Fantasy Baseball Friday: 2nd half players to have

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Since most people recognize this weekend to be the "Official" start to the 2nd half of the season, I'll humor them. What I'd like to talk about are the players you need to have on your team to help you make the playoffs. I don't care if you need to grab them off waivers, or make a trade for them. We'll take a look at each position.

Catcher:

Matt Weiters - I know he just went on the DL, but prior to that he'd finally found his swing

Buster Posey - The man has been on fire for three weeks now. Of course he'll slow down, but he'll end up in the top 5 at the position for the 2nd half.

First Base:

Gabby Sanchez - I know the position is deep, but the rookie will certainly help with average and increased power. He's a great fit in deep leagues at both first and utility.

Matt LaPorta - He's eligible at first and outfield, and has been raking since he got recalled. He finally gets a chance to play full time.

Second Base:

Ian Kinsler - Yeah, I know he's a household name, but he missed almost 20 games earlier this year. While some people are worried his average is 20 points higher than his career, I don't. His power numbers are down this year, but I feel it's more of a byproduct of his early season injury. Watch for it to return as the year goes on.

Clint Barnes - he's done a tremendous job replacing Tulo. It's nice that he's eligible at both middle infield positions, and can hit a few homers to boot.

Third Base:

Aramis Ramirez - Have you seen what he's done since coming off the DL. He seems to be back to his former self.

Chipper Jones - I'll probably catch hell for this pick, but he's been hitting for average, .301, and has an .881 OPS the past month. Not tremendous, but definitely valuable.

Short Stop: I really hate the position this year in Fantasy Baseball

Rafael Furcal - He's the only one I'm going to choose for right now. No one has been hotter of late, and he is really showing what he can do when fully healthy.

Outfield:

Carlos Beltran - In case you didn't realize it, he made his season debut last night. If the Mets were smart they'd make Angel Pagan the everyday right fielder.

Carlos Gonzalez - This is the time to prey on the lesser knowledgeable players in your league. I bet there are actually a good amount of people who don't realize how good, and valuable, he is. The man is the 5th ranked Outfielder for fantasy baseball. He hits for average, power, drives in runs and will get you 20 + steals. The only weak part of his game are his walks.

Adam Dunn - This is the year he gets traded by the Nationals. He'll go to a better team, with a deeper lineup. When that happens, his RBI total will increase.

Starting Pitcher:

Gavin Floyd - The kid has been lights out the past month. He's finally back on track and ready to turn his season around.

Max Scherzer - Talk about a man on fire. After his stint in the minors, it looks like he's righted himself. He's won 4 straight decisions allowing 6 runs and averaging 7.6 K's in those 5 starts.

Relief Pitcher:

John Axford - He's the man getting the saves for a bad Brewers team. My guess is someone takes a flyer on Trevor Hoffman at the deadline leaving him with the job for the remainder of the year.

Evan Meek - I look for Octavio Dotel to be moved as well opening up the closer's job for the man who's been great all year.

Fantasy Baseball Friday: First Half All Stars

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

This weekend will mark the half way point in the MLB 162 game season. Rather than wait for the All Star game, I like to name my all star fantasy team at the actual half way point in the season. So, here we go

2010 First Half All Star Fantasy Team:

Catcher: Miguel Oliva - really? .312 average and a .921 OPS

First Base: Miguel Cabrera - legitimate triple clown candidate

Second Base: Robinson Cano- may be the first half MVP

Third Base: David Wright - good to see his power numbers start to bounce back

Short Stop: Hanley Ramirez - the only SS in the top 50 fantasy players

Outfield: Vlad Guerrero - nice to see the old dog keep slamming

Outfield: Josh Hamilton - see what he can do when healthy

Outfield: Carl Crawford - let the Yankees rumors begin

Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jiminez - can he keep it up for the entire year?

Starting Pitcher: Josh Johnson - he's still grossly underpaid even after the extension

Starting Pitcher: Adam Wainright - all he does is pitch well and win

Relief Pitcher: Billy Wagner - finally gives the Braves the lock down closer

Relief Pitcher: Mariano Rivera - it's just a given he's on this team

2010 First Half All Star Fantasy 2nd Team:

Catcher: Victor Martinez - it's been a bad fantasy year for the catching position

First Base: Joey Votto - he will begin to garner some MVP votes if he keeps it up

Second Base: Martin Prado - I hope you picked him up earlier in the year as he keeps raking

Third Base: Kevin Youkilis - should get his first .300, 30 HR, 100 RBI season

Short Stop: Jose Reyes - man it's been a terrible year at this position too

Outfield: Alex Rios - proving me wrong all year long

Outfield: Carlos Gonzalez - the youngster is a five tool threat and a super star in the making

Outfield: Ryan Braun - the hebrew hammer makes the 2nd team in a sub par year for him

Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay - surprised he's not having a better year

Starting Pitcher: Jered Weaver - he's putting up great stats so far

Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee - look for his value to skyrocket with a trade to a contender

Relief Pitcher: Jose Valverde - locking down games for the surprising Tigers

Relief Pitcher: Rafael Soriano - can he stay healthy for an entire year?

That's all for this week. We'll be back the usual format next Friday.

Enjoy the 4th of July weekend!

Fantasy Baseball Friday: June 18th

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, it's time to make a change of format for this weeks' blog. In case you've been living under a rock, you're well aware of the in flux of blue chip prospects making their MLB debuts over the past few weeks. What I'll do today is look at each player and let you know whether or not they are fantasy worthy for the rest of the season.

1. Steven Strasburg - Washington Nationals

We all know everything there is to know about the young phenom. He's certainly looked amazing in his first two starts, but those were against the Pirates and Indians. He gets his 3rd start today against the White Sox, so you can easily say he hasn't faced the 27' Yankees. In fact, the Indians are ranked 24th in average & 23rd in runs. The Pirates are 29th in average & last in runs, and the White Sox are 25th in average & 21st in runs. I have him on one of my teams, so I think he'll do just fine this season, but you can expect him to struggle after he makes his first trip through the NL. I think his command will help him greatly as he doesn't put himself into bad situations with free passes. Overall, I'd absolute want him on my team, but need to understand he's better suited to a #3 fantasy starter.

2. Buster Posey - San Fransisco Giants

Let's just say it's a good think catchers don't get fantasy points for their defense. While he's not ready yet to be in charge of a pitching staff, he is more than ready to hit at the major league level. The kid can flat out rake, and that's why the Giants brought him up. My guess is he'll struggle a bit, but will still end up as a top 5 fantasy catcher for the 2nd half of this season.

3. Mike Stanton - Florida Marlins

He was a beast at AAA, and the Marlins had no choice but to bring him up and replace Cameron Maybin. After a quick start in his first 4 games, he's gone hit less in the past three and is 0 for his last 12. I picked him up right away as depth for my outfield, but am already about to drop him. It scares me a bit looking at 13 strike outs in just 31 at bats, which is a whopping 42% K rate. He has all the earmarks of a great player, but he comes with such high expectations. The OF position is so deep this year with more than serviceable players, that he may be a reach and waste of a roster spot.

4. Pedro Alvarez - Pittsburgh Pirates

2 games, 0 hits, 6 at bats, 4 k's. Not a great start, but he's a great prospect for a reason. Despite the hype, the Pirates have done the right thing and slotted him in the 6th spot instead of smack dab in the middle of the order. He's a definite grab in deep leagues, as well as NL only. Look for him to wade through a few struggles before he finds himself later on in the season.

5. Carlos Santana - Cleveland Indians

As a Dodgers fan, it's hard to see Santana start so strongly for the tribe as Russell Martin stays stuck in neutral. I'd much rather have Santana behind the plate. While he's not going to be the offensive force Posey will be, he's won't be too far behind. He's a very solid hitter that will be a top 10 fantasy catcher the rest of the way. He's on a team that will allow him to play through some struggles, but also has another good young backstop in Lou Marson. Talk about an embarrassment of riches.

Fantasy Baseball Friday: June 4th

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Now that we've entered the month of June, it's safe to say we know whether someone is a bust or a pleasant surprise. Today's blog will be a little bit different. I'll just list the top 10 hitters and pitchers of the month, but will spend more time reviewing some of the aforementioned busts and surprises and look forward to the remainder of the season.

Top 10 Hitters of the Month:

1. Alex Rios - White Sox

2. Miguel Cabrera - Tigers

3. David Ortiz - Red Sox

4. Vlad Guerrero - Rangers

5. Alex Rodriguez - Yankees

6. Carl Crawford - Rays

7. Troy Glaus - Braves

8. Hunter Pence - Astros

9. Jose Bautista - Blue Jays

10. Michael Young - Rangers

I have to be honest that I'm shocked Ortiz, Rios, Glaus & Bautista on this list. Bautista will not hit for average, but he's a legit power guy the rest of the season. Look for Ortiz, Glaus, Pence and Vlad to slow at some point. I would especially watch out for Vlad in the nasty heat of Texas.

Top 10 Pitchers of the Month:

1. Mat Latos - Padres

2. Ubaldo Jiminez - Rockies

3. Clayton Kershaw - Dodgers

4. Jon Lester - Red Sox

5. Jonathon Broxton - Dodgers

6. Josh Johnson - Marlins

7. John Ely - Dodgers

8. Bill Wagner - Braves

9. Matt Cain - Giants

10. Shaun Marcum - Blue Jays

Look at the youth that's included in this list. No one is pitching better than Ubaldo this season, Kershaw and Lester are the two best young left handers in the game, and there's nothing to scoff at for Johnson and Cain. I think Latos surprises me the most. He's won 4 straight decisions after a terrible start to the year.

Top Busts: (listed in no particular order)

Zack Grienke - I really hesitate to put him on this list. Outside of his 1-7 record, his stats aren't that bad. He really is the killed by the fact the Royals are terrible.

Wandy Rodriguez - There was a ton of expectations on the left hander, and he hasn't delivered at all. I know the Astros are not a good team, but a 5+ ERA and a 1.62 WHIP is just awful.

Trevor Hoffman - I told you so. I cautioned you to stay away before the season, and the all time saves leader is making me look like a smart man.

Grady Sizemore - Even before he got hurt, he was off to an awful start. He has such promise, but he'll never reach his full potential. He can't hit for average, and really doesn't hit for enough power or drive in enough runs to garner all the hype.

Aramis Ramirez - Boy has he fallen off a cliff. His average is .162, and he has now power production at all. It looks like he may be done.

Chone Figgins - This one surprises me. His game should be able to translate to any team, and the cavernous SafeCo field shouldn't affect him at all. If anything, I figured he'd hit more doubles and triples.

Gordon Beckham - All the hype, and all the bust. He's done absolutely nothing so far. I'd actually keep an eye on him for a much better second half.
Top Surprises/Breakouts: (listed in no particular order)

Alex Rios - Who would have thought the Sox would get this type of production. He's making Ken Williams look like a genius.

Vernon Wells - Maybe now the Blue Jays will be able to unload his contract. If you read my articles, you know I wouldn't have taken Wells with my last pick in the draft. He has certainly shut me up with a huge start.

Jose Bautista - The man keeps hitting homers and driving in runs. That's about all he can do, but look for him to do it all season long.

Martin Prado - He's now a super utility type of fantasy player. He's eligible at three positions, and keeps hitting. I love him.

Troy Glaus - The Braves took a gamble on the power hitter, put him at first base and it's really paid off so far. I don't expect him to keep up the same pace, but he's certainly added to that lineup.

Jaime Garcia - Who is this guy? Well, he's just another in a long line of Cardinals pitchers to excel under the tutelage of Dave Duncan.

Mike Pelfrey - He finally looks like he's put it all together. He has the ability, so it's nice to see him pitching so well.

Carlos Silva - Wait, he's 7-0? Yes, he is, and you should probably trade him as high as you possibly can right now.

Early Season Fantasy Awards: (Full MLB)

Offensive MVP - Robinson Cano - It was close, but you have to give it to a guy who's hitting for average, power, drives in runs, and scores runs

Cy Young - Ubaldo Jiminez - Can't be surprised here. He already has 1o wins, a sub 1 ERA (0.78 in fact) and a 0.90 WHIP.

Rookie of the Year (so far): Jason Heyward - I think he's been better than the hype so far. I think it's his consistency that has really impressed me the most. He has the ability to adjust to Pitchers and what they're trying to do to him. You just don't see that in a player so young.

Fantasy Baseball Friday: May 21st

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, I really blew it last week by not posting my weekly column. I apologize. I will offer no excuses. Now onto the article. We are almost two months into the season, and this is where you start to find out who's for real, and who's not.

Top 10 Hitters of the Week:

1. Jose Bautista (Blue Jays) - It's very hard for me to believe, but Bautista might just be a good pick up this season. He'll never hit for average, but his power numbers and run production have been consistent so far this season. Just be careful if you're in a league with strikeouts. He has a k rate of nearly 25%.

2. Dan Uggla (Marlins) - Weren't we just speaking about a hitter who k's a ton. Forget about that right now. While I'm skeptical about him keeping his average around .290 (30 points higher than his career average) he's on pace for a 30/100/100 season. That's nothing to scoff at especially at the 2nd base position.

3. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) - What can you say about Arod that hasn't already been said.

4. Shane Victorino (Phillies) - If you know me, then you know I can't stand the Flyin' Hawaiian, but it looks like he starting to turn his season around. He's on pace to easily surpass his career high of 14 homers and 62 RBI.

5. David Ortiz (Red Sox) - Maybe I was wrong? I'm not sure, maybe he's back on his super shakes, but the one thing I know is you need to ride Big Papi for everything he has now. If you have him, I'd try and sell him high.

6. Kevin Youkillis (Red Sox) - I may not like him personally, but I respect the heck out of him as a ball player. He's about as complete a hitter out there as you'll find and is on pace for his first 30/100 season.

7. Luke Scott (Orioles) - As long as he's facing right handed pitchers, he'll rake for power and drive in runs. The Orioles are very good with his playing time and understand what he can and cant' do. He's a good guy for an extra outfielder or the utility position.

8. Nelson Cruz (Rangers) - I'm not sure people realize how productive this guy is. If he can stay healthy, he'll be a top 10 outfielder in fantasy production.

9. Justin Upton (Diamondbacks) - I'm a big fan of J-Up. It's nice to see him raise his average 30 points the past two weeks as he's been hot. It now looks like he's righted the ship after a bad start.

10. Corey Hart (Brewers) - If you need a good 4th OF, then Hart's your guy. He'll never light the world on fire for an entire season, but is a solid bench guy.

Top 10 Pitchers of the Week:

1. Joe Saunders (Angels) - He's put up two great starts after staring the season 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA. This is a good time to buy low on him if you know his current owner is frustrated.

2. Ricky Romero (Blue Jays) - I think it's safe to say he's a legitimate starter now. The former 6th overall pick is dealing again after struggling for a few starts.

3. Anibel Sanchez (Marlins) - Is he finally healthy again? It looks like it. He's owned in only 5% of Yahoo leagues so he's available.

4. Ubaldo Jiminez (Rockies) - The beast keeps rolling, and I don't see him slowing down for a while.

5. Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) - Finally the kid goes 7+ in 3 straight starts. This just might be the start of something magical, but I'm pretty biased. His long term potential is scary good.

6. Jonathon Broxton (Dodgers) - It was only a matter of time before he started accumulating saves as he's had 4 this week and 7 straight.

7. Edwin Jackson (Diamondbacks) - One good start does not turn around a bad year. Keep an eye on him

8. Jon Lester (Red Sox) - I may not be a Sox fan, but I'm a big fan of Lester. He's won 4 in a row and is back on track. There is a reason why he's one of the best left handed starters in the bigs.

9. Jeremie Guthrie (Orioles) - He has a 3.86 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and a 3 to 1 K to BB rate. Pretty decent numbers. Too bad he's on 2-4. I still think he's worth a pick up though.

10. Clay Buchholz (Red Sox) - It's hard to think he's been the most consistent Bo Sox starter thus far, but that's the truth. He also leads the staff with a 3.26 ERA.

Cut em' or Claim em':

1. Ian Kennedy (Diamondbacks) - He's no Phil Hughes, but has been pretty darn good for the D-Backs so far. I say Claim him.

2. Randy Wolf (Brewers) - Cut him, cut him, cut him. He's made the Brewers look foolish so far this year.

3. Gordon Beckham (White Sox) - My gut says hold onto him, but he's been so god awful that he can no longer take a spot on my bench. Cut em'!

4. John Ely (Dodgers) - Maybe I'm just being a Dodgers fan here, but so far I'm impressed. So impressed that I say Claim em'. In 25.2 innings pitched he has 25 K's and only 3 walks. That is nice!

5. Jonny Gomes (Reds) - He's getting at bats in Cincy, and has done the absolute most with them. If you absolutely need an outfielder or utility guy, then claim him. I just don't buy the start he's had. He has to come back to reality.

6. Rod Barajas (Mets) - Catching is so thin that you need to claim him if you can. I'm not sure it will last, but the guy has an .893 OPS and 10 home runs, and is currently the #1 fantasy catcher according to Yahoo.

7. James Loney (Dodgers) - If only he could hit for power. What helps is his average, and the fact that he's stolen 6 bases already at the 1st base position. I'd claim him and use him as a solid bench player and occasional starter

8. Carlos Quentin (White Sox) - Cut him! I think his amazing 2008 is a fluke. Of course he can still hit a home run, but overall he's just not that good.

Well people, until next week

Fantasy Baseball Friday: May 7th

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome back for another week of fantasy baseball review. Beginning next week we'll finally start looking toward the week ahead.

Weekly Top 10: Hitters

1. Andre Ethier (Dodgers) - He has a line of .480, 5, 13 this week. Wow! It's nice to see the ankle healthy.I really never thought he was going to be that good, but it looks like I was wrong. It doesn't hurt he's also one of the most clutch hitters in baseball.

2. Alfonso Soriano (Cubs) - Is he back from the dead? He might be, but he still doesn't steal bases anymore. My suggestion is to trade him while he's hot and get the most you can. He will get hurt sometime soon.

3. Brett Gardner (Yankees) - In case you haven't noticed, the young lefty is having a stellar season so far. He has a .430 OBP and 13 stolen bases. Looks like he'll stick in the Yankees outfield

4. J.D. Drew (Red Sox) - Ho hum. He has one good week, he has one bad week. He might even get you two good weeks and then hit the DL. Stay away

5. Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) - Hanley has been his usual self with the bat, but only has 2 steals so far. Really? H-Ram has got to start using his legs.

6. James Loney (Dodgers) - He's off to a very good start this season, and even has some people using him as a starter in deep leagues at first. I am a huge fan of his, but do not expect power numbers.

7. Evan Longoria (Rays) - As you may know, he's one of my favorite players and a fantasy baseball star. Why else would one of my sons be named Evan.

8. Jason Heyward (Braves) - I am very impressed with the rookie. He's been able to adjust after seeing opponents a second time. He's shown patience, and is driving the ball to all fields. There is no doubt he'll be a fantasy super start for the next 12 years.

9. Jayson Werth (Phillies) - Talk about getting ready for a big payday. It looks like he won't get it from the Phillies, but he'll get it from someone. He keeps getting better and better.

10. Denard Span (Twins) - Is turning around after an awful start. He's getting on base more, scoring more runs recently, but needs to start snagging more bags.

Weekly Top 10: Pitchers

1. Roy Hallady (Phillies) - What can you say about the man. In his first 3 starts at Citizens Bank Ballpark he's only allowed 1 homer. That will surely keep him in the Cy Young race all year

2. Neftali Perez (Rangers) - The young phenom has solidified the closer situation in Texas. He should have no trouble doing that the rest of the year.

3. Matt Cain (Giants) - While I certainly hate the Giants, I've always been a fan of Cain. After a breakout season last year, he's keeping it up so far this season.

4. Scott Olsen (Nationals) - While he may be a DB, apparently he can actually pitch. He's allowed only 2 runs (1 earned) over his past 20.1 innings pitched amassing two wins in those three games. Keep an eye on him.

5. Rich Harden (Rangers) - Don't look now, but Harden is pitching pretty well so far. I still would be scared of his history of injuries.

6. Brett Cecil (Blue Jays) - 2.61 ERA, 21 K, 4 BB, .77 WHIP & a .167 OBA? Damn, I might just have to pick him up myself.

7. Andrew Bailey (A's) - I have to admit when I'm wrong. After he was injured in Spring Training I declared he'd be somewhat of a bust this season. Boy was I wrong as he hasn't allowed a single run so far along with a perfect 5 for 5 in saves

8. Robinson Tejeda (Royals) - Tejeda has been one of the best middle relievers in the game in 2010. If you need one, he's a pretty good one to pick up as he already has 15 appearances.

9. Jeff Neimann (Rays) - I'm pretty sure every member of the Rays has a horseshoe stuck up you know where. This kid has been stellar, especially in his last two starts where he's allowed just one run in 14 innings.

10. Justin Verlander (Tigers) - He seems to be turning things around after a rough start. He's a true ace, so don't panic too soon.

The David Ortiz Disappointments of the Season (so far):

Gil Meche (Royals) - Wait, how much does this guy make? Ouch. His WHIP 2.28 would be a might nice ERA. In his 5 starts he's allowed 26 earned runs.

Edwin Jackson (Diamondbacks) - In his last two starts he's allowed 18 runs in just 6.2 innings. Not really worth the trade if you ask me.

Javier Vasquez (Yankees) - Speaking of bad trades. It didn't work the first time round in the Bronx, and it looks like it wont work this time either.

Chris Coghlan (Marlins) - The 2009 Rookie of the Year is having a serious sophomore slump. Is he Jerome Walton? I doubt it.

Aramis Ramirez (Cubs) - Is he the NL version of David Ortiz? In half of a season in 2009, he did put up very good numbers, so I don't think so. I hope you have a backup 3rd basemen until he returns to form.

Gordon Beckham (White Sox) - Beckham is a very good ball player. He will turn around the season, and I specifically look at Dustin Pedroia's rookie season as a parallel.

Fantasy Baseball Friday: April 30th

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Weekly Top 10: Hitters

1. Austin Kearns - Indians. Remember when he was a prized prospect? Don't expect more than a one good week at a time.

2. Kelly Johnson - Diamondbacks. I'd keep an eye on him. I didn't expect much pre season, but he's been very consistent so far. The one thing that will not last is the power numbers

3. Carlos Gonzalez - Rockies. I was high on him before the season, and am an even bigger believer now. This kid is legit.

4. Ryan Braun - Brewers. What can you say about the Hebrew Hammer. He's a stud, that's all.

5. Miguel Olivo - Rockies. If the Rockies didn't have Iannetta, I'd be all over him.

6. Dexter Fowler - Rockies. Very inconsistent, but he's still stealing bases.

7. Bobby Abreu - Angels. He may not be the prettiest looking athlete, but he's a proven, consistent run producer.

8. Robinson Cano - Yankees. Is this the year he wins the batting title? Me thinks yes

9. Ryan Theriot - Cubs. Poor man's David Eckstein my you know what. He's a far better player.

10. Adrian Gonzalez - Padres. Putting up the numbers prior to a trade?

Weekly Top 10: Pitchers

1. Ubaldo Jimenez - Rockies. It's nice to see he didn't fall off after the no hitter. Young stud putting it together

2. Jon Lester - Red Sox. If only he wasn't terrible to start the season every year. When on, one of the best lefties in the game. Look for him to keep it going now.

3. Tim Lincecum - Giants. Hands down best pitcher in the game.

4. Josh Johnson - Marlins. JJ has it going after a slow start

5. David Price - Rays. I don't mean to brag, but I did predict a breakout season for the youngster.

6. Francisco Rodriguez - Mets. Puts up good numbers, but I'd never trust him.

7. Matt Capps - Nationals. The save machine. I guess that is what happens when you have team play in a tone of close games.

8. Francisco Liriano - Twins. It's nice to see him healthy and return to form. Could be dominant again.

9. Barry Zito - Giants. I don't buy it. He's just too hittable.

10. Johan Santana - Mets. Maybe the Mets bullpen won't ruin his season again.

Early Season Pleasant Surprises:

Kelly Johnson - Diamondbacks. See above

Vernon Wells - Blue Jays. Here is where I have to eat crow. I killed him prior to the season. I was wrong. He obviously feels like he has something to prove

Mike Pelfrey - Mets. What a great start for a team that really needs a #2. Looks like he'll fill in nicely.

Brad Penny - Cardinals. Dave Duncan is the best pitching coach in the history of baseball. One of these days I'll get around to my article about his reclamation projects.

Matt Capps - Nationals. See above

Early Season Disasters a.k.a. The David "Big Papi" Ortiz portion of the blog:

David Ortiz - Red Sox. We all know about my hatred for Ortiz. He is done.

Trevor Hoffman - Brewers. I love the Hoff, but it looks like his days are almost done. Better keep an eye on LaTroy Hawkins

Carlos Zambrano - Cubs. If he's unhappy, anything could happen. Bad I mean

Chris Davis - Rangers. In order to stay in the bigs, you need to make consistent contact. It didn't help Justin Smoak was behind him.

Nate McClouth - Braves. This was not a good trade for the Braves. I was never a believer in the first place.

Jake Peavy - White Sox. Poor guy. He has no control right now. If he wasn't on the White Sox, I'd probably root for him.

Well, that's all for this week. See you next.

Fantasy Baseball Friday: Weclome Back!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, this weeks' article is going to be a tad different due to the fact the season isn't even a week old. This week I'm going to highlight the first week All Stars as well as forecast a few fast and slow starts. Now, down to the brass tax

First Week All Stars:

C: Matt Wieters - Orioles

1B: Miguel Carbrera - Tigers

2B: Placido Polanco - Phillies (not yet eligible at 3B)

3B: Ian Stewart - Rockies

SS: Jimmy Rollins - Phillies

OF: Vernon Wells - Blue Jays

OF: Delmon Young - Twins

OF: Garrett Jones - Pirates

SP: Tim Lincecum - Giants

RP: Brian Wilson - Giants

Hot Starts:

1. Delmon Young - Is this the year he finally put it together? I'm still not sold. He's always shown flashes, but quickly returns to his inconsistent form. He's still only 25, but still doesn't walk enough for me to think this will last.

2. Garrett Jones - Many people what he would do after lighting the world on fire in the 2nd half of the season in 2009. He's shown will hit for power and drive in runs already against the Dodgers this week. He's a good bet to hit 25+ home runs and drive in over 8o. I'm buying him being a decent 4th outfield and backup first basemen in mixed leagues.

3. Carlos Gomez - If you have him, sell him as high and fast as possible. He still has no plate discipline and doesn't walk enough for him to keep stealing bases. He has all the tools, but until he gets more patient and learns the strike zone he'll never be a solid fantasy performer.

4. C.J. Wilson - This is just a gut feeling, but I feel like he's going to be a fantasy starter for the first half of the season. I worry about him long term as he's never pitched a full major league season as a starter.

5. Chris Perez - I'm a firm believer he'll be the Indians closer for all of the 2010 season. He's looked great saving two games this week. I doubt he's still out there, but if he is, grab him.

Slow Starts:

1. David Ortiz - Big Papi should realistically be relegated to a platoon with Mike Lowell. He can't hit lefties at all, especially good ones. If you have him, you need to pay close attention to his match ups. He can still mash against most right handers.

2. Derek Lee - Watch out for Lee. He's someone I've been watching to have a serious drop off this season. Don't bail on him yet, but if he's still struggling come May 1st, it may be time to move on.

3. Josh Hamilton - I am a fan of Hamilton, and am pulling hard for him to return to his All Star form of two years ago, but I think he's just too injury prone. I wouldn't go near him. He's not playing full time right now because of an injury, and struck out 4 times in a game earlier this week.

4. Julio Borbon - The highly touted rookie doesn't have a hit yet this season, but don't give up on him. He's nothing more than an extra outfielder who'll get you stolen bases, but he will straighten himself out as the season goes on.

5. Alfonso Soriano - He scares me as a fantasy player now. He doesn't steal bases and his offensive production keeps getting worse. I wouldn't be surprised if you see him fall off the face of the fantasy earth this season.

Well, I apologize for the somewhat short article this week, but it's only the first week. Look for a much more in depth article next Friday.

Fantasy Baseball: Positional Rankings - Closers

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome to the final category of the Fan Fanatic Sports fantasy baseball breakdown. I will send you all a hearty good luck in your fantasy season as the 2010 season begins this Sunday night in Boston. If you know me, then you know that the closer is my least favorite fantasy position. I kind of liken it to a kicker in fantasy football. If you have one of the elite's than that's fantastic, but if not, you can always find one, or two during the season. Year in and year out, there are always closers who start the season in the position lose their jobs. The reverse can be said as well. Every season some unknown puts up 20+ saves.

The Top 20:

1. Mariano Rivera - Yankees

2. Jonathon Papelbon - Red Sox

3. Jonathon Broxton - Dodgers

4. Brian Wilson - Giants

5. David Aardsma - Mariners

6. Huston Street - Rockies

7. Heath Bell - Padres

8. Francisco Cordero - Reds

9. Carlos Marmol - Cubs

10. Francisco Rodriguez - Mets

11. Brian Fuentes - Angels

12. Joakim Soria - Royals

13. Jose Valverde - Tigers

14. Adam Bailey - A's

15. Ryan Franklin - Cardinals

16. Trevor Hoffman - Brewers

17. Billy Wagner - Braves

18. Rafael Soriano - Rays

19. Brad Lidge - Phillies

20. Bobby Jenks - White Sox

The Elite:

Until Mariano Rivera has a bad year, he'll be tops on my list. This guy is the best closer in the history of baseball, and should be a first ballot hall of famer. He still pitches for the best team in baseball, so you can bank on 35+ saves. I actually surprised myself by putting Papelbon at the #2 slot. He's got to prove he can bounce back from a poor 09' season. I also think the Sox offense will put them in a lot more close and late games. Speaking of close and late games, let's talk about Jonathon Broxton and the Dodgers. They have a very good lineup, but their pitching has a serious lack of depth in the rotation.

The 2nd Tier:
Despite the hatred I have for the SF Giants, you have to appreciate the job Brian Wilson has done for them. He has 79 saves the past two seasons and dropped his ERA by almost two full runs from 2008. He was rewarded a week ago with a nice extension. After him there are so many closers that are about the same. Some of those guys are Huston Street, David Aardsma, and Heath Bell. Just remember, you can always find a closer.

On the Rise:

Chris Perez - Now that Kerry Wood will miss the first 6 weeks of the season, Perez is the man for the Indians. If you can pick him up, he may not be just a fill in due to Wood's inconsistency.

Mattt Guerrier - Unless the Twins make a trade for a closer, he's my pick to take a strangle hold on the position. He's had an ERA under 3.50 for 4 out of the past 5 seasons. He isn't a strike out pitcher, but had a very nice WHIP of 0.97 in 2009.

LaTroy Hawkins - He'll start out as a set up man for the Brewers, but you never know when Trevor Hoffman will start showing his age. I'd keep an eye out for him as the season goes on.

On the Slide/Watch out:

Andrew Bailey - Bailey, the rookie of the year last year, starts out the season banged up. He may be ready for opening day, but I never trust a pitcher who a career high in innings the previous year and has a bad elbow.

Trevor Hoffman - I know I'll catch some flack for putting Hoffman here. I'm not saying he's going to have a bad year, but he does bear some watching. He is 42 years old! He had a great season last year, but how long can he keep putting numbers up.

Brandon Lyon - I am not sure what the Astros were thinking when they handed Lyon a three year deal during the off season. It looks like he lost the closers job to Matt Lindstrom with a very poor spring.

Well, everyone I hope you all enjoyed the rankings. Good luck in your fantasy draft!

Fantasy Baseball: Positional Rankings - Starting Pitchers

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Just like baseball in real life, you can never have too much starting pitching in the fantasy world. Now of course it's best to have top line pitching, but unless you overload at the beginning of the draft, you should find yourself in the position of delving into the deep pool of MLB starting pitchers.

The Top 20:

1. Tim Lincecum - Giants

2. Roy Halladay - Phillies

3. Zack Grienke - Royals

4. Felix Hernandez - Mariners

5. CC Sabathia - Yankees

6. Justin Verlander - Tigers

7. Adam Wainwright - Cardinals

8. Chris Carpenter - Cardinals

9. Josh Beckett - Red Sox

10. Dan Haren - Diamondbacks

11. Yovani Gallardo - Brewers

12. Johan Santana - Mets

13. Josh Johnson - Marlins

14. Jon Lester - Red Sox

15. Tommy Hanson - Braves

16. Cole Hamels - Philles

17. Matt Cain - Giants

18. John Lackey - Red Sox

19. Wandy Rodriguez - Astros

20. Clayton Kershaw - Dodgers

The Elite:

Tim Lincecum is hands down the best pitcher in baseball, and has been the past few years. What's scary is that he doesn't even turn 26 until this June. He's so good, he's a top 5 pick in the draft. Following Lincecum are another two right handers in Roy Halladay and Zack Grienke. Some people might be surprised I put Halladay at #2, but I really expect him to put up huge numbers as he finally plays for a World Series contender. While he may be the old, wily vet, Grienke is one of the young guns in the game. There should be no anxiety (yes, I went there) in taking him in the late first round.

The 2nd Tier:

Felix, the cat, Hernandez had his first full healthy season and put up 19 wins and a 2.49 ERA. He was rewarded by the Mariners in the off season, so the 24 year old can now just go out and pitch. CC Sabathia did exactly what he was supposed to do in his first year in the Bronx. Look for his ERA to drop a bit now he understands how to pitch in the new Yankee Stadium. In case you didn't realize, Justin Verlander was one of the four MLB pitchers to get 19 wins in 2009. While I'd like to see him reduce his 1.18 WHIP from a year ago, he still strikes out people at an amazing rate.

On the Rise/Rebound:

Tommy Hanson - The young Braves ace should have started the 09' season in Atlanta. He wasn't brought up until June 7th, but still managed to get 11 wins and rack up a 2.89 ERA. I don't expect a sophomore slump as he gets used to pitching in the bigs.

Clayton Kershaw - I am a huge fan of Clayton Kershaw and think he'll end up as one of the best left handed pitchers in the game in about 2-3 years. This year will not be his breakout year, but it will not be too far off. He still needs to get his pitch count down so he can work deeper into games. When he can do that, then his low win total will skyrocket. He already has a great fastball and one of the best left handed curve balls in the majors.

Wade Davis - Watch out for this great Rays prospect. He'll be slotted down in the starting rotation, so the pressure is not on him to be stellar off the bat. He did pitch pretty well in on 36.1 innings at the end of the year.

Rick Porcello - Most experts will admit that Porcello had a pretty good rookie season in 09'. When you go 14-9 for a mediocre team then that's decent. So far, he's been lights out in Spring Training with a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings. He's looked fantastic and ready for a 15+ win with a sub 3.25 ERA season.

Fausto Carmona - Remember when he won 19 games in 2007? Well, he's looked very similar to that so far in Spring Training. I know you can't tell too much from Spring Training stats, so you need to use your eyes.

On the Slide/Watch out:

Vincente Padilla - I love Joe Torre, but starting Padilla opening day is ridiculous. I don't care if they're trying to line Kershaw up for the home opener. Despite a great end to his season with the Dodgers, he will eventually return to his usual self.

Joel Piniero - This is more of a gut feeling for me. I have a philosophy that I steer clear of pitchers the first year after leaving the St. Louis Cardinals. Let's call it the Dave Duncan effect. On the flip side, don't be surprised if Brad Penny has a good year.

Kevin Millwood - Unfortunately for the Orioles, he's having a terrible Spring Training. I know he has a history of slow starts, but he's been downright awful so far. Hopefully, he'll at least be able to mentor the solid young stars on the horizon in the O's staff.

Watch out Friday for the final category - Closers.

Fantasy Baseball: Positional Rankings - Outfield

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

If you know me, then you know that I have a soft spot for the outfield position. Actually, it's really a soft spot for center fielders, but that really doesn't matter. What matters here are stats, stats and more stats. With that being said, the position is stocked with productive fantasy players of all kinds.

The Top 20:

1. Ryan Braun - Brewers

2. Matt Kemp - Dodgers

3. Carl Crawford - Rays

4. Justin Upton - Diamondbacks

5. Matt Holliday - Cardinals

6. Jacoby Ellsbury - Red Sox

7. Ichiro Suzuki - Mariners

8. Curtis Granderson - Yankees

9. Nick Markakis - Orioles

10. Adam Lind - Blue Jays

11. Adam Jones - Orioles

12. Grady Sizemore - Indians

13. Jason Werth - Phillies

14. Carlos Lee - Astros

15. Josh Hamilton - Rangers

16. B.J. Upton - Rays

17. Manny Ramirez - Dodgers

18. Andre Eithier - Dodgers

19. Carlos Gonzalez - Rockies

20. Alfonso Soriano - Cubs

The Elite:

It's amazing how much different most of the top fantasy outfielders are in the "post" steroid days. Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford, who are now bona fide superstars in my mind have pretty much everything to offer you. Kemp is a 5 tool player who is still so raw it gets me so excited to see how he improves from year to year. Crawford, most likely headed to New York after the season, got his health back last year and really took off. He hit for average (.305), a decent amount of power and RBI (15, 68) and stole a ton of bases (60). The true elite fantasy outfielder has to be Ryan Braun. He's a proven power hitter (32 HR, 112 RBI) who also hits for average (.320), scores (113 runs) and has a career .937 OPS.

The 2nd Tier:

This category brings you a couple of youngster, Jacoby Ellsbury and Justin Upton who have very different styles of play. Upton bring the thunder while Ellsbury steals a ton of bases. Ellsbury really needs to increase his on base percentage a bit more to become an elite fantasy player. I also like Matt Holliday, hitting behind Pujols only, and the very consistent Ichiro to fill out the 2nd tier.

On the Rise:

Adam Jones - will have a season much like Matt Kemp in 09' as long as he stays healthy. Can do pretty much anything.

Carlos Gonzalez - Was lights out in the 2nd half last season. He gets a chance to do it from the start and build off his .284 average and 13 homers in only 289 at bats.

Andrew McCutchen - Much like Gonzalez, McCutchen starting to show his potential during the 2nd half of last season. He will not be hitting in the lead off spot this season, so you should see his RBI total be a bit higher than expected. Look for him to hit about .290 with 20 homers, 80+ RBI and 30+ steals. That is great for a 4th outfielder in fantasy.

Jason Heyward - The biggest buzz in baseball is created by this young phenom. I, for one, bank on him winning the NL Rookie of the year as he bursts on to the scene. He might struggle a bit off the block, but look for him to hit 25 home runs his rookie season.

Travis Snyder - He will have a year very similar to Adam Lind's 2009, when Lind had a breakout season. He may not his 35 homers and 135 RBI, but look for 25+ and 85+ RBI.

On the Slide:

Jason Bay - Don't get me wrong. I like Jason Bay and think he's a fine player, but I just look at what happened to David Wright last year in the first season Citi Field. After hitting 63 home runs combined the previous two seasons, Wright had a measly 10 in 2009. Bay has good power, but not nearly enough to top 20 this season.

Josh Hamilton - The man just can't stay healthy. Unless you can get him late, stay away and take someone potentially less productive who you can count on playing everyday.

Alfonso Soriano - Pretty much the same thing as Hamilton. His average dropped 50 points last season and he only stole 9 bags. Even being dropped in the order will not increase his RBI, so I say watch out.

Vernon Wells - Wells is an absolute waste of a fantasy pick. This is by far the worst contract in baseball now that Barry Zito had a decent year last year.

Sorry about taking so long on this, but sometimes reality sticks itself into Fantasy and Fan Fanatic Sports. Stay tuned on Wednesday for the Starting Pitchers and Friday for the Relievers.

Fantasy Baseball: Positional Rankings - Shortstop

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The fantasy position of shortstop has really transformed, once again, the past few years. For a short period of time it had turned into a power hitting position. With the exception of a select few, the position has once again turned into a position that provides average, runs, stolen bases and on base percentage.

The Top 20:

1. Hanley Ramirez - Marlins

2. Troy Tulowitzki - Rockies

3. Jimmy Rollins - Phillies

4. Derek Jeter - Yankees

5. Jose Reyes - Mets

6. Alexei Ramirez - White Sox

7. Jason Bartlett - Rays

8. Yunel Escobar - Braves

9. Stephen Drew - Diamondbacks

10. Rafael Furcal - Dodgers

11. Asdrubal Cabrera - Indians

12. Elvis Andrus - Rangers

13. Jhonny Peralta - Indians

14. Miguel Tejada - Orioles

15. Ryan Theriot - Cubs

16. J.J. Hardy - Twins

17. Erik Aybar - Angels

18. Alcides Escobar - Brewers

19. Ian Desmond - Nationals

20. Everth Cabrera - Padres

The Top 20:

Hanley Ramirez - H-Ram is truly the only elite player at this position in my opinion. He literally does everything at the plate. He hits for average, hits home runs, drives runners in, steals bases and scores runs. What else do you want? Nothing, really and that is why he's the #2 overall ranked player in fantasy baseball

The 2nd Tier:

Troy Tulowitzki - Tulo really put it together again last season. He almost hit .300 (.297) and had his first 30 homer season. I attribute the total of 92 RBI on a struggling Colorado offense for a good portion of the season. Look for him to build off last season and only improve.

Jimmy Rollins - I really battled putting Rollins at the #3 slot for this position. I really like Jeter better, but Rollins still steals bases. His average has dropped each of the past two seasons, but he did hit more homers and drive in more runs.

Derek Jeter - Despite not being a Yankees fan, Derek Jeter is one of my all time favorites. He does everything at the plate extremely well. He'll never hit 30 home runs, but who cares when you put up good numbers at every other offensive category.

On the Rise:

Alcides Escobar - The Brewers are finally giving the young shortstop a shot at starting after trading J.J. Hardy to the Twins. He did hit .304 in 125 at bats towards the end of the season last year and was very impressive.

Ian Desmond - Desmond should push Christian Guzman out of his position this year. Like Escobar, he also impressed in 21 games last year. He has a good bat, with decent power and a good glove. Look for him to get more playing time as the season goes on.

Elvis Andrus -The slick fielding shortstop made great strides in the 2nd half last season. He hit .280 after the All Star break. He sure is a light hitting player, but adds 30+ stolen bases to his game.

Jose Iglesias - The Red Sox apparently love this guy. From all the reports I've read, and heard, he could play defensively in the majors right now. He did impress with his bat in the Arizona League, but the Sox really think he needs at least another year in the minors.

On the Slide:

Rafael Furcal - Furcy really frustrates me as a Dodgers fan. Until last season, I always thought that if he's healthy, then he's a very good player. Unfortunately his knee problems have slowed him down on the base paths and in the field.

Miguel Tejada - Miggy can't really play the position anymore, but who cares. He'll at least still hit for you. I doubt he'll put up numbers similar to last year when he hit .313. His power numbers are way down and I don't expect him to ever hit more than 15 in a season again.

Marco Scutaro - I really didn't like this signing by the Red Sox. Having one good year does not make you a full time starter. He'll never be more than a role player for me, and I expect him to struggle in the Sox lineup this year.

Christian Guzman - He really should lose most of his playing time with Ian Desmond on the team. He can still hit for average, but do nothing else.

Look for the Outfield rankings this weekend.

Fantasy Baseball: Positional Rankings - Third Baseman

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The 3rd base position is very top heavy to me. You can get a certifiable superstar if you want to choose one of the top 3 right away, but after that you have pretty good players to the 10 spot, and it really drops after that. The one thing I love about this position is the young stars on the horizon. There are some great prospects that should make their major league debut later this season.

The Top 20:

1. Alex Rodriguez - Yankees

2. Evan Longoria - Rays

3. David Wright - Mets

4. Mark Reynolds - Diamondbacks

5. Kevin Youkilis - Red Sox

6. Pablo Sandoval - Giants

7. Aramis Ramirez - Cubs

8. Jeff Zimmerman - Nationals

9. Chone Figgins - Mariners

10. Michael Young - Rangers

11. Jorge Cantu - Marlins

12. Ian Stewart - Rockies

13. Chipper Jones - Braves

14. Gordon Beckham - White Sox

15. Jhonny Peralta - Indians

16. Mark DeRosa - Giants

17. Kevin Kouzmanoff - A's

18. Garrett Atkins - Oriols

19. Alex Gordon - Royals

20. Adrian Beltre - Red Sox

The Elite:

Alex Rodriguez - We all know Arod is a super star and the best option, by far, at this position. He's about as steady as they come and really took off last year when he and Mark Teixiera became the 3-4 hitters for the Yankees.

Evan Longoria - If you know me, then you know I'm a huge fan of Evan Longoria. I'm such a huge fan that when my wife asked about naming one of my boys Evan, I immediately said yes. He's entering his 3rd full season in the bigs, so look for him to improve on his .281, 33 HR and 113 RBI this season.

The 2nd Tier:

David Wright - Citi Field absolutely killed Wrights offensive production last season. He still hit .307, but dropped way down to 10 home runs and 72 RBI, and a .447 slugging percentage in a whopping 535 at bats.

Mark Reynolds - Reynolds took great strides at the plate last season, and really put himself on the fantasy map. He doesn't hit for average (.260 last year and a career average of .257 in 3 major league seasons), but has plenty of power, 44 home runs, and drove in 102 RBI in a very weak lineup.

Kevin Youkilis - As you might know, I am no fan of the Boston Red Sox, but I certainly do respect Youkilis as a professional hitter. He's an extremely patient hitter, sometimes too patient for my liking, who can hit for average (.305), is an on base machine (.405) and has good power and the ability to drive in runs. His stats have gotten better each year and he had a career high OPS of .961 in 2009.

On the Rise:

Gordon Beckham - In about a half of season, the youngster hit .270, 14, 63. Look for him to have a solid first full season as he's settled into the big leagues. He's an intriguing player who's still learning to man the position.

Brett Wallace - Wallace, who's now with the Blue Jays will eventually get the chance to play full time later this season. He'll most likely play first for the Jays, but is also eligible at third. He's a good hitter, with the potential to hit 25+ home runs in the bigs and will be a good addition to the Jays young lineup.

Josh Bell - Bell, who was stolen from the Dodgers in the George Sherrill deal last season will most likely be a September call up, but keep an eye on this youngster. He has legitimate big league power, and is at the most a year away. He's the reason why the O's signed Garrett Atkins to a one year deal.

Pedro Alvarez - Alvaraz, the best prospect at the position, will most likely start the season at AAA, but will soon be up. He's just too good to keep down in the minors, especially since Andy Laroche is the player holding his position for him.

On the Slide:

Mike Lowell - As of right now, Lowell is relegated to the bench. He's still a good hitter, but will he be able to play full time if he gets traded? Only if he spends most of his time at first or DH.

Melvin Mora - Mora, now a utility infielder with the Rockies, is certainly on the downside. After a good 2008, he took a major step back in production in 2009. His average dropped 24 points, he hit 15 less home runs and 56 less RBI in only 63 less at bats.

Pedro Feliz - Feliz, now with the Astros will not have a power surge hitting in Minute Maid Park. Here's why. I thought he'd hit more home runs in a small field like Citizens Bank Ball Park, but he never did. Now he's three years older.

Placido Polanco - Read my second base rankings.

Make sure to for my Shortstop rankings coming either later on today or tomorrow.

Fantasy Baseball: Positional Rankings - Second Baseman

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I have to admit that I love the transition the 2nd base position has made over the past few years. Gone are the days this fantasy position is based solely on batting average and stolen bases. Due to the influx of several stars, this is now a position you can get 20+ home runs and 90+ RBI in addition to a high batting average and stolen bases.

The Top 20:

1. Chase Utley - Phillies

2. Ian Kinsler - Rangers

3. Dustin Pedroia - Red Sox
4. Aaron Hill - Blue Jays

5. Brian Roberts - Orioles

6. Brandon Phillips - Reds

7. Robinson Cano - Yankees

8. Ben Zobrist - Rays

9. Dan Uggla - Marlins

10. Ian Stewart - Rockies

11. Howie Kendrick - Angels

12. Jose Lopez - Mariners

13. Asdrubel Cabrera - Indians

14. Rickie Weeks - Brewers

15. Placido Polanco - Phillies

16. Clint Barmes - Rockies

17. Freddy Sanchez - Giants

18. Alberto Callaspo - Royals

19. Akinori Iwamura - Pirates

20. Martin Prado - Braves

The Elite:

Chase Utley - Utley is the best option at 2nd base for fantasy. Despite his average dropping to .282 this season, he still put up 31 homers, but came short of the 100 RBI plateau with 93.

Ian Kinsler - I know Kinsler doesn't really hit for average, but he does hit homers (31) drive runners in (86) and steal bases (31). That makes him a fantasy stud at the position.

The 2nd Tier:

Aaron Hill - Hill finally put together a complete/healthy season, and he certainly fulfilled his potential. He had a "breakout" season hitting .286, 36 homers, 108 RBI and 103 runs. That is a monster season for many positions, much less 2nd base. I have him ranked 4th at the position because he's so productive at the plate.

Dustin Pedroia - Despite having his worst offensive season in 2009, Pedroia ranks #3 on my list. You know you're good when it's a down year and your average slips to .296. He'll still hit you 15 homers and drive in 75 runs, but what really helps are the 20 stolen bases and the high on base percentage.

On the Rise:

Martin Prado - Now that the Braves got rid of Kelly Johnson, Prado finally get a full time job. He was given the bulk of playing time with a career high 128 games last season, and certainly played well enough to land the starting gig. In those 128 games he hit .307 with 11 homers and 48 RBI. I would expect much of the same this season, and is a good late round pick at the position or on the bench.

Scott Sizemore - The young two bagger is slotted in as the Tigers starting 2nd basemen to start the season. Sizemore has a good bat and decent power. I also think he's in a good situation for him to succeed. I wouldn't suggest starting him in fantasy, but he's a good end of the draft pick.

Asdrubal Cabrera - The As-man had a very good 2nd half last season and rebounded from a terrible first full season in 2008. It also helps that he's eligible at both second and shortstop. He only played 131 games last year, but if he can play 145+ games, look for him to score 100 runs, hit .290 with 10 homers and 75 RBI.

Howie Kendrick - Kendrick has never played more than 105 games (last season) in his 4 seasons in the bigs. Look for that to stop after he he posted a .358 average with 6 homers, 36 RBI and 33 runs in 48 post All Start games. He was essentially a full time starter from August on and really pounded the ball during that time.

On the Slide:

Placido Polanco - While he makes the transition to a hitters park in Philly, watch out for a continued drop in his production. He may not strike out, but he's seen his average drop from .341 in 2007 down to .285 in 2009. Average really is all he brings to the table as he doesn't have much power.

Freddy Sanchez - I've never been much of a Sanchez fan, and the fact that his production has slipped in each of the past 3 years doesn't help much. I don't like him hitting in San Fran either. Unless you get really stuck, stay away.

Luis Castillo - OK, Castillo has never been a good, much less decent, fantasy player. He doesn't hit for power or drive in runs. It seems like the Mets tried desperately to trade him during the off season and were unsuccessful. According to reports, he looks slow, so his bat speed and defense have suffered.

David Eckstein - Eckstein to me is like Old Yeller. They should just take him out back and put him down. I've never been a fan. At least the Padres were smart enough to put him at 2nd base, so fans don't have to cringe every time he has to make a throw from the normal shortstop position, much less deep in the hole.

Well, stay tuned for our stroll around the diamond with the 3rd base position on Wednesday and Shortstop on Friday.