Baseball second-half sizzlers

By Brandon Gordon Sports Central Columnist

In the world of fantasy baseball, the first two months of the season are a wait-and-see period. Wait and see if your sleepers rise to the top or wait and see if your superstars flop.

The wait-and-see period is over. Players are now overvalued and undervalued. The key for a successful virtual general manager is to correctly assess which players will cool off and which players will heat up. Numbers always have a way of evening out by the end of the season.

When looking around the league, there are slumping superstars everywhere. It is up to you, the general manager, to do anything in your power to acquire one of these sleeping giants before they explode. The following is a list of the top-eight players that will rip it up for the rest of the season.

1. Jason Giambi

Yes, Giambi is on pace for 42 dingers and 120 RBIs. Yes, that is normal, but his average is a lowly .234. Giambi's worst average in the last four years has been .314, which means this man is going to start hitting soon. His average increase will also likely increase his homeruns and RBIs. If someone is trying to give him away, it's time to pick him up.

2. Vladimir Guerrero

Guerrero is batting .301 with 8 homeruns, 33 RBIs, and 5 SBs. These numbers are way below all of his averages. Yes, I know Guerrero just went on the DL with a disc problem, but when he comes back, watch out. His current value has never been lower, so you should start offering trades before he gets back from the DL. He's the best player in baseball for a reason.

3. Magglio Ordonez

The numbers on Ordonez are not that bad. The main problem is that his .300-to-.320 average is currently sitting at .267. The whole White Sox offense seems to be struggling and when they all start to hit, Magglio will be the main beneficiary.

4. Paul Konerko

Also a member of the Chicago White Sox and Konerko's having a year he wishes he could soon forget. But a player this good has to turn around his season at some time. Over the last two years, Konerko has averaged 29 homeruns, 101 RBIsm and a .290 average. This year he's on pace for 9 homeruns, 45 RBI, and a .196 average. Look for a great second-half of the season.

5. Eric Chavez

Chavez is not having a horrible year at all. It's just a little subpar from what is expected of him. He is on pace for 27 homeruns, 82 RBI, and a .252 average. Like the White Sox, the big guns on Oakland aren't swinging, but it's only a matter of time. Chavez will even out by the end of the year with 30-35 homeruns, 100-110 RBI, and a .275 average. He'll finish hot.

6. Miguel Tejada

Tejada, like Chavez, is only down slightly in the power categories. But it's his average that is cause for concern. He is batting a horrid .229 for the months of April and May, but there could be light at the end of this tunnel. The .229 was a .203 less than two weeks ago, so you can see that Tejada is already starting to heat up a little. With a better average, they'll be more homeruns and RBIs. Tejada should return to his MVP form very soon.

7. Pat Burrell

If you need to get a great bat for a lesser value, Burrell is the man for you. Last year, Burrell fulfilled all expectations by putting up a monster season of 37 homeruns, 116 RBI, and a .282 average. So far this season, he's on pace for 29 homeruns, 72 RBI, and a .193 average. This kid is just too good to revert back to rookiedom. His second-half to the season will be absolutely monstrous, and as a fantasy GM, do everything in your power to get him.

8. Shawn Green

Green is a fantasy stud. He'll hit you 40 homeruns, drive-in 115, and bat around .280. This year, Green is on pace for 15 homeruns, 80 RBIs, and a .270 average. This is an absolute impossibility. Last year, Shawn Green decided to turn it on after a slow start and hit 10 homeruns and accumulated 18 RBIs in one week. So far, Green has not hit that streak, but he will start hitting soon. If you're willing to pay the price to acquire his services, he's one stud that won't let you down.

Making trades for these players will be difficult due to their star status, but in doing so, a fantasy championship will be in your future.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.