Fantasy Sports: NL week in review

Their back! MLB and Fantasy Baseball owners are back to begin another great season in 2004. No more mock drafts, in-depth player analysis, projections, sleeper picks, injury breakdowns, number crunching, rankings, and so on in attempting to draft the very best player in Barry Bonds or the sleeper diamond in the rough pitcher in Jake Peavy. It's on!!!

Each week, we will profile the "Fantasy Delights" and "Fantasy Bites" for every AL and NL team.

Atlanta Braves

* Marcus Giles (Fantasy Delight): With all due respect to the Giles family, I expected the "other" brother (i.e. "Marcus") to fade in the sunset this season with a so-so campaign following the departures of Javy Lopez and Gary Sheffield. Not only is he batting a wicked .396 with nine runs batted in and nine runs scored in 12 games, but Giles is running often this season with four steals. Forget Soriano, Kent, or Boone. Giles is the king of second baseman, at least early on.

* John Smoltz (Fantasy Bite): Sure three saves in four chances is decent for a closer to begin the season. But, Smoltz is not the same dominant closer either physically or mentally, and although he has averaged 50 saves the last two seasons, reaching 30 would be quite an achievement in 2004.

Florida Marlins

* Hee Seop Choi (Fantasy Delight): Shame on the Cubs for trading away, first, Dontrelle Willis and now young slugging first baseman Hee Seop Choi. Through the first 12 games, Choi has performed above expectations to the tune of a .290-5-9 and .774 SLG%, and is certainly a legitimate Fantasy option even ahead of the former Marlin and current Cub Derek Lee.

* Luis Castillo (Fantasy Bite): Castillo's game is about speed and on-base percentage and since Opening Day he has slowed to a Fantasy stall. If your looking for him to turn it on. Forget it! Castillo is not the same player he once was since undergoing hip surgery before last season and the likelihood of returning to among the Fantasy elite is about as good as reaching first base. Not probable.

Montreal Expos

* Claudio Vargas (Fantasy Delight): The woeful Expos have had very few bright spots to a dismal start, but the 26-year old Vargas is beginning to establish himself as a quality Fantasy number four starter following a solid 1-1 record with 3.37 ERA in three starts. He is already a valuable, inexpensive option that is worthy of a look in most leagues.

* Tony Batista (Fantasy Bite): Leading the pack of Expo Bites is the free-swinging Tony Batista who has reached new depths of futility with just two extra base hits and a .162 average through 10 games. There is no reason, no matter how deep your league is, in owning this Independent League dud, especially if a Pedro Feliz , Jose Hernandez, or Ken Oberkfell for that matter is available.

New York Mets

* Kazuro Matsui (Fantasy Delight): Although, the speedy Matsui has yet to steal his first ML base, he has done everything that Fantasy owners expected and more. He will be a top five shortstop by season's end, so if you have a chance grab him now.

* Jason Phillips (Fantasy Bite): For those Fantasy owners drafting for .298-11-58 numbers that Phillips posted last season, I'm sorry. He just is not that good and a .179-0-2 line through 11 games is a closer representation with what to expect in 2004.

Philadelphia Phillies * Pat Burrell (Fantasy Delight): Burrell is the hottest Phillie through 11 games, hitting a robust .350 with two home runs and 11 RBIs, following a Rob Deer-like season of .209-21-64 and 142 strikeouts in 2003. Count last year as a fluke and safely expect another MVP-type from the young 26-year old.

* Jimmy Rollins (Fantasy Bite): Sure, Booby Abreu (.111-2-3-0 in 11 games) could easily be on this list, but Fantasy owners are not overly concerned because he has a track record with starting slow and finishing among the elite. However, Rollins' track record is one of inconsistency and mediocrity. He should rebound from a disastrous .139-0-1-0 start, but I thought that Larry Bowa retired as a player? I guess not, just look at Rollins.

Chicago Cubs

* Aramis Ramirez (Fantasy Delight): If you were expecting another so-so season after a banner year from Ramirez, as history suggested would happen. You are gravely mistaken. At 27-years old, the Cubs' third baseman is in the midst of his prime and 13 games into the season, Ramirez is scorching to the tune of a .375-5-14 Fantasy line with eight doubles and a 1.221 OPS. Expect him to blossom into one of the game's elite this season.

* Joe Borowski (Fantasy Bite): Borowski had a nice breakout season (33 saves) in 2003, but with his early struggles in '04 coupled with Dusty Baker's "quick-hook" mentality, Latroy Hawkins or Kyle Farnsworth may see time as the Cubs' closer very soon.

Cincinnati Reds

* Adam Dunn (Fantasy Delight): Outside of Barry Bonds, no player has been more valuable since Opening Day. Through Tuesday, Dunn was hitting .395 with seven home runs and 11 RBIs in just 38 at-bats and the talk of a 50+ home run season is now on the minds of Fantasy owners.

* Austin Kearns (Fantasy Bite): Kearns has tremendous Fantasy upside, however injuries (just 189 games in two years) have severely crippled his development to the point that owners may need to explore releasing him all together. Give it a few weeks and hope that his .171-2-4 numbers improve. If not, 2004 will be a lost cause for Kearns and those that choose to keep him.

Houston Astros * Craig Biggio (Fantasy Delight): What in the name of "Little" Biggio is going on? There are certainly many Astros' Fantasy Delights to choose from, beginning with the inferno called Hidalgo, but the Fantasy Delight that stirs this Minute Maid drink, is Craig Biggio. Following two sub-par seasons, Biggio is again igniting the mighty 'Stros to the tune of a .391-2-13 and 8 doubles Fantasy split through 11 games.

* Andy Pettitte (Fantasy Bite): So much for Houston making one of the biggest free agent splashes of the off-season with the signing of Any Pettitte, at least through the second week of the season. More alarming for Fantasy owners, however, is that following his first game debacle (6 ER and 11 hits in 5+ innings), Pettitte was placed on the DL with a "left elbow strain" . He should be back soon, but proceed with caution and red flags.

Milwaukee Brewers * Scott Podsednik (Fantasy Delight): The Brewers' center fielder and leadoff hitter is proving last season was no fluke. Through Tuesday, Podsedik was hitting .292 with nine stolen bases and three home runs. At this rate, it isn't out of the question for Fantasy owners to expect a 70-80 steal and 10-15 home run season from this top young catalyst.

* Matt Kinney (Fantasy Bite): Following a 10-win season for the lousy Brewers in 2003, Kinney may soon be delegated to the bullpen after three horrendous starts. For the season, the struggling Brewers' right-hander is 0-2 with a comical 2.02 WHIP in 14 1/3 innings of work. Not exactly the numbers that make him Fantasy worthy.

Pittsburgh Pirates * Craig and Jack Wilson (Fantasy Delights): The Wilson duo are living up to the lofty sleeper expectations early on in 2004. Craig and Jack are both hitting near .400 and have combined for 17 extra base hits, 15 RBIs, three steals, and a collective OPS of more than 1.000 in just 13 games. The Pirates offer very little in regards to Fantasy standouts, but if you have a chance grab one or both these players right away.

* Ryan Vogelsong (Fantasy Bite): Following a brilliant performance in his first start against the Phillies Vogelsong's last two starts have been much less impressive, in fact, down right embarrassing for Fantasy owners who claimed him. How does this Fantasy line grab you? 2 GS, 8 IP, 19 H, 15 ER, 5 HR, 5 BB, 16.88 ERA, and a .463 BAA. I'm sick!

St. Louis Cardinals * Scott Rolen (Fantasy Delight): Rolen has put up steady numbers throughout his career, but if the beginning of 2004 is any indication of what's to come, Fantasy owners may have an MVP on their hands. Through Wednesday, Rolen is lighting up NL hurlers to the tune of a .368 average with seven home runs and a ML-leading 23 runs batted in. This is no Tuffy Rhodes, so expect the great start to continue.

* Woody Williams (Fantasy Bite): If it seems like Williams' 18-9 and 3.87 ERA '03 season was moons ago. You would be correct. With his early struggles and aging arm, it may be time to be this old horse in the pasture with the likes of David Cone and Doyle Alexander.

Arizona Diamondbacks

* Danny Bautista (Fantasy Delight): Could this be the season that Bautista finally gets 500+ at bats? History suggests probably not, but he is certainly swinging a hot bat (.370 in 13 games) and on Wednesday the right fielder extended his league-high hitting streak to 12 games in Milwaukee.

* Roberto Alomar (Fantasy Bite): Alomar will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a broken hand. He had a terrific career, but for Fantasy owners it's a breath of fresh air and we can now look at a more viable option in Matt Kata.

Colorado Rockies

* Charles Johnson (Fantasy Delight): Wow! Big Charles mighty stroke is back and through 10 games the Rockies backstop is leading all ML catchers in SLG% (.848) and OPS (1.310) with four home runs and 11 RBIs in just 33 at bats. This could be 2004's version of last season's Javy Lopez?

* Preston Wilson (Fantasy Bite): For those owners expecting another 36 HR and 141 RBI season , forget it. Wilson recently underwent major surgery on his left knee that will sideline him until at least June. At best, hope for half of last year's totals which would be a story in itself. Not exactly what Fantasy envisioned from this five-tool center fielder.

Los Angeles Dodgers

* Paul Lo Duca (Fantasy Delight): Lo Duca is finally proving to Fantasy owners that his sensational rookie year (.320-25-90) was not a complete fluke, at least through the first two weeks of this season. The Dodgers' catcher is second only to Barry Bonds in average (.490) while striking out just once in 55 trips to the plate. Lo Duca will never hit more than 20 home runs again in a season nor continue at his near inferno clip, but he will hit near .300 while playing everyday in an improved lineup. Who wouldn't take that?

* Eric Gagne (Fantasy Bite): Sure a 1-0 record with five saves and a 3.68 ERA in seven appearances, through Wednesday, is nothing to sneeze at unless you were the owner who drafted him as high as the third round. Gagne has already allowed three runs (11 runs in '03), two home runs (two in '03), and four walks (20 in '03) in 7+ innings of work. He will be fine, but owners have every right to demand perfection from this elite closer drafted in the higher rounds.

San Diego Padres

* Sean Burroughs (Fantasy Delight): Is there a better position in the Padres' lineup than to bat leadoff in front of the likes of Loretta, Nevin, Giles, Klesko, and Payton? 15 games into the season, Burroughs has gone from sleeper to stud while tearing up NL-pitching to the tune of a .368-0-9-3 with 10 runs scored Fantasy line. At 6-2 and 200 lbs., he is not the prototype leadoff hitter but with a .411 on-base percentage and three stolen bases, Burroughs is the real deal and steal for any Fantasy roster.

* David Wells (Fantasy Bite): In six of the last seven seasons, Wells won 15 or more games and is most certainly a Hall of Fame candidate with 200 wins and several World Series Championship rings. Fantasy titles, however, are not won by reputation, beer, and pizza, but by numbers. So how has Wells done for you lately? How does a 0-2 record with a 6.35 ERA and two strikeouts in 17 innings grab you? Answers: Not well; not well; and not "Wells".

San Francisco Giants * Barry Bonds (Fantasy Delight): How does Bonds keep doing this year after year? First, he shatters the single season home-run mark, than the next year he posts a .370 batting average with 198 walks. And now, 15 games into the season, he has posted a wicked .500 average with 9 home runs and 19 RBI. The law of averages suggest that Bonds will not continue at this pace, but his equation has no limits or constraints. Expect him to easily reach 700 home runs and challenge the magical .400 average plateau this season.

* Jason Schmidt (Fantasy Bite): The Giants' ace, who was recently activated from the DL following off season elbow surgery, is just 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts. Fantasy owners should be wary of the veteran Schmidt's return because he just does not look right, and anytime "elbow," "surgery," and "pitcher" are used in the same breathe the mention of "Tommy John" also be may not be far behind.