It seems as if the entire community likes Harper(1) Machado/Tallion (2/3)  being interchangeable and then......well who do you like at 4?  is the talent drop off so severe after the first 3 that you start drafting for need?  I'm always partial to taking the best player available regardless of position and am interested in what this communities opinion is on who to take and why?  Is it Pomeranz, Wimmers,, one of the Sale's?

seems as if the entire community likes Harper(1) Machado/Tallion (2/3)  being interchangeable and then......well who do you like at 4?  is the talent drop off so severe after the first 3 that you start drafting for need?  I'm always partial to taking the best player available regardless of position and am interested in what this communities opinion is on who to take and why?  Is it Pomeranz, Wimmers,, one of the Sale's?

Bryce went deep and falls short of the cycle, Skipworth homers twice, sparks of hope?  Ben Revere fans can't hope for much better than he's done so far.  Ackley's bating eye is amazing , any concern over Hosmer doing nothing at all, just sss? Hope we get more AFL talk going on here.  FIller, Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler Filler.................FILLLLLER FILLLLLLLER FILLLLLLLLER   FILERRRR FILLR FILLER FILLR FILLER...................................<<<<<<<<<<<  >>>>>>>>>>>>>  <<<<<<<<<<<<<  >>>>>>>>>>>>  <<<<<<<<<  >>>>>>>>>>  <<<<<<<<  >>>>>>>>  <<<<<<<<<<  >>>>>>>>>>  <<<<<<<<<<<<  >>>>>>>>>>>>  <<<<<<<<<< > >>>>>>>> < > < > < > < >>

I know it's only been two games in a row,  and it's the giants and Stros, but 3 hits over 17 innings at the MLB level is beyond impressive.  He was always described as a bit different and alienating to teammates, I wonder if he's matured, if he's taken a huge step or is this just a good role and  just SSS.  On another noteI"m excited as heck to see Strasburg pitch here in Rochester Tuesday, just got my tickets :)

Carlos Santana has been slugging away at AAA Columbus and Lou Marson right now has 3 less hits, than Santana has home runs.  So does something have to give?  Probably not for a few weeks.   Santana is seen as a top 5 prospect in all of baseball and will definitely have an impact this season. Cleveland wants to keep him down long enough to avoid super two status contractually and Santana might just qualify as super.  His line to date is .423avg, 4 HR and an ops of 1.478.  The 4 HR represent only 1 off the Tribe's season tally of 5.  If you have a roster spot, or are weak behind the dish he is someone to consider adding soon.  If he's on your team already, I can only preach patience and assume you have been excited about his start to the season and expect to wait no longer than a month from now.

Lost in the exciting news that Stephen Strasburg was being sent down to AA to begin the season, was that fellow top 10 pick Drew Storen was being shipped with him.  The two could easily be considered some of the better arms in the Nationals system, with many feeling they out-performed guys who will have big league jobs come April.  The demotion, for both, has more to do with controlling when their service clocks start than it does with ability to get batters out. I agree with the Nationals handling of these two, as they will not make a difference this year in what will be another losing campaign. 

    Storen is the closer of the future ,and you might be right to gamble that the future will begin in June for the 10th overall pick last year.  Storen signed quickly, and managed to save 11 games between A and AA in 2009.  Whiffing better than a batter an inning, along with a 1.95 era in the process.  The job will be his when promoted, as the Nat's don't have any contract obligations on their roster and Storen is the player the franchise wants to have that job.  If you're in a NL only league he is worth holding onto if you can burn the roster spot right now and if it's a dynasty format he is undoubtedly already on a roster.  Mixed leagues, for 2010?  I don't know if he's worth acquiring right away unless you have bench spots to burn, or  you planned on acquiring saves later in the season.  I do feel he will close in 2010.  Unfortunately, it will be in Washington.  He could have a Chad Cordero-like appeal heading into next season and there is no better minor league closer of the future out there.

Players who have a career big league average of .192 in 224 ab's aren't the kind of players you want to rely on for fantasy success.  Brandon Wood, as such a player, is quite intriguing however.  He's the Angel prospect you've heard the most about in the last few years, as he was a SS who once hit 43 homers in a minor league campaign.  This is his first season with what looks to be a starting job right out of spring, and some wonder what to expect?  As well as what has taken the shine off this once bright prospect? 

   Wood exploded onto the scene in 2005 going .321, 43hr's.  As a first round pick SS, many in keeper leagues have been stashing Baseball America's 2006  third rated prospect for four straight seasons now, as the Halos haven't had a place in the lineup to get him consistent AB's.  Wood has been in AAA and with the big club for parts of the last 3 seasons, and some criticize manager Mike Scioscia's handling of Wood as the reason for his dreadful MLB numbers; a few AB's a week never allowed Wood to get comfortable enough at the plate to show what he could do.  In AAA, Wood has been a .290 hitter with good power.  For the Angels, that has translated to 74 punch outs and the average already mentioned.  Will this year see any difference?

 Wood has always had power and strikeout issues, and that is likely to be the case in 2010.  The real wild card is his average - if it's in the .270 range, which I feel is possible, he could be a solid asset at a weak hot corner. If Wood happens to qualify for you at SS, then he is definitely worth a roll of the dice at MI, and I would also consider giving him the SS job.  The Angels have been slow to give everyday jobs to many players until they are out of minor league options, as is the case with Wood this year.  He is still only going to be 25 this year, and if he explodes to go .271, 27, 89 don't count me as one who would be shocked.  All one needs to see this coming from an unseen source is look at Wood's fellow teammate Kendry Morales for an example of an Angel who produced right away after getting his first everyday job.

Scott Sizemore was all but given the Tigers second base duties when they decided to let Polanco walk.  He is 25 years old, and has been a solid contributor with the bat at the AA and AAA level.  Last year he hit .308, 17 Hr, 39 2b's  and stole 21 bags.  His bat is considered his best tool, and the fact that he is seen as an average defender at best won't concern your fantasy team . 

   He was tearing up the Arizona Fall League when a broken ankle injury forced him to have off season surgery.  He looks like it won't affect his chances of making the team out of spring training as he started his first game yesterday and looked solid turning a double play. 

    What to expect?  Sizemore looks like a much better fantasy option for 2010 than the prospect acquired in the Granderson trade, Austin Jackson.  He looks like he could be a solid contributor with double digit homers and steals while not crushing your average.  He really has a shot at the ROY award, and is a legitimate option as a middle infielder in a standard 12 team 5X5 league.  He doesn't look like he has the upside to be a star, but as a 25 year old with a solid resume he should get the job and could prosper into more.  If your league uses SLUG% he's an even more solid play as he's been a doubles machine in the past.  I plan on adding him as 1$-2$ acquisition at my auction and letting him start the year as my middle infielder.

The rookie bat getting the most talk this spring is the Braves Jason Heyward.  What you need to know before a draft/auction is if he is going to be on the team?  Can he contribute this year?  After all, everyone knew Hanson had the skills to make the club out of spring training last year, and the Braves waited until June to slow down the arbitration clock.  That experience, that some feel cost the Braves a run at the postseason, combined with Bobby Cox's last season, gives the indication that if Heyward produces this spring, he will start the year in RF for Hotlanta.

Production wise, Heyward has already hit enough cars in the back lot that new covers are being erected, he has the kind of power that players like Chipper Jones have christened him "the freak".  He stands 6'4 and he is now a  more muscular 240, drawing comparisons to a young Dave Winfield.  What seperates him, what has the Braves all a gush, is his patience.  As a 19 year old last year Heyward gathered 49 free passes and 49 strikeouts, excellent for a 19 year old,   let alone one with his power.  He is massive, runs well, should be an asset defensively, and has all the hype that the "next great thing" always has thrown his way.  He stole 9 bags last year, being only nabbed once, so what's not to like?

You do have to temper your hopes though as he's only had 195 plate appearances at the AA level and nothing above that. He will be only 20 when the season starts and you never know what will happen when, and he will, struggle? Heyward has been nicked or dinged every year since he's been a pro and there is some concern about him holding up.   He will go much earlier in a draft than a player that PECOTA projects for  .277  16 HRs, 54 RBIs and 6 SB will go.  Those numbers eerily have Garret Anderson written all over them!  But, there is a catch, what if he explodes!  Goes Pujols on you?  You can be the guy who drafted him before he became a fantasy god, and that's what will tempt somebody to bid over $12 and yell his name before he should be called in a standard draft. 

Best case, I see Heyward getting 465 AB's, .285 BA with 19 HRs and 79 RBIs and 11 SB.  More than likely he will put up a line similar to the PECOTA projection.  I love Heyward.  He is a local Atlanta kid who the franchise will have as it's face fore the next 15 years, I just won't have him this year.  That being said, I have him in two of my dynasty leagues and he is an untouchable along the lines of a Justin Upton.  Watch what he does this spring and act accordingly.

Nothing really surprising here.  I think to be picky I might say I prefer Gillies to May at 3. 

Five-Star Prospects
1. Domonic Brown, OF
Four-Star Prospects
2. Phillippe Aumont, RHP
Three-Star Prospects
3. Trevor May, RHP
4. Tyson Gillies, OF
5. Sebastian Valle, C
6. Anthony Gose, OF
7. Jiwan James, OF
8. Brody Colvin, RHP
9. Domingo Santana, OF
10. Scott Mathieson, RHP
Two-Star Prospects
11. Juan Carlos (J.C.) Ramirez, RHP

Four More:
12. Jarred Cosart, RHP: This long-armed projectable righty has the raw ability to rocket up this list should his secondary pitches develop.
13. Antonio Bastardo, LHP: For many, this changeup specialist projects simply as a nice middle reliever.
14. Freddy Galvis, SS: An outstanding defensive shortstop, Galvis still has a long way to go with the bat.
15. Leandro Castro, OF: The Dominican outfielder packs impressive tools into a small package, but scouts are unsure as to his value, since he profiles as a corner outfielder.

1. Domonic Brown, OF
DOB: 9/3/87
Height/Weight: 6-5/204
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Signed: 20th round, 2006, Redan HS (GA)
2009 Stats: .500/.583/.900 at Rookie-level (3 G); .303/.386/.517 at High-A (66 G); .279/.377/.504 at Double-A (37 G)
Last Year’s Ranking: 7

Year in Review: An ultra-athletic outfielder, Brown took a step forward in 2009, but maybe not the massive one many were expecting.
The Good: Brown’s combination of size and athleticism make him extremely unique. He has strong wrists, good bat speed, and plenty of raw power when he gets his arms extended. He has slowly developed a good understanding of the strike zone. Unlike many left-handed power prospects, he has no distinct platoon disadvantage. Brown has above-average speed thanks to a long, graceful stride, and his arm is among the best in the organization.
The Bad: While Brown's power has improved each year, he hit just three homers in 147 Double-A at-bats. Many scouts feel that the 30+ home-run projection some put on him is far too strong, based on a swing that is on more of a single plane than one that provides loft and backspin. While he has the speed to play center field, he gets poor jumps and runs circular routs to balls. At times, he expands his strike zone when he’s behind in the count.
Ephemera: Former Phillies closer Al Holland is the only player drafted 607th overall to reach the big leagues.
Perfect World Projection: He’ll be an All-Star outfielder with power and speed.
Path to the Big Leagues: The Phillies’ outfield situation leaves him significantly blocked.
Timetable: Brown will likely begin 2010 with a return engagement to Double-A. The hope is that he can compete for a job next spring, though there will be no opening for him unless Jayson Werth departs via free agency.

2. Phillippe Aumont, RHP
DOB: 1/7/89
Height/Weight: 6-7/220
Bats/Throws: L/R
Drafted/Signed: 1st round, 2007, Ecole Du Versant (QC) (Mariners)
2009 Stats: 3.24 ERA (33.1-24-12-35) at High-A (29 G); 5.09 ERA (17.2-21-11-24) at Double-A (15 G)
Last Year’s Ranking: 2 (Mariners)

As a Tiger fan I'm not sure how to react.  I liked Granderson as the face of the franchise and loved the fact he was the only decent position player we developed for what seemed like an eternity.  I can't say I hate the arms, and Edwin Jackson was Matt Joyce at this time last year.  Considering we were having a sale.  Getting a solid arm, a potential arm, and are CF in Jackson, this wasn't as bad as it could have been.....

Is he a prospect to get excited about at all?  Great K rate and whip without having given up a dinger yet.  He might be a year too old for his league but his numbers look for real.  What am I missing?  Any/all feedback appreciated. ..................................................... filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler