Ticker Sports

By Timothy Petropoulos

We see it all the time. Unrecognized players starting hot and everyone thinking that they are the secret to their fantasy championship.

Even though most falter, some are the fantasy in fact the fantasy savior. Lets look into some guys that have started off quickly and decide…Is this guy going to make you a Contender or is he just a Pretender?

Pretender 

 Nate McLouth (Pit - OF) - Although Nate is having a fantastic start to the season, he is a little to good to be true.  This career .245 hitter with just 25 career HR’s is currently killing the ball at a .383 clip including 2 jacks, 14 RBI’s and a 11 runs. One of the main reasons that McLouth can’t keep these numbers up is because the of the Pirates line-up. Career platoon players like Xavier Nady and Ryan Doumit are driving McLouth in at an amazing rate but that will not last. McLouth will get you some runs, some steals, and some HR’s but nothing to merit him having a starting spot in a mixed-league roster after April.

Gabe Kapler (Mil - OF) -This guy could be the real deal, unfortunately, he won’t get the chance to be. CF Mike Cameron is serving a 25 game suspension for enfedimine use and will be the starting Center Fielder when he comes back. Kapler, who is used to being well traveled (went from playing in Japan, to playing for the Red Sox, to managing the Red Sox single-A affiliate…ALL LAST SEASON), will travel to at least one more spot before the the season ends. The bench.

 Justin Upton (Ari - OF) -The youngest player in the league (20 years old) is having a season that screams Ken Griffey Jr. all over again, and he will be the real deal one day. But right now, sell high on Justin. His 5 HR’s and 12 RBI’s are nice in the early season, but he has already struck out 12 times and shown (as most young players do) an inability to hit a good breaking ball. Once pitcher figure him out, he’ll fall back down to earth. A 20/20 season is not out of his reach though. 

 Contender

Mark Reynolds (Ari - 3B) -Unlike Justin Upton, Reynolds is a little older and a little more seasoned. This kid is the real deal. With a combination of a sweet power stroke (5 HR’s in 50 AB’s), improving eye (.368 on-base up from his career .351), experience (endured a streak of 7 consecutive K’s last season and fought through it), and line-up positioning (Bats 4th or 5th in the middle of a solid line-up) this guy should be in your starting line-up everyday (unless you have an elite 3B like Wright, Ramirez, or C. Jones).

Zach Greinke (KC - SP) -Finally! Finally! I have been waiting for this guy for 3 years to realize his potential. He has a 92-94 MPH fastball, a never-gets-there change-up and a wicked curve. This all translates to a 3-0 record, .75 ERA, and a .92 WHIP. The strike-outs are low (9 K’s in 24 IP’s) but when they get where they should be this guy will be an elite starter in this league. Expect 15-17 wins for Geinke with an improved Royals team behind him.

Ryan Church (Mets - OF) - Ryan is getting his shot, and he is taking advantage of it. For the first time in his career Ryan is starting full-time and batting 6th in a line-up littered with stars. Expect 25-30 HR’s, 85-95 RBI’s, 70-80 Runs, and 5-10 Steals. 

Ok, your league is drafted. You like your team and where you stand. You are working the waiver wire for players, proposing and accepting trades and fixing your roster everyday.

But if you don’t play the game right, no matter how good your team is or how many moves you make, you’ll never win. Here is a few tips to keep in mind this season to make this fantasy season a special one.

 Tip #1: Do your line-ups everyday!  Find some way to check your fantasy team at least once a day and make sure that no one with a day off is in your line-up because at the end of the week it could hurt you big time.

Tip #2: Play the match-ups! If you have a big bopper who struggles against the pitcher he’s facing and a bench-player who owns the pitcher he’s hitting against… go with the match-up, good pitching always beats good hitting.

Tip #3: Pull the trigger! If you have a guy that is notorious for his first half heriocs and second half woes (Hi, Chris Capuano) trade him while he’s hot and sell the stock high.

Tip #4:  Stay Pat! I know this sounds counter active but if you have a guy that is having a slow first half but is known for his second half runs (will the real Aubrey Huff please stand up) stick with him. It will pay off.

Tip #5: Go with you gut! It’s usually right… or you can just listen to me. 

By Timothy Petropoulos

Everyone who drafted people like Chris Carpenter, BJ Ryan, Paul Konerko, and Carlos Delgado last season know, just because a player is ranked high, doesn’t mean he’s a sure thing. Good thing for you, this year I’m hear to tell you who not to draft in the first couple rounds of your draft.

Here’s who NOT to draft in the early rounds in order to win a title in your fantasy league.

C

All Of The Above- DO NOT DRAFT A CATCHER IN THE EARLY ROUNDS. Guys like Russel Martin and Joe Mauer will go early, let them pass you. Catchers get a minimum of 1 to 2 days off and week and if that day is a Sunday it can really cost you a win. On top of that, all the second tier catcher have very similar numbers so you will not be hurt in that area.

IF

Ryan Braun - 3B/OF - Brewers - Despite the fact that Braun will start the season in the OF, in most leagues he is only available at third so he get thrown in the infield section. With that being said, expect the position change, a larger body of work, and added pressure all the result in a sophomore slump for Braun.

1B Justin Morneau - 1B - Twins- The former MVP has absolutely no one else around him. His RBIs and HRs will suffer from it but his batting average and OBP should rise, the problem is, batting average and OBP is not worth the high pick at a power position like fist

OF

Alfonzo Soriano - OF - Cubs - The fact that Soriano bats lead-off seriously hurts his RBI Production. He doesn’t score runs at a great rate, he doesn’t steal many bases, he doesn’t have a great OBP, all the things a prototypical lead-off man does well…Batting third would be ideal for a great talent like Soriano, unfortunately for the Cubs and your fantasy team, he doesn’t. 

Manny Ramirez - OF - Red Sox -Manny is getting lazier and lazier each day. His offensive production is no longer good enough to make up for his poor fielding, and I just got a bad feeling about him. Pass on Manny.

P

Brett Myers - SP - Phillies -Brett was amazing out of the bullpen last season and seemed to find his niche. Unfortunately he is returning to a starter role where he is mediocre at best. Stay away from Brett Myers the starter but if he reverts back to closer, jump on him.

Jose Valverde - RP - Astros - Too many walks + Straight Fastball + Move to a Hitters Park = Despair for the #1 closer in the league last season. Pass on him no matter what. This will be the biggest bust of the season GARENTEED.

Next week I will give you my Top 5 at every postion.

By Tim Petropoulos  Can you feel it? I can. It’s that time again, Fantasy Baseball time. In honor of the season to come,

- Ty Wigginton - 1B/2B/3B - Astros - He blasted the quietest 22 HR’s you will ever see, entering his prime and the ability to play 3 different positions makes him very valuable especially in 12 or more man leagues.- Dallas McFerrson - 3B - Marlins - The former big time Angels prospects goes into they place where prospects go to resurrect there careers…South Beach.

- Mike Lamb - 3B/1B - Twins - Will now be the opening day starter at 3rd Base for the Twins. Not a real good explination for this one, he’s been a solid ball player in his career…I just got a gut feeling about him.- Bobby Crosby - SS - A’s - If this guy can stay healthy (and he hasn’t in his 5 year career)  he is the truth, look for 20/20 potential if he gets around 450 ABs.

OF- Willy Mo Pena - OF - Nats - Willy Mo will get regualar playing time this season in left and probably hit 5th, he can definatly bring the power and if he gets 500 ABs hes a lock for 30 jacks.

- Ryan Church - OF - Mets - In The Middle of a potent line-up and his first oppurtunity to play full time, Ryan looks to be poised for a big season. His 44 Doubles where second in the NL last season and leaving spacious RFK should help some of those doubles turn into home runs.- Jay Bruce - OF - Reds - Another great Reds prosect, will start the season in the minors but when he gets called up he WILL be the 2008 version of Ryan Braun or Hunter Pence.

- Josh Hamilton - OF - Rangers - The former crack head turned Cinderella story Josh Hamilton will start at one of the corner OF spots for the Rangers and Arrlington will only help Josh’s numbers. Considering the inpressive numbers he put up part time in Cincy last season, he will be a steal this season.- Craig Monroe - OF - Twins - With the condition that he wins the job in Spring Training, he should shine in the middle of the line-up for the young twins. Only one year removed from a 20+ HR and 90+ RBI seasonexpect somewhere near those number in 2008.

SP/RP - Javier Vasquez - SP - White Sox - Last season, Vasquez quitely had the best season of his career. He went 15-8 with a 3.74 ERA, 213 K’s and (most importantly) only 50 BB’s in 216 innings. Expect him to continue that pace this season for an improved White Sox squad.

- Chad Billingsley - SP - Dodgers - This kid is the truth and he could end up being the Ace of a good staff by the end of the season. He shined last season when he went to the rotation and should continue because he has ace stuff and a bulldogs mentality.- Jered Weaver - SP - Angels - For some reason, everyone is sleeping on this guy. He gave up more then a hit per inning last season but that should change this season because of experience. Also, the improved Angels line-up will take pressure off the kid with electric stuff.

- Manny Corpas - RP - Rockies - When Corpas took over the closer role from Brain Fuentes (who was elected an All-Star) there was alot of people questioning the move. After about a week, there were no more questions. Corpas led the comeback kids all the way to the World Series on his back with his calm demener and electric stuff. Expect a breakout year in 2008 from him.- Carlos Marmol - RP - Cubs - Marmol was amazing last season with 96 K’s in 69 innings. The reason he is a sleeper is that he has a chance to be the closer this season for the Cubs after the struggles of RP Ryan Dempster last season. Expect around 30 saves from Marmol this season at best and a premire relief ace at worst. Not a bad deal at all considering he’s going in the 13th or 14th round in most leagues.

- Chad Qualls - RP - Astros - ALERT! Fastball pitcher gets traded away from Minute Maid Park and is headed to Arizona (I still want to call it the B.O.B. but that stadium has a new sponser every season) where center feild is more spacious then Barry Bonds’ forehead. Could be the closer if Brandon Lyon fails. Jump On HIM!!!Take this info into you late rounds and bring home a championship, next week, I will preview the DUDS you will want to stay away from in the draft this season.

*Sleeper is defined as a person that will be avalible in the 10th round or later who can give you early round production.

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