Fantasy Baseball: Studs, Duds and the All Important Watch List

In Fantasy Baseball, the hardest time of the year to negotiate is right now. The month of April is a two headed best in that: It can potentially give us a leg up in our leagues, but it can also wreak havoc putting us so far behind the eight ball, we’re relegated to playing catch-up for most of late spring an early summer.

No matter what type of league you play in, all the planning in the world will not spare you of having your well thought out roster left in ruination. No matter how well your draft went, in won’t prevent a sudden and unexpected disastrous start.

So what is a manager to do?

For one, be smart, be calm, and for god sake don’t panic.

Today we will look at the season thus far. We will take a small peek into some of the highlights and disappointments, and we will discuss the secret weapon of every successful manager: The Watch List.

Utilizing the waiver wire and watch list can make or break a team just like a single player can make a huge impact on your team or utterly leave you scoffing at the Box scores. Right now is the best time to use such tools. Jumping on someone’s train for the interim could give you that extra push you’ve been looking for.

Immediate Roster adds

Adam Lind/OF/BlueJays

Lind is hitting a remarkable .375 in only 41 appearances with seven runs scored, 15 hits, and 12 RBI. More importantly in Fantasy, he has already registered seven extra base hits. Right now, anyone on the Jays is a great pick as the entire team is hot and Lind is leading the way. Grab him now for an extra lineup punch and enjoy the ride.

Emilio Bonifacio/2B-3B/Marlins

Bonifacio is one of the hottest players right now, and considering the Marlins have shown an overall improvement in the hitting department, there is no reason to think he is going to slow down. Grab him now as he is showing a low ownership still despite these numbers:

.487 in 34PA with 11 runs,16hits,5RBI and 4 SB and a single HR

Watch list considerations

Chris Getz/2B/White Sox

Getz is having a less than desirable outing thus far, but considering the fall of Wise as lead off hitter and the type of spring this guy had, he is worth watching and could provide a sleeper pickup in the months to come. Don’t pass this guy by just yet.

Eric Aybar/SS/Angels

I have been a fan of this kid since last year and Aybar is just starting to heat up. I believe Aybar is one of the most underrated players in baseball with no better than a three percent ownership no matter where you look.

In time, Aybar absolutely must be on your watch list as this kid will produce as spring presses on. For the interim however, keep him there until the Angels figure out their hitting roster spots; Aybar is currently ninth.

John Buck/C/Royals

Buck is hitting .500 in only 12 PA and considering the Royals have five, that’s right, five other catchers doing absolutely nothing, Buck is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Miguel Olivio is the other main guy with a less than desirable outing thus far, so watch him (Buck) closely and make your move before he levels out.

Nyjer Morgan/OF/Pirates

Finding the proper left field mixture is must for the Pirates success, and Morgan may be showing himself as a diamond in the rough. Morgan is touting .387 with 7 RBI and five runs scored. If, Morgan doesn’t make the full time cut he will still be worth keeping an eye on for stolen bases and extra base hits.

Fred Lewis/OF/Giants

There was a lot of hype surrounding Sandoval and a lot of higher hopes that Andrew McCutchen would have established himself by now; Fred Lewis has garnered all the talk thus far.

Lewis is enjoying an intimidating .417 avg in only 29PA, and if he sits at the number three spot he should continue to be a stud. Put him on the list and keep a close eye on him.

Pedro Feliz/3B/Phillies

In last year’s playoffs, Feliz started showing signs of his hitting ability and it seems to be continuing into this year.

His defensive prowess keeps him a quality starter in the Phillies lineup, and considering virtually nobody considers this guy worth anything he is a prime candidate for the watch list. At .364 with 4 RBI and 3 DBL he should be on that list if not already in your lineup.

Disappointments and Unexpected Pleasures

Derrek Lee and Kenji Johjima have been an absolute mess thus far as anyone who owns them can say. Lee—.143, 5 RBI has looked defeated since day one with little confidence at the plate, and no power what-so-ever.

If this continues, he will wind up being one of the biggest disappointments this year.

Johjima is no better swinging a paltry .182 with 3 RBI. The consensus is that, Johjima’s spring is still a preview of where he will eventually be, but considering just how bad he looks he could be more of a bust than anything.

Raul Ibanez and Marco Scutaro, on the other hand, are shaping up to be rather impressive in the early goings.

 Ibanez is swinging a modest .276 with 6 RBI and 3 DBL and considering the Phils are starting to warm up he is a great long-term option at OF.

Scutaro, like everyone else on the Blue Jays, is flat out hitting everything, He has 10 runs scored with 10 hits 1 Dbl, 1 Tpl, and 2HR with 5RBI and there is no reason to think this trend is going to end anytime soon.

Even if Scutaro slows down, which is inevitable, he still should make a fine long term investment at SS for those in the market.