Buy Low, Very Low

As the second half of the 2009 MLB season is about to start, you should be analyzing your whole fantasy team from your starting pitcher to your lowest bench spot. Take a gander at each player, ask yourself, is this guy worth having on my team for the stretch run? Is he injured? Will he be back soon? Is he getting everyday at-bats? If he's young is he about to hit the wall? I explained this in yesterday's blog about young pitchers hitting the wall and I listed the pitchers whom I think will be effected. check it out.
Is this player performing less than his potential and is he ready for a big second half? Take full inventory of your team, be critical. If you got some question mark players on the roster maybe its time to make a move, not just any move. Look for the players that haven't played to their potential and history says or their career stats might tell you that this player is ready to ignite helping your team till the end of the season. One such player this year is Garrett Atkins. His stats are about half of his 3yr avg in all categories.

Garrett Atkins

2009
AB R H HR RBI BB AVG. OBP.
239 25 55 6 28 25 .230 .303

PACE
439 46 101 11 51 46 .230 .303

3 yr avg
AB R H HR RBI BB AVG. OBP.
606 95 185 25 110 62 .305 .368


How can a close to .300 career hitter, who is not injured have such a bad season? First things first, the Rockies line-up doesn't have the boppers that it had the past few years, Holliday is gone, and that's about all I have to say. Having Matt Holliday batting around you, changes the way pitchers pitch to you. Things didn't get started off in the right direction earlier in the year for the Rockies as a team, eventually fired their manager Clint Hurdle, Jim Tracy comes in the interim and decides to start the rookie Ian Stewart and sits Atkins. Looking towards the future. Atkins wasn't producing at all, Stewart was. All the new manager wants to do is win, he usually has no loyalties to any player, especially if he's not producing.

This all being said, why would you want to trade for or hold onto a player who fits this mold like Atkins. Let me tell you. Rumors are starting to spread now!!! Atkins is up on the trade block. All Atkins needs is a change of scenery, start anew with another club. The Rockies are fed up with him, and is going to be a free agent at the end of the year. Might as well get some value for him(if you are not going to play him), than seeing him sign with another team in the off season.

Rumblings throughout baseball, is that the Red Sox are looking for a 3rd baseman, yes the Red Sox. Mike Lowell's hip is not healing quickly enough, and is just getting old, something like this will probably linger all season long. Bring in Atkins...

Imagine Garrett Atkins, the .300 25 HR 100 RBI hitter, being the starting 3rd baseman for the Red Sox batting anywhere from 5th-7th. This could happen. One offer rumored to be out there is Atkins for Saito.

If you have Atkins, hold onto him. You probably held onto him this long why dump him now.
If you are in need of a 3rd baseman(1B eligible too in some leagues) I would try to acquire him. His value is about as low as it can get for his career. You might be able to get him for a bag of balls or a case of beer. To get a value player like this for basically nothing, ITS WORTH THE RISK.


Fantasy Assistant

If you have any fantasy baseball questions? Or just want another opinion...
Send them my way. line-up issues, add-drop issues, potential trade offers. Ill take a look it...