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Mar 31, 2004 The baseball season has finally started after an exciting offseason. The fantasy drafts are over, but that doesn’t mean there is a hidden gem somewhere in the free agent pool or even on someone else’s team. So, here’s my list of possible sleepers this year. And I know what you’re thinking--what the heck is a stupid, punk teenager like me going to tell you that you haven’t already heard from some other fantasy baseball expert? Well, the answer’s simple: Teens know a lot more about baseball than people think. Sure, we’re not the actual experts; but we, the baseball junkies, live, sleep, and drink America’s pastime, so not everything we say is hot air. Nonetheless, try and grab (or even trade for) these players who might have nice seasons. Catcher: Catcher is that one position that everybody knows he or she has to fill even though it seems pointless. Well, besides Jorge Posada, Mike Piazza, Ivan Rodriguez, and Javy Lopez, there are some better than average catchers. Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins probably went undrafted in most drafts. If he is in the free agent pool, pick him up, especially if you’re desperate for a catcher. He is an unbelievable hitter for a catcher, and almost nobody knows about him. Toby Hall of the Devil Rays is even worth a mention. He has done well this year so far (3 hits-4 at-bats), despite the season is only two games old. He put respectable numbers up last year as a catcher, so he’s worth a gamble. First Basemen: If you’re going to remember one name the rest of the year, it has to be Mark Teixeira of the Texas Rangers. Not only is he available at other positions like third base, but he also has monster power. He has 40-HR potential if the season goes well, so don’t sleep on him. Brad Fullmer, also on the Rangers, is now a forgotten man. He was a great player in Toronto (32 HR 104 RBI in 2000), but his injury- plagued stint in Anaheim ruined his value. He will most likely play DH, so he gets to sit and hit. He’s a great addition if you need a hitter for a day or two. Second Baseman: Second base is not a particularly deep position, fantasy-wise. Soriano, Boone, Kent, and Castillo are household names, but outside of them, there is a thin string of players left. Someone will obviously step, and Roberto Alomar of the revitalized Diamondbacks might be that someone. He can steal bases and hit for a reasonable average, and with Richie Sexson and Luis Gonzalez hitting behind him, he should get plenty of pitches to look at. Another name to ponder on is Aaron Miles of the Rockies. Damien Jackson is out, so Miles is in as their second baseman. The former White Sox is playing at Coors, and that could do wonders for a player trying to establish himself. Shortstop: A-Rod is the talk of this position, but other names loom in the background. Álex Cintrón of the D’Backs was hitting like a madman last season (.317 avg. with six triples). Craig Counsell and Junior Spivey have split town, so now he has his chance to shine. Another player who has a new found opportunity is the Padres Khalil Greene. Rey Ordoñez left the team, so Greene practically had the job handed to him. The Padres have a revamped team, and Greene has pretty good players around him. Look out for him. Third Base: Third base, in my opinion, is full of talented players. Hank Blalock and Morgan Ensberg are primed for huge years, but there are even more names worthy of recognition. Eric Hinske of the Blue Jays had a great rookie year a couple years back (24 HR 84 RBI). He is now healthy this year, so expect this doubles-machine to produce. He’s backed by huge weapons in Carlos Delgado and Vernon Wells, so make sure you at least think about picking him up. Motown has a third base prospect, as well, in Eric Munson. The Tigers aren’t as lowly as last year as they acquired some free agents (most notably Pudge). Munson, although susceptible to a strikeout every once in a while (2.13 strikeouts per walk in his short career), still has huge upside. This Tiger can get into a mean streak of home runs. Outfielders: I’d be a homer to say Miguel Cabrera is a sleeper when everyone else is saying the same thing (and that may lead to an underachieving year for Cabrera), so I have two other outfielders in mind. The first is Carl Crawford of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Crawford is one of the fastest players in the majors (55 stolen bases), and he should lead the league in stolen bases. Not only will he get SBs, but he is also extremely durable. Crawford managed 630 at-bats last year, not including the modest 25+ walks he had. He is one of the closest things to a sure thing. The second outfielder is the Orioles Melvin Mora. The O’s finally have a decent cast of hitters (Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro, and Javy Lopez), so Mora will have pitches to hit. He should have a .300 batting average, or at least close to it. Mora was reliable last season, so this year should be even better for him. Relief Pitchers: Relief pitchers come and go like George Steinbrenner’s happy mood, but two pitchers will have the chance to solidify their roles as permanent closers. Danny Kolb of the Brewers will be the closer this year with the departure of Mike DeJean. Kolb was decent with the Rangers, but now that he has some years under his belt and his injuries are healing, he should be able to get thirty or more saves. Chad Cordero of the Expos is young, but he still might have a shot to be their closer. Rocky Biddle is the favorite right now, but odds are he will stumble at some point in the season. Cordero should at least have a shot at the role. Starting Pitchers: In an era of longballs and dingers, it can be hard to find a starting pitcher who will be a sleeper. However, there are plenty who have potential. Brett Myers of the Phillies is one of them. Myers threw pretty many innings for a really young player last year (193 innings pitched), but now he should be more durable this year. He has big K ability, and he pitches in a pitchers park. Count the Zzzz’s because he’s a big-time sleeper. This year could also be the rebounding year for Mark Buehrle of the White Sox. Two years ago he was considered a top pitcher in the AL, but a down year last year killed his fantasy stock. He pitches a lot like the A’s Barry Zito, except he strikes out more batters. To all those fantasy baseball players out there, hopefully you keep these potential sleepers in mind. Picking up or even trading for some of these players might pay off big dividends as the season goes along. Either way, this year’s fantasy season, due to the great overall talent crop, could be one of the best in a while. ------------ Email Bob Herman: MrAwesome30@go.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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