Fantasy Baseball Week 16 ~ In The Eyes of The Optiongirl

The National League was the winner of this years All Star game. Therefore if we go down to the seventh game of the World Series the team that represents the National league will be the home. Players in real life had a extra day off this year and this week in Yahoo fantasy baseball it is no longer a short week but will now the game runs till July 22.  A big test for my team can I beat the first team and move closer to being in first?

This week I share Patrick Daugherty of Rototimes.com 

Baseball Daily Dose with Second Half Injury Primer which gives a summary of first half stats, when we might expect to see some of our favorite players return, and prospects to monitor in the second half.  Remember if you have room on your disabled list stash away a player who will be back in September for the playoff run which will be here sooner rather than later. 

Five no hitters, four home runs in one game by Josh Hamilton, three four-strikeout efforts by Adam Dunn, two perfect games, one Melky Cabrera — that was one heck of a first half.

But at the end of the day, the first half is really only good for one thing: setting the stage for the second. And what a doozy it will be. Save for the American League East, every division has at least three teams within 4.5 games of first (that includes the first place teams). And while baseball’s toughest division might not be so cozy at the top, all five of its inhabitants are at least .500.

So unless you’re a fan of the Padres, it’s time to buckle up…on Friday. For the first time in recent memory (forgive me for not having the energy to look this up), the All-Star break is four days long for all 30 teams. With another slow news day ahead, there’s no better time to get caught up on the league’s various bumps and bruises. As you may have heard, there’s been a lot of star players landing on the shelf this season. Here’s when most are expected back, with an emphasis are those returning this month.  

American League East Injury Update: Nick Markakis (hand surgery) has already been activated, and will return Friday against the Tigers. … Jacoby Ellsbury (shoulder) is all systems go to return tomorrow against the Rays. … Carl Crawford (elbow) is expected to make his season debut Monday against the White Sox. … Clay Buchholz (illness) will come off the DL Saturday against the Rays. … CC Sabathia (groin) is set to return Tuesday against the Blue Jays. … Brandon Morrow (oblique) remains without a firm timetable, but should be back before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. … Dustin Pedroia (thumb) won’t be back until late-July, at the earliest. … The same is true for Brett Gardner (elbow). … Matt Joyce (oblique, back) could be back as early as Friday against the Red Sox. It’s doubtful he’ll be sidelined beyond the weekend. … Evan Longoria (hamstring), however, won’t be back before mid-August.

American League Central Injury Update: Matt Capps (shoulder) could resume closing as early as Friday. … Philip Humber (elbow) will rejoin the White Sox rotation on Tuesday against the Red Sox. … Luke Hochevar (ankle) won’t miss a start.

American League West Injury Update: Colby Lewis (forearm) will return on Wednesday against the A’s. … Neftali Feliz (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday, putting him on track to rejoin the Rangers rotation before the end of the month. … Dan Haren (back) could be activated when first eligible on July 19. … Vernon Wells (thumb) will be back before the end of the month. … Jerome Williams (chest) will rejoin the Angels immediately following the break. … Yoenis Cespedes (thumb) should be with the A’s this weekend. … Brandon McCarthy (shoulder) is unlikely to return before August 1. … Brett Anderson (elbow) and Dallas Braden (shoulder) are both tentatively in line for August returns. … Franklin Gutierrez (concussion) is unlikely to be activated this weekend.

National League East Injury Update: Roy Halladay (shoulder) should rejoin the Phillies rotation on Tuesday against the Dodgers. … Jayson Werth (wrist) has a shot at returning before the end of the month. … Xavier Nady (wrist) should rejoin the Nats bench before the end of the month. … Jonny Venters (elbow) is expected to return when first eligible on July 20. … Giancarlo Stanton (knee surgery) won’t be back until mid-to-late August. … Juan Carlos Oviedo (suspension) should return soon after he’s first eligible on July 23. … Emilio Bonifacio (thumb) will be in Friday’s lineup.

National League Central Injury Update: Barring a setback during his weekend rehab assignment, Lance Berkman (knee surgery) will rejoin the Cardinals on Monday in Milwaukee. … Jaime Garcia (shoulder) is tentatively hoping to return in the first or second week of August. … Jonathan Lucroy (hand surgery) will definitely return before August 1. … Shaun Marcum’s (elbow) timetable is murky, but he should be back before the end of the month. … Justin Maxwell (ankle) will be activated when first eligible Friday. … Alex Presley (concussion) will be back before August 1.

National League West Injury Update: Matt Kemp (hamstring) will be manning center field on Friday against the Padres. … Andre Ethier (oblique) will return Monday at the latest. … Ted Lilly (shoulder) is doubtful to pitch this month. … Joe Saunders (shoulder) is expected to return Saturday against the Cubs. … Ramon Hernandez (hand) will likely return next week. It’s unclear if he’ll do so wearing a Mets or Rockies uniform. … Troy Tulowitzki (groin surgery) won’t be back before the end of the month, and should be sidelined until mid-August. … Jhoulys Chacin (pectoralis muscle) should return soon after August 1. … Juan Nicasio (knee surgery) will likely be sidelined at least another month. … Andrew Cashner (lat) should be back in early August. … Tim Stauffer (elbow) is doubtful to return in July. … So is Anthony Bass (shoulder). … Aubrey Huff (knee) should return to the Giants bench this weekend.      

Prospects To Monitor in the Second Half: Wil Myers, Tyler Skaggs, Starling Marte, Matt Harvey, Danny Hultzen, Julio Teheran, Jacob Turner, Nick Franklin, Grant Green, Brett Jackson, Adam Eaton, Anthony Gose, Jedd Gyorko, James Darnell, Jake Odorizzi.    

First Half Stats: Five players posted sub-.600 OPSs: Justin Smoak, Jamey Carroll, Cameron Maybin, Cliff Pennington, Dee Gordon. … Austin Jackson posted the highest BABIP at .417. Joey Votto’s .408 was second. … Votto and Andrew McCutchen are 1-2 in a lot of things, including OPS+. … 36.8 percent of Adam Dunn’s plate appearances ended in strikeouts. … Of the National League’s top four pitchers by ERA (Ryan Dempster, Ryan Vogelsong, James McDonald and Johnny Cueto), none made the All-Star Game. … Derek Jeter’s 88 singles led the league. … Despite having his OPS bottom out at .657 on May 5, Robinson Cano entered the break tied for second in extra-base hits with 47. … Edinson Volquez leads the league in walks. … Jason Kipnis and Mike Trout are the only players with at least 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases. … Carlos Santana hasn’t homered since May 15. … Adrian Gonzalez has one fewer home run than Omar Infante. … Going by Baseball Reference’s dWAR, Brett Lawrie has been the best defensive player in the league.   

Here are a few Waiver Wire Candiates  that could help if you have room to make some changes on your team check out these players who could be available in your league

Michael Fiers SP/RP, Brewers Jonathan Lucroy C, Brewers Justin Ruggiano OF, Marlins

Elliot Johnson 2B/SS, Rays Greg Holland RP, Royals Juan Carlos Oviedo RP, Marlins Matt Harvey SP, Mets

Luke Gregerson RP, Padres Darin Mastroianni OF, Twins

Visit again for baseball news, tidbits, waiver wire suggestions and articles that I am reading. I will share with you so you can achieve your goal of achieving the playoffs, and be the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Champion of your league! Post your comments, questions, and feel free to e-mail me any time at BonnieGortler@gmail.com.

Bonnie Gortler is a successful stock market guru who is passionate about teaching others about social media, weight loss and wealth. Bonnie is also a huge sports fan who successfully lost over 60 pounds by applying the many lessons learned through her commitment toward personal growth. Choose your very own FREE down-loadable gift from Bonnie by visiting bit.ly/bgoffers. You may also connect with Bonnie via Twitter & Facebook plus subscribe to BonnieGortler.com.

Like this post? Feel free to use it in your blog or ezine as long as you use the above signature in its entirety.

Fantasy Baseball Week 15 ~ In The Eyes of The Optiongirl

There are eight weeks left in the fantasy baseball season, there is still time, to qualify for the playoffs. The second half of the fantasy baseball season is here. July 10, 7:30 EST is the 83rd MLB All-Star Game played at Kauffman Stadium, in Kansas City.  Major League Baseball lengthened the All-Star break to four days this year. Be aware Yahoo Sports has combined the shortened week following the All-Star Game with the ensuing week. As a result, Fantasy Week 15 will run from July 9-22.

With so many injuries scan your other team’s rosters and see if you can make a trade and get a player who should return in the next few week.  Maybe the manager of Roy Halladay is willing to make a trade or go after Ryan Howard or Chase Utley to name a few players who have been injured and are either back or will be back around the All Star break.  This week I will share part of D.J. Short of Rotoworld.com  Waiver Wired Grandal Entrance. There are some interesting players who could be available to help your team.

Waiver Wire Pickups

Yasmani Grandal C, Padres

Grandal’s first stint in the big leagues didn’t last very long, but it’s safe to say he’s up to stay now. The 23-year-old backstop was called up from the minors last Saturday following Nick Hundley’s demotion and made history by becoming the first player to homer from each side of the plate for his first two career hits. He has slugged two more homers this week. Granted, those home runs might be tougher to come by once Grandal returns home to PETCO Park, but the 2010 first-round pick showed an ability to hit for average in the minors and owned a solid 136/100 K/BB ratio over 709 plate appearances. He’s well worth a look in all formats.

Franklin Morales SP/RP, Red

Morales has really impressed since moving into Boston’s starting rotation last month, allowing just four runs over 18 innings while striking out 24 and walking only three. This includes seven shutout innings against the Mariners in Safeco Field during his last start. Of course, things will get much tougher this weekend when the 26-year-old faces the Yankees during Saturday’s doubleheader in Boston. I frankly wouldn’t blame those who shy away from the tough matchup, but the hard-throwing southpaw has an excellent chance to keep a rotation spot even after Clay Buchholz returns from the disabled list.

Adam Lind 1B, Blue

Will Lind ever return to his 2009 form? Unlikely. But he does have three homers and seven RBI in nine games since returning from Triple-A Las Vegas late last month. The 28-year-old was moved up to fifth in the lineup for Wednesday’s game and went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. And that would obviously be a really nice spot for him for fantasy purposes. It’s important to note that Lind has a .175 batting average and a .488 OPS over 332 plate appearances against southpaws dating back to 2010, so he should strictly be used against right-handed pitchers. He’s a more logical option in deeper leagues where you can make daily lineup changes.

Quintin Berry OF, Tigers

Berry was a nice waiver wire find while Austin Jackson was on the disabled list, but his continued strong play has allowed him to stick around much longer than originally expected. The 27-year-old owns an impressive .295/.388/.394 batting line through 154 plate appearances and has 12 steals and 26 runs scored in 38 games. I still think regression is likely around the corner, as it will be impossible for him to sustain his .404 batting average on plays in play (BABIP) for the long haul, but he should continue to play pretty regularly in left field until Andy Dirks returns or the Tigers make an addition before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He’s a fine option if you’re looking for speed.

Clayton Richard SP, Padres

Richard has shown no ill effects following season-ending shoulder surgery last year, posting a 3.64 ERA and 66/28 K/BB ratio over 113 2/3 innings so far this season. This includes a stingy 1.70 ERA over his last five starts. While he has enjoyed more success at home (2.91 ERA) than on the road (4.14 ERA) this season, four out of those five starts were away from PETCO Park. Richard will wrap up the first half Friday with a start against the Reds at home, so he makes for a pretty nice streaming option in most formats.

Tommy Milone SP, Athletics

Milone has been absolute money at home this season, going 5-1 with a ridiculous 0.99 ERA over six starts. Away from O.co Coliseum? Well, that’s a different story. The 25-year-old southpaw has a 5.98 ERA in 10 starts. And that’s including his recent solid efforts in Texas and Seattle. Fortunately Milone returns home Friday to take on the Mariners, who have the worst offense in the American League. If you’re looking for a streaming option this weekend, this is a pretty easy call.

Juan Pierre OF, Phillies

Fine, I’ll admit it, Pierre has actually been pretty useful in fantasy leagues this season. The 34-year-old slap-hitter is hitting .322 through 70 games, his highest batting average since he batted .326 with the Marlins way back in 2004. Sure, only 10 of his 73 hits have been for extra bases, but he has made up for it by going 20-for-23 in stolen base attempts. Only Mike Trout, Michael Bourn, Tony Campana and Dee Gordon have swiped more bags. The composition of the Phillies’ lineup will change a bit once Ryan Howard returns from the disabled list, but the left-handed hitting Pierre should still get most of the at-bats in left field even if he ends up in a strict platoon with the right-handed hitting John Mayberry, Jr.

Erick Aybar SS, Angels

I mentioned Aybar in Waiver Wired way back on the morning of May 17 when he was hitting just .190 over his first 35 games. Sure enough, he has turned things around pretty dramatically since then, hitting .327 over his last 43 games and .436 (24-for-55) over his last 15 contests. The 28-year-old shortstop has been very quiet on the basepaths this season (5-for-7 in stolen base attempts) and he isn’t nearly as valuable hitting in the bottom-third of the order as opposed to the leadoff spot, but he can still help most mixed league rosters.

Garrett Jones 1B/OF, Pirates

Jones is currently enjoying his most productive season since his surprising 2009 campaign. The 31-year-old is hitting .275 with 12 homers, 36 RBI and an .825 OPS through 67 games while splitting playing time between first base and right field. His walk rate has completely disappeared and his strikeout rate is up, so there are some warning signs, but he should continue to get pretty regular playing time now that Jose Tabata is in the minors. Just remember that his struggles against left-handers (.595 career OPS) render him as a platoon option in fantasy leagues.

Wilin Rosario C, Rockies

I mentioned Rosario in Waiver Wired back on May 31 just when Ramon Hernandez was placed on the disabled list with a hand injury. The rookie backstop has run away with the opportunity at regular playing time by batting .267 with seven homers, four doubles, 18 RBI and an .842 OPS over his past 24 games. He’s currently third among fantasy catchers with 14 home runs, despite logging only 182 plate appearances. Rosario has only walked just 10 times over 250 plate appearances in the majors and strikes out too much to hit for a high batting average, so his flaws are obvious, but he has shown enough in a limited sample to warrant the bulk of the playing time behind the plate once Hernandez returns after the All-Star break.

Tyler Colvin 1B/OF, Rockies

It’s about time we start paying more attention to this guy. Colvin has been very productive as a part-time player with the Rockies this season, hitting .302/.331/.599 with 10 homers, 35 RBI and a .930 OPS through 61 games. Not surprisingly, he has enjoyed most of his success at home, amassing seven home runs and a 1.104 OPS. There’s no clear path to regular playing time in the Rockies’ outfield right now, but we could see more of Michael Cuddyer at first base in the days ahead, especially if Todd Helton’s recent hip issue results in a trip to the disabled list.

Brett Anderson SP, Athletics

Here’s a little bit of a bonus pick. Anderson is set to throw to hitters Friday for the first time since Tommy John surgery, which means he isn’t far off from a minor league rehab assignment. The 24-year-old southpaw will likely need all of July to shake the rust against live competition, but he should join Oakland’s rotation in August if all goes well. I like Anderson more for 2013 than I do this year, but he could surprise in deeper formats down the stretch. If you have an open DL spot and some roster flexibility, he makes for an intriguing stash. 

Brett Wallace 1B/3B, Astros

One of the main beneficiaries of this week’s Carlos Lee trade, Wallace should now get another shot at regular playing time at first base. The 25-year-old did a nice job filling in while Lee was on the disabled list in June, batting .333 (12-for-36) with two homers and three doubles, but the former top prospect still owns a lousy .701 OPS over 580 plate appearances in the big leagues. I’m not convinced Wallace will actually be part of the next winning team in Houston, but he should at least get the opportunity to prove his worth during the second half.

Jedd Gyorko 3B, Padres

While the trade winds fly in San Diego, Gyorko continues to produce in the minors. The 23-year-old is hitting .350 with 11 homers, 42 RBI and a .994 OPS through 46 games while Triple-A Tucson while splitting time between second base and the hot corner. Checking in at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, his line drive stroke should play quite nicely at PETCO Park. There would be an obvious opening for him at third base if the Padres end up dealing Chase Headley before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but there’s a good chance he makes his way to the majors during the second half regardless.

Ben Sheets SP, Braves  **********Take a shot if you have a roster spot

He’s back. Sheets signed a minor league deal with the Braves over the weekend and made his first professional start in nearly two years on Wednesday night, allowing four runs over five innings with Double-A Mississippi. While his line wasn’t all that impressive, he sat around 90 mph on the radar gun and retired the final 10 batters he faced. Now 33 years old, Sheets remains a tremendous injury risk, but he could join the Braves’ rotation shortly after the All-Star break if all goes well. Take a flier.

Chris Tillman SP, Orioles  ******** I picked him up on my team this week

Tillman was excellent in his season debut with the Orioles on Wednesday, taking a shutout into the ninth inning against the Mariners. He ended up allowing two unearned runs over 8 1/3 innings while striking out seven and walking just two. The 24-year-old right-hander has disappointed since coming over from the Mariners in the Erik Bedard deal, but he topped out at 97.2 mph on his fastball yesterday and averaged 95 mph. He had an average fastball velocity of 90.7 mph in his previous 37 major league starts. The O’s sent him to Double-A after Wednesday’s game to keep him on his regular turn, but he could be a nice sleeper for the second half.

David Phelps RP/SP, Yankees ******** I picked him up on my team this week

Phelps made a statement for a rotation spot on Wednesday by holding the Rays to one run on two hits over 4 1/3 innings while striking out eight. The 25-year-old right-hander now has a 3.05 ERA and 42/17 K/BB ratio over 41 1/3 innings with the Bombers this season, including a 2.08 ERA over 13 innings in three spot starts. There will only be one rotation spot available after CC Sabathia returns from the disabled list, but Phelps has made a pretty good case to bump Freddy Garcia back to mop-up duty.

Visit again for baseball news, tidbits, waiver wire suggestions and articles that I am reading. I will share with you so you can achieve your goal of achieving the playoffs, and be the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Champion of your league! Post your comments, questions, and feel free to e-mail me any time at BonnieGortler@gmail.com.

Bonnie Gortler is a successful stock market guru who is passionate about teaching others about social media, weight loss and wealth. Bonnie is also a huge sports fan who successfully lost over 60 pounds by applying the many lessons learned through her commitment toward personal growth. Choose your very own FREE down-loadable gift from Bonnie by visiting bit.ly/bgoffers. You may also connect with Bonnie via Twitter & Facebook plus subscribe to BonnieGortler.com.

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Fantasy Baseball Week 14 ~ In The Eyes of The Optiongirl

We are real close to the All Star Game which will give some players who are not in the game, some time to rest and get ready for the second half of the season.  If you are going through a period where you are losing players to injuries, so don’t give up, injuries are part of the game. Don’t give up hope if you are like me and losing the leaders to your starting pitching staff there is still time. Choose a player from the waiver wire now. Remember more players will be available soon, called up from the minors to join the major league team. Take action, take a chance, you can always drop the player but you can even get a gem that will surprise you.

This week I share part of Waiver Wired Bauer Power by D.J. Short of Rotoworld.com 

You will also see this weeks headline and injury news.

Waiver Wire:

With most of these service time concerns in the rear-view mirror, we should see a wave of prospects make their way to the majors in the coming days, weeks and months. That’s really good news for fantasy owners. Tyler Skaggs, Danny Hultzen, Matt Harvey, Wil Myers, Mike Olt, Jake Odorizzi, Ryan Wheeler and Jedd Gyorko are among the names I have my eye on for the second half.

Bobby Parnell RP, Mets

After Frank Francisco landed on the disabled list on Sunday with an oblique strain, Mets manager Terry Collins wasted no time by naming Parnell as his replacement at closer. You may remember that Parnell auditioned for the job after the All-Star break last year and fell flat on his face, but given the underwhelming alternatives in a pretty terrible bullpen, he should have a pretty lengthy leash in the interim. The hard-throwing right-hander has a 3.19 ERA and 31/8 K/BB ratio over 31 innings this season and deserves to be owned in most formats.

Trevor Bauer SP, Diamondbacks

This should be fun. After months of anticipation, Bauer is scheduled to make his major league debut Thursday against the Braves. I have some concerns about his control (4.6 BB/9), but the 21-year-old right-hander has been unhittable in the minors this season, posting a 2.23 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 93 innings between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno. And while it’s a rough development for the Diamondbacks

Stephen Drew SS, Diamondbacks

After missing more than 11 months following right ankle surgery, Drew finally returned to the Diamondbacks’ lineup on Wednesday night, finishing 1-for-4 with a strikeout. Happy now, Ken Kendrick? The 29-year-old shortstop is expected to get regular rest over the first couple of weeks, so fantasy owners will have to be patient initially, but he could prove to be a savvy addition if he feels comfortable and shakes the rust at the plate. And let’s be real here, it won’t take much for Drew to be relevant at the shortstop position.

Bud Norris SP, Astros

It seems some fantasy owners dumped Norris on the waiver wire after he was placed on the disabled list earlier this month with a left knee sprain. The 27-year-old right-hander is scheduled to return to the Astros’ rotation Friday against the Cubs, so there’s no better time than now to rectify that. While Norris has a 4.81 ERA on the year, he still has an impressive 81/28 K/BB ratio over 73 innings and has allowed three runs or less in nine out of his 13 starts. He should be useful in all formats the rest of the way.

Luke Scott OF/1B, Rays

Another player who has fallen off the fantasy radar due to injury, Scott is on track to return from the disabled list Thursday. The 34-year-old struggled after getting off to a great start in April, but he still has nine homers and 35 RBI in just 177 at-bats. With Matt Joyce on the disabled list and Hideki Matsui scuffling, Scott shouldn’t have any trouble finding regular at-bats in the short-term. I prefer him as a plug-and-play option against right-handed starters, but his pop and multi-position gives him plenty of appeal outside of shallow leagues.

Wilson Betemit 1B/3B/OF, Orioles

No, Betemit is not going to save your fantasy team, but he can still be useful in deeper leagues. Thanks to a red-hot June, the 30-year-old is hitting .265 with 10 homers and 30 RBI over his first 200 at-bats this season. He’s currently riding a seven-game hitting streak which has helped raise his batting average by 30 points. Betemit has been awful against left-handed pitching for two years running, so he’s best utilized in a daily format, but his multi-position eligibility should come in handy.

Franklin Gutierrez OF, Mariners

After missing the first two months of the season due to a torn pectoral and plantar fasciitis in his right heel, Gutierrez is hitting .256 (11-for-43) with two homers, two doubles and nine RBI over his first 12 games. It’s a good sign for the 28-year-old center fielder, who had just one home run in 322 at-bats last season while playing through a stomach ailment and an oblique injury. Keep in mind that Gutierrez is a .256 career hitter and has an underwhelming 6.6 percent career walk rate, so the upside is limited, but he has shown an ability to reach double-digits in homers and steals in the past. He’s worth considering in five-outfielder formats.

Marco Estrada SP/RP, Brewers

One week after mentioning Estrada under my NL-only recommendations, I’m ready to give him a shot on the mixed league side. I mean, why the heck not? In his return from the disabled list Tuesday against the Reds, the 28-year-old right-hander struck out a career-high 12 batters while allowing three runs over six innings. While Estrada doesn’t have overpowering stuff, you might be surprised to learn that he has 166 strikeouts over 166 innings in the big leagues. With Chris Narveson done for the season and Shaun Marcum nursing an elbow issue, he should continue to get chances in the Brewers’ rotation.

Andrew Cashner RP, Padres

The Padres sent Cashner down to the minor earlier this month to stretch him out as a starting pitcher. So far, so good. After posting an outstanding 1.88 ERA and 22/3 K/BB in 14 1/3 innings over three starts with Double-A San Antonio, the 25-year-old right-hander will be recalled to start Thursday against the Astros. I have some concerns about his control and his ability to hold up as a starter after a scare with his shoulder last season, but those in deeper leagues can afford to take a flier on his swing-and-miss stuff. Making half of his starts in the spacious PETCO Park will allow him to get away with some mistakes.

Luke Hochevar SP, Royals

Many bought in on Hochevar as draft day sleeper this spring following his strong second half last year, but he really burned fantasy owners by posting a 9.00 ERA over his first six starts. However, the 2006 No. 1 overall pick has turned things around quite nicely of late, compiling a solid 3.20 ERA and 50/16 K/BB ratio over his last nine starts. This includes his current streak of 16 2/3 scoreless innings. Could Hochevar make us all look silly again? I certainly wouldn’t put it past him. But those in deeper formats can afford to ride the wave and see where it takes them.

Ruben Tejada SS/2B, Mets

While his recovery from a quad strain took a bit longer than originally anticipated, Tejada finally returned from the disabled list on Sunday. The 22-year-old hasn’t shown any signs of rust thus far, collecting five hits in 18 at-bats over his first four games. There isn’t a ton of upside with Tejada at the moment since he doesn’t have much power and isn’t active on the basepaths, but he has a knack for making contact and gets on base at a solid clip. He should continue to bat near the top of the Mets’ lineup, so there’s value here. However, I like him best in leagues which use on-base percentage or where you can plug him in at a MI (middle infielder) spot.

Rex Brothers RP, Rockies

Brothers has been excellent since returning from the minors earlier this month, allowing only two runs (one earned) over 11 2/3 innings while striking out 19 and walking just three. The 24-year-old left-hander was mentioned as a possible sleeper for saves coming into the season and while his early struggles resulted in a demotion, he is now firmly back on the radar.

Eric Young, Jr. 2B/OF, Rockies

Despite starting only nine games and logging just 84 plate appearances this season, Young already has 10 stolen bases. He stole 27 bases last year, despite starting just 37 games and logging just 229 plate appearances. You get the drill. The speedy 27-year-old has a knack for making the most out of limited opportunities on the basepaths. The Rockies haven’t given him a chance at second base yet this season, but one wonders if he could be worked into the mix with Marco Scutaro, Jonathan Herrera and Chris Nelson now that Troy Tulowitzki will likely be out until mid-August at the earliest. Just something to think about.

Tyler Skaggs SP, Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks plan to move Josh Collmenter back into the starting rotation now that Daniel Hudson and Joe Saunders are both on the disabled list. Collmenter is probably already gone in most competitive NL-only leagues, so I’m willing to look ahead a little bit. Skaggs was ranked as the No. 13 prospect in the game by Baseball America coming into the season and has a solid 2.84 ERA and 71/21 K/BB ratio over 13 starts with Double-A Mobile. We probably won’t see him prior to the All-Star break, but it shouldn’t be much longer before he joins Trevor Bauer in the Diamondbacks’ rotation.

Headlines of the week

INJURY NEWS:

Jacob Ellsbury OF BOS should be returning to the lineup soon.

Victor Martinez C 1B DET could return in mid-to-late September

Andy Pettitte He broke his ankle this week and was place on the 60-day DL

Daniel Hudson P ARZ: will need Tommy John surgery out for the season.

Matt Kemp OF LA Dodgers will begin rehab and should return July 13, the first game after the All-Star break.

CC Sabathia P NY placed on disabled last.

Josh Beckett P Red Sox is pitching again, back from the disabled list, which should help the Red Sox.

TIDBITS:

Aaron Hill 2B Arizona Diamondbacks hit for the cycle on 6/29  going 4-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, and 2 runs 11 days after his first. The only other player to do this was Babe Ruth. Hill’s hitting .302, 11 HRs, 38 RBI, and 7 SBs. He’s one of the best  2B  this year. When I had him he didn’t hit a lick. Congratulations Aaron you have earned my trust again.

Trevor Bauer P ARZ is now in the Major Leagues, called up from the minors.

Chase Utley 2B Phillies is playing baseball again.

The Dodgers signed Cuban outfielder Yasel Puig to a seven-year, $42 million contract

Ryan Howard 1B PHIis playing baseball again in his first rehab game with Class A Lakewood …

Jose Bautista has been hot. He hit his 26th home run of the season, 14 in the month of May. 

Felix Hernandez tied his career-high with 13 strikeouts in a complete game shutout over the Red Sox.

Jim Thome was traded from the Phillies to the Orioles

R.A. Dickey SP. Mets Dickey improved his record to 12-1, lowered his ERA to 2.15 pitching 8 innings of shutout ball against the Dodgers

Visit again for baseball news, tidbits, waiver wire suggestions and articles that I am reading. I will share with you so you can achieve your goal of achieving the playoffs, and be the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Champion of your league! Post your comments, questions, and feel free to e-mail me any time at BonnieGortler@gmail.com.

Bonnie Gortler is a successful stock market guru who is passionate about teaching others about social media, weight loss and wealth. Bonnie is also a huge sports fan who successfully lost over 60 pounds by applying the many lessons learned through her commitment toward personal growth. Choose your very own FREE down-loadable gift from Bonnie by visiting bit.ly/bgoffers. You may also connect with Bonnie via Twitter & Facebook plus subscribe to BonnieGortler.com.

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Fantasy Baseball Week 13 ~ In The Eyes of The Optiongirl

Interleague baseball continues, the All Star break is near. My fantasy team is holding on to second place after a rough week where my team did not hit a lick, and my pitchers were hit hard. I also lost my best pitcher for the season to Tommy John Surgery and hoping to pick up Roy Oswalt with my number 2 waiver claim. It’s been exciting with the New York Mets still in the thick of things. They are a surprise, giving their hearts and souls each day that they play. R. A. Dickey, 37 years old is leading the young Mets team with his high energy. He is the only knuckleballer in the major leagues now. Do you remember the other great knuckleball pitchers? They are: The Niekro brothers, Hoyt Wilhelm, Charlie Hough, and Tim Wakefield.  He is having his best season with an 11-1 record. He pitched two one-hitter’s back to back while striking out a career-high 13 batters last week.  Dickey had a streak where he allowed just one earned run over his last six starts.

More injuries again this week,your  bench continues to be an important part of the fantasy game.

This week I’ll share with you part of D.J. Short’s article Waiver Wired Gee Whiz from Rotoworld.com

When Roy Oswalt first signed with the Rangers late last month, I wasn’t sold on stashing him away in shallow mixed leagues. My reasoning at the time was that it wasn’t worth wasting a roster spot on him for a couple of weeks when there were plenty of comparable or better starting pitchers who could contribute in fantasy leagues right away. Now that Oswalt is poised to make his Rangers’ debut Friday against the Rockies, I’m still not sure he’s a must-own. And this has nothing to do with his shaky outings in the minors.

Waiver Wire: 

Anthony Rizzo 1B, Cubs *******Rumor says his call up date is June 25. WHOOO HOO I own him!

The wait is almost over. The Cubs played Bryan LaHair in right field this week, which is the biggest hint yet that Rizzo’s promotion to the big leagues isn’t far off. Also important: the calendar. Starting today (Thursday, if you’re reading this late), the Cubs have waited just long enough to ensure that Rizzo will become a free agent following the 2018 season as opposed to 2017. Sure, the 22-year-old first baseman stumbled in his first taste of the big leagues last season, but his numbers with Triple-A Iowa this year are simply eye-popping. He should be owned on pure potential alone in mixed leagues that are 12 teams or deeper.

Justin Masterson SP, Indians

After getting off to a miserable start this season, Masterson has turned things around in dramatic fashion. The 27-year-old right-hander entered June with a disappointing 5.14 ERA, but he has allowed just four runs over his last four starts, lowering his ERA down to 3.98 for the year. This includes three straight starts of at least seven innings and one run or less allowed. His improved command is a big reason for the recent rebound, as he has walked just six batters over his last six starts after handing out 34 free passes over his first nine outings. There shouldn’t be any hesitation to pick him up in most formats at this point.

Brandon Belt 1B/OF, Giants   ******* Great Potential take a shot

Last week I mentioned Ike Davis in this space, but another young first baseman has shown signs of breaking out recently. Belt homered in three straight games last week and is hitting .333 (15-for-45) in 16 games this month. While the power hasn’t really been there until the past week or so, the 24-year-old first baseman still owns an impressive .796 OPS for the year thanks to his patient approach at the plate. With Aubrey Huff on the disabled list and Brett Pill in the minors, there’s nothing standing in the way of Belt playing every day. At least for now. The “Baby Giraffe” should be owned outside of shallow mixed leagues.

Dillon Gee SP, Mets

Well would you look at that? Gee is growing up before our eyes. After allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings in a win over the Orioles on Wednesday night, the 26-year-old right-hander has a 4.27 ERA and 83/25 K/BB ratio in 90 2/3 innings over his first 14 starts. While the ERA is only slightly better than what we saw last year, it doesn’t tell the whole story. His strikeout rate is up, his walks are down and his ground ball rate is up. Gee could be quite a find the rest of the way if he keeps up those trends and his home run to fly ball rate normalizes a bit.

Jon Jay OF, Cardinals

The Cardinals gave Jay a few weeks off to nurse a lingering shoulder injury and it appears to have done the trick. The 27-year-old center fielder is 3-for-7 with a home run and a triple over his first two minor league rehab games with Triple-A Memphis and could be back in the Cardinals’ lineup as soon as this weekend against the Royals. He had 36 extra-base hits (10 homers) and eight stolen bases in 455 at-bats last year and was hitting .343 with two homers, eight RBI and four stolen bases through 27 games this season prior to the injury, so he should be plenty useful in deeper mixed leagues upon his return.

Joaquin Benoit RP, Tigers

There’s a short-term opening in the Tigers’ bullpen this week, as closer Jose Valverde suffered a sprained right wrist and is expected to miss a few days. Phil Coke earned a save in his place Tuesday night against the Cardinals, but Benoit should be the target here in mixed leagues. The 34-year-old right-hander has a 2.12 ERA over 161 relief appearances dating back to the start of 2010, including a 1.99 ERA and 44/13 K/BB ratio over 31 2/3 innings this season. He’s a pretty safe pickup if you need to vulture for a couple save chances.

Zack Cozart SS, Reds

Cozart’s rookie campaign has been a mixed bag, but he’s on a pretty nice roll recently. The 26-year-old is hitting .333 (24-for-72) this month, including nine multi-hit games. It would be nice if he drew more walks and he hasn’t run as much as I thought he would, but he’s currently tied for third among fantasy shortstops with 40 runs scored and tied for 10th in home runs with seven. He’s plenty useful in deeper mixed leagues, especially if you’re currently fishing for a replacement for Troy Tulowitzki.

Francisco Liriano RP/SP, Twins

It’s safe to say that Liriano remains one of fantasy baseball’s biggest enigmas. The 28-year-old left-hander allowed just one run over 6 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s win over the Pirates and now holds a 2.67 ERA and 35/12 K/BB ratio over 30 1/3 innings in five starts since rejoining the Twins’ starting rotation at the end of May. That’s one way to boost your trade value. We’ll obviously need to see a lot more before declaring that the old Liriano is back, but most fantasy owners can afford to take a chance on his considerable upside.

Seth Smith OF, Athletics

Smith was batting just .217 entering play on June 6, but he’s hitting .432 (19-for-44) with three homers and 12 RBI over his last 14 games. Only Aaron Hill, Jose Bautista, Joey Votto and Trevor Plouffe have a higher OPS (1.173) this month among players with at least 50 plate appearances. I was worried that his production would suffer after leaving Coors Field behind, but his home/road splits were pretty even last year and he actually has an .893 OPS at O.co Coliseum this season compared to a .780 elsewhere. Smith isn’t going to play much against left-handers, so he’s best utilized in a daily leagues, but he should continue to do enough to warrant ownership in deeper formats.

John Mayberry, Jr. OF/1B, Phillies ******* Great Potential take a shot

Mayberry was largely irrelevant in fantasy leagues over the first two months of the season, but something has finally clicked for him recently. After collecting just two homers and 12 RBI over his first 145 at-bats, the 28-year-old has four homers and 10 RBI in just 24 at-bats over his last six games. Most who drafted Mayberry as a potential sleeper this season dumped him on the waiver wire after his slow start, so he’s still widely available in most formats. With his eligibility between first base and the outfield, he’s a pretty useful player to have around in deeper leagues.

Lorenzo Cain OF, Royals   ******* Great Potential take a shot

After a couple stops and starts, Cain is finally on the comeback trail. The 26-year-old outfielder originally went on the disabled list with a groin injury in mid-April, but he suffered a torn hip flexor during a rehab assignment and is just making his way back now. Acquired from the Brewers as part of the Zack Greinke deal back in December of 2010, Cain was considered a sleeper in mixed leagues this spring due to his speed and modest pop. Jarrod Dyson hasn’t exactly thrived in his absence and top prospect Wil Myers is likely bound for a corner outfield spot, so Cain should get an extended look in center field once he’s finally healthy.

Luis Valbuena 2B/3B, Cubs

The Cubs placed Ian Stewart on the disabled list last week due a left wrist injury, so Valbuena is getting the chance at regular playing time at third base. The 26-year-old has shown some nice pop in the minors over the past two seasons and has two homers and seven RBI in seven games since his call-up from Triple-A Iowa. Remember, he slugged 10 homers in 398 plate appearances as a 23-year-old with the Indians back in 2009, so it’s not like he hasn’t done it at the major league level before. With his multi-position eligibility, he makes for a pretty decent injury fill-in.

Marco Estrada SP/RP, Brewers

Estrada has been sidelined for nearly a month due to a right quad strain, but he should rejoin the Brewers’ rotation in short order. The 28-year-old right-hander threw three shutout innings last Saturday in his first rehab start and is expected to get stretched out to 75 pitches on Thursday. If all goes well, he should return from the disabled list Tuesday against the Reds. Estrada is winless in six starts with the Brewers this season, but throws strikes and has averaged 8.66 K/9 in the majors. If healthy, he could be a nice sleeper moving forward.

Chris Nelson 2B/3B, Rockies

The Rockies expect to be without Troy Tulowitzki for the next eight weeks following surgery to remove scar tissue from a nerve in his groin. While it’s a crushing blow for the Rockies and some fantasy owners, the injury should provide Nelson with the opportunity to play pretty regularly at second base while Marco Scutaro fills in at shortstop. The 2004 first-round pick has an underwhelming .251/.302/.389 batting line in the big leagues and doesn’t run as much as he did when he was considered a top prospect, but his pop is enough to make him interesting at the second base position.

Brandon Lyon RP, Astros

This has nothing to do with Brett Myers’ disastrous outing on Monday. One clunker shouldn’t change things and the Astros appear committed to using him in the closer role in order to make him attractive in a trade. But who is the alternative if the Astros end up finding a taker? Wilton Lopez makes the most sense, but he’s on the disabled list with a sprained elbow. With his status up in the air at the moment, Lyon might be the one to stash. The 32-year-old right-hander has pitched really well in his first season back from shoulder surgery, posting a 2.60 ERA and 28/7 K/BB ratio over 27 2/3 innings. Of course, if he continues to pitch well, he may also draw interest from contending teams.

Chris Archer SP, Rays

After Jeremy Hellickson was placed on the disabled list this week due to shoulder fatigue, the Rays called up Archer to make his major league debut Wednesday against the Nationals. He was shaky at first, but ended up giving up three runs (two earned) over six innings while striking out seven and walking just one. The 23-year-old has struggled a bit since coming over in the Matt Garza deal, mostly due to his shaky command and control, but he has averaged 9.0 K/9 over parts of seven seasons in the minors. He should be owned as long as he has a rotation spot.

Carlos Villanueva SP/RP, Blue Jays

Villanueva has bailed out the injury-plagued Blue Jays recently, tossing four scoreless innings last Friday and 2 1/3 shutout frames on Tuesday. This is pure speculation on my part, but he’s adequately stretched out if the Jays want to turn to him as an option out of the rotation. The 28-year-old right-hander had mixed results as a starter last year and was eventually moved back to the bullpen following a stint on the disabled list with a right forearm strain, but the Jays might not have any other choice right now.

Casper Wells OF, Mariners

Wells really doesn’t want to go back to the minors. The 27-year-old outfielder is hitting .524 (11-for-21) with one homer, one double and six RBI in seven games since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. Things could get a little crowded when Mike Carp returns from a shoulder injury, but Wells should continue to get semi-regular playing time for now while the Mariners give regular rest to Franklin Gutierrez. Wells’ speed and pop makes him an intriguing short-term pickup.

Visit again for baseball news, tidbits, waiver wire suggestions and articles that I am reading. I will share with you so you can achieve your goal of achieving the playoffs, and be the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Champion of your league!Post your comments, questions, and feel free to e-mail me any time at BonnieGortler@gmail.com.

Bonnie Gortler is a successful stock market guru who is passionate about teaching others about social media, weight loss and wealth. Bonnie is also a huge sports fan who successfully lost over 60 pounds by applying the many lessons learned through her commitment toward personal growth. Choose your very own FREE down-loadable gift from Bonnie by visiting bit.ly/bgoffers. You may also connect with Bonnie via Twitter & Facebook plus subscribe to BonnieGortler.com.

Like this post? Feel free to use it in your blog or ezine as long as you use the above signature in its entirety.