If you’re
here reading this, you didn’t commit fantasy baseball suicide after just one
week. Good for you! Now let’s touch upon the origin of a basic cardinal fantasy
sin — turnover happens. Not just with apples, but with fantasy baseball players
too. We put too much into the name value of certain players, hoping for the
stats of yesteryear and that needs to stop. Look — Randy Johnson and Greg
Maddux are not going circa ’95 on us anytime soon, or ever again for that
matter… not even close. Turnover is happening right now — and with the gap
between small and big market teams larger than ever, young players are arriving
on the scene bigger, better, and faster than ever before. It is the world that
small market teams have been forced to deal with and it’s also the only way
they can compete. You need to take advantage now and with that in mind —
without further adieu, heeeere’s Johnny!
Johnny
Cueto — What Miley
Cyrus is to teenie-boppin girls, Cueto is to fantasy baseball junkies. He’s the
hottest rookie pitcher to produce such early-season hype since Tim Lincecum got called up last May. Like Lincecum,
the Reds will probably look to keep Cueto’s innings to something in the
180-range. Also like Lincecum, he’s a sub six-footer, which makes him kind of
like you and me. Well, except for the rocket attached at his glenohumeral
joint. Since A-ball, Cueto hasn’t sniffed an ERA above 3.53 and he’s kept his
K/9 rate right around nine all the way through the system. I’m sure he’s no
longer available in your league, but trade for him now if the price is right — with
the idea that an ‘07 Lincecum season is well within reach… perhaps even with a
tad more win potential.
Edinson
Volquez — Homer
Bailey who? Here’s the fall back option if you missed out on Cueto. If the Reds
were willing to deal away Josh Hamilton, you know they had to be getting
something pretty nice in return. He may not be ready to fully “breakout” this
year, but I’d say Volquez is pretty nice indeed.
Manny
Parra — A
lesser-known name than that of Cueto, Manny Parra might very well still be
available in your league right now. Stop reading this, go pick him up, and come
back for some good news about your new acquisition….Back yet? Alright, here’s
what you just invested in: Johnny Freakin’ Cueto. Really — as long as he’s
efficient with his pitches and keeps his walk-rate down, he could be just as good as the young Red…
perhaps with even more win potential than either Cueto or Lincecum. Parra’s K/9
rate over the past two years in the Brewers’ system has also been right around
nine, while his ERA hasn’t been higher than 2.99. Another nice Brewer name to
know is Carlos Villanueva. His upside isn’t as high, but grab him as
well if you’re weak in pitching and hold onto him for a couple weeks. When Yovani
Gallardo gets back in two more weeks from rehabilitating his knee, someone’s
getting bounced from the Brewer rotation. Hopefully it’ll be Dave Bush rather than Villanueva or
Parra; of course it could always be Ben Sheets’ annual DL trip that
creates an opening.
Justin
Upton — Look, 20-year
olds aren’t supposed to do what he just did this week. Hitting a homer in three
straight games, all while hitting out of the seven-hole is impressive,
especially under the lineup protection of Stephen Drew and Robby
Hammock. Just the fact that this projected eight-hole hitter batted sixth
last night is something that should get you all giddy inside about Lil’ Up. I’m
guessing the D-Backs’ idea of a solid middle of their order doesn’t really
involve Orlando Hudson, Eric Byrnes, and Chris Snyder
hitting 3-4-5. Instead, I could see them employing a top-five lineup of Byrnes,
Hudson, Chris B. Young, Upton, and Connor Jackson by this summer,
and you need to get yourself well ahead of the game by either picking up or
trading for Upton now.
Scott
Hairston — The
Padres have had enough faith to bat Hairston both first and fifth in their
lineup throughout the opening week and you should have enough faith to entrust
a roster spot to this former first-round selection. A late bloomer, Hairston is
just entering his power years and could get 550 at bats this season in his
first full time gig. Those 550 AB’s should at the very least get you the type
of production you might expect from the Xavier Nady’s and Austin
Kearns’ of the fantasy baseball world.
Quick
Hitters:
Hiroki
Kuroda — This is
who you want in place of Greg Maddux, let the past go!
Joe
Saunders — Could be
a lefty version of Kuroda with slightly better win potential.
Mike
Jacobs — The top of
the Marlins lineup isn’t as weak as some have advertised; enjoy the spike in HR
and RBI from Jacobs this year.
Yunel
Escobar — He gave
the Tomahawk Choppers enough reason to deal off Edgar Renteria in the
off-season; he’s hitting 2nd in a stacked Braves’ lineup; and he has multiple position
eligibility — what’s not to like?
Brian
Bannister — I’m not
sold yet on this one; he’d need to improve his K/9 ratio or get dealt to a
contender for me to get excited. I do like how he handled A-Rod.

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