Let’s be honest, a list of MVP candidates in fantasy baseball makes as little sense as a list of MVP candidates in real baseball. The Major League Baseball season is all of two weeks old, which leaves, for most teams, about 150 games left to play. There’s a huge chunk of season remaining, but it’s always fun finding excuses to talk about who’s playing the best baseball right now.

Fantasy heart throb Ian Kinsler certainly qualifies, especially after finding the national spotlight with his historic 6-for-6 day last week. Zack Greinke has done the same with a 34-inning scoreless streak, and Heath Bell has been among the most surprising players in the league with a hefty seven saves. All three rank among our top 10 candidates for MVP honors. Read more »

It was nearly impossible to tell just how talented rookie Colby Rasmus would fit into the St. Louis Cardinals’ crowded outfield, but six games into the season we’re getting a good clue: Everywhere. His ability to play both in the corners, specifically left field, and in center has earned Rasmus more at-bats than originally expected. And while that flexibility keeps his fantasy value afloat for now, it could ultimately earn him a true everyday job in the near future.

It’s plain to see that, for one reason or another, Chris Duncan and Rick Ankiel are not considered by the Cardinals’ brass to be bona fide, start-under-all-circumstances players. Duncan could be the guy who ultimately yields the most at-bats to Rasmus since an injury always feels like it’s just around the corner. Read more »

Well, after initial reports by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution had outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. signing a one-year deal worth $2 million plus incentives with the Braves, the report was quickly denied by Griffey, who officially signed with the Seattle Mariners Wednesday.

This news coming from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which also reports that a phone call from Willie Mays gave Seattle the edge over Atlanta for good in the Griffey sweepstakes. Read more »

A search for information on Cardinals prospect Colby Rasmus took us to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this afternoon, where we got far more than we bargained for. Bird Land blogger Derrick Goold had a lengthy post on the National League Central’s top prospects, on which Rasmus ranked second to recently drafted Pirates farmhand Pedro Alvarez.

Rasmus is just about ready for the big show. The only thing standing in his way is a glut of accomplished outfielders in St. Louis already. So, organizational decisions regarding where he fits in with Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker, Brian Barton and Chris Duncan will influence Rasmus’ value in 2009. 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 »

There is a little bit of everything in available in the offensive player pool this week. There’s a great option for prospect watchers in Toronto’s Adam Lind and raw power in St. Louis’ Ryan Ludwick and Seattle’s Richie Sexson. Speed and middle infield help are also available in doses with Washington’s Felipe Lopez and Houston’s Kazuo Matsui.

Personal feeling is that Lind ends up being the best of this bunch. He’s got all the tools to make a big splash early and grow into a star. Besides, don’t young, exciting players make it more fun to manage a fantasy team? Read more »