Starters=Volatility

Cliff Lee - Again, this is why you should never waste a high draft pick on any pitcher, except Johan Santana. They are too volatile. They have too man ups and downs when it comes to performance and injury risk. Lee was lit up for 4ERs over 5IPed. If you were an owner who drafted Lee high because of his great CY Young year of 2008, I feel sorry for you.

Roy Halladay - On a positive note, Halladay came back from a rough first outing to get a win against the Indians. Owners who have Halladay should not worry and expect him to be another Cy Young contender this year. With Wells, Rios, Snider, and Lind swinging the bats, you might see Roy with a few more wins. Very scary!!!

BJ Ryan - Sticking with the Jays, the bullpen more specifically the closers role needs to be looked at. Ryan was torched for 3ERs over 0.1IPed. If you are a BJ owner, make sure to back him up with Scott Downs.

Hank Blalock - Two years of injuries seems to have given Hank some time to get back to raking. If Hank stays healthy he could be a sleeper in Texas this year. This guy has posted some great fantasy numbers in the past and if he continues stay healthy and hits behind Hamilton owners could see a 25/90 year from this once upon time fantasy staple.

Rocco Baldelli - For AL-Only, this guy should be on your roster. Seems to be healthy and swinging the bat and connecting.

Signings keep coming

John Smoltz is now a part of the big boys in Boston. After spending his entire career wearing a Braves uniform he is now going to, or most likely going to, finish his career as a Red Sox and maybe add another World Series ring to his collection. Even though he is going to be on the DL when the 2009 draft happens I would recommend you drafting him and placing him on your DL. Of course you can draft this guy later in drafts. He will always put up the numbers you want from a pitcher. He won't be a closer and depending on his health he could be the 5th starter behind a very strong starting rotation. Conclusion, have him on your 2009 team.

Rocco Baldelli will find himself wearing a new uniform as well after spending his entire career in Tampa Bay. Albeit a shorter career than Smoltz. Rocco will be a back-up to Ellsbury and Drew but will find plenty of at-bats against lefties and also days off from both players. Rocco has value in AL-Only leagues at the moment but if Rocco can get over his midocondria condition and find a way to hit like his rookie year he could easily take over for either Ellsbury or Drew. Plus, injuries always seem to haunt Drew making more playing time for Baldelli. AL-only guys, have Baldelli on your team. Mixed leaguers should wait.

Brad Penny finalized his contract with the Red Sox and will be in their rotation. If he can stay healthy this is a guy that can find himself very usefull to fantasy owners. With an offence like the Red Sox scoring plenty of runs expect Penny to produce plenty of wins. Penny is a guy you can grab very late in fantasy drafts and should be picked as an upside pick.

Koji Uehara is another Japanese player trying to make it big in the major leagues. After a very successful career in Japan Uehara will be making the jump at the young age of 33. This is not a guy you want to really pick for your team. In my honest opinion his numbers are great but at the age of 33 and also pitching in the toughest division in baseball and adding in a terrible offence he probably won't be getting a lot of wins.

Trevor Hoffman is staying put in the National League and will close out games for the Brewers. This is great news for fantasy owners becauase one, he is staying put in the NL where he knows the competition and two, he is still going to be a closer. As with every draft, this guy should be drafted. He is a mid-tier closer.

Jason Giambi will return to his old stomping grounds in Oakland. The A's have signed him and for fantasy owners nothing new. He should be draft but later in drafts because of his decline and lack of ability to produce a decent AVG. With the likes of Holliday in the lineup expect Giambi to produce his usual numbers, if he stays healthy.

Finally Finished

Well, the 2009 MLB season is officially over but not with a dramatic end. It took a few days and a few sleepless nights but the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2009 World Series Champions. After a long rain delay, which took days not hours, the Phillies finished the Rays off in Game 5 with World Series MVP Cole Hamels sitting on the bench after starting the game.

To me, this year seemed like a year where things, magical things, were going to happen. Starting the season in search of a Fantasy Championship, which didn't happen, I watched a young team in the AL East grow and mature into a World Series runner up. Honestly, did you think the Rays were going to take a step out of the AL East basement let alone having them reach the playoffs and walk into the World Series with a stride of pure confidence only a young true winner can bring. I was supporting the Rays through the playoffs and I was a little disappointed in their finish but after watching them, my fantasy season draft, which is only 5 months away, was truly affected.

Here are a few things I saw and you should take note of too.

Ryan Howard - Does anyone have the right to even question him? This guy may fall into slumps but when he starts connecting, this guy just flat out carries a team. Take a look at game 3/4. He had 3HRs and 6RBIs. This guy deserves a high draft pick but for owners who draft him there is a side note, you must draft a guy like Ichiro to offset the K's and low AVG.

Pat Burrell - This guy just didn't have a good World Series, 1-14, with no HRs and 1RBIs. This guy is going to find him a nice contract after this year but just watch for where he lands. His position in the 2009 draft depends on his future team. He is a career .257 hitter but gives you a nice 25-30HRs with 80-100RBIs.

Shane Victorino - Make sure to find him during the draft and take him off the board!

Brad Lidge - This guy was the epitome of domination...but don't let this fool you. Don't reach too far for him during draft day.

David Price - This is a guy you want on your team. A left handed thrower who hits mid-90's on his fastball is nothing to joke about. Look for him but remember, with his big time name, people will reach and draft him higher than he should be. This guy should be closer to the mid teens.

Rocco Baldelli - Make sure to keep his name on your draft sheet, period.

Matt Garza - Make him a 2nd/3rd starter on your team next year. I think his composure and experience gained from this World Series will be truly valuable for him and you.

I hope this is a quick guide for fantasy owners. Yes, I know that these are fairly big names in the drafts but you have to make sure you need draft these players in the right spots.

You can't win your league with your First Round Pick but you surely can lose it!

Rocco...again

Rocco Baldelli, I bet you are getting tired of me posting about him, finished his first 9 inning game while playing the field. He went 0-2 with a BB but the more important news is how he is feeling after the game.

David Price is earning his hype because he just completed 2.1 more innings at the end of a ball game. More importantly Price is showing his maturity and composure on the mound. This is a great sign for fantasy owners. If he can handle the pressures of a World Series game, during the 9th inning, he should surely be able to handle the day to day grind of a 162 game season. Ok, I won't go that far but his performance in the playoffs this year is showing me this kid might be a force to be reckon with next year.

Ryan Howard, where the fuck are you?!?!

James Shields - not a bad choice for a 3rd starter next year. Draft him in the early to mid teens.

ALCS is Over

The Rays have finally completed the ALCS and will find themselves, yet again, in unchartered territory. Their next stop will be the finest stage of all...the World Series. The young and fine tuned Rays will find themselves against the Phillies of Philadelphia.

But over the course of 7 games in the ALCS, fantasy owners should consider some numbers and players.

Baldelli - It seems like I have a man crush on this guy and well I will admit it, I do! This guy knows how to play baesball but for some odd reason the baseball gods don't seem to want him on the field...until now. After suffering through injury after injury Baldelli seems to have found a way to please the baseball gods. He had an RBI in the decisive game 7 and signs point for him to be a productive fantasy player in 2009. This guy will be a sleeper.

David Price found himself with an opportunity to cement his name on the playoffs and he came through. He closed out game 7 and seems to be on his way to a full time player in 2009. Expect fantasy owners to over reach for this guy on draft day. I try to stay away from guys like this, young/full of potential/but has proved nothing in the bigs. He has the potential to put up big numbers but don't go reaching until spring training reports come out on where he will be situated on the roster.

Matt Garza, earned the ALCS MVP, will be high on darft day if he continues his success in the playoffs. It seems like any player who stands out on the big stage finds himself drafted higher in drafts. This guy has the potential and stuff to be a dominating pitcher but don't be fooled with the playoff success. He has pitched around 320innings in his career and the extra innings he is throwing this year might spoil his 2009 season. I still think he is a solid number 3 pitcher.

Jon Lester - This guy seems to have a arm of a robot. After throwing 81 and 63 innings in 06 and 07 respectively, he went for 210.1 innings and added another 26.2 innings in the playoffs. Not sure how this will affect his 2009 performance. In my eyes, he still stands as a solid number 3, like Garza.

Pedroia had a career year in 2008 but I am not sold on this guy just yet. I see his SB total, 20, being a legit number but I am not sure he can sustain his power, 17HRs. This is where his value comes from, putting together a player who can steal 20 and bring in 15-20HRs with a .300AVG is a solid mid single round talent. If you don't have the chance to fill in the 2B with the likes of Utley or Roberts, Pedroia isn't a bad choice.

Baldelli

With a HR in the playoffs Baldelli is finding a way to stay healthy and add to his resume, which will come in handy when the spring training 2009 rolls around.

If Baldelli can stay healthy he is a potential sleeper, as mentioned before, for the 2009 season. If he stays healthy he can be a nice addition to any fantasy roster.

Tampa Bay

The Rays, in their first playoff appearance, are making a name for themselves and fast. They are leading the Central Division Champs two games to none in a short 5-game ALDS.

Here are a few things to take note of for the 2009 Fantasy Season.

Evan Longoria is showing he is not just a regular season performer but a post season hero as well. He is currently batting .571 with 4hits which includes 2HRs. Look for his value to sky-rocket next year if he continues his successful post-season. If the Rays make the ALCS or even the World Series other fantasy owners will start to recognize his Longoria's ability to crush the ball.

Rocco Baldelli is back and has quietly put himself back on some hardcore fantasy player's radars. After another setback in spring training from a mitocondrial disorder that landed him on the 60-Day DL he has come back to provide the Rays with some pop off the bench. Owners should make sure his name is on your draft sheets, if he continues to stay healthy, because Baldelli might be that sleeper that can bring you some hitting stats (.275-.285AVG, 15-25HRs, 75-100RBIs, and throw a hand full of steals in as well). The only thing holding him back is his injuries. If he can stay healthy most owners can grab him near the end of the 2009 fantasy draft as a 4th/5th outfielder.

Watch the Radar

Here are a few guys you need to keep an eye out and make sure they don't leave your radar.

Andruw Jones of the Braves. He is expected to return after the All-Star break if all goes well. Currently, he is in the minors for a rehab stint. Most owners cut him loose and he should be sitting on the FA list. If you have a spot on your bench or a DL spot go out and grab him and stash him away. If he can live up to his old power and the $18million contract, he could be a steal for the second half.

Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals is recovering from right elbow surgery and should have returned by the All-Star break but has recently hit a snag in his recovery. It seem like the Cardinals are going to take things extremely slow and hope he can come back for the stretch run. If the Cardinals are in a play-off race you will Carpenter back but if they are completely out Carpenter will be a sleeper for the 2009 fantasy season.

Fuentes and Street of the Rockies and A's respectively are both rumoured to be on the trading block. This is terrible news for owners because if they are traded they will most likely turn into set-up men and would destroy all fantasy value. If you have either player I would try to and see if anyone wants to take their services off your hands. Try to sell these guys to another team that is on the bottom of the saves category, don't sell to the competition. Make sure to keep an eye out on this situation.

Moises Alou of the Mets is suppose to return to the lineup in the next week or two but the Mets are going to take extreme caution with this player...he is old and brittle. If you have room on your team try and pick him up because when he is not injured he produces for fantasy owners. He is available in almost all leagues. Take a quick peak on the FA list and see if he is there, if so, take a chance on him.

Richie Sexson of the Mariners is not finding it pleasant due to the fact that rumours are swirling that he is going to be out very soon. So far this season he hasn't produced and many owners have cut ties with him a long time ago. If you look at his stats he is a .284 hitter after the All-Star break and .244 before so if you have a spot on your bench maybe this is the time to grab him and stash him there and see if he gets hot. If he can go on one of his tears he can easily hit 15-20HR's in the second half and still give you the decent AVG (.284) as well. If you are in desperate need of power this guy might be your solution.

Kenny Lofton is still sitting on the side and waiting for a contract to be handed to him. This guy, even at the ripe age of 41, still has something in him to help fantasy owners. Last season, at 40 years of age, he produced 23SB's and hit .296 in 490AB's. Looking at those numbers, I am curious on the reason why he hasn't been dealt a contract. As a veteran he can still produce on the field and hopefully could still help the younger guys out. I have that he is demanding too much money and when his price goes down teams will be there with the paper and pen. Owners, make sure to keep an eye out for Lofton because he can easily put up 10-15SB's in the second of the season while hitting .275.

Barry Bonds is sitting, just like Lofton, without a contract this season. After finishing his legal issues for this year (he has court dates set for 2009) Bonds is waiting for a club to offer him a contract. The problem is no one is willing to go out and sign this homerun king (I use the term loosely) because of what their fans might do. Honestly, I think it is a mistake in not signing him. Bonds is still able to produce as a DH (2007: .276, 28HRs, 66RBIs, 132BBs, 5SBs, and only 54Ks in 340AB's) and would bring a team a left handed bat. If he is signed, ALL fantasy owners should pick him up ASAP.

Rocco Baldelli of the Rays is still trying to make his way back to the Majors after being sidelined with a mitocondrial disorder that cause fatigue in his legs. This guy, if healthy, has the potential to produce 20HRs and 20SB's but the problem is inability to stay healthy. Just keep him in the back of your mind just in case he finds a way to get healthy and stay healthy.