Success in any brand of baseball, Major League or fantasy league, is measured by more than just the contributions of star players. The guys who unexpectedly step up and deliver throughout the season most often make or break that team’s chances of competing for a championship.

In real baseball, managers have tentative ideas of what each player on his 25-man roster will give him throughout the season. Fantasy owners aren’t much different. They do their best selecting players in their preseason drafts, then scour the waiver wire all season long looking for diamonds in the rough who can help their chances for a league title. Read more »

There’s no denying the electric stuff that Cincinnati Reds rookie right-hander Johnny Cueto possesses. His explosive fastball reaches the upper 90s, and he matches it with a disappearing changeup that sits in the lower 80s. Opponents are batting .255 against him; he doesn’t walk batters; and he averages 8.7 strikeouts per inning.

So, how is it that the phenom has a 5.56 ERA after 10 starts? Well, it’s a number of different things, all generated by an extreme inability to stay composed in tight situations. 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 »

In fantasy, rookies come in all positions and prices. Some of them enter the majors with much fanfare and expectations, while others are well-kept secrets until they drop big stats into a smart owner’s lap. This year, however, untested superprospects such as Evan Longoria and Jay Bruce have failed to take off; Bruce hasn’t even made the majors yet for Cincinnati, who have a fairly promising crop of rookies even without him.

So which rookies and other first-time starters are making a big splash at their positions after over a month of play? The all-freshman (and some sophomores) team from both leagues includes: Read more »

In a surprising move, the Cincinnati Reds sent Josh Hamilton and his feel-good story to the Texas Rangers for pitching prospect Edinson Volquez over the winter. The decision has turned out to be a win-win for both clubs, with Hamilton hitting the cover off the ball in Arlington and Volquez leading the National League in ERA, even before his seven shutout innings against the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon.

Volquez garnered significantly less attention than teammate Johnny Cueto early, who burst onto the scene with an outstanding spring and a dominant first outing. Though Cueto has just a tad more upside, Volquez features a similar repertoire and is already growing into a frontline big-league starter. Read more »

With May fast approaching, fantasy owners are starting to make the trades that will set the tone for the rest of the season; either you’ll be regarded as a genius who fleeced the weak, or you’ll be a member of the “weak” and residing in your league’s cellar for the next five months. 

When dealing with early-season trades, one needs to remember that balance is still the key. If you find yourself on the losing end of pitching stats for two weeks in a row, don’t pillage your team to trade for three staff aces. With that being said, here are some trades which have gone down the past few days that you might be interested in replicating for your own fantasy needs. Read more »