tori Hunter, John Smoltz, & JJ Putz.

The Florida Sun send two starters, Alex Rodriquez, & Ichiro Suzuki and possibly the player who will seal the deal for the AL, Johnathon Papelbon.

Unfortunately this is not the real MLB, where each team is guaranteed a player in the game, the Tropical Palms were snubbed this year, and they received 0 selections. It is unfortunate; if Tejada had not broken his hand, he most likely would have represented his team, also Zambrano started the season off slowly and Burnett has been hurt. But, there is still hope that Youklis might get voted in by the fans in the last player vote.

If you feel that you want an additional all star on your team, there is still hope! One player that made the all star team is currently a free agent and the only player going from his respective team, which is Dimitri Young of the Washington Nationals. Feel free to grab this all star while he is still available.

Personally I like most of the selections, and understand why most players were taken, I just think it is a shame that certain guys get left off because worse players from bad teams make the team in front of them. Gil Meche is having a good year, but not an all star year, the same can be said for Freddy Sanchez, & Dimitri Young. Also, Fuentes has been awful lately and he really should not be on the team. The same can be said for Mike Lowell.

A few questions…..

How is Erik Bedard not on the team over Gil Meche?

Can you give Gary Sheffield a spot over Mike Lowell?

How is Dan Uggla not on the team over Freddy Sanchez?

Can J-Roll, Hanley or Renteria take Sanchez spot? Please!

Can you give Chris Young a spot over Fuentes?

I’d rather watch Ryan Howard over Dimitri Young, how about you?

Where is the love for Eric Byrnes?

Well, let’s see how this all works out and how the rosters change with injuries, rest, and players opting out. Hopefully we will have some of these questions answered.

Who do you feel where the biggest snubs?

This is a quick look at the best rookies of the season, in this article we will evaluate each position and give you a list of the best rooks.

The catcher position really has only one choice, the top prospect of the Atlanta Braves, Jarrod Saltalamacchia; this youngster has come up and filled in as the backup to the oft-injured Brian McCann. Jarrod has some decent pop and a nice average, batting .325 in 83 at bats. He has seen his playing time increased as the Braves have been getting his bat in the lineup; he has been DH in interleague play and is also playing some first base.

At first base the recent call up, James Loney, has turned many heads with his swing. He was so impressive that Nomar went across the diamond to third base. He is batting a robust, .476, with 3 home runs in 42 at bats. He has already driven in 13 runs. Get this stud inserted into your fantasy lineup, ASAP.

The next rookie standout is, from the mighty Boston Red Sox. Dustin Pedoria has been solid at second base for the Sox and he is starting to turn it on with the bat. He is batting .322, with 30 runs scored. He is sure to score a lot more runs in that potent Boston lineup. Take a flier on him if you need help at second base, he has been putting up fairly consistent points all year.

Troy Tulowitzki is heating up in Colorado . This top prospect shortstop has been showing his pop; 4 home runs in his last 7 games. He has raised his average to .277 and has 36 RBI’s & 44 runs scored. He is a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year! Get him active now.

Third base was a toss up, two of the hottest hitting prospects are at the hot corner; Milwaukee ’s, Ryan Braun & Kansas City’s, Alex Gordon. Braun is hitting, .328, w/ 6 home runs, 21 RBI’s & 26 runs in only 119 at bats; he also has decent speed with 6 stolen bases. Gordon has also been not too shabby. He is only batting, .235, but has been hitting, .326 in the last month, he also has 6 home runs, 22 RBI’s, 29 runs scored and 9 stolen bases. If I had to choose between the two, I would have to give the nod to Braun because he has similar production and 140 less at bats, Wow!

Just like at third base, there are many impressive rookie outfielders, the standouts are Reggie Willits, Hunter Pence, and former #1 overall pick, Josh Hamilton. Willits is the speedy centerfielder of the Angels. He is batting .337, with 39 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Pence is the  hot hitting centerfielder for the Astros; he has a little more pop than Willits, 8 home runs, hitting, .339, with 35 RBI’s, 28 runs scored, and 7 stolen bases. The comeback player, Hamilton has the most power of this trio, 12 home runs; he is batting .270, with 25 RBI’s, and 31 runs scored. He is also playing great defense in Cincinnati ’s center field. Have you noticed that all of these top outfield prospects roam around in center?

Next time we will take a look at the young pitching prospects.

It’s nearing the second half of the season and this is the time where team’s in keeper leagues need to re-evaluate. Some owners may be sitting comfortably in first place, while others are battling to stay afloat in the playoff hunt, and of course you also have the bottom feeders, cellar dwellers, or whatever you want to call them, the teams in last.

Of course the teams in first are sitting pretty and feel pretty comfortable about their rosters and are hesitant to make many or any roster moves; you know what they say, don’t fix what ain’t broke. The teams battling it out in second or third tend to try and shake things up as they claw their way closer to the first place teams. But, where does this leave the teams in last? The team that feels they are out of it and have no hope?

My suggestions are to start rebuilding and have fun. Forget about winning the league, try and play spoiler, try to be the reason the teams you play are not going to the promise land. Don’t fold, keep your head up and keep moving forward.

With my suggestion to rebuild, first re-evaluate your rosters and start ranking your keepers; if you are allowed five keepers, rank out your top 10 players and as the season moves on, re-adjust your order. I am sure you have one or two top 20 players that are already locked in, but keep you options open and see who else might fit well on your team for next year. Just like in regular baseball you want consistency. What I always look for in my players is someone who consistently performs and is not injury prone. The last thing I want from one of my guy is someone who gets 30 points in week 1, then -4, & 2 in the next 2 weeks. Players who can consistently give you 15 to 18 points per week are very valuable, but your #1 & #2 keepers should be guys who can get you 20 and above consistently. Having a consistent team helps you compete each week.

You also might want to look at making a big trade, something like a 2 for 1 or 1 for 2, this is where you are dealing away 2 good players for 1 really good player or you are giving away 1 really good player for 2 good players, make sure the players you are getting are keepers. You might look to make this type of trade with someone who is battling for a playoff spot. Don’t be afraid to do this if you think it is going to help your team. You are probably helping the person you are trading with by giving them 2 solid options, but you are getting an even better option to help your team the following year. An example of a 2 for 1 trade was a trade I completed last season; I offered K-Rod & Jered Weaver for a struggling Jake Peavy. K-Rod was in the top 3 for points scored and Weaver was lights out in his rookie campaign, but the team I traded with kept both of these players and I would not have been able to keep both of those players, so it worked out for both sides.

Also, you want to continue scouting, as the season winds down and rosters expand all teams bring up minor leaguers, keep an eye on these players and jot down some of the names you see that are doing well. This will help you prepare for the following years draft and give you some sleeper picks.

And remember, have fun this is just a game. Sometime it stinks being in last, but there is always next year!

Personally, I think you have to take a chance on Chad Billingsley. He is a top prospect and a future ace, not only of fantasy but of the LA Dodgers. He has nasty stuff and should post a decent ERA & Whip, his win totals will be up since he is playing for a contendor and he has a dominant K/9 rate. He is currently being stretched out, but he should soon be able to dominate his opposition and get into a groove for your fantasy team. Watch out for a big second half.

I am also a fan of Matt Capps of the Pittsuburg Pirates, he has been dominant as of late. As long as the Pirates give him the chances, he will seal the deal. His K/9 rate is not exaclty what you want from your closer, but he is still getting outs and throwing strikes. If you are in need of a reliable reliever, take a chance with Capps.

What about Josh Johnson? He has not been impressive so far in his first 2 starts, but he could be someone that can help your team in the second half. He had a great rookie campaign, posting a 12-7 record, a 3.09 ERA, & a WHIP of 1.29. He was injuried all spring so he could just be working out some kinks, reports say he is feeling good. I suggest you monitor his next few starts very closely and get ready to pounce before it is too late.

Do any of the readers have any suggestions?

I hope you all had a chance to read the Hit and Run All Star selection article.

I am sticking with the theme of All-Stars, but this time I am putting together the All Waiver Wire All Star Team. This list will include only players that were scooped up off of the waiver wire or were obtained through free agency. The only stipulation is that the player must currently be on one of our Fantasy teams.

Next to each position I will also list a few current free agents “a few guys to look at” to help out in case you are looking to fill some holes on your roster.

Waiver Wire All Star Catcher:
Bengi Molina, Florida Sun - 143 Points

This was between Bengi and John Buck of the Warwick Bombers. I gave the nod to Molina because he has a few more points and he plays everyday. Buck has had a nice season to date, but he has been splitting time at the position.

A few guys to look at:
Johnny Estrada, Mike Napoli, Carlos Ruiz, & Jarrod Saltalamacchia
The most intriguing option here I feel is Jarrod Saltalamacchia, he is one of the Braves top prospect and he is starting to play first base and backup Brian McCann when he needs a day off, this kid has a lot of potential. Also don’t overlook Carlos Ruiz who has gotten a lot of at bats over the absolutely awful Rod Barajas in Philadelphia.

Waiver Wire All Star First Base:
Kevin Youklis, Tropical Palms - 217 Points

This was an easy selection, plus most other first basemen were not waiver pickups. Youklis has put together an All-Star season and deserves this spot. 

A few guys to look at:
Casey Kotchman, Carlos Pena, Dimitri Young, & James Loney

Kotchman has put up very impressive numbers for the Angels and he deserve the first look if you need some help over at first. Dimitri has had a very nice season to date for the Nationals, keep an eye on this situation because Nick Johnson should be returning soon from injury. My favortite choice here is the Dodgers, James Loney. This kid has been nothing but impressive, he has been swinging such a hot bat that the Dodgers moved Nomar to Third Base to make room for this youngster.

Waiver Wire All Star Second Base:
Placido Polanco, Sandwich Sandwich - 220 Points

This race was between the Wildcats, Kelly Johnson and Polanco. A slump by Johnson was the only reason this outfielder turned second baseman did not receive the selection. Placido has been solid all year and is in the top 5 for all Second Basemen.

A few guys to look at:
Jose Lopez, Dustin Pedroia, Mark Loretta, & Mike Fontenot

Lopez has been hot for the M’s, he is probably the best option to fill in for you if you need it. Don’t forget about the versatile Mark Loretta who is seeing increased playing time because of the broken league of Adam Everett. Also the Cub’s have another hot hitting young second basemen, Fontenot has been on a tear since his call up, ride him while he is hot.

Waiver Wire All Star Shortstops:
Orlando Cabrera, Florida Sun - 244 Points

This was a two horse race, but Cabrera gets the nod over JJ Hardy. Hardy has put up some great numbers so far this year, 18 home runs and 50 RBI’s, but he has cooled a bit as of late but he is sure to turn it on in the hot summer months.

A few guys to look at:
Khalil Greene, & Stephen Drew

Greene has been hot for the Padres putting up some very impressive numbers over the past month, plus he is showing some pop, 6 hrs in the past 28 days. I’d say keep your eye on Stephen Drew, I have been watching a few Diamondback games over the past few days and this kid is hitting the ball hard and is showing he can play, with a little better luck this guy could explode, remember you heard it here first.

Waiver Wire All Star Third Base:
Casey Blake, Florida Hotheads - 189 Points

Lowell would have received the honors here, but he is currently available as a free agent. So Casey Blake takes the cake, he has been starting to cool as of late, but you can’t argue with the 189 points off the waiver wire.

A few guys to look at:
Mike Lowell, & Akinori Iwamura

I’d be a little hesitant to pick up Lowell , especially since he is normally a hot starter and cools off after the all star break, but he is currently ranked in the top 5 for all of third base. Iwamura has been a little bit injured this season, but he started off hot and he has shown some signs of heating up again, 29 points last week. I like the fact that he is aggressive on the base path and he has been hitting lead off so he will get a few additional at bats.

Waiver Wire All Star Outfielders:

Eric Byrnes, Sandwich Sandwich - 253 Points

Shane Victorino, Wilmington Knights - 232 Points

Corey Hart, Warwick Bombers - 194 Points

If you read the last article, you know what I think about each of these players, all have been great his year and I expect much of the same in the second half for each of them.

A few guys to look at:
David DeJesus, Hunter Pence, Jack Cust, Brandon Watson & Marlon Byrd

DeJesus has been in the top 30 outfielders all year, but has received no love from this fantasy league. He continues to hit and is now getting some help from Alex Gordon in KC. Pence has been decent, but a bit streaky, catch him on a good week and he can really ignite your offense. Cust appears to be the man in Oakland , so they designated Milton Bradley for assignment, no, not the board game. Put Cust in your lineup if you don’t mind losing a few points because of his strikeout potential. Watson has some appeal, he is the one you may have heard about, an impressive 43 game hitting streak in the minors will do that; lets see what he can do in the majors, he has some nice speed and can hit. Marlon Byrd, yes I said it Marlon Byrd; he has been swinging a hot bat for the Texas Rangers, he has been seeing regular AB’s and has been making the most of his opportunity.

Waiver Wire All Star Starting Pitchers:

James Shields, East Tennessee Bucs - 317 Points

Oliver Perez, Palm Coast Wildcats - 259 Points

Tom Gorzelanny, Florida Hotheads - 249 Points

Jeremy Guthrie, Warwick Bombers - 243 Points

Jeff Francis, East Tennessee Bucs - 240 Points

The five best point getters for starting pitchers, a few additional names that have put together a nice start to the season are Randy Wolf, Jamie Moyer, & Fausto Carmona. These have been the nicest surprise of this year’s crop of starting pitchers.

A few guys to look at:
Noah Lowry, Brian Bannister, Jeff Weaver, & Adam Eaton

Yes, I guess you can see there is not much out there, your best bet to get a decent starting pitcher is probably through a trade. These are a few names with some potential. Lowry has shown the most potential out of this group and if you can deal with ups and downs he is your best bet. The same is to be said for Adam Eaton, he has had a couple of good starts, except for his last start against St. Louis; you might want to look his way in a two start week; he gets the run support from the Phillies offense. Bannister has been great in 3 of his last five starts, unfortunately his last two weren’t the best, and he is 4-1 in his last five. Last and maybe least is Jeff Weaver, he isn’t his younger brother, but he has been pitching like him. Weaver has been ok and he pitched a complete game, four hitter, verse the Pirates, take a chance when the matchup looks good. Sorry I could not be more help in this category.

Waiver Wire All Star Starting Pitchers:

Jose Valverde, Bethel Four-Baggers - 310 Points

Al Reyes, Tropical Palms - 263 Points

Both of these guys have been lights out, only four blown saves between them. The Diamondbacks seem to keep most of their games close so Jose gets a lot of opportunities. Reyes has been great when the Devil Rays give him the ball, both are quality closer.

A few guys to look at:
Octavio Dotel, & Matt Capps

Dotel has been good since his return, he has 8 saves in the past month and could have had 10 if he had not blown two of them, but the Royals are playing well and Dotel is getting the saves. If you decide to add a reliever to your pen first pick up Dotel, then look to Capps. Capps has been great since taking over for the struggling Torres, and he has not looked back. He has 7 saves in the past 28 days and has not blown one in that span. He only blew one save this year and it was his first chance. Pick up both these players while they are racking up saves, the have 5 & 4 respectively in the last 2 weeks.

I hope you enjoyed both of these recent articles and take some of the advice for “a few guys to look at”. This has been a great first half of the season and I look to make my run to the wild card shortly.

With the All Star Break quickly approaching, I thought I’d breakdown this fantasy season and say who I feel have been the best value and/or an absolute standout at their positions. These will be players who are stepping up and having great seasons.

NL Catcher: Russell Martin, 223 Points
This was an easy selection; this player has been consistent all year and has really carried the Dodgers on his back. I thought it was a one sided trade when the Palm Coast Wildcats acquired this 11th round draft choice from the Warwick Bombers a few weeks back.

I looked at this position for a long time and I just couldn’t find anyone else who deserved this spot. Remember, I said this is the best value All-Star team and Posada was a fifth round pick of the New Milford Greenwave. I briefly looked at Candlewood’s Kenji Johima, but he was taken two rounds earlier in the 3^rd, which made Posada the better option. Not to mention Posada is batting .338, w/ 84 hits, 23 doubles, 9 home runs, and 44 RBI’s.

The 10^th round pick of the Sandwich Sandwich, Prince Fielder is not only having an All-Star season, but an MVP type season. He is currently leading the NL in home runs with 27, has a decent .282 average and has lead the Milwaukee Brewers, along with a few other talented youngsters, to first place in the central.

A waiver wire pickup, Youklis has really stepped up and has contributed to the Red Sox’s monster season. Youklis has also been a fantasy stud, with only 38 strikeouts and a .334 average Youklis is a consistent contributor each week to the Tropical Palms. He has seen his numbers decline recently, but he is sure to turn it on once again with his much disciplined hitting approach. Youklis leads all AL First Baseman with 92 hits and is second in doubles with 22, right behind the other Sox’s “first baseman” Ortiz.

Above and beyond all other NL and AL second baseman Utley is the obvious choice, not to mention he is on my team and I am bias. Even though he was a keeper he is still a top 10 offensive fantasy player at a position that is very shallow. If a second baseman can keep pace with the top hitting first basemen and slugging outfielders, he has earned this spot. Utley leads the Wilmington Knights offense in points with 275. He has a .325 average, with 96 hits, 30 doubles, 13 home runs, and 60 RBI’s. The only negative is his drop in stolen bases, but that is to be expected since he is hitting right in front of Ryan Howard and you would have to be dumb to take the bat out of his hands if he is thrown out at second.

This was a tough decision here, but I just couldn’t pass up the Florida Hothead’s second baseman Brian Roberts. The Palm’s, Brandon Phillips and the Sandwich ’s, Placido Polanco were both strong candidates. Roberts was a 4^th round pick, but his numbers have been too impressive to keep off this list; he is batting .323, with 96 hits, 24 stolen bases and an impressive 44 BB. Polanco was an outstanding waiver pickup and I can’t believe he was out there for so long; Phillips was also a nice value pick in the 9^th round of the draft. The Warwick Bombers Ian Kinsler, an 8^th round pick, started off hot, but had a dry spell which knocked him off of this list.

Ok, I know what your saying, “your just picking the best player at each position”, but how can you not give Reyes’s this spot? He has been in the top 5 all year for all offensive players, pretty impressive. Not to mention he has 38 stolen bases, 8 triples, is batting an impressive .317 and has more walks then he does strikeouts 42 to 37. JJ Hardy would have been up here, but he has been absolutely awful the past couple weeks, he has been so bad that he is riding the pine for the struggling Palm Coast Wildcats.

Sure, I could be bias again and give it to Jeter and his .344 batting average, but Guillen deserves it. He is finally healthy and showing that he is a top threat for all fantasy shortstops. He is also eligible at first base and is a top 5 first baseman. Guillen is hitting .325, has 18 doubles, 12 home runs, and 56 RBI’s. The Key West Parrot Heads must have sobered up after sipping on a few Margaritas the day of the draft when they alertly took him off the board in the 5^th round. I am assuming they were a little tipsy when they took Zito than Cain in the first two rounds.

Third base has definitely been a disappointing position this year, Cabrera gets the nod by default, he is the only third baseman with over 200 points, besides David Wright. The Warwick Bombers star and keeper Cabrera is batting a robust .326, with 17 home runs & 55 RBI’s. His only negatives are the lack of stolen bases and high amount of strikeouts, 67. Ryan Zimmerman has also recovered from a dismissal start and is starting to produce for the Wildcats; hopefully he can continue to raise his average over the next couple of weeks. Garret Atkins has also been really bad this year for the Fish.

Correct, that is not a typo, he has 355 Points, almost 40 more points than any other offensive player, that is like he has played two additional weeks than any one else. Simply Amazing! The Florida Sun are fortunate enough to have him lead their offense. Rodriquez is batting .332, with 28 homeruns, and 77 RBI’s; Triple Crown anyone? You never know. Hey Sun’s, wanna trade?

The most exciting player to watch in all of MLB, “Byrneszy” is the All Star outfielder of the Sandwich Sandwich. Yes folks, that is the one he admits to have “man love” for; who’s friend is he anyway, haha? You gotta love Byrnes’s defense; Marty swears to me that defense matters in fantasy baseball scoring, he might be onto something; look at the Sandwich ’s points against, 3046 to the Knights, 3848 – WOW! But, his offense in no to shabby either; bating .312, with 13 home runs, 43 RBI’s & 48 runs makes him a threat, especially with his 14 stolen bases.

NL Outfielder #2: Matt Holliday, 251 Points

The Bethel Four-Baggers are loving this All Star, he is hitting a monstrous .349, with 13 home runs, 60 RBI’s and has a total of 109 hits. Those are some very impressive number from this Rockies slugger. If he doesn’t get voted into the actual All-Star game, the fans are just plan stupid!

NL Outfielder #3: Carlos Lee, 268 Points

Carlos is just being Carlos, oh wait that’s Manny’s line isn’t it? Any way, Carlos is having another nice fantasy season. He is in the top 10 for all outfielders, and is batting .290, with 14 home runs, 21 doubles and 62 RBI’s.

NL Outfielder Honorable Mentions: I wanted to take a moment to mention two additional players that I feel are having excellent seasons, Corey Hart & Shane Victorino. Hart has just solidified a starting spot in the Brewers outfield & the Bombers lineup; he has been a spark. Corey has just made his way into the top 30 of all outfielders with only 198 AB’s, very impressive! He is batting, .318, with 10 home runs & 16 stolen bases. The second honorable mention is the Knight’s outfielder, Shane Victorino. Shane is a Top 15 outfielder, with excellent speed; he has 22 stolen bases and has only been caught twice. Both of these players were waiver wire pickups and have really helped their respective teams.

Magglio has been very productive this year, and the Key West Parrot Heads must have had some inside information to know to take him in the 3^rd round of this year’s draft. He had an excellent comeback season last year, but who would have though he would be this good? Batting .377, with 13 home runs, 68 RBI’s, 106 hits, 34 which were doubles, he has been a machine.

Drafted in the first round of this years draft by the Florida Hotheads, Vlad has not disappointed. The Bombers must be kicking themselves for making this offensive juggernaut available by not keeping him. Vlad is batting .330, with 14 home runs and 69 RBI’s, plus he has only 29 strike outs, he is just flat out nasty!

AL Outfielder #3: Gary Sheffield, 289 Points
There were many options for this 3^rd outfield spot, but I just couldn’t pass up the Shef. He is one of the top offensive threats on the East Tennessee Bucs and I am sure she is happy with his 17 homeruns, 50 RBI’s and his 67 runs scored.

AL Outfielder Honorable Mentions: It was very tough picking AL outfielders because there are so many that deserve to be on this list; Alex Rios is having a breakout season for the Bombers, he was drafted in the 13^th round and he is currently a top 7 outfielder. Two additional honorable mentions are Grady Sizemore of the Key West Parrot Heads & Ichiro Suzuki of the Florida Sun, being keepers slightly hurt their case for this team, but they both are having excellent seasons.

Wow, this is a whole lot of typing… now onto the pitchers, I will give you the top 5 starters from the NL & AL and the top 3 relief pitchers from each league. Sit back relax, and go grab yourself another cold beverage.

Peavy, the top scoring Starting Pitcher for the NL has been the Ace of the Wilmington Knights staff. He has 9 wins, a 2.143 ERA and 113 K’s in only 105 innings. I can’t forget to mention that 13 of his 16 starts have been quality starts. He is having a bounce back year.

Yea, Yea, I know, somehow the top two NL starting Pitchers are on the writer’s team. Oh well deal with it, if you don’t like it, do one of two things…. (1) Write your own article, (2) look at the numbers; Hamels is the second highest NL starting pitcher, behind only Peavy. So my case is backed up by the numbers, Hamels has 9 wins, and 111 K’s in 106 innings.

Penny has been absolutely amazing this year; 14 of 16 starts have been quality and he has 10 wins, his K’s have been down a little this year, but you can’t argue with results. Penny is part of an amazing staff of the Bethel Four-Baggers. The Four-Baggers have what it takes to win a championship, especially with their quality and consistent pitching. Watch Out!

Just like Penny, Sheet’s K’s are a little bit down this year, but who cares! He is getting result. Stolen by the Warwick Bombers for some Devil Rays closer, Sheets has put together a very respectable first half. Ben has 9 wins and 12 of 16 quality starts. As long as he can stay healthy the sky is the limit for this ace.

Coming back from a disappointing 2006, Hudson has shown why the Braves brought him in, he has been a decent fantasy ace and he is getting the job done in Hot Lanta. Hudson has a nice 3.29 ERA and a 1.143 whip. He also has quality starts in12 of his 17 starts.

Honorable Mentions: Shocking, two more additional Wilmington Knights, go figure. But you can’t argue with results, these two pitchers have done a great job this year and are showing why they are the Ace’s of their big league staffs. Chris Young has also been a nice complement to Peavy in San Diego and is the #5 starter on the Four-Baggers, talk about depth.

AL Starting Pitcher #1: CC Sabathia
The ace in Candlewood, CC has been grrrrrrrreatttt! Sabathia has 11 wins and is the top scoring fantasy player, can’t argue with that. His numbers are decent, 3.23 ERA, 1.136 Whip, he has 108 strikeouts in 123 innings, but the key stat here is his control only 17 walks, but that impressive number is off set but his AL league leading 122 hits allowed.

AL Starting Pitcher #2: Dan Haren, 382 Points
Shocking, another Bethel Four-Bagger. Haren has an ERA under 2, 1.91 and a whip under 1, 0.94, absolutely ridiculous. He also has quality starts in 16 of 17 games, need I say more? Danny is also the second leading points scorer in Fantasy.

AL Starting Pitcher #3: Johan Santana, 342 Points
Did you think I forgot about him? Nope, the Bombers Ace has strung a couple nice starts together; let’s not forget his two start week where he dropped 70 points on the Wilmington Knights. Santana is back in the Top 5 for all Pitchers. Bombers manager Paul was quoted this message to the Knight’s manager, “Tell Peavy to watch his back, because Santana is coming to get his number 1 spot back.” Well watch out folks, Santana and his 114 K’s are coming!

AL Starting Pitcher #4: Josh Beckett, 327 Points
Remember how I mentioned depth when I spoke of the team from Bethel ? That’s right; Beckett is a member of that team as well. Beckett has 11 wins, with only 1 loss. Beckett doesn’t have the same K per 9 average as last year, but he has smartened up this year and has only allowed 5 home runs in 91 innings. He stopped trying to blow everyone away with his high heat and it is paying off. Beckett has solidified himself as the Red Sox’s ace as well as a Fantasy Ace. Red Sox manager Terry Francona says he see’s Beckett maturing before his very eyes. Uh oh folks, this boy is 27 and you know what CBS Sportsline thinks about that.

AL Starting Pitcher #5: James Shields, 317 Points
Last, but certainly not least is the ace of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, James Shields. That is right, a Devil’s Ray pitcher has made the list. Shields has struggled in his past few starts, but lets hope for the Buc’s sake he works out his issues and starts to dominate once again. Shields has an ERA in the 3’s, 3.81 and a very nice whip of 1.03. He has 100 K’s in 115 innings and only has 19 walks.

Honorable Mentions: One player that was tough to leave off was Justin “no hit” Verlander, he has had a nice season and a no hitter. Joe Blanton has also been pitching well for Palms. Escobar is getting the job done for the Sun. Bedard and Guthrie, two Baltimore stars, have been especially good for the Bombers. I am also sure the Wildcats have no complaints about their Ace and first round pick, DICE K. Last but not least is the 4-Baggers stud, John Lackey.

Cordero has been amazing this year for the Brewers, closing out 27 of 29 games for them. That has put a big old smile on the face of Florida Hotheads manager, George. Cordero has pitched on 5 consecutive days this season and has shown he is durable. He also has an impressive K rate; 45 K’s in 33 innings.

Saito has been unhittable; 21 hits in 32 innings, he has a .750 whip. Saito has 21 saves in 22 chances and struck out 41 in those 32 innings, just nasty! The Knights are very happy to have him in the pen.

Valverde was a great value for the Bethel Four-Baggers, originally drafted by the Sandwich from Sandwich, Mass. . The four Baggers happily scoped him off the waiver wire when the Sandwich dropped him for Francisco Liriano. Valverde has 24 saves in 27 chances. Great value pickup!

What did you call me? Oh Putz… got ya. Putz started off the season a little shaky, but has been lights out since week 4. A nice keeper choice by the Bucs. Putz has 22 saves in 22 chances, no blowing anything for him. He also has 39 K’s in 35 innings.

K-Rod has had a nice season so far, 22 saves in 24 shots. He has a whopping 49 K’s in 33 innings, wow. He has been a reliable option for the Greenwave.

Not much has been heard about Papelbon this season, that is because he has been doing his job and doing it well. Jon sports a 1.64 ERA, with a .915 Whip. He has 18 saves in 19 chances and has 38 K’s in 27 innings, he has been getting it done for the Sun.

I hope you enjoyed this look back at the season, feel free to let me know in the message board if you agree of disagree with any of my rankings, also feel free to tell me if I was too bias or what not. Anyhow, good luck the rest of the way!