No time to digest our player updates? Well, here's a quick rundown of the top 10 risers and fallers in an early spring edition of our Fantasy Power Players, which we will do every week of the regular season.
This week's top gainers | ||
Position, player, team | Spring stats (through March 18) | |
1 | SP Rich Harden, OAK | 1.04 ERA, 18 Ks, 1 BB in 8 2/3 innings |
If he stays healthy for once, this could be something big time. | ||
2 | SP John Danks, CHW | 5.68 ERA, 10 Ks, 1 BB in 12 2/3 innings |
Prospect just might make Texas look foolish for giving up on him. | ||
3 | 2B Howie Kendrick, LAA | .439 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 10 R, 3 SB |
Entered Monday tied with Mets' Jose Reyes for most total bases. | ||
4 | 1B Casey Kotchman, LAA | .325-3-7-6-1 |
Looks like bad winter league season, bout with mono are behind him. | ||
5 | SS Jose Reyes, NYM | .340-4-8-10-7 |
Woah, any doubts about him being No. 2 overall pick in Roto? | ||
6 | 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, SD | .367-2-8-9-0 |
He's leaving no doubts who the man-off is in San Diego at 3B. | ||
7 | RF Brad Hawpe, COL | .351-4-12-8-0 |
Huge spring is just enhanced by the fact this is his age-27 year. | ||
8 | C Mike Piazza, OAK | .448-1-11-5-0 |
If you don't lose C eligibility from '06, this guy is a must-have. | ||
9 | RP Armando Benitez, SF | 0 runs allowed in 4 IP |
Injury-risk sleeper ready to go -- perhaps to Marlins via trade? | ||
10 | RF Shane Victorino, PHI | .432-1-5-12-4 |
Our steals projections on him are far too low; time for a change | ||
Honorable mentions: SP Adam Miller, CLE; SP Fausto Carmona, CLE; 3B Ryan Zimmerman, WAS; 3B Joe Crede, CHW; 1B Derrek Lee, CHC; OF Josh Hamilton, CIN; 3B Ryan J. Braun, MIL; OF/1B Brad Eldred, PIT; OF Vernon Wells, TOR; C A.J. Pierzynski, CHW; 2B Brandon Phillips, CIN; 2B Ian Kinsler, TEX; OF Nick Swisher, OAK; 1B Dan Johnson, OAK; SP Erik Bedard, BAL; SP Shawn Hill, WAS. |
This week's top decliners | |||
Position, player, team | Spring stats | ||
1 | SP Thomas Diamond, TEX | Allowed two runs in 1 IP inning | |
Top prospect done for year after needing Tommy John surgery. | |||
2 | 1B Larry Broadway, WAS | .333-0-3-4-0 | |
So much for him being opening-day 1B; he just got demoted. | |||
3 | OF Adam Lind, TOR | .308-0-3-3-0 | |
One of our favorite AL rooks got early demotion last weekend. | |||
4 | SP Homer Bailey, CIN | Eight runs allowed in 3 2/3 IP | |
Terrible spring; so much for him starting year in rotation. | |||
5 | SP Phil Hughes, NYY | Four runs allowed in 4 2/3 IP | |
Knew he wouldn't make team, but thought he'd show better. | |||
6 | RP Brian Meadows, CIN | 3.38 ERA in 5 1/3 IP | |
'06 closer already gets cut from Reds bullpen; now that's bad. | |||
7 | SS/2B Russ Adams, TOR | .214-0-0-2-0 | |
Ouch. Former starting SS cannot beat out Royce Clayton? | |||
8 | SP Jeff Niemann, TB | 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 IP | |
Top prospect could have had chance, but Rays give him time in minors. | |||
9 | SP Jason Hammel, NYM | 3.00 ERA in 3 IP | |
'06 starter didn't even get a real chance before being demoted. | |||
10 | SP Chad Billingsley, LAD | 0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 IP | |
Dodgers make curious decision to start prospect out in relief. | |||
Dishonorable mentions: SP Cliff Lee, CLE; SP Gavin Floyd, CHW; SP Edinson Volquez, TEX; SP Andrew Miller, DET; OF Jeromy Burnitz (retired); SP Heath Phillips, CHW; SP Alay Soler, NYM; SP Kris Benson, BAL; SP Denny Bautista, COL; C George Kottaras, SD; SP Travis Blackley, SEA; SP Tyler Lumsden, KC; SP Luke Hochevar, KC; SP Dustin McGowan, TOR; C Danny Ardoin, WAS; SP Joe Kennedy, OAK; SP Steve Trachsel, BAL; SS Angel Berroa, KC. |
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