Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By David Ferris

Batting average is still the first stat they flash at you on TV and at the park, but we get a much fuller fantasy perspective when we consider the entire line, left to right. Let's lift the hood on some Senior Circuit guys and see who's coming and going in this week's version of the player swap.

Hitters

BUY

Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers: Batting-average risk can be a silent killer - OK, there's nothing silent about a guy hitting .217. But don't lose sight of what Weeks can do: 45 runs (in just 63 games), seven homers, 11 steals, 32 walks. Weeks got his leadoff spot back the moment he came off the disabled list, and if he can find a way to stay healthy over the balance of the year, we're still looking at 100-plus runs and a possible 20-30 finish.

SELL

Jeff Francoeur, OF, Braves: He's always had a see-the-ball, hit-the-ball approach, but with 46 strikeouts over 52 games, you have to wonder what else is at play here. Frenchy generally owns lefties, but it's been missing this year, and even his gap power has taken a holiday over the last two months. Is there a physical problem they're not telling us about? The club fitted Francoeur for a special contact lens a few days ago; his .210 average in night games was the trigger for that.

Jeff Baker, Utility, Rockies: He had a nice run in June while others were hurt (.358, five homers), but let's not lose sight of what Baker is -- a free-swinging journeyman with a .264 career average (on the Rockies, no less). His spotty glove isn't going to win him any time, either; in mixed leagues, you need to aim for a higher upside, especially with the Colorado infield now at full strength.

Ty Wigginton, 3B, Astros: He's a multi-position guy in most leagues and there's nothing wrong with his batting eye (20 walks against 27 strikeouts through 151 at-bats), but where's the pop? With just three extra-base hits in June and a puny .389 slugging percentage, it's fair to wonder if Wigginton is completely healed from the finger and rib injuries that dogged him in May.

HOLD

Yadier Molina, C, Cardinals: He's not going to win any titles for you on his own, but in the watered-down fantasy world behind the plate, let's not dismiss the worth of a serviceable option. Molina's line over the last year and a half supports the profile of a solid hitter (he's got 20 walks against 10 strikeouts this year), and he'll play enough to collect 8-10 homers and 50-60 RBIs. If you need a pair of backstops, here's your perfect No. 2, and someone you can make a small profit on.

Pitchers

BUY

Taylor Buchholz, RP, Rockies: There's a new Brian Fuentes rumor served daily with your morning coffee, and with Colorado mired in the NL West basement, a summer yard sale is possible. Buchholz is clearly the No. 2 guy in the bullpen these days, posting a nasty 1.40 E.R.A. and 0.75 ratio, and he's got enough stuff to handle the ninth inning (29 strikeouts against nine walks over 38.2 innings). Add it all up and here's the best saves-speculation play in the NL right now.

SELL

Aaron Harang, SP, Reds: He's always had issues with gopheritis, but the problems run much deeper in 2008 -- strikeout rate is dropping, ground-ball rate is diminished, line-drive rate is up. Harang has the build and the mind-set of a true No. 1 horse, but perhaps the wear and tear of the last three years (677 innings) has caught up to him. Wait for one solid outing, then write your sell ticket.

HOLD

Dan Haren, SP, Diamondbacks: So much for the home park worries -- Haren's numbers have been outstanding in the desert, and they're not bad on the road, either (his 3.89 E.R.A. out of Arizona is more unlucky than real; check that snappy 1.02 ratio). With 89 strikeouts against just 17 walks and a dominant profile against both righties and lefties, you can argue that Haren has been the true Snake ace this year, not Brandon Webb.

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