Weekly Fantasy Touts: June 26 - July 2

By Michael Salfino

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Jhonny Peralta, SS, Indians: He's been on fire since being benched for three-days to clear his head. Has returned to the No. 3 hole in a good Cleveland lineup.

Jeff Weaver, P, Angels: Fantasy baseball has labeled him "the stinky Weaver" (as opposed to phenom brother Jared). But Jeff gets two starts off an impressive three weeks that have seen a tremendous spike in his K-rate (24 punch-outs in 24 innings).

Bench 'em

Justin Verlander, P, Tigers: He says his declining velocity (which is still over 95 MPH) is due to a decrease in excitability. But it's more likely due to an increased workload, which never exceeded 130 innings before '06.

Jeremy Sowers, P, Indians: He's in line for only one start this week. Don't buy him as a top prospect despite the sparking ERA in AAA because he was striking out less than five per nine innings there. That projects to under four in the majors, which is not nearly enough to survive, let alone thrive.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Jose Valentin, 2B, Mets: He's entrenched as starter with an OPS of almost .900. Valentin has raised his average from .214 to .300 since becoming a regular.

Anthony Reyes, P, Cardinals: Reyes was dominant last week against a great White Sox team in his return from AAA, where he was lights out (65 Ks, 8 BBs in 71 innings).

Bench 'em

Chad Billingsley, P, Dodgers: He's laboring as a 21-year-old rookie, which should never surprise. The pitch counts are too high too early and he's not missing enough bats (just four Ks in his first 10 innings).

Moises Alou, OF, Giants: Last week, he complained of not being able to bend over without searing back pain. Expect any returns going forward to be diminishing and make sure he's on your bench until he at least can tie his own shoes.

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Weekly Fantasy Touts: June 19 - 25

By Michael Salfino

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Danny Haren, P, A's: Yes, he's got one start in Colorado this week, but also is slated to pitch in San Francisco. Haren's red hot right now, has almost five times as many Ks as BBs and has stopped giving up the long ball.

Rocco Baldelli, OF, Devil Rays: He came back swinging and is playing the field, so there are no worries during the entire inter-league slate. He'll quickly find his 2003 form.

Bench 'em

Todd Jones, P, Tigers: Just awful and has no business closing games in Detroit, as the Tigers have lights-out reliever Joel Zumaya throwing 102 MPH. Through his first 24 innings, Jones had seven strikeouts.

Jason Giambi, DH, Yankees: Troublesome hand and wrist injuries have put his status next week in doubt. With the Yanks traveling to Philly, Giambi can't DH and you can't risk wasting a roster spot in mixed leagues on a pinch hitter.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Greg Maddux, P, Cubs: He hasn't benefitted at all this year from the Cubs sparkling defense. That bad luck on balls in play will be corrected. Plus, he gets two starts this week (at Cleveland, at Minnesota).

Omar Vizquel, SS, Giants: He's a salty sea dog, but you have to respect the stats. With twice as many walks as strikeouts, Vizquel's likely to maintain a plus-.300 average. He'll remain useful in mixed leagues if he steals 15-to-20 bags.

Bench 'em

Shawn Hill, P, Nationals: Doesn't miss enough bats to bet on this week in his lone start against the Boston, which, like all teams, tees off on the in-between stuff.

Cole Hamels, P, Phillies: Even with the Yanks defanged with the losses of Sheffield, Matsui and maybe even Giambi, you don't want your one weekly start to be versus them in that band box in Philly.

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Weekly Fantasy Touts: June 12 - 18

By Michael Salfino

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Put 'em in

David DeJesus, OF, Royals: He's being ignored in mixed leagues, but a .900 OPS going forward is possible and he's red hot since returning from the disabled list.


Mark DeRosa, 2B, Rangers: This year's David Delucci. We've mentioned him here before, but he's owned in only one percent of mixed leagues. DeRosa spends a lot of time batting fifth in a potent Rangers lineup and also qualifies in the outfield.

Ervin Santana, P, Angels: The Angels have some decisions to make when Bartolo Colon returns next weekend. But Santana has pitched well and is scheduled for two home starts this week against poor offenses (Royals, Padres).

Bench 'em

Bobby Crosby, SS, A's: He's been battling a sore finger and then was hit in the hand with a pitch (though x-rays were negative). Crosby is sacrificing average for still-not-enough power (striking out about 20 percent of at bats).

Melky Cabrera, OF, Yankees: He's a pesky hitter with no speed and pop-gun power. So, he's roster-worthy only in AL-only leagues. Don't buy into the New York hype machine, which is in overdrive after a game-saving catch last week against Boston.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Andy Pettitte, P, Astros: He's been slumping, but is still striking out enough batters. This week, he gets two starts against the worst hitting teams in the majors (at Cubs, Royals).

David Ross, C, Reds: Maybe older catchers suddenly become potent hitters due to seeing all those pitches from the perfect vantage point (behind the dish). With over 1,000 OPS points and six homers in his first 80 at bats, Ross deserves a start in all formats.

Bench 'em

Juan Pierre, OF, Cubs: There's no way mixed leaguers need steals bad enough to roster an OF with five RBI in his first 246 at bats.

Lastings Milledge, OF, Mets: Xavier Nady is so worried about being Wally Pipped by Milledge that he's set to return from an appendectomy on Tuesday (about two weeks early). Will the dynamic Milledge become a bench player? Shipped back to AAA for regular at bats? That's too much uncertainty for mixed leaguers.

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Weekly Fantasy Touts: June 5 - 11

By Michael Salfino

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Jorge Cantu, 2B, Devil Rays: He'll be back sometime during the week from his foot injury, so monitor his status closely so as not to lose ABs from this power-hitting middle-infielder.

Rich Harden, P, A's: Finally back from the DL. Yes, he gets only one start this week against the Yankees, but that's not such a tough matchup anymore with both Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield out indefinitely.


Bench 'em

Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers: He's been battling back pain all season. 2005 looks like a career year. He hit .343 on balls in play last year and is now back to his career rate of about .300.

Eric Bedard, P, Orioles: So much for the magic of Leo Mazzone. Bedard's down to about five Ks per game from eight in '05. And he's allowing homers twice as frequently on fly balls (about 15 percent compared to the league average of 10 percent).

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Freddy Sanchez, 3B, Pirates: Ended last week as the NL's leading hitter. GM David Littlefied is on record saying Joe Randa gets his job back when he returns from the DL next week. Manager Jim Tracy strongly suggested he disagrees.

Jorge Julio, P, Diamondbacks: Julio was anointed closer by Arizona until Jose Valverde works out his recent troubles in middle relief. Julio is not reliable, but is able to dominate hitters and is worth a flyer on the small chance he settles in long-term.

Bench 'em

Tony Womack, 2B, Cubs: Like Jason in those "Friday the 13th" movies, Womack just won't stay dead. With the acquisition of Phil Nevin and imminent return of Derrek Lee, Todd Walker moves back to second (sending Womack to the bench).

Oliver Perez, P, Pirates: We liked what we saw in his great start last week against the Astros. But he goes just one time this week and it's in Colorado, so keep him reserved in all formats.

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