Q:
Now that Derrek Lee is back with the Cubs, what should I expect
from him the rest of the season?
- Mike
A: For many fantasy owners - myself included - Rafeal Furcal will forever be the yin to our yang for knocking Lee out with a broken wrist. After two months, D-Lee is finally back after just one minor league rehab and went 1-for-4 in his debut from the DL.
The biggest thing to remember is that when hitters are coming back from wrist or hand injuries - especially power hitters - it will take them a while to find their stroke again. The easiest thing to do is make contact and it’s pretty hard to swing with good force when you’re fresh from the DL with that kind of injury. That being said, Lee knows that he’s not 100 percent, but should be back to normal soon.
If all goes well, his numbers should stay on projection from where they were at the start of the year, just cut in half. So if Lee’s return marks a turnaround for Chicago and the offense finally gets going, Lee could hit 15-20 home runs with 50-60 RBIs and a .300 batting average. For the fact he’ll only play about four months of the season, he should end up with Lyle Overbay-like numbers.
I think you’ll see a change in the lineup too. Aramis Ramirez finally has someone to hit around and Jacque Jones rounds out what is now a much more solid middle of the batting order. Lee should be good for the second half of the season, but don’t be surprised on how he affects his teammates, either.
Q: Are there any guys in the minors who could
make a difference as we get closer to the trading deadline?
- Harry
A: The one guy who will most likely get a shot is current Tucson shortstop Stephen Drew. The younger brother of JD is hitting .289/.347/.450 with 26 XBH (10 homers) and a 45/30 K:BB for the Triple-A ball club and with the way things are going for Arizona, could be replacing Craig Counsell. There’s been plenty of speculation that the current Diamondbacks utility man would be dealt, opening up the spot. Drew has enough pop and patience to be a quality major leaguer right away. For fantasy owners desperate for shortstop help, Drew may be your man.
Even though he didn’t get a call this past week with Dallas McPherson and Darin Esrstad hitting the DL, Howie Kendrick can’t be kept out of Los Angeles for long. He flopped when he got a Cup of Coffee earlier this season, but a guy who is hitting .400 in Triple-A can’t be kept there for long. Kendrick is capable of hitting at least .300 with the Angels as he’s hit no less than .318 in the last four seasons in the minors. He’s got a little pop in his bat, but for a second baseman, he’d be useful for his great contact skills and a few stolen bases.
Depending on what happens with the Cubs now that Derrek Lee is back, Juan Pierre could be heading out of Chicago. Pierre’s a free agent after this season, so the Cubs really have no reason to hold on to him if they stay far out of contention. His Triple-A counterpart, Felix Pie, presents a worthy outfield option for fantasy players - speed, contact and some power. In Iowa, Pie has gone .257/.322/.412 through 74 games. It’d be safe to assume that if any outfielders are dealt by the Cubs, Pie should be the first guy called up.
Q: When is a good time to start making deals
for the second half of the season?
- Jeremy
A: If your league is anything like the most common one out there in fantasy land, then now would be a good time. Most managers take a while to bargain with, especially if one of their players suddenly gets hot over the last few days. With the All-Star break just around the corner, now would be a good time to start gearing up for the homestretch.
Just remember that there are certain players
to look for in trades when it comes to the second half. Guys like
Andy Pettitte, Aubrey Huff and the entire A’s roster will
have huge seasons after the break while Brett Myers, Pat Burrell
and Dontrelle Willis (before 2005) have always done a nosedive.
When looking at players to trade for, make sure to check out their
split stats before and after the All-Star break for the last couple
years and their entire career, it’ll pay off with a huge
second half and hopefully a good finish for your team.
Q: If Julio Lugo is traded,
will it be worthwhile to pick up BJ Upton?
- Aaron
A: The short answer - yes.
Now with ownership that actually knows how to run a baseball franchise, the Devil Rays will try to ship off as many overpriced players as possible in gearing up for 2008. Lugo will most likely be one of them, considering that Upton has been waiting in the wings for three years now. Of course, that’s a good thing, considering he’s probably the worst defensive player this side of Single-A. Now only that, but he plays one of the most important positions in the field. So I guess it’s a good thing defensive stats don’t count.
In defense of Upton, his bat has always been well ahead of his glove and there’s really no reason Tampa Bay shouldn’t just let him play in the majors. From the perspective of his hitting ability, he’s ready. I held on to Upton for a while at the start of the season, hoping he would get some playing time. He’ll steal plenty of bases, a la Lugo, but he’s got enough power to make a difference as well.
If you can be the first to pounce on Upton when he gets called up, there’s no reason he couldn’t be your starting SS for your fantasy team. If he gets a full second half of the season to play, he could hit 10 home runs, score 40-50, depending on where he is in the order and steal 15 bases. That’s not too shabby.
