The Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week Seven

Week seven of the fantasy baseball season and their have been lots of changes made since week one, but what changes do you need to make this week? That's what I'm here to tell you.

Add Them Now:
Brett Cecil, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Anybody who's 2-0 has 15 strikeouts, a 1.80 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP deserves a pickup. Cecil is no exception to that especially since the Blue Jays are shocking the world this year.

Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Pierre has 25 hits in 64 at bats, 11 runs scored, 9 RBI, five steals and a .390 batting average. Nothing to be stunned about but practically guaranteed a lineup spot with Manny on maternity leave means you've got to pick up the speedy veteran.

Drop Them Now:
Phil Hughes, SP, New York Yankees
He's 23 so what do you expect other than a rocky road to stardom. As of today Hughes has a 1-2 record, 10 strikeouts, 12 walks, 23 hits allowed, and a 7.56 ERA with a 2.10 WHIP. He'll kill your WHIP and ERA so drop him until he gets it back together as he's clearly not ready for the bright lights of New York.

Brad Ziegler, RP, Oakland Athletics
Ziegler was/is Oakland's closer and has four saves, 11 strikeouts, four walks, 20 hits, a 4.40 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. But all signs point to Andrew Bailey taking over the closer duties so drop Ziegler and get Bailey or one of the guys I mentioned above.

Monitor Their Status:
Andrew Bailey, RP, Oakland Athletics
Bailey has a 3-0 record, one save, 26 strikeouts, seven walks, seven hits allowed, a 1.61 ERA and a 0.63 WHIP. Pretty good but he's worthless as a reliever unless closing all signs point to him taking the job but watch to see what happens before pulling the trigger.

Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals (?)
Strasburg has even been drafted yet so stop picking him up, will you? He's already owned in 12% of CBS leagues and started in 1%! Just stop it will you, yeah I know he's the best thing since sliced bread but let him get drafted first. Don't pick him up until he gets a call-up if this season.

The Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week Six

Week six of the fantasy baseball season is here and so is my week six waiver wire.

Add Them Now:
Justin Upton OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Upton is only available in 21% of CBS leagues meaning in most leagues you can't pick him up. But if your in the minority of leagues where he's a free agent pick him up now. Why pick him up though? Well he's hitting .294 with 15 RBI, six home runs, 25 hits and has two stolen bases and 10 walks, you've never hit the "pickup this player" button quicker.

Alberto Callaspo 2B, Kansas City Royals
Callaspo is seventh in the American League with a .359 batting average. Along with his awesome batting average he's got 33 hits, 16 runs scored, two home runs, 11 RBI, and gotten 10 walks. He'll really help your batting average so pick him up.

Drop Them Now:
Emilio Bonifacio 3B, Florida Marlins
The hot starter is now the cold hitter. Bonifacio is hitting .250 with 17 runs, 31 hits, one home run, six RBI, eight walks and six stolen bases. He's finally come back to being himself so drop him now.

Oliver Perez, SP, New York Mets
The bullpen was bad and now the disabled list is worse. He's 1-2 with 20 strikeouts, 21 walks, 28 hits allowed, a 9.97 ERA and a 2.26 WHIP. It's time to drop him but don't lose sight of him because when's he good he's one of the better pitchers for the Mets,

Monitor Their Status:
Matt LaPorta OF, Cleveland Indians
LaPorta got the call when Travis Hafner hit the disabled list but needs to get his act together before I endorse him. In four games so far he's hitting .158 and has two RBI, one home run, two hits, scored three runs and walked once. He's got the tools all he needs is to put it together.

Melky Cabrera, OF, New York Yankees
Cabrera's on fire right now with a .333 average, 14 runs, 23 hits, four home runs, 10 RBI, 10 walks and three stolen bases. My only hesitation is how much playing time he gets in a crowded Yankees outfield.

Meet Florida Marlins' Top Prospect: Jose Ceda

Continuing my 30 part series where I take a trip around the major leagues and pick one prospect from each to profile, this week I'll do Florida Marlins prospect Jose Ceda.

Let's start off with Jose Ceda was born on January 28, 1987 in the Dominican Republic.

He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Padres in 2006.

Ceda was sent to the Arizona League Padres where he posted a 2-0 record, 5.09 ERA in eight games, four of which he started.

Adding to that he gave up 14 runs, 13 hits, 13 walks and strucko ut 31.

Not sparkling but coming right out of the highest amateur level in the Dominican Republic what else can you expect, he was a raw talent.

However on trade deadline day 2006 he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs for infielder Todd Walker.

The Cubs immediatley sent him to the Arizona League Cubs.

For the AZL Cubs he went 0-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts and two relief appearances totaling 12 innings of work. Striking out 21 he began to prove that his ability to strike people out was tremendous.

Ceda was called up to the Low-A Boise Hawks.

In Boise, he went 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, all in three games all of which were starts.

Also he tallied 11 innings of work, five hits allowed, four earned runs, two walks and 11 strikeouts.

In 2007, he began the season with the AZL Cubs.

For the Cubs he put together a 0-0 record, 2.45 ERA, and 1.36 WHIP in two games one of which was a start.

He only gave up one hit, one run, three walks and struck out another three. All of these came in 3.2 innings pitched.

Ceda was calle up to the Class-A Peoria Chiefs.

While with the Chiefs he went 2-2 with a 3.11 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in six starts and 15 relief appearances.

He pitched 46.1 innings, and gave up 14 hits, 18 runs, 16 were earned and 31 walks. Ceda struck out an astounding 66 batters!

2008 found the Cubs top prospect showing what he had with the High-A Dayton Dragons.

In Dayton, he went 2-2 and had a 4.80 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 12 starts and three appearances in relief.

Pitching in 54.1 innings, he gave up 41 hits, 29 runs, 28 walks and struck out 53.

Chicago felt strongly enough about his numbers to give him a callup to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies.

In Tennessee he went 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 22 games all of which were in relief.

He pitched in 30.1 innings, giving up 26 hits, seven earned runs, 14 walks and 42 strikeouts.

On November 13, 2008, the Cubs shipped Ceda to the Florida Marlins for closer Kevin Gregg.

So far this year pitching for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns he has yet to get in a game.

The Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week Five

Okay here is my week five fantasy baseball waiver wire where I take a look at the world of baseball and suggest to the readers who to pick up, who to drop and who to watch.

Add Them Now
Dexter Fowler, OF, Colorado Rockies
Fowler's speed is amazing having stolen nine already. And not only is he speedy but he's touched the plate 12 times, has two home runs, seven RBI, and eight walks. His batting average is a solid .290. Adding to this he has 18 base hits. I suggest that you pick him up now and if he gets any hotter trade him away for a big need.

Phil Hughes, SP, New York Yankees
Hughes has an astounding first start throwing six solid innings ad giving up only two hits and striking out six. He has a great offensive attack to help give him run support which for fellow super rookie Jordan Zimmermann is not existent. Grab Hughes over Zimmermann.

Drop Them Now
Kenshin Kawakami, SP, Atlanta Braves
The Japanese import has had a rough go at it so far ending April with a 1-3 record. Along with that he's got 11 walks allowed and 24 hits against him tie that with a 7.06 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and an injured shoulder. It's time to drop him not that you should have ever picked him up in the first place.

Oliver Perez, SP, New York Mets
Perez has been told to get his pitching performance on track or he'll find himself on the bench. As a fantasy owner that's one of the last things you want to hear (next to that he's been demoted). His 9.31 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 23 hits given up and 15 free passes coupled with a 1-2 record mean it's time to give up on him and hope he becomes the Oliver Perez we all know.

Monitor Their Status
Joe Beimel, RP, Washington Nationals
Beimel who's on the disabled list as of today has been named the closer for the Nationals when he comes back. He'll begin a Class-A rehab assignment on Wednesday.

Matt LaPorta, OF, Cleveland Indians
When Travis Hafner was placed on the disabled list it opened up a hole on the 25 man roster. LaPorta is tearing the cover off the ball in Columbus and now it's up to the Indians to decide between him and David Delluci.

Analyzing the New York Giants 2009 Draft

The Giants made nine picks in the 2009 NFL Draft, and now I'm going to analyze them.

Round 1, Pick 29: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
Hakeem Nicks (6-1, 212) gives the Giants the wide receiver they needed, he can come in and start right away. Another strength is that he has a nack for making "circus catches" which is much needed when playing in the windy Meadowlands.

Round 2, Pick 45: Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
Clint Sintim (6-3, 256) gives the Giants the linebacker they badly needed. Sintim will come in and more than likely start on day one. He will play strong side linebacker opposite free agent pickup Michael Boley.

Round 2, Pick 60: William Beatty, OT, UConn
William Beatty (6-6, 307) brings offensive line depth, and a project. Currently David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie are the starting tackles and although Beatty will put pressure on them for the starting job, more than likely he'll stay on the bench and play "swing tackle". This pick more than likely means the end of the road for Guy Whimper on another benched tackle.

Round 3, Pick 85: Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly
Ramses Barden (6-6, 229) is a raw talent and has the potential to be a Plaxico Burress type player for the Giants. After playing at Cal Poly he went unnotice until the Mustangs took on the Wisconsin Badgers in which Barden had a stellar game that showed scouts he wasn't just a "jump up and get it" type wideout. I expect Barden to be the starter of the future along side Hakeem Nicks but for now he'll be the third or fourth guy.

Round 3, Pick 100: Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
Travis Beckum (6-3, 243) is a god awful blocker, and will not do any of that in New York. Instead he'll play on the offensive line and just catch passes (i.e. he'll play halfback) and he's a nice compliment to blocking tight end Kevin Boss.

Round 4, Pick 129: Andre Brown, RB, NC State
Andre Brown (6-0, 124) will bring his injuries to New York as he had two surgeries in 2007 for a fractured foot, but the Giants don't seem to be too worried about it. He will compete with Danny Ware for the third spot in this year's "Earth, Wind and Fire".

Round 5, Pick 151: Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State
Rhett Bomar (6-2, 225) brings "speed" and a big arm to the Giants. I guess this is the best the Giants could do in this weak senior quarterback class but after putting up 340 yards against Kansas this season he should be a quality backup for the Giants and will compete with David Carr for that job.

Round 6, Pick 200: DeAndre Wright, CB, New Mexico
DeAndre Wright (5-11, 198) is a solid cover corner, but has a small frame and had surgery on both shoulders this offseason. Will most likely have to fight for one of the last roster spots and I personally believe he'll beat out Rashad Barksdale (practice squad guy last year) and fellow draft pick Stoney Woodson for the fifth cornerback spot.

Round 7, Pick 238: Stoney Woodson, CB, South Carolina
Stoney Woodson (5-11, 197) has poor size and poor speed and I doubt he'll make a career in the NFL. He's most likely camp foder and a probable practice squad member.

Undrafted Free Agents
New York has signed six undrafted free agents so far: defensive ends Maurice Evans and Alex Field, linebacker Kenny Ingram, safeties Sha'reff Rashard and Otis Wiley and cornerback Vince Anderson. All are camp bodies who will eventually end up on the practice squad.

Rhett Bomar Chosen by Giants

The Giants chose ex-Sam Houston and Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar.

Bomar brings "speed" and a weird throwing motion to the Giants, he'll compete with David Carr for the backup to the worst starter in the NFL. (I'm an Eli hater)

Although I think Bomar will end up competing for the first one cut.

Giants add three more

Sorry, I missed three, internet was down anyways, the Giants added three more guys in the draft.

WR Ramses Barden- Barden is a big physical wideout who could be a starter but I'm projecting him as their fourth wide receiver come week one and possibly number two guy come week 17.

TE Travis Beckum- Beckum is going to play halfback, meaning he'll line up on the offensive line and only catch passes, no blocking which is a role he's comfortbale in and he should help out their offensive attack.

RB Andre Brown- talented young back who will be their number three guy behind Jacobs and Bradshaw could contend for starter down the road.