Fantasy

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies

Wilson Valdez, playing for Chase Utley, went 2-for-4 with the game-tying RBI. He’s no Utley, but it’s a nice start. Shortstop Angel Sanchez batted second for the Astros, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Neither is good fantasy option.

Every year there is a player who just gets off to an unbelievable start, like Chris Coghlan in 2009.

But fantasy owners need to be careful about these players before they go and completely change their teams. In most cases, those players who get off to hot starts will drop off, back to the mid-200s by the middle of year.

When looking to change your team, either through free agency or trades, look for consistency and trends in past seasons. Players will normally follow a similar pattern.

While a lot of fantasy hype might be around young prospects like Jason Heyward and Mike Stanton, don’t forget about some of the proven veterans, especially at some thinner positions.

A player like Chipper Jones is normally going between the 18th and 22nd round in most drafts. However, during the spring he has a batting average close to .388. While Chipper used to be one of the staples at third base before injuries caused him to miss time. If he can stay healthy, Jones could be a steal like Paul Konerko was last season.

Well it's finally here. All the research, opinions and projections will actually be put to the test. As does every fantasy baseball season, 2011 starts off quite interesting with key injuries and trades in the offseason.

No Chase Utley at the top of the 2B lists this year. Johan Santana in many leagues is not even being drafted. Zack Greinke's short DL stint to start the season in his new home isn't exactly the way to start a relationship. With lesser injuries we watch Corey Hart and Mat Latos.

The Seattle Mariners could have opted to keep Michael Pineda in the minor leagues to start the season, likely saving themselves millions of dollars (due to arbitration time). 

Instead the team opted to reward the 22-year-old righty after he dominated in spring training (2.12 ERA, 15 K, 6 BB over 17.0 innings) by naming him the fifth starter.

Finances aside, it really should have been an easy decision for the Mariners to make. 

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

 

Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals

Chipper Jones may be old, but he got off to a great start: He went two for four with the first run of the year.

It was a soft opening for Major League Baseball with only six games on the docket. However, baseball is most certainly back on the sports scene.

I couldn't be happier. I'm beyond tired of discussing NFL and NBA labor situations, distant College Football plans and worthless Spring Training results. And I think I'm finally ready to set the tournament aside for a few days.

Bring on the hardball.  Now they count.

There are plenty of interesting story lines to digest after the day's events.

A new year of fantasy baseball rolls around. Will your strategy from last year work as well this year? No, probably not, because the field of players changes so dramatically each year; you want to develop a new approach that fits this years' players. Here are five things that you should remember when drafting, and even after your draft, when you're proposing trades and adding free agents:

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Well, folks, today is Opening Day.  At long last, baseball is back.  Not only does this time of year bring back my favorite sport, but it also brings the start of one of my favorite things about it: fantasy baseball!  With fantasy baseball comes one of my favorite activities: analyzing each team's potential sleeper!

At the young age of 25, David Price has already started in an All-Star game, pitched in the World Series and finished runner-up in the 2010 Cy Young voting.