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MLB Fantasy Jump Start - San Francisco GIants

2011-03-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Rotation

1. RHP Tim Lincecum - Firmly entrenched as the ace of this quality starting staff, Lincecum is one of fantasy baseball's surest things. While most lament his 2010 as an off year (16-10, 3.43 ERA, 231 Ks in 212-1/3 IP), that alone testifies to the consistently superior numbers he puts up. He still hums the heater in the high 90s & his pitching arsenal is enough to stifle any MLB hitter. Some say there's a dip in his velocity & point to a very inflated home run rate but the fact remains he led the NL in Ks and strikeout ratio for qualifiers. I'd expect at least a small rebound in 2011 that could easily see him returning to 18 or more wins & an ERA south of 3.00. In the top three for fantasy starters, if you want him you better get him quick.

2. LHP Jonathan Sanchez - Most information has Sanchez in the #2 hole and based on 2010, there's little to argue about that. I'd slot Matt Cain #2 but Bruce Bochy seems to tag along with everyone else's philosophy of staggering righty/lefty pitching. I honestly don't see the advantage and given that baseball probably has more right handed than left handed hitters, can't buy into it either. So be it. Sanchez gets the #2 call based on his 1st double digit (13) win season for the World Champs to go along with other career bests in ERA (3.07), Ks (205) & just about every other relevant pitching category. 2010 was also the 1st year he went below 4.24 in ERA so that's quite an improvement and seems even more remarkable as he gave up a career high 96 walks. Not much out of the ordinary there as his control has always been his Achilles heel and strikeouts his forte. So what to make of him for 2011? Well at 28 I think he's finally learned how to control the games he starts so I don't see a big regression happening. With the amount of pitches he throws, he probably won't stick around long in enough in all the games he starts to get the win. Let's say most of his 2010 numbers are representative and he might tack on another win or two. That makes him a low #3 or a high #4 fantasy starter.

3. RHP Matt Cain - There's still a possibility Cain could switch rotation spots with Sanchez but we'll leave him here for now. Most of Cain's 2010 numbers (13 wins & 3.14 ERA for example) very closely resemble Sanchez except for strikeouts (177). To me, Cain is very capable of approaching Sanchez like numbers in that category as well plus his walk totals have actually decreased the past 3 seasons showing definitive signs of maturing as a starter. He also used to throw so many pitches in a game that he was done in 5 or 6 innings. His average innings pitched per game in 2010 almost hit 7 (6.75) so all the needles are now pointing in the right direction. He used to be a very hard luck starter that never got any run support for his efforts but a suddenly stronger SF offense should help that. I'd put him on the same level as Sanchez as he'll probably win a few more (16 or 17 is certainly in reach) & strike out about 30-40 less over the course of the year.

4. LHP Madison Bumgarner - Some say that Zito goes #4 & put Bumgarner at 5 but I don't think so. We'll discuss Zito soon enough. Though his 4 solid relief appearances in 2009 as a rookie should have been a good clue, he claimed the rotation spot last year when given the chance. Though 21, he showed mound maturity beyond his years in 2010 finishing with 7 wins, a 2.90 ERA & 86 Ks in 19 starts covering 121 IP. The only red flag is he gives up too many hits, which he shouldn't based on the pitches he commands, and that results in higher AA (average against) & WHIP numbers. I also believe he can improve his K rate to compete with the rest of this flame throwing bunch even though I think his out pitch is an off the table curve. Moving up a notch to #4 should also guarantee at least double digit wins (I'm seeing 13). A middle of the pack #5 fantasy starter.

5. LHP Barry Zito - Wherever he goes, the team that has him covets his skills. I'm pressed to understand why. The thought in San Francisco is management doesn't want the public humiliation of releasing a pitcher they shelled out an enormous amount of money to retain. In the last 4 years, he constantly pitched with an ERA in 4.00s & even 5.00s. A hot beginning in 2010 barely salvaged his season as he still only won 9 while losing 14. Known for his vaunted off speed pitches, he lost nine straight decisions near the end of the year while boasting an ERA in the 5.00s. This eventually led to him being left off the post season roster for the World Champs. Nearing 33, he certainly isn't old and he did manage 150 Ks in not quite 200 IP & a reasonable .250 AA but that also came with a bloated WHIP. The Giants can parade him out there all they want until they see the light and cut their losses but I don't like what I see coming down this track.

Closer

RHP Brian Wilson - Wilson continued to establish himself as one of baseball's most elite closers in 2010 sending hitters back to the dugout not being able to sing "I Get Around" after facing him. Achieving career highs with 48 saves, 1.81 ERA & 93 Ks in only 74-2/3 IP. His other pertinent stats were also exceptional. The fly in the ointment is he's nursing a strained oblique muscle which is keeping him from the pitcher's mound this spring & a recent catch session was cut short. Opening the season on the DL is a possibility but he's vowing to be there when the bell rings. I'd love to believe him and there are very few closers that have his skill set & at the prime of their careers. I'll have to wait and see but past history has told me to stay away from any player who has the hint of a lingering injury. When 100%, I don't know if there are any closers I'd choose over him.

Lineup

1. CF Andres Torres - In his 1st full season of ABs, 2010 showed the Giants what Torres is capable of by scoring 84 runs with 16 HRs, 63 RBIs & 26 steals. The only area lagging behind is his very career like .268 BA. That tells me he's mastered all parts of his game except for using his speed to get more leg hits. We can expect 2011 should at least raise that average into the mid .270s-.280 and most of us will take that from a lead off hitter who can add almost 20 round trippers and 30 steals. I see another step in his maturation as the Giants fire starter and a quality 3rd outfielder for a fantasy team if he can be consistent which is something that did elude his 2010 play.

2. 2B Freddy Sanchez - Sanchez spent a good portion of the last two seasons with injuries but still managed to show for 431 ABs in 2010. 5 years removed from hitting .344 as a NL batting champ, shoulder surgery may further affect his 2011 play. I don't know if this spring's .239 BA is a tell but I tend to think not as he has 2 HRs & 7 RBIs. Though this is the rarefied air of the Cactus League, this says his shoulder is just fine, thank you. The drawback in his game is that for a middle infielder he doesn't steal bases topping out at 5 in 2009. I don't think he'll ever get near a batting title again and may also never hit .300. At 33, he's also not going to hit more than a handful of HRs and drive in less than 50 RBIs. Even as a #2 hitter for most of his career, he doesn't score a lot of runs and I don't think he'll top the mid-60s this year. With what you can expect from him, I'd say his value is as a very last starting 2nd baseman if you waited too long to fill this roster position and I don't value him much more as a back up middle infielder either. Add a possible injury cropping up as has been his recent history & I'm staying away.

3. 1B Aubrey Huff - Huff was 1 of 2 Giants that I can call a savior of my 2010 season which allowed me to win my league championship (like the Giants surprisingly did). I can't recall if I drafted him late or picked him off the FA scrap heap early but his production bolstered my offensive stats greatly. No team wanted him at the beginning of last year but the Giants took a chance and were handsomely rewarded at a bargain basement price. Seeming to laugh age in the face while playing with the enthusiasm of a younger player, he's only two years removed from a monster season with the Orioles. A slight hiccup in 2009 sent all potential suitors scurrying away but he came back strong in 2010 with a .290 BA, 26 HRs & 86 RBIs. All of this was done in a park not known to be kind to power hitters. He even threw 7 stolen bases in for good measure. I'm not going to dismiss him so easily when draft time comes rolling around this year and if what he's done this spring (5 HRs/14 RBIs/.380 BA) is an indicator (& I think it is), he qualifies as a solid middle of the pack starting 1B or the top of the corner infielder heap. I doubt he'll retain eligibility at 3rd but might in the OF further raising his value.

4. C Buster Posey - Here's the other guy who pulled my fat out of the 2010 fire. I'm almost certain he went undrafted but I had my eye on him from the beginning and as soon as the Giants made noises about starting him, I jumped with both feet. You know the rest of the story and it is one of the biggest in MLB for 2010. I seriously doubt the Giants would have made a World Series appearance let alone win it without him. In 405 ABs, this rookie who has the cool of a 10 year veteran cracked 18 HRs, drove in 67 while hitting .305. He won't be had so cheaply in 2011 as this could be a monster offensive year for this already polished hitter. I'm not afraid to rank him #1 among MLB catchers and will be extremely disappointed if someone beats me to him in the draft.

5. 3B Pablo Sandoval - Some say he may slot as low as 7 in this batting order but that's absurd. You don't do that with a quality MLB hitter in a lineup that needs continuity. Sure, he had quite a regression in 2010 (only his 2nd year as a full timer) from the big numbers he put up in 2009. I'm going to say that will be a small bump on his resume that can probably be attributed to him thinking "boy, this is easy" after 2009 and not being in playing shape all of last year. He seems to have learned quickly dropping 35 pounds in the off season & hitting with the exuberance & authority he showed in 2009. 25-30 HRs with 90 RBIs are more than reachable with an average in the .280s & 80 runs scored. I'm going to say he'll be back with a vengeance in 2011 and post numbers that few MLB 3rd basemen will be able to match.

6. SS Miguel Tejada - His MVP skills from the Oakland & Baltimore years are long gone and he's nearing 37. Tejada is still a viable hitter from the SS position and is capable of hitting 15-20 HRs, driving in 70-80 and hitting at least .270. You won't get any steals but he might score 70 runs as well. He also might get plenty of pitches to hit as he's advantageously positioned between Sandoval and Burrell in the lineup. If you don't need steals from your SS, Tejada still qualifies as a decent mid-pack starter for a fantasy team.

7. LF Pat Burrell - If it was me, I'd probably flip Burrell in the order with Ross but here's where he'll probably start. Pat "The Bat" reached a semblance of his Phillie heydays in 2010 with 20 HRs and 64 RBIs in 373 ABs. I guess he figured out there's no place like Citizens Bank Park to hit in. Going back over his numbers, I'm amazed to find he hit 30 or more HRs in 4 separate years with the Phils. Well, that won't happen by the bay. Most are expecting a big year from Burrell but I think he'll hit 25 at most and the other numbers from 2010 (including a BA around .250) will stay status quo. Fine for a last outfielder to fill your roster but no more.

8. RF Cody Ross - Ross has just incurred a right calf strain which will keep him out of action for at least 3 weeks. That's bad news for either him or Burrell (we'll discuss this a little later) but good news for the Giants (what???). Brought over from the Marlins to add more punch to the bottom of this lineup in 2010, he didn't do much for the Giants in the regular season but was the NLCS MVP after his power display in the playoffs for San Francisco. I doubt the fans or management will forget that anytime soon so expect him to fit in somewhere when he's ready to play. In a full season with the Giants, I think he can crank 20 HRs or so, drive in 70 and hit just under .270. He might also get double digit steals as he swiped 9 in 2010. OK for a last outfield roster spot but the injury to start the season will keep me away.

Possibilities

OF Brandon Belt - I think this could be the Buster Posey story of 2011 for the Giants. Though a 1st baseman by trade he's played some outfield this spring. Without a Major League AB to his credit, the Cody Ross injury opens the door for him a little wider. He could replace Ross in right, move to LF if Burrell proves ineffective or play 1st while Ross is out and Huff moving to the grass patrol. Why? Re-adjusting his swing in 2010, he moved from A ball through AAA showing great ability to hit for average and power with great plate discipline. I'm fairly certain he'll join the big club as the season opens now that Ross won't and he's carried his 2010 advancement over to a strong spring showing. Watch this closely and if he starts to pound the ball from a regular position in the lineup, don't take too long to grab him up.

RHP Ryan Vogelsong - If & when the Giants finally decide to cut their losses and move on by dumping Zito, Vogelsong might be the 1st in line. The ex-Pirate of 4 years returns to the team that 1st signed him and looks like he's finally figured it out. Never having shown the promise he was expected to deliver, he's turned it completely around this spring. With 3 starts in 5 appearances covering 15-2/3 IP, he's struck out 14, holds a 2.87 ERA & .211 AA. If he doesn't win the final spot in the bullpen, he'll have to continue this rebirth in the minors for his chance at a starting spot.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - San Diego Padres

2011-03-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Rotation

1. RHP Mat Latos - All SD pitchers are greatly helped by the fact that Petco Park is the toughest place in MLB for hitters. That being said, the negative is that the SD offense is one of the lightest hitting teams as well so wins may be hard to come by. In just 2 MLB seasons, Latos has established himself as the ace of this staff. After a somewhat lukewarm rookie season in 2009 covering 10 starts, he turned on the jets in 31 2010 trips to the mound. Winning 14 with a 2.92 ERA, a .217 AA (average against) & 1.08 WHIP, this All-Star also added 189 Ks for a 9.2 K per 9 IP ratio. Given the home park, I think he's just scratched the surface of what is possible. He might not win close to 20 games until the Padres invest some time & money in acquiring hitters but an improvement to at least 16 wins with all the rest of the numbers at the same level and perhaps 200 Ks is probable for 2011. He's been knocked around to the tune of a spring 9.00 ERA and he's taking a bit of time finding his control but the Cactus League isn't Petco Park. A fairly high #2 fantasy starter.

2. LHP Clayton Richard - Taking into account all the factors I mentioned above, the ex-White Sox found himself in his 3rd big league season last year. Registering 14 wins also, with a solid 3.75 ERA, his AA was higher than Latos & he sported a rather ugly WHIP. He's more of a finesse lefty who won't get high K numbers and spent a good portion of 2010 on most fantasy free agent wires. Still, if he can duplicate or improve on his numbers from last season, he's more than opening day fantasy roster worthy. He will have games where he'll get bounced around as Richard does have the tendency to give up a lot of hits and walks and is very susceptible to the long ball. For a fantasy #4 or #5 starter, he'll do just fine.

3. RHP Tim Stauffer - Stauffer is currently nursing a sore right hip flexor and may have returned to the spring mound a bit early on 3/13. He's been scratched from his scheduled 3/18 start so that sounds a bit disconcerting. He did OK in a 3/23 start so perhaps he's good to go. Coming off a 2010 where he pitched to a 1.85 ERA in 7 starts and logged very good AA & WHIP numbers, he's been inserted into the middle of the rotation to begin 2011. Though a better strikeout pitcher than Richard, he won't wow you with those totals. Though slotted as the #3 guy in San Diego, I'm not convinced he'll be able to duplicate his sterling 2010 numbers over a full season in the rotation. That being said, he could fill out the last spot among your fantasy starters if you're prone to gambling. It could work out well.

4. RHP Aaron Harang - Here's where the picture gets a little unclear. Some sources have Harang out of the 5 man rotation & Moseley in this spot but I hardly think San Diego would spend the time and money to bring Harang in over the off season to sit him down. Posting back to back 200 K seasons in 2006 & 2007 with the Reds, it has been a precipitous fall ever since. While he still has a fair ability to amass strikeouts, his ERA topped out at 5.32 last year and he's lost 17 & 14 games in 2008 & 2009 respectively. He's still finding the going rough with a spring ERA of 5.02. Though pitching in Great American Ballpark is the opposite of Petco, you'd be taking too big a risk clearing an opening day roster spot for him without seeing some positive results 1st. I would monitor what he does in San Diego & if he shows signs of his former dominance, grab him up before someone else does.

5. LHP Cory Luebke - Both Wade LeBlanc & RHP Dustin Moseley are being considered for this spot also but they've been getting torched this spring & don't appear to have the stuff to get MLB hitters out on a regular basis. My vote goes to Luebke. He showed a decent 4.08 ERA in 3 late 2010 starts but his more than 1 K per IP ratio woke a lot of people up. Though his spring ERA is 4.96 & he's only started in 1 of 5 appearances as of this writing, the other spring numbers show improvement already. A .234 AA & 1.16 WHIP means this prospect with command of three pitches is on the right track and I'm getting on board at the 1st stop (which might be the SD rotation to begin 2011). He's again struck out 17 in 16-1/3 spring innings so we know his heater is ready for the majors and I'm guessing his introduction to MLB in 2010 was atypical of what we can expect going forward. It makes little sense to draft him unless you know for sure he'll begin the season in the rotation but as soon as I get a hint that will happen, I'll go after him.

Closer

RHP Heath Bell (closer) - No uncertainty here as Bell not only cranked out more than 40 saves for the 2nd year in a row but only blew 3 while converting a monster 47 2010 save chances. Adding an equally impressive 11 K per 9 IP ratio, a 1.93 ERA & you've got an elite closer. As San Diego will be tough for any visiting hitters, it will be almost impossible to snag wins away once Bell marches in. Though he's been cuffed this spring (11.57 ERA) & is dealing with a strained left calf, his 8 Ks in 4-2/3 innings tells me he's ready to roll. I would consider him as the 1st closer to come off the draft board.

Lineup

1. RF Will Venable - Some say Maybin will occupy the lead off spot when the season starts but I don't. Venable probably spent more time on and off fantasy rosters in 2010 than anyone else. A prototypical #1 hitter with the added value of some genuine power, 2011 may be his coming out party. He did recently miss 3 spring games with a sore left side and that does cause concern with speed so much a part of his game. Also of note is a career .256 BA which won't cut it in the top spot of the order. I still look at his 2010 29 steals, 13 HRs & 51 RBIs and think this has the makings of a quality MLB hitter. He's pounding the ball at a spring .308 clip with 2 HRs, 9 RBIs, 8 runs scored & 4 steals in 39 ABs. That tells me he's ready to take the next step. I wouldn't hesitate to grab him for one of my last outfield roster spots.

2. 2B Orlando Hudson - There is also some groundswell that Bartlett will be #2 but Hudson is much better suited in this role. With his switch hitting traveling shoes on again, he joins his 4th different team in as many years. For Hudson, it is all about the money that has incurred his suitcase to be packed so often but there also may be a fact that teams he leaves think they can find a better way to fill their 2nd base slot. 2010 in Minnesota was nothing to write home about with the Twins (.268/6 HRs/37 RBIs/10 SB/80 runs scored) & at 33, a decline seems to have begun. Still being a top quality defender won't win you many points with fantasy owners unless errors count against you so if he doesn't step up his offensive game, he'll find no takers. Moving to Petco doesn't exactly bode well but he is hitting .350 this spring so there could be some hope for 2011. I'm going to put him at the lower end of starting 2nd basemen for fantasy purposes but he's better suited as a back up middle infielder.

3. LF Ryan Ludwick - Ludwick couldn't have been happy going from the heart of a powerful lineup in a decent hitters park in St. Louis to being asked to provide most of the brawn as the main man in a slugger's Death Valley. The Padres are very short on power and while he did have a decent 2010 split among those two teams, it is very unlikely he'll ever come close to the monster numbers he put up with the Cards in 2008. With virtually no protection in the SD lineup, opposing pitchers will probably not give him many fat pitches to tee off on. I can see a 2011 with 20+ HRs, 75-80 RBIs and a .260 BA which might land him as a final outfielder on a fantasy roster but until the Padres import some proven hitters or develop some young rocket launchers, Ludwick may feel this is a hitters purgatory.

4. 1B Brad Hawpe - Taking over for a departed Adrian Gonzalez may be the least favorable job in baseball. With the heart and lifeblood of the Padre attack torn out, the unenviable task falls to ex-Rockie Hawpe. No one is expecting him to even get close to what Gonzalez provided for San Diego and his 2010 shared between the Rocks and the Rays was a definite and clear decline from the previous 4 solid seasons. Can we blame the uncertainty and transitional state of his travels last year or is this the beginning of the end for Hawpe? While it may be too early to write off this soon to be 32 year old, the odds of his move to Petco don't look good. I don't think his hitting skills are gone and we can expect a 20 HR/80 RBI season with a batting average around his career .279. If he also qualifies at OF as well as 1B eligibility, that always enhances a player's roster spot value. I do think there's a place for him on an opening day squad as a back up utility hitter who could find his way into your daily lineup more often than not.

5. 3B Chase Headley - I, along with the entire Padre management, are still awaiting the year when Headley's potential will manifest itself in an all around solid performance. He's hinted at that and gotten out of the gate quickly the last 2 years but invariably falls short when you review the overall seasonal numbers. If he can harness his talent & put it all together, 20+ HRs, 80 RBIs & a .270-.280 range BA is at least possible. You would think the 1st step would be better plate discipline but his K numbers have not so shockingly gone up for the last 3 years. Well, there is an inkling of improvement in that area this spring as he's struck out an average of less than once in every 5 trips to the plate. He's also carrying a .417 BA but many things change when going from Arizona to Petco Park. He'd probably be better off trying to change his approach to a line drive hitter as his power potential would yield more HRs attacking the ball in this fashion. As much as I like his ability, I can't spare a roster spot until the light comes on.

6. C Nick Hundley - The bottom 3 in this order could slot in any way but I think Hundley fits in here. With more power potential than most catchers, Hundley has been given the starting nod entering 2011. He's never amassed more than 273 ABs in any 1 season but might in 2011 if he shows some offensive prowess. That has been slow to come with a career .242 average. I will again say his torrid spring average of .467 can't be used as a yardstick in Petco but a chance to prove himself may provide results this year. Not draft worthy at this point but definitely someone to keep an eye on and see what develops.

7. CF Cameron Maybin - No longer the hot prospect at 23, this former Tiger farm hand and Marlin hope has yet to show anything at the Major League level. A career .246, he did flash some power with 8 2010 HRs & showcased his speed with 9 steals in 291 ABs. This is not nearly what was expected of him and I can't see anything good coming from a switch to Petco as he's never really taken advantage of his speed to get more hits. He is hitting .379 this spring with 2 HRs & should get regular ABs in 2011 but I can't buy in before I see an obvious turnaround appear.

8. SS Jason Bartlett - This ex-Twin & Tampa Bay Ray will have to show he can hit and get on base before the Padres insert him into an action spot in the order. While it is entirely possible he could lead off or bat 2nd, I think Bud Black wants to see improvement over last year before a change is made. Keep in mind that the possibility for hitting success has surfaced before as he's had as many as 14 HRs, 66 RBIs & displayed a .320 season average before. I don't think anyone expects him to hit more than a handful of HRs in 2011 or approach his RBI high but he could recapture his hitting stroke and match his 2009 SB total of 30. He might be a watch list candidate but there's better SS options on draft day for now.

Possibilities

RHP Ernesto Frieri - Unfortunately for the Padres most of their Major League ready talent lies in starting pitching with recently demoted Simon Castro & this 25 year old Columbian bazooka. Appearing in 33 2010 games, he posted a big league 1.71 ERA with 41 Ks in 31-2/3 innings to go along with a microscopic AA and WHIP. With the rotation well represented, he'll probably be in the San Diego pen again in 2011 but if anything happens to Bell or the Padres decide to deal him to another team before the trade deadline, Frieri looks like a transition to closer won't have the Padres missing a step.

OF Aaron Cunningham - With a dearth of hitting prospects ready to play in the Majors, Cunningham is almost assured of an opening day roster spot. The former Oakland A hit .288 in 132 2010 ABs with the Padres. He's not known for power so we might disregard his 2 Cactus League round trippers so far to go along with 8 RBIs. Speed is his game and he's already swiped 3 this spring. If Venable doesn't work out or Maybin fails to produce again, he might be in line for a chance to start.

OF Mike Baxter - Not showing much in an 8 AB "cup of coffee" with San Diego in 2010, he's been hot this spring. At 26, he's no longer a prospect but carries a heavier HR bat than Cunningham and that's what is sorely needed in San Diego. Probably beginning 2011 in the minors, he might get the call up if he continues swinging a hot bat there. The Padres have very little to choose from in the way of an offensive infusion so any hint of a potent bat will send management scurrying his way.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Los Angeles Dodgers

2011-03-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Rotation

1. LHP Clayton Kershaw - It has only taken Kershaw three seasons to climb to the top of the Dodger starting staff. Very impressive for only 85 starting appearances. He's been very solid the last 2 with at least 30 games started in each of those years and no higher than a 2.91 ERA. So why has he only won 8 & 13 games respectively? Part of the reason is he usually throws a lot of pitches in his starts and has only averaged a flat 6 innings pitched in those 62 2009 & 2010 starts. The length of his average game stay is increasing as he matures to the point that his average for 2010 was 6-1/3 innings. It is unlikely that will change much more as he strikes out and walks a lot of batters during a typical game. He has a top of the line K ratio and it is amazing his ERA & WHIP remain so low with all the free passes he hands out. His control should get better as he's only 23 now. If the Dodger bullpen stabilizes a bit more in 2011, there's no reason he shouldn't keep all his fine numbers plus collect 16-17 wins. A #1 fantasy starter but not at the elite tier yet.

2. RHP Chad Billingsley - This heralded Dodger prospect seems to have been pushed to the background with the emergence of Kershaw. Still only 26, his numbers compare favorably with Kershaw & HE HAS WON as many as 16 in a season. His career 3.55 ERA look great unless you put it next to his rotation mate & while his K rate isn't as strong as Kershaw's, he has surpassed a K per inning rate once (2008) and can easily do so again. He also throws a lot of pitches in a game and has about the same staying power as Kershaw. Moving to #2 in the rotation may alleviate some of the pressure he feels to perform & he could return to that 2008 form (though he's been pitching very well through his whole Dodger life) this year. He may not have the K totals Kershaw puts up but he'll come close to matching him in the other pertinent categories and win 18 or so. I'd slot him as a mid #3 starter for 2011.

3. LHP Ted Lilly - Another Dodger starter who's carried a sterling ERA over the past two years. Turning it on in 2009 & 2010, he slashed his career ERA of 4.18 to the low and mid 3.00s. He went 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA after coming over from the Cubs last year. He's also no slouch in the K department (but not the whiff machine Kershaw & Billingsley are) but gets by on pitches other than his fastball. He's always posted very good average against numbers but has whittled his WHIP down to around 1.00 over that 2 year span. All the Dodger starters do have the advantage of throwing half their games in a notorious pitchers park so that may account for some of these fantastic numbers but Lilly seems to be getting better with age. Though he's been batted around this spring (10.50 ERA in 6 IP), he should be fine when the season begins. A good mid-level #5 starter for a fantasy team.

4. RHP Hiroki Kuroda - Most MLB teams wish they could go 4 deep in their rotation with this kind of quality. Again qualifying that Dodger Stadium is where a Major League pitcher wants to throw, Kuroda's 3 seasons with Big Blue since coming over from Japan show strikingly similar stats to their other starting hurlers. Averaging a little over 9 wins per season, a 3.60 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP & a .247 average against, he also falls in line with Billingsley as to K ratio. Resembling the rest of the staff averaging 6 innings per start in his MLB career, I can only conclude that not being able to go deeper into games and therefore relying on their bullpen has cost the Dodger starters their win totals. This may also be true in 2011. I rank Kuroda a little better on the totem pole than Lilly as a fantasy #5 starter.

5. RHP John Ely - Ely joins the rotation after a less than stellar rookie campaign in 2010. In 18 starts he won 4 games to a bloated ERA of 5.49. He's in there due to the injuries sustained by Jon Garland & Vicente Padilla. They both could be out awhile but at least a month. Though a ground ball pitcher with a decent K ratio, he gives up the Home Run ball far too regularly and that's not an easy feat at Dodger Stadium. I'd stay far away here but since we're on the subject of Jon Garland....he did win 14 in cavernous Petco Park while sporting a career best 3.47 ERA. History points to his much higher 4.32 along with miserable average against and WHIP numbers to create a detonation device just looking for a place to explode. Not having much strikeout ability to boot, I can't understand why teams love to have him on their staff. I guess he's the proverbial "innings eater" who'll usually hang around long enough to sometimes get the win. Don't forget that in addition to the 14 wins last year, he also lost 12. When he's ready to come back it is "buyer beware" & I'm not going to that store.

Closer

RHP Jonathan Broxton - The usually automatic Broxton was so shaky during part of 2010 that he was actually demoted for a time. So what could have happened? Well, 1st of all he's always blown a lot of saves (21 in the last three years). You can't argue with his almost unreal K ratio but now as he nears 27, carrying that 300 pounds on a 6'-4" build might be part of the endurance problem as the summer drags on. 2010 also revealed a high .270 average against and a bloated 1.48 WHIP which is nothing close to anything he's sported before. He'll be back in the saddle again when Los Angeles opens the regular season but he's carried a miserable 6.75 ERA this spring which may be an omen of things to come in 2011. The Dodgers won't hesitate to replace him in that role again if he stumbles & they have at least two or three viable candidates (LHP Hong-Chih Kuo & RHP Mike MacDougal are 2 & I'll mention the other later). He's certainly a closer who should be drafted but I'm ranking him way too low to get him (by design) as I'm afraid he'll implode again this year.

Lineup

1. SS Rafael Furcal - When he's on the field, he's the spark plug that makes the Dodger offense go and perhaps part of the reason LA missed the playoffs is he missed significant time in 2010 to injuries. In 97 games, he still managed to steal 22 bags & hit .300 so his skills don't seem to have been compromised so far. He also played in only 38 games in 2008 so he's no stranger to the DL. At 33, it's unclear if another ailment looms around the corner in 2011 so if you select him, you'd better have a good back up plan. If he plays a full season, he'll hit close to .300 again, steal close to 30 bases and perhaps even score 100 runs. That's worthy of a good starting SS for fantasy purposes but caution is advised.

2. 1B James Loney - How the lineup shakes out since Casey Blake begins the season with a sore back and probably not ready for opening day is a guess but I look for Loney in the #2 hole. You know the story here: a career .288 hitter who drives in 80-90 runs in a good year & could hit double digit steals but doesn't have the HR power you look for in a 1st bagger (15 is his best total). I don't expect this to change in 2011 but a swollen knee this spring raises the warning flag as that could also affect his ability to leg out doubles and steal those bases. In my mind, I wouldn't go after him as my 1st base starter & he'll be long gone by the time I get around to seeking him out as a back up corner infielder.

3. RF Andre Ethier - Ethier was counted on to be the main power plant in LA but that didn't materialize to Dodger expectations in 2010. After smacking 31 round trippers and driving 106 in 2009, he regressed quite a bit last year with 23 & 82 in those respective categories. Curiously, the average went up 20 points close to his career .291 so what can we expect in 2011? I think somewhere in between the last 2 is a good yard stick (27 HRs/91 RBIs & an average a little lower at .280). Good enough to draft him fairly high (a #2 or #3) on the outfield pecking order.

4. CF Matt Kemp - All hype aside, it does now appear that Kemp is overall the Dodgers best offensive weapon. After a stellar campaign in 2009, he was expected to put up MVP type stats in 2010. While that didn't happen and he actually dropped back in most of the numbers, his year was nothing to sneeze at (28 HRs/89 RBIs/19 steals) other than the huge 48 point drop in BA. I do think he'll rebound to numbers closely resembling a fantasy player slotted in the middle of the 1st round by most experts last year to hit close to .300 with 36 HRs, over 100 RBIs & steals in the mid 20s. A high 2nd round pick at worst.

5. 3B Juan Uribe - Will probably slot in the #2 spot with Loney here when Blake returns but I am constantly amazed at the production Uribe gives with a swing that can best be described as undisciplined. At 33 and playing for the World Champion San Francisco Giants last year, he belted out a career high 24 HRs and 85 RBIs in a park not condusive to cheap power. I honestly don't know what to make out of this because he certainly doesn't look like he's in shape carrying 230 pounds on a 5'-11" frame. He'll find the sledding a bit harder in LA and I'll predict 14 HRs, 66 RBIs and a typical .250 BA. Far below 2010 stats but still good for a lower end starting 2nd baseman as most others will have less power but a higher BA and steals as well. If he hangs on long enough to gain eligibility at 3rd, that's a plus. Go figure.

6. LF Jay Gibbons/Marcus Thames - This platoon should drift down to the 7th spot after Blake comes back and neither is worthy of being drafted on their own merits. Thames can hit left handed pitching and provide some power (I'd say 12 HRs/40 RBIs & a .270 BA) & Gibbons is a long way from the Oriole power hitting prospect that hit more than 23 HRs three times from 2002-2005 (he even drove in 100 RBIs in 2003). He did hit .280 last year but that combined with about the same power totals I projected for Thames won't win either a roster spot.

7. 2B Jamey Carroll - Moving over to 2nd while Uribe mans 3rd in Blake's absence, Carroll is a career journeyman/utility player. He has a surprising .276 BA and can steal double digit bases in a season but will be out as soon as Blake is ready to go. As long as we're here, when Casey Blake returns to 3rd, it shouldn't be to much fanfare. Hitting at a career .264 (he did worse in 2010 at .248), he might hit 20 HRs & garner 70 RBIs. Perhaps a good in-season FA pick up if he gets hot for awhile, or a back up corner infielder if you missed the boat on that earlier in your draft.

8. C Rod Barajas - Coming over from the Mets in mid-season last year, the Dodgers must have been planning to let Russell Martin go this off season all along. He does have enough occasional power to hit about 20 in a best case scenario but won't drive in many runs (he did get to 71 once). He'll also drag your team average down plowing along at about .240. If you need to add some homers from a 2nd catcher's position, this might be OK to fill out your fantasy roster but for me, the bad outweighs the good.

Possibilities

2B Ivan De Jesus Jr. - Son of the former Major Leaguer of the same name, he didn't get a September call up last year. With not much power but capable of hitting .300 at the major league level, he also gets on base and can score runs. A SS by trade, he could be groomed to replace Furcal or Uribe depending on who falls apart 1st.

OF Xavier Paul - Paul is finally showing some of the power & speed the Dodgers expected to see from him. After 2 unremarkable call ups in 2009 & 2010, he's hit at a .293 clip in 41 spring at bats with 2 HRs. At 26, his chances to break through may be very limited but with left field far from settled, he could squeeze in this year.

LHP Kenley Jansen - This is the one I think should be groomed for the closer's role if Broxton can't keep it together. Somewhat similar in stature to Broxton at 6'-5", he's a much better physical specimen at 255 pounds. Able to throw premium gas from the pump of his right arm, he was barely touched in his 1st big league exposure of 25 2010 games. When called upon, he converted all 4 of his save chances striking out 41 in 27 innings with an 0.67 ERA, .130 average against & 1.00 WHIP. This K machine might be the next big splash in the ranks of MLB closers.

Rubby De La Rosa - It may be a bit premature to sound the trumpets on him yet but I feel this is the next entry into the Dodgers rotation. Never having any time in the bigs, his 1st spring in 2011 shows a 1.80 ERA in 4 games (2 starts) with 7 Ks in 10 IP. He's also baffling hitters with a 0.70 WHIP & .125 average against. With a fastball that touches 95 & an 84-86 MPH hard change up, this slim 170 pounder who just turned 20 has the stuff to Rub(by) hitters the wrong way. Look for him soon but perhaps not this year.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Colorado Rockies

2011-03-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

COLORADO ROCKIES

Rotation

1. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez - Though fading a bit after the All-Star break, Jimenez is becoming a star quality ace if he's not already considered one. Improving his numbers for the 3rd year in a row he posted a Cy Young worthy 19-8 record with a 2.88 ERA, .209 average against, 1.15 WHIP & 214 Ks in 221-2/3 innings. Add to this that he took the mound for at least 33 starts for the past three years and pitches half his games in a still hitter friendly Coors Field. At 27, he could even have more to show baseball fans. If he can stay away from injuries & find a way to improve his stamina towards the end of the season, he could win more than 20 with ease and keep or best the rest of his wonderful stats also. A true 1st starter ace who could easily become the best starter in baseball.

2. LHP Jorge De La Rosa - Also a victim of some 2nd half fatigue, his strikeout rate dropped as the season went along. The final 2010 numbers didn't look impressive as he only won 8 compared to 16 in 2009 and his ERA still hovered in the low 4.00s. Not much to put on your resume & a real step back after emerging as a potent starter in 2009. Part can be blamed on a finger injury which limited him to only 20 starts & 121 innings. He had a good .235 average against but got into trouble by walking more batters than he should have. This may be a chronic problem as he's the kind of strikeout pitcher that can get to 9K per 9 IP. Coming up on 30, time may be short for him to straighten out his mechanics. He's still a viable starter for the back end of a fantasy rotation as long as it is realized that having him is a great risk/great reward gamble.

3. RHP Jhoulys Chacin - This 23 year old got his 1st taste of substantial innings and starts last year. He responded by winning 9 and posting a solid 3.28 ERA in 21 starting shots. Add a career 9.2 K per 9 IP and we have to sit up and take notice. He's assured of a spot in the rotation but may switch with Hammel and slot #4. The only concern is he gives up a lot of walks which inflates his WHIP. His arsenal includes a plus fastball and nasty breaking pitches. I know he's still mastering his craft but has the innate ability and stuff to succeed well at the major league level. He's done well this spring except for a lower K rate but he bears watching. I'm not sure you'd want to gamble a roster pick just yet but something tells me he'll find his way to a lot of fantasy rosters this summer.

4. RHP Jason Hammel - Hammel has given the Rocks over 176 innings & 10 wins for two years in a row. Pretty good for the back end of the rotation kind of guy. On occasion during the season he'll bust out bursts of higher K totals but don't count on this with any consistency. He'll do all right in that respect but the career warning signs of an ERA over 5.00, hitter friendly WHIP & average against numbers doesn't qualify him for a fantasy roster spot on opening day. If he has one of those bursts during the season and you're quick enough, he might boost you pitching stats for a week or two during the year.

5. RHP Esmil Rogers - It is not certain who gets spot #5 but Rogers looks like the lead candidate. Aaron Cook has a broken finger, John Maine has been given enough chances to come around & Felipe Paulino hasn't done well this spring. Rogers also has very bad career tell numbers across the board & has been less effective than Paulino this spring. It is the heat that intrigues the Rockies though and they may also be looking at his very unlucky 2010 strand rate to give him the shot this year. I don't know how soon Cook will be ready & Paulino's ceiling is probably higher so if he doesn't hit the ground running, this might be a short rotation stay. None of three mentioned here should be on an opening day fantasy roster.

Closer

RHP Huston Street - Though there is no doubt Street is the lone closer in Colorado, his frequent injuries the past couple of years maybe too much for the Rockies to deal with on a consistent basis. After each mending period, it has also taken some time to get back to effectiveness. Colorado will probably stick with him for now as his more than a strikeout per inning career ratio, very good ERA, WHIP & average against is very hard to find elsewhere. Still only 27, there is also a bit of concern in his consistency as he blew 5 of 25 save chances in 2010. Let's chalk it up to last year's injuries as his track record when healthy speaks for itself. A mid to late #1 fantasy closer.

Lineup

1. CF Dexter Fowler - Given the opportunity to lead off again in 2011, the open portal may soon be closing. There's no doubting his speed but a decline from 2009 to 2010 in stolen bases from 27 to 13 leaves a concern that he might not be an adept baserunner. Of more concern is his career .259 BA. Again, since he's not swinging for the fences, perhaps he needs more instruction in how to use his speed to get more leg hits. He hasn't be able to find that solution yet as his spring average is right at his career mark again. If he can hone his game to use his abilities, his mark of 70+ runs scored will also go up dramatically. Until we see concrete results, I can't recommend him any more than a last roster outfielder but that's a stretch also. A spring quad injury may also slow him down to begin 2011. I'll be leaving him alone on draft day unless I completely forget to draft other base stealers who can also hit.

2. RF Seth Smith - Years as a Rockie platoon player and part timer end this year as he gets the starting gig in left field. While Ryan Spilborghs will steal some at bats vs. lefties, he should still amass more than the 358 he garnered in 2010. Last year was the 2nd in a row that he got more than 350 at bats and he has delivered similar power numbers both times. Averaging 16 HRs and RBIs in the mid-50s may be his water mark unless given the chance to get 500+ at bats in a season. 2010 also saw his average dip 47 points and 25 points lower than his career .271 mark. I think what he's put up in 2009 & 2010 is indicative of what 2011 holds. Unless he gathers himself to bring that average back up to improve his runs scored total, he looks like a late fantasy selection or an in season pick up during a hot streak.

3. LF Carlos Gonzalez - No one in MLB had a bigger coming out party than CarGo in 2010. Taking 2 years to develop after coming over from Oakland as an A's top prospect, Gonzalez posted an MVP type year. The numbers across the board were stunning but even more could be expected for 2011. His home/road splits were lopsided but at a young 25 and entering only his 4th MLB season, I tend to think that will right itself shortly. With Tulo's dangerous bat behind him and the hitters atmosphere at Coors Field, I see at 37 HRs, 120+ RBIs, an average well over .320 and possibly more than 30 stolen bases. Not only MVP type numbers, but a viable candidate to win the Triple Crown. Some see him as an early 2nd round fantasy selection but I'm slotting him for round 1. There is a concern from a bruised shin acquired in a spring game collision with Ian Stewart but it doesn't appear to have slowed this budding superstar down.

4. SS Troy Tulowitzki - 59 HRs & 197 RBIs in the last two years. Those are the kind of power numbers you associate with the top sluggers in the game. Tulo may be that but with those stats coming from the SS position makes every fantasy player lick their collective chops in anticipation. Add an average close to or above .300, a dozen stolen bags per year & 100 runs scored & you have a sure fire high 1st round pick. I don't expect 2011 will be any different and he could do even better in the power numbers.

5. 1B Todd Helton - Near the end of a bench mark Rockies career, it seems that Helton's average drop to .256 is the last thing in his once powerful game to go. His power stroke last made a significant appearance in 2004 & now it looks like he'll never get within sniffing distance of a .300 average. We're all better for watching him play at his best but I'm not sure he's roster worthy anymore. Helton is hitting spring training pitchers to the tune of his glory days like .355 but I don't expect that will hold up once the bell rings. We'll see what develops but I don't think he'll be able to accumulate stats that will be enough for roster consideration.

6. 2B Jose Lopez - Long time Mariner Lopez takes over 2nd for the time being. He does have more power than the average fantasy 2nd baseman and the drop to 10 HRs last year played mostly in the pitcher friendly environs of Safeco Field may be partly responsible. I believe there are other factors to weigh as he hit 25 the year before in the same situations. His average also tailed off in 2010 & his OBP was also miserable so a decline is certainly possible. At 27, he still brings more to the plate than predecessor Barmes. Even factoring in the Coors Field advantage (which didn't do Melvin Mora any good last year), I see a 2011 with 14 HRs, 66 RBIs & a .270 average at best. He's never been known as a big run scorer & he won't steal many bases at all either. He's still a viable fantasy starter, but more towards the middle of the pack at this position.

7. 3B Ian Stewart - Stewart took the brunt of a spring training collision with CarGo & came away with a right knee sprain causing him to miss a half dozen games. He hasn't gotten back into game action since and his career is checkered with injuries as well. Logging starter status beginning in 2009, the Rocks are still waiting for him to cash in on his promise. There's no denying his power and he did amass 25 HRs & 70 RBIs in 2009 but a low BA & a propensity for high strikeout totals have all but negated those positives. Colorado may soon be running out of patience as he's at it again this spring hitting .200 in only 10 ABs. Susceptibility to getting hurt and those low averages may lead the Rockies in another direction for their 3rd bagger soon. Assuming he's ready to go for the Colorado opener, 20 HRs, 60 RBIs & a customary average of around .250 seems likely for 2011. I've had my fill of waiting for him to turn the corner and there are better 3rd base & corner infield options to pursue on draft day.

8. C Chris Iannetta - With Miguel Olivo gone, the starting job is his to lose in 2011. Predictors have lined up to announce a breakout season for Iannetta but not so fast. Like Stewart, he has power hitting ability with as many as 18 HRs and driving in 65 in 333 2008 ABs but also like the 3rd baseman, his career BA resides at a low .234. Neither of those stats are likely to change any time soon. I see 15 HRs, 55 RBIs and an average south of .220 this year. If you can live with the BA hit, the power numbers may be enough to have him as your starting catcher. If you don't wait too long to select a 1st back stop, you can do better.

Possibilites

2B/OF Eric Young - Good blood lines as Jr. follows Sr. into the majors. With the ability to play multiple positions a plus for a major league roster, it can also label a player as a reserve. He hasn't been able to find his hitting groove in parts of 2 Rockie seasons, batting in the .240s. It should be worth the Rockies time to invest a little more patience in his development as he could be a future MLB base stealing leader & run scoring machine. If Lopez falters or the Fowler experiment fails, he could be next in line. He's hitting .333 this spring in 15 ABs so the possibility of success is there. I'd watch the outfield and 2nd base situation in Colorado as the summer moves on and see what happens.

C Wilin Rosario - With their two best pitching prospects fresh out of recent player drafts (Lefties Tyler Matzek & Christian Friedrich) & too green to sniff anywhere near a Colorado call up, Rosario may be in line for a starter's berth in the near future if Iannetta again doesn't live up to expectations in 2011. He presents all the offensive skills usually lacking at this position. Playing in AA Texas League in 2010, he ranked #2 in slugging percentage but didn't qualify after tearing his ACL in August, ending his season. His bat is so potent that Colorado might entertain the idea of making him the back up sooner rather than later. He's only hit .167 this spring but with only Jose Morales (a good average hitter but no power) standing between him and the job Iannetta currently holds, his star quality bat may soon be needed at Coors Field as the recent wave of young catchers who can hit invades MLB and also washes ashore in Colorado.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Arizona Diamondbacks

2011-03-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Rotation

1. RHP Ian Kennedy - As with most rotations without a clear #1 ace, and with no announcement as of this writing, it is not known exactly who will pitch where. Zach Duke was brought over to add a stable veteran presence to this rotation but he'll miss at least a month with broken bones in his throwing hand (not that he would lend any effectiveness to this staff with 2010 5.72 ERA). Kennedy has as good credentials as anyone in the proposed starting 5 but could be anywhere from 1 to 3 in the pecking order. Coming over from the Yankees & in his 1st season with the D'backs, Kennedy won only 9 in 32 starts. Much of this can be blamed on the weak Arizona bullpen and their inability to hold leads as well as the offense not coming through at crucial points of the game. He still had a 3.80 ERA, 168 Ks in 194 IP, a .228 average against & a respectable 1.20 WHIP. Those numbers would translate into at least 15 wins on most other teams. Though he's had a very ordinary spring, I think he can improve somewhere close to that win total in 2011 as the bullpen shapes up much better for 2011. If he can approach the other numbers he posted last year, he looks like a middle of the pack #3 or #4 fantasy starter who could deliver surprising year end stats.

2. RHP Daniel Hudson - As strange as it may seem, here's my candidate for getting the ball opening day. It probably won't happen as he only has 16 MLB starts under his belt. Another AL transplant (from the White Sox), perhaps Arizona should make a deal with AL teams on a regular basis if this type of success is the result. Getting back to those 16 starts, Hudson has amazing poise for such a young pitcher. In his 1st shot at a rotation spot, he didn't waste it going 8-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 95-1/3 innings. Arizona probably wished they had gotten him sooner as he did even better for the D'backs. He added 84 Ks, a .202 average against and a sterling 1.00 WHIP. Though not having a remarkable spring in the rarified air of the Cactus League, the tell numbers are still there and he seems to be improving his K ratio as well. I'm definitely on board but no one will probably draft him higher than a mid-line #4 starter. This could be the year he takes the step forward and delivers #2 type starter numbers.

3. RHP Joe Saunders - Some have pegged Saunders as the winner of the opening day sweepstakes to get the ball. This would surely be based on experience and could easily backfire. A fly ball pitcher like him doesn't seem to mesh well with the ball carry Chase Field presents. Coming over from the Angels (there's that pattern again) during the 2010 season, he posted a very ordinary 4.47 ERA to go with 9 wins and 17 losses in a whole year-like 33 starts. His strikeout ratio wasn't very good and his average against & WHIP numbers were very high. This is one transaction Arizona made with the AL that didn't work out so well. As further evidence of a possible meltdown, he's been getting lit up to a 14.54 ERA this spring. I'm staying as far away as I can.

4. RHP Armando Galarraga - Curiously, #4 in the planned rotation also has history in the AL, pitching for the Tigers from 2008-2010 with little success. Sure, he was robbed of a no-hitter last year, but that could be the only highlight of this control pitcher's career. Sporting an overall ERA of 4.58 with only 23 wins in 78 starts & a high 1.36 WHIP, the only highlight on his resume is a somewhat favorable .258 average against. He's also gotten banged around this spring. Turn away from him on draft day if you value your fantasy life.

5. RHP Barry Enright - Enright appears to have the lead on the #5 spot. He pitched fairly well in 17 2010 starts after being recalled from AA. He won 6 with a 3.91 ERA & OK peripheral stats. He isn't a big strikeout pitcher either and that usually doesn't play well at Chase Field. He was also aided by a very high (& lucky) strand rate that probably won't be duplicated in 2011. I'm not sold and you should leave this one on the counter for someone else to buy. This job could also fall to veteran Aaron Heilman but I think Arizona wants him in the pen just in case J.J. Putz doesn't work out.

Closer

RHP J.J. Putz - Putz was brought over from the White Sox this year to solve the closer woes the D'backs have had. A stiff back this spring may herald some delay in that transition. Reports say it isn't serious but at 34 and falling out of favor with three teams in short order may hint at something else. When taking the mound this spring, he's been buffeted around & only has 1-1/3 innings to show for his efforts. He did recover from a miserable 2009 to establish some sort of stability last year but still blew more saves than he converted. He can still strike batters out at a good clip but I wonder what 2011 holds in store. He's certainly more of a sure thing than the D'backs have had in a long time to close out games. I'd pick him up for my fantasy team as a middle #2 closer but that might be too late.

Lineup

1. CF Chris Young - After a very disappointing 2009 Young rebounded in 2010 with something that more resembled his typical yearly totals in 4 full seasons with the D'backs. He reached many career highs last year and this 27 year old may finally be among the All-Star caliber outfielders in baseball now. With his ability to hit the ball, the career .241 BA is mystifying. He may never sport an average above .265 as even in his exceptional 2010 campaign, he only managed a career best .257. I do think that he can hit for power numbers regularly & get close to 30 HRs, add 90+ RBIs & score 100 runs in 2011. He also busted out 28 steals last year so he has the potential to be a 30/30 guy. If you get those numbers, you'll live with the pedestrian BA. A #2 outfielder for a fantasy team at worst.

2. 2B Kelly Johnson - I admit I didn't see his 2010 year coming and still find it hard to fathom. The ball must really travel at Chase Field. After years of OK power numbers he broke out the heavy lumber last year. I do think the atmosphere in the D'backs home park had something to do with it but he'll be there again in 2011. He's also been up & down in BA so I think 2011 will yield a .275 average with 21 HRs, 68 RBIs, close to 100 runs scored & a dozen steals. Top of the line fantasy numbers for a starting 2nd baseman.

3. SS Stephen Drew - It does say something about the power of Arizona's attack if SS Drew resides in the #3 hole. Now don't get me wrong, I've always liked his hitting ability & the lineup did need to be juggled with the defections of Reynolds & LaRoche. Drew did hit .278 with 15 HRs & 61 RBIs last year & has launched as many as 21 HRs in a season but that doesn't sound like stats from a #3 hitter. He and Johnson may switch batting order positions when the season gets underway. Well, you make do with what you have and at least he's on the field a lot more than his brother. I believe he'll try to justify this RBI spot in the order by swinging for the fences more in 2011. This might raise his HR total to a new career high but he'll suffer in BA & runs scored. How about 23 HRs, 75 RBIs, a .266 average, half a dozen steals and 75 runs scored. Sounds like a higher selected #1 starting SS to me.

4. RF Justin Upton - He and Young seem to have polar opposite years. One has an up year & the other a down year than it switches the next. Based on this inane logic. Upton should bust out the stick this year. A jammed right knee this spring may put a crimp in those plans but all are saying it isn't serious. We'll see. Still a young 23, I like his talent much better than his brother and I don't think he's reached his ceiling yet. Guessing that his knee is nothing to get concerned about, perhaps both he & Young can have solid 2011 seasons for a change. He's capable of hitting 30+ HRs, driving in more than 90, hitting .300 & stealing 20 bags this year but I'm not sure it will happen as he's very erratic. I'm going to say it will be very worthwhile having him or Young on your fantasy team this year. Upton can probably be had later than usual after his 2010 let down but don't wait too long. He was considered to be a 1st round selection last year and may not last past the 3rd round this time.

5. 1B Russell Branyan - Imported lumber from 2 AL seasons, this long time veteran journeyman could easily replace the numbers lost to Adam Laroche's departure. Never known to carry a good BA, he cranked 31 HRs playing half his games in Seattle's pitchers park in 2009. If you can live with the low average and huge strikeout numbers, you'll get at least 30+ HRs in Chase Field and possibly 80 RBIs to go along with that. That's fine for a lower tier starting 1st baseman or a back up corner infielder.

6. C Miguel Montero - Montero carries more lumber to the plate than your average MLB catcher and several are saying that finally getting a full time starting job will lead to heavy duty offensive totals. An early 2010 injury scuttled last year but he did make 425 plate appearances in 2009 and he's played his entire MLB career in the hitters park called Chase Field. The best he was able to muster was 16 HRs & 59 RBIs in that 2009 season hitting a rock solid .294. His career says that average won't hold water again so I see 14 HRs, 50 RBIs & an average closer to his career mark of .265. Certainly a lot better than your run of the mill catcher stats but not among the elite. you should be able to do better for your fantasy starter if you don't wait too long.

7. 3B Melvin Mora - After 9 straight years with the Orioles, Mora moves to his 2nd team in 2 years. He does sport the occasional power surges but they are too few and far between. Since belting 23 & knocking in 104 in his next to last year with the O's, he's put up just 15 in total the past 2 seasons. It is also doubtful that he'll get a full year of at bats at age 39. He'll still be able to manage an average in the .270-.280 range but clearly is relegated to a stop gap measure until something better comes along for the D'backs. If he gets into a patented hot streak this summer and you're the 1st to catch it, he may boost your offensive stats for a week or two as a FA pick up but other than that I'm strictly hands off.

8. LF Gerardo Parra or Xavier Nady - With Branyan now entrenched at 1B, this looks like a platoon situation for the D'backs. Though Nady could spell Branyan a few times at 1st, I still think he'll have trouble getting enough ABs to warrant a fantasy roster spot. He's not hitting this spring but the promise of past power (45 HRs & 169 RBIs combined in 2007 & 2008) will keep him in mind when Kirk Gibson fills out his daily lineup. I don't think Nady will recapture those recent years so I'd leave him be on draft day and see if he can give you a boost sometime during the season as a short term pick up. Parra is capable of hitting .300 but with little if any power numbers. He'll garner some at bats simply because he's a lefty but that shouldn't amount to much in the way of stats. I could be proven wrong here as he's tearing the cover off the ball this spring hitting .354 with 2 round trippers and 11 RBIs plus 2 steals throw in as well in 48 ABs. This might be enough for him to get some early season chances to see if the light has finally come on.

Possibilities

RHP Sam Demel - This is my choice for the future of Arizona's closing situation. 2010 in Arizona did go smoothly but he converted both save chances he got and has the arm to post top of the line K numbers. He has also shown very good control but can get caught in big innings too frequently. He's been virtually unhittable this spring showcasing his future promise with a 2.08 ERA, 9 Ks, a .206 average against & a 1.04 WHIP in 8-2/3 innings while converting his only save chance.

1B Brandon Allen - If Branyan fails to deliver, it might be Allen who supplants him instead of Nady. Showing plenty of power in his minor league career, he flashed a glimpse of that in 2 brief stints late with Arizona in 2009 & 2010. This spring, he's put it all together hitting .326 with 9 RBIs in 46 ABs. It seems his skills are perfectly tailored to Chase Field and he has little left to prove in the minors.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - St. Louis Cardinals

2011-03-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Rotation

1. RHP Chris Carpenter - The Cards were dealt a low blow from the start as ace Adam Wainwright was lost for the season with a right elbow ligament injury that required Tommy John surgery. As co-ace in the rotation, Carpenter must now pick up the slack. Also known for a checkered injury past, the rotation all of a sudden looks shaky. Carpenter has taken the mound for 63 starts in the last 2 years winning 17 & 16 respectively in 2009 & 2010 while posting ERAs & WHIPs in those years that any other starter would envy. He's also been a very good but not great strikeout pitcher. Closing in on 36 & having the additional pressure caused by Wainwright's absence, can you expect 2011 to be as good or better than the previous 2 which rivaled almost anything he threw up on the board in his entire star-studded career? Well, he's been bounced around pretty good this spring but that was also the case last year. I have to think that age will dent his shiny armor at least a little this year but with the St. Louis offense behind him, 16-19 wins still sounds reasonable and even if the other numbers take a small dip in 2011, almost any fantasy player will line up to draft him high as their #2 man at worst.

2. RHP Jake Westbrook - With Wainwright out, everyone else moves up a notch. Westbrook, the Cleveland import from last year, settled in nicely after joining the Redbirds with a sparkling 3.48 ERA in 12 starts. His WHIP was high, he had a decent .262 average against & an OK strikeout ratio. What can he do with a full season in St. Louis? As I said, the Cards offense will allow him to win some games (I'm seeing 13) but I'm skeptical the other numbers will be so good. He'll probably stay in the rotation all year but I'm not so sure he 's buying into pitching coach Dave Duncan's urging to induce ground balls as he still thinks he can throw his marginal fastball past MLB hitters. I'm laying off this one.

3. LHP Jaime Garcia - The leftie's impressive 2010 campaign was essentially his rookie season. Though he did wear down a bit towards the end, that can be attributed to his 1st real taste of substantial innings pitched. Going 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA & a solid .243 average against helps mitigate a somewhat high WHIP. He also struck out 7.3 batters per 9 IP. Will there be a sophomore season let down? It's possible but the talent to pitch at the Major League level is undeniable and the St. Louis organization must also think so jumping him ahead of Kyle Lohse in the rotation. 14-16 wins, an ERA still hovering around 3.00 & a decent amount of Ks is well within reach for 2011 so I'm slotting him as a #4 or #5 fantasy starter.

4. RHP Kyle Lohse - The veteran enters his 11th season at 32, getting a nice payout from the Cards after an atypically good season in '08. St. Louis may now think they've made a mistake as he's only won 10 games with a bloated ERA in the 2 successive years. I am of that opinion also as the rest of his pertinent career numbers can be called below average at best. He's been on fire this spring with a 1.80 ERA, .221 average against & 0.83 WHIP in 18 IP. I'm not fooled and neither should you be. When the bell rings he'll stay in most starts to probably accumulate 11-13 wins but the rest of his stats won't make you happy. I'd stay away here.

5. RHP Kyle McClellan - Last year's solid bullpen turn probably gives McClellan the leg up on the #5 spot in the rotation. The numbers from 2010 did look good (2.27 ERA, 1.08 WHIP & .210 average against) & he carried a 7K per 9 IP ratio as well but it remains to be seen if he stretch those out to achieve success as a starter. He's been nothing short of brilliant in 4 spring starts but that's only averaged 4-1/3 innings each so the results aren't all in. I prefer to wait until there's more to base a decision on but the potential & ability is there.

Closer

RHP Ryan Franklin - Franklin comfortably holds the closer's mantle after a failed attempt by the Cardinals to try flamethrower Jason Motte in that role 2 seasons ago. There's not much to find fault with either as he saved 38 in 2009 and followed that up with 27 out of 29 last year. The only draw back is he won't give you the strikeout totals you expect from a top of the line closer which, I think, was the reason for the Jason Motte experiment in the 1st place. All the other peripheral numbers look good as well and he's had a fine spring. He has the credentials to be a later drafted #1 closer but as I seek and desire a lot of Ks from this fantasy position, he's a mid #2 in my book.

Lineup

1. SS Ryan Theriot - The former Cub gets another chance here & he does have a .284 lifetime BA. I'm not sure he can carry the weight as a lead off man as his steal success rate has been relatively low since swiping 28 out of 32 in 2007. In the Cardinal lineup, he'll probably be reined in a little with Rasmus, Pujols & Holliday behind him but should still garner 15 -20 steals and score 70-80 runs. The key for him is to keep his OBP and BA up and if this spring is any indication, that might be tough. He can be considered as a late pick for a starter at SS but I see him as a back up middle infielder on a fantasy squad.

2. CF Colby Rasmus - Rasmus had a few well documented run ins with manager LaRussa in 2010 but the former jewel of the organization's prospects still put quality numbers on the board (.276/23HR/66 RBIs/12 SB). His move to the #2 hole in the batting order is a good one to take advantage of his speed and ability to score runs. He should also see plenty of fat pitches with free agent to be Pujols & his menacing on deck presence behind him. For 2011, a .285 BA with 25 HRs, 70 RBIs & as much as 16 steals looks right. You can also probably throw in at least 100 runs scored with a better spot in the lineup so he'd fit nicely as a 3rd or 4th fantasy team outfielder.

3. 1B Albert Pujols - There's really not much you can say about Pujols as he's unanimously recognized as the #1 fantasy player in the game. Taking anyone else 1st would be a mistake. As he's just passed 31, there appears very little in the way of chinks in the armor. He has been more susceptible to injuries recently and of course that's a concern if you rely on him for monster stats each year. Right now, though, that can't be a concern as this student of the game is constantly polishing his hitting skills. Add a possible walk year to the mix which might bring the fattest contract ever seen in baseball as an incentive and he could put 55 HRs, 150 RBIs & a league leading BA on the board to go with his usual 15+ steals and 120 runs scored. Some see Hanley Ramirez as the #1 pick but I don't agree at all. He's as clear a #1 pick as there is in all of sports.

4. LF Matt Holliday - Holliday is another beneficiary of the lineup order following Pujols & he should also feast on plenty of fat pitches this year. His average of 26 HRs & 106 RBIs over the last 2 years could easily be shattered in 2011. With really no weaknesses in his game, he could project to having career numbers this year. A .320 average with 35 HRs & 120 RBIs to go with a dozen steals might be conservative. This is a high #1 fantasy outfield pick.

5. RF Lance Berkman - After a very unsuccessful 2010 pit stop with Yankees to beef up their stretch run, Berkman happily returns to a familiar NL. Now at a weathered 35, we wonder what this former All-Star fixture has left. He certainly is not the powerful hit machine he was in Houston anymore but a move to this stacked lineup might rejuvenate him a bit. Keep in mind he's really only 2 years removed from a long string of successful seasons. In St. Louis, he'll have to play outfield to stay in the lineup and that alone may take it's toll. I'd look for about 22 HRs, 68 RBIs & a BA in the .260 area for 2011. Not too bad but a total collapse is also possible with retirement looming. Perhaps a 5th fantasy outfielder or a nice back up corner infielder if he still qualifies at 1B. Multiple position eligibility also enhances his value.

6. 3B David Freese - There is absolutely no doubt Freese can hit MLB pitching with consistency. The chief concern is two straight seasons of being derailed by ankle injuries. It is quite possible this brittle state may follow his MLB career. When right, he's a .300 hitter who could also add some additional power to his game. Apparently healthy, he's torched spring pitchers at a .333 clip with 10 RBIs. That pace would surely keep him in the potent St. Louis lineup. I'm going to say he's fit for 2011 with 16 HRs, 80 RBIs & a BA in the .320s. Good enough for a late pick as a fantasy starting 3rd baseman or ideal as a back up corner infielder.

7. C Yadier Molina - A career .268 hitter with decent power, I don't expect much to change for him in 2011. Look for 6 HRs again, about 50 RBIs & an average in the high .250s. The unusual part is he's become something of a base stealing threat the last 2 years, swiping 17 over that span. I'm not a big fan of his offensive talents and wouldn't draft him as a #1 catcher. If you're looking for a few steals to pad your totals in 2011 and you're in a 2 catcher league, perhaps he'll find his way to your roster.

8. 2B Skip Schumaker - The Cards having experimented with Schumaker all over the lineup since his introduction to the starting squad in 2008. This year he sits at #8 and that might be best. After 3 successive seasons hitting over .300, he fell back quite a bit to .265 in 2010. With little power or base stealing ability, the decline in runs scored means his time to prove he belongs as a Cards starter might be growing short. He'll probably have to start off hot in 2011 to keep his job and if spring training can be used as a yardstick, his .421 average must carry over to the beginning of the St. Louis regular season. He could have some value as an in-season free agent pick up to improve your team's average but I doubt he'll find his way to very many fantasy rosters.

Possibilities

3B Matt Carpenter - Already reassigned, the golden boy of the Cards 2011 spring might be called upon if Freese falters or incurs another injury. He hit at a .340 pace with 3 triples and 7 RBIs but no MLB at bats to his credit yet may mean a full season in the minors.

2B Dan De Scalso - Showing some promise in 34 2010 MLB at bats, DeScalso might be asked to step in soon if Schumaker doesn't hit right away. He has a little more pop and much more stolen base ability than Schumaker and has tuned up spring pitching at a .341 clip.

RHP Lance Lynn - Certainly picking up experience with a full 2010 season in AAA, Lynn might be the most polished of the Cardinal pitching prospects. He stunned with a 16K performance in the PCL playoffs. Lynn has 4 pitches (fastball, curve, slider & change up) he can baffle hitters with and has the ability to amass big strikeout totals in the majors. Without any time spent in St. Louis yet, an in-season 2011 call up looks more than likely. Given the state of the Cards rotation, that may be sooner rather than later.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Pittsburgh Pirates

2011-03-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Rotation

1. LHP Paul Maholm - It is a shame that Pittsburgh has not yet been able to develop good starting pitchers to go with their young budding offense. That could change soon. In the mean time, Maholm, the veteran of 6 Pirate campaigns, looks to anchor this staff & at least provide innings while the Bucs sort out their starting problems. It is highly possible McDonald gets the ball for game 1 of the 2011 season but Maholm might be the guy also. There's not much to like here as his ordinary career ERA of 4.48 looks good in light of the 5.10 he posted last season. Add a low strikeout ratio, high WHIP & average against & you have a starter to stay away from on draft day.

2. RHP James McDonald - As this rotation could set up in any possible order, I'm going to make an educated guess that McDonald doesn't go lower than #2. The 26 year old former Dodger appears to have the best pitching "stuff" of the 5 projected starters. Sharing time between the Pirates & LA in 2010, his stats didn't stand out in 15 appearances (12 starts). He rolled out a higher than career 4.02 ERA in 4 wins with a somewhat high WHIP and OK average against. There is hope though as he brings plenty of strikeout capability to the table getting just under a K per inning last year. As the probable opening day starter in place of Maholm, he could see double digit wins in 2011 as the Pirates already have a solid hitting foundation for the future. That's still not enough for me to draft him or any other Bucs starter. He was also pulled from his spring start on 3/18 with pain in his left side so that does bear watching.

3. RHP Ross Ohlendorf - As this rotation could set up in any possible order, Ohlendorf looks to slot either as #3 or #4. His 1-11 record in 2010 is misleading to a point as he did have a respectable 4.07 ERA & .260 average against. A strained muscle in his throwing shoulder forced the Pirates to close down his 2010 season in August. After a promising 2009, that was a real let down. So who shows up this year? I'm of the opinion he may not be fully ready after his 2010 injury and his spring headlined by a 10.24 ERA supports that. I'd see what develops as he does have the talent to get back to his 2009 success story when he won 11 and had a 3.92 ERA.

4. RHP Kevin Correia - Former Padre Correia could likely switch places with Ohlendorf in the rotation and I think that will happen. As with the other projected starters, there's not much to hang your hat on here with a 2010 ERA of 5.40. He did win 10 but also lost the same amount & the other pitching stats were equally unimpressive. Keep in mind that a lot of this was done in the pitcher's paradise of Petco Park. It has been more of the same this spring so stay very far away.

5. RHP Charlie Morton - Probably bringing up the rear of this sad starting staff, Morton hasn't shown any ability to get MLB hitters out and what's worse, his control in 2010 was terrible. Every single pitching stat from last year was sorry (2-12 record, 7.57 ERA, .332 average against & 1.73 WHIP as well as a low strikeout ratio) but he's been a pleasant surprise this spring in 3 starts with a 1.29 ERA, .196 average against, 0.71 WHIP & 8 Ks in 14 IP. Should we buy in? I'd wait to see what happens a bit during the regular season but I'm skeptical at best.

Closer

RHP Joel Hanrahan - Hanrahan was named the Pirates closer for 2011 & I think that was a good decision. 1st of all, the Pirates are going to be able to hang in games late thanks to an offense with the capability to score runs in bunches. Though he only converted 6 saves in 10 chances last year, he had a solid 3.62 ERA and .221 average against. Even more impressive, he almost had a 13K per 9 IP ratio. Though he has a bloated 8.10 ERA this spring, the K rate remains very high and this is the best tell for me. I wouldn't hesitate to select him on draft day as a fairly high #2 closer.

Lineup

1. LF Jose Tabata - The Pirates have yet to decide who leads off (it will either be Tabata or McCutchen). I'm going to guess Tabata as the Pirates probably want McCutchen in a position to use his hitting ability, surprising power and speed to generate more runs early. Tabata had his ups and downs in his rookie campaign last year but showed great promise that I think will blossom even more in 2011. When the dust settled, he accumulated a .299 BA with 35 RBIs and 19 steals to go along with 61 runs scored in 405 ABs. Not bad for a team struggling for offense in 2010. He'll probably still have periods of highs and lows this year but in a full season in the lineup he should be able to hit in the .290 range, steal at least 25 bags and score 80-90 runs. That's certainly worthy of a selection towards the back end of your fantasy draft as a late outfielder.

2. 2B Neil Walker - If Tabata leads off, Walker will follow him at #2 but if McCutchen is #1, look for Walker to be installed in the #3 hole. I don't think he's suited as the 3rd hitter but I think his bat will also be heard this summer. Like Tabata, Walker was also essentially in his rookie campaign in 2010 though he did have 36 Pirate ABs in 2009. He broke out with a .296 BA, 12 HRs & 66 RBIs to go along with 57 runs scored in 426 ABs. What gets my attention is the combination of great batting eye as supported by the batting average & the promise of much better than average power from a weak fantasy position. I think he'll do even better in 2011 in a protected position in the batting order and would certainly select him as a starting 2nd baseman on my team if I waited too long to grab one of the few fantasy stars at 2B.

3. CF Andrew McCutchen - Entering his 3rd season, he picked up where he left off in 2009 with another solid season in 2010. At 24, the best is yet to come and he's starting to develop more power to his 5 tool game. I see a 2011 in which he breaks the .300 BA barrier, hits 25 or so HRs to go along with 85 RBIs & he'll steal 40 bags and score 100 runs. Already Pittsburgh's best player of All-Star caliber, I'd like to see him here in the #3 hole so the Pirates can take advantage of all his offensive abilities in the heart of their order but even if management decides to lead him off, only a slight drop in RBIs will be the result. I'm tempted to consider him as a #1 fantasy outfielder but a very high #2 is probably more accurate.

4. 3B Pedro Alvarez - This budding slugger is just starting to get his bearings in MLB. Getting his Major League chops with the rest of the young Pirate hitters, this former 1st round pick exploded on the scene in his rookie year. In 347 ABs, he unloaded 16 HRs to go with 64 RBIs. Very capable of multi-HR games, his weakness is striking out at a prodigious pace which led to his somewhat low .256 BA. Until he has better plate discipline, the low BA and strikeout count will continue as evidenced by his spring (.240). As I'm not sure he'll master the strike zone in 2011, I'll project 27 HRs, 85 RBIs & a .250 BA for 2011. This would slot him as a very late starter at 3rd or an ideal back up corner infielder. Someone might jump the gun on this expecting a monster year but patience is warranted here until he has a better grasp of the strike zone.

5. 1B Lyle Overbay - Joining his 4th MLB team entering his 11th season, this veteran FA import from Toronto adds some experienced stability to a very young lineup. A career .274 hitter, he won't give you the power numbers of a typical starting 1st baseman. He did smack 20 HRs and drive in 67 a year ago but that was in a well stocked Blue Jay lineup playing half their games in a hitters haven. He's had a very productive spring hitting a torrid .395 and adding a surprising 3 HRs & 8 RBIs. Does this signal a power burst late in his career? Possible but unlikely as I see him hitting around .300 with 18 HRs and a solid 80+ RBIs in 2011. OK for a back up corner infielder, but short of the mark for a fantasy starter.

6. RF Garrett Jones - Another young Pirate hitter who has a bit more time in the majors. He made Pittsburgh sit up and take notice in his 2009 rookie season coming over from the Twins when he hit 21 HRs, knocked in 44 and hit a solid .293 in just 314 ABs. His 1st full season last year was a bit of a let down. After predictions of future stardom, he hit the same amount of HRs (though with 86 RBIs) in 592 2010 ABs and his BA plummeted to .247. A late bloomer closing in on 30 this summer, I think he'll rebound in a more potent lineup. Spring has not been kind to him yet and it seems he always starts off cold and warms up as the weather gets hotter. Not a draft candidate at this point but keep a close watch this year as signs of a turnaround seem likely.

7. SS Ronny Cedeno - Chiefly known for his defense, Cedeno is a marginal offensive player at this point and it is possible another young Pirate might be manning this spot early into 2011. A career .245 hitter with a little bit of power in his bat and the ability to steal for double digit bases in a season, he's not roster worthy at all.

8. C Chris Snyder - Given the starting assignment for 2011 after being acquired from Arizona last year, his .207 average shows how far Ryan Doumit has fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh. The Bucs are desperately trying to trade Doumit & his fat salary before the 2011 season begins but have found no takers so far. Snyder does have HR punch hitting 16 in 2008 & 15 last year combined but his low RBI totals indicate most of them come with no one on base. His career .229 BA speaks loudest to me and I don't want him anywhere near my fantasy roster.

Possibilities

RHP Bryan Morris - Reassigned on 3/12, 24 year old Morris would seem to be the 1st pitcher called up from AAA when the Pirate organization decides they need to infuse talent into their weak rotation. He admitted wearing down after throwing more than 133 innings between A & AA last year. He definitely has strikeout capability fanning 124 although sporting a somewhat inconsistent WHIP & ERA. A mid 90s fastball and two good breaking pitches will be his ticket to the bigs if he can show his stuff in the minors this spring. As the Pirates are desperate for starting talent, let's see what happens as the summer progresses.

SS/2B/CF Pedro Ciriaco - Tearing up spring pitchers to the tune of .343 with 2 steals in 35 ABs, the Bucs may be ready to make a change at SS. The 24 year old Dominican has the hitting chops to produce consistently at the Major League level. It's doubtful his frame is suited for power production but with the possibility of being able to hit .300, score a bunch of runs & steal at least 20 bags in a full season, he might be the starting shortstop for Pirates sometime in 2011.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Milwaukee Brewers

2011-03-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Rotation

1. RHP Yovani Gallardo - The Brew Crew were dealt a severe opening blow when perhaps the biggest off season acquisition in MLB, Zack Greinke, hurt himself with a fractured rib playing basketball. Not the best way to endear yourself to new fans & his projected return date of April 16th is being called "optimistic". If it lingers or he comes back too early or if it effects the way he throws this year, it will put a major crimp into Milwaukee's plans. That's enough to keep me from even stashing him on my opening day roster. Luckily for the Brewers, they have another ace in Gallardo. He also has a history of being fragile and missing time on the mound. The Brewers hope this is behind him and he's started 61 games over the last 2 years, winning only 27 in that span. For pure talent, there isn't much better in the bigs as he carries 3.67 career ERA, 2.38 BA against and almost a 10 K/9 IP ratio. His career WHIP is a little high and the inability to put a big win season together is also a concern. Relatively young at 25, I think he could get close to 20 wins in 2011 with his other usual good numbers if he can stay in one piece. No doubt he's a #1 starter for most fantasy teams.

2. RHP Shaun Marcum - Another import (from Toronto), a move to the NL could actually boost his stats. A stellar career ERA of 3.85 done mostly in a hitters paradise says a lot. All of his other pertinent pitching numbers also look good & he's certainly capable of getting close to a 9 K/9 IP ratio. He's never won more than 13 in a season and after firing out of the gate in 2010, he experienced mid-season doldrums before gathering himself at the end. He, like Gallardo, has had injuries following him around, particularly the last few years & has had shoulder tightness this spring. Again, with the caveat that he stays healthy in 2011, 15 wins and 180 Ks are well within reach. A solid #3 starter who could deliver #2 type starter stats.

3. LHP Randy Wolf - Many so called experts are picking Milwaukee to win the NL Central and it has to be on the strength of what Greinke, Gallardo & Marcum could do. With injuries already looming over them & other divisional rivals with better top to bottom hitting, that forecast could go up in smoke. Originally slotted in the #4 hole, Wolf moves up a notch with Greinke out. He's a capable vet who's certainly shown more durability than the others and has won double digit games the last 3 years. His strikeout ratio is OK, career ERA (4.13) isn't great & his WHIP is inflated as he gives up lots of hits & walks. Like many other pitchers, his career shows much better performance at home than on the road. I believe at 34, age will start to affect his performance this year and he may not last in the rotation all season. He usually has good springs but is getting beat like a drum this year to the tune of a 10.66 ERA. That tells me he's already lost most of the snap off his pitches. A meltdown might not be far behind so don't waste a roster spot on him.

4. LHP Chris Narveson - Moving from 5 to 4 in the rotation until Greinke comes back doesn't mean he'll be effective. A high career ERA and WHIP still yielded 12 wins in 2010 but his ERA last year almost touched 5.00. He's not a bad strikeout pitcher but there's no way you should go near him for your roster.

5. RHP Wily Peralta - Digging deeper to field a 5 man rotation, beefy Peralta is being considered by the Brewers based on no MLB experience & a spring 9.00 ERA. How could this possibly go well & why are the Brewers considering this? Well, originally Manny Parra was to fill this spot but a back ailment has him out indefinitely and I'm not sure he'd be the answer anyway as his career 5.13 ERA and hideous 1.64 WHIP attests to. The Brewers say they are looking for pitching help when the answer might be right under their noses (see below).

Closer

RHP John Axford - It seems the Brewers always find a closer that is extremely effective for about a year and a half before they implode and someone else comes along. Axford may have more staying power. Saving 24 in 27 chances last year while striking out a phenomenal 76 in 58 innings along with a sparkling 2.48 ERA & 1.19 WHIP. A full season in the closer's role could potentially deliver elite type numbers. He's not a top tier closer yet but certainly a #1 in the meaty part of the curve & one of the best kept secrets in fantasy baseball.

Lineup

1. 2B Rickie Weeks - Wow, where did that power spike come from last year? After never hitting more than 16 in a full season, he busted out 29 HRs last year along with 83 RBIs. Will he continue? I think it is possible but we might want to temper our enthusiasm for 2011. My feeling is at 28, he's finally learning the nuances of hitting and becoming a quality player in MLB. I think he'll certainly top 20 HRs (probably around 24), still knock in about 75-80, hit for a higher average (.270-.280) and still steal about 16 bags. Sounds like a very high pick at 2B to me.

2. CF Carlos Gomez - Chiefly known for his defensive prowess (along with Bourn, I consider these 2 the best fielding grass patrollers in baseball), it is strange that he hits #2 in the lineup. I suppose Milwaukee probably doesn't have anyone else who has the traits to handle this spot but I'd try Corey Hart when he's healthy. He hasn't been able to use his great speed to an offensive advantage yet and may never get it. He's a career .246 hitter with a little pop who might steal 20 bases but not score many runs. Don't let his .390 spring average fool you, he's done this before and sometimes even come out of the gate on fire for a little while but in the end he'll disappoint offensively. Unless you need some cheap steals during the season, don't look for help here.

3. LF Ryan Braun - Yes, 2010 was a disappointing year for Braun and anyone who picked him in round 1 only because of the lower HR output. He still put up All-Star numbers across the board in the other categories & I think he'll be back to normal in 2011 with HRs in the mid 30s, 110+ RBIs & a BA well above .300 and steals in the mid-teens. With the added incentive of the Brew Crew probably hanging around to vie for a post season berth, his focus should be right on target. I also don't think a spring rib cage strain will affect him during the regular season. He's still a high 1st round pick as far as I'm concerned.

4. 1B Prince Fielder - Sure, at some point the weight issue will start to affect his on field performance as he nears 27. I think that might be partially responsible for his 2010 down year but then again it didn't bother his dad. He should have incentive to stay in shape and focus this year as free agency looms. Sitting between Braun and McGehee in the lineup doesn't hurt either. Look for HRs in the high 30s, 90-100 RBIs & an average close to his career .279. You might find a decline in runs scored and he won't steal hardly any bases at all. Still a top of the heap slugging 1st baseman just below the other stars at this position.

5. 3B Casey McGehee - McGehee broke out the lumber in 2010. Keep in mind that last year was only his 1st full MLB season. He was on fire in the 1st half and tail off a bit as the season progressed. This could certainly be due to never having amassed as much playing time before and fatigue crept in. No matter, I think he can not only duplicate his numbers but improve them in 2011. I expect to see 25-30 HRs, perhaps a slightly lower RBI total in the 90s & an average around .290. More than enough for a starting 3rd baseman on your fantasy team.

6. SS Yuniesky Betancourt - This spot in the order would be filled by Corey Hart (assuming he took off his Sunglasses At Night for games under the lights) but a strained rib cage muscle this spring has kept him out of the lineup. We don't know if he'll be ready for opening day but he's still draftable late as he'll provide good power numbers & a decent average (I'll guess 25 HR/85 RBI, a .270 average & perhaps a half dozen steals). Healthy or not, I don't think he'll approach last year's career stats in 2011 & if you draft him high hoping for those totals, it might be a big gamble. Hart does have an injury history & this might temper or gouge his 2011 overall stats. New AL import Betancourt mans this spot and SS for now. A career .272 hitter with some pop, he must have been eating his Wheaties in 2010 as he pounded out career highs with 16 HRs and 78 RBIs in a ballpark not known to help hitter's power stats. So what to make of him in Milwaukee? I think he'll hit a bit better than the .259 he posted last year, let's say .270. The power numbers should come down a bit to 13 HRs & 65 RBIs and of course he'll hardly steal any bases. Not bad for a late pick at SS or a bargain as a middle infield back up.

7. RF Mark Kotsay - Betancourt will reside here when Hart returns & journeyman utility outfielder/1st baseman Kotsay will return to the bench. While he starts, don't expect enough offensive stats to make him a worthwhile roster addition. He has a little power and is capable of hitting in the .270-.280 area with very little in the way of runs scored or stolen bases.

8. C Jonathan Lucroy - Also currently nursing a spring fractured right pinky, reports optimistically say he'll be good to go on opening day. He didn't distinguish himself in 277 2010 rookie ABs but the Brewers have little else to turn to at catcher with a more dangerous bat. Prior to getting hurt, he was hitting a miserable .143 this spring. He has a little bit of punch in his bat but not worthy of more than a late choice as a back up catcher if your league requires 2. I'm not interested.

Possibilities

RHP Mark Rogers - This is the guy I alluded to earlier on for a shot in the Milwaukee injury depleted rotation. Unfortunately, he is also one of the walking wounded this spring with a stiff throwing shoulder. While that is never good for a starting pitcher candidate, he should appear as a starter in a spring game this week (3/21). We'll see what happens then and so far his 2011 Cactus League has not gone as planned pitching just 1 inning and posting a n 18.00 ERA. He has all the pitching tools to stick at the MLB level and was quite effective in 4 2010 mound visits which included 2 starts. He sported a 1.80 ERA, 0.50 WHIP & struck out 11 batters in 10 IP. Count me among his fans but I'd wait to see how the rest of the spring shakes out for him before taking the fantasy plunge.

RHP Mike McClendon - Another imposing physical specimen with about the same build & amount of experience as Rogers as well as an equal ability to strike hitters out. He didn't quite match the 2010 numbers rogers posted with a 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP & 21 strikeouts in an equal number of innings. He's done better this spring with a 3.60 ERA but only 2 Ks in 10 IP & doesn't have any current injuries. This might give him 1st crack at the rotation ahead of Rogers. I think both will fill out the balance of a potentially devastating 5 man rotation if Greinke, Gallardo & Marcum stay healthy and stick around for a while.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Houston Astros

2011-03-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON ASTROS

Rotation

1. RHP Brett Myers - After it initially looked like the Astros were going to give the ball to Rodriguez on opening day, Myers was chosen. I wholeheartedly agree with this decision. Myers sat on the free agent waiver wire early last year and when I noticed that he was again rounding into the form he once displayed as a Phillie starter, I snagged him. He was one of the saviors of my 2010 fantasy season and an integral part of the reason I won my league. For the year, he won 14, struck out 180 batters & had a jewel of an ERA (3.14). Detractors say it was a one season fluke & not to rely on that again in 2011 since the last time he had a solid season before 2010 was 2006. Sure he's 30 and getting off to his usual poor spring but I'm a believer. I have him positioned as a solid #3 or #4 fantasy starter and he might win even more games this year with a heavier hitting Houston lineup behind him.

2. LHP Wandy Rodriguez - Flashing polar opposite periods of being unhittable with those of getting tattooed regularly, you never know what you're going to get from game to game with Rodriguez. His career has severe home and road splits so you need to use caution when throwing him out there in away games. He's a very good strikeout pitcher but also injury prone. Part of the reason Houston decided to give Myers the opening nod maybe that Rodriguez is suffering with shoulder tendinitis this spring. In 3 starts so far he's been knocked around to the tune of a 9.35 spring ERA. His past history shows 3 straight years of solid ERAs no higher than the 3.60 and consistent K totals averaging about 180 per season. He could win 15 this year if he's ready to go so he qualifies as a risk/reward type of starter. I'll leave him for someone else but based on recent results, he slots as a pretty good #4 or #5 starter.

3. LHP J.A. Happ - Another Ex-Phillie who also has severe up & down periods over the course of a season like Rodriguez. He seems to do his best work earlier in the campaign and digress as the season wears on. I don't know if this is attributable to training or not though. Happ was only able to make 16 trips to the mound between the Phils & Astros in 2010 but came away with his usually solid ERA (3.40). He is also an injury risk candidate proving fragile over the years. When right, he'll give a fair K ratio and good average against but has been known to walk his share driving his WHIP upwards. I'm of the opinion that he'll give you a good 1st half of the season and fade after the All-Star break. Keep this in mind if you draft him. He merits roster consideration for the back end of a fantasy rotation.

4. RHP Bud Norris - Norris has been called a pitcher with "electric stuff" by knowledgeable baseball insiders but hasn't put it together in 37 starts over most of 2 seasons with the 'Stros. So far, he carries a career ERA close to 5.00 due to his shaky control. This has translated into a very high MLB WHIP. He definitely has talent to strike hitters out at better than a K per inning ratio so that alone should get your attention. He hasn't been able to harness his wildness and that has carried over into his spring appearances. Until he does, it is too big a gamble warming an opening day roster seat for him but watch closely and if the light comes on this year be ready to pounce.

5. RHP Nelson Figueroa - Right now veteran swingman Figueroa holds a tenuous grip on the #5 spot. This is mostly due to a decent spring performance which has him with 2 wins and a 3.86 ERA. As good as that looks on paper, his career numbers don't bear that out with a 4.29 ERA and a very high WHIP. He's a decent strikeout pitcher but if he begins the season in the rotation, he won't be there long as middle relief is his calling and the Astros have two young starters ready to step in. I'm not interested.

Closer

RHP Brandon Lyon -Well traveled vet Lyon stepped up in 2010 and deservedly earned the Astros closer role. He's the man to begin this year and might have found a home in Houston. I've always found Lyon to be much too erratic for a consistent closer's role but he just might have turned the corner. He only blew 2 of 22 save chances after being installed as the closer last year. His ERA has fluctuated wildly but has now logged 2 years in a row with very good ones which belie his career 4.05 mark. He posts a decent strikeout ratio, good average against and an OK WHIP which means he doesn't have a high walk rate. I'm willing to say he might have finally gotten it together but still have that nagging thought in the back of my mind that it could all come apart quickly so I rank him as a middle of the pack 2nd fantasy closer.

Lineup

1. CF Michael Bourn - If defense was the bench mark for fantasy success, he'd be a #1 pick. There are very few if any centerfielders in the game with better skills and instincts. On the offensive side, he's honing his talent as a lead off guy but isn't quite there yet. This is due to his .263 career BA which means he hasn't yet learned to use his speed to get more hits. He does have a fairly good OBP, should steal 60 bags this year & could easily score 100+ runs. I'll take the lower average and virtually no power for those numbers so much so that I'd be willing to spend a #3 or #4 outfield draft pick on him.

2. SS Clint Barmes - Replacing home grown Tommy Manzella, who failed miserably in 2010 after being given the starting shot, is Ex-Rockie Barmes. Houston must have felt that they had to get better offensive numbers from this position in 2011. Barmes is a career .254 hitter with a lot more pop in his bat than the average SS. Whether that can partly or wholly be attributed to the friendly confines of Coors Field or not we'll see this year. I believe that might at least be part of the reason but Houston is a nice place to hit as well so I'm guessing he'll put up the same kind of average in the .250-.260 range with about a dozen HRs, 55 RBIs, 50+ runs scored and double digit steals. That won't cut it for me on draft day so unless you're searching for a SS late or as a back up, don't go there.

3. RF Hunter Pence - Pence has also a somewhat inconsistent career but seems to have developed into a solid everyday starter for the Astros. Now nearing 28, he could be on the verge of a very good season batting ahead of a rejuvenated Carlos Lee. I think a newly aggressive approach at the plate will yield a .300+ BA, 30+ HRs, close to 100 RBIs & 20 steals in 2011. That more than enough to qualify him as a #2 fantasy outfielder who could produce #1 outfielder stats.

4. LF Carlos Lee - Most lamented his 2010 season as a real disappointment. While I agree with that it is noteworthy to consider that he still hit 24 HRs and drove in 89. This should tell you something about the career "El Caballo" has had. Nearing 35, we wonder how many productive seasons he has left. I believe two reasons are mostly to blame for his 2010 decline: not being in his usual good shape and a horrendously unlucky .238 BABIP. I think he can rebound nicely in 2011 as he looks to be in much better shape and taking to his play with a renewed enthusiasm this spring. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that he'll deliver 35 HRs, 100+ RBIs & close to his career .287 BA this year. That makes him no worse than a high #2 fantasy outfielder.

5. 3B Chris Johnson - Another part of the reason I like Lee to rebound is this newly found bat behind him in the Astros lineup. I picked Johnson off the free agent heap last year after he was given a chance to play in June and for the most part he delivered with a .308 BA, 11 HRs & 52 RBIs in 341 2010 ABs. Many think he'll have a sophomore slump in 2011 but I'm not one of them and expect even better numbers. Following Lee is an advantage as he spent most of 2010 much lower in the order and not knowing how long the Astros would give him to find his groove. With the job in hand at least as the season begins & a better spot in the middle of the Houston order, I'm looking for 22 HRs, 80+ RBIs & a BA still over .300. His very good spring supports my optimism and show of hands, who would take those stats from their starting 3rd baseman? Almost eveyone.

6. 2B Bill Hall - Already making unwanted noise after getting buzzed by an inside fastball from Cole Hamels in a recent spring game, this temperamental career journeyman won't get my attention on draft day. Throwing inside to get a hitter off the plate? No way! He'd better get used to it because now that the rest of the NL pitchers know this, it's going to happen to him a lot. Qualifying at 2B enhances his marginal talent somewhat but even given his shockingly good 2010 season in hitter friendly Fenway, his career numbers including a .250 BA are more of a tell. He hardly ever drives in a bunch of runs or scores them and always puts up big strikeout numbers. I see a .240 average, perhaps 15 HRs & 50 RBIs in store for his 2011 owners. Not bad for a starting 2nd baseman if you can live with the low average. Just make sure you sit him against most righties because he can't hit them.

7. 1B Brett Wallace - Though he may start out in the #7 hole, I suspect he'll move up to #6 at least or perhaps even #5 if he he swings the bat well in 2011. For my money, he projects well into the #6 hole due to his propensity for swinging and missing. The 24 year old is with his 3rd organization and this slugger may also have found a home in this young revamped Houston lineup. He didn't stand out in 144 2010 at bats with the Astros hitting only .222 and striking out 50 times. He's done much better this spring without the specter of losing a starting job yet over his head. It's doubtful he'll be able to keep the spring pace of a .380 BA with 14 RBIs in 50 ABs going over the course of a full season but an average in the .260-.270 range with 20-25 HRs & 70+ RBIs is well within reach. A stretch as a starting fantasy 1st baseman, but more than solid numbers as a back up corner infielder. I'm cautiously optimistic.

8. C Humberto Quintero - With star pupil and projected starter Jason Castro probably down for the 2011 count with a knee injury, Quintero gets the initial nod to start. A .232 career BA with little to no power says it all. He is hitting an unconscious .440 this spring but anyone who expects to see even a shadow of that when the bell rings is mistaken. Recently re-signed prospect J.R. Towles has been a terror this spring hitting .344 with 2 HRs & 6 RBIs so he might be given another chance to make the position his own if Quintero doesn't cut it.

Possibilities

RHP Jordan Lyles - Nelson Figueroa aside, this is the guy I'd like to see in the #5 rotation spot this season. Only 20 years old but much more pitching savvy than others his age, this 2008 supplemental 1st round pick's installation into the rotation could only be hampered by Houston's need to retain his rights by not bringing him to the big league roster until June. With little else in the back of their rotation & question marks in the middle, it might be worth their while to rush things a bit with Lyles. Never having appeared in a big league game, he has 4 MLB ready pitches in his arsenal with the curve and change up being the headliners. Not a top of the line strikeout pitcher, he has made his case this spring with a 1.98 ERA, 9 Ks, a .212 average against & a microscopic 0.95 WHIP in 13-2/3 IPr. If he doesn't break camp with the team or does in the pen, expect to see him as part of the rotation sometime this summer.

RHP Aneury Rodriguez - A bit more battle tested at 23 & with a full AAA season behind him, this Tampa Bay rule 5 pick might be given a chance to crack the rotation ahead of Lyles. Like Lyles, he's also not a K machine & has a 3.60 ERA and 1.80 WHIP this spring. His .316 average against might set off a warning alarm but I'm sure the Astros will give either him or Lyles a chance to win the 5th spot when the team heads to Minute Maid Park for the 2011 season. Watch this development.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Cincinnati Reds

2011-03-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

CINCINNATI REDS

Rotation

1. RHP Edinson Volquez - Some seem to have Cueto in this spot but Volquez gets the opening day nod and if you go strictly by ability and stuff, it is well deserved. His wildness is well documented and like any young pitcher, he can easily lose focus during a game. A fastball and change up that has opposing bats swinging at air when he can control them, he also isn't afraid to use everything in his ammo locker anywhere in the count. A 1st breakout season with the Reds in 2008 (17-6, 3.21 ERA, 206K) has been followed by two injury plagued years with a combined 21 starts & included Tommy John surgery. He appears to be healthy this spring but has yet to appear in a starter's role and has been limited to 2-1/3 innings. There's no denying his talent and he is the current ace of the staff. He has yet to prove that he has harnessed his wildness and the lack of mound appearances gives me pause. I won't throw a high pick his way as there are too many negative factors but if he's right, could provide a serious boost to your pitching stats.

2. RHP Bronson Arroyo - Arroyo pitched just below his 4.19 career ERA last year posting a respectable 3.88. He also won 17 which makes the 3rd year in a row he's logged in at least 15. His WHIP was the 2nd lowest of his career as well so you could easily consider him a success from a fantasy standpoint. In general, he'll give you decent K numbers but nothing that stands out. At 34, you may see a slight decline that could begin this year with slightly worse numbers across the board but he's certainly capable of being a good 4th or 5th starter on your roster.

3. RHP Johnny Cueto - Pulled from his last spring start with a bicep/forearm injury, he may be lost for more time than expected. This spring has been anything but successful anyway but he did pull together a surprising 2010 campaign with career bests in wins, ERA, WHIP & average against. We're only talking about 3 full seasons as a Reds starter and he mirrors Volquez in many ways except perhaps not as good in striking hitters out and a little better control. Both are relatively young with time to harness their effective qualities. For me & when he's good to go, I wouldn't select him higher than a #5 starter. Now that injury concerns, particularly arm woes, are looming, I won't get near him on draft day.

4. RHP Homer Bailey - The perennial Reds phenom, he hasn't put it all together in 4 seasons with the big club. Last year was no exception even though he finally found his strikeout groove. A career 5.09 WHIP and very high 1.56 WHIP tells me this is still a work in progress as he nears 25. I think there's still hope and he did improve on most of his numbers in 2010. This spring has been more of the same and perhaps he carries a name that would be better suited as a hitter. I see no reason to buy in yet.

5. LHP Travis Wood - He has won the 5th starter spot and might even move up more if Cueto's injury lingers. In 17 2010 starts, he threw out a solid 3.51 ERA, .222 average against and a sparkling 1.08 WHIP along with a very respectable K rate. He's carried that over into the spring and adding to the fact that he'll probably spend most if not all of 2011 in the Reds rotation, could be a good bet to give you beneficial numbers from the back of a fantasy rotation.

Closer

RHP Francisco Cordero - He's installed as the closer right now but is far from the consistent rock the top tier closers are. No doubt (as long as he remains in this role) he'll get his share of saves and the 40 he cranked out in 2010 could be considered as his water level. He also blew 8 other chances and was on shaky ground of being replaced at times during the season. Perhaps he wasn't as the Reds really had no other viable candidate to replace him. That could change this year if he stumbles. Most of his career tell numbers are good including an above average K rate. It was phenomenal up to 2008 but has declined somewhat significantly the last 2 years so as he approaches 36, age may be creeping in. Right now, he does belong on a fantasy roster as a closer but perhaps a 2nd one.

LHP Aroldis Chapman - The Reds still don't know what to do with the Cuban import of the 100-105 MPH fastball. He spent 15 2010 appearances in middle relief but that is a true waste of his talents. He came away with a 2.05 ERA and 19 Ks in 13-1/3 innings & has followed that up with an almost as dominating spring. None of his 7 spring trips to the mound have been as a starter and he has only logged a total of 10 innings in them so it likely seems a starter's role in not in the cards for 2011. Closing would be another story and if Cordero shows any period of being ineffective I doubt the Reds would hesitate to install him as the closer. Remember how Feliz shone for the Rangers in that role last year? Teams are much more likely to give a young flamethrower a shot nowadays. His only weakness may be control but based on his brief exposure at the MLB level and the talent he shows, I'm all in. He's almost worth a roster spot right now as he'll at least fatten your strikeout totals but if there's any inkling of a change to the closer's role, jump on it with both feet.

Lineup

1. CF Drew Stubbs - Not yet at the point he needs to be as a lead off hitter, Stubbs still showed what he could do in a full season with impressive 2010 power and SB numbers. I also think the relatively low (.255) BA will also improve & his strikeouts will go down as his plate discipline gets better. A true 5 tool player with future membership in the 30/30 club looks to be just over the horizon and he's no worse than a #3 outfielder right now.

2. 2B Brandon Phillips - One of the better hitting MLB players at a notoriously weak offensive position, he took a step back in 2010 over his usual All-Star type numbers. Closing in on 30 this summer, he should still be able to rebound at the top of a well protected lineup. In 2011, his average should be in the .270-.280 range with 20-25 HRs, about 85-90 RBIs & 25 steals. I don't know anyone who wouldn't love those numbers from their starting fantasy 2nd baseman.

3. 1B Joey Votto - This lineup has the potential to torment many NL pitching staffs and the chief culprit is budding superstar Votto. After two very solid seasons with the Reds in 2008 & 2009, he busted totally loose last year. Putting up monster numbers even for a 1st baseman (.324/37 HRs/113 RBIs), the scary part is this could be the tip of the iceberg. Even more incredible, he stole 16 bases as well. I'm targeting him as one of my most desirable 1st round picks.

4. 3B Scott Rolen - Nearing 36, Rolen's fearsome power years are long behind him and I'm a bit surprised to see him slotted #4. He still showed respectable power numbers in 2010 & hit a solid .285 but I think he's best suited down at the #6 hole with Jay Bruce at clean up and Heisey at #5 (over Gomes). In any case he can certainly hit 20+ HRs again in 2011 but I think his RBI totals & BA will slip a bit. He'd be OK as a lower end starting 3rd baseman or a solid back up corner outfielder but I think there's much better available to start at 3B for your team.

5. RF Jay Bruce - As if the Reds lineup needs another breakout candidate, we've been waiting for this one to blossom & put it together for 3 years. He did come out of his cocoon a bit in 2010 raising his BA to .281 and slightly improving on his fairly solid power numbers. Given the Reds lineup and the friendly hitters atmosphere of Great American Ballpark, I think Bruce could bust out some truly heavy offensive stats this year. He'll slot no lower than a very solid #3 fantasy outfielder.

6. LF Jonny Gomes - 2010 was called a "career year" for Gomes (.266/18 HRs/86 RBIs). Maybe for him but fairly ordinary for a fantasy outfielder. I believe he'll revert back to form as an inconsistent streaky hitter who whiffs a lot if handed the starting job and drop back to his career water marks that are not nearly what he did last season. This one isn't for me on draft day and I like someone else for this job much, much better.

7. C Ryan Hanigan/Ramon Hernandez - Both of these catchers are merely place holders for the soon to be resident starter here. Closing in on 35, Hernandez still has a little bit of pop left in his bat and could hit for a very acceptable average. The decline could also come as soon as this year leaving you with little in the way of offensive stats & that's my opinion of what you'll get from him this year. Hanigan is a bit younger at 30 and closely mirrored Hernandez's stats from a year ago. He seems more likely to put up decent offensive numbers in 2011 with a real chance to hit close to .300. The fact that neither will probably realize the number of at bats needed to sustain this position on your fantasy team has me leaving both where they are on draft day. If you're in desperate need of a catcher late in your draft, pick one.

8. SS Paul Janish - I think Great American Ball Park can inflate anyone's stats but Janish needs Helium as well to do this. Showing a sliver of offense in his 3rd year as a part timer, he hit .260 with 5 HRs and 25 RBIs in 200 ABs. Projected over a full season, that could amount to respectable SS numbers. I don't think he'll ever be a valuable fantasy SS and he doesn't even steal bases.

Possibilities

C Devin Mesoraco - Here's the future of Reds catching I alluded to earlier. Not doing much in the minors the two seasons before, the former 1st round pick finally put together a good 2010 finishing up at AAA and the Arizona Fall League. He continued to show improvement mashing the ball at a .462 clip with the Reds this spring. He should deliver a solid average and more than enough power to hold the starter's job in the near future with the declining state of the position currently. More observation is needed and I'm sure he'll begin 2011 at AAA again but the talent is definitely there.

OF Chris Heisey- He only hit .254 with 8 HRs & 21 RBIs in 201 ABs during his 1st exposure with the Reds but has hit all throughout his Minor League career. He's been a revelation this spring raking opposing pitching to the tune of .325 with 4 HRs & 10 RBIs. I believe he presents a much better option in LF than erratic veteran Jonny Gomes but won't get an opportunity until Gomes goes cold. That's something that could happen very early on so watch this carefully & see if he takes advantage of the situation when the time comes.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Chicago Cubs

2011-03-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO CUBS

1. RHP Ryan Dempster - It is interesting to note that the Cubs didn't go harder after the free agent starters available this off season. Always willing to spend, they must feel they can win with what they've got. The veteran enters his 8th season with the Cubs & 4th as a rotation member. Putting up very respectable numbers as a Chicago starter, he'll never disappoint you in ERA, win about 15 games & always give you solid strikeout totals. He'll give up his share of hits and walks as noted by his career WHIP, though. Nearing 34 now, I expect him to continue to show these kind of totals in 2011 as he has mastered the art of getting MLB hitters out. The Cubs must think so too, bumping usual opening day starter Zambrano down a notch. I'd slot him as a middle of the pack #3 or #4 starter for a fantasy team.

2. RHP Carlos Zambrano - Knowing his volatile nature, Zambrano can't be happy being bumped from the top spot after starting the Cubs season 6 years in a row. His past history shows that anything either off the field or during a game that upsets his apple cart directly affects his performance on the field. Nearing 30, he still has great stuff to swing and miss bats but be prepared for him to implode at any time during a game. Big Z still sports a career 3.50 ERA, is very capable of winning about 18 games & giving you very good strikeout totals. Just be ready for periodic in game meltdowns as his less than sterling WHIP points to. Zambrano has stated that he's putting his past anger issues behind him & that would boost his value but I find it hard to believe reviewing his career antics. I still would grab him as a high #3 fantasy starter.

3. RHP Matt Garza - The former Twin and Tampa Bay import may also flip spots in the rotation with Zambrano, giving Big Z another reason to lose his cool. A still young quality starter who won 15 last year, he's always carried an ERA under 4.00 & struck out his share of hitters. He'll gain a small advantage as most NL hitters don't know what he's all about. I do believe in his talent as he was almost unhittable at times last year. Garza has yet to put it together for extended periods of time and can also be shelled when losing focus. He doesn't walk a lot of batters so he'll be able to hang in most games to get the win. I'd draft him as a mid-line #3 or #4 fantasy starter and hope he finds his groove in 2011.

4. RHP Randy Wells - After an eye opening rookie campaign in 2009 where he won 12 & had a sterling 3.05 ERA, Wells took a rather large step back in 2010 losing 14, sporting a very unremarkable 4.26 ERA & a high WHIP. So which Wells will show up in 2011? He did increase his very poor strikeout totals in 2010 but I don't see him having a good K/IP ratio in his career. It is also confusing that he's had an impressive spring with a very low WHIP and continued strikeout success. I'm not sure but he'll probably land somewhere in between his 1st 2 season's numbers in 2011 which might be enough to represent the back end of someone's fantasy rotation or a spot starter. As I can't tell for sure, I'm laying off.

5. RHP Carlos Silva - It appears that the Cubs are foolishly leaning towards Silva to fill the #5 hole here based on his atypically decent 2010 1st half. This would be a big mistake. I honestly don't know what teams see in him as his career across the board is more suited to a role as batting practice pitcher. He's continuing that trend by getting torched this spring to a tune of a 15.88 ERA & a .483 batting average against. If you're smart, you'll stay very far away. There's a much better option, I'll touch on later.

Closer

RHP Carlos Marmol - There's no questioning his stuff, I'm just surprised that it took the Cubs so long to see what they have in Marmol. He continued his absolutely insane strikeout ratio in 2010 striking out 138 in under 78 IP, posted a 2.55 ERA, saved 38 games and had an extremely good WHIP to boot. That's unusual for a flame thrower who relies on his fastball. I'm completely sold on him and after the dust settles and all the top tier well known closers are off the board, I'm targeting Marmol as my #1 guy. With the Cubs probably in a lot close games, Marmol will have plenty of chances to pick up a 9th inning prize.

Lineup

1. 2B Jeff Baker/Blake DeWitt - This is what the Cubs want to open with? Neither is a prototypical lead off man. Righty Baker has not delivered on his promise of power as a Rockie prospect but surprised me with a career BA of .270. He won't steal bases either. He's been hitting .395 this spring but I'm not buying. Ex-Dodger Dewitt brings even less to the table. In addition to a career .259 average, there's no promise of power or speed. As he's hitting .163 this spring, his only hope is that the Cubs will platoon him being a lefty. Yikes, this situation stinks and there's a better option in camp (see below).

2. SS Starlin Castro - Going against the grain of what a typical SS should deliver, Castro hinted at his talent potential in 2010. He did steal 10 bags last year but that's not the major part of his game as he also got caught 8 times. He also hit .300 in 2010 but the power potential is what intrigues most observers. He's slapped spring pitchers around to a tune of .395 with 4 HRs & 12 RBIs. I think that he got his 1st taste of the majors last year and will blossom in all offensive categories in 2011. This is a bonafide starting SS on any fantasy team.

3. 3B Aramis Ramirez - Starting off slow in 2010, you could blame a thumb injury. I look more at his .282 career BA and think 2010 was a bump in the road. Getting to 33 this summer, he still should have enough octane in the tank to produce his typical solid season with the added bonus of seeing better pitches ahead of Pena. Injury concerns is the only possible negative on his chart that might derail 2011. He should mash HRs in the mid 30s, knock in close to 100 & hit in the .290 range. Who won't take that in their 3rd baseman? A higher end starter for fantasy purposes.

4. 1B Carlos Pena - Importing some serious power from Tampa Bay, this free agent should find Wrigley Field to his liking. Be forewarned that his BA will be low but probably closer to his career .241 number instead of last season's .196. I do find it humorous that a player who succeeds 2 out of every 10 times is awarded with a fat pay day. Do you think your boss would buy into that ratio? He'll hit 30-40 HRs and knock in about 100 while still striking out at a feverish pace. He's not a top tier 1st bagger for fantasy purposes but if you waited too long to get your slugger, he'll do in a pinch.

5. CF Marlon Byrd - Coming over from Texas as a 2010 free agent, he did hit a nice .293 and stole a handful of bases. I'm also sure the Cubs expected a lot more than the 12 HRs & 66 RBIs he delivered. A fairly solid hitter who won't wow you with his production is probably what you'll get in 2011. He might improve the HR & RBI numbers to 15 & 75 respectively and in an era of shrinking totals from the outfield position, this might be enough. I'd slot him too low (a #4 fantasy OF) to get him in a draft though.

6. C Geovany Soto - Soto rebounded from a poor 2009 to deliver what he's capable of in 2010. Pronouncing his shoulder ready to go for opening day, he could produce top of the line offensive numbers for a catcher. I can certainly see him getting 20+ HRs, 80 or so RBIs & an average in the mid .280s for 2011. A solid middle to mid-high starting catcher for a fantasy team.

7. LF Alfonso Soriano - If you listen to others, it is time to write off this rapidly aging 35 year old. I'm not so sure & think he might have a little left in the tank for 2011. His power numbers certainly haven't declined that much in the past few years but his BA is dropping and his speed is all but gone from his 5 tool heydays. You can expect 25 HRs, 80 RBIs & a BA in the .250-.260 range for 2011 and that's good enough to fit in any fantasy outfield as a 3rd or 4th starter.

8. RF Tyler Colvin/Kosuke Fukudome - The Cubs are still trying to force split duty here due to their monetary investment in Fukudome. In my mind, he's been given more than a chance to become the full time right fielder and it's time to cut their losses. I see Colvin as a budding star who just needs ABs to prove his worth. Though he only hit .256 in sproadic duty last year, he hinted at his potential with 20 four baggers. He's at it this spring hitting a respectable .277 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. If given enough ABs, this season could yield 25 HRs, 70-80 RBIs & a .270 average. Enough to consider him fantasy roster worthy. Fukudome, in the exact same number of ABs (358) did worse than Colvin in 2010 and his 3 year career with the Cubs has got to be a disappointment to management. His spring has been a disaster as well and the Cubs laughably want to try him in the lead off spot! Cue Keyshawn Johnson......."Come on, man!" I think the Fukudome experiment is done but the Cubs are too stubborn to give it up. I won't be going anywhere near him on draft day.

Possibilities

2B Darwin Barney - This is my solution to the lead off/2B problem. A SS by trade, he has spent time manning the 2nd base position. This 4th round 2007 pick who's now 25 showed a .299 average in AAA Iowa last year. Pressing for playing time with a .371 BA this spring, he might surface at 2B before the Cub's 2011 season gets too long. Keep watch as he could help your middle infield woes as an in season free agent pick up.

RHP Andrew Cashner - This could be the answer to the back of the rotation issues Chicago has. The Cubs are also toying with the idea and he should at least make the club in a relief role as he did in 2010. He does need to master his control problems as he sported a 4.80 ERA & 1.56 WHIP in 53 2010 relief appearances. I look at his solid .267 BA against and 50 Ks in 54-1/3 innings instead. He's been good in 2 spring starts so perhaps the Cubs are finally seeing the light also. They certainly have nothing to lose by installing him as their 5th starter but let's see what develops here.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Washington Nationals

2011-03-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Rotation

1. RHP Livan Hernandez - My least favorite term for a starter (innings eater) couldn't find a more appropriate place to land than here. Never throwing less than 180 innings since 1997 means he'll always show up to pitch & is a testament to his durability. What does that do for your fantasy team? Well, hanging in games means he'll always have a chance to win but Hernandez hasn't won more than 13 since 2005. He won't give you many strikeouts, post a high WHIP and very pedestrian ERA in the mid 4.00s. This type of starter isn't for me and at 36 the durability should also start to decline soon. I'm keeping far away.

2. LHP John Lannan - Lannan had his moments in 2010 and could slot anywhere from 2nd to 5th in this rotation. Those highs were few & far between though. Overall, he was very ordinary in some categories (8 wins, 4.65 ERA, low K/IP ratio) & terrible in others (.302 BA against & 1.56 WHIP). Career history and this spring indicates that could even get worse. Until Strasburg arrives back on the scene (and we all hope he'll come back as strong & solid as before), this starting staff looks almost as pathetic as the one currently residing in KC. Be afraid, be very afraid.

3. RHP Jordan Zimmermann - OK, for me, this is a different story. Sporadically dominant at times in 2010, I like the raw ability and future of Zimmerman more than anyone on this entire staff. A high WHIP & ERA last year masked the good factors of a very solid strikeout ratio & a comparatively low BA against (.256). Closing in on 25, he's still just getting his feet wet in MLB with only 23 total starts in 2 big league years. I'm inclined to give him a mulligan for 1 more year based on the tools I see. Like last spring, he's done fairly well in 2011 so drafting him is a definite gamble. For me, grabbing him as one of my last starters might pay big dividends this year & I'm probably going to take a chance on him late in my draft.

4. RHP Jason Marquis - Marquis has been around the block more than a few times with a decade long MLB career spent with 5 teams. He's never been more than an average pitcher except for his 2004 St. Louis Cardinal campaign. We can expect more of the same this year with an ERA in the mid 4.00s, maybe 10 wins and a grossly high WHIP and average against. He's not a K machine either so I see no reason to look his way on draft day.

5. LHP Tom Gorzelanny - The former Pirate joins his 3rd MLB team in Washington this year & his numbers look strikingly familiar with the rest of this starting staff. I thought he had some talent when I 1st saw him in Pittsburgh and has shown a solid K ratio the last 2 years. His control issues may be what's keeping him from turning the corner so until some tangible results start to show, it's wait and see for me.

Closer

RHP Drew Storen - G ioing into this spring Storen looked like the obvious guy to sew up the closer's role & before last year, I was also on board with his ability. Though he wasn't the only one called upon to save games in 2010, his brief resume looked good with 5 saves in 7 chances, a solid K ratio & a low average against. Sadly, that has not carried over into this spring. In a little more than 6 innings, he been lit up to the tune of a 12.79 ERA. The rest of the spring numbers are equally as awful except he does show 8 strikeouts in 6-1/3 innings. That alone should leave room for hope. I'm baffled by this spring as well and the Nats hierarchy must also be worried to the point he may not even make the team. With most of the potential closers moving on to other teams, there's little else to choose from.

RHP Tyler Clippard - Though Todd Coffey has closed elsewhere before, Clippard may have the inside track thanks to sometimes dominating performances in 2010. He's also gotten torn apart this spring but his phenomenal K rate last year can't be ignored. If he can harness his wildness. He just might have success in this role for the Nats but he'll have to show me 1st. Doug Slaten could also be given a shot and since I believe Washington will try several in the beginning of the year, none of them should be drafted.

Lineup

1. CF Nyjer Morgan - His on field outburst after getting thrown behind in 2010 that spilled over with an uncalled for gesture to the fans may have been the beginning of the end for him. Hitting only .253 & scoring only 60 runs last year is not what the Nationals expected after getting him from the Pirates. At 30 & hitting only .205 this spring (though with 8 runs scored and 5 SB), he may need to show something right away. I tend to think the Nats will give him a little more rope to begin 2011 so we'll see what develops. He could provide some run and stolen base production for a fantasy team but not mine.

2. SS Ian Desmond - I had Desmond on my opening day fantasy roster as a backup SS last year (and with all the mistakes I'm telling you about, it is amazing I won my league) but had to cut him fairly early as he didn't give me what I needed. There is no doubt he still has the time to blossom into a very solid MLB starter as long as he can master the defensive skills of the position. His physical attributes and abilities suggest he can be a player with a rare speed and power combination at a position starving for viable fantasy candidates. He has hit well this spring while scoring 9 runs & stealing a couple bags but the power is absent. If I need a backup SS and someone hasn't already snagged him, I'd be willing to put my head in the noose again late in the draft.

3. RF Jayson Werth - Ex-Oriole farmhand Werth strung 3 solid years together (except for the .268 BA in '09) for the Phillies to get a nice free agent payday in the nation's capital. He'll probably duplicate fairly solid power numbers and a surprising amount of stolen bases for the Nats in 2011 but not at the rate he did in Philly. He goes to a lineup where he's less protected and a ballpark that isn't a hitters dream, not to mention removal of the pay day incentive. If you can live with an average in the .260-.270 range, HRs in the mid-twenties to go along with about 85 RBIs and stolen bases in the mid-teens for one of your outfield starters, he's your man. He's probably go as a #2 fantasy outfielder and while there may be better to fill that slot there is also a lot worse.

4. 3B Ryan Zimmerman - The meat of the Nats offense looks like he's just hitting his stride at 26. Two All-Star type years in a row make him one of the surest things not only at 3B but as a solid hitter regardless of position. Having Werth ahead of him also enhances his value to produce even better numbers across the board in 2011 and he should be in the upper tier of fantasy 3rd basemen. There is a groin injury concern this spring & Zimmerman is no stranger to missing time on the field with the odd ailment here and there. I don't think that's a cause for concern and you can rest easy all season knowing your 3rd base slot is being ably filled.

5. 1B Adam LaRoche - Hauling over to his 4th team entering his 7th big league season, LaRoche may find the pickings slimmer than the friendly hitters atmosphere in Arizona. A steadily declining BA and a sharp increase in strikeouts also points to a downturn in 2011. I think he'll reach 20 HRs but sharply drop from his 2010 total of 100 RBIs this season as the average will continue to slip to around .250 & the strikeouts pile up again. Someone could use him on their fantasy roster as a back up corner outfielder but it won't be me.

6. LF Michael Morse - The late season surprise of 2010 was awarded a starting spot (and deservedly so) to begin the 2011 campaign. Some seem to think he'll platoon to start the year but his solid 2nd half last year has dramatically continued to spill over into the spring so I don't agree. He's still ripping it up and as long as that continues, he'll get his at bats. A utility role player in Seattle for 4 seasons who sometimes manned middle infield positions, I think that with regular play he could amass 25 HRs, 80+ RBIs and hit in the .280-.290 range. Right now I'd go as high as a #3 OF slot for a fantasy roster. A bit of a risk without a true track record but his career .291 average means this guy has hitting shoes on his feet.

7. C Ivan Rodriguez - Nearing the end of a Hall Of Fame career, Rodriguez has been reduced to little more than a singles hitter and young catcher's mentor. I respect him greatly and in the past, he's given me very good numbers from a weak offensive position. Now he shouldn't be anywhere near an opening day roster.

8. 2B Danny Espinosa - This is another young Nationals hitter who I have high hopes for. He'll be given a good chance to make 2nd base his home & a low BA in 2010 could be forgiven for a young hitter getting to 24 soon. He flashed the promise of power last year and if his plate discipline improves so that the strikeouts aren't so regular, that batting average could rise to a respectable number as well. He's hitting .317 this spring with a pair of HRs and 12 RBIs so the promise stays alive for now. I'm not sure you want to gamble a draft day pick on him but he might find his way to many a fantasy baseball roster before long.

Possibilities

C Wilson Ramos - 2011 brings this former Twin to the Caddy spot for Rodriguez. That stay may be short as Rodriguez's usefulness seems to be quickly disappearing and Ramos has a good hitting pedigree in the minors. He hit .278 split among both teams in 2010 in 79 ABs & also has power to go along with that. Not draftable right now but watch closely to see when this transition takes place in Washington as he could provide some mid-season punch to a fantasy lineup.

OF Rick Ankiel - The former wild pitcher turned hitter seems to have found a fan in Jim Riggleman and might be given the chance to win an outfield start for the Nats. I've seen enough throughout his career to remain very suspicious. Aside from injuries following him around like a lost dog, his career .248 BA tells me to beware. He's still a good defender with decent pop but it's doubtful he'll ever again see the numbers he posted in his only solid season (2008, with the Cards). I'm not buying even if he wins the starting job and neither should you.

RHP Yunesky Maya - Here's someone who has impressed me for a future with the Nationals starting staff. He was plain awful in his MLB debut with the Nats in 2010 and the Cuban is running out of time at 29 but when I've seen him pitch this spring, I like what I see. He has the heater to get MLB hitters swinging and missing but has an assortment of pitches that he throws in any count to keep hitters off balance. He needs to do more to secure a chance for some starting assignments and will probably begin in long relief for the Nationals this year. This situation bears close watch as the Nationals staff needs immediate help.

Roger Bernadina - I don't understand management's reluctance to give Bernadina a shot in the Nats outfield. He showed a glimmer of the ability to steal bases and drive in a lot runs as well as scoring them in 2010 though his wild swinging ways led to a low average. I think with a little more attention to plate discipline and hitting according to the count, he can be a solid MLB starter. I personally like him to take Morgan's spot in center & lead off but have no way of knowing what the plans for him in Washington for 2011 will be. I'm going to guess he'll start as a part timer until the Nats get fed up with the undelivered promise of Nyjer Morgan. So until Strasburg's hitting counterpart phenom (Bryce Harper) is ready for the bigs, this could be the only breakout young hitter the Nats have for their outfield. We'll see.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Philadelphia Phillies

2011-03-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Rotation

1. RHP Roy Halladay - At the top of the best 4 man rotation baseball can boast resides the best starting pitcher in the game today. Coming up on 34 hasn't slowed this dominating ace down at all, in fact if anything, he's gotten even better the last few years. Winning 21 in 2010, his 1st season with the Phils, he improved on all of his 2009 AND career numbers across the board. He'll also give you solid K numbers too. We can toss superlatives around all day but the bottom line is he's the 1st starter off the board and as high as the #6 overall pick.

2. LHP Cliff Lee - He struggled when moving to Texas in the 2nd half of 2010 but I don't think that is a cause for concern. Entering his 2nd tour of duty with the Phillies, past history though brief indicates he'll do fine there. In recent years, he's also actually improved his K ratio too. It is hard to separate the talent after Halladay but Lee is worthy of a number 2 slot. In a full season with the Phils he could easily top 20 wins. He won't give you the strikeout or ERA numbers of Doc Halladay but who will? He slots as a late #1 or a very early #2 fantasy starter.

3. RHP Roy Oswalt - As the season for Philadelphia begins, Oswalt is slotted 3rd but that doesn't mean he's 3rd best. The idea is to keep opposition bats off balance by alternating righty/lefty in the rotation. This is a good idea. He's also the 3rd recent import for the starting staff, being rescued from a then hellish Astro existence in 2010. His career numbers show few if any blemishes as he's maintained good ERA, WHIP & K numbers. His win totals have been on the decline but most of that can be blamed on the Astros inability to win as a team. His K ratio is also similar to Halladay's & he's another plus 30 resident of a bought and paid for starting staff that has plenty left in the tank. A solid middle #2 fantasy starter.

4. LHP Cole Hamels - The only home grown product in the current 5 man rotation, his win totals have slipped a little the past 2 years. He still managed a solid 3.06 ERA & 1.18 WHIP while winning only 12 games in 2010. I tend to think he might benefit the most this year with the way the rotation sets him up as #4. Easily having the best K ratio on this staff gets my attention right away and he bettered the 9K/IP mark last year. He's just hitting his stride at 27 and I wouldn't hesitate to not only rank him with Lee & Oswalt, I see him as a very good #2 fantasy starter for 2011 & you'd be very lucky to get him as a #3 improving dramatically in his win total. Mental lapses causing wildness during the game & injuries are the only concerns I have.

5. RHP Joe Blanton - Everyone keeps saying what a hidden talent Blanton is but I'm of the opinion he's a big step down from the front four. Winning only 9 in 2010, he also sported a bloated ERA just under 5.00. THE WHIP, K ratio & average against were also poor so I'm saying where's the talent? He'll gobble up innings but that's about it. I see him no better than a middle of the road #5 starter and I'm hoping to do better with the pitcher who holds that spot on my fantasy team.

Closer

RHP Brad Lidge - I've had Lidge on my fantasy team more than a few times and been lucky enough for those to be his best years (his prime Astro years and 2008 with the Phils). At 34, he still carries the plus 95 heater and a hitter baffling slider but age has made him more susceptible to injuries. He's had bicep tendinitis this spring after also missing regular season time last year. Lidge is saying he felt fine after a 35 pitch bullpen session on 3/18, but I expect more ailments to crop up with increasing regularity. It also appears that he's slower to regain top form from each successive physical problem. When healthy & focused, he's still lights out but I'm not sure that's the case now. He's been buffeted around this spring and as much as I fondly remember the players who helped me out in the past, I can't get on board this year. He could turn out fine but I don't want him any higher than a lower area #2 closer.

RHP Ryan Madson - Madson is the guy who's stood in for Lidge before and the results have been mixed. He certainly has the live fastball & superior K ratio to succeed at this role. Last season was the 1st in a long time that he sported an ERA under the 1.23 mark and while he saved 5 he also blew the same number in 10 chances. He has been very effective this spring but I feel he's best suited in the 8th inning role where he shines. If Lidge's injury lingers on, I won't seek Madson's help for saves either.

Lineup

1. SS Jimmy Rollins - Rollins returns to the top of the order after a very disappointing 2010. Injuries did limit him to only 350 ABs for the 1st time in his All-Star studded career but it interesting to note that he's posted low batting averages for 2 successive seasons. I think he can rebound this year to score a customary 100 runs and steal 40-60 bases. Past history has shown him capable of hitting 20+ HRs in a season as well and perhaps raise his average to the .280-.290 range. Numbers you'd gladly take in your starting SS. He is in a walk year so that should also be an incentive to do well. I can't guarantee he'll hit all those projections and he's not an elite player at this position anymore but you could do a lot worse for your starter at this weak position.

2. CF Shane Victorino - After last year's experiment lower (6th & 7th) in the order, the Phils realized their mistake and put him in the #2 hole which best suits his obvious talents. He came through in 2010 anyway with his best ever power numbers while still stealing a near career best 34 bases as well. A slight drop off in runs scored and a career low BA can somewhat be attributed to him hopping around in the batting lineup for most of the season. He's not slowing down at 30 but adding a bit of power to his game instead and he's hit .341 this spring. A solid #3 fantasy outfielder who might give you #2 stats this year.

3. 2B Chase Utley - I jumped at the chance to draft Utley in the #5 spot last year and paid dearly for it. An injury plagued season forced me to drop him early and I never looked back. A myriad of spring knee injuries has resulted in Utley leaving camp to see a mysterious rehab specialist. This not only doesn't sound good but hints at a longer recovery period as the Phillies are saying they can win without him. When right, he delivers stand alone numbers from the 2nd base position though the knee injuries may put an end to his stolen base ability. In 2011, he's way too iffy to even draft other than as a very late roster waste pick for stowing. With Utley out of the order, someone will have to move into the #3 hole (perhaps Ibanez) and is one of a few dents showing up now in a once bulletproof lineup. With Utley out for probably an extended period, the Phils will either choose from light hitting Wilson Valdez, recently released former Met Luis Castillo or my choice, revitalized former Cleveland prospect Josh Barfield (see below).

4. 1B Ryan Howard - Howard is the prototypical benchmark of what you want from a fantasy 1st baseman (other than the huge amount of yearly strikeouts). He did cut down on that in 2010 but all of his positive power numbers took a tumble as well. The debate is whether this is a blip in the road or the start of a decline. At 31 & dedicated to staying in shape, I'm of the former opinion and he's shown it with major plus offensive numbers this spring. Still having Rollins & Victorino ahead of him should provide plenty of RBI chances also. I don't rank him in the elite class at his position anymore but you could do much worse as your starting 1st baseman.

5. 3B Placido Polanco - Another chink appeared in the Phils offensive armor as oft injured Polanco hyper-extended his left elbow in a 3/15 (beware the Ides of March indeed) spring game. It is unclear whether this is something that will have him missing any significant playing time or not but the team is downplaying the injury. He hadn't hit a lick this spring so far and his production numbers fell in 2010 also. At 35, his best years are probably behind him so if he's healthy enough to play at full stride on opening day, he'd be a lower rung starting 3rd baseman or a nice back up corner infielder. I'd probably slot him too low to get him for my team. If his injury needs time, I'd expect Valdez to replace him.

6. LF Raul Ibanez - As I said, he might be moving to the #3 hole while Utley is out, which would move everyone else up a spot and put the winner of the 2nd base sweepstakes at 7 or 8 unless it is Castillo. While spending time in that lineup spot before, I'm not sure how much Ibanez can deliver there now as he nears 39. He's still a fairly capable bat who'll probably hit around .270, could approch 20 HRs & 80 RBIs plus steal a few bases. To me, he's a 4th outfielder at best but I'm sure there are meatier pickings at this roster slot.

7. RF Ben Francisco - Probably going to win the RF job when camp breaks, thanks to Domonic Brown's broken hand & a myopic view by manager Charlie Manuel, the ex-Cleveland part timer has had a very good spring. I have my doubts as his career .263 BA points to. He does have a modicum of power and could deliver enough to keep the job. I like someone else much better for the post but whoever wins this job is still draft worthy as a back up outfielder.

8. C Carlos Ruiz - A career .260 hitter with enough pop to hit double digit HRs, I don't see him getting anywhere near the .302 he hit last year. He'll be given plenty of rope to hold onto the position so I guess that makes him possibly draftable as a low end starting catcher or a decent backup. I think I can do better.

Possibilities

2B Josh Barfield - The 1st of two Phillie players with good baseball bloodlines. The son of former slugging Blue Jay star outfielder Jesse, it has been a long 5 years around the baseball horn getting to the Phillies for this once Padre phenom. You'd have to go back to his rookie season of 2006 to find some tangible numbers for support. The power potential from then has yet to return but he hit .400 in his last MLB appearance spanning 20 ABs in 2009 & has mashed the ball at a .393 pace this spring. To me, he's the best option while Utley recovers but I'd watch to see what the team decides to do.

OF John Mayberry Jr. - Here's the 2nd player with a MLB dad. Junior is son to former KC slugging 1st baseman of the same name. I have always believed that sports bloodlines are a great tell in projecting future pro level success and that has proven out to be true for the most part. The son has been around his dad enough to know what leads to success and the genes usually inherit the physical ability as well. Mayberry has the physical tools for certain but has never gotten a chance to prove his wares in two brief stints with the big club. The power is there and has already peeked it's head above ground with 2 HRs, 6 RBIs & a .333 average in only 12 2010 ABs. He's also impressed this spring by doing even better clubbing 5 HRs & hitting .316 so far. He deserves the chance to be an everyday starter ahead of all the other candidates but knowing the painstakingly slow, conservative & deliberate circles Charlie Manuel and his coaching staff moves in, expect Francisco to be given 1st crack based on a truly average career to date. I expect before the season gets too far along, the Phillies will tire of waiting for Francisco to hit at the Major League level & Domonic Brown to show his promise (assuming his hand fracture will heal quickly) and give Mayberry the chance around mid season. I'm going to follow this development closely & jump at the chance to pick him up when he becomes the starter.

OF Domonic Brown - Anointed as the starter based on his potential, a fractured hand this spring has put this speeding press clipping train on hold. He does have all the physical tools to be a 5 tool player but has yet to show that hitting .210 in 62 2010 ABs & .063 this spring. I guess the jury is still out on this one but I'm off the bandwagon as I'm not sure he'll ever be anything more than a 4A talent (great in the minors but not able to make the transition to hitting in the pros).

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - New York Mets

2011-03-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK METS

Rotation

1. RHP Mike Pelfrey - Pelfrey being the ace of the Mets staff should tell you something about their rotation heading into 2011. Most of this is due to Johan Santana being on the shelf until at least June or July. Santana is recovering from shoulder surgery and it is going slow. I won't touch him in this draft, even to stow him on an opening roster in hopes he comes back strong. A fantasy player needs continuous stats to get that title. Pelfrey did have a good 2010 winning 15 games and posting a career low 3.66 ERA. Will this continue? My bench markers say no due to very high career ERA & WHIP numbers (even last year) plus the fact he'll not only be facing the opposition's ace most of the time but New York might struggle to score runs (which bailed Pelfrey out last year) after the 1st 3 in the lineup have taken their turn. He's also not a big K pitcher which turns me away. I see him no better than a 4th or 5th starter so someone else will jump at this bait before me.

2. LHP Jon Niese - His 1st season in the rotation yielded mixed results. He did show flashes at times and his K ratio was fairly decent. He may win more than the 9 games he did in 2010 but a ho-hum 4.20 ERA and a very high WHIP tells me to look elsewhere. I need more positive proof before biting on this one for my opening day roster.

3. RHP R.A. Dickey - The knuckleballer also posted a nice 2010 after doing virtually nothing the previous 7. He won 11 games but more impressively threw a 2.84 ERA and 1.19 WHIP on the table. He's a pitcher who won't amass many Ks and I think his career ERA is the biggest tell so I won't be choosing him on draft day.

4. LHP Chris Capuano - When camp breaks he & Young may switch spots. His ERA will probably be somewhere in the low to mid 4.00s, he'll carry a fairly high WHIP, give you a fair amount of Ks and probably win less than 10. Whenever someone describes a pitcher as an "innings eater" I run away and will do so here as well.

5. RHP Chris Young - The last time he went out on the mound for 30+ starts (due to injury) was 2007. His good career ERA and WHIP and the fact that he has looked more than ready this spring leads me to believe he'll have good value at the back of a fantasy rotation. He probably won't have a K/IP ratio close to his career 7.7 but could win more games than any other Mets starter this year and still provide other solid numbers across the board. I'm going to look for him late in my draft.

Closer

RHP Francisco Rodriguez - No issue about who's closing for the Mets either. He's been his typical "lights out" self this spring with dominant K numbers and not allowing a single run in 6-2/3 innings. He can be erratic on occasion as witnessed by his history of blowing at least 5 saves in each of the last 4 years. The Mets should be in plenty of close games giving him lots of save chances but with their current rotation, they could be on the losing end going into the latter portion of games also. He's a #1 closer but not at the top tier level.

Lineup

1. SS Jose Reyes - Only two thing separate Reyes from Hanley Ramirez in terms of top of the line fantasy value at the shortstop position: a) He's been much more fragile (he only played 133 games last year and missed most of 2009 playing only 36 games) & b) He doesn't carry the power bat Ramirez does. His advantage is he's a switch hitter and can get down the line from the left side faster to get on base. Putting that aside, he looks ready to roll in 2011 swiping bases at his normal pace. If healthy, he'll hit close to .300, steal 50-60 bases (more than Han-Ram), still give you about 15 HRs and 60-70 RBIs and score more runs than Ramirez. The Mets lineup just behind him looks better equipped to give him scoring opportunities than Florida too. Any fantasy player would salivate at those numbers and I'd be very happy to have him this year.

2. CF Angel Pagan - He was one of my most pleasant fantasy roster surprises from 2010. Finally given the chance to amass full time at bats in 2010, the switch hitter didn't miss. With the job his to lose in 2011, I think he'll improve on his HR & SB numbers to at least 15 & 45 respectively with a corresponding up tick in RBIs from last year's 69 and still hit .300. No worse than a #3 outfielder for fantasy purposes.

3. 3B David Wright - Rebounding from an off power year in 2009 Wright made it so with a solid 2010. He should be reinstated to elite status this year as with a healthy Reyes and a confident Pagan setting the table in front of him, he should be able to feast. There are very few if any better fantasy players at his position.

4. RF Carlos Beltran - Leg injuries have ravaged his last two seasons and he's currently not playing this spring due to left knee tendinitis. Until he shows different, at least his stolen base ability is gone. He can still hit HRs and drive in runs but even if he's ready to go probably will have a hard time keeping a high BA. I can't afford the risk so count me out.

5. LF Jason Bay - A July concussion derailed his 2010 season & I don't think he'll ever approach the 2009 numbers he posted in Boston. His BA has steadily declined for 3 seasons so that also serves as a warning. I do think he'll rebound slightly from the disastrous 2010 debacle and put up decent power numbers for an outfielder. I won't go after him harder than a #4 outfielder if the situation presents itself but someone will jump the gun on him earlier.

6. 1B Ike Davis - Davis certainly made his presence known in 2010 with a pretty solid year including 19 HRs & 71 RBIs. His lack of plate discipline shown by a .264 average probably means he'll fall back a bit in 2011. I could be wrong as he's had a very solid spring offensively so far. He should make someone's starting fantasy roster as a back up corner infielder.

7. C Josh Thole - Given the starting assignment to begin 2011, his hitting pedigree makes a closer look worthwhile. I believe with regular at bats he can provide at least 20 HRs, 80 RBIs & an average hovering around .300. If he can do this, that's solid fantasy starter numbers for a backstop. If you missed out on the top guys, this one might give you a fantasy lift in 2011.

8. 2B Brad Emaus/David Murphy - With Luis Castillo now released, the job may fall to a platoon situation until someone takes the bull by the horns. Leftie hitter Murphy is making quite a transition from 1st base and if he can bring up his average a bit closer to what he's done before, maintain the numbers (12 HRs/63 RBIs) he sported last year while still handling the position defensively, he could be the better part of this time share. From the right side Emaus, the ex-Blue Jay, has hitting ability as well. He hit .306 & .400 in two spring camps with the Jays but is slow in 2011 with a .231 BA. The Mets may also like Murphy's power more. I'm not jumping at either one for opening day & neither should you unless you're really hurting for a middle infielder and that's a stretch.

Possibilities

OF Lucas Duda - It says a lot that the highest ranked Mets prospect, Wilmer Flores, is not only at a strong position for the MLB club but ranked in the 50s among most ranking scouts. This dearth could be due to many years of the big club not getting to the post season but also not bad enough to get a draft lottery pick. That could change as losing years could snow ball. Duda appears to be the only one who will crack the MLB roster in 2011. If Beltran can't go when the opening bell rings, Duda will more than likely step in. He didn't distinguish himself in 84 2010 ABs but does have the promise of power potential. This spring has shown much the same with 2 HRs & 6 RBIs but only a .261 BA. Much better than the .202 he showed in his 2010 debut. We'll see what shows up.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Florida Marlins

2011-03-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

FLORIDA MARLINS

Rotation

1. RHP Josh Johnson - Strictly based on ability, talent & major league presence alone Johnson qualifies as a #1 starter or at worst a #2. Though his career WHIP is a little high, he's mastered that the last 2 seasons. He's also an excellent strikeout pitcher who has kept his ERA low as well. His problem is staying healthy. When able to take the mound, and he does have 4 spring starts, you'll find very few MLB starters who can deliver more for you. His fastball this spring has topped out at 93 MPH & usually moves in the high 90s but that should come as the spring winds down. I'd monitor this and see what happens when camp breaks. He's a steal as a #2 starter but beware, he could easily become injured at any time.

2. RHP Ricky Nolasco - It seems a lot of the Marlin starters have injury maladies and Nolasco's career isn't any different. While I don't think he has the same physical abilities or pitches as Johnson, he can be very dominating when he's right. Suffering from a jammed right thumb this spring, he's made only 1 spring start to date and got cuffed around in that effort. His career ERA & WHIP are nothing to write home about but he has posted 42 wins over the last 3 campaigns & will get you plenty of Ks. The thumb is cause for concern as it appears to have hampered his effectiveness so far. Knowing how erratic he can be & cautioning a watch on his health, a #4 starter is the best I can rank him.

3. RHP Javier Vazquez - It is entirely possible that Vazquez & Nolasco may switch rotation spots as the season begins. The well traveled vet still flashed a dominating heater up to 2009 but last year was a concern as his ERA & WHIP shot up & his strikeout ratio went down. Reportedly, his fastball is moving at about 91 MPH this spring so at 34 the age factor may be creeping in. He still has the smarts and pitches to get MLB hitters out & he's had a good spring so far so I'm not writing him off yet. Depending on how your particular draft goes, he could be as high as a #3 starter.

4. RHP Anibal Sanchez - Sanchez, as most Marlin starters this spring has an injury. A bruised right shin has caused him to miss his last spring start and he also carries around a suitcase of past injuries. When right, he'd be a fine #5 starter for a fantasy team as his ERA and strikeout ratio has always been good. The problem is he's never topped last year's 13 wins (in 32 starts no less) & I think the problem is he throws too many pitches during a game which is verified by his high career WHIP. Again, I'd see how this nagging spring injury shakes out when the 2011 season begins.

5. RHP Chris Volstad/RHP Alex Sanabia - Volstad has been given more than an opportunity to be a Florida rotation mainstay & doesn't have much to show for it statistically in 3 past seasons. He's not a strikeout pitcher though he is an imposing mound figure and his ERA & WHIP also don't warrant fantasy roster status. This spring has been no different so I'm staying away. Sanabia is also being considered for this spot based on a decent call up effort in 2010. He won 5 games in 12 starts then and had a nice ERA. He won't get you many Ks and he could easily implode (he's carrying an almost 17.00 ERA in the spring) so I'm saying no thanks.

Closer

RHP Leo Nunez - No doubt about who owns this role in Florida. The ex-Royal has been a model of consistency since taking over as closer full time in 2009. He'll give you everything you want in a closer from a low ERA, plenty of Ks & saves in the 30-40 range. His only drawback is he's blown an unusal number of saves (15) the last two years so you might have to deal with the bad as well as the good. This is somewhat mystifying as his stuff is solid. Florida has made grumblings that if this inconsistency continues, they may replace him with Clay Hensley. That is a possibility made even more likely as Nunez might be dealt (Texas comes to mind if they insist on the stupidity of moving Feliz to a starter's role) if the Marlins fall out of contention (could easily happen). You are taking a chance with him but the rewards could be big. At this point, I see him as a middle of the pack #2 closer.

RHP Clay Hensley - I always liked his stuff & it looks like he might finally establish a true MLB role soon. He shone across the board as the #2 closer option in Florida last year, including a sterling strikeout ratio. The only concern is he also blew 3 saves in 10 chances. Though I think Nunez will be given every chance to get it right in 2011. There is certainly a strong possibility Hensley might be the closer sometime this summer. Watch this development.

Lineup

1. CF Chris Coghlan - After announcing his arrival with a solid 2009, he regressed in all offensive areas last year. Appearing in only 96 games due to ailments was part of that story and I think he'll rebound this year as long as he's ready to go. He's again been slowed this spring by a sore right throwing shoulder so it makes you wonder if he'll be fragile throughout his MLB career. As a lead off hitter, he won't amass more than double digit steals and probably has the same top ceiling in HRs along with a BA in the .280 range and 50 RBIs. Not what you'd like from a fantasy outfielder so I'd only bite if I need one late in the draft. There is also the possibility that he could move to 3B if Dominguez is deemed not ready to man that position yet.

2. 2B Omar Infante - After many years as a utility player in Detroit and Atlanta, he'll be given the job to start the season as the Emilio Bonafacio infield experiment is put on hold. He's hit close to or at .300 the last three years and has the pop to get you double digit homers. Though honored as a 2010 All-Star, I don't think his production or lack of stolen base ability merits a starting job on a fantasy team. If you need a backup middle infielder late in the draft, go ahead and get him.

3. SS Hanley Ramirez - Once considered by far the best at his position & still suprisingly ranked #1 overall on some fantasy tote boards, injuries and a steady decrease in power numbers over the last 5 seasons has raised a concern. A young 27, I still rank Ramirez as the prize of all MLB fantasy shortstops. I do expect a rebound from last year and he might even throw up some SB numbers close to what he had in 2006 & 2007 this year. Depending on where I pick in round one I'd have to seriously think if his projected 2011 are worthy of selection. As a friend always says: "You want a 1st round pick with no warts" & last year sure produced a few blemishes. Keep in mind that this is one of the most sparse positions in fantasy baseball so you have to weigh that against someone who could probably give you better power numbers, the same type BA & less steals at another more abundant position.

4. RF Mike Stanton - Stanton broke out of prospect status with a mighty power display last season. It is debatable if Florida will entrust him in the clean up role this year as he could bat as low as 6th. His 2010 campaign was bothered by an injury and he has a quad strain keeping him on the shelf this spring as well. This might mean Sanchez moves into the #4 hole until Stanton is good to go. There is no doubt his power numbers could be monstrous over a full season and he does have the ability to hit in the .270 range. Strikeout totals throughout his career will probably remain very high and the incidence of injury, severe or nagging, should also give you pause. With solid outfielders in fantasy baseball declining, it is tempting to throw a fairly high pick Stanton's way but I won't join in more than a later middle round pick due to the question marks so I probably won't land him.

5. 1B Gaby Sanchez - As I mentioned, Sanchez will probably occupy the #4 hole in the batting order on opening day & that's not a bad thing. He found his power stroke in his 1st full season last year hitting 19 HRs & driving in 85. He has the swing to get to the mid 20s in HRs & 100 RBIs by developing more upper body power and that would fit in well with Florida's plans. I like him even more as a young hitter than Stanton at this point & should be drafted as a middle/late starter at 1st or a steal as a backup corner infielder.

6. LF Logan Morrison - Rounding out the trio of young Marlin grass patrollers, Morrison also showed some promise in 244 2010 ABs. He won't give you the power numbers you want from this position but will drive in runs & hit for an average close to .300. I don't see him as a draft day candidate but he does bear watching as the season moves along.

7. C John Buck - A 2010 All-Star free agent from the Blue Jays, power numbers are the strength of his fantasy game. He's unlikely to repeat the HR, RBI and BA stats from last year going to a park (and league) that will be more difficult to produce in. I would slot him as one of the last starting catcher candidates or a capable backup on a fantasy roster who will give you occasional production outbursts during the season but not on a regular basis.

8. 3B Matt Dominguez - Another in a line of promising young Marlin hitters, this young 21 year old may need more time in the minors to hone his swing. He'll be given a legitimate shot to win the spot but I'm not sure he'll break camp as the starter. His spring has been anything but successful hitting .219 but has displayed his power with 2 HRs & 10 RBIs. I can't recommend him for a fantasy roster spot as I'm of the belief he needs more at bats down on the farm never having made a MLB at bat appearance.

Possibilities

2B Osvaldo Martinez - A shortstop by trade, the Marlins won't consider him there with Ramirez in his prime. Florida has more concerns at 2B and hitting .302 with 90 runs scored and 13 steals last year at AA opened some eyes that he might be MLB ready. Probably starting 2011 in AAA or backing Infante up, his wait for a big league chance might be this summer.

RHP Tom Koehler - Due to a rash of injuries among what was thought to be a very solid rotation, able bodied starters might be in demand for the Marlins. This sturdily built right hander has yet to log a regular season appearance for Florida but at 24, his time might be now. Going 16-2 with the second best ERA and K total in AA last year earned him the Southern League pitcher of the year trophy. He hasn't started a spring game yet so the Marlins probably think he'll need more time in the minors 1st but could be an early season call up as Florida's rotation doesn't look bulletproof all of a sudden.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Atlanta Braves

2011-03-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA BRAVES

Rotation

1. RHP Tim Hudson - At 35, Tim Hudson had a 2010 season that you could rank as one of his best. After 2 previous seasons hampered by injuries, Hudson returned to his best form. Never a strikeout machine (unless you count his rookie 1999 season), he induces ground balls from hitters with regularity. Some point to his 2010 BABIP that is 30 points below his average & say he won't be able to duplicate last year's numbers in 2011. I'm of the other opinion that he can based on his career ERA and win averages & he hasn't been slowed down other than those injuries. 17 wins and an ERA in the low 3.00s is certainly doable in 2011 but you won't get a bunch of Ks & another injury at his age could crop up again. I'd slot him as a middle of the pack 3rd starter.

2. RHP Derek Lowe - He's another Braves starter who keeps rolling along at 37, his strikeout numbers will resemble what you'd get from Tim Hudson and he might approach the 16 wins he got in 2010 again this year but will probably sport a higher ERA and WHIP. He could show up on a fantasy roster as a 4th or 5th starter but I'd rather look somewhere else.

3. RHP Jair Jurrjens - It's amazing how similar the 1st 3 starters in this rotation are. Jurrjens also won't wow you with his K numbers and his ERA could land anywhere between the mid 3.00s & mid 4.00s. His WHIP also won't help your team & he'll probably get you 10-13 wins. Though he did have fairly good seasons in 2008 & 2009, I'm going to fill out my starting staff elsewhere.

4. RHP Tommy Hanson - I am stunned that the most talented starter on this staff is slated in the number 4 hole. I suppose Braves management looks at career win totals and forms the rotation spots accordingly. This is the guy I will most actively pursue for my roster. Though he's only had 11 & 10 wins respectively in his 1st two years and 2010 was a bit of a regression, I expect a big breakthrough soon and this year could be it. He does have bouts of focus loss on the mound as every young pitcher has that sometimes leads to big innings by the opposition, but his tools are just too good. Look to his career 3.16 ERA & solid WHIP plus one of the best curves in the game to go with a mid to high 90s heater & he appears only a heartbeat away from a season to remember. I'm so convinced that you can count me among those who would take him as my 2nd starter early.

5. LHP Mike Minor - Minor appears to have the inside track on slot #5 as the rest of the rotation is right handed and a lefty is needed. Not showing much more than a almost 11 K per 9 IP ratio in 8 MLB starts, he rolled up almost a 6.00 ERA & a bloated WHIP. His fastball/curve/changeup arsenal should someday land him as a top of the rotation guy. He's baffled hitters in 2 spring starts so I'm on board. I'd wait until the decision is announced but he's fantasy staff worthy now. With him, Hanson & Beachy on board, Atlanta's near future rotation looks very bright.

Closer

RHP Craig Kimbrel - Right now the favorite to be the closer, being battered around this spring has caused the Braves to re-evaluate what they'll do on the back end. That's a shame for Kimbrel as he was nothing short of extraordinary in 21 2010 games. He rolled out a 0.44 ERA and an unworldly just under 2 Ks per inning pitched. I'm not sure Atlanta has decided to go with the dreaded "closer by commitee" as they do have the weapons on hand to try this. I think he'll be given every chance to right the ship before camp breaks and if he does, I'd enlist his services for my fantasy pen without a doubt. Wait until the Braves shake this situation out though before you pounce.

LHP Jonny Venters - Besides Beachy and Kimbrel, Venters could easily slide in as the main shut down 9th inning guy. If Kimbrel doesn't right the ship, look for possibly Venters and Kimbrel splitting duty depending on the hitting situation that presents itself at the end of the game. Venters has at least as much good stuff as the other two and a lefty always has a place at the end of the game. He might not have the insane strikeout numbers of the other two but proved his effectiveness in 2010 and could easily produce a K per IP ratio. This is a very interesting development as the season gets ready to start and bears close watching. All 3 candidates should be no lower than a #2 closer if they have the job to themselves but otherwise it is a gamble to draft them.

Lineup

1. LF Martin Prado - Improving on a good 2009 with an even better 2010, this all-star could just be hitting his stride since settling in as a full time starter. Of course his value was much more as a middle infielder before shifting to 1B last year and the outfield now for 2011. He's still capable of 20+ HRs, 70 RBIs and an average north of .300. He did wear down a bit last year in the 2nd half after his 1st year with a full load of ABs but I don't think that will repeat itself this year. No lower than a #3 outfielder and possibly considered a #2.

2. RF Jason Heyward - An early season injury derailed what could have been a monster rookie year but he still put up numbers worthy of a rookie of the year. Hitting at a .417 clip this spring, I see even better in 2011 if he's healthy with no lingering effects of last season's mishap. I'm not sure he'll ever put up monstrous HR totals but 30+ plus with 90-100 RBI and a BA well above .300 seems well within the norm. My only concern is that his leg injury from 2010 and other nagging aches this spring won't cut into the double digit steals he can produce yearly. I have to temper my enthusiasm by what might be a career of persistent injuries but he's no lower than a #3 outfielder for a fantasy team.

3. 3B Chipper Jones - As well as suffering through the decision to drop Heyward last year after it looked like his injury would drag on, Jones is the crutches poster boy I also had as my 3B starter in 2010, waiting too long to draft at 3B. We know the story: he cost me dearly only appearing in 95 games and he's only topped 128 games played twice in the last 6 years. Apparently still having pain in his surgically repaired knee, he's still tearing the cover off the ball this spring. As tough as he is and given the possibility the Braves could slide into the postseason in 2011, he'll always try to play through the pain. The running part of his game is long gone and having to play the field might wear him down even more. When he's right, he can still put very strong numbers across the board with the best of them but last year has scared me off. If the spring finishes with him in playing shape, I'd gamble no more than a back up corner infielder spot on him but he could go down at any time. With 39 around the corner this future Hall Of Famer may finally be succumbing to 2261 hard games played.

4. C Brian McCann - A perennial All-Star and producing top of his position fantasy numbers year in and out, he might be the 1st catcher off the board in a lot of 2011 drafts. His lower BA in 2010 is a slight concern but at 27 the hits should keep on coming and he'll even give you a handful of steals. Even the top catchers produce stats at a level of a 3rd outfielder but without an abundance of good hitting receivers, it is worth your while to have one on your team as the stat drop off is severe & rapid once this position starts coming off the board.

5. 2B Dan Uggla - Marlin free agent import brings plenty of punch to the middle of this line up. Add the .287 he hit last year and a few steals & you've got one of the top middle infield producers in the game. He hasn't hit yet this spring but don't be concerned as Atlanta plays well to his strengths. Don't wait too long as he'll come off the board fairly early.

6. 1B Freddie Freeman - This year's Atlanta phenom didn't do much in 24 at bats at the end of 2010 but he's hitting .310 this spring. He'll be given the job outright to lose and his Minor League pedigree suggests he will hit MLB pitching. I don't think he'll generate the power or give you the speed Heyward has to offer but might have a more than respectable year. Based on his press clippings, someone will probably draft him but I'm not biting just yet.

7. CF Nate McLouth - Not even the most pessimistic Braves fan could have predicted the miserable season McLouth had in his 1st full tilt with Atlanta. I think an outfield collision in June contributed mightily to his decline last year. I'm not sure if this is the shape of things to come but at 29, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Never one to hit for a high average, I expect all the other numbers (including steals) to rebound at least a bit as he wants to prove himself right. He's tearing it up this spring and I think he'll last a while in any draft. If you're looking for a last outfielder at the end of the draft, he might be sitting there and could give you some solid returns.

8. SS Alex Gonzalez - I was shocked by his power display last year as he has been anything but consistent throughout his career. The BA will remain low and the power should at least take a dip in 2011 as most of his damage was done in Toronto and the lights flickered a bit after moving over to Atlanta. If you can live with lower numbers across the board and no steals, to me he slots as a starter late in the draft if you need one or a capable fill in back up middle infielder for your roster.

Possibilities

RHP Brandon Beachy - Beachy is also being considered for a rotation spot & part of the closer puzzle. In 3 2010 appearances he sported a 3.00 ERA and a K per IP ratio. He should fit into the Braves plan somewhere in 2011 and in 2 spring appearances (1 start) has been as effective as Minor. He has the same equal quality pitches in his pocket as Minor does but might start the year somewhere in the pen. Also don't be surprised if he is given some save opportunities no matter how the closer role shakes out in 2011.

SS Diory Hernandez - Waiting in the wings if Gonzalez shows signs of faltering, Hernandez has shown very little in 94 MLB at bats. He may have turned the corner hitting .304 in winter ball & .308 this spring. He won't give you power like Gonzalez or surprisingly any steals but might give the Braves a source of runs at the bottom of the lineup.

RHP Julio Teheran - A mid 90s fastball & superior off speed pitches add Teheran to the list of potentially dominating Atlanta arms. The abundance of young pitching talent this team has waiting for a chance to prove themselves is potentially star studded. He's been spotless in 2 spring innings so far (though curiously without a K), but I doubt he'll begin the year with the big club. A call up before September is also unlikely due to Atlanta's pitching depth top to bottom but his stay in the minors could be short if an opportunity among Atlanta's veteran staff opens up.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Oakland Athletics

2011-03-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Rotation

1. RHP Trevor Cahill - How this rotation gets slotted is still to be decided and I've seen Cahill listed as low as #4. He's not the kind of starter who'll give you anything close to good strikeout totals. Bouncing back from a less than effective rookie season in 2009, he was among the league leaders in ERA & WHIP while notching an impressive 18 wins. These numbers are that much more eye opening when you consider Oakland's offense was a bottom feeder in in AL runs scored. I'm not so sure he'll approach his 2010 win total this year and I'm fairly confident those superb ERA & WHIP numbers will go up but if he's not the #1 starter, it probably helps his value as he'll go against other team's lesser quality starters. He should rank as high as a #2 fantasy starter but I need good K numbers from the starters I go after so I rank him as a #3.

2. LHP Brett Anderson - His 2009 numbers should be assessed with the knowledge that he performed very well when taking the ball but injuries somewhat muddied the waters. He has much better K potential than Cahill & bested him in ERA & WHIP. He's started 2 games this spring throwing 8-1/3 total innings and though he's been cuffed around a bit, the 11Ks is the most relevant number. I'd see what his total spring innings reveal but I wouldn't hesitate to select him as a #2 or #3 starter.

3. LHP Dallas Braden - He of the 2010 perfect game & possible opening game starter did wind up with a good ERA & WHIP as well. Putting that aside, I'm more inclined to look at his higher career numbers in those categories and less than exciting strikeout totals. The 11 wins he posted last year might also be his water level. I actually think he'll regress in every area for 2011 so I'm not going after him on draft day.

4. LHP Gio Gonzalez - If we're talking about raw pitching ability alone, this is the starter on Oakland's staff who has those attributes. If it was me, I'd slot him #2 in this rotation. Control has always been his albatross but in spite of having to deal with that he posted a year in 2010 that a fantasy owner would gladly take. The WHIP will still remain high and the ERA probably will also inflate a bit as he'll need to harness his control better but I see possibly even better numbers than 2010 in wins (15) & strikeouts (171). Until he has better command, I can't recommend better than a #3 starter slot.

5. LHP Josh Outman - The #5 candidate for the rotation is still wide open. RHP Brandon McCarthy has plenty of unrealized potential & has pitched well this spring. With another injury this spring & the fact he's hardly ever ready to take the mound RHP Rich Harden can't be counted on at all. Outman might be given the shot here as well but I don't like his skill set either. I'd give McCarthy the chance but none are worthy of a draft roster spot now.

Closer

RHP Andrew Bailey - We all wondered why the A's would invest free agent money in another closer with Bailey fast becoming one of the best in the game. Well, it now appears that the move was wiser than we knew. Bailey has throwing elbow and forearm problems this spring after tossing just 1-1/3 innings of scoreless ball. Visiting Dr. James Andrews today (3/15) doesn't bode well and he lost about half of his 2010 season injured as well. As much as I like his ability, I can't take a chance of not getting immediate closer stats as the baseball season begins. I'd watch his injury status carefully but wouldn't select him on draft day.

LHP Brian Fuentes - The Oakland insurance policy for Bailey should step into the void & he's been spotless this spring. I've never been of the thought to rank him with the best closers in the game but opportunities and the A's being in a lot of close games thanks to their starters would have me draft him as a #2 or #3 closer if I'm sure he'll be the man on opening day.

Lineup

1. CF Coco Crisp - A leadoff hitter who can give you surprising power numbers for a fleet footed outfielder specializing in stolen bases. Injured for more than half the 2010 campaign, his numbers from last year projected over a full season would be very satisfying. His history shows an injury cropping up right when he starts getting into a good seasonal groove so beware of this happening. If the promise of double digit HRs, 60-70 RBIs, an average close to .300 & 40-50 steals entices you, take a shot. I won't select him higher than a 4th roster outfielder in spite of his gaudy spring stats.

2. RF David DeJesus - Another FA import, the ex-Royal seems well suited to batting 2nd. Oakland had to improve their lowly run scoring ability but 8 years of not quite there stats in KC is only part of what's needed. Most of his numbers will mirror what Crisp should do with better power and fewer steals but I'd be wary of drafting him higher than a last outfield roster spot filler at best.

3. LF Josh Willingham - Another FA piece to insert some offense into last year's mostly punch less lineup, Willingham has some respectable power numbers (about 20+ HRs/60+ RBIs per season) on his resume. He won't steal many bases or score a lot of runs and his average has hovered around .260 since hitting .304 in 2005 with the Marlins. He's also missed some considerable on field time the last 3 years due to injuries. He could be valuable as an in-season pick up but he's not on my draft day radar.

4. DH Hideki Matsui - A busy off season also landed Godzilla further up the West Coast. In essence the replacement for departed Jack Cust, an aging Matsui showed he can still deliver decent power numbers and an average close to .280. Injuries have also followed the slugger the past few years and he certainly doesn't have the lineup protection to produce as he did in Los Angeles so the numbers from 2010 (21 HR/84 RBI) could take a dip in 2011. Figuring his position eligibility at OF or 1B is gone further reduces his value. If I'm needing for a utility hitter late in the draft, I might look his way.

5. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff - His numbers peaking in his 2007 season with SD, it is unlikely that a major spike in stats is in his future. You can expect HRs in the 16-20 range, 70-80 RBIs & an average in the .260-.270 range. Not bad for a lower level starting 3rd baseman or a back up corner infielder but that's it. He's hitting .480 with a surprising 7 RBIs this spring already but don't expect that over the course of a season.

6. 1B Daric Barton - All alone with the 1st base job to start 2011, a career .260 hitter who did generate 10 HRs and 57 RBIs in his 1st full MLB season. This gives Oakland hope for more in 2011 but I don't see it. He won't give you the power numbers you need from a corner infielder and mired in the A's lineup won't help either. Leave him on the draft board.

7. C Kurt Suzuki - At 27, Suzuki started to realize his talent in 2009 & 2010 as one of the new wave of baseball's offensive minded young catchers. He did miss time last year so I'm more inclined to look at his 2009 totals (15/88/.274) as a jumping off point. 20+ HRs, 90 RBIs & a .280 BA is not only possible but probable as a conservative total for 2011. You could do a lot worse than him as your fantasy starter & I'd rather see him higher up in this batting order to take advantage of his RBI potential.

8. 2B Mark Ellis - Turning 34 this season & with recent injuries looming close by, Ellis has had years of surprising production for a middle infielder topping out with 19 HRs & 76 RBIs in 2007. Don't expect anywhere near that anymore. Perhaps 50 RBIs, a handful of HRs & stolen bases with an average around .270 might be realized if he holds up all year. That says take him if you really need a last middle infielder but I'll leave him be.

9. SS Cliff Pennington - Always showing a glimmer of promise but never delivering, Pennington has been remarkably consistent. He did steal 29 bags in his 1st season with substantial at bats last year but that might be his only game hitting in the .250 range with 50 RBIs and a handful of HRs. He would be useful later in the year if you're looking to fatten up your SB numbers but other than that, look elsewhere at this position.

Possibilities

OF Chris Carter - A 24 year old with massive power potential ala Mike Stanton, he hit 3 HRs & totaled 7 RBIs in 70 2010 ABs. On the flip side, his plate discipline and strikeout tendency showed in his .186 BA. Most of this was accumulated in a 0 for 33 start. He's showing the same kind of numbers this spring so unless he acquires a batting eye, this might be his MLB niche. I'm willing to wait a bit longer and I'm betting power starved Oakland is as well. Keep watch as I think he fits into the A's plans this year & if the free agent outfielders drag the team down this summer, they might be jettisoned so Carter can find a spot patrolling the A's grass this summer.

2B Eric Sogard - A lefty line drive hitter with the ability to consistently hit at the .300 level, he also has the swing to develop more pop than the average MLB middle infielder. He hit .429 in a brief 2010 September stint with the A's so he could be supplanting Ellis sooner than you think. He looks like half the face of Oakland's future middle infield if recently sent down SS Grant Green matures quickly as well.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Seattle Mariners

2011-03-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE MARINERS

Rotation

1. RHP Felix Hernandez - King Felix emerged as the star pitcher Seattle expected in 2009 (19-5) and was finally recognized by the media for his efforts with the 2010 AL Cy Young award. Someone must be paying attention as he only won 13 games in 2010. That is not his fault as Seattle's offensive support for him was awful. Still young as he nears 25, the best might be yet to come. With an assortment of pitches that have hitters talking to themselves as they head back to the dugout, this is a starter you want as your #1. The only question is how many games he can win as the best of Seattle's offense might be a few years away.

2. LHP Jason Vargas - A big drop off here to #2, Vargas surprised a bit by posting his 1st ever decent ERA in 2010. I tend to think that won't continue as his career 4.66 ERA seems like a better barometer. Add in a high WHIP in the bigs & I see little chance to win a lot of games with a sputtering Mariner offense. I'm staying away.

3. RHP Doug Fister - Even though he is an imposing 6'-8", Fister doesn't appear to be a strikeout pitcher. In parts of 2 big league seasons, his ERA is in the low 4.00s & he carries a high WHIP as well. Though notching 7 Ks in 9 spring innings, he's been batted around to the tune of a 5.00 ERA. I can't see him adding anything positive to a fantasy roster at this point.

4. LHP Erik Bedard - The Major League possibilities Bedard could realize with his talented abilities would be something a fantasy owner would dream about. Unfortunately this former Orioles phenom makes J.D. Drew look sturdy. Three shoulder surgeries since 2007 have left him hardly even taking the mound the last two years. Also of concern is his obvious lack of concentration when he does pitch. I've seen him completely lose focus on the mound and get ridiculously wild, staring off into the unknown with a far wawy look on his face. That is a shame as he's a true strikeout pitcher whose recent ERA and WHIP numbers support the fact that he has some of the best stuff in baseball. He's tantalizing again this spring with 8 Ks, a 1.59 ERA & a 0.88 WHIP in just 5-2/3 innings. He's going to be awful hard to resist on draft day but I won't throw away a high draft pick on him. If he lasts towards the late stages and continues to pitch well this spring, I'd love to grab him as one of my last starters.

5. RHP Michael Pineda - The Mariners might give David Pauley this spot only so they can hold onto Pineda a bit longer. I think that would be a mistake as he's Major League ready now. I'll go so far as to say he might be the best young pitcher in all of baseball. An imposing 6'-7" & 260, he's a strikeout machine with a good slider and change up as well. If Seattle fans could just imagine King Felix, a healthy Bedard & Pineda in their rotation when Seattle's young hitters are ready, they could make a mockery of the AL West. I'd watch the announcement of where Pineda begins and snag him as soon as he's inserted into the rotation.

Closer

RHP David Aardsma - Off season hip surgery has yet to find Aardsma taking the mound this spring & probably not until mid-April at the earliest. Posting solid WHIP & ERA numbers, Aardsma has delivered 69 saves over the last 2 years. He has blown 9 over that period so I'm not sure he qualifies as a top tier closer. As Seattle will probably find themselves in a lot of close games thanks to a potentially excellent starting staff, the opportunities should be there. I would not take him in the draft as you need closer numbers right off the bat but monitor his progress if he isn't drafted.

RHP Brandon League - Probably 1st in line while Aardsma rehabs, I always thought this ex-Blue Jay had the talent to be a solid MLB closer. He didn't have the success I thought he would until improving a bit last year. Of concern is the fact that he should have a better K/IP ratio. It is also disturbing that he blew half of his save opportunities last year. He's again gotten bounced around this spring so I can't recommend him for a fantasy roster.

RHP Chris Ray - 1 of 3 ex-Oriole pitchers on the Seattle roster, Ray had 2 productive years as a closer in 2006 & 2007. He was lights out in 2006 but then had injury problems a year later. It has taken some time and a bit of travel for him to come back but he has yet to find his former strikeout dominance. I'm always cautious until I see some positive results and this case is no different. Depending on how quickly Aardsma recovers, I'd keep an eye on Ray's progress as he could surprise in 2011.

Lineup

1.RF Ichiro Suzuki - Not seeming to miss a step at 37, the fixture at the top of Seattle's attack entering his 11th season has yet to miss the 200+ hit mark. Amazing as well, he rebounded from 26 swipes in 2009 to record 42 in 2010. He's a all-star outfielder who'll give you premium numbers everywhere except for HRs & RBIs. I'd take that all day long and he should again come off the board very early in any draft.

2. 3B Chone Figgins - He and anyone who had him on their 2010 fantasy team would rather forget last year. Moving back to to a better comfort level at 3rd after last year's patrol at 2nd, most "experts" are already writing him off at 33. I don't agree just yet as the indicators of 2010 show good totals in SB and hits. I see a rebound at least in 2011 and he could easily produce near his career numbers. I'm not sure I'd take him high as a starting 3rd bagger but I'm fairly sure he'll qualify at both making him a solid pick near the middle of the draft to man 2nd base on a fantasy team (unless someone jumps the gun earlier).

3. CF Franklin Gutierrez - The ex-Indian has still failed to deliver on the promising attributes I liked early on. Last year's .245 average in full time duty was even below his ho-hum career .261. The power numbers that peeked their head above ground in 2009 also went back under last year. Sure Safeco isn't the easiest place to hit, but I'm taking a wait and see approach with him as well though some fantasy player will stick their neck out for him in the draft. Not me.

4. DH Jack Cust - Now reverting back to a well traveled bat for hire after putting down roots for 4 seasons in Oakland, this will be his 6th MLB team. It speaks volumes about the Mariner's weak lineup that Cust is the clean up guy. He does have a history of big HR years but his average won't touch the .272 he hit in 2011 when curiously he had only 13 dingers in a less than full season 349 ABs. He'll provide the occasional streaks of power production during the year but will also fall into deep slumps with many whiffs as well. I'm not looking his way on draft day.

5. 1B Justin Smoak - The former Texas farmhand and brief prospect enters his 1st full season at 1B with the job his to lose. He does have enough of a power bat to give an MLB team the kind of numbers they need at the position but he's going to have to show improvement on a weak BA & OBP from last year. Seattle isn't the best place to fatten your offensive stats with a soft lineup in a pitcher's park so the jury's still out. I like another Mariner prospect better for this job anyway.

6. C Miguel Olivo - With Olivo now hurt and not expected back for 2 weeks, it is possible whoever mans this post on opening day may move down to 7th when the winner of the LF job is announced. He did hit .269 with 14 HRs & 58 RBIs last year and jacked out 23 in 2009 so if getting power from your catcher is enough, go ahead and buy in depending on his health status. I personally think you can easily do better with the infusion of young backstops making their presence felt in the bigs.

7. LF Michael Saunders - Saunders appears to have the inside track on this job and might hit #6 in the opening day order. He hasn't hit this spring but the potential of power & production that last year's numbers hinted at is enough to convince the Mariners. I'm not so sure so I'll stay way for now. Switch hitting vet Milton Bradley might also be positioned here and I wouldn't take him on a bet. This is baseball's version of the Charlie Sheen/Lindsay Lohan "Blow Up Your Career" self destruct button. With the promising talent he had as an Expo rookie in 2000, injuries & attitude have contributed to a ship that's already sailed.

8. SS Jack Wilson - An overhaul in the middle of the M's infield began in 2009 with Wilson supplanting Betancourt. A career .267 BA and no solid numbers anywhere else mean he's on board for his defense. Hittng .476 with surprising power this spring shouldn't fool you either. He has no place on a fantasy baseball roster.

9. 2B Brandon Ryan - With Seattle dumping Jose Lopez & moving Figgins back to 2nd the transformation of their middle infield is complete but not for the better offensively. The ex-Cardinal mirrors Wilson in many ways and unless you like watching him play the field on TV, doesn't belong anywhere near your fantasy roster.

Possibilities

2B Dustin Ackley - The youth movement in Seattle might just begin this year with Ackley. The M's top pick in the 2009 draft certainly doesn't have much standing in his way at the big club level. It is unknown whether he'll start in Seattle or get shipped to the minors until June as many small market teams do. Seattle does spend some FA money so either is possible but the fact that he's just learning to play 2B and hasn't developed his full power potential yet leads me to believe he'll spend time in the minors to begin 2011. When he matures, he could produce star quality numbers all the way across the offensive boards as he has speed to burn as well. A .316 spring average may sway Seattle but I think not. This bears close watching.

1B/OF Mike Carp - OK. I talked about who I'd like to see given a shot at 1B and this is the fish. How well does Carp go with a team named the Mariners? Smoak will be given a long rope to succeed but I believe Carp might also make the opening day roster. He has thundering power potential smashing 29 in his 2nd AAA campaign last year but lost some plate discipline. He also regressed in his 2nd September call up hitting only .189 compared to .315 the year before. Still, I think he'll become a player with solid 1B type offensive numbers and wrest the job from Smoak. He might not start the season in the bigs but if & when the M's have seen enough of Smoak, an early call up could find him entrenched at 1B for Seattle.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Texas Rangers

2011-03-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

TEXAS RANGERS

Rotation

1. LHP C.J. Wilson - Cliff Lee's free agent departure leaves Wilson as the ace of the staff, while he did have a breakout year in 2010, he wasn't quite as sharp in the 2nd half. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that he never came close to the 204 innings he logged last year. I'm not sure he'd be considered a #1 starter on most playoff teams. He also added 170 strikeouts but wasn't quite as dominant in that category as the season went on. I do believe he'll continue to deliver quality numbers in the future that are similar to what 2010 showed so I'll slot him as a #2 or #3 fantasy starter.

2. RHP Colby Lewis - Another rotation surprise as he won 12 games, posted a 3.72 ERA & came close to a strikeout per inning ratio. I'm not sure the ERA will stay there as his career shows a much higher number there and in WHIP but I do think he'll continue to generate Ks at a similar rate and again win 12-15 games. Might be worth a late flyer to fill out your starting staff.

3. RHP Brandon Webb - 2 injury riddled years removed from 3 sensational seasons in Arizona, it's hard to predict which Brandon Webb will show up in 2011 and when as he's not taken the mound yet this spring. A pitcher who relied on his sinker as the out pitch, that should play well for the Rangers if he's ready. The most recent reports say he's 100% and he did throw a live BP session on 3/9. This could be the ultimate risk/reward gamble for any starter in 2011 as if he returns to his all-star form, you've got a solid #1 starter across the board in pitching stats that could easily replace Cliff Lee's numbers. I'd follow him this spring but would not take a chance on a high pick for him until some results are in.

4. RHP Tommy Hunter - An amazing successful 2010 is that much more difficult to believe as he doesn't strike many people out and has a high WHIP. I don't know what happened but I'm skeptical of an encore. I think he'll revert back to form and have trouble duplicating last year's numbers to have a less than exciting 2011 campaign.

5. LHP Derek Holland - It is still questionable who lands in this spot for 2011, but my money is on Holland. Though yet to put any decent totals in wins, ERA & WHIP in his short 2 year stint, there's no denying he has the ability to miss bats. On his strikeout potential alone, I think the Rangers want him in there. Not a roster filler but keep watching his progress.

Closer

RHP Neftali Feliz - Some of the noises coming out of the Ranger press releases are almost laughable recently including the one about Feliz possibly joining the rotation this year. Sure the starting 5 needs help but with his dominating success as the closer last year, no one to take his place in that role, and my concern that he has the endurance and mental focus to become a quality starter, it seems like a dumb move. If that was the plan all along, why didn't big spending Texas management go out and find a closer (like Soriano, who sat there for a long time) in the off season? In my mind, he's a top shelf closer who could easily still improve on his stellar across the board 2010 numbers this year, but his value goes down dramatically if placed in the rotation.

Lineup

1. 2B Ian Kinsler - Kinsler got off track in 2009 trying to swing for the fences at the expense of a high BA. If he's good to go, you won't get better overall numbers from any 2nd baseman in the game. Unfortunately, he hasn't been completely right with injuries following him around like a dark cloud. Similar to Cruz, he has yet to play more than 130 games in any single season. 30 HR/SB stats are well within his abilities with a BA hovering around .300, 80-90 RBIs and 100 runs scored if he can stay on the field. You won't get that from many other middle infielders but the injury risk is very high to torpedo your fantasy season.

2. SS Elvis Andrus - Once considered the answer to the Texas lead off problem, he still could find his way to the top of the lineup if Texas feels it is better in the scheme of things to have Kinsler bat 2nd. Two years in the bigs have yielded a BA in the .260 range and a less than hoped for on base percentage but the already glimpsed promise of scoring runs and stealing bases keeps this hope alive. I'd only go after him if I need a very late starter at SS or a back up there.

3. LF Josh Hamilton - This is 1 player I don't have any fantasy Karma with. Every year I had him he underachieved and was hurt and the in between years I didn't he put up All-Star/MVP stats. The truth of the matter is he's an offensive terror when healthy but a DL riding bum when not. If you're willing to risk he'll have 2 injury free years in a row, he could deliver big again in 2011 but be forewarned that he could easily land on the DL in April and put a big bullet hole in your fantasy season. Believe me, I know.

4. RF Nelson Cruz - For my money, this is the Ranger I want on my team more than anyone else. Batting him 4th for more early inning RBI opportunities and putting Beltre #5 is a great move by the Rangers. He suffered through an injury dotted year in 2010 but still managed to wring out some pretty good numbers in only 399 ABs. He's never been able to play more than 128 games in a single season but if he does, I shudder to think about the results. A natural .300 hitter with awesome power to all fields, he's also that rare player who can steal 20+ bases as well. He should be ready to roll in spite of less than customary spring stats. I'm in for a high draft pick here.

5. 3B Adrian Beltre - Beltre delivered in his 2010 FA year in Boston but went shopping again and found the Rangers a willing spender. He'll never approach the monster year he had with the Dodgers in 2004 but could produce another year of 30 HRs, 100+ RBIs and a BA north of .300. I don't know anyone who wouldn't take that. He does have a history of injuries and has one now but is supposed to rejoin the Texas lineup Monday the 14th for his 1st spring training at bats. Probably a very safe bet to give you top of the line stats from 3B. Just don't try to take off his hat or touch his head, even if you're a teammate. You might draw back a stump!

6. DH Michael Young - Wanting out of Texas after the Rangers acquired Beltre, he may still wind up at 3rd to start the year if Beltre's calf strain is more serious. In any event, he'll still be eligible at 3rd and can give very good numbers in all but stolen bases where he'll still give you a handful. He might be somewhere else next year or even later this season but putting up a close .300 BA with 100 runs scored, 20+ HRs & 90+ RBIs makes him a starting 3rd baseman for a fantasy team.

7. 1B Mitch Moreland - He doesn't have anyone breathing down his neck for the 1st base job this year other than getting spelled once in a while by Napoli. That alone should make him more relaxed at the plate. Last year's stats were nothing to write home about but he's put together quite a spring so far. Texas will give him plenty of rope to make the position his own so if you're looking for a utility hitter with some pop late in your draft, this might be the ticket.

8. C Yorvit Torrealba - Torrealba gets the start here & probably log most of the time at catcher. If he falters, expect Napoli to take over sooner rather than later. I find it interesting that Texas has traded away most if not all of their young catching prospects in favor of this journeyman with limited offensive skills. Wouldn't touch him on a 1 catcher team and would have to think twice about it in a 2 catcher league. There are plenty of young catchers now at the MLB level with vastly more upside.

9. CF Julio Borbon - A season and a half of decent numbers wasn't enough to keep the Borbon lead off experiment on for 2011. Though experiencing extreme hot and cold spells hitting, his numbers may warrant another chance to start the Texas offense sometime in the near future. His overall BA for 2009 & 2010 (.312 & .276 respectively) took me by surprise as I clearly remember him hitting well below .200 for a good portion of each season. His spring stats indicate he may be ready to become a .300 hitter who is among the leaders in runs scored and steals in 2011 but he also posted similar stats the spring before. I'm not going to bite on a high or middle pick for my team but if he's available later on, he just could provide a big lift in his forte categories this year.

Possibilities

RHP Tanner Scheppers - He's been torn apart in 2 spring appearances but I don't think that's indicative of his future potential. Having ace type stuff and rarely throwing his heater at less than 97 MPH, he was also considered as a replacement for Feliz at closer. I don't think this will happen as I'm sure Texas views him as their future #1 starter and probably wanted to limit his innings as most teams are doing with their prized pitchers now. There is surely more than a possibility he begins 2011 in the Ranger pen and move to the rotation but he could also be sent down to log regular innings. I definitely think the latter is best for his development and we'll probably see him in the Ranger rotation sooner rather than later.

RHP Alexi Ogando - Ogando is probably the only player in sight that could close if Feliz heads to the rotation. He was solid across the board in 44 2010 appearances including a very good K per innings pitched ratio. Who knows what Texas has in mind for him this year as he's also been rumored to possibly join the starters. I think he stays the 8th inning guy while subbing for Feliz in a few save situations but this bears watching.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Los Angeles Angels

2011-03-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Rotation

1. RHP Jered Weaver - You'll find very few pitchers in baseball with a better arsenal of pitches than Weaver. After putting up good numbers collectively from 2006-2009, the 2010 all-star lead the majors in Ks & had a top 5 AL stat in WHIP and ERA. Climbing to the top of the Angels rotation, the only concerns are occasionally reoccurring injuries & the ability to hang in games long enough to get consistent win totals. 20 win seasons should be a part of his resume but he's averaged just under 13 wins during those past 5 seasons. I'm always willing to gamble a high pick on a starter of his ability and I think he'll be at the top of MLB strikeout leaders but be aware you may not get the win totals you expect from a fantasy staff ace.

2. RHP Dan Haren - Not many teams have the luxury of having another established ace in the #2 hole but that's what Haren is. Splitting time with 2 teams last year may have weighed on his concentration but he rolled out a 2.87 ERA after coming back to the AL West. I'm very impressed by his career numbers including an amazing 1.19 WHIP and he still managed to post 216 Ks last year. With a settled situation in 2011, and a lineup with decent pop behind him, I expect to see a season where he might top his 16 win best and near the top of the league in Ks with his usual great WHIP & ERA numbers. The 1-2 punch the Angels have will shut down a lot of teams this year. He's a #1 starter, no doubt.

3. RHP Ervin Santana - A pitcher with his superior ability is always an attractive option. The negative is that he's injury prone and very inconsistent. You never know what you're going to get from start to start. If all the stars align, he should match Weaver & Haren in strikeouts and win at least 15 games. He won 17 games last year and you'd think he will build on that but he's regressed before after the solid seasons he had in 2006 & 2008. At 28, he may be ready to put it all together in 2011 but may also have a follow up down year like he did in 2007 & 2009. If he's still on the board when you need a #3 or #4 starter in mid draft, I'd pull the trigger.
4. RHP Joel Pineiro - Pineiro also posted a fairly solid year for the Halos in 2010. He's a capable #4 starter who's not going to give you big strikeout numbers. He's been sparkling in 3 spring starts so far & perhaps that will carry over into the regular season giving him enough wins to help your fantasy pitching staff. Look for him towards the latter part of the draft if you need to fill your roster with a #4 or #5 starter.

5. LHP Scott Kazmir - You want to believe that this former Rays phenom has had a puzzling last two seasons but I think injuries and a loss of confidence are certainly factors in this decline. He also used to be a strikeout machine and that seems to have disappeared as well. I'd like to think that he could turn the corner again at 27 but until I see a glimmer of that former domination, I'll wait and see since his very ordinary spring hasn't provided that evidence.

Closer

RHP Fernando Rodney - As Brian Fuentes departs, last year's 8th inning reliever and former Tigers closer steps into the breach. He did save 37 in 2009 and 14 in limited duty last year. His awful ERA & WHIP scares me away and his 2011 spring hasn't changed my opinion. As long as LA keeps him in the closer's role he should accumulate saves & Ks but kill your team's ERA & WHIP. If he falters early, the Angels have plenty of options with past closing experience including imported Scott Downs & Hisanori Takahashi. I wouldn't clear a spot on my roster for him unless you're really scouring for a 3rd closer's option.

Lineup

1. SS Erick Aybar - As with the majority of middle infielders, speed and scoring runs is what Aybar knows best. Last year's numbers were very disappointing other than the 22 steals as his average dropped from .312 to .253 and he only scored 69 runs. He's done much better this spring so far. If you need a 2nd SS for your team late in the draft, he might give you some reasonable numbers.

2. DH Bobby Abreu- Now at 37 and moving to the DH role, he only hit .255 last year but did produce 20 HRs, 78 RBIs & 24 steals. Those numbers show the beginnings of a downward decline & he has looked out of shape this spring. I think you'll probably get close to what 2010 yielded this year which is certainly good enough to warrant a roster spot, particularly as he'll be OF eligible. Not the all-star he once was but definitely should be on someone's opening day fantasy team.

3. 1B Kendry Morales - Before breaking his leg last year in a celebratory display at home plate, Morales was once again on his way to duplicating the monster breakout year he had in 2009. Speed was never a part of his game anyway so when he's ready to go, he should get back to being a top shelf offensive machine. It took a few years with Angels for him to find his groove but I always believed in his ability. He hasn't made a spring appearance yet and that does give me pause. Watch what happens when he gets some Cactus League ABs, but as soon as I see he's ready to start, I'm grabbing him high in the draft.

4. RF Torii Hunter - Now at 35 and moving to RF, Hunter is still producing the kind of numbers you want in your fantasy team's offensive stats. The stolen bases declined last year & that part of his game may not return again as well as a drop off in HRs. Still a worthy part of a fantasy roster as a number 2 or 3 outfielder.

5. LF Vernon Wells - Rising from the ashes of 3 previous underachieving seasons, Wells put up some serious numbers in 2010 though fading at the end. Still picking him up cheaply as my last offensive pick, he delivered beyond expectations. Moving to a potentially solid lineup behind Hunter should still produce quality numbers in 2011. He's still just 32 and able to play at his usual high level in the outfield so there's no reason to suspect a crash. He might not deliver the power numbers of last year and probably won't hit close to .300 but I'd select him at least on a par with teammate Hunter in a fantasy draft.

6. 2B Howie Kendrick - Grabbing the full time spot at 2B in 2010, Kendrick has rolled out 2 pretty good seasons in a row for a middle infielder. He may never be the batting champ LA expected him to be due to lack of plate discipline but most of us can live with an average of .270-.280, mid double digit steals & HRs & 70 runs scored & RBIs. A fairly high 2B selection for fantasy purposes.

7. 3B Maicer Izturis/Alberto Callaspo - With perennial prospect Wood still not hitting and now hurt, the task falls to probable split duty here. Neither will give you the normal power numbers expected of a fantasy 3rd baseman & Callaspo with the better spring so far, might have the inside track on the bulk of the at bats once the bell rings. I'm hesitant to clear a roster spot for either and probably won't.

8. C Jeff Mathis - After years of toiling in part time duty, Mathis looks like he'll get regular playing time at catcher this year. Though not putting up offensive numbers in his Angel years yet, he has flashed promise of power and is hitting .316 this spring. I wouldn't take him higher than a 2nd team catcher if you want one as he seems to be keeping the position warm for Hank Conger's arrival.

9. CF Peter Bourjos - Known chiefly for his defensive ability, the Angels hope he'll show promise to begin hitting so they can use his speed at the top of the lineup. He only hit .204 (but with 10 SB) in 181 2010 ABs & has bumped it up to .320 this spring. If that's an indicator of him turning the corner, he could be quite a find this year for steals and runs scored. I'm not swayed as of yet and need to see more before I consider a spot on my roster.

Possibilities

RHP Jordan Walden - Since there appears to be no room in the rotation for now and Walden showing plenty in his 16 2010 appearances, don't be surprised if he follows the recent trend of most MLB teams to try a young flame thrower in the closer's role. With Walden certain to have a spot in the LA pen, any slip up by Rodney might thrust this 23 year old into that spot. Touching 100 MPH on the radar gun with regularity, he struck out 23 in 15-1/3 innings last year. He also gave up 7 walks so his control must get better but he's only walked 1 in 3 scoreless spring innings so far. I'd monitor this situation closely.

OF Mike Trout - More than likely not ready for the big club in 2011, Trout might wind up being the best of all the young Angel hitters. A true 5 tool player he won't turn 20 until August. On the LA fast track and seeing AA pitching this summer, he has yet to show anything in 16 spring at bats so his MLB debut is still probably some time away. Don't be surprised to at least see a September call up.

1B Mark Trumbo - Pushing for a spot on the Angels opening day roster with a monster spring (4HR/11RBI/.375), he might stick given the uncertainty of Kendry Morales. He showed little in 15 2010 at bats but his resume of leading the minors in HRs last season is enough to make the Angels pay close attention. His bat appears Major League ready now so I'd see what develops with Morales amd look to see him getting ABs with the team this year.

C Hank Conger - The Angels see this 23 year old as their catcher of the near future but not hitting MLB pitching in 29 2010 & 20 spring at bats may delay his arrival. Positioned as the #3 catcher for now. I'd wait to see his bat come alive before giving him any consideration.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Kansas City Royals

2011-03-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Rotation

1. RHP Luke Hochevar - The #1 overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft, he has yet to show that promise at the Major League level. With Greinke departing for Milwaukee & Meche retiring, opposing hitters welcome the chance to face the Royals staff. A high career ERA, WHIP & average against further testify to the weakness of this rotation if he's #1 on it. He's pitched a little better this spring but doesn't deserve a spot on an opening day fantasy roster particularly when you consider he'll be facing other team's aces most of the time. The state of the rotation should be particularly frustrating to Royal fans as they are certainly building themselves a quality young offense.

2. LHP Jeff Francis - Finally leaving the hitter friendly atmosphere of Coors Field can only help this former Rockies top prospect. The injury bug has plagued him throughout his career so you tend to wonder if he's sturdy enough for the rigors of being a MLB starter. 2010 was no different as he spent time on the DL early with shoulder surgery. He's also been bounced around this spring but I still like his ability best of the current KC expected starting 5. I won't buy in though until I seem some positive & consistent results. Don't count on it.

3. RHP Kyle Davies - Now settling in to his 4th full season with the Royals, his numbers very closely match Hochevar's in all categories. Probably slated to be the 5th starter when the season opens, I'm not seeing any changes to a disappointing MLB history this year.

4. LHP Bruce Chen - It is unknown where exactly he'll slot in the rotation but the mere fact that KC resigned him indicates that he figures prominently in their 2011 plans. He did break out a fairly solid 2010 with 12 wins and a somewhat respectable ERA but his career numbers show me he can't get MLB hitters out on a regular basis.

5. RHP Vin Mazzaro or RHP Sean O'Sullivan - I've seen Oakland transplant Mazzaro listed as high as #2 in this rotation and he did have a bit of success for brief periods the last two years. Unfortunately, his overall numbers too much resemble the rest of the KC staff so I won't buy in yet. O' Sullivan is also in the mix but I think either he or Davies will be the odd man out unless someone gets hurt. Same story as his brief career numbers mirror the rest of the woeful KC starters though he has had a good spring so far. I wouldn't expect that to carry over into the season.

Closer

RHP Joakim Soria - No issues about who the man is in KC here. Easily the team's MVP by light years, he's put together 4 superb seasons in this role. A top shelf closer who'll still give you plenty of saves (he topped out at 43 last year) & high K totals as the KC offense should keep them in plenty of close games so he could have more than enough chances to strut his stuff. I wouldn't be put off by his terrible spring as he has a history of performing that way. A true #1 fantasy closer.

Lineup

1. 3B Mike Aviles - Quietly doing a wonderful job as a part time player for two years, Aviles got the chance to log 400+ at bats in 2010 and came through with his bench mark .300+ BA and double digit steals. He's slated to begin the year as the starting 3rd baseman in 2011 & he's tearing it up with some power as well this spring. There are rumblings that KC wants a bit more power from this position & is considering giving Wilson Betemit a shot here. I think that would be a mistake and this is a short solution as this position is a place holder for Moustakas anyway. I would definitely consider drafting Aviles for my roster as he'll move to either 2B or SS when Moustakas is ready and he'll probably deliver solid middle infielder numbers (I'm sure he's eligible at both for 2011 and soon at 3B).

2. CF Melky Cabrera/Lorenzo Cain - The well traveled Cabrera must figure into KC's plans in some way as they did sign him as a FA. I am not satisfied that he'll ever put up solid offensive numbers though hitting .500 this spring will help his cause. Waiting backstage (but probably not for very long) is Cain, another in a long list of potential star prospects we all hope KC will be able to hold onto for a while. He's also hit well this spring and has better ability to steal bases than Cabrera. He showed no awe in a brief stint with the Brewers last year (he was part of the Greinke deal) hitting .306 & stealing 7 bags. He does need to find a way to score more runs. It is possible this might begin as a platoon with Cabrera being a better hitter left handed and Cain a righty. I see him slowly becoming the starter as the year moves on so watch what happens.

3. DH Billy Butler - This is the Royals best overall and most consistent young hitter. Moving to DH as he approaches 25 also speaks to his somewhat limited defensive prowess. He won't put up the power numbers of the top tier 1st basemen but will give you solid RBIs and a .300+ BA. KC has some options moving forward at 1B also but as a 2nd 1st bagger or utility hitter, he's at the top of that list.

4. 1B Kila Ka'aihue - This is a very interesting player. Languishing as a part time fill in for the Royals in 2008, he got 180 at bats in 2010 and caught the team's attention with his power potential, coming on hot late in the year. I'm a believer but his window of opportunity is very short as Hosmer is breathing down his neck. I for one am on board and his spring with a .333 average, 3 HRs and 8 RBIs further convinces me. Later in the draft, I'd try to find a way to wrangle him on my fantasy roster with the promise of some surprisingly worthwhile production.

5. RF Jeff Francoeur - The ex-Brave phenom hasn't been able to duplicate his eye popping 2006 & 2007 performances in Atlanta since then. He did hit .340 in Texas as his 2nd stop in 2010 but his career .268 BA is more indicative of what you'll get as he hasn't honed the ability to go to all fields. I see decent HR and RBI numbers but perhaps even a lower BA (he's only hitting .160 this spring). his power numbers have also stabilized so that in regular playing time you can expect HRs in the mid teens and RBIs in the low 60s at best. Given the starting nod for now in 2011, he's draftable as a late roster filler.

6. LF Alex Gordon - Hardly anyone was more heralded a prospect than Gordon but his chance to make good on those reports may be coming to an end. There's no doubt he has the power to put up good HR & RBI numbers but hasn't been able to convert his talent into MLB results. His spring numbers mirror what he's been able to do in his career so nothing has changed yet. With a wave of young KC hitters ready to make a big league splash, its now or never and I'm not sure he'll make it.

7. C Brayan Pena - Jason Kendall is already hurt and I'm sure Pena would have been given the starting opportunity in any case this year. He did hit .309 over 21 starts at the end of last when Kendall was injured but his career history doesn't seem to predict any offensive advancement. He's hitless in 14 spring at bats but his defense and arm might be enough to man the position for now. That doesn't qualify him for a fantasy baseball roster.

8. SS Alcides Escobar - Another element of the Greinke trade, speed is his biggest asset. He did hit .304 for the Brewers in 125 2009 at bats and is still young enough to find his MLB stroke. He is hitting .300 with a pair of SB in 20 spring at bats so perhaps this can carry over into the season. Long range seems to indicate the Royals will give him every chance to win the job & move Aviles to 2B when Moustakas is ready and have a solid infield for as long as they can hold onto their players. Watch what happens with him but I don't think I'd draft him yet unless really scrambling to find a middle infielder very late in your draft. He could reward with a bunch of steals.

9. 2B Chris Getz - Just entering his 4th MLB season at 27, speed is also his forte. Unfortunately, I think he has less ability as a hitter than Escobar and his stay at the starting 2nd baseman's job might be very short. He's not hitting this spring either so bench duty probably awaits.

Possibilities

3B Mike Moustakas - The jewel of the KC farm system, his stay in the minors will probably be brief. The only thing possibly holding back this young slugger with star potential is small market team's strategy of waiting until June to call up their prospects to retain another year of exclusive rights. Getting his feet wet with 20 spring at bats for the Royals so far, it is clear that he'll be ticketed for the minors to start 2011. Expect to see him at 3B for the Royals sometime this summer so watch his progress carefully. Moustakas could provide quite a 2nd half lift to your fantasy team's offensive numbers.

LHP Tim Collins - Small of stature but with a fastball that has the ability to whiz past many MLB hitters, Collins could find his way to the KC bullpen when camp breaks. It is unknown right now if he fits into the Royals plan as a future replacement for Soria at closer when his free agency looms or as a spark in a very weak rotation. I'd vote to stretch him out as a starter. He's been solid this spring with a 1.80 ERA and a K per inning ratio & whether he goes north with the team or not, it is a very real possibility he might be in the KC rotation this summer.

1B Eric Hosmer - Another young slugger awaiting his chance to join a potentially powerful future KC lineup, there's very little chance he'll break camp with the big club. For now, Ka'aihue will be given the chance to start and I'll think he'll produce. He's ripping up spring pitchers to the tune of .400 with 2 HRs & 6 RBIs but will probably start 2011 in AA, get a fast promotion to AAA if he hits & be in KC for a September call up. KC fans must be drooling about the murderer's row potential the Royals lineup could have in a few years. now about that pitching.....

LHP John Lamb - Pitching at 3 levels in 2010 and leading the KC farmhands in Ks & ERA, Lamb's fastball & superior off speed stuff may put him on the fast rack to KC bound for a rotation in desperate need of help. Lack of game exposure this spring means he'll definitely start the season in the minors but with the Royals current starter woes, his elite abilities may land him in KC by June.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Cleveland Indians

2011-03-11T15:50:00.000-08:00

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Rotation

1. RHP Fausto Carmona - That Cleveland considers Carmona, a pitcher with a career 4.43 ERA and 1.44 WHIP the ace of their staff and 1st starter out of the 2011 chute is troubling. Not having developed pitchers from their system to accompany the core of promising young hitters is lamentable. Carmona might again notch wins in the double digits this year but the rest of the numbers scare me away. He's been bounced around this spring as well to the tune of a 7.88 ERA and a .333 average against. This one's not for me.

2. RHP Justin Masterson - The ex Red sox prospect showed some promise last year and was certainly better than the 6-13 record he sported. He does have the pitches to master MLB hitters and amass some decent yearly strikeout totals but hasn't put it together yet. What I saw in 2010 is the same malady a lot of young starters have in common: a loss of concentration if an inning starts to unravel. I'll be watching but he's not worth a roster spot right now.

3. RHP Carlos Carrasco - Still plenty of time to get it together as he approaches 24, Carrasco has the fastball to become a MLB strikeout pitcher and is starting to harness his off speed stuff. He may have the most ability of this year's slated starters & has shown promise this spring. I'd watch his early season starts before I get on board, though.

4. RHP Mitch Talbot - 2010 numbers very similar to what Carmona showed may be more than coincidence. Not appearing to be a pitcher with high K potential, he's been battered this spring. I don't think he'll be fantasy roster worthy.

5. RHP Josh Tomlin - Pitched decently in 12 2010 starting assignments & he's also been solid in his spring appearances. This control pitcher might be a surprise in 2011. I'll take the wait and see route here as for now I don't value any of the Cleveland starters enough to draft them.

Closer

RHP Chris Perez - Now having no competition for the closer's role (something that isn't so clear cut for a lot of teams), that alone makes him draftable. He converted 23 out of 27 save chances last year with great numbers in ERA, Ks, WHIP & average against as well. The downside is that Cleveland again in 2011 will struggle for wins so his opportunities may remain the same. A #2 closer for your fantasy team.

Lineup

1. CF Grady Sizemore - Coming off of knee surgery, he has yet to play in a spring contest as of this writing. That is a concern for a player whose last full productive season was 2008. Once a do-it-all offensive all-star, we can at least infer that his base stealing prowess will be at least diminished if not gone completely. I'm also not sure if his power will return & the recent injuries just make me want to stay away. If everything falls into place and he's truly recovered, you might find a gem in 2011. I can't take the chance.

2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera - He's moving to SS this year to make way for namesake Orlando. After a promising 2009, everything went south last year. He is hitting well this spring and stealing bases so an uptick in 2011 is certainly possible. If you missed on the better shortstops, this one might be worth a late shot as your starter.

3. RF Shin-Soo Choo - An all star caliber hitter who'll also give you plenty of stolen bases & solid power numbers, he should be a fairly high pick on draft day. The problem is soreness in his throwing elbow that purportedly is unrelated to his "Tommy John" surgery that has kept him out of Cactus League games recently. I'd see how the spring develops for him but be ready to grab him high if everything checks out.

4. C Carlos Santana - He made a big splash last year after getting the starting nod. An agonizing knee injury on a play at the plate closed that out and we hope the young budding star is recovered. He hasn't hit this spring yet but the promise of a catcher who can hit .300 with blossoming power is hard to resist. I'd again look closely at the spring training developments before pulling the trigger on draft day but if he's ready, a middle #1 starter is not too high.

5. DH Travis Hafner - It has been a while since he put up the kind of awe inspiring numbers he blasted out from 2004-2007 so it's hard to figure out what this upcoming season might yield. He has carried a consistently high BA throughout so perhaps the power is ready to return. I'd have to see some evidence of this before investing a roster spot.

6. 1B Matt LaPorta - He hasn't yet reached his prospect potential in parts of two seasons with the Indians but there was a glimmer of the latent power in his 2010 numbers. Beginning the year with a long leash to produce as the starting 1st baseman might finally kick him into gear. He hasn't come around yet this spring in the hitter friendly atmosphere of the Cactus League so I'd only take a flyer on him as a last roster spot on a hunch but probably not.

7. 3B Jayson Nix - Nix will probably get 1st crack at this spot based on his power output in 2010 and the Indians feel Jason Donald would get the next shot. I'm not a big fan of either but if spring numbers are a factor Donald's current .400 average (with no power) is preferable to Nix's .105 with decent power. I'm not considering either for my opening roster and feel there is a better option (see below).

8. 2B Orlando Cabrera - The well traveled Free Agent landed in Cleveland for 2011 and moved Asdrubal to SS. He still carries a lifetime .274 average with decent but declining pop at 36. For my money, I'd only draft him if I'm scrambling for a starting second baseman late in the draft as there are plenty of better options out there.

9. LF Michael Brantley - Given the starting job after receiving less than a confidence boost from the team last spring. Speed, scoring runs and good "D" are the main parts of his game. After hitting over .300 in 112 AB in 2009, he moved back quite a bit to .246 last year. He's doing much worse this spring so I'm staying far away.

Possibilities

3B Lonnie Chisenhall - Golden boy power prospect Jared Goedert aside (and already reassigned), I'm confused by Cleveland's reluctance to give Chisenhall at shot on opening day. My guess is that since they'll eventually lose their best young stars, they want to keep this one away from other predators as long as possible and probably plan to bring him up in June at best. I've seen him play and he looks like one of the best natural hitters I've seen in a long time. He looks like a superstar in the making. Tearing up opposing pitchers this spring with power to spare as well, I will jump on this as soon as the Indians shift gears and decide to give him a starting opportunity. I'd watch his progress closely as he's MLB ready right now.

2B Jason Kipnis - A .300 hitting middle infielder with outfielder power he'll probably be manning the infield along with Chisenhall (who's also played SS) sooner rather than later. His unremarkable spring will further convince the Tribe that he's not ready yet. With Goedert also on the fast track to the bigs, Cleveland might soon have an arsenal of weapons to unleash on MLB pitchers.

RHP Alex White - A strikeout pitcher with a fastball/slider/splitter in his quiver, the 2009 1st rounder might easily be called up this summer if things go well in AAA. Getting torched this spring reinforces Cleveland's decision to send him down but he won't be there long as Cleveland needs help in the starting rotation as soon as possible.

LHP Drew Pomeranz - An even more imposing figure than White at 6'-5", he also has the stuff to amass large K numbers once ready for the bigs. He has also been impressive this spring in brief appearances (3 IP, no runs, 5K). Together with White, and assuming Cleveland can hold onto their home grown talent long enough, the Indians have a solid core of young players to challenge in the AL Central at some point.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Chicago White Sox

2011-03-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Rotation

1. LHP Mark Buehrle - Definitely not a pitcher who's going to get you rich in the strikeout category. He's posted 10 consecutive seasons of 10+ wins and 200 innings and given the scoring potential of the White Sox offense he'll probably be somewhere in the 13-15 win area in 2011. A very durable starter who's ERA and WHIP won't help your team either. If it means anything, he's gotten torched in 2 spring starts so far. A middle of the pack #3 starter in my opinion.

2. RHP Gavin Floyd - After a very solid 2008 that saw him log 17 wins, the last two seasons have been ho-hum at best (11 & 10 wins with an ERA in the low 4.00s). His strikeout ratio is better than Buehrle's but that high WHIP and average against is a concern. Maybe a 4th or 5th starter if you're digging deep but I remain unimpressed.

3. LHP John Danks - A real bulldog on the mound, he won a solid 15 games for Chicago in 2010 with a nice ERA, pretty solid K totals and other good peripheral pitching numbers. He's continued with a good spring and at 25 he seems to be hitting his stride. Probably the safest bet in this rotation who I think will even improve on his 2010 totals.

4. RHP Edwin Jackson - May actually wind up being the #5 starter. After coming over from Arizona last year, he did improve. The White Sox are already his 5th MLB team so that tells you organizations are not thrilled with his prowess. He has the ability to chalk up K's at a fairly good rate but his career ERA, WHIP & average against leave me feeling I don't want to waste a roster spot on him.

5. RHP Jake Peavy - I bought in last year as he really helped me down the stretch in 2009 when he was acquired by the White Sox. His recent fragility should have been a warning as 2010 was a season both of us would rather forget. When totally healthy, he's still one of the better starters in MLB who'll give solid numbers across the board. Unfortunately, we don't know what to expect after the severe injury to his throwing shoulder muscle last year. His 1st spring start was solid but with all the injury shadows hanging around, I'd take a wait and see approach until he logs a few more spring starts. That being said, he probably won't go high in a fantasy draft and if the spring results favor it, grabbing him late could provide quite a boost to your pitching stats.

Closer

LHP Matt Thornton - Though Thornton looks like the front runner to replace departed Bobby Jenks, Chicago has made no public statement that a closer for 2011 has been chosen. Though possessing all the tools to succeed in this role, his 2011 spring doesn't help his cause either getting lit up to the tune of 6.00 ERA and 2.33 WHIP. Until we know for certain which direction Chicago will take, I'd watch this closely.

LHP Chris Sale - The other candidate for the closer's role, he hasn't distinguished himself this spring either. Owning a fastball at least as good as Thornton's plus a very good slider and change means he might not only be in the mix for saves but Chicago might also consider him for the rotation if they are unhappy with the slated starting 5. Without knowing for sure, it would be an unwise gamble drafting either high for saves as split duty will hurt your numbers. I'd wait until this situation resolves itself.

Lineup

1. LF Juan Pierre - Picking him off the free agent heap fairly early last year was certainly a major contribution to my 2010 fantasy baseball success. His 68 steals, .275 BA and 96 runs scored was a resurgence for a player many had already crossed off their list. A very young 33, there's no reason to believe Pierre won't continue his near .300 lifetime BA and still score runs & steal bases in bunches at the top of a very formidable White Sox lineup. Certainly someone who I'd clear a roster spot for on my team.

2. 2B Gordon Beckham - Perhaps rushed to the bigs in 2009, Beckham regressed a bit in all offensive categories last year. 2011 might be the year for a breakthrough though as with all the other bangers in the Chicago lineup, he can concentrate on his MLB game. Not needing to swing for the fences now, I see a boost in all of his offensive numbers. This is supported by the fact that he's ripping it this spring. I'd go so far as to say he'd be a very productive starter at 2B for any fantasy team.

3. DH Adam Dunn - Coming to an AL hitters venue can't do anything but help his already fearsome power numbers. I understand Chicago's desire to have a lefty bat breaking up the righties in the top of the lineup but I'm not sure Dunn is best suited to batting 3rd. His weakness is striking out and carrying a fairly low BA so I think he's better suited lower in the order to drive in more runs. Anyway, he'll still put up top shelf numbers in HRs & RBIs and may even bump his average up into the .270 range. The only question is how DHing will affect his mental approach. I do see him playing some 1B to give Konerko a rest once in a while. Even given his down side, he's a starting 1st baseman on anyone's team.

4. 1B Paul Konerko - A model of consistency in his pro career, Konerko shows no signs of slowing down at 35. He put together a monster year in 2010 and 2011 could also be as productive. A sure fire elite starter as a fantasy 1st baseman, a slow start this spring shouldn't be a concern.

5. CF Alex Rios - In his 1st full season with the White Sox, Rios put together probably the 2nd best statistical season of his career. At 30, he is now starting to hit for more power as he's already accumulated 3 spring HRs as partial evidence. His advantageous spot in the Chicago lineup will present plenty of opportunities to tack on RBIs as well. Add his career .281 BA to the mix and this is a solid #2 or #3 fantasy outfielder.

6. C A.J. Pierzynski - I'm a bit surprised to see him ahead of Quentin in the lineup but assume it is to break up the run of right handed hitters. Though his average was OK in 2010, his power numbers have steadily decreased over the last few years. OK as a later pick for a starting catcher, he won't give you stats to be proud of at a notoriously weak fantasy offensive position. I'm looking elsewhere as his overall numbers will probably take a bit of a nose dive from last year.

7. RF Carlos Quentin - 2010 was a series of up & down streaks that saw Quentin deliver a low BA but put together quality power numbers in spite of a mostly disappointing season. He should still generate those solid numbers in 2011 and might move up in the lineup at some point this season. Keep in mind he's just 28 so the potential for better stats is still there. Working against him is that he's usually a slow starter and this spring's stats don't buck that trend. Should have a spot on a fantasy roster as one of the later round outfielders.

8. SS Alexei Ramirez - He's adding to his very solid 2010 season by stroking the ball this spring to a tune of .364 with 2 HRs. This should spill over into 2011 with top of the line stats across the board for MLB shortstops. you'd do well to have him as your fantasy starter at this position.

9. 3B Brent Morel - Given the starting job after displaying some power (but a low average) in 65 2010 ABs, he's not carried that over this spring. He'll be given every chance to keep the job and his competition got 1 player shorter as it looks like Dayan Viciedo will at least miss a month due to a thumb injury. Mark Teahen is waiting in the wings but his MLB career certainly doesn't have gold stars all over it. I wouldn't draft him but watch to see what he does as the season progresses.

Possibilities

C Tyler Flowers - If Pierzynski stumbles, Flowers might be behind the plate sooner than expected. He didn't hit a lick in two brief stints with the White Sox in 2009 & 2010 but has a pedigree as an offensive minded catcher through his Minor League career. He's torn it up this spring and coupled with the fact 35 year old Ramon Castro hasn't hit at all this spring, his chance might be just around the corner.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Detroit Tigers

2011-03-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

DETROIT TIGERS

Rotation

1. RHP Justin Verlander - A true ace starter now in the prime of his career. Putting up elite stats 4 out of the last 5 seasons, he's a very high pick for your rotation. I'm so sure his numbers will not only continue but get better, I'd recommend selecting at the back of round 1. I know this is against the commonly accepted strategy of not drafting starters high (which I don't agree with) but I believe there are at most 10 starters in baseball that will yield the confidence to send out there every day and get consistent results and he's near the top of the whole heap. He'll give you star numbers across the board.

2. RHP Max Scherzer - After two years of unfulfilled promise, Scherzer finally started showing something last year. After a very poor start and getting sent down to the minors, he blazed through the second half with a 2.45 ERA along with his usual strikeout skills. With the tools required to be successful as an ace, he seems to finally have the momentum to reach the top levels in MLB. His drawbacks still include bouts of wildness and coming apart after something bad happens early in an inning. At 26 now, his win ability should increase and his K rate will remain high. ERA & WHIP will still probably be at the mercy of his control but 2011 could be result in quite a jump ahead. Anywhere from a low #2 to a high #3 starter.

3. RHP Rick Porcello - After making a splash as a 2009 rookie, there was a step backward in 2010. He won't give you big K numbers and his ERA and WHIP will probably remain too high but he has the presence to hang around in games to pick up a win. I wouldn't hold a roster spot on my team but if you're in desperate need of a last starter, perhaps Porcello would be OK.

4. LHP Phil Coke - Converted to a starter from the pen, early spring results have been promising (2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP & 6K in 9 IP). He certainly put together a solid 2010 in the bullpen. Not knowing for sure what 2011 will show, I'll guess perhaps double digit wins but an average ERA and WHIP. His spring K rate is indicative of his career numbers. I'd take a wait and see approach.

5. RHP Brad Penny - The very well traveled vet is now closing in on 33. Asked to anchor the back part of a team's rotation for the last few years, he's not a strikeout pitcher anymore & won't garner enough wins to be worthy of a fantasy roster spot. He's risen from the deck on occasion to post decent stats for short periods recently and that could happen at some point in 2011 as well. More likely, a young Tiger prospect will be manning this spot come June.

Closer

RHP Jose Valverde - There's an awful lot to like here and I think the opportunities for saves, thanks to the bullpen and a rotation that will keep Detroit in most games this year, will be plentiful. Injuries the past few years, closing in on 33 & occasional bouts of wildness are the only concerns. I don't think age is a concern just yet as he has been his usual dominating self this spring. His career numbers are consistently solid from year to year and he's a #1 closer. A safe pick to anchor closing staff.

Lineup

1. CF Austin Jackson - Despite leading the AL in Ks, Jackson's offensive numbers were fairly impressive for a rookie. The only warning flag is a very good BABIP average that likely won't continue. If he can cut down on chasing bad pitches and be more aggressive on the base paths, Jackson should develop into a roster worthy fantasy outfielder. I need to see improvement 1st so for now I can't rate him higher than a last outfielder on your team's roster.

2. 2B Will Rhymes/Scott Sizemore - With Carlos Guillen an unknown quantity for opening day following knee surgery, this could possibly be a platoon situation for a while. Rhymes had some success in 2010 with a high BA but has no power, has trouble scoring runs and can't steal bases. Sizemore was the heralded rookie last year but was sent down after a disappointing start. To me, he has much more of an upside than Rhymes but again is not hitting this spring. The Tigers probably want Guillen to man this position (and we've also heard rumors Raburn may also be tried here) in 2011 but when that will be, how much he'll be able to play and what results he'll produce are unknown at this point.

3. RF Magglio Ordonez - At 37 his once prodigious power is all but gone hitting 9 & 12 HRs the last 2 years. RBIs and runs scored also are on the decline but he is able to maintain and .300+ average. I'd like to believe a resurgence is possible but just don't see it happening. Maybe worth a final roster spot but that's it.

4. 1B Miguel Cabrera - Based solely on ability, he's a 1st round selection as one of baseball's best hitters entering his prime years. His problems with alcohol and weight maintenance are not only well documented but at some point will become part of the equation on the field. He's off to a slow start this spring but I'm more than willing to roll the dice for the kind of offensive production he can deliver.

5. DH Victor Martinez - He might spell Avila behind the plate for a few games this year and should still be eligible at catcher in 2011 which will enhance his value. Make no mistake though, he's been brought on board to hit and he can still do that. Should deliver very good production and BA numbers behind Cabrera this year and still a top pick at #1 catcher if eligible.

6. LF Ryan Raburn - A strong 2010 finish beginning as a part time player, he was rewarded with a starting spot for this year. If he continues the promise shown, that would project as some top of the line stats over a full season. He's been ripping the ball this spring at a .333 pace with evident power. A 25 HR, 90 RBI season with a .300 BA is a distinct possibility. He could certainly be slated as a good 3rd fantasy outfielder candidate and bring solid returns.

7. SS Jhonny Peralta - Though he experienced a bit of a power surge after joining the Tigers last year, we've seen enough over the years to guesstimate what he'll give you: decent power numbers with severe up & down streaks and a BA around .250. You might acquire him during one of those plus streaks but he doesn't carry enough to warrant an opening day fantasy roster spot.

8. 3B Brandon Inge - Fluctuating years in HR power from the low teens to 27, his history also shows a career .237 BA. He'll produce decent RBI numbers and runs scored. Not draftable but you could pick him up at the beginning of a patented hot streak similar to Peralta during the year.

9. C Alex Avila - Finally given a chance to become a regular starter in 2011 could bring some surprising results. I believe his hitting ability could produce an average near .300 with better power numbers than most catchers. He's had a good spring hitting .357 and I think this might be indicative of what is possible this year. Certainly draftable as a 2nd catcher and I'd go so far as to grab him as a #1 catcher if you waited too long to draft one earlier.

Possibilities

RHP Jacob Turner - Past the 1st spots in the Tiger rotation, it is far from solid. Turner is an imposing figure on the mound. He's been strong in 6 spring innings. With the tools he has, it is very likely he'll be one of the 1st call ups if the back end of the Detroit rotation falters. I'd watch the situation closely as he could find his to the Tigers by June in a starting role.

LHP Andy Oliver - Along the same fast track as Turner, Oliver has been equally if not more so impressive this spring. Given the fact that Oliver is probably ahead of Turner in development, he's probably more likely to be called up 1st. His brief stint with the Tigers in 2010 was not good but his mid 90s fastball and MLB ready change up translates into the ability to get hitters out with regularity. I see both him and Turner as mainstays in the Detroit rotation in a few years.

MLB Fantasy Jump Start - Minnesota Twins

2011-03-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

MINNESOTA TWINS

Rotation

1. RHP Carl Pavano - I was surprised by the solid 2010 Pavano had winning 17 games with a 3.75 ERA. My guess is that when the opening day bell rings, he might be slotted #2 in the rotation. He's not a starter who's going to give you a lot of K's and his career shows a middling ERA, high batting average against & less than sterling WHIP. I tend to think that this year will bring wins again (though maybe not the total of 2010) as Minnesota has the offense and bullpen to notch consistent wins. Though he has been virtually untouched this spring, I still see a 2011 campaign with higher ERA & WHIP. A middle of the pack #3 fantasy starter at best.

2. LHP Francisco Liriano - There is no doubt that when healthy, a still young (27) Liriano has some of the best pitching tools in the game. The problem is that injuries have followed him throughout his MLB life. He's a strikeout machine who might be given the ball for the Twins 1st game but already seems to have a bothersome spring injury. So far he's only pitched 1-2/3 spring innings and gotten lit up in the process. I'd love to have him in my rotation but the specter of having him miss plenty of starts keeps me away. #1 type starter talent but I can't afford the roster spot that may not give me tangible stats.

3. RHP Scott Baker - Somewhat of an enigma as his MLB history shows stretches of solid performances followed by periods of bad ones. He has also had injuries following him the last few years but seems more durable than Liriano. He's had the same mixed results this spring but has the pitches to get MLB hitters out when he's on. Unfortunately, you don't know what you're going to get from him each time out. I see double digit wins, an ERA in the low 4.00s & and decent strikeout numbers this year. I'd only draft him if I'm scrambling for a last starter and the end.

4. LHP Brian Duensing - Interesting that Minnesota has Duensing slotted #4 after the breakout year he had in 2010. In my opinion, this is the safest bet in the Twin rotation and I'd jump on it with both feet. He's picking up right where he left off in 2010 this spring and I also think he has the stuff to be a consistent strikeout pitcher. Count me as among his fans to just keep getting better. A budding ace that Minnesota needs and no worse the a high fantasy 3rd starter, perhaps a stud #2 this year.

5. RHP Nick Blackburn - He's had a good spring so far but I'm just not convinced. His career numbers (4.50 ERA, 1.40 WHIP & .296 BA against) support my skepticism and last year wasn't any better. He might reach double digit wins but the rest of the numbers will make you fume. If he doesn't improve, I don't think he's long for this rotation spot.

Closer

RHP Joe Nathan - Last year's injury brought a hiccup to a virtually spotless career. He's been unscored upon in 3 spring appearances so far but concentrating on building arm strength. Not sure where he'll be at when the games begin in earnest but I feel confident he's be in his customary role early this year. A true top of the class closer for a team that will give him plenty of opportunities. I'd see what develops this spring as the season nears and enlist him as a #1 closer if he breaks camp as the go to guy role.

RHP Matt Capps - May begin the season as the closer if Nathan isn't ready. He's matched Nathan this spring except for better K results so he's the one Minnesota will turn to. He is inconsistent in terms of giving up a lot of hits and walks but seems to be very solid in closing out games. If he stays in this role, I'd say draft him high but don't see that happening. The Twins may ease Nathan back into the closer's role this year or give Capps equal time. In any case, until the situation has been established, you're not going to get high save numbers from either. It would be a gamble drafting Capps as a #1 or #2 closer as he could wind up in the 8th inning role for the better part of the 2011 season.

Lineup

1. CF Denard Span - After crashing the boards with a breakout year in 2009, he regressed a bit last season. Steals and BA were slightly down. I don't think there's any reason for concern as he's been a terror hitting this spring. I'd go so far as to say his ability to score runs, steal bases & hit for possibly .300 or better makes him a high #2 outfielder choice.

2. 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka - A new Japanese import for the Twins, you never know how that will translate into 1st year MLB numbers. Slated to play second base, his Japanese pedigree looks like he'll be able to convert his game easily into MLB success. He's hitting well this spring and I think you'll get quality numbers in BA, runs scored and steals. If you're looking for a starting 2B later in your fantasy draft, this pick should reward you.

3. C Joe Mauer - Considered the premier fantasy (and MLB) catcher, recent injuries have diminished his fantasy stats, particularly in production. Also of concern is the fact that he has yet to make a spring appearance so we're not sure on his health status. When right, he'll give you numbers on another level for catchers in BA, RBI & runs scored. I am concerned that his HR swing may not return for a while, if ever. Many will draft him very high but for me, with the infusion of budding young stars at the position in MLB, I'm hesitant to draft him high enough to get him.

4. 1B Justin Morneau - His status mirrors Mauer in many ways. When healthy, there isn't a better all around hitter in the game. As well, he hasn't logged any spring at bats but plans to see action on 3/11. I would spend a very high pick on him if i could be assured he's ready to go in 2011 as he'll give astronomical numbers across the board (except for steals). I'm going to play the waiting game this spring but if you see indications that he's ready, he might not be there past round 2 or 3.

5. RF Michael Cuddyer - Has settled in nicely in the Twins lineup the last two years though the HR output was down in 2010. A wart removal on his foot has also meant no spring at bats for him so far and the location bears watching. When right, this is a very draftable #3 outfielder who'll give solid numbers across the board (and even steal a few bases) but again I'm playing the waiting game until I see he's ready for 2011.

6. DH Jason Kubel/Jim Thome - Two left handed hitters sharing the DH role doesn't bode well for consistent stats from either one. Minnesota's commitment to signing Thome means both will get opportunities. You'll get good power numbers from both but sharing playing time will diminish the stats you need on a daily basis. For what it's worth, Kubel has had a very good spring and Thome has not so I'd lean in that direction. Not sure I'd draft either unless needing some power late in my selection.

7. LF Delmon Young - No spring at bats yet either for Young (is this a recurring theme among Twin starters?). The former Tampa Bay phenom does carry a lifetime .292 BA and had a nice year in 2010. not sure when he'll appear in a spring game but I think he'll be ready when the season begins. It is a good sign that his strikeout totals have gone down dramatically four years in a row. This could be a fantasy stud season for Young (though he did amass 112 RBIs in 2010 already). I'd rank him as high as a #2 or #3 fantasy outfielder.

8. 3B Danny Valencia - Hitting .400 this spring, it is certainly possible he could carry a .300 2011 BA. You'll also get decent numbers in the other offensive categories & he won't strikeout a lot. Hard to place him given the moving target 3B candidates are in MLB right now. I'd like him as a back up at the position but might be worthy of drafting as a late starter if you need it.

9. SS Alexi Casilla - Did hit .276 last year but low SB and runs scored numbers turns me away. Not draftable but keep tabs.

Possibilities

RHP Kevin Slowey - Control and the ability to pick up wins by hanging in games is his strong suit. He could be called upon to re-enter the rotation if one of the starter falters or is hurt (certainly a strong possibility in both cases). Has made 2 spring appearances with less than happy results. Keep a watch here.

Kyle Gibson - A live heater, above average slider and changeup has swiftly moved Gibson thorugh the organization after being a 2009 1st round pick. I'm not sure he'll go north with the big club but could get a call up this year fairly early if needed. 2 appearances this spring have yielded less than stellar results but he's on the fast track.

Ben Revere - Speed is his strong suit and in a brief 2010 stint with the Twins, he only hit .179. Has already stolen 4, scored 4 runs and knocked in 3 this spring in 16 at bats but since Minnesota's outfield picture is set, he'll have to wait for an opening.