We take out weekly look at middle infielders every Wednesday. All
stats and notes are through games of Tuesday, Aug. 30.
When tackling the task of the potential September call-ups, we
discovered something pretty important: The true impact Fantasy players
are already in the big leagues.
The Nats' Ryan Zimmerman is a rare call-up who will get added to the 40-man roster.
(Provided to SportsLine)
That might sound like a "no sh...oot," but this isn't as cut and dry as
you might think.
Guys like B.J. Upton and others still could help a Fantasy team
in crunch time, but it seems 2005 has been the year of the rookie and
all the impactful minor-leaguers have already been called up. With a
so-so free-agent crop on tap this winter and a slew of teams in the hunt
around the trading deadline, a stale market forced franchises to find
answers from within. Read: Oakland, Atlanta, New York (both), Anaheim,
et al.
So, what usually is a frenzy of top arrivals in September, looks more
like AL-only and NL-only roster fillers and fliers for us right now.
There are still some sleepers to be gobbled up in the coming weeks, but
their potential Fantasy impact is limited to playing time.
Working off the MLB.com 40-man rosters -- because teams tend to avoid
adding top prospects to the 40-man roster this time of year, if they can
avoid it -- here is our look at those who could get a September call-up
among middle infielders:
June 2005 No. 4 overall pick is making one quick rise to the Show.
2
B.J. Upton
TB
SS
21
Triple-A
.302
18
71
92
44
His defensive shortcomings (51 errors) might keep him from a
call-up.
3
Josh Barfield
SD
2B
22
Triple-A
.313
14
70
73
19
Long considered top prospect, but Mark Loretta is not going
to sit.
4
Delwyn Young
LAD
2B
23
AA-AAA
.301
20
74
73
1
Among slew of top Dodgers INF prospects. Jeff Kent moving
to 1B?
5
Ian Kinsler
TEX
2B
23
Triple-A
.275
21
88
95
17
Not yet on 40-man roster, but he's reason for Alfonso Soriano
rumors.
6
Hanley Ramirez
BOS
SS
21
Double-A
.277
6
52
66
26
Will the Red Sox dare throw him into the fire in September?
7
Alejandro Machado
BOS
SS
23
Triple-A
.303
3
43
60
21
Quietly ahead of Hanley Ramirez in system, but not as
promising.
8
Alberto Callaspo
LAA
2B
22
AA-AAA
.298
10
72
73
11
Among slew of top Angels INF prospects, but he's only one on
40-man.
9
Jose Lopez
SEA
2B/SS
21
Triple-A
.319
5
31
29
2
Yet another trial. He will get a long look as everyday second
baseman.
Other possibilities
Player
TM
POS
Age
Level
AVG
HR
RBI
R
SB
10
Brandon Phillips
CLE
2B/SS
24
Triple-A
.259
15
45
75
7
Has been lapped at SS, but could see some 2B time for Indians.
11
Tony Giarratano
DET
SS
22
Double-A
.266
3
32
40
12
More of a defensive whiz than a Fantasy middle-infield prospect.
12
Ryan Raburn
DET
2B
24
Triple-A
.259
18
63
59
8
Nice pop for 2B, but Placido Polanco is locked up long term
in Detroit.
13
Ruben Gotay
KC
2B
22
Triple-A
.207
3
12
17
0
Potential '05 sleeper has been huge bust, but he's still young.
14
Mike Rouse
OAK
SS
25
Triple-A
.275
7
71
68
2
Might see some reserve duty for the contending A's, but that's
about it.
15
Josh Wilson
FLA
SS
24
Triple-A
.262
17
81
86
16
Might be candidate to replace pending free agent Alex Gonzalez
in '06.
16
Jeff Keppinger
NYM
2B
25
Triple-A
.337
3
29
40
5
Broken wrist has ruined his chances of helping Mets down stretch.
17
Brendan Harris
WAS
2B/3B
25
Triple-A
.272
12
76
64
8
Interesting bat, but clearly behind others after Nats' recent
moves.
18
William Bergolla
CIN
2B
22
Triple-A
.294
2
37
56
15
This defensive whiz has some SB potential as a factor in
Rotisserie.
19
Mike Fontenot
CHC
2B
25
Triple-A
.262
4
34
55
3
One of Sammy Sosa trade pieces, but has been banged up in
'05.
20
Jerry Gil
ARI
SS
22
Double-A
.256
10
29
28
10
He has whole lot of impressing to do with all SS talent in system.
21
Jeff Baker
COL
2B/3B
24
Triple-A
.299
9
39
38
3
Rockies aren't sure they want him up to take time from Garrett
Atkins.
22
Jayson Nix
COL
2B
23
Double-A
.241
11
46
68
10
Former top prospect has had back-to-back stinker seasons.
Minor-league journeymen
Player
TM
POS
Age
Level
AVG
HR
RBI
R
SB
23
Danny Sandoval
PHI
SS
26
Triple-A
.329
6
47
51
10
24
Marshall McDougall
TEX
2B
26
Triple-A
.341
11
64
40
5
25
Bo Hart
STL
2B
28
Triple-A
.272
9
43
77
11
26
J.J. Furmaniak
PIT
SS
26
Triple-A
.276
16
64
65
13
27
Bobby Hill
PIT
2B/3B
27
Triple-A
.252
0
5
12
2
28
Brian Dallimore
SF
2B
31
Triple-A
.305
8
43
66
7
29
Eddy Garabito
COL
SS
28
Triple-A
.307
8
36
48
6
30
Matt Kata
PHI
2B
27
Triple-A
.311
3
32
35
7
These guys are considered nothing more than reserves at this point.
Bleacher Banter
Tracy, N.H.: Now that Nomar Garciaparra is healthy, should
I start him over Jhonny Peralta or keep Nomar benched?
E.M.: While they both hold similar Fantasy potential because of
their pop, the Indians are in the thick of a pennant race and will ride
the bat of their emerging No. 3 hitter here on out. Garciaparra's Cubs
have folded their tents and will begin evaluating players for 2006, so
he is no certainty to play every day. Nomar is a free agent, by the way.
Anyone facing this choice should start Peralta over Nomar in all leagues
going forward.
Steve Gerkin, Orlando, Fla.: I was thinking about dropping
Geoff Jenkins and/or Tony Clark for Mike Jacobs and/or
Clint Barmes. I have Miguel Tejada at short and just picked up
Jose Reyes at second (dropping Mark Grudzielanek). Catchers
are Michael Barrett and Bengie Molina. My best chances of
gaining ground are in HRs and RBI.
E.M.: Go for it. Barmes is a top prospect who will play every day
in his return late this week, while Jacobs has been thrown right into
the fire and has good pop for a catcher. We say they are more for depth,
though, as your starters are solid.
Alex Tzoumas, New Hyde Park: I am in a 12-man keeper league in
which everyone keeps four players each. I'm definitely keeping A-Rod,
but with guys like Adam Dunn, A.J. Burnett and Eric Gagne, I
have no room to keep Felix Hernandez or Jhonny Peralta.
(Gagne because my league's points award closers like him.) Do you think
Peralta or Hernandez should be in my list?
E.M.: I rarely ever bother with keeper questions this time of
year, especially when you're talking about someone like Gagne, who will
at least some portion of 2006 (and perhaps the whole year). Also, you
never know where Burnett could wind up in free agency. At this point you
cannot keep Gagne because of the uncertainty of his recovery. Also,
imagine if you decide to keep Burnett and then he goes and signs with
the Reds? Peralta and Hernandez should be in your mix over those two
question marks, but any number of events could unfold between now and
2006.
You can e-mail your Fantasy Baseball middle-infield questions to
bleacher@commissioner.com. Be sure to put Attn: Middle Infielders
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.