This Saturday on THE Hardcore Fantasy Show we keep it simple (Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 186):

The fantasy ramifications of the NHL trade deadline are examined. Which youngsters will get more playing time now? Which players will thrive with their new teams? Who should you be picking? Our Hardcore Fantasy Expert Ryan from Hamilton helps us examine the new fantasy landscape in the NHL.

Our second Hardcore Fantasy Expert, Michael from Toronto, steps up to the plate as we continue our position-by-position MLB preview. We'll also squeeze in some NBA fantasy at some point.

Want to get on the air and be one of our fantasy experts? Send an e-mail to thefantasyshow@hardcoresportsradio.com telling us why you should get on.

To join the show, dial 1-888-9-HARDCORE between 12:00 p.m. ET - 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday and if you missed it live, visit hardcoresportsradio.com for the podcast.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Los Angeles Angels finished six games ahead of the Seattle Mariners to win the AL West last season. They played a lot better in Angel Stadium than they played away from their home ballpark in 2007.

At home, the Angels had the best record in the major leagues (54-27), but they need to improve their road record (40-41) in order to have another successful season.

During the offseason, the Angels made two significant moves in order to prepare for the 2008 season. First, they traded shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for starting pitcher Jon Garland in November. Almost immediately following the trade, the Angels signed center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year contract.

The Angels improved their pitching by trading for Garland and their defense improved with the addition of Hunter. Pitching and defense will help the Angels to play deep into October this season. They’re the favorites to win the AL West again in 2008.

Los Angeles Angels

2007 record: 94-68 (1st in AL West)

Key additions: CF Torii Hunter, RHP Jon Garland

Key losses: SS Orlando Cabrera, RHP Bartolo Colon, 3B Dallas McPherson

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Vladimir Guerrero, RF – Last season, Guerrero hit .324 with 27 home runs and 125 RBIs. He has a .325 career batting average and he’s never hit below .300 in 11 full seasons, so it’s likely that Guerrero will hit at least .300 this season. The 32-year-old outfielder only needs 35 more home runs to reach 400 for his career. There is an outside chance that he could reach the milestone in 2008, so it’ll be interesting to watch this pursuit throughout the season. Guerrero is one of the five best outfielders in baseball and he should be drafted in the first few rounds of your draft.

2. John Lackey, RHP – Lackey finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season after going 19-9 with a 3.01 ERA. Lackey struck out 179 hitters, which was his lowest total in three seasons. With the addition of Jon Garland to the rotation, there won’t be as much pressure on Lackey this season. He’ll likely win 15-20 games in 2008 and pick up 180-190 strikeouts. It would be good to grab Lackey in the third or fourth round of most draft formats. He’s a workhorse that will pitch a lot of innings.

3. Francisco Rodriguez, RHP – Following three consecutive 40-save seasons, there doesn’t seem to be much room for improvement. However, with the addition of Garland, there’s a chance that Rodriguez could establish a career high in saves in 2008. He has a 2.37 career ERA, so he’ll also help your team in that category. Rodriguez is the top closer available because he’ll strike out around 100 hitters as well. His strikeout total rivals most starting pitchers and his total innings are substantially less.

4. Torii Hunter, CF –Since he was drafted in the first round of the 1993 draft, Hunter has been a part of the Minnesota Twins organization. Now, Hunter moves west to Los Angeles. He’ll see most of the time in center field, but will also occasionally serve as the team’s designated hitter. Last season, Hunter hit .287 with 28 home runs and 107 RBIs. It was only the second time that he has collected over 100 RBIs, so don’t expect him to reach that mark this season. It could still happen, but he’ll probably fall just short. Pick him up somewhere between the seventh and ninth round.

5. Chone Figgins, 3B – If you’re looking for a power-hitting third baseman, then you shouldn’t look at Figgins. However, if you want a third baseman with a batting average close to .300 and 50-60 stolen bases, then you might consider drafting Figgins. He’ll also score around 100 runs. Figgins should be drafted in the early to middle rounds because he’ll be one of the top 10 third basemen in the 2008 rankings.

6. Jered Weaver, RHP – In his first two seasons with Los Angeles, Weaver was 24-9 with a 3.33 ERA in 47 starts. If these two seasons are any indication, then he’ll be a pleasant addition to one fantasy team in your league. Weaver will likely win between 12-17 games this season, so pick him up if he’s available in the later rounds of your draft.

Hidden gems:

1. Howie Kendrick, 2B – Kendrick has hit .306 with nine home runs and 69 RBIs in 160 games in the past two seasons. While he has shown the ability to hit for average, Kendrick hasn’t shown much power in the major leagues. That could change this season because he’s slated to see the majority of the playing time at second base. He had moderate power in the minors, so it wouldn’t be out of the question for Kendrick to have 15-20 home runs in 2008. If he hits around .300 with 70-80 RBIs, then he could be valuable at second base. Based on his potential, Kendrick should be drafted in the middle rounds of your draft. He could sneak his way into the top 10 rankings at the position.

2. Casey Kotchman, 1B – Kotchman finally received significant playing time in 2007 and he had decent numbers. He hit .296 with 11 home runs and 68 RBIs in 137 games. If he’s able to stay healthy, then Kotchman could hit 15-20 home runs. However, the biggest problem so far in his career is that he’s been unable to remain healthy. He’s not worth a prominent place on your fantasy team unless he has a big spring. Keep an eye on how he performs during the first couple weeks of March before you make a decision.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Last season, the Kansas City Royals were 69-93 and finished in last place in the AL Central for the fourth straight year. They have lost at least 100 games in four of the last six seasons. Since 1995, the Royals have only finished with a record better than .500 once. Kansas City finished 83-79 in 2003.

In the offseason, they signed veteran outfielder Jose Guillen to a three-year, $36 million deal. They also signed catcher Miguel Olivo to split time behind the plate. The Royals don’t really lose much by signing Olivo, but paying Guillen $12 million per season over the next three years doesn’t make much sense. Yes, he’ll help the offense in 2008, but it would make more sense to develop the young talent and potentially compete in a few years instead of recycling old veterans.

It’s not going to be any different for the Royals this season. They have a lot of exciting young players, but they don’t seem to have what it takes to translate the potential into success. The only thing to watch is whether they’ll be able to avoid the basement this season. It’s sad that a franchise that was once considered one of the better teams in the American League is now a perennial loser. Sound familiar to anyone in Baltimore?

Kansas City Royals

2007 record: 69-93 (5th in AL Central)

Key additions: RF Jose Guillen, RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta, C Miguel Olivo, RHP Brett Tomko

Key losses: RHP David Riske, DH Mike Sweeney, OF Reggie Sanders, OF Emil Brown, LHP Odalis Perez

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Jose Guillen, RF – It’s not a good sign when Guillen is going to be one of the top offensive players on the team. He’s a great role player, but he lacks the ability to consistently contribute. Guillen should be drafted in the middle to late rounds and will be valuable to your team as a fourth outfielder who can provide offense in streaks. Guillen hit .290 with 23 home runs and 99 RBIs last season, but it’s hard to tell if he’ll be able to duplicate that performance in 2008. He doesn’t impress me much and I’d expect him to hit around his career batting average (.274) with 15-20 home runs and 80-90 RBIs.

2. Joakim Soria, RHP – After being handed the closer role in 2007, Soria looked impressive and picked up 17 saves. He had a 2.48 ERA in 62 appearances. The only thing keeping Soria from being one of the top closers in the league is the fact that the Royals won’t give him many save opportunities. Soria should have 20-25 saves in 2008. He should be drafted in the middle to late rounds of your draft as a second closer.

3. Alex Gordon, 3B – Gordon hit .247 with 15 home runs and 60 RBIs in his rookie season. He’ll need to improve his batting average in order to be a significant contributor to your fantasy team. Gordon also had 14 stolen bases in 2007 so he’ll give you a little bit of a boost in that category. Based on his potential, Gordon should be drafted in the middle rounds. He could make some fantasy owners happy this season, but he’s still a couple years away from being a superstar.

4. Gil Meche, RHP – Despite going 9-13 last season, Meche had a 3.67 ERA, which was the best of his career. If he played for a contender, Meche might be able to win 15-20 games. Because he plays in Kansas City, it’s more realistic that he’ll have 10-15 wins with an ERA around 4.00. Meche could serve as your fourth or fifth starter, especially in leagues that have 10 or more teams.

Hidden gems:

1. Billy Butler, DH/1B – Butler debuted in 2007 by hitting .292 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs in 92 games. He’ll turn 22 in April, so there’s still plenty of time for him to improve. Butler will likely serve as the designated hitter again this season, but there’s a chance that he’ll see substantial playing time at first base. Like Gordon, Butler is probably a few years away from reaching his full potential. However, there’s a good chance he’ll hit 15-20 home runs and pick up 80-90 RBIs.

2. Zack Greinke, RHP – Last year, Greinke was 7-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 52 games. He made 14 starts and struck out 106 hitters in 122 innings. As a full-time starter this season, Greinke will likely improve on those numbers. Like a lot of players in Kansas City, Greinke is still very young. He’s only 24 and already has four years of experience in the major leagues. If you’re feeling lucky, then take a gamble on him and maybe he’ll get 10-15 wins and a 3.50 ERA. The Royals really need him to step into a bigger role this year.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Two years after making the first World Series appearance in team history, the Houston Astros slumped to a 73-89 record and finished in fourth place in the six-team NL Central. In the offseason, the Astros were very active in making moves in an attempt to compete for the division title again in 2008.

In November, they sent closer Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett to the Philadelphia Phillies for center fielder Michael Bourn, relief pitcher Geoff Geary and minor league third baseman Mike Costanzo.

Then, the Astros obtained shortstop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles in December, but potentially mortgaged their future by trading three pitching prospects (Troy Patton, Dennis Sarfate and Matt Albers) and Costanzo in the deal. The Orioles also acquired outfielder Luke Scott in the trade.

Following the Tejada trade, the Astros continued revamping their roster by acquiring closer Jose Valverde from the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Chris Burke and relievers Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez.

Although they are set up for success in 2008, the Astros could be headed for disaster in the future. If they struggle this season, they’ll need to think of another way to rebuild because they dealt four of their best prospects to Baltimore in the Tejada deal.

Houston Astros

2007 record: 73-89 (4th in NL Central)

Key additions: SS Miguel Tejada, RHP Jose Valverde, 2B Kazuo Matsui, CF Michael Bourn, RHP Geoff Geary, RHP Oscar Villarreal

Key losses: 2B Craig Biggio, OF Luke Scott, IF Mike Lamb, RHP Brad Lidge, RHP Chad Qualls, SS Adam Everett, LHP Trever Miller, IF Chris Burke, RHP Jason Jennings, RHP Matt Albers, LHP Troy Patton, RHP Dennis Sarfate

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Carlos Lee, LF – Count me among the people who didn’t think Lee was going to be worth the contract he signed with Houston before last season. However, he hit .303 with 32 home runs and 119 RBIs in 2007. Lee has hit at least 31 home runs in each of the past five seasons, and he had at least 113 RBIs in four of those five years. He had 99 RBIs in 2004, but also established a career high in batting average that season (.305). Lee should be drafted in the first or second round this season because he’ll hit around .300 with 30-35 home runs and 110-120 RBIs. He’ll also steal 10-20 bases in 2008.

2. Lance Berkman, 1B – In eight full seasons, Berkman has a career .300 batting average. Last year, he only hit .278, but he had 34 home runs and 102 RBIs in 153 games. At a minimum, Berkman will give you 25 home runs and 90 RBIs this season. He’ll likely have 30-35 home runs and 110-120 RBIs, which would make him one of the better options at first base. Berkman will be gone by the end of the fourth round.

3. Roy Oswalt, RHP – Oswalt isn’t the same pitcher that he was during back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2004 and 2005, but he’ll still win 13-17 games and post an ERA around 3.00. He’ll pitch over 200 innings and will give you 155-165 strikeouts. Oswalt is the only starting pitcher in Houston that should be drafted. He has a pretty solid offense behind him so he could get a lot of wins even if he gives up more runs than normal.

4. Hunter Pence, RF – In 108 games in 2007, Pence hit .322 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs. It was an impressive rookie campaign and he’ll likely improve those numbers as the everyday right fielder in 2008. It’s possible that Pence could hit 25-30 home runs and collect 90-100 RBIs, so keep him in mind when you’re looking for another outfielder in your draft. Pence is one of the top 25 outfielders available, so draft him accordingly.

5. Miguel Tejada, SS – The 11-year veteran will play in the National League for the first time so it will be interesting to see if that has any impact on his performance in 2008. Tejada has a .287 career batting average, but he never hit below .296 in four seasons with the Orioles. Last season, he only had 18 home runs and 81 RBIs, but it was the first time he had missed a game since 2000. If he plays a full season this year, he’ll likely hit around .300 with 25-30 home runs and 100-110 RBIs. He’s still probably one of the top five shortstops in the major leagues.

6. Jose Valverde, RHP – It’ll be exciting to see how many saves Valverde gets in his first year in Houston. As a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, he led the major leagues with 47 saves. It’s a stretch to think he’ll get that many saves again in 2008, but Valverde should collect at least 25-30 saves. Valverde should be drafted around the 10th round, so keep that in mind if you need an impact closer and he’s available.

Hidden gems:

1. J.R. Towles, C – Despite only playing in 14 games in the major leagues, Towles will likely begin the season as the starting catcher. Although he lacks experience, Towles showed that he thinks he’s ready for the big leagues by hitting .375 with a home run and 12 RBIs in his short debut in 2007. Keep an eye on his performance during the spring because he might be worth a late-round pick if you’re desperate for help at the position.

2. Michael Bourn, CF – Bourn doesn’t offer much in fantasy value, but he’ll get a lot of stolen bases as the everyday center fielder and likely leadoff hitter in Houston. If you need someone who will boost your total stolen bases, then it might be worth grabbing Bourn with one of your last picks. He could also produce a decent batting average, but don’t expect much power from him.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Marian Hossa, F (PIT): Not much to say here other than if you own him, you are about to finally see the return on investment that you expected from the 100-point man. Unless you are in a two-team, four player league, Marian Hossa is not available. Playing with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin is going to help ignite his disappointing season.

Jaroslav Spacek, D (BUF): With Brian Campbell on San Jose's roster now, Jaroslav Spacek becomes the Buffalo Sabres' top power play defenseman. Again, he's played very well this season and likely isn't available for pickup.
Nathan Paetsch, who is available in virtually all leagues, has a lot of upside and might pick up some of the minutes left by Campbell.

Brad Richards, F (DAL): Dallas is short on wings, yet they traded for a center. Overall I'm not sure that this trade makes them significantly better. First off, Jussi Jokinen, who is excellent in shootouts, was part of Dallas' top line with Brenden Morrow and Mike Ribeiro. Not only was that line hot right now, it played with great chemistry. Next, the Stars gave up Mike Smith, and given the way Marty Turco has choked in the playoffs every season except for last year, I'm not sure that was wise. Brad Richards' hideous plus-minus (minus-25 in 2008) should improve and so should his point production, since he'll be playing with better caliber players, but there is obviously no value to be had on the Dallas side of this equation.

Jussi Jokinen, F (TB): This is an interesting pickup by Tampa Bay. Jussi Jokinen was playing for Dallas' top line and maybe -- just maybe -- he joins the top line in Tampa with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. If you have an open spot on your team, Jokinen is definitely worth the gamble. Richards was wilting in Tampa Bay, so overall, the Lightning may not have got significantly worse in this trade.

Mike Smith, G (TB): The Lightning were desperately looking for someone or something who can stop hockey pucks from going into their net and Mike Smith is a pretty good option. He looks like he's on the cusp of being a fairly good starter in the NHL. You have to pick him up immediately because as you know, starting goalies are a rare commodity in fantasy hockey. I'm a big believer in Smith but you have to keep in mind that Dallas is an excellent defensive team, while Tampa Bay is not. We'll find out early whether Smith was a product of the solid defense in Dallas or whether he is as talented as many pundits perceive him to be.

Karri Ramo, G (TB): Karri Ramo is obviously not ready to be a top-flight goaltender and now he'll get some more time to simmer. If you were hoping he'd step into the full-time role, you are out of luck. Mike Smith will get the lion's share of the starts.

Olaf Kolzig, G (WAS): Many Olaf Kolzig owners were already concerned because of Kolzig's sluggish play and the fact that journeyman Brent Johnson was snaking starts. While some owners were holding out hope that Kolzig would return to his All-Star form, the door has now been slammed shut on that. In the most shocking trade of the day, the Montreal Canadiens sent their top goalie, Cristobal Huet, to Washington for merely a second-round pick. It's worth noting that Hal Gill, a so-so defenseman now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was traded for second- and fifth-round draft picks. Meanwhile, Huet, an All-Star netminder, only garnered a second-round pick. Anyways, Huet will be the starter now for Washington, and Kolzig's value has diminished even more.

Carey Price, G (MTL): First Ken Dryden, then Patrick Roy and now Carey Price. The Habs are yet again strapping their franchise to the back of a very young goaltender. Price is no longer the future --he is the now. For fantasy purposes, you have to own this guy. He's a No. 1 goalie who is going to see all the action he can handle. So far, he's responded well but there will be lots of pressure since the Habs have Stanley Cup aspirations.

Sergei Fedorov, F (WAS): One of the other trade deadline surprises was the fact that the Washington Capitals were a buyer. One of the things they were shopping for was a front-line center -- something they've lacked for as long as my short-term memory can remember. Sergei Fedorov has faded significantly from his Hart Trophy days but he still provides a significant upgrade over what the Capitals have pawned off as No. 1 centers. Playing alongside a fellow Russian like Alexander Ovechkin might ignite Fedorov, and playing next to Ovechkin might give Fedorov's fantasy value a shot in the arm. Keep in mind that Fedorov only had 28 points in 50 games playing alongside Rick Nash, another stellar young star, so take the wait-and-see approach with Fedorov on his new team.

Erik Christensen/Colby Armstrong, F (ATL): Both of these guys are waiver-wire fodder for now, but they might get a chance to play with Ilya Kovalchuk, which could change their status.

Jack Johnson, D (LA): No Brad Stuart, no Jaroslav Modry means Jack Johnson should be seeing more ice time. He's supposed to be the No. 1 defenseman of the future and if you can bite the bullet of his plus-minus, he should have a strong finish otherwise.

Peter Forsberg, C (COL): I think it goes without saying that you should rush to the waiver-wire to pick him up. If you were taking the wait-and-see approach, the Avs added Adam Foote and Ruslan Salei to bolster their defensive corps and are preparing to make another serious run. First they need to get into the playoffs. But anyway, Forsberg will always worth owning in my books. While he's in the NHL, of course.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

After finishing in last place in 2007, the Marlins traded away two of their best young players and decided to get even younger. In December, they shipped third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who turns 25 in April, and left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis, who is 26, to the Detroit Tigers. In exchange, the Marlins received six players. Five of the players are 25-years-old or younger.

The two most valuable players in the deal – 22-year-old left-hander Andrew Miller and 20-year-old outfielder Cameron Maybin – are expected to immediately contribute and could impact fantasy rosters this season. Catcher Mike Rabelo was also acquired in the deal and is expected to see most of the action behind the plate for the Marlins in 2008. Rabelo is the only player in the deal that is older than 25. He turned 28 in January.

While the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets fight for the division title, and the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals make steady improvements, it will likely be another long season for the Marlins. They have a lot of exciting young players to watch, including shortstop Hanley Ramirez and second baseman Dan Uggla, but they don’t have the experience that will allow them to compete in the NL East.

Florida Marlins

2007 record: 71-91 (5th in NL East)

Key additions: LHP Andrew Miller, CF Cameron Maybin, LHP Mark Hendrickson, LF Luis Gonzalez, 3B Dallas McPherson, 3B Jose Castillo, IF Jorge Cantu, C Mike Rabelo

Key losses: 3B Miguel Cabrera, LHP Dontrelle Willis, C Miguel Olivo

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Hanley Ramirez, SS – While Ramirez won’t be able to do enough to win a division title in 2008, he could help your fantasy team win a championship. Ramirez won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2006 after hitting .292 with 17 home runs, 51 stolen bases and 119 runs scored. Last season, his numbers were even better. He hit .332 with 29 home runs, 81 RBIs, 51 stolen bases and 125 runs scored. With Cabrera in Detroit, the Marlins will rely on Ramirez for more production. He could be the best shortstop in fantasy baseball this season. Grab him in the first round if you want him.

2. Dan Uggla, 2B – For a second baseman, Uggla has tremendous power. He hit .282 with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs as a rookie in 2006. Last year, he had 31 home runs and 88 RBIs, but his batting average fell to .245. In order to be a top-notch fantasy player in 2008, Uggla needs to hit at least .270 and keep the power numbers around the same level. Even if he struggles with the batting average again, Uggla is still one of the five best second basemen available.

Hidden gems:

1. Jeremy Hermida, RF – Hermida could easily be listed as one of the most valuable fantasy performers for the Marlins, but I listed him in this category because I think he has a good chance at establishing career highs in batting average, home runs and RBIs this season. With Cabrera gone, the Marlins need him to take on a bigger role in the offense in 2008. Last year, Hermida hit .296 with 18 home runs and 63 RBIs in 123 games.

2. Kevin Gregg, RHP – With a lot of young starters in Florida, Gregg will be counted on to preserve as many victories as possible in 2008. Gregg posted 32 saves and a 3.54 ERA in 74 appearances in 2007. He’ll have similar numbers again this season, so grab him if you’d like to have a second closer on your team. Also, keep in mind that he could be traded to a contender during the season, which would boost his value.

3. Andrew Miller, LHP – Miller has impressed me since I first saw him in the College World Series with the University of North Carolina. He was 5-5 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 starts for the Tigers last season but will be given every opportunity to succeed in Florida. If he’s able to lower his ERA, Miller could win 10-15 games and pick up 130 strikeouts in 2008. If you’re satisfied with the rest of your team and can afford to take a risk, Miller may be worth a late-round pick.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

What do you get when Hardcore Sports fans dabble into Hollywood country? A pretty competitive Oscars pool.

For a second pool in a row, Larry Lynette is taking home the prize. He is quickly establishing himself as the San Antonio Spurs/New England Patriots of our offshoot pools.

Droo, who openly stated in his e-mail that he was throwing darts at a board, schooled quite a few people.

First place gets a Hardcore Sports Radio prize pack and both of the players who tied for second place, Ryan Thompson and Mike Seebach get a T-Shirt.

Larry Lynette - 12
Mike Seebach - 10
Ryan Thomspon - 10
Orville - 10
Robert Pizzola - 9
Droo - 8
Pat Jackson - 8
Joe Ross - 8
Jim Humphrey - 7
Dave Golokhov - 6
Brian Shannon - 6
Alan F. - 5
Shell Stone - 4
Steve from Belleville - 4
Andrew McMahon - 4
Dunlop - 3
Mickilsen - 3
RRossi - 3
Todd Coonfare - 2
Dan Cruz - 2
Jason from Calgary - 1
Four people who will remain anonymous - 0

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Two notes to pass along for this week's NHL waiver-wire:

First off, with the craziest day in the NHL upcoming tomorrow (otherwise known as the trade deadline), consider this article as a newsflash. There will be plenty of trades, many of which will change the fantasy landscape and I'll be here to keep you up to date.

Secondly, the Chicago Blackhawks are not sponsoring this article. Just thought I'd preface the weekly NHL waiver wire update in case you were wondering why there were three Blackhawks leading the way.

Jason Williams, F (CHI): For those of you who thought Jason Williams was going to finish the season on the sidelines with groin and sports hernia injuries, you were wrong. He's back after missing 35 games and he's stepped right in to contribute. He has two points, two penalty minutes and is a plus-2 in three games. The Blackhawks are red hot right now, averaging four goals per game in their last seven. Williams plays on the top two lines and considering he is eligible as a right wing and center in Yahoo! leagues, he needs to be added to your roster.

Brent Seabrook, D (CHI): Brent Seabrook has been a decent defenseman over the last two months and is having a stellar February. Seabrook has six points (two on the power play), 36 penalty minutes and is a plus-8 through 11 games this month. He is still a young defenseman so it is not clear whether this is a hot streak or whether he can keep this up down the stretch, but ride him through the month until he shows you a reason not to.

James Wisniewski, D (CHI): The Whizzinator (not his real nickname), James Wisniewski, has piled up most of his stats in the month of February, which would indicate that he is just on a hot streak and is not good long-term investment. Prior to February, Wisniewski had 13 points (three on the PP), 36 PIMs and was a plus-1. This month, he has eight points (two on the PP), 13 PIMs and is a plus-6. Obviously, he is streaky but he looks ripe for owning in the short-term future.

Antoine Vermette, F (OTT): Antoine Vermette is in the midst of a four-game point streak and his line (consisting of Veremette, Corey Stillman and Chris Kelly) has been the Sens top unit of late. He's on pace to top 50 points this season and chips in modestly with penalty minutes (eight in Feb.) and power play points (two this month). He stands to gain quite a bit if the Sens break up their top line of Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

After losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 World Series, the Detroit Tigers were not satisfied with finishing in second place in the AL Central last season. Despite going 88-74, the Tigers finished eight games behind the Cleveland Indians and failed to make the playoffs. The New York Yankees took the AL Wild Card by going 94-68.

In order to compete in 2008, the Tigers decided they needed to trade their young prospects for proven superstars. First, they acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Atlanta Braves for two prospects in October. Then, they shipped pitcher Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin and four other minor leaguers to the Florida Marlins for left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera in December.

It’s clear that the Tigers think that they can win it all in 2008. With their lineup, I think it’s hard to disagree with that logic. The Boston Red Sox can ever be counted out, especially since they are defending champions, but I think Detroit is the favorite in the American League heading into the season.

Still, they still have to play 162 games like everyone else. Anything can happen between now and October, but the Tigers definitely have a lot of players who will turn many fantasy teams around the country into championship contenders. It’ll be interesting to see if those players will be able to work together to bring a World Series title to Detroit.

Detroit Tigers

2007 record: 88-74 (2nd in AL Central)

Key additions: 3B Miguel Cabrera, LHP Dontrelle Willis, SS Edgar Renteria, OF Jacque Jones

Key losses: 1B Sean Casey, LHP Andrew Miller, RHP Chad Durbin, UTIL Omar Infante

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Miguel Cabrera, 3B – It will be exciting to see how Cabrera adapts to the American League, but I don’t think he’ll have a problem. Cabrera has a .313 career batting average and he’s averaged 31 home runs and 115 RBIs over the past four seasons. This year, I’d expect similar numbers, and Cabrera should also score close to 100 runs. If you’re going to draft him, do it early because he’ll be gone after the first round.

2. Justin Verlander, RHP – I’m going to make a bold prediction. Verlander is going to win the AL Cy Young Award this season. It might be a bit of a stretch, but he has won 35 games in his first two full seasons. With the addition of Cabrera and Renteria to the offense, Verlander could easily win 20 games in 2008. He’ll keep the ERA below 3.75 and pick up around 180 strikeouts. I’d have no problems selecting him as my top pitcher. Just remember my prediction when it comes true.

3. Magglio Ordonez, RF – Ordonez finished second to Alex Rodriguez for American League MVP in 2007. He established career highs in batting average (.363), runs (117), hits (216), doubles (54) and RBIs (139). With the addition of Cabrera and Renteria to the lineup, Ordonez could set another career high in RBIs this season. I don’t think his numbers will be quite as high, but he’s still very valuable.

4. Carlos Guillen, 1B – After playing sporadically at first base over the past two seasons, Guillen makes the permanent switch there in 2008. He hit .296 and set career highs in home runs (21) and RBIs (102) in 2007. Guillen will likely hit around .300 with 15-20 home runs and 85-95 RBIs. There are better options at first base, but it won’t be a bad thing if you’re stuck with Guillen in that spot.

5. Curtis Granderson, CF – Last season, Granderson hit .302 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. He finished third in the American League with 122 runs scored and he led the league with 23 triples. Granderson also showed his speed by picking up 26 stolen bases. His only negative attribute is that he strikes out a lot. Granderson led the league with 174 strikeouts in 2006 and finished seventh with 141 last season. If your league counts strikeouts against you, then his value may decrease some. He should be drafted in the early to middle rounds if he is available.

6. Gary Sheffield, DH – It’s been a fine career for Sheffield and he only needs 20 home runs to reach 500. Last season, he hit .265 with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs. He stole 22 bases in 2007, but I wouldn’t count on that again this year. He’ll hit around .270 with 15-20 home runs and 70-80 RBIs. The good news is the Tigers don’t need him to be that productive because they have other weapons. The bad news is your fantasy team won’t need him if he’s not that productive.

7. Edgar Renteria, SS – Renteria established a career high by hitting .332 in 2007. It’s more likely that he’ll be around his .291 career average this season, but he’ll likely score close to 100 runs and have at least 30 doubles. Renteria will also reach double digits in home runs and stolen bases, so he’s a solid option at shortstop. He should be drafted in the middle rounds of your draft.

Hidden gems:

1. Jeremy Bonderman, RHP – To be honest, there really isn’t a hidden player in Detroit who could be headed for a breakout season. Bonderman is the closest person to fit the description. He’s only 25 and already has five years experience. After a horrendous rookie season with a 6-19 record and 5.56 ERA, Bonderman has reached double digits in wins in the past four years. If he can get his ERA below 4.25 (4.78 career ERA), then he could be a valuable pitcher for you to have on your team.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Last season, it looked like the Colorado Rockies’ playoff hopes had completely been destroyed on Sept. 15. They had lost three consecutive games and their record dropped to 76-72. After wrapping up a weekend series against the Florida Marlins the following day, they had 13 consecutive games against NL West opponents to conclude the season.

The Rockies managed to win 12 of the final 13 games and finished the regular season tied with the San Diego Padres for the NL wild card berth. They defeated the Padres on Oct. 1 in a one-game playoff, 9-8, after falling behind 8-6 in the top of the 13th inning.

Entering the playoffs, the Rockies had a lot of momentum and they rattled off seven more victories to reach the World Series. After Sept. 15, the Rockies went 20-1 over the next 21 games heading into their meeting against the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, their streak ended and they dropped four straight games to the Red Sox.

This season, the Rockies will again rely on the potent offense that carried them to the World Series appearance in 2007. Center fielder Willy Taveras provides the Rockies with a legitimate speed threat at the top of their lineup. The Rockies’ No. 2 through No. 7 hitters all have the potential to hit at least 20 home runs, especially since they play half of their games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. In order for the Rockies to make the playoffs again in 2008, the offense will need to carry the load because they don’t have a surplus of pitching.

Colorado Rockies

2007 record: 90-73 (2nd in NL West)

Key additions: RHP Luis Vizcaino, RHP Jose Capellan, RHP Kip Wells

Key losses: 2B Kazuo Matsui, RHP Josh Fogg, LHP Jeremy Affeldt, RHP LaTroy Hawkins, RHP Jorge Julio

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Matt Holliday, LF – After finishing second in the National League MVP voting in 2007, Holliday will likely be one of the favorites for the award in 2008. He led the NL in batting average last season (.340) and had 36 home runs and 137 RBIs. I think he’s the best fantasy outfielder in the major leagues, and he should be drafted in the first round of your league’s draft. Holliday will likely hit around .330 with 30-40 home runs, 120-130 RBIs and 10-15 stolen bases. He’ll also score 115-125 runs.

2. Garrett Atkins, 3B – Atkins has emerged as one of the top third basemen in the NL following two consecutive impressive seasons. He’s had a batting average above .300, at least 25 home runs and 110 RBIs in each season. It’s not a stretch to think he’ll hit at least .300 with 25 home runs and 110-120 RBIs again. While some people may believe that Coors Field’s reputation has a lot to do with Atkins’ power numbers, it’s interesting to note that he hit more home runs away from Colorado in 2007.

3. Troy Tulowitzki, SS – In his first season as the starting shortstop, Tulowitzki showed that he is a top-level fantasy performer. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, hitting .291 with 104 runs scored, 24 home runs and 99 RBIs. For now, Tulowitzki is only the fourth-best shortstop available, but that’s only because of the NL East trio of Hanley Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes. If Tulowitzki posts similar numbers in 2008, then he’ll cement his place among the top shortstops.

4. Brad Hawpe, RF – Last season, Hawpe hit .291 with 29 home runs and 116 RBIs. After two full seasons, he has become a reliable fantasy option in right field. He’ll likely hit around .290 with 20-25 home runs and 90-100 RBIs in 2008. Hawpe should be drafted in the middle rounds and he’ll give you excellent fantasy value.

5. Todd Helton, 1B – Helton doesn’t have the fantasy value that he possessed from 1999-2004 when he had 221 home runs and 728 RBIs in six seasons. Still, he should be drafted because he’ll hit well over .300 with 15-20 home runs and 80-90 RBIs. Helton has a career .332 batting average, but he’ll likely hit around .315 this season.

6. Jeff Francis, LHP – It’s never easy to be a pitcher in Colorado, but Francis should be drafted because he’ll win at least 15 games. He was 17-9 in 2007, but his ERA was 4.22. Francis won’t help your team ERA, but he’ll win enough games to make up for it. It’s his fourth full season as a starter and he’s improved every season.

Hidden gems:

1. Manny Corpas, RHP – Corpas enters the 2008 season as the Rockies closer and he’ll pick up plenty of saves. Last season, he notched 19 saves after taking over as closer. Corpas had a 2.08 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 78 appearances. He’s not well known, so you may be able to wait until the middle rounds to draft him.

2. Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP – After being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs, Jimenez went 4-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 15 starts in 2007. This season, he’ll likely be the No. 3 starter behind Francis and Aaron Cook, so he could reach double-digits in victories. I wouldn’t select him unless you play in a league with a lot of teams, but keep an eye on how he performs during spring training.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Cleveland Indians came within one game of the World Series in 2007.

They were unable to beat the Boston Red Sox, who won the final three games of the ALCS by a combined score of 30-5. The Indians lost Game 5 with C.C. Sabathia on the mound and Game 6 with Fausto Carmona pitching. The two pitchers combined for 38 wins in the regular season, but neither could win the most important game of the year.

After that heartbreaking collapse, the Indians will return most of the same players in 2008. They signed Japanese reliever Masahide Kobayashi to a two-year deal. He’ll help the Indians in the late innings and provide insurance for closer Joe Borowski. Other than that signing, the Indians didn’t make any other major splashes in the offseason.

Cleveland Indians

2007 record: 96-66 (1st in AL Central)

Key additions: RHP Masahide Kobayashi

Key losses: OF Kenny Lofton, OF Trot Nixon

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. C.C. Sabathia, LHP – Last season, Sabathia was 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 241 innings. He was named the AL Cy Young Award winner. Sabathia has won at least 11 games in each of his seven seasons in the majors and has never had a losing record. He’ll win 15-20 games in 2008 and will likely give you 170-180 strikeouts. Sabathia has 10 complete games over the past two seasons, so keep that in mind if your league gives points for that category.

2. Victor Martinez, C – Martinez hit over .300 for the third consecutive season in 2007. While leading the Indians to the ALCS, he established career highs in doubles (40), home runs (25) and RBIs (114). Martinez is the best available catcher, so be sure to grab him early if you want him on your team. This season, he’ll likely have at least 35-40 doubles, 20-25 home runs and 105-115 RBIs.

3. Grady Sizemore, CF – In three full seasons, Sizemore has showed that he is one of the better all-around center fielders in the major leagues. He’s hit at least 22 home runs and 76 RBIs in each of those seasons. Sizemore established a career high with 33 stolen bases in 2007 and also won a Gold Glove. He won’t have as many RBIs as most outfielders because he bats leadoff, but Sizemore will help you in most other offensive categories. He’s definitely one of my favorite players in the game today.

4. Fausto Carmona, RHP – After going 1-10 with a 5.42 ERA in 2006, Carmona rebounded with a 19-8 record and 3.06 ERA last season. It’s one of the most impressive turnarounds that I’ve ever seen, but I wonder if he’ll be able to post similar numbers in 2008. He’s on my fantasy team in a keeper league, so I’m hoping that he is able to build upon last year’s success. I’ll be satisfied with Carmona if he wins at least 15 games and has an ERA around 3.50 this season.

5. Joe Borowski, RHP – It amazes me that Borowski has been able to save 81 games in the last two seasons. After posting an average 3.75 ERA and 36 saves in 2006, Borowski saved 45 games last year. Somehow he was able to lead the American League in saves although he had a 5.07 ERA. You have to draft Borowski because he’ll get a lot of saves again in 2008, but his ERA might cost you some points.

6. Jhonny Peralta, SS – Peralta bounced back from a lackluster 2006 season by hitting .270 with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs in 2007. He’s not one of the best shortstops in the majors, but Peralta will still be able to help your fantasy team. I think he’ll have between 20-25 home runs and 70-80 RBIs in 2008.

Hidden gems:

1. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B – Cabrera is the favorite to start the season at second base for the Indians and he could be a pretty cheap role player for your fantasy team. He’s not going to be a superstar, but he will hit around .280. Cabrera scored 30 runs in 45 games in 2008, so he could score close to 100 runs if he plays the entire season. While he didn’t steal any bases in Cleveland, he did have 25 stolen bases in 105 games in the minor leagues last year.

2. Franklin Gutierrez, RF – In 100 games last season, Gutierrez hit .266 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs. He’ll be the starting right fielder in 2008 and could be headed for a breakout season. If he’s given the opportunity to start for the entire season, then I think Gutierrez will have a .270 batting average with 15-20 home runs and 70-80 RBIs.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

After finishing in fifth place in the NL Central last season, the Cincinnati Reds will rely heavily on the emergence of several prospects in order to be competitive in 2008.

Homer Bailey, a right-handed pitcher that was 4-2 with a 5.76 ERA in nine starts last season, will compete for a spot in the starting rotation. Johnny Cueto, another pitching prospect, could also make an impact this season. The two pitchers figure to be a major part of Cincinnati’s future. It remains to be seen how much of a contribution they’ll make in the major leagues this year.

In addition to the two pitchers, there are two position players who could potentially help the Reds in 2008. First baseman Joey Votto, who hit .321 with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 24 games in 2007, will compete for a starting job this spring. Top prospect Jay Bruce could begin the season as the team’s starting center fielder. He’ll be 21 in April, so if he makes the team, then he’ll be a valuable fantasy prospect for several years.

The only major move that the Reds made in the offseason was signing closer Francisco Cordero to a four-year deal. As a member of the Milwaukee Brewers last season, Cordero finished second in the National League with 44 saves. He’ll anchor the Reds bullpen, which finished 26th in the major leagues with 34 saves as a team in 2007.

Cincinnati Reds

2007 record: 72-90 (5th in NL Central)

Key additions: RHP Francisco Cordero

Key losses: OF Josh Hamilton, LHP Eddie Guardado

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Adam Dunn, LF – The good news is that Dunn is a fantasy superstar because he’ll hit 40-45 home runs with 100-110 RBIs. The bad news is that his batting average will likely be below .260 and he’ll strike out more than 160 times. Dunn’s career high in batting average is .266, so he’s definitely going to hurt you in that category. If your league counts strikeouts, then he might be more trouble than he’s worth. Will the positive impact of Dunn’s home runs and RBIs outweigh the negative impact of the strikeouts and low batting average?

2. Brandon Phillips, 2B – Since becoming the starting second baseman in 2006, Phillips has quietly become an outstanding fantasy performer. He hit .288 with 30 home runs, 94 RBIs and 32 stolen bases last season. Phillips will likely hit around .285 with 25-30 home runs and 80-90 RBIs in 2008. He should pick up around 30 stolen bases again this season.

3. Aaron Harang, RHP – As a member of the Oakland Athletics in 2002, Harang was overshadowed by teammates Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson. Zito won the AL Cy Young Award that season with a 23-5 record and 2.75 ERA. Mulder won 19 games and Hudson won 15. Harang was 5-4 with a 4.83 ERA in 16 games as a rookie that year. He was traded to the Reds in the middle of the 2003 season and has become the ace of the pitching staff. Harang won 16 games in each of the last two seasons and will likely lead the team in victories again in 2008. He led the NL in strikeouts in 2006 (216) and finished second in the league last year (218). If you pick Harang, then you’ll be getting a pitcher who will win more than 15 games and strike out more than 200 hitters. There’s not much more you could ask for in a pitcher.

4. Francisco Cordero, RHP – Cordero has notched more than 40 saves in two of the last four seasons. Even though he probably won’t get as many save opportunities as he did in Milwaukee last season, Cordero will most likely be near the top of the league in saves again in 2008. The Reds won’t win as many games this year as the Brewers did last season, but Cordero still has a lot of fantasy value.

5. Ken Griffey Jr., RF – The 38-year-old only needs seven more home runs to reach 600 for his career. Despite injuries that have limited his playing time in recent years, Griffey has still hit at least 20 home runs in each of the last four seasons. Last season, he hit .277 with 30 home runs and 93 RBIs. Barring injury, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be able to duplicate those numbers in 2008. If you draft Griffey, then just keep in mind that the injury risk is always there.

6. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B – Last season, Encarnacion hit .289 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs. His numbers will likely be similar this season, so I’d draft him in the middle rounds and consider starting him if you don’t have a better option at third base. I think Encarnacion will hit around .285 with 15-20 home runs and 75-85 RBIs. There’s a chance that this could be a breakout season for Encarnacion, which makes him attractive.

Hidden gems:

1. Jay Bruce, CF – If you’ve checked out any of the publications that list baseball prospects, then you’ll know that Bruce is considered by many to be the best prospect available. He’ll be given the opportunity to become the starting center fielder. Keep an eye on his play during spring training. Bruce could soon become a top-level outfielder and you could potentially steal him in this year’s draft.

2. Joey Votto, 1B – In my opinion, Votto will hit a lot of home runs in the major leagues one day. Unfortunately, he might not get to start the season at first base because the Reds have veteran Scott Hatteberg. If Votto has a strong spring and earns the starting job, then you should pick him up in your league. He’ll hit a lot of home runs and will be a strong contributor to the success of your fantasy team.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A few teams were involved on trade deadline day, although some teams didn't procrastinate and made their blockbuster moves prior to the final day. Here's the fantasy spin:

Delonte West, PG (CLE): West was in the Seattle SuperSonics' doghouse and now he's been let off the leash and given a dog biscuit. That's an awful analogy. Anyways, the point is that West goes from being in a situation where he was seeing little playing time to a situation where he could be starting. The Cavs don't have much other than West at point guard, which means he'll see close to 30 minutes a game. I expect his averages to be similar to last year when he posted 12.3 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG and 0.9 SPG.

Wally Szczerbiak, G-F (CLE): Szczerbiak's stats are deflated this season, mostly because he wasn't seeing much time in Seattle. In Cleveland, he's likely to get over 25 minutes per game. In Seattle, he was under that number. Wally doesn't provide much more than points and three-pointers. He's averaged 1.4 three's in each of the last three seasons, which isn't that sexy. A guy like Juan Carlos Navarro might be a better pickup.

Jeff Green, F (SEA): Green, the other SuperSonics' first-round pick this year, is a very versatile forward who should see some steady minutes down the stretch of the season. I want to compare him to the Josh Howard-type, but since it's so early in his career, I can't tell you in which categories he'll succeed. As a starter, he's given you 9.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.7 BPG and 0.3 SPG. He can stay on the waiver-wire if that's all he does, but keep an eye on him as he sees more minutes and grows more comfortable in the NBA.

Chicago's guards: It looked like the Chicago Bulls might trade Ben Gordon and open up some playing time for Thabo Sefolosha. That would have meant that the Bulls traded from a position of depth. Instead, the Bulls added more depth and more confusion. Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown and possibly even Cedric Simmons are going to have to play nicely with Gordon, Sefolosha, and maybe even Luol Deng. By "play nicely" I mean they will have to share minutes and probably render them all useless for fantasy purposes.

Tyrus Thomas & Joakim Noah, F (CHI): So the Chicago Bulls traded their whole starting front line for more backcourt depth. Interesting. I'm curious to see Noah or Thomas have to guard guys like Yao Ming or Dwight Howard. Nonetheless, Thomas should be picked up immediately if he's not already owned. Thomas is going to see extended playing time and he can provide points, rebounds, blocks, steals and free throws. Noah is good for points and rebounds, but the blocks and steals are sparse. Both are young and both should see heavy minutes down the stretch.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

After finishing in fourth place in the AL Central in 2007, the White Sox made two major trades during the offseason in an attempt to improve their record in 2008.

The White Sox traded right-hander Jon Garland to the Los Angeles Angels for shortstop Orlando Cabrera in November. And in January, the team shipped three prospects to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Nick Swisher. By acquiring Cabrera and Swisher, the White Sox believe they will be able to win the AL Central this season.

I really like the two