Fantasy

These starting pitchers could have a hard time matching their 2009 production.

Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies
Blanton’s numbers are misleading. He had a solid ERA of 4.05, but gave up 30 HRs. If he’s giving up that many long balls, his peripherals will likely rise. Also, his strikeout total of 163 isn’t on par with he he’s done for the rest of his career.

Outside of my Wild Prediction (click here to view), we haven’t talked much about Yovani Gallardo this preseason.  He is one of my favorite pitchers entering 2010 and I didn’t really think it was necessary to discuss him.  While many think highly of him, it turns out a little conversation is needed.

Last season there were a lot of questions surrounding him, as injuries had cost him all but 24 innings in 2008, but he responded with flying colors:

For the most part, White Sox players go completely overlooked when it comes to fantasy baseball.

In most seasons, the entire White Sox starting staff can be found on waivers after a draft.

This year, however, the White Sox are producing a lot of possible sleepers...but like all sleepers, they come with their share of possible buyer's remorse.

Pick your poison, or perhaps a gold cup of fantasy championship, with Juan Pierre, Gordon Beckham, Carlos Quentin, Alex Rios, Alexei Ramirez, and the entire White Sox pitching staff minus Freddy Garcia.

Everyone has likely participated in the wonderful world of fantasy baseball at least one time during his or her lifetime.

Whether home base was at CBS, FOX, Yahoo, ESPN, or Sandbox, the goal was the same: compile the best team, destroy your friends, and remind them of it until next season.

Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said this weekend that he will likely have new acquisition Chone Figgins play second base, and move incumbent second baseman Jose Lopez to Figgins' primary spot over the past three seasons, third base. 

Figgins will bat second behind Ichiro in the Seattle order, while Lopez will bat fifth and sixth with about equal frequency. None of that changes with the position flip-flop, and so obviously, the fantasy impact of the switch from a strict production perspective is minimal.

Baseball’s Opening Day is just days away, and what better way to get fired up for the regular season but to partake in a fantasy baseball league?

Speaking of fantasy leagues, here are the top reasons that you should not just join a league, but why you should be involved with a fantasy baseball league with CBS Fantasy Baseball Commissioner.

10. You don’t have to spend $184 million to secure Joe Mauer.

9. Ron Washington won’t be managing your team.

The Majors is my fantasy baseball league, set up in coordination with Bleacher Report and CBS.

This league is designed to enhance CBS Sports’ fantasy baseball presence, and it offers Bleacher Reporters a special discount. Usually, this league costs $180—but with this offer, there is a discount.

With Spring Training in full swing and fantasy baseball just around the corner, Bleacher Report and CBS have come to an agreement that gives Bleacher Report readers 50 percent off CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball Commissioner.

This league, which generally costs users $180, won eight out of nine Fantasy Sports Trade Association Awards last year and offers a lot of analysis including downloadable draft kits, Top 300 rankings and draft projections.

Joe Nathan has opted to undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2010 season and leaving his future as an elite closer in question.  While the rest of the fantasy world goes sorting through the middling relievers who could fill the role in the early weeks of the season like Jon Rauch, Matt Guerrier, and Jose Mijares, you may be better served to look at the long-term solution.