Fantasy Baseball News 2008

[Hache Man]

600 for Junior
Fewer than 15,000 people saw it thanks to the game being played in Florida, but Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th career homer Monday. Griffey's first-inning blast off left-hander Mark Hendrickson was his first long ball of the month, just his third homer since mid-April, and only his second homer of the year against a southpaw. He's now 10 homers away from moving past Sammy Sosa to join Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays in the all-time top five.

While a 38-year-old Griffey takes a long, detour-filled path to eventually reach the destination that once seemed like a given when he was "Junior," here are some other notes from around baseball …

* Nothing official has been announced yet, but Eric Hurley is expected to make his major-league debut Thursday against the Royals. Considered by many to be among the elite pitching prospects in baseball heading into last season, Hurley saw his prospect stock drop somewhat after posting a 4.00 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A. He's fallen even further this year, going 2-5 with a 5.30 ERA in 13 starts at Triple-A.

Lost in that ugly ERA is Hurley turning things around following a horrible start and his 72-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 74.2 innings is very strong for a 22-year-old at Triple-A. However, he's served up 15 homers in those 74.2 frames and ranks as one of the most extreme fly-ball pitchers in the minors. That's a very bad skill set to have when hoping to call the Rangers' power-boosting ballpark home, which is why Hurley is a poor bet in the short term and iffy in the long term.

* Last season it was Asdrubal Cabrera who came up from the minors to take over as the Indians' starting second baseman when Josh Barfield got off to a brutal start, but this season the script has been flipped. Cabrera was sent down Monday after hitting .184 through 52 games, as the Indians called Barfield up from Triple-A. Unfortunately, while Cabrera was deserving of a call-up last year after playing well in the minors, Barfield hit just .255/.297/.382 in 55 games at Triple-A.

Barfield was once considered a top prospect and batted .280 with 13 homers and 21 steals as a rookie for the Padres in 2006, but he hasn't hit since and doesn't figure to start now. He can still provide some value on the bases, which makes him a worthwhile pickup in AL-only leagues, but don't expect much of an impact offensively beyond the occasional homer. Cabrera remains the better option at second base, so bet on him reclaiming the job in the second half.

* It's tough to have much fantasy value while hitting .210, but Rickie Weeks has managed to be plenty productive with a 20-homer, 25-steal, 115-run pace. Unfortunately, he was placed on the disabled list Monday and is expected to miss a significant chunk of time with a sprained left knee. Hernan Iribarren is up from Triple-A to replace Weeks and could work his way into regular playing time at second base. He has little power, but is a career .318 hitter with some speed.

* Hitting coach Jeff Pentland got the ax Monday in Seattle, taking the blame for an MLB-worst record. In three seasons under Pentland's tutelage, Mariners hitters have ranked 13th, 14th, and 14th among AL teams in walks, so it's tough to defend the decision to fire him. With that said, Pentland figures to be followed out the door shortly by manager John McLaren, with general manager Bill Bavasi sticking around to turn off the office lights despite being primarily at fault.

Bavasi has made a series of poor free-agent signings and misguided trades, building a horrible, veteran-laden team that has gone 23-41 despite a $115 million payroll. Firing the hitting coach or the manager won't do any good if Bavasi remains at the helm, although the Mariners did win in dramatic fashion Monday when Miguel Cairo pulled off a successful ninth-inning squeeze bunt with the bases loaded. Of course, Cairo being on the roster to begin with is part of the problem.

AL Quick Hits: Dontrelle Willis turned in a brutal start Monday against the Indians, coughing up eight runs while recording just four outs … Alex Rios' power has been disappointing thus far, but after going 3-for-4 with a stolen base Monday he's already within two steals of last year's career-best total of 17 … After allowing 18 runs over his previous 23.1 innings, Cliff Lee bounced back with a solid, rain-shortened start Monday to win his 10th game … Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate Monday as the White Sox finished off a four-game sweep of the Twins for the first time since the 1970s … Ian Kennedy (bursitis) threw a bullpen session Monday and reported no problems, but may be headed back to Triple-A once he's healthy … There was initially some concern that Joey Gathright suffered a serious shoulder injury while making a diving catch Sunday, but he started in center field Monday … Adam Loewen (elbow) threw a two-inning simulated game Saturday and is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday at Single-A.

NL Quick Hits: Matt Holliday (hamstring) is expected to return from the disabled list Tuesday after going 6-for-10 in three minor-league rehab games over the weekend … Manager Cecil Cooper said Sunday that Michael Bourn won't be moving back into the leadoff spot soon after hitting just .218/.280/.306 in 46 games atop the batting order … In what'll be the first big step in his recovery from a torn shoulder muscle, Chad Cordero is set to throw a bullpen session Wednesday … After previously losing playing time in a platoon with Doug Mientkiewicz, Jose Bautista started at third base Monday for the ninth time in 10 games … Jerry Hairston is expected to miss 2-4 weeks after suffering a fractured thumb Monday, making Paul Janish the Reds' everyday shortstop … After missing a month with a fractured hand, Paul Lo Duca began what figures to be a brief rehab stint Sunday at Single-A … Andruw Jones is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery, but remains unlikely to return this month … After sitting out with the flu, Dmitri Young returned to the lineup Monday for the first time in six days.

[Hache Man]

Calf Injury Knocks Out Pujols
Albert Pujols has remained in the Cardinals' lineup while posting his usual 1.000 OPS despite a series of nagging injuries dating back to last season, but may have finally found something that even he can't play through. Pujols had to be helped off the field Tuesday night after aggravating the calf injury that's been bothering him for some time, and is now scheduled to leave the team in Cincinnati and fly back to St. Louis for further testing.

"Based on what I saw—and I'm not a doctor—it was pretty bad," general manager John Mozeliak said. Pujols has certainly shown in the past that he can play through various injuries and continue to dominate, but at first glance that seems unlikely in this case. Rookie Joe Mather replaced him at first base Tuesday and sliding Troy Glaus across the diamond is another option, but recalling Chris Duncan from Triple-A would also seemingly be a good fill-in choice.

Duncan was demoted last week after batting just .252/.356/.386 with his usual shaky defense in left field, but he posted an .802 OPS against right-handers and wouldn't be nearly as stretched at first base. Given their handedness a Duncan-Mather platoon would be a natural fit while allowing the Cardinals to leave Glaus at third base and thus avoid weakening the offense even further. In that scenario, Duncan would reclaim solid value in NL-only leagues.

While Pujols waits to see if he's headed for the first extended absence of his career after playing in 96.3 percent of his team's 1,200 games, here are some other notes from around baseball …

* Scott Baker stopped the bleeding for Minnesota's pitching staff Tuesday, holding the Indians to one run over seven innings after the Twins coughed up 40 runs while being swept in a four-game series against the White Sox. Unfortunately for Baker he was matched up against C.C. Sabathia, who tossed a complete-game shutout. Handed a first-inning run to work with, Sabathia breezed through the Twins' lineup, throwing 77 of his 106 pitches for strikes while walking none.

Sabathia's overall ERA remains at a mediocre 4.34 thanks to a string of brutal April outings, but since then he's been every bit as dominant as he was while winning the AL Cy Young last year. If you set aside Sabathia's first four starts, he has a 2.09 ERA and 73-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 73.1 innings. It takes a long time for a stat line to recover from beginning the season 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA, but Sabathia is definitely back to being a fantasy stud.

* After being examined by doctors over the weekend, Rafael Furcal was told that his injured back won't allow him to see game action for at least two more weeks. Furcal had been hoping to return next Tuesday, but now figures to miss the remainder of the month and is far from a sure thing to be back prior to the All-Star break. Meanwhile, Nomar Garciaparra is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week and is eligible to return from the 60-day disabled list on June 25.

If Garciaparra beats Furcal back from the DL, the Dodgers have indicated that he'll get a chance to start at shortstop despite not having played the position since 2005. Since then he's played 1,588 innings at first base and 416 innings at third base, so returning to his old position at the age of 34 may prove to be a disaster. Of course, when the alternatives are Luis Maza or Angel Berroa suddenly taking a hit defensively doesn't sound so bad.

* Dontrelle Willis started Monday versus the Indians, allowing eight runs while throwing just 27 of his 64 pitches for strikes and walking five of the 12 batters he faced. That gave him a 10.32 ERA and 21 walks in 11.1 innings overall, and the Tigers decided that they'd seen enough, demoting him all the way down to Single-A. It's been a gradual decline followed by a sudden collapse for Willis, who saw his ERA rise from 2.63 in 2005 to 3.87 in 2006 and 5.17 in 2007.

Now he can't even find the plate, which perhaps isn't shocking given his odd throwing motion and 190 walks over the previous two seasons. Willis clearly needs to throw a whole bunch of innings in an effort to find some semblance of command and if they still have any notion of contending the Tigers simply couldn't afford to keep running him out there. Willis was one of my "bust" picks coming into the season, but that merely assumed that he'd pitch poorly, not completely implode.

AL Quick Hits: Manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday that Ivan Rodriguez and Brandon Inge will alternate starts behind the plate, suggesting that Rodriguez may not be long for Detroit … Called up from Triple-A to replace Asdrubal Cabrera at second base, Josh Barfield left Tuesday's game with a sprained finger and is considered day-to-day … Jose Contreras came into Tuesday's game against the Tigers at 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last six starts, but took the loss while allowing six runs on 13 hits … Dustin McGowan allowed one run in Tuesday's complete-game victory over the Mariners, matching a season-high with seven strikeouts … Rocco Baldelli went 1-for-4 in an extended spring training game Monday and could be close to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment … Curt Schilling (shoulder) threw 40 pitches off a mound Tuesday and reported no problems … Asked Monday about a rumor that the Cubs are interested in dealing for him, Gil Meche responded by asking "how's that going to happen?" while indicating that he'd block any move with his no-trade clause.
atlantabraves.com
NL Quick Hits: Jake Peavy (elbow) is scheduled to come off the disabled list with a start Thursday against the Dodgers … With Rickie Weeks (knee) on the DL, Bill Hall started at second base Tuesday for the first time since May of 2006 … Meanwhile, general manager Doug Melvin denied a rumor that the Brewers are interested in Brian Roberts … Initially expected to miss most of the season, Josh Johnson is ahead of schedule in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and could return around the All-Star break … With Jerry Hairston (finger) heading to the shelf Tuesday, the Reds are hoping that Jeff Keppinger (knee) is able to return by this weekend … Manager Bob Melvin said Monday that Chad Tracy isn't ready to play the outfield yet following knee surgery, but that "it certainly could be a consideration down the road" … Ryan Ludwick came into Tuesday's game hitting just .219 this month, but went 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles, and four RBIs … As expected, Matt Holliday (hamstring) returned to the lineup Tuesday after the minimum stay on the DL. newyorkmets.com

[Hache Man]

MLB Draft Review 1-15
Last week's Rule 4 Draft saw 1,504 players selected who are now under control of major league teams, pending contract signing of course. For the most part only the first few rounds will be relevant for now, as we'll have to see which later round signability picks chose college and which can be lured by above slot bonuses. However, it's important to jump right on those high round selections, and I'm here for the third straight year to help assist those with dispersal drafts or regular keeper leagues. Those in one-year leagues will also have to pay attention, as the next Tim Lincecum can always be less than a year away.

While none of the top picks from last year's class are making the same impact that Lincecum did one year after his selection, the 2007 class looks better than the 2006 version in the long-run. David Price, Matt Wieters, Rick Porcello, Matt LaPorta, and Jason Heyward (the top 5 players in this ranking last year, and also the best five so far) are all looking like Top 15 prospects and future All-Stars, and that's not to mention Jarrod Parker, Madison Bumgarner, Phillippe Aumont, and others who are tearing up the minors. The 2008 class has a different composition in that it's more college heavy and lacks last year's upside, but there's still an exciting first tier of players that goes 12 deep.

I'll start by ranking the Top 15 fantasy prospects in this week's column. Next week I'll do prospects 16-30, though it will be up on Friday due to travel constraints. While I tailor these rankings towards roto fantasy leagues, the application to sim leagues or even an appraisal of the real draft won't be very off in the case of most players. The rankings for previous years can be found in the archives (by some weird glitch when we changed formats two years ago, 1-16 from 2006 isn't on there; e-mail me and I'll send a PDF). I've also incorporated the worthy draft picks into the Season Pass Top 100.

Rule 4 Draft Outlook

Fantasy Rank. Name – Position, Team - Actual Round-Pick (Overall)

1. Pedro Alvarez – 3B, Pirates – 1.02 (2nd)

I debated the top two players for this ranking heavily and ended up reversing what I had in the Season Pass Top 100 for fantasy reasons. While Buster Posey is an excellent choice and a bit more of a sure thing, he'd have to be Mike Piazza to ever garner first round interest in a fantasy league. Pedro Alvarez's bat has first round upside and a good chance to reach it, so he gets the nod instead.

A 14th round pick out of the Bronx in 2005, Alvarez didn't get the big bonus he was looking for from the Red Sox and went off to Vanderbilt. He quickly established himself as the early favorite to go first in the 2008 draft by hitting .329/.456/.675 that included an impressive 22 homers and 64/57 K/BB. Despite being pitched around more often and given more attention in scouting reports, Alvarez posted very similar production as a sophomore.

2008 wasn't so kind for Alvarez, as he broke the hamate bone in his right hand in his first game of the season and missed a month. That type of injury is known to have significant lingering effects even after returning to action, especially in the power department. So it wasn't all that surprising to see Alvarez struggle as a junior. His .317/.424/.593 line was still solid, but he hit just nine homers and it was disappointing considering his previous feats. On the plus side, Alvarez posted the best K/BB of his career at 28/28, and is a good sign of him adjusting his game. Alvarez can mostly be given a pass for the down year, and the Pirates agreed when they popped him second overall.

When healthy, Alvarez has elite power both in batting practice and in games. The 6'2", 225-pound left-hander has extremely quick hands, loft to his swing, and has demonstrated the ability to hit the ball out to any part of the park. Alvarez is also a patient hitter that will look for a pitch to crush, is adept at handling southpaws, and has looked good in summer leagues with wood bats. On the downside Alvarez has had trouble with breaking balls at times and there were predraft rumors of teams being turned off by a hole in his swing. He also struggled against Friday pitchers more than normal this year, but I'm mostly writing that off due to the injury.

Despite the negatives, Alvarez is a true 40-homer threat down the road and if he can lay off the good breaking stuff he'll hit .300 too. He doesn't have any speed to speak of and he won't win any gold gloves, but he's good enough to stay at third for the first half of his career and that's all that fantasy leaguers care about. Barring a glaring positional need, I'd take Alvarez over any other player in the draft in fantasy leagues. He could be one of the league's best third basemen by 2010.

2. Buster Posey – C, Giants – 1.05 (5th)

A shortstop when he arrived at Florida State, Posey was well-known in scouting communities but not considered an elite talent. However, he started right away as a freshman and hit .346 with an impressive 45/38 K/BB. That he hit just four homers limited his value, but Posey's phenomenal bat control, ability to hit hard line drives, and plate discipline were big plusses. Posey moved to catcher for his sophomore season and posted more of the same offensive numbers, though he did raise his doubles total from 14 to 21.

Posey showed more of the same skills in the Cape Cod League that summer, but he looked like a different hitter this spring for FSU. The 6'2", 200-pound right-hander has posted one of the best college seasons you'll ever see, as he's hit .460/.564/.887 with a 27/55 K/BB and his team still alive in the College World Series. That performance includes 20 doubles, four triples, and a whopping 26 homers in 248 at-bats. He leads Division I in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and is tied for the lead in homers.

The question is if the breakout is for real, and how much will translate to the pros. I think the breakout is very real. Posey is a super athlete, is strong, and was always considered to have power potential. He's a smart hitter with a good approach, he's hit just as well on the road as at home, and he's dominated Friday pitchers with a slugging percentage over 1000. Many of those attributes bode well for Posey's power to translate to wood bats, but whether he's a 15-homer player, a 30-homer player, or something in between won't gain consensus until we see how Posey does with the wood. Discounting his breakout because of his lack of power in the cape is folly as he clearly made big adjustments this winter.

I err on the side of a potential 25 homers per season for Posey, but he doesn't need to be that productive to justify this pick. Since he also has excellent plate discipline and a long history of hitting for average, Posey will be exceptionally valuable even if he's in the mold of a right-handed (and healthy) Joe Mauer. His defense is already considered a plus and still getting better just two years in, so there's little chance he moves off the position. Roll it all together and you have a player with a very productive mean projection and still some upside to dream on, making him a top-two pick in your draft. The rumored big bonus demands won't be an issue, so expect him to take over for Bengie Molina in 2010.

3. Justin Smoak – 1B, Rangers – 1.11 (11th)

Another player long on the radar of scouts, Smoak established himself as a top 2008 draft prospect by smacking 17 homers as a freshman for South Carolina. He improved a little as a sophomore, totaling 22 long balls to go with a .315/.434/.631 line that included 54 walks and 40 strikeouts. The average was low for a college star, but Smoak's power, eye, and patience were all big plusses. This season, Smoak has put together his best campaign to date with a .383/.505/.757 mark that includes 23 homers and a 28/57 K/BB. He was particularly awesome in April, belting 13 of those homers in just 79 at-bats.

Along with the impressive college production, Smoak has the build and swing to hit for plenty of power at the major league level. The 6'4", 225-pound switch-hitter has an imposing frame with very quick bat speed and a lofty swing from both sides of the plate. He's naturally better from the left-side, but he's still a quality bat from the right.

Despite all of these positives, there are some negatives with Smoak. Though he excelled in the Cape Cod league after his freshman season, he struggled with Team USA last summer. He's also shown less power against Friday starters, though some of that decline would be expected. Most importantly, Smoak has greatly benefited from the friendly confines of his home park, batting .406 with 14 homers there while hitting .349 with nine long balls (in the same number of at-bats) on the road. It's a relatively small sample and not an outrageous difference, but the splits are there and worth mentioning.

In the end I don't think any of the above mentioned negatives are particularly glaring. Maybe he's not quite this good because of the park, but even then he'll have Ameriquest Field boosting him in the big leagues. With a low strikeout rate and a quick bat to go with his big frame, Smoak should end up a .290-35-110 threat during his prime. He's not quite as good as former Ranger Mark Teixeira, the switch-hitting first basemen he's often compared to, but he's not far off either. A debut during the middle of 2009 wouldn't be surprising.

4. Brian Matusz – LHP, Orioles – 1.4 (4th)

The first pitcher off the board, Matusz was highly sought after coming out of an Arizona high school in 2005. The Angels, who made him a fourth round pick, couldn't meet his bonus demands that were reportedly over $1 million and he went to San Diego as a result. Matusz showed promise as a freshman, but he became known as the best pitching prospect in the draft during his utterly dominant sophomore season. 20-year-olds aren't supposed to put up a 2.85 ERA and 163/37 K/BB in 123 innings, but Matusz did just that. He showed no signs of slowing down this past season either as he improved to a 1.71 ERA and 141/22 K/BB in just 105 innings.

A tall and lanky left-hander at 6'5" and 200 pounds, Matusz isn't known for his plus velocity despite all of the strikeouts. He tops out at 94 MPH and is mostly in the lower 90s. What sets Matusz apart is his three offspeed pitches and some of the best command in years. Matusz's curveball is an especially tough pitch, showing big break and consistently getting swings and misses. His changeup is also a plus pitch already, and the slider he added as a junior projects well to the big leagues.

Matusz could well be the first player to reach the majors from this draft because he's simply that advanced. The lack of velocity might mean he's more of a No. 2 than a true ace, but there's reason for optimism. Matusz's command and offspeed pitches can be matched by very few, and that he developed a fourth pitch instead of sitting on his sophomore success shows a great work ethic and strong desire to succeed. He's the type of player you hate to bet against.

5. Gordon Beckham – SS, White Sox – 1.8 (8th)

Beckham's first two seasons at Georgia were both solid, and he was considered borderline first round material after smacking 25 homers between the two years. His low .307 batting average and some concerns about his ability to handle better breaking stuff lowered his stock. However, Beckham began to move up prospect lists when he hit .284 with a league-leading nine homers for Yarmouth-Dennis. He was playing in the league's most hitter-friendly environment, but it was still a quality performance with wood bats.

Beckham continued his ascent up the first round by putting up an insane .401/.513/.802 line that included 21 doubles, 26 homers, and a 30/50 K/BB ratio. That he took his power output to a new level wasn't too surprising and he had shown good patience in the past, but the batting average was still an encouraging surprise. The concerns about Beckham's ability to hit good breaking pitches are still there, but when he does make contact with his quick swing he punishes the ball well.

Despite the batting average gains this year, Beckham projects as more of a .270 hitter in the majors. However, since that could come with 25 homers, 30 doubles, and a handful of steals, Beckham will be a highly sought after property. Those I've talked to are sold on his defense despite his lack of plus speed, citing his excellent hands, feet, and more than adequate arm. The White Sox don't have a long-term plan at shortstop and Orlando Cabrera is a free agent after 2008, so expect them to sign a one-year stopgap and turn to Beckham in 2010.



6. Yonder Alonso – 1B, Reds – 1.7 (7th)

Also one of the best bats in the draft, Alonso broke out with a .376/.519/.705 mark that included 18 homers and an incredible 31/64 K/BB as a sophomore for Miami. He followed it up with a very balanced and impressive showing in the Cape Cod League, batting .338 (third best in the league) with a league-leading .468 on-base percentage, 12 doubles, and four homers. Alonso kept the hit parade coming by batting .367 and smacking 23 homers this spring, along with a whopping 74 walks compared to just 32 strikeouts.

The left-handed hitting Alonso looks bigger than his 6'2", 215-pound frame, but he's more of a pure hitter than a power threat. Alonso is able to muscle balls out with a metal bat, but his approach means he's more of a 25-homer, 40-double type of threat with wood. That he consistently struggled with college left-handers and posted a very mediocre .227/.410/.467 line against them this year is concerning, but that he demolishes right-handers means it won't reduce his playing time down the road. Since he should still hit .300, draw plenty of walks, and play half his games at Great American Ballpark, he'll be a very valuable hitter in any league.

The one question with Alonso is position. He's not a good athlete and trials at third base in the past have failed, so the Reds likely intend on moving current first basemen Joey Votto to left field. Votto played 41 games there in the minors last season, and he's the better athlete of the two. Alonso's eye and approach are so advanced he could be ready for the majors as early as the middle of 2009. As a result, expect Votto to take some reps in the outfield next spring, and move there no later than the start of 2010.

7. Tim Beckham – SS, Rays – 1.01 (1st)

A gifted, 18-year-old shortstop from a Georgia High School, Beckham has been considered the best high school prospect in this draft since his junior season. A very athletic, wiry strong 6'2", 200-pound right-hander, Beckham has the potential to be a five tool player in the big leagues. He's quick with the bat, makes hard contact, and shows better plate discipline than you'd expect given his label as an athlete. Beckham is also a wiz in the field, and he's one of the few shortstops you'll hear about who have no detractors that say he should be moved to another position.

The big question with Beckham is if he can start to add more power. He hasn't shown as much in games as scouts thought he'd have, and his swing is more designed for average and hitting to the gaps right now. Though he's a very fast runner, Beckham will need to refine his baserunning, like most youngsters that rely on tools against inferior competition.

An athletic shortstop drafted first overall will naturally draw comparisons to the Upton brothers, but Beckham isn't in their class. While his defense is better, Beckham doesn't have the lightning quick bat or incredible strength that they both had. That said, Beckham would still be very valuable if he hits .290 with 10-15 homers and 30 steals per season as a shortstop. That's probably his mean projection, with a best-case scenario involving him developing legitimate 25 homer power. There's also the risk he doesn't add power or simply struggles against better pitching, but the upside makes him a worthwhile investment. He could easily make me look bad for having him ranked here.

8. Eric Hosmer – 1B, Royals – 1.03 (3rd)

It takes a lot for a club to sink the third overall pick into a high school first basemen, but Hosmer's bat convinced the Royals to go ahead and do just that. Already quite big and strong at 6'4" and 215 pounds, Hosmer has been a cut above his high school teammates since his freshman year. His bat speed may be the best in the draft, his swing is conducive to hitting for both power and average, and he's an incredibly smart player for his age with a great approach at the plate.

It'd be surprising if Hosmer didn't hit .300 most years in the majors, and the power is there both in the present and in projecting it to the next level. To put it bluntly, there's enough power potential in his bat that a few 40-homer campaigns can't be ruled out. Hosmer is also quite athletic and throws in the 90s when he's on the mound, so he could end up the Royals' right fielder of the future. For now he'll stay at first base, where he profiles to be a plus defender. You'll have to wait three years if you spend a pick on Hosmer, but the future rewards could be vast. I like him more than this ranking, but couldn't get him higher without dropping someone equally as deserving.

9. Kyle Skipworth – C, Marlins – 1.06 (6th)

A 6'3", left-handed hitting catcher out of a California high school, Skipworth is the best prep catching prospect since Joe Mauer, though in a different style. Mauer was an excellent defender who would without question stay behind the plate, while Skipworth has the kind of power that can play at other positions. He may end up rivaling Hosmer and some of the college corner players in terms of power output, especially if he moves to another position. Skipworth also shows good plate discipline and the ability to hit for a high average, as his newsworthy streak of recording a hit in 18 straight at-bats highlights.

The track record of high school catchers in the first round of the draft is spotty to say the least. That said, Skipworth shouldn't be discounted because his bat is a plus at any position. He's played some third base before and the move would be a natural one, though the Marlins will give him every chance to remain a catcher. Playing 150 games in a season, Skipworth is a potential 30-homer player if everything breaks right. Don't let him fall too far in your draft.

10. Brett Wallace – "3B", Cardinals – 1.13 (13th)

I think there's a small drop-off after Skipworth in these rankings, but the next three players are close enough that I still view the draft as having a first tier of 12 players.

An exceptional hitter as both a freshman and sophomore for Arizona State, Wallace continues the trend of high profile names that are hardly new to those paying attention. The left-handed hitting Wallace continued to show a plus bat, plus power, and plus plate discipline this season, as he ended up posting a .410/.526/.753 line that included 22 homers and a 33/48 K/BB. Wallace moved to third base this spring after spending the last two seasons as primarily a first basemen, and he showed better than expected instincts and hands.

A pure hitter, Wallace should be a 25-homer, .290 type of hitter at the next level. There's a little more risk here than with a player like Alonzo given Wallace's body type, favorable home park, and lack of power with Team USA last summer. I believe more in his ability to hit doubles and draw walks than his home run potential, though it's a positive that he hit nearly as well on the road as he did at home this season.

The big concern, no pun intended, with Wallace is that he's listed at 6'2" and 245 pounds. He's actually been heavier than that earlier in college, though that he lost some weight shows a good commitment. His lower half is quite large and is already on the wrong end of more than a few jokes. While few question his bat even while he's that big, it's difficult to envision Wallace staying at third base as he's an improved but still poor defender. Albert Pujols isn't going anywhere, so the Cardinals have no choice but to try him there for a few years. Even if he ends up at first base or in the AL as a DH, Wallace's bat will always carry value.



11. Aaron Crow – RHP, Nationals – 1.09 (9th)

Crow was sitting on the outside looking in at the first round after his solid yet unspectacular sophomore season at Missouri. However, a big Cape Cod season in which Crow posted a 0.67 ERA and 36/9 K/BB in 40 1/3 innings started to get him noticed. Particularly noteworthy of the performance was that Crow's fastball went from peaking at 90 MPH at Missouri to hitting 98 in the cape. He worked more regularly in the mid-90s, but it was still a drastic change. Crow attributed the change to working on cleaning up his mechanics and better conditioning.

Back at Missouri this spring, Crow continued to dominate with a 2.35 ERA and 127/38 K/BB in 107 1/3 innings. He drew plenty of notice when he recorded a 43 inning scoreless streak at one point early in the season, though he followed it up with a considerable slump and lost velocity in April. Crow's velocity and productivity returned in May, so there was little doubt he'd be a top 10 pick.

Right now, Crow is a two-pitch pitcher. His mid-90s fastball induces plenty of grounders and he commands it well, and his slider is also an above average offering. Crow didn't need his changeup much in college and it's still a work in progress. If he can further develop the changeup Crow will be a No. 2 starter in the big leagues. If not he'll be a fine No. 3, and I don't see a move to the bullpen in his near future. He could be in the Nationals' rotation by the middle of 2010.

12. Brett Lawrie – "C", Brewers – 1.16 (16th)

One of the few late-rising prospects of the spring, Lawrie got noticed when he put together a spring surge with his bat. A 6'0", 200-pound right-hander from a Langley, Canada high school, Lawrie smacked eight homers in eight games when his Canadian junior national team traveled to the Dominican Republic to play games against Dominican Summer League teams. He also excelled in various other late-season games for Team Canada, including in games against college teams and extended spring training clubs. His in game power was incredible for a high school player, and rivaled that of any other player in the draft.

With excellent bat speed and a strong approach at the plate, Lawrie's power should translate well to professional baseball. That he has plenty of experience with wood bats from playing for Team Canada should help immensely. There should be some concern that he's already very well built for his age and thus may not have as much room to grow as most 18 year olds, but since his power is so far ahead of most his age that's less of an issue. That he doesn't have the long track record of some other top picks will scare owners away, but his upside with the bat easily justifies this ranking.

The question with Lawrie is his position. New to catching, Lawrie is a liability there currently in part because he's played all over the field as late as this season. Some scouts believe he'll develop enough to stick behind the plate, while others think he's destined for another position. He's athletic enough for second base and could end up at third, but I'd expect the Brewers to try him at second if catching doesn't work out. Even if he does end up at the hot corner, Lawrie's power potential makes him worth a flier anywhere after the 10th pick in the draft.

13. Jemile Weeks – 2B, Athletics – 1.12 (12th)

I wasn't a huge fan of drafting Weeks at 12 in the real draft, but I think there's some merit to it and his speed boosts him back up these rankings. A 5'9", 180-pound right-hander, Weeks showed promise as a freshman with a .352/.446/.555 line that included a 27/37 K/BB and 32 extra-base hits. A leg injury limited him as a sophomore, but he was back looking like a top prospect with a .367/.453/.633 mark and 37/33 K/BB as a junior.

The brother of Brewers second basemen Rickie Weeks, Jemile is a different type of player. While he has good bat speed and belted 11 homers, Jemile's power is to the gaps. His size and approach say he'll struggle to hit more than a dozen homers per season in the majors. On the plus side, Weeks is an exceptional runner who uses his speed well once the ball is in play, and he's a plus base stealer having gone 21-for-22 there this season. He won't draw as many walks as his brother, but he also will hit for a higher average, strikeout less, and play a much better second base. Since he has 30 steal potential from a premium position, he's worth watching closely.

14. Ike Davis – 1B/OF, Mets – 1.18 (18th)

Known for his power coming into his college career, Davis didn't display the type of game power that was expected of him. He hit just 16 homers during his first two seasons, though he did smack 42 doubles. It was later revealed that he was being bothered by a wrist injury that required surgery the summer following his sophomore season. With that cleaned up, Davis returned to action for Arizona State this spring and had his best year yet with a .385 batting average, 16 homers, and 26 doubles. The left-hander also showed solid plate discipline, walking 31 times while striking out on 34 occasions.

Davis has plenty of power is his 6'4", 205-pound frame, and there's more projection there as he continues to get bigger. That Davis hit better on the road than at his hitter-friendly home confines was also a plus, and he's already known for his ability to handle left-handed pitching. However, Davis hit just .305/.406/.441 against opposing team's best pitchers, raising questions about how his game will translate to the more advanced pitchers of he minors.

While Davis has been productive for three years in college, he's still a somewhat risky college pick. The Friday starter splits are certainly worrisome and as is I think he'll struggle to hit above .260, but he also has greater power potential than he's shown and his performance this year suggests I may be underselling his average. Despite my concerns, I like taking a chance on him among the draft's top 15 prospects. Currently a first basemen, Davis has the arm to play right field given that he was ASU's closer. He may end up in left because of his range, but either is better than getting stuck at first.

15. Ethan Martin – RHP, Dodgers – 1.15 (15th)

With Martin rounding out the top 15 there's no big surprises here this year. Only Jason Castro (10th overall) and Aaron Hicks (14th) failed to make the top 15. In year's past I've gone as low as the 55th overall pick (Brett Anderson in 2006) for someone in the top 15, but no top 15 talents slipped due to signability, there were no speedsters that deserve to be ranked this high, and the first round went pretty much according to how I, and apparently MLB clubs, saw the talent.

It's almost cliché to associate the Dodgers with big upside high school arms, but they continue to go that route with early picks and Martin is no exception. A two-way player who many, including myself, liked more as a power-hitting third basemen coming into the year, Martin established himself more as a pitching prospect while hitting the mid-90s with his fastball and showing better command. Throw in a curve and changeup that both look strong at times, and it's easy to see why the Dodgers were linked to Martin and eventually selected him.

A big, strong, 6'3" right-hander from a Georgia high school, Martin doesn't have a defined ceiling at this time. He'll have to learn more consistency with his secondary pitches and command, but that seems reasonable now that he's focused on pitching. Since he'll be working with an organization that excels at turning young hurlers into productive big leaguers, Martin's stock gets a boost. If you're willing to take a chance and be patient, Martin is a worthy selection at this spot.

[Hache Man]

Bad Break for Soriano
Alfonso Soriano came into Wednesday's game batting .325/.367/.643 since returning from the disabled list on May 1, but will be sidelined for at least the next six weeks after an errant pitch from Jeff Bennett broke his left hand. Micah Hoffpauir figures to be called up to replace Soriano on the roster and could see some action against right-handers, but Mark DeRosa is likely to get the bulk of the starts in left field while Mike Fontenot steps in for him at second base.

It makes sense for Albert Pujols owners to show some patience by seeing if he can return in a few weeks before making a big move, but Soriano owners shouldn't count on having him back in the lineup before August. He's expected to be in a splint for the next three weeks, so there's little chance of a miracle recovery. Hoffpauir has enough power potential to be an asset if he's playing regularly, but Soriano owners should spend today sending out league-wide feelers for big bats.

While the Cubs suddenly look a whole lot less comfortable with their MLB-best record, here are some other notes from around baseball …

* Felix Hernandez was absolutely brilliant Wednesday afternoon against the Blue Jays, totaling eight strikeouts while allowing just an unearned run on four hits over eight innings. Unfortunately even that turned into bad news, as the Mariners' nightmare season may have gotten even worse. Hernandez wasn't able to finish the game because of a calf strain, saying afterward that his leg "was getting tighter and tighter" as the afternoon went on.

That led to J.J. Putz trying to close out a one-run lead, but instead he showed decreased velocity while walking the leadoff man and then exited with elbow soreness. He was clearly uncomfortable on the mound, shaking his arm several teams, but manager John McLaren indicated afterward that the Mariners hope it's merely a day-to-day situation. Putz's performance has slipped in a big way this season and he had an ugly outing on June 1, so there's definitely reason for concern.

Meanwhile, Brandon Morrow stepped in for Putz and slammed the door by retiring three straight hitters for his first career save. Morrow had an up and down rookie season in large part because of 50 walks in 63.1 frames, but has muted speculation about the Mariners possibly moving him to the rotation by posting a 1.00 ERA and 25-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 innings as a reliever. If Putz needs a stint on the disabled list, Morrow will likely get ninth-inning duties.

* Francisco Liriano's velocity remains significantly below where it was prior to Tommy John elbow surgery, but his outings at Triple-A have gotten increasingly impressive. Liriano tossed six innings of one-run ball Tuesday, striking out seven and handing out just one walk for the fifth time in six starts. He has a 3.35 ERA and 41-to-15 strikeout-to-walk over 51 innings since being sent back to Rochester, including racking up 21 strikeouts over 18.1 innings during his last three starts.

Liriano's complete inability to throw the ball over the plate sabotaged a rushed comeback attempt, so it's very encouraging to see the progress that he's made with his control over the past month. Liriano can have success in the majors again whether or not his stuff ever returns to pre-surgery levels, but consistently throwing strikes will become hugely important if his fastball continues to clock in at 88-92 miles per hour.

While he's made great progress, Liriano remains nowhere near his old self. Totaling 41 strikeouts over a 51-inning span is far from exceptional, especially compared to the amazing strikeout rates that he posted prior to surgery, and his ground ball-to-fly ball ratio is nearly even after he once ranked among the most extreme ground-ball pitchers in baseball. Liriano looks nothing like the mess we saw in April, but also still looks nothing like the phenom we saw in 2006.

* John Smoltz received bad news Wednesday when surgery on his right shoulder revealed more damage than initially expected. Smoltz has a damaged labrum, which is arguably the worst type of injury for a pitcher. General manager Frank Wren called the findings "pretty significant" and added that "at this point they don't know what the prognosis is until he starts trying to throw and rehab in the next few months." Asked about Smoltz's future, Wren said: "We just don't know."

* Already on the disabled list with a small tear in his left shoulder, Ryan Zimmerman underwent an MRI exam Wednesday and has been told that he's still at least 4-6 weeks from returning under a best-case scenario. Doctors have told Zimmerman that he has a 70 percent chance of coming back without surgery, but he's by no means out of the woods and could go under the knife if he's not ready around the All-Star break. Aaron Boone and Ronnie Belliard will fill in at third base.

AL Quick Hits: Victor Martinez left Wednesday's game in the first inning with an elbow injury and Kelly Shoppach homered after replacing him behind the plate … Troy Percival (hamstring) threw a 30-pitch simulated game Tuesday and remains on track to return from the disabled list when eligible Friday … Manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday that Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) could join the Angels before the All-Star break if he returns as a reliever … General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Tuesday that Aaron Hill (concussion) is still at least five days from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment … Inexplicably batting second Wednesday, Willie Bloomquist went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts and is now 7-for-46 (.152) with zero extra-base hits on the season … Frank Thomas (quadriceps) is hoping to return from the DL when the A's are done playing interleague games in NL parks on June 20 … Garret Anderson was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with a sore knee … Barring setbacks, both Joel Zumaya (shoulder) and Fernando Rodney (shoulder) are on track to rejoin the Tigers' bullpen next week.

NL Quick Hits: Dan Uggla smacked a walk-off grand slam Wednesday, beating the Phillies while moving within two homers of Chase Utley's MLB-leading total … Meanwhile, Cole Hamels racked up 13 strikeouts over eight innings of two-run ball, but managed only a no-decision when he left a tie game prior to Tom Gordon serving up the aforementioned Uggla blast … With Matt Holliday back in the lineup, Ryan Spilborghs is expected to see increased action in center field at the expense of Willy Taveras … Ryan Doumit went 3-for-4 with a homer Wednesday, going deep for the third time in two games since coming off the disabled list … Conor Jackson started in left field Wednesday, allowing the Diamondbacks to play Chad Tracy at first base … Despite injuries to Jeff Keppinger and Jerry Hairston, manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that shifting Brandon Phillips to shortstop isn't an option … After going 21 seasons without a single trip to the DL, Tom Glavine (elbow) is back on the shelf for the second time in three months … Todd Wellemeyer left his start last week with elbow soreness and was scratched from his outing Tuesday, but is now scheduled to start Saturday against the Phillies.

[Hache Man]

Open season on innovation
It's hardly an unusual occurrence for the justice system to have an impact on fantasy baseball. Whether it's an infielder with visa problems, a pitcher charged with drug possession or a slugger facing a grand jury indictment, legal issues are just one more factor that can affect a player and his fantasy value.

But it is unusual for the justice system — especially the Supreme Court — to have an impact on fantasy baseball itself. That's what happened last week when the justices refused to hear Major League Baseball's case against fantasy provider CDM Sports and its parent company.

The issue, as most fantasy players are well aware, is whether MLB and the players association "own" the rights to a player's name and statistics — and can charge companies for using them in their fantasy games. Ultimately, an appeals court decision sided with the fantasy industry and the First Amendment.

And there was much rejoicing in fantasy quarters.

But what, exactly, does all of this mean to the millions of people who play fantasy baseball — and fantasy sports in general?

More choices

First, it opens the playing field to new ideas and new games.

Many of the websites and online tools fantasy players may take for granted today were once just crazy possibilities. Daily player notes, for instance, grew out of an idea that had already been proven on Wall Street — information moves the market. And those who have the information first are the ones who stand to benefit the most.

Statistical data has always been free and available — no one "owns" the fact that Manny Ramirez has 500-plus career homers or Randy Johnson has more than 4,600 career strikeouts — but the key has always been finding new ways to use that information.

Commissioner services, online drafts, sortable free agent lists, live scoring and many other things that make fantasy baseball easier to play have come about because people saw a need and then invented a way to satisfy it.

Going forward, fantasy baseball players should have more opportunities to find ways to play that suit them. An NL West league? Home runs only? Shortened season? Wacky scoring systems? If there's interest, there's bound to be a game available somewhere down the line.

Let's not kid ourselves — money is also a major reason why a fantasy baseball case nearly ended up at the Supreme Court. Baseball saw the millions of dollars people were pouring into fantasy baseball, so it developed its own set of games. Three years ago, MLB also struck a five-year, $50 million deal with the players union for the right to charge fantasy companies a licensing fee for using the players' names.

Before that, fantasy providers had paid a licensing fee directly to the players union. Once Major League Baseball got involved, the stakes immediately got higher.

The huge licensing fees — and the threat of a lawsuit — cut down on the number of competitors in the fantasy games market. Directly or indirectly, it forced many of the smaller providers to shut down or sell their interests to larger corporations.

In poker terms, MLB and the union could have kept their modest stake in the industry and collected the smaller fees. Instead, they went all-in … and came away with nothing.

More competition

At the beginning of this season, I posed a question on my blog page at usatoday.com: What website hosts your fantasy league, and are you happy with it?

Outside of a few minor gripes, most of those who responded were content with their current home. But the top concerns readers expressed were the need for better customer service and more customizable features — two things they had grown accustomed to, but were missing once their league's site was bought out by another company.

With the court case finally coming to a close, the financial barrier to entering the fantasy baseball marketplace has been greatly reduced. Customers should see more competition and quite possibly lower prices for the products and services they want.

Some of the heavyweight providers — including MLB.com and Yahoo.com — have always offered free versions of their games and leagues. ESPN.com stopped charging for its basic commissioner service two years ago.

Now that the playing field is slightly more level, fantasy fans will be able to shop around. Unlike the Wal-Mart around the corner vs. the mom-and-pop store several miles away, it's just as easy to click on freds_baseball_commissioner_service.com as it is cbssports.com.

More conflict?

The fantasy industry and Major League Baseball ultimately have the same goal — making the game more popular and enjoyable.

New York lawyer Glenn Colton, who filed briefs at the lower court level on behalf of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, perhaps said it best: "Hopefully, this closes the chapter on litigation and will usher in a new era of cooperation between the sports leagues, their players' associations and the fantasy industry."

But is it really over?

The NFL Players Association submitted a brief to the Supreme Court in support of baseball's case. While the fantasy baseball industry has apparently weathered the storm, the NFL could stir up something of hurricane-like proportions if it decides to file suit against fantasy providers.

The original fantasy baseball suit was filed in Missouri state court. However, the NFL could instead choose a more entertainment-friendly venue such as California or a more corporate-friendly one such as New York if it chooses to press the issue.

For now, fantasy baseball fans can focus all of their attention back on the field and not on the courtroom. At least, until one of their players happens to get into a legal pickle.

[Hache Man]

Winter's big hits and misses
By Craig Neuman and Ron Shandler, BaseballHQ.com

Although we are a little more than two months into the season, major league teams are already evaluating how they fared with offseason moves. For fantasy leaguers, the process is a bit different. Just because the Houston Astros are slightly better off with Miguel Tejada than they were without him doesn't mean his fantasy owners feel the same. Some of the major offseason acquisitions from a fantasy perspective (all stats through June 7):

LHP Johan Santana for OF Carlos Gomez

Santana has posted a very good — though not quite Santana-esque — line of 7-4, with a 3.08 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 76 strikeouts for a Rotisserie value of $23 — not quite the $30 to $40 that most were predicting before the season began.

Those who paid that price or took him in the first round aren't panicking, but they're probably wishing they had a extra few points in WHIP and strikeouts. What's gone wrong?

For starters, Santana has been giving up home runs at an elevated rate. This is particularly worrisome for two reasons.

First, Shea Stadium is a park that does not yield many home runs. In addition, Santana is allowing fewer fly balls this year than he has done historically. Should his fly-ball rate return to its historical levels, it portends more homer trouble down the road. Additionally, while Santana's K/9 rate is an acceptable 7.8, it is down from his career levels. Fewer strikeouts and more home runs is not a recipe for success. With the New York Mets' sluggish start, this bears further watching.

On the flip side, Gomez was not going to play much in New York, so the trade to the Minnesota Twins (along with Torii Hunter's departure) allowed him to display his talents.

His line is a very respectable .277 with five home runs, 24 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 35 runs scored. His $29 value is primarily driven by his stolen bases.

When Gomez gets on, he is getting the green light. And, as long as he can rack up the bags, he will be of help to fantasy teams. But can he continue to get on base?

Gomez has only eight walks this season while striking out 61 times. As pitchers realize that Gomez is a free swinger who can be pitched to, his opportunities for stolen bases will probably decrease.

Still, in the minors, Gomez had shown the ability to walk more and make better contact, so there is hope the 22-year-old will improve.

OF Josh Hamilton for RHP Edinson Volquez

When this trade was consummated, no one gave it much thought. A fifth starter for a fourth outfielder? Yawn. Sure, both players had potential, but neither team probably expected All-Star performances this soon.

How has that happened?

Volquez has been virtually unhittable this year, going 8-2 with a 1.32 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 91 K (10.9 K/9) for a Rotisserie value of $34. With a newfound ability to induce ground balls and an improved strikeout rate, there are reasons to believe those numbers are for real.

However, Volquez has been stranding runners at an unsustainable rate and walking nearly five batters per nine innings, so there are risks. Volquez owners should consider selling high or be prepared to lose a few points in ERA and WHIP.

Hamilton is also having a monster year, batting .316 with 17 homers, 69 RBI and a $39 value. Hamilton's off-field troubles were well chronicled, and his 2007 on-field success was one of the feel-good stories of the year. Chapter 2 is turning out to be even better, and it's all for real. Ride it.

OF Andruw Jones signs with Dodgers

One of the biggest free agent acquisitions of the offseason has been the biggest bust. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Jones expecting that 2007 was just an off year for the perennial power stud. But Jones' struggles continued into 2008 before he went on the disabled list.

Over the last two years, his power skills have declined while his strikeout rate has risen. He has been a bit unlucky with a BABIP of only .230, but even a more reasonable rate won't do much for a .165 batting average.

The bigger fallout of the Jones signing was its impact on the Dodgers' overcrowded outfield.

Projecting the allocation of outfield at-bats on draft day was problematic. With Jones' injury, we are now seeing how well Matt Kemp ($24), Andre Ethier ($14) and Juan Pierre ($23) can do in regular roles. Of course, it didn't take much to eclipse Jones' current minus $2 Rotisserie value.

OF Kosuke Fukudome signs with Cubs

At the beginning of the season, most fantasy experts expected Fukudome to have moderate success coming over from Japan, putting up low double-digit home runs and stolen bases while maintaining a relatively high batting average. So far, so good.

Fukudome has delivered to the tune of a .292 average with four homers, 24 RBI, five stolen bases, 40 runs and $19 value.

A curious question, though, is, would the Chicago Cubs have been just as well off if they had given Felix Pie the job? Throughout Pie's minor league career, he had shown terrific power-speed potential.

From a fantasy perspective, the 23-year-old might even have greater long-term upside than Fukudome who, at 31, might have already been past his prime when he put on a Cubs uniform.

We might never know what Pie could have done with a full-time job but, really, how much worse could it have been than the 12 homers and 15 stolen bases Fukudome is likely to produce?

SS Miguel Tejada traded to Astros

Controversy has surrounded Tejada the past several months. From being named in the Mitchell Report to the revelation he had been lying about his age, it would have been easy for him to be distracted by the off-field issues. Yet he has ignored the distractions and done what he has always done: hit. To the tune of $24 of Roto value thus far.

Coming into the season, Tejada was riding a three-year decline in power, a trend we expected to continue. And while on the surface it would appear his power is no better than last year, looks might be deceiving.

Sure, he has only seven home runs, but his line-drive rate is 7% greater than last year's, so he is hitting the ball hard. Currently, those line drives are only translating into doubles (17 so far compared with 19 for all of last year).

As the hot summer descends upon Houston, those doubles could turn into a few more home runs.

[Hache Man]

V-Mart Closed for Business
Victor Martinez left Wednesday's game after injuring his right elbow on a first-inning swing and was placed on the disabled list Thursday in preparation for surgery to remove bone chips. In part because he's a catcher and needs to be throwing at full strength again before returning, Martinez is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Coming back sooner is possible if Martinez is used at designated hitter, but that would only be an option if Travis Hafner struggles to return from a shoulder injury.

With Martinez sidelined, Kelly Shoppach figures to play nearly every day behind the plate given that light-hitting minor-league veteran Yamid Haad is now his backup. Shoppach went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs Thursday, giving him a modest .241/.291/.408 career mark in 404 major-league plate appearances. However, 13 homers and 55 RBIs over that time make h