Fantasy Baseball: Third Base

It's getting toward the end of the month. Burga and I have been slacking somewhat on our rankings (college), but we will get them done. Today we look at the hot corner, where there are some names that probably wouldn't be on this list last year, whether it's injury, position switch, or a breakout year. Nevertheless, some of these players could be the best hitter on your team, so don't let them get by you! Here's our take on the position.

Average Joe's Rankings:
Evan Longoria
David Wright
Ryan Zimmerman
Alex Rodriguez
Kevin Youkilis
Jose Bautista
Adrian Beltre
Casey McGehee
Mark Reynolds
Aramis Ramirez

Key Points:
• Longoria has established himself as the best at this position for certain. But look out for Zimmerman. His average has increased significantly over the past 4 seasons. Without missing time like last year, his numbers across the board should increase. David Wright goes above him because he’s the more proven player.

• A-Rod is on the back nine of his career. His average is dropping, and his OPS in 2010 was his lowest since 1997 with Seattle. But he just had his 13th straight season of at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. He’s not going anywhere soon, but if it’s a keeper league, beware of that age.
• I am fully expecting Jose Bautista to fall off the map again. Yet I ranked him 6th, largely in part that he was arguably the most productive player last year in all of baseball. So, I’m giving him the preseason benefit of the doubt, but be cautious selecting him.
• McGehee eclipsed the 100 RBI mark in his first full MLB season last year, to go with a .285 average. At 28, expect improvement. Sandoval was tough to oversee for this list, as he is in top shape this spring. But in 2010, he did not help the World Series Champions as much as he did in 2009.

Burga’s Rankings:
Evan Longoria
Ryan Zimmerman
David Wright
Alex Rodriguez
Kevin Youkilis
Jose Bautista
Adrian Beltre
Aramis Ramirez
Mark Reynolds
Pablo Sandoval

Key Points:
• Some might wonder why Zimmerman is ranked higher than Wright or even A-Rod, but I’m extremely high on him this year. Another year old, he’s got the tools to take his game to the next level. Washington’s franchise player (Steven Strasburg and Bryce Harper are pretty good, too) should look for career highs in all categories this year and challenge Longoria for the number one spot if he stays healthy.
• Alex Rodriguez is a top 10, maybe top 5 player in all of fantasy baseball when he’s healthy, which he appears to be now. Injury history is the only thing that puts him so far down the list. He reported to training camp lighter and with lower body fat, so if he stays healthy he’ll be the cornerstone of your fantasy team.
• Jose Bautista is probably the biggest question mark coming into the season. I don’t think anyone expects a repeat of last year’s 54 homer season, but 30-35 home runs with around 100 RBIs still makes this guy a great option at third base.
• Pablo Sandoval went from being one of the best breakout players in 2009 to one of the biggest busts last year. He reportedly has dropped 40 pounds in this offseason, and he’s surrounded by a championship team so if the pieces fall together he could get his average back up over .300 and help in every category minus stolen bases.
 

New-Look Bruins Set to Battle Flames

For the first time since the flurry of transactions that took place last week, the Boston Bruins will hit the ice with their entire new-look roster intact. The missing piece from Friday night's victory in Ottawa, Rich Peverley is set to make his Bruins debut tonight against the red-hot Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. Peverley will don the number 49 on his sweater, and he is expected to play alongside fellow newcomer Chris Kelly as well as Michael Ryder on Boston's third line.

The additions of Peverley and Kelly, combined with the departure of only Blake Wheeler, gave Claude Julien 13 forwards for only 12 spots. Reports this morning indicated that Daniel Paille will likely be the healthy scratch tonight for Boston, and rookie Tyler Seguin will be bumped down to the fourth line. Rumors were circulating that the Bruins were giving some consideration to sending Seguin back to juniors for the rest of the season, but it seems that they will avoid that course of action -- rightfully so.

Claude Julien already expressed his feelings regarding Seguin's recently improved play. You have to believe that if anyone on that third unit consistently fails to pull their own weight, Julien would have no problem sliding Seguin back into that spot. Currently, according to Naoko Funayama, Seguin is slated to remain at center on the fourth unit, sliding Gregory Campbell to the wing opposite Shawn Thornton. While some might object to Seguin playing on that unit, one must realize that Boston's fourth line isn't the stereotypical trio of meat heads that some teams feature; Campbell and Thornton have combined for 17 goals and 36 points this season, and each of them have a rating of +6. Ice time is ice time, and Seguin will still be able to learn and develop each time he gets on the ice. Additionally, Julien explained that he plans to use Seguin in various situations on various different lines, especially coming off of power plays and penalty kills when the line combinations may be slightly dismantled. Hopefully the B's will continue to see improvement out of their prized youngster.

Speaking of power play situations, the third Boston newcomer -- defenseman Tomas Kaberle -- seems to be fitting in perfectly, and he is garnering praise from his teammates. His impact on the club has been evident from the start, and Bruins fans will hope to see more of what we got a sneak peek of Friday night. Kaberle's tremendous vision and ability to see the ice will help the offense and, in turn, prevent some of the turnovers the Bruins have been haunted by while breaking out of their own zone. Everyone is saying that these acquisitions have made the Bruins a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. I can only hope they are correct.

As for tonight's game, Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate and is expected to be back between the pipes. By all indications, the healthy scratches will be the aforementioned Daniel Paille and defenseman Steven Kampfer. Here are the projected line combinations for the B's.

Lucic-Krejci-Horton

Marchand-Bergeron-Recchi

Peverley-Kelly-Ryder

Campbell-Seguin-Thornton

Chara-Boychuk

Kaberle-Seidenberg

Ference-McQuaid

Tim Thomas

Catch all the action starting at 9 PM ET as the Bruins try to knock off the Flames, who are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games.

 

Tek Embracing Role for Sox

If the Red Sox decided to strip Jason Varitek of the "C" on his jersey, it would only be because he is no longer an everyday player. But if you asked any of the players in that clubhouse who their leaders are, I still have a feeling the guys would put 'Tek right into the discussion.

Varitek, who turns 39 this April, has transitioned rather smoothly into his new role as a backup catcher to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Each season prior to starting his training, the Sox all-time leader in games caught has a procedure he goes through to see whether or not he's ready to start training. If he can walk down a set of stairs straight, he's ready. If he's walking down them a little bit sideways, he needs more recovery time. This season was the earliest he was ever walking straight, indicating he was fresh and ready to go. Why is that so, being nearly 40 years old already?

'Tek is coming off one of the less strenuous seasons of his career, surrendering his starting duties to Victor Martinez last year. Even though Martinez is gone, Jarrod Saltalamacchia figures to step in as Boston's everyday catcher this season, leaving Varitek to, essentially, be Tim Wakefield's designated catcher. Given the emotional tension at the end of last season, when Varitek wasn't even sure he was staying in Beantown, it's a role he's willing and happy to take on.

"My kids were upset for a good two hours after I got done with icing and talking to the media and doing those things after [the last game of 2010], and I realized that they grew up here," Varitek explained. "It wasn't just me that grew up here. It presented me with an emotional time, but at that point, it was out of my control. I did things well enough and got better in enough areas where I knew there was a good chance I could help a team. Hopefully it was going to be here, and it turned out to be that way."

It's like Boston has added a player and a coach in one roster spot. Varitek may only play one out of every five days this year, but he is the most valuable mentor that Saltalamacchia will have in his developing years. The same goes for any other young player looking for advice in the day-to-day endeavors of a major league baseball player. Getting your body ready and healthy, keeping your mental health stable, and enduring the other rigors in the life of a major leaguer. Hell, Varitek knows a little bit about that -- having caught 1,421 games, the 39-year-old is still chugging along and looking to join the likes of Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone, who each caught for the Sox into their 40s.

If you ask me, there's no doubt that Varitek will manage someday. He has a brilliant baseball mind, and that's part of the reason you can put him into the discussion regarding the best Red Sox catchers in the last century. Sure, his offensive numbers have never been stellar. But for a guy who has caught so many no-hitters, so many special pitching performances, donned the "C" on his jersey for such an historic franchise, and led his squad to two World Series championships -- why not?

Either way, the Red Sox and Red Sox nation alike are proud to have #33 suiting up for them again this season, doing the things he always has done to help his teammates grow and improve.
 

Kaberle to Boston, Wheeler to Atlanta

By all indications, the transactions that have been rumored for days now have been completed. Defenseman Tomas Kaberle is Boston-bound after the Leafs sent him to the Bruins in exchange for Joe Colborne, Boston's first rounder (not Toronto's pick) in the upcoming draft, and a conditional draft selection. To make cap room for this deal, the Bruins made a secondary trade that ships forward Blake Wheeler (11 goals, 16 assists) to the Atlanta Thrashers along with defenseman Mark Stuart. Returning to the Bruins from Atlanta are forward Rich Peverley (14 goal, 20 assists) and minor-league defenseman Boris Valabik. Both transactions are reportedly finalized, and NHL.com's top story gives it further credibility.

For those of you wondering, this absolutely makes the Bruins more equipped as Stanley Cup contenders this season. After stockpiling so much youth and draft ammunition, Peter Chiarelli finally cashed some of his winnings in for a chance at a championship this season. By and large, analysts of the NHL have believed that the Bruins were just one elite defenseman away from being legitimate contenders. They got that piece, and they may have even upgraded their forward groups as well.

The acquisitions of Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley likely outweigh the loss of Blake Wheeler in a positive fashion. Now, the Bruins have even more options than they did before. Peverley has solid numbers this season and would be tied with Michael Ryder in sixth place on the Bruins point-scoring sheet this season (34 points). Additionally, he's a great faceoff man and has versatility -- two things that can also be said on behalf of Chris Kelly from the Ottawa Senators, who has 12 goals and 11 assists this season. Whether it means giving Tyler Seguin some additional healthy scratches, bumping a newcomer to the fourth line and strengthening that unit's offensive prowess, or juggling things entirely, Claude Julien has a myriad of options with the forward additions. But let's not kid ourselves -- the big catch is Kaberle.

There is no word yet as of this afternoon whether or not Kaberle and Peverley will be available in tonight's contest with the Ottawa Senators. Since Kaberle is coming from Toronto, there may be a chance he could make it, but that's pure speculation on my part. Chris Kelly is expected to be in the lineup tonight against his former team, and if the other new guys are absent, it is expected that Kelly will center Michael Ryder and Tyler Seguin. Moving forward, it should be exciting to see the combinations that arise and the ways that Julien utilizes his new tools.
 

Kaberle Deal Inches Closer... No Wheeler?

The Toronto Sun is reporting today that a Tomas Kaberle trade from the Leafs to the Bruins is a near certainty, barring the slight possibility of a last-minute breakdown. That isn't too surprising given the rumor mill the past few days, but what may surprise many B's fans is that Blake Wheeler is reportedly not involved in the proposed transaction.

The report says that Boston would send their own first rounder (not the higher placed Toronto pick they acquired in the Phil Kessel trade) as well as Joe Colborne and/or Ryan Spooner to the Leafs in exchange for the veteran blue-liner. Wheeler is not involved in the potential scenario that many news outlets are claiming will unfold. If this transaction does go down, let's ask the clear-cut most important question -- what do I think about it?

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I have somewhat of a bias toward Tyler Seguin here, because I want him to get playing time and gain confidence. If Wheeler doesn't leave town, my first reaction is that Seguin is going to see many more healthy scratches and fourth line appearances. But on second thought, maybe this would be exactly the right move for Boston.

They have already played Blake Wheeler on the fourth line this year, and they will do so again if Seguin keeps proving he can play alongside projected third-liners Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder. And if that situation doesn't unfold, it probably means Wheeler is producing with the aforementioned group. What it does is it creates a new, healthy competition in the forward group for the Bruins. There will always be a healthy scratch with the current setup (presumably Daniel Paille or Tyler Seguin as of this point in the season). Trading away Colborne and Spooner might sting a little bit since they have such great potential, but let's step back. How long are we going to wait on Colborne? Who knows if Spooner will be able to combine his impressive offensive skills into an all-around game that will work in Boston's system? With the emergence of Jared Knight in juniors this season, it is clear that Boston made the right choices with their top two picks last season. With so much young talent stockpiled, you give yourself the ability to trade some pieces in situations exactly like this one. Maybe it is the right move, after all.

The ultimate outcome, though, is that the Bruins would acquire the bona fide number two defenseman they have been searching for. They add the puck-mover that may be able to get the special teams unit to the next level, to jumpstart the forward lines, and to give a better offensive kick from the back end. And don't forget, the guy is still a defenseman -- and a pretty good one, at that. He can certainly help out this unit that has mightily struggled over the past few games. It's time to turn up the turbo and put the foot on the pedal. Peter Chiarelli, I'm giving you the go-ahead. Make this deal happen.

 

Bruins Add Center Depth, Acquire Kelly

When Toronto came into town and defeated the Boston Bruins in stunning fashion last night, the cries of panic started to surface. Boston was already rumored to be in trade discussions with Brian Burke's Maple Leafs, but Peter Chiarelli announced a different acquisition following the B's defeat Tuesday night.

Boston sent a second-round draft selection to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for center Chris Kelly, seven-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Sens. Chiarelli described Kelly as a great two-way player with playoff experience and faceoff expertise.

Initially, I was a little confused by the transaction. But ultimately, this is the first move -- the B's aren't done. I fully expect they will make a push for a puck-moving defenseman such as Thomas Kaberle or even 20-year old Thrashers defenseman Zach Bogosian, who is rumored to be going at a very steep price. Bogosian is a stud, but it would likely cost the Bruins the Toronto draft pick they own, Mark Stuart, and a younger NHL forward such as Blake Wheeler. With the acquisition of Kelly, there's certainly a possibility that the B's would put together a package like that. In fact, I'm almost expecting them to do so.

Where will Kelly play? Unless they intend to give Daniel Paille the boot and bump Tyler Seguin down to the fourth line, it's almost inevitable that Blake Wheeler is headed out of town. I'm not saying he definitely is, but I'm saying it seems like the most likely scenario. Assuming the Bruins aren't interested in demoting Kelly, Seguin, or Wheeler to the fourth unit, it would seem that Wheeler is a likely piece of trade bait to acquire the defenseman this club so desperately needs. The problem with the previously mentioned Bogosian, though, is that he will be seeking a hefty pay-raise once his rookie contract expires this offseason. Still, he's the type of blueliner you can build a franchise around -- thus the high price tag.

Regardless, Chris Kelly can bring a lot to this team. He resembles Patrice Bergeron in some ways, and he will definitely be an upgrade at the third-line center position. That isn't said as a knock on Tyler Seguin -- rather, Seguin simply has more to learn in the defensive aspects of the game as a centerman. Additionally, the rookie has been weak on faceoffs to the extent that Claude Julien often sends Bergeron out just to take the important faceoff for him. By acquiring Kelly, Boston's middle is set in stone -- no more jumbling. Bergeron, Krejci, Kelly, and Campbell are the four centers on this team. Period. Everyone else will acclimate themselves to their respective wings.

Hopefully it brings an all-around improvement in consistency to the team. Even though Blake Wheeler has looked reinvigorated of late, he's still not producing like the B's have always expected him to. If losing Wheeler is the key piece to acquiring a defenseman like Kaberle, Bogosian, or Keith Yandle, then it's probably a situation where Bruins fans can willingly bite the bullet. That type of defenseman may be the only thing holding this team back from the elite class.
 

Fantasy Baseball: Second Base

In the past, second base has typically been a pretty thin position in the fantasy world. However, over the last few years some of them have emerged among the top hitters in baseball. Two second baseman should go in the first round of the draft. Three more will be gone by round 5. It has become a very deep position and instead of a weak spot on your team, they can be a great source of stats just like any other player you draft. Burga and I compared our rankings, let’s see what we came up with.

Burga’s Rankings:
Robinson Cano
Chase Utley
Dustin Pedroia
Dan Uggla
Ian Kinsler
Brandon Phillips
Rickie Weeks
Martin Prado
Aaron Hill
Kelly Johnson

Key Points:
• It’s interesting that Joe and I have VERY similar rankings here. We both have the same first 7 people (with 6 and 7 switched), and he surprisingly ranked Kinsler as low as I did. Kinsler is as supreme talent as any second baseman in the game. But his health concerns make him a very high risk/high reward draft pick and I’ll stay away from him. I’d much rather skip on Kinsler in round 3 and take Uggla in round 5.
• Robinson Cano should repeat, if not improve last years numbers hitting in the middle of the studded Yankee’s lineup. Utley should be close, however, so don’t rule him out just because he was injured last year. Look for similar numbers with Cano getting an advantage in power and Utley an advantage in SBs.
• Aaron Hill should be available in the mid rounds, maybe 8 or 9, and if he can put last year behind him he may prove to be one of the steals of the draft. Is he really the 36 homerun, 108 RBI guy of ’09? Or is he the .205 hitter we saw last year? It’ll be interesting to see what Hill does this year.
• One person I left out was the Oriole’s Brian Roberts. When healthy, he’s a great source of Runs, SBs, and a solid average. However, he’s getting up there in age (33) and was limited to 59 games last year. However, if he’s healthy and bats atop the O’s studded new lineup featuring Mark Reynolds, Derek Lee, and Vlad Guerrero, he may be a top 5 second baseman again this year.

Average Joe's Rankings:
Robinson Cano
Chase Utley
Dustin Pedroia
Dan Uggla
Ian Kinsler
Rickie Weeks
Brandon Phillips
Brian Roberts
Martin Prado
Kelly Johnson

Key Points:
• The top 5 are definitely the elite players at second. Cano was tops in the AL last summer, while Uggla was the best in the National League. But you should expect Utley, Pedroia, and Kinsler to all bounce back from injury-plagued seasons.
• Weeks and Phillips could go either way (up or down) this list. Weeks had a breakout year last year, while Phillips did not drive in as many runs as in previous years. But they should both have solid campaigns, nonetheless.
• Kelly Johnson probably won’t hit as many home runs as he did last year. But he is young, so don’t expect a significant drop from his career year numbers of 2010. Martin Prado has showed steady improvement each year in the league (as the number of games he’s appeared in increases). Expect nothing different this year.
• Brian Roberts, when healthy, is a solid second baseman. With a bunch of new faces in Baltimore, I expect him to have a solid season, rebounding from injuries in 2010, and to help this new Orioles team have a chance in the AL East.
  

Eagles Aim for 16th Beanpot Title

It may have felt like a championship ending last Monday night when the BC Eagles derailed the BU Terriers in overtime, but there is still work to be done if Jerry York and Boston College want to bring their 16th Beanpot title back to the Heights at Chestnut Hill.

Tonight, the Eagles will square off with the Northeastern Huskies in the championship round of the 59th annual Beanpot tournament at the TD Garden. The Eagles are the #1 ranked team in the nation and the Huskies are in the bottom half of the Hockey East standings, but no game can be taken lightly in a tournament with such tradition and pride at stake.

In fact, the last time these two teams met in a Beanpot game, Northeastern blasted BC 6-1 in the first round of the 2009 tourney. The Huskies, led by goaltender Chris Rawlings and top scorers Wade MacLeod and Tyler McNeely, will be searching for their 5th Beanpot championship and their first since, remarkably, 1988. The last time BC and NU met in the championship game was a whopping 28 years ago.

For BC, the key will be getting the puck past Rawlings, who sports an impressive .935 saves percentage despite a .500 win-loss record. Rawlings' .935 is second in Hockey East to only the Eagles' John Muse, who brings a .937 saves percentage into the action. He's the type of goaltender who can steal a game for an under-performing Huskies squad, so Boston College will need to have their offense clicking early to establish their dominance and avoid a monumental upset in pursuit of their 16th title.

Win or lose, the players (and fans alike) will leave the Beanpot each year with unforgettable memories and unparalleled levels of pride for their respective universities. Let's just hope the Superfans have a happy train ride home rather than a silent one.
  

Shipping Down to the Fort

The quest for the 2011 World Series Championship officially begins today. While the equipment truck was sent down last week, battery mates are scheduled to report today, although several players, including Clay Buchholz, have already checked-in. In fact, the entire starting rotation is already there. Including Daisuke Matsuzaka. And Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the catcher predicted to be calling their pitches this summer? Also there.

Plus a TON of the minor league players, a bunch of relievers and several position players.

If this is a sign of things to come, then we have a lot to look forward to. For one, the players reporting early shows both their commitment to this ballclub (hopefully no Manny Ramirez-late-arrivals this year), and their eagerness to take the field and win a championship. On the same note, a lot of players are coming in looking a lot healthier. Josh Beckett dropped weight to accommodate for his back issues.

Speaking of commitment to the team, one player of note, who reported an entire week before the first workout, was Jonathan Papelbon. Whether he's with us beyond 2011 or not, the Sox closer is here with us right now, looking to bounce back from a harsh 2010.

Are you excited yet? If only it wasn't another month and a half until opening day..
  

Colossal Matinee Matchups for Beantown

The Boston sports scene is hopping this afternoon, featuring a pair of exciting matchups between elite teams in their respective conferences. At 12:30, the Bruins will get their chance at redemption against the Detroit Red Wings. A half-hour later, the C's will look to take back Eastern Conference supremacy at the Garden against the surging Miami Heat.

Starting with the more hyped matchup, the Celtics and Heat will be out for blood tonight. I know I wrote an article saying regular season games are insignificant, and I still do believe that for the most part. But if I had to pick a few that meant something, this one definitely would be included. It could have major ramifications on playoff seeding, and equally important to note is the concept of the "measuring stick." Right now, the Heat are unsure if they are able to beat Boston. Boston is confident they can handle the Heat. Things change with a Miami victory this afternoon. They would have the confidence and the mental advantage moving forward to the next time the two teams play. To be honest, I've grown a bit weary of their developments. The Heat are pretty damn good now that they have found their rhythm. It will come down to defense as usual for Boston -- if their help defense can click and contain James and Wade, they'll be in good shape. Hopefully the green can come out on top from arguably the biggest game of the regular season.

Meanwhile, the Bruins will be facing off in the Motor City in an effort to redeem their pitiful loss to the Wings on Friday night. The B's 6-1 demolition was their worst defeat of the season, and they will be looking to prove that they aren't the sloppy, sluggish team that showed up on Friday evening. Tuukka Rask did have a weak game as his struggles continued, so Tim Thomas will be back between the pipes this afternoon when the Bruins look to even the scale. As we head for the homestretch of the season, it's time for the B's to get their act together and start playing a playoff brand of hockey.

And on a side note -- pitchers and catchers report tomorrow. Spring is just around the corner, New Englanders.