Fantasy

Rotoworld suggested that Brett Gardner, who has been leading off recently in spring training games for the New York Yankees, could start the season off in that slot.

Gardner, who scored 97 runs in 569 plate appearances, could challenge for the league lead in runs scored if he is hitting out of that slot.

Bryce Harper. 

Boy Wonder. Second Coming. Must be seen to be believed. 

Name your descriptive phrase and it’s been used on Bryce Harper. 

It would appear that Harper is on the fast track to the Hall of Fame and will have a career similar to Ken Griffey Jr or Alex Rodriguez.

Or he could flame out and have a career similar to Gregg Jefferies or Billy Beane.

But right now, in the middle of Spring Training 2011, do you draft Bryce Harper? And if so, where?

For more than 20 years now I have compiled a list of the “must haves” that I would like to have on my fantasy baseball team for the upcoming season. I usually start this list at the end of the previous year and tweak it right up until mid March when draft time comes along. These players are not necessarily all slam dunk picks but players my intuition tells me will help me win my league. Here is my list for the 2011 season.

Have spring performances caused any major movement in our catcher rankings?  If it’s his struggles or news about his playing time, one young catcher fell off in the rankings.  Let’s take a look at who it was and how things currently stand:

Not everybody can land Doc Halladay or Jon Lester.

Wins are hard to predict—just ask Felix Hernandez.

Here are some value guys that in theory should help bolster your win total. All average draft positions are from Mock Draft Central.

Phil Hughes, New York Yankees: You know the Yankees are going to win games.

It is not that I don’t like these outfielders; it’s just that I feel like their ADPs (courtesy of Mock Draft Central) have them going a little bit earlier than I’d prefer to call their names:

In fantasy baseball, everyone knows Albert Pujols is the best player available.  If you have the first pick in a draft, you take him and go get a snack because you have two rounds till your next pick.  

But Pujols isn't going to win you the league.  

If he gets hurt, you he might lose you your league. If you don't do a good job with the rest of your draft, it's not going to matter what Pujols does. 

Matt Thornton was just named the closer by Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Sometime in late April or early May Chris Sale will begin to get save opportunities, pitch well and never look back, as he will put a strangle hold on the closer's job for the Chicago White Sox for the remainder of the season. In keeper leagues you must continue to consider the possibility of the young hurler being placed back into the starting rotation next year. 

Previously, The Fantasy Fix reviewed and gave projections for the 2011 Texas Rangers rotation. Now, it's time to dive in and analyze the Rangers positional players.

He's being drafted ahead of established starters such as Gavin Floyd, Ricky Romero and Gio Gonzalez, yet he has only started four major league games. 

Jeremy Hellickson's nickname is "Hellboy" and he just might be that for fantasy owners this year if he cannot live up to the tremendous expectations that accompany his arrival to the big leagues.