Usually there’s not much reason to dawdle about the big name players and even some of the marginal ones. They’re not available on the waiver wire and you know the kind of deal you’re going to have to throw out there to get an Albert Pujols after he goes 3-for-4 with a homer.

Still, this update is a star-studded affair with a lot of returning from or suffering a (thumb), (back) (shoulder), (etc.). Now I’m dawdling with the at-least-it-makes-me-laugh prose. … Let’s just get to the update:

Elvis Andrus – He’s owned in almost all Yahoo leagues (91%), but it’s worth noting that Andrus broke out of an 0-for-26 slump, according to the Associated Press, after going 3-for-4 on Sunday. He’s also not being as aggressive on the basepaths recently, according to a KFFL report, because of how hot the Rangers have been hitting. Now’s a good time to buy low, he brings elite speed and he’ll score runs as long as the Rangers are rocking pitchers. Don’t forget to check jzak’s second half buy low candidates for more options.

Russell Martin – Due to return from an injured thumb today. He has a terrible batting average and hasn’t been great but is still the 11th-best catcher in fantasy baseball and is available in 21% of Yahoos.

Mat Latos – Due back from his oblique injury on Saturday. Although not widely available (85% owned), it’s good knowledge for you and me because we both own Latos.

C.J. Wilson – Dumbfounded Wilson is available in 43% of Yahoo leagues. He struck out 10 in just six innings Sunday and is just murdering lefties (.093 BAA). He’s got a 3.23 season ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.

Matt Wieters – Should return from his hamstring injury on Sunday, July 25. He’s available in 35% of Yahoos. That’s not an astronomical number considering his poor play so far in 2010, but for someone with his pedigree/potential, it seems very high. Have an available roster spot? Check the wire, maybe the DL trip was all he needed.

Justin Mourneau – Big names keep coming. Mourneau is undergoing tests today to see if he’ll be able to return when he’s eligible on Friday.

Josh Beckett – Another big name. Boom. Well, Beckett’s been bust (zing!) in 2010. But he’s due back from his (back) on Friday. I still wouldn’t start him until you’re sure the rust is off.

Chone Figgins – Started 1-for-15 out of the break. Unfortunately it looks like more of the same for Figgins. Found an ESPN the Mag from around the time he signed with Seattle. They were talking moneyball, defense, etc. Bet Mariners fans feel a little differently right now. He still has time to right the ship, but he’s pretty far off course. Buy-low in 2011?

Andrew McCutchen – Sprained his AC joint while diving to make a catch Sunday and now officially has a (shoulder). He wasn’t in the lineup Monday, but there was no fracture according to his player notes at Yahoo.com, so expect him to return soon.

Matt LaPorta – A while back in this very space I suggested adding Matt LaPorta after he was recalled. I did so myself. In the last month he’s hit .321 with four homers. He’s hitting .346 with four homers and 12 RBI in his last 15 games. And he’s still available in 84% of Yahoos. That’s too high for a producing 1B this late in the season.

Vin Mazzaro – Improved to 5-2 after allowing one run in 7.2 innings. He wasn’t terribly impressive in allowing eight baserunners and only striking out five, but he’s been demoralizing pitchers for a month now (3-0 with a 2.06 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in his last four starts). He’s available in 96% of Yahoos and should be on your list of potential streaming starters right now.

Shaun Marcum – Released from the grasp of the DL on Saturday, picked up the win after hurling five innings on Sunday. He’s rosterable and at least a streaming starter (available in 34% of Yahoos). He has a 3.36 season ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and 92 Ks in 112.1 innings.

Brian Roberts — Mentioned in the previously linked to second-half buy-low article by jzak, Roberts is in AA today and could return by Sunday, July 25 or a day later. He’s available in 31% of Yahoo leagues.

Victor Martinez — Played catch for the first time since injury his thumb on June 27. The quote I saw on KFFL.com had V-Mart joking he was glad he could actually fit his thumb in the glove. Boston thinks he might be back sometime during the upcoming 10-game road trip. I think he’ll be a little while yet.

Dustin Pedroia — Will have his foot reevaluated at the end of the month. So don’t expect him for the aforementioned upcoming road trip.

That’s it for today. Some of the things that seemed a little less newsworthy got cut. Did I miss something big? Update us in the comments.

Related posts

• If you build around runs, you want one of these 15 stars (1)
• You want speed? These guys will give you speed (8)
• Missing from the top 50: Joe Mauer, Zack Greinke, other fantasy baseball all-stars (3)
• 2010 composite fantasy baseball catcher rankings (6)
• Victor Martinez, Chase Utley disabled, Prince Fielder hitting like a king (3)

Notice the composite scores in parenthesis? Many of the catcher rankings come in bunches, with certain player scores coming incredibly close to each other. If nothing else, it can help make things easier for those who want to tier their catcher rankings.

The following composite list were created by factoring in rankings from ESPN, Yahoo, Sports Illustrated, Fanball and Sporting News. So … you don’t need to visit each site individually, we have it all here in one convenient place:

1. Joe Mauer, Minnesota (5 pts). Plenty has been written about Mauer here at chinstrapninjas.com, including an unpopular drafting strategy involving him and other top-tiered catchers and a well-written counter argument from ep. No matter what your opinion on Mauer, the facts remain clear … he is coming off a career year and has the ability to lead catchers again in 2010 in a variety of categories. It’s all a matter of how much you want to pay for him …  and if his sudden power boost will remain?

2. Brian McCann, Atlanta (11). Although he saw a slight slip in homers, batting average, steals and runs scored, McCann boosted his RBI numbers in 2009. New LASIK surgery can’t hurt and he’s arguably the best offensive weapon the Braves have to offer. If they can provide some more protection in the order, McCann should continue to keep himself  near the top of this list.

3. Victor Martinez, Boston (14). All you need to know about Martinez is his stat line after being dealt to the Red Sox: .336, 8 homers, 41 RBI. Project that over a full season in a lineup loaded with protection and Martinez is clearly a better option than those below him on this list.

4. Matt Wieters, Baltimore (28). Don’t just look at Wieters as the fourth-highest player on this list, but more at his composite score and how incredibly close it is to the next couple options. Wieters has plenty of talent, but hasn’t proven that he can live up to the hype, yet. He still is a decent option in a fairly shallow position, but there is a clear drop-off from the first three guys to Wieters.

5. Miguel Montero, Arizona (30). A huge breakout player last season, Montero is still considered a sleeper by some. However, as this composite ranking proves, he isn’t going to take anyone by surprise. As with Wieters, he is a decent option at one of the most shallow positions in fantasy baseball, but expect to pay more than you were thinking for Montero, who hasn’t been a top option for a full season, not to mention most of his career so far.

6. Jorge Posada, New York Yankees (31). Many are scared off by his age, but Posada had nice bounceback numbers in 2009 and bats in a loaded lineup. Those pieces alone make him a decent play most of the season. He isn’t going to carry you in steals by any stretch of the imagination, but he should provide 20-plus homer pop and a .280-plus average.

7. Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers (38). An elite catcher just two seasons ago, Martin’s numbers across the board have tailed off considerably each of the past two years. Oddly enough, both his speed and power numbers have taken a hit. He is talented enough to bounce back somewhat, but would it would take a lot of luck to move up this list any higher

8. (tie) Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs (47). Much like Martin, Soto had a very impressive 2008 and much was expected of him last season. Again, like Martin, Soto regressed across the board. His slow start (.230, 8 homers, 27 RBI before the All-Star break) led to an even worse finish (.205, 4, 20). Still, it is interesting to me that fantasy owners seem ready to assume that Martin will magically bounce back to prominence while Soto will be a non-factor. At this point, with either player, you won’t get a return on your investment unless they can show a dramatic comeback. The difference is that Soto will cost you much less on draft day.

8. (tie) Mike Napoli, Los Angeles Angels (47). Napoli turned in his second consecutive season of 20 home runs and a decent uptick in his runs and RBI numbers. While not a flashy option, Napoli, at the moment, may have a lower ceiling than Martin and Soto, but may prove to be the less risky pick of the three. One thing to watch, though, is how Napoli’s numbers are affected by the loss of overall talent on the Angels roster this offseason.

10. Bengie Molina, San Francisco (48). Few catchers are as ripe for a decline as Molina. He’s aging fast, and while he still quietly produced solid catching stats last year, he didn’t bring much interest in the free agent market this offseason and finds himself back in pitcher-friendly AT&T Park. The biggest concern, however, is young catching phenom Buster Posey, who’s too talented not to start receiving more playing time.

11. Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh (49). Another catcher that impressed in 2008 but failed to deliver last season, Doumit was more a victim of injury (wrist and concussion issues) than flat-out poor play. His impressive September (.346, 2, 12), however, may be a sign that he’s going to rebound this year.

12. Kurt Suzuki, Oakland (50). After back-to-back seven-homer seasons in 2007 and 2008, Suzuki saw a power surge in the second half of last season that helped him finish with 15 long balls. Now, the question remains whether Suzuki continues the power uptick, or if he takes a Russell Martin-esque downturn.

13. A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox (61). What Pierzynski’s numbers lack in sizzle, they make up for in quiet consistency. He has produced double-digit homers for seven consecutive seasons and his batting average finished at a three-year high at .300. Don’t expect a major upspike in numbers from Pierzynski, but you could do worse on draft day.

14. Yadier Molina, St. Louis (69). Yadier’s nine steals last season was second-best at the position, but chalk that up to other players underproducing and not that Yadier suddenly became flight of foot. He doesn’t produce enough home runs, either, to be a reliable starting fantasy catcher, either. Molina’s best attributes are his batting average and an OK RBI output.

15. Miguel Olivo, Colorado (76). Olivo hit 23 homers last season and on the surface seems to be an intriguing fantasy play. That is, until you see his career .243 batting average. If you need a power infusion, especially in two-catcher leagues, Olivo may be a sneaky play … but don’t forget that he’s now in Colorado, battling Chris Iannetta for playing time.

For our ADP-based catcher rankings, go here.

For a review of sleepers at the catcher position, go here.

Who will bust as a fantasy catcher, check this out.

Related posts

• Ranking the top 20 catchers in fantasy baseball for 2010 (3)
• FBB: My unsexy approach to drafting a catcher in 2010 (12)
• Catchers to target during your fantasy baseball draft in 2010 (2)
• Potential busts at catcher in 2010 (0)
• Baseball update for 7.19.10 or ER roster? Same difference, actually (2)

Matt Wieters – I’ve seen pessimistic projections put Wieters at 12 homers and 70 RBIs. Those numbers are almost Yadier Molina-esque. Of course, he could hit the 20 homers you’re drafting him for. Unfortunately he’s the fourth-fastest catcher off the board in 2010. That’s expensive for such an unknown commodity.

Jorge Posada – Turns 39 in August and plays the most demanding position in baseball. If he stays healthy it’ll be because he gets a healthy dose of days off. He also has to hold off prospect Jesus Montero all season.

Miguel Montero – Already discussed his and 11 other player’s downside risk in 2010.

Bengie Molina – His production has been solid and consistent, but he turns 36 in July and is merely keeping the catcher’s gear warm for when the Giants consider Buster Posey ready. Molina could play the whole season and hit 20 homers and drive in 80 RBIs in 2010, making him a nice pick as the 10th catcher. However, keep your ear to the ground and your finger on the mouse when Posey talks heat up.

For more busts, rankings, sleepers and strategy, check out our 2010 Fantasy Baseball page.

Related posts

• 2010 composite fantasy baseball catcher rankings (6)
• Ranking the top 20 catchers in fantasy baseball for 2010 (3)
• FBB: My unsexy approach to drafting a catcher in 2010 (12)
• How many fantasy baseball busts busted in 2009? (2)
• Catchers to target during your fantasy baseball draft in 2010 (2)

It’s a simplification of the process and one you probably already do in your head. If Joe Mauer is projected to hit 21 or 22 home runs you’re going to think of him as a 20-homer catcher anyway.

Similarly, if some projections have Brian McCann driving in 94 runs in 2010, that 94 is going to be fairly indistinguishable from a 95 by the end of a 500 at-bat season. Remember, your projections are only part of a holy fantasy baseball trinity that you need to keep in mind when building your cheatsheet.

Speaking of cheatsheets, you came here looking for catcher rankings. Catcher rankings we have:

1. Joe Mauer – If we were doing tiers and, yep, I think we’re about to, this tier would go from here to Martinez because there’s no way I’d own either player. Position scarcity is overrated. We’ve talked a lot about Mauer on this site in 2010, but if you want the projections that go along with this series, check our Top 20 for 2010.

2. Victor Martinez – After an injury-plagued 2008, Martinez put up the kind of numbers last year that Mauer’s going to put up this year, minus a little average. Projections: 75/20/95/1/.295

3. Brian McCann – This tier goes from here to Wieters. They’re still overrated, but if it was time to change things up, this is the absolute earliest catcher I’d pick. McCann is available in the fifth round and hit 21 homers despite missing 24 games in 2009. His OBP and SLG were both below his career marks and his K rate was higher than his career mark. Projections: 70/25/95/5/.290

4. Matt Wieters – There’s a lot of downside risk here. If he wasn’t overpriced he’d have his own tier. I’d think about owning McCann, but unless you’re in a dynasty league, let someone else pick Wieters. Projections: 65/20/75/1/.295

5. Jorge Posada – This tier goes to Martin and I don’t want to own anybody in this tier. Posada will be 39 in August. Catcher is a demanding enough position that younger players struggle to play a full season. Projections: 60/20/70/1/.270

6. Kurt Suzuki – Out of these three players, Suzuki’s the only one I could see myself owning. He’ll be 27 in October, so he’s in his prime. It’s more than likely a boring prime though. Projections: 65/10/65/5/.275

7. Russell Martin – This is not the Russell Martin who broke into the majors years ago. and he’s going to miss four to six weeks (including opening day) with a groin pull. Projections: 65/10/70/10/.275

8. Miguel Montero – This is a new tier it includes Soto, too. I’m going to own both of these guys in a bunch of leagues. Projections: 60/15/70/1/.275

9. Geovany Soto – Consider what Soto did before last season. You can’t afford to let someone else take the chance on him. He needs to be your catcher in 2010. Projections: 70/20/80/1/.280

10. Bengie Molina – Bengie gets his own tier because he’s boring. That 20 homers he hit last season at age 35 is his ceiling. Consider his projection an over-under bet and I’m taking the under. Projections: 50/20/75/0/.265

11. Mike Napoli – This is another new tier, it runs through Doumit. It wouldn’t be awful owning these guys and if you don’t have a starter after these three your going to be in trouble. Napoli doesn’t hit lefties, but he still puts up good numbers. Projections: 50/20/75/0/.265

12. Chris Iannetta – Like Napoli, Iannetta doesn’t hit lefties. He also doesn’t hit righties quite as well as Napoli. Projections: 55/20/55/0/.255

13. Ryan Doumit – He’ll put up some good numbers considering he’s only going to have around 400 ABs. Projections: 55/15/60/5/.280

14. Yadier Molina – This a weird tier. From here through Martinez, I’d own Posey, the others deserve to be on the waiver wire. Projections: 45/10/60/5/.285

15. AJ Pierzynski – Steady, boring production. I’ll probably pick him up off the wire in a league or two this year. Projections: 60/10/60/1/.280

16. Miguel Olivo – If you’re fishing for a little extra power, Olivo will get you some. Projections: 45/20/60/5/.250

17. Carlos Ruiz – Projections: 45/10/50/5/.255

18. Buster Posey – I’d own Posey because of the potential upside. Notice I said own not start. You don’t want anybody this low on the list as your opening day starter in 2010 unless they have an amazing spring. Maybe Posey doesn’t live up to the hype, but at least it’s more exciting than picking Ruiz or Olivo. Projections: 50/10/40/1/.270

19. John Baker – Projections: 55/10/45/1/.270

20. Ramon Hernandez – Projections: 45/10/55/1/.255

There are some players far more exciting than Ramon Hernandez outside of the top 20:

Jarrod Saltalamacchia offers 10-to-15 homers and 50-50 runs and RBIs. Kelly Shoppach will get you plus homers but he’ll hurt your batting average. Alex Avila‘s got the upside thing and that upside will manifest in power numbers. Jesus Flores has upside power, too.

Check out all of our baseball rankings so far on our 2010 fantasy baseball page.

Related posts

• 2010 composite fantasy baseball catcher rankings (6)
• FBB: My unsexy approach to drafting a catcher in 2010 (12)
• Catchers to target during your fantasy baseball draft in 2010 (2)
• Potential busts at catcher in 2010 (0)
• Geovany Soto should be your catcher in 2010 (1)

In the 2009 preseason, I told you to avoid five players and called several other stars mortifying.

Were they as bad as I suspected?

Matt Wieters – He only had 108 at-bats before the All-Star game. Avoiding him in your draft saved you a wasted pick. He was decent in the second half, and has the potential to move into the elite ranks in 2010. He’s a top-4 catcher if you’re taking an unsexy approach to drafting a catcher in 2010.

Matt Holliday – This is an interesting situation. He was on this list because he was moving into Oakland’s cavernous stadium and his pre-All-Star break numbers are an absolute win. However, his numbers jumped considerably after he joined the Cardinals. If the rules change in the middle of the game, it’s not fair to the winner or loser. I’m claiming this one as a win, but as a full-time Cardinal, Holliday’s not making this list in 2010.

Garrett Atkins – Check out Atkins stats. Home, away, early, late, you cannot find a redeeming quality anywhere. He’s not even with the Rockies any more. He’s wearing Orioles orange in 2010.

David Ortiz – The Red Sox hitter turned slugger turned in a 28-homer, 99-RBI campaign. Not bad, but as a DH he has limited roster appeal and, if you didn’t heed the warning hear at Chinstrap Ninjas, he destroyed your batting average (.238 in 2009). 2010? No. Just stay away.

Carlos Zambrano – While Zambrano was a decent play, helping owners in ERA (3.77) and strikeouts  (152), he logged the least innings (169) of any season of his career since becoming a full-time starter. He pitched 100 innings and had 82 strikeouts in the first half of the season, but he’s trending downward. You don’t want that on your roster in 2010, do you?

So, the full tally is 5-for-5 so far.

Now, on to the mortifying stars. Just something to keep in mind, I never exactly told readers to avoid these players, just let them know that I was avoiding them for various reasons. As you’ll be able to tell in a moment, some of my teams weren’t too good in 2009.

Tim Lincecum, Evan Longoria, Jacoby Ellsbury and Josh Beckett all broke personal bests in several statistical categories. It’d be foolish to expect anything less in 2010.

Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon held steady in the important categories, but in my defense my argument was that these closers would have to be drafted too high. They won’t represent much of a value in 2010 either because they are two of the best closers in baseball.

The only wins I can claim here are:

Vernon Wells – While youngster Adam Lind took off in 2009, Wells was grounded. He improved his steals considerably from the year before, matching a career high with 17. However, despite playing in 50 more games he saw a decrease in homers, RBI and batting average. His home runs and RBIs were the least he’s had in any season since becoming a full-time player in 2002.

Joba Chamberlain – My fear was that he was going to move back to the bullpen by the end of the season, but he started 31 of his 32 games in 2009. However, he was less than spectacular in those games. He had a 4.75 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP and struck out only 133 in 157 innings pitched after being a more-than-a-K-per-inning player before that.

So, 7-for-13 if you’re scoring at home. That’s not bad. How did we do with our sleeper picks? We’ll review that in a post tomorrow. But if you want a sneak preview, check out the 2009 breakout players post.

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• Fantasy baseball: 24 ERA wizards for 2010 (2)
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• Lincecum, Longoria and 4 other mortifying stars [FBB] (0)
• Disclaimer: Fantasy baseball sleepers and busts (4)

And, for the first time in my fantasy career, I found myself giving advice so unrisky, non-dramatic and un-ninja-like, I felt sick to my stomach.

I still do.

I’ll hate myself for saying this out loud, in e-print, but this is the year that I …

… burn an earlier pick than normal on one of the four elite catchers.

Now, when I say “elite” catcher, let me get specific.

I mean Joe Mauer … he of the wicked .365 batting average. He of the career-high 28 home runs in 2009 (almost double what he jacked in 2007 and 2008 combined … something a little fishy about that?). Mauer is a workaholic who will produce for fantasy owners at such an elite pace (although I do expect a dropoff in home run totals), that having him gives you an instant boost.

Brian McCann is similar. Twenty-one dingers, a .281 batting average and playing for the prolific Braves, McCann will continue to be a beacon of fantasy consistency in 2010.

Victor Martinez had solid stats last year with the Red Sox, and considering the protection he gets in that lineup (Bay or no Bay), Martinez will continue to be a top-notch catcher in fantasy circles.

Matt Wieters may be the most risky of these top-four, but his star is quickly rising. Here’s betting he doubles the nine home runs he produced last season, and continues to work on his batting average. Playing for the Orioles doesn’t give him a lot of protection, but he is still an exciting player that can play at an elite level sooner rather than later.

After those four players, the dropoff is so severe, in my humble opinion, that I’m willing to burn a third-round pick on Mauer or Martinez or perhaps even McCann. I’d be willing to reach into the fifth or possibly even fourth round for Wieters.

That goes against all conventional teaching from the fantasy baseball days of yore … when you let Joe Draftaholic take an elite catcher early in the draft while you are padding other key positional stats … and then snag the next up-and-coming catcher in later rounds and not losing much in the way of statistical dropoff.

But there is such disparity in the catcher ranks this year … more than ever in my opinion, that I think you put yourself in a better position with one of the four guys mentioned above. For example, let’s say you snag a Jason Bay or Raul Ibanez in the third round and wait on catching. Let’s hypothetically say you land Mike Napoli or Geovanny Soto in the later rounds. Your combo of Bay-Soto or Bay Napoli will produce less, in my opinion, than if you take a Maurer in the early third round and then turn around two rounds later and snag an Adam Dunn-esque player. You get just as many (if not much more in the home run department) and Mauer’s batting average helps offset Dunn’s lack of plate discipline.

Sure there are many exceptions to the rule, and I’m not advocating that everyone go on a mad drafting spree for the four top catchers in 2010. There are a few consolation prizes at the position that I could live with. Including:

Kurt Suzuki is one of just a handful of catchers who’s stats are actually going in the right direction. Home runs are climbing, stolen bases quadrupled in 2009 (eight to two in 2008) and batting average is hovering around a respectable .274. He’s young and has not met his ceiling yet.

Miguel Montero made the best of increased playing time when Chris Snyder went down with injury last season for the D-backs. He hit a career-high 16 dingers and posted a sweet .294 at the plate. He also has a much higher ceiling than many at the position, especially since he has yet to start an entire season in the bigs.

There are a few sleeper candidates who could break out this season. John Baker has some detractors but also could open things up in 2010. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has yet to produce a full season without injury and has tons of potential … although he has seen some stat dropoffs that scare me. Kelly Shoppach can’t hit righties and has a few other deficiencies, but has some untapped power potential that could be drool-inducing. Buster Posey is a rookie with boatloads of potential, but just what will his role be in 2010, especially since Bengie Molina is still officially in town?

Again, someone should slap me for being so un-ninja with this post. For suggesting that you should actually go with the crowd and pay a somewhat higher price for one of the catching elite. However, I just can’t advocate anyone else at this position. Hopefully our ninja viewers here can set me straight.

What is your opinion on the catching class of 2010?

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Those words couldn’t be any more prophetic with what’s been going on recently in fantasy baseball.

Prospects everywhere

The Mets put Jose Reyes and Ryan Church on the DL then called up outfield prospect Fernando Martinez. The Orioles will debut catcher Matt Wieters on Friday. Baltimore has also debuted starting pitcher Brad Bergesen and outfielder Nolan Reimold this season. Tampa Bay’s David Price made his debut this week. Arizona outfielder Gerardo Parra is one of a number of rookies getting starting time from earlier callups. /Deep breath/

There’s a lot of movement on the rookie and prospect front. *Forgot to mention Cubs outfielder Jake Fox who will debut soon according to Yahoo Sports, and Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes, who seems to have figured things out, to name two more. I could keep going, but I won’t.*

Hughes, Price, Parra and Reimold have been added in one league or another, but I haven’t gone after Martinez — not sure he’s going to stay up when everybody gets healthy in New York, and I already have Reimold who could be sent down when Luke Scott returns — and I tried to get Wieters, but he was already rostered in all of my leagues. Yes, in the preseason I said to avoid Wieter’s dreamy potential at your draft. But Like Mine That Bird at the Kentucky Derby, any horse has a chance to win once he gets to the bigs.

• With any prospect, especially highly touted ones like Martinez, Price and Wieters, it’s worth dumping a roster bum to take a flier. As mentioned in jzak’s post about Mat Gamel, you may end up with the next Ryan Braun. And if the guy’s floppy, you’ll only lose one start or a game or two to find out.

Bullpen news

John Grabow is the closer for the Pirates until Matt Capps returns. Frank Francisco is back so C.J. Wilson’s value has plummeted despite his save last night. He got the S because Francisco got a save his first night back on Monday.

• I’ve dropped C.J. Wilson and added John Grabow where applicable, feel free to copy my answers if you need saves.

Not news, but it’s going here anyway

• Brad Lidge hasn’t been benched, but I wish he would. He was shaky finishing Tuesday’s game. Is he even going to finish with 20 saves this year? Glad I reached for him in a couple leagues.
• I am glad I avoided Carlos Quentin in all of my drafts, he’s got foot issues compounding his much larger baseball issues.
• Garrett Atkins, you are killing two of my teams. I hate your baseball “skills.” Should have followed my own preseason advice when I told everyone he was among the top five players to avoid this season.

What do you think? Are you scooping up Grabow, or gobbling up as many of those prospects as you can fit on your roster? Have any lineup or trade questions that need hashed out? Let us know in the comments or join the conversation on our forums.

Related posts

• Royals’ Bannister a team-killer or Stealthy Ninja? [FBB] (1)
• Why the contrary on Contreras? He is stealthy [FBB] (2)
• What the Fukudome? Waiver wonders worth a look (2)
• Week 1 discovery: Stealthy assassins (1)
• Ninja notes: The international edition [FBB] (3)

I’ve made my predictions for a couple years over at www.sloppypotatoes.com, see 2008 team predictions here and individual awards here. Now, they make their inaugural appearance at Chinstrap Ninjas.

This is not an exercise for the weak-hearted, but one the weak-minded, like myself, tackle without blinking. I’ve taken the ridiculous job of projecting the best of about a bazillion baseball players that will swing or throw this year, and made it as complex as possible — it’s my thing. I pick a Sure Thing, a Contender and a Longshot for each of the major baseball awards. I’ll start out with my predictions for 2009, including individual and team awards, and finish with a review of my typically less-than-stellar picks for 2008.

Team predictions

American League

National League

World Series prediction

Surprisingly, a Yankees fan picks the Yankees to win it all over the Dodgers. But it’s a great series featuring contrasting high- and low-scoring games.

Individual awards

American League MVP

National League MVP

American League Cy Young

National League Cy Young

American League Rookie of the Year

National League Rookie of the Year

A quick review of my 2008 predictions:

2008 Individual awards

• I hit on Geovany Soto and Joey Votto battling it out for NL Rookie of the Year, and I thought Jacoby Ellsbury would be a contender. I was drinking the Daric Barton Kool-Aid. It was awful.
• Brandon Webb, Johan Santana and C.C. Sabathia were on my Cy Young lists, but had Sabathia winning the AL, not finishing in the NL race with the other two. I also misspelled Scot Shields’ first name. Yes, I had Shields in my Cy Young predictions. /covers face/
• On the MVP side, three of my six potentials earned some votes, but were not in the top 5. I missed very badly with Troy Tulowitski and Pat Burrell did not get any votes.

2008 Team predictions

• AL: Yankees, Angels, Indians and Tigers as playoff teams with the Indians beating the Yankees in the ALCS. Yeah, not so good.
• NL: Mets, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Phillies in the playoffs with Mets over Cubs in the NLCS. Not as bad — I at least had the evenutal champs here.
• I had the Indians beating the Mets in the WS. I felt Ninja at the time, but feel like I’m looking at an NCAA tournament bracket gone awry now.

More 2009 predictions sure to not work out coming tomorrow!

What are your predictions for 2009?

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However, there are much more rookie talent that could harvest some solid fantasy production this year — even if some of it may not be heard from until the second half of the season.

A few rookies that should be on every fantasy owner’s peripheral radar:

Elvis Andrus, Texas, SS: How much talent does Andrus have? So much so, that the Rangers followed through with converting Gold Glove shortstop Michael Young to third base. Andrus will find himself immediately in the starting lineup. His offense may not make him a fantasy baseball MVP (he should steal around 15-20 bases, bat around .300), but for leagues who reward good fielding, Andrus could provide a good late-round value.

Cameron Maybin, Florida, OF: Just ask Hall of Fame player Al Kaline … Maybin will be a star some day. At this point, it is pretty certain that he’ll start Opening Day as Florida’s leadoff hitter. He batted .500 with four steals in eight September games last year, and was one of the key figures that the Marlins snagged from the Detroit Tigers in the Miguel Cabrera trade. He’s a threat to steal every time he gets on base, and early projections indicate he may add 10-20 home runs this season. Maybin is one rookie that most every fantasy owner should be nabbing in the later rounds.

Brett Anderson, Oakland, SP: The Athletics have a long pedigree of finding and then polishing diamonds in the rough (on the mound). Anderson has the potential to be yet another front-line starting pitcher for the A’s at some point. He went 11-5 between both A and AA play with a 3.69 ERA, striking out 118 batters in 105 innings. The future might be now for Anderson, who could find himself playing for the fifth rotation spot in light of Justin Duchscherer’s elbow surgery scheduled next week. He may be worth a late-round flyer (or waiver wire pickup) in case he does start the season on a tear — just be smart about how much you invest him Anderson early — he is a young talent who needs time to mature. Expect him to provide some worthy fantasy games moreso in the middle to late part of the season.

Jordan Zimmermann, Washington, SP: Hope springs eternal for young baseball prospects in spring training, but many players are not able to capitalize on their spring extended job interview the way that Zimmermann has for the Nationals. Prior to March 21, he had not allowed a single run. He did give up five runs in two innings last Saturday versus the Cardinals, but allegedly was battling the flu. The Nationals are very thin on the mound, and Zimmermann should have no problem making the tail end of the rotation.

Chris Dickerson, Cincinnati, OF: Another player expected to see his stock rise after a solid spring, Dickerson is known mostly for his speed — but also cranked out six home runs in 102 at-bats for the Reds last year. Dickerson has stolen six bases this spring, and will definitely make it into the Reds lineup — however, he lacks some maturity on the basepaths, getting caught five times this spring and whiffing 17 times. Dickerson may be someone you want to keep a close eye on in regular re-draft leagues, although it wouldn’t hurt to stash him away on your roster if you have the extra space.

Koji Uehara, Baltimore, SP: A legend in Japan, with a 112-62 record (3.01 ERA, 56 complete games in 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. In his most recent outing this spring, he struck out seven batters in 3 2/3 innings against the Nationals (this past Tuesday). He currently is projected as the Orioles No. 2 pitcher.

Who are your rookies to watch? Which of these guys do you think will represent the next wave of MLB fantasy stud? We’d love to hear your opinion.

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Fantasy Baseball

• JZ reviewed a www.fantasybaseballcafe.com regular’s aggregate fantasy baseball rankings based on several sites.
• There are mixed opinions in the Chinstrap Ninjas newsroom on Baltimore Orioles phenom/bust catcher Matt Wieters. The latest post is “Whiffing on Wieters.”
• The fantasy baseball rankings have their own navigation page now, but last week’s additions were the fantasy outfielders and designated hitters.

Fantasy Football

• The NFL season may be over, but fantasy players, and NFL fans know the NFL is an every hour of every day of every week obsession. There is always NFL news and JZ reviewed two big offseason moves in his NFL Offseason Stockwatch posts. He reviewed Seattle’s T.J. Houshmandzadeh signing and the next stop in the Terrell Owens train wreck.
• I talked about how much a recent fantasy auction draft revitalized my fantasy soul, and JZ went even deeper into the fantasy auction that he ran for the Gods and Generals league.

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