Twins, Cubs and Phillies Storm Out Of The Gate
The baseball season is almost a month long, and with it we have seen a great number of surprises. The Twins, Cubs, and Phillies are atop their divisions, combining timely hitting and great pitching. They are being led by a group of players that few had at the top of their fantasy charts when the season began. That is no longer the case. These players are scrappy and well managed and should continue to put up some numbers in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at the three division leaders and their fantasy stars.
The Twins are 15-5 to start April. I do not think anyone predicted this, even manager Tom Kelly. Yet, this Twins team looks like they are for real. Even Pedro Martinez said this team was the toughest he has faced, and he is pitched against the Yankees already this season. With Brad Radke,(4-0 2.52 ERA), and Eric Milton,(3-1 2.73), at the top of the rotation, they have one of the best one-two punches in the league. For those of you lucky to grab them, keep riding the wave. SS Christian Guzman, (.324 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SB) has become one of the premier shortstops in the American League, behind the big three of Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra. He routinely finds the gaps in the Metrodome, and with his speed those are automatic triples. As of Friday he was leading the league with five. He dislocated his ring finger on Sunday the 22nd, but he most likely will not be put on the DL.
Besides Guzman, OF Matt Lawton, (.258 2 HR 7 RBI 4 SB) 3B Corey Koskie, (.312 3-15), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (.357 5-18) and DH David Ortiz (.329 5-16)are emerging as big time fantasy players. If any of these guys are available, do not hesitate to grab them. Koskie is hitting over .300 and has shown some speed with 3 stolen bases. He is not a big power guy, but he should drive in a lot of runs with Lawton and Guzman hitting ahead of him. Lawton had a big year last season. He is off to a bit of a slow start, but he is adjusting to being pitched around more often. He is second in the league in runs scored and should steal at least 30 bags this season. As for Ortiz, it looks like he is finally coming into his own. This guy has got some real power. He is hitting .333 with 5 HR and 14 RBI. Look for him to finish somewhere in the range of .300, 35-110.
Latest Articles