Upside chasers, beware.

The Colorado Rockies, according to the Denver Post, appear to be ready and willing to give utility man Eric Young Jr. everyday playing time. Young is a speedster who could both wake up the Rockies’ veteran lineup and create a spark for fantasy teams still in the hunt for league titles.

Young, a stolen base machine in the minors, held his own during a stint in Colorado earlier this season, then got recalled over the weekend. He’s made two straight starts — one at second base, one in left field — as the Rockies’ leadoff hitter and gone 2 for 9 with 2 runs and a stolen base. In 15 games this season, Young is hitting .244 with 5 steals (in 6 attempts), 5 walks and 4 strikeouts. Read more »

Colorado Rockies outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler have gotten the green light on the basepaths this spring, according to the Denver Post. Good news for both players as they start the season as Colorado’s Nos. 1 and 2 hitters, respectively.

Neither young player is established as a fantasy star, but both could realistically make the jump THIS season. The fact that manager Jim Tracy is building an offense around his two young table setters should mean that Fowler and Gonzalez offer at least one premium contribution in fantasy with their steals. Read more »

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Edwin Jackson has impressed catcher Miguel Montero early in spring training, according to the Arizona Republic.

Jackson, at least according to his new catcher, is no one-year wonder. He was traded to Detroit from Tampa Bay last season for little more than a bucket of baseballs (Matt Joyce) and went 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA, to the surprise of most. Read more »

No matter how you slice it, Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta was a bust last season.

Iannetta, 26, gave fantasy owners all kinds of reasons to be optimistic with a 2008 stint in Colorado and with Team USA during the World Baseball Classic. His performance in 2009 didn’t come close to meeting the hype, though, as he stumbled to a .228 average and slid down to third on the Rockies’ depth chart, according to the Denver Post.

In the offseason, the Rockies surprisingly signed Iannetta to a three-year, $8.35 million deal. Iannetta admitted in the Denver Post story that the contract has eased his mind going into 2010:

“This takes a load off. I am the kind of person that worries about what is going to happen next. Now, I am not going to press as much.” Read more »

We will be rolling out plenty of 2010 fantasy baseball coverage in the coming days, weeks and months, but let’s start right here with player-by-player profiles of our rough top 100 preseason rankings. Stay tuned to the site for more player profiles, draft kit information, rankings, sleepers, busts, etc. as Spring Training approaches.

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
Overview: An immensely talented, five-tool type player who is back on the radar after joining his third organization in two seasons … showed star potential in the second half of the 2009 season, but struggled in his previous stint in the majors … had also developed a reputation for having a poor attitude.
2009 numbers: .284 avg., 13 HRs, 29 RBIs, 53 runs, 16 SBs in 89 games
Key splits and trends: Was a .320 hitter after the All-Star break, compared to .202 average before it … hit 12 of his 13 home runs in the last 44 games of the season … handled both left-handed and right-handed pitching … slugged .582 at Coors Field and .467 on the road.
Strengths: Chief strength is a power/speed combination that should, at the very least, yield 20 homers and 20 steals this season … is a dynamic, exciting player who gets a nice boost from the Coors Field factor.
Weaknesses: Plate discipline is an issue; he has 41 walks and 151 strikeouts in 174 Major League games … run production will also be weak as a pure leadoff hitter who hasn’t thrived when given RBI opportunities (.185 avg. with RISP).
Bold prediction for 2010: Gonzalez bursts onto the scene for good with 25 home runs and 25 steals.

What do we make of Colorado Rockies’ outfielder Carlos Gonzalez in 2010? He’s a pedigree player who put it all together at the end of last season, but he’s got a short resume of Major League production and would require something of a stretch to keep over other, more qualified candidates.

But, oh my, the short resume is a good one. Read more »

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
Status: Making the most of an opportunity
Basics: .285 AVG, 6 HRs, 16 RBIs, 8 SBs in 51 games
Key Stats: Hitting .400 with 4 HRs in 45 August at-bats
What to Watch For: Playing time in crowded Rox’ outfield
Other Notes: Came to Colorado last season from Oakland in a deal for closer Huston Street … was sent to Oakland the previous offseason in a deal for pitcher Dan Haren … series of trades and struggles in Oakland had many mistakenly writing him off … arrives in a hitter’s haven in Colorado having hit .339 at Triple-A Colorado Springs … has five-tool skills that could come to life in a big way in the thin Colorado air
Verdict: Swing for the fences if desperate for a boost; has five-category potential

Hitting for the cycle was a good way for Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to send a message to the fantasy world. He is back among the game’s most productive shortstops, even after a slow start. He is the position leader with 21 homers and, after Monday’s 5-for-5 effort, has his average — now a much more respectable .276 — on the serious incline.

Tulowitzki’s miserable start fed into a developing theory that his outstanding rookie season, in which he hit .291 with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs, was the exception rather than the rule. There just wasn’t enough evidence to believe that Tulowitzki would return to form anytime soon, so handfuls of frustrated fantasy owners began cutting ties with the 24-year-old. Read more »

Most fantasy owners have been waiting all season for Colorado Rockies infielder Ian Stewart to turn the corner. He’s teased with his prodigious power, then fallen victim to strikeouts, position logjams and inconsistent playing time. The potential has been there all along, but his batting average was an eye sore and there were no guarantees for playing time.

But, since new manager Jim Tracy has taken the reins, Stewart is getting the regular at-bats he’s needed to find his rhythm and become a fantasy force. Given his recent National Player of the Week award, that may be an understatement. Stewart is getting on track in a big way, hitting .349 with 5 HRs and 13 RBIs in his last 11 games.

Batting average and inconsistency may be persistent problems, but even with a .250 average, Stewart’s explosive potential and projected 33 home runs are worth your time in fantasy. Read more »

Colorado Rockies infielder Clint Barmes is enjoying this whole full-time player thing. Just like last season, the 30-year-old was platooned at both middle infield positions to start the year, never afforded the luxury of an everyday gig. His chances of finding a nice rhythm at the plate were all but shot.

But, lots has changed in Colorado since April. Manager Clint Hurdle has been fired; Barmes is red hot at the plate; and Ian Stewart has begun poaching at-bats from struggling third baseman Garrett Atkins instead. For the first time since 2005, Barmes is both healthy and able to perform. And for the first time since then, he is worth an extended look in mixed fantasy leagues. Read more »