We take our look at Fantasy middle infielders every Wednesday. All stats and notes are through games of Tuesday, June 7.
Like that breakout week in your Head-to-Head league, timing is everything.
Did it come when your opponent scored one more point than you? Or perhaps -- equally frustrating -- when your opponent wound up bringing up the rear among scorers this week?
As infuriating as that might be, absolutely nothing is worse than seeing a player update on your rookie of the year shortstop out mere hours after your lineup deadline had passed Monday.
Out. For three months. Because he fell down stairs. ... carrying groceries.
Aye carumba!
Clint Barmes' Fantasy value went tumbling down those stairs with those groceries.
He is now the most-dropped player in CBS SportsLine.com Fantasy leagues. For good reason. He is worthless in most active lineups this week, and worthless on rosters for the next 2½ months. His best-case-scenario mid-August return will keep him out for almost the remainder of the Head-to-Head Fantasy regular season.
| Most-dropped MI | ||
| Player | TM | |
| 1 | Clint Barmes | COL |
| 2 | Tony Womack | NYY |
| 3 | Kaz Matsui | NYM |
| 4 | Mark Loretta | SD |
| 5 | Aaron Miles | COL |
| 6 | Juan Uribe | CHW |
| 7 | Omar Vizquel | SF |
| 8 | Jose Vidro | WAS |
| 9 | D'Angelo Jimenez | FA |
| 10 | Michael Cuddyer | MIN |
Perhaps he can return. If your team makes the playoffs. And, if he can prove to be the player he was for most of the first two months of the season.
The only thing that is certain in this circumstance is Barmes owners need a solution at shortstop or middle infield going forward. That's where this weekly report comes in. Check back every week to find those hidden diamonds in the rough.
Last week, we trumpeted the emergence of little-known Dodgers 2B-turned-3B Antonio Perez, saying he would be the most-added player in leagues. He was, a day later. Now, his hot streak is tapering off, along with his waiver claims, but he has gone from 11 percent ownership to 34 percent (his .375 average certainly helps that).
Now, as for what Barmes owners need to do to replace a shortstop who was on pace for a .329 average, 22 homers, 96 RBI, 113 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. Here is what I did (I am one of those sucking on lemons after having Barmes trip over some):
- Scour the Roster Trends.
- Specifically, the Most Added/Most Dropped. They give you a representation of the world's opinion -- not just one writer's take. Like on Wednesday, we see the appearance of viable replacements like Neifi Perez, Bobby Crosby, Geoff Blum, Bill Hall, Desi Relaford (who should get most of the Rockies' playing time at shortstop), Felipe Lopez (another one of our past Middle Infielder coverboys) and David Eckstein. All we, the writers, do with a list like that is say: "Yes." All are recently productive and suitable solutions for Barmes owners.
- Now, you could be saying, but all those are owned in my league. In that case, you're in one serious NL-only format. You need to click on the Most Owned Free Agents. There you will find the best options which are available to you (ranked by their ownership percentages).
- If you didn't find your solution on the waiver wire, offer some players from another position of depth to the rest of the league. You will likely have to overpay to get what you want here, so offer names that are hot and which will pique interest. In a truly competitive league, you will not be able to bargain hunt in the trade market. You have to give more than you get, generally, because people need a good reason to help you out -- after all, you're a direct competitor. It is the same reason bitter rivals like the Yankees-Mets and Yankees-Red Sox never make trades with each other in real baseball.
- OK, the waiver wire and a trade didn't work, so now we are stuck finding the inefficiencies in the marketplace. Check out places where position battles could arise. Colorado is one, where Relaford, recent call-up Tim Olson (who has intrigue in NL-only leagues) and Luis A. Gonzalez will compete for at-bats. Washington is another, with Barry Larkin is rumored to be considering coming out of retirement to replace mightily struggling Cristian Guzman, who is below the Mendoza Line.
- Once you have found some holes on big-league clubs. Find their potential solutions. Olson was one for the Rockies, hitting .298 (59-for-198) with eight home runs and eight stolen bases for Triple-A Colorado Springs. Focus on the hot hitters in Triple-A and the hot prospects by teams who have needs and holes. Here you find those impending studs like B.J. Upton and Rickie Weeks to stash away for some sweet second-half potential among middle infielders.
That is the standard progression of hitting the panic button when you get a sudden gash open up on you.
Now, as for what to do for the lost week, because you couldn't make the roster change before your lineup deadline?
Cross your fingers and hope it doesn't cost you. After all, with that stroke of poor fortune, you're due some breaks by the Fantasy Baseball gods, right?
Bleacher Banter
John Glazewski: We just traded Brian Roberts and Clint Barmes for Pedro Martinez. We were in need of a big pitcher. We still have Chase Utley and Khalil Greene. Was it a good trade?
| Most-added MI | ||
| Player | TM | |
| 1 | Neifi Perez | CHC |
| 2 | Bobby Crosby | OAK |
| 3 | Geoff Blum | SD |
| 4 | Rickie Weeks | MIL |
| 5 | Bill Hall | MIL |
| 6 | Desi Relaford | COL |
| 7 | Antonio Perez | LAD |
| 8 | Chase Utley | PHI |
| 9 | Felipe Lopez | CIN |
| 10 | David Eckstein | STL |
E.M. Hmmm. We should let our readers know this e-mail came at 12:34 p.m. ET on Monday. Just minutes before the rumors of Barmes' broken collarbone came trickling in. Pedro is 7-1, Barmes is out and Roberts is banged up. Yeah, we like your return in that one. You lucked out. God bless you.
Mike Forman, Thiells, N.Y.: I have just found out that one of my breakout sleeper players Clint Barmes has just been injured in a grocery fall. This is not as bad as this situation could be. I have Rafael Furcal in my utility so I can start him for Barmes. I can choose one of three players to fill my utility position -- Kevin Mench, Lance Berkman and Chase Utley (the first two I am more likely to start over Utley). Which one should I start?
E.M.: Berkman, Mench and Utley are all strong options for you. We like them in that order for their potential going forward. Let hot streaks dictate who you start.
Tom Sigismonti, Floral Park, N.Y.: Do you suggest getting a different second basemen or sticking with Tadahito Iguchi? Available on the waiver wire are Craig Biggio, Mark Grudzielanek, Chase Utley, Neifi Perez, Felipe Lopez, Tony Womack and Ryan Freel.
| Top 40 Shortstops | ||
| Player | Team | |
| 1 | Miguel Tejada | BAL |
| 2 | Michael Young+ | TEX |
| 3 | Derek Jeter- | NYY |
| 4 | Jimmy Rollins+ | PHI |
| 5 | Jose Reyes+ | NYM |
| 6 | Bobby Crosby+ | OAK |
| 7 | Carlos Guillen | DET |
| 8 | Rafael Furcal | ATL |
| 9 | Edgar Renteria | BOS |
| 10 | Neifi Perez+ | CHC |
| 11 | Khalil Greene+ | SD |
| 12 | Pedro Feliz- | SF |
| 13 | Cesar Izturis- | LAD |
| 14 | Felipe Lopez+ | CIN |
| 15 | David Eckstein+ | STL |
| 16 | Craig Counsell+ | ARI |
| 17 | Orlando Cabrera- | LAA |
| 18 | Julio Lugo | TB |
| 19 | Aaron Hill | TOR |
| 20 | Juan Uribe | CHW |
| 21 | Desi Relaford+ | COL |
| 22 | Omar Vizquel | SF |
| 23 | Angel Berroa | KC |
| 24 | Bill Hall+ | MIL |
| 25 | Geoff Blum+ | SD |
| 26 | Jhonny Peralta | CLE |
| 27 | Russ Adams | TOR |
| 28 | Adam Everett | HOU |
| 29 | Kaz Matsui- | NYM |
| 30 | Alex A. Gonzalez | FLA |
| 31 | Juan Castro | MIN |
| 32 | Jack Wilson | PIT |
| 33 | Royce Clayton | ARI |
| 34 | Jamey Carroll+ | WAS |
| 35 | Wilson Betemit+ | ATL |
| 36 | Damion Easley+ | FLA |
| 37 | Abraham Nunez+ | STL |
| 38 | Rich Aurilia+ | CIN |
| 39 | Marco Scutaro | OAK |
| 40 | Cristian Guzman- | WAS |
| HM | Nomar Garciaparra- | CHC |
| HM | Clint Barmes- | COL |
| HM | B.J. Upton+ | TB |
| +/- denotes movement | ||
| Next week: Top 40 2B | ||
E.M.: Utley (upside) or Biggio (steady vet) have the most Fantasy value. Choose one of those studs at the position. They should not be on your waiver wire if you're starting the warm, but merely so-so, Iguchi.
Chris Thomas: I have an opportunity to deal Brian Roberts for Albert Pujols straight up. I have Chase Utley on my bench and would feel more comfortable making this deal if I felt like he were going to be the full-time second baseman in Philly pretty soon. My question is this: When is Charlie Manuel going to wise up and start playing this kid every day? He's a stud waiting to happen! It's driving me CRAZY!
E.M.: Jump on Utley's continually growing rally wagon. There's plenty of room. Now a full-time starter for the Phillies after they trade Placido Polanco on Wednesday, Utley is too good to not start in any league as a second baseman. Without that, you wouldn't need an Utley as a backup to trade Roberts for the sure thing in Pujols. That is as big a no-brainer as there is. Pujols is a top-five Fantasy player in any league.
Dean Possas: I am in a 12-team mixed league. Right now I own Mark Grudzielanek. Do you think it is wise to pick up this Neifi Perez character and drop Mark?
E.M.: Perez is the hot hand, but Grudzielanek is hitting .320 in one of the most potent lineups in baseball. It's hard to not be pleased with that out of our second baseman. Since Perez will be affected in the second half -- by either his return to reality or the return of Nomar Garciaparra -- we say hold on to Grudzielanek.
Tyler Lotto, Palm Springs, Calif.: Should I start Robinson Cano or should I trade Freddy Garcia and Jose Vidro for Jeff Kent?
E.M.: Kent is one of the most productive Fantasy second baseman in the history of this game. Not to mention he is on a tear right now. Jump all over the deal for Kent.
Joel Lee, Silver Spring, Md.: I have been offered a trade in my Head-to-Head league in which I would deal Alfonso Soriano for Marcus Giles and Melvin Mora. Giles isn't the player Soriano is, but Aubrey Huff has been struggling for me at third and Mora's a favorite of mine because of his week-to-week consistency. I don't want to deal Soriano, but this trade is tempting. Should I pull the trigger?
E.M.: I would prefer to have Soriano and Huff in my lineup going forward than Giles and Mora. Soriano and Huff have more run-production potential as a combo than those other two. Huff will come around. He was only hitting .269 at the All-Star break last year, too, before going on a second-half tear.
You can e-mail your Fantasy Baseball middle-infielder questions to bleacher@commissioner.com. Be sure to put Attn: Middle Infield in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.
