Halpin' Hand: The Lower Half
by John Halpin, FOXSports.com
James Loney, 1B, Dodgers (49.6 percent owned)
Ryan Garko, Conor Jackson ... every week, I feel like we include a first basemen who will hit between .280 and .300 and smack 15-20 homers. This week it's Loney, who's currently batting .286 with four homers and 27 RBI. He's in a pretty good lineup that would get even better if Andruw Jones starts to hit his weight. Actually, considering Jones' well-documented heft this season, that lineup would be AWESOME.
Kenji Johjima, C, Mariners (48.7 percent owned)
I know what you're thinking — the guy signed a big contract and went in the tank. I'm thinking Johjima can't stay this bad and is going to reach his level. That level was eerily similar in 2006 and 2007 and solid enough for a fantasy catcher. Stick with him for a little while longer, and he's going to come around. Really. I promise.
Melky Cabrera, OF, Yankees (48.5 percent owned)
What's this? An underrated Yankee? Maybe. After hitting 15 home runs in his first two seasons, Cabrera already has six in 2008. He's good for at least a dozen steals and a .275 batting average, but at 23 years old. It's certainly logical to assume he's on the rise. If he's available in your league and you have a spot open — like if you own Vernon Wells, for example — Cabrera offers the likelihood of solid performance across the board. He's not going to turn into Vlad Guerrero overnight, but he's going to give you a decent amount of everything.
Aubrey Huff, 1B, Orioles (43.8 percent owned)
Speaking of underrated, this guy gets no respect, which is understandable considering that his home run total has declined for four straight seasons. Just don't forget that once upon a time — as recently as 2004 — Huff was a really good hitter. His skills have eroded, but his early results this season (six homers, 23 RBI, 20 runs) make me think they're not quite gone yet. People just don't think about Huff anymore, and that means a solid bat could be available for free when you need help.
Carlos Gomez, OF, Twins (33.6 percent owned)
I'd like to own Gomez just to watch his highlights, because he runs around the bases like a tornado. I'm not sure if he can hit yet — he's got a .296 on-base percentage — but I'm also not sure whether the Twins care. I know most of you don't care about OBP, and you'd gladly take Gomez's stolen base prowess. He had 16 thefts and had been caught just twice entering Monday's action, and if the Twins let him keep hacking away every day, he could be the worst-hitting 75-steal guy you ever saw.
Scott Rolen, 3B, Blue Jays (23.9 percent owned)
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| Scott Rolen can produce when he's healthy, but even if he gets hurt, he's easily replacable. (Elsa / Getty Images) |
Fred Lewis, OF, Giants (3.1 percent owned)
Lewis will never become a star, but he's probably going to play every day all year for the Giants. If that becomes the case, he'll put up some serviceable numbers. From 2005-07 — when he spent almost 90 percent of his time in the minors — Lewis batted .278 while averaging 10 homers and 20 runs per season and showed an excellent eye at the plate. Those averages look just about right for 2008 based on his early numbers, and they're fine for a fill-in in a deep league.
Andrew Miller, SP, Marlins (1.6 percent owned)
I wrote before the season that Miller would struggle, and that's been an understatement to this point, as he's posted a 6.52 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP in eight starts. So, why is he on this list? Talent, for one thing — the soon-to-be-23-year-old Miller was a very high draft choice, and he's still regarded by many to be an ace in the making. He's also been allowing fewer bases on balls and has given up two runs or less in three of his last four starts. There are still going to be some bumps in the road for Miller, but I think something good is starting to happen here. Call it a hunch.
Jay Bruce, OF, Reds (1.6 percent owned)
I'm getting a head start on the "Top Callups" review that I'll be writing for Thursday, but I just couldn't wait any longer. It's time to get Bruce. You know it, I know it, and now we just have to hope the Reds realize it. Bruce, as expected, is making Triple-A pitchers feel like you did when you were in Little League and had to pitch against the really big kid with the moustache. You stood out there acting confident, but you were really a little scared and thinking, "How the %$#! am I going to get this guy out?" Then, you'd throw your 62 mph gas, and he'd hit the ball 100 feet past the 200-foot outfield fence.
For some specifics, Bruce is hitting .348 with seven homers, 29 RBI, 25 runs and seven steals in 37 games so far. His main roadblock in Cincinnati is Corey Patterson, who got his batting average all the way up to .217 on Monday, and has a .270 OBP that is, amazingly, lower than his putrid career mark of .296. Unless Patterson has a secret stash of incriminating photos of new Reds GM Walt Jocketty, the Bruce Era will begin before the end of the month.
Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers (0.9 percent owned)
Be optimistic, but realistic, about this suggestion. Kershaw's a 20-year-old southpaw phenom who the Dodgers might as well have wrapped in a package labeled HANDLE WITH CARE. He's been dominating at Double-A, with a 1.08 ERA in six starts before getting roughed up a bit on Monday, and there's a lot of speculation that he's going to make his major league debut Saturday night against the Cardinals.
Kershaw could be really good, really fast, but the Dodgers aren't going to ride him very hard, and they might take a Joba Chamberlain-style plan of attack with him. In a keeper league, you should jump all over Kershaw. In a single-season league, keep an eye on the news this week, and give him a try if looks like his promotion is imminent.
(UPDATE: On Tuesday, Joe Torre said that due to Kershaw's latest Double-A start, his promotion for this weekend is "doubtful." Oh, well.)
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