Bear in mind the nice previous days of Little League? When the shortstop was the coach’s son and by far the crew’s greatest participant? When you possibly can scout out your opposition’s hitting capability just by taking a look at their defensive lineup? (For these of you who by no means performed once you have been little, they normally caught the…let’s consider…much less motivated children within the outfield.) Heck, keep in mind the 90s? Wasn’t each nice participant within the majors a shortstop again then? Even A-Rod was nonetheless enjoying that infield lynchpin place again then. Bizarre now that A-Rod is simply one other energy hitting veteran. However I digress.
As of late, there are two varieties of shortstops. There are the glorified second-basemen who’re put on the market to steal just a few bases and attempt to hit for a excessive common, after which there are the old-school, best-player-on-the-team, power-hitting, five-tool superstars. Properly, in case you’re in search of worth in a day by day fantasy baseball league or attempting to shore up the place in an extended league, there are restricted choices that will not break the financial institution. Nonetheless, listed here are a few of your greatest bets in case you’re seeking to save wage cap cash or make a stable free-agent pickup on your fantasy crew at shortstop. Rafael Furcal, Dodgers. When Furcal is at his greatest, he is truly a surprisingly environment friendly energy hitter. When he is at his worst, he cannot hit the broad aspect of a barn. Thankfully for you, fantasy guru, Furcal is white-hot proper about now. Because the starting of June, Furcal has hit all six of his homers, and has failed to succeed in base in simply 4 video games. That features a seven sport multi-hit sport streak on the finish of final month. Should you’re not satisfied, he is raised his common from .292 on June sixth to .336 on July sixth. Furcal picks up his sport in an enormous means after the All-Star break yearly, so leap on him now in case you can nonetheless get him for an affordable value. Jayson Nix, Cleveland. What a few weeks this man has had. In simply 12 video games since Cleveland picked him up off waivers, Nix has performed like a person possessed. Final week alone, Nix hit .333 with 5 house runs (FIVE! LAST WEEK!) 7 RBI and three walks. Are you kidding me? He is eligible for 2B,3B, and SS relying in your league, however in case you play in a one-day league, you must have this man in your roster at a kind of positions. A minimum of for the following week or so. He hasn’t precisely wowed anybody in his baseball profession up so far, so do not make a foolish transfer to get him…but when he is out there for pickup or you might have solely slightly wage cap left, do it with out hesitation. Felipe Lopez, St. Louis. One other scorching infield utility man from the Midwest, Lopez performs extra like a second baseman than a shortstop…however in case you’ve obtained your steals and residential runs coming from different locations, Lopez is price a glance. He is hitting .440 for the month of July. He will not present a ton of stats apart from his constant hitting, however he’d complement somebody like Mark Reynolds properly. If these numbers sustain, look to see him close to the highest of the St. Louis lineup quickly…which suggests some fairly severe safety behind him and simpler pitches to hit. Cliff Pennington, Oakland. Should you’re in search of a extra typical shortstop that may present just a few stolen bases together with a excessive common, Pennington is your man. Over the previous month his batting common has risen practically 60 factors, thanks partly to a .391 BA in July. Since he is been on base a lot recently, his alternatives to steal bases have shot up as properly. Greater than half of his steals have come because the starting of June, and that quantity will seemingly enhance for Oakland’s hottest hitter. One phrase of warning, nonetheless; he is completely atrocious in opposition to left-handed pitching. One-day fantasy GM’s ought to critically contemplate inserting him into the lineup in opposition to right-handed pitchers in day video games…significantly in opposition to the Orioles, his favourite opponent in his younger profession.
Jose Reyes, New York Mets. Reyes began the season at a glacial tempo, however he is tearing up opposing pitchers over the previous month. 5 homers, 5 steals, and a .362 common since June eighth do not lie; Reyes is again in an enormous means. July and August are traditionally his most efficient months, so seize him now whereas his season .277 BA nonetheless fools different house owners.
