The Golden Standard
May 6, 2007
Michael Gehlken's Golden Standard 5x5 Fantasy Board
No.
Player
Notes
Prev.
1
Álex Rodríguez, NYY
Pre-season No. 2 has earned board's top spot; speed adv.
makes promotion even easier
1
2
Albert Pujols, STL
Not down on him by any means; on an 11-game hitting streak
2
3
José Reyes, NYM
.575 SLG to go to with MLB-leading 30 runs and 18 SBs
5
4
Carlos Beltrán, NYM
5x5 numbers legitmized by a .349/.407/.633 line
3
5
Vladimir Guerrero, LAA
On pace to reach 40 HRs for the first time since '00;
would take over Beltrán's spot with more SBs
7
6
Miguel Cabrera, FLA
Have to respect a 330+ hitter with plenty of power upside
4
7
David Ortiz, BOS
AL RBI leader over last two years has officially rebounded
from slow start
6
8
Chase Utley, PHI
Remember when Placide Polanco would star v. lefties? Utley
v. LHP in '07: .357/481/.643 in 42 ABs
9
9
Travis Hafner, CLE
Usually a great home hitter, is .200/.383/.356 in 13 games
at Jacobs Field
10
10
Ryan Howard, PHI
April was worst slugging month for him last season, so
we'll see what May can bring
8
11
Johan Santana, MIN
A much better April than '06, but for now stats have been
comparable with other top pitchers
11
12
Alfonso Soriano, CHC
All two HRs and three of four RBIs have come in last two
games; hit safely in 20 of 21 games
14
13
Manny Ramírez, BOS
Had second straight slow April, but nine-for-21, three HRs
in current five-game hitting streak
12
14
David Wright, NYM
After only six home runs in 91 regular season games,
recently hit two in three games; buy low
16
15
Jimmy Rollins, PHI
Been waiting to see more before making an extreme ranking
bump, but I've seen enough
27
16
Carl Crawford, TB
Survived last year's worst month unscathed; move to third
in lineup should only bolster RBI total
18
17
Lance Berkman, HOU
Hit safely in nine of last 10 games, and can't shake
suspicion that power is on its way
13
18
Matt Holliday, COL
Zero SB attempts, but bat has been solid thus far
19
19
Justin Morneau, MIN
Last
season's second half stud is already outslugging his '06 total
20
20
Grady Sizemore, CLE
Not
as far along as many think: 1-for-24 v. lefties since 5-for-8, 2 HR
start
15
21
Mark Teixeira, TEX
HR watch: Sammy Sosa 7, Teixeira 3; disappointing start,
but he's coming around (buy low)
22
22
Hanley Ramirez, FLA
Four-for-six, four-run, two-SB season debut answered
critics; hasn't looked back since
30
23
Carlos Lee, HOU
Before yesterday's two-run outing, hadn't scored or stolen
a base in 14 games
17
24
Aramis Ramírez, CHC
Quietly on pace to match last season's stellar totals
23
25
Jason Bay, PIT
Hasn't lived up to this spot and Adam LaRoche has been
disappointing, but Bay will come around
21
26
Jake Peavy, SD
NL Cy Young is helping own cause, hitting .429 with run,
two RBI in last three starts
24
27
Roy Oswalt, HOU
Maybe nitpicking here, but has struggled at times with
control and has only nine Ks in last 22 inn.
25
28
Chipper Jones, ATL
All the way up to 28, and this ranking is injury
history-weighted
--
29
Garrett Atkins, COL
Looking right at the plate (8:9 BB:K); numbers will come
around
28
30
Roy Halladay, TOR
Looking more competitive than ever on the mound
32
31
Ian Kinsler, TEX
0 HRs and 0 SBs in last nine games
--
32
Vernon Wells, TOR
Been somewhat of a three-game wonder thus far; recently
missed two games with flu
31
33
Joe Mauer, MIN
Earning his stripes in AVG and runs category, but still no
HRs
34
34
Carlos Zambrano, CHC
April is historically the worst month is his career, May
is the best; buy low here
35
35
Andruw Jones, ATL
One-for-14 in four May games; hitting .245 (.291 this time
in '06)
29
36
Miguel Tejada, BAL
Only two HRs into May is a big-time concern for a player
whose value is dependent on fast start
37
37
Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
12 runs a personal all-time April low
39
38
Brandon Webb, ARZ
Save two tough outings v. COL, hasn't given up more than
two earned runs in a single start
40
39
Brian McCann, ATL
Hasn't hit a HR in 23 games after hitting two in season's
first two
41
40
Derrek Lee, CHC
Mammoth AVG with SBs are fine, but in '05 they were
accompanied with power: only one HR so far
47
41
Cole Hamels, PHI
Allowed five HRs in last four starts (0 HRs in prev. two)
46
42
Jeremy Bonderman, DET
33:5 K:BB ratio keeping him unbeaten, but lack of offense
behind him making wins (one) scarce
--
43
Prince Fielder, MIL
Hit safely in 12 of last 13; five-game RBI streak snapped
yesterday
--
44
Bobby Abreu, NYY
Usually solid across the board, but he's flat-out not
producing anywhere right now
38
45
Paul Konerko, CWS
Has been far from spectacular v. righties, but has been
just awful v. lefties (.136/.269/.273)
36
46
Russell Martin, LAD
Same type of fantasy game as Mauer but more HRs and SBs
thus far
--
47
Matt Cain, SF
Lights out v. NL West opponents (every start this season
but Philly)
--
48
Michael Young, TEX
Last two games: six-for-nine, five runs, HR, five RBIs
48
49
C.C. Sabathia, CLE
8.4 Ks in last five starts; 4-0 with six quality starts
50
50
Derek Jeter, NYY
Four HRs last 56 regular season games and has been caught
stealing in four of six attempts so far
42
On Deck Circle
Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS; Torii Hunter, MIN; Ted Lilly, CHC;
J.J. Hardy, MIL; Joe Nathan, MIN; Jonathon Papelbon, BOS; Jeff Francoeur,
ATL;
Rich Hill, CHC;
Adrián González, SD; Tim Hudson, ATL; B.J. Upton, TB; John Lackey, LAA; John
Smoltz, ATL; Tim Lincecum, SF
Dan Haren, OAK;
Barry Bonds, SF, Delmon Young, TB; Curt Schilling, BOS; Jason Giambi; Kelly
Johnson, ATL; Rickie Weeks, MIL
Shane
Victorino, PHI; Carlos Guillén, DET; Jhonny Peralta, CLE; Victor Martinez,
CLE; Adam Dunn, CIN; Gary Sheffield, DET
Chris Duncan,
STL; Francisco Rodríguez, LAA; Ian Snell, PIT; Chris Young, SD; Aaron Hill,
TOR; Johnny Damon, NYY; Álex Ríos, TOR
Infirmary
Félix
Hernández, SEA (May 15); Chris Carpenter, STL (August); Howie Kendrick (late
May, early June), LAA; B.J. Ryan, TOR (June+)
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Waiver Wire Wrestles of the Week
Pos.
Player
Notes
SP
Bartolo Colón, LAA
AL '05 Cy Young to soon return from injury…yeah, his spot
on this list is that simple
SP
Mike Pelfrey, NYM
Continues to pitch as Mets' No. 5 starter on Friday --
jump on him now if available
SP
Zack Grienke, KC
Still in KC, but looks prime for first winning campaign
of career
RP
Al Reyes, TB
If there's a fantasy closer to come out of TB, Reyes will
be it
RP
Dan Wheeler, HOU
Closer in Houston; if this is news to you, then you're in
trouble
RP
Henry Owens, FLA
Jorge Julio ousted; like him best to become successor
RP
Taylor Tankersley, FLA
If not Owens, new Marlins closer will be Tankersley
1B
Casey Kotchman, LAA
Think '06 Adrian Gonzalez as ceiling
1B
Mike Jacobs, FLA
Hitting behind red-hot Miguel Cabrera; should no longer
be available in your league
2B, 3B
B.J. Upton, TB
Sky's the limit for about everyone in TB lineup; young
Upton should mature throughout '07
2B
Kazuo Matsui, NYM
Colorado infield been known to produce sleepers, and has
4 SBs in 7 games
SS, 3B
Maicer Izturis, LAA
Excellent source of SBs and runs while Chone Figgins sits
w/ broken fingers
3B
Akinori Iwamura, TB
Pre-season sleeper getting off to very fast start; should
be gone by now
OF, 1B
Chris Duncan, STL
Went undrafted in a lot of leagues -- make sure he's not
a FA in one of yours
OF
Elijah Dukes, TB
Young freak of an athlete looking to make the most of his
call-up; consider him a 5-OF
OF
Shane Victorino, PHI
Not exactly a wrestle just yet, but see below
OF
Trot Nixon, CLE
Batting second in such a lineup is worth a pick-up alone
if you have the room in a deep league
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Send questions and comments to Mike Gehlken at michael.gehlken@gmail.com .