By now there has probably been a flurry of activity in your fantasy league(s). The waiver-wire has been white-hot with action, as numerous players have left stellar impressions after just a week of baseball. Some of these players are well worth the add and will live up to the hype. Others, however, are not as likely to pan out and deserve to be tossed back into the free agent heap. On the other side of the coin, we have players off to poor starts, and plenty of fantasy owners are worrying about who's next on the chopping block. The hype machine creates an exciting vibe in the first few weeks of baseball and UPDATE! examined some notable names that have made waves (good and bad).
2007 Stats: .348 AVG, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB
Comment: Surprisingly, Ankiel was left undrafted in a number of leagues this season. Whether it was because of HGH allegations or a lack of faith in his pitcher-to-outfield conversion, many in the fantasy community avoided his powerful bat. They're swarming to him now, however, and he has picked up right where he left off last season. Ankiel has an intriguing amount of home run potential. He seems capable of swatting 30-plus dingers if can manage 500-plus at-bats. That alone makes him worth owning. Since re-emerging in the big leagues his batting average has been high considering his elevated strike out totals. That average will probably level itself out over a full season, so expect an average in the .250-260 range by season's end. That being said, you probably added him for power purposes. And Ankiel looks like he will be able to fill that need just fine.
2007 Stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, 4 SO
Comment: A popular add over the past-week, Bannister looked dominant in his first start of 2008 against the Detroit Tigers, proving that his 2007 rookie campaign was no fluke. But if you look at his 2007 numbers, he pitched well against the Tigers (2-1 with a 2.55 ERA) last season. Fantasy owners should not expect Bannister to slot in as a reliable No. 2 fantasy pitcher this year. He is not going to strikeout many batters (just 77 strikeouts in 165 innings in 2007), so he makes a nice No. 4 or 5 fantasy starter. Owners may want to consider trading him early if they find any takers intoxicated by his hot start.
2007 Stats: 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.14 WHIP, 10 SO
Comment: There are more than a few reasons for fantasy owners to temper their expectations with the supremely talented Cueto. His age (22), small home ballpark and major-league inexperience are going to deter some from predicting big things for him. Yet watch him pitch and you just can't help but feel some sense of déjà vu (think Francisco Liriano's explosive 2006 rookie campaign with the Minnesota Twins). Elite rookies hit bumps in the road no matter how talented they are, but Cueto handled the Arizona Diamondbacks lineup this week in effortless fashion, refusing to let a solo-shot home run from Justin Upton faze him. He could finish the season as a top 15 pitcher, maybe even higher.
2007 Stats: .435 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 1 SB
Comment: With shortstop Alex Gonzalez out, Keppinger has been raking the ball for the Reds, providing a spark for Cincinnati. In 241 at-bats in 2007, Keppinger hit .332 as a utility-man around the infield. So it should come as no surprise that he has been swinging a hot stick at the start of 2008. Just don't expect gaudy power numbers — he managed just five long balls all of last season. Still, Keppinger makes an excellent reserve player for fantasy teams. He is capable of filling in at multiple-positions on your roster and can be used in a pinch to replace injured or ineffective starters. And another big plus: manager Dusty Baker is enamored with his play and will likely get him a ton of at-bats even after Gonzalez returns to the field.
2007 Stats: .429 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB
Comment: McLouth has looked awfully good to start the 2008 season, and fantasy owners should take notice. Last season's .258 batting average tells us that a .300 mark is probably a pipe dream. Still, during his last two months of the 2007 season he batted .284 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs and 16 stolen bases. These numbers prove that McLouth can be a useful fantasy player. Add him in all leagues as a No. 3 or 4 outfielder. Just don't invest too highly in him. The Pirates' lineup and McLouth's streaky play could have him back on the waiver-wire in no time.
2007 Stats: 0-1, 7.11 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, 3 SO
Comment: Francis had two really awful outings to start the season, but one of them was erased after an Opening Day rainout. I was not sure why so many fantasy owners seemed content to slot Francis in as their No. 4, or even No. 3, fantasy pitcher, but it was a mistake. Don't get me wrong, I like Francis, but for fantasy purposes, he's mediocre at best. Oh, he'll have a hot run here and there that will warrant riding him for a few starts, but he is by no means a fantasy ace. Owners should feel free to drop Francis. His upside is limited at Coors Field. Edinson Volquez, Micah Owings or even Francis' teammate Franklin Morales are worth the add if you are looking to cut ties with the Rockies' ace.
2007 Stats: .136 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 0 SB
Comment: Drop him now. The outfield position is deep enough that you can pick up a Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez or Mark Teahen and get more out of them than you will Jones. Yes, he's hit 30-plus home runs seven times in his career (including once topping 50 HR), but he is going to decimate your team's batting average. I know he seemed like a steal in your fantasy draft based on the potential of a bounce-back season, but he just doesn't look like the same Andruw Jones that smashed 92 home runs during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. If you decide to hold onto him, at the very least let him rot on your bench until his bat shows some signs of life.
2007 Stats: .091 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R, 0 SB
Comment: LaRoche is far removed from the 32 home run, 90 RBI campaign of 2006, and plenty of fantasy owners are dumping him this season after a horrendous start. LaRoche struck out 10 times in the first week of play and his strikeout rate seems as like it's going to rise again this season. The silver lining (if you can call it that) is that he's been dealing with a thumb injury that is likely affecting his at-bats. Of course, if his nagging thumb continues to be an issue, he may endure his worst season yet. Fantasy owners wishing to cut LaRoche should do so only if they have a reliable first base option on their roster. He still has 25-plus HR power. Remember, LaRoche hit .321 with 11 HR, 43 RBI and 40 R from July to the end of 2007, so a little patience (perhaps even a few weeks worth) could pay off in the end.
2007 Stats: 0-1, 7.59 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 9 SO
Comment: I was definitely concerned with Sabathia heading into 2008. After his rough start to the season, I'm downright scared. Despite a fantastic 2007 campaign, there were plenty of reasons to expect a down-year from the rotund lefty. First, he has only pitched over 200 innings twice in his career. Considering he pitched an insane 241 innings last season there was bound to be some residual effects on his performance in 2008. And before last season he was among the leaders in the American League in hits allowed per nine innings (top 10 in that category four times from 2001-2006). Sure he barely walks anyone, but if you give up a ton of hits the runs are going to come. Sabathia should finish the season as a useful fantasy pitcher (if healthy) but don't expect him to touch last year's number, think of him more as a low-end No. 2 or high-end No. 3 starter. While fantasy owners should not drop Sabathia by any means, it may not be a bad idea to try to package him in a deal now before his stock continues to fall.
2007 Stats: 0-2, 6.30 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 4 SO
Comment: Zito has looked putrid in his first two starts of 2008, and fantasy owners are already jumping ship. Can you really blame them? Zito's 4.53 ERA and 1.35 WHIP from last season (his first in the National League) were disappointing to say the least. What's worse is his career worst 131 strikouts last season, despite the luxury of facing weaker NL lineups. His fastball is topping out at about 87 mph and he looks headed for another horrible season. Do not have any reservations about dropping San Francisco's "ace."
WHITE HOT
RICK ANKIEL
St. Louis Cardinals, OF2007 Stats: .348 AVG, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB
Comment: Surprisingly, Ankiel was left undrafted in a number of leagues this season. Whether it was because of HGH allegations or a lack of faith in his pitcher-to-outfield conversion, many in the fantasy community avoided his powerful bat. They're swarming to him now, however, and he has picked up right where he left off last season. Ankiel has an intriguing amount of home run potential. He seems capable of swatting 30-plus dingers if can manage 500-plus at-bats. That alone makes him worth owning. Since re-emerging in the big leagues his batting average has been high considering his elevated strike out totals. That average will probably level itself out over a full season, so expect an average in the .250-260 range by season's end. That being said, you probably added him for power purposes. And Ankiel looks like he will be able to fill that need just fine.
BRIAN BANNISTER
Kansas City Royals, SP2007 Stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, 4 SO
Comment: A popular add over the past-week, Bannister looked dominant in his first start of 2008 against the Detroit Tigers, proving that his 2007 rookie campaign was no fluke. But if you look at his 2007 numbers, he pitched well against the Tigers (2-1 with a 2.55 ERA) last season. Fantasy owners should not expect Bannister to slot in as a reliable No. 2 fantasy pitcher this year. He is not going to strikeout many batters (just 77 strikeouts in 165 innings in 2007), so he makes a nice No. 4 or 5 fantasy starter. Owners may want to consider trading him early if they find any takers intoxicated by his hot start.
JOHNNY CUETO
Cincinnati Reds, SP2007 Stats: 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.14 WHIP, 10 SO
Comment: There are more than a few reasons for fantasy owners to temper their expectations with the supremely talented Cueto. His age (22), small home ballpark and major-league inexperience are going to deter some from predicting big things for him. Yet watch him pitch and you just can't help but feel some sense of déjà vu (think Francisco Liriano's explosive 2006 rookie campaign with the Minnesota Twins). Elite rookies hit bumps in the road no matter how talented they are, but Cueto handled the Arizona Diamondbacks lineup this week in effortless fashion, refusing to let a solo-shot home run from Justin Upton faze him. He could finish the season as a top 15 pitcher, maybe even higher.
JEFF KEPPINGER
Cincinnati Reds, SS/3B2007 Stats: .435 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 1 SB
Comment: With shortstop Alex Gonzalez out, Keppinger has been raking the ball for the Reds, providing a spark for Cincinnati. In 241 at-bats in 2007, Keppinger hit .332 as a utility-man around the infield. So it should come as no surprise that he has been swinging a hot stick at the start of 2008. Just don't expect gaudy power numbers — he managed just five long balls all of last season. Still, Keppinger makes an excellent reserve player for fantasy teams. He is capable of filling in at multiple-positions on your roster and can be used in a pinch to replace injured or ineffective starters. And another big plus: manager Dusty Baker is enamored with his play and will likely get him a ton of at-bats even after Gonzalez returns to the field.
NATE MCLOUTH
Pittsburgh Pirates, OF2007 Stats: .429 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB
Comment: McLouth has looked awfully good to start the 2008 season, and fantasy owners should take notice. Last season's .258 batting average tells us that a .300 mark is probably a pipe dream. Still, during his last two months of the 2007 season he batted .284 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs and 16 stolen bases. These numbers prove that McLouth can be a useful fantasy player. Add him in all leagues as a No. 3 or 4 outfielder. Just don't invest too highly in him. The Pirates' lineup and McLouth's streaky play could have him back on the waiver-wire in no time.
ICE COLD
JEFF FRANCIS
Colorado Rockies, SP2007 Stats: 0-1, 7.11 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, 3 SO
Comment: Francis had two really awful outings to start the season, but one of them was erased after an Opening Day rainout. I was not sure why so many fantasy owners seemed content to slot Francis in as their No. 4, or even No. 3, fantasy pitcher, but it was a mistake. Don't get me wrong, I like Francis, but for fantasy purposes, he's mediocre at best. Oh, he'll have a hot run here and there that will warrant riding him for a few starts, but he is by no means a fantasy ace. Owners should feel free to drop Francis. His upside is limited at Coors Field. Edinson Volquez, Micah Owings or even Francis' teammate Franklin Morales are worth the add if you are looking to cut ties with the Rockies' ace.
ANDRUW JONES
Los Angeles Dodgers, OF2007 Stats: .136 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 0 SB
Comment: Drop him now. The outfield position is deep enough that you can pick up a Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez or Mark Teahen and get more out of them than you will Jones. Yes, he's hit 30-plus home runs seven times in his career (including once topping 50 HR), but he is going to decimate your team's batting average. I know he seemed like a steal in your fantasy draft based on the potential of a bounce-back season, but he just doesn't look like the same Andruw Jones that smashed 92 home runs during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. If you decide to hold onto him, at the very least let him rot on your bench until his bat shows some signs of life.
ADAM LAROCHE
Pittsburgh Pirates, 1B2007 Stats: .091 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R, 0 SB
Comment: LaRoche is far removed from the 32 home run, 90 RBI campaign of 2006, and plenty of fantasy owners are dumping him this season after a horrendous start. LaRoche struck out 10 times in the first week of play and his strikeout rate seems as like it's going to rise again this season. The silver lining (if you can call it that) is that he's been dealing with a thumb injury that is likely affecting his at-bats. Of course, if his nagging thumb continues to be an issue, he may endure his worst season yet. Fantasy owners wishing to cut LaRoche should do so only if they have a reliable first base option on their roster. He still has 25-plus HR power. Remember, LaRoche hit .321 with 11 HR, 43 RBI and 40 R from July to the end of 2007, so a little patience (perhaps even a few weeks worth) could pay off in the end.
C.C. SABATHIA
Cleveland Indians, SP2007 Stats: 0-1, 7.59 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 9 SO
Comment: I was definitely concerned with Sabathia heading into 2008. After his rough start to the season, I'm downright scared. Despite a fantastic 2007 campaign, there were plenty of reasons to expect a down-year from the rotund lefty. First, he has only pitched over 200 innings twice in his career. Considering he pitched an insane 241 innings last season there was bound to be some residual effects on his performance in 2008. And before last season he was among the leaders in the American League in hits allowed per nine innings (top 10 in that category four times from 2001-2006). Sure he barely walks anyone, but if you give up a ton of hits the runs are going to come. Sabathia should finish the season as a useful fantasy pitcher (if healthy) but don't expect him to touch last year's number, think of him more as a low-end No. 2 or high-end No. 3 starter. While fantasy owners should not drop Sabathia by any means, it may not be a bad idea to try to package him in a deal now before his stock continues to fall.
BARRY ZITO
San Francisco Giants, SP2007 Stats: 0-2, 6.30 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 4 SO
Comment: Zito has looked putrid in his first two starts of 2008, and fantasy owners are already jumping ship. Can you really blame them? Zito's 4.53 ERA and 1.35 WHIP from last season (his first in the National League) were disappointing to say the least. What's worse is his career worst 131 strikouts last season, despite the luxury of facing weaker NL lineups. His fastball is topping out at about 87 mph and he looks headed for another horrible season. Do not have any reservations about dropping San Francisco's "ace."
