Dancing in SoCal: Charlie Haeger

Nothing dances like a knuckleball. Tim Wakefield in Boston has had a long effective career with this pitch. Now there is a young knuckleballer in Southern California that is making the pitch known on the left coast.

Charlie Haeger has now had two good starts with the Dodgers. His first start was against St. Louis, where he gave up 5 hits in 7 innings, 3 runs, and 2 Ks - decent numbers against a good team. His 2nd start, against the Cubs, he pitched 7 innings again, 3 hits, and 7 Ks - a great start, albeit against a struggling Cubs team.

Will Haeger carry the knuckleball torch from Wakefield and have a nice long career? Not sure, but he's off to a good start.

The Dodgers have picked up Padilla from the Rangers, presumably as their fifth starter. Padilla wasn't having a great year, so Haeger may just be pitching himself into the rotation.

Charlie Haeger is only worth looking at in deep leagues and NL only leagues. He pitches in a pitcher friendly park with a good offense behind him. If he puts together another good start or two, his value will rise quickly.

-Scout Monkey

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Mashing in San Diego: Will Venable

Adrian Gonzolez is the man in San Diego, however, Will Venable is on a tear and deserves a little of the lime light. This 26 year old outfielder has been putting on a show over the last couple of weeks.

In Venable's last 13 games, he has at least 1 RBI in 10 of them (this includes a game that he went 0/1 as a pinch hitter) - that is some nice consistency. In that stretch, he is hitting .325, with 19 RBI's, 5 HR, 9 Runs, and 1 SB. This guy is on fire!

He is owned in less then 10% of leagues. Most of that ownership came within the last week. He should be a decent play for deep leagues - at least until he comes back down to earth. Other formats need to evaluate how their OF is doing (example - now is not the time to keep dead weight - B.J. Upton was just dropped in my AL only league).

-Scout Monkey

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Out with the Older, In with the Old

The Phillies have decided what to do with Pedro - he will be a starter. However, to make room, they have sent Jaime Moyer to the bullpen. Yes, in with the old and out with the older.

This is a little surprising as Pedro did some relief work at the WBC, and Moyer is not crazy about coming out of the pen. In any event, it's done. Pedro will start Wednesday against the Cubs.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating - Phillies pitchers are worth more then other pitchers due to the great offense. In addition, Pedro is not just some pitcher, he's Pedro! He has shown that he still has a little in the tank. He probably won't go real deep in games, but should rack up some wins and average to above average strikeouts.

Moyer's value takes a huge nose dive in most formats. Pedro makes an intriguing flier in NL only and deeper formats. He might even help you make a little late season and playoff run.

-Scout Monkey

Hot, Hot, Hot: Rajai Davis

In the last 2 weeks, you would have a hard time finding a better player then Rajai Davis, CF of the Oakland A's. Rollins? Nope. Pujols? Uh-uh. Texeira? Negative. For the last two weeks, you would be better off with Davis (obviously for the season you would take the other guys).

In the last two weeks, 28 year old Davis is hitting .400, 9 runs, 14 RBIs, 5 walks, 7 SB. You won't get power with Davis, he has 0 homeruns, but the rest of what he'll give you is nice.

He will probably end up being a rental for you, but ride this wave. He is owned in less then 10% of leagues (although that number is starting to go up).

-Scout Monkey

Out with the old...

The Red Sox have release future hall of famer John Smoltz. In his place, they have called up Junichi Tazawa.

Tazawa was signed in the off season out of Japan - grabbed before he signed a multi year contract with a Japanese team. He's a 23 old right hander who has been handling the minors extremely well. In double A, he had 9 wins, 2 losses, and a great ERA of 2.57. In triple A, he hasn't won a game, but has lowered his ERA to 2.37.

He has 4 pitches, fastball (low 90's), slider, curve, and a splitter. He has shown good strike out ability with this repertoire.

Boston hasn't said what his role will be for this season. He has been a starter in the minors and Boston wants him as a starter for the long run. We'll find out soon.

As with any young pitcher, you have to tread carefully. Keeper leagues should be grabbing this guy sooner then later. Deep leagues may want to take a flyer. In shallow leagues, let Tazawa show what he can do at the major league level - and let his spot be finalized (Starter or Reliever).

-Scout Monkey

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A Yankee Not to Own

The New York Yankees have one of the finest teams that money can buy. There may not be another team in baseball that has more fantasy relevant players. With that said, avoid the newest Yankee like the plague.

The Yanks have just completed a deal for San Diego pitcher Chad Gaudin. His role has not been clearly stated - he might be long relief (which is not too useful in most fantasy leagues), or he is going to take over for the struggling Mitre (this would be my guess).

With an offense like the Yankees have, why would I avoid one of their starting pitchers? Because Gaudin is going to kill your ERA. Simply put, pitching in perhaps the most friendly pitcher park in all of baseball (Petco Field), Gaudin has an ERA of 5.13 - bad, now he is going to what is proving to be one of the worst pitching parks in all of baseball (New Yankee Stadium). Nothing about this looks good. His poor ERA is just going to get worse, much worse.

There is talk of his upside, but until he shows it, let someone else take the gamble. I cannot think of any format where you would want to add this pitcher.

- Scout Monkey

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No Bull(pen): J.A. Happ

J.A. Happ owners can breathe a sigh of relief. Happ will be staying in the rotation. With the addition of Pedro Martinez, it looked like Philly might move Happ back to the bullpen (and into fantasy obscurity). But today, the Phillies announced that Happ is staying right where he is. I guess this isn't a surprise with the way Happ has been pitching. How does 6 wins, 2 losses in 14 starts sound? Oh yea, ERA of 2.80. On top of that, he just pitched a complete game shutout. Don't forget, he pitches for the Phillies - an offensive juggernaut that can make any pitcher look a little better (not that Happ needs it). Still, something must change to accommodate Pedro. If not Happ, then what? Latest thoughts are a 6 man rotation, Pedro to the pen, perhaps even Moyer to the Pen. Whatever the case, Happ is safe. Happ is owned in less then half of fantasy leagues. He may not be a top tier pitcher yet, but he's up there. All formats need to consider him (except AL only of course). -Scout Monkey

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Strike Three Please

If you need some strikeouts, there is probably no one available in your league who will get you more then Gio Gonzalez. If you throw out one very bad game against the Twins, Gio has struck out 29 batters in 23+ innings. More then a batter an inning is pretty good for someone on the free agent pile. In addition, he may help with your ERA too if he keeps up his recent good starts. If the guy is this good, why is he available? One, he plays for the Oakland A's. He won't get too many wins with that offense. Second, when he is bad, he is really bad. Against the Twins, he gave up 11 runs in 2.2 innings. Since that game however, he has pitched 3 solid games - against the Yankees, the Red Sox, and most recently against Texas. I guess no really good teams were available to pitch against (kidding of course, could you have a tougher stretch???). He is available in most leagues and should be considered in deep leagues and maybe in AL only leagues - if you need strike outs. -Scout Monkey

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Yes Yusmeiro Petit

7 innings of no hit ball. 3 Ks and 3 BBs (however, there was a very bad call that should have been strike 3 and ended up being ball 4 - so 4 Ks and 2 BB in my book). That is how Yusmeiro Petit (pronounced peh-teet) started his night against the Pirates. He finally gave up a single in the 8th. Now the Pirates are not exactly the best offensive team, especially with the fire sale they just went through. Still, you have a major league team that Petit shut down for 7 innings. It must be respected. His previous start was 6 shutout innings against the Phillies (yea, they are arguably the best offensive team). These are two big time displays by the Arizona pitcher. Petit is a 24 year old righthander that is showing he can pitch at the big league level. He must know how to pitch with a fastball that barely sniffs 90 on the radar gun. He pitches smart. Downside? He's a fly ball pitcher who can give up some long balls. But at 24 years old, he has room for improvement. He's hardly owned in any league, but should start being picked up in deeper leagues. -Scout Monkey

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If Only We Listened: Randy Wells

Way back in early June Scout Hoffman told us about a rookie pitcher for the Cubs by the name of Randy Wells. If you payed attention and picked him up, you made a very wise move! Here we are, some 2 months after that article and what has Wells done? How about 8 wins in his last 9 starts? Wow! There is more... 2.85 ERA. Sparkling! His K/BB ratio is 3:1 - although he is not a strikeout artist (I would consider him average). Wins, a good ERA, decent Ks, low walks, what more do you want? His ownership in leagues is growing everyday, so unless you have top pitching on your fantasy team, go get Randy Wells now! -Scout Monkey

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Rent-a-Vet: Cristian Guzman

Cristian Guzman, SS for the Nationals, is on a nice 9 game hitting streak. What makes this even more impressive is that in 7 of those 9 games, he has 2 or more hits. He has 10 RBIs, 11 runs, and 1 HR during this stretch. For the season he is hitting a very nice .305. Guzman will help you with average and runs, and that's about it. The 10 RBIs he just accumulated is a pace that is a little over his head. He has never been a big steals guy, and this season is no different, except maybe he is on pace for the lowest steals he has had in a single season. If you need a solid hitter, Guzman is worth a look, especially if you can catch the tail end of this wave he is on. He is owned in about 1/3 of leagues, so he is not a completely unknown or overlooked player, but for many of you, he should be available. -Scout Monkey

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Prospect Watch: Rick VandenHurk

Last night Rick VandenHurk, 24 year old, 6'5" righty for the Marlins, struck out 9 in 6 innings. Umm, who? Rick VandenHurk. He is a rookie pitcher that was called up in mid-July and has pitched very well in his 3 starts. In those starts, he is 1-0, 17 innings pitched, 2.65 ERA, 16 Ks, and 6 walks. Impressive. The Marlins are a solid, if not good, team. They haven't scored much for VandenHurk which accounts for him having only 1 win despite his low ERA. One would have to assume that he will get the run support he needs to pick up a few more wins (Hanley Ramirez alone should be enough!). A young pitcher on a solid team - worth a flyer if you are able to gamble a little. Shallow leagues should just watch him - maybe he will turn out to be an 'out of nowhere' kind a guy (no one truly knows who will be the next big thing). Deeper leagues have to pay attention to him as 3 good starts can't just be chalked up to a fluke (neither can 9 strikeouts in 6 innings). He is owned in less then 1% of leagues. -Scout Monkey

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Radar Watch: Tim Hudson

Before getting injured, Tim Hudson was a stud pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery on July 22, 2008 and has been recovering well. Hudson is pitching in the minors and hasn't given up a run in his two games (6 innings total) so far. He could be a very nice addition for your stretch run! There is a little uncertainty to be aware of though. He still has to build stamina, which means he will not be called up for at least a few weeks (no timeline has been set by the Braves but it is getting close to a time when they will have to decide). Will he be a starter this year or go to the bullpen? Probably be a starter, but again, nothing has been set. A pitcher of Hudson's caliber that you can grab off of the free agent pile could be a nice late season present. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Ryan Garko

Ryan Garko could very well qualify for much more then a rental. He has a good bat. In Cleveland, he had to fight for playing time, this hurt his fantasy value. Now that he has been traded to San Fran, he will be an everyday player. For the season he is batting .285, 11 HR, 39 RBIs, and .362 OBP. This was accomplished in about 240 ABs, league average is closer to 350. Garko is a solid player and might make a difference on your team. 1B is a position you want a strong showing from, Garko is not a Pujols, Gonzalez, Cabrera, but he will give you solid numbers. If you have been struggling in a deep league with a sub-par 1B, take a chance on Garko. Now that he will be getting regular playing time, he could also make for a good person to stick in a UTIL spot of IF spot if your league has this. -Scout Monkey

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More Pitching Help: David Hernandez

4 starts, 2 wins, no losses, 7 earned runs, 11 strikeouts - solid. Not the best line ever, especially with the low amount of strikeouts, but 7 runs in 25+ innings is great. The above line is for Baltimore Pitcher, 24 year old right hander, David Hernandez. His bad outings have not been too bad (never given up more then 5 runs - and that was only once). His other outings are good and even great. 6 starts in a row now with 3 runs given up or less. His last test was against the Red Sox, he gave up only 1 run, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts in 7 innings. I'm sure Baltimore was happy, and the 1% or so who own him in fantasy are also happy. Keeper leagues always want to watch a promising young pitcher - David Hernandez qualifies. Shallow leagues will want to see if he keeps up the solid work - even then he may not be good enough to trump other established pitchers. Deep leagues could do much worse. -Scout Monkey

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Pitching Help: Clayton Richard

I've been on the Richard bandwagon and off of it. I think I'm about to buy another ticket to get back on. Clayton Richard has given me some good games, he also given me some horrible ones. However, he is available in most leagues and has now strung together two excellent starts. How is 16 innings, a 1.13 ERA, 10 strikeouts, and only 4 walks. Not bad at all, in fact, it's downright good! If you take him, you will likely have to take the bad with the good. My personal hope is that it will be a lot more good then bad. He has shown that he can pitch very well in the majors, so hopefully the bad games can be chalked up to 'learning experiences' for the young lefty. Shallow leagues can probably ignore him except for a spot start in a favorable match-up, the rest should decide if they can take a few rough games if they get some gems like he has been pitching lately. -Scout Monkey

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Rent-a-Vet: Luis Castillo

We are in the second half and things start to get serious in fantasy leagues. People start to pay more attention as we get closer to the wire. Every point or stat you can get (depending on type of league you are in) is crucial. 2nd base has not been a deep position for a couple of years, so likely you need help. Well, here it is, Luis Castillo. He's older, he plays for a bad team, but he is putting up great numbers. In the last 2 weeks he has been hitting .459 with 12 runs, 6 RBIs, 5 walks, 1 SB, and only 1 strikeout. You want that line on your team. For the year he has been a great surprise, batting near .300. If the Mets weren't on the DL, they would have been a great opponent for the Phillies. So unless you have Pedroia, Utley, or a choice few others, seriously consider Castillo in all formats. -Scout Monkey

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Sell High: Joba Chamberlain

Pull the trigger on selling Joba right now. Don't keep reading, go put him on the market. His value is as high as it has been since before the season began, get rid of him. Why? Innings limit. Joba is on an innings limit of about 150. He has already pitched over 100. This means one of two things - 1) Yankees will skip starts with him 2) Yankees will move him to the bullpen. Either way, he will lose a lot of value once this becomes apparent. Send him packing to an unsuspecting rival. He is not considered a top tier pitcher (Santana, CC, etc.), but he should be considered as a borderline second tier pitcher. He has had two very good outings in a row, so you might get a little extra in a trade. You should have stopped reading by now, but if you haven't, please stop and go trade Joba. -Scout Monkey

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Prospect Watch: Mat Latos

Sunday marks the big league debut of the San Diego prospect Matt Latos. The 21 years old, 6'6" righty is looking to be a promising big league pitcher. With a fastball that tops around 97, a curve, a knuckle curve, and a change up, he has a good mix to cause a lot of trouble for opposing batters. Must be nice to be coming to one of the most pitcher friendly parks in all of baseball. Not so nice to have that offense to back up his starts. In AA Latos is 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in nine starts. He has 46 strikeouts in 47 innings. Opponents are only hitting .192 against him. Down side? Young, inexperienced, concerns about mental toughness (he has done much to improve this view of him), and stamina - he has not thrown 100 innings in any year. He's worth a flyer in deeper leagues and NL only leagues. Keeper leagues should keep a close watch. -Scout Monkey

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Temporary Pickup: Garrett Jones

The Pirates seem to have a knack for developing outfielders. The latest one on the scene is contributing in a big way! Garrett Jones. Jones has hit 5 home runs in his last 4 games. He has hit safely in his last 9 games. He also has a few stolen bases to add to his line. He is the perfect rental candidate for your team. He will not keep this up for the rest of the year, but he might keep it up for another week or two. If you have the need or the space for a rental, grab Jones now (owned in about 5% of leagues - most of that coming in the last day or two). -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

I'm Back! I'm Pedro!

Being recognized by just your first name in sports is pretty cool. Michael, Tiger, Kobe, LeBron, Bo, Magic (close enough), Larry, Manny, to name a few. Pedro Martinez makes the list. In his prime, he is probably my most favorite pitcher to watch (I see a lot of him in Lincecum). Pedro, however, is 37 years old and definitively past his prime. He has injury issues, velocity issues, weight issues (today someone commented that he looked like he was 'stuck in a vat of cheese and had to eat his way out'). But come on, he's Pedro! Despite the negatives, he is still a brilliant pitcher - not that he's the smartest guy (maybe he is, maybe he isn't, we're not friends) - he is baseball smart. His 'A' stuff is long gone, but with his smarts and his 'B' stuff, he still can be pretty nasty. Clearly I'm a little biased, but I would take a flier on him in deeper leagues or NL only leagues (in fact, I did). He moves up a spot as he will be pitching for the Phillies, with a good defense behind him and a top notch offense. He won't go deep in too many games, he may not stay injury free for the second half, he won't strike out hit 1+ batter an inning (his heyday was AWESOME), but he could prove good enough to make a difference on your team in the second half. Maybe he'll make your team so good that your friends will start referring to you by your first name! -Scout Monkey

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This Year's Cliff Lee?

Last year Cliff Lee came out of nowhere to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. There were no signs that he could do what he did (and is still doing). That was last year, this year I will give that 'Cliff Lee Out of Nowhere Award' to Chad Gaudin of the San Diego Padres. Nothing in his past would say that he would be a good pitcher. I have always though of him as average - you know, that one time I though of him. He went undrafted in most leagues but is now starting to be picked up off the waiver wire. In his last 3 starts, he has struck out 28 in 21 innings while only giving up 5 runs (and 5 walks). That is Cy Young caliber stuff. In fairness, it has to be mentioned that two of those games were against Seattle, but one of them was against Texas. Now, up to three weeks ago, he was fairly bad - he had a couple of good outings, but nothing to point at his current success. The question now is, will he keep it up? Don't know. I hope so as I picked him up in my deep league. In my shallow league, I will pounce if he has one more good outing. I bet you wish you had picked up Cliff Lee last year - maybe you can this year. Keep an eye on Chad Gaudin. -Scout Monkey

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Ride the Wave

By this time of year, all the really good players are gone. By this time of year, most of the unknowns/sleepers have shown what to expect from them for the rest of the year. By this time of year, the waiver pile is looking fairly slim. Does this mean that your fantasy baseball life has come to a stagnant finish? No! Of course there are always trades that can be made, but my focus here is on the 'hot' player. How do you get Johan Santana numbers without getting Johan Santana? You ride the wave of a 'hot' pitcher. How do you get Hanley Ramirez numbers without having Hanley Ramirez? You guessed it, ride the wave of a 'hot' batter. Unless your team is rock solid (congrats if it is) you probably have a position that you can be flexible with. Maybe you have two top outfielders but your third one is nobody special, perhaps your infield has a weakness, or, like most teams, you have holes in your rotation. This is the position that riding the wave can help you. Why hold on to an average player when you can get an average player who is on a hot streak? There is no reason. Grab a guy who is performing higher then he should and ride the wave of good performance until it starts to break and then hop on another wave. The downside of this strategy is minimal. With batters, there are no issues - you are replacing an average player with an average player, the worst that will happen is average numbers. No loss there. Where this strategy can hurt you is with pitching. When an average pitcher is on a streak, you can get some great stats from him, but when that streak ends, it could be bad. Maybe the wave will fizzle out slowly, or maybe it will crash hard. For example, if you had picked up Dontrelle Willis after he had an excellent start, that wave ended quickly and he put up awful, awful numbers - that one probably hurt you. Here's a few of guys who are hot right now, consider riding their wave: Luis Valbuena (2B, SS - Indians) in the last one week he is hitting .434, 4 runs, 3 HRs, 7 RBIs, 2 BB (Wow!) Juan Rivera (OF - Angels) in the last two weeks, he is hitting .333, 8 runs, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs, 5 BB (Good stuff!) Scott Podsednik (OF - White Sox) in the last two weeks he is hitting .363, 8 runs, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs, 6 BB, 3 SB Aaron Cook (SP - Rockies) In his last 4 starts he has 4 wins, an ERA of just under 2.00, 18 Ks, and only 5 BB (Been a good ride so far...) In a week or two, this list should look a lot different. Riding the wave is transitory solution. You generally will not keep the guy for more then a couple of weeks. So if you have a need, find the hot player and ride his wave. Hang 10 into the playoffs. -Scout Monkey

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Watch Your Mouth: Bastardo

You have to love a name that sounds like you are swearing but is perfectly legitimate to say. Bastardo. Oh yea. Besides having a great name, this young pitcher is holding his own in the majors. Scout Hoffman brought our attention to him after his first start, and Bastardo has warranted continued attention. Bastardo has had 4 starts in the majors and 3 of the 4 have been solid. He had one bad start against Boston in a strange rain effected game - outside of that, he's been strong. He had a great game against San Diego (not saying too much there), but followed that up with a good game against the Dodgers (yea, that's something you can hang your hat on). Next was the Boston start, nothing good to say about this, maybe the rain spooked him. His latest start was against Baltimore. He got the loss in this one but pitched well - 7 innings, 4 runs, 5 hits, 5 strike outs. Normally I wouldn't recommend someone like this except for deep leagues only, but you have to factor in that he is pitching for the Phillies. The Phillies are one of the best in the baseball assuring that Bastardo will at least get some wins. I believe his four starts allow him to be considered in medium depth leagues and even shallow NL only leagues. Keep in mind, Bastardo has been this effective throwing mainly fastballs. If he gets more confidence in his secondary pitches, he could be real trouble for the NL East. Lastly, don't you want a guy named Bastardo on your team? Watch your mouth. -Scout Monkey

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Time to Sign: John Smoltz

John Smoltz is now recovered from his shoulder surgery and will be called up to the majors anytime now. Time to check your waiver wire and see if anyone has grabbed him yet. He's owned in about 20% of ESPN leagues and closer to 50% in Yahoo (are people in Yahoo smarter?). There is not a lot to say about Smoltz that hasn't been said over his great career. He simply knows how to pitch. He is not the same pitcher as he was when younger but he makes up for his slight drop in velocity with his location, movement, and smarts. Do not let his age (42) fool you, he is still good and can strike out batters at an above average clip. His minor league rehab starts have been solid. In his last two starts he only gave up a total of 5 runs (4 in one game, 1 in the other). There is enough pitching this year that shallow leagues may want to view him as a spot starter. In all other leagues, you probably want him on your team. Don't forget, not only is he good, he plays for one of the best teams in baseball. It is definitely time to sign Smoltz to your team. -Scout Monkey

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Rent-a-Vet: Jose Contreras

The 37 year old (officially) righty is showing some good stuff lately. Last two starts were both 8 innings, with a total of 3 hits, 3 walks, 11 Ks, and no earned runs. How can a guy who put up those kind of numbers be owned in about 1% of leagues? Because Contreras is unpredictable (that's being kind). There is no pitcher in baseball that I can think of that can match Contreras' unpredictableness. When 'on,' his stuff is top, but him being 'on' happens with no rhyme or reason. It is for this reason that he is owned so sparsely, and why I recommend him only as a rental. There is potential that he can keep it together for the rest of the season and then you will have an excellent starter. I predict he will continue to do what he always has done, be up and down. Shallow leagues, don't even look. Deep leagues, consider him and be ready for the good and bad. -Scout Monkey

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Strasburg Strategy

If you have paid even a little attention to baseball you have probably heard of the super-stud pitcher out of San Diego State, Stephen Strasburg. Labeled as a 'once in a decade prospect', 'once in a lifetime prospect', 'best pitching prospect ever' - it's hard to ignore the guy. I'm not here to tell you how great he has been in college, rest assured that he has been as good as can be. I'm not here to tell you that the guy may end up throwing the fastest pitch ever in a baseball game (he's really close). I'm here to tell you what to do with the guy with regards to your fantasy team. First off, something needs to be mentioned. In my opinion, this hasn't gotten the attention that it should. Strasburg's pitching mechanics are almost identical to the pitching mechanics of one Marc Prior. Does that scare you? It should. Maybe Strasburg will not have the injuries that Prior did/does, or maybe he will. Bad mechanics are bad mechanics. This is a must know item as it can effect your Strasburg Strategy. One other thing of note, it is not known if Strasburg will pitch in the majors this year. Many say he is good enough to start right now, but, some in Washington say that they would not do that to any rookie. Another Strasburg question mark to consider. Unless the other owners in your fantasy league are asleep, you will probably need to grab Strasburg off waivers to get him. Hopefully, you have a high waiver priority. But, if he could be the next Marc Prior, or not even start this year, should you burn your waiver priority to get him? The answer is 'Yes' - especially in a keeper league. You see, you are in the same position as the Washington Nationals (first pick in the draft). You have to pick him up because of his potential. If Washington doesn't draft him, they will be the laughing stock of baseball - how can you not draft one of the best (if not the best) prospects of all time? They have to, no choice. Same for you. If you have the chance to get him, you must. The potential of Strasburg demands it. Now for my Strasburg Strategy. In one of my leagues (a keeper league) I have the first waiver priority and will be getting Strasburg. I am seriously considering trading him. The hype on Strasburg is so high that I just may be able to get a top tier player, a player who is proven and healthy. I figure it is a win/win situation. I either trade Strasburg for a great player, or no one bites on the offers and I keep a potential top pitcher. Remember, just because you have to draft him, you don't have to keep him. I'm pulling for Strasburg. I hope he goes on to be the next Randy Johnson. But I will not ignore the potential for him being the next Marc Prior. June 8th is draft day, check your league regularly for his availability (he is already available in CBS). -Scout Monkey

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Hot in SoCal: Juan Rivera

Juan Rivera is heating up in Los Angeles. The Angel's outfielder has really put together a nice string of games at the plate. In his last 9 games, he is hitting .428 (15/35), 3 HR, 7 RBIs, and 5 Runs. Considering how well he is hitting, the 7 RBIs and 5 Runs seem very low for that kind of AVG. Rivera showed glimpses of his hitting potential throughout last year but never did it consistently. Right now he seems to be more of a streaky hitter then a guy who is turning the corner to become a premier outfielder. If he was younger, I would say grab him now and reap the hitting rewards, but at 30 years old, he is not likely going to blossom into greatness. If you need some OF help, Juan Rivera is one of the hottest right now. He's worth a rent in most formats (if you have a spot for him - don't drop a lot of value to get him). In deep leagues, he has the potential to be one of those mid-season sleepers that might just put you over the top. -Scout Monkey

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Rent-a-Vet: Gary Sheffield

I hesitate a little to call Sheffield a rental player as he is good enough to make a lot of fantasy lineups. Hard to ignore his age though, not too many 40 year olds make a push for MVP. So far, in his 87 ABs, he has hit .299, 5 HR, and 19 RBIs. Starting to look like the Sheffield of old, the one that Detroit was hoping for when they picked him up. Too bad for the Tigers, good for the Mets - in fact, great for the Mets as they would be in serious trouble without him right now. Sheffield has a long track record of being great, when healthy. So far he looks healthy and he says he's feeling healthy. His spot in the lineup isn't guaranteed as the Mets will have a lot of options when their team heals a bit, but he will be hard to bench if he keeps his number up. I believe he's worth a chance in most formats - at least for a rental and very possibly for more. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

The Yankee Test: Derek Holland

Derek Holland's first start of his career was very average. Against the Astros, he went 5.2 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 earned runs (off of a 3 run homer), had 5 strikeouts, and walked none. Not bad but not great for this Texas prospect. He left with the lead, but didn't get the win as the bullpen coughed it up. Holland is/was the top pitching prospect for Texas (yes, even over Feliz) and has his second career start on Wednesday against the Yanks. This will be a tough assignment. The Yankee test should give us a decent look at what this guy can do - will he implode under the pressure, step up his game, or be average again. We'll see. Padilla is set to return in about a week, which may mean that Holland goes back to the pen, but GM Joe Daniels said, "Let's see how these guys pitch and then we'll decide," - Being that they want Holland to be a starter and had planned all along for him to be starting, his spot in the rotation may be long lasting (Harrison, failing the Yankee test, by getting lit up doesn't hurt Holland's chances either). All prospects should be watched very closely. Some of these prospects will fail, some will be the next Santana (Johan), and some will fall into the 'journey man' category. We should have a little clearer picture of the potential of Holland after Wednesday. Deep leagues may want to give him a seat on their bench (hard to recommend starting any pitcher against the Yanks) and hope for a breakout. The rest of you, watch and wait. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

4th Straight Win for Porcello

Tell me why Rick Porcello is owned in less then 15% of leagues? I know there is a good amount of pitching out there, but a good young pitcher that is getting stronger and more confident, that plays in a pitchers park, and has a good offense to back up his starts is someone you want. Porcello won his 4th straight game yesterday against the Rockies giving up only 1 run. In his last 4 starts he has given up a total of 3 runs while striking out 16. He has a nice 3.55 ERA for the year. Unless you are in a very shallow league, Porcello should be owned. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Rookie: Homer Bailey

With Edison Volquez hitting the DL with a bad back, the Reds have brought up much hyped pitcher Homer Bailey. Now Homer hasn't exactly been lights out in AAA, but he has been getting stronger as the season goes on. He has a shutout under his belt and has won 3 in a row with an ERA of 1.86. Maybe he will bring this good mojo with him to the majors. Unless he is off the charts good, he probably won't get more then a start or two. However, the Reds are desperate to have this guy be good and stay in the majors, so he is someone to watch. Only deep leagues need to bother picking him up for now. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Nick Johnson

The one time Yank is hitting well in the nation's capital. Nick Johnson is batting .333, 4 HR, 25 RBIs for the year. Those are very respectable numbers (especially considering the team he is on). He also has been heating up as of late. In his last 8 games his line is .433 AVG (13 for 30), 2 HRs, 8 Runs, 13 RBIs. All good. Nick Johnson has a hard time staying healthy, so I would definitely call him a rent-a-player as he probably won't last the year. If he does though, he has shown he can be a solid hitter. If you need to fill a 1B hole or an IF position, you could do a lot worse the Nick. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Jerry Hairston Jr.

Jerry Hairston Jr. is having himself some nice games in the last 2 weeks. In his last 11 games, he is hitting .333 (16 for 48), with 14 runs scored, 3 homeruns, 8 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases. You have to like that kind of production. He's a career .260 hitter, so these numbers won't last, but if you need help at SS or OF (he qualifies for both in most leagues) due to an injury or suspension (*cough* Manny *cough*), Hairston Jr. could give you a little boost. He should be available as he is owned in less then 10% of leagues. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Happ-y Days?

A situation that I have been watching since spring training has yielded some interesting news. During spring, Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ of the Phillies were both vying for the 5th starting spot in the rotation. Park edged out Happ, but not by much as both had pretty good springs. Once the season started, things looked a bit different. Park has been all over the place with his starts. He's had some good ones, but he's also had some really bad ones (like on Sunday, 5 runs in 1.1 innings). Manager Charlie Manuel has opened the door for Happ by saying, 'We're concerned about our pitching. And we're going to do what we think is the best way to go, any way we can improve it. We just want to do what's best for our pitching staff. We want to put the best pitchers out there that we possibly can get.' NOT a vote of confidence for Park. So far Happ has put up a line of 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 17 Ks, in 21.2 innings pitched. Not a huge sample, but solid numbers for the 26 year old. Should you own him? I imagine he will be very average for awhile (room for improvement as the season goes on), which means his numbers won't really help you in a roto league - so just keep an eye on him. However, average numbers on the Phillies should translate to many wins (what a lineup!). In a points leagues, wins are often where the big points are, so you should probably be a little more eager to grab him. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Texas P: Matt Harrison

Even with the recent injury to Josh Hamilton, Texas can still mash. Must be nice to be a pitcher with that offense to back you up. It's even nicer if you are a good pitcher. Texas hasn't had too many of those, but this year things are coming together nicely on the mound. Of their pitchers, 23 year old lefty Matt Harrison should be getting some looks. He is 4-2, with a 4.23 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 24 Ks. Those numbers are pedestrian at best, except he had two rough starts to begin the season (5 runs and 4 runs), but has been extremely good since then. In his last 3 starts he has given up a total of 2 earned runs and has struck out 15 (all wins). A good young pitcher on a team that can score runs is worth a long look in all but the shallowest of formats. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Kris Medlen

The Braves have called up Kris Medlen after sending Jo-Jo Reyes to the pen. Wait, don't you mean that they called up Tommy Hanson? Nope. The Braves needed a pitcher and they called up Kris Medlen from the minors. Tommy Hanson is certainly the more hyped of the two pitchers, but Medlen certainly has been the better of the two at AAA. So far Medlen has put up a fantastic line of: 0.98 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 44 Ks, 10 BB, in only 37 innings. Really, what more could he do? He's not your prototypical pitcher at only 5'10", but you can't argue with results. The guy can make the ball dance. Temper your hopes a little as he may only be up until Glavine is healthy, but we'll see. Medlen should probably only be owned in deep leagues (once he shows up on the FA list). However, if he stays hot (and in the majors), he will be owned in all leagues soon. -Scout Monkey

(scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Radar Watch: Rich Hill

I'm not saying run out and grab this guy right now, but Rich Hill is off the DL and will be starting for the Orioles on Saturday. This will be the first start of the year for this 29 year old lefty (injury). What's the story of Hill? Up and down. 2007, he was very good - Sub 4.00 ERA, 183 Ks in 195 innings. Not much not to like there. 2008, he was bad - not much to say about his numbers except he got most of them in the minors because he was demoted. What are we going to get this year? Don't know, but he's shown in the past that he can be good and so far in AAA his numbers are decent (1.35 ERA, 1.05 WHIP). Put him on your radar, and see how he turns out this year. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Eric Milton

It's been 10 years since his no hitter, but at 33, Eric Milton is still pitching effectively. The Dodgers are having issues filling in the holes of their rotation that injuries have caused so they sent an ineffective Macdonald down in order to bring up Milton. In the minors, Milton has a 3.00 ERA, 25 stike outs, only 5 walks, in 33 innings. Just last week, he had a no hitter through 5 innings. He won't be his younger self, but he seems to still know how to get people out and miss some bats. He will be sent down once Kuroda is back, but that is not looking to happen for a good month. Dodger stadium is pitcher friendly, Dodgers have good offense (even without Manny), and their division is not the best hitting division. Consider giving him a rent. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Rookie: Matt Palmer

You have to like a guy who is a rookie and is 30 years old - it means he does not give up. Matt Palmer, SP for the Angels, has definitely not given up. Not only has he not given up his desire to pitch in the majors, he has also not given up many runs (3.38 ERA), not given up many base runners (0.98 WHIP), and has not given up any losses. So far in 4 starts, he is 4-0. To make that even better, he has been pitching against some good teams (Red Sox, Royals, Yankees, and Tigers). 16 Ks in 26 innings is not too bad either. Unfortunately, he will probably not be in the rotation by mid-June as the Angels hurt starters will all be back (Lackey, Santana, Escobar). But until then, consider putting him in your fantasy rotation and get a month out of him. He should be available as he is owned in less then 1% of leagues. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Me and Cecil

I have been dishing out advice for a few months and yet have still not introduced myself or my methods. Let me take a brief moment to do that. I think that it's at least fair for you all to know how I'm coming to the conclusions that I provide here. My name is Mark, and I am a California native who now lives in New York. I go by the Scout name of' Scout Monkey' for the simple reason that I like monkeys (who doesn't?). Enough about me. My methods are simple, research, research, more research. My goal is to do all the research so you don't have to. I try to consolidate what I learn into timely, useful articles. Now, I don't have inside access to any baseball organizations, but I do have access to the TV, radio, and the internet and I make full use of them. Official MLB sites, large news sites, small sites, I visit them all. Reading all the news about a player from different sites and different view points, allows me to get a good all around picture of what to expect from him. Not that my picture is always right, but a lot of data gives me the best chance at being right. My own opinions/gut come into play as well. Although I try to be as objective as possible, some guys just jump out at me for one reason or another - I go with it, sometimes I can't put my finger on it, but there must be some reason that they got my attention. Here's an example of how an article/recommendation comes to be: Brett Cecil, SP for the Blue Jays. First, is he a known player? A quick look at my leagues tell me that he is owned in less the 15% of Yahoo and less then 2% of ESPN. Ok, not very well known at all. Second, should he be known? - After all, what point is there to writing a recommendation that everyone knows about already or writing a recommendation for a player who stinks? A check of his stats shows that he has pitched very well since being called up (due to injuries in the rotation). He's not walking people, he's not giving up runs, he has nearly as many K's as innings pitched (12:14), playing for a hot team. I like where this is going. My initial opinion is that this guy needs to be getting more looks then he currently is. But, I'm not satisfied. Third, more research. I haven't watched his games, so what if he has just been getting fortunate so far? Well, according to sites that talk about him, they have generally good things to say. Some go as far as sayin he is a future star (but how many times has that been said about a guy who put together a few good starts?). So, good stats, good opinions in general, talk of some decent upside, I think we have an article. Where is the down side (everyone has a downside - Pujols is slow, Lincecum plays for the Giants, etc.)? He's young (22) which means there will be the inevitable 'bumps in the road.' No big deal there, just be aware of it. Second, he has only two major league starts to look at, not a big sample, but not irrelevant either. Third, the Jays have a ton of pitching and much of it will be back soon from injury. What will the Jays do? Keep a hot Cecil in the rotation, move him to the pen, or send him down to AAA until another injury? Don't know, no one is talking about that yet. Not a deal breaker by any means, but another good thing to be aware of. You have to think though, that if a guy is on a streak, he would have to show signs of struggling before getting the hook. All in all, I would recommend Cecil. Although young, he is doing great so far, has upside, playing on a good team, and will probably keep his spot in the rotation unless there is some sort of breakdown. And we have an article. Well, there you go. That's me and my method. Aren't you glad you didn't have to do all that? Just remember, this one panned out and could make a decent article/recommendation, many don't pan out at all (but the time is still spent). I won't always be right, but I'm hoping to be right far more often then wrong for you all, and yes, I do take my own advice (I am of that 2% in ESPN that own Cecil). Feel free to call me out when I make mistakes (and I have...), or feel free to pat me on the back if I help your team (aww shucks, just doin my job). That's all for now, gotta go do some more research (will Buster Posey have relevance this year...). - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Randy Winn

You don't generally look to the Giants for an offensive player (great pitching though), but Randy Winn is doing a nice job in the middle of that meager lineup. He's batting .269 on the season and that number is climbing quickly. Lifetime he is a .288 hitter which is respectable, but in his last 3 games he is 9 for 14 with 5 RBIs and 1 stolen base. You know what you will get with Winn for the long run (.290 AVG, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 15-20 SB) but in the short term, he is hot. Grab him for a few games (owned in about 15% of leagues) and enjoy the the nice streak he's on. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

DL Watch: Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller, lefty starter for the Marlins, is coming off the DL in time to play this weekend. He is owned in about 1% of leagues which means that he is very available to most of you. Isn't there a reason he's not owned by more people? Yes, he has struggled in his first few games before going on the DL. After four games (none of which he made it through 5 innings) he has an ERA approaching 7. However, he is young (23), big (6'7), left handed, and on a good team (a team that knows a thing or two about developing pitching). This top prospect is still that, a prospect. Yea, he's been in the league for a year, but this is his first real year as a pro and a starter. The talent is there to be a star. With a mid 90's fastball, a good slider, and an improving change-up, he should be much better then his record indicates. I believe he will be. In shallow leagues, just sit back and see how he does, but be ready to grab him (as early as Saturday after his first start). In deep leagues, he should be owned as his upside is too high to pass up. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Paulywood?

Paulywood doesn't roll off the tongue like Mannywood, but it at least describes someone who will actually be playing the outfield for the Dodgers in the next 50 games. With Manny's 50 game suspension, Xavier Paul was called up from AAA. He had a great spring training with the big boys and has continued to play very well since being sent back down. This year his line is: .344 AVG, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 8 SB, 10 Runs. Decent all around numbers. May want to take a chance on him. Worth noting, this suspension will open the door for Juan Pierre as well. Watch closely to see who will get the playing time. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Knowing the Unkown: Alberto Callaspo

Royal's 2B Alberto Callaspo is turning a lot of fantasy heads. He has gone from an unknown nobody to performing at a top 10 level at his position. He has twice as many walks as Ks (10:5), has the most doubles in the majors (13), has scored 16 runs, knocked in 11 RBIs, and has hit a pair of homers. He seems to be an on-base machine. Last year KC gave us Aviles, this year it's Callaspo. He should be seriously considered in all formats that are moderately deep (owned in less then 10% of leagues, although that number is growing). Get to know Callaspo. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Gettin Hot: Michael Cuddyer

He started off slow but Michael Cuddyer is starting to really heat up at the plate. In his last 7 games, his line is: .450 AVG, 7 RBIs, 2 SB, 5 Runs, and 9 BB. He obviously won't keep up this pace, but he has the talent to put up very good numbers throughout the year. Previously hyped, he hasn't really lived up to his potential - maybe now he has it all together. Regardless of where he is at the end of the year, he should be able to help you now. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Barry Zito

I can't believe I'm saying this, but you may want to consider picking up Barry Zito. I'm not kidding. No, really. Cross my heart. The one time ace, who has since fallen out of pitching relevance faster then a Strasburg fastball, has put together some nice starts. Although he doesn't have a win yet (not really his fault so far) he has pitched very well. The 30 year old left hander has an ERA of 3.99, a WHIP of 1.16, and 19 Ks in 29 innings. On top of this, he seems to be getting stronger - his last start was a 7 inning 2 hit gem. He lost that start as the Giants failed to produce any runs. The bottom line, a one time great pitcher has shown signs of his old form (at 30 years old, he's not washed up yet). Grab him now and ride the wave of good starts. I doubt he will be a long term pickup, but you could probably grab a few good stats from him for your fantasy team. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Radar Watch: Justin Duchscherer

It's hard to overlook Duchscherer's affinity for injuries, but when healthy, the guy can pitch. He was after all, an all-star in 2008 (with a steller ERA of 2.54) The best news? He is sitting on the free agency pile in 2/3 of fantasy leagues. Not bad, an all-star pitcher just sitting there waiting to be grabbed. Similar to Kelvim Escobar, Duchscherer won't be pitching for a month or so, but if you can stash him on your bench, you will have a top pitcher for the rest of the year (barring injury, again). There is 'paint' on the long range radar, be sure you are paying attention. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Radar Watch: Kelvim Escobar

A very good pitcher on a good team that is owned in less then 15% of leagues? Weird huh? Not really, since he is on the DL. Kelvim Escobar is pitching well in rehab and should be back on the Angels in June. Yes, he will be useless to your fantasy team for a month, but after that, he will be gold. In his last full season, he sported a nice 3.40 ERA, a good strike out rate and kept the walks down. Oh yea, he had 18 wins. Simply put, he is a very good pitcher who is probably available to be picked up in most leagues right now. Keep him on your radar and be ready to grab. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

New Stadium, New Rules

"Here's the pitch... a pop up towards the right fielder... he's drifting back, back, back, on the track, against the wall... GONE! Another home run!" A pop up that goes out? Coors Field? Little League? Wiffle ball? Nope, New Yankee Stadium. Get the ball in the air heading towards right field and you may have a 4 bagger. It's early in the season but there have already been 26 home runs hit so far in the new Yankee Stadium (not counting pre-season)! To make matters worse, it's not even warm out yet. The potential is there for an astonishing amount of home runs this summer. We will know how these stats hold up as time goes on, but both managers and hitters are saying the same thing, the ball really carries to right field. The early indication is that there is some sort of 'wind tunnel' that is blowing out to right due to the design of the stadium. Regardless of the science, the results have been pretty clear so far - new Yankee Stadium is a hitters park. So much so that it is being used in the same sentence as Coors Field! That is not a favorable comparison, especially since the altitude in Coors is something that cannot be overcome, but new Yankee Stadium is about 5000 feet lower then Coors. What does this mean to your fantasy team? The answer is simple, treat the value of players the same way as you would players for Colorado. Hitters are better, especially hitters who hit to right field (Giambi might have hit 40+ dingers if he still played for the Yanks). Pitchers on the other hand are to be viewed with a little less value. A good pitcher is a good pitcher, so I'm not saying don't own Sabathia, what I am saying is that if you had Sabathia ranked higher then say, Lincecum or Santana (who is now pitching in what is looking like a pitchers park), you may want to drop him below them. Still worth a lot, just moved a notch down. So, when looking at two equal hitters between a Yankee and another team, give the edge to the Yankee. When looking at two equal pitchers between a Yankee and another team, give the edge to the other team. (Along these lines, read Scout Berardi's article - 'Know Your Home') There is talk about the Yankees investigating the stadium and even making adjustments to try and correct the 'wind tunnel', but until that happens, be a little wary of pitchers (Yankee or visitor) in Yankee stadium and be ready to play your hitters there. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Tim Wakefield

Wakefield is old (42) and his age nearly is the speed of his fastball (ok, double his age). Seems scary, but the knuckleball is dominating hitters so far this season. Wakefield has a record of 2-1 and his line is a fantastic: 2.45 ERA, 12 Ks, and a 1.05 WHIP. If that's not enough, he is also on a good team. Now I hate having guys on my team who's fastball doesn't sniff 90+, but an exception has to made for the crafty (aka old) knuckleballer. In fact, he may be worth more then a rental. Ride the wave of his great start and see if it lasts all year (it usually does). By the way, he is owned in less then 20% of leagues. He's another good player who never gets the fantasy credit he deserves. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo is one of the hottest hitting 2B in baseball right now. After losing more then 10 pounds over the off season, Luis has come to camp ready to play some serious ball. He is hitting .389 with 4 RBIs, 2 Doubles, and 5 runs scored. Often the angst of Mets' fans, he needed to do something to get them and the Mets back behind him. So far, mission accomplished. Give him a good long look if you have a need at 2B (which many of you do). He is owned in about 5% of fantasy leagues. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Be The Turtle!

There is a classic story of a long distance race between a tortoise and a hair (or as I call them, a turtle and a rabbit). With the rabbit being so fast and the turtle being so slow, it wouldn't seem like much of a race. However, as we know, the turtle won. The rabbit started out good and then took it easy along the way since it was so far ahead. The turtle just kept going and won the race while the rabbit was taking a nap. What am I getting at? Fast and slow don't always matter. Endurance and persistence is where it's at. We are just over two weeks into the season and we are seeing some fast starts and some slow starts. However, the baseball season is a marathon. There are really good players that are not doing so well right now, there are some unknown or downright below average players who are looking like all-stars. Fast and slow don't always matter. Your approach to all this should be as follows: 1) Be patient. Heard this before? Me too. All the time. It's good advice. In fact, it's great advice. However, it is soooo hard to actually apply it. Seeing a guy on your team that is not hitting or not pitching is difficult to take. It eats away at you. Now, you may think, "There are so many players that are doing better. I'll just drop him and pick up a new guy off the waiver wire." I know I have thought that. Or a trade may be offered that could get you someone who is producing now. Don't do it! It's way too early to give up on your players. Josh Hamilton (.229, 1 HR) is going to be fine. Jimmy Rollins (.152 ERA, 1 HR, 4 RBI) is going to be fine. 2) Leave room for opportunities. Unknown/young players are going to be the next superstars. Pujols, Santana, Wright, Manny, etc. were all unknown/young players at some point. It's not a bad idea to grab a young guy who is doing good. Scout Rob had a recent article that made the point that we really have no idea who is going to be the next Cliff Lee (and for that matter, Pujols, Wright, etc.). Who is going to end the year as the rookie of the year? Don't know, but I sure hope he is on my team. I really, really hope he is on my team in my keeper league (keeper leagues make you think a little different - you look to win now and later). Take a chance on some of these young, quick starters, because they may be a star by the end of the year. With all that said, do not drop a Cole Hamels (0-1, 11.17 ERA, 5 SO) to get one of these unknowns. Be reasonable. The season is long. Star players will have star numbers (with very few exceptions *cough* Ortiz *cough*). Some fast start players will end the year on the bench or in the minors (and a few might just end up as 1st round picks in fantasy baseball next year). Slow and steady wins the race. Be the turtle, stick with your guns, and keep a prospect in your back pocket. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Take a Chance: Ricky Romero

Ricky Romero, left handed starting pitcher for the Blue Jays, is having a brilliant start to the year. In 3 starts, he is 2-0, 21 IP, 4 Runs, 4 Walks, 13 Ks, and an ERA of 1.71. Not bad for a 24 year old. Romero was a top draft pick, and has been average until this year. If he keeps this up, wow! He will be the unknown pitcher to 'come out of nowhere' to be a difference maker. Wouldn't it be nice to be the 'genius' to pick up this guy and gloat in October? Yea it would! Back to reality, there is a good amount of pitching out there in the fantasy world, but if you are in a deep league, grab Romero. If you are in an average or shallow league, keep a close eye on him. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Elijah Dukes: Now or Never

With the demotion of Lastings Milledge (I still believe in the guy - but I'm feeling wrong), Elijah Dukes looks to be the person who will gain the most. He is off to a good start, has all the talent in the world, and hasn't been in trouble lately. So far his line is .375 Avg, 3 RBI, 2 Runs. This is in limited duty, as he has been riding the bench with too many outfielders. Now there is space for him. He is still high risk/reward. Don't overpay, but give him a chance. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Derek Holland

Starting spring training for the Texas Rangers, Neftali Feliz was their #1 pitching prospect. Feliz should still be on everyone's radar, but Derek Holland is has taken over the #1 spot. Feliz is 20 and Holland is 22, so maybe the little more experience has pushed him up. Derek Holland is a left handed pitcher with a mid 90's fastball, and above average secondary pitches. In the minors in 2008, his combined stats (multiple levels) were: 13-1, 2.36 ERA, 150/38 K/BB in 145 innings, 107 hits allowed, only 3 homers. Pretty good stuff! Unless Texas pitching makes a dramatic change (that would be more surprising then the Rays making the world series last year) they will be calling up Holland sooner then later. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

What's In a Name: Placido Polanco

Placido Polanco is another one of those guys that if you take away the name and just look at his stats, you would draft him higher. Last year, he had better numbers at the 2B position then Dan Uggla, Kelly Johnson, Robinson Cano, Alexei Ramirez, and many more. Since his numbers are good, that leads me to assume that there is something in the name itself that is having him be over looked round after round. Now Placido translates to 'calm' in English, Polanco is a proper name, no translation. So we're looking at Calm Polanco. Calm? Does the idea of a calm player turn people off? Must be. With guys like 'The Riot' (Ryan Theriot), and Ryan Braun (no clever nick-name needed with a name like Braun) Calm Polanco must not sound like a guy who deserves to make your roster. So Calm Polanco doesn't inspire the aggressiveness you are looking for on your team. But lets look at it in a different way. I take you a classic movie that serves as a guide to all men - 'Top Gun'. How do you pick up women in a bar? - Sing 'You Lost That Lovin Feelin'. Best place to ride a motorcycle? - On a military runway as an F-16 takes off next to you while doing a fist pump. Who was the winner of the Top Gun trophy? - Iceman. Iceman was not the star of the movie, he was calm, collected, and did his job the right way. On the other hand, you have a guy like Maverick. Maverick is more exciting, a risk taker, but he didn't win. But I'm sure that if there was a fantasy Fighter Pilot game Maverick would go several rounds higher then Iceman. I guess there is a lot in a name. My recommendation is to pick up Iceman Polanco. Despite his non-inspiring name, he's in the conversation for top 10 2B. He may be available (as in he was not even drafted in your league at all) or you can pick him up in a trade for just about anyone you have. Yes, you can get a top 10 2B for next to nothing. There may be a lot in a name, but when it comes to fantasy baseball (or fantasy fighter pilots), there is a lot more in the stats. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Dont Fall Off a Cliff Lee!

What is up with Cliff Lee? Has he reverted back to his old pitching self? Definitely off to a rough start, but he is still a good guy to have on your team. I'm not a huge Cliff Lee guy, but last year was no fluke. However, he does not have overpowering stuff which means he needs to be 'on' in order to have a good game. He will be 'on' a lot more then he is 'off.' Now Texas tee'd off on him. Maybe Lee wasn't 'on' or maybe Texas did what Texas can do - mash like no one else. First game of the year, weather on the cool side, not too much to worry about with him yet. Texas has the potential to make ANY pitcher look bad. RELAX. Last year Lee came out of nowhere to win the Cy Young which to me means that if he can rise that fast that maybe he could fall that fast. I don't think that will happen. Maybe someone is panicking in your league - buy low. Lee is going to be alright. He figured it out last year and he hasn't forgotten how to pitch over the winter. Probably not going to repeat at Cy Young, but 15+ wins is a very reasonable expectation. So no Cliff jumping yet. Be patient and hope others are not. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Who is Emilio Bonifacio?

There are always young guys whom you probably know little about who get off to good starts. The biggest splash so far has been from Emilio Bonifacio. Let's take a moment and familiarize ourselves with this fast starter. Emilio Bonifacio is the Florida Marlins 3B. What you really need to know about him is that he is FAST, with a capital FAST. Highlighting that fact, he's gone 3 for 3 on SB attempts so far. When he was in the minors for the Diamondbacks organization, he was stealing bases at an excellent rate (how's 50 out of 60 sound for a season?). He struck out too much though so they focused on him getting the bat on the ball more and getting walks. They made it clear that they were grooming him to be their lead off hitter. He responded well to their direction. His strikeouts went down and his OBP went up. He was traded to the Nationals and then to his current team the Marlins. They are using him as their lead off hitter and that is the natural spot for him. If he keeps his average up, he will steal a lot of bases on a run happy Marlins team which should also translate into a lot of runs. Downside? No power. He has a homerun on the year already, but it's of the inside the park variety (did I mention that he's fast?). This happened primarily cuz the outfielders were playing shallow. Yea, he hit it over them, but the book on Emilio is that he is not going to be hitting the long ball. His positives out weigh the negatives. However, is this what you want from you 3B position? Fortunately he qualifies at 2B this year, which is more in line with the type of hitter he is. Next year though... Emilio Bonifacio is a young, switch hitting, speedster that is off to a good start (we're only 2 games in). If you have a spot on your bench, you might consider giving it too him. If not, keep an eye on him. Not sure if you will get what you want out of him for your 3B position but you could probably do a lot worse at 2B then Emilio Bonifacio. -Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Ambulance Chasing

The thought of a lawyer just waiting for injuries to occur, ambulance chasing, is a disgusting thought to many. They are preying and trying to benefit from other peoples pain. However, say all the bad things you like, that lawyer is an opportunist. That same opportunist attitude, which we may view as despicable with a lawyer, could help your fantasy team. How? Look for players on the DL. There are many good, big name players on the DL to start this season. There is a possible opportunity here for you to get one of them for a low price. Make some trade offers. Generally you would need to offer something of equal value for these names, but since they are on the DL, you might be able to get a discount. The catch is that you need to have some patience. It might be hard to give up a healthy player for another player who won't help you immediately. But remember, it's a long season. Deal with the short term pain to get the long term gain. Here are a few of the name that you could target: Kelvim Escobar - He might not have even been drafted! He will be in the majors within a month. Arod - Probably won't get too much of a discount, but it's worth a shot. Scott Baker - Good pitcher, could get great value in a trade here. Ichiro - Big name, could be difficult to get much of a discount. B.J. Upton - Worth a lot to a fantasy team. Any discount would be a win for you. Ervin Santana - Excellent pitcher. Joe Mauer - Top catcher, will be out a couple of weeks at least. Someone may be desperate. John Lackey - Yep, another very good Angel pitcher. Jeremy Bonderman - Not as good as some of the other names here, but you might get him for real cheap. -Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Fantasy Noir: Brett Anderson

The room was dark, difficult to see, but I had no problems finding the bottle. The two of us have spent a lot of time together and the night's plan's weren't any different. Then walked in Trouble with a capital T. Why her parents called her Trouble, I'll never know. She had a problem, she was a women after all. The slap from that remark didn't surprise me, the roughness of her hands did - Hmmm, Trouble. With her flowing blonde hair partially covering her face she sat on the corner of my desk and crossed her long legs. She asked if I could help with a little issue she was having. I gave her my standard answer, a cold "Maybe." It doesn't inspire many clients but it does lower their expectations to a level that is closer to mine. With narrowed eyes, she asked, "I need you to do a little snooping on someone. I need to know what he is up to." Her eye's were turning red, a tear fell down her cheek. Perhaps she was sad, perhaps it was the fact I hadn't showered in a few days. Either way, I felt bad for her. I'm a sucker for tears, especially if they belonged to a blonde. With a raspy voice I said, "Two hundred big ones plus expenses and I'll take the case." She agreed, I knew she would. Hey, if she is at my door, that means a lot of other ones already closed on her, she was desperate, my clients always were. I asked her the name of the guy I would be investigating, she said, "His name is Brett Anderson. He is a minor league pitcher, but he's telling me he's in the bigs now. I don't' know what to believe. I need to know if I'm wasting my time on this fella." I knew right then and there that a heart was going to be broken - If this Anderson guy doesn't check out, it would be hers, if Anderson is on the up and up, then it would be mine. I hate my job, but I hate my bookie even more so I told her I would take the case and her money. With my hat pulled low and my trench coat tied tight, I headed out to my informants. It's amazing what you can get for a little green. The dirt I got was fairly clean. Anderson wasn't a liar, he had made the bigs and is the A's fourth starter. They have several young guns, but he seems to be the most refined. He works fast between pitches and really goes after hitters. Scares me a little that this guy comes into the strike zone so much without having anything overpowering. But, who am I to argue, he's on the team, I'm not. There is also a concern that his stay in the bigs may only be temporary, as this Duchscherer character might come back and take his place, sending Bretty-boy back to the minors. His left arm may say different. Satisfied with my info, I returned to the office, not without a stop at the watering hole of course - 'expenses.' Trouble found me later the next day, usually trouble finds me a lot faster. I told her that Anderson was a guy she may want to hold onto for the long haul. He definitely has potential. He may not give her a lot this year, but the next years could be very profitable. He could end up being the next Tom Glavine, or a nobody - it's not my place to say, but a guy with decent stuff and great control is usually a solid guy to be around. That's why I'm usually alone. On hearing my report, she smiled for the first time since I met her. Happy that her man is a stand up guy and probably happier that she wouldn't be seeing me again. She paid me for the expenses and was out of the office and out of my life before you could light a cigarette. The job was done. I reached again for my favorite friend and we spent a quiet night making up for lost time. I might check back on this Anderson kid in a month or two to see where he's at. More importantly to see if Trouble is at his side. After all, I'm a P.I. - it's what I do. -Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Drop It Like It's Hot!

There is a lot of debate over the strategy of dropping a category in your league. One side says that you want to compete in every category and should never concede any of them (at least until late in the season). The other side says, you probably are going to lose some category anyway, why not give one up to shore up your other ones. I am in the camp of dropping a category in one, and only one, situation - if your league has both saves and holds as categories. If your league has Saves and Holds, I say drop saves. Why? 4 reasons: 1) Because saves is such a finicky category. Too many closers do not keep their jobs all year. You may draft some closer and at he may end up as a holds guy or worse. Two recent articles have highlighted the danger of closers ('Forget Your Closers' by Scout Berardi and 'Draft Strategy: Heavy on Hitters' by Scout Rob). 2) There are always holds guys. While other teams are struggling to find closers, you can sit back and have your pick of guys who will get you some holds. 3) Discovered treasure. The pitchers you select to get you holds are also the ones that are generally in line to be closers if the present closer was to fail in someway. How nice is that? - A teams closer falls into your lap. Now you have excellent trade bait. You can trade him off for some player that helps your team and simply go pick up another holds guy. 4) One less thing to worry about. If holds and saves are categories, you are probably in a league that is 6x6 or greater. There is so much to consume that having one less category to stress over is pretty nice. Does this strategy work? Yes! I have used this strategy very effectively. In fact, this year I picked up Scott Downs (after the draft) and now will probably be able to trade him for a decent return since he will be getting some time at closer due to injuries to B.J. Ryan. It's already paying dividends! Every league is different. This may not work for you. Be sure to consider multiple strategies and find one that suits you best. Do not be afraid to experiment, mix things up, stick it to the man, drop it like it's hot. -Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Get Your Close On

Two of the battles for the closer role have been decided - at least for now. Unless you are the Red Sox or the Yanks, no position is more transient then the major league closer. Jason Motte has secured the role in St. Louis as their opening day closer. He has had a fantastic spring and has a good chance of keeping the role all year. That is huge, a closer who can keep his job all year - yea, pick him up. St. Louis had way too many blown saves last year, many of them at the hands of Ryan Franklin, that has to change this year. It will with Motte. His closest competition was/is Franklin (I have a hard time believing that St. Louis was ever going to hand him the ball in the ninth again) and Chris Perez. Perez has been a little dinged up but is pitching alright now - still, he may not even make the opening day roster. Motte is fairly safe and should bring a nice end game that St. Louis desperately needs. Kevin Gregg has been named the closer in Chicago. Marmol was seen to be the favorite at the start of spring but Gregg has pitched better. This one scares me a little. Marmol has better stuff - hands down - which is why he was the favorite. Gregg however knows how to handle his stuff better. With Marmol waiting in the wings with his filthy pitches, I believe that Gregg will be on a short leash. Any injury and he will probably lose the role for the season (barring a complete meltdown of Marmol). Any prolonged struggle and Gregg will probably lose the role for the season. Marmol is the future closer of the Cubs. If you need closes, pick up either of these two if available. Motte is my first choice as I see him keeping the ninth inning. Gregg might keep the job, but Marmol is very appealing and I don't know if the Cubs can keep him out of the spotlight too long. I don't have the strength to talk about Seattle. Maybe to-'Morrow'. (oooh that was bad) -Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

March Madness: Are We There Yet?

No, I'm not talking about basketball. I'm talking about the madness of waiting for the baseball season to begin. For me, the madness begins after the end of the first draft. My jerk of a friend decided to have his draft on March 4th, which means my madness began very early this year. Other drafts help to medicate the madness but they are not a cure. The madness is made worse by an existing condition of mine - Trade Mongerism. I am a self diagnosed Trade Monger (See 'Trade 'Em If You got 'Em'). I have proposed no less then 20 trades already (between 3 leagues) with 3 of the trades being accepted (I finally got Kershaw for my dynasty league). A couple of more probably would have been accepted if the other owners ever saw them. With all the time before the season start, many owners haven't even looked at their team since the draft, much less my offers. This lack of attention only increases my madness. We are now a week away from the opener - my shakes are pretty bad, my sight is dim, there are spots in front of my eyes, but I think I'll pull through. With a booster shot of WBC and a steady drip of spring training games, the doctors are confident in my complete return to health. With my wife by my side (calling me a 'dork' on a very regular basis), my fellow trade mongers, and some good articles to read (searching for the hidden gems no one is really talking about *cough* Jonathan Sanchez *cough*), I have a support team that hasn't let me down. Misery loves company, so I'm here to let you that you are not the only one suffering from an acute case of March Madness. So take heart fellow sufferers, we are almost there. You have so much to live for, don't give up hope yet. Ignore the bright light drawing you in and focus on the green grass of the field, the browns on the base paths, and the white of home plate. Before you know it, you will be cursing your rivals, trading like crazy, and enjoying another great season. Hang in there! -Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Polarizing Ethical Grey Area

I am stepping back from writing an article on who you should play on your team, to an ethical question on how to play. I keep going over a real scenario in my head that happened last season and wonder if I'm okay with it. Let me give you a little history. It all started late in the baseball regular season, 2 fantasy teams vying for first place, separated by only a few stats in a Roto league (I'm watching from 3rd place, out of the race). Both teams are picking up and dropping players at a lighting pace - trying desperately to squeeze out a few more Wins, Ks, HRs, RBI's. As the last 2 days approach, one of the teams pulled off an unprecedented move - they picked up and immediately dropped every player that could have been of use to the other team (dozens). With the waiver time period in place after the drop, the players were worthless for the last 2 days. Mouths dropped, eyebrows raised, a baby cried in the distance, but no one spoke against the move (or for it). Turned out this desperate move wasn't enough, and the other team won the championship anyway. - My question to all is this: Was that a potentially good move or was that over the top? Before you answer, let me lay out both sides as I see them. Good Move: This side has one powerful argument - no rules were broken. What was done was completely within the agreed upon boundaries of the league. If you don't like it, change the rules. Over the Top: This side hates that they even have to argue against this type of move. It's just wrong! That's not baseball. Maybe the rules don't cover this scenario specifically, but the spirit of the game does. Do the rules say that you can't trash someones computer so that they can't make any moves? - No! Rules will never cover every scenario. Control your team, but don't try to control someone else's. Picking up a player so someone else doesn't get him is part of the game (just ask the Yankees), but picking up all players and dropping them immediately is not. So again I ask for your opinions on which side is right. Help me to overcome this polarizing ethical grey area. -Scout Monkey

"It's Guy Love"

A man crush, guy-love, whatever you want to call it, I have it with Daniel Murphy. Scout Hoffman has just written an article on the newest object of my affection and I loved every word ('Hot Spots - Daniel Murphy'). Why am I so enamored with this player? It's cuz he's a cage rat. What on earth is a cage rat? It's the baseball equivalent of a gym-rat (the basketball player that is first to show up and last to leave). Daniel Murphy loves the batting cages, and you will often find him there in his free time. When I hear that the guy was skipping classes in college in order to hit in the cages, it makes my heart go boom. Really, I guess it boils down to his work ethic. I would like to think that if I was ever to make a pro team (laugh long and hard), I would be known as the guy that practices as hard as anyone. The guy who is a real student of the game. That is what you have with Daniel Murphy. Practices hard, and asks questions of his team mates on how to be better. I find that guys who practice to this level end up in one of two categories: 1) The not naturally talented but make up for it with his effort player. Also know as a 'Gamer' 2) All-star. Make no mistake, Jordan, Tiger, Rice, etc. are all supremely talented, but work as hard, if not harder, then anyone in practice. It's very early, but I think Daniel 'You had me at hello' Murphy will fall into category 2. Now I'm not saying he is the baseball version of Michael Jordan (the basketball player version) but I think someone with his dedication and talents will make him an all-star (not this year - love is blind but not that blind). Now we don't have a big sampling of his talent in the big leagues, but the small amount we saw was good. He has now earned a full time starting position in the Met's outfield, he will produce this year, enough for you to take notice and have him in you lineup. Decent speed, decent power, good bat, surrounded by a good Met's offense is something that you think would demand attention, but he is going undrafted in most leagues. Keep an eye on him, set him aside, start him, just don't let the opposition have him. Daniel 'Heart Throb' Murphy will make my team and my dreams. -Scout Monkey

Kendry Morales: Pure Vanilla

If you are at a restaurant with friends and your order vanilla ice cream, you are bound to get the, "Boring" comment. Yes, vanilla is boring compared to some kind of super fudge blast, banana supreme sundae. However, vanilla is still good. No matter how good the other desserts may be, you will not be unhappy with vanilla. It's sweet, it's creamy, it's safe, it's good. With Kendry Morales, 1B for Los Angeles Angels, you are getting vanilla. At this point I hope you see that I'm trying to say that vanilla is not necessarily a bad thing. He will be a solid player, but probably won't 'Wow' you with his numbers - vanilla. With that said, let me say something else that might grab your attention. The starting first baseman for the AL East favorite Los Angeles Angels is going undrafted in most leagues. Really? Yep. The only reason that I can really see for this is that he does not mash homeruns like some of his first base counterparts. In fact, he is very similar to his cross town counterpart in the NL - James Loney for the Dodgers. As good as vanilla is, you throw a few toppings on it and you have quite a desert. What kind of toppings does Morales bring? Well, we already discussed that you are not getting the hot fudge - he is not hitting the long ball (20 would probably be a good year for him). If you can't have the hot fudge, how about some caramel? Take it, it looks like this guy will be hitting in the 5 spot which should make a lot of opportunities for RBI's. Could he crack 100 RBI? Yes, but I'm thinking that the 75-80 range is probably what you will get with him. Morales will even give you a cherry on top - he hits for Avg. Good Avg, good RBI, a little pop, good team, get him late in the draft - Vanilla has never been so good! -Scout Monkey

No Sneeze Jokes Please

Shin-soo Choo. Now, let's all say it together, 'Guzuntheit.' Now that we have that out of our systems, make it your goal to never do it again. Please, if the best you can do with the name Shin-soo Choo is to make a sneeze joke, you need to raise your game. Work on some better material. I will help you out. Feel free to use any of the following Shin-soo Choo names you will find in this article, or better yet, make up your own. Shin-soo Choo-pacabra (see picture - if I'm the opposition, I would hope for either an out or a HR. I wouldn't want this guy standing next to me at first) is a 26 year old outfielder for the Cleveland Indians. I'm not the first person to give attention the this player, but good things bear repeating. Shin-soo Choo-choo-Train started off slow when he made it to the big leagues but made up for lost ground in the second half. How does .318 12 HR and 50 RBI's sound? If you take what Kick-Him-In-the-Shin-soo Choo did in his 300+ ABs and calculate that for a full season, 500+ ABs, his line could look very much like this: .300+ Avg. 23 HR 110 RBIs 6 SB. Not bad for a guy who is being drafted after the 20th round. Wait, there is more! Shin-soo Choo-Talkin-to-Me was a very good base stealer in the minors. He clearly wasn't running in the majors with his 4 SB but at 26 years old, he still has his speed. 15-20 SB in a full season is very reasonable. Will Shin-soo Choo-ing-Gum live up to all the hype? Don't know, no one knows for sure. But 300 big league ABs is a decent sample. I like the upside. Shin-soo Choo-Bacca is a sleeper I'm taking a chance on. Yes, I Shin-soo Choo-choo-Choose you. -Scout Monkey

Sleeper SP On Nationals - Really!

When you think of the Washington Nationals and of sleepers, 2 names come to mind - Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes. You can find them on many sleeper lists. But what about a 22 year old Pitcher named Jordan Zimmermann? Who? Jordan Zimmermann. This pitcher is competing with Colling Balester (also 22 years old) for the fifth starters spot. As I did my research on Zimmermann it surprised me that I hadn't seen him on ANY sleeper lists. When words like, 'Top Prospect', 'Poise', 'Impressive', and so on, are thrown around, generally people have at least heard of the guy. I hadn't. I just happened upon an interesting article that mentioned Zimmerman and that led me to research him. Did you know that he did not allow a base runner until his third spring start? Did you know that he hasn't allowed a run yet this spring? Did you know that he has struck out 10 in his 8.1 innings pitched? Who is this again? Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals. There must be a downside right? Yes there is. He is young and will probably walk more batters then you (or he) would like. He is not guaranteed a spot in the rotation (yet). Did I mention he's young? There are always growing pains for a young pitcher, the question is whether they will be long term or temporary. My vote is temporary. What should I do with Jordan Zimmermann and my fantasy team? That depends on several things. Here is my opinion: - If you are in a shallow league, just keep an eye on him. - If you are in a deep league, tuck him away if at all possible. - If you are in an AL only league, you really should have stopped reading by now. - If you are in a keeper league, stash him away and gloat when he becomes a stud! Zimmermann may not be on many sleeper lists (let me know if you find one), but he's on mine. -Scout Monkey

Trade 'em If You Got 'em

Just to be very clear, I am a 'Trade Monger.' I LOVE to trade in fantasy sports (By the end of the day of the fantasy baseball draft I had already proposed four trades). I love everything about it - figuring out what kind of deal I could make, proposing trades, receiving trade proposals, and the anticipation of not knowing if someone will accept. To me it is like the 'pop' in popcorn, the 'bubble' in bubble gum, it takes a good thing and makes it better. However, not everyone feels like me. In fact I know some who feel quite the opposite. Their motto is, 'Dance with who you brought.' I respond to that, 'What if you brought someone who doesn't dance?' In any case, if you are a 'Trade Monger' like me, be sure to follow some simple steps in order to not be 'that guy' in your league. ('That guy' is the annoying guy who you wish wasn't in your league and may not be in it next year). Step One - Let people know that you are a 'Trade Monger.' Give them a heads up and give them a way out. Whether you are playing with friends or strangers, let them know that you like to propose a lot of trades. Give them the option to tell you that they don't want to deal with lots of offers. Now you can trade appropriately and respectfully. Step Two - Keep your trades in the realm of reasonableness. No one, even trade mongers, like to receive lots of trades of the 'are you kidding me' variety. Please, please do not attempt to offer (enter awful player name here) for (enter great player name here). If you do offer a trade that might be of the questionable variety give an explanation for why you are doing it - people can at least see where you are coming from and it's not just a 'I want your best player for nothing' trade. Good rule of thumb, if the position was reversed, would you consider your trade offer? Step Three - Give lots and lots of leeway for trades proposed to you. This falls in line with the 'if you live in a glass house...' saying. If someone offers you a trade that you think is bogus, do NOT overreact, do NOT send messages back to the proposer with how stupid he is and how stupid he must think you are. As a trade monger, you are in no position to give anyone a hard time with their proposals. That is a right you have given up, deal with it. If you are like me, you are always looking for ways to make a deal. By following these steps, you can be a successful 'Trade Monger' while not making the other teams upset (and risking not being invited back next year). Happy trading! -Scout Monkey

The Amazin' Intangible Mets!

The word 'intangible' gets thrown around a lot in sports. You hear that word in connection with Derek Jeter constantly, and rightly so. His numbers do not say hall of fame, but his intangibles do. Would the New York Yankees have won like they had without him? Not likely. But it wasn't his numbers that made them win, it was his leadership, his persona, his clutch ability. These are not conscious decisions, they just happen because that is who he is. (I say all this as a non-Yankee fan) His intangibles are what make him great, however, his intangibles do not help your fantasy team - There is no 'Leadership' Category in any fantasy leagues that I know. What about intangibles and an entire team? They exist. If you ask any player for any game if they played their best to win, the answer will be 'Yes!' However, if that same team plays their hated rival, will that same player (or any player) tell you that he 'gets up' a little more for a game like that? Again, yes. So how can a player who gives 100% give more for a rivalry game? Intangibles. The players' minds and bodies become more focused, more ready for the game - it's not a conscious decision, it just happens. This is very good news for the Mets. The intangibles are going to allow them to be every bit as good as the Philies in the East, and every chance to be better! How so? K-Rod and Putz. They now have dominating players to hand the game over to - nothing intangible about that! But now the starters will have confidence, an underrated intangible, that they did not have last year. Imagine starting a game as a pitcher for the Mets knowing that no matter how well you pitch there is a good chance that the game will be lost in the late innings. The starters will still give 100% (as all players should) but the intangible of confidence will not be there, there is nothing special in their performance. Again, not a conscious decision, it just happens. Now with a way to slam the door in late innings, their starting pitchers will go in with the confidence that will make them that much better - they now have a reason to be special. I'm not trying to say that Mets pitching was bad, they have some very talented starters (Santana is the best in the biz), but now they will be even better. So what does this mean for you? This means that Mets pitching should be very visible on your radar. Now, unless you have a unique scoring system (make sure you know your league settings!!!) you should not be drafting Johan Santana. He will go in the first or second rounds and that is just too high for a pitcher (especially with the elbow issue that has creaped up - maybe nothing, maybe not), let someone else pay that price. However, the Mets have more then one starting pitcher. Look long and hard at John Maine, Oliver Perez, and Mike Pelfrey. You should be able to grab these guys late in the draft (ADP 200+ for all of them) and they offer some very good upside even without a good bullpen, but with a good bullpen, lookout! Unlike Jeter, their intangibles will translate into value for your fantasy team. -Scout Monkey

Draft Strong with MEMSPA!

If you read fantasy sports articles (don’t try to hide, you’re reading one now) you should have come across the mantra, ‘Know the rules of your league!’ This is very good advice as you can do all the player research in the world and it could be useless if you don’t know the rules. For example, I was in a points league last year where the pitchers were heavily favored (very average pitchers would get more points then Arod). Before the draft I noticed where all the points were coming from and drafted accordingly. Amazingly, no one else in the 16 team league saw what I saw until partway through the season. Needless to say, I cleaned up (I did not win however as my pitching did not line up well against my playoff opponent). The advantage is clear to see, so the point I want to make is not so much that I saw the where points were, or that no one else did, but how I saw them. The below advertisement will show the way:

Have you ever said, ‘I have a life, I can’t delve into all the details of the league points and do all the math and squeeze out the few extra point gains.’ Do not despair! Allow me to introduce my easy method to see where the points are. I call it MEMSPA – My Easy Method to See where the Points Are.

To use this tested and proven method all you have to do is look at a few web pages. First, log into your fantasy league – so easy! Second, go to the Players section of your league – can you believe your eyes?. Third, set the view so that you see last years stats for the players – this is already starting to smell good! Fourth, arrange the points from highest to lowest – this looks amazing! You now have the info you need to make wise decisions based on the points of your league – BAM!. You are now able to see what a top point person got (this will be very similar to what will happen this year). You should now be able to arrange the page by positions – this is very helpful as you can quickly see what positions seem to get the most points, which positions have lots of high point guys and which do not (position scarcity anyone?).

Yes! By adhering to MEMSPA in your points league, you to will be able to quickly setup your draft, be competitive, slice the competition, dice your losses, save time, eat healthier, and help the environment (or not). Disclaimer: No longer associated with BALCO. This method does not take into account rookies, please don’t forget about the young guys.

MEMSPA – ‘Live life to the fullest!’

-Scout Monkey

The Seattle Grunge Sleeper

Me: Hey friend, I have a sleeper tip for you for the upcoming draft. Friend: Cool! Lay it on me! Me: Adrian Beltre. Friend: Who? Me: Adrian Beltre, 3B for the Seattle Mariners. Friend: Seattle has a team now? Awesome! They should call themselves the ‘Raindrops’, no wait, the Seattle 'Grunge!' Me: Hmm, that’s actually pretty good, but umm, they’ve had a team for years. Haven't you heard of Ichiro? Friend: I LOVE Pokemon! Me: No, Ichiro Suzuki, CF for Seattle. He’s really fast, has a cannon for an arm… Friend: A cannon for an arm? I would counter with Squirtle. You know, they should really try to sign Pikachu, he’s clutch. But whatever, I’m just glad Seattle finally has a team now. Me: 'You’re killing me Smalls!' Anyway, Adrian Beltre is their 3B and I think is going to be a great sleeper pick this year. Friend: The name actually does sound familiar, didn't he play for the Dodgers? Me: Yes! He had a great year right before he went to Seattle. I have theory on why he did so good and why he will be good this year. Friend: Aliens? Evolution? Deep Throat? Harry Potter? Me: What? No! Contract year. Friend: He’s a contractor? Is he reliable? I had this one guy… Me: Stop talking. Just listen. His final year with the Dodgers, 2004 a CONTRACT year, he went ballistic at the plate. He was a monster (48 HR, .334 Avg)! At the end of the year he got a big contract with Seattle. However, before 2004 and each year since, he has not duplicated that success, not even close. He has been solid, but never great. Well, this year is another contract year for him. See where I’m going with this? Friend: Your saying he will play extra good this year to get a big paycheck next year. Did you think of that all by yourself? That's not your theory, everyone knows that. What your saying is that all contract year players are sleepers. Me: No, although it’s always good to keep an eye on contract year players. What I’m saying is the amount of increase in Beltre's performance on his last contract year was WAY above his average (48 HR, 330+ Avg. vs. 23 HR, .260+ Avg.). He didn't just try a little harder, he gave it everything he had. I think he will be pushing to duplicate that increase. Not that he will have the same kind of year as when he was a Dodger, but a definite increase with the potential for something special. Whatever he did to get those numbers, I think he will do again. Worst case, you get a solid 3B late in the draft, best case you get a top ten 3B very late. Not a bad thing either way. Friend: I guess that’s a pretty good tip, thanks! Do you know where can I get a Seattle Grunge jersey? Me: Sigh. -Scout Monkey

You Play to Fun the Game!

Herm Edwards said it best (and worst), ‘You play to win the game!’ When you sign up for your fantasy team you are not saying to yourself, ‘Self, we should make 7th place our goal.’ – No! You say, ‘Self, we are going to dominate all other teams cuz they don’t know baseball like we do!’ Even if you are new to fantasy sports and have realistic expectations of hoping to be competitive, deep down you want 1st place, you deserve 1st place, you need 1st place. But now I propose a seemingly crazy question - Can winning be less fun then losing? The answer is ‘yes!’ How is that possible? I give you my brother in law. He is a fierce competitor in all he does, he does his research, he makes smart decisions, he is a dominant fantasy player, and he will not be playing fantasy baseball this year. Why? Because for him to win means that he has to root against his favorite team at times and that kills his fun. He is a huge Yankee fan. How can a huge Yankee fan hope that Papelbon closes down his Yanks in the ninth? – No fun! How can he root for James Shield to strikeout his beloved Derek Jeter? – No fun! How can he root for Arod to not hit a homerun (cuz he is on someone else’s fantasy team)? – No fun! Not everyone feels the same as my brother in law, but it goes to show that there is value in knowing which is more important for you – winning fantasy or rooting for your team. Sure you can do both, but you will find times where the two are not compatible. As a fantasy player, I hope to get the likes of Tim Lincecum, but as a Dodger fan, I hope he has a miserable year and the Giants lose every game. Those feelings clearly don’t harmonize. In conclusion, you want your fantasy team to win. You also want your favorite team to win. Can you have both happen? Yes, but not without some heartache. I will NOT own all the Dodgers for my fantasy team. I WILL own players on teams that I would like to see lose. To me, it doesn’t hurt the baseball experience, it adds to it. If you can’t take the heartache, by all means, draft your favorite team (average players and all), if available limit your picks to the opposite league (if you like a NL team get AL players so they won’t affect your team) you probably won’t win, but you may have more fun then taking a winning route. So maybe you don’t play to win the game, but there is nothing wrong in playing to FUN the game. - Scout Monkey

Joba the What?

All signs point to Joba being a starting pitcher this year. Even with the additions of CC and AJ, and the resigning of Andy, the Yanks are still planning on putting Joba in the rotation. Even with some good young talent available (ala Phil Hughes), they are still wanting Joba to be a starting pitcher. Never mind that Boston may now have the best one two punch at the end of their bullpen (Saito and Papelbon), Joba is a starter. So what does this mean for you and your fantasy team? You don't want Joba as YOUR starter. Well, sort of. Joba is uber talented. He will get you loads of strikeouts and should get you a decent number of wins with his stuff and the hitting talent of the Yanks. So why wouldn't you want him as your starter? Two words – ‘innings count.’ Here is one more word to seal the deal – ‘injury.’ As a starter, Joba is scheduled to be on an innings count, what that count is, no one outside of the Yanks knows, but rest assured that this will hurt his value. Either he will not go deep in games, which will hurt the number of wins he gets, or worse, he will be limited late in the season, right during your fantasy playoff run. On top of that, he hasn't pitched a full season as a starter at any level without some injury. I'm not saying don't draft him, just keep your expectations in check and draft accordingly. One plan that I saw used successfully last year, was to use Joba early and get some wins and strikeouts and then trade him for some very good talent before the injuries or innings limit catches up. Joba is going to be a great pitcher, but he will not be allowed to reach that potential this year. - Scout Monkey