Simon Says

AL West Progress Report

AL West Fantasy Report: Week 21
Contributed by: Jacob Simon

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (72-53, 1st place): The hard-charging A’s have falln flat last week and it looks as if the Angels might get out of this thing on top.  Bartolo Colon has been nothing short of magnificent this year, but, as it was in their World Series run, the fate of this team will rest with the bullpen.  Can Francisco Rodriguez keep inherited runners from scoring in the post season?  Will Brendan Donnelley find his un-hittable heat?  Has Scot Shields pitched too many innings this year? 

C: Bengie Molina – A .421 batting average last week is raising eyebrows all over the fantasy circuit.  “How did we forget about THIS guy all year!”  That’s what they’re all saying now.  Molina might be the best contact hitter on this team and has his average up to .310. 

1B: Darin Erstad – He’s hitting singles but isn’t doing much of anything else.  Your fantasy first baseman has to able to mash, and Erstad doesn’t do enough of that.

2B: Adam Kennedy – Kennedy reminds me a lot of Mark Lemke.  He is a good player who many people think is below-average, other’s feel is better than he is and others have never heard of him.  Kennedy isn’t going to do to a lot for your squad, and as your playoff rounds loom, you need someone with more “pop-potential” at second base.

SS: Orlando Cabrera– Cabrera started the season as a lumberjack but has settled down.  His .417 over his last seven games was much needed change of pace.  For the Angels to succeed in the post season they are going to need their middle infield to contribute.  With Maicer Izturis short on major league experience and Dallas McPherson possibly out, Cabrera is a veteran presence that must lead by example. 

3B: Chone Figgins – This season Figgins has been in the lineup as every position except first base and pitcher.  Through all of the injuries to this squad this season, it’s been Figgins who Mike Scioscia has been plugging the holes with.  Not only has his defense improved, but he’s going to finish this season with 50 SB and a .290 average. 

OF: Vladimir Guerrero – If there is one constant that opposing pitchers must know when facing Vlad, it’s that if you’re going to intentionally walk him, you’d better make those pitches extra wide.  This week Vlad is going cold, but he’ll turn up the heat.  Continue starting him every week.

OF: Garret Anderson – Anderson has really lost something of late.  His hip has been bothering him and unfortunately, that might limit him to DH duties for the rest of the regular season.  That’s a shame because of how well Casey Kotchman is doing, and Lord knows the last thing the Angels want to do is move Erstad to the outfield.

OF: Steve Finley – Yikes, you really should have Finley on your team in any league format.

OF: Juan Rivera – Batting nearly .500 over the last seven games.  Tearing it up with two home runs and eight RBI’s over that span.  What a breath of fresh air for the Angels right now.

DH: Casey Kotchman – Kotchman is a great young hitter who will contribute this post-season.  He can hit for great power and will secure a starting spot for the ’06 season with a strong performance down the line this year.

SP: Colon is giving the Angels the year that everyone knew was waiting to bust out.  He is helping fans (temporarily) forget the loss of Kelvim Escobar and has his hat in the ring for the Cy Young.

John Lackey is one of the hottest pitchers in the American League.   He’s 2-0 this month with an ERA of 3.46. But man oh man; those strikeouts are delicious to have on your fantasy squad.  He’s currently ranks third in the AL in K’s with 160.

Washburn and Byrd are still a spot starting option only.

RP: Keep starting Francisco Rodriguez.

Player to watch: Make sure you don’t forget about Bengie Molina.  He’s owned in few league and might be a good late-season steal. 

Injured impact player: Kelvim Escobar

Oakland Athletics (68-56), 2nd place, 3.5GB): With young Dan Johnson and Nick Swisher having to carry a big part of the offensive load, the question with the A’s is not whether they have the pitching, but, will all four starters have the untouchable stuff in September to carry this team to a division title?

C: Jason Kendall – I don’t care what kind of leadership Kendall brings, the fact that he has ZERO home runs make him useless in most fantasy formats.   

1B: Dan Johnson – Although he’s been cold (.188) over his last seven games, Johnson is still a solid fantasy start and the building blocks of the Oakland A’s.  Johnson is owned in most leagues now, mostly because of his torrid June/July and he will contribute right down to the wire in September.

2B: Mark Ellis – Yes I realize he gets a lot of base hits and he’s a fan favorite or whatever because he’s small, but I can’t recommend him because he has zero power and doesn’t drive anyone in.  

SS: Bobby Crosby – Crosby’s July (.252) wasn’t great, but the A’s kept on winning.  Now, it’s crucial for him to get back to his June-esque numbers if the A’s lineup is going to build up any steam.  I look for him to be an upper echelon fantasy shortstop as September comes around.

3B: Eric Chavez – Chavez continues to be the major veteran influence on this lineup.  After his monumental June, he was left on the widows-sill to cool on July, but now the A’s need his bat to charge up again.  He is still one of the most productive fantasy third basemen but his .249 road batting average just has to improve.

OF: Nick Swisher – He’s a safe start in AL leagues right now, but make sure you secure him for next season.  He’s going to break out big time.

OF: Mark Kotsay – Still, he’s a great player for the A’s, but I don’t suggest having him in your fantasy lineup. 

OF: Bobby Kielty – Much like Tina Turner, he was beating the crud out of the ball in July.  Now, with the return of Nick Swisher and the hot bat of Jay Payton, it might be a while before he’s back in the lineup.  

DH: Scott Hatteberg – Broken ribs will keep him out a couple of games.  He shouldn’t on your team anyway. 

SP: Harden is 1-1 this month with an ERA of 3.00.  He has the best stuff in the AL West and could be THE pitcher to have in September.

July was probably the best month of Zito’s career as he went 6-0 with an ERA of 2.51.  August hasn’t been as kind but his two losses have been of the hard luck variety.  Hard luck or not, you just can’t lost games to the Orioles and Royals with a playoff birth on the line.   

Danny Haren has great stuff, but has been up and down.  While Haren is a great addition to any staff, it’s Joe Blanton who I want right now.  Blanton’s 2-0, 1.13 this month, check please.

RP: Huston Street was bred to close baseball games.  Get him in your lineup.

Player to watch: Chavez needs to start hitting immediately, but he is known for hitting when his team needs it most. 

Injured impact player: Dotel, Durazo

Texas Rangers (58-66, 3rd place, 13.5GB): Take a bunch of fantasy studs, mix in a micromanager, add a pinch of suspect bullpen and no starting pitching and what do you get?  Exactly.  This team is really in a fix.  As far as fantasy is concerned this team is a bevy of ball blasting behemoths.  In the standings…yikes.

C: Rod Barajas – Barajas is a good start in AL leagues or mixed leagues with 12-14 teams. 

1B: Mark Teixeira – At least he tagged his second homer against lefties this year.  Tex is one of the two most consistent fantasy first basemen in the AL and will continue to do so for the next 10 years. 

2B: Alfonso Soriano – Are the Rangers doing all they can to aggravate Soriano?  It seems like one trade rumor or another gets leaked out of Rangers camp, and it is beginning to take its toll.  Soriano is (.125) is over his last six games.

SS: Michael Young – He’s becoming more patient at the plate and is on pace for 25 HR’s.  It looks like he’s hit his ceiling as far as hitting for power is concerned, but he is the unquestioned leader of the Rangers clubhouse. 

3B: Hank Blalock – I don’t know when Hank Blalock is going to get married, but if he ever does, his wife needs to know one thing.  As long as Blalock is a Texas Ranger, he’ll continue to have an affair with the short right-field porch at Ameriquest Field.  In his last 10 games, Blalock has exactly zero RBI’s. Obviously, those are not the kind of numbers you need to win your league. Relax, you’ll be thanking him when he hits five HR’s one week in September.

OF: Richard Hidalgo – No.

OF: Kevin Mench – Hit another home run on Tuesday night.  Shrek is turning into a great fantasy value.     

OF: David Dellucci – He’s getting on base (.400) but that’s about it.  You never know when the home runs are going to come, so in your AL only league the best bet is just to stick him in your “Utility” position slot and leave him there.

OF/DH: Phil Nevin/Gary Matthews Jr. – Neither of these guys are a good fantasy investment right now.

SP: After an absolutely brutal July (0-2, 10.18) Young has returned from the depths of hell and turned around the season.  He’s 3-1 this month with three of his five starts being stellar. 

Kenny Rogers is a bum; I wouldn’t have him in any league.

RP: Cordero.

Player to watch: Chris Young.  Watch and see him finish the season strong. 

Injured impact player: No one of fantasy consequence.

Seattle Mariners (53-71 4th place, 18.5GB): At least the front office is giving all of us a preview of the 2006 Mariners.  Despite the team’s struggles this year, Jeremy Reed and Felix Hernandez will make baseball interesting in Mariner country next year. 

C: Wiki Gonzalez – Not a fantasy option right now.

1B: Richie Sexson – Keep inserting him into your lineup.  He’s fifth in AL in HR’s, sixth in RBI’s and eighth in slugging; that sounds like he’s been worth his contract this year.  Although he strikes out too much, he’ll still fall short of his career high of 178 in 2001.  As a side, the man is 6’8.

2B: Willie Bloomquist – Hmmm…no.  

SS: Yuniesky Betancourt – He’s showing signs of having a great glove, but still needs more game time experience.  As a silver lining to this season for the M’s, young guys like Betancourt are getting valuable developmental time on the field.

3B: Adrian Beltre – Over his last seven games he’s blasted four home runs including a grand slam against the Royals on August 18^th. 

OF/DH: Raul Ibanez – He’ll do the job in AL only leagues, but he’s struggled over the last week or so.  Over his last six games he’s batted a paltry .227 average.

OF: Ichiro Suzuki – .208 over of the last six games isn’t going to help things.  He’s still hitting over .300 this season but he’s fallen short of expectations.  On a brighter note, he could produce career highs in HR’s and RBI’s this year. 

OF: Jeremy Reed – He’s gold in centerfield.  Wow.  It seems that he’s on Sports Center every week.  He was a hot pick for rookie of the year but has fallen short of those expectations.  He has hit over .300 in his past six games.  However, he’s been caught stealing 10 of 16 attempts.

OF: Mike Morse– He isn’t playing everyday and isn’t making good contact when he does. 

SP: Felix Hernandez is your best option out of this group.  He has 30 strikeouts in his first four starts.  It’s not just his strikeouts or his 2-1 that is most impressive, but it’s the 1.24 that is proving to be the number that stands out the most.   

RP: Eddie Guardado is absolutely money this year.   

Player to watch: Felix Hernandez.  He has recharged the Mariners organization.

Injured Impact Player: No one of fantasy consequence.