Fantasy

The keeper rankings at second base go deep, but they are also filled with players who's projectability is cloudy at best.

Note: These are NOT rankings for 2010. The focus is on long-term keeper values, looking first toward the next 4-5 years and then some prospects that could be moving up this charts during those seasons.

Begin Slideshow

Heading into 2010 Pablo Sandoval was a consensus top seven third baseman. That may not mean much, but given the lack of depth at the position, he was the swing point between getting a good option and getting a big risk.

While some of the risks have paid off (i.e. Adrian Beltre), Sandoval’s 2010 has been nothing short of disastrous. Looking at his line thus far will make you cringe if you are one of the unfortunate owners who selected him:

Are you hurting in the run category? Here are some reasonably available players that can help you out.

Dexter Fowler, OF, Colorado Rockies
Fowler scored 12 runs over the past 15 days while hitting .364 with a HR, eight RBIs, and two SBs. On the year, he’s hitting .244 with 47 runs, three HRs, 19 RBIs, and 11 SBs. Dexter is owned in 35 percent of ESPN and 26 percent of CBS leagues.

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

Shortstop is a top heavy position in fantasy baseball. After five or six elite guys and three to four more decent options, the bottom falls out fast. Those playing in the popular ten-team mixed leagues might not have too much trouble filling their SS spot, but those in deeper leagues will most likely be scrambling for production. At this point in the roto season, the best thing you can do is to see which categories you can still pick up points, and use your SS spot to go after those category-specific needs.


TIER 1

It’s been nearly two months since we checked in on our second baseman rankings for 2011 and things certainly have changed.  Rickie Weeks has entrenched himself among the top 2B in the league. Chase Utley, Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler have all been placed on the DL.  Brian Roberts returned to the field.  Let’s take a look at how things currently look.

Brandon Morrow, Toronto Blue Jays (pictured)
Morrow had to settle for a one-hit shutout as his no-no was broken up by Evan Longoria in the ninth. Morrow had 17 Ks as he improved to 9-6 with a 4.45 ERA.

Each week Baseball Press will be providing some Under the Radar fantasy players for NL-Only Leagues, AL-Only Leagues, and Mixed Leagues. These articles will be dedicated to finding those diamonds in the rough on the waiver wire that will either be a short term or long term replacement to an injury or struggling player on your fantasy team. All players listed are owned in less than 30 percent of Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Yesterday, Toronto Blue Jay Brandon Morrow arguably pitched the strongest outing of the year, let alone one of the finest in history. Morrow went 8 2/3 before surrendering a single to Evan Longoria off the glove of Aaron Hill. In only 136 pitches (93 for strikes), he gave up one hit and two walks. Oh yeah, then there was the 17 strikeouts, the most in a game since Johan Santana had 17 in 2006.