Tuesday, June 29, 2010

I love drama

Yes, that's right. I love drama. From Edwin Jackson's ugly no-hitter to the shoving match in the Rays' dugout. From the Marlins' failed vuvuzuela giveaway to Jamie Moyer's celebrated 506th home run, lately baseball is a sequence of the odd and interesting.

While I gravitate to the ridiculous on the field, I am all business with my fantasy team. My team slumps don't amuse me. And neither does the current bickering match in one of my leagues over a sour trade. Is there such a thing as fantasy arbitration? How about league contraction?

If you're experiencing heartache and despair - like those with Dustin Pedroia or Chase Utley - check out these potential remedies:

Brennan Boesch - A rookie-of-the-year candidate, Boesch has impressed the Tigers since late April when he made his Major League debut. Currently batting .335 with 12 homers, 45 RBI and 26 runs. Available in 38 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Carlos Santana - Another rookie pup with major potential, it hasn't taken long for Santana to find his groove. According to Yahoo Sports, 12 of his 17 hits have gone for extra bases. Hitting .333 with 14 RBI. Available in 43 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Tom Gorzelanny - With an angry Carlos Zambrano headed to sensitivity training, Gorzelanny (I hope I spelled that right) heads to the starting rotation. He has impressive stats with a 3.41 ERA and 60 strikeouts. Doesn't walk many either (26 in 58 innings). Available in 93 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Jonathan Niese - He's more impressive than his 3.84 ERA suggests. In his last five starts, he's 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA. I've been burned by him before, and apparently others have too... which explains why he's still available in 85 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Wilson Betemit - For super deep leagues, take a look at Betemit. He's in the lineup three to four days a week. If he maintains his hot bat (.480, three HRs, seven RBI in just 14 games), KC will have no choice but to play him more. Available everywhere!

Have a question for Erin Skelley? E-mail her at erskelley@yahoo.com. Also, tune in to Erin's fantasy football advice on Sports Radio 610 in Houston every Friday during the football season. And if you want more, more, more, check out Erin's blog on Fantasy Pros 911.