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 2005.
Age = Player's Age as of October 2, 2005.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters in 2005.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters in 2005.
RAR = Runs Above Replacement in 2005; Adjusted RAR = RAR modified to
consider a player's 2005 defensive rating in Scoresheet fantasy baseball.

We ranked players 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, we listed each player in the league where he started the season.

30.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Jose Macias		177	45	.254	1	13	4	15	23O
CH Cubs		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 33	B:S    T:R	0		-1		-6.8		-7.7

Effectively stranded in free agency after the Cubs finally dumped him from the roster this winter, Macias no longer merits a serious look in any league. His previously limited offensive skills completely vanished in recent years after the twenty-one steals he racked with the Tigers in 2001 turned into an absolute mirage in Montreal and Chicago. With no patience, power, or reasonable chance of making a positive contribution in the majors, Macias belongs neither on a big league roster nor in any fantasy franchise.

31.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Jose Vizcaino		187	46	.246	1	23	2	15	2
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 37	B:S    T:R	-1		-2		-4.5		0.1

A return to San Francisco insures Vizcaino will remain in the majors as the Giants lack any alternative veteran infield reserve. The problem is that Vizcaino just spent the last three seasons posting pretty poor offensive numbers in a favorable hitters' park and now moves into SBC Park, leaving him little chance of returning to positive value. He remains capable of smacking some left-handed pitching, but unless Vizcaino somehow lands a platoon job, he barely even merits your consideration as injury filler.

32.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Rick Short		15	6	.400	2	4	0	4	2
WAS Nationals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	B:R    T:R	-1		-2		4.6		4.6

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Washington for my comments on Short.

33.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Ray Olmedo		77	17	.221	1	4	4	10	2
CIN Reds		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	B:S    T:R	-2		-2		-2.3		-0.2

Suffering a torn right UCL last winter sidelined Olmedo into June, however he joined the Reds late that month and spent the rest of the year in Cincinnati. The pending departure of Rich Aurilia effectively promotes Olmedo into the top reserve infield slot for Cincinnati, a somewhat troubling move given the club's lack of depth. Olmedo experienced severe contact problems, owns no power or speed, and could not dream of replacing the production provided by the Reds' current starting infielders. The club may sign a veteran alternative, but if he heads to camp as the top backup, Olmedo's increased at-bats could push his BA production to truly damaging levels for fantasy teams, sending him from roster filler to roto radioactivity.

34.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Brendan Harris		9	3	.333	1	3	0	1	2
WAS Nationals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	B:R    T:R	-2		-3		1.3		1.3

Harris excelled in the AFL, compiling a .376/.417/.518 line in 85 AB that capped a previously unimpressive season. He only managed a fairly mediocre .270/.329/.417 performance for AAA New Orleans(PCL) along with 13 HR, 81 RBI, 67 R, and a 40:77 BB:K in 470 AB. However, he still owns solid overall skills and will compete for a job on Washington's bench, especially after increasing his defensive flexibility by learning the outfield this fall. Although I do not consider him a viable candidate for the currently open Nationals' LF job, Harris certainly merits some consideration during Dollar Days regardless of his role provided he breaks camp in the majors.

35.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Aaron Holbert		27	6	.222	0	2	1	3	2
CIN Reds		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	B:R    T:R	-3		-4		-0.7		0

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Cincinnati for my comments on Holbert.

36.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Angel Chavez		19	5	.263	0	1	0	1	2
SF Giants		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	B:R    T:R	-3		-4		-0.8		-0.3

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: San Francisco for my comments on Chavez.

37.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
D'Angelo Jimenez		105	24	.229	0	5	2	14	2
CIN Reds		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	B:S    T:R	-3		-3		-3.9		-3.2

Ryan Freel emerged as a top leadoff man, and Jimenez did not rip apart minor league pitching, but the decision to exile Jimenez to the club's AA affiliate in Chattanooga after a slow start lasting barely a month still strikes me as one of the year's worst moves. He compiled a .278/.401/.422 in the Southern League, along with 8 HR, 45 RBI, a 16/20 SB%, and an outstanding 69:34 BB:K that indicates a strong future for Jimenez as no less than a competent big league reserve. Signing with the Rangers this fall provides him a superb chance to reestablish his career, as although he does not deserve to start over Ian Kinsler at second base, Jimenez certainly could slam above double-digit value if he breaks camp on the bench as expected. Absolutely consider spending a couple bucks on Jimenez as your MIF, upping that offering near $10 if he wins an everyday job in camp.

38.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Henry Mateo		1	0	.000	0	0	0	0	2
WAS Nationals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	B:S    T:R	-3		-4		-0.2		-0.2

Mateo messed up his right shoulder two years ago, required surgery in September of 2004 to repair a torn labrum, completed his rehab in May, and then headed back to the DL a week later with continued tendonitis. He entered minor league free agency this winter after a wealth of infield acquisitions left him no place on the Nationals, and he no longer appears likely to help any fantasy teams in the near future.

39.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Mike Fontenot		2	0	.000	0	0	0	4	2
CH Cubs		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	B:L    T:R	-4		-4		-0.3		-0.3

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Chicago(N) for my comments on Fontenot.

40.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Andy Green		31	7	.226	0	2	0	5	2
ARI Diamondbacks		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	B:R    T:R	-4		-4		-1.1		-1

The 2005 PCL MVP, Green crushed opposition pitching in his second campaign for AAA Tucson. He compiled a .343/.421/.587 performance with 19 HR, 80 RBI, 125 R, and a 68:82 BB:K in 530 AB, essentially assuring him a spot on the 2006 Diamondbacks. While the acquisition of Orlando Hudson leaves Green on the bench, his overall skill set provides plenty of upside if you can grab him in the endgame. He definitely merits a MIF slot in every standard NL league.

41.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Brian Dallimore		7	1	.143	0	0	0	1	2
SF Giants		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	B:R    T:R	-4		-4		-0.7		-0.7

Another solid AAA campaign, this time featuring a .302/.369/.435 performance with a 32:43 BB:K in 398 AB for Fresno(PCL), earned Dallimore a few more appearances in the majors. Unfortunately, he did not wrangle a return to the majors after a deadline deal shipped Deivi Cruz to Washington and created an opening, and despite his move to Milwaukee on a minor league contract, I do not expect him to see many more at-bats in 2006.

42.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Ryan Theriot		13	2	.154	0	0	0	3	2
CH Cubs		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	B:R    T:R	-4		-5		-1.2		-1.2

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Chicago(N) for my comments on Theriot.

43.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
J.J. Furmaniak		26	5	.192	0	1	0	3	2
PIT Pirates		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	B:R    T:R	-4		-5		-1.1		-0.4

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Pittsburgh for my comments on Furmaniak.

44.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Joe Dillon		36	6	.167	1	1	0	6	2
FLO Marlins		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 30	B:R    T:R	-5		-5		-3.2		-3.2

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Florida for my comments on Dillon.

45.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Matt Kata		37	7	.189	0	0	0	7	2
ARI/PHI		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	B:S    T:R	-5		-5		-2.4		-2.2

Added from the Diamondbacks in July for Tim Worrell, Kata demonstrated poor plate discipline for three different clubs, only displaying any decent skills before his initial demotion from Arizona in May. He faces a bigger problem in that the signing of Abraham O. Nunez pushes Kata to the edge of the club's bench and likely into the minors if the team keeps twelve pitchers. The one saving grace for his season might be the benefits of hitting in Citizens Bank Park, so if you see Kata appear on your free agent list, consider employing him as roster filler as long as he plays for Philadelphia.

46.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Manny Alexander		18	2	.111	0	0	0	0	2
SD Padres		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 34	B:R    T:R	-5		-5		-2.1		-2

The journeyman infielder managed an unexpected .309/.368/.480 output with 12 HR, 67 RBI, a 27/36 SB%, and a 38:66 BB:K in 417 AB for AAA Oklahoma(PCL). Those numbers caught the attention of someone on the Padres, who dealt moderately interesting pitching prospect Juan Jimenez to Texas for the right to waste a roster spot on Alexander in September. Alexander unsurprisingly contributed little down the stretch, and despite the upside suggested by his minor league numbers, I absolutely do not expect him to aid any successful fantasy teams in the foreseeable future.

47.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Enrique Wilson		22	3	.136	0	0	0	1	2
CH Cubs		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	B:S    T:R	-5		-5		-2		-1.9

Four awful seasons with the Yankees finally pushed Wilson back to the minors to AAA Ottawa and then out of affiliated ball after six weeks on the Cubs' bench. Wilson still may possess a little power, but with little defensive acumen remaining in his skills and a lot of general flailing at the plate against MLB pitchers, nothing here indicates the potential to reemerge as a viable fantasy option.

48.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Anderson Hernandez		18	1	.056	0	0	0	1	2
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 22	B:S    T:R	-5		-6		-3		-2.4

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: New York(N) for my comments on Hernandez.

49.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Willie Bergolla		38	5	.132	0	1	0	3	2
CIN Reds		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 22	B:R    T:R	-6		-6		-4.9		-4.7

Please refer to our Post-2005 Prospect Review: Cincinnati for my comments on Bergolla.

Third Base Week begins tomorrow.

Today's Fantasy Rx: With Dillon stupidly dispatched to Japan by a Florida club incapable of recognizing talented batters above a certain age, rookies Aaron Holbert, Brendan Harris, Andy Green, Anderson Hernandez, and Willie Bergolla emerge as the most intriguing fantasy options here. Of course, I suspect most long-time readers correctly figured that D'Angelo Jimenez qualifies as the other great sleeper here. He still owns outstanding plate discipline and moves to an even better offensive environment in 2006. Do not be surprised if he finishes the year with more value at the plate than the man he may replace at second in Texas.