 Welcome to Week Eleven of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is (all players are owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues). As always, I’ll review the top 5 players you should look to pickup this week, with an AL-only and NL-only special at the end.
I apologize in advance for the brevity of this column – not a good week for me, time-wise. AND I’d like to hear from you if you picked up someone at the right time, or what you think of my picks. Here we go, lightning round style…
Andres Torres (OF, Giants) – 30% owned. The sparkplug to last year’s World Series Champions, Torres started well, then got hurt for a month, and has seen a slow recovery since he re-entered the lineup. But I see signs of resurgence – over the last 2 weeks, he’s got 8 runs and 8 RBI, and a few steals to boot. Now might be the time to buy super low.
Justin Turner (2B/3B, Mets) – 31%. If you’re in a league with Mets fans, I guarantee this guy’s already owned. Otherwise, you might want to grab him – he just keeps hitting. Turner is now up to .290 with 27 RBI, 5 steals and a couple homers. At the infield spots, you could do much worse.
Desmond Jennings (OF, Rays) – 10%. Kudos to the guys at DRaysBay for a good piece of the service clock of two Rays prospects – Jennings and Brandon Guyer (see the full article here). Jennings is a big-time talent with very good minor league numbers, and could be up within 2 weeks. Before your leaguemates pick him up, go get him – I know I did.Scott Baker (SP, Twins) – 35%. Baker is coming off a masterful start against the Rangers the other night, throwing a complete game 5-hitter with 7 K’s. More importantly, though, it’s the second straight start where he didn’t walk a batter (and the third time this year he’s done that). He’s got an 8.4 K/9 – the highest of his career – and an 8.5 H/9 – his lowest since 2008 – and even with his moderate inconsistency, he sports a 3.55 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, with 78 Ks in 83 innings. Why he’s owned by half as many people as AJ Burnett, I will never know.
John Lannan (SP, Nationals) – 4%. Maybe he’s just now getting over his arm injury last year, but the Nats’ #1 starter from 2008 and 2009 has a 0.68 ERA over his last four starts with 13 Ks over those 26 innings. With a 3.60 ERA and shrinking WHIP, he’s worth a look.
AL Only Special – Scott Sizemore (2B/3B, Athletics) – 1%. A season ago, Sizemore was all the rage coming out of spring training for the Tigers, and responded to winning the starting job by posting a .224 average and .631 OPS over 143 at bats, with little of the power/speed combo he’d shown in the minors in 2009, where he slugged a combined 17 homers and swiped a combined 21 bases between AA and AAA. 2011 was more of the same for Sizemore, who lost the Opening Day job to Will Rhymes in spring training, only to get called up in May, and bat .222 with a .567 OPS. But just a couple weeks ago, Sizemore was dealt to the Athletics, and though its only been 5 games, Sizemore seems to have found a groove as the A’s starting third baseman. He’s hitting .375 with a homer, 4 RBI and an everyday job at third.
NL Only Special – Randy Choate (RP, Marlins) – 1%. Unless Leo Nunez is out for longer than expected, Choate won’t get you any saves, but he will get you a sparking ERA and WHIP (0.84 and 0.75, respectively), more than a K per inning (15 in 10 2/3 this year), and some holds as well.
P.S. Brian Fuentes is owned in 46% of leagues… the occasional save chance is NOT worth the 4.88 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. Chone Figgins is owned in 42% of leagues… the occasional stolen base is NOT worth the .191 average and complete lack of power and RBIs. Please cut them!
And the weekly question – Submit a comment with some of YOUR top pickups for this week, and why?
Written exclusively by Jesse Mendelson for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.(October 6, 2010 - Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson
 Dillon Gee Welcome to Week Ten of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is (all players are owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues). As always, I’ll review the top 5 players you should look to pickup this week, with an AL & NL only treat at the end. Before Memorial Day, I had my eye on a few guys who panned out quite well over the past 2 weeks – John Jay (.364 BA with 7 runs, a homer and 3 steals), Big Fat Bartolo (14 K’s in 15 innings, a win, ERA/WHIP of 3.60/1.00), and Ryan Ludwick (6 runs, 8 RBI and a .318 average).
So I’d like to hear from you if you picked up someone at the right time, or what you think of my picks. On with the list…
Josh Willingham (OF, Athletics) – 31% owned. Willingham is known for his streakiness, and is in the midst of one now. Over the past two weeks, he’s been crushing the ball to the tune of 4 homers, 14 RBI and a .304 average. He’s hitting cleanup, is healthy, and raking. Considering that he’s had months like this before (May 2010, May and July 2009, April 2008, and so on), plus has averaged 20 home runs and 70 RBI the past five seasons, he should be owned in far more than a third of leagues.
Mitch Moreland (1B, Rangers) – 41%. What else does he have to do to get noticed? Maybe owners shied away from his relatively slow start, but he’s hitting over .400 with 2 homers across the past two weeks, and .341 with 13 runs, 3 bombs, and even 2 steals over the past month. He hits in arguably the best lineup in baseball, in arguably the best hitters’ park in baseball. AND he’s eligible at 1B and OF. The only thing he doesn’t do is drive in a lot of runs, but he’ll help you everywhere else.
Tie – John Jay (OF, Cardinals) and Cody Ross (OF, Giants) – 14% and 8%, respectively.
I recommended Jay last week as an NL-only pick, but now I’ve upgraded him to being ownable in mixed leagues as well (check last week’s column for why).
As for Ross, like Willingham, he’s a streaky hitter, but you definitely want to be on that bandwagon when the going gets good. He started the season injured, and started off slow, but now that he’s found consistent playing time, he’s found his groove. Since May 1? Average of over .300, OPS of over .900, 14 runs, 5 homers, 16 RBI and 3 steals. Go get ‘em.
Nick Blackburn (SP, Twins) – 9%. It’s been a tale of two seasons for Blackburn. April was ugly – 1-4, 5.15 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .316 BAA and a 14:9 strikeout to walk ratio. Since May 1, however, he’s been fantastic – 4 wins against no losses, 2.64 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 2:1 K:BB ratio (26:13). At 9% ownership, he’s almost definitely available in your league, and though traditionally the very definition of mediocrity, he looks very ownable now.
Dillon Gee (SP, Mets) – 19%. The Mets are an amazing (no pun intended) 8-0 in games started by Gee Whiz this season, with Dillon winning 6 of those himself. And he’s not shown any signs of slowing down. Across the past month, including a masterful performance on Saturday against the Braves, he’s won 4 games, maintained an ERA of 3.08, a WHIP of 1.08 and has struck out a respectable 26 across 38 innings. He’s probably in for a regression – in comparison with his career and minor league numbers, his BABIP, ERA and K/9 rate are all very low and his walk rate is high, but he’s throwing with confidence, in a good pitchers’ park and a decent enough defense behind him. He’s a good sleeper pick if nothing else, or if you own him try to sell high!
AL Only Special – David Robertson (RP, Yankees – 7%). There is exactly one pitcher in baseball with a better K/Inning rate than Robertson’s 1.68 (the Tigers’ Al Albuquerque sports a mind-boggling 1.82). In 22 1/3 innings, Robertson’s given up a total of 3 earned runs (he’s been scored on in two of his 25 appearances, and none of his last ten) and has struck out 37 batters. His WHIP leaves something to be desired (1.43), but with that K rate, Robertson could be this year’s Craig Kimbrel – a guy who pitches the middle innings and just blows people away.
AL Only Special II – Brendan Ryan (SS, Mariners) – 4%. He plays every day (a foundational requirement to be highlighted in this column!), and has started to find a level of comfort in the American League. At an extremely shallow shortstop position, The Man with Two First Names has hit .354 with 11 runs and 11 RBI across the past month. It’s a fairly empty .354, since it comes with no home runs and no steals, but considering Ryan’s competition for ownership (Alcides Escobar and his last month’s .172 average is owned in 13%, Marco Scutaro has 3 at bats since May 7 and is owned in 7%, Reid Brignac’s hitting .109 with no power or speed and is owned in 8% of leagues, and so on), he is a worthy pickup.NL Only Special – Chris Denorfia (OF, Padres) - 2%. With Cameron Maybin hurt, Denorfia has wrested the starting job away and ran with it – he's hit .322 with 16 runs, 2 homers, and 3 steals since May 1. Like some of the others in this column, he's had periods of own-ability before (last August immediately comes to mind), and with just enough speed and power to make himself useful, he's worth having in your lineup while he's smokin'.
P.S. Buster Posey is owned in 42% of leagues…unless you’re in a keeper league, cut him! Ian Stewart is owned in 18% of leagues and has 3 hits this year. THREE HITS! He’s back in the minors, and seems to have completely lost whatever ability he had to hit at a major league level. Please cut him!
And the weekly question – Submit a comment with some of YOUR top pickups for this week, and why?
Written exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse Mendelson on Facebook.
(June 3, 2011 - Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson,
 Posey helped off field / AP As you may have heard by now, Buster Posey broke his ankle in a home plate collision last night (in a classy move, Scott Cousins immediately went to Posey’s side to see if he was ok) and is likely out for the season (For details, see here). For those of us who own Posey and his consistently good offensive stats, (you probably don’t own a second catcher) whom do you grab now?
Catchers like the Alex Avila (78%), Yadier Molina (67%) and Geovany Soto (65%) are probably already owned, but give them a shot. Otherwise, like my weekly Wired & Baked column, I’ll list the top five options owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues:J.P. Arencibia (Blue Jays) – 46% owned. Though his batting average won’t go much higher than its current .250 and he won’t score a ton of runs, Arencibia does have big-time power. He’s tied for second among catchers with 8 bombs, and his 24 RBI rank 5th. If he’s available, snatch him before you finish this article.Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers) – 29%. The most overlooked catcher of the year, Lucroy has put up numbers every bit as good as Brian McCann, yet his ownership percentage lags 68 percentage points behind (98% to 29%). He hits in that star-studded Brewers lineup and making the most of it, with 15 runs (2 fewer than Posey), 5 homers (one more than Posey), 22 RBI (1 more than Posey), and a .321 average (37 points higher than Posey). Now, his BABIP is an unsustainably high .368, but Lucroy looks like a good one. Ramon Hernandez (Reds) – 31%. I touted Hernandez as a good pickup in Wired & Baked two weeks ago, and now you might have a second chance at him. He’s healthy for the first time in three years, and hitting well – but beware of his home/road split. At home, he’s hitting a whopping .453 with 5 homers and a 1.303 OPS. On the road, however, it’s down to .196 with a single homer and a .549 OPS. If you can afford the spot, there aren’t many better than Hernandez…when he’s home, that is.Chris Iannetta (Rockies) – 15%. Here is sort of where the bottom falls out. Iannetta has been hyped for so long, that he should be called a post-post-hype sleeper. And frankly, I’d be much higher on him if he wasn’t hitting .224 with a poor home/road split (1.005 OPS at home, .575 on the road). But he does play every day, spends half his time at Coors Field, and has shown real hitting prowess in the minors.Miguel Olivo (Mariners) – 7%. Another guy I’d feel better recommending if he weren’t hitting .229. Another guy with a huge home/road differential, except this time it’s the opposite of the other two, since Safeco is just a poor hitters’ park. He owns a .788 OPS with 4 homers on the road, and .389 OPS with no homers at home. Yes, you read that right – a .389 OPS (on base PLUS slugging!) at home. If you’re searching for free agents down here, you might want to make a trade…And if all of them are gone, try Jarrod Saltalamacchia (8%) since it seems he remembered how to hit, Nats’ rookie Wilson Ramos (7%) or old faithful A.J. Pierzynski (14%).
Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook._______________________________________________________________________
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Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Daily News, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Tips, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Advice, The Daily Fix, Injury Updates, Buster Posey
 Joe Mather Welcome to Week Eight of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is. Once again, I take a look at the top 5 players you should look to pickup this week, with an AL-only and NL-only special at the end – and once again this week, I’d like to hear from you about some of your hot pickups. And as always, these are players who are available in at least 50% of standard Yahoo leagues. We publish every Monday, and feel free to post comments and questions throughout the week and I’ll be sure to answer all.
Ryan Ludwick (OF, Padres) – 39% owned. Ludwick has been creeping up ownership boards for a few weeks now (nicely done on the part of the early adopters!), but six multi-hit games in his past ten has pushed it over the edge for me. He’s fallen short of his great 2008 season (.299/37/113), even though he hit 22 homers and drive in 97 runs in 2009. Although he hit a wall after a midseason trade to the Friars last year (.211 with 6 homers in 209 at bats after the deal), he seems to have found a groove this year. Hitting an even .300 in May, Ludwick’s BABIP currently sits 50 points below his career average, so we should see a rise in his .241 average, and hopefully, the power numbers will come too.
Jason Bartlett (SS, Padres) – 10%. All Padres, All the time here on Wired and Baked! Bartlett is another in a line of players who did very well in 2009 but for one reason or another, could not repeat their success in 2010 (Asdrubal Cabrera and Adam Lind come to mind) – Jason batted .320 with 14 homers, 66 RBI and 30 steals for the Rays in 2009, but managed just 3 homers and just 11 steals in 2010. This year, however, it looks like Bartlett has found whatever he was looking for – he’s stolen 8 bases without being caught, and has really turned it on in May, with an average right around .300, 13 RBI and 3 steals. You could do worse from the super shallow shortstop spot.
Joe Mather (OF, Braves) – 0%. No, this is not an NL-only pick. In the last two days, the Braves have lost 2/3 of their starting outfield – Jason Heyward hit the DL with a shoulder problem and Nate McLouth strained his oblique and may be DL-bound. The beneficiary of these injuries looks to be Mather, who has multi-hit games in four of his last five starts (and already looking better than he did with two cups of coffee with the Cardinals in 2008 and 2010). Considering the Braves’ other options – Eric Hinske? Wilkin Ramirez? – Mather seems to have earned himself some playing time. Keep your eye on him.
BFBC (Big Fat Bartolo Colon, SP, Yankees) – 34%. Will it last? Who knows! But for now, Colon is turning back time – averaging 6 2/3 inning per start, striking out nearly a batter an inning, keeping his ERA and WHIP down (3.16 and 1.13, respectively) and keeping his fatness out of the way of his pitching. I can’t believe I’m actually recommending that you pick up BFBC, but his K/9 alone makes him worth owning (indeed – every pitcher ahead of him in K/9 is owned, as are many behind him).
Wilson Ramos (C, Nationals) – 8%. Though he holds the same ownership percentage as Bryce Harper, Ramos is actually worth owning this year. The linchpin of the Matt Capps-to-Minnesota trade last summer, Ramos is showing that he belongs in the majors – so much so that he’s taken over the starting catcher spot from Pudge Rodriguez and ran with it. A solid .280 average, 17 runs, 3 homers a 11 RBI – and this from a 23 year-old who started exactly 21 games prior to this season. It may be on the early side, but Ramos could be special.
AL Only Special (tie) – Josh Outman (SP, Athletics – 0%) and Alfredo Aceves (SP, Red Sox – 2%). With Tyson Ross out for a few weeks, Outman has been called up to take his spot in the rotation and indeed, is slated to start tonight’s game against Los Angeles. Because of injuries he last pitched in the majors in 2009, but showed promise, posting a 4-1 record, with 53 Ks in 67 innings to go along with a 3.48 ERA and 1.16 WHIP (and a very solid .212 BAA). In a league where starting pitching is difficult to find, Outman is a good candidate…and so is Aceves. He won’t be spectacular, but will be good enough to keep you in ballgames and give you some quality innings (in his one start of 2011, he gave up 3 hits, 2 walks and a lone run in 5 innings against the Cubs). Used as a combination middle reliever/spot starter, he’s worth a look with Dice-K and John Lackey on the DL and Josh Beckett’s recent back and neck pain.
NL Only Special – Jon Jay (OF, Cardinals) – 3%. He’s now started seven straight games (and hit a pinch-hit 3-run home run in the game before the streak started), and is hitting .306 with an .835 OPS and 3 homers and 2 steals on the year. With Berkman and Holliday both banged up, Jay could see a serious spike in playing time – and regular at-bats are king in a single league.
P.S. Kendrys Morales and Fernando Rodney are owned in 36% 37% of leagues, respectively. Morales won’t play at all this year, and will still probably hurt you less than Rodney… if you own either one, cut him for someone who will help you!
And the weekly question – Submit a comment with some of YOUR top pickups for this week, and why?
Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.
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 Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson, Ryan Ludwick, Bartolo Colon, Jason Bartlett, John Jay, Wilson Ramos, Joe Mather, Josh Outman, Alfredo Aceves
 Cameron Maybin Welcome to Week Seven of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is. Once again, I take a look at the top 5 players you should look to pickup this week, with an AL-only and NL-only special at the end – and this week, I’d like to hear from you about some of your hot pickups. And as always, these are players who are available in at least 50% of standard Yahoo leagues. We publish every Monday, and feel free to post comments and questions throughout the week and I’ll be sure to answer all.
Alberto Callaspo (2B/3B, Angels) – 27% owned. In 2009, Callaspo was the darling of AL-only owners, when he came out of seemingly nowhere to hit .300 with an .813 OPS and 60 extra base hits. 2010, however, was tougher – traded midseason to the Angels, Albert-O! struggled mightily over the final 60 games, batting only .249 with two home runs and an OPS of .605 as a Halo. But having been handed the starting 3B job in spring training this season, Callaspo is rapping to the tune of a .314 average, .792 OPS and double-digit runs and RBIs. With all the injuries and inconsistency out there at 3B, I have no reason to think Callaspo isn’t a worthy investment.
Cameron Maybin (OF, Padres) – 25%. This former highly touted prospect and top ten overall pick has finally found a home in San Diego, it seems. For the first time in his career, Maybin is playing every day with success (with the emphasis on “success”) and sparked the Padres’ offense this past week with ten hits in his past four games. Maybe it’s a flash in the pan, but with outfield as shallow as it is, he’s one to keep your eye on.
Joel Pineiro (SP, Angels) – 16%. Somehow, Pineiro gets overlooked every year. Maybe it’s that he’s begun two straight seasons with arm troubles, but for a guy that pitches for a good team, has won double-digit games with a sub-4.00 ERA in each of the last two seasons, and is off to a lights-out start in 2011, he should get more love. And it’s not like he’s faced basement-dwellers – his first three starts of 2011 have been against the Rays, Red Sox and White Sox, shutting them each down. He’s given up 3 runs in 20 innings so far, and holds a sparkling 1.03 WHIP. Out of line with his career numbers? Sure. But with two starts this week against mediocre offenses, he’s definitely worth a spot in your rotation.
Michael Brantley (OF, Indians) – 15%. Grady Sizemore is a transcendent talent. He’s also injury-prone and an uncertain bet to remain in the lineup, leaving the door wide open for Brantley. Like Maybin, perhaps it took Brantley a little while to figure it out, but he certainly seems to know what he’s doing this year. Hitting right around .300 with increased power, speed and a lower K/BB ratio, Brantley is igniting the Indians’ lineup, and belongs in yours (especially considering that guys like Sam Fuld, Dexter Fowler, Willie Bloomquist and Travis Snider are all owned on more rosters than he is).
Ramon Hernandez (C, Reds) – 14%. Healthy for the first time in three years, Hernandez is back to being one of the better offensive catchers in the league. Only six catchers have more homers than he does, and he is absolutely insane at home, batting .488 with four homers in Great American Ballpark. If your roster size affords you the opportunity to hold two catchers, Hernandez is pretty good all around, but positively lights-out at home.
AL Only Special – Jesus Montero (C, Yankees) – 5%. He’s the Yankees’ top hitting prospect, and he plays catcher, and he’s raking in AAA. And frankly, he may or may not be closer to the majors than he was last week, but with Jorge Posada recusing himself from hitting duty on Saturday night, the end may be nigh for Jorgie, his Sunday night standing O and pinch hitting appearance notwithstanding. Montero still may not come up, but I’d put him in the category of guys like Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer – worth stashing, especially if you’re in a keeper league.
NL Only Special – Laynce Nix (OF, Nationals) – 3%. He may already be gone, but those of us who live in the DC area have seen Nix begin the season on the bench but play his way into the lineup, taking playing time from both Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel. Currently hitting .312 with 12 runs, 15 RBI, 5 homers and 2 steals, Nix should definitely be in your NL-only lineup.
P.S. There is no reason for David Aardsma, Ryan Franklin, John Lackey and Javy Vazquez to be owned in 46%, 33%, 30%, and 27% of leagues, respectively. If you own any of these guys, cut them now! And the weekly question – Submit a comment with some of YOUR top pickups for this week, and why? Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfixor for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson
 Welcome to Week Six of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is. This week we’re going to go back to our regularly scheduled format – looking at the top 5 players you should look to pickup this week, with an AL-only and NL-only special at the end. And as always, these are players who are available in at least 50% of standard Yahoo leagues. We publish every Monday, and feel free to post comments and questions throughout the week and I’ll be sure to answer all.
Frank Francisco (RP, Blue Jays) – 50% owned. Just a few days after Jays manager John Farrell told reporters that Jon Rauch is his main closer, Rauch blows a save and Farrell changes his tune. Franky Franky apparently has better closer stuff and will be the saver of choice going forward. Owned in exactly half of Yahoo leagues, he should be at 90% ASAP.
Brandon Beachy (SP, Braves) – 49%. Though starting pitching is obscenely deep this year, Beachy looks like a keeper. After winning the 5th starter job in Spring Training, Beachy has shown the ability to strike out a batter per inning (15 in 15 IP last year, 45 in 42 IP this year), to go with a sparkling 2.98 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. He only has one win, which may make him fly under the radar, but not for much longer.
Erick Aybar (SS, Angels) – 31%. At a position as shallow as shortstop, anyone with a pulse should be considered for playing time. Luckily for us, Aybar has both a pulse and serious wheels. After a poor 2010, it looked like 2009 was his career year, when he broke out with a .312 average, 70 runs, 58 RBI and 14 steals. He looks rejuvenated and hitting the ball well in 2011 – no power of which to speak, but as long as he’s hitting .356 with 8 runs, 9 RBI and 8 steals without being caught, Aybar is worth a look.
Domonic Brown (OF, Phillies) – 16%. The Phillies’ best position prospect was drafted in nearly every league this season, but hit the DL in spring training. Just recently activated, Brown finds himself in AAA, stuck behind the never-aging Raul Ibanez and the erstwhile Ben Francisco. He is, however, quickly becoming the kind of player with nothing left to do in the minors – since his return from the DL, he’s .409 with an OBP of .500 and two home runs and a steal in his first six games. A speculative pickup (you know how I like those) for sure, but fantasy baseball is littered with speculative owners being rewarded – Braun, Longoria, Lincecum, Posey, Hosmer…Brown?
Hong-Chih Kuo (RP, Dodgers) – 27%. Not currently the closer, but I have to believe that Vicente Padilla (seriously!?!?) will blow up at some point, and manager Don Mattingly will go with Kuo, who is clearly the better pitcher of the two. He is coming off an injury and has needed some time settle down, but if you can afford the roster spot, Kuo should end Kuosing games within a month.
AL Only Special – Jim Thome (DH, Twins) – 6%. On May 8, 2010, Jim Thome was hitting .238 with 5 homers and 15 RBI. On May 8, 2011, Jim Thome is hitting .214 with 2 homers and 7 RBI, and resides on the DL with a back muscle strain. The Twins, however, expect him back as soon as his DL stint ends now that they know it’s not an oblique strain, and that Thome can swing a bat. He hit 25 home runs in 276 at-bats last year…you could do worse than to stash him on your bench.UPDATE: AL Only Special – Carlos Peguero (OF, Mariners). Just called up today after Milton Bradley was DFA'd, Peguero has a big swing and big power. And big strikeout potential. I can't imagine the M's would cut a starter (Bradley) to call up a rookie to sit on the bench, so I expect Peguero to play, and every day. He'll strike out, and won't hit for a high average, but if he can hit the longball as he did in the minors where he averaged a bomb every 21 at-bats (31 in 2009, 23 in 2010, 4 so far this year), he could hit 15-20 homers if he gets the playing time. He'll be gone by tonight...go get him!
NL Only Special – Greg Dobbs (3B, Marlins) – 2%. Continuing with last week’s third base theme, Dobbs seems to have won the third base job for the Fish. He’s hot now, but not this good, so ride him while you can. You know my adage – in a single league, at-bats are everything.
Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!
(April 11, 2010 - Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson
 Welcome to Week Five of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is. This week I’m going to do something a little bit different, and focus only on third basemen. With Pablo "Big Panda" Sandoval and David "Tasteee" Freeze going down over the weekend for 4-6 weeks, it’s time to look at other third base options.
I’ll still do the AL-only and NL-only special at the end, and don’t forget – these are players who are available in at least 50% of standard Yahoo leagues. We publish every Monday, and feel free to post comments and questions throughout the week and I’ll be sure to answer all.
Ryan Roberts (Diamondbacks) – 57% owned. Even though he’s over 50% owned, he’s the best option right now while you ride his hot streak. He’s clubbing home runs, hitting for average, and stealing a few bases. Eligible at 3B and OF, he should be your top choice.
Wilson Betemit (Royals) – 17%. Doing his best to keep Mike Moustakas in the minors a little while longer (much to the chagrin of those of us who are holding NA roster spots for him…), Betemit is currently crushing the ball to the tune of a .333 average, 12 runs and 14 RBI, and 3 steals to boot. Oddly enough, he only has one home run, which is where his best value had previously come from (witness his 13 homers in just 276 at-bats last year). I can’t imagine he’ll stay this hot for this long, but while he’s raking, he’s worth your time.
Jack Hannahan (Indians) – 12%. Everyone, including me, is still waiting for this guy to wake up one day and realize that he’s actually Jack Hannahan. Y’know, the guy who in his two full seasons in the Big Leagues, hit a combined .216 with 13 home runs 66 RBI, with a spectacularly bad OPS of .635. Or, the guy who didn’t even appear in the major leagues in 2010. Or the guy who only started for the Indians because Jason Donald broke his finger and couldn’t begin the season on time. But for now, he’s a fine stop-gap…14 R, 14 RBI, 4 HR and a respectable .273 average. Grab him now before he wakes up…
Jhonny Peralta (Tigers) – 28%. Always good for double-digit homers and 75+ RBI, Peralta (who is also eligible at SS in most leagues) is in the midst of his typical slow start with just 1 homer and 11 RBI. But don’t be concerned – he has averaged 18 bombs and 79 RBI for the past six years. And anytime a player can be that consistent for six straight years, I’m buying – and you should be too.
Adam Kennedy (Mariners) – 3%. No, he’s not that good. But he does play every day, and will continue to do so for the Mariners until he, like Mr. Hannahan earlier, realizes that he is actually Adam Kennedy. He’s hit safely in 13 of his 16 starts this year, has 6 runs and 7 RBI to go along with 2 homers and a .279 average. Scraping the bottom of the barrel? Perhaps. But he’s better than waiting for Chase Headley or Sean Rodriguez to find their potential.
AL Only Special – Robert Andino (Orioles) – 1%. Playing for the injured JJ Hardy, Andino has found his batting stroke, hitting .333 for the season. He won’t give you much else, but plays every day (are you sensing a theme here?), and won’t kill your ratios. There aren’t many hitters on the wire, and you could do worse, especially at a weak position like shortstop.
NL Only Special – Kameron Loe (Brewers) – 4%. Now setting up for John Axford, Loe is averaging a strikeout per inning, has vultured 2 wins, and sports a decent-enough ERA and WHIP (3.37 and 1.35, respectively – and really only the product of 2 mediocre outings). Anyone next in line is probably on your radar, but don’t be fooled into thinking its Saito, Braddock, Kintzler, Hawkins, Stetter or Green – its Loe.
Percentages taken from Y! Sports. Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
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(April 11, 2011 - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)Play against THE FANTASY FIX in Fantazzle's Game of Guru's this week!
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson, Wired & Baked
 Alex Avila Welcome to Week Four of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is. I was right about David Murphy, Johnny Damon and Mitchell Boggs, so hopefully this week there will be some guys here you can grab before your fellow owners do.
As a reminder, these are five players who are available in at least 50% of Yahoo leagues, as well as one AL-only and one NL-only special. We publish every Monday, and feel free to post comments and questions throughout the week and I’ll be sure to answer all.
Brennan Boesch (Tigers) – 37% owned. Mr. Boesch had one of the most egregious first and second half splits of all time in 2010. Before the break, he batted .342 with 12 homers, 49 RBI and a .990 OPS; afterwards, he sported a painful .163 average, 2 homers, 18 RBI and a .458 OPS (yes, you read that right – .458 on base PLUS slugging). This year, Boesch started the season on the bench, but has made the most of his teammates’ injuries and slumps, and looks like the Boesch from the first half of 2010 – a .339 average, 13 runs, 12 RBI, a couple steals and a .903 OPS. The power is slow to come, but you can do worse in your outfield at this point.
Alex Avila (Tigers) – 34%. Two years ago, Avila slugged 5 homers in 29 games as Gerald Laird’s backup, raising the eyebrows of AL-only owners everywhere. In 2010, Avila slugged 7 homers in 104 games of timesharing with Laird, disappointing AL-only owners everywhere. Now, in 2011, as the full-time starter, he’s flashing that power again – .292 average, 3 homers, 11 RBI, and a .933 OPS, making him tied for the 2nd most RBI, the 3rd most home runs, and 6th in average among full-time catchers. It’s time to give him his due!
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (Twins) – 22%. A DL-special. Nishioka was drafted in virtually every league and broke his leg in his sixth major league game, and was dropped almost as quickly. He’s eligible at both 2B and SS in most leagues, the Japanese import (as if you couldn’t have guessed that by his name) is a solid source of average, runs and steals – and in the weak middle infield spots, he’s worth stashing.
Anibal Sanchez (Marlins) – 30%. Coming off a one-hit masterpiece on Friday night, Anibal was on a lot of sleeper lists coming into 2011. His 2010 was sneaky good – 13 wins, an ERA of 3.55, fewer hits than innings pitched, and a 2.25 K/BB ratio – but he was undrafted in most standard leagues. And his first 3 starts certainly didn’t give anyone any pressing reason to grab him – mediocre against the Nats, downright horrid against the Astros, decent against the Phillies – but he served notice against a high-scoring Rockies team that he is someone to be noticed. He gave up an unearned run in the first, a hit in the 9th, and that was it. One more good start, and his ownership number will skyrocket…beat your leaguemates to the punch!
Daisuke Matsuzaka (Red Sox) – 9%. Yes, you read that correctly – I’m suggesting picking up Dice-K. At this point, it’s a tale of two seasons for him – two horrendous starts, and two fantastic starts, including an 8 inning masterpiece against the Angels on Saturday night, where he allowed just one hit and struck out 9 in 8 innings. He’s 2-2, with a 4.09 ERA, but he may be worth a spot start while the gettin’s good, a la Carlos Zambrano in the second half of 2010.
AL Only Special – John McDonald (Blue Jays) – 1%. Don’t get me wrong, McDonald is not very good. But for the next two weeks or more, he could play every day – and in an AL-only league, that itself is worth ownership. Aaron Hill is banged up with a strained hamstring, and backup Jayson Nix just went down with a foot injury, leaving McDonald as the de facto starter for now. He’s eligible at 2B, 3B and SS, and is worth a pickup for now.
NL Only Special – Jason Isringhausen (Mets) – 0%. With Bobby Parnell on the DL with a blood clot in his hand, it looks like Terry Collins is giving the veteran and modern miracle Isringhausen first crack at the 8th inning setup job, meaning he’s next in line for the all-important save, should something happen to K-Rod. Still boasting a good fastball and breaking pitch, Izzy has 3 holds, sports a sparkling 1.59 ERA and 0.53 WHIP and 6 Ks in 6 2/3 innings. He’s almost certainly available in your league, so go for it.
Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.
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 Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson, Brennan Boesch, Alex Avila, John McDonald, Jason Isringhausen, Daisuke Matsusaka, Anibal Sanchez, Tsuyoshi Nishioka
(April 9, 2011 - Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America)
 David Murphy Welcome to Week Three of (Waiver) Wired and Baked – your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is. I was right about Aaron Harang, Matt Harrison, and Sam Fuld last week, so once again, I’ll do a weekly review of five players who are available in at least 50% of Yahoo leagues that you should definitely keep your eye on, as well as one AL-only and one NL-only special. We publish every Monday, in time for you to set your lineups, but feel free to post comments and questions throughout the week and I’ll be sure to answer all.
Jason Kubel/Jonny Gomes (Tie) – 49% owned. Gomes and Kubel are very similar players, i.e. good sources of power and bad sources of batting average. Right now, Gomes is hitting the cover off the ball and drawing walks (something he rarely does) and Kubel, on the other hand, just hit his second home run on Sunday (to go with a whopping 4 RBI) but is hitting a decidedly unKubel-like .321. I think both should be owned, but beware of the streaks, for good (like Gomes right now) and evil (like Kubel the first 10 days). Ultimately, I lean toward Kubel because is more of a guarantee to get the at-bats. Gomes has had more than 400 at-bats once in his career, while Kubel has done it 4 straight years.
David Murphy – 40%The major beneficiary of Josh Hamilton’s broken arm, Murphy should be owned in EVERY SINGLE LEAGUE. He hits in the best lineup in baseball, is guaranteed virtually daily playing time for the next two months and beyond when Nelson Cruz or Julio Borbon inevitably get hurt, and has generally acquitted himself when he’s gotten playing time. A lifetime .280 hitter with decent pop (double digit homers three years in a row in limited at bats), decent speed (14 steals last year and 4 in 8 games already this year), and an OPS hovering around .800, you should pick up Murphy right now.
Johnny Damon – 19%The brilliant Joe Maddon finally figured out that since Damon can still hit but can’t do much in the field, Johnny Jesus should serve as the Rays’ Designated Hitter. And since that move, Damon has been on fire. I know he’s only hitting .218, but his BABIP is a paltry .237 – SEVENTY points below his career average. He has 3 homers, 12 RBI, 3 steals, and is seeing daily playing time. He’s well worth a pick-up – his numbers are only going to improve.
Chris Iannetta – 14%Actually owned in fewer leagues than John Jaso and Ryan Doumit, Iannetta is quietly putting together a nice April. His batting average leaves something to be desired, but power from a catcher is worth its weight in gold, and Iannetta has that. Only five catchers have more home runs this year (and one of them, Jorge Posada, is hitting .171), his 7 RBI are two fewer than the position lead, and only the red hot Miguel Montero has more runs scored than his 8. If you can withstand the batting average pains, Iannetta is a solid option at catcher.
Mitchell Boggs – 5% About to blow up in the ownership ranks, Boggs is the most closer-like pitcher in the Cardinals bullpen. Though the move is totally speculative at this point, the last time a Cardinals closer had a run like Ryan Franklin’s, it was Jason Isringhausen in May 2008. After blowing two straight saves and capping a miserable two weeks where he blew 4 saves in 7 tries (making Franklin’s 4 in 5 look that much worse), TLR replaced Isringhausen with the previously untested…Ryan Franklin. Moral of the story? Go get Boggs.
AL Only Special – Felix Pie – 1%I have to admit – this was particularly tough for me to choose, since everyone is gone in most AL-only leagues. Pie, however, is a purely speculative but worthwhile pickup. He is the first outfielder off the bench for the Orioles, and between days off, injuries (both Adam Jones and Luke Scott miss time every year due to injury) and the need for a burst of speed, Pie will find his way onto the field.
NL Only Special – Miguel Batista – 1%Chances are, Boggs and Jason Motte are probably owned by now in your NL-Only league, but Batista could be a sleeper. No one has any idea what Tony LaRussa will do, but given Ryan Franklin’s complete inability to close a game, and Batista’s 31 saves in 2005, Batista may be worth owning. And at 1%, he’s probably out there, even in the deepest of leagues.
Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!
(September 18, 2010 - Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images North America)Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Week Three, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Tips, AL Only, NL Only, Jesse Mendelson, Miguel Batista, Felix Pie, Mitchell Boggs, Chris Ianetta, Johnny Damon, David Murphy, Jason Kubel, Jonny Gomes
 Brandon Belt Welcome to (Waiver) Wired and Baked! Your weekly review of who shouldn’t be available in your league, but probably is. There are lots of waiver wire columns out there, and frankly, I suggest you read as many of them as you can – being a waiver wire expert is what keeps me competitive in my leagues.
Yes, it’s an investment in time and resources, but in my opinion, it’s the only way to win – grabbing that closer when his turn comes; watching the starting pitcher on a hot streak and picking him up for his next start; or looking at a guy’s splits to know whether he’s a good pickup for a week on the road are all excellent ways to get ahead of your competition.
So, starting today, I’ll do a weekly review of five players who are available in at least 50% of Yahoo leagues that you should definitely keep your eye on, as well as one AL-only and NL-only special. It’ll be published every Monday, in time for you to make weekly pickups, but feel free to post comments and questions throughout the week and I’ll be sure to answer all.
Luke Scott – 48% owned.
For a guy who’s gotten progressively better since he entered the major leagues, and had an OPS of over .900 in 2010, its hard to believe that Luke Scott isn’t on every single Mixed League team. In 2010, he was 6th in the AL in Slugging and 7th in OPS despite his typical terrible April (.194 BA with 2 HR), and hit a home run every 16.6 at bats. Over a 500 at bat season, that’s 30 bombs. Can you name anyone else who’s got 30 home run power that isn’t owned in your league? Didn’t think so.
Coco Crisp – 43% owned.
Owner of one of baseball’s best names, Covelli Loyce Crisp – aka Coco – has as much pure speed as anyone in the game. He gets a bad rap for being injury-prone, and indeed, has only played three full seasons in his 10-year career. But why not ride it while the getting’s good? He’s the owner of one of the best base stealing percentages in the game (just around 20% caught), and in 2010, Coco stole 32 bases in just 75 games. He’s healthy, playing for a new contract, and has already swiped 4 bags through the season’s first 8 games…putting him on pace to swipe 81. I’d gladly take half that.
Brandon Belt – 30% owned. Caveat – This is a keeper league special because to be honest, I have no idea if Belt will be a good major league player. Chances are that if your league is keeper, he’s already owned. But in the off-chance he is available, grab him. The Giants think highly enough of Belt to move Aubrey Huff to the outfield, and Belt is coming off a monster 2010 season in the minors (.352 BA, 23 HR, 112 RBI and a 1.075 OPS) and seems to have a fairly long leash. In a non-keeper league, wait till (if?) he gets hot, but if you’re in a keeper league, I suggest taking a flyer on Belt.
Aaron Harang – 16% owned.
At least through two starts, Harang looks like he’s recaptured some of what made him one of the better fantasy starters in 2006 and 2007. After winning 16 games with over 215 K’s in each of those seasons, he won a total of 18 games in 2008-2010 and signed a bargain basement contract with the Padres prior to this season. He’s been on a lot of people’s watch lists, and pitched very well against the Dodgers this weekend after an excellent opening turn against the Giants, so grab him before someone else does. He could use Petco to his advantage and have a very nice bounce back campaign.
Matt Harrison – 29% owned.
The forgotten piece of the Rangers deal for Mark Teixeira (they also got Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus and Jarrod Saltalamacchia from the Braves in the trade), Harrison has generally put up good numbers…when healthy. He’s never made more than 15 starts in a season (2008), never had an ERA under 4.71 (2010), and has finished with a winning record as a starter only once (also 2008, but it was tied to a 5.49 ERA). So far in 2011, he’s had two very good starts – one at home against the Red Sox and one in Baltimore, both hitter’s parks and very good opposing lineups – and may be worth a short-term pickup while he’s healthy (because who knows how long that will last).
AL Only Special – Sam Fuld – 1% owned.
Not yet ready for ownership in Mixed Leagues, Fuld stands to be the biggest beneficiary of Manny Ramirez’s suspension retirement. Married to his high school sweetheart from his New Hampshire prep school, Fuld’s got speed to burn (5 steals in just 6 games) and has shown an ability to get on base, both with the Cubs in 2008 (.409 OBP in 115 plate appearances) and this year (.333 in 21 plate appearances). Fuld has gotten every start since Manny was suspended retired, and given how horrid the Rays’ offense has been this year, I can see Rays’ skipper Joe Maddon giving Fuld a long look out there.
NL Only Special – Chris Narveson – 15% owned.
Suddenly on everyone’s radar because he’s got a 0.00 ERA and 14 K’s through 13 innings, Narveson – a ten-season minor leaguer in just his second season as a major league starter – is not this good. But in an NL-only league, he’s worth a flier with a career K/9 of 7.9 and low walk rate, and especially since he pitches for a very good hitting team. Knowing Narveson, he may very well blow up next time out…or turn into this year’s R.A. Dickey.
Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Find and follow Jesse on Facebook.Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!
(March 31, 2011 - Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America)
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Advice, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Wired & Baked, Waiver Wire, Week 2, Jesse Mendelson, Luke Scott, Coco Crisp, Brandon Belt, Aaron Harang, Matt Harrison, Sam Fuld, Chris Narveson
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