Today's Fantasy Rx

National League Second Basemen without Positive Draft Value

Quick Key to the tables:
AB = At-bats.  H = Hits.  BA = Batting Average.  HR= Home Runs.
RBI = Runs Batted In.  SB = Stolen Bases.  R = Runs.  B = Bats.  T = Throws.
Pos = Position qualification based on 20 appearances or max. # of games in 2004.
Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2004.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
RAR = Runs Above Replacement; Adjusted RAR = RAR modified to
consider a player's 2004 defensive rating in Scoresheet fantasy baseball.

Players are ranked in order from the highest draft value in a 4x4 league to the lowest. As the majority of fantasy leagues allow you to keep anyone traded to the other league, all players are listed in the league where they began the season.

32.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Danny Garcia		138	32	.232	3	17	3	23	2
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	B:R    T:R	0		0		-0.7		-0.7

The emergence of Jeff Keppinger as a viable infield option pushes Garcia down to no higher than fourth on the Mets' infield depth chart. His .260/.322/.351 performance with a 15:35 BB:K and a 9/14 SB% in 242 AB for AAA Norfolk(IL) impressed no one. A weak contact rate then limited his effectiveness in the majors. Of course, his .371 OBP, supported by a 4.32 #P/PA and .16 walk rate, makes Garcia mildly intriguing in sim leagues, but a reverse platoon split conversely renders him too much of a gamble for most owners.

33.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Henry Mateo		44	12	.273	0	0	2	3	2
MON Expos		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	B:S    T:R	-1		-1		-2.6		-2.6

September surgery to repair a torn labrum should allow Mateo to recover by spring training. He only needs to withstand a challenge from Brendan Harris to remain on Washington's bench. If he takes advantage of his strong speed skills, Mateo could approach double-digit value, but until he demonstrates some semblance of his SB effectiveness from 2003, don't treat him as anything more than roster filler.

34.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Brian Dallimore		43	12	.279	1	7	0	8	2
SF Giants		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 30	B:R    T:R	-1		-1		0		0

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: San Francisco for my comments on Dallimore.

35.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Antonio Perez		13	3	.231	0	0	1	5	2
LA Dodgers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	B:R    T:R	-2		-2		-0.7		-0.7

A .296/.379/.511 performance with 22 HR, 88 RBI, 92 R, 22/34 SB%, and a 61:87 BB:K positions Perez very nicely to win a job with Los Angeles this year. He even could join Jose Valentin in a third base platoon. I see a lot to like in his patience and power potential. Even if Perez spends the season as a reserve, the Dodgers' likely fifth infielder stands a great chance of emerging as the long-term second base starter. A late-round pick at least will net you decent mid-season trade bait to rebuilding teams.

41.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Chris Burke		17	1	.059	0	0	0	2	2
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	B:R    T:R	-3		-4		-2.5		-2.5

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Houston for my comments on Burke.

'04 Second Basemen Week concludes tomorrow, featuring Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Second basemen in the National League.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Only significant injuries will create playing time for most of the players discussed above. Chris Burke looks like the best target, followed loosely by Antonio Perez, Brendan Harris, Henry Mateo, and then Danny Garcia. However, investing more than Dollar Days' bids here in anyone save Burke and maybe Perez is a very risky move I can't advise.