Fantasy Baseball Today

Surprising Early Season Leaders

Apr 232011

Alex Gordon

Every year there are new stars that rise up in baseball. This year is no different. Looking at the league leaders show us a lot of familiar names but a few new ones that may be here to stay. Let’s look at them.

Rays outfielder Johnny Damon is one of the league leaders in rbi’s. He is also a leader in the clubhouse and is truely showing his value to the team. Mets first baseman Ike Davis is knocking in the runs and may prove to be a big slugger as the Mets hope of him.

The home run hitters are all who’d you would expect with a couple of newcomers. “Downtown” Jonny Gomes is playing everyday for the Reds and is hitting homers and drawing walks. A good combination. The Angels’ Howie Kendrick has popped into the homer club and may prove to be more valuable then expected.

Batting averages always are a bit high in the early season before the pitchers settle in. Some new names as well as some comback players have us all excited.

Indians’ Travis Haffner is back hitting .338. After having dealt with injuries these past 3 seasons, a healthy Haffner will produce some big numbers. Lance Berkman is not washed up. He’s hitting .349 and looks like the old Berkman, a true National leaguer.

Rangers’ Michael Young was thought to be on the slide in the downside of his career. But Young is hitting .359 and looks like a batting leader again. The Jays Jose Bautista is socking it to the skeptics. Hitting .371 with 7 homers, 19 runs scored, and 17 walks, Bautista right now is the biggest slugger in all of baseball.

It is a bit of a surprise to see the young Starlin Castro hitting .394 with an OBP of .500. Just the type of shortstop we all like. And Colby Rasmus coming of age, hitting .350. The Rays have Sam Fuld hitting .365 and the Angels with utility infielder Maicer Izturis hitting .355.

One of the biggest surprises in baseball in coming out of Kansas City. The team sports former all-star Kevin Seitzer as their batting coach. And now the Royals are hitting like never before. Last season the team hit .274, 2nd best in the American League, and led the major leagues with striking out the fewest times as a team.

This season has seen 4 Royals players breaking loose out of the gate. Alex Gordon, the former #2 overall pick in 2005, is having a breakout season that should continue. First baseman Billy Butler has added onto last season and is hitting .352.

Third baseman Wilson Betemit is hitting .383. More great news for Royals fans is the resurrected career of outfielder Jeff Francoeur. Jeff showed the promised to be one of baseball’s superstars only to see his career fall like a plane crash. Getting the chance to prove himself in KC, Francoeur is hitting .329 with 17 rbi’s and should soon put up some good power numbers.

The hitting is good this time of year, the injuries are bad, and stay tuned, the pitchers are next.

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Legendary Sam Fuld

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Apr 162011

Sam Fuld

When the Rays traded Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs this off season, they received top prospects which included catcher Robinson Chirinos, pitcher Chris Archer, short stop Hak-Ju Lee, and outfielder Brandon Guyer. Without out a doubt, the Rays stole the best of the Cubs farm system.

As a throw in on the deal, the Rays exchanged outfielder Fernando Perez for outfielder Sam Fuld. Perez’ upside looked a lot better than Fuld. Obviously, the Cubs felt Fuld would never make the big club.

Fuld, in 6 minor league seasons, only produced average offensive stats due to many injuries. His one real shot with the Cubs came in 2009 when he had 97 at bats and hit .299 with a .409 OBP. But every season in spring traing, he always fell short and ended back down in the minor league complex.

Fuld came to Tampa Bay this season with manager Joe Maddon believing in him. It wasn’t too far into spring training that it became obvious that Fuld would make the club as the backup outfielder. Nobody knew too much about him.

The season started with Manny Ramirez at DH and Johnny Damon in leftfield. It didn’t take long to see that Damon would be a liability in leftfield. Then Ramirez quits and Damon moves to DH, Fuld taking over in leftfield.

This was Sams’ big chance. An opportunity to win the job and play everyday in the major leagues. And Sam is taking advantage of his opportunity.

After the first 12 Rays’ games, Fuld leads the team in hits, doubles, triples, total bases, extra base hits, and has a remarkable 1.019 OPS. And he also leads the American League in stolen bases. But the story doesn’t end here.

Fuld has been sensational defensively. He makes all the plays including sensational diving catches. In the minor leagues, he was described as a managers’ dream and a trainers’ nightmare due to his fearless defense.

The Tampa Bay fans have taken to Sam. Needing a new hero, they have found one. He has quickly developed the nickname, “the Legendary Sam Fuld”. He has at least 2 fan clubs started already.

How long will it last? Rays’ fans hope he is the real deal and replaces Carl Crawford better than adequately. Sam is sparking this team and the level of play is rising all the way around.

Sam Fuld has taken a team and a city by surprise. Hopefully, all good things will continue to come from the play of Sam Fuld.

Fantasy managers, need a good hitting outfielder? Get Sam Fuld.

To join a Sam Fuld fan club, click here:

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Is the Disabled List Getting To You?

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Apr 152011

Phil Hughes

Fantasy managers are taking fits with what is going on with players hitting the DL in droves. The early season injuries are far more than usual and one has to wonder how long this will go on.

It all started with pitcher Adam Wainwright going down. Only the very first drafts got caught drafting him, fortunately. But all the others have us all reeling.

Joe Mauer is one of the latest. “Weak legs” is something we’re not use to. It a sign of the times. Players are fragile millionaires. Josh Hamilton is always getting injured. It appears something we have to expect with him.

Ryan Zimmerman went down as did Evan Longoria. Kendrys Morales is unable to return as is Jake Peavy. But the list is only beginning.

Zach Greinke surprised everyone when he hit the DL as did Cory Hart. Ubaldo Jimenez, after his great start last season, may be back soon. Maybe Grady Sizemore will come back and be good again.

Brandon Morrow was suppose to have a break out season. We’ll still have to wait and see. Rich Harden and Rajai Davis are out, as is Tommy Hunter and Rafael Furcal.

We were all looking for the return of Brandon Webb. We’re still waiting. Johan Santana is somewhere down the road as is Chase Utley.

No surprise here as Brad Lidge went down again but we weren’t expecting Jason Bay. The new Japanese star Tsuyoshi Nishioka failed us with a quick broken leg, and Johnny Cuerto developed arm trouble right away.

Who’s left to Play? Baseball always come through. New rising stars, getting a chance to play because of the injuries. Oh, how I love baseball.

Oh, but don’t forget the lastest. Yankees’ pitcher Phil Hughes going down with a “dead arm”. So much for him winning 18 games again.

Keep looking at those free agents. There’s always someone on the rise.

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Red Sox Watching the Bottom Fall Out

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Apr 132011

The Boston Red Sox are currently 2-9 and the worst team in all of baseball. It’s quite a surprise for a team that was the preseason pick to be the best team in baseball. But this team has real problems, starting with its’ pitching.

Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are looking good, but the other starters are struggling. Clay Buchholz is off to a rough start but should begin to turn it around now that he has a nice new contract. But John Lackey and Dice-K are not doing well at all.

Lackey and Dice_K had off-seasons last year and may not be able to turn it around. That leaves the aging Tim Wakefield to be a starter again. Can he get it done when called upon? And who else do they have to be the 5th starter? There seems to be a real problem here.

The Red Sox hitting has not come around yet but it should. Carl Crawford has always been a streak hitter, and when he gets hot, the Sox will win. But right now there is a bit of a panic in Boston.

Losing 2 straight at home to Tampa Bay is upsetting to say the least. The Sox are having a problem trying to set their lineup as they have so many big name hitters. And catching appears to be another problem.

It’s still early in the season and everything should change in the next month. However, if the Red Sox and Yankees continue to have problems with their starting pitching, it will be interesting to see the bidding war that could happen before the trading deadline.

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