Fantasy talk: Max Scherzer status report

Pitching in the Tigers' rotation is tough, considering that you are always going to be overshadowed by Justin Verlander, who is the best pitcher in baseball. However, it is debatable that Max Scherzer, now that he has had his breakout season we've all been waiting for, could be an ace on almost any other team. Scherzer came into the season under the impression that he was going to be a #3 or #4 starter at best, but really opened some eyes throughout the entire season, and especially down the stretch.

Scherzer was drafted in the 1st round (11th overall) by the Diamondbacks in the 2006 draft. He was a highly touted prospect in their organization, and quickly rose through their farm system. By the time 2008 came around, he was having success in Triple-A and earned that call-up to the big leagues. He split time as a relief pitcher and starter, but had success nonetheless. A 3.05 ERA with a 10.6 K/9 was certainly impressive, and Arizona was excited about his future with the club. He spent the entire 2009 season in the starting rotation, and had a decent season. He posted a 4.12 ERA in 30 starts, but managed to rack up 174 strikeouts. The Diamondbacks then had a major decision to face. They chose to be involved in the three team deal centered around Curtis Granderson, who was going from the Yankees to the Tigers. The Diamondbacks ultimately gave up Scherzer in the deal, trading him to the Tigers. Arizona ultimately got Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson in return. The Diamondbacks knew that giving up Scherzer was a risk, considering that he had such high upside. Generally when a pitcher goes from the National League to the American League, his numbers take a slight hit due to the tough hitters in the AL, but this was not the case with Scherzer. He had his first true good season in 2010, posting a 3.50 ERA in 31 starts while striking out 184. With that being said, Detroit expected him to continue his success in 2011, but that did not happen. He struggled all year long, and let up more than his fair share of hits, but managed to still strike out 174 in 195.0 innings. 

Coming into the season, I'd be the first person to tell you that Scherzer would be a #3 pitcher at best. I've always envisioned him as an innings eater with explosive stuff when he is on his A game, and that is sort of how I still view him. He did have a great 2012 season, posting a 3.74 ERA in 32 starts while racking up 231 strikeouts in only 187.2 innings. For the most part, he was fantastic, but honestly I would have liked to see him be more of a consistent pitcher. I say that because some nights I would see him throwing, lets say 7 innings for example, and striking out 11 hitters with 1 or 2 walks, but on the other nights I'd see the complete opposite. On his bad days he would go around 4 innings with 3-4 walks and 4-5 strikeouts. With that being said, Scherzer is not consistent enough to be a consistent performer. Could he change that? Of-course, but that is my opinion. 

Granted, the guy had an amazing season, and is deserving of the credentials that he has received. However, looking ahead toward the 2013 fantasy season I wouldn't draft him too early. Another thing about him is that Scherzer is a control pitcher, but does have an electrifying fastball that can really dial up the radar gun. It is odd to have a control pitcher to get so many strikeouts, because typically they generate ground ball outs instead. I suppose that even if Scherzer is his inconsistent self again in 2013, he can still be relied on for his great strikeout rate and as an innings eater. 

Fantasy talk: Allen Craig status report

When the Cardinals lost Albert Pujols last off-season, they knew that they were going to have to find other players to replace his production. Obviously they would have preferred to keep Pujols, but if they had to pick one positive out of him leaving, it opened the gates for Allen Craig, who has always been looming in his shadows. Craig finally got a chance to play everyday in 2012, and took advantage of it. He is turning himself into one of the most underrated players in the game, and should definitely be considered in your fantasy draft next spring.

The Cardinals drafted Craig in the 8th round of the 2006 draft, and sought highly of him. He raked him the minors, constantly hitting 20+ homers while maintaining a batting average of around .300 or so. St. Louis called him up in 2010 and used him in a part time role. He didn't have his greatest season, hitting .246 with 4 homers in 124 plate appearances, but did prove to be useful because of his versatility. At this point he would serve as a utility man, playing mostly first base, third base, and the corner outfield positions. In 2011 he finally got more playing time due to injuries to Lance Berkman and others. He definitely took advantage of it, hitting .315 with 11 homers in 219 plate appearances while being a hero in the playoffs, ultimately helping St. Louis win the World Series. Coming into this season, we all knew that Craig was naturally a great hitter and would see a lot of playing time. We also were excited because the Cardinals were finally sticking him at one position; first base. Craig went on to have a fantastic, under the radar, 2012 season, hitting 22 homers with 92 RBI in 514 plate appearances. Honestly, I can't say that I'm surprised because Craig put up similar numbers in the minor leagues, and if he puts up numbers like this for the rest of career I'm sure that the Cardinals' front office, and us fantasy owners, would be pleased. Obviously that is asking for a lot, and unfortunately for Craig I do not believe he will get any better. I envision him as a guy who can hit 20+ homers per season while driving in 90+ and maintaining a batting average around .310 or so, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Overall, Craig is a great hitter and as long as he's on the field, he is a force to be reckoned with. You should definitely consider drafting him next year as he is entering his prime and we know that he will be getting everyday playing time. Since he is so underrated, I wouldn't try to draft him early, so perhaps in the 6th or 7th round would be right (depending on how many teams are in your league.)

Fantasy talk: Wilin Rosario status report

The Rockies have had a horrific 2012 season, but a few bright spots have emerged. One of those bright spots is Wilin Rosario, who has hit very well this season, and will most likely be their backstop for the long-term. We all knew that Rosario had power, but he was always blocked on the depth chart by players like Chris Iannetta and Ramon Hernandez. Iannetta got dealt to the Angels last winter and Hernandez has spent most of the 2012 season on the DL, thus giving Rosario the everyday gig at the catching position. I'm sure that Colorado's front office is happy about that decision.

Rosario inked a deal with the Rockies as an amateur free agent back in 2006. He really didn't produce during his first year or two in the minors, but eventually found his swing in 2008. This opened some eyes in Colorado's organization, and they slowly moved him through the farm system. In 2010, he spent the entire season in Double-A, where he hit .285 with 19 homers with 52 RBI in only 73 games. Despite those great numbers, he started the 2011 season in Double-A, but the Rockies were definitely aware of this kid's potential. His batting average took a slight dip, but he managed to smack 21 homers in 102 games. Like I said earlier, the Rockies went on to trade Chris Iannetta to the Angels, and signed Ramon Hernandez, presumably to be the starting catcher.

This season Rosario managed to break camp with the team, but was on the roster as the backup catcher behind Hernandez. Well Hernandez would go on to have a string of injuries, and next thing you know Rosario is the starting catcher. He has definitely taken advantage of the opportunity. He currently has 25 homers with 66 RBI while hitting .259 in 106 games. The batting average isn't very pretty, but that home run rate is appealing. He is definitely going to be an interesting player to watch in 2013, and I expect him to reach the 30+ home run mark sometime in his career.

There are plenty of catchers out there in fantasy baseball. Usually it is smart to draft a catcher in the later rounds due to that surplus of talent. My advice to you would be to draft Rosario in the later rounds as a sleeper pick in 2013. I strongly believe that he will only get better, and whenever you see a young hitter at Coors Field, its definitely smart to at least take a flier on him.

Fantasy talk: Billy Butler status report

The Royals have had yet another dreadful season in 2012, but their cornerstone player, Billy Butler, is having a great season. It seems like Butler has been with the Royals for a long time, but its only been 5 years. He has definitely lived up to his hype, and is really developing into a solid baseball player, thus making him a safe pick in fantasy baseball.

The Royals drafted Butler in the 1st round of the 2004 draft expecting that he would bring the franchise around. The guy absolutely crushed the ball in the minor leagues. In 2005, at the lower levels of the minor leagues, he hit .340 with 30 homers and 110 RBI in 121 games. He kept moving through the farm system, and got the call to the big leagues in 2007. He went on to hit .292 with 8 homers in 92 games that year, and the Royals made him their starting first baseman. Butler had a decent 2008 season, but opened some eyes in 2009 when he smacked 21 homers and 51 doubles in 159 games while maintaining a nice batting average of .301. That was when the Royals knew that Butler was going to be a keeper. In 2010-2011, Butler pretty much continued to be a consistent hitter. One knock about Butler is that he doesn't possess much power, and that is odd for a first baseman. In 2010 he hit 15 homers, and in 2011 he hit 19. When the Royals called up Eric Hosmer last year, Butler lost his first baseman job (not because he wasn't performing) and was converted into a designated hitter. 

Coming into this season, I would have expected Butler to simply put up the same stats as he did in the previous 3-4 seasons. I drafted him thinking that he would hit slightly over .300 with maybe 15 homers if I was lucky. I also knew that he was a double's machine, therefore making him a great pick. Butler has actually played way better than I thought he would this year, and is probably the best hitter on the Royals at the moment. (I don't know how big of an accomplishment that is, but it stands for something.) He has hit .311 with 26 homers and 93 RBI in 143 games this year. He has 25 doubles, which is well below his career norm, but I'm definitely not worried about that. Butler has turned himself into one of the most reliable players in the game, and is getting better and better. There is a reasonable chance that he could finish the year with 30+ homers and 100 RBI, and I'm sure that the Royals would gladly take that. 

In conclusion, there can be a lot of great things said about Butler, and rightfully so. He is a great player, and will continue to get better. Its hard to believe that he is only 26 years old, and hasn't even reached his prime yet. He is going to be a key piece in the Royals' organization for years to come, and should also be an important fixture in your fantasy lineup everyday. 

Fantasy talk: Fernando Rodney status report

Fernando Rodney has had a fantastic 2012 season, and could even be in the AL Cy Young. It's funny that he wasn't originally supposed to be their closer, but once Kyle Farnsworth got hurt in the Spring, Rodney stepped right up and proved his value. Now, Rodney is currently 35 years old, but that doesn't mean that his skills are declining right? If you don't agree with me, see Konerko, Paul or Jeter, Derek.

Rodney was originally signed by the Tigers as an amateur free agent back in 1997. He put up nice numbers in the lower levels of the minor leagues, but the Tigers weren't very sold on his upside, so he stayed in the minor leagues for a while. He had a few cups of coffee with Detroit in 2002-2003, but unfortunately hurt his arm in 2003, and that caused him to miss the entire 2004 season. After that, Detroit pretty much used Rodney as their setup man for most of the time. He played pretty well at first, but as the year's went by, his ERA slowly crept up and Detroit was looking to get younger. After the 2009 season, he signed with the Angels as a free agent and, even though he appeared in a lot of games, he struggled in the setup man role. He ERA was in the mid 4's and by that point in his career, he looked like he wasn't going to be anything better than that.

Now, coming into the 2012 season, I didn't even expect Rodney's name to really even be mentioned that often. I thought he was going to have a brief stint with the Rays and once Tampa Bay realized how bad he would perform, they would cut him. I think it is safe to say that I was completely wrong about this one. Rodney has definitely had a season to remember. His statistics are unbelievable, meaning that he has been one of the top closers in the game this season. He currently has a 0.70 ERA with 42 saves. He has let up 5 earned runs on the entire season. That is just crazy. It's hard to believe that a top closer like Craig Kimbrel would put up stats like that, but if you told me that Rodney would have those stats by early September, I would probably think that you are crazy.

Obviously, from a fantasy standpoint, Rodney has been great this year. But, however, I'm really looking toward next season. I honestly think, and this is just my speculation, that he MAY be linked to some PED's. Now, If you don't agree with me, then whatever, but my point is that a player doesn't just perform at this level. You can't turn yourself into an elite closer overnight. There has got to have been some help along the way. Anyway, when I look at the 2013 season, I'll stay away from Rodney. Don't expect him to put up the same numbers, but yet again, I'm the one who would've told you to stay away from him this Spring, so what do I know?

Fantasy talk: Weekly Buy low/Sell high

Buy low

Norichika Aoki- Aoki has had a very underrated season with the Brewers. He is owned in only 14% of all Yahoo leagues, and possesses a good combination of speed and power. He hit .299 with 8 stolen bases in August, and has 23 stolen bases on the year. Look for him to continue to get more playing time with the Brewers.

Jason Hammel- Hammel had an impressive start against the Yankees on Thursday, and is most likely available on the waiver wire. I would imagine that most owners dropped him once it was announced that he was going to be out for a few weeks. Pick up Hammel ASAP.

Sell high

Ryan Vogelsong- Vogelsong had an excellent, under-the-radar first half of the season, but has struggled recently. In the second half, he has posted a 5.20 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP. Don't wait for Vogelsong to fix his problems. Go with an arm like Mike Minor or Andrew Cashner instead.

Fantasy talk: Adrian Beltre status report

Adrian Beltre has been one of the most underrated infielders over the last decade or so, and it feels like he's been in the game for a long time, even though he is only 33 years old. Beltre is usually well known for playing well during his walk years right before he hits free agency, but so far, the Rangers have definitely enjoyed his presence in that dangerous lineup.

Beltre was signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent back in 1994 at the age of 16. He was highly coveted in the minor leagues, and hit extremely well. He earned the call to the big leagues in 1998, and played 77 games for the Dodgers, hitting .215 with 7 homers. From 2000-2003, Beltre was in the Dodgers' starting lineup every year but struggled to maintain a high batting average. However, the 2004 season was his final season before he would become a free agent. He went on to have his best season to date, smashing 48 homers while hitting .334. He also had 121 RBI with 200 hits. After the 2004 season he was granted free agency, and signed a big deal with the Mariners. While in Seattle, the power numbers were there but the average definitely wasn't. In his final season with Seattle, he struggled, hitting only 8 homers in 111 games. He went on to sign a deal with Boston, and had another monster season. He hit 28 homers with 102 RBI with a league-leading 48 doubles. After that season, he was a free agent yet again. He signed a big deal with Texas, and has hit very well since putting on a Rangers' uniform in 2011. In 2011 he had a successful season, and many fantasy owners chose him in this year's fantasy draft as a safe pick.

Beltre has had a very good 2012 season, hitting .318 with 27 homers and 84 RBI. Honestly, in my opinion, Beltre is one of the top third basemen in the game, and will generally be a safe pick in your draft every season. So, obviously my advice to you is to hold onto him, because most of us know that Beltre sometimes has the tendency to have massive hot streaks, and that can really help your team down the stretch.

Fantasy talk: Gordon Beckham status report

Gordon Beckham hasn't really lived up to his hype over the last few years, but it feels like a breakout year will come soon. His statistics continue to get better and better every year, and if he develops into a solid option at second base, he could be in a White Sox uniform for a long time.

Beckham was drafted in the 1st round (8th overall) by the White Sox in the 2008 draft. He quickly rose his way through the minors, and within one year he had the starting second base gig with Chicago. He hit .270 with 14 homers and 63 RBI in 430 plate appearances in the 2009 season. That earned Beckham the starting job for the next season, and he didn't play as well in 2010. He hit .252 with 9 homers and 49 RBI in 498 plate appearances. The 2011 season was very similar, except his batting average took a slight dip. Entering 2012, the White Sox really hoped that Beckham would come around and live up to his hype. So far, he hasn't done that at all.

In 2012, he has hit 12 homers with 49 RBI in 487 plate appearances while hitting .231. Beckham has really been a questionable player ever since coming up to the majors. Every year, I feel like he may have a semi-breakout season. If I owned him, I'd take 20+ homers with 80+ RBI and a .270 batting average. That isn't great by any means, but Beckham really needs to turn it around soon. I have a strong feeling that Chicago is losing patience with him, and may be planning on trading him. As a fantasy player, Beckham is, just like I said before, a questionable player. He is too inconsistent and strikes out way to much to be an asset to your team. Don't pick him up unless you catch him on a hot streak.

Fantasy talk: Weekly Buy low/Sell high

Buy low

Casey Kelly- Kelly had a very nice 39 to 3 strikeout to walk ratio in the minors leagues, and has incredible upside. If you recall, he was included in the Adrian Gonzalez deal a few years ago. The Padres will play at home for a large part of the final month, so pick up Kelly and expect him to put up solid numbers.

Trayvon Robinson- Robinson is owned in 0% of all of the Yahoo leagues. Unbelievable. The guy has been in Triple-A for most of the season but has decent power and his speed is what really stands out. He collected 19 steals in 381 plate appearances in Triple-A. He isn't going to save your season, but his speed is definitely useful.

Ronald Belisario and Brandon League- Kenley Jansen is probably out for the season after having some heart problems. That means that Belisario and League are going to share the closing duties for the Dodgers. Pick them up and monitor their statuses. Either one could eventually run away with the job.

Sell high

Tommy Hanson- Hanson has had a couple bad starts lately, and his value has decreased. Ever since coming off of the disabled list, he has posted a 5.74 ERA and an 1.85 WHIP. Hanson is an injury-prone player and isn't pitching well so there is no need to keep him. His value is only getting worse and worse with each and every start going by.

Fantasy talk: Michael Morse status report

Michael Morse has finally put it all together over the last few years with the Nationals. He has become a fixture in their young lineup and has an incredible amount of raw power. He is also one of the more underrated outfielders in the game. Despite missing most of the first half of the season, Morse hasn't disappointed his fantasy owners this year, providing solid power numbers.

Morse had quite a career before we wound up with Washington. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2000 draft by the White Sox. He briefly played in Chicago's farm system for about 2 years, putting up decent numbers. He didn't provide any power, and his batting average was around .250. The White Sox front office gave up on Morse in 2003, shipping him to Seattle in a deal centered around Freddy Garcia. Seattle thought very highly of Morse once he started to hit well in their farm system. From 2005-2008, he constantly bounced around between Triple-A and the Majors. He didn't hit the way that Seattle imagined he would, so the Mariners sent him to the Nationals in exchange for Ryan Langerhans. (Yea, Remember him?) The Nationals kept Morse in a bench role in 2009 and he just did alright yet again, hitting .250 in a part time role. In 2010, Morse began to open some eyes. He hit .289 with 15 homers and 41 RBI in only 98 games. This allowed him to be in the everyday lineup in 2011, and he has run away with the opportunity. He had a huge breakout year, hitting .303 with 31 homers and 95 RBI in 575 plate appearances. He was also 29 years old at the time, which indicated that he was in his prime.

Entering 2012, Morse was still a sleeper pick in the drafts. Not too many people knew about him at the time, however his raw power appealed to many owners. Morse was forced to miss a chunk of the first half of the season, but has hit well when on the field. He has hit .292 with 12 homers and 47 RBI in 76 games. That is pretty good, and I'm excited to see what he can provide down the stretch. Morse is going to continue to be a big power threat, therefore I'd recommend that you continue to draft him. The Nationals' lineup is only getting better with each and every passing year, so perhaps next season he'll have more protection.

Fantasy talk: Yadier Molina status report

Yadier Molina has been a name that I have hated to talk about over the last few years due to his clutch home run against Aaron Heilman in the 2006 NLCS against the Mets. (Obviously I'm a Met fan.) However, I have to give it to the guy, he is one of the best catchers in the game. He's been with the Cardinals for eight years, but it feels like its been a lot longer than that. In my next edition of my fantasy baseball status report, I'll take a look at Molina's career so far and how his future may look.

Molina was drafted in the 4th round of the 2000 draft by the Cardinals. He hit pretty well in the minor leagues, and played his position like a pro. He earned a brief call-up to the big leagues in 2004, and hit .267 in 151 plate appearances. Apparently that performance convinced St. Louis' front office to make Molina their starting catcher. In 2005 he played in 114 games, and hit .252 with 6 homers and 49 RBI. In my opinion, that isn't very good, but yet again, Molina didn't have too much upside right away, so I guess the Cardinals didn't expect him to come right out of the gate and start raking. In 2006, he had a very poor year. He hit .216 with 6 homers and 49 RBI. Right there, I'll be honest, I probably would have gave up on Molina after that dreadful season, despite his clutch hitting in the NLCS. Now, I realize that most Cardinal fans would get angry at me for saying that, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Anyway, next season he started to develop into a solid, reliable backstop, hitting .275 with 7 homers and 56 RBI. From 2009-2011, he gradually became a better ballplayer with every passing season. His batting average rose substantially, and he started to get more RBI's.

 Now, entering 2012, Molina was a safe player to pick in the draft. However, I'm sure that very few people expected that he would be having the season like he is having right now. He is currently hitting .325 with 17 homers, 62 RBI, and even 11 stolen bases. His on-base percentage is also .375 , which is very impressive. However, recently, Molina was in a home plate collison and may be seriously injured. Monitor his status and if he is out for the rest of the season, simply just drop him. Molina will definitely be a safe pick again next year, but don't expect him to continue this strong performance next year. Molina is not a power hitter, so don't expect him hit 17+ homers next year, unless, of course, he takes steroids, which is unlikely.

Fantasy talk: Trevor Cahill status report

Trevor Cahill hasn't really been a consistent pitcher so far in his brief MLB career. He is still extremely young (24 years old), and still has a lot to learn. He has a lot of upside, and if he can gain some sort of consistency, he could possibly be Arizona's ace for year's to come. 

Cahill was drafted by the Athletics in the 2nd round of the 2006 draft. He pitched very well in the minors, and was quickly promoted to the big leagues. He started the 2009 season in Oakland's starting rotation, and didn't really have a great year. He posted a 4.62 ERA in 32 games started, and only racked up 90 strikeouts. The following season he had a breakout year, winning 18 games while posting a 2.97 ERA in 196.2 innings pitched. He made his first All-Star team, and at 22 years old, he looked like a rising star in the game. In 2011, Oakland expected him to be their #2 pitcher behind Gio Gonzalez but Cahill did not have a successful season. He posted a 4.16 ERA in 34 games started, and only had 147 strikeouts. He also put up a 9.3 H/9 ratio, which is startling for fantasy owners. Last off-season, the Athletics surprised the baseball world by trading Cahill to the Diamondbacks. Cahill was 23 years old at the time, and many figured that he would be part of Oakland's future plans despite his poor 2011 campaign. The Diamondbacks paid a hefty price in order to acquire Cahill, sending 3 players to Oakland, most notably Ryan Cook and Jarrod Parker. 

Once the 2012 season started, I expected Cahill's numbers to improve because he would be facing National League hitters, who are generally worse than the sluggers in the American League. Cahill hasn't been spectacular, but has pitched like a #3 starter this year. He currently has a 3.86 ERA in 156.1 innings, and has a 6.6 SO/9 ratio, which is not appealing to fantasy owners. Cahill is what he is, a control pitcher who relies heavily on his sinker and change up. I really hope that he develops some consistency, but even if he doesn't, luckily for him, age is on his side. I doubt that the Diamondbacks would give up on a 24 year old pitcher whom they paid a lot for. In fantasy, Cahill isn't really a great pitcher to have unless he starts racking up the K's and lowering his unimpressive walk ratio, which is 3.4 BB/9. 

Fantasy talk: Paul Konerko status report

Paul Konerko has been the heart and soul of the White Sox organization for the last decade or so, and every year he continues to put up great numbers, making him one of the most underrated players in the game right now. However, he is 36 years old, and some believe that his skills may be degrading, but in this status report i'm sure that you'll be convinced to keep him.

Konerko was drafted in the first round (13th overall) by the Dodgers in the 1994 draft. He put up great numbers in the minor leagues, and had a few cups of coffee with Los Angeles in 1997-1998. In the middle of the 1998 season, the Dodgers traded Konerko to the Reds in a deal that brought Jeff Shaw to Los Angeles. Konerko had a brief stint with Cincinnati, and was traded to the White Sox in November of 1998 in the Mike Cameron deal. In 1999, he got to play everyday, and made the most of it. He hit 24 homers while hitting .294. From there on, every season of his, with the exception to 2003 and 2008, Konerko has been one of the most consistent hitters in the game, constantly slugging 20-40 homers per season while maintaining a high batting average.

Konerko has hit .316 with 21 homers and 59 RBI this season, and is carrying his White Sox club to a possible post-season berth. It's astonishing to think that Konerko is 36 years old, and seems to be getting better and better with each and every passing season. In my opinion, if he has 3-4 more good seasons, he'll be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame. Anyway, back to fantasy baseball. Konerko is one of the best first basemen in the game, and is an excellent pick every year. Continue to have faith in the man, because he will continue to put up great numbers. Who knows, maybe he'll be in his 40's and still be mashing 30+ homers per year. That would be pretty amazing.

Fantasy talk: Weekly Buy Low/Sell High

Buy low

Andrew Cashner- Cashner is currently working his way back from an injury, and threw two shutout innings in his last rehab appearances. He could provide excellent strikeout rates just in time for the fantasy baseball playoffs. Pick him up off of the waiver wire and stash him away until he returns to the rotation in September.

John Axford- Axford has had a terrible season, but Manager Ron Roenicke indicated that he would give Axford more save opportunities going forward. Axford has had a bad year, but his strikeout rate is up this year, and has the potential to be one of the best closers in the game.

Dan Straily- Bartolo Colon's suspension opens up a rotation spot for Straily, who puts up unbelievable strikeout numbers.

Sell high

Anibal Sanchez- Sanchez has played very poorly ever since he joined the Tigers last month. He has posted a 6.33 ERA in 27 innings. His strikeout numbers are going down, and look for the rest of the season to be a mess for Sanchez as he will continue to get worse.

Andre Ethier- Ethier had a very nice first half of the season, but has really struggled in the second half. He has hit .252 in the second half with 2 homers.

Fantasy talk: Ruben Tejada status report

As a Mets fan, there are several players on the team that annoy me, but Tejada is not one of them. He is actually one of my favorite players on the club, and is a rising star in the game. His fantasy value is skyrocketing with each and every year that passes, and it will be exciting to see what he can do in a full season.

The Mets signed Tejada back in 2006 as an international free agent. He started pro ball in 2007, and hit extremely well in the minor leagues. Despite his solid performance, the Mets chose to slowly ease him to the big leagues, considering that he was only around 19 or so and had time to develop. In 2010, he started the year in Triple-A, and hit .280 over the course of 65 games. With a gap at second base, the Mets called up the young, 20 year old Tejada, in order to see what they have in him. He hit .213 in 78 games, but provided solid defense, and looked like he would develop into a solid player. In 2011, he started the season in Triple-A, and several injuries at the MLB level caused him to be called up again. This time, he fully took advantage of the opportunity. He finished the year hitting .284 with 36 RBI in 96 games. He split time between second base and shortstop, and many Mets fans very pleased with his progress. Once Jose Reyes left via free agency, mostly everyone knew that Tejada would be his successor at shortstop.

Coming into 2012, Tejada was a sleeper pick for many owners because he was relatively unknown and was going to get a lot of playing time. In the beginning of the season, he got off to a fast start but suffered an injury while tripping over first base. It was a freak injury, and he lost a lot of playing time because of it. Once he came back, he looked like he didn't miss a beat, continuing his solid performance. Right now he has hit .309 with 101 hits in 353 plate appearances. He has one stolen base, and 21 doubles. He also has a .352 on-base percentage, which is impressive.

Tejada continues to get better and better with each passing season, and I can only imagine what his stats will look like at this time next year. This kid is going to be an All-Star someday, and may develop into a better player than Reyes. Keep in mind that he is only 22 years old, and is still 5+ years away from entering his prime. If he can manage to swipe some more bags and continue to play his Gold Glove defense, he could turn himself into one of the best shortstops in the league. The potential is there, its only a matter of time when he'll be noticed by others. If you own him, stick with him. Don't get rid of him because like I keep saying, he will continue to get better. If you don't own him, make it your priority to pick him in next year's draft, preferably as a backup shortstop, due to the fact that practically nobody knows who he is.

Fantasy talk: Edwin Jackson status report

It's hard to believe that Edwin Jackson is only 28 years old. The guy has certainly had an interesting career so far, basically bouncing around from almost every single team in the game. He has never been able to find a permanent home, but nevertheless, he still manages to pitch well every fifth day. He is also one of the most underrated pitchers in the game.

Jackson was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2001 draft. The Dodgers chose him expecting that he would be an outfielder, but they eventually converted him into a pitcher. There was a time where Jackson was regarded as one of the best pitching prospects in the game, but his stock fell down once he posting a sub-4.00 ERA in the minors. Some say that he got rushed to the majors, and in 2004, Jackson struggled for the Major League club. He was sent back down to the minors, and struggled there as well, therefore ending his status as a "can't-miss prospect." Here is when Jackson's career gets very interesting. In 2006, he was traded to Tampa Bay in the Danys Baez deal. He was used mostly in relief, and posted a 5.45 ERA that season. The next two years he struggled yet again, and was traded to Detroit in exchange for Matt Joyce. Jackson went on to have his first true good season, posting a 3.62 ERA in 33 starts. Apparently, Detroit did not want to keep him and traded him to Arizona the following winter. He was included in the three way deal that sent Austin Jackson to Detroit and Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. Jackson went on to struggle with the Diamondbacks, and was traded to the White Sox in the middle of the season in the Daniel Hudson trade. Jackson went on to toss a no-hitter for Chicago down the stretch, and played pretty well for the most part. He started the next season on the White Sox roster, but was traded to the Blue Jays in the Jason Frasor deal last summer. The Blue Jays then flipped him to the Cardinals in a huge deal that was centered around outfielder Colby Rasmus going to Toronto. Jackson played very well down the stretch for St. Louis, ultimately leading them to a World Series title. He became a free agent after the season, and signed a one year deal with the Nationals.

Now, as you can see, like I said earlier, Jackson's career has been a unique one so far. He has gotten traded so many times and it seems like he never stays with the same team for more than one year. Now he is with the Nationals, and currently has a a 3.69 ERA in 23 starts. That is pretty good, but since Jackson was formerly regarded as a top prospect, I still have higher expectations for him.

Overall, Jackson, in my opinion, is still too inconsistent to trust down the stretch in my fantasy league. He is certainly a good pitcher to have on your roster, but I would still keep a close eye on him. If you have him, you could either sell high while his value is high, which is what I recommend, or you could keep him and hope he gets even better, which is risky but possible.

Fantasy talk: Welcome to the show Tyler Skaggs

The 2012 season has been a mess for the Diamondbacks, but on Wednesday they will catch a glimpse of their future. Arizona confirmed that pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs will make his major league debut against the Marlins on Wednesday. Skaggs is an interesting player, and seeing what he can do for the rest of the season could seriously impact his fantasy value for the 2013 season.

Skaggs was drafted in the first round (40th overall) by the Angels in 2009. He briefly stayed in Los Angeles' farm system, and was shipped to Arizona in the Dan Haren deal. Arizona allowed Skaggs to slowly develop in their farm system, and called him up to the Triple-A level a few months into this season. He posted a 2.91 ERA in 9 starts in Triple-A this year, and the Diamondbacks now would like to see what he can do in the MLB level.

I don't expect Skaggs to be unstoppable, but I can definitely see him being a solid number 3 starter. Arizona has a lot of young pitching, and it is really exciting to imagine what their rotation will look like in a few years. As for Skaggs, if he can post similar numbers in the majors like he did in the minors, I would seriously consider picking him up. He consistently put up great strikeout numbers while in the minors, and we fantasy owners like those strikeouts. Overall, Skaggs is a great buy low option and picking him up may be an under the radar move that could put your team on the top.

Fantasy talk: Jaime Garcia status report

Jaime Garcia has been an important player for the Cardinals ever since he first appeared in the show in 2008. Unfortunately, he has had some health problems, and that has restricted him from pretty much having a breakout season. Garcia has been a questionable player in the fantasy baseball world, but owners are still hanging onto him, waiting for him to break out.

Garcia was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2005 draft by the Cardinals. He put up very solid numbers in the minor leagues, and got the call to the big leagues in 2008. That year he had a brief stint with St. Louis, mainly working out of the bullpen. When the season was over, Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery, and that ultimately wiped out most of his 2009 season. However, at the end of the 2009 season, he pitched a few games in the minors, and played extremely well. In 2010, Garcia had a semi breakout year. He had a 13-8 record with a 2.70 ERA in 28 starts. He was slowly emerging as the team's #3 pitcher behind Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. The following season he had a good year, but failed to post the same numbers as the previous season. He pitched to a 3.56 ERA in 32 games started. Now entering this season, Garcia was an underrated, pretty much a no-named pitcher that was a decent sleeper pick. Although his health has always been a concern, it seems like fantasy owners, for the most part, just had a hunch about Garcia and picked him. Today is August 21, and Garcia has a 4.00 ERA in 12 starts. He hasn't been healthy for most of the season, therefore making his fantasy owners upset.

I'm still waiting for Garcia to have a true breakout season. His has very nice upside, but I can tell that health is going to be an issue for him throughout his career. Overall, if you have him this year, I would just hold onto him but if he goes on the disabled list yet again sometime within the next four or five weeks, just get rid of him.

Fantasy talk: Josh Beckett status report

Following the collapse of the Red Sox last season, there were several reports that indicated that pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey had trouble staying focused on baseball. Supposedly they were playing video games, drinking beer, and eating fried chicken in the team's clubhouse. This angered many baseball fans, and rightfully so. Some could say that this began the downfall of Josh Beckett. 

Beckett was drafted in the first round, 2nd overall, by the Marlins in the 1999 draft. He put up unbelievable numbers in the minors, and got the call to the big leagues in 2001. That season he had a brief cup of coffee with Florida, and pitched well in his four starts down the stretch. Before the 2002 season, Baseball America ranked him as the #1 prospect in baseball. At the time, the future of the Marlins looked great. Beckett was set to be a cornerstone player along with Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. That didn't quite go as well as Florida's front office imagined. After the 2007 season, Willis and Cabrera was shipped to Detroit, and the Marlins' future was in doubt. Two years prior to that, Beckett was coming off of 3 injury prone seasons and Florida decided to package him in the blockbuster deal. They traded him to Boston, and Florida ultimately got Hanley Ramirez in return. In his first few years in Boston, Beckett would have several inconsistent starts and would drive us fantasy owners crazy. Last season, he posted very nice numbers. His ERA was 2.89 and he struck out 175 hitters while winning 13 games. 

Coming into this season, I doubt that many fantasy baseball players trusted Beckett, despite his great performance in 2011. Everyone knows that he is one of the most inconsistent players in the MLB, so I would imagine that he didn't get drafted very early. Today is August 20, and Beckett has a 5.23 ERA in 21 starts. He hasn't been able to stay healthy, and his work ethic has been questioned several times. Boston has tried to trade him, and may find a taker in the next few days or weeks. 

Fantasy-wise, Beckett has been one big headache. He is a clubhouse cancer and a fantasy team killer. I wouldn't recommend you getting him, even if you are buying him low. There is no telling on when he might have a good start, sort of like James Shields and Francisco Liriano. The only way I see Beckett putting up consistent numbers would be if you have him pitch in PETCO Park, which is notorious for having great pitching duels due to its pitcher-friendly confines. Obviously a trade to San Diego is unlikely, so in other words, do yourself a favor and don't even consider this guy. 

Fantasy talk: Weekly Buy low/Sell high

Buy low

Gregor Blanco- Now that Melky is out for the season, Blanco should see everyday playing time out in the outfield. Blanco has shown that he can swipe some bases, stealing 19 bases on the year. He also has some pop to hit bat, slugging 5 homers in 350 plate appearances. The stolen bases are really what are appealing to fantasy owners, and he should be picked up ASAP.

Jon Rauch- Manager Terry Collins has shown a lot of faith in Rauch over the last few games. He's been having Rauch come into the game in tight spots. With Frank Francisco being ineffective over his last few games, Rauch may get the nod for the closer's job soon.

Darin Mastroianni- Just like Blanco, Mastroianni can swipe a few bases when you need him to. He has 14 stolen bases in a part time role this season, and with Denard Span currently on the disabled list, look for Mastroianni to get a bulk of playing time. Another thing to look at is he had 30 and 45 stolen bases in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Sell high

James McDonald- McDonald's value isn't very high right now, but look for him to get even worse in the second half. It really seems like the good times for McDonald are over, and there are rumors that he could get replaced by Kevin Correia. He currently has a 8.71 ERA in the second half, and the Pirates will not remain patient through his command problems.

Jarrod Parker- I'm a huge Jarrod Parker fan, but his ERA has been on a steady climb since July 2nd. Keep in mind that Parker has thrown more innings this year than in any professional season, and it seems like including Parker in a larger deal would be smart considering that his stats look pretty good at the moment.