Michael Cuddyer Prior to the 2006 season, many baseball fans knew Michael Cuddyer as clubhouse magician extraordinaire. OK, so maybe it was only Twins loyalists who knew about these locker room antics, but let's face it: The 1997 Gatorade High School Player of the year was falling short of expectations.
After several disappointing seasons pocked by a variety of injuries, the Minnesota Twins 28-year-old right fielder broke through in 2006 with a .284 batting average, 102 runs scored, 109 RBI, and 24 home runs. But here's where it gets even more exciting: With continued protection from reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau and should-be MVP Joe Mauer, it's safe to say that Cuddyer will continue to see plenty of pitches to hit.
One could do worse than being the salami in a Morneau-Mauer sandwich.
Eric Byrnes
At 31 years of age, Eric Byrnes is the improbable veteran leader of the youthful Arizona Diamondbacks. Byrnes-ey, as he's known in certain circles, became a fan favorite in Oakland for his scruffy looks, scrappy style, and local-boy-done-right backstory.
But young Eric never quite mastered the ways of the bat with the A's, failing to crack more than 20 home runs in a year. Frequent injuries helped to define his tenure in Oakland, mostly due to his awesome effort in tracking down gap balls to the outfield.
After spending 2005 bouncing between the Oakland, Colorado, and Baltimore, the Byrnes-inator found a new home in Arizona last year—and discovered a sweet stroke we never knew he had, knocking out 26 dingers to go along with a career-high 25 stolen bases (roto players take note). More importantly, he managed to stay healthy enough to play in 143 games, matching his career high.
Heading into 2007, Eric Byrnes knows that he has a great thing going in the desert. And, more importantly, few Fantasy leaguers are going to believe him. Taking Byrnes as a late-round sleeper is an obvious choice, especially for anyone seeking a surprise 30-HR season.
Adrian Gonzales
Adrian Gonzales is only a few years removed from being a kid, and he's fulfilling every kid's dream by playing first base for his hometown team. After taking over for the injured Ryan Klesko at the beginning of last season, Gonzalez put together a breakout performance for the Padres.
But did anyone outside of San Diego even notice?
Adrian's .864 OPS with 24 home runs has many San Diegans licking their chops this season. And their stomachs have probably been growling for quite some time, as Gonzales was the first pick of the entire 2000 draft. Seven years later, Adrian's potential is finally manifesting itself.
Look for the youngster to surpass the 30 HR plateau with no problems. Sure, the San Diego batting order does him no favors, but that won't matter: His talent will more than compensate.
Barry Bonds
I know, I know. You hate Barry Bonds. With a passion. You can't stand the guy and everything he stands represents. In fact, you probably wish the Giants left fielder would just retire, crawl into a dark hole, and let all us regular honest folks forget he ever existed.
But that's not going to happen. And if you want to have a chance at enjoying this baseball season without that sense of nagging hate, then here's some timely advice for you.
First, forget about the suspicions of performance enhancement. Forget about Bonds's reputation as a surly, baby-eating SOB. Forget about the recliner, the "I'm Barry Bonds and You're Not" magazine cover, the wacky press conferences, the personal trainers, the cream, the clear, and the wild speculation about his growing hat size.
Now, close your eyes, take a deep breath, in through your nose and out through your mouth, and repeat the following slowly to yourself in a calm and relaxed manner:
"Barry Lamar Bonds is the greatest baseball player ever to grace God's green Earth. This year is likely his last in a Major League uniform and the year in which he will surely break the all-time home run record, and I will appreciate him for all that he is and marvel at his wondrous skill."
There now, don't you feel a whole heck of a lot better? When dealing with Barry, one has to embrace the truth. Barry will eclipse Hank Aaron's record this year. Barry will go later in any Fantasy draft because people don't like him or believe in his passion. And you will gain Fantasy points as a result.
saving...
It doesn't matter which Fantasy Baseball league you're in, or how it's scored, one thing remains the same: Home runs count. And in most leagues, they count for a whole lot.
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