Fantasy Baseball : Is Sammy Sosa for "REAL?" : Fantasy Dr X: Strike Zone

Former slugger Sammy Sosa got two more hits Tuesday, and his comeback with the Texas Rangers is going extremely well, at least in “Friendly” games.

"Don't tell me this is spring training," Sosa said after a loss to the Chicago White Sox.

"I came here to play and I've been playing good. Spring training or not, it doesn't matter to me. I could be playing in Mexico and it would be the same thing."

The 38-year-old Sosa went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against Chicago. In nine games this spring, he's hitting .464 (13-for-28) with two homers, two doubles, a triple and six RBIs.

That would be good for about 31 total FPTS for an average of 3.4 FPTS a game. Not very impressive but he has only seen limited action.

I have to admit that he has sleeper potential, but I’m not ready to jump on the Sosa bandwagon just yet!

Sosa didn’t play in 2006 after batting only .221 with 14 homers in 102 games for Baltimore in 2005.

"I'm a good player. I may surprise other people but I never surprise myself. I know I was out for a year, but give me some credit. You're talking to me like I've never hit before," he said.

"I'm a positive thinker. I never think negative. If I show up for spring training it's for a reason - because I know I can make it. I'm not here for the money. I've got money.

I'm not here because I'm struggling. I'm a gamer."

Do we believe him this time? Not for the money? What are you playing for, then?

The 1998 NL MVP is 12 homers shy of becoming the fifth player in major league history to hit 600.

Oh, I see. That is the real reason behind all this.

We appreciate your honesty and big hearth.

You are showing us that you can still hit the ball pretty well, but…..Can you hit “Major League” pitching?

Not some minor leaguers that want to make an impression on their managers and various scouts attending the games?

"I haven't taken a year off in 17 years since I started playing," Sosa said. "I feel hungry again."

Rangers’ manager said Sosa's work ethic and the time he's spent with his hitting coach left little doubt in his mind about the former slugger's chance for success.

"I said from the beginning that I thought he was going to do what he's doing," the manager said. "He's got too much knowledge and his hitting coach has too much knowledge for him not to do what he's doing.”

"When you find a guy like him with the work ethic he has, you trust him until he proves you wrong. And he hasn't proven me wrong yet."

I’ll tell you what, Sammy….If you can hit Major league pitching when the season starts, I’ll pick you up as a free agent on my fantasy teams and so will my friends. Not until then!

Do we have an understanding, Sammy?

Email me at: fantasydrx@yahoo.com or post a comment at: www.fantasydoctor.blogspot.com