Tweet
Who's Hot:
Johan Santana, Twins: Hopefully you saw what we saw a few weeks ago and you added Santana in time. Because now, it's too late. He's been added in most leagues. A few weeks back, you saw the high ERA and figured he just wasn't very good. Including Sunday's 12-strikeout performance in a win over the Brewers, Santana has been - along with Jason Schmidt - the hottest pitcher in fantasy baseball. In June, Santana is 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA, and batters are hitting a weak .160 off him. With 36 strikeouts in those four starts, Santana is now second in the AL in Ks. Not convinced? You should be; this guy might be the top AL pitcher right now.
Jose Vidro, Expos: It took a while, but this perennially underrated second baseman is finally paying dividends for those who were expecting a .300 average and 90 RBI. Vidro knocked in 10 runs last week, while hitting .423, and even scored seven times - an offensive explosion for Les Expos! - and is the hottest middle infielder around. Will Vidro keep hitting? His average has gone from .241 to .268 in a week and it's quite possible he'll be at .300 by the All-Star break.
Jose Lima, Dodgers: Don't laugh. While Lima is a little bit out there mentally, his pitching has been nothing to scoff at this season. Overall Lima is 6-2 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, but fantasy owners should look through the stats and start this guy only at home. On the road Lima is bad; at home, Lima obviously is more comfortable, and uses the ballpark to his advantage, with a 4-0 mark and 2.50 ERA, including a pair of home wins this past week.
Coco Crisp, Indians: Another guy readily available in ESPN leagues, Crisp's value will always be tied into his average, runs scored and steals. And recently, Crisp has been terrific, coinciding with the Tribe sending Alex Escobar down and playing Crisp every day. Crisp stole three bases on Sunday alone, and batted .393 for the week. In June Crisp is hitting .370 with five steals and 10 runs scored. Is he Carl Crawford? No way, but a nice, cheap source of steals.
Mike Cameron, Mets: Well, it's about time. Cameron had a .193 average only 10 days ago, and fantasy owners were giving up quickly on a potential 20-20 guy. Now they can't re-add him fast enough. Even when he wasn't hitting, Cameron was running. Then last week he batted .318 - for him, this is akin to a Dimaggio-like hitting streak - and ended a pair of games with walkoff hits. He's still only hitting .212, but with nine homers and 11 steals - only five players in baseball have double digits of both - you may be willing to overlook that average.
Who's Not:
Jay Gibbons, Orioles: When fantasy owners were looking to fill out their outfields this spring, Gibbons was an attractive option, generally slipping in drafts despite knocking in 100 runs a year ago. Of course, the Orioles upgraded their offense and Gibbons would go from hitting third to sixth, at best. Gibbons knocked in runs before hitting the DL a few weeks ago, but couldn't keep his average at .250, and he's struggling more now. In his last 22 at-bats he's got a mere two singles, and there's talk he might be headed back to the DL. Either way, he's someone to avoid unless healthy.
****** Estrada, Braves: Fans of the Braves would call Estrada cold for his play in the field, as Coco Crisp swiped three bases off Estrada and Russ Ortiz on Sunday, but we'll call him cold for his bat work. Estrada had one hit in 17 at-bats last week, a .059 average, and in June he's at .250 overall, dropping that fancy season average to .318. Estrada remains an attractive option at catcher, for he remains on a 91-RBI pace, but if his average keeps slipping, start to worry.
Roger Clemens, Astros: Uh oh, is it time to worry about the Rocket? He had a wonderful start to 2004, a magical 9-0 streak with a 2.08 ERA. In his last two starts, Clemens has been hit very hard by the Cubs and Angels, allowing 10 earned runs and more pointedly, 19 hits in only 10.2 innings. Consider this a bad stretch and nothing more - it's too early in the season to say he's tired - but realize Clemens couldn't keep up his incredible start. But in fantasy, you couldn't be faulted for dealing him now.
Arthur Rhodes, A's: Kind of shame to fantasy owners who have stuck with this would-be closer all season, but it's not looking good for Rhodes to be a longterm saves option. Rhodes has allowed home runs in each of his last three outings, and seven for the season. For a closer, that's an awful lot. He did get the save against the Reds on June 8, and with the bullpen in flux all Rhodes had to do was pitch well and he'd probably be the closer again. His ERA is now up to 5.14 after giving up four runs in 2.1 innings last week. Look for the A's to either pray rookie Justin Lehr can close, or actively seek a trade.
Craig Wilson, Pirates: Still the No. 2 catcher in fantasy for the season, Wilson has struggled mightily in June and there are those who wonder if he really shouldn't be an everyday player after all. Wilson has hit .161 in June and has only seven RBI, after knocking in 22 runs in May. Is he tired? Well, you can't blame catching on it, since he isn't catching. He remains on pace for 37 homers and 102 RBI - and 174 Ks, wow! - and every fantasy owner would take that, no matter how he ends up with those stats. But with an .048 average in the past week, Wilson is on the cold list.
Johan Santana, Twins: Hopefully you saw what we saw a few weeks ago and you added Santana in time. Because now, it's too late. He's been added in most leagues. A few weeks back, you saw the high ERA and figured he just wasn't very good. Including Sunday's 12-strikeout performance in a win over the Brewers, Santana has been - along with Jason Schmidt - the hottest pitcher in fantasy baseball. In June, Santana is 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA, and batters are hitting a weak .160 off him. With 36 strikeouts in those four starts, Santana is now second in the AL in Ks. Not convinced? You should be; this guy might be the top AL pitcher right now.
Jose Vidro, Expos: It took a while, but this perennially underrated second baseman is finally paying dividends for those who were expecting a .300 average and 90 RBI. Vidro knocked in 10 runs last week, while hitting .423, and even scored seven times - an offensive explosion for Les Expos! - and is the hottest middle infielder around. Will Vidro keep hitting? His average has gone from .241 to .268 in a week and it's quite possible he'll be at .300 by the All-Star break.
Jose Lima, Dodgers: Don't laugh. While Lima is a little bit out there mentally, his pitching has been nothing to scoff at this season. Overall Lima is 6-2 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, but fantasy owners should look through the stats and start this guy only at home. On the road Lima is bad; at home, Lima obviously is more comfortable, and uses the ballpark to his advantage, with a 4-0 mark and 2.50 ERA, including a pair of home wins this past week.
Coco Crisp, Indians: Another guy readily available in ESPN leagues, Crisp's value will always be tied into his average, runs scored and steals. And recently, Crisp has been terrific, coinciding with the Tribe sending Alex Escobar down and playing Crisp every day. Crisp stole three bases on Sunday alone, and batted .393 for the week. In June Crisp is hitting .370 with five steals and 10 runs scored. Is he Carl Crawford? No way, but a nice, cheap source of steals.
Mike Cameron, Mets: Well, it's about time. Cameron had a .193 average only 10 days ago, and fantasy owners were giving up quickly on a potential 20-20 guy. Now they can't re-add him fast enough. Even when he wasn't hitting, Cameron was running. Then last week he batted .318 - for him, this is akin to a Dimaggio-like hitting streak - and ended a pair of games with walkoff hits. He's still only hitting .212, but with nine homers and 11 steals - only five players in baseball have double digits of both - you may be willing to overlook that average.
Who's Not:
Jay Gibbons, Orioles: When fantasy owners were looking to fill out their outfields this spring, Gibbons was an attractive option, generally slipping in drafts despite knocking in 100 runs a year ago. Of course, the Orioles upgraded their offense and Gibbons would go from hitting third to sixth, at best. Gibbons knocked in runs before hitting the DL a few weeks ago, but couldn't keep his average at .250, and he's struggling more now. In his last 22 at-bats he's got a mere two singles, and there's talk he might be headed back to the DL. Either way, he's someone to avoid unless healthy.
****** Estrada, Braves: Fans of the Braves would call Estrada cold for his play in the field, as Coco Crisp swiped three bases off Estrada and Russ Ortiz on Sunday, but we'll call him cold for his bat work. Estrada had one hit in 17 at-bats last week, a .059 average, and in June he's at .250 overall, dropping that fancy season average to .318. Estrada remains an attractive option at catcher, for he remains on a 91-RBI pace, but if his average keeps slipping, start to worry.
Roger Clemens, Astros: Uh oh, is it time to worry about the Rocket? He had a wonderful start to 2004, a magical 9-0 streak with a 2.08 ERA. In his last two starts, Clemens has been hit very hard by the Cubs and Angels, allowing 10 earned runs and more pointedly, 19 hits in only 10.2 innings. Consider this a bad stretch and nothing more - it's too early in the season to say he's tired - but realize Clemens couldn't keep up his incredible start. But in fantasy, you couldn't be faulted for dealing him now.
Arthur Rhodes, A's: Kind of shame to fantasy owners who have stuck with this would-be closer all season, but it's not looking good for Rhodes to be a longterm saves option. Rhodes has allowed home runs in each of his last three outings, and seven for the season. For a closer, that's an awful lot. He did get the save against the Reds on June 8, and with the bullpen in flux all Rhodes had to do was pitch well and he'd probably be the closer again. His ERA is now up to 5.14 after giving up four runs in 2.1 innings last week. Look for the A's to either pray rookie Justin Lehr can close, or actively seek a trade.
Craig Wilson, Pirates: Still the No. 2 catcher in fantasy for the season, Wilson has struggled mightily in June and there are those who wonder if he really shouldn't be an everyday player after all. Wilson has hit .161 in June and has only seven RBI, after knocking in 22 runs in May. Is he tired? Well, you can't blame catching on it, since he isn't catching. He remains on pace for 37 homers and 102 RBI - and 174 Ks, wow! - and every fantasy owner would take that, no matter how he ends up with those stats. But with an .048 average in the past week, Wilson is on the cold list.