Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By David Ferris

Keep barking during those dog days of August; while your fantasy rivals are distracted with football and school and who knows what else, you'll find less competition as you move players back and forth. For a smart owner it's the easiest time of the year to make up ground; just be sure to stay the course.

Batters

BUY

Alexei Ramirez, 2B, White Sox: He'll swing at anything, we know that, but his average has stayed afloat during his second and third cycles through the league, and exciting things happen when he makes contact (14 homers, .490 slugging). It's a bit puzzling why the White Sox haven't reeled him in on the bases (9 steals in 17 attempts), but so long as you're not taxed on the failed attempts, don't sweat it. Somehow Ramirez has kept the league adjustment at bay here, and while that doesn't make him the next Alfonso Soriano, it at least buys fantasy cred from this space for the balance of 2008. Ramirez also offers shortstop and outfield eligibility in many leagues.

Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B, Indians: Don't laugh, he's actually been pretty solid since he returned to the club last month (.239, three homers, 10 RBIs). He's not as dynamic as last fall suggested, and not the stiff we saw earlier in the year. In an AL-only group, you could do a lot worse.

SELL

Jose Guillen, OF, Royals: He's been in a fog for pretty much the entire second half, and this isn't a finishing-kick type of player; Guillen's worst month, historically, has always been September. I'm not confident we'll going to see him turn it around.

HOLD

Alexi Casilla, 2B, Twins: The thumb healed up quickly and the Twins will give him his second-base post back immediately as they battle for a playoff spot. A .300 average, 20 runs and five to seven steals out the door are fair targets for Casilla.

Melvin Mora, 3B, Orioles: There's no logical explanation for the mad second-half run he's on (.411 average, 10 homers, 47 RBIs); just sit back and enjoy the ride. His playmates in the Baltimore order are better than you think; only the Rangers, the White Sox and the Red Sox have scored more runs in the American League.

Pitchers

BUY

Dana Eveland, SP, Athletics: He's been forced back into the rotation with the injuries to Sean Gallagher and Justin Duchscherer, but let's not dismiss the guy out of hand. Eveland was a fantasy find in the first half (seven wins, 3.49 ERA), and his demotion to the minors was time well spent (21 strikeouts, four walks over three starts). A tightened delivery and a boost of confidence can go a long way for Eveland the next five weeks; make the plunge in AL-only groups, and consider him as a mixed-league play.

Jim Johnson, RP, Orioles: He's the temporary closer with George Sherrill hitting the DL, and while Johnson doesn't have the ideal peripherals for the job (36 strikeouts, 27 walks), he does keep the ball on the ground and in the park, and he's been successful in the eighth inning all year (2.33 ERA). Like any closer, he should be owned in all mixed leagues.

SELL

Erik Bedard, SP, Mariners: He had another setback with the shoulder this week, and the Mariner ship has been headed toward an iceberg all season. There's little incentive for him to rush a comeback and pitch again in 2008, it's cut-bait time.

HOLD

Brad Ziegler, RP, Athletics: His unreal success over the last two months (0.41 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) is unsustainable, sure, that's the easy stance. Here's the better question: To what level will Ziegler fall? Given his monstrous ground-ball rate and roomy home park, I'll keep riding with Ziggy the remainder of the way, especially now that he's heading the closing committee in a very deep Oakland bullpen.

 Tags  AL Stock Watch Alexei Ramirez Alexi Casilla Asdrubal Cabrera baseball Brad Ziegler Dana Eveland David Ferris Erik Bedard Jim Johnson Jose Guillen Melvin Mora

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