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.