Bleacher Report - Articles by Dan Malato

Albert Pujols : The Man on Top

Dan Malato — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:00:34 -0400

With scores of fantasy analysts listing their top sleepers or top young players or top rebound candidates for the upcoming fantasy baseball season, the most important part of a fantasy lineup seems to be overlooked - the best player in the draft.

Especially in an auction format, the best player on your team provides the basis for filling out the rest of your lineup.

This year, the choice comes down to Hanley Ramirez, David Wright, or Albert Pujols. All very talented. All very appealing. However, Pujols is the one worth breaking the bank for.

Fantasy baseball is all about building a well-rounded team. In a traditional rotisserie-style league, you have to excel across all categories to win. It's critical to craft a roster full of players that compliment one another.

This has to be kept in mind on draft day. Simply filling out your positions with the best player available in every spot won't lead to fantasy glory.

For a player to be worth building a team around, he has to contribute in at least four of the five categories. For hitters, the traditional categories are runs, homers, RBI, steals and batting average.

Pujols will give you runs. He will give you homers. He will give you RBI. And most importantly, he will give you lots and lots of average. Over the past three years, Pujols has hit at an astounding .338 clip. Nobody else on the board (aside from the injury-prone Chipper Jones) even comes close to that.

This is critical because it sets the table for the rest of the draft. With that huge boost in average, Pujols allows you to take players like Adam Dunn, Dan Uggla, or others that pack potent power but have potentially crippling batting average. This way, you team remains competitive in all categories.

It's like drafting LeBron James in fantasy basketball. He brings so much to the table across the board, the rest of the team almost balances out itself. The same is true with Pujols.

It's impossible to overstate the benefit of that. To win your league, you have to be near the top in every statistic. Filling out your roster with average hitters that do not bring you above average production anywhere will not take to you to the top.

Guys like Carlos Guillen won't kill you, but the don't win leagues.

You need to the hitters that can help you win a category. Like Dunn with homers, or Willy Taveras with steals. These are worthwhile players, not just filler. They are complementary players that require the right foundation of power and average.

Sure Ramirez and Wright will contribute across the board, but neither has the power to compete with Pujols. He has never had a season with less than 32 homers or 103 RBI.

And though both swipe more bases than Pujols, there is plenty of speed available at all positions and across all tiers of players. Top talent like Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp, middle of the road guys like Jayson Werth and Adrian Beltre, and bargain basement players like Taveras and Kaz Matsui all should steal over 20 bases this season.

The key to a successful draft is flexibility. You do not want to be sitting there on draft day with the fate of your whole season resting on the hope of landing one or two specific players. It's risky, and you always end up overpaying.

The one guy that is worth overpaying for is Pujols. If you're in an auction, go as high as $50 for him. If you're in a traditional draft, pray for that first pick.

You'll thank me when you're sitting comfortably in those late rounds while the rest of your league tries to talk themselves into a Freddy Sanchez to even out Chris Young or Mark Reynolds and their .240 averages.

Bombs Away! A Look Back at Great Home Run Derby Memories

Dan Malato — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:49:19 -0400

I have always been a huge fan of the Home Run Derby. It's my favorite part of the All-Star break. Whether it's Sammy Sosa taking swings on a batting tee between rounds or Lance Berkman sending balls over the train tracks in front of his hometown fans in Houston, the Derby has certainly produced some unforgettable images.

With the Derby taking place tonight, I figured it would be fun to look back at some of the recent memorable derby performances.Here's how the last 10 years played out.

Fenway Park, 1999 - Ken Griffey Jr. Defeats Jeromy Burnitz

Griffey took home his third Derby title in Boston by hitting three homers to Burnitz's two in the final round, but the most memorable performance of this contest belonged to Mark McGwire.

Just off his historic 70 home run season, McGwire put on a show in the first round. He launched ball after ball over the Green Monster in left field on his way to 13 homers, a single-round record at the time. Unfortunately, all those mighty swings tired him out for the second round. He placed third, but finished with the same home run total (16) as Griffey.

Turner Field, 2000 - Sammy Sosa Defeats Ken Griffey Jr.

After managing only a single homer in the 1999 Derby, Sosa went to Atlanta focused and prepared in 2000. And boy did he put on a show, tallying the most home runs in each of the three rounds of the contest.

Sosa finished with 26 home runs that year, seven more than anybody had ever hit in a single Derby. I can still remember him sending those balls over the row of pennants lining the upper deck. Although this would be Sosa's only Derby victory, this performance would be a sign of big things to come over the next three seasons.

Safeco Field, 2001 - Luis Gonzalez Defeats Sammy Sosa

Gonzalez took home the crown in Seattle with a consistent, but unspectacular performance. He hit five, six, and six homers over the three rounds to claim the title over Sosa.

Like 1999, the most memorable performance of the 2001 Derby came from the third place finisher. Jason Giambi blasted 14 home runs into the right field stands to break the single round record set by McGwire two years earlier. He hit 20 homers over two rounds, more than either Gonzalez (16) or Sosa (13) hit in three.

Miller Park, 2002 - Jason Giambi Defeats Sammy Sosa

Giambi finished with 24 homers and took home the title in Milwaukee. Sosa placed a distant second with 18, but his monster blasts would be the most memorable parts of this Derby.

Bernie Brewer was ducking for cover as Sosa launched several balls up to his perch above slide in deep left field. He topped it off with a 524-foot blast that smacked the scoreboard in dead center, taking a chunk of it with it.

Hometown hero Richie Sexson also sent a few way back back back in this one. He finished fourth.

U.S. Cellular Field, 2003 - Garret Anderson Defeats Albert Pujols

In one of the most nail-biting finishes in recent Derby history, Anderson snuck by Pujols 9-8 in the final round to claim the crown. Anderson didn't hit a ball over 430 feet, didn't hit more than nine homers in any round, and finished third in total homers hit behind Pujols and Giambi. He did hit them when they counted and the title was his.

The best part of this contest came courtesy of the head-to-head second round matchup between Pujols and Giambi. Giambi hitting 11, but Pujols followed with 14, tying a record and earning a spot in the final.

Minute Made Field, 2004 - Miguel Tejada Defeats Lance Berkman

Neither Berkman or Tejada entered the Derby in baseball's top 25 in home runs, but they certainly delivered in the second round of this classic at the Juice Box. Berkman hit 10 in front of the hometown crowd, while Tejada smashed a record 15 bombs over into the Crawford Boxes and beyond.

Tejada finished with a record mark of 27 homers for the contest, surpassing Sosa's 2000 and Pujols' 2003 totals, indisputably one of the best performances in Derby history. Whether he was 27 or 37 years old at that point, however, is anyone's guess.

Comerica Park, 2005 - Bobby Abreu Defeats Ivan Rodriguez

In anticipation of the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the 2005 Derby featured eight players from eight different countries. This helps explain why a dynamics star like Hee-Seop Choi participated.

No matter how the participants were picked, there were plenty of home runs hit, including a 17-homer round by DominicanDavid Ortiz. However, in a stadium with a pitcher-friendly reputation, Venezuelan Bobby Abreu showed why chicks dig, and will continue to dig, the long ball.

Leading off in the first round, Abreu sent an astounding 24 home runs over the fence, shattering Tejada's single round record. He followed that up with six in the second round and 11 in the final round to finish with an astronomical 41 home runs in the contest. It would seem this record should stand for a long time.

PNC Park, 2006 - Ryan Howard Defeats David Wright

In a battle of young phenoms, Howard beat Wright 5-4 in the final round in Pittsburgh. He finished with a total of 23, while the Mets third baseman finished with 22.

Wright's first round was perhaps the most exciting part of a rather lackluster derby. He blasted 16 into that cool Allegheny air, but he couldn't keep up that pace, costing him the contest.

AT&T Park, 2007 - Vladimir Guerrero Defeats Alex Rios

It has always been difficult to hit home runs in the ballpark by the bay in San Francisco, so it is no surprise that the Derby it hosted was one of the least exciting in recent memory.

Aside from Rios' 12 homers in the second round, no other contestant delivered a single round total over nine. Guerrero beat Rios in the final by a score of 3-2.

Hopefully this year can bring some of the fire back to a competition with such a storied history. With a couple seasoned veterans in Berkman and Justin Morneau along with a bunch of promising first-timers like Ryan Braun and Josh Hamilton, tonight could be one to remember.

Jim Hendry Strikes Again

Dan Malato — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:14:08 -0400

We've been here before.

If the Cubs are within a sniff of the playoffs, you can bet a can of Old Style that GM Jim Hendry will try to make a splash in the trade market. This is the time of year that Hendry earns his pay.

First, he brought in Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton in July of 2003. He followed that up with Doug Glanville and Randell Simon in August. Then it was Nomar Garciaparra at the deadline in 2004.

Now it's Rich Harden. And there are still 22 days left in July.

The Hendry years have been different than most of the pathetic history of the Chicago National League Ballclub.

The recipe has been part shrewd dealing, part loose wallet from the Tribune Co., but the end result has been satisfying for a fanbase that felt like enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay for much of the 20th century.

The trades Hendry has executed over the past several years have established him as one of the best dealmakers in all of baseball. That, however, is only a portion of the reason why he ranks among the top general managers in the game.

The attitude and vision he has brought to the Cubs has turned this sorry franchise into a consistent contender throughout the decade.

I remember when the Cubs brought in Dusty Baker in 2003. It seemed like the first time in the Cubs' history that they actually had a plan to win some ballgames.

They weren't just going to throw a few mediocre players around their superstar Sammy Sosa and hope fans came to the ballpark. They were going to try to build a winner.

Jim Hendry deserves much of the credit. He came to Chicago with a purpose. He waited around during the offseason before 2003 and got his man, Baker, to skipper his club. That attitude has continued throughout his tenure on the North Side.

It showed prior to the 2004 season. After that dreadful playoff collapse, Hendry could have easily checked with the team that got within five outs of the World Series. He rose instead, trading the bumbling Hee-Seop Choi for star first-baseman Derrek Lee.

Lee has become the centerpiece of the Cubs' offense and the glue that holds the infield defense together. Choi is out of baseball in the U.S. It showed again following a disappointing 2006 campaign. That was the offseason that the foundation was laid for this season's first-place squad.

Demonstrating that he had a plan, Hendry got to work quickly. He signed Lou Piniella in October to manage the team.

But he was far from finished. Knowing the Cubs needed to keep third base solid, Hendry spent the extra money to lock up Ramirez, who was being aggressively courted by a number of other clubs. Ramirez has certainly proved worth the price.

But the job didn't end there.

Hendry went out and spent more money than any team ever had in a single offseason. He acquired Alfonso Soriano, one of the winter's hottest free agents and who was coming off a 40-40 season. He inked Ted Lilly to a four-year deal while lying in a hospital bed. He also signed Mark DeRosa for mere peanuts.

Just this past winter, Hendry reeled in rightfielder Kosuke Fukudome from Japan. A patient hitter with few weaknesses on the field, Fukudome quickly became a fan favorite at Wrigley.

All of these guys are playing key roles on a Cubs team that sports the best record in the National League.

That brings us back to Tuesday.

What separates the Cubs' management of today from that of the past is a commitment from Hendry and the rest of the front office to do everything in their power to make the team better.

It would have been easy for the Cubs to sit back and hope that the players they had could hold off CC Sabathia and the Brewers and Tony La Russa and the Cardinals. And they probably would have. They had the best pitching, the best lineup, and an excellent manager.

But things are different now.

Jim Hendry saw an opportunity to improve this ballclub and he seized it. He traded Sean Gallagher and three players who would have made no impact on a 2008 pennant race for an ace pitcher and a serviceable spot-starter.

It was an immediate upgrade of the starting rotation without sacrificing any of the Cubs' numerous strengths. So rest easy, Cubs fans. With Hendry at the wheel, your Cubbies are in position to handle whatever storm comes their way.

NBA Draft: Memphis Grizzlies Should Nab Michael Beasley

Dan Malato — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:03:06 -0400

On the eve of the NBA Draft, only one thing looks certain. The Chicago Bulls will select Derrick Rose with the first pick.

After that, your guess is as good as mine.

Whispers around league front offices indicate that the Miami Heat are not too thrilled about the prospect of taking Michael Beasley with the second overall pick. It appears Pat Riley might want to trade down.

Several teams reportedly have interest in acquiring that second pick, including the Clippers, the Timberwolves, and the SuperSonics. But the suitor that has the most to give and should push the hardest to make the move is the Memphis Grizzlies.

Oh, those frisky Grizzlies.

Just last January, they shipped their best player and patchiest facial hair, Pau Gasol, to the Lakers in a stink-bomb deal that can best be described as highway robbery. Sure they preserved their Spanish flavor by getting Gasol's brother Marc back in return—but the team got much, much worse in the process.

The Grizzlies finished with the third-worst record in the NBA, but bad luck handed them the fifth pick in the draft. In a draft that looks to have three or four potential stars, that's a terrible spot to be in.

That's why the Grizzlies need to make a move to select Beasley at number two.

The Gasol trade left Memphis with a glaring hole in the post. Aside from Hakim Warrick—who, at power forward, is out of position—they're left with stiffs like Darko Milicic, Jason Collins, and the ghost of Kwame Brown.

Beasley would be an instant offensive upgrade in the Grizzly frontcourt. He has an excellent shooting touch and a variety of low-post moves, which will frequently make him a target of double teams. This will open up the floor for Rudy Gay, an emerging star who seems poised to make The Leap this season with a little help from his teammates.

Memphis struggled last year on the glass, and Beasley will address that issue. Beasley has excellent rebounding instincts and a commitment to the boards. He should meet and exceed the rebounding numbers they lost after Gasol left last January.

The chance to draft Michael Beasley would give Memphis not only the short term benefit, but the long-term foundation to make a little noise in the super-competitive Western Conference. A dominant post player in Beasley, a deadly swingman in Gay, and one of their promising young point guards forms a core that a astute GM can build around.

And for a franchise that struggles to fill up the arena, they would have the star power to put fans in the seats that a player at the five-spot simply wouldn't bring to the table.

Neither Chicago nor Minnesota appear interested in moving down in the draft. The Bulls want Rose and the T'Wolves seem content with taking Beasley or Mayo, whichever falls to them.

That leaves Miami, a team with Dwayne Wade, Shawn Marion, and nothing else. They have holes all over. The Grizzlies have the spare parts to address these needs.

For the past several seasons, the Grizzlies have been stockpiling young point guards like the Hamburgler raiding a drive-thru. They've got Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley, and Javaris Crittenton—all under the age of 22, and all of whom have shown flashes of potential. Any of these players would be quite enticing to a Miami team that started Chris Quinn 25 times last year.

Also, Miami sorely needs some firepower in the paint and behind the arc. Trading for Memphis' sharpshooter Mike Miller could address the latter. They could use the Grizzlies' spot at number five to address the former. Brook Lopez or Kevin Love will be available in that slot, both of whom should be valuable pros, even if they don't project to be All-Stars.

Clearly, the Grizzlies can put together an appealing offer. Miami gets the fifth pick this year, along with Mike Miller and the point guard of their choosing for the second overall pick.

No other team with the ability to match that offer has as much to gain as Memphis. The Clippers would be making a lateral move by going from Elton Brand to Beasley, while losing their spot at number seven. Corey Brewer of the T'Wolves or Chris Wilcox in Seattle don't bring enough to justify moving down.

Only one question remains: Does the Grizzlies' front office have the testicular fortitude to pull the trigger? The benefits are there. They have the bargaining chips. Grizzly fans better hope the answer is yes.

NBA Draft: Eric Gordon, Superstar

Dan Malato — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:51:21 -0400

When you're picking at the top of the draft, you're looking for a player to make a winner out of your group of losers. To ensure that the player you select proves worthy, it is important to examine both his basketball skills and his character.

Eric Gordon, the star shooting guard of a wildly successful Indiana team, has been a projected lottery pick for some time now. By most accounts, his selection Thursday will confirm he is one of the 10 best players in the draft. And once you dissect his game, it becomes abundantly clear why.

Let's begin with his hardwood abilities. As a freshman for the Hoosiers, Gordon averaged 20.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He has a "gorgeous " jump shot that has wowed GMs in his pre-draft workouts. That translated into a stunning 43-percent shooting percentage—including an eye-popping 33.7-percent from downtown.

Measured at 6'3" and 222 pounds at pre-draft camps, Gordon enters the NBA a full inch shorter and seven pounds heavier than he was listed for IU. Still, he's a good size for a point guard, just as big and strong as those he'll encounter in the Association.

However, Gordon is a shooting guard.

This distinction has become a bit of a nuisance for Gordon because he really isn't tall enough to play the two in the NBA. His size really lends itself more to the point. Sure, he had trouble taking care of the ball last season—posting a sneaky .68 assist-to-turnover ratio—but a few two-ball drills in practice should take care of that.

Don't forget, Gordon played many of his games in very hostile environments. In a double-overtime thriller on the road against a powerhouse Illinois squad last February, he only dribbled the ball off his foot a couple times and finished with a remarkable seven turnovers despite the raucous crowd. Just think what he can do in an NBA arena during the playoffs.

At this spot in the draft, a team needs to look for a player they can count on to deliver in big games. Gordon has plenty of experience there. He dropped 16 points on Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament. He followed that up with a big eight points against Arkansas in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

Don't mind the fact that he was 0-12 from beyond the arc, or that his team lost both of those games. With Gordon, you have to read between the stat lines sometimes.

Focus on his four combined fouls in those contests. That's not even close to the five you need to foul out, so you know he's going to be on the court when you need him. Also, he showed a knack for getting to the foul line, shooting 18 free throws in those two games. He made 10 of them. That's more than half!

Maybe most importantly, you want a player with integrity that you can build your franchise around. As a senior in high school, young Eric followed his dream and attended local Indiana University. All his tireless effort paid off. It shows that when Eric Gordon commits himself to something, nothing can stop him.

Some might say that by attending Indiana, Gordon broke his word with Illinois coach Bruce Weber to play ball in Champaign. This is a bunch of bullhonkey. Leaving a respectable basketball program in complete shambles after months of whispering sweet nothings into its ear is a tiny price to pay for the chance to play under the great coach—and all-around honorable human being—Kelvin Sampson.

So it is easy to see why NBA teams have been gazing with such lust at this guy. Forget D.J. Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, or NCAA Champion Brandon Rush. Give me that loyal, undersized shooter who may or may not be able to take more than 10 consecutive dribbles and retain the ball.

That way, I can pick in the lottery every year! I've always preferred the drama of the ping-pong balls over the playoffs anyway.

NBA Finals Celtics vs. Lakers: How The Celtics Pull The Upset

Dan Malato — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:47:16 -0400

The NBA Finals begin Thursday night as the Boston Celtics face the Los Angeles Lakers.

While everyone and their sister gets misty-eyed thinking about the old 1980s rivalry between these two teams, what happened back when Larry Bird was sporting a delightful mustache and AC Green was still a virgin won't have any bearing on this series.

The Celtics will head to Game One at the new Boston Garden as underdogs. Every analyst on ESPN.com picked the Lakers to take the series and most don't think it will reach seven.

So how can the Celtics silence the doubters and defeat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers?

Here are five things they must do to hang that 17th Championship banner from the rafters.

1. Ray Allen must return to form.

Throughout the regular season, the Celtics won games with the Big Three of Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett leading the charge.

In the first two rounds of the playoffs, especially against Cleveland, they became the Big Two and the Case of Ray Allen's Missing Jump Shot. Allen shot an abysmal 33% from the field including only 17% from downtown. Those numbers simply won't get it done against the Lakers.

Luckily for the C's, Allen played well against Detroit, lifting his shooting percentages back to their regular season levels. His 29-point performance, including 5-6 from beyond the arc, in a critical Game Five win, shows that when Ray-Ray has his touch, the Celtics can score with the best of them.

The Celtics don't have a single player who can match Kobe Bryant's scoring ability.

Frankly, no team does.

That makes it all the more crucial that Garnett, Pierce, and Allen all perform at high levels throughout the series. If the Big Three can average around 60 to 70 points a game between them, that should be enough to offset Kobe.

2. Don't try to shut down Kobe Bryant.

Their is not a player in the Celtics starting lineup that can defend Kobe Bryant at the high level a player of his caliber demands. The only player on their roster that might be able to give Kobe a headache is James Posey, but bringing him in means taking Allen or Pierce out. The Celtic offense can't afford to do that.

So what do they do about defending the best player in the NBA?

Stick Allen on Kobe and concentrate on neutralizing the Lakers other scoring threats, mainly Pau Gasol.

If Allen can play even average defense on Bryant, holding him to around 30 points a game, the rest of the Celtic defense can do what it does best—frustrate ball handlers, get into passing lanes, and prevent easy lay-ups. After all, they did play the best team defense in the league during the regular season.

Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett must force Gasol to rely on his outside shot. Rondo must prevent Derek Fisher from hitting too many threes. Perkins, along with help defense from Garnett, must protect the rim when Odom or Kobe takes it to the hole.

Even Kobe Bryant cannot beat this Celtics team single-handedly. If Boston can minimize the impact of his supporting cast, they should be able to keep the games below 100, which is where they like to play.

3. Rajon Rondo needs to hit his shots.

During the regular season, Rajon Rondo gave the Celtics everything they needed out of the point guard position. Like every young player, he was inconsistent at times, but overall he shot a high percentage (49%) and took care of the ball (5:2 assist to turnover ratio).

In the playoffs, he has been just as smart with the ball, as he raised his assists while keeping the turnovers to their regular-season levels. However, his shooting percentage fell to 41%, an average that will not get the job done against the Lakers.

If Allen finds the stroke he had during the regular season and against Detroit, Rondo should find himself with plenty of open looks. If he can knock his shots down, it will open up the defense for Pierce and Garnett to attack the rim. The Lakers defense would struggle to account for all these threats.

4. Keep the bench short.

The depth of the Celtic bench cannot match that of the Lakers, who have Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, and Ronny Turiaf all available for productive minutes. But with the gratuitous length of TV time outs, the Celtics do not have to dig very deep in order to rest their starters.

The Celtics should concentrate on using only Posey, Eddie House, and the forever young P.J. Brown off the bench. Posey can provide valuable defense on Kobe and can spell Allen or Pierce. House should be used as the back-up point guard for no other reason than to keep the fossilized remains of Sam Cassell off the court. And Brown is a proven veteran with excellent playoff performances each of the past two years.

Coach Doc Rivers has struggled to keep his rotation consistent in the playoffs, but maybe looking across the scorers table at Phil Jackson can inspire him to take a less hands-on approach. During the regular season, Rivers showed greater restraint in managing his players. He must get back to that form in the Finals.

5. Protect Home Court in Games One and Two.

In a playoffs where home teams have enjoyed a tremendous advantage, winning games at home becomes more critical than most seasons. The Celtics so far have only dropped one home game in this post-season, but they have only won two on the road. Expect this trend to continue in the finals.

If the Celtics lose one of the first two games in Boston, they will be on the ropes as the series heads out to California. The 2-3-2 format means they would need to steal at least one game in Los Angeles just to bring the series back to Boston.

Facing a Lakers team that has not lost at the Staples Center in these playoffs, that is easier said than done. To stop themselves from landing in such a precarious position, the Celtics need to win both games at home to start the series.

The only path the C's have to taking home the title travels through an extended series. In order to ensure that they do not need to win one or more games in LA to push the series to six or seven games, they must win Games One and Two.

If Allen and Rondo can bring their games to the level they need to be, if the defense can control the Lakers' supporting cast, and if Doc Rivers can effectively manage his personnel, the Celtics should be able to push the series back to Boston.

Even then, Kobe Bryant has the guts to lead his team in the most hostile of environments.

Great players come through in big games, and the Celtics have three of those. An opponent like the Lakers should show what this team is really made of. If they execute this game plan, they will prove to be the championship material people expected after a dominant regular season.

Count on another title for the Celtics.

Prediction: Celtics in 7

Lance Berkman Leads Top 10 First Basemen in 2008

Dan Malato — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:48:06 -0400

Fantasy sports are all about projecting value. Sure, what a player has done in the past is important, but future production is what matters most to the fantasy owner.

Anyone who picked up Chris Shelton a couple years back knows this. So, in order to help fantasy baseball lovers everywhere, here's the first in my eight-part series ranking the best players at each position from now until the end of 2008. All analysis will assume a standard 5 x 5 mixed league. To the rankings!

Top Fantasy First Basemen

1. Lance Berkman, Astros

So far, Berkman has been the number one player in fantasy baseball, and there is no reason to believe he will not continue to be, considering the powerful lineup surrounding him.

He leads first basemen in each of the five statistical categories, including steals with a whopping 10. The speed numbers might decline, but even finishing with 20 would make him a huge contributor as a first sacker.

Also, don't expect his .384 average to remain where it is, but as a career .304 hitter, it should still stay fairly high. Expect him to finish with 130 runs, 48 homers, 130 RBI, 22 steals, and a .335 average.

2. Derrek Lee, Cubs

After struggling for two years with a wrist injury that kept his power numbers down, Lee seems to have returned to his 2005 form. That year, he belted 46 homers and scored 120 runs.

Hitting third in the stacked Cubs' lineup, Lee should see plenty of RBI opportunities and score a ton of runs with hitters like Aramis Ramirez and rookie Geovany Soto behind him. Lee doesn't steal as much as he used to, but he still won't put up a goose egg in the stolen bases category.

Although he has only driven in 100 runs one other time in his career, expect him to pass that number for the second time in 2008. Lee should finish around 125-38-150-12-.320.

3. Albert Pujols, Cardinals

Pujols has been one of the premier first baseman in baseball since he came into the league in 2001. Amidst injury concerns and a sub-par 2007, Pujols dropped out of the top three in most drafts this season.

Many of the concerns owners had regarding Pujols seem now to be unwarranted, as he has put up solid numbers across the board.

However, I do not like the Cardinals' lineup, with players like Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick certain to come down to earth. That keeps him below Lee. Count on 110-40-110-8-.330 for this Redbird at year's end.

4. Adrian Gonzalez, Padres

Just 25 years old, Gonzalez has been one of the lone bright spots for the Fathers this year. He has shown excellent power and a solid batting average.

Gonzalez has traditionally bumped his average after the All-Star break, so expect him to get even better. This young player should be a staple at first base for fantasy seasons to come. By October, Gonzalez should be at 100-40-120-0-.305.

5. David Ortiz, Red Sox

He might be a DH in some leagues, but in mine he's eligible at first, so he gets a spot on my list. Ortiz has bounced back from a putrid start to put together a very nice May for fantasy owners. Last year saw his power numbers take a dip, but his average was an excellent .332. The knee that was troubling him seems to have healed.

I see him finishing with similar numbers in 2008, with slightly more power and a slightly lower average. Pencil in 105-39-125-0-.300 for Big Papi.

6. Ryan Howard, Phillies

This spot might seem high for a guy hitting .209 so far this season, but we're projecting for the rest of the season, so I like Howard here.

First base is a power position, and you know the big Phillie is going to get you lots of homers and lots of RBI, especially with guys like Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino (the Flyin' Hawaiian), and Chase Utley ahead of him.

Plus, Howard has historically been a second half hitter. I don't see why he can't hit .280 the rest of the way so that average doesn't do too much damage. There is some risk here, so Howard still falls behind Ortiz. Expect Howard to finish with 110-45-120-0-.260.

(After Howard, I feel there is a significant drop in ability at the first base position. So the gap between the sixth and seventh positions is far greater than between five and six.)

7. Mark Teixeira, Braves

Teixeira has been a disappointment this season, producing only five homers and a .267 average. The good news is the 28-year-old traditionally turns it on in the second half in both the power and average departments.

The bad news is, his run, homer, and RBI totals have declined each season over the past three years. Teixeira's strong second half should make him valuable to many fantasy teams. He should finish with 85-30-110-2-.290.

8. Conor Jackson, Diamondbacks

Jackson had a fantastic April, but has followed it up with a less-than-stellar May. Still, he's the clean-up hitter in one of baseball's best lineups, so he should see plenty of run scoring and producing opportunities.

Jackson has been remarkably consistent month to month over his career, so he should bounce back with a fine June. He also steals a few bases, giving him a value many other first basemen don't have. Count on 100-30-105-10-.300.

9. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox

The man who actually plays first base for the Red Sox has been off to a hot start this season. Youkilis has always had a great eye at the plate, and it is finally being reflected in his batting average and other offensive numbers.

Hitting in a powerful Sox lineup, Youk should continue to score and produce runs. Expect 105-27-95-5-.305 out of him this season.

10. Justin Morneau, Twins

Morneau has put together a nice little season so far in 2008, hitting eight homers and driving in 39 runs.

He has kind of slipped below the radar after a lackluster 2007 following his MVP 2006 campaign. Morneau should continue to be valuable in the power categories, but don't expect him to ever regain that MVP form where he hit .321.

Considering his batting averages in the months of August and September have been terrible over his career, don't count on his .350 average over the past month to continue. Morneau should finish with 80-30-105-0-.280.

Just missing the cut: Prince Fielder, Carlos Pena, Mike Jacobs.

Fantasy Baseball: How Jay Bruce Will Become a Five-Category Stud

Dan Malato — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:30:18 -0400

In fantasy sports, players always want to get in on the next big thing. They want to find the hot prospect, the journeyman, the rejuvenated superstar, or the recently healthy player who will carry their team to the championship. Waiver wire positions have been wasted on the likes of Mike MacDougal, Chris Shelton, and countless others, all in hopes of being in line for greatness.

More often than not, these players fade into oblivion, never to grace fantasy lineups again. But every now and then, a special player arrives that could push a struggling fantasy lineup over the edge. Think Ryan Braun from a year ago.

This season, players have a shot at claiming another such player whose name will not be forgotten any time soon. This player is Jay Bruce, outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds

Bruce is baseball's hottest prospect right now. Drafted 12th overall out of Louisville in the 2005 draft, he progressed quickly through the Reds' farm system, jumping from Class-A to Triple-A last year. So far this season, he has hit .364 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 49 games.

With the Reds' outfield struggling to produce so far this year, Bruce will immediately become the starting center fielder, replacing the free-swinging Corey Patterson. Apparently, the Reds had seen enough after Patterson's recent 0-8 stinkbomb against the Padres this past Sunday.

Fantasy owners have a lot to look forward to with this prospect. Everything this guy does in terms of offensive production is "sexy" (thank you, Talented Mr. Roto). He hits for average, power, and he steals bases. Bruce is a regular five-category powerhouse, one of those elusive players that fantasy owners seek and teenage girls swoon over.

As shown by his 3-3, 2 RBI, 1 SB, performance last night, Bruce should produce right away. He clearly has power, as shown by his gaudy minor-league statistics from this season. Bruce may not walk much (only 12 walks in 184 at bats this season), but his high batting average and speed—along with big boppers like Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. hitting behind him—should allow him to score plenty of runs this year.

Expecting a repeat of Ryan Braun's 2007 rookie campaign out of Bruce might be a little much, but his numbers will still make him a welcome contributor to almost any fantasy team. After all, Braun did turn out one of the best offensive seasons by a rookie this side of Albert Pujols over the past 20 years.

Still, Bruce will see consistent playing time on a Reds team that isn't expected to compete for the playoffs this season anyway, so there is not fear of him sitting in favor of a more experienced player. He has an ability to drive the ball that will make him an effective run producer. Hitting near the top of the lineup should also be good for his scoring and stolen-base chances.

If Bruce is still available in your league, do not hesitate to pick him up. Expect around 18 home runs, 60 runs, and 60 RBI, along with 15 steals and a .300 batting average the rest of the way for the young guy in Cincinnati. Enjoy it if you're lucky enough to have him. You might just win a championship in the process.

NBA Draft: A Decision To Define a Nation

Dan Malato — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:51:23 -0400

As America barrels toward November, a single choice will define the course of the next four years and beyond.

What is more important, toughness or charisma? Proven accomplishments or potential? Passing or rebounding?

While the rest of the country remains divided over petty things like the next President of the United States, Chicago has turned toward the upcoming NBA draft.

Holding the first pick, the Bulls have a choice to make that will shape the path that their franchise will follow for the next several years. Who will it be, Rose or Beasley?

After Michael Jordan left Chicago ten years ago, the Bulls have experienced their share of failure, suffering through some of the worst seasons in NBA history. The names that passed through the United Center are enough to make even a the dancing Matadors sick.

Tim Floyd. Ron Mercer. Marcus Fizer. Khalid El-Amin. Lonny Baxter. Fred Hoiberg. These are the guys that Bulls fans had to watch after riding that wonderful wave that was the Jordan Era.

That remarkable group of talent granted the Bulls with a staggering number of lottery selections since 1999. That number would be 11.

Think about that. Eleven lottery picks in nine years! It seems like even an average executive would have stumbled upon some talented players to build a team around.

Sure, the Bulls had some success. Elton Brand was a nice player, but everyone's favorite fatty Jerry Krause traded him for Tyson Chandler, who was later let go for Ben Wallace, who was traded for Drew Gooden (and others), who contributes little more than the worst hairstyle in NBA history and a McDonalds' tab that rivals Hillary Clinton's campaign debt.

Guys like Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Ben Gordon have all contributed to playoff teams, but failures like Eddy Curry and Jay Williams really stand out.

All of these players were selected in the top ten in their respective drafts and have combined for a whopping zero All-Star appearances as Bulls. In fact, the Bulls haven't had a representative in the All-Star Game since 1998.

There lies the problem the Bulls continue to face, even after years of high draft picks—they have yet to find a go-to player to build around.

Many of their players—the Hinrichs, the Gordons, the Chandlers—could be contributors on a championship team. But it has become painfully obvious that the Bulls' roster is entirely devoid of a player worth building around. When you have that many high draft picks, that is simply inexcusable.

The 2008 draft has the potential to change all that. One pick could right the ship of a franchise that has been rudderless for 10 years.

This year's draft has several players that could become stars for a championship team. The two names that dominate the pre-draft discussion are Kansas State forward Michael Beasley and Memphis point guard Derrick Rose.

The Bulls need to decide which of these players gives them the best chance to win a championship in the years to come.

Both Beasley and Rose enjoyed considerable success at the college level. As a freshman at Kansas State, Beasley was a beast in the post, averaging 26.2 points per game and racking up 12.4 rebounds per contest. He also broke the freshman record for double-doubles in a season, and led his team into the second round of the NCAA tournament.

At Memphis, Rose excelled running a fast-paced offense as a freshman point guard. He averaged 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists a game for a Tiger team that lost only one regular-season game.

Rose played exceptionally in the tournament, guiding his Tigers all the way to the Championship game. Scouts across the board expect both of these players to continue to prosper as professionals.

If you're looking for a big man in this draft, Michael Beasley is your man. At 6-10 and 235 pounds, Beasley is big enough to dominate the paint on Day One. He has excellent rebounding instincts and good touch around the hoop.

The Bulls have been looking for a low post scorer for two years now, and Beasley would certainly fill that void nicely. However, good power forwards are much more available on the market than point guards, whether through trades or free agency.

While Beasley could easily become an All-Star big man who could lead a team on deep playoff runs, there are other players like him who fit that same mold.

Derrick Rose brings abilities to the table as a point guard that an NBA executive would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. At 6-3, 205 pounds, Rose is built like a tank. He has the quickness to take defenders off the dribble. He has the shooting ability to keep defenders honest. He has the passing skills and court vision to be an elite distributor.

And maybe most importantly, Rose has the leadership ability to lead a team to a championship, as he nearly did this past April. By nearly all accounts, Rose is a can't-miss player with potential for greatness.

Even though the Bulls currently have a point guard in Hinrich, the list of players in the NBA right now with Rose's combination of skills is short, including only Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Steve Nash.

All of these players have led their teams on deep playoff runs over the past several years. Most importantly, they are all the centerpieces of their teams, players that their respective franchises can build around.

None of them look like they will become a free agent any time soon. That is because their management recognizes the necessity of excellent point guard play and the benefits that it brings to the rest of the players on the court.

Sure, the Bulls would be getting a good player, whether they take Beasley or Rose. But the fact is Rose brings things to the table in terms of passing, leadership, and uniquenss that make him the superior choice as the first overall pick.

The question remains, will the Bulls recognize how special Rose can be, or will it be four more years of the same decisions that have plagued the franchise for the last decade?