MLB Fantasy: Second-Half Buy and Sell
We outline which players to buy and sell before baseball's second half
July 3, 2008
By Carlisle Richards
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer
With the approach of baseball's All-Star game, it's time for fantasy owners to reflect on the season thus far.
My three-letter description for the first half: WTF.
The Detroit Tigers, everyone's preseason pick to be the 2008 remix of "Murderer's Row," don't even have a fantasy player in the top 75. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates have three.
If someone bet that Milton Bradley would be a better fantasy player than 2007 MVP Jimmy Rollins thus far, the odds would be 1,000/1.
But don't fret, the baseball gods seem to right all their wrongs in the second half. To prepare you, we tell you some cold superstars to buy and some hot hitters to sell before reality strikes.
BUY 'EM
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers
This should be a no-brainer. It's Miguel frickin' Cabrera. But in case you may have jumped off his bandwagon, we’re saying, don't! He's had plus-110 RBIs in four out of his last five seasons and should heat up with Detroit's better play of late. If you have an antsy owner unwilling to wait for the turnaround, make him an offer ASAP.
Buy Tulowitzki low, very low, while you still can. (AP Images)It's probably too early to jump back on the Tulowitzki bandwagon because he hasn't exactly set the world ablaze since his return from the disabled list (8-for-38 since his return). But he's been hot in his last five. He's 5-for-15 with two home runs and five RBIs. At this point, you might be able to trade Barry Zito for Tulowitzki or even grab him on the waiver wire. Why not take a shot?
Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Those who were expecting 2007 MVP numbers from Rollins have been universally disappointed thus far. Injuries could be the cause of much of this; he's played only 11 games in April and 21 in May. However, if last year is any indication, he should be money the rest of the season. Rollins batted close to .300 in the second half and had 17 of his 30 home runs.
Prince Fielder, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
Seriously, Fielder, eat a steak or something. He's 2-for-31 in his last nine games. This is a guy that cranked 50 HRs and batted in 119. Will this power outage continue? Will his batting average stay at .268? It doesn't really matter. Fielder is too talented not to take a chance on. Presently, hot hitters like Jose Guillen and Nate McLouth may be good offers for Fielder right now.
Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Guerrero's hitting everything that smells the strikezone again. All is right in the world. (AP Images)Oh Vlade, why did I doubt you? He batted well below .300 in April and May, causing many, including myself, to feel like his production was about to plummet. Then June rolled around and he blew up like The Godfather. He batted .375 with six HRs and 15 RBIs. If there’s still a chance you can buy low on Vlade, do it.
SELL 'EM
Nate McLouth, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
I hate McLouth. He represents everything in baseball that all fantasy writers/experts hate: unpredictability. McLouth has never been known for his power or superior hitting, yet he had 12 HRs and 37 RBIs in April and May. But like the En Vogue track, McLouth has come "back to reality," batting only .214 in June and hitting just one of his last 19 at-bats. Sell him now before your fellow owners figure out he's just a first-half wonder.
Chipper Jones, 3B, Atlanta Braves
Chipper's got skills, but his body doesn't last a full season. (AP Images)I'm not hating on Jones. He's more than capable of keeping his current pace of .391, 33 HRs and 100 RBIs, but can his body keep up? Jones hasn't played more than 137 games since the 2003 season, and he's already missed time in June and July. It might hurt, but it'd behoove owners to sell him now while he's healthy and a top 10 fantasy player.
Aubrey Huff, DH/3B, Baltimore Orioles
You could go in a couple of directions with Huff. On the one hand, you can say he's more than capable of reaching his current pace of .277, 29 HRs and 96 RBIs since he's had three 90-plus seasons when he was able to play in over 150 games. But when you look at his production since 2006, it’s been disappointing: He's topped 15 HRs and 70 RBIs just once.
Milton Bradley, OF, Texas Rangers
His temper is usually hot, and his bat usually goes cold. That won't change this year. (AP Images)If you never heard of Bradley before his fantastic start, you're in for a rude awakening. Not only does Bradley have the temper of Bruce Banner, but his history says that there is no way he'll reach his current pace of .320, 32 HRs and 97 RBIs. Bradley only topped 60 RBIs once in his career and only played more than 100 games twice. If you have him, get rid of him... now.
TOP PHOTO: Miguel Cabrera is poised to break back into the fantasy elite in baseball's second half. (AP Images)
