3 up, 3 down
UP
Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers: He's the hottest player in the league not nicknamed A-Rod. Kinsler is batting .333 with seven homers, 13 RBIs and 12 runs scored. He had 14 homers in 120 games last season and was a popular breakout candidate going into '07.
Russell Martin, C, Dodgers: The 24 year old is batting .347 with eight RBIs, 12 runs scored and four stolen bases through 13 games. While Martin is capable of hitting .300, his value comes with his speed. He stole 10 bases last year, and looks like he'll shatter that mark in '07.
Tim Hudson, SP, Braves: Atlanta's veteran looks poised to bounce back from last season when he posted a career-worst 4.86 ERA. Hudson is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA through three starts. He's gone seven innings in every outing. The one negative? Hudson has walked four batters in two of his three starts.
DOWN
Manny Ramirez, OF, Red Sox: Boston's left fielder is still looking for his first home run of '07. Ramirez is batting .191 with six RBIs through 13 games. Don't panic. This guy has been one of the most consistent fantasy producers over the past 12 years. He'll put it together.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, Rangers: He got off to a slow start last year and is doing it again in '07. Teixeira has yet to homer and is batting .204 with two RBIs and 11 strikeouts. He's averaged 38 homers over the last three years so the power will come -- I'm just not sure when.
Carlos Zambrano, SP, Cubs: Chicago's ace has struggled through four starts, going 1-2 with a 7.77 ERA. Zambrano struck out over 200 batters in 2005 and 2006, but he's struck out just 16 so far in '07 and has walked 16 batters as well.
Fantasy sports are to 
Comments
OK... has anybody else noticed, whether they are in a FL or not, that the hitters are terrible so far this year. I know that many get off to a slow start, but for every Manny there is usually someone like a Ty Willingham killing the ball - which makes everyone in the league go crazy because the guy who picked him up in draft is sitting in 1st. I'm hitting .255 as a team and in first place! My team ERA is a reasonable 4.20 and I am in next to last. My whip is 1.3 - still reasonable but it gets me a last place point. This is insane!
Posted by: Josh | April 19, 2007 4:41 PM
Hey Fantasy Guys (I'm gonna refer to you as Fantasy Folks from now on for alliterative purposes and since I'm from NC),
Could y'all shed some light on the catcher situation in KC?
They've got Buck and LaRue who've appeared to split games 50-50 so far (about 8 apiece I think). Buck is ripping it up while LaRue is trash. Why isn't Buck in the line-up everyday at C or DH (at least until he cools down)?
KC players are no hot commodity - no one in our league has a single one of their pitchers, but batters on any team can still be valuable. I've been in a pinch at C with R. Hernandez out and my #2 C is expendable upon his return. I could use Buck's numbers, but it doesn't look like he's getting enough AB's to justify a roster spot.
Thanks, and I'll understand if anything KC (other than BBQ sauce) isn't worthy of a response.
Posted by: brooksflow | April 20, 2007 11:56 AM
Josh,
I'm feeling you on the hitting situation. I've got Berkman and Texiera, who've combined for 145 homers in the past two years. This year they've combined for one.
I'm being patient, though. My fellow league members are trying to lowball me with the trade props, but I'm staying pat in hopes of breakouts.
The weather seems like it has also been a factor with postponed games and 'wintery mixes' or wild winds. Here's to heating up both weatherwise and with the bats.
Posted by: brooksflow | April 20, 2007 12:05 PM