What can we expect from Shin-Soo Choo in the second half?

Bob Sikon from Fantasy Baseball Trade Market, guest hosting the Johnny Archive show over on Blogtalk Radio, extended an invitation to both myself and Kelly Pfleiger from FantasyGameday to spend some time chatting Wednesday. How could I refuse? Over the course of the hour, we had the opportunity to discuss numerous topics of interest to the Fantasy player.

Some of the topics covered included trade evaluation and strategies. One of my biggest pet peeves involves the trading partner that wants something for nothing and further to that doesn’t take the time to address the needs of their respective trading partner. My “battleship for battleship” approach to trading was a topic of conversation.

We also took the opportunity to review several players including Nick Markakis and Shin-Soo Choo, and got out the crystal ball to look at their potential as we head into the second half of the 2009 campaign.

A fun time was had by all and the answers to these and many more questions can be found by listening to the Johnny Archive show.

David Hernandez is sure to be better Wednesday than he was his first start in Seattle.

The Baltimore Orioles will send David Hernandez to the mound Wednesday afternoon as they look to take the rubber match in Seattle. The O’s have struggled recently, winning Tuesday to snap a three-game skid, but somehow (despite being 10 games under .500) have managed to pull within 4.5 games of the fourth place Jays, setting up a battle for the AL East basement this weekend when Toronto visits B-More. How exciting!

To say Hernandez didn’t fare well in his first start at Safeco Field is an understatement, as just over a month ago in Seattle the rookie suffered the worst beatdown he’s experienced in his brief career. However, he’s looked sharp in two of three outings since then, more or less justifying our recommendation of him after his fine debut in late May.

I still submit that Hernandez makes for a decent AL-only pickup, and he definitely looked solid Friday in Los Angeles, squaring his record and lowering his ERA to 4.15 by holding the Angels to six hits and three runs over 6 2/3 IP.

The fact that Seattle is among the AL’s worst-hitting teams (although in the Mariners’ defence, they’ve been better lately) makes Hernandez a good candidate if you need a spot starter in a daily league.

In the bullpen, inconsistent Matt Albers, recalled in late-May after the O’s ditched Adam Eaton, looked extremely sharp last month, but took the loss Sunday when he got ripped by the Angels for three runs in two-thirds of an inning. To his credit, Albers bounced back Tuesday with a perfect frame to record his fifth hold.

He’s been getting a longer look this season, but his results haven’t been as promising, so at this point, I’d just put him on the watch list to see if he can carve out a more important role in the O’s pen. I mean, remember how hard Albers got hit earlier in the season; in fact, it was a relief when he was farmed out after that crappy start.

Set-up man Jim Johnson got dumped in a few AL-only leagues after getting scored on in back-to-back outings last week, but don’t forget how brilliant he was in June, recording a 0.75 ERA. He’s been a real workhorse in the Oriole pen, and is headed for career highs in games and innings pitched. I like the fact that his K/9 is up, but it’s still far short of dominant, and he’s been easier to hit this season. In our most recent reliever rankings he made the top 75, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ranked higher the next time we review that list as Johnson still retains plenty of value in leagues that track holds.

Finally, closer George Sherrill, an All-Star in 2008, was absolutely brilliant over the past two months, leading us to believe his job was safe. Now, the fact that he’s been scored on in two of his three appearances this month is worrisome, but not to the extent that I feel he’s going to lose his closing gig to another Oriole reliever. Of greater concern, as the O’s continue to lose ground on the true contenders in the AL East, are the rumours that Sherrill may be dealt to a contender, and if this happens, he could easily wind up in a set-up role, something I still believe he’s better suited to do.

If I owned Sherrill, I might kick some tires on the trade front. Talk up the fact that he’s been a real workhorse and if the other owner is worried about Sherrill’s declining K/9, counter with the fact that his walks have dropped even more significantly, hence his vastly improved command – a much better barometer for pitcher success.

If Chad Qualls is dealt, don’t be shocked if Jon Rauch becomes valuable.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Tony Pena did not have a good June and saw his ERA jump from 1.78 to 4.36. He’s since whittled it down a bit and continues to get holds, but Chad Qualls remains the closer despite his inconsistency. Since our last NL column, Qualls suffered a loss and blew a save, but he’s come back with back-to-back saves, giving him 15 in 19 tries for the season. Pena has done nothing to entice the D-Backs to make a change and is barely worth owning in NL-only leagues now. If anything, Pena could lose his spot in the pecking order to Jon Rauch, who’s gotten better and better after a simply ugly April. Holding leads has been a problem in Arizona, and it’s important to note that Qualls is being shopped around (to the Yanks?), so if he’s dealt, look for Rauch or Pena to take over by acclimation. At this point, my money’s on Rauch.

Atlanta Braves

Since our last NL column, Mike Gonzalez has given up six earned runs in six games, winning one, saving another, taking a loss in his most recent outing and earning a pair of holds. Rafael Soriano has racked up a couple saves since then, though on Friday he made things interesting, giving up two earned runs but still getting the save. Gonzalez is losing Fantasy traction, but both are still worth owning since they each continue to have excellent numbers, but note that since the beginning of June, Soriano has four saves to Gonzalez’s two. If you have to choose one at this point, take Soriano.

Florida Marlins

As Matt Lindstrom hit the DL, Leo Nunez and Dan Meyer have each recorded two saves during that time. While some sites have speculated that Nunez is the closer I don’t buy that just yet. Meyer has the better numbers (take a look; I dare you), but that’s not to say Nunez hasn’t been good; in fact, he’s been very sharp since recovering from that ankle woe. Both are solid pick ups now have been better than Lindstrom all season. Given the confidence that Freddi Gonzalez is showing in these two, Lindstrom (who is about two weeks ahead of schedule in returning from his elbow problem) may never get his old job back.

Houston Astros

Jose Valverde has recorded five saves while blowing two others since coming off the DL after two months. He hasn’t exactly been very good this season, blowing four saves in 11 tries. Still with 40+ games in each of the past two seasons, Valverde has earned some leeway. The fact thathe looked extremely sharp Monday, striking out the side for the save, tells us that we needn’t worry at this point. LaTroy Hawkins may still get an occasional save when Valverde is unavailable, and thanks to his holds and superb numbers, even acting as Valverde’s set-up man, Hawkins is worth owning in NL-only leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Johnathan Broxton’s outing on Sunday was a disaster as he failed to hold a 6-2 lead — entering in the ninth in a dreaded non-save situation. It’s only one bad outing though, as Broxton still has outstanding numbers across the board, including 20 saves — good for fourth in the NL. Don’t let one bad outing influence you — Broxton is headed to the All-Star Game for a reason. In other Dodger bullpen news, Guillermo Mota has a run of seven straight scoreless outings comprising eight innings of work. With just one earned run allowed in his last 22 innings, Mota has worked his ERA down to 3.89.

Milwaukee Brewers

Trevor Hoffman has allowed earned runs in three of his last six games, twice giving up multiple runs. Given his age (41), that’s something to be concerned about. Hoffman has been outstanding all season long so he’s earned a long leash. Still, monitor him closely. Carlos Villanueva, meanwhile, got hammered just over a week ago, but has come back and pitched well since. He might be worth another look if he starts heating up.

Philadelphia Phillies

In four appearances since coming of the DL, Brad Lidge has nailed down three saves, finally looking like the man who was arguably the most important Phillie last season. Since Ryan Madson failed to impress during Lidge’s time on the DL, consider Lidge pretty safe right now. Though Lidge’s overall numbers are still pretty sad, it’s looking likely that the injury that was affecting his play, and now that he’s healthy, Madson can be cut from most leagues.

San Francisco Giants

After going a month without allowing an earned run, Brian Wilson got smacked around on June 27 to the tune of three earned runs to take the loss against Milwaukee. He’s been solid all year and mostly looked very sharp in June, so he should be safe, but the fact that he was burned for three hits, a walk and another two runs in a shaky save Monday against the Fish is worrisome. Righty set-up man Bobby Howry didn’t exactly look sharp in June, but LHP Jeremy Affeldt has been money, hurling 21 straight scoreless outings to emerge as one of the top set-up options in the NL.

St. Louis Cardinals

So much for my prediction that Chris Perez was the closer of the future in St. Louis. The future was traded to Cleveland to torment Kerry Wood owners. Meanwhile Ryan Franklin is doing his best 1990 Dennis Eckersley impression (trust me, it was good). He’s among the best closers in the game right now; not bad for a dude who wasn’t even expected to keep the job all season.

Washington Nationals

Mike MacDougal has come in and stabilized the Nats’ bullpen situation (how sad is that?). Mad Mac will be an adventure each time out and usually doesn’t do himself any favours, but right now he’s pitching well and has firmly entrenched himself at the closer. He’s come a long way from the pitcher who worked his way out of the White Sox plans with his wildness. Pick him up in NL-only leagues, and consider him as a mixed league option.

Their annual purge is well underway, as the Pirates have already dealt Nate McLouth among others.

I appeared on the Alex Reimer Show on WBNW 1120 AM in Boston on Saturday afternoon, discussing many of the key first half stories.

Alex and I talked about how the economic downfall has affected baseball, parity in the game and how that may dim the trade market and how steroids continues to be a major issue in the game today.

Check out our latest baseball Podcast now.

Take away an ugly May, and Bobby Seay has been almost untouchable.

Most teams are now halfway through the 2009 baseball season, despite what the All-Star Game will have you believe. So now is a great time to take a look at some of the division leaders and check in on their chances of staying the course.

The Detroit Tigers haven’t been playing great lately, and with losses in two of the final three games of their huge weekend set against the Twins, they’ve got to be feeling the heat now. Both Minny and the White Sox have been charging hard lately, pulling within two and two and a half games of Detroit, respectively. The AL Central is suddenly as tight as the economy, but in this case, it’s actually setting up for an exciting situation. The second half is going to be one of those sweet, drag-’em-out, last-man standing kind of thingies. Sweet.

With the Tigers’ starting pitching as good as it’s been, most fingers are pointing at the team’s offense when looking at the problems facing this club. And although the bullpen has improved from last season’s disaster, it’s still a concern. Yes, closer Fernando Rodney has been perfect in save chances, but he doesn’t exactly do it seamlessly, having been easier to hit this season; Joel Zumaya has been tough to hit, but has struggled to rediscover his pre-Guitar Hero days; Brandon Lyon has been awfully inconsistent this year, looking brilliant in June, but getting touched up a bit lately and giving up slightly more long balls this year; Zach Miner has also given up too many long balls and got hammered Friday; Freddy Dolsi, called up to replace the struggling Ryan Perry, has looked very sharp, but has now been scored on in back-to-back outings.

I really like what I’m seeing out of Bobby Seay, the lone lefty in the pen until Fu-Te Ni was recently called up. Seay did allow the tying run to score Saturday, as the bullpen blew a late lead for the Tigers, but he was not charged with a run allowed and has now worked 17 straight “scoreless” outings, dating back to late-May. May was a seriously ugly month for Seay, but believe or not, he hasn’t given up a run in any other month this season.

Seay’s been used more as a lefty specialist this season, and filled the role very well, but as a result, his innings are down. However, given that righties haven’t been able to hit him, I’m not sure why he’s not seeing more work against them. He’s never been harder to hit, so could definitely help you in a deeper AL-only league.

As mentioned, the rookie Perry struggled badly last month, prompting the Tigers to send him down to the minors to work on his slider and his command. In Detroit, the rookie averaged almost a K per inning, and enjoyed good hit rates, but his control was problematic. Clearly, Perry showed enough promise as a set-up man that he’ll be a factor in the second half; in fact, we recently identified him as someone to watch in the Tiger pen.

To his credit, Perry has gone down to Triple-A Toledo and shown much better command. In five appearances – three of which have been two innings (obviously, Detroit wants to get him a lot of work and get him back ASAP) – he’s striking out two batters to every walk – a rate which will bring him big-time success if he’s able to maintain it in the majors.

There’s very little point in owning Perry in any redraft leagues until he returns to Motown, but he’s a perfect player to tuck away on your keeper league team.

With Derrick Ward taking his HCWDB-worthy act to Tampa Bay, Brandon Jacobs should be huge this season.

After a few days off to revel in Canada Day and 4th festivities, we’re back with more of the 2009 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit with yet another team preview (we’re on the home stretch now, with just a dozen NFC teams left to tackle). We’re going to try to shoot out all these team previews and then start releasing the kit’s other goodies (cheat sheets, sleepers/busts lists, etc.). Before we wonder if the New York Giants can recover from last season’s playoff disappointment, it’s important to acknowledge the death of the great Steve McNair, who was tragically murdered Saturday at the age of 36. I always admired his resiliency, and he’ll be missed.

What Went Right

Umm, not too much went well for Giant Fantasy interests in 2008. Sure, Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward both surpassed 1,000 yards, but both effectively took the Fantasy potency away from the other. Jacobs’ 15 touchdowns allowed him to rank 12th at running back (in standard scoring) while Ward’s impressive yardage numbers boosted him to 23rd despite a measly two touchdowns.

What Went Wrong

Eli Manning continued his inconsistent career as he had 10 games of under 200 yards passing. He did manage to complete better than 60 per cent of his passes for the first time in his career and he remained a solid Fantasy backup, but it’s looking more and more likely that Manning just isn’t a Fantasy starter. Oh, and then there was the whole Plaxico Burress shooting incident. Burress’ absence left a void mostly unfilled last year. Domenik Hixon was the most able replacement, leading the team with a measly 596 receiving yards. Finally, Kevin Boss got some buzz as a sleeper last year (not by myself, mind you) and that went rather poorly. He was an apt blocker, but no Fantasy team cares about that.

Off-season Outlook

While the Giants flirted with just about every free agent wide out that came onto the market, they ended up holding off on any Fantasy impact additions. On the plus side, they did let Ward scurry off to Tampa Bay, which is encouraging for the Fantasy potential of Jacobs. Ahmad Bradshaw will see a bigger part of the pie, but Jacobs should be in line to at least approach 300 carries in 2009, assuming he can stay healthy.

Draft Outlook

While New York passed on free agent wide outs, it did feel a need to use its first round pick on one in the form of UNC’s Hakeem Nicks. Nicks was pegged by some as perhaps the most NFL-ready of the wide outs in the draft (aside from Michael Crabtree, I assume). For now, he’s entrenched behind Hixon and Steve Smith (NYG) for a starting spot. And yes, I’m pretty sure Smith’s (NYG) legal name includes the ‘(NYG).’ Seriously, look it up.

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

Manning is going to be the starter for a long time, no matter what I say. So I’ll just be nice and say that he definitely is better than David Carr. Probably.

Running Backs

As previously mentioned, it’s all about Jacobs now. He’s dealt with injuries in the past, but if he’s healthy, he will outperform his draft position. Aside from that, Bradshaw is a worthy handcuff in deeper leagues.

Wide Receivers

Nicks is one of those late first round wide outs getting positive press from the off-season workouts. He’s definitely a sleeper candidate, although the normal rule that rookie wide outs tend to not be great Fantasy options still applies. Of the two starters on paper, I’m personally more intrigued by Smith (NYG) as it is his third year. I think he might surprise moreso than Hixon. But any of the three could step up as the top option.

Tight Ends

Little to no Fantasy value here. Boss will contribute with the odd good game, but he’s not worth drafting. Just avoid this group.

Defense/Special Teams

It was nice to see the Giant defense get back to the strong play last year that the team has historically been known for. The past few seasons have actually been a defensive struggle for New York, ranking 25th in yards allowed a few seasons ago and only 17th in points allowed two years ago. There’s no reason to think it won’t be a solid value defense again in 2009.

Casey McGehee is rendering Mat Gamel useless of late.

Another road trip comes to an end and now it’s time to play catch up. During my break, the Giants found their offense in a big way. The Rangers are still tied for first with the injury-riddled Angels. The Mets continue to struggle, buried under a slew of injured and underperforming players, and the Nationals are, well, still the Nationals. The Blue Jays have finally came back down to earth with a thud and, in what is probably the tightest division in baseball, the logjam in the NL Central sees even the Pirates only six games back at the beginning of July. It truly is a great game.

My thanks to RotoRob for carrying the torch last week while I was gallivanting through the American Midwest and, without further ado, let’s take a look at some potential wire acquisitions for the upcoming week.

Casey McGehee, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers: After a rather slow and inauspicious start, McGehee has been on fire as of late. Over the past 10 games he has four homers, 13 RBI and a solid .289 BA. He’s pushed uber-prospect Mat Gamel to the bench and, with interleague play now completed, probably back to Triple-A. McGehee is currently hitting in the fifth slot behind Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, meaning plenty of RBI opportunities and making him is a solid acquisition in all formats.

Aroldis Chapman, SP, F/A: Yes, I’m rather bullish on the young Cuban, but with his history and relative youth why shouldn’t I be? Those Fantasy players in dynasty keeper leagues should be rushing to the waiver wire to get this kid rostered before the mad dash to acquire his services commences.

Everth Cabrera, SS, San Diego Padres: The 22-year-old Cabrera, a Rule Five pick from the Rockies, is an intriguing option. He has only 27 at bats above the Single-A level, but what a season he had at Lake Elsinore in the California League. This kid has some serious speed, with 73 stolen bases in 89 attempts in 2008, and even flashed some power (six homers and 38 RBI). If filling a hole in your Fantasy squads’ middle infield is a priority and you feel the need for speed, Cabrera is a decent gamble.

Martin Prado,1B/3B/2B, Atlanta Braves: Okay, he’s no Kelly Johnson, but is that really such a bad thing? Until Johnson finds a way to get healthy and crawl past the Mendoza line, Prado has the gig at second base for the Braves. He is currently the hot hand in a rather anemic offense with one homer, six RBI, and a .500 BA over his past five games. The position flexibility also helps make him a very nice option in deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats.

Lastings Milledge, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates didn’t trade for Milledge to not give him a shot. He’s currently on the DL rehabbing the effects of a broken finger, but a return to active status is rumoured to be imminent. The 24-year-old outfielder hit 14 homers with 61 RBI and 24 thefts in 2008 in a lead-off role with the Nationals before falling into Manny Acta’s doghouse to start the 2009 campaign. The Nats do have a plan, they’re just keeping it a secret from everyone, including themselves. How do you just give up on a kid with this much potential? Enough Tim, we don’t need another rant on Acta even though he is such an easy target. If Milledge is available in your league get him rostered and stashed away on your bench in the hopes he can continue to build on that solid 2008 for his new club in the Steel City.

Chris Woodward, 3B, Seattle Mariners: If you are currently in desperate-times-require-desperate-measures mode, the injury to Adrian Beltre opens a window of opportunity for Woodward. He’s off to a rather hot start since replacing Beltre, but his career numbers speak loudly of utility/role player at best. There appears to be no relief forthcoming from the Mariner farm system so it looks like the job is his making him worthy of a pickup in AL-only leagues.

Kevin Correia, SP, San Diego Padres: The former Giant is quietly enjoying a solid season for the Padres. He’s been remarkedly consistent other than that last start against the Astros and is heading into a two-start week. On the year he has a 4.58 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 92 1/3 IP. He’s currently owned by only 44 per cent of the teams playing over at CBS. Correia makes for a solid addition heading into the break in both NL-only and H2H leagues.

Ryan Sadowski, SP, San Francisco Giants: The 26-year-old didn’t have stellar numbers at Triple-A Fresno this year, but nonetheless has turned in two great starts for the surging Giants since being recalled June 28. Two starts, two wins, and 13 scoreless innings later it looks like it might be time to give the kid some props. It’s time to make a move on Sadowski in all dynasty, H2H, and NL-only formats and keep him on the radar in mixed 12-team leagues. One more solid start out of the righty and he will very quickly turn into a hot commodity in all formats.

Nate Schierholtz, OF, San Francisco Giants: In his past 10 games, 25-year-old Schierholtz is batting .421 with two homers, six RBI and 11 runs scored. He provides a very solid mix of moderate power and speed potential, and appears to have replaced the struggling Fred Lewis as a regular in the Giant lineup. He’s getting the opportunities, playing well, and the Giants are currently on a roll. What more does one need to make a player a valuable commodity? Absolutely nothing.

Travis Ishikawa, 1B, San Francisco Giants: In the past month Ishikawa has hit five homers and 13 RBI, but more importantly it appears as if he has settled into the job at first base on a full-time basis. Not bad for a guy that didn’t hit that first long ball until May 25. Now that Pablo Sandoval is solidly entrenched at third base, the at bats are going to be there, making Ishikawa worthy of a look-see in deep mixed leagues and NL-only formats.

Mark Ellis, 2B, Oakland Athletics: Since returning this past week from a calf strain that sidelined him for virtually all of May and June, Ellis has hit two homers and driven in four runs. He does have intriguing power potential, but remember to temper your expectations from a BA perspective. If you currently have a hole to fill in your Fantasy squad’s middle-infield and are looking to boost those power numbers, Ellis could be just what the doctor ordered.

If Armando Galarraga keeps walking people, he will soon lose his rotation spot.

Detroit Tigers starter Armando Galarraga may have won his last two starts, but to say he looked sharp in either outing would be highly inaccurate. In fact, in his last start against Oakland – the worst hitting team in the AL – he dodged a bullet as the A’s failed to capitalize on Galarraga’s wildness that resulted in six walks in 6 1/3 IP.

Galarraga was actually better in June than he was in May, but that’s not saying a hell of a lot after he got bitch-slapped to the tune of an 0-5 record and 8.49 ERA in six starts in May. Even though he pitched better in June, control has remained a serious issue all season. Combine that with a K/9 rate that has declined from his fine rookie effort, and you’re left with a pitcher that is best avoided in standard mixed leagues at this point.

If you’re desperate for a starter, however, next week may be a good time to gamble on Galarraga at least having a chance to bag a win or two, if not actually help your team peripherals. He has a pair of home starts, Monday against the Royals – the second-worst hitting team in the AL – and then Sunday vs. Cleveland, a team that’s hit well on the road, but hasn’t swung the sticks well anywhere recently.

Looking slightly longer term, you’ve got to be worried that if he doesn’t start turning in more quality outings and rein in all those walks, Galarraga could be usurped in the rotation by either Dontrelle Willis or Jeremy Bonderman, whenever the hell either of those two are ready to return. The Tigers have played pretty well lately, but their hold on the AL Central is tenuous with the White Sox suddenly charging hard on their heels, so Detroit won’t hesitate to make changes as soon as some of its walking wounded return.

Check out my radio appearance today. What else are you going to do? Strip down and fondle a freakishly large fish?

Looking for something to do this afternoon on this 4th of July? Once you’ve consumed your 14th hot dog and 22nd beer and need to chill out for a few minutes, why not check out my latest radio appearance?

I’ll be talking about the big stories of the first half of the baseball season on the Alex Reimer Show on WBNW AM 1120 in Boston. The show runs from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST, and I’ll be spreading the word from around 4:40 p.m. on.

Come on, people, how many freaking hot dogs can you eat? Okay, don’t answer that. Listen to the show.

A 21-year-old lefty who can throw 102 mph fastballs? Uh, ya. Aroldis Chapman needs to be on your radar.

This week, one of the top young pitchers in the world, 21-year-old Cuban southpaw Aroldis Chapman, defected prior to the 2009 World Port tournament being held in the Netherlands. Along with Stephen Strasburg and Yu Darvish, Chapman and his triple-digit high heat is likely one of the top three young pitching prospects currently not signed to an MLB contract.

Chapman moved to the forefront of the International pitching scene with a stellar peformance in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. He amassed a 2-0 record in defeating both South Korea and Japan, and along the way managed a microscopic 1.20 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 15 IP. He was named to the tournament All-Star team as the top southpaw.

Chapman went 11-4 for Serie Nacional in 2008-2009, striking out 130 in 118 1/3 IP. Unfortunately, he also managed to allow 62 walks and tied for the league lead with 14 wild pitches. Chapman is the holder of the record for the fastest recorded pitch in Cuba at 102 mph. Now that’s some very serious heat. My hunch is that batters won’t be digging in against a flame thrower who has a propensity for wildness like this.

Now what does this mean looking to the immediate future? Once the dust settles, Chapman will undoubtedly be looking at securing free-agency from MLB and then it’s time to let the games begin. The last big-name pitcher to defect from Cuba was back in 2002 and Jose Contreras managed to secure a four-year deal worth $32 million. Just last year, Dayan Viciedo signed a four-year, $10-million deal with the White Sox. Is the sky potentially the limit in this situation?

How many pitchers — especially southpaws — have the potential to hit triple digits on the radar gun? How many of those same pitchers have accomplished this in the past 10 years? Not that this is a guarantee of success, but the combination of both his age and recent history and the fact that MLB teams are enamoured with that huge strikeout potential makes a very large contract a very distinct possibility.

This leads us to the Washington Nationals, potentially the only group upset with the news of the Chapman defection. The shock waves are still rolling through the Nats’ camp as they attempt to secure the services of Strasburg. Do you think Scott Boras isn’t watching the Chapman developments very closely as he looks to gain the maximum leverage possible for his client? The ante has been raised one notch higher with the news of the Chapman defection.

From a Fantasy perspective, now would be the time for those of us playing in dynasty formats to make a move. Although it is highly unlikely we will actually get to see Chapman pitching this year because of the logistics involved, he is a talent worthy of rostering now before the hype continues to drive his price in both the real and Fantasy worlds to the highest of levels.

Marion Gaborik (left) and his hottie and headed to Broadway while Marian Hossa (right) signed a lifetime deal with the Hawks.

If you’ve been in an NHL coma since the Penguins hoisted the Stanley Cup, well, you’ve got a few things to catch up on — a few things as in $300+ million spent on free agents within the first few days of free agency. Who changed hands? Uh…well, a lot of guys. However, here are the critical ones:

• I’ve totally got Marian Hossa figured out now. He uses the playoffs as a bit of window shopping to see what team he wants to go to next (or perhaps what city has the best strip clubs to visit). First as a Penguin, he left for Detroit, now from Detroit he signs a ridiculous 12-year deal with Chicago. The Fantasy aspect of this? While Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane become free agents next year, one has to look at how Dale Tallon will balance his cap hit. Guys like Dustin Byfuglin may suddenly be available as the season rolls around. In the meantime, look for Hossa to take Martin Havlat’s place in the Hawk lineup — that means playing on different lines as things change up.
• Speaking of Havlat, the Minnesota Wild decided it wanted to stop paying one injury-prone guy with the first initial of M. to pay another injury-prone guy with the first initial of M. While Marian Gaborik may have fled (see below), the Wild signed up Havlat as its new go-to guy. Havlat doesn’t have the same skill as Gaborik and is probably more fragile. While he will get all the chances in the world to be Minny’s top dog, it really comes down to two things: how healthy can he stay and what will new coach Todd Richards’ system be like?
• Oh, and that Gaborik guy? Instead of Jacques Lemaire bitching about how he doesn’t play defense, he’ll have John Tortorella on Broadway screaming about why he’s soft. The difference, though, is Tortorella will let Gaborik go at top speed. Of course, the Rangers have been the black hole of offence for other talented players lately, so why will this be any different? For one, Gaborik can make offence out of nothing — something guys like Scott Gomez and Chris Drury couldn’t do.
• The Montreal Canadiens have remade themselves…sort of. Remember that notion that the Habs were undersized but talented? Um, well…Chris Higgins takes flight in exchange for Gomez, then the Habs sign Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta. All skilled guys, all kinda smaller, so, yeah, not a lot’s changed in Montreal.
• Other things that haven’t really changed: Steve Sullivan resumes his comeback in Nashville, David Booth stays as Florida’s main offensive threat, the Sedin twins continue to confuse people in Vancouver, Scott Niedermayer stays within driving distance of Disneyland for at least one more year, and Erik Cole and Chad LaRose remain with Carolina.
• At the draft, Florida and Calgary swapped Jay Bouwmeester for Jordan Leopold. Come free agency, both guys stayed in their new spots. Florida obviously got the shorter end of the stick while Calgary’s offense will come seemingly come from the back end, with Bouwmeester joining Dion Phaneuf for a formidable power play combination.
• Goaltenders on the move: Colorado’s ugly netminding situation gets interesting, as backup Craig Anderson gets a shot at the starting role with the Avs. Nikolai Khabibulin takes the reins in Edmonton (obviously, he must have seen something interesting in Edmonton that Chris Pronger and Dany Heatley didn’t). How hurt is Rick DiPietro on Long Island? Hurt enough that the Islanders signed a guy who could start his share of games in Dwayne Roloson.
• Toronto is trying to get tougher, signing punch-put artist Colton Orr and adding reliable defenceman Mike Komisarek. Komisarek is a great stay-at-home defender capable of playing in-your-face hockey by dishing out some serious thuds.

Here’s your evidence that Kobe is capable of playing with Ron Artest as he performs a reach around to sample his “good buddy’s” wares. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

So, after winning their 15th NBA Championship, what are the Los Angeles Lakers going to do for an encore?

Unlike the Young Disciples’ tune “Apparently Nothing,” the Lakers have plenty planned.

For starters, superstar Kobe Bryant will not opt out of the final two years of his contract, so the fact that he’ll remain with the Lakers is a huge relief for all involved. Although Kobe struggled with his shot in the Finals, he was canning his treys and did a pretty good job of pitching in across the board, while still averaging over 30 PPG. Bryant’s overall production has been in decline for three years running now, and while the soon-to-be 31-year-old easily remains a top five Fantasy pick, his days of putting up 30 per night over the course of 82 games are probably gone – especially on this current Laker squad, with myriad scoring options.

Okay, so we didn’t get the much-anticipated LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant matchup in the Finals, but that doesn’t mean that Bryant wasn’t under serious pressure to come through and lead the Lakers to their first title since 2002 – and Kobe’s first without Shaquille O’Neal.

Coach Phil Jackson, with his fourth title as the Lakers’ head man to go along with the half dozen he bagged in Chicago, is now the only coach in NBA history to be able to wear a Championship ring on every finger on both hands. In fact, I’d like to see Jackson do that, and look something like the male version of this.

Meanwhile, it became clear the Lakers were going to have a new small forward next season when they wooed Ron Artest away from the Rockets. Almost immediately after that deal was announced, Trevor Ariza made a verbal commitment to sign with Houston. So are the Lakers better off with Ron-Ron over Ariza at the three? On the surface, there’s no question who the more accomplished player is, although Ariza’s upside is fascinating. However, not everyone is thrilled with this deal. LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke slammed the Lakers for not spending more time trying to re-sign Ariza instead of going after Artest. He writes:

“They just won a title that would not have been possible without the strong defense and stunning shooting of a 24-year-old kid with a limitless ceiling. Yet they send the kid packing for an aging nut whose greatest hits have occurred on the heads of fans.”

While Plaschke admits that Artest is the better player, he’s concerned about how this move will affect team chemisty – and that’s a valid point worth exploring.

From a Fantasy standpoint, however, Ariza goes flying up the charts – with Yao Ming out and with Tracy McGrady a huge question mark for Houston, Ariza should be poised for a major breakout. As valuable as he was for the Lakers in the playoffs, Ariza could take a primary scoring role in Houston. I’d be keeping my eye on this kid as a potential Most Improved Player in 2009-10 and if you’re looking for a serious sleeper, look no further. Given starter minutes, I could see him being a 15-16 point man with a high shooting percentage, six to seven boards, maybe 1.5 treys per game and a steals total that will be among the best in the NBA.

Houston is suddenly a much younger, and clearly rebuilding team – remember that they dealt away Rafer Alston at the deadline and handed the offense to youngster Aaron Brooks — and Ariza is at the centre of this youth movement. Apparently, Ariza took less money from Houston than another team – believed to be the Raptors – offered.

In Artest, the Lakers get an extremely talented and tough player – but also an incredibly unpredictable one. He’ll be 30 years old shortly after next season starts, and has had some serious problems staying healthy throughout his career, especially this past season when he limped through huge chunks of the year on a bad ankle. Artest is taking a cut in pay to join LA, but he seems fine with this given that he’ll have a chance to get a ring – something that clearly wasn’t going to happen in Houston after the Yao injury.

It will be interesting to watch the chemistry between Artest and Bryant – two players who, despite claims they are great buddies off the court, have had a bit of history of on-court animosity – much of it recent after an episode in the playoffs this spring.

Artest is another player who racks up the steals (although he averaged a career low 1.5 last season), but I can’t see a scenario where his Fantasy numbers don’t suffer as a Laker. Even if he’s 100 per cent healthy, I don’t see Artest getting back to his 40 MPG days like in Indy and Sacramento, and that will obviously affect his production. His touches were down in Houston, so what will they be like for the Lakers with Kobe, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Derek Fisher all needing the rock? And that’s not even factoring in free agent Lamar Odom, who may still re-sign with the Lakers.

Speaking of Gasol, he was a stud in the playoffs, handling even heavier minutes than he did in the regular season, when he proved he was over the injury woes of the past two seasons. He enjoyed a very strong campaign, and probably worked his way into mid-third round value for your upcoming draft this fall. However, a word of caution: there’s already been plenty of moaning of the lack of Gasol touches – why don’t the Lakers run the offense through the big man more? But with Artest aboard, this could become a much more serious issue, because unlike Ariza, who was perfectly okay to accept the limited shot attempts he got, an All-Star of Artest’s calibre is unlikely to be so unselfish. This is part of that chemistry issue that Plaschke is justifiably worried about, and it’s something that definitely bears watching – especially by Gasol owners.

Cesar Izturis’s appendicitis will keep him out for another month.

I sure hope you’re no longer holding onto Oriole shortstop Cesar Izturis, especially with news that he could still be almost a month away from returning as he continues to rehab from appendicitis which has already cost him almost a month. Izturis will likely start a minor league rehab assignment next week, but expecting him back before late-July is foolhardy.

The Orioles, who just dropped two out of three at home against the BoSox to fall six games behind the fourth-place Jays, have turned to youngster Robert Andino as the everyday shortstop, and the fact that there’s no rush to pick him up off the waiver wires tells you everything you need to know. Shortstop was a black hole for the O’s last season, and apparently is remaining so in 2009.

Izturis had actually been doing a bit better offensively before he went down, batting .276 with 10 runs and four steals in May, but the fact that he’s had such difficulty staying healthy is recent seasons is yet another reason to shy away from him. Sure, he was getting more extra-base hits than normal (that’s not saying much) and doing a great job on the basepaths – which is really the only reason he’s even mildly attractive for Fantasy purposes – but Izturis is showing no patience this year, and his great early-season contact rates corrected themselves in May.

At this point, I see no reason to hold on to Izturis or even monitor his progress, and as for Andino, surely there are better options. As for the Orioles’ woes at this position, barring a trade or off-season free agent signing, I don’t see an immediate answer. Their shortstop ranks in the minors are fairly barren, although Pedro Florimon, Jr., a 22-year-old at High A is somewhat intriguing, as he’s taken a nice step forward this year, displaying decent gap power and speed and showing good on-base skills. Moises Coriaco is off to a strong start in the Rookie level GCL, but he’s almost 21 years old already, so it’s hard to place much stock in his performance until he proves he can hit against more advanced competition.

Kerry Collins isn’t a stud Fantasy QB, but he did lead the Titans to 13 wins last season.

We’re on a roll today, back with more of the 2009 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit with yet another team preview (we’re now done with all the AFC teams and have already started to churn out a few NFC teams). We’re going to try to shoot out all these team previews and then start releasing the kit’s other goodies (cheat sheets, sleepers/busts lists, etc.). While Dante’ Stallworth clues in to the fact that people “come out of nowhere” when you’re freaking pissed to the gills, let’s turn our attention to the Tennessee Titans, who enjoyed a brilliant 2008, but were unable to do anything in the playoffs.

What Went Right

Coming off a playoff appearance during the ’07 season, the Titans expected Vince Young to lead them back in ‘08. Well, they got half of what they expected. The Titans produced the NFL’s best regular season record led by Kerry Collins, who began his NFL career in 1995 when Yahoo! was founded and the DVD was invented. Now, that’s old. Another huge contributor proved to be rookie running back Chris Johnson, who not only led all first year backs in rushing, but combined with fellow teammate LenDale White to form one of the league’s best one-two punches in the backfield. Meanwhile, the defense punished their opponents, ranking seventh overall.

What Went Wrong

Finishing 13-3 did not give Titans fans much to complain about…until the postseason. The team’s less-than-enthralling passing game turned out to be its Achilles’ heel. Collins only threw 12 touchdown passes and Tennessee struggled to stretch the field, which was an issue addressed during the offseason.

Off-season Outlook

Despite Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth signing with Jerry Jones-Lite (Daniel Snyder) in Washington, the Titans stayed quiet on the free agent front. However, they nabbed former Steeler Nate Washington as a potential long distance threat to help with big pass plays downfield. Elsewhere, the Titans dealt with in-house free agent matters such as re-signing Collins and designating the franchise player tag on tight end Bo Scaife.

Draft Outlook

The Titans addressed two of their biggest needs with receiver and defensive tackle. Rutgers wideout Kenny Britt joins the Titan receivers. The first round selection provides a big target at 6′3″, 228 pounds. Former Auburn defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks joins Operation Replace Albert Haynesworth. Meanwhile, keep an eye out on pass-catching tight end Jared Cook.

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

When figuring out the Fantasy value of Collins, simply apply the Troy Aikmanprinciple. Such a rule states that the quarterback’s real value to his team is a complete 180 from his Fantasy worth. Collins is a far better quarterback for the Titans than Young, but he’s a poor Fantasy option. While he only got sacked eight times last season, Collins threw just 12 touchdown passes. Tennessee’s standard mode of transportation is on the ground. Regardless of who is under centre, stray away from all Titan quarterbacks.

Running Backs

The alleged owners of the nickname “Smash & Dash” did plenty of both to opponents in 2008. Johnson put together a strong rookie resume by rushing for 1,228 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns en route to making the Pro Bowl. Johnson’s versatility and game-breaking speed make him potentially a top five Fantasy back. His much plumper teammate, White, did not have Johnson’s success on the ground, but scored 15 touchdowns. The biggest concern for any Johnson owner is White stealing scores at the goal line. That will be a likely occurrence again in 2009.

Receivers

The snooze fest that is the Titan receiving corps needs a serious jolt of life. Seeking its first 1,000 yard-receiver since 2004, the Titans hope Washington will give them a deep threat with the rookie Britt working the middle of the field. Justin Gage returns after grabbing half of Collins’ 12 scoring strikes. No one in this group will exactly conjure up memories of former great Charley Hennigan. Let me guess. You’ve never heard of Hennigan, right? Well, the former Houston Oiler and five-time Pro Bowler is the second receiver in league history to catch at least 100 passes in a season. Anyways, avoid Titan receivers but if you must, take a flyer on Washington.

Tight Ends

Scaife is the breadwinner out of this group. He only caught two touchdowns last season, but with the Titans, that is the equivalent of eight. One would think with the arrival of Cook, that Alge Crumpler’s days in Tennessee are numbered. After all, his biggest contribution last season was a big fumble against the Ravens in the playoffs. Take Scaife, but only in the role as a back-up tight end.

Defense/Special Teams

While their return game is not awe-inspiring, the Titan defense is no filler and all killer. Tennessee’s band of relative no-names ravaged offenses, finishing with the second fewest points allowed a season ago. Without Haynesworth in the middle, they need to ask different players to produce –and quickly. One player on the spot will be defensive tackle Jason Jones, who enters his second year after tallying five sacks. Elsewhere, the secondary is led by All-Pro cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who intercepted five passes in ’08 and is armed perhaps with the league’s best name. Consider them a top tier defensive unit.

Now that Brett Favre is gone, the Jets’ QB situation is unsettled.

We’ve got more of the 2009 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit for you today with yet another team preview (we’re now well over halfway through these puppies). We’re going to try to shoot out all these team previews and then start releasing the kit’s other goodies (cheat sheets, sleepers/busts lists, etc.). While you wonder whether Michael Vick is fit to work with children, let’s see if the Jets have what it takes to build on last year’s recovery and make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2006.

What Went Right

The signing of farmhand Brett Favre brought a Hilton-esque (Paris, not Nicky) feel to the Jets’ 2008 season. New York got off to a great start, opening the season with eight wins in their first 11 games. Favre was jumping around like a schoolboy, there fans were chanting (J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS) and Eric Mangini looked like a boy-genius. Everything seemed on track for a storybook ending until about Week 13. Fantasy-wise, the only stud on the team was running back Thomas Jones, who racked up over 1,500 combined yards to go with 15 total touchdowns.

What Went Wrong

Nothing really went wrong until the calendar turned to December, as the Jets lost four of their last five games, resulting in another season at home come playoff time. Some would wonder if Favre’s old bones have hindered his cold weather performance late in his career, but there is probably myriad issues. It was realized this offseason that he played a good amount of the season with a fairly serious shoulder injury that most definitely would have affected his play. Outside of Favre’s problems, this team was filled with mediocre and below average Fantasy players that were never really on the radar.

Off-season Outlook

After the late-season collapse, Mangini was fired and replaced with Rex Ryan, the former assistant head coach of the Ravens. He brought with him LB Bart Scott and S Jim Leonhard, who were both signed by the Jets as free agents. The other notable move was acquiring CB Lito Sheppard from the Eagles for draft picks. With the change of leadership, the Jets should be more focused on defense this year and will play a more conservative brand of football on offense.

Draft Review

This was a big offseason for the Jets as they drafted their quarterback of the future, Mark Sanchez. Also drafted was running back Shonn Greene, out of Iowa, who was a total beast in college and could be an immediate factor. Overall, this draft was mortgaged for basically three players (Sheppard, Sanchez, and Greene), but in a few years we could be looking back at this as the draft that molded the future of the Jets. Then again, we could also be saying, what the hell were they thinking?

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

The starting job will be decided by the off-season preparation and play of Sanchez and Kellen Clemens. I think Clemens may have a slight edge to start Week One, but I would be surprised if Sanchez is not the starter by the midpoint of the season. Regardless who plays, neither guy is a bona fide Fantasy starter this year, so don’t be surprised if the Jets are weak offensively this year. Sanchez has promise down the line, so don’t be scared to snag him up if you are in a keeper league; just don’t expect him to pull a Matt Ryan this season. I just think Sanchez has the head and moxy to be a star quarterback in this league and New York is the perfect market for a guy like him.

Running Backs

The starter is 2008 AFC rushing leader Jones, but he will be pushed by newcomer Greene, who will look to steal some carries and could be a very good late-round value pick. Also in the mix is return specialist Leon Washington, who has great speed and will get some time as a third-down back.

Wide Receivers

The main wideout will once again be Jerricho Cotchery, who slipped a little last year after averaging over 80 catches and 1,000 yards the previous two seasons. The fact that Laveranues Coles left via free agency will allow defenses to focus more closely on Cotchery, and that may be bad news if you’re hoping for a recovery from him. Cotchery will be joined by David Clowney, a hard worker who looks ready to take a big step forward this year, and quarterback turned wide receiver Brad Smith, who enjoyed a big spring and could also be ready to break out. As things stand now, however, Cotchery is the only Fantasy starter on this squad, unless you are in the deepest of leagues.

Tight Ends

I think Dustin Keller is going to be a great tight end in this league and it would behoove Sanchez to buddy up with the second-year starter. Also on the squad is Bubba Franks, who the Jets re-signed as a free agent, but he is nothing more than a veteran that provides depth. Keller is a top 10 tight end, and is a nice player to have in a dynasty league.

Defense/Special Teams

The Jets gave up their share of points last year (finishing in the middle of the pack in points per game allowed), but they should have a renewed emphasis on defense with the arrival of new head coach Ryan and his stud linebacker Scott. I expect a turnaround in this unit, making them a top 15 defense which can be useful in Fantasy this year.

Kerry Wood may be popular with the ladies, but he’s been wearing out his welcome among Fantasy owners.

Two weeks ago I listed every American League closer along with some middle men I felt you should keep your eye on. From here on out, I’m going to highlight the situations of just certain teams I feel bear closer inspection. While the focus is obviously closers, I’ll continue to monitor the dynamics of each bullpen, including middle men.
 
Baltimore Orioles

Chris Ray returned to the O’s after spending nearly a month in the minors to get some regular work and hopefully find his groove. Unfortunately, he was hit hard in his second outing. George Sherrill is very safe, especially considering he’s on a very nice roll right now.

Cleveland Indians

Kerry Wood continues to be shaky in the closer role for the Tribe. In five appearance since the last time I wrote, Wood has given up four earned runs, blown two saves and taken a loss. His ERA was above 5.50 until his last outing, and he has an unsightly WHIP of over 1.50. The Indians just acquired Chris Perez from the Cardinals, so Wood better start looking over his shoulder. The long leash just got a little shorter. Fortunately for Wood owners, Perez was smacked around like a step child in his Cleveland debut, but there’s no doubt he’ll be groomed to be the closer of the future.

Detroit Tigers

Ater a butt-ugly May, Brandon Lyon has steadily lowered his ERA to 3.89 thanks to a brilliant June in which he surrendered just one earned run in 16 IP of work. While Fernando Rodney is firmly entrenched as the Tigers closer, Lyon has made a case for himself with his recent efforts. So if Rodney’s regular “interesting” saves start getting a bit more tense, owners should be aware that the Tigers have options.

Kansas City Royals

With the Royals struggling in June, Joakim Soria has had inconsistent save opportunities. He’s got two saves and two blown saves, but really hasn’t pitched poorly at all. Meanwhile, his main competition for saves, Juan Cruz, has completely imploded, turning into a batting practice pitcher – or so it seems. He’s allowed earned runs in six of his last nine appearances and has seen his ERA jump from 3.00 in late May to well over 5.00 now. Cruz needn’t worry about his pecking order in the Royal pen, however; the entire relief corps (outside of Soria) has been pathetic in recent weeks. It’s the same story in KC: the team is struggling to find a bridge from the starters to Soria. If you’re seeking a dark horse or a depth pick in a deep AL-only league, keep your eye on veteran Roman Colon. He was brilliant at Triple-A Omaha, earning a promotion last month for his first taste of the bigs since 2006, and so far, he’s been very tough to hit. This one-time “can’t miss” prospect could easily work his way into a set-up role soon.

New York Yankees

While not Fantasy relevant, it’s worth noting that on Sunday, Mariano Rivera became the second reliever in big league history to reach 500 career saves. Mo trails only Trevor Hoffman on the all-time list and the milestone save pads his Hall of Fame resume even more. Meanwhile, Brian Bruney’s old nemesis — control issues — cropped up again Monday, and if this continues, Phil Hughes, who has pitched very well lately, could have a chance to become the top righty set-up man.

Oakland A’s

Michael Wuertz hit a rough patch a couple of weeks ago, but seemed to have figured things out in his last five appearances. His overall numbers, helped along by some solid control, are still pretty sweet. Andrew Bailey continues to excel in the closer role, leaving Wuertz to set the table. It’s worth noting that Brad Ziegler has improved his hit rates and turned in some much better results lately, so don’t forget about him.

Tampa Bay Rays

Since the last time I wrote about the AL teams, J.P. Howell has recorded two wins and two saves and seems to be emerging as the go-to guy in the pen. While Joe Maddon hasn’t come out and said the Howell is the closer, it seems that Howell has his manager’s trust in tough situations more than the other Tampa relievers. Besides, there’s still no guarantee that Troy Percival will ever see the light of day again. Further cementing Howell’s status is the fact that this week Jason Isringhausen underwent Tommy John surgery, a procedure which puts the remainder of his career in jeopardy as well.

Texas Rangers

Frank Francisco came off the disabled list and promptly got bumped down the Texas reliever food chain. It looks like the plan is to ease Francisco into the closer role, but that may be tough as C.J. Wilson continues to excel, allowing only two earned runs in the past two months. If Wilson continues to pitch well, Francisco may just stay where he’s at – in middle relief. Francisco got lit up and blew a save chance in his last outing, providing further insurance for Wilson, who’s job may be safe until at least the All-Star game at this point. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Scott Downs hit the disabled list shortly after my last column and Jason Frasor took over as the Jays closer. Frasor has been fabulous all year but only has two saves on the year and Toronto — back to its losing ways — has struggled to give him opportunities. Downs is eligible to come of the DL on July 1, but it’s doubtful he’ll be ready until at least next week. Downs was dominant as the Jay closer before he was hurt, but Frasor has pitched nearly as well. Both pitchers are worth owning, and Frasor should remain an AL-only asset after Downs returns.

Gregg Zaun is barely playing, but that gives him more time to wear his groovy pink pants.

It seems strange to recommend ditching a player who has nine hits in his last 13 at bats, but with the O’s really unable to make up much ground on the Rays – even though they just swept the Nats – there’s no point in them trotting 38-year-old catcher Gregg Zaun out there when they’re trying to develop the most exciting young catching prospect in the game in Matt Wieters.

Zaun seems to have been helped by the extra rest, batting .500 with five runs and five RBI in limited action this month. Saturday, he jacked a solo blast as part of a 3-for-4 night. The vet saw plenty of action earlier this season, and despite a less patient approach, he’s been doing a solid job of getting on base, but unless you’re in an extremely deep AL-only league, Zaun has outlived his usefulness, something we expected from the beginning of the season.

If you’ve been hanging onto Zaun in an AL-only league, you’re better off picking up someone like Dioner Navarro, who is grossly underowned, but starting to heat up.

The Eagles finally landed a solid young receiver in DeSean Jackson.

We’ve got more of the 2009 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit for you today with yet another team preview (we’re now over halfway through these puppies). We’re going to try to shoot out all these team previews and then start releasing the kit’s other goodies (cheat sheets, sleepers/busts lists, etc.). While you wonder what kind of effect the NFL court battle over its licensing deal for sports merchandise can have on sports in general, find out if the Eagles can build on their strong playoff showing and get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2005.

What Went Right

Thank the heavens, the Eagles finally drafted a good wide out. After Andy Reid was 0-for-life in this department, Philly landed DeSean Jackson and watched him blossom into the second-best receiving option Donovan McNabb has had in his career. The two combined for 62 receptions and 912 yards, lofty totals for any rookie wide receiver. While Brian Westbrook battled some injury woes and had his lowest yards-per-carry average since 2005 (another injury-plagued season), he did still account for nearly 100 total yards and a score per game. And not that I really care, but the Philly defense had another nice Fantasy year. But really, defense is so boring.

What Went Wrong

McNabb has developed a slight case of inconsistency over the last couple years. Nine times last year he finished with one or zero touchdown tosses. It’s not the end of the world and McNabb was still a top 10 Fantasy quarterback, but that does put a huge burden on your other players week-to-week. The other issue for the Iggles was the other wide out spot. Kevin Curtis couldn’t stay healthy (and he’s better in the slot anyway) while Reggie Brown regressed. Of course, Brown has been regressing since his rookie year, so that’s no surprise.

Off-season Outlook

Perhaps we should have known it was coming with Reid’s pedigree, but the Eagles spent much of the offseason restocking their offensive line by bringing in former Bill Jason Peters and former Bengal Stacy Andrews. It will be interesting to see how Stacy’s brother Shawn Andrews adapts to being moved to the tackle position (and how he comes back from last year’s back injury). Aside from that, Philadelphia’s only other Fantasy impact move was letting L.J. Smith take his butter fingers a couple hours west to Baltimore. That means Brent Celek should be on your Fantasy radar as a minor sleeper.

Draft Review

Oh boy. Perhaps bolstered by the success of Jackson, Reid and the Eagles spent another high draft pick on a wide out, this time a first rounder on Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin. The pundits seemed to be mostly in favour of this, although Maclin is another slightly undersized guy on the outside. It’s nice to at least have one bigger target, especially in the red zone. Also, with the aforementioned Westbrook injury issues, the Eagles finally decided having a competent back-up running back was worthwhile, so they selected Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy. While he’s a worthy handcuff if you have large rosters, the big news here is that the Eagles now have a DeSean and a LeSean. Maybe they could wring Keyshawn out of retirement (and get him to change his spelling to ‘KeSean’). That would be great.

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

Same ol’, same ol’. McNabb just needs to stay healthy and he’ll be a Fantasy starter. Kevin Kolb disappointed when he started last year, but it does look like he’ll get another chance when McNabb’s contract runs out.

Running Backs

Westbrook and McCoy have the ability to be one of the better one-two punches in the league. The thing to watch out for is carry distribution. Obviously, we all don’t want this to turn into a committee and we don’t want Westy to lose the goal line car…er…shovel passes, so watch how the carries are doled out early on in the season.

Wide Receivers

It’s all about Jackson and Maclin. The two have a chance to be the most dynamic wide out duo in town since…I don’t know, Harold Carmichael and Charlie Smith? It’s been a long, long time.

Tight Ends

I’m not sure if my optimism for Celek has more to do with his talent or the fact that he’s not Smith. Either way, if you wait until very late in your draft for a tight end, Celek is worth considering.

Defense/Special Teams

This group came back strong last season, especially in terms of pass defense. It remains one of the top Fantasy units around and is a great value once the best groups are taken way too high.

NYI GM Garth Snow cracked up No. 1 pick John Tavares when he told him the Isles are now Cup contenders.

By Steven Ovadia and RotoRob

With the 2009 NHL Draft going down this weekend, we present our take on all the players taken in the first round.

1. John Tavares, C, London Knights, New York Islanders: The buzz started when Tavares was given an “exceptional player” exemption that allowed him to play in the OHL at the tender age of 14. I went to see him play with the Generals shortly after he had turned 15, and filed the following report back in November, 2005:

“Now that Sidney Crosby is in the NHL, who’s the next big thing? Yesterday afternoon, I got a chance to see him and his name is John Tavares. He created waves when earlier this year he fought for and ultimately gained a special exemption to be drafted into the Ontario Hockey League at the age of 14. The Oshawa Generals were only too happy to snap him up with the first overall pick and are definitely reaping the benefits. Tavares, who turned 15 three days before his junior debut, is more than just holding his own (better than a point per game) playing against competitors as many as five years older than him. He’s clearly the most creative and talented, if somewhat raw, player on the ice. He has tremendous ice presence and surprising size, but is knocked off the puck fairly easily (of course, given the attention his plight to gain entry into the league caused, he may as well have a bulls eye on his back). That will change as Tavares fills out. He showed his range of skills on a variety of plays; one particular give-and-go was just stunning and a move he made behind the net that turned an opposing defenceman inside out left the crowd gasping in awe. Tavares seemed to generate a scoring opportunity every time he was on the ice. He’s very good on his feet in traffic, reacting to the play quicker than anyone on the ice, can move very well and has a very strong skating stride. As Tavares gets stronger and gains more experience, he will continue to improve. He looks like a shoo-in for OHL Rookie of the Year, and it wouldn’t shock me if he’s the best player in the league within a year and a half. At this point, Tavares would have to be the favorite to be the first pick in the NHL draft in 2009. Yes, he’s four years from being drafted, but owners in keeper leagues that can hoard juniors would be well-advised to tuck this kid away.”

Anyone who saw Tavares, 18, dominate the 2009 WJC knows that this kid is capable of one day bringing the Islanders back to their glory days in a similar manner that Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have done for the Penguins. – R.R.

2. Victor Hedman, D, Modo (Sweden), Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa was so shorthanded on defense last season, it had to bring Marek Malik back to the NHL. The buzz on Hedman is that he’s NHL ready, and for that reason alone, Tampa was psyched to get him. But Hedman should blossom into a high-quality defenseman. And hopefully he’ll work out better than Steve Stamkos, not that Stamkos sucked, but he did take some time to find his groove before turning in a pretty darned good rookie season. — S.O.

3. Matt Duchene, C, Brampton Battalion, Colorado Avalanche: It’s ironic that in a season when this franchise had this high a pick for the first time since 1995, it picked a kid that many compare to Joe Sakic, the greatest player in the history of the team and the team leader who is expected to retire this summer. Duchene, 18, used his great hands to score 31 goals and 79 points last season, adding 14 goals and 26 points in just 21 playoff games. – R.R.

4. Evander Kane, C, Vancouver Giants, Atlanta Thrashers: The Thrashers have had their share of high-flying offensive geniuses like Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa, and for whatever reason, it’s never worked out for the team. So lately, they’ve become attracted to more rugged, two-way players. Kane is a player in that mold, and will be even more rugged once he has some AHL seasoning. – S.O.

5. Brayden Schenn, C, Brandon Wheat Kings, Los Angeles Kings: Schenn will trade in his Wheat Kings uni for an LA Kings one. This 18-year-old is a great playmaker, having logged 56 assists in 70 games in the WHL last season. LA is really stockpiling some great young talent, and it got a great one in Schenn, a player the Leafs coveted and had hoped to draft to team up with his older brother, current Leaf Luke Schenn. – R.R.

6. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Leksand, Phoenix Coyotes: Phoenix is trying to transition into more of a finesse offense game and Ekman-Larsson, an offensive defenseman, seems to be the kind of player who can thrive in that kind of system. While the Nicklas Lidstrom comparisons might be a little premature, he should be a solid offensive presence on the blue line. – S.O.

7. Nazem Kadri, C, London Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs: Shut out in their bid to trade up and draft either Tavares or Schenn, the Buds settled for Kadri, an 18-year-old who potted 25 goals in just 56 games in the OHL last season. He’s a tremendously gifted offensive player who should soon take his place among the top two lines in Toronto. He’s an intense player, and the fact that he’s of Lebanese decent could generate interest in the Leafs among the city’s Muslim community – not that Leaf Nation isn’t already busting at the seams. – R.R.

8. Scott Glennie, C, Brandon Wheat Kings, Dallas Stars: A solid goal-scorer, Glennie should eventually give Dallas the offensive punch it’s lacked for the past few seasons. – S.O.

9. Jared Cowen, D, Spokane Chiefs, Ottawa Senators: He’s immense (6’5”, 218) yet mobile, but unfortunately, Cowen’s 2008-09 season ended early thanks to an ACL injury. A true defensive defenseman, Cowen required reconstructive surgery and won’t be able to begin skating until late August. But the Senators don’t believe this will affect his ability to have a long NHL career. Still, picking a one-dimensional defenseman this early in the draft raised some eyebrows — especially considering this class was littered with defense prospects. – R.R.

10. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, LW, Timra (Sweden), Edmonton Oilers: Paajarvi-Svensson is all about the speed. His lack of defensive responsibility could cause fits for defense-minded assistant coach Tom Renney, should Paajarvi-Svensson wind up playing with the Oilers next season. Odds are, he’ll need to flesh out his game a bit more. – S.O.

11. Ryan Ellis, D, Windsor Spitfires, Nashville Predators: Ellis is a gifted offensive defenseman who proved at the WJC that he can be a dominant force on the power play. The fifth OHL product among the top 11 picks, this 18-year-old scored 89 points this season, adding an eye-popping 31 in just 20 playoff games. Ellis is small, but should soon be part of a phenomenal young collection of Predator defensemen that already includes Shea Weber and Ryan Suter at the NHL level, with Cody Fransom and Jon Blum not far behind. – R.R.

12. Calvin de Haan, D, Oshawa Generals, New York Islanders (this pick was acquired by the Islanders from Minnesota for picks 16, 77 and 182): de Haan is a solid, if unspectacular defenseman. The big hook for him is that he’s played with top pick Taveras, and therefore had his game elevated by the top pick. Using the two of them together on a five-man unit could be a huge offensive boost for the Islanders. – S.O.

13. Zack Kassian, RW, Peterborough Petes, Buffalo Sabres: The OHL’s domination of this draft continues with the selection of Kassian, a player with a great blend of size and skill. This power forward is not afraid to use his size to his advantage and that helped him dramatically increase his output last season. The Sabres need a player that is capable of being a presence in front of the opposition’s net, and Kassian fits this bill perfectly. – R.R.

14. Dmitry Kulikov, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Florida Panthers: Kulikov is a solid defenseman who could be ready for the NHL as soon as next season. He won’t replace Jay Bouwmeester, but he might learn a lot from Jordan Leopold. – S.O.

15. Peter Holland, C, Guelph Storm, Anaheim Ducks: At one point Holland was ranked near the ISS’s top 10 prospects, so Anaheim was undoubtedly quite pleased to land him at No. 15. The 6’2”, 190-pounder is coming off a season in which he logged 39 assists and then ripped four goals in just four playoff games. Holland — one of five Storm players taken in this draft – is part of an impressive project by the Ducks of retooling while remaining competitive, highlighted by the immense booty they received when they dealt away Chris Pronger. – R.R.

16. Nick Leddy, D, Eden Prairie, Minnesota Wild (pick acquired by Islanders from Columbus, along with the 77th pick, for No. 26, No. 37, No. 62 and No. 92; the Isles then dealt this pick to Minny as discussed in No 12 above): The Minnesota native was drafted by his hometown team. He’s got a reputation as an offensive defenseman who knows how to do the right thing in his own end. A player like that will fit in anywhere, but the pride of playing for his local NHL team might give his play an emotional edge. – S.O.

17. David Rundblad, D, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden), St. Louis Blues: This kid can skate, and he’s got coast-to-coast ability thanks to some superb puck-handling skills. Don’t expect him to have a legitimate chance to win a job in St. Louis until at least next season, but add him to the growing pile of prospects the Blues are stockpiling – they now have 17 players who were picked in the first three rounds between 2006 and 2009 either already with the team or who still have a chance to play in the NHL. – R.R.

18. Louis Leblanc, C, Omaha Lancers, Montreal Canadiens: Leblanc is a physical forward who’ll be playing for Harvard next year, but you have to wonder if the college game will impede his development. While some Harvard players, like the Moore brothers, have succeeded in the NHL, it’s not the best breeding ground for two-way talent. – S.O.

19. Chris Kreider, C, Andover, Ma., New York Rangers: The highest-ranked high school player, Kreider finished 14th overall in the rankings, but slipped a few spots to the Rangers. A gifted skater, Kreider is headed to Boston College next season after piling up 56 points in just 26 games in his final season of high school. His selection continues a trend towards top talent heading to US colleges; all told seven current or future college players were taken in the opening round. – R.R.

20. Jacob Josefson, C, Djurgarden (Sweden) , New Jersey Devils (picks acquired from Calgary for picks No. 23 and 84): You know Josefson has upside if the Devils are drafting him and he’s not an American. Hell, they even traded up to get him. elHell, He’s supposedly skilled, but not much of a finisher. But if the Devils see something in him, you can bet the finishing touch will emerge soon. – S.O.

21. John Moore, D, Chicago (USHL), Columbus Blue Jackets (pick acquired from Anaheim for picks No. 26 and 37; this is the pick that Anaheim originally acquired as part of the Pronger trade): Moore has committed for 2009 to Colorado College, a school that’s known for its hockey program. Yet another offensive defenseman in this draft, Moore could be the best skater available this season. Even though the Jackets traded up to get this pick, they were still picking later than they ever have in their history. Given the plethora of young talent they’re hoarding – and you can now add Moore to this mix – the Blue Jackets won’t be getting any high draft picks again for quite some time. – R.R.

22. Jordan Schroeder, C, University of Minnesota, Vancouver Canucks: Schroeder is aa talented forward with a very complete game for someone so young, but the big knock on him is that he’s undersized (5’8”, 165). But as more and more players in the new NHL will tell you, size isn’t everything. – S.O.

23. Tim Erixson, D, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden), Calgary Flames: The son of former NHLer Jan Erixon, Tim was actually born in New York, but he played professionally in Sweden. Another offensive defenseman, Erixson went right about where expected in this draft. His selection by the Flames signals a change in their drafting philosophy – picking a skill player as opposed to a grinder. — R.R.

24. Marcus Johansson, C, Farjestad (Sweden), Washington Capitals: Johansson is fast and a bit of a playmaker. The Capitals are probably imagining an older Johansson playing next to Alexander Ovechkin, dishing the puck and, hopefully, burying the puck when Ovechkin creates time and space. But is Johansson big enough for the NHL at 5’11”, 180? — S.O.

25. Jordan Caron, C, Rimouski Oceanic, Boston Bruins: Caron developed into a much bigger offensive force in his third QMJHL season, potting 36 goals and 31 assists in 56 games, but the fact that he snuck into the first round was a bit of a surprise, as most experts had him projected as an early second round selection. The native Quebecer is likely headed back to Rimouski next season, and with the Bruins already overflowing with young talent, there’s no reason to rush him. — R.R.

26. Kyle Palmieri, RW/C, USA-18, Anaheim Ducks: This pick was also a bit of a surprise, given that Palmieri’s reputation is more checker than scorer. Obviously, the Ducks see some kind of potential, but it’s hard to know what it is. No one projected Palmieri as a first-round pick. — S.O.

27. Philippe Paradis, C, Shawinigan Cataractes, Carolina Hurricanes: Paradis showed more offensive touch in his second season in the QMJHL last year, potting 19 goals with 31 assists for 50 points in 66 games. The 18-year-old Quebec native also contributed six goals and six assists in 21 playoff games. No, those numbers aren’t really that impressive, and this was another pick that raised some eyebrows as most projected Paradis as a second or even third rounder. But he’ll bring the size (6’2”, 197) and grit that the Canes need. — R.R.

28. Dylan Olsen, D, Camrose Kodiaks, Chicago Blackhawks: A big defenseman (6’2”, 195), Olsen might develop more of an offensive game with some time in the minor leagues. This is seemingly a good long-term investment for Chicago. — S.O.

29. Carter Ashton, LW, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning (pick acquired from Detroit for picks No. 32 and 75): The son of Brent Ashton, a journeyman who played almost 1,000 NHL games, Carter had a bigger role for the Hurricanes this past season, scoring 30 goals with 20 assists for 50 points in 70 games. The 6’2” winger is just one of many kids who went in this draft that have some kind of NHL bloodlines. — R.R.

30. Simon Despres, D, Saint John Sea Dogs, Pittsburgh Penguins: Like Olsen, Despres is a big defenseman (6’4”, 215) with a hint of offensive potential. We might not see Despres in the NHL for a while, but when we do, he could make an impact. — S.O.

Folically-challenged Clint Barmes loves his deer meat, but he’s spending more time focusing on his value than venison this season.

Tim is in Milwaukee this week, consuming brews and brats while taking in some ball games, so Troll writing duties fall to yours truly for the next two installments.

Well, it’s been another eventful week, with the Cubs’ woes reaching the boiling point, A.J. Burnett dominating the Mets and even getting help from the beleaguered Yankee pen, and the Indians’ dismantlement beginning with the trade of Mark DeRosa to St. Louis.

Clint Barmes, 2B, Colorado Rockies: Barmes was dropped in the batting order last week, but this weekend he was moved back up and has responded with five hits in the past two games, smacking a homer and swiping a base on Saturday. He’s now batting .327 with four homers, 19 RBI and an 864 OPS this month for the red-hot Rox, so if you need middle infield help – remember, Barmes also qualifies at shortstop – you might want to take advantage of the fact that deer-meat boy is having a career year.

Fernando Nieve, SP, New York Mets: Maybe all Nieve needed was a chance. I really liked what I saw out of this former top prospect back in 2006, but he missed most of the 2007 season because of Tommy John surgery, and was unimpressive in a very limited trial last year. Now with the Mets, Nieve was brought up earlier this month, and with both John Maine and Oliver Perez hurting, he’s made the most of his opportunity, limiting opponents to 10 hits and three runs in 18 2/3 IP while winning all three of his starts. Nieve’s command, however, leaves something to be desired, so while I recommend picking him up for speculative purposes – after all, he’s done well enough to buy himself more rotation time even when the Mets get healthy – I wouldn’t advise starting him this week unless you’re in a super deep league. Nieve is slated for road starts in Milwaukee and Philly, and that spells trouble for a young pitcher who is struggling with his command.

Homer Bailey, SP, Cincinnati Reds: How lucky are you feeling? Bailey has walked a ridiculous 13 batters in his two starts and 9 1/3 IP this year, the most recent outing coming Saturday, when he issued seven free passes to the Indians, yet earned the win. Last chance for Bailey, right? Shockingly, he’s still just 23 years old, so there’s no way you can give up on this one-time “can’t miss” prospect. Despite some issues with the long ball, Bailey was doing a superb job at Triple-A this season, so he totally deserved another chance to prove himself as a major league pitcher. He was striking out close to a batter per inning in the minors, and if he can get his major league rate up anywhere near that (say, even 7 K/9), I think we might finally start to see Bailey deliver on his promise. Pick him up in NL-only leagues, but for now, only start him against weaker offenses until he gets his control ironed out.

Ricky Romero, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: Can someone explain to me why this rookie isn’t getting more fantasy love? After nearly no-hitting a dangerous Phillie lineup Friday, Romero wrapped up his month with a 3-1 record and 2.36 ERA. He gave up just 26 hits in 34 1/3 IP, walking 10 and averaging almost a strikeout per inning. This sounds like a kid who’s going to stick in the rotation all year, and despite missing three weeks to injury earlier this season, has a chance to compete for the AL Rookie of the Year. You want him on your Fantasy team regardless of the format you play in, and may I suggest you act quickly, because Romero can’t continue to fly under the radar for long.

Dan Meyer, RP, Florida Marlins: Matt Lindstrom will be out for six weeks because of an elbow strain, leaving the Marlin closer gig vacant. Leo Nunez is in the mix here, but because he’s working his way through an ankle injury, the first crack at this job will likely go to Meyer. Last week we mentioned that he could be a factor, and sure enough, Meyer pitched a perfect inning – his ninth straight scoreless outing – for his first career save on Wednesday. He’s been one of the NL’s better set-up men this season, and considering he’s averaging virtually a strikeout per inning, Meyer seems to have what it takes to be a dominant closer. I’d pick him up in any format right now, but remember that Nunez could factor into this equation once he’s 100 per cent healthy.

Randy Wells, SP, Chicago Cubs: If Romero is the rookie hurler not getting any respect in the AL, Wells fits the same bill for the NL. He’s now tossed back-to-back quality outings for his first two big league wins, and while the home runs are becoming a bit of an issue lately, he’s been just as sharp as he was last month and this righty seems to be a very quick study – a trait that will stead him well as he learns to limit his mistakes. I’d recommend picking up Wells in an NL-only league and seriously considering him in a deeper mixed league, especially if you need a spot starter and he’s pitching on the road, where he’s been particularly sharp (2.20 ERA through five starts).

Clay Zavada, RP, Arizona Diamondbacks: Remember Brad Ziegler’s incredible run to begin his career in 2008? Well, Zavada is quietly becoming the 2009 version, having tossed 17 straight outings without giving up an earned run (he did give up his first unearned run last weekend, suffering the loss as a result). This run of beginning his career without an ER allowed ties him for the fifth longest in baseball history. Right now, Zavada is only recommended in a very deep NL-only league as he’s been mostly used as a situational lefty. But with the shaky nature of the D-Backs’ pen – and the fact that Zavada has proved (in a limited sample size, mind you) that he can get righties out – who knows how far he can ride this streak? I’m just saying that it wouldn’t be totally shocking to be talking about Zavada in a much more important role very shortly.