Welcome to another meaningless fantasy awards column, one where nothing is gained other than the satisfaction of seeing your players listed. This is the National League’s midseason fantasy all-star team, where production is great, but even better when it’s relative to low expectation.
 
Of course, seasons never unfold how preseason fantasy drafts dictate they should. Superstars slump and get injured; uknowns take the fantasy world by storm and lift teams to championships. Sometimes it’s blind luck that leads you to the best overachievers, and sometimes knowledge is the difference.
 
That’s the beauty of fantasy baseball. Everybody has a chance because the blind squirrels in your league often find nuts like the ones below, and the so-called experts are wrong all the time.
 
C - Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
Soto was a late, late selection in drafts as a rookie unknown, but he has surged to the elite class of fantasy catchers. He leads all backstops with 55 RBIs and ranks second to Brian McCann with his 16 homers. Of course, there have been some usual rookie inconsistencies, but the aggregate numbers will match up with any catcher in fantasy.
Alternate - Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates
 
1B - Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Owners who used a third or fourth round choice on Berkman have been rewarded with the highest rated first baseman (according to ESPN’s player rater) in fantasy baseball. Most valued on the list are the .347 average and 12 stolen bases, which have pushed his 22 homers, 75 runs and 70 RBIs into rarified air.
Alternate - Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres
 
2B - Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins
Chase Utley is obviously having a better year, but until Uggla rolled his ankle and missed the last 11 games, he was rivaling Utley’s production. We knew about Uggla’s power coming into the season - he averaged 29 homers in his first two full seasons - but his .289 average has been the pleasant surprise. After hitting .245 in ‘07, Uggla dropped like a stone in drafts, going in rounds 8-10.
Alternate - Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubs
 
3B - Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
So far, so good on the health front. That was the primary concern in the preseason, and his .379 average has since made a big impact on the fantasy landscape. Very few figured he would have logged 285 at-bats by now, let alone record 108 hits and 18 home runs. Injuries have put a dent in Alex Rodriguez’s production, and David Wright has ceased stealing bases, which puts Jones in the conversation for top fantasy third base honors.
Alternate - Jorge Cantu, Florida Marlins
 
SS - Cristian Guzman, Washington Nationals
The bar couldn’t have been lower for Guzman entering this season, but nonetheless, he has been exceptional for the Nats. The .311 average and 50 runs scored have maximum impact in a down season for fantasy shortstops. As a free agent addition in all formats, Guzman has made big differences for teams struggling to fill their middle infield spots.
Alternate - J.J. Hardy, Milwaukee Brewers
 
OF - Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates
McLouth hit a wall after a hot start, but has started to heat back up and add to an already healthy stat line. His average has dipped to .280, but you can’t argue with the 17 homers, 9 stolen bases, 62 runs and 60 RBIs. At this rate, McLouth should have no problems hitting 25 homers and stealing 15 bases. Not bad for a guy selected as a fifth outfielder in most formats.
 
OF - Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies
Burrell usually saves his best for the second half, which makes his monster first half all the more intriguing. Who knows what he has left in the tank, but this could very well be a career season for the 31-year old. Burrell is on pace for his first career 40-home run campaign and is a shoe-in for a third 30-homer campaign in four seasons.
 
OF - Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis Cardinals
Never heard of this guy before the season began? Join the crowd. Ludwick was never considered in preseason drafts, but has proceeded to hit .290 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs. He has benefited from Albert Pujols’ protection in the lineup in racking up a .583 slugging percentage, seventh-highest in the National League.

Alternates - Jason Bay, Pittsburgh Pirates; Corey Hart, Milwaukee Brewers; Xavier Nady, Pittsburgh Pirates
 
SP - Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds
Even though the Reds traded away Major League RBI leader Josh Hamilton, they may have actually come out on top in a winter swap with Texas for Volquez. The 25-year old is in the running for the NL Cy Young award with an 11-3 record, 2.36 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 110.2 innings. Volquez could have a miserable second half and still be worth the early season waiver spot used to acquire him.
 
SP - Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
Lincecum entered the 2008 season with some fanfare, but it was tough to see the scrawny fireballer achieving this level of success so quickly. He has certainly been helped by a better-than-expected Giants team, but Lincecum would have been this dominant regardless. He has one remaining start before the draft and enters it with a 10-2 record, 2.66 ERA and the second-most strikeouts (126) in baseball.
 
SP - Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs
Dempster was converted back to a starter after a rocky season as Chicago’s closer and already has 10 wins. Funny thing is, Dempster is an amazing 10-0 at home and 0-3 on the road, perhaps the most extreme home/road split in baseball. Even if Dempster is in your lineup for exclusively home starts, he will be among the most valuable starting pitchers in the NL the rest of the way.
 
SP - Ricky Nolasco, Florida Marlins
Nolasco’s recent surge has come out of nowhere, but make no mistake, he is for real. He has boosted a lot of fantasy lineups during the last six starts, in which he has gone 5-0 with a 1.81 ERA, 42 strikeouts and just 4 walks in 44.1 innings. His ERA has fallen in each month of the season so far, and he has a 9-1 record since May 9.
 
SP - Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta Braves
The featured player Atlanta received in return from the Tigers for shortstop Edgar Renteria, Jurrjens has been instrumental in helping the Braves hang in the NL East race. He has had some bouts of wildness, but the bottom line of a 9-3 record, 3.00 ERA and 1.32 WHIP is quite strong. The 22-year old went undrafted in fantasy leagues and immediately got to work with a 3-2 record and 3.05 ERA in April.
 
Alternates - Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers; Jonathan Sanchez, San Francisco Giants; Kyle Lohse, St. Louis Cardinals; Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks; Hiroki Kuroda, Los Angeles Dodgers
 
MR - Hong-Chih Kuo, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kuo’s season stat line is impressive, but it’s even more so in his 18 relief appearances (he’s made 3 starts). Coming out of the bullpen, Kuo is 3-0 with a 0.91 ERA and an amazing 50:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 39.2 innings. He’s been even more valuable to the Dodgers, working in long relief, short relief and as a starter. In spite of his success, Kuo is available in most standard mixed leagues.
Alternate - Jared Burton, Cincinnati Reds
 
CL - Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs
Doubts consumed fantasy owners before the season began, and the oft-injured Wood tumbled to the late rounds. Carlos Marmol was a more popular closer pick at the time, but all Wood has done is post a 2.97 ERA and 22 saves to become an NL All-Star and the favorite for Comeback Player of the Year honors.
Alternate - Jon Rauch, Washington Nationals

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.