Crunchtime

The Supporting Cast: Part 2

C Scott Hatteberg- He's now Oakland's starting DH, but since he took the field and Boston's backstop for much of last year, he is eligible as a catcher. Hatteberg has already posted 9 HR's on the year and has solid all-around productivity from behind the plate. If you own a struggling backstop such as Charles Johnson, let him ride the pine and pick up Hatteberg who has yet to disappoint.

1b John Olerud- One of baseball's most consistent hitters for nearly a decade, Olerud is an annual lock to post .300-90-20-95 (BA, R, HR, RBI) statistics. The sweetest part of the deal is that he is highly underrated and will come as cheap as Paul Byrd.

2b/3b Edgardo Alfonzo- A career .300 hitter, Alfonzo has returned to form. Battling back injuries, he looks to put up similar numbers in his 2000 campaign. It's only a matter of time before AL transfers solve NL pitching, and when that time comes, expect the power numbers to return. Although he won't steal bases, 15 to 20 dingers on the year is a strong possibility for this once highly regarded manager of the hot corner.

SS Jose Valentin- Although he mans the hot corner, Valentin logged 10 games at short last season making him eligible. He quietly posted 28 round trippers last season and his bat doesn't appear to have lost any pop. Valentin can also swipe around 10 bags and although his mediocre batting average won't floor you, he is certainly one of the top 6 shortstops in terms of power.

3b Jeff Conine- With his recent dip in power numbers of the last few years, many tend to forget about Conine's all-star years with the Marlins where 25 HR's and 100 RBI's were taken for granted. Luckily, the former all-star has regained his power. Belting 10 HR's and 39RBI thus far quietly put him among in the upper tier of the league. As the Orioles cleanup hitter, Conine will face an abundant number of RBI situations where he can shine and post good numbers all year long.

OF Todd Hollandsworth- He is case of the Coors field effect, yet with humidor balls being put into play, his stats haven't suffered. While being able to stay healthy for a long period of time may be a concern, Hollandsworth is a great all-around hitter when healthy. A .300 average, 25 HR, 100 RBI and 20 SB's aren't out of the question for this former rookie of the year who has finally found his calling in Denver.

OF Ruben Sierra- Before beefing up, he was one of baseball's crown jewels and now seems to have regained some of the magic that made him finish in the top five for MVP voting on a number of occasions. Thirty taters and 100 RBI could once again become a reality, however what manager Lou Pinella decides to do upon Edgar Martinez's return will decide Sierra's fantasy future. Remember that rookie Chris Snelling has found ways to get in the lineup on a daily base and if Sierra takes over for him upon Martinez's return, the aforementioned stats are likely to occur.