For you fantasy players - my list of sleepers for your draft or auction

[FairWarning]

For Fivedoorsdown and others who play fantasy BB. This list is for players who should be available in the back half of your draft. For auctions, these players should be $10 or less (based on a standard $260 cap). It is National League biased since my big league is NL only. Some players on here are lookers right now, but may make a serious impact in a month or two with the right break.

These players are not ranked in order. The sources I got them from, I just jotted them down from that.

Pitchers:

Jose Valverde, DBacks
Mike Hampton, Braves
John Thomson, Braves
Jaret Wright, Braves
Ryan Wagner, Reds
Brandon Claussen, Reds
Chin-Hui Tsao, Rockies
Brad Penny, Marlins
Tim Redding, Astros
Wilson Alvaraz, Dodgers
Edwin Jackson, Dodgers
Jeff Weaver, Dodgers
Danny Kolb, Brewers
Ben Sheets, Brewers
Zach Day, Expos
Eric Milton, Phillies
Brett Myers, Phillies
Kip Wells, Pirates
John VanBenehoten (sic), Pirates
Adam Eaton, Padres
Jake Peavy, Padres
Jerome Williams, Giants
Jarrod Washburn, Angels
Kurt Ainsworth, Orioles
Sidney Ponson, Orioles
Jorge Julio, Orioles
John Garland, White Sox
Mike MacDougal, Royals
Grant Balfour, Twins
Rich Harden, A's
Joel Pineiro, Mariners
Rafael Soriano, Mariners
Victor Zambrano, D Rays
Francisco Cordero, Rangers
Ted Lilly, Blue Jays

Catchers:

Michael Barrett, Cubs
Jason Phillips, Mets
Craig Wilson, Pirates
AJ Pierzynski, Giants
Matt Lecroy, Twins

Corners:

Hee Sop Choy, Marlins
Morgan Ensberg, Astros
Tony Batista, Expos
Nick Johnson, Expos
Carlos Pena, Tigers

Middle infielders:

Alex Cintron, DBacks
Todd Walker, Cubs
Rickie Weeks, Brewers
Orlando Cabrera, Expos
Placido Polanco, Phillies
Bobby Hill, Pirates
Jack Wilson, Pirates
Michael Young, Rangers

OF:

JD Drew, Braves
Corey Patterson, Cubs
Austin Kearnes, Reds
Jeremy Burnitz, Rockies
Miguel Cabrera, Marlins
Geoff Jenkins, Brewers
Carl Everett, Expos
Brad Wilkerson, Expos
Marlon Byrd, Phillies
Jason Bay, Pirates
Tike Redman, Pirates
Reggie Sanders, Cardinals
Matt Stairs, Royals
Randy Winn, Mariners
Jose Cruz, DRays
Laynce Nix, Rangers
Frank Catalanato, Blue Jays

Anyone have any others to share? My AL needs a little help for the AL-only leagues. This should help everyone with their draft/auction.

Good luck all.

 

[King of the Road]

If players like Ensberg, F. Cordero, Mike Young, J. Washburn, etc. are going to be available at the back of your draft, I'd like to play in your leagues!!!

You have listed what I'd describe as very light sleepers. If you haven't heard of all these guys and understand what their roles/potential are, you probably won't have a very good season unless your leagues are soft.

Here are a few deeper sleepers with considerable upside. These are good players for NL only or AL only leagues, as the case may be although some of the relievers would be good in mixed leagues as closers or "closers in waiting".

C Ramon Castro, FLA
C Johnny Estrada, ATL
C Gerald Laird, TEX
1b Adam Laroche, ATL
1b Travis Hafner, CLE
2b Aaron Miles, COL
2b Chase Utley, PHI
ss Freddy Sanchez, PIT
ss Khalil Greene, SD
ss Bobby Crosby, Oak
3B Pedro Feliz, SF
3B Brandon Larson, Cin
OF Terrmel Sledge, Mon
OF Peter Bergeron, Mon
OF Jason Bay, Pitt
OF Tike Redman, Pitt
OF Willie Harris, CWS
OF Laynce Nix, TEX

SP Bronson Arroyo, Bos
SP Jeremy Affeldt, KC
SP Grant Balfour, Min
SP Jerome Williams, SF
SP Jake Peavy, SD
SP Jose Acevedo, Cin

RP Orber Moreno, NYM
RP Matt Herges, SF
RP Luis Ayala, MON
RP Latroy Hawkins, CUB
RP David Riske, CLE
RP Brad Lidge, Hou

 

[Mr NJ Sports]

Why do people think that Jeff Weaver will be good? He is the worst pitcher in baseball. (he and Kenny Rogers)

JD Drew should produce in Atl. Alex Cintron is a good one. Danny Kolb is a good cheap guy for saves. I think Jose Conteras on NYY will have a huge year. He was great last year as a starter and then was brutal when they used him in relief.
Miguel Batista on Toronto should have a nice season also.
After all the top 1st basemen go in the AL I think Mark Texiera is a great pick in that lineup.

If he makes the rotation take Edwin Jackson on the Dodgers! (I think thats his name )

 

[FairWarning]

King - Some people play in small mixed leagues. Some of those players like Kearnes, who were injured do fall through the cracks. Maybe not at the end of the draft but round 10 or so. I did the yahoo league set up on here and players like Burnitz didn't get drafted.

Actually my big-money league is 12 teams-NL players only. Some of those names that are not familar to some here, we are fighting over.

I am not a big Weaver fan per se, but I like to get pitchers who switch leagues. The NL hasn't seen him before, he is in a great pitchers park, pitches in division games at SD, AZ, and SF - all pitchers parks, and has the best closer in BB. Very low risk to win 10-12 games - look at Wilson Alvarez last year.

 

[Mr NJ Sports]

Hey good point on the pitchers switching leagues.
What do you think of hitters switching leagues?
Guys like Javy Lopez,Gary Sheffield,Vlad Guererro. All of them off of huge years but they are switching leagues now.

 

[fivedoorsdown]

thanks fairwarning.
have most that you have mentioned. we're in a pretty deep league. there's not many of anything left when we're done.
but here's a couple that i like .
chris carpenter sp stl and the price is nice (0)
aaron rowand chi of (1 $)
chad codero rp mon (0) curis leskanic rp kc (0)
e wilson yanks 2b (0)
ryan wagner reds rp (0)
anyone think shawn estes can hold up. having great spring
arthur rhoades rp oak @ 3$
have second overall pick this year because of trades
some i have to chose from:
andy pettite
raul ibanez
mark buehrie
john smoltz
randy wolf
sidney ponson
rafael palmeiro
brad radke
edwin jackson
my infield is very solid need pitching and outfield

 

[FairWarning]

I like Smoltz, Pettite, Buehrle the most out of that (stud relief pitcher and 2 potential aces). I would probably stay away from Palmeiro all together. I like Ibanez too but I think his numbers will be down in Safeco.

I like Ryan Wagner, espically at that price. I would not touch Estes with a 10-foot pole. Two hitters you can take a chance on is Craig Monroe OF Detroit, and whoever is the 2nd Baseman for the White Sox (right now it is Willie Harris and he can steal a lot of bases, just depends if he can get on enough).

[This message was edited by FairWarning on March 29, 2004 at 04:36 PM.]

 

[FairWarning]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr NJ Sports:
Hey good point on the pitchers switching leagues.
What do you think of hitters switching leagues?
Guys like Javy Lopez,Gary Sheffield,Vlad Guererro. All of them off of huge years but they are switching leagues now.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't think it will affect Sheffield because he was in the AL before. It used to make a big difference because it took a time around the league to make the adjustments and see the pitchers. With interleague play, some of that adjustment time is shortened. Also you don't have AL and NL umps anymore so the calls are more consistent.

I don't think Vlads numbers will suffer because of switching leagues. He swings at everything like Randall Simon and Dmitri Young. His main problem will be toll on his knees and back from playing on the cement of Olympic Stadium. I would look for very few SB's from him. but decent power numbers. The people surrounding him in the lineup will greatly benefit from his presence.

I would be leery of Javy Lopez. He is coming off a career year, signed a big contract with a new team, and two years ago came off a 10-15 HR year. If I owned him, I would trade him for a catcher like AJ Pierzinski (who will benefit from Bonds in the lineup), and a very good player. Also Lopez is 33. There is a big decline coming. He couldn't have picked a better time to become a free agent.

 

[Mr NJ Sports]

The only reasons I would consider Javy Lopez are: that ballpark is a joke and he will not have to sit out every 5th day because Greg Maddux is a baby.

 

[FairWarning]

Don't get me wrong, Lopez is better than 80 percent of the catchers. There is too much going against him (including injury), that he will be drafted too high in most leagues for the type of numbers that will be produced.

 

[truelyhandicapping]

HE IS FACING ALL NEW PITCHING, NEW LEAGUE

HE WILL NOT PUT UP THE TYPE OF NUMBERS HE DID LAST YEAR. BANK THAT.

THOME WAS A RARE EXCEPTION LAST YEAR GOING TO A NEW LEAGUE AND DOMINATING.

 

[truelyhandicapping]

AND VLADDY IS VLADDY, BIGGEST UNDERRATED PLAYER THERE IS.

AND HE STILL A HALL OF FAMER.

 

[fivedoorsdown]

fair warning you know much about aaron miles.
not listed so he's a freebie. anyone actually seen him play.
thinking of taking him 4th or 5th round if still there
d jackson let go so he gets the spot

 

[FairWarning]

Miles will be starting for the Rockies. I remember him on the ChiSox, never did much for them. He is a scrappy player. I guess he will have some value starting but he has no power at all. Your call here.