I’d like to start off this week by apologizing for the delay in the article, my twin five month old twins have had a rough couple of days. With that said, let’s dive into this week’s news. This was a fairly dull week compared to the last few weeks, as there were no trades making the headlines. However there were a few noteworthy signings or rumors around the league. Bartolo Colon has recently signed with the White Sox. For those of you out there that though Colon might catch on somewhere and have a surprising season, this is bad news. Colon signed on in the American League’s version of Coors Field. This former Cy Young winner has all but lost his stuff, and this is not the place for him to find it. Where he might have been a last round grab prior to the signing he should be pretty much completely off the draft board now.

Also announced this week is that Kelvim Escobar will likely start the season on the DL. At the end of the season last year Escobar was suffering for a sore shoulder, which is apparently why he fell off so hard at the end of the season. This is terrible news for Angels fans, at least on the surface. The plan for now is to go into the season with both Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders in the starting rotation. Escobar would then return to the rotation when he is healthy, replacing one of the two. However in my opinion, this could be a blessing in disguise. If Santana can return to 2006 form, I believe he belongs in the rotation, and if Saunders can build off of a great debut season last year he also belongs in the rotation. This leaves Escobar as the odd man out. Here is the idea, Escobar was great out of the bullpen in prior years, both for the Angels and the Blue Jays. I believe he could join an already great bullpen with Shields, Rodriguez, and Speier, forming a dominating bullpen with a very strong starting rotation. As long as Saunders and Santana can continue to develop I believe this will put the Angels into their best position to succeed. Escobar’s continued arm issues may leave him in the pen anyways, and getting him settled in there early in the season might be the best way to go about it.

Reports say that Nick Swisher has been taking a lot of balls in center field so far in spring training. Coach Guillen apparently likes what he sees, and has mentioned that he wants Swisher to roam center for the Sox.
In other White Sox news, Guillen has mentioned that Josh Fields is listed as the starting 3b at this time, and it will stay that way at least until Joe Crede proves he is healthy enough to play. If Crede proves he is healthy, he’ll be out the door the next day.
On Monday Rich Harden through a 40-pitch session. Harden said he was pleased with the session because he also through 30 warm up pitches before hand and did not feel tired after the session. Harden is currently slated to start the 2nd game of the regular season. We’ll see we all know what Harden’s history is.

Reader Questions:

Hi there,

I am in a 4x4 a.l. only league & we can keep up to p players, my team sucks & not sure I even see 7 keepers, your suggestions on keepers. I will list my team & who I think keepers at end of e-mail.

Thanks, Jay


(SP) Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers) $18.00
(SP) Adam Loewen (Baltimore Orioles) $3.00
(SP) Luke Hochevar (Kansas City Royals) $10.00
(SP) Clay Buchholz (Boston Red Sox) $10.00
(SP) Ian Kennedy (New York Yankees) $10.00
(SP) Kevin Slowey (Minnesota Twins) $10.00
(SP) Joe Saunders (Anaheim Angels) $10.00
(RP) Fernando Cabrera (Baltimore Orioles) $1.00
(SP) Jeremy Sowers (Cleveland Indians) $7.00
(OF) David DeJesus (Kansas City Royals) $1.00
(OF) Melky Cabrera (New York Yankees) $1.00
(OF)(3B) Josh Fields (Chicago White Sox) $1.00
(3B) Brandon Inge (Detroit Tigers) $2.00
(1B) Dan Johnson (Oakland A’s) $3.00
(OF) Travis Buck (Oakland A’s) $10.00
(C)(1B) Jarod Saltalamacchia (Texas Rangers) $10.00
(OF) Adam Lind (Toronto Blue Jays) $10.00
(3B) Joe Crede (Chicago White Sox) $14.00
(1B) Daric Barton (Oakland A’s) $10.00
(3B) Dallas McPherson (Anaheim Angels) $10.00
(OF) Juan Rivera (Anaheim Angels) $10.00
----------------------------------------
(SP) Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers) $18.00
(SP) Clay Buchholz (Boston Red Sox) $10.00
(SP) Ian Kennedy (New York Yankees) $10.00
(OF) David DeJesus (Kansas City Royals) $1.00
(OF) Melky Cabrera (New York Yankees) $1.00
(OF)(3B) Josh Fields (Chicago White Sox) $1.00
(C)(1B) Jarod Saltalamacchia (Texas Rangers) $10.00

Answer:

Id say you’ve got to go with Verlander, Buchholz, Fields, Salty, Slowey, and Kennedy. Usually I wouldn’t advise keeping so many pitchers, but the offense on this team is terrible. I don’t think you should keep Melky as what we saw last year in my opinion is his ceiling. That was not good for an outfielder in fantasy baseball. Travis Buck is a better option if you'd like to keep another bat.

Question 2:

Hi there,

This team is a little better & it is also 4x4 a.l.l only & I can keep 14 players. My team listed 1st followed by who I think are keepers.

Thanks on this also, Jay

P.S. MINORS not included in 14, I keep Longoria, but are other 2 worthy?


(P) Rich Harden (Oakland A’s) ($2.80/2007)
(P) Ian Kennedy (New York Yankees) ($2.00/2007)
(P) C.J. Wilson (Texas Rangers) ($1.60/2007)
(P) Ervin Santana (Anaheim Angels) ($1.50/2007)
(P) John Garland (Anaheim Angels) ($1.50/2007)
(P) Cory Doyne (Baltimore Orioles) ($1.50/2007)
(P) Phillip Hughes (New York Yankees) ($1.00/2007)
(P) Joe Saunders (Anaheim Angels) (.10/2007)
(P) John Danks (Chicago White Sox) (.10/2007)
(OF) Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners) ($4.00/2007)
(3B) Melvin Mora (Baltimore Orioles) ($2.00/2007)
(C) Mike Piazza (Oakland A’s) ($1.90/2007)
(OF) J.D. Drew (Boston Red Sox) ($1.50/2007)
(S.S.) Elvis Andrus (Texas Rangers) ($1.10/2007)
(3B) Chone Figgins (Anaheim Angels) ($1.10/2004-2008)
(S.S) Jhonny Peralta (Cleveland Indians) ($1.10/2005-2008)
(OF) Adam Lind (Toronto Blue Jays) ($1.00/2007)
(2B) Howie Kendrick (Anaheim Angels) ($1.00/2006)
(OF) Curtis Granderson (Detroit Tigers) ($1.00/2006)
(3B) Joe Crede (Chicago White Sox) (.70/2005-2008)
(OF) Travis Buck (Oakland A’s) (.60/2007
(OF) Jerry Owens (Chicago White Sox) (.60/2007)
(OF) Nick Markakis (Baltimore Orioles) (.50/2006)
(C) Kelly Shoppach (Cleveland Indians) (.20/2006)
(3B) Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) (MINORS)
(3B) William Rowell (Baltimore Orioles) (MINORS)
(S.S) Reid Brignac (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) (MINORS)



(P) C.J. Wilson (Texas Rangers) ($1.60/2007)
(P) John Garland (Anaheim Angels) ($1.50/2007)
(P) Phillip Hughes (New York Yankees) ($1.00/2007)
(P) John Danks (Chicago White Sox) (.10/2007)
(OF) Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners) ($4.00/2007)
(OF) J.D. Drew (Boston Red Sox) ($1.50/2007)
(3B) Chone Figgins (Anaheim Angels) ($1.10/2004-2008)
(S.S) Jhonny Peralta (Cleveland Indians) ($1.10/2005-2008)
(2B) Howie Kendrick (Anaheim Angels) ($1.00/2006)
(OF) Curtis Granderson (Detroit Tigers) ($1.00/2006)
(3B) Joe Crede (Chicago White Sox) (.70/2005-2008)
(OF) Jerry Owens (Chicago White Sox) (.60/2007)
(OF) Nick Markakis (Baltimore Orioles) (.50/2006)
(C) Kelly Shoppach (Cleveland Indians) (.20/2006)
(3B) Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) (MINORS)

Answer:

I'd say you keep these guys:

1. Ichiro
2. Figgins
3. Kendrick
4. Granderso
5. Buck
6. Markakis
7. Peralta
8. Andrus
9. Hughes
10. Danks
11. Garland
12. Harden
13. Kennedy
14. Wilson

As far as your minors go they are all great prospects. Longoria is obviously a keeper. Rowell is going to hit, thing is we don’t know when he’ll hit in the major leagues, he still has some time to put in. Brignac is probably the best offensive short stop in the minor leagues. The Rays traded for Bartlett to allow Brignac to further develop and not stunt his development by rushing him to the majors. Brignac could be in the pros as early as the All Star break if he hits well and Bartlett is not cutting it. Id say at the very least to keep Longoria and Brignac. Depending on who else is out there id keep Rowell as well. However with Longoria manning the hot corner for you I’d probably let Rowell go and try and get something else of need.