Holds Leagues Sleepers: Luis Avilan & David Carpenter

Luis Avilan & David Carpenter With the best current closer in the game, Craig Kimbrel, manning the back of the Atlanta Braves bullpen, the complementary pieces that bridge the starting pitcher’s win to Kimbrel’s seemingly inevitable save are worth a look. Jonny Venters is returning from injury and he will join a pair of relievers that held the […]

Cleveland Indians Offseason Overview for 2014 Fantasy Baseball

2014 Cleveland Indians - Team Overview Last offseason, the Cleveland Indians uncharacteristically opened up the pocketbook and invested over $100M in Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher. They also brought in Terry Francona to lead a team that had only won 68 games in 2012. A year later, Francona’s addition appears to be a stroke of […]

Daily Fantasy Baseball Update: Cactus League 3/6

  Cactus League Update for March 6th Today I enjoyed one of the baseball fans greatest pleasures, a Spring Training doubleheader.  At 1 p.m., the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the Kansas City Royals at Salt River Fields. Then, after a nap, I attended a 7 p.m. game in Goodyear between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati […]

2014 Fantasy Baseball Prediction: Top 10 for Runs

While pitching has seemingly dominated the past several seasons, there are still many players scoring a plethora of runs. Last year, there were nine players who scored more than 100 runs, and 22 who scored over 90. What follows is a forecast for how the runs leaderboard will look at the end of the upcoming […]

2014 Arizona Diamondbacks Top Prospects: Fantasy Baseball Analysis

The following column will take a look at top prospects in Arizona's farm system from two angles -- opportunity and talent. The opportunity ranking, on a scale of 1 - 10, will be based on how likely it is that the player will have a fantasy impact in 2014. The talent ranking, on the same […]

Three Overvalued Second Baseman: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Here's the deal: I'm not hating on any of these players. The three I discuss here are talented players, and I am not saying you should not draft them...I'm merely warning you not to draft them too early. There might be a rush for them, given the relative thinness of the position, but you can […]

Daily Fantasy Baseball Update: Cactus League 3/5

  Cactus League Update for March 5th Another few days are in the books in Cactus League action.  On Monday, I had every intention of heading to Phoenix Municipal Stadium to see the A's host the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw. However, a Scottsdale bar/restaurant called the Salty Senorita hooked me up with free tickets to […]

2014 Fantasy Baseball Prediction: Top 10 for Strikeouts

Spring Training is here, and with baseball officially in full swing, I think it would be a good time to begin taking a look at who we can guess will be the main category leaders for roto leagues this coming season. I'll be looking at strikeouts for this article, specifically which ten pitchers I think […]

2014 Boston Red Sox Top Prospects: Fantasy Baseball Analysis

The defending World Series champs boast one of the deepest farm systems in baseball-- and therein lies the problem. Boston's top prospects have some pretty stiff competition, both from each other and from the 25 men that form the roster that took home baseball’s biggest prize last October. Beyond the two youngsters slated for starting […]

Three Undervalued Second Baseman: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Undervalued Second Baseman for Fantasy Baseball Drafts You're getting ready for your season, so I'm sure you've read the rankings from your favorite analysts. I'm here to tell you why they're wrong in some cases-- here, it's regarding undervalued second basemen. Let's get to it, shall we?   Daniel Murphy Murphy busted out somewhat in […]

Daily Fantasy Baseball Update: Cactus League 3/4

  Cactus League Update for March 4th It's been a while since I've chimed in on the goings-on in Arizona. Since I last wrote, I've been out to a ballgame each day, and I've had a nice conversation with Giants' bench coach Ron Wotus at the bar of a local seafood restaurant in Scottsdale. In […]

Billy Butler: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

The 2014 season is one in which the Kansas City Royals are going to be expected to produce. If that is going to happen, though, Billy Butler is going to need to have a big season. Butler had a breakout 2012 with 29 home runs and 107 RBI, but he took a huge step back […]

Top 10 Home Run Hitters: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Predictions

Dingers. Big Flies. Longballs. They're fun to watch. They can change the momentum of the game. Chicks dig 'em. Whether you're playing in a roto league or head-to-head, there is no underestimating the value of having home run hitters on your team. But who will be the top producers in the HR category in the […]

Deep League Value Vault: Sleepers for 2014

Spring Training is finally upon us. It’s a magical time of year where visions of walk-offs and perfect games dance in our heads. The unofficial National Holiday that is Opening Day is near. I want to take a look at some overlooked players who could bring fantasy usefulness to the table. If you are at […]

3 Overvalued Relief Pitchers: Rankings Analysis

A relief pitcher is constantly living on the edge of success and failure.  One pitch can mean the difference between a good night sleep and a lot of tossing and turning.  Anyone that thinks that the ninth inning is just like any other is not factoring in the rapid heartbeat, adrenaline rush and tighter grip on […]

2014 Tampa Bay Rays Top Prospects: Fantasy Baseball Analysis

Tampa Bay Rays - MLB Prospects   Jake Odorizzi - RHP  Odorizzi was acquired from Kansas City as part of the deal that brought Wil Myers to Tampa Bay. After making his MLB debut with the Royals in 2012, Odorizzi appeared in seven games with the Rays in 2013. Entering 2014, he was already in the mix to […]

2014 Texas Rangers Top Prospects: Fantasy Baseball Analysis

In recent years, the Texas Rangers have had one of the strongest farm systems in Major League Baseball. It is no coincidence that the team has won two AL pennants during that same stretch. The Rangers began building up their present farm system in August of 2007, when they traded Mark Teixeira to the Atlanta Braves. […]

Fantasy Baseball Updates from Cactus League Opening Day

RotoBaller Scott Slezak is hitting the Cactus League hard this Spring and has a lot of fantasy analysis to report...   Cactus League Opening Day Analysis Day one of Cactus League games featured only a three-game slate Wednesday. I chose to attend the A’s against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, a 10-5 drubbing by Oakland. […]

2014 Atlanta Braves Top Prospects: Fantasy Baseball Analysis

Nearly 30 years ago, the Atlanta Braves selected an 18-year-old New Englander in the second round of the 1984 MLB Amateur Draft. Tom Glavine, as his recent election to the Hall of Fame suggests, would not only go on to become one of the best left-handed starting pitchers in the history of the game, but […]

2014 Kansas City Royals Top Prospects: Fantasy Baseball Analysis

Every season begins the same for most prospects on major league rosters. It is all hoping for an eye-opening Spring Training performance so they can move up or finally make it to the big-league level. The Kansas City Royals have got a few players who are beginning to knock on the door, and some will […]

Three Undervalued Starting Pitchers: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Pitchers can flourish given the right conditions.  If he is supported by a team that can supply above average defense and run support, the numbers may exceed the quality of the arm.  The three underrated pitchers that I selected are capable of putting up better numbers than their projected preseason value. Think of the Yankees […]

MLB Prospects for Fantasy Baseball: 2014 Milwaukee Brewers

There is no doubt that it was a lost season in 2013 for the Milwaukee Brewers, and things are going to have to change in one form or another sooner rather than later. That means getting some contributions of the minor league system. There are five players in particular that could make themselves known sooner […]

Three Overvalued Starting Pitchers: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

How many times have you heard the phrase; if he can just stay healthy?  Over and over again a player seems to be a difference maker only to land on the disabled list nearly every year.  For pitchers, physical issues are a huge red flag.  It wasn’t long ago that Roy Halladay was considered an […]

Top Fantasy Baseball Prospects: 2014 Houston Astros

The advantage to having a few 100+ loss seasons in a row is a series of some very high first-round picks in the MLB draft. Couple that with a front office which excels at getting the better end of most of their trades and you have the Astros farm system-- without a doubt one of […]

Three Overvalued Shortstops: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

The position of shortstop in fantasy baseball is traditionally a relatively shallow spot in terms of position scarcity.  Over the past few seasons, though, there has been an influx of talented young middle infielders with a wide array of skills.  Some bring pop. Some have an innate ability to get on base. Others pick up […]

Fantasy Baseball Updates from the Cactus League Analysis 2/25

There is one more day of practice left (I’ll be checking out the Rockies in Scottsdale) before Cactus League games begin on Wednesday.  While I can’t complain about spending days in the Arizona sun and watching Major Leaguers run practice drills and interact with the fans, I’m looking forward to games getting underway. I will […]

Ubaldo Jimenez: Fantasy Baseball Impact of Baltimore Orioles Signing

  Ubaldo Jimenez - 2014 Fantasy Baseball Impact In the days since Spring Training started some big-name pitchers have come off the market. First  Bronson Arroyo signed with Arizona, then AJ Burnett with Philadelphia. Now, perhaps the starter with the biggest upside has found a home, as Ubaldo Jimenez signed a 4-year $48 Million deal […]

2014 New York Mets Top Prospects: Fantasy Baseball Analysis

The Mets may not have been in contention for the past two or three seasons, but the one thing that Sandy Alderson has accomplished is building a very respectable minor league system through a few shrewd trades. Zach Wheeler is no longer a prospect, but Alderson’s deserves praise for landing him for a two month Carlos […]

Chicago White Sox Top Prospects: 2014 Fantasy Baseball Analysis

Former White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams refused to use the word “rebuilding” to describe his team. After a dismal season in which key players were traded for budding prospects, current GM Rick Hahn has also eschewed the dreaded r-word. He prefers to describe it more as "accelerated retooling." The belief is that the White […]