2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Advice & Analysis
 Evan Longoria (credits below) Newton’s law of motion states that a body remains in motion unless acted upon by an external force. In the case of Evan Longoria, not even the external force of a first round playoff exit can derail his torrid finish; a pace he will look to carry into 2012. Longoria (.289 AVG, 7 HR, 22 RBI in 90 September at bats), however isn’t alone among the handful of players who flourished down the final stretch. Whether it’s a crafty lefty dominating down the stretch or a scrappy middle infielder piecing together a late season hitting streak, the successes of baseball’s final weeks should be noted as we close 2011 and look forward to 2012. Here’s a list of whose red-hot finishes may be enough to carry into next spring. Nolan Reimold: Baltimore -OF The third year outfielder used September to springboard himself into a potential starting role with the Orioles come April by launching five home runs and 17 RBI during the season’s final month. The emerging Reimold demonstrated more than just a lofty power stroke and added a patient eye at the plate with a .395 OPB during the final 22 games of 2010. A full season might just allow the powerful 28-year-old to eclipse the 30 home run plateau while amassing a healthy hit total in 2011. Mike Moustakas: Kansas City -3B Moustakas’ arrival didn’t sneak up on anyone as the former 2nd overall pick from 2007 was highly anticipated at the commencement of spring training and by mid-June the youngster was an everyday name in the Kansas City lineup card. Growing pains were expected, (a .160 July average) but by August the youngster showed off his ability with a .283 average and then turned it up another notch in September with a .352 rate. The third base job is his going forward and Kansas City has made it clear that the recipe of Eric Hosmer at first and Moustakas at third will be the corner combination of the future. Allen Craig: St. Louis -Utility Craig’s work in the postseason will all but guarantee him playing time in 2012 for Tony LaRussa and company. The Cardinals’ utility man caught fire when called up in May and parlayed his playing time into a .350 average (.420 OBP) combined with a pair of home runs and a handful of clutch RBIs. Summer slowed Craig’s bat but a strong September (.327, 5, 12 RBI) gave the Cardinals the added push they needed to make a run for the NL wildcard. Regardless of how Craig finishes the final stretch of the 2011 postseason, this up and comer will be a sure thing to see an added role next spring. Robert Andino: Baltimore -SS/2B At 27, Andino has outgrown his status as a prospect and finally broken through the precipice of the starting lineup. A former 2nd round pick of the Marlins in 2002, Andino has long been targeted as a combination of power and speed who can supplement his offense with sure-handed glove work. Given playing time, the middle infielder showed what he can do with a full month of work to the tune of an impressive September (.275, 3, 15, 4 SB). In his final full season as a minor leaguer in 2007, Andino showed what he can do given 600+ at bats: .278 AVG, 13 HRS, 50 RBI, and 21 SBs. Brian Roberts injury history will be a question mark once again for the Orioles but Andino’s accession may make Roberts expendable. Salvador Perez: Kansas City – Catcher The young Kansas City backstop will be the catcher-of-the-future for the Royals considering Perez is only 21 and has already made it clear that he’s one of the top offensive catchers in the American league. Perez has proven he can hit at the minor league level (2010: .290, 7 HR, 53 RBI; 2011: .290, 10 HR, 53 RBI). Pitchers love throwing to him and hitters love hitting in front of him, a combination that makes the future bright for the 6’3’’ prospect. We may not see a full season of Perez in 2012 as the Royals may elect that another season at AAA may be beneficial, but certainly Perez will make his mark as an everyday player sooner than later in Kansas City. J.A. Happ: Houston- SP The Astros will attempt to turn things around behind the talented left arm of Happ who has shown in the past that he can be at times effective and even dominant. The months of April, June, and July were forgettable to say the least as Happ surrendered an ERA of over 7.00+ during his 15 starts through those months. Fortunately September was a welcome sight to Astros fans as they witnessed a more apropos performance by their pitching anchor (3.38 ERA in 24 September innings with 26 K’s). Houston will spend at least one more season in the National League and their success in the NL central will hinge on the hopes of their capricious star lefty. Jason Vargas: Seattle – SP Behind every dismal season there are bright spots. Behind the Mariners 67-95 disappointment of 2011 was the steady rise of Jason Vargas. Vargas, who will be 29 by the beginning of spring training, appears ready to fill in as the number two behind Felix Hernandez. The former Long Beach star owes some of his effectiveness to his ability to contrast Hernandez, a hard throwing power arm while Vargas, a precision crafty lefthander navigates American league lineups like a seasoned veteran. Look for Vargas to take the next step and push the Mariners up the standings in 2012 following an impressive September stretch (2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 8.1 K/9). With a full 200+ innings under his belt and a respectable WHIP of 1.31, Vargas will springboard off of a solid 2011 as an upper echelon lefty in the American league. Wade LeBlanc: San Diego – SP LeBlanc looked to be a long shot to compete for a starting role in 2012 but a dominant stretch run as the season closed helped to give LeBlanc a fighting chance. The lefty’s 1.04 WHIP over his final 30 innings is argument enough for a long look in March but .234 OPP AVG was the lowest of his career over a one-month span. Baseball has undergone a pitching renaissance over recent years but there will always be a shortage of effective left handed arms which makes LeBlanc a strong candidate to gain another shot at pitching in the friendly confines of Petco Park in 2012. Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! (September 27, 2011 - Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images North America) Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Advice, 2012 Fantasy Baseball, Conor Gereg Add Comment  Carlos Gonzalez (credits below) Just when it seemed time to write off Carlos Gonzalez and the Colorado Rockies in 2011, the sweet-swinging outfielder has propelled his team to an outside shot at division leading Arizona. Gonzalez has swung to the tune of a .423 average over the last week, driving in 12 runs through Sunday’s action. Following an April that saw Gonzalez post a .222 average, the Colorado outfielder battled through two separate DL stints before hitting at a .317 clip in August. Along with the struggle to stay healthy, Gonzalez has also struggled against lefty pitching. 2010 saw CarGo hit .320 against lefties compared to a pedestrian .250 this year. Even with such callous lefty/righty splits, Gonzalez will still finish the season as a top 10 outfielder and currently 11 games back of the Diamondbacks entering week 22 of the season. “CarGo” and the Rockies may be too late in their playoff push but a strong September will avoid making 2011 a regression for the Colorado outfielder. Gonzalez is surely one of the game’s high profile players, but he heads a list complete with other lesser names who have ameliorated wayward performances. Here’s a glance at some August rallies that have saved face for a handful of intriguing talents. Among that list is Los Angeles’ James Loney whose 2011 campaign is a career worst. After posting a .171 average in July, Loney’s August has been a stark contrast boasting a .381 average and hitting .577 (15/27) in the month’s final week. Scouts have long awaited Loney to compliment his exceptional contact rate (a mere 13% strikeouts/AB) with an infusion of power but it looks as if he will never eclipse his career high of 15 home runs as a rookie in 2007. Even with his torrid August, Loney will need a brilliant final month in order to approach his career norms and secure his job as the Dodger first baseman in 2012. Entering the spring training of 2009 there was a frenzied debate: Which rookie would you rather build a team around: David Price or Matt Wieters? Those who had seen glimpses of Wieters crush ACC pitching at Georgia Tech considered the question a no brainer. At 6’5’’ the Orioles rookie catcher seemed to be using 2009 as a launching pad to a career akin to Joe Mauer. Instead Wieters has struggled to adjust to major league pitching, but this past month has given hope that the young catcher has turned the corner. Wieters has already posted a career high with 14 big flies in 2011 and with an additional 100-110 at bats coming in September, the Orioles are finally getting what they hoped for in 2009. At only 25 Wieters is still a long ways from a finished product and his .389 average in his last seven games gives rise that perhaps David Price isn’t the runaway favorite to win the great debate of a few seasons ago. With only a few weeks until Michael Lewis’ bestselling book Moneyball hits the big screen, the films’ star of Oakland Athletics’ GM Billy Beane has gone against his own principle: pursuing athleticism and overt skill above on-base percentage and other sabermetric stats like WHIP and WAR. Oakland’s rookie second baseman Jemile Weeks offers the flash of speed and athleticism typically absent from the A’s lineup. In a mere 292 at bats Weeks has compiled a .295 average, .333 in his last 7, and 19 stolen bases to boot. Beane has long shied away from players like Weeks who offer skills like speed and power that are rewarded with a premium price opposed to skills like batting eye and contact rate which are often overlooked. The Oakland philosophy has rubbed off on the 24 year old whose walk rate has nearly doubled since the first half of the season. Getting on base will be the key to Jemile’s future in Oakland and his base-burning speed is a refreshing additional to the traditional grind of Athletics’ baseball. Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! (August 28, 2011 - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)  Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Conor Gereg  Brandon Beachy (see credits below) Since the early 1990’s the Atlanta Braves have prided themselves on superior starting pitching. For decades the Braves were led by pitching coach and alchemist Leo Mazzone, but now in 2011 Atlanta has welcomed in a new era. With the front office reins handed off to incumbent General Manager Frank Wren in 2007, the Braves have loaded up with promising young arms to keep their pitching stables loaded for years to come. Heading the list of Atlanta’s sub-25 year old arms is Brandon Beachy, 24, a dark horse amidst a cache of high-ceiling arms like Julio Teheran (rated #5 prospect by Baseball America entering 2011), Mike Minor (# 37 according to BA), and Arodys Vizcaino ( # 93). Here we put Beachy under the microscope to unearth how the hard throwing, undrafted right-hander has made such a resounding impact for one of baseball’s top clubs. Debuting in September of last season, Beachy made a noteworthy first impression by posting a 3.00 ERA over three starts. His effectiveness in 2010 was reason enough for the Braves to give a long look in Spring Training before ultimately handing Beachy a starting role with the club on the opening day roster. After tossing a 7 inning, 2 hit, 6 strikeout performance against Florida last week, Beachy left the game feeling confident going forward that he could play a large part in Atlanta’s success looking forward towards October. “It’s the same story I’ve had most of this year,” Beachy told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution following last week’s start, “I go out and try to pitch and be perfect and [not] fall behind. I think I can make that perfect pitch every time.” Beachy will be counted on to maintain his impressive 1.18 WHIP and should Atlanta continue their winning ways, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the young righty slotted behind Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hansen, Tim Hudson and compete against veteran Derek Lowe for the number four spot this October. Brandon Beachy isn’t alone as an underdog pitcher who has come on strong through the summer. St. Louis’ veteran starter and trade-deadline-darling of 2010, Jake Westbrook has elevated his performance to the tune of a 1.93 ERA over his past two starts. Westbrook won’t tally up strikeouts like his pitching mates Chris Carpenter and Edwin Jackson, but his pinpoint control has kept runners off base and allowed his defense to make plays behind him. Yielding just three walks in his previous four starts, Westbrook will be leaned upon heavily should the Cardinals find themselves playing October baseball. A reliever throughout the entire season, Marlins’ right hander Clay Hensley has been bumped up to the starting rotation where he hasn’t disappointed newly appointed manager Jack McKeon. Hensley has a 2.65 ERA in July as a starter while boasting a WHIP of a microscopic 0.94. 2006 was the last time Hensley worked as a starter as a San Diego Padre where he posted a respectable 11-12 record over 29 starts with a 3.71 ERA. With the Marlins likely conceding the remainder of 2011, Hensley is a safe bet to have an opportunity to prove himself as a starter. Again. (July 28, 2011 - Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America) Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, Injury Updates, Conor Gereg, Brandon Beachy, Atlanta Braves  Rubby De La Rosa (see credits below) Nearly a full month shy of the annual September call-ups, a time where some of baseball’s best young arms debut, several talented youngsters have shone through the summer haze and into the forefront of many major league rotations. Rubby De La Rosa: Los Angeles Dodges- SP Along with Colorado’s Nicasio, De La Rosa is among the NL West’s top young arms. Already one of the Dodgers top starters of late, the 22 year old righty has held opponents to a .247 OBA through 50.2 innings pitched. De La Rosa debuted in May as relief help but his power arm catapulted him into the starting rotation in June and hasn’t looked back since. A 2.50 ERA in July through 18 innings has made Rubby a shining star amidst a gloomy Dodger future. With just eight starts under his belt and 49 K’s in 50 IP thus far, De La Rosa has the potential to be a frontline starter in Hollywood for a long time. Juan Nicasio: Colorado- SP The Rockies right-hander has been brilliant throughout most of July save from a rough outing in Atlanta. Over his previous two starts Nicasio boasts a 0.64 ERA paired with a 0.71 WHIP bringing his season totals to a 3.88 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. The lone facet of the 24 year olds’ repertoire that has failed to translate at the big league level has been Nicasio’s strike out ability. Through six minor league seasons he averaged a gaudy 8.9 K/9 including a 10.0 K/9 in nine starts at AA this season. Nicasio’s rise to prominence has made names like Ubaldo Jimenez available but it may be another year or two before Nicasio is prepared to fill the void anchoring the rotation. Danny Duffy: Kansas City- SP The former 3rd round pick, Duffy has shown flashes of brilliance in his debut season such as a 7 IP, 2 ER, and 6 strikeout performance on the 19th against Chicago. The 6’3’’ lefty still allows too many runner on base for Kansas City to label him the second coming of Zack Grienke. At three different minor league levels in 2010 Duffy displayed a sparkling 2.74 ERA combined with a 1.10 WHIP and 10.0 K/9 rate—numbers worthy of a major league promotion this season. Moving forward Duffy will be a mainstay for the Royals as the team looks to give their young players plenty of time to develop at the Major League level. Anthony Swarzak: Minnesota- SP/RP At 25, Swarzak is no longer the high-ceiling prospect he was once labeled in 2004 when the Twins drafted him in the 2nd round. Swarzak has filled in nicely at the tail end of the Minnesota rotation featuring a 3.52 ERA this season swinging between both the starting and relief roles. The Twins called up the crafty right-hander in 2009 for 12 starts but a 6.25 ERA sent Swarzak back down to AAA Rochester. Two years later, a 3.90 ERA this spring was enough for another promotion and perhaps Swarzak’s last opportunity in the Twins’ organization. (June 17, 2011 - Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images North America) Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, Injury Updates, Conor Gereg, Young Pitchers, Keepers  Jose Reyes (see credits below) In the blink of an eye we’ve left the era of the long ball, the crooked digit, unashamed porous defense, and offensive gluttony in favor of a new era of baseball. This era is dominated by pitching. Small ball. And most recently, the re-emergence of the stolen base. Images of Jose Reyes, Michael Bourn, and Jacoby Ellsbury may not elicit memories of Rickey Henderson or Otis Nixon but today’s top speedsters are reclaiming the art of the stolen base with blistering efficiency. Like the left-handed pitching specialist found in each Major League bullpen, teams have also long employed the one-dimensional, late inning speedster whose sole purpose is to steal an all-important base. Players like Joey Gathright (80 career SB in only 445 total games), Homer Bush (65 career SB in a mere 409 games), or even more recently, Reggie Willits (40 SB in 844 career at bats) have all found themselves employed so to steal a clutch 8th or 9th inning bag. All of these players alike shared the role of pinch runner who was relied upon to get himself, and his team, into scoring position late in games, but rarely could these players sustain full time positions due to their dismal full season production. Players like Gathright, Bush, and Willits have since given way to full time players who’ve been allotted opportunities in the daily lineup and thus accumulated stolen base totals like national debt. Michael Bourn’s 30 stolen bases entering the final weeks of June paces him for an impressive 66, a total that would be the third highest national league total in over a decade. Caught stealing only three times in 2011, Bourne, like many other speedsters, gives his team a chance to score amidst an era now dominated by pitching. Like Bourn, The Mets’ Jose Reyes too has compiled stolen bases at a breakneck rate even after General Manager Sandy Alderson stated publicly that Reyes’ total was a sheer “footnote” to winning baseball. Reyes’ dominance on the basepaths has been far more than a footnote to his teams’ ability to tread water in the NL East, even with Reyes’ supporting cast that yields an uncanny resemblance to the teams’ AAA affiliate. Jose is currently on pace for 58, his highest total since 2007, but it’s Reyes’ talent for advancing safely that has the Mets in position to add runs. Thrown out only five times, Reyes has set the table for the revolving slew of hitters the Mets have used and combined with his .385 on base percentage, Jose’s bat, and legs, have jolted him atop the All-Star ballot. New York’s shortstop and leadoff man has played so well that the conversation has justified not only a starting spot on the All-Star team, but votes for Most Valuable Player. “If he’s not playing during the All-Star Break,” Mets manager Terry Collins told Y! sports, “there might be an investigation.” In addition to his hit and stolen base total, Reyes’ ability to advance bases has him on pace to score a career high 122 runs. It was 1987 the last time a player reached the 100 stolen base threshold, St. Louis’ Vince Coleman swiped a league high 109 (22 caught stealing) for the high octane Red Birds en route a World Series appearance. We may never again see a player eclipse triple figures in large part due to the evolution of the game’s conservative nature, tactical “small-ball” approach, and reliance on power hitters to generate most of the production. Today’s infusion of star athletes may test the mark should the right talent come along for a manager willing to give a permanent green light. Players like Reyes, Bourn, and developing, athletic, baseburning stars like Jacoby Ellsbury (24 SB), Elvis Andrus (21 SB), and Ian Desmond (20 SB) give collective hope that baseball will no longer be a game that belongs to the lumbering masses of muscle that reside in the cleanup spot, but instead to the origins of the game: the athletes who know how to steal, and get away with it. Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team. (June 13, 2011 - Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America) Tags: Fantasy Baseball, MLB, Stolen Bases, Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman, Michael Bourn, Jose Reyes,Jacoby Ellsbury  Adam Dunn The second week of June has this group of players feeling as if the Dog Days of August are already upon us. Fortunately for this cast of disappointments there is still time to right the ship before the real heat of summer playoff races take hold. Catcher: Discounting both Joe Mauer and Buster Posey who have both succumb to injury this season, Geovany Soto too has missed time but has played in over 36 game thus far in 2011 and failed to be the run producer the Cubs had hoped. Soto entered his third Major League season last year coming off of a dismal 2009 where he hit just .218, 11 HR, and 47 HR but bounced back in 2010 with a .280 Avg. and 17 HR. Rather than build off last year’s production Soto has been battling lingering injuries due his duties as the team’s featured catcher which has manifested a meager 27 hits and just three home runs. Close behind Soto is young Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana whose .229 average entering the second week of June places him among the league’s lowest at his position. Both Soto and Santana are filled with promise and should have better days ahead. First Base: The clear cut leader in futility here is Chicago’s Adam Dunn who has been featured in the White Sox outfield in 2011, but will continue to see periodic opportunities at first as we approach the mid-point of the season. The White Sox seem steadfast in allowing Dunn to hit himself through a career worst slump, highlighted by dismal 1/24 versus left handed pitching in 2011. Dunn’s modus operandi throughout his career has been his power stroke which has yielded a meager five home runs through 184 at bats. Dunn has long been one of the game’s most patient hitters, a facet of his skill set, which has kept him in the lineup through his struggles. A .320 OBP gives the White Sox a chance considering he’s still able to draw sufficient walks to enable manager Ozzie Guillen to pencil Dunn in each day. Second Base: Dan Uggla wouldn’t mind a mulligan through the first three months of the season since the newly acquired Braves slugger has hit a bleak .172 playing each day for a playoff hopeful Atlanta team. Uggla has however continued to hit for occasional power, his seven home runs have given the Braves enough confidence to keep him in the sixth slot behind both Chipper Jones and Brian McCann. Uggla has been dominated by left handed pitching to the tune of a .102 batting average through 59 at bats. A notorious slow starter (.239 April Avg.), Uggla has gone to the extreme of a drought although Atlanta seems confident that their star infielder will come around. Eventually. Third Base: Certainly Evan Longoria (.246, 4 HR, 13 RBI) should head this group of the MLB’s most disappointing third basemen, but having played in a mere 33 games thus far, such a label seems undeserved. Mercilessly the stigma goes to the Brewers’ Casey McGehee. Entering the season off of a career best .285, 23 HR, 104 RBI, McGehee seemed poised to climb the baseball echelon as one of the sport’s top infielders. Instead, McGehee has regressed and has consequently sunk deep into the depths of the Brewers’ lineup as a result of his dismal .238 average, compounded by a .214 rate on the road. Milwaukee figured McGehee to be solid protection for their star Prince Fielder. Should the Brew Crew decide to play all of their games during the day (.304 Avg), McGehee could be a potential solution, until then he’ll find himself penciled in as a starter on Team Futility. Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez’s nightmare 2011 has added another chapter following the star’s enlistment on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back. Hanley’s back issues have restricted the star both offensively and defensively exhibited in his uncharacteristic .167 average against right handed pitching. Stories of Ramirez having to travel plane trips standing up because of tightness in his back have surfaced and put a scare into the Marlins who want to keep their franchise player healthy entering their new Miami Marlins campaign complete with a new stadium just around the corner. Until Florida is convinced Hanley is healthy, don’t expect the former All Star to leave this list anytime soon. Outfield: Cleveland’s Shin-Soo Choo spoke publicly claiming that his recent DUI has been affecting his play on the field. Evidently it has since Choo is hitting a career low .239 (.291 lifetime) and his struggles seem to be worsening (.125 in June). Alex Rios too has fallen victim to equally morbid statistics demonstrated in his unsightly .199 average entering the second week of June. Rios’ stellar 2010 gave Sox fans confidence that Rios had returned to his Toronto form that witnessed the rare combination of speed and power (109 HR, 155 SB). Delmon Young can relate to the struggles of both Choo and Rios as Young has been a shell of him usual self, batting just .215 in contrast to his lifetime .288 mark. All three outfielders alike seem to be years away from their decline, so this stall may be just something of a pothole, rather than divot or even the end of the road. Pitchers: Ubaldo Jimenez’s dominance in 2010 seemed to elevate the young Rockies’ right hander into baseball’s group of elite pitchers. Rather than defend his place among baseball’s best, Jimenez has struggled since opening day to keep runners off base (1.36 WHIP in 2011 vs. 1.15 in 2010). A 19-game winner last season, Ubaldo has claimed just one victory over his first ten starts. Injury concerns have begun to creep into the equation for a pitcher who has thrown just under 600 innings in the past three seasons. Cardinals’ Brass has yet to determine what ails their ace Chris Carpenter whose one victory over 13 starts is a bit disconcerting. The former Cy Young award winner’s 4.25 ERA is the highest of his career (discounting one start in 2007 due to Tommy John Surgery) since 2002 with the Blue Jays. In the mix with both Jimenez and Carpenter is Oakland’s Brett Anderson who entered 2011 with such high praise the he appeared to be a potential Cy Young candidate following his strong 2010 season (2.80 ERA). Anderson hasn’t held up to such acclaim and has yielded a career high 1.33 WHIP in addition to a mere 61/25 K/BB rate. Heading the list of closers who have disappointed through the first ten weeks of the season is Joakim Soria who was displayed as the teams featured 9th inning man. Prior to this season Soria was one of the game’s elite relief arms, quietly assembling statistics that rivaled New York’s Mariano Rivera. 2011 has been a vastly different experience for the hard throwing right hander whose five blown saves is nearly as many has he had in combined in both 2009 and 2010. Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team (May 21, 2011 - Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)  Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, Injury Updates, Conor Gereg, Adam Dunn, Dan Uggla, Geovanny Soto, Casey McGehee, Evan Longoria, Hanley Ramirez, Shin-Soo Choo, Alex Rios, Delmon Young, Ubaldo Jimenez, Chris Carpenter, Brett Anderson, Joakim Soria  Gordham Beckham The bald spot on the head of White Sox GM Kenny Williams has grown larger; the constant head scratching as a result of his anemic offense hasn’t helped. Headlined by Gordon Beckham whose 2009 rookie campaign appeared to be a mere glimpse of what was to come from the former University of Georgia standout, Williams has to wonder where has the production been from a lineup of super-sluggers? The hype surrounding Beckham came shortly after his appearance in the College World Series which ultimately lead to his selection in the first round of the amateur draft. A prospect with so much praise, Beckham sojourned just weeks at the minor league level before his promotion to the big league club at just 22. Now in his third major league season, the power hitting second baseman hasn't measured up to the hype that forecasted a breakout 2011. Instead Beckham has struggled offensively, batting ninth in the White Sox everyday lineup. Entering the final weekend in May, Beckham's .234 average has fans on Chicago's south side in collective wonder as to why one of the organization's brightest stars has yet to shine. "He went through a lot of tough times last year and overcame it, came back and was the player we thought he was going to be," Guillen said of Beckham to Y! Sports amidst Beckham’s recent 2-22 slide. "But right now, he's striking out quite a few times, and that worries me." General Manager Kenny Williams has assembled one of baseball's top offensive clubs with several additions in recent years including Adam Dunn (.191, 5 HR, 22 RBI), Juan Pierre (.635 OPS & 7 SB), and the resigning of first baseman and team leader Paul Konerko; with the exception of Konerko, all have disappointed in 2011. With a litany of talented offensive players surrounding the young Beckham, manager Ozzie Guillen has put his second baseman in a position where Beckham can flourish without the pressure that often accompanies budding stars in one of the game's most media heavy cities. 2011 will provide Beckham will his second consecutive full season in Chicago and playing alongside veterans like Omar Vizquel (whose numbers look more like the 1999 version of Vizquel rather than what’s expected of the 41-year-old SS) and Paul Konerko will surely give guidance to a potential organizational building block in Beckham. “Hype” is a more fitting term for a developing prospect like Gordon Beckham, meanwhile the struggles of Tampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria are far more disappointing considering he’s coming off of back-to back stellar seasons for a Rays team dependent on their third base star. Through Longoria struggles (.220, 2 HR, 9 RBI in 23 GP) he’s maintained a positive approach at the plate with a .330 OBP, which has been enough so far to keep his Rays afloat. "I've got to continue to have good at-bats,” Longoria told RotoWire after a 1-5 outing versus Detroit. “Hopefully that plan and that approach will keep carrying over from day to day.'' Like Beckham, Dunn, and Pierre, Longoria is sure to turn it on when the calendar turns to June. Texas’ Ian Kinsler too has fallen victim to the hype entering 2011, manifesting a meager .238 average through his first 50 games. In order to the Rangers to have World Series aspirations the production of Kinsler will be an integral piece of the Texas lineup going forward. With the return of Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz, Kinsler will feel less of a burden and possibly resort back to the same form that solidified him as one of baseball’s top second basemen. Only once in his six-year MLB career has Kinsler crossed the .300 plateau, so his average may reflect more of his 2009 production (.253, 31 HR, 86 RBI) rather than his 2008 average of .319. As summer heat causes the mercury to climb in Arlington, expect Kinsler too to be among this summer’s bounce backs and prove that he’s worth the hype. ] Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team (May 21, 2011 - Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)  Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, Injury Updates, Gordon Beckham, Ian Kinsler, Evan Longoria  Pressed up against the third base railing at Turner field during the summer of 1999, batting practice was a spectacle when Chipper Jones took his cuts, sending countless balls over the right field wall, ricocheting off the back rows of empty seats. Even though I was only 11 years old at the time, it was evident to me that Jones was an anomaly, a star among baseball’s best that summer, the same summer that the Atlanta third baseman would claim the National League’s MVP award. 12 summers have passed since that memory of Jones blasting balls into the balmy southern twilight, and now, at 39, the sweet swinging switch-hitter still strikes fear into the hearts of baseball’s pitchers. A decade removed from his most productive seasons Chipper’s reputation is built on past achievement which begs the question: What players are playing below (or above) their perceived talent level? Baseball is notorious for transforming aging stars into deities long past their most dominant seasons. In 2011, Chipper Jones headlines a list of players who remain compartmentalized among the league’s best while their talent and production levels indicate otherwise. Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL Perception: David Wright Reality: Kevin Youkilis/ Neil Walker An opening featuring Jones wouldn’t be complete without profiling the great Atlanta switch-hitter. With 439 home runs, Chipper is the National League’s all-time big fly leader and his reputation around the league is one of reverence rather than one based on actual present day production. During the 2001 and 2002 seasons Jones was issued a total of 43 intentional walks in contrast to 2010 and 2011 where Jones totaled a meager nine. From 1998 to 2008 Jones was a near guarantee to get on base at the highest rate represented in his +.400 OBP in all but one of those seasons. Since then Chipper hasn’t come close to that same rate although he still remains one of Atlanta’s most patient hitters (2nd to only Jason Heyward with 13 BB in 2011). In his first major league season playing without longtime Manager Bobby Cox, Jones still has talent in the skill areas most crucial to Atlanta’s success. Since May Jones has reverted to his late 90’s form by collecting seven hits in his last 21 at bats as well as posting an .870 OBP. As long as the Cooperstown bound third basemen stays healthy it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jones utilize what he has left to make one last playoff push. Ivan Rodriguez , C, WASH Perception: Yadier Molina STL Reality: Francisco Cervelli NYY At the age of 19 Rodriguez took the league by storm as baseball’s best defensive catcher and soon “Pudge” would develop an offensive game to compliment his gold glove defense. 20 years later Rodriguez is anchoring a young National’s defense as the team waits for young catching prospects like Wilson Ramos and Derek Norris to develop. Rodriguez will turn 40 this fall and his defensive reputation has kept him employed considering his offensive production is far below what his team needs to remain competitive. Long gone are the days where Rodriguez was a threat to steal double-digit base totals while knocking in runners at an elite level rate. The 2011 version of Pudge has collected a sparse eight hits in April in addition to slugging .325 (a career .465 slugging percentage). Ivan has been vocal with his desire to eclipse the venerated 3,000 hit plateau (2,825 total), the only question that remains is which team will have the patience to give this 40-year old backstop the playing time to reach that threshold? Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI Perception: Brian Roberts BAL/ Brandon Phillips CIN Reality: Alexei Ramirez, CHW The former NL MVP is still considered among baseball’s premier middle infielders because as Rollins continues to decline his team continues to improve and thus hiding his eroding skill set. Rollins hasn’t hit above .250 for a full season since the Phillies’ World Series run in 2008. Additionally, in the past three seasons combined, Rollins has stolen only 53 bases, just ahead of his 2008 single season total of 48. From April 25th to May 6th Rollins boosted his average from a pedestrian .256 to a stable .285 which has helped the Phillies to a 7-3 record during that stretch. Philadelphia’s star shortstop has deflected criticism because his defense continues to reassure cynics that he’s the man for the job albeit Rollins’ best days may be years in the past, but a hot steak of late has been a encouraging sign moving forward. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY Perception: Stephen Drew, ARI Reality: Cliff Pennington, OAK Jeter’s days batting second for the AL East leader may be numbered considering his lowly two extra base hits in all of April (although he hit 2 home runs the other day). Batting a collective .256 up until his 4 hit day Sunday (bumped up to .276) won’t help the Captain’s claim atop the batting order, although Jeter did finish the season’s opening month collecting eight hits in his final six games. A possible bump to the bottom of the lineup may be in order should speedster Brett Gardner breakthrough his April woes, but in the meantime Jeter will need to deliver for the Yankees to hold onto first place. Apoplectic Yankee fans can only hope that warming weather will heat their captain’s bat entering week 6 of the season. Jose Bautista, 3B, TOR Perception: Adam Dunn CHW/ Casey Blake LAD Reality: Adrian Beltre TEX/ Prince Fielder MIL Bautista has added the hitting for average component to his power stroke and has resulted in his ascension as one of the game’s top third basemen. In addition to his improved all-around offensive output, Bautista has played the outfield for Toronto and thus given the Blue Jays the flexibility to add Edwin Encarnacion into the everyday lineup. A .366 average may be a bit much to expect from a career .248 hitter but Bautista’s hot start will certainly go a long way towards uprooting the perception that he’s a single tool power hitter. Jered Weaver , SP, LAA Perception: Max Scherzer, DET/ Chad Billingsley LAD Reality: Roy Halladay PHI There was once a time where Jered Weaver was overshadowed by his brother Jeff, but now at the age of 28 Jered has entered his prime and his 2011 numbers are a testament to his development. A former first round pick in 2004, Weaver has improved in nearly every season since being called up in 2006 before finally culminating in a dominant 233 strikeout season in 2010 and now a 1.87 ERA through 57.2 innings in 2011. As a young pitcher Weaver struggled to miss bats which resulted in plenty of opportunities for oppositions but today Weaver has harnessed his repertoire (6.4 K/9 in 2007 versus a 9.7 K/9 in 2011). The Angels’ fate will hinge on their ace’s ability to demonstrate his dominance in the AL West in order for Los Angeles to overtake Texas for the division crown. Joakim Soria RP, KC Perception: Leo Nunez Reality: Mariano Rivera Aside from a slow April start (4.63 ERA through 11 appearances), Soria is one of the best at his craft, shredding opponent’s ninth inning batting averages (.199 career BAA) and securing the occasional Kansas City win. At only 25, Soria will continue to develop into a back-end stopper for the Royals and once the team’s young infusion of prospects reach the big league level Soria will finally get the attention, and the wins that he deserves. Comparing Soria to Rivera seems near sacrosanct considering Rivera is the gold standard to which we measure relievers, but the truth is that Soria has done nothing but produce since he was inserted into the closer role for Kansas City in 2007. During his first four seasons as closer Soria blew just 14 total saves while Rivera yielded 23. Should winning baseball become de rigueur in Kansas City, Soria will surely rack up Rivera-esc save totals in coming seasons making the young righty a household name by year’s end. Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! The Fantasy Fix is sponsoring a free one-day fantasy baseball matchup on DraftStreet this Friday for $150 cash, with the top 4 places getting paid. Click here to sign up!  Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Conor Gereg  Brian Sanches The apprenticeship of an elite closer can begin at the most unlikely of places. In the case of some of the game’s best like Mariano Rivera, it begins as a starting pitcher. Rivera broke into the Yankee farm system in a starting role but due to his lack of secondary pitches his electric arm was summoned to the bullpen where he worked in a setup role for incumbent closer John Wetteland, a tandem that secured the first in what would be four Yankee titles in five years. Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon too began in the starting rotation before being deemed as the team’s closer as a short-term home for a young Papelbon. Like Rivera and Papelbon, Minnesota’s Joe Nathan debuted in a starting role for the Giants before being swapped to Minnesota for A.J. Pierzynski and others prior to Nathan developing into one of baseball’s best lights-out closers from 2004 to 2009. This 2011 season offers a handful of talented arms that like the veterans who came before them, will one day be household names. The ingredients for a the prototypical closer are rare but as Ron Davis of the 1984 Minnesota Twins can attest to (owner of MLB record tying 14 blown saves), a dominant closer is invaluable. Contrary to Oakland Athletics’ Billy Beane’s belief that a closer can be manufactured, artificially inflated with saves, and then dealt for an abundance of cheap prospects isn’t the methodology that the other 29 MLB teams subscribe to. Over the past decade Beane has made a killing by dealing off closers in order to replenish his farm system. Trading elite, late game stoppers like Jason Isringhausen (77 saves in 2 seasons with OAK), Octavio Dotel (29 saves in 60 games w/ OAK), and Keith Foulke (43 saves in 2003 w/ OAK) have provided Oakland with a steady supply of young farm hands that keep the revolving door of closers moving. Oakland is again in possession of another talented, young, and soon to be expensive closer in Andrew Bailey. Bailey too will be traded off in coming seasons because behind him are hand throwing potential closers like 2008 2nd round pick Tyson Ross (36 K’s in 43 career IP) as well as left handed specialist Jerry Blevins (8.92 K/9IP), and Brad Zeigler (18 career saves/2.54 ERA). Beane will perpetuate the cycle of sell, replace, and inflate so that Oakland can remain competitive. Bailey, Oakland’s bullpen ace in 2010, hasn’t pitched yet this season with a strained right forearm which will give interim closer Brian Fuentes a long look at the position and trailing Fuentes will be a bevy of capable relievers waiting for an opportunity. For teams like the Texas Rangers, giving up their closer means giving up the team’s number one weapon: uber talented righty Neftali Feliz. Since arriving in Texas following his trade from Atlanta to Texas as part of a trade headlined by Mark Teixeira, Feliz has already reshaped the way we assess rookie closers. Feliz’s 2010 campaign broke former Seattle Mariner Kaz Sasaki’s 2000 rookie record of 37 saves at the raw of age of only 22. Feliz’s peripheral statistics were what have Ranger fans craving more. In 2010 Feliz posted a gaudy 3.94 strike out to walk ratio, which highlights the facts that as a rookie Feliz yielded only 66 total bases in 69.1 innings. Nearly four weeks into the 2011 season Feliz is yet again on pace to outperform his impressive rookie campaign. The impressive relief performances have given rise to the idea of moving the young righty to the starting rotation where he was originally prior to being called up to the major league level in September 2009. Texas manager Ron Washington knows Feliz is the organization’s strongest arm and his 2011 role was something that needed to be addressed following speculation that Neftali could return to the rotation following the departure of Cliff Lee. "Right now, for our organization, he's better in the bullpen," manager Ron Washington told the Star Telegram just prior to opening day. "We haven't closed the door on him being starter. It's just not time." In coming years the Rangers may find that Feliz is best utilized by maximizing his innings pitched and thus entering him into the rotation. Should that situation present itself Texas appears well stocked with capable arms who may fill the closer role. Mark Lowe, a former closer with Seattle in 2009, hasn’t settled into his role since arriving in Arlington but Lowe’s career 2/1 strike out to walk ratio will make him an option in future seasons as well as 22 year old righty Mason Tobin (2.43 career ERA in 3 minor league season). Here’s a list of 2011’s most electrifying relievers from across both league’s who have the talent to sneak into a closing role and produce: Brian Sanches, FLA: At 32, Sanches is far from a prospect but his production warrants a crack at a closing role considering his 2010 stat line of a 2.26 ERA & 1.10 WHIP through 63.2 innings pitched. Sanches is working on an impressive encore performance in 2011 by not having allowed a run in over nine innings thus far. Ramon Ramirez, SFO: Following a midseason deal from Boston, Ramirez has been nothing short of dominant. Anchoring the seventh and eighth innings for the reigning World Series champs Ramirez hasn’t allowed a walk yet through eight relief appearances. Antonio Bastardo, PHI: Bastardo is equipped with many of the tools necessary to get it done in a closing role: power arm (54 K’s in 48 career innings) and a propensity to throw strikes (26/9 strikeout to walk ratio). The young reliever has been hurt on occasion by catching too much of the plate, yielding 47 career hits in 48 total innings. In time Philadelphia may have a long term solution to their closer issues. Aaron Crow, KC: A former 1st round pick in 2009, Crow has been dominant in his rookie season and is just one of the many young standouts Kansas City offers. Crow’s 2010 minor league campaign was a disaster, yielding a 5.73 ERA as a starter. An impressive spring training fostered a promotion to the big league club where the touted prospect has flourished. Mike Adams, SD: The towering 6’5’’ Adams put together an impressive 2010 that quietly placed him among baseball’s best relievers to the tune of a .196 BAA which amounted to a 1.76 ERA in 70 appearances. The veteran righty is again off to another hot start by allowing a mere one run through seven games for San Diego. Should the Padres undergo fire-sale mode by July’s trade deadline and deal Heath Bell, Adams may find himself in position to get his first chance as a big league closer. Logan Ondrusek, CIN: This intimidating righty makes the previously Mike Adams look like Dustin Pedroia compared to Ondrusek’s 6’8’’ frame. Cinci’s reliable relief option won’t strike out hitters at a high rate but he’s made a living at the big league’s by keeping runners off base and limiting hitters to a .225 career average. Kameron Loe, MIL: Loe too an imposing 6’8’’ takes advantage of his stature by getting on top of pitches and inducing copious amounts of groundballs. A former starter with Texas, Loe seems to have found his niche in the backend of Milwaukee’s bullpen by striking out nine batters in only eight innings so far in 2011 while also posting a combined 1.15 WHIP since joining the Brewers last season. Outside of a select group of late game finishers, no closing job is permanent and even fewer jobs are safe. What we do know is that the 2011 season will usher in the next young star closer but like any 9th inning, nothing is closed. Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! (February 22, 2011 - Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America) Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Conor Gereg, Closers  The start of the season comes a bit later for some and often it takes the presence of short sleeves and the aroma of sunscreen to thaw a long winter’s offseason. For players like Mark Teixeira, April might as well be February, and August, well—might as well be batting practice. Justifying the slow starts for some of the game’s biggest stars like Teixeira is like rationalizing Vernon Wells’ contract; it just can’t be explained. Teixeira’s career .237 April average has Yankee brass scratching their heads considering the All Star first baseman’s .299 rate after the mid-summer classic. The annual April stall has prompted him to begin earlier Spring Training workouts during February rather than March, ratcheted Spring Training intensity, and even extended time in the batting cage. The Yankees enter 2011 in a position where they can ill afford to have their slugging first baseman struggle from the onset considering the team’s weak starting pitching. Protected by a healthy Alex Rodriguez and hitting behind stars like Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, and Robinson Cano, there should be copious amounts of opportunities to break the April skid. Teixeira’s opening day home run against Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander will go a long way towards dispelling speculation of another April struggle. “Mark put in the work this offseason,” Yankee manager Joe Girardi said following the opening day win. “Mark was in the cage each time I walked by this spring. He’ll be ready.” 2010 was no exception to Adam LaRoche’s perennial slow start as the power hitting first baseman hit just .253 before the All Star break, right on par with his career .252 average from April to June. The lone caveat to LaRoche’s slow starts is that his power numbers remain unaffected. In a career 3,441 at bats, he’s slugged 76 pre-All Star game home runs compared to 85 after the break, a subtle difference over an eight year career. Troy Tulowitzki may not have the measurable sample size of Adam LaRoche or Mark Teixeira but the Colorado shortstop has shown a tendency to struggle in the first half of his initial four full seasons at the major league level. Since 2007 he’s hit a meager .224 in April accompanied by a dismal .305 OBP. The second half of the season is a different story for Tulowitzki who will forever be remembered for his torrid September last season that saw him smash 15 home runs and 40 RBI. The first half splits are glaring for a player whose name appears on the yearly MVP ballot and should “Tulo” catch fire this spring, we may just see him holding some serious hardware come October. Perhaps growing up in sun drenched Vallejo, California contributes to C.C. Sabathia’s knack for slow spring starts since C.C. has forever played for teams above the Mason-Dixon Line. The 3.79 ERA from April to June pales in comparison to his second half dominance over the course of his ten year career. Sabathia’s 2010 season witnessed the big left-hander post a season high 5.15 ERA in May but C.C. isn’t the only Yankee who’s known for early season struggles. Newly appointed fifth starter Freddy Garcia has his position at the back end of the rotation secured but the veteran right hander’s history of poor April and May starts hurts the likelihood that Garcia will survive the season with the team. A 4.15 April ERA is merely pedestrian for a pitcher whose repertoire hinges on his ability to keep the ball in play but the month of May sees Garcia hit even harder (career 4.40 ERA in 49 career May starts). With 2011 as likely the last opportunity for Garcia to play a role on a championship team, this spring will be an ideal opportunity for Garcia and many others to reverse the trend. (March 30, 2011 - Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America) Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Conor Gereg, Mark Teixeira, Troy Tulowitzki, C.C. Sabathia | 
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