Colorado Rockies third baseman Ian Stewart has mashed left-handed pitching. Conventional baseball wisdom will say that Stewart, a left-handed hitter, should have problems with southpaws, but he has defied that logic. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, manager Clint Hurdle has looked beyond the numbers and platooned Stewart with utility man Clint Barmes, a decision that is seriously prohibitive to the rookie’s value.

Hurdle knows the numbers inside and out, all managers do, but this move has benefits beyond the split statistics. Stewart is 10-for-19 against left-handed pitching with the Rockies, and he hit 51 points higher against them than righties (.316 to .264) with Triple-A Colorado Springs. Barmes is a .254 hitter against lefties this season, but he is a right-handed hitter and the proper play according to the “managerial handbook.” Read more »

Minnesota Twins rookie outfielder Denard Span has earned the right to be a full-time player in the outfield, even when veteran Michael Cuddyer returns from the disabled list, presumably next week. He’s been a rock at the top of the lineup and a Gold Glove caliber defender in both center field and right, making him a more logical starting option than talented, but raw Carlos Gomez when Cuddyer comes back.

With the way he’s played since being recalled on June 30, Span will no doubt keep his spot on the club’s 25-man roster, but he deserves more. Difficult decisions, perhaps on a daily basis, remain for manager Ron Gardenhire, but Span has meant more to Minnesota’s playoff hopes over the past six weeks than Gomez and left fielder Delmon Young combined. Read more »

More rankings! Following up our team, rookie and closer rankings this week, we have our top 101 players overall. We swear, no more until at least, say, Monday. That should be plenty of time for things to change and start all over again.

Alex Rodriguez once again mans the top spot on our list because he is grinding out a stat line comparable to anyone else in fantasy baseball, despited missing two weeks with a sore quad. Matt Holliday surges up the list because he’s the next best thing to A-Rod, at least when it comes to fantasy. Very few can grind out stats like these two can, including a .300-plus average and 15-20 stolen bases. Read more »