Fantasy Baseball Weekly – Who’s not but still has a shot

This week’s episode focuses on players who are having some extreme difficulty to begin their season. One of the worst things you can do is dump a top player just because they aren’t starting the season well. For example, somebody let Curtis Granderson go from his team just because he’s on the DL. Now that you’ve removed your palm from your face, we’ll continue. Do not, I’ll repeat, DO NOT drop anybody during April or May who opened the season ranked in the top 120. Along with that, any player who was drafted in the first 10 rounds in a 12-man league or first 12 in a 10. If you have more teams in your league then you do the math — I majored in Journalism.

Obviously you won’t drop guys like Matt Kemp or Giancarlo Stanton. Their upside for the rest of the season, despite Mendoza-like production early on is incredibly high. When it comes to someone like Royals 3B Mike Moustakas, it’s time you call him into your office and cut his .163 BA from your team. There are plenty of better options out there for you, most notably Atlanta Braves 1B/3B Chris Johnson. D-Backs fans remember him as the guy who hit a ton of homers after being traded here and then did nothing for the rest of the season. Fantasy Baseball owners know him as a very streaky yet still valuable hitter. His double position eligibility makes him a nice add.

If you’d like gamble with the equivalent of a Fantasy lottery ticket, you can pick up Nationals 3B prospect Anthony Rendon. He was called up on Saturday and starts playing Sunday. Manager Davey Johnson has said Rendon will start at third as long as Ryan Zimmerman is on the DL with his hamstring strain. His average at AA-Harrisburg this season was just that, average, at .292. Last season over 46 games and four different levels of the low minors, he hit just .233 with six HRs and 12 RBI. If you’re a Zimmerman owner or are desperate for a third baseman, it can’t hurt to add Rendon — just have a back up plan and don’t be surprised if he’s one for his first ten.

Finally, an update from last week. My super pick up Hisashi Iwakuma of Seattle dazzled again, but was removed after six scoreless innings and 70 pitches due to a bothersome blood blister. The M’s would end up beating Justin Verlander and the Tigers 2-0 thanks to the pitching of Iwakuma. He says he’ll be ready for his next start but keep an eye out for any word of a skipped start this week.

I love you all except that fat moron in Texas who ran onto the grass in center field, reached over the railing, took a likely catch away from Franklin Gutierrez, and then Gangnam Styled. Just…no.

Follow @Vincemarotta