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+)  

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

Send questions and comments to Mike Gehlken at michael.gehlken@gmail.com.