Be sure to check out the blog before every series involving the Orioles this season because I’ll post a breakdown of what to expect. I’ll be sure to give you a player from the other team that is playing well and I’ll also give you a player that is struggling.

You’ll know if those players should ride your bench against the Orioles or if you should try to get every possible fantasy point from them. For now, I’m just going to post the pitching matchups, an opposing player that should play if he’s on your team and a player that struggles against the Orioles.

I’ll even throw in the best Orioles player to start for your team in this series and one to avoid playing. Keep in mind that I’m only going to list players that are realistically on fantasy rosters, so don’t expect to see Luis Hernandez listed as a player to bench.

Let me know if there is anything else you’d like me to put in these breakdowns and I’ll add to them as the season continues.

Check back late Thursday night for the preview of the weekend series against the Seattle Mariners. It’s a four-game series beginning Friday and pitcher Erik Bedard is scheduled to throw against his former team.

Pitching matchups

Monday 3/31: Jeremy Guthrie vs. James Shields
Wednesday 4/2: Daniel Cabrera vs. Matt Garza
Thursday 4/3: Steve Trachsel vs. Andy Sonnanstine

Who you should play from the Rays

Carl Crawford, LF – If you’ve got him on your team, you’d better be playing him regardless of which team he’s facing. As an added bonus, Crawford’s career batting average is .300 in 95 games against the Orioles. Last season, Crawford had 30 hits in 18 games against them. He scored 14 runs and had five stolen bases, so your fantasy team should be off to a good start if you grabbed Crawford in the early part of your draft.

Who you should bench from the Rays

Troy Percival, RHP – While he’ll likely only pitch three innings maximum against the Orioles in the opening series, Percival might be someone to sit on your bench. He’s 2-5 with a 5.86 career ERA in 42 games against the Orioles. To be honest, most of the Tampa Bay players are very successful against the Orioles, particularly when they are playing in Baltimore. It was difficult to find a Tampa Bay player that shouldn’t play, so Percival was the most logical choice here. I promise that I’ll fill this spot with better players as the season progresses. For now, get your saves elsewhere.

Who you should play from the Orioles

Daniel Cabrera, RHP – It’s hard to tell whether he’s finally turned the corner and will be a successful pitcher in 2008, but he should do well against the Rays anyway. Last season, Cabrera was 9-18 with a 5.55 ERA, but he was 3-0 with a 3.46 ERA against Tampa Bay. In his career, Cabrera is 6-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 68 innings pitched. Be sure to start him on Wednesday night if you took a gamble on Cabrera and drafted him with one of your final picks. Forget my friendly advice if he doesn’t pitch well.

Who you should bench from the Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie, RHP – Although he was 2-1 against the Rays last season, Guthrie’s career ERA is 4.78 against them. It might be a good idea to keep him on your bench for the Opening Day start. Still, it’s the first game of the year, so you’ll have plenty of time to recover if Guthrie has a bad start. There will be added pressure on Guthrie in 2008 because he’ll be pitching opposite a lot of good pitchers.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 8:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Join us this Saturday on THE Hardcore Fantasy Show (12:00 p.m. ET, Sirius 186) as we talk fantasy baseball, basketball and break down the WrestleMania pool with Y2J, Corey from Kitchener (thn.com) and Jason Powell from prowrestling.net.

For this contest, it is very simple: pick a winner in each match and send your picks to thefantasyshow@hardcoresportsradio.com. The person who gets the most right and the person who gets the most wrong win a sweet HSR trucker hat. Ties will produce multiple winners.

Here are the matches:

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship (Randy Orton, Triple H, John Cena)

World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. Undertaker

Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs. Big Show

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (Career-threatening Match)

Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Mr. Kennedy, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, Montel Vontavious Porter, CM Punk or John Morrison)

SmackDown vs. Raw: Batista vs. Umaga

24-Man Battle Royal - Winner faces ECW Champion
(Elijah Burke, Lance Cade, Deuce, Domino, Tommy Dreamer, Jim Duggan, Festus, The Great Khali, Mark Henry, Hardcore Holly, Jesse, Kane, Brian Kendrick, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Trevor Murdoch, Jamie Noble, Shannon Moore, Chuck Palumbo, Cody Rhodes, Snitsky, Matt Striker, Val Venis and Jimmy Wang Yang.)

Finlay vs. JBL - Belfast Brawl

BunnyMania Lumberjack Match: Ashley & Maria vs. The Glamazon & Melina

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Wrestlemania 24 is upon us and so is THE Hardcore Fantasy Show's Wrestlemania pool!

Who's career will get threatened more: Ric Flair or Shawn Michaels? Who will reign supreme between Randy Orton, John Cena and Triple H? Is Floyd Mayweather going to get wrecked by The Big Show?

For this contest, it is very simple: pick a winner in each match and send your picks to thefantasyshow@hardcoresportsradio.com. Both the person who gets the most right and the person who gets the most wrong win a sweet HSR trucker hat. Ties will produce multiple winners.

Here are the matches:

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship (Randy Orton, Triple H, John Cena)

World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. Undertaker

Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs. Big Show

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (Career Threatening Match)

Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Mr. Kennedy, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, Montel Vontavious Porter, CM Punk or John Morrison)

SmackDown vs. Raw: Batista vs. Umaga

24-Man Battle Royal - Winner faces ECW Champion
Finlay vs. JBL - Belfast Brawl (Elijah Burke, Lance Cade, Deuce, Domino, Tommy Dreamer, Jim Duggan, Festus, The Great Khali, Mark Henry, Hardcore Holly, Jesse, Kane, Brian Kendrick, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Trevor Murdoch, Jamie Noble, Shannon Moore, Chuck Palumbo, Cody Rhodes, Snitsky, Matt Striker, Val Venis and Jimmy Wang Yang.)

BunnyMania Lumberjack Match: Ashley & Maria vs. The Glamazon & Melina

Don't know so much about the WWE? Hardcore Country will help you out. Corey from Kitchener and Jason Powell from Prowrestling.net stop will give you all the winners you need on this Saturday's show.

Edit: Roman numberals corrected thanks to Big Z.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 1:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Alfonso Soriano, OF (CHC): Out of the big boys, I like Alfonso Soriano. Yeah - I know what that sounds like. But the point here is he is a bit undervalued. Everybody expected the world out of Soriano last year, but players often struggle in the first year of a big contract. Dude still hit 33 home runs and had 19 steals - his season wasn't that bad! He also dealt with a knee injury.

Here's the key here: if the Chicago Cubs can acquire Brian Roberts or if they move Kosuke Fukudome to the top of the order, Soriano will be moved to a more run-productive slot. Soriano had roughly 15-20 solo home runs and if more batters get in front of him, his RBI stats will improve. With a healthy knee, his steals should also improve. Just remember where you drafted him last year - he is being taken later this year but might approach the production we expected last year.

Lance Berkman, OF (HOU): A lot of people remember the sluggish first half of the season that Lance Berkman had, but my advice is that you quickly forget it. He mashed 19 home runs in the second half and should have a monster season this year.

With Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui at the top of the order, the Astros have injected much more speed into their order. They've also protected Berkman with another bat, Miguel Tejada. Berkman should be coming to the plate with runners on base more frequently this year.

The other key factor here is that the Astros have virtually no pitching (aside from Roy Oswalt) and they will have to outscore their opponents to win. The Astros have been scoring in bunches in spring training, so don't hesitate to nab Berkman.

Josh Hamilton, OF (TEX): If you want to roll the dice, take a shot with Josh Hamilton. He's at the hitter-friendly Ballpark in Arlington, which has treated many hitters kindly. He's batted over .500 in spring training and had a stretch where he reached base 13 consecutive times. With him slotted to hit third or fourth for the Rangers, expect some solid production out of the former first overall pick.

Pat Burrell, OF (PHI): Pat Burrell isn't particularly flashy in the fantasy world, but when it comes to power, he is fairly consistent. He's averaged 28 home runs per season throughout his career. Why I like him even more this season is that he is in a contract season. He's batting fifth in the lineup behind Ryan Howard, which means he should see some pitches after the opposing team walks Howard. With money on the line, expect him to approach career numbers.

Michael Bourn, OF (HOU): The plan is to slot Michael Bourn at the top of the Astros order, let him hit and let him run. Bourn has phenomenal speed and has also shown some pop this spring (slugging .511). He already has seven steals this spring, which gives you a solid indication of what he is going to do for you. Not many people are paying attention to him, which allows you to get steals and runs on the cheap.

Austin Kearns, OF (WAS): A cursory glance at Austin Kearns' stats tells you that he is a mediocre fantasy outfielder. But once you fully examine his stats, you might realize he is a diamond in the rough. Kearns looked like he was ready for a full-fledged breakout as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, but when he was relegated to pitcher-friendly RFK Stadium in a trade, his value plummeted. The Nationals now move to a hitter-friendly ballpark and nobody should benefit more than Kearns. He hit .228 at home, but batted .301 on the road. He's also 27-years old, which is the prime-time age in fantasy baseball.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

There are sleepers, and then there is value. The group of guys I'm going to give you in this list are not all necessarily sleepers, but they are players that are offering value in each of their respective rounds. We'll start with the infield:

Albert Pujols, 1B (STL): Albert Pujols is coming off a horrible year, yet he still hit .327 with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs. Most people are shying away from Pujols in the first round of their drafts this year because of lingering elbow problems, but he has played through much worse. Tony La Russa recently said he'll only have to rest Pujols two or three days a month. If he falls to the end of the first round or you have a chance to nab him early in the second round, that's good value.

Lance Berkman, 1B (HOU): Lance Berkman had an awful first half last season, but bounced back with 19 home runs and a .295 average in the second half. The Houston Astros have no pitching but have had an active offseason to improve their hitting. They've added Michael Bourn, Kaz Matsui and Miguel Tejada, which will add both speed and protection for Berkman. Expect the Astros to be in a number of high-scoring games this year, which should make Berkman a good option.

Freddy Sanchez, 2B (PIT): So Freddy Sanchez didn't lead the National League in average again. So what? If you burned a high-end pick on him last year, learn your lesson and move on. But Sanchez still hit .304 with 11 home runs while battling a shoulder injury. He is still dealing with shoulder tendinitis but considering he's falling out of the first 12 rounds (roughly) of your draft, he's a decent value pickup late.

Howie Kendrick, 2B (LAA): Most people had Howie Kendrick pegged as a breakout candidate last year but injuries curtailed those plans. Now the hype has died down -- somewhat -- and it is time to buy at a lower price point. Kendrick has potential to be a five-category contributor and hits for a good average. The Los Angeles Angels added Torii Hunterin the offseason, which should take some pressure off of Kendrick to be a main supportive bat. Look for him to have a much stronger season.

Garrett Atkins, 3B (COL): It's time to get back on the Atkins Diet. Garret Atkins struggled in the first half last year but picked up the pace in the second half. One thing I like about Atkins -- as well as all of the Colorado Rockies -- is that they return their batting order virtually intact. Atkins is in the heart of a dangerous order that should be back to crushing the ball now that the humidor effect is done. He's still playing for a long-term deal, so expect some good numbers.

Ryan Zimmerman, 3B (WAS): Like Atkins, Ryan Zimmerman struggled in the first half and returned to form in the second half last year. The key here is that the Washington Nationals are playing in a new park, which is much more hitter-friendly. He's ranked top-10 right now but I expect more from him, including 30 home runs and a full-fledged breakout campaign.

Rafael Furcal, SS (LAD): Two things lead me to believe that Rafael Furcal is good value: he's off a bad season and he's in a contract season. He'll be hitting at the top of the Los Angeles Dodgers order, which is improved over last year. Russell Martin is expected to hit seventh, which shows you that the Dodgers do have a decent order. One thing they lack is power, and new addition Andruw Jones, who is projected to hit right behind Furcal, should add the missing pop.

Edgar Renteria, SS (DET): A lot of people are shying away from Edgar Renteria because they are worried he won't be able to replicate his career-best .332 average last year. Here's some breaking news: he probably won't match it. But he's part of a dangerously potent lineup and just because he's slotted lower in it, he won't necessarily score significantly less runs. Keep in mind that he's in the American League and the Detroit Tigers don't have many soft spots in their order -- even at the bottom. At the very least, his runs batted in should improve.

Bengie Molina, C (SF): Not many catchers hit clean-up, but Bengie Molina does. That should allow him to have another productive RBI season. Barry Bonds is gone, which does hurt him. A number of players have posted career years batting behind Bonds. Molina offers value if you draft him late. He's in position to be productive, but the lineup around him is terrible, so don't go overboard. If you have to invest a lot in him, I wouldn't bother.

J.R. Towles, C (HOU): J.R. Towles is a stretch to use as a starter, but catcher is a thin position. Towles tore it up on his way to the pros and has pushed Brad Ausmus into a backup role. He hit .375 with 12 RBIs in 40 at-bats with the Houston Astros at the end of last season and is hitting .444 in spring so far. He might even be available on waiver wires after the draft.

Travis Hafner, DH (CLE): Travis Hafner had a down season last year, struggling with power, average and production with runners in scoring position. But assuming last year was an off year and he's going to get back to his regular production, Hafner is going far too low in drafts. If he does bounce back to 2006 form, you are buy fairly low (30th to 40th overall) for a guy who went between 20th and 30th overall last year.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here are the results of THE Hardcore Fantasy Baseball League Draft, which happened on the air (for two hours) today. The podcast with full analysis can be heard at hardcoresportsradio.com.

ROUND 1
1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY) - Miguel in Toronto
2. Hanley Ramirez (FLA) - Rob from Milwaukee
3. David Wright (NYM) - Ben in BC
4. Jose Reyes (NYM) - Ron Papa
5. Matt Holliday (COL) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
6. Chase Utley (PHI) - Josh from Kitchener
7. Miguel Cabrera (DET) - Dan in San Diego
8. Carl Crawford (TB) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
9. Johan Santana (MIN) - Chris from Toronto
10. Prince Fielder (MIL) - Corey from Kitchener
11. Jimmy Rollins (PHI) - Tony from Fort McMurray
12. Ryan Braun (MIL) - Brendan from the Bronx

ROUND 2
12. Ryan Howard (PHI) - Brendan from the Bronx
11. David Ortiz (BOS) - Tony from Fort McMurray
10. Magglio Ordonez (DET) - Corey from Kitchener
9. Grady Sizemore (CLE) - Chris from Toronto
8. Albert Pujols (STL) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
7. Alfonso Soriano (CHC) - Dan in San Diego
6. Ichiro (SEA) - Josh from Kitchener
5. Mark Teixeira (TEX) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
4. Brandon Phillips (CIN) - Ron Papa
3. Carlos Lee (HOU) - Ben in BC
2. B.J. Upton (TB) - Rob from Milwaukee
1. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA) - Miguel in Toronto

ROUND 3
1. Jake Peavy (SD) - Miguel in Toronto
2. Victor Martinez (CLE) - Rob from Milwaukee
3. Derek Lee (CHC) - Ben in BC
4. Lance Berkman (HOU) - Ron Papa
5. Carlos Beltran (NYM) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
6. Brandon Webb (ARZ) - Josh from Kitchener
7. Alex Rios (TOR) - Dan in San Diego
8. Erik Bedard (SEA) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
9. Garret Atkins (COL) - Chris from Toronto
10. Manny Ramirez (BOS) - Corey from Kitchener
11. Brian Roberts (BAL) - Tony from Fort McMurray
12. Troy Tulowitzki (COL) - Brendan from the Bronx

ROUND 4
12. C.C. Sabathia (CLE) - Brendan from the Bronx
11. Russell Martin (LAD) - Tony from Fort McMurray
10. Carlos Guillen (DET) - Corey from Kitchener
9. Aramis Ramirez (CHC) - Chris from Toronto
8. Curtis Granderson (DET) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
7. Adam Dunn (CIN) - Dan in San Diego
6. Derek Jeter (NYY) - Josh from Kitchener
5. Nick Markakis (BAL) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
4. Hunter Pence (HOU) - Ron Papa
3. Joe Mauer (MIN) - Ben in BC
2. Eric Byrnes (ARZ) - Rob from Milwaukee
1. Justin Morneau (MIN) - Miguel in Toronto

ROUND 5
1. Jonathan Papelbon (BOS) - Miguel in Toronto
2. Chone Figgins (LAA) - Rob from Milwaukee
3. Robinson Cano (NYY) - Ben in BC
4. Brian McCann (ATL) - Ron Papa
5. J.J. Putz (SEA) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
6. Bobby Abreu (NYY) - Josh from Kitchener
7. Francisco Rodriguez (LAA) - Dan in San Diego
8. Travis Hafner (CLE) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
9. Cory Hart (MIL) - Chris from Toronto
10. Chipper Jones (ATL) - Corey from Kitchener
11. Carlos Pena (TB) - Tony from Fort McMurray
12. Cole Hamels (PHI) - Brendan from the Bronx

ROUND 6
12. Torrii Hunter (LAA) - Brendan from the Bronx
11. Roy Halladay (TOR) - Tony from Fort McMurray
10. Ian Kinsler (TEX) - Corey from Kitchener
9. Howie Kendrick (2B) - Chris from Toronto
8. Dan Haren (ARZ) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
7. Felix Hernandez (SEA) - Dan in San Diego
6. Justin Verlander (DET) - Josh from Kitchener
5. Josh Beckett (BOS) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
4. Aaron Harang (CIN) - Ron Papa
3. Rich Hill (CHC) - Ben in BC
2. Chris Young (SD) - Rob from Milwaukee
1. Vernon Wells (TOR) - Miguel in Toronto

ROUND 7
1. Carlos Zambrano (CHC) - Miguel in Toronto
2. Joe Nathan (MIN) - Rob from Milwaukee
3. Jeff Francoeur (ATL) - Ben in BC
4. Matt Kemp (LAD) - Ron Papa
5. Roy Oswalt (HOU) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
6. Delmon Young (MIN) - Josh from Kitchener
7. Jered Weaver (LAA) - Dan in San Diego
8. Rafael Furcal (LAD) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
9. Chris B. Young (ARZ) - Chris from Toronto
10. Hideki Matsui (NYY) - Corey from Kitchener
11. Mariano Rivera (NYY) - Tony from Fort McMurray
12. Nick Swisher (OAK) - Brendan from the Bronx

ROUND 8
12. Dan Uggla (FLA) - Brendan from the Bronx
11. Javier Vazquez (CHW) - Tony from Fort McMurray
10. Jeremy Bonderman (DET) - Corey from Kitchener
9. Scott Kazmir (TB) - Chris from Toronto
8. Brett Myers (PHI) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
7. Francisco Liriano (MIN) - Dan in San Diego
6. Ryan Zimmerman (WAS) - Josh from Kitchener
5. John Smoltz (ATL) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
4. Adrian Beltre (SEA) - Ron Papa
3. Michael Young (TEX) - Ben in BC
2. Takashi Saito (LAD) - Rob from Milwaukee
1. Jason Bay (PIT) - Miguel in Toronto

ROUND 9
1. B.J. Ryan (TOR) - Miguel in Toronto
2. Gary Sheffield (DET) - Rob from Milwaukee
3. Adrian Gonzalez (SD) - Ben in BC
4. Josh Hamilton (TEX) - Ron Papa
5. Miguel Tejada (HOU) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
6. Billy Wagner (NYM) - Josh from Kitchener
7. John Maine (NYM) - Dan in San Diego
8. Jorge Posada (NYY) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
9. Tim Lincecum (SF) - Chris from Toronto
10. Bobby Jenks (CHW) - Corey from Kitchener
11. Aaron Rowand (SF) - Tony from Fort McMurray
12. Oliver Perez (NYM) - Brendan from the Bronx

ROUND 10
12. Andruw Jones (LAD) - Brendan from the Bronx
11. Joe Borowski (CLE) - Tony from Fort McMurray
10. Jeff Francis (COL) - Corey from Kitchener
9. James Loney (LAD) - Chris from Toronto
8. Alex Gordon (KC) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
7. Ricky Weeks (MIL) - Dan in San Diego
6. Willy Taveras (COL) - Josh from Kitchener
5. Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
4. Paul Konerko (CHW) - Ron Papa
3. Chad Billingsley (LAD) - Ben in BC
2. Jim Thome (CHW) - Rob from Milwaukee
1. Placido Polanco (DET) - Miguel in Toronto

ROUND 11
1. Fausto Carmona (CLE) - Miguel in Toronto
2. Brad Hawpe (COL) - Rob from Milwaukee
3. Raul Ibanez (SEA) - Ben in BC
4. James Shields (TB) - Ron Papa
5. John Lackey (LAA) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
6. Kasuke Fukudome (CHC) - Josh from Kitchener
7. Rafael Soriano (ATL) - Dan in San Diego
8. Jose Valverde (HOU) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
9. J.J. Hardy (MIL) - Chris from Toronto
10. Manny Corpas (COL) - Corey from Kitchener
11. Mike Lowell (BOS) - Tony from Fort McMurray
12. Kelly Johnson (ATL) - Brendan from the Bronx

ROUND 12
12. Todd Helton (COL) - Brendan from the Bronx
11. Ken Griffey (CIN) - Tony from Fort McMurray
10. Juan Pierre (LAD) - Corey from Kitchener
9. Matt Capps (PIT) - Chris from Toronto
8. Matt Cain (SF) - Dave Golokhov/Joe Ross
7. Rich Harden (OAK) - Dan in San Diego
6. Trevor Hoffman (SD) - Josh from Kitchener
5. Johnny Damon (NYY) - Rob from Woodbridge/Pete from Peterborough
4. Ian Snell (PIT) - Ron Papa
3. Yovanni Gallardo (MIL) - Ben in BC
2. Huston Street (OAK) - Rob from Milwaukee
1. Shane Victorino (PHI) - Miguel in Toronto

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 4:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Earlier in the year, I gave a list of the top players at each position. Before the season, I planned on distributing an updated set of positional rankings. However, I thought it might be more helpful to share the results of one of my recent live drafts.

This particular draft had 10 teams and 25 rounds. While there are many different draft formats, this is a common arrangement if you join a public league. Some of the crazy picks from this draft might not happen in your draft if you do a little bit of research before your draft day (or checkout our blog!).

However, a 10-team public league will have a good mix of people who know what they are doing and others who are just playing for fun. Therefore, a few picks might have you scratching your head. In my mind, that’s perfect because you’ll be able to grab some sleepers later in the draft.

Like I said, there were a few questionable moves by the other owners in the draft. For example, “Team 10” seems to be a fan of the Cleveland Indians because more than half of his team has played in Cleveland at one time (including Kenny Lofton, who still doesn’t have a team for 2008). Also, “Team 5” decided to take Scott Thorman in the 24th round. Maybe that owner knows something about Mark Teixeira that the rest of us don’t because Thorman doesn’t have any fantasy value as long as Teixeira plays the entire season. Anyway, I’m not going to point out all of the debatable selections.

I had the seventh choice in the draft, so my team is “Team 7” in the draft recap below. The draft went in alternating order depending on what round it was. Overall, it surprised me that a lot of players were still available at different points of the draft when it was my turn to pick. Below is a list of the players that I was surprised to get in each round.

Round 2: Jimmy Rollins – I was mildly surprised that Rollins fell to me with the 14th overall pick, but he was still the third shortstop chosen like I predicted.

Round 7: Francisco Rodriguez – Although he was drafted when I expected, I didn’t think there would be two closers selected ahead of him, including Seattle’s J.J. Putz.

Round 8: Roy Halladay – I was happy to be able to select Halladay with my eighth pick because he’ll work well as my No. 2 starter and I didn’t need to rush to pick him.

Round 12: Felix Hernandez – After I passed on him in the 11th round to grab Tampa Bay’s James Shields, I didn’t think Hernandez would be available for my next pick. No one grabbed him and he could be the steal of the draft for me.

Round 14: Matt Cain – Even though he had 16 losses in 2007, I projected Cain to be drafted in the eighth or ninth round because of his ability to get strikeouts. Ideally he’ll improve his record this season and still post similar strikeout totals, which will be perfect for this selection.

Round 17: Aaron Hill – I’ll probably use B.J. Upton as my second baseman since he qualifies for the position in my league, but Hill will provide a solid alternative.

Round 20: Jose Guillen – While I predicted that Guillen would have a bad year, he was just too good to pass up with my 20th selection. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

Round 22: Kosuke Fukudome – I don’t know what to expect from the Japanese import in his first year in the major leagues, but he was worth the risk in the 22nd round.

Round 25: Jon Garland – With John Lackey not expected to pitch for most of April, Garland will hopefully step up and earn some extra wins for me early in the season. Either way, there’s not much risk since he was my last selection.

Most of the leagues will be drafting in the next few days because the season starts Tuesday in Japan with the Boston Red Sox facing the Oakland Athletics. If you have any questions or need advice before your draft, feel free to e-mail me at djones@baltimoresun.com and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Round 1
Team 1: Alex Rodriguez
Team 2: Hanley Ramirez
Team 3: David Wright
Team 4: Jose Reyes
Team 5: Ryan Howard
Team 6: Chase Utley
Team 7: Matt Holliday
Team 8: Miguel Cabrera
Team 9: Johan Santana
Team 10: Grady Sizemore

Round 2
Team 10: Travis Hafner
Team 9: Ryan Braun
Team 8: Carl Crawford
Team 7: Jimmy Rollins
Team 6: Albert Pujols
Team 5: Derek Jeter
Team 4: Alfonso Soriano
Team 3: David Ortiz
Team 2: Jake Peavy
Team 1: Ichiro Suzuki

Round 3
Team 1: Brandon Phillips
Team 2: Prince Fielder
Team 3: Mark Teixeira
Team 4: Carlos Lee
Team 5: Vladimir Guerrero
Team 6: Erik Bedard
Team 7: B.J. Upton
Team 8: Carlos Beltran
Team 9: Nick Markakis
Team 10: C.C. Sabathia

Round 4
Team 10: Fausto Carmona
Team 9: Robinson Cano
Team 8: Derrek Lee
Team 7: Lance Berkman
Team 6: Brandon Webb
Team 5: Josh Beckett
Team 4: Magglio Ordonez
Team 3: Cole Hamels
Team 2: Aramis Ramirez
Team 1: Eric Byrnes

Round 5
Team 1: Justin Morneau
Team 2: Victor Martinez
Team 3: Jonathan Papelbon
Team 4: Brian Roberts
Team 5: Manny Ramirez
Team 6: Dan Haren
Team 7: Justin Verlander
Team 8: Carlos Guillen
Team 9: Curtis Granderson
Team 10: Daisuke Matsuzaka

Round 6
Team 10: Miguel Tejada
Team 9: Bobby Abreu
Team 8: Dustin Pedroia
Team 7: Alex Rios
Team 6: Garrett Atkins
Team 5: Chipper Jones
Team 4: Chone Figgins
Team 3: Torii Hunter
Team 2: Troy Tulowitzki
Team 1: Carlos Pena

Round 7
Team 1: Russell Martin
Team 2: J.J. Putz
Team 3: Dan Uggla
Team 4: Aaron Harang
Team 5: John Smoltz
Team 6: Roy Oswalt
Team 7: Francisco Rodriguez
Team 8: Johnny Damon
Team 9: Carlos Zambrano
Team 10: Kenny Lofton

Round 8
Team 10: Casey Blake
Team 9: Hunter Pence
Team 8: Ken Griffey Jr.
Team 7: Roy Halladay
Team 6: Rafael Furcal
Team 5: Brian McCann
Team 4: Joe Nathan
Team 3: Chris Young (pitcher)
Team 2: Gary Sheffield
Team 1: Matt Kemp

Round 9
Team 1: Ian Kinsler
Team 2: Adrian Gonzalez
Team 3: Joe Mauer
Team 4: Corey Hart
Team 5: Jeff Francoeur
Team 6: Ryan Zimmerman
Team 7: Adam Dunn
Team 8: Francisco Cordero
Team 9: Javier Vazquez
Team 10: Jhonny Peralta

Round 10
Team 10: Ryan Garko
Team 9: Ivan Rodriguez
Team 8: Trevor Hoffman
Team 7: Adrian Beltre
Team 6: Michael Young
Team 5: Placido Polanco
Team 4: Paul Konerko
Team 3: Billy Wagner
Team 2: Takashi Saito
Team 1: Vernon Wells

Round 11
Team 1: Jason Bay
Team 2: Mariano Rivera
Team 3: Hideki Matsui
Team 4: Chris Young (outfielder)
Team 5: Andy Pettitte
Team 6: Todd Helton
Team 7: James Shields
Team 8: Clay Buchholz
Team 9: Edgar Renteria
Team 10: Tim Hudson

Round 12
Team 10: Coco Crisp
Team 9: Josh Hamilton
Team 8: Brad Penny
Team 7: Felix Hernandez
Team 6: Jermaine Dye
Team 5: Rafael Betancourt
Team 4: Orlando Cabrera
Team 3: Jim Thome
Team 2: Delmon Young
Team 1: Jose Valverde

Round 13
Team 1: Jorge Posada
Team 2: Howie Kendrick
Team 3: Scott Kazmir
Team 4: Rich Hill
Team 5: Mike Lowell
Team 6: Tim Lincecum
Team 7: Bobby Jenks
Team 8: A.J. Pierzynski
Team 9: Huston Street
Team 10: Brett Myers

Round 14
Team 10: Pedro Martinez
Team 9: Francisco Liriano
Team 8: Jon Lester
Team 7: Matt Cain
Team 6: Alex Gordon
Team 5: Andruw Jones
Team 4: Juan Pierre
Team 3: Khalil Greene
Team 2: Ian Snell
Team 1: Kenji Johjima

Round 15
Team 1: A.J. Burnett
Team 2: James Loney
Team 3: J.J. Hardy
Team 4: Brad Hawpe
Team 5: Tim Wakefield
Team 6: Adam Wainwright
Team 7: Nick Swisher
Team 8: Mark Buehrle
Team 9: Shane Victorino
Team 10: Bengie Molina

Round 16
Team 10: Asdrubal Cabrera
Team 9: John Maine
Team 8: Derek Lowe
Team 7: Chien-Ming Wang
Team 6: Jeff Kent
Team 5: Rafael Soriano
Team 4: Yovani Gallardo
Team 3: Ben Sheets
Team 2: Rickie Weeks
Team 1: Matt Capps

Round 17
Team 1: Manny Corpas
Team 2: John Lackey
Team 3: Pat Burrell
Team 4: Adam LaRoche
Team 5: Curt Schilling
Team 6: Dustin McGowan
Team 7: Aaron Hill
Team 8: Julio Lugo
Team 9: Yunel Escobar
Team 10: Milton Bradley

Round 18
Team 10: Willy Taveras
Team 9: Chad Cordero
Team 8: Kevin Youkilis
Team 7: Ramon Hernandez
Team 6: Jason Isringhausen
Team 5: Kelly Johnson
Team 4: Edwin Encarnacion
Team 3: Dontrelle Willis
Team 2: Jeremy Hermida
Team 1: Jeremy Bonderman

Round 19
Team 1: Kevin Kouzmanoff
Team 2: Chad Billingsley
Team 3: Oliver Perez
Team 4: Kelvim Escobar
Team 5: Tom Glavine
Team 6: Frank Thomas
Team 7: Raul Ibanez
Team 8: Hideki Okajima
Team 9: Brad Lidge
Team 10: Troy Glaus

Round 20
Team 10: Jake Westbrook
Team 9: Joba Chamberlain
Team 8: Mike Mussina
Team 7: Jose Guillen
Team 6: Jeff Francis
Team 5: Trot Nixon
Team 4: Casey Kotchman
Team 3: Carlos Delgado
Team 2: Aaron Rowand
Team 1: Joakim Soria

Round 21
Team 1: Ted Lilly
Team 2: Kazuo Matsui
Team 3: Gary Matthews Jr.
Team 4: Tom Gorzelanny
Team 5: Lee Gardner
Team 6: Michael Bourn
Team 7: Joe Blanton
Team 8: Jacoby Ellsbury
Team 9: Conor Jackson
Team 10: Paul Byrd

Round 22
Team 10: Scott Baker
Team 9: Kevin Gregg
Team 8: Jered Weaver
Team 7: Kosuke Fukodome
Team 6: Michael Cuddyer
Team 5: Nomar Garciaparra
Team 4: Phil Hughes
Team 3: Joe Borowski
Team 2: Todd Jones
Team 1: Orlando Hudson

Round 23
Team 1: Zack Greinke
Team 2: Josh Willingham
Team 3: Mike Cameron
Team 4: Geovany Soto
Team 5: Jason Varitek
Team 6: Randy Winn
Team 7: Brian Wilson
Team 8: J.R. Towles
Team 9: J.D. Drew
Team 10: Justin Upton

Round 24
Team 10: Akinori Iwamura
Team 9: Evan Longoria
Team 8: Rich Harden
Team 7: Gil Meche
Team 6: Rick Ankiel
Team 5: Scott Thorman
Team 4: Bronson Arroyo
Team 3: Garret Anderson
Team 2: Greg Maddux
Team 1: Bob Howry

Round 25
Team 1: Stephen Drew
Team 2: Austin Kearns
Team 3: Jack Cust
Team 4: Jeremy Accardo
Team 5: Jason Giambi
Team 6: Mike Napoli
Team 7: Jon Garland
Team 8: David Eckstein
Team 9: Troy Percival
Team 10: Orlando Hernandez

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

E-mail: Jason Bay/Adam Jones for Kosuke Fukudome/Manny Parra

My name is Tyler, and I'm a student at Baylor University. I'm writing to get your opinion about a trade that was proposed to me by a friend in a yahoo! rotisserie league. I do not know if you respond to these types of emails but I thought I would give it a chance. I know I'm going out on a limb asking you questions about players that have not even played yet, but I have read a bio. on you and was impressed enough to ask for your feedback.

My friend offered:
Jason Bay
Adam Jones (Bal - OF)

For:
Kosuke Fukudome
Manny Parra

Note:

1. I like these prospects. I'm holding on to them because I want to see how they pan out, but should I make a move for Jason Bay regardless of his injuries, but because I have a weak outfield?

2. I also have John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar as my starters. With them out for the first month, should I hold on to Manny Parra?

3. Is Adam Jones a prospect to look out for later in the season or take him now at the beginning of the season?

If I counter his trade with:
Phil Hughes
Miguel Tejada
Kosuke Fukudome(ChC - OF) or (Manny Parra (Mil - P))

For his:
Carlos Guillen
Jason Bay

Note : Am I asking for too much? Or too little?

Thanks for listening.

Sincerely,

Tyler Curd

Hey Tyler -- me and Dave Bliss will be cheering for the Bears against the Boilermakers in the first round.

For sure I answer these e-mails -- I also post them so it helps other people.

Well first off, not sure why you are so into Manny Parra. I know he threw a perfect game in AAA last year and he's been on fire in spring training, but he hasn't won the job and there are more experienced guys ahead of him. If I'm the Brewers, I use one of his options and use him as a midseason boost (a la what Ryan Braun did for their offense when they hit a bit of a lull). Unless he wins a job, there's no guarantee he'll help you in the first month of the season while John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar are out.

As far as Jason Bay, I'm not so hot on him to be honest. Maybe I'm one of the few, but I personally don't believe he's going to bounce back significantly. For starters, he's had a terrible spring training. Secondly, he plays for a losing team with no shot, and third, they want him to play well so they can trade him. I think he knows his future in Pittsburgh is short. The combination of those three things makes me believe he won't pick it up -- at least until he gets traded.

Kosuke Fukudome is more interesting to me. He is great at getting on base and they plan to either hit him fifth in the lineup, behind Aramis Ramirez, or second or third. Here is what would be ideal for the Cubs: acquire Brian Roberts, make him hit leadoff, move Fukudome to second, then put Alfonso Soriano in the three-hole. I think all of that is realistic (might actually happen), which means Fukudome could be among the league leaders in runs. I'm thinking positive here.

As for Adam Jones, I like him right away. With the Orioles rebuilding, "Pacman" is going to get as many at-bats as he can handle. With rookies, you always have to worry about late-season/second-half fatigue, but we can only deal with the present right now. He's among the team leaders in slugging in spring, which is an excellent sign. He's now the centerpiece that the Orioles are building around and he's so highly touted, he's worth keeping, in my book.

As for Miguel Tejada, I wouldn't draft him under any circumstance. He's a steroid guy and I don't expect him to come close to his MVP-like numbers way back when. He also might have to deal with more legal stuff throughout the season.

I like your players and it seems to me you are forcing it here. Lackey and Escobar won't be out that long, They are expected back in mid-May, which means they should be good to go for June.

I would wait it out. Maybe Parra gets into the rotation, given his phenomenal spring, which alleviates your pitching injury problem. And if Fukudome pans out, that will alleviate your outfield issues. I'd stick with what you have for now and make a move when you know things for certain.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A funny, yet unquestionably valid e-mail by Dylan in response to my Brian Wilson/Barenaked Ladies reference in the "Wait On Closers" post:

Good advice, but I have to call you out on something that isn't baseball related: I don't think any self-respecting classic rock/pop fan can let you get away with referring to the Giants' Brian Wilson as "not the guy that the Barenaked Ladies wrote the song about." Dude: Brian Wilson was the co-founder/leader of the Beach Boys, a master of vocal harmony, and certainly one of the greatest pop songwriters history has ever known. It's true that the Barenaked Ladies wrote a song about him, but that's probably the least significant thing you can say about the guy. Long after the Barenaked Ladies are completely forgotten, Brian Wilson will live on as one of the true legends of popular music. In baseball terms, the equivalent would be calling Roger Maris "that guy Billy Crystal wrote a play about" or calling Joe DiMaggio "that guy Marilyn Monroe married." Or calling Cal Ripken "that guy from the Esskay hot dog commercial." Sorry to rant, but Brian Wilson really is the Ripken/Maris/DiMaggio of American pop music, so I had to say something. As far as closers go, good list.

-Dylan

That was funny, yet true.

But here is one key factor you may have overlooked: The Barenaked Ladies song Brian Wilson is rumored to be about the Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys -- the one that Dylan is referring to.

If it's not about that Brian Wilson, it is about a Brian Wilson whose life parallels the Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys (probably done for copyright purposes).

Later on, though, Brian Wilson actually did a cover of the song Brian Wilson, so inherently Dylan, we might be referring to the same guy.

But according to Wikipedia, there are a total of at least 11 significant Brian Wilsons, so I'm expecting some disdainful e-mails from the other 10 guys shortly.

I wouldn't call Brad Hennessey a "failed closer." This is a guy who notched 15 saves and a 3.48 ERA from July onward. Not really much of a failure if you ask me. That said, I think Hennessey is better suited as a setup man; Wilson simply has better stuff and will be more of an asset in the 9th than Hennessey (who could definitely still be a solid closer nonetheless).

-Josh

Maybe calling Brad Hennessey a "failed closer" was a bit harsh, but it's just a writing thing. If me and Josh were having this conversation in person, this is how it would go:

Josh: "I wouldn't call Brad Hennessey a "failed closer"...
Dave: "OK, well maybe not permanently failed, but I meant he missed his kick at the can with the Giants and now they are looking for someone else to step up and secure that role..."

I will add that Hennessey did in fact lose the job last year. He had 14 consecutive saves at one point but then collapsed late in the year. He was 0-2 in September with a Joe Borowski-like ERA of 5.40 and a WHIP of 1.97. His walk/strikeout ratio regressed as the season progressed. In all honesty, he still had a good enough season that if the Giants believed in him as their ninth-inning guy, they'd overlook his one bad month. But at this point, he's the backup plan and Brian Wilson is the main man.

--Dave Golokhov

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 9:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Hardcore Country, welcome to the first ever Hardcore Sports Radio Fantasy Baseball League.

Want to be a part of it? Send an e-mail to thefantasyshow@hardcoresportsradio.com telling us why you should be one of the 12 owners. There are 11 teams up for grabs (Joe and I will combine for one of the 12).

Being an owner means you are free on Saturday, March 22nd from 12 p.m. ET - 2 p.m. to be part of our on-air draft. It also means that you will not take Jorge Julio in the first round.

Each owner will step to the podium (if they are in studio) or announce their picks over the phone (if they are not in studio) as we get through as many picks as possible.

Also, for the first time in our draft history, we will have Hardcore Country analysts who who are unbiased and critical, and won't hesitate to call somebody out if necessary.

Each pick will be live-blogged on hardcoresportsradio.com as it happens.

Scoring system details to come, but it is likely to be 5 x 5.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

After previewing the other 29 teams, I’ll conclude my team-by-team preview with the Orioles. In nine of the last 10 seasons, they’ve finished in fourth place in the AL East. Following their latest disappointing season, the team traded shortstop Miguel Tejada to Houston and starting pitcher Erik Bedard to Seattle.

By doing this, the team lost two of its key fantasy components, but they picked up several prospects with potential future value. For now, it seems like the Orioles have two fantasy standouts – right fielder Nick Markakis and second baseman Brian Roberts – and a bunch of players who have little to no fantasy value.

However, several of the other players could begin to make an impact before the end of this season. Catcher Ramon Hernandez is coming off an injury-plagued season and should still be one of the better players available at that position. Look for his numbers to improve considerably from 2007 because the Orioles need him to take on a bigger role in the offense to fill the void left by the Tejada trade.

Newly acquired outfielders Luke Scott and Adam Jones haven’t had much of an opportunity to show what they can do in the majors yet. They’ll be given plenty of chances on an inexperienced team and could both put up solid numbers. Both should be solid injury replacements for your fantasy team before the end of the season.

While the rotation no longer has a dominant ace, it’s conceivable that three starters have the ability to find their way onto fantasy teams before the end of the season. Jeremy Guthrie, who emerged as a solid starter last season, could be picked up early in the season if he shows that last year wasn’t a fluke. Adam Loewen could step into Bedard’s role as a dominant left-handed starter and win 10-15 games. It’s been talked about for the last few years, but Daniel Cabrera could be one of the most dominant pitchers in the major leagues if he ever figures out how to pitch with better control.

Although it’s unlikely that all of these players will become fantasy standouts this year, it’s not out of the question that some could contribute to your team later in the year. The important thing is determining which players will have the biggest impact in 2008 and then grabbing those players before everyone else does.

Baltimore Orioles

2007 record: 69-93 (4th in AL East)

Key additions: CF Adam Jones, LF Luke Scott, LHP George Sherrill, RHP Steve Trachsel

Key losses: LHP Erik Bedard, SS Miguel Tejada, CF Corey Patterson

Most valuable fantasy performers:

1. Nick Markakis, RF – Many people view the 24-year-old outfielder as the team’s best player and he’ll likely gain more fans in 2008. Last season, Markakis hit .300 with 23 home runs and 112 RBIs. While he’s not known for his speed, Markakis also had 18 stolen bases. Draft him in the fourth or fifth round with expectations of similar numbers this season, but there’s a strong likelihood that he’ll improve again.

2. Brian Roberts, 2B – Despite all of the trade rumors in the offseason, Roberts is still a member of the Orioles right now. There shouldn’t be much effect on his fantasy value if Roberts is dealt between now and the beginning of the season. He’ll bat leadoff and have 40-50 stolen bases and 90-100 runs scored. While his career batting average is .281, there’s always a chance that he’ll bat .300. Pick him around the same time as Markakis.

3. Ramon Hernandez, C – It’s hard to predict what you’ll get from Hernandez in 2008. Will he have numbers similar to 2006 (.275, 23 home runs, 91 RBIs) or 2007 (.258, nine home runs, 62 RBIs)? Either way, Hernandez will still be someone’s starting catcher in your league. Grab him if he’s still available in the middle rounds and hope that he rebounds from a down year. The Orioles will need him to hit for power again this season, so it’ll be good for you to bank on the potential.

Hidden gems:

1. Luke Scott, LF – With the Houston Astros last season, Scott hit .255 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs in 132 games. He’ll have plenty of chances to prove he’s a valuable fantasy outfielder, so don’t be afraid to grab him with one of your final picks. Scott needs to hit around .275 with 15-20 home runs and 70-80 RBIs to have any fantasy value, but it’s not out of the question. He could provide solid depth to your fantasy team.

2. Adam Jones, CF – While he may not make much of a fantasy impact this season, Jones will be one of the team’s biggest contributors soon. His batting average is only .230 in 73 games in the major leagues, but that’s too small of a sample size to mean anything. Pick Jones with your last pick if you’re the type of fantasy player who likes to take one of your favorite team’s most promising prospects. Otherwise, Jones should go undrafted and be watched until later in the season. He should be drafted in the middle rounds if your league has keepers because his value will be much higher next season.

3. Jeremy Guthrie, RHP – Guthrie showed that he’s capable of pitching in the major leagues last season when he was 7-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 32 games (26 starts). With Erik Bedard gone, Guthrie needs to show that he’s able to carry the pitching staff. He had 123 strikeouts last season, so he’ll give you moderate value. Guthrie will likely have 10-15 wins and an ERA around 4.00 this season. He’s probably not worth a draft pick, but keep him under consideration if you’re looking for a starter in the late rounds.

4. George Sherrill, LHP – Sherrill could have moderate value if he receives the majority of save opportunities this season. However, he has almost no value if there is any type of closer-by-committee approach. See how the Orioles handle this situation early in the season. Be ready to pick him up in the first few weeks of the season if he’s getting plenty of chances. With many other options at closer, he may not even be worth a look.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Are you one of the guys ready to draft a closer like J.J. Putz, Jonathan Papelbon or Francisco Rodriguez in the early rounds? Here's some advice: wait it out.

In all honesty, it's not a bad idea, but there is better value to be had in the early rounds. In some respects, drafting a relief pitcher within the first five rounds is like drafting a fantasy football defense early in NFL drafts. There will always be options on the waiver wire at the end of the draft that can help you out.

Guys like Jeremy Accardo, Kevin Gregg, David Weathers, Matt Capps, Joakim Soria and Manny Corpas were all undrafted -- or drafted really late -- and all were serviceable when healthy last year. Quite clearly, these guys don't compare to the Mariano Riveras of the world but when you factor that you will be drafting a position player or starting pitcher in an early round instead of a top-notch closer, and potentially getting a 30-save man off the wire, then you're cooking.

For me, in fantasy drafts, it is always about getting good value. You can't predict busts (in some cases) or injuries, but one thing I try to do in every draft is get the best value with each pick. Since I know there will be decent closers on the wire after the draft is done, I'd rather spend my high picks on position players and starting pitchers.

Here are a few closers that should be on the wire after your draft unless you are in an extremely deep league:

Brian Wilson, RP (SF): Bookies project the San Francisco Giants to finish with 72 wins this year. That's not particularly great if you have the closer of that team since he's not expected to get many opportunities. But on the other hand, guys like Capps and Soria were decent for garbage teams last year.

Brian Wilson -- not the guy that the Barenaked Ladies wrote the song about -- is the guy the Giants want to win their closing job. In all honesty, the Giants' batting order may be horrid, but with a decent rotation and a good manager, this team should be able to play small-ball enough to get Wilson quality opportunities.

He has the mental and physical makeup of a closer, which immediately puts him ahead of failed closers "Crunk Juice" Brad Hennessey and Tyler Walker.

He has seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched so far in spring training, allowing only two runs. He's worth adding.

Joel Zumaya, RP (DET): For a second season in a row, we won't hear from Joel Zumaya until mid-season. Keep him in mind when he starts to get closer to returning. The general point here is he is capable of closing for the Detroit Tigers if the wheels on the Todd Jones' bus start coming off. Jones was effective last year but isn't getting any younger. Zumaya could be very valuable down the stretch of the season.

Carlos Marmol, RP (CHC): There are a few value options in the Chicago Cubs bullpen, and Carlos Marmol is my flavor of choice. Some people like Bob Howry; others are feeling Kerry Wood. Wood, for obvious reasons, is a risky pick in my books and Howry is a better setup man.

Marmol has had trouble with his control in spring, but he still hasn't allowed a run. I also love to see his 96 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched last year.

This is the ideal situation to get some good value. The Cubs are the reigning NL Central champs and should field another good team this year. If Marmol pans out, you would be getting a pretty good closer on the cheap.

Tony Pena, RP (ARZ): Brandon Lyon is supposed to be the replacement for Jose Valverde, particularly after he hit 95 mph on the gun late last season, but he has been awful in spring training. He isn't striking anyone out and is giving up lots of runs.

Tony Pena was supposed to be the youngster with closing ability that pushed Lyon somewhere around mid-season, ideally creating a healthy competition between the two. But with Lyon struggling, Pena might get a shot earlier than expected.

He's closer material with a mid-90s fastball and a solid complementary slider in the late 80s. Keep in mind that the D-Backs want to compete this year, and if Lyon falters, they would likely give him the hook sooner than they would if they were rebuilding.

George Sherrill, RP (BAL): Male first name, female last name, George Sherrill might be a decent pick-up after your draft. With Chris Ray and Danys Baez out most -- or all -- of the season, Sherrill, one of the players the Orioles received in return for Erik Bedard, should offer some value.

He's not a prototypical closer but has decent stuff and is good against right-handed batters as well. It might start as a committee in Baltimore, but with Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker as the other members, I would take my chances with Sherrill.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 9:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

For at least one night in the 2008 season, the Washington Nationals will be on top of the baseball world. They’ll play the first game at Nationals Park against the Atlanta Braves on March 30 in front of a national television audience on ESPN.

Much of the preseason attention for this season’s NL East title is focused on the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets. However, the Nationals made some moves during the offseason that could help them compete in the near future.

They traded outfielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider to the New York Mets for outfield prospect Lastings Mil