ERA/WHIP/AVG

It is very important for all owners who are trying to win a fantasy championship right now to take action with respect to their ERA/WHIP/AVG. These three categories, in a standard 5x5 league, are starting to solidify. What I mean is you are all reaching high innings pitched and very high number of at-bats. So, when you reach the innings limits and games played every inning and at-bat does not affect the ERA/WHIP/AVG numbers as much.

Please go and take a look at your ERA/WHIP/AVG categories and see if you are way ahead of if you need some help with these three. If you are ahead make sure to watch your pitchers and hitters. Rotate cold players out and try and put in some hot hitters that can keep your high AVG. With pitchers and the ERA/WHIP, make sure to put RP's in if you need to improve these two categories and maybe hold back on some SP's. Be very selective of your SP's and who they pitch against. Try to put them in against favourable match-ups.

The more you do now the higher the probability you will stay ahead in these categories and the higher the chance you can climb in these categories.

Marte

Damaso Marte of the Pirates is now a New York Yankee and for fantasy owners this is terrible news. After Matt Capps fell to injry Marte picked up the closer role and performed well. Now that Marte is a Yankee is he going to be a normal RP because of the future hall of famer Mariano Rivera.

The first thing you need to do is go out and grab Tyler Yates of the Pirates. The manager has not come out and stated who is going to take over for Marte but Yates is the most likely of the RP in the bullpen. If Yates is already taken go to the second option below.

Secondly, if you have no other option you can keep Marte in your lineup because he will still give you the high K rate and maybe provide you with some vulchar wins, especially with the Yankees lineup.

Vacation

I am on vacation and posts will be sporadic at best.

It is the All-Star break so take time to just relax and enjoy baseball without worrying about your fantasy roster.

All-Star Break

This is a great time for all owners to start and hopefully finish up a trade.

During this time of year, I always try to send out offers right and left just to see what kind of returns people are willing to offer me and I usually make 1/2 deals during this time. Also, this is the time of year where you are half way through the season (10 games over, who's counting) and you can basically tell if you are going to be in contention for the title or not. The biggest thing is...BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR TEAM. Don't expect some guys who have reached their career peaks half way through the season will continue on that pace. Trade them and get some proven guys who do it year in and year out, SELL HIGH!

If you are one of the lucky ones who is going to be contending for a title make sure you have the players that can do it for you. The worst thing for you to do is look back and say you should have traded him for him. Make the trades now and GO FOR IT! Don't waste time and sit there hoping your team will win the title, go out and take it!

Harden (a Cub)

Rich Harden of the A's was traded to the Cubs for a handful of other players that don't have too much fantasy value as of right now (Gallagher, Murton, Patterson, and a minor leaguer Donaldson). This is great news for owners who have Harden because, as you know, I love pitchers moving into the NL from the AL, why you ask? Well, for one the NL is an easier league to contend with on a day to day basis. Second, they have the pitcher batting instead of a heavy hitting DH. This gives the pitcher kind of a rest every 2-3 innings.

For a pitcher like Harden, who throws smoke, this is a great move for him on the field. I predict, if he stays healthy, a strong second half. WAIT WAIT, the problem with Harden is his health. The A's have had to live with his health issues and have learned what to do with respect to precautions and I am no too sure the Cubs will know how to baby Harden. The likes of Lou as a coach should give Harden a break but we have seen how pitchers in the Cubs organization react to pitching (Wood and Prior).

If I were an owner of Harden, I would immediately sell high on him. His value is almost as high as it will get. Harden can get you a premium bat that can carry your fantasy team, especially if you can get a Hanley or Chase Utley who can contribute in all five categories. I will keep saying this until Harden shows me he can last an entire season...TRADE HIM WHILE HE IS HEALTHY!

Sabathia (a Brewer)

The Indians and the Brewers have agreed, in principle, to a deal that would send CC Sabathia to the Brewers for prospects (Matt LaPorta, Zach Johnson, Rob Bryson, and maybe a 4th player). The key player in this deal, besides Sabathia, is LaPorta. He is hitting .288, .402OBP, .978OPS, with 20HRs, and 66RBIs all in 302ABs down in AA.

Owners in AL-Only leagues are the ones that take a huge hit since they lose a stud pitcher and don't get anything in return. LaPorta is not a proven commodity in the majors but should make a difference on fantasy rosters. DO NOT grab him with a high waiver priority but if you have room, go out and obtain his services if he the Indians announce him as an addition to the major league club instead of the minors.

NL-Only leagues really benefit from this move because it adds a huge arm and whoever has the rights to the first waiver priority or however your rules are set for this kind of trade is going to luck out.

New Closers

So far this season we haven't seen a huge turnover in closers (Gagne to Torres, Corpas to Fuentes, and Putz to Morrow) but recently there have been a few injuries/poor performances that have plagued major league closers.

Here are a few things you need to know about closers and where to find saves in the next few weeks while the "original" closer comes back.

Cleveland Indians
With Joe Borowski being sent down to the minors look to Kobayashi and Betancourt to handle the saves but with the manger stating that it is going to be a committee approach don't expect all the saves to go to one guy. The safe bet here is going after Kobayashi. He is listed as the closer and has shown he can handle the duties.

Tampa Bay Rays
One of the best teams in the majors is currently without their closer Troy Percival due to left hamstring injury. Look to Wheeler and Balfour for saves. Wheeler has the experience but Balfour seems to be pitching well and converted the save last night. But reports coming out of Tampa Bay is Wheerler is the one they will turn to but when he needs a day off Balfour will close games.

Pittsburgh Pirates
With Matt Capps out for around 2 months there is a huge opening for fantasy owners to grab a closer that can give them plenty of save opportunities while Capps is gone. Look to Marte as the favourite to see saves on a regular basis but keep an eye out for Yates. These two will get the save opportunities but if you have to pick one to grab take Marte.

Quick Update

I don't have too much spare time today so I'm going to keep this post very short.

Jay Bruce of the Reds had his first multi-homerun game of his career (two HRs last night). Is this a sign of him getting out of his prolonged slump?

Matt Garza of the Rays is a legit pitcher now. He should be on all fantasy rosters.

Eric Chavez of the A's is back on the DL and for owners this is the last straw that broke the camels back. He should be owned in ZERO leagues.

The closing of games in Tampa Bay should fall into the laps the following (in order) Wheeler, Howell, and Bafour. Expect Wheeler to get most to all of the saves except if he pitches 3-4 nights in a row.

Pedro of the Mets has reached a point where if he does not pitch well in his next start he should be banished to the wire in all formats.

Randy Johnson of the Diamondbacks is getting torn apart on the mound. He has a good K/BB rate so he can still strike batters out. Wait a game or two and if he doesn't show an improvement, you have my blessing to drop him to the wire.

Brett Gardner of the Yankees was called up to the big leagues and he should give owners steals. If you are in need of steals or just lost Pierre make sure to find this guy and add him. He will steal everytime he reaches base.

Chris Davis of the Rangers is a legit power hitter. He has 3HRs so far. Go out and grab him.

Big Names Land on the DL

King Felix of the Mariners is on the DL and for owners this shouldn't be a big surprise since the Mariners are heading nowhere but the basement. He is expected to return to the mound when he is eligible, which is July 8. Owners, don't worry, he'll be back.

Chad Cordero of the Nationals is done for the season and most likely for the first bit of next season. People who are in keeper leagues should abandon ship, wouldn't be a keeper anyways, because he is not going to come back this year. Jon Rauch has the lock on the closers role and owners should be happy since they won't be losing a closer when Cordero returned.

Juan Pierre of the Dodgers is hurt and this is killer for owners. This speed demon is drafted for one reason and that is for his speed. He has 35 steals this season, which ranks him just behind Willy Taveras for the lead, and is hitting a respectable .277. If you are in need of speed go and find Hairston Jr. on the wire. He does the samething as Pierre. Pierre will be gone for at least 4-6 weeks.

Sell High

The following are guys who you should consider selling high.

Josh Hamilton of the Rangers. After playing 81 games this season, Hamilton is hitting .312, with 19HRs, 80RBIs, 3SBs, and has only K'ed 59 times. This player has never played more than 90 games in a single season which means he has not finished a complete season in the bigs as a full time player. Don't expect him to hit another 80RBIs. Take a honest look at your needs and see if you can leverage Hamilton into a huge pitcher like Santana, Webb, or Sabathia.

Lance Berkman of the Astros. What I said about Hamlton goes for Berkman. Berkman is absolutely tearing up the ball and I do not expect him to continue at this pace. Expect him to settle at around .320-.330 while hitting around 15HRs and knocking in another 50RBIs. Sell high for a pitcher.

Dan Uggla of the Marlins is on pace to hit around 40+HRs and knock in 110RBIs, don't expect him to do so. This guy is a first half player (.279, 53HRs, 161RBIs all done before the break compared to .250, 28HRs, 75RBIs after) and if need help on the pitching side, go out and see what Uggla can get you.

Michael Bradley of the Rangers is in the same boat as Hamilton. Instead of substance abuse this guy can't seem to stay healthy for an entire season. If he can find a way to stay healthy he can produce for you. Try and cash in your investment and see if you can grab some help from another player that is more reliable.

Xavier Nady of the Pirates is doing very well this season but he has never played more than 125 games in a year and had more than 431ABs. This is the time to cash him in for someone who can help you out somewhere else.

Chipper Jones of the Braves has the chance to .400 but in my eyes the more important thing owners should worry about is his health. This guy will see 4-5 games a week now and with that comes lower productivity in accounting numbers. The great news here is other owners will die for his services. Ship him out for some more reliable daily players.

Edison Volquez, Cliff Lee, Jason Duchscherer, and John Danks are all pitchers who I don't see finishing the year in the way they pitched during the first half of the season. Cash in for some hitters.