With their 7-3 win over their hated rivals on Tuesday night, the Red Sox swept the Yankees for the second time this season and are now 5-0 against the Bombers this season. Jason Bay hit a two-run homer (his seventh of the season) off Yankees’ starter Joba Chamberlain in the first inning to spark Boston’s victory.

It’s only May, but it has to be somewhat troubling to the Yankees that they are nothing more than a .500 club at this point after spending as much as they did to fix their pitching staff in the offseason. They currently have the second worst ERA in baseball at 5.86 and opponents are currently batting .277 off them to date.

Part of the Yankees’ issues, as they’re finding out, is that they now play in Coors Field Jr. There’s a jet stream in right center at the new Yankee Stadium and opponents are hitting bombs as if the Yankees were hosting the Home Run Derby on a nightly basis. Of course, not having Alex Rodriguez in the lineup has been an issue as well, although he is set to return soon so that all could change.

But what has to be most troubling to the Yankees is that they’re just 3-7 against AL East opponents so far this season. And it’s not like they were facing the same red-hot Boston team the past couple days that rattled off 11 straight wins during the month of April; the BoSox had just been abused by Tampa entering their two-game series with New York. Opponents have largely teed off on Josh Beckett and Jon Lester so far this season, yet each had solid outings against a Yankee offense that was supposed to once again be one of the best in baseball.

Again, it’s early and once A-Fraud gets back into the lineup the Yankees’ offensive production should pick up again. Plus, they have always been relatively slow starters before picking it up around the All-Star break, but Joe Girardi and the rest of the Yankees’ brass can’t feel great that they’re sitting at 13-13 with that payroll and are now 0-5 against the Red Sox.

I had the opportunity to watch the Red Sox-Rays game last night in what was supposed to be a great pitcher’s duel between Josh Beckett and Matt Garza. What it turned out to be was a Boston beat down, as Tampa Bay routed the BoSox 13-0 thanks to Garza’s near perfect game. (Jacoby Ellsbury’s infield single off Garza in the seventh ended his bid for a perfect game.)

Outside of Garza’s flirtation with perfection, one of the storylines was Beckett, who allowed seven runs on 10 hits in just 4.2 innings of work. He also allowed eight runs in his previous start, which means he has now surrendered seven or more runs in consecutive starts for just the second time in his career.

What was strange about his performance was that it wasn’t just another bad outing. Beckett was actually cruising until he got into trouble in the third, retiring six of the first seven batters he faced while also striking out four. He was throwing the ball hard, his curve was sharp and he had great command. It really looked like he was going to have one of those outings where you talk about him afterwards as being one of the best aces in baseball.

But then the wheels completely came off in the third. He loaded the bases on a couple of infield singles and a walk to Carl Crawford, then Evan Longoria doubled to right to drive in three runs. Beckett managed to get out of the inning, but not before giving up another run to give the Rays a 4-0 lead. He went on to give up three more runs and was eventually relieved by Hunter Jones in the fifth.

Granted, Beckett still could be recovering from the torn oblique muscle he suffered at the end of the 2008 season, but considering he had a good spring, that seems unlikely. I’m not a scout, but his mechanics looked fine last night. It appears that his struggles over the past two starts have been more mental than anything. (Did I mention I wasn’t a psychologist either?)

A guy doesn’t cruise for two innings demonstrating lights-out stuff only to go Eddie Guardado in the third without having something going on upstairs. Baseball is such a mental game and maybe Beckett’s confidence is down. Either way, something doesn’t seem right and hopefully for the Sox, he can straighten things out because he has looked incredibly hittable so far this season.

1. Nice start for Josh Beckett
This season hasn’t gone the way of the ace so far, with CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Justin Verlander and Tim Lincecum all struggling for their respective teams. But one No. 1 that didn’t struggle in his ’09 debut was Boston’s Josh Beckett, who fanned 10 in the BoSox’s 5-3 victory over the Rays on Tuesday. You hate to make claims that a pitcher is already in midseason form after only one outing, but Beckett’s two-hit, one-run effort against Tampa was impressive.

2. Speaking of Tim Lincecum…
Boy did he struggle yesterday for the Giants. But the good news for San Fran and the reining NL Cy Young winner is that his velocity wasn’t down, it just looked like he had a major case of the yips in his Opening Day debut. He looked too pumped up from the start and just never settled down. Fortunately, Aaron Rowand, Bengie Molina, Travis Ishikawa and the rest of the G-Men offense helped Lincecum out as SF romped the Brewers 10-6. Huh, what a concept – the Giants offense bailing out the pitching for once…who would have thought?

3. Dombrowski better be taking heat today in Detroit
In the offseason, Tigers’ GM Dave Dombrowski’s answer to solving the bullpen issues in Detroit was signing former Arizona closer Brandon Lyon instead of pursuing other avenues like J.J. Putz (who is now a setup man for the Mets). At least for one day, the decision backfired as Lyon blew Edwin Jackson’s (7.1, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 K) gem in Toronto by giving up three runs on three hits as the Jays knocked off the Tigers 5-4. Granted, Lyon has plenty of time to bounce back but if he doesn’t, the Tigers will be left with mental midget Fernando Rodney to close games, who didn’t necessarily earn the role this spring with a 7.00 ERA. Considering Joel Zumaya may never pitch again due to freak injuries and Nate Robertson (who Dombrowski just gave a 3-year, $21 million deal in January of ’08) is pissed about being taken out of the starting rotation, Dombrowski has quite a mess brewing in Detroit.

4. Speaking of Dave Dombrowski mistakes…
On October 29 of 2007, Dombrowski traded outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitcher Jair Jurrjens to the Braves in exchange for shortstop Edgar Renteria. Long story short, Renteria started for the Giants in San Francisco on Tuesday following one horrible season in Detroit, while Jurrjens shut down the Phillies in Philadelphia by allowing four hits and no runs in 5.2 innings of work. Jurrjens looks like one of the better young arms in baseball and it looks like people better keep an eye on Atlanta this year in the NL East.

5. Speaking of the Phillies…
I absolutely love the panic surrounding the defending champs already. They’re 0-2 and have scored just one run in two games, which of course has led to ESPN and every other media outlet to ask, “What’s wrong with the Phillies?” Let’s relax a little, shall we? No, this isn’t a good start for the World Series champs, but there’s still 160 games left in the season. Maybe these first two games are an indication of things to come, or maybe this is just a slow start and we should let the season roll on little before everyone hits the panic button.

6. Who the hell is Emilio Bonifacio?
If you’re a baseball fan, how do you not like the Marlins? Every year this team rolls out new young talent and this year looks no different. In November of last year, Florida traded pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham to the Nationals in exchange for Jake Smolinski, P.J. Dean and a young infielder named Emilio Bonifacio. In his first two games of the season, Bonifacio hit an inside the park home run and is 6 for 11 with three steals, four runs scored and has driven in four. He still might drop off the face of the earth soon, but you gotta love this kid’s start – and the Marlins’, who have started off 2-0.

All 2009 Fantasy Articles | 2009 Position Rankings

Admit it, you passed on Tim Lincecum last year. You took one look at his 2007 record (7-5), his ball boy-type frame (he only stands 5’11” and is 170-pounds soaking wet) and the fact that he played on a team with one of the worst offenses in baseball and you said, “no thanks.”

But there was one owner (the smart one) in your league that bought into the hype, took a shot and reaped the benefits of Lincecum earning the NL Cy Young Award while going 18-5 with a major league-leading 265 strikeouts and 2.62 ERA.

Don’t feel bad; you weren’t the only fantasy owner last year that just couldn’t pull the trigger on Lincecum. Truth be told, he was a bit of a risk last season given his inexperience and the fact that the Giants weren’t expected to give him much run support. And assuming you’ve played a fair share of fantasy baseball, you’ve probably been burned once or twice in the past by taking a risk on that perfect young sleeper that everyone is gaga for in spring training, yet fizzles once the season starts.

But Lincecum proved last year that you could find diamonds in the rough that can wind up anchoring your pitching staff for the entire season. You have to be willing to take a risk, however, and select one of those potential gems a round or two before they are projected to go.

Below we’ve put together a group of young pitchers that might not become the next Tim Lincecum, but ones that could certainly turn out to be tremendous values once the top 15 arms come off the board. We’re talking about pitchers who haven’t seen their 28th birthday yet (most haven’t even seen their 25th birthday yet), but ones that could post 15-plus wins, 150-plus strikeouts and an ERA south of 3.80.

Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees
Don’t think for a second that you’ll be pulling a fast one on everybody if you take Chamberlain as your second pitcher – everyone already knows about Joba’s potential. But he has struggled thus far in spring training, which means he could drop into your lap as other owners flock to safer pitching choices. Chamberlain has the potential to win 15-plus games, sniff 200 strikeouts and close in on a 3.20 ERA, but he obviously has to cash in on his immense physical talent. If he continues to struggle in spring training, you might land him later than you projected and if you do, he could wind up being the best pitcher on your roster by season’s end.

Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers
Gallardo will scare away plenty of potential owners after only making five starts in 2008, but he has the talent to post 185-plus strikeouts and produce 15-plus wins. If he stays healthy, he should also keep his ERA south of 3.50 and although you’ll land him in the middle rounds, he could project to being a top 25 pitcher. Remember, he had knee issues last year – nothing arm related. The future ace should once again be healthy and he’s definitely worth taking a shot on.

Jon Danks, Chicago White Sox
Danks turned down an opportunity to play in the World Baseball Classic, which should only help the youngster’s fantasy value. Not unlike Matt Cain, Danks needs better run support in order to cash in on his talent, but he has the potential to total 160-plus strikeouts and 15-plus wins. He might not keep his ERA around 3.30 like he did last year, but it won’t go north of 3.90 either. Again, as long as he doesn’t get stiffed in the run support department again this year (which is hard to project), there’s no telling how good this 23-year old stud can be.

Matt Garza, Tampa Bay Rays
Garza only fanned 128 batters in 184 innings last year, but he was a strikeout machine in the minors so hopefully that will eventually transfer to the big leagues. If the Rays don’t take a step back after reaching the Series last year, Garza could notch 14-plus wins and 140-plus strikeouts, all while keeping his ERA south of 3.60. Of all the pitchers we’ve listed, he certainly doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but Garza would be a major value as a No. 2 or No. 3 on your staff.

Scott Baker, Minnesota Twins
Ready to take a shot on a potential stud? Baker is an ace in the making and while he competes in a tough AL Central Division, he could amass 12 to 15 wins and total upwards of 170 strikeouts this season. He probably won’t keep his ERA lower than 3.80, but Baker has increased his K/9 rate every year he’s been in the big leagues and posted an all time low WHIP last season of 1.18.

Ricky Nolasco, Florida Marlins
Nolasco had a breakout year in 2008, posting 15 wins, 186 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA. Is there a chance he could take a step back this year? Of course, but you have to like taking a shot on a guy who you can select in the mid to late rounds that could potentially be a top 20 pitcher by the end of the year. Thirteen wins, 160 strikeouts and a 3.70 ERA would be a safe projection for Nolasco this season.

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Much like Joba Chamberlain, you’re not going to sneak Kershaw past anybody on draft day because by now, most owners are well aware of the 20-year old’s potential. But like Lincecum last year, don’t be the guy that passes on Kershaw because you’re worried about his lack of experience and the high risk that comes along with drafting him. Kershaw could easily post 170-plus strikeouts and 12-plus wins, although his ERA will probably near 4.00 and he did post 52 walks in 107.2 innings last year, which is high. Still, he’s worth a long look on draft day.

Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants
Don’t be fooled by his 8-14 record last year; if Cain got any run support, he could easily be as good as teammate Tim Lincecum. Cain posted a 3.76 ERA and compiled 177 strikeouts last year, but since the Giants’ offense clearly has a vendetta against him, his effort only amounted to eight wins. Trust us, he has the potential to amass 12 to 15 victories, even though it would appear that his ceiling is right around 10 wins. If he can get a little run support and cut down on the walks, he could turn out to be a top-25 pitcher that you can wait to select in the middle to late rounds. Another Giants’ starter to keep an eye on during your draft is Jonathan Sanchez.

Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta Braves
Some fantasy pundits are concerned about Jurrjens taking a big jump in pitches and innings last year compared to 2008. Those concerns are valid since he clearly wore down at the end of the season last year, but he decided not to pitch against The Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, which is good because he didn’t throw any extra pitches in March when needs to save his arm for the regular season. His strikeout numbers won’t blow you away (you’ll be lucky if he fans 140 batters this season), but he’ll keep his ERA around 3.70 and should post 11-plus wins, which is certainly decent output for a No. 3 pitcher.

Below is our official ranking of starting pitchers.

1. Johan Santana, NYM
2. Tim Lincecum, SF
3. CC Sabathia, NYY
4. Roy Halladay, TOR
5. Dan Haren, ARI
6. Brandon Webb, ARI
7. Cole Hamels, PHI
8. Jake Peavy, SD
9. John Lackey, LAA
10. Roy Oswalt, HOU
11. Josh Beckett, BOS
12. Cliff Lee, CLE
13. Chad Billingsley, LAD
14. James Shields, TB
15. Scott Kazmir, TB
16. Ricky Nolasco, FLA
17. Francisco Liriano, MIN
18. Felix Hernandez, SEA
19. Rich Harden, CHC
20. Adam Wainwright, STL
21. Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS
22. Ervin Santana, LAA
23. Edinson Volquez, CIN
24. A.J. Burnett, NYY
25. Joba Chamberlain, NYY
26. Carlos Zambrano, CHC
27. Javier Vazquez, ATL
28. Jon Lester, BOS
29. Justin Verlander, DET
30. Brett Myers, PHI
31. Yovani Gallardo, MIL
32. Zack Greinke, KC
33. Matt Cain, SF
34. Aaron Harang, CIN
35. Ted Lilly, CHC
36. Max Scherzer, ARI
37. David Price, TB
38. Chris Young, SD
39. Josh Johnson, FLA
40. Erik Bedard, SEA
41. Ryan Dempster, CHC
42. Matt Garza, TB
43. Chien-Ming Wang, NYY
44. John Danks, CHW
45. Brandon Morrow, SEA
46. Johnny Cueto, CIN
47. Jered Weaver, LAA
48. Kevin Slowey, MIN
49. Derek Lowe, ATL
50. Scott Baker, MIN
51. Clayton Kershaw, LAD
52. John Maine, NYM
53. Jair Jurrjens, ATL
54. Randy Johnson, SF
55. Fuasto Carmona, CLE
56. Gavin Floyd, CHW
57. Ubaldo Jimenez, COL
58. Jonathan Sanchez, SF
59. Oliver Perez, NYM
60. Justin Duchscherer, OAK
61. Manny parra, MIL
62. Andy Pettitte, NYY
63. Joe Saunders, LAA
64. Gil Meche, KC
65. Chris Carpenter, STL
66. Mike Pelfrey, NYM
67. Hiroki Kuroda, LAD
68. Wandy Rodriguez,
69. Chris Voldstad, FLA
70. Bronson Arroyo, CIN
71. Kenshin Kawakami, ATL
72. Armando Galarraga, DET
73. Jeremy Guthrie, BAL
74. John Smoltz, BOS
75. Paul Maholm, PIT
76. Aaron Cook, COL
77. Joe Blanton, PHI
78. Todd Wellemeyer, STL
79. Rich Hill, BAL
80. Jesse Litsch, TOR
81. Andy Sonnanstine, TB
82. Dave Bush, MIL
83. Edwin Jackson, DET
84. Jeremy Bonderman, DET
85. Nick Blackburn, MIN
86. Mark Buehrle, CHW
87. Tommy Hanson, ATL
88. Neftali Feliz, TEX
89. Brad Penny, BOS
90. Aaron Heilman, SEA
91. Carlos Carrasco, PHI
92. Shawn Hill, WAS
93. Doug Davis, ARI
94. Carl Pavano, CLE
95. Tim Wakefield, BOS
96. John Lannan, WAS
97. Jon Garland, ARI
98. Dontrelle Willis, DET
99. Kyle Lohse, STL
100. Jamie Moyer, PHI
101. Sean Marshall, CHC
102. Braden Looper, MIL
103. Randy Wolf, LAD
104. Anibal Sanchez, FLA
105. David Purcey, TOR

All 2009 Fantasy Articles | 2009 Position Rankings

As someone who loyally subscribes to the “wait for pitching” strategy on draft day, I’m always on the lookout for value starters. Experience has shown me that there are plenty of nice starting pitching bargains in the middle and late rounds every year, and if I’m diligent enough, I can also add pitching via the waiver wire during the season. All of which allows me to load up on as much hitting as I can in the early rounds, understanding that the more offensive firepower I have on my roster, the easier it will be to trade for a top-line starter should I find myself in need of reinforcements for the stretch run.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I ignore pitching on draft day. Far from it. Those SP bargains I mentioned above are available each year, if you know what to look for. Sure, it’s nice to have a reliable horse like Johan Santana or Brandon Webb anchoring your pitching staff, but the cost of adding someone like that is usually a little too steep for my tastes. So instead, my goal is to take five to seven solid starters who can deliver quality ratios while racking up strikeouts. Ideally, I also look for guys who pitch for successful teams, hoping that will translate to wins for my team.

The guys I target tend to fall into one of four categories: Young Guns, Rebound Vets, Undervalued Arms and Late Steals. As I’ve admitted in previous posts, I’m a sucker for upside but that doesn’t mean I’ll fall for any promising youngster with a lively arm. I’m also a sucker for a good revival story so I’m always looking for veterans with a solid track record whose stock has fallen because of an off year, while guys in the undervalued category tend to fly under the radar despite their consistent production. Finally, I try to wrap up every draft with one or two late-round picks that could pay off big in the long run.

Below, I’ve listed several pitchers I’ve got my eye on in each of these four categories, using the Average Draft Position (ADP) from ESPN’s draft kit as a guide. I’ve included the ADP as well as the SP rank (SP13, for example) for each of the 16 starters below. These aren’t, of course, the only guys who would qualify in these categories, just the ones at the top of my list. If you’re thinking about stockpiling bats early in your draft, maybe they should be at the top of your list too.

Felix Hernandez, Mariners
ADP: 67.5, SP13
I was tempted to go with Francisco Liriano, another enticing youngster with loads of upside, in this slot but ultimately sided with King Felix’s healthier track record. While a seventh-round pick isn’t exactly chump change for a guy who’s never won more than 14 games in a single season (he went 9-11 last year) and whose hype has far outweighed his production to this point in his career, don’t forget Felix will be just 22 on Opening Day. In fact, he’s two years younger than Tim Lincecum, but he’s made 47 more starts than San Fran’s ace and he’s going five rounds later than Lincecum in most drafts. Clearly, Lincecum has been more productive to date but Felix arguably has just as much raw talent and, if he can lower his walk rate, he could become a top-five starter as early as this year. If and when this kid finally breaks out, you’ll want to be onboard.

Yovani Gallardo, Brewers
ADP: 101.3, SP20
Gallardo was one of the most popular preseason sleeper picks last year, and after a knee injury limited him to just four starts in ’08, many are again anticipating a breakout season for the 23 year old. Gallardo put up superb numbers in the minors and, if he can stay healthy, he looks like a future ace with excellent strikeout potential and a potent offense behind him. He’s being drafted as a top-25 pitcher so the hype is considerable, but if you can handle the risk, the reward could be huge.

Edinson Volquez, Reds
ADP: 123.4, SP27
Johnny Cueto, Reds
ADP: 221.6, SP71
I like both of Cincinnati’s young power arms, but considering their respective ADP’s, I’d rather own Cueto this year. That’s not meant as a slight to Volquez, who won 17 games last season with a 3.21 ERA and 206 strikeouts after likely going undrafted in most leagues. The talent is undeniable but it also will come at a premium on draft day, whereas Cueto largely flew under the radar after earning some early raves during his rookie campaign. The 9-14 record and 4.81 ERA pale in comparison to Volquez’s sterling numbers, but don’t overlook Cueto’s solid 158-68 K/BB ratio (compared to his teammate’s 206-93 mark). If Cueto can cut down on the 29 homers he coughed up last year, he’ll easily outperform his draft position.

Max Scherzer, Diamondbacks
ADP: 162.7, SP39
I’m generally leery about starters with injury concerns, but Scherzer’s talent is simply too tantalizing to ignore. The 24-year-old righty was shut down in January after experiencing some shoulder soreness but all reports indicate that he’ll be ready to step in as the D-Backs’ fifth starter when the season starts. Scherzer failed to win any of his seven starts last year but his 3.05 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 66 strikeouts in 56 combined innings between the rotation and bullpen point to his immense potential. His ADP may seem a little high considering his limited track record, but the back end of your draft is the perfect time to roll the dice on a young talent like Scherzer.

Josh Beckett, Red Sox
ADP: 76.9, SP16
I’ve never been the biggest Josh Beckett fan, primarily due to his sketchy injury history, but after following up his Cy Young 2007 campaign with a largely disappointing performance last season, Beckett may well be the biggest potential SP value in the first half of your draft. Granted, an eighth-round pick is nothing to sneeze at but, at just 28, Beckett could easily deliver second- or third-round stats if he avoids the injury bug. While some would classify that as a big “if,” don’t forget that Beckett logged 200-plus innings in his first two seasons with Boston. There’s some risk here to be sure, but also a golden opportunity to buy low on one of the game’s elite starters.

Justin Verlander, Tigers
ADP: 154.4, SP38
Where did that come from? The 26-year-old Verlander seemed primed to claim his spot among the top starters in all of baseball, but thanks to a drop in velocity and a bout of wildness, he instead sabotaged the title hopes of many fantasy owners with an 11-17 record and 4.84 ERA. Most concerning was that his strikeouts dropped by 20 (183 to 163) and his walks rose by 20 (67 to 87). But as with Beckett, this could be a prime chance to buy low on a young starter with a solid track record. Spring results have thus far been mixed and I’m certainly not suggesting you break the bank for Verlander, but as a fourth or even fifth starter, there’s a lot to like here.

Erik Bedard, Mariners
ADP 175.4, SP45
Of the four starters in this group, I’m the least confident about Bedard. He’s never crossed the 200-innings threshold, his K/BB ratio dipped from 3.88 to 1.95 last year, he has one complete game in 126 career starts, and he has a mediocre offense backing him up. Doesn’t sound like much of an endorsement, I know, but if the goal is to buy low and sell high, there’s never been a better time to invest in Bedard. There’s no guarantee that his should problems are behind him but he’s looked healthy so far this spring and, after signing a one-year deal with Seattle, he’s playing for his next contract. That’s music to any fantasy owner’s ears who hopes that an 18th-round investment can result in a repeat of Bedard’s 2007 performance (13-5, 3.16 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 221 K).

Aaron Harang, Reds
ADP 176.2, SP46
Harang makes for an interesting story. After three consecutive 200-inning, sub-4.00 ERA seasons that yielded 43 wins and a 597-159 K/BB ratio, he entered the 2008 campaign as one of fantasy’s most underrated starters. But a forearm injury contributed to a lost season for the 30-year-old righty as his numbers fell across the board en route to a 17-loss campaign. All of which means Harang is more undervalued than ever. His weak spring numbers are a bit concerning and some say all the innings he threw from 2005-07 are finally catching up to him, but there was no indication of any sort of decline in 2007. After posting a 3.07 ERA in six September starts last year, I like Harang’s chances for a rebound.

Javier Vazquez, Braves
ADP: 149.5, SP35
Some (including former manager Ozzie Guillen) may argue that Vazquez is actually overrated, considering the 32-year-old right hander has posted an ERA above 4.40 in four of the last five seasons. It’s a valid criticism, but keep in mind that Vazquez also has averaged 197 strikeouts per year since 2005 and his WHIP is generally solid. He won’t anchor your staff, but a move to the National League and into a more pitcher-friendly home stadium should help Vazquez outperform his reasonable ADP.

Randy Johnson, Giants
ADP: 172.7, SP44
Speaking of moving to a better home park, Johnson should enjoy his new digs in San Fran after coughing up 16 of his 24 home runs at Arizona’s Chase Field in 2008. The lanky lefty’s ADP suggests that many owners didn’t notice just how effective Johnson was in his desert return, to the tune of 11 wins, 3.91 ERA, 1.24 and 173 strikeouts. He may be 45, but as his 2.41 second-half ERA suggests, the Big Unit clearly has plenty left in the tank.

Brett Myers, Phillies
ADP: 180.7, SP48
After getting shifted back to the rotation following the Brad Lidge acquisition, Myers was positively brutal in the first half last season, posting a 5.84 ERA through June that earned him a demotion to AAA. The 28 year old was much better upon his return, winning seven games to round out the season with an ERA of 3.06 and a WHIP of 1.17. The overall numbers (10-13, 4.55 ERA, 1.38 WHP) clearly are scaring owners who have forgotten that Myers was very good in 2005 and 2006 before the Phillies moved him into the closer’s role. He’s always been susceptible to the long ball, even during his best years as a starter, but when you’re looking to round out your rotation in the middle rounds or later, Myers’ track record and strikeout ability should plant him squarely on your radar.

Chris Young, Padres
ADP: 219.2, SP69
In the “What have you done for me lately?” world of fantasy baseball, Chris Young is getting very little respect. Granted, we’re not talking about a staff ace but once the surefire starters are off the board, a guy with Young’s ability and track record should be an appealing option. Unfortunately, that track record includes several stints on the DL, which may be the only reason the 6-10 righty hasn’t officially broken out yet. He’s been good for nearly a strikeout per inning over the last three years and his spacious home park only adds to his value. The injuries are a legitimate concern but if Young gives you 30-plus starts (which he did from 2005-07), you’ll have yourself a huge bargain.

John Smoltz, Red Sox
ADP: 220.2, SP70
The obvious caveat with Smoltz is that you’ll need to be prepared to wait if you decide to take a flier on him. Reports as of this writing say he won’t be ready to take the mound for the Red Sox until late-May or into June. So let’s say he returns around the All Star break and goes on to give you 100 innings. Would you take that from a pitcher with a 3.26 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his 13-year career? Yes, he’s 41 but he also was an extremely effective fantasy starter for the three years prior to last season’s shoulder injury. Draft Smoltz late, stash him on your DL for the first half of the season, and then smile as he solidifies your rotation down the stretch.

John Maine, Mets
ADP: 224.9, SP75
Maine plummeted from chic preseason pick to late-round afterthought thanks to his underwhelming performance last season. But here’s the thing: he wasn’t all that bad. He wasn’t all that good either, but that’s what makes him such an intriguing flier this year. After striking out 180 batters in 191 innings two years ago, he maintained a solid 7.84 K/9 ratio in 2008 despite battling a shoulder injury for much of the season. Fortunately, the injury wasn’t all that serious and Maine has been healthy (albeit a little rusty) so far this spring. As with most pitchers at this point of your draft, Maine won’t anchor your staff but, at just 27 years old and with serious strikeout potential, you won’t find many arms with as much upside in the 23rd round.

Kelvim Escobar, Angels
ADP: 260, SP97
Escobar just barely slides into the top 100 at his position, but he’s owned in just 1.8% of ESPN leagues. That will change if the talented 32 year old can stay healthy. Of course, that’s always been the kicker with Escobar, who’s logged more than 200 innings just once in his career, but his recovery from August shoulder surgery looks to be on track, with early estimates saying he could take the mound by May. His return won’t match Smoltz’s in terms of fantasy impact, but as a guy who won 18 games in 2007, hasn’t had an ERA above 3.93 since 2003, and is always good for a healthy number of strikeouts, he makes for an appealing DL stash to round out your draft.

First off, two long-time players for a single team will have new addresses in 2009: Trevor Hoffman and John Smoltz. Hoffman, who has been with the Padres since 1993 when he came over as part of a trade with the Marlins for Gary Sheffield, has not only been a great closer for San Diego for 16 seasons—he has become the all-time MLB leader in saves with 554. But when San Diego no longer put the welcome mat out, Hoffman sought to sign elsewhere, and settled on a one year, $6 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers that can also pay him $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

As for Smoltz, he came to the Braves in 1987 from Detroit in the Doyle Alexander trade, and has been with Atlanta, his only major league team, for 21 years. But the Braves, who are trying to inject more youth into their roster, did not offer Smoltz the money he was looking for and so he signed with the Boston Red Sox. Granted, Smoltz still is injured and probably won’t be available to the Sox until a few months into the season, but you’d rather have him in September and beyond anyway.

The Sox also finalized their deal with free agent RHP Brad Penny on Friday, so both he and Smoltz will join a rotation that includes Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Whoa. I gotta be honest, I think I like their rotation better than the CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett-led Yankees’. Not to sit tight after losing out on the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes to the Yankees, Boston also signed utility outfielder Rocco Baldelli, formerly of the Rays, who grew up in New England.

The Cubs signed outfielder Milton Bradley to a 3-year, $30 million deal, a year after he had one of his most productive seasons with the Texas Rangers (22 homers, .321 batting average). The Rays, who nearly won a title with all that youth in 2008, signed veteran OF Pat Burrell away from Philly, the team that beat them for said title.

Also, Jason Giambi has returned to his roots, signing a one-year. $5.25 million deal with Oakland, the team he began his career with before taking his big bat (and his tubes of stuff, allegedly) for big bucks.

Oh, and as if the Mets and Braves didn’t have enough to battle about on the field (I bet New York is thrilled not to have to face Smoltz anymore), the two teams are reportedly fighting hard over the services of one Derek Lowe. Then, whoever loses out on Lowe can turn their attention to the likes of Ben Sheets, Freddy Garcia or Andy Pettitte.

I know the economy still sucks, but at least we have some signings and movement.

Missouri vs. Texas
Texas is No. 1 in the polls during the regular season for the first time since 1984. But coach Mack Brown can remind his players that the 1984 squad went on to lose four of their last five games to finish 7-4-1 and out of the national title hunt. History is working against Missouri, as the Tigers are 0-10 lifetime vs. No.1 teams, and are winless in Austin since 1896. That’s right…1896. This game pits Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel trying to re-establish himself in the Heisman race against Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy, who some believe is the Heisman front-runner. National coverage will begin Saturday at 8 PM ET on ABC.

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Baseball fans have been lulled to sleep this post-season by uninspiring play, with no series going one game beyond the required number. And with nine outs remaining, Tampa’s bullpen fell apart and blew a seven-run lead in an 8-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox in Game Five. We now have a series to watch. The never give-up Red Sox could force a Game Seven if struggling post-season ace Josh Beckett can muster a victory against James Shields in Tampa Bay. Game Six will begin Saturday at 8 PM ET and if necessary Game Seven will begin Sunday at 8 PM ET. Both games can be seen on TBS.