What a week for fantasy baseball. Normally it's very easy to find some highly drafted players who have successful weeks, but for some reason this week was a bit hard. Not because the top players had bad weeks, but because there were so many amazing weeks from lesser known players. However, it was pretty hard to find a highly drafted player who had a flat out bad week. There were several that had mediocre weeks, many with solid weeks, but overall there were only a few players that really stood out and took the cake. This installment of MLB Status Check revolves around three categories. The categories are basically players drafted early on that performed well, players drafted early on who didn't perform well, and lesser known players who performed like the elite players. There were quite a few fantasy surprises this week, as you'll read below.
Lived up to the hype:
1.) Hanley Ramirez (SS - Florida Marlins) - This week is a perfect example of why Hanley Ramirez was a top five pick. He has shown flashes of his talent and ability all season long, but he's also had some slump that worried a few owners. However, now Hanley is producing like everyone knew he could, and he is having a major fantasy impact. There is nothing in the fantasy world that can make you not like Hanley, unless you play in a league that scores defensive errors. He is getting on base, he is showing his power, he is stealing bases, and the rest of the lineup is offering him protection and driving him in. He is the number one fantasy shortstop for a reason. His stats for the week are as follows: 10/28, 7 runs, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB, .357 AVG. He has done a little bit of everything and is currently on a nice tear. He's without a doubt the best fantasy shortstop. Reyes who?
2.) Vladimir Guerrero (RF - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) - Talk about night and day. Guerrero finished the month of May hitting 4 HR, 14 RBI, and a .219 AVG. He looked like a rookie swinging, and missing, at everything. However, June has been good to him so far. His numbers are close to matching his May numbers and the month still has a lot of time left. Vlad has been on an absolute tear lately and is proving that the his injured knee isn't so injured after all. It's nice how a few days of rest can rejuvenate a player so much. His numbers for the week are as follows: 10/22, 6 runs, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .455 AVG. He has finally been producing like an elite fantasy player once again. The power is back, the ability to drive in runs is there, and the average is back. Hopefully Vlad can continue to produce like this because he is fantasy gold when he does.
3.) Cole Hamels (SP - Philadelphia Phillies) - What a week for Cole Hamels. He was absolutely spectacular this week. He did have a little problem facing Jorge Cantú, as you'll read below, but he was simply brilliant aside from that. He put up some great numbers this week, but he would have had even better numbers had Tom Gordon not blown the game. Gordon cost Hamels a win, but fantasy owners can't exactly complain after the performances they received this month. Hamels' stats for the week are as follows: 1 win, 0 losses, 1 shutout, 17 IP, 17 K, 1.06 ERA, 0.59 WHIP. Cole was a Tom Gordon away from a second win for the week, but oh well. His numbers were spectacular, especially when he faced the Marlins and fanned 13 in eight innings. He's been a bit inconsistent, but this week should help build trust with fantasy owners.
Failed to live up to the hype:
1.) Prince Fielder (1B - Milwaukee Brewers) - It's a bit scary how quickly things can change in fantasy sports. One week Prince Fielder is nominated for the National League Player of the Week Award, and then the next week he's a bust. Fielder was drafted early on because of his enormous power potential. He slugged 50 homers last year, but this year he has only swatted 10. His average isn't particularly bad for a guy who swings for the fences each time, but he definitely didn't put up fantasy friendly numbers this week. In fact, he barely put up any numbers at all because he played that poorly. His stat line for the week is as follows: 4/20, 1 run, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, .200 AVG. He has displayed his 50 homerun power before, but this week he can only muster a single RBI? This is yet another example of a player drafted early on who just didn't perform for the week.
2.) Derek Jeter (SS - New York Yankees) - Jeter recently had a solid hitting streak going, but he's quickly gone back to his slumping ways. Nobody will doubt that Jeter is a terrific shortstop, even if his fielding is a bit overrated, but the consistency issue is getting to be a problem. This week is another example of something that Jeter has been doing all season long; he hasn't been performing. Jeter did absolutely nothing this week except for dragging fantasy owners' averages down. His stat line for the week is as follows: 5/26, 4 runs, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, .192 AVG. Jeter isn't like Hanley Ramirez. He won't smash 30 homeruns and steal 50 bases. However, people still expected Jeter to be able to at least hit well over .300, drive in 70ish RBIs, and reach double digit steals. I hate to say this, but Jeter looks old.
3.) James Shields (SP - Tampa Bay Rays) - Shields is very annoying as of late if you own him. I commend him for sticking up for his teammates, and nearly decking Coco Crisp, but when it comes to pitching it is hard to stick up for him. He's been very good this year and has proved that he isn't just a one year wonder, but he has had a very rough time. He had a nice strikeout rate this week, but he was below average in every other pitching category. His numbers for the week are as follows: 0 wins, 2 losses, 9 IP, 11 K, 10.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP. The fact that he's got back-to-back losses hurts. Add on the six-game suspension he received and Shields had one horrible week, in both fantasy baseball and reality.
Keep an eye on:
1.) Jorge Cantú (1B/3B - Florida Marlins) - Comeback player of the year? Cantú is definitely playing like he did during that year when he posted fantastic fantasy numbers. Actually, that's a bit misleading. Cantú is playing better than he did that season. His OBP, SLG%, and OPS are all miles ahead of where they were when he had that terrific year. He currently has a streak of seven games in which he's collected an RBI. It is just amazing how someone can have a great year, then become a fantasy no-name, and then come back and have their best season ever. Cantú's stat line for the week is as follows: 15/32, 9 runs, 6 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, .469 AVG. His numbers were fantastic and he is becoming a very valuable fantasy player again. He's hitting for power, driving in runs, and hitting for contact, plus he plays two positions. Jackpot.
2.) José Guillén (LF/RF - Kansas City Royals) - Guillén is currently one of the hottest players in baseball. He absolutely destroyed the Yankees, and he is continuing to put up extremely solid numbers. Many people wondered what the Royals were doing by paying him all that money, but apparently they knew what they were doing because he has posted insanely good numbers for the week. His numbers for the week are as follows: 15/30, 7 runs, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, .500 AVG. Guillén's numbers were great, but there's a chance they could go down from here on out. He barely has any walks for the season and his OBP is very low. If this week was truly a breakout though, well, fantasy owners shouldn't exactly worry because he proved that he can hit the ball when he's hot.
3.) Hiroki Kuroda (SP - Los Angeles Dodgers) - Finally! This is exactly what Dodgers fans have been waiting for. Kuroda has been a tease all season long. He's had some very solid games, but he's also had some ugly ones as well. However, this week was an absolute gem and there's no way fantasy owners, and Dodgers fans, could be mad at him. Kuroda faced a very tough Cubs lineup and literally shut them down by allowing only four base runners. He allowed few hits, didn't allow any walks, and he became a strikeout machine. His stat line for the week is as follows: 1 win, 0 losses, 9 IP, 1 shutout, 11 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.44 WHIP. He threw a complete game shutout against a strong Cubs lineup, he was a strikeout machine, and he barely allowed any base runners. Now where'd I put that champagne?