No time to digest our player updates? Well, here's a quick rundown of the top 10 risers and fallers in an early spring edition of our Fantasy Power Players, which we will do every week of the regular season.
| This week's top gainers | ||
| Position, player, team | Spring stats (through March 18) | |
| 1 | SP Rich Harden, OAK | 1.04 ERA, 18 Ks, 1 BB in 8 2/3 innings |
| If he stays healthy for once, this could be something big time. | ||
| 2 | SP John Danks, CHW | 5.68 ERA, 10 Ks, 1 BB in 12 2/3 innings |
| Prospect just might make Texas look foolish for giving up on him. | ||
| 3 | 2B Howie Kendrick, LAA | .439 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 10 R, 3 SB |
| Entered Monday tied with Mets' Jose Reyes for most total bases. | ||
| 4 | 1B Casey Kotchman, LAA | .325-3-7-6-1 |
| Looks like bad winter league season, bout with mono are behind him. | ||
| 5 | SS Jose Reyes, NYM | .340-4-8-10-7 |
| Woah, any doubts about him being No. 2 overall pick in Roto? | ||
| 6 | 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, SD | .367-2-8-9-0 |
| He's leaving no doubts who the man-off is in San Diego at 3B. | ||
| 7 | RF Brad Hawpe, COL | .351-4-12-8-0 |
| Huge spring is just enhanced by the fact this is his age-27 year. | ||
| 8 | C Mike Piazza, OAK | .448-1-11-5-0 |
| If you don't lose C eligibility from '06, this guy is a must-have. | ||
| 9 | RP Armando Benitez, SF | 0 runs allowed in 4 IP |
| Injury-risk sleeper ready to go -- perhaps to Marlins via trade? | ||
| 10 | RF Shane Victorino, PHI | .432-1-5-12-4 |
| Our steals projections on him are far too low; time for a change | ||
| Honorable mentions: SP Adam Miller, CLE; SP Fausto Carmona, CLE; 3B Ryan Zimmerman, WAS; 3B Joe Crede, CHW; 1B Derrek Lee, CHC; OF Josh Hamilton, CIN; 3B Ryan J. Braun, MIL; OF/1B Brad Eldred, PIT; OF Vernon Wells, TOR; C A.J. Pierzynski, CHW; 2B Brandon Phillips, CIN; 2B Ian Kinsler, TEX; OF Nick Swisher, OAK; 1B Dan Johnson, OAK; SP Erik Bedard, BAL; SP Shawn Hill, WAS. | ||
| This week's top decliners | |||
| Position, player, team | Spring stats | ||
| 1 | SP Thomas Diamond, TEX | Allowed two runs in 1 IP inning | |
| Top prospect done for year after needing Tommy John surgery. | |||
| 2 | 1B Larry Broadway, WAS | .333-0-3-4-0 | |
| So much for him being opening-day 1B; he just got demoted. | |||
| 3 | OF Adam Lind, TOR | .308-0-3-3-0 | |
| One of our favorite AL rooks got early demotion last weekend. | |||
| 4 | SP Homer Bailey, CIN | Eight runs allowed in 3 2/3 IP | |
| Terrible spring; so much for him starting year in rotation. | |||
| 5 | SP Phil Hughes, NYY | Four runs allowed in 4 2/3 IP | |
| Knew he wouldn't make team, but thought he'd show better. | |||
| 6 | RP Brian Meadows, CIN | 3.38 ERA in 5 1/3 IP | |
| '06 closer already gets cut from Reds bullpen; now that's bad. | |||
| 7 | SS/2B Russ Adams, TOR | .214-0-0-2-0 | |
| Ouch. Former starting SS cannot beat out Royce Clayton? | |||
| 8 | SP Jeff Niemann, TB | 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 IP | |
| Top prospect could have had chance, but Rays give him time in minors. | |||
| 9 | SP Jason Hammel, NYM | 3.00 ERA in 3 IP | |
| '06 starter didn't even get a real chance before being demoted. | |||
| 10 | SP Chad Billingsley, LAD | 0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 IP | |
| Dodgers make curious decision to start prospect out in relief. | |||
| Dishonorable mentions: SP Cliff Lee, CLE; SP Gavin Floyd, CHW; SP Edinson Volquez, TEX; SP Andrew Miller, DET; OF Jeromy Burnitz (retired); SP Heath Phillips, CHW; SP Alay Soler, NYM; SP Kris Benson, BAL; SP Denny Bautista, COL; C George Kottaras, SD; SP Travis Blackley, SEA; SP Tyler Lumsden, KC; SP Luke Hochevar, KC; SP Dustin McGowan, TOR; C Danny Ardoin, WAS; SP Joe Kennedy, OAK; SP Steve Trachsel, BAL; SS Angel Berroa, KC. | |||
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