By Steve Nitz

I really wish I would have been the guy to pick up Ben Zobrist earlier this season. Entering Sunday, Zobrist led was second in the Al in OPS, and had rewarded his fantasy owners with a .286 average, 16 homers, 46 RBIs, 43 runs scored, and eight stolen bases.

Who saw this coming from a guy who had never hit more than 12 homers in a season during his professional career? Zobrist has always been good at getting on base throughout his career, but the power is something new. During his time in the minor leagues from 2004-2008, Zobrist averaged just seven homers per season.

Now in his first full big league season, he has 16 before the All-Star break and is an MVP canidate. But he can’t possibly keep this up can he?

Zobrist should have no problem hitting for a decent average and will steal a decent amount of bases, but I can’t believe that his power isn’t a fluke.

For those that picked up Zobrist, you made a great move but don’t hesitate to trade him if you find a good deal. Assuming he does keep up his pace somewhat, forget about drafting him next season, as he will go much higher than he should based on a career year in 2009.

by Ted Cahill

Shortstop might be the weakest position in fantasy baseball, though you can obviously make a case for catcher and second base. But with Jose Reyes’ injury and Jimmy Rollins’ struggles, an already shallow position has gotten worse this year. With Stephen Drew heating up and Gordon Beckham on a hot streak, there are suddenly options for fantasy owners not lucky enough to have Hanley Ramirez.

As my friend watched Gordon Beckham rip apart Cleveland Indians’ pitching this week, he commented that the rookie was better than any prospects in the Indians’ organization. Yes, that includes Matt LaPorta and Carlos Santana.

He’s seen all the Tribe has to offer over the past few years, and though I haven’t had the chance to see Santana swing a bat, Beckham is probably better. But it’s not just the sorry Cleveland organization that Beckham is better than.

For some reason Beckham has eligibility at both third base and shortstop, a position he has yet to play in the major leagues. Personally I have some doubt he ever will play short, because of Alexi Ramirez’s glove. But with his dual eligibility, Beckham is worthy of fantasy note.

Shortstop might be the weakest position in fantasy baseball, though you can obviously make a case for catcher and second base. But with Jose Reyes’ injury and Jimmy Rollins’ struggles, an already shallow position has gotten worse this year.

But with Stephen Drew heating up and Beckham on a hot streak, there are suddenly options for fantasy owners not lucky enough to have Hanley Ramirez.

In his last eight games, Beckham hit .480 with six runs and seven RBI. He’s also not afraid to run, but was stole only one base in three attempts. Obviously his .172 average in his first 17 games has scared many off of the Georgia product, but that is likely a thing of the past.

Beckham is protected in the lineup by Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome and Paul Konerko, and soon Carlos Quentin, so he isn’t going to feel the pressure like some unfortunate rookies. Manager Ozzie Guillen has yet to start Beckham higher than sixth, something that’s unlikely to change even if he keeps hitting.

Drew was activated from the DL in May, but really turned on his game in June. During the month he hit .292 with 16 RBI and 18 runs. He’s not as available as Beckham, but is worthy of a trade look. Drew is historically a second half-player, hitting .326 after the break last year. His owners might be wising up to his resurgence, so if he’s on your radar acting quickly would be beneficial.

Other unnoticed shortstops include Edgar Renteria and Elvis Andrus. Neither one is spectacular, and Renteria is just coming out of a slump, but remember this position isn’t deep. But combining Beckham with Drew or Renteria will have immediate impact on your team.

by Steve Nitz

David Ortiz was a complete bust the first two months of the year. He hit .230 in April, followed by a .143 May and only hit one home run in those two months combined.

But he was a completely different player in June, hitting .320 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs.

But what Ortiz should we expect to show up for the rest of the season? Everybody knows he isn’t as bad as he was the first two months of the year. At the same time, everybody has hot streaks and I don’t think Ortiz is a .300 hitter at this point in his career.

I see Ortiz finishing with around 25-30 home runs and 80-85 RBIs. We’ll never see the same guy that was dominant from 2003-07, but Ortiz is still a productive player.

If you’re able to buy low on Ortiz right now, you would be wise to go ahead and do it.

Old and young Turning Heads
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:00
by Steven Iñiguez Ruiz
Another W and 8 Ks for Contreras
José Contreras picked up win number 3 of the season last night in a 6-2 Chicago W, sweeping the Indians in a three games series in Cleveland, and is available at both ESPN and Yahoo fantasy leagues for owners who need Ks. Since his return from the minors, Contreras has accumulated 29 K while walking only 5 in 5 GS and has a 2.18 ERA in 37.1 IP. Eight of those Ks rung up by RP Contreras came last night which was his 3rd 8 K start since rejoining the rotation the 8th of June since then walking one batter every 7 innings with a 0.78 WHIP. In his last five starts Contreras is also averaging 5.8 K per outing. Contreras is 6-2 in the last 14 games against Cleveland and his next start will be in Chicago against the Indians and will be the second time he faces the tribe this season.
José Contreras (Cws – SP)
W ERA K W WHIP
3 4.84 46 21 1.27
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Posednik stealing the show
White Sox OF Scott Podsednik has quietly collected 9SB this past month of June with only 2 CS, scoring 16 R and driving in 12 RBI, batting .319, and is available in both ESPN and Yahoo Fantasy leagues for owners looking for runs and stolen bases. With Chicago winning 11 of their last 15, Podsednik has been the catalyst of his team’s offensive outburst scoring 8 R in his last 10 games by being on base for team RBI production leaders in the month of June: Alexei Ramirez (39), Paul Konerko (49), and Jermaine Dye (48). Posednik is showing no signs of slowing down while also batting .351, collecting 13 H, 7 R, 6 RBI, and 2 HR in the same 8 games. Chicago faces phenom KC – RHP Zack Greinke, (10-3, 1.95 ERA) on Saturday, but owners need not worry about Podsednik who has owned Greinke picking up 4 H in his last 7 AB against the young righty this season.
Scott Posednik (Cws – OF)
Avg HR RBI R SB
.311 3 20 26 12
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Beckham flirting with stardom
2008 1st round draft pick – 8th overall – Gordon Beckham barely has 24 MLB games under his belt but is already turning heads in Chicago and is available in both ESPN and Yahoo fantasy leagues. SS/3B Beckham is hitting .571 in his last 6 games with 12 H, 6 RBI, and 1 HR in 21 AB. What has been most impressive of the 22 year-old Beckham has been clutch and near automatic hitting with runners in scoring position no matter how many outs, knocking in 8 RBI in his last 10 games. As of Thursday, Beckham is the White Sox starting 3B, so owners need not worry about playing time; this kid is going to get his at-bats, and could be an excellent pick-up at SS or 3B.
Gordon Beckham (Cws – SS/3B)
Avg HR RBI R SB
.278 2 14 12 1
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* Floyd’s High Road ERA mistake: Gavin Floyd’s next start against Kansas will most likely not be his last start before the All-Star game break because the All-Star game is on the week of the 13th of July not the 3rd.

Floyd’s high road ERA
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00
by Steven Iñiguez Ruiz
Floyd, more here than there in W’s but could be past there plus in K’s
Gavin Floyd picked up his sixth W Monday night over the Cleveland Indians while striking out 5 and walking 2 over 7.2 innings and is still available in one out of every two ESPN leagues. After a career high 17 win 2008 season, Gavin Floyd will have to remain dominant the second half of ‘09 to match last year’s effort but is on track to match last season’s strikeout total of 145. Floyd has averaged 5 K per outing in his last 6 starts along with a 1.31 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP, and if he continues this trend, then Floyd is on pace to surpass his career high in K’s. But before adding Floyd to your roster consider the facts: the next start, Floyd’s last start before the All-Star Break, is in Kansas City against the Royals who have tagged him with a 6.00 ERA and 0-1 record in 2 GS this season and Floyd has an ERA of 5.80 ERA on the road.
Gavin Floyd (Cws –SP)
W ERA K W WHIP
6 4.12 26 38 1.32

By Dustin Sullivan

The St. Louis Cardinals made the one of the biggest in-season transactions in a long time as they trade relief pitcher Chris Perez and a player to be named to the Cleveland Indians for infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa. DeRosa is the kind of player that fits perfectly in the Cardinals organization and there in no doubt that he will be used as an everyday player.
This kind of deal shows that the Cardinals are building a team that will win a World Championship this season. This deal has been rumored for quite some time, but the Cardinals weren’t the only club interested; the Cubs were also interested in the all-around talented player. DeRosa is the type of player that will make an immediate impact for his new team as he can play in positions that the Cardinals do not have full-time people at, such as second base, third base, shortstop, or any of the outfield positions. DeRosa will also give the Cardinals a consistent hitter to bat fourth, behind Albert Pujols.
Mark DeRosa comes to the Cardinals batting .270 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI’s, and a slugging percentage of .661. DeRosa is exactly the type of player that the Cardinals want for their everyday fourth batter in the lineup and a guy who brings a strong defensive presence to an already strong defense in the Cardinals.
With Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel getting back to full health, look for DeRosa to play most of his games in the infield at either shortstop or third base. Just think, with Pujols, DeRosa, Ludwick, Ankiel, and top rookie Colby Rasmus all in the lineup at the same time what kind of offense the Cardinals will put out every day.
For all you fantasy baseball players out there, let’s hope that DeRosa is on somebody’s roster. If not, I would pick him up no matter what. This is a guy who will produce for you every game, especially now that he is playing in the greatest baseball town in America. It just seems to me that players really enjoy playing for the Cardinals and they seem to produce big numbers when they play for an organization that treats them like family. So, watch out for what DeRosa and the Cardinals bring as we head into the second half of the season with the National League Central up for grabs.