The Second Half Fantasy Hitting All Stars

As promised to you last week here are the guys who are going to step it up in the second half of the fantasy season. If you have a chance to acquire any of these guys by trading overachievers of the season's first half go for it.

Catcher: Brian McCann. The batting average is already there, but the other numbers are going to start appearing too for McCann after going on the DL for a stint with a minor injury in the first half. He is only 22 and will eventually learn to hit for more power - hopefully he learns fast. Though it is unlikely make sure the Braves don't move a player like Andruw Jones at the deadline.
Final Line Projection: .316/15HR/71RBI/54R

First Base: Todd Helton. Last season around this time Helton was heading to the DL. He has already been on the DL this season and everyone considers Helton to be past his time as a power hitter. All the reason why he will be a second half all star. He is a buy low candidate at this point and will be motivated to play well since the Rockies are in the hunt this year. Remember Helton hit 80 points better in the second half last season.
Final Line Projection: .315/23HR/97RBI/110R

Second Base: Jorge Cantu. Like Helton Cantu spent time on the DL to start the year, but he has been playing for a couple of weeks now and appears to be healthy. Remember he drove in 117 runs last year and has been batting 5th in front of Carl Crawford, a healthy Rocco Baldelli, and the resurgent Aubrey Huff. If your team has been short on RBI, Cantu's numbers and position can have you a tremendous lift.
Final Line Projection: .285/18HR/82RBI/63R

Shortstop: Rafael Furcal. Many shortstops underachieved in the first half (Michael Young, Jhonny Peralta, Jimmy Rollins) but nobody was worse than Furcal. Lately it seems like Furcal has turned it around as he is batting .333 to start his July and his stolen base success rate has improved in the last two months. The reason the Dodgers gave Furcal so much money in the offseason was because of his second half last season with Atlanta when he hit .322 and stole 17 bases.
Final Line Projection: .274/10HR/58RBI/117R/41SB

Third Base: Eric Chavez. This was the toughest choice because there are so many great candidates. If you are thinking of remaking your team I would grab extra third basemen. Ryan Zimmerman is starting to prove why he gets compared to David Wright, Aramis Ramirez has shown positive signs lately and Morgan Ensberg would be a great buy low candidate but my pick is Chavez here. Take a look at his average season from 2000-2005:

.278 average 29.5 home runs, 98 RBI, 90 runs scored

Chavez is currently on pace for .240/26 homers/85 RBI/75 runs. There is no logical explanation seeing how he has been so consistent and hes under 30 years old.
Final Line Projection: .270/29/97/88

Outfielder 1: Ken Griffey Jr. I know this guy has a history of injuries, but with the stats down and that injury factor in mind, many owners might be happy to part with Griffey. His upside is still tremendous for the second half and he is seven years younger than Bonds.
Final Line Projection: .263/38/111/80

Outfielder 2: Juan Pierre. As mentioned in a previous article Pierre is notorious for heating it up after the break. He got a head start last week when he hit .438 and stole 5 bases.
Final Line Projection: .290/101R/57 SB

Outfielder 3: Curtis Granderson. At the break Granderson is close to a 20 home run/20 stolen base season. Looking at similar players to Granderson in their rookie seasons (Alfonso Soriano, Grady Sizemore) a trend suggests that Granderson will put up better numbers after the break and get to the 20/20 plateau.
Final Line Projection: .280/22HR/79RBI/108R/20SB

Fantasy All Stars

With the MLB all star game a week from today its time to look book at the first half's all stars.
I picked the all star team not by choosing the top ranked players at each position, but rather how they have done versus their expectations and how valueable they have been for a fantasy team.

Catcher: Ramon Hernandez. Who said September stats are over rated? After finishing 05' with a .359/5/20 month Hernandez has not slowed down in 06. The move from Petco to Camden Yards has led to a pace of 32 home runs and 126 RBI. Pretty good for a position one of our writers claims you should never waste a high pick on. In Hernandez's case he was taken very late at pick 142 and in ESPN leagues he was on average the 8th catcher chosen.

First Base: Albert Pujols. Yeah, I know. He's the easy pick. But considering he has been on the DL and might reclaim the number one spot on the player ranker he deserves it. The secret was out on Pujols going into the year, the only question was who to take with number one - Pujols or A-Rod. The question has been answered.

Second Base: Dan Uggla. For people like our fellow phenom Sean who don't like to take second basemen after the elite are gone this guy has been a savior. He like many other Marlins has risen from the minors and has contributed in all categories this season.

Shortstop: Nomar Garciaparra. When Nomar started the year on the DL many owners decided to give up on the two time batting champ and let him go rather than waste a DL space. He has returned and is on a pace to score and drive in over a 100 runs. He is also battling for a third batting title.

Third Base: Scott Rolen. I said in the preseason that Rolen would be out of action by June 1st, but he has hung in pretty well thus far. He is putting up numbers close to third base power houses David Wright, Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera but was taken in the middle rounds unlike all of those guys.

Outfield 1: Carlos Beltran. I thought Beltran had forgotten how to play. I guess the number one overall ranking he has kind of says otherwise.

Outfield 2: Vernon Wells. He went in the 9th round in our draft, but he's been playing like a second rounder and a keeper for next year. I guess adding Troy Glaus has brought Wells back to where he was when Carlos Delgado hit behind him.

Outfield 3: Jermaine Dye. One of this site's most brilliant mind's let him go early on. He has paid for it since. Dye has more homers than last year's home run king Andruw Jones and the same amount of RBI as Jason Bay.

Starting Pitcher 1 : Francisco Liriano. R I D I C U L O U S. Props to those of you who withered the middle relief storm.

Starting Pitcher 2: Mike Mussina. 4.41 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 05' are gone thanks largely to improved change up and the other 19 pitches he features.

Relief Pitcher 1: Jonathan Papelbon. The first half's most valueable fantasy player in terms of how much you paid to get him. In our league he went undrafted, while Keith Foulke (the closer going into 06) was taken in the 15th round.

Relief Pitcher 2: J.J. Putz. In any league featuring only saves this guy should have gone undrafted. Well now every league featuring only saves has J.J. Putz on a roster and his numbers have been superb especially the 57 k's in 40.1 innings.

Pitcher: Aaron Harang. He's always been a pretty good strikeout pitcher but this year he has actually been a good pitcher.

Pitcher: Broson Arroyo. Harang's teammate has lost the Designated Hitter he had to see in the AL and had a dominant first half.

Pitcher: Tom Gordon. Brad Lidge, Billy Wagner, K-Rod, Huston Street, Eric Gagne, and Trevor Hoffman have all had fantastic years as closers. Gordon has out-pitched all of them this year even though he wasn't taken until rounds after these guys.

Who will be the second half's fantasy all stars? That will be the subject of next Tuesday's blog.