http://www.yardbarker.com/users/cypradn Recent Yardbarker Articles: cypradn en-us In a season comprised of streaks and slumps, Fantasyfanatics.com baseball expert helps us sort through the latest trends. Here's a look at the players who are hot and some who are not. Our first sizzler is Lance Berkman (1B, Houston Astros): Berkman has really been on fire the entire season, but I thought he deserved his due. Over his past 6 games, Berkman has posted a .348 BA, .423 OBP, a HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, and 2 SB. He also hit 4 HR last week. In total, Berkman is hitting .387, with a .466 OBP, 16 HR, 45 RBI, 50 R, and 9 SB. Obviously he's having a fantastic season, and fantasy owners have got to love those 9 SB. Sun, 25 May 2008 23:39:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270943 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270943 SIZZLERS Aaron Laffey (SP, Cleveland Indians): Talk about pitching depth. The Cleveland Indians have C.C. Sabathia (yes, he's on my "Fizzlers" list, but he's still a good pitcher), Fausto Carmona, Cliff Lee, Paul Byrd, and Jake Westbrook (returning from the DL) as their first five starters, and they also have Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, and Adam Miller waiting for a full-time spot. Of those last three, Laffey has been the one who has had the most innings to prove himself. Since Westbrook has been on the DL, Laffey has posted a win, a 1.83 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 8 K's, and just 4 BB's in 19.6 IP. In his past two starts, he didn't allow a run. Back-to-back shutouts. And this guy doesn't have a full-time gig yet? You have to think that the Indians are going to make a move for a hitter, so a guy like Westbrook or Byrd could be on their way out, or possibly a young gun like Laffey could too. Regardless, keep riding the Laffey bandwagon because he's good, real good. Sun, 18 May 2008 19:27:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268349 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268349 Who's hot, who's not in Major League Baseball? We'll get you started with a sizzler named Mike Cameron. After being suspended for the first 25 games, Cameron is back, and has a starting job (as he should). For those owners (like myself) who took a chance on Cameron, knowing that he was suspended and might risk losing a job, should be quite pleased. He's showing a few signs of rust, but he has already posted a HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, and 3 BB's. The stolen bases should come too. Considering how lethal the Milwaukee Brewers lineup is, Cameron should get plenty of RBI opportunities. Add Cameron to NL-only teams, and if he heats up, you can add him in all leagues because of his power/speed abilities. Fri, 09 May 2008 00:36:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265080 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265080 Every year a new crop of Major League rookies enter the field with high expectations and plenty of excitement. Naturally, these players will often disappoint, as we come to learn that the jump to the Major Leagues is one that takes at least a year or two to adapt to. That explains why Alex Gordon may have struggled last season, but seems poised to break out a year later. Delmon Young was respectable last season, but the expectations are bigger and better for '08. Here's a look at some of the rookies dealing with high expectations this season. While they might make for great pickups in keeper leagues, for the standard fantasy baseball league, they are likely overrated. Of course, there are always some exceptions. Fri, 02 May 2008 10:29:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262707 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262707 It was the fourth overall pick that garnered the most attention from fantasy managers through out the nation, just like it was the second overall pick two years ago when Reggie Bush was the top running back chosen. Even last season, all fantasy football managers knew about Adrian Peterson and his sensational college career before he stepped foot on an NFL football field, and he wasn't taken until the Vikings grabbed him with the seventh pick overall. The fact is that Darren McFadden is the type of player who will attract the attention of fantasy managers from draft day forward, and on that note what can we honestly expect. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:18:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260375 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260375 FantasyFanatics.com Lead Expert Rob Shaw takes you for a spin around the NFL in this week's edition of A View of the Diamond. We'll get you started in the Bronx. It may be hard to argue that a New York Yankee is flying under the radar, but I am not sure that people understand how good Chien-Ming Wang actually is. The Yankees ace has won 51 of his first 69 career decisions. Thanks to pin-point control and an uncanny ability to escape jams, his career ERA is just 3.75. Just 27 years old, Wang appears to be in his prime, and his 5-0 start is not an illusion. Best of all, it's no longer just wins and ERA either. After fanning just 76 in 2006, Wang struck out 104 last season. Wang appears poised for another solid increase in strikouts, as he has struck out 27 through his first 6 starts this season. On Sunday, Wang outdueled C.C. Sabathia, hurling 7 shutout innings with 9 K's and 4 hits allowed. Expect Wang to break the 20-win plateau this season. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:14:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260374 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260374 There are some great matchups coming up this week (Peavy/Webb, anyone?), but the problem is if you're a star pitcher who is facing another star pitcher, it is virtually impossible to make the Start 'Em, Sit 'Em list. But fear not, fantasy owners, there are plenty of other matchups that should be easier to judge. Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:32:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/259608 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/259608 Who's hot, who's not in Major League Baseball? We'll get you started with a sizzler, Travis Buck (OF, Oakland Athletics): After a tumultuous first 22 AB's, Buck broke out. He has gone 8-28 (.285 BA), 4 RBI, 5 R, and has recorded a 3B and 6 2B. This is what expert projected out of the young A's outfielder, and now that he's producing, he's worth a look in AL-only leagues, and deeper mixed leagues. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:51:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256070 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256070 There are a lot of big name sluggers that are off to slow starts this season that have some fantasy owners in a panic. Players like David Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano, and Prince Fielder have frustrated owners and left them asking if something is wrong and if they should hang on to them. I for one am not worried about any of these sluggers. Pitching is usually a little ahead of the hitting coming out of Spring Training and as the weather heats up, I am confident these players will find their strokes. I do however, have some concerns about some of the pitching talent that has started slowly this year. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:34:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/252140 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/252140 Steve McNair was one of the best quarterbacks of his era. Unfortunately, injuries limited his fantasy value during many of his prime seasons. Now that McNair has stepped away from the game, is there any fantasy value remaining on the harbor? Fantasy experts weigh in! Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:06:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/242590 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/242590 In the last week, the hot starts of Mark Reynolds and Xavier Nady have cooled down, while three first baseman have surpassed the league leaders in homeruns. Nearly 10% through the Major League Baseball season, Prince Fielder didn't go deep until Thursday, and Ryan Howard has just 3 homeruns with a .189 average. So who are the league leaders, and are they legit? Here's a list of three factors that should help you decide whether a player truly is a King of Swat. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:04:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/242585 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/242585 I just want to start out by saying that this has been the worst fantasy basketball season ever. While the actual NBA season has been a treat, and numerous breakout players have emerged, I'm mired in injuries that would bring the healthcare industry to a halt if all of my guys were treated at once. Injuries come at me clandestinely when I least expect it. As soon as one of my players gets healthy, another misses a game out of the clear blue sky. Over the past several weeks, my team that already had Gilbert Arenas and Jermaine O'Neal on it has had to contend with random DNPs from the likes of Gerald Wallace, David Lee, Rafer Alston, Beno Udrih, Brandon Roy and Tim Thomas. Yes, I was counting on Tim Thomas. And not only did these guys all crap out at various points of the last month, I never found out about their absences until after I started them - or, conversely, never had them in my lineup when they returned. I could never find any information on them. I don't even think their wives knew they were hurt. Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:33:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/235700 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/235700 The season might be young, but fantasy managers are already hitting the waiver wire with hopes of claiming the next big closer. Injuries are also playing a large role as Francisco Rodriguez and Rafael Soriano are two closers who hit the disabled report within the last few days. Here's a look at the closers to keep an eye on. Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:29:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/235698 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/235698 Over the last week of the season you will find several teams out of contention trying to figure out who on their roster are a part of the problem or a part of the solution. With the New York Knicks experiment proving to everyone that you must rebuild, and not reload, you can expect to see a youth movement taking over several teams that are far from contention. On the other hand, this late in the season, some teams have already wrapped up their Division Titles, and can now also take a moment to see what young talent they have on their roster. The following are a list of players who are getting a shot to make an impact in fantasy hoops down the stretch. Here's a quick review of each player getting some extra playing time, before you slot them in your fantasy lineups. Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:52:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/231807 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/231807 For the first week of the baseball season I'm a shell of a man. When there are day games during the week, I can't concentrate on anything as my team sets new records for base hits with no runners on, caught stealings and blown saves. For those savvy fantasy players who are better able to function during this time, the NBA season is winding down and there are a few things you should keep in mind over the last week. If you play in a head to head league, the next scoring period is the most important of all. Going for your fantasy basketball championship? You've come to the right place. Here's what's on my mind as we head to the final week. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:07:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228755 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228755