Chances are, keeper league decisions don’t have to be made for at least a few months. But, it never hurts to feed into the obsession and take a look now while information is fresh. Scratch out a preliminary list, then either add to or subtract from it as Spring Training 2009 approaches.

Simultaneously looking backward and forward are keys in keeper leagues, as projecting future results requires elements of both. The players carried over into 2009 build a fantasy team’s foundation, so making proper choices is imperative. The foundation has to be sturdy enough to stand strong through 2010 and beyond, but also has to be competitive right now. It’s a delicate balance. Read more »

Over the course of a 162 game season, Major League teams change their lineups countless times, promote prospects from the minor leagues, make trades, and face constant struggles about what to do with certain players. Fantasy owners are no different.

Injuries, slumps, and platoons have owners throwing fits over the course of a season. Players get benched, get traded and catch fire. Through hot streaks and slumps, good games and bad, fantasy owners are there to stomach it all.

Beginning on draft day, fantasy managers have tough decisions to make. When do you draft your first closer? Should you take a risk on that rookie or go with the proven veteran? How do you avoid getting stuck with weak players at the shallow positions? ImaginaryDiamond.com is here to address some of the lessons you should have learned regarding these situations and more in 2008. Read more »

Some say the sophomore slump is a myth, but a documented list of players has suffered its full effects.

Just ask Eric Hinske. Coming off a rookie season in which he won the American League Rookie of the Year award with 24 home runs, 13 stolen bases and 99 runs, Hinske faded into relative mediocrity and never played at the same level. Past award winners Dontrelle Willis, Jason Jennings, Angel Berroa and Bobby Crosby have equally suffered from this tragic disease.

With the 2008 Major League Baseball season coming to a close this weekend, fantasy owners, specifically keeper leaguers, can start to think about 2009. This season’s exceptionally deep rookie class will give owners several second-year players to consider as keepers and early draftees next season. Read more »

Lugging veterans’ bags, shagging balls in the outfield, and suffering through rookie hazing all come with the territory of being a first-year player in Major League Baseball. They do what they can, on the field or otherwise, to earn their teammates’ respect as they get used to life in the big leagues.

Some players, like Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce, are lucky enough to learn from historical greats like Ken Griffey Jr. Others, like New York’s Joba Chamberlain, are forced into the limelight, relied upon to fill in for an injured star. Then there are surprises like Mike Aviles, who take an opportunity and run with it in a low pressure city. Read more »

At season’s beginning, quality rookie position players were tough to find. Cubs catcher Geovany Soto and Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury comprised the list, and of course Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was a near lock for eventual fantasy success. But, as the season has progressed, a number of rookies, both heralded and unheralded, have emerged to add some outstanding depth to the 2008 rookie class.

Soto and Ellsbury burst onto the scene and got fantasy teams started on strong notes. Longoria wasn’t far from behind, earning an early promotion when injuries bombarded Tampa Bay’s infield. Kosuke Fukudome was also a nice early surprise, but made more of a splash in reality than he did in fantasy. Read more »

The arrival of much anticipated rookies Jay Bruce and Clayton Kershaw has shaken up the top 10 rookie rankings. The two phenoms join an already impressive class of rookies that includes: early Cy Young contender Edinson Volquez, Red Sox sparkplug Jacoby Ellsbury, and one of the game’s most productive catchers in Chicago’s Geovany Soto.

Here are the top rookies that have and will continue to make huge fantasy impacts. Read more »

First, it was Dodgers phenom Clayton Kershaw on Sunday. Now, it will be Reds super prospect Jay Bruce making his major league debut on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 21-year old outfielder will presumably take over full-time duties in center field, pushing Corey Patterson and Ryan Freel back into reserve roles.

Bruce was hitting .419 for Triple-A Louisville in the month of May, raising his season average to an International League-leading .364 in 49 games. He had 10 home runs, 24 extra-base hits, 37 RBIs and 8 stolen bases, and he ranked among the league’s top four in slugging percentage (3rd, .630), OPS (4th, 1.023) and total bases (2nd, 116). Read more »

Rookies, despite all their inexperience, can make even a novice fantasy baseball manager look like a serious veteran. These are the top 10 rookies so far this season in the fantasy landscape. And yes, the Cincinnati Reds do have an incredible group of young players. Read more »

As the fantasy season wears on, owners are now aware of the problems that their squads face; unless they just drafted very poorly, most owners will realize that they’re lacking in one or two categories that are causing problems week after week.

While the problems may be obvious, the solutions are usually frustrating; most of the players remaining on the waiver wire won’t help much, and other owners may either be irrational or tentative to trade ideas (or even worse, inactive). Read more »

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger broke the patella in his left knee on Tuesday night when he fouled off a Mark Hendrickson pitch in the second inning of the Reds’ 8-7 win over Florida, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. A postgame X-ray revealed a fracture, but an MRI will determine the extent of the injury, John Fay said in his Reds Insider blog. Read more »